#i like that all the portal characters have such distinct names

[meringuehearts]

science is fun !!!

[unpretty]

not going to tack this onto @derinthescarletpescatarian's post because it was long enough but here is my understanding of some of the various subgenres commonly encountered in light novels/web novels/licensed webtoons:

isekai: another world. if they end up in a different world it's an isekai. it doesn't matter how they got there. sometimes the other world is explicitly a video game the protagonist is playing. they're not dead or anything, just in virtual reality. they go home at night and it's fine.

portal fantasy: it does matter how they got there, actually. they went through a portal of some kind. wherever they end up, they keep their minds and bodies. maybe in the other world they have powers, but maybe not.

progression fantasy: they are going to level up like a video game character. there may or may not be an actual leveling up mechanic. they might just get stronger or acquire more wealth and powerful allies as it goes on. they will always kick more ass. hundreds of beavers is a progression fantasy.

litrpg: western term for 'the characters explicitly have video game mechanics'. there is probably a System of some kind. characters are aware of levels and power tiers. most controversial subgenre, lots of people hate this.

dungeon break/monster hunter: dungeons or portals appear in the real world, some people get powers that let them fight the monsters. lots of people try to tell me this is just litrpg but i argue that they are distinct subgenres with significant overlap. not every litrpg is this. you can probably find traditionally published american versions of this pre-dating video games and the litrpg concept.

transmigration: this is when truck-kun intervenes. there are other ways it can happen, but usually a character dies (hit by a truck is the most common trope) and wakes up in a different body. usually an isekai, usually it's into a story or video game, but it doesn't always have to be.

regression: a character dies, but instead of dying, they wake up as their younger self with all their memories from before their death. this is explicitly not an isekai, except when someone gets fucky with it and reveals that a transmigrator was actually also a regressor the whole time.

loop: if they regress more than once it turns into a loop. this is distinct because sometimes with regressors they just have the one chance to not fuck things up this time. some loop stories also have characters transmigrating a bunch of times.

villain isekai: usually transmigration. oh no i died and woke up as the bad guy in a story! now i gotta try not to fucking die!!!

romfan: romance fantasy. it gets called romfan instead of romantasy because it came first and is being translated probably.

otome isekai: also usually transmigration and also often romfan. you are now the prettiest princess and all the boys want to kiss you. i assume there's a 'harem' version of this For Men but i don't read those and can't tell you anything about them.

villainess isekai: usually a combination of the above three. most likely to be very meta and funny. i have a weakness for these ones.

divorce revenge: there might be a real name for this but i don't know it. sometimes this is paired with regression but not always, but it's very often a kind of progression fantasy. features a woman divorcing her shitty husband and then living her best life, which keeps getting better as her husband has to watch her kick ass and then cry about how he blew it. there are so many of these.

childcare fantasy: i think this includes both the ones where someone transmigrates into a baby, and the ones where they transmigrate to take care of a baby. i don't like this genre enough to check. but 'formerly abused child gets loved and coddled and anyone who tries to hurt them suffers' is a major component of this subgenre.

there's definitely more but my attention span has waned. here's some comics that are on my reading list after the cut, there's going to be undescribed screenshots because i'm lazy. you may need to find these elsewhere if you don't want to deal with tapas or webtoon and their paywalling systems.

The Greatest Estate Developer: transmigration villain isekai and progression fantasy with litrpg elements. architect uses his knowledge to save his own ass and also his new family, gets powers, everyone will unionize whether they like it or not.

Lout of the Count's Family: transmigration villain isekai and progression fantasy. ends up in otome isekai recommendations a lot despite technically not being an otome, on account of the eye candy and shipping potential. the webnovel has turned into like six different genres by now and is asspull central but i read it anyway. protag says he just wants to save his own ass so he can relax but does it by coughing up blood constantly.

The S-Class Hunters That I Raised: regression dungeon break litrpg. guy with shitty powers regresses and has to figure out how to make his power of taking care of people suck less, turns out it's OP as all hell.

Villains are Destined to Die: villainess transmigration otome isekai, maybe a little litrpg? there's definitely a system. protag just wants to go home because the visual novel she's in is notoriously difficult and she is at constant risk of being murdered. i like this one so much i own it in print.

Marriage of Convenience: regression romfan. not an isekai!! protag hated her life and died in poverty and shame after her husband died, this time she's going to try not doing that.

Villainesses Have More Fun: villainess transmigration otome isekai and progression fantasy. protag is very excited to be the villainess because she was the best character. she loves being rich. unfortunately at least one plot point raises the question 'why is that boy white'

Beware the Villainess: villainess transmigration otome isekai, meta as all hell, extremely meme-able faces, does not end in an OT3 but should have.

Baroness Goes On Strike: regression romfan, also not an isekai. protag wanted a divorce on her deathbed but woke up on the first night of her marriage, wants her life to suck less this time through the power of being assertive.

The Perks of Being a Villainess: villainess transmigration otome isekai and progression fantasy. protag has resting villainess face and progresses through the power of advanced math, unregulated capitalism, and abuse of the patent and copyright systems.

I Think I've Been Possessed Somewhere: transmigration isekai starring a main character who's read so much romance fantasy that she doesn't actually know what genre she's in because everything is too generic. meta as all hell.

Your Throne: villainess, sort of transmigrator? the crafty politically-savvy villainess bodyswaps with the naive saintess heroine, shit gets dark real fast, probably not going to end with girls kissing despite my hopes and dreams.

The Remarried Empress: divorce revenge romfan. you see this one referenced a lot in the comments of other romfans because everyone hates Rashta, the waif that the emperor divorces the empress for.

Raising My Fiance With Money: romfan, fake dating, sort of a divorce revenge except it's her ex-fiance. no isekai elements at all, but the protag is ridiculously lucky with money, comically wealthy, and supported by her doting family despite having terrible taste in men. her love interest is a teddy bear with resting murder face.

When The Third Wheel Strikes Back: transmigrator isekai. the protag never actually read the book, he only knows about it through osmosis because it's hugely popular and his sister is a big fan. one of the only things he knows is that in a recent update his character dies. also, it was already a transmigrator isekai before he got there. he isekai'd into an isekai. so much of the worldbuilding suggests a canon ot3 but i refuse to get my hopes up.

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint: it's sort of a dungeon break. not really an isekai but kind of. litrpg, sure. there's regressors. there's transmigrators. there's a lot going on. kim dokja was the only reader of a terrible, ridiculously long webnovel that now appears to be coming true. the official adaptation appears to be making the webnovel less queer overall. i read the webtoon until i got impatient enough to force my way through the sometimes clunky webnovel translations. it's hard to explain orv because it's a story about stories. consuming stories, telling stories, stories told about you, becoming a story, the cost of a story. it is so long. there is so much happening. the story is resolved in the epilogue you might skip if you didn't know any better. some people find it too confusing while others read homestuck.

[0pooleart]

Sonic Redesign Masterpost

One thing I've always passively thought about the Sonic franchise is that it's great, but also always felt just a bit short of perfection in a bunch of random aspects (mostly some character designs and some stories). Around like late August of 2024 I sketched out some redesigns for some of the main Sonic characters, and I quickly realized that I kinda physically had to not only redesign like, all vaguely notable characters from across the entire franchise (not just the games) but I also really wanted to rewrite a ton of stories, so I just like, did, you know? I'm basically obsessed now so here's a giant masterpost that's more about the thoughts behind my redesigns than just the images. Don't expect this to be super organized and fun to read lol

(and I can feel the hyperfixation dying down so I really should just get this out there)

Also, if you'd rather read it in the form of a Google Doc, here's the link to that: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VvXMzQ2kr7HrqmUd0Z7Aa9xCprUZ1ojm5cD8lcAEjbQ/edit?usp=sharing

First things first, for one, Mobius and Earth are two distinct planets, and Mobians are one set species. I didn't think that was a crazy idea until I actually watched a video detailing how current Sonic treats the setting but yeah, I really want them to just be completely different planets.

Origins

Anyway, the main draw for rewriting most Sonic stories was the fact that he doesn't really have a canon origin in the main series games (yet?) so I felt the need to give him one, and a more discrete timeline. However, everything starts with Eggman (and this is a heavily truncated version):

Robotnik enters Mobius via a Ring portal (similar to how the movies portray them), but he's instead a skinny, charming young man (similar again to Jim Carrey's Eggman in the movies, a drawing of him is further down). At first he pitches his little, cutesy animal inventions to the Mobian public, and they actually like them quite a lot. He's not without an ulterior motive though, and as his inventions get more and more popular, he actually hires some Mobians to help produce them. He begins building his business over the years, using the unique powers Mobians have to boost production. He even gives some of his workers their own homes built up with his technology, but he starts using this as a way to control them, since he basically can take away their whole lives if he so chooses. As he keeps building and building, he steals more and more resources from Mobius, and he builds over the Mobian city he started in (haven't really specified what it was yet), slowly making it his own over time. The only place he knows he shouldn't touch (just to stay in the good graces of Mobians) is Green Hill, a place that's sort of sacred, but more sacred in the way art is sacred, since it's a place hand built by ancient Mobians to be a wild place for them to roam free. Time passes Robotnik has been fattened up by his personal chef/baker Vanilla, and he's settled into being in control of so much of Mobius.

It's around this time when Sonic is born into the factory (of course given the canon name Ogilvie at first). He's taken away from his parents, whoever they are, immediately, and is put to work as soon as he's able to push a button. As he grows up, he's obviously too restless to do something so sterile, so he's put to work on the hamster wheels that power the Robotnik Empire. He never even thinks there's anything special out for him in the world, but eventually he, like the other workers, is given his semi-yearly vacation to the Green Hill, where they can recover their will to live. However, Ogilvie is so completely overrun with joy that he just runs off, never to return to the factory again. Eventually, of course, he changes his name to Sonic to fit his new life of just running around Green Hill.

Robotnik catches wind of there being a deserter, and decides to set out his robots, who secretly had battle functions all this time, into Green Hill to catch him. This is essentially where the first game would begin, just Sonic running around destroying Robotnik's robots as they come at him. However, Robotnik has a second in command: A young, two-tailed fox who he found outcast on the streets, who had a surprising knack for machines, something he didn't see in many other Mobians. He was named Miles Prower, and he grew up working for the one person who didn't ostracize him for his tails or his skills. He was only around 12 when Sonic, approx 16, escaped, and he was tasked with leading some of their more sophisticated creations into battle. 

Robotnik came along too with his own weapons, but they were both completely outmatched by Sonic's unbridled confidence and cockiness. Robotnik tore out what hair he had in anger, and of course that's when Sonic taunted him with his new nickname Eggman. Since Miles was there too, and he felt like he was on a roll, he called Miles "Tails," but Miles' reaction was much more ashamed than he expected, so he felt a bit off about that one. After the fight, Miles was repairing the machine Sonic destroyed, but he found him and met him on more even terms, and tried to convince him that there's probably a much better life for him out with him. He wasn't totally convinced yet, and couldn't exactly just defect from Robotnik like Sonic did, so Sonic left him be for now.

This is the general part where I start writing too many fine details, so basically Miles slowly starts enjoying himself more and more fighting Sonic and meeting him after the fight. He even adopts the "Tails" nickname for himself on the card of a present he drops off for Sonic, which was his much more durable and iconic sneakers. He finally breaks away from Eggman completely during an aerial assault on Sonic, where he prepared some supplies in the plane he was set to pilot, so he could take it away with him. He even was able to use some scrap from the battle to build a workshop for himself to live and work while Sonic still mostly just roamed free. This is around the point where the second game would start, since Tails has joined the cast and they can both battle Eggman together. If this were to be a game, I'd want Tails to be in the cockpit of each boss in the first game, so it helps set up his inclusion in the second, but obviously this is just a random floating idea for now. This isn't meant to be a concrete game/comic/animation/whatever.

But, that sets up most of the future events, even though there are some major stories to come, so on to the designs themselves:

As for overall Mobian redesigns, I always thought their giant ass hands and feet sometimes got in the way of their expressiveness, if they didn't just look kinda doofy (especially with characters like Knuckles) so the generic "Mobian" template has a smaller head, feet, and hands, and has a generally longer torso. Basically they just have slightly more """realistic""" proportions even though they're still obviously cartoony, just more realistic on the spectrum compared to the canon designs. And, since they're all one species, that means they evolved over time to match some of the animals around them, like a macro-evolution version of how Chao take on animal traits. That also means that the animal parts of their names are more like tribe affiliations, since they aren't actually the animals they say they are. For example, Knuckles the Echidna isn't an echidna in the species sense, he'd just call himself that to show he's affiliated with the Echidna tribe, and more generally that his people took on traits of the local echidna-echidnas. Meanwhile, characters like Tails/Miles Prower have a more family-based last name and a nickname for reasons I'll get into later. Also aside from that, I wanted characters that are Reptiles and Insects (Espio and Charmy mainly) to seem more unique from the mammals, so they look more distinct. And even the mammals look more animalistic in general, with longer snouts, getting rid of that weirdly detached muzzle thing most Mobian characters seem to have. Characters that are like Cats and Rabbits don't end up changing much since they aren't known for having long snouts anyway.

Sonic

Sonic was obviously the first one I tried redesigning so his design went through a bunch of changes, but the first thing I dealt with with him was his stupid conjoined eye thing. Obviously in that classic CD animation everyone loves it works out because its super stylized and simple, and all the current Mania versions of him make it work too, but it's really hard to unsee now in his modern designs. It's obviously meant to be like a Garfield type of thing, where it's just a cartoony way of having two eyes close together, but nowadays it really feels more like a Lightning McQueen type of eye windshield. If every Mobian had that then I'd keep it and just call it a stylistic thing, but no, only Hedgehogs have them, so... At first I tried representing that by making him have some kind of goggles to protect his eyes from the wind as he runs, but I couldn't get that to work, so I just split his eyes up. In his goggles-form I gave him this black brim to the goggles to kind of mirror Shadow's random red eye splotch he has, and since I liked that enough I kept a small bit of it in the current design. I also gave him some kind of double-sock type thing going on with much more athletic-seeming stuff to go under his more fluffy socks and gloves, which didn't feel all that necessary until I removed them at some point, and that just made him feel extra naked somehow. I do like them though. And, of course, he's actually wearing rings.

Aside from that, I kinda inadvertently made him look a lot like his Movie version, with his extra frazzled quills and blue arms and such. I definitely feel like he benefits from being extra sharp, so I added a bunch of spikes to things like his chest and shoulders. Even though it's not really important to mention I might as well, but the weird thing I think about his arms is that his normal Game design does basically need tan arms, but I actually think overall there's no reason not to give him blue arms in a form like this. It just makes sense.

Tails

Tails is mostly unchanged, just making his face fur blend more smoothly into his face instead of just being solo hairs glued on. His chest fur is more like a ball of fluff focused more around his actual chest, instead of just being a flat pattern on his stomach. I also gave him bigger ears for a bit of fennec energy, and a red scarf so his red shoes aren't the only red on his design. Aside from that, it's all just restylization, like making his tails extra fluffy.

Eggman (and Miles)

I'm still torn on what I want Eggman to truly look like. At first I wanted him to look a bit more like his SatAM-style version, with really short legs and a big fat belly, but then after seeing more and more fanart of him I tried to give him back his weirdly scrawny legs. No matter what though, he needed to have a giant coat with a massive collar to show his impression of himself. Also, I will always want to preserve his iconic smile, where his big toothy grin is basically glued to his mustache. That's pure Eggman.

And of course there's pre-Sonic Tails there too, with his fur very organized and clean, and with a much more grim demeanor. I also thought his tails would also be a lot less fluffy, and he kind of wraps them together like how a person wrings their hands together when they feel shy or awkward, showing how he hasn't fully embraced his mutation yet.

This is a quick little sketch I did of younger, thinner, and less bald Eggman when he first enters Mobius. 

After them, there are some characters that'd just be appearing around this point in the story, so here they are:

Amy… the Cat?

So for the longest time, I legitimately believed Amy was a cat, so I decided to make her a cat. It's that simple. She never really looked like a hedgehog, anyway. Plus, I do want to keep the main group as being Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy, so it'd be nice if they were all different "species." Aside from that, I just made her former quills look like much more fluffy and soft hair, and gave her long sleeves just because this drawing convinced me it was a good idea. However, I did do a quick sketch to see how she would look if I kept her a Hedgehog, and in that one I took away the long sleeves since I thought that would be annoying with her chest/shoulder quills.

As for how she meets Sonic, she's working under Eggman as a blacksmith when Eggman starts going berserk over actually losing both a devoted worker and his right-hand fox. He puts up signs everywhere asking for people to enlist into an army with the sole purpose to capture him, but Amy is instead just smitten with this rebellious hunk she's just now heard of. She joins Eggman's forces, but breaks off on her own to join him. He's super willing to let anyone join, but since Tails knew how devoted to Eggman some Mobians could be, he thinks she's a spy at first. Over time, though, she proves herself, even if she can't quite catch up to Sonic.

Cream, Cheese, and Vanilla

Cream was always perfect, but I really hated that Vanilla was basically just a taller copy of Cream, so I tried to give her her own identity. Also since they're all named after food I decided to specifically make Vanilla a baker/chef, which also meant I could turn the one tuft of hair on her head onto an ice cream-y dollop. And even though that was decided before I decided to make Eggman start off skinny, it also meant that I could make her a pretty major part of Eggman's life, being the one who makes desserts so good he just couldn't help himself. Even though Eggman definitely loves stomping on the hopes and dreams of Mobians, he's actually quite fond of Vanilla (not in that way, thank god) and tolerates Cream. As for Cheese, I had this big idea of how to redesign all Chao mechanics a while ago, and one such idea was to have Luck and Intelligence forms of Chao just like the other stats, and I decided to make Cheese a Neutral/Luck Chao just before he evolves into his main adult evolution, since he's lucky to have Cream by his side. Literally. He's only with her because Eggman was experimenting with Chao, and Cream caught him in the act, and he tried to save face by giving her Cheese as a gift, which definitely took him off her radar. 

But, also, since when do rabbits only have one kid?

They're just rough ideas for now (except for Milk and Sugar for reasons) (and I also thought of there being a baby Butter as well but I can't be assed to save a new version of the sketch). Even though it doesn't make sense for each kid to be a different age, since rabbits more so have large litters, I just think this is more fun from a design perspective. Also, Vanilla having so many kids to worry about makes it more reasonable why she's so beholden to Eggman. She definitely can't just get up and leave when she has to worry about all of them. 

As for how Cream meets Sonic, I literally have a whole animated short planned out in my head because, if you couldn't tell, she's easily one of my favorite Sonic characters, but the gist is that once Eggman "gifts" her Cheese, Cheese starts drawing crude drawings depicting how Eggman treated him and other Chao. Cream slowly catches on to Eggman's evil in her own oblivious little way, and eventually just… walks out. Much to Vanilla's dismay. As she leaves though, Vanilla basically snaps from her goodie-goodie persona and practically holds a knife to Eggman's throat, telling him if any robot ever harms Cream while she's out there, "so help me god…" He relents as much as he can. Meanwhile, Cream just keeps walking to Green Hill. Tails notices her as he's flying the Tornado, and picks her up. She's a little disappointed that everyone's basically just living in the wild or Tails' crude workshop, but they try to make due for her pampered little self.

After that comes the first big story since the Origin/random extra happenings. 

Knuckles

Honestly I feel like Knuckles has to be one of my top redesigns. I definitely needed him to look more buff and big compared to Sonic, but not quite to the level of Boom Knuckles, and I think I really nailed it. Not only that, but making his coat and "skin" color darker just works so well. And, of course, with the dread-bands/paint of his tribe. Him just looking so much more square also just fits so well.

Knuckles starts off as usual guarding the Master Emerald all alone on Angel Island, but soon Eggman visits him without any armada, reading about the Chaos Emerald's power and finally wanting to use it to stop Sonic. He does his usual schtick of convincing Knuckles that Sonic is the real threat, and since Knuckles was so isolated he didn't even know who Eggman was, and joins him to stop Sonic. 

However, Tails isn't stupid, and keeps a solid ear to what Eggman is doing, and hears about his plan to take the Chaos Emeralds, so he and the others set out on a world-sprawling journey to get the Emeralds before he does. However, they aren't the only ones looking for treasure…

Rouge

Technically I redesigned Rouge first out of everyone, but for other reasons than the franchise-wide redesign. This is basically an adaptation of that. Similar to Amy, whose design was cursed by Girl-Character-Syndrome, I also wanted to fix up Rouge by going where no anthro female character has gone before… giving her a bare crotch. Crazy. The boys can run around stark naked while the girls can't not wear full body clothing, so someone had to pick up the slack. She at least has her top covered, but that's mainly because I'm kind of a sucker for her heart-boob thing. I really can't deny it. Oh yeah and the heart motif continues into her nose, because she's a bat, of course it would. Bats literally have heart-shaped noses but they didn't bother even giving her a tiny heart-shaped nose in canon. AND she even has full body fur, because her being completely bald across her body is even more of a sin to me than forcing her to wear full body clothing. Anyway, she's got dark skin too, because obviously, and I tried making her arms her wings at some point but I also wanted her to have normal humanoid hands, and that just didn't mesh well, so she's still got back wings. Aside from all that, I gave her a long index fingernail on her glove for lockpicking purposes or whatever, it just seemed like a weirdly fitting thing for a character once called Nails.

Anyway, Sonic and co stumble upon Rouge who had the same goal as they did, but of course with a different motive, although she promises to play nice and help them find the Emeralds (until she betrays them once they have them all)

At every Emerald, each situated in a different biome, they encounter Knuckles, who uses the elemental power of each Emerald to fight Sonic, although Sonic is usually able to snatch the Emerald away from him and make away with it. After every fight, Knuckles is more and more sure that Sonic is a threat, but once Sonic and co actually have them all, and find the Master Emerald too, Eggman is the one to make the first move, and snatches them away all at once to power the giant mech he built behind the scenes just for the Emeralds. Everyone teams up to steal back the Emeralds again, and Sonic feels a strange power inside of them and the Master Emerald. He asks Knuckles what it could be, and he says the Master Emerald must have determined that he should be granted their ultimate power. Sonic seems stoked, but Knuckles is seriously worried, thinking back to the tales his people told him of what happened last time… but thankfully this time, Sonic just turns an electric yellow, beats Eggman's mech to a pulp, and turns back to normal once the deed is done. Knuckles is a bit shocked, but relieved.

With all threats neutralized, Knuckles accepts that he was wrong, and makes amends, but he stays with the Master Emerald. Rouge goes off on her own again, too.

It's at this point, while still on Mobius, some other characters probably emerge. This could happen either after or during the previous events.

Sally Acorn

Even though I don't have much personal nostalgia for Sally, she used to be such a big deal that I couldn't NOT add her to the roster. Like Amy, I also got her species wrong, since I thought she was a squirrel and they just didn't have the guts to give her a big, bushy tail, but I was remiss to hear that she was actually a chipmunk, meaning her redesign couldn't have that amazing tail… but chipmunks do have pretty iconic patterns, so I made sure to include that in her hair. Apart from that, you can see all the changes. I imagined her home town being smaller, and even though she could be the daughter of her town's mayor, she wouldn't be a princess. I never really got princess vibes from her. Oh yeah, and she's still smol, like how she was always drawn in her original era. She can make up for it with her spunk. She would also have her own Speed/Fly/Power dynamic with Ray and Mighty, who are also still smol.

Bunnie Rabbot

I basically just mish-mashed all the parts of Bunnie's various designs that I liked, but the main part of her is her new story. She basically lives in this classic Western-style town held under Eggman's boot, and she's hired as an outlaw to catch Sonic, where she was given robotic enhancements both to give her extra power but also so Eggman could more directly control her. She's also the "bawss" of Fang and Trip, other outlaws hired by Eggman. Even though she doesn't personally hate Sonic, she needs to do what Eggman says, or else she knows he'll wreak havoc on her town. No amount of speeches about friendship and being a good person could turn her.

After all those events, the next stage of the story begins, where at some point Sonic goes Super to fight Eggman, but Eggman was ready. He manages to suck the Emerald power right out of him to power his ultimate plan--- the thing he more or less planned on doing from the moment he stepped foot on Mobius. However, the damage Sonic and co did to his plans during that time caused it to go haywire, sending giant white explosions shooting across the entire planet of Mobius. Practically every Mobian was transported to Earth, Sonic X style. And not just the people, but massive chunks of the planet too had warped on to Earth, practically fusing the two planets together.

But of course that opens up too many stories so time for a rapid-fire design overview lol

Chaos & Tikal

Obviously the events of Adventure would be next, but for the most part Tikal's design is just updated to match the new Knuckles. With Chaos however, I slightly changed his story to make it so that he mutated from a Chao for when he first turned into Perfect Chaos and destroyed the Echidna clan, and obviously making it so that he used to be a Neutral Chaos Chao. I also have a whole animated short mentally planned out of that moment which I'd kill to create. After the events of Adventure though, instead of like getting dragged off to Heaven or whatever Chaos is instead gifted just a little bit of power from the Master Emerald so that he could maintain a more solid form than his 0 form so he could live alongside people (as much as a water monster can), and in this form (which I'm calling Controlled Chaos) he looks more like a Chaos Chao and of course he also has an emotion ball, which the Chao quickly recognize and accept him in with them. I also like to think he could replace the role of Gemerl from the comics, where he is the superpowered being that helps protect Cream and her family (although clearly Vanilla is a bit more hesitant)

As for the events of the Adventure story itself, it's mostly the same, except for the fact that Knuckles wasn't at the Emerald when Eggman broke it open because he was slacking off alongside Sonic, which he beats himself up about before realizing the Emerald can be repaired. Also, with their Master destroyed, the Chaos Emeralds actually turn into chaotic masses of power that greatly affect the areas around them, making them more dangerous to obtain for Sonic and co. For example, maybe Ice Cap wasn't really that icy, but the Emerald Sonic was to get from there turned whatever it was before into a frigid mess. Maybe it would also spawn some sort of boss for them to fight to protect itself.

Also, here's Big. He's mostly the same except I wanted him to look more wild and unkempt. I also made it so he actually has a giant mouth, because in all his modern forms I honestly think his really tiny mouth looks super weird. 

Oh yeah and I guess one major thing I changed about all Mobians, they actually have feet and not just weird nubs. Really expanding the boundaries of design.

I also have ideas for Gamma and Omega from here, but it mostly boils down to Gamma actually having more personal interactions with the main cast, and once his story finishes and he explodes, Eggman laments that his best creation was going to waste, so he decided to rebuild him… but with less empathy. This backfires when the new Omega is disgusted by Eggman's method of just rebuilding him, and lashes out, going off to join the cause against him.

Then, for Adventure 2…

Shadow

For the most part, I just updated him to match Sonic's design, and gave him cooler gloves/shoes, but the main change is that I want him to feel more like a crazy genetic experiment. For one, you can see that he actually has gills similar to those of the Biolizard in his base form, probably just to help him take in more air/energy so he is less likely to tire, but more importantly I want his inhibitor rings to essentially be holding in the Doom powers he gets in Shadow Generations. When he takes them off, he basically becomes a darker shapeshifting mass that can barely hold himself together, instead of just becoming an objectively more powerful version of himself like in his canon form. It also makes more sense, since Gerald probably made those rings as he was ashamed that he had to resort to giving him Black Doom's DNA, and so that he could interact with Maria without hurting her.

The other big change is to Maria herself, who I wanted to be as goth as Shadow is, with her being more of the rambunctious goth type than an emo goth. I was always kind of annoyed at how generic anime-UwU precious babey Maria always was (even though she was greatly improved in Shadow Generations and Movie 3) so I thought making her have a more fun/imperfect personality would be more interesting, and would be more impactful during the Ark raid where she turns from a full-nonsense personality to someone who's actually afraid and desperate. I don't really have a solid visual design for her right now, but I've had a couple of iterations. I kind of want her to look less assured than she does here

Team Chaotix

You have NO IDEA how much I needed to change Charmy and Espio. Charmy looked like a weird cat/bear with a bee tail and Espio looked like some completely unrecognizable animal, even though you might be able to at least assume he's a chameleon if you knew his powers. 

For Charmy, I just needed to give him big bulging black eyes, a jagged mouth, and another set of arms to really show that he's an insect. If nothing else, it at least makes it obvious that he can't be anything BUT an insect. As for Espio, I decided that I could give reptilian Mobians various scales on their body instead of the mammals' chest coloring or whatever. I also gave him a more unique head shape and that weird fin thing which is much more chameleon-iconic than what he had before, and even gave him that wrinkly eyelid thing they have, while still giving him a more humanized expression.

As for Vector, since he was the rare Mobian who had an actually unique body type and head design, he stayed mostly the same. He's the main reason why I know the character designers at Sonic Team aren't ALWAYS copy-pasting their body types. I did have to change his outfit, mostly just to get rid of his weird shoulder-ball things which never will make any sense. What even are they?

Now, for the biggun

Blaze

Oooohh my god Blaze. When I was first thinking about adding her to the roster, I liked her a decent amount but didn't think about her too much. I did know that I wasn't going to change much about her design since it was already pretty much perfect, I just added more gold to her and made her ponytail more like a flame than her canon design, which looked more like feathers of some sort to me. I then just updated her tail to match the style.

What really changed was when I completely rewrote her story. I always thought it was so weird that they made her so special and weird, being a fire-bending princess from another dimension, but they barely went into fine detail about her, like, AT ALL. It doesn't seem like there's anything special about the Sol Dimension, aside from the Sol Emeralds, and her actual role as a princess is never really touched on at all besides her living in a castle as depicted in the comics, AND worst of all she's just sort of… born with fire bending powers? That's crazy even for Sonic characters. I mean I'll accept it but still, I feel like there should be something there. And it's also crazy that all of this was introduced in Sonic Rush, which, let's be real, has the most non-story there could be in a Sonic game. Nothing interesting and unique really happens in it. At least Rush Adventure did something new, but still. She deserves better

So anyway I changed practically every detail and am mentally organizing the full story, but the gist of it is essentially that 06 is now her debut game, and everything regarding Soleanna now involves her instead of Elise and all takes place in the Sol Dimension. You'd think it would be a little on the nose to make Soleanna a location in the Sol Dimension, but they didn't even bother to make that a thing. Same goes for Solaris. It feels so obvious, like it was meant to be that way in a beta form. On top of that, though, since she replaces Elise you can probably guess that she actually derives her fire bending power from Iblis, which is actually a power passed down in her family ever since Iblis and Mephiles were sealed. And, since she's clearly in more of a position of power than Elise, she can actually be the third in the 06 main character group instead of Shadow, since he gets enough attention elsewhere. 

As the story goes on and she realizes she has a flaming hellbeast inside of her, her sheer confidence gets broken and then regained thanks to Sonic supporting her. Maybe also includes a relationship with Amy because I can't help myself. Apart from that, there are so many details and story beats I'd love to share but really that would be a whole document all on its own. I'm surprisingly close to being able to write basically a whole movie script's worth on this thing.

But yeah every single detail I added to her story has now retroactively made her one of my all-time favorite Sonic characters, tied with Cream and Chaos. I basically freak out whenever she does literally anything, I'm kind of obsessed.

Also since the role of princess suggests there's a queen (unless you live in Equestria), here's the Queen of Soleanna

Silver

Now of course, ANOTHER peak redesign. I really think Silver specifically is the biggest upgrade out of everyone. I really needed him to look more weird and futuristic, making his whole body actually silvery instead of just kind of white, and making his clothes black to make his glowy tech bits more stark. I even turned his quills into flowing hair, just because. I like to think he's one of those characters that's unimaginably handsome without any effort, even though he doesn't realize it. 

Story-wise he doesn't change much, except of course since Blaze is doing her own thing, he's completely alone fighting to protect his future, which personally really helps show his character. He's the type to fight to his dying breath even if he knows he can't win, just so he can protect as many people as he can. I also think he's still the type who would take a can out from the bottom of those can pyramids in a cartoon supermarket, only to freak out when the whole pyramid topples down. He's a devoted warrior who, in low-stakes scenarios, is still kind of a lovable loser.

Except he wasn't always alone. He's the last remaining member of the Crested Knights (or whatever I want to call them), a genetically engineered and cybernetically enhanced army of people made to quell Mephiles and Iblis as much as possible in the future. The second-to-last, his mentor Steel the Wolf, fell in battle with him, so he vows to keep fighting for him. Personally I think Silver having a deep personal attachment to someone in this way really makes him feel more loving and empathetic, which makes his goofy sides much more charming. I imagine him sharing stories of their past together over a campfire while Sonic and Blaze listen intently.

Also just because Blaze gets her own special super form because of the Sol Emeralds, I thought since the Chaos Emeralds are said to grant wishes, each individual who gets their power has a different "super" form. If we get Super Sonic and Burning Blaze, then we can also get Psychic Silver (it's still alliteration) where his psychokinetic abilities go haywire and his senses basically become perfect. 

Forces

The one thing I realized I didn't like about the IDW comics is that Amy was barking out commands like she was some seasoned war hero (which she kind of was) in her cutesy old Adventure dress, so that made me think that I should give her and everyone else their own special outfits for the Forces section of the story. Also, since the story of Forces is practically the same as SatAM aside from Sonic being involved, I made the Freedom Fighters become a part of this story, which are their own little task force. That also includes Nicole, who now actually looks like a holographic projection instead of just some random Mobian, although I might eventually design a more corporeal form for her. And, since Forces is one of those games where you realize they just didn't want to include humans for some reason, I decided to give Topaz from Sonic X a spot alongside Rouge in the Resistance. She'd still start off as a cop that Rouge enjoys ""messing"" with, but then once Eggman starts taking over she joins the forces against him. And since the IDW comics are practically a part of Forces' story, Lanolin can also be here, who I made chubbier since sheep always have a chubby aura. Tangle is there too but she's completely unchanged since she's already perfect. Same would go for Whisper but I haven't drawn her yet. And really the same goes for pretty much every other IDW character, since their designs are some of the best in the series imo.

The Ancients

I really thought the Ancients needed to look more alien and weird, and I wanted to give them clothes to mimic that of their tech. I also thought that the Koco could instead be their true brains/bodies, and the gel is another part of their tech. 

The main thing of their story is that I want them to be the origin of all Mobians and Chao. When they fled from The End to Mobius, after the big fight The End broke their bodies and brains, destroying the rocky shell around their true bodies, and making them back to being nearly animalistic. However, over time their malleable bodies evolved over time, some turning into the more capable and intelligent Mobians, while those that ended up in more protected areas didn't change quite as much and became the Chao, still being pretty soft and helpless. However, I also thought that the branch of them that fled to Mobius surely couldn't have been the ENTIRE species, so the other branches that fled away from The End ended up evolving into the species of the Black Arms and the Wisps. The Black Arms being a people who use more meaty, grotesque technology, and with the Wisps tending to use more abstract, colorful technology, assuming they use any at all, since they decided to live more naturalistically, even with their core bodies living outside of any other tech. This essentially makes Shadow the Hedgehog (the game) and Colors parallel stories, where they deal with the offshoots of the Ancients. If you couldn't tell, I also made them have traits of the Dark and Hero Chaos Chao, with Black Doom having the flame orbs above his head, and Mother Wisp having the halos and the head protrusions of the Hero Chaos Chao. They each also have cores similar to the Koco, with Doom's Eye essentially being his core, and the Wisps themselves each being a core, but with the Mother Wisp having a bigger body her core goes into. 

Those are all the major designs, but of course that isn't even it. For example, Some other characters that exist in my redesign are Sonia and Manic (fans of Sonic who hype him up in battle with music), Bokkun (mostly unchanged), Metal Sonic (just looks cooler), Sage (who I redesigned but honestly might not keep), Cosmo and the Metarex (both made a bit more alien), the Zeti (the Deadly Six and others of the species), and a whole redesign of Secret Rings and Black Knight which features even more stories like Peter Pan and Journey to the West. I could basically go on and on about it all but I have to stop somewhere lol

Thanks for indulging me

[yan-lorkai]

.⁠｡⁠*⁠♡ A/N: I didn't like the result of this oneshot to be honest, idk, the idea was good but the writing turned out bad along the way. But this had been sitting on my drafts for quite a while so I'm just gonna post it so I don't have to look at it whenever I open my drafts. Maybe you darlings can find something about this enjoyable, maybe not.

You wake up slowly, the first light of dawn slipping through the gap in your curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. The soft illumination reveals the familiar shapes of your bed, wardrobe, a small table, and a few scattered books.

You reach for your phone and check the time: 7 AM. For a few moments, you simply lie there, processing the fact that you were awake so early, trying to recall if you had any dreams. You vaguely remember a loud noise but can’t quite place it if it was real or part of your dream.

Stretching lazily, you begin to shake off the remnants of sleep. As you become more alert, the sound you thought was part of a dream becomes clearer, vivid. What initially seemed like distant murmurs from your neighbors now grows distinct, nearer.

The voices aren’t coming from outside — they’re inside your house. Someone - not one but two people - were inside your house right at that moment, talking excitedly in whispers and murmurs. You blinked, confused, questioning if your mind was playing tricks on you.

"Jamil, this place is incredible! Look at all these things!" The voice is energetic and familiar, bursting with excitement. You can almost picture the person’s smile just by hearing it.

"Please, Kalim, don’t touch anything until we figure out what’s going on," Another voice responds, calm but firm, tinged with exasperation. It’s a voice you recognize as well. "We need to understand where we are first. I’m still investigating."

Slowly, you swing your legs over the side of the bed, your feet meeting the cool wooden floor. You hesitate, wondering if you should grab something for protection, but there’s nothing within reach. A book, a vase, a shoe, nothing that could injury or incapacitate a thief. With your heart pounding and without thinking much, you open the bedroom door.

In the hallway, you see something that wasn't expected: Kalim, with his silver hair and colorful attire, is curiously examining the objects around him, while Jamil, his eyes sharp and arms crossed, surveys the scene cautiously.

"Oh my God…" Your voice is barely above a whisper, filled with disbelief. You close the door quickly, trying to wrap your mind around what you’ve just seen. After a few more seconds, with your heart racing, you open it again.

"Uh, hello! I’m Kalim and this is my friend Jamil. I think… we got lost and ended up here. What place is this?" Kalim asks, his sweet smile making your heart skip a beat. Your face heats a little as you struggle to find words.

This time, Kalim and Jamil, your favorite characters from Twisted Wonderland, are standing right in front of your door, Kalim’s hand raised as if he was about to knock. You freeze, staring at them as they stare back at you.

It's a little awkward, really. Being so close to them like that, seeing how different they are from their 2D version. Kalim shifts the weight from his leg to one over the other, a smile growing on his face.

Is this real or a dream? You can’t tell.

Realizing you need to respond, you clear your throat and explain that they’re in your house and tell them the name of your country. Jamil looks puzzled for a second.

"I beg your pardon? Could you repeat the country name?"

You do, aware that it doesn’t exist in their world — not from what you remember, there wasn't an equivalent of it in their world, still you just started playing so you didn't know much about it or about them, as you were still in Savanaclaw chapter. Kalim and Jamil exchange glances.

Jamil, clearly uneasy, speaks up. "We need to find a way back home. Could you possibly help us?"

As he begins explaining how they ended up here - through a portal that appeared from thin air and brought them there, you notice from the corner of your eye Kalim wandering around, his curiosity piqued by everything in the room. He picks up a book from the shelf, flipping through it with childlike wonder, occasionally letting out a delighted squeal when he spots a particularly beautiful picture or drawing. It's cute to see.

"Look, Jamil! This book has so many interesting stories!" Kalim turns to you, eyes sparkling. "You have so many beautiful things here. I wouldn’t mind staying a little longer."

You smile, feeling more at ease. "Well, that’s good to hear, because magic isn't real here nor anyone knows how to use it, so I’m not sure how much I can help you two."

Jamil nods, his expression thoughtful as he processes this new information. He falls silent, clearly rethinking his plans. You can’t help but notice how handsome he is — more so than you imagined. A selfish part of you doesn’t want them to return to Twisted Wonderland, even though you know they have people waiting for them back home.

"Can I make breakfast for you two?" You offer, hoping to lighten the mood. Kalim’s face lights up instantly.

Kalim has his siblings, his parents, so does Jamil. Despite your thoughts, you want to help. You’ve read enough isekai stories to understand how painful it must be to be away from everything familiar. They've might love here for a few weeks but then homesickness will kick in.

"I’d love that! Especially if it’s something different from what we eat in Scarabia," He responds, placing the book back on its original place.

Kalim eagerly sits down, his eyes darting around, taking in every detail of your kitchen. Jamil, on the other hand, sits more cautiously, his posture straight and alert.

As you head to the kitchen, still surprised and speechless, Kalim and Jamil following closely behind, both still taking in the unfamiliar surrounding. You gesture for them to take a seat at the small kitchen table. "Make yourselves comfortable. It might not be as grand as what you’re used to, but I’ll whip up something tasty."

As you start gathering ingredients, you hear Kalim ask, "So, what kind of food do you usually eat here? Is it spicy? Sweet?"

You chuckle at his enthusiasm. "I have a bit of everything. But I think you’ll like pancakes. They’re sweet, especially with some syrup or fruit."

"Pancakes?" Kalim repeats, the word foreign yet intriguing to him. "That sounds delicious!"

Jamil, still cautious but visibly more relaxed, adds, "It might be best to eat something simple. We don't know how long we’ll be here."

You nod, understanding his concern. "Don’t worry, pancakes are quick and easy. We can figure out the rest after breakfast."

As you prepare the batter, Kalim continues to pepper you with questions about your world, about you or your family, about this country or the culture. He’s fascinated by everything, from the kitchen appliances to the types of food you describe, from the legends and old myths to the songs and stories. Jamil listens quietly, occasionally nodding, but it’s clear his mind is focused on something else - probably the situation they’re in and how to resolve it.

After a few minutes, the kitchen fills with the mouth-watering aroma of pancakes cooking on the griddle. Kalim’s eyes widen as he watches you flip them with practiced ease.

"Wow, you’re really good at this!" Kalim exclaims, practically bouncing in his seat.

You smile, enjoying the warmth of their company despite the odd circumstances. "I’ve had a lot of practice. Plus, pancakes are pretty tasty so I eat them often."

As you serve the pancakes with syrup and some fruits, Kalim eagerly reaches for a plate, his excitement contagious. Jamil takes his with more restraint but seems genuinely curious about the taste.

Kalim takes a big bite and his eyes widen in delight. "These are amazing! Jamil, you have to try them!"

Jamil cuts a small piece, his expression remaining neutral as he tastes it - he was wearing that same neutral face as you cooked, watching over you like a hawk so you wouldn't try to poison Kalim. But after a moment, a small, appreciative smile appears on his lip. "They’re quite good."

You feel a sense of satisfaction seeing them enjoy something so simple. As you sit down to eat with them, Kalim continues to chatter, sharing stories about his world, his life at Scarabia, and all the adventures he’s been on, all which you know about since you spent so much time reading his and Jamil's vignettes. Jamil, while more reserved, occasionally chimes in with corrections or additional details, his tone always careful but respectful.

The conversation flows easily and you find yourself getting lost in their stories, almost forgetting that this whole situation is surreal. But eventually, the reality of it starts to settle in again and you realize that, as much as you’re enjoying their company, you need to help them find a way back.

"So," You begin, setting down your fork, "do you have any idea how you got here? Maybe we can figure out a way to reverse it."

Jamil straightens, his expression serious. "It’s still unclear. We were performing a task in the Hall of Mirrors when a portal unexpectedly opened. I tried to close it, but it pulled us through before I could react."

Kalim, still enjoying his pancakes, adds, his mouth half full as he respond to you, "I thought it was just another adventure, but now… it seems more complicated than that."

You nod, trying to piece together what they’re saying with your limited knowledge of their world. "I don’t have magic, but maybe there’s something here that can help. Books, maybe? Or something from the internet?"

Jamil raises an eyebrow, intrigued. "Books and the internet? Perhaps there’s information that could be useful. We should start with what you have here."

Kalim, still beaming from the breakfast, jumps to his feet. "I’m ready to help! Where should we start?"

You glance around your home, thinking about where to begin. "I have some books on mythology and folklore that might have similar stories. And I can look up anything online that seems relevant. We’ll figure this out together."

Jamil nods, his expression a mix of determination and gratitude. "Thank you. Your help is greatly appreciated."

As you all prepare to dive into research, a sense of fear is palpable in the air, almost as if they were afraid they wouldn't be able to return home. Wishing on a star was something you used to do, you wished hard for things to happen, for things to be possible. And now they were. Jamil and Kalim were here, by your side, Kalim sitting beside you while Jamil was resting his face on his hands, tired. And as you begin your search, you can’t help but feel that this something out of a silly story. And you're going to do your best to send them back home.

[evercovi]

how much time have you lost?

—

Long, long ramble under the cut:

A bit of backstory: I started Wynn back in 2015 and stopped shortly after the gavel update; recently, I decided to give everything a try again from a new class and very quickly got hooked. All the builds are so good?? There’s so much character and detail put into every building? Don’t get me started on the discoveries,,, the first time I stumbled upon a secret discovery my mouth fell open. There’s so much lore hidden in plain sight. Wynn now really feels like there’s thousands of years of history hidden just beneath the surface and I love it so so much.

Each build has so much depth too? From the few cities I’ve seen every city has its own distinct style and architecture—Ragni as a classic stronghold, deltas looking like a trading hub with its vibrant colours, alekin with its treehouses. Each city even has their own sense of fashion I’m just in awe of everything.

And the quests. THE QUESTS. They’re all so polished and full of character. The NPCs are in turns funny and infuriating and helpful and don’t get me started on aledar and tasim (i love them your honour). It’s so nice to be able to have a few recurring characters support you through Wynn. Special shoutout goes to general graken in nemract because I, too, do not understand half the words that come out of his mouth. I am insane over this server and I’m clawing at the walls and the way I cope is to make a classic wynnOC. He has no name but he has lore.

I barely remember anything from my first playthrough—all I remember are the main plot points. There’s some sort of corruption, and decay, and the portals and heliolux get involved at some point? I think. Either way I’m so excited to see how the devs have expanded on the story so far

TLDR: Wynncraft is amazing, I’m losing my mind over it, and I need to scream about this server to whoever will listen

[phoebepheebsphibs]

UPDATED AND REDESIGNED CHARACTER SHEETS FOR THE FUTURE AND A ROBOT CHARACTERS!!

The Future and a Robot is my original series that I plan to animate soon/eventually.

The series follows two kids — er, one kid and one robot — who by accident activate a strange device which portals them into a distant land of archaic culture, odd lore, and major historical events — the 90’s! The two meet a young boy and his family, and lodge with them until they can figure out how to return home… but that’s a story for another time. And now, to (re)introduce the main cast!

First up, Lloyd the Android!

Lloyd is… well, a robot. An android, to be specific (he gets very particular about that distinction)! Lloyd is sweet, goofy, incredibly innocent and unfortunately as naive as a newborn baby. Lloyd’s name is actually an acronym: Life-Like- Optimized Youth Droid. Designated as Julia’s companion and protector, Lloyd finds himself suddenly in a new (or rather, old) century with people that he comes to love just as much as his creator. However, what with being a highly advanced piece of technology, Lloyd is now made to keep his mechanical origins a secret. Only Julia, Harris and the Smith family know that he’s not actually a human. But can he keep up the charade?

Coming in hot — Julia Gonzales!

Meet Julia Gonzales, a preteen genius with some minor anger issues and misguided goals. But don’t let her salty demeanor fool you, she’s just a kid burdened with a heavy backstory… plus a silly android that she has to wrangle out of danger far more often than she’d like to. Julia prefers to maintain the edgy punk motif, but in reality she’s a chaotic and nerdy gamer with way too much time on her hands. She loves all things technology — programming, engineering, coding, building, inventing, etc. However, the 90’s prove to challenge her patience as she struggles to rediscover herself while also finding a way back home… After all, she still has a mission to finish.

Put your hands together for Harris Smith!

Harris Smith is a young lad who lives in the quiet and unassuming town of Westfield. However, his quiet life is upturned in the most fantastic of ways when he finds Julia and Lloyd! Instantly enamored and amazed, Harris convinces everyone to let the two quirky kids stay at the Smith home until they can find a way to send Julia and Lloyd back to the year 2485. Harris, a hickish boy with a mullet, very few friends, and an interest in computers, immediately befriends the time travelers and begins the start of his new life of adventure and amazement! Harris loves having Julia show him her cool futuristic tech, and he will often take the time to help teach Lloyd what being a human is like.

Last but never least, we present Imogen Love Davies!

Imogen Love is a sweet young girl who befriends Lloyd and the rest, though she and Lloyd are the closest of the group. She has no idea that Lloyd is an android, nor that he is absolutely 100% head-over-heels in love with her. Imogen is very artistic, she loves to draw and tries to inspire Lloyd just as much as he inspires her. She carries around a small fanny-pack-purse-thing that somehow always has whatever she needs inside. Drawing supplies? Check. Water? Check. A bungee cord? Why not. It’s Batman’s utility belt, Milo Murphy’s backpack, Wander’s hat, you get the idea. Imogen Love truly lives up to her name, showing kindness to everyone. And maybe a lil’ extra for a certain someone she’s quite fond of…

There are plenty more characters within the story — Mr. and Mrs. Smith, several kids from school, an antagonistic businesswoman and her faithful engineering partner, etc. Maybe I’ll share the rest some other day (like when I finish their turnarounds, lol), but for now I think a small taste is best and I cannot wait for the day when I get to introduce the rest of the story!!

[fordtato]

Hey (●’◡’●)ﾉ I have some questions about gravity falls canon that i don't even know where to google to find out so i decided to ask you. I hope its ok.

1. Did Stan actually join the mob/cartel/mafia? Its very common in fics and you said it as a fact in your timeline video. Where did it originate from? Is it that one line in ATOTS? The "I swear i will pay your goons back". I cant recall anything else.

2. Did Ford use nutritional supplements in the multiverse? Its incredibly in character and Ford did mention that he wanted to give them out to summerween trik-o-treaters. But it is so agreed upon that he chugged them like jellybeans during portal years and had to acclimatise to normal foot after getting back. This feels closer to a headcanon but I am not sure with this fandom anyone.

I love and appreciate all the work you can do and I look forward to your projects (っ'-')╮=͟͟͞͞ ❤❤❤

For 1.) It's complicated. It's never specifically said, but between Stan's fake name nicknames involving references to the cocaine/heroin trafficking (8-ball Alcatraz), the fact that Ford says stan is familiar with mob hangouts the world over in J3, the fact that it's implied that Stan meets Rico and his goons in Colombian prison (according to Dreamscapers), the rest has kind of been put together by fans, and accepted as canon, and kind of never refuted. In a deleted scene from ATOTS, though, we do know that the mob was at least trying to kill Stan, so whether he JOINED the mob, or just got tangled up with them somehow is unclear. In the 70s and 80s, cartels and drug traffickers had massive trafficking routes/power going into the US, so the timeline works out that way. But from my understanding, there's a certain point where there's little distinction between someone getting tangled up in deals with the mob and someone being an official part of it.

For 2.) Probably yes! He makes references to them a few times, and Alex Hirsch said in a charity stream years ago that he headcanons Ford's favorite food as nutritional pills that provide all of his nutrients because he doesn't have time for food when he has science (or something like that). But it isn't officially anywhere in canon materials, I think.

[monsieuroverlord]

Hellverine #2 Thoughts

More plot set-up, with heavy focus on setting the conflict in motion.

Not a bad issue, but to be honest, I didn't find it particularly exceptional. It was good, but nothing spectacular, you know?

Art is still an excellent fit for this book. Ienco has a real talent for perspective.

Spoilers:

First of all, thank god it wasn't Aurora under the sheet. I was so stressed.

Aurora didn't appear at all, so there goes my idea of the fun 'n spicy reunion option for this issue. (There's still time for Aurora. We were promised.)

In summary, Aki goes to the Greenhouse, lifts up the sheet, and it's a random mutant by the name of Celine. Another mutant named Evan shows up, tries to defend himself because he's scared (Fair). Aki realizes the kid isn't touched by evil, so he shows restraint:

Then they sit at the cafeteria and have hot beverages as Evan explains what's been going on. Essentially a group of mutants stayed in the Greenhouse after the world went to shit regarding mutants. It was very commune-style, taking turns providing food and doing all the chores and whatnot -- this included the hunting.

Aki uses his hell-psychic abilities, which is currently being called "Infernal Sense" to see things from Evan's POV. He and Celine were out hunting, found this giant hellhole of death that called them closer, Celine fell in, Evan dragged her out and back to the Greenhouse, and then Celine infected everyone. Like a zombie, basically.

The pair go to the hole, which is literally at Aki's former gravesite (looks metal af). Akihiro takes care of the infected demon spawn in his Hellverine form, and comments that while the demon has no voice, it has impulses, akin to hunger or breathing.

As Hellverine, he nearly kills Evan because the demon is pissed about his work being destroyed, but manages to reassert control of himself by focusing on feelings of guilt and shame -- specifically killing his adoptive mother and "her unborn child" -- very interesting little retcon tidbit. It seems like Percy has decided to shift the narrative to Akihiro killing a pregnant woman as a kid, rather than killing the baby in his crib and then his adoptive mother. Not sure how I feel about that decision.

Akihiro destroys the literal hellhole, but alas, he is too late to save Evan as the poor kid is dragged in the hole as the monument tumbles inside, presumably sealing off the literal portal to hell and trapping everything that fell in.

Dr. Strange then shows up, comments on the arctic weather being shit, and tells Akihiro his work ain't done yet. He's been doing some research, and it seems like the hell magic is seeking to use mutantkind.

That's the cliffhanger!

My Thoughts:

I'm very lukewarm on this issue.

Like I said, it was okay, but I didn't feel super engaged with this. To me, it felt like it was going through the motion of a plot without getting anywhere interesting yet. I mean, a few random one-off characters were inserted just to die and make Aki feel bad for not being a "successful hero."

While Aki's voice is distinct from the way Percy writes Logan, it doesn't quite feel uniquely Akihiro yet, you know? It still feels kind of surface level, which I suppose I can tolerate for a first issue or so, but I hope it improves as we gain a footing on this series. I'm just not impressed yet. It's almost there, and I can see it within my grasp, but not yet. Still holding onto my intrigue (because Aki's going to Japan next issue) but I wouldn't say blown away by means.

Aurora's not here yet, which I am both relieved and disappointed.

Though the retcon of killing his adoptive mother's child is, for lack of a better word, a bit odd to me. It doesn't quite feel like a total sanding of his character to make him more appealing and whatnot, but it was certainly a choice. I mean, maybe it can circle back to the fact that his mother was killed while he was in the womb, and now he killed his adoptive mother who had been expecting a child (continuing the circle of violence or something as this child's mother was killed while in the womb, but likely didn't survive), but even that feels like a stretch for me. The first issue already condensed his backstory to skip over the Winter Soldier, so maybe we're just getting another condensing of the timeline. I dunno! I don't know how I feel about that yet. There's also always the possibility it was just a continuity error, in which case I am deserving of the No-Prize, lol.

More positive things: I do like the fact we get full captions of Akihiro's inner thoughts. We've been missing that. I also enjoy the angsty continued narrative of Akihiro failing at being something better -- even though Evan was kind of a one-off, I think it has the potential, if done right, to finally set up a more natural turning point in Akihiro's life. One where we as readers can fully enjoy the progression of failed-villain-turned-somewhat-antihero-flawed-character (I hope that makes sense). In context: the whole Krakoa switch was a bit jarring, so I believe this series has the opportunity to sort of not only connect, but expand on established canon for a more cohesive plot. I also enjoy Akihiro figuring out his new abilities -- I'm hoping we get higher stakes and/or conflict surrounding that. It could lead to some very cool introspection.

I'd also eventually like to see him use his new hell demon abilities in conjunction with his pheromone powers (depending on how creative you want to get, it could lead to some unique effects beyond what either Aki or Bagra-Ghul would be capable of on their own)

I hope going to Japan is better. I'm hoping maybe that'll be the issue where we get lots more depth on Akihiro's backstory -- his thoughts, feelings, new reflections considering everything that's happened up until now. We're overdue for his updated ruminations on life.

Plus spirits of his adoptive family and potentially his mother (though an Itsu appearance might be pushing our luck for right now).

Anyway, that's my initial thoughts! I'm being a bit nitpicky, I realize, but it still has my interest for now. The potential is still there! It's definitely a slower book, and might end up reading better in the collected editions, but I'm still following along for the ride!

[littlemisspascal]

Rockford & Roan Pt. 7

Pairing: Tim Rockford x Female Reader/OFC ‘Roan’

Word Count: 2.7k

Summary: “All that glitters is not gold, Miss Roan.”

Rating: T. Heed the warnings y'all!

Warnings: Language, Reader has a dog, Reader has military background, Superpower AU, They Were Roommates AU, self-esteem issues, soulmates-ish, original characters, worldbuilding, crime-solving

- Reader has no first name and no physical traits described in detail except for being shorter than Rockford. Reader is mentioned to have hair

Author Note: Thank you always for the kind support💗

Special thanks to @beecastle for beta reading and encouraging me 💜💜💜

Series Masterlist

The Truce

Entering the apartment, the whole living room is soaked in sepia tones, all browns and reds creeping up the walls, half-lit by a lightbulb on its last leg. You unclip Banjo’s leash from his collar, watching him dart away in the direction of the kitchen where his water bowl awaits him. Slipping off your shoes, you quietly venture further in.

In a scene almost identical to earlier this evening, Rockford rests on the floor with his eyes closed, sending a feeling of déjà vu rushing over you. He’s surrounded by paper, some crumpled and torn, his curls extra disheveled from fingers dragging through them with increasing annoyance.

His presence makes your empathy prickle, little firecrackers bursting in your veins bugging you to break the silence. And you want to, really, it’s just you don’t know how. There’s a jumble of half-formed sentences sour tasting on the back of your tongue, none of them feeling big enough, right enough to fix everything. Maybe Rockford doesn’t even want to talk to you. Maybe he’d been glad you’d disappeared, giving him time to think in peace.

“Did you know whenever a portal opens and closes there’s the distinct smell of ozone afterwards? It’s a pungent odor, like bleach,” Rockford says, causing you to jump. His eyes are open and looking at you now, though he makes no move to get up. “I have some if you’d like to shower with it. Cassius has a penchant for inhabiting seedy places.”

Your eyebrows lift, aiming for a note of levity in your voice. “I guess I missed the memo luxurious mansions are what’s considered seedy nowadays.”

There’s a tremor beneath his calm exterior, something dark he smothers a hair too late, and he angles his gaze away from your face, off to the side. “All that glitters is not gold, Miss Roan.”

You’re not sure what hurts most. The disparaging remark or how he continues breaking his promise of always letting you feel his emotions by continuing to stifle them. You’d entered the apartment wanting to close the distance between you and Rockford, but it seems like so far all you’ve done is widen it further.

Banjo chooses that moment to enter, licking at the water drops clinging to the hair on his beard. He makes a beeline for Rockford and lies down next to the man’s arm so there’s no excuse not to pet him. Spoiled pup doesn’t even notice the brewing tension, tail wagging happily with each stroke of Rockford’s palm over the top of his head. 

“I…” Your fingers wiggle restlessly, bottom lip held between your teeth. “I don’t…”

Rockford freezes for a fraction of a second, and you catch it again–a flicker of feeling he douses in the same instant it forms, preventing identification–before his steady movement continues. 

You join him and Banjo on the floor, sitting with your legs curled under you. The physical closeness settles some of your jitteriness somehow, reminds you he’s here. Tangible. 

“I don’t know how to fix this,” you confess.

Rockford’s head turns your direction so fast it’s a miracle his neck doesn’t snap. “What?”

“I know I screwed up at the crime scene, and I’m sorry for that, I’ll–I’ll be better, I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to be the match you deserve, just please stop shutting everything down–” You jam your finger against your temple, hoping he somehow understands how much it upsets you.

“Roan.” Rockford pushes himself upright, voice sharp and cutting deep, looking at you with blazing eyes. “None of what happened tonight was your fault. You don’t need to be better,” he spits the word venomously, killing the counter argument you’d been forming on the tip of your tongue. “You’re the perfect match for me. Exactly as you are. I’m the fuck up you don’t deserve.”

You frown, spluttering uncomprehendingly. “Wh–what?”

“Your trauma was triggered because I didn’t even spare a second to fucking think about the consequences of what I asked you to do. I put the case before your needs. The look on your face, Roan, I never want to see so much fear or pain ever again.” He swallows and takes a few seconds before continuing. “And as long as you kept feeling my emotions–my anger and my worry, everything–you’d keep being reminded of how I’d fucked up and you paid for it. So I sent you outside with Keziah, the most levelheaded man I know, and I did what I thought was necessary to…”

“To what?” you ask, barely above a murmur.

It’s heartbreaking to watch those brown eyes darken with shame, the tiniest quiver of his lips before he’s ducking his head, gaze falling to the rug. “To start earning back your trust.”

“No,” you breathe, shaking your head vehemently. “No, no, no. You never lost my trust. Not once. I’m the one who screwed up, Rockford. My empathy, it’s too…” unpredictable, disobedient, broken “...temperamental.”

“Kez told me what you felt from the victim. Roan, you’ve confirmed my suspicions there’s a killer on the loose.” He takes your hand in his, fingers interlocking. “You and your empathy have done more for this investigation singlehandedly than half the police force and their gifts have done in months.”

“Still, I’m sorr–”

“Roan,” he interrupts you with a firm squeeze of your hand. “Don’t you dare fucking apologize again.”

You grit your teeth, lips pursing in a thin line. If Rockford’s not going to let you feel at fault, then you’re not going to let him keep harboring guilt either. 

Bunch of self-blaming idiots, the pair of you. This ends now.

“Fine,” you answer, looking him square in the eye as your mind-gift deliberately pokes at his persisting mental shields. “I’ll stop apologizing if you stop shutting off your emotions. That shit’s not healthy. You’re not responsible for my trauma, Rockford. You didn’t have any idea what I’d sense from the echo and even if you had somehow guessed, you couldn’t have done anything about my brain’s reaction. It just…happened.”

And it’s like a switch flips inside your mind, such a jarring realization that your panic attack wasn’t your fault or Rockford’s. Neither of you directly caused it. Neither of you could’ve possibly predicted the hissing laughter. Neither of you had the power to erase your past.

It just fucking happened.

Rockford says nothing, gaze sweeping over your face as if seeing you for the first time, perceiving something new that entices his gift and eases some of the lines from his brow. 

You feel it when his walls come down, waters of relief and high spirits cascading upon your empathy, nurturing and nourishing. Rainfall after years of drought. Your eyes flutter shut, basking in the feeling of his mindscape. God, it feels so good to return. To be welcomed and wanted again.

The stark contrast between brothers rivals night and day. There’d been nothing to sense from Cassius’ aura except for just that: nothingness. A shadow without substance. But with Rockford’s, your mind-gift can stretch out infinitely in every direction, on and on and on, forever finding something new to discover. Barely scratching the surface.

“So,” you murmur, unashamedly soaking up his presence the same way Banjo sploots on the floor in a patch of afternoon sunlight, “it’s a truce then?”

You can hear the smile in Rockford’s voice when he agrees, “It’s a truce.”

“Good.” You let out a jaw-popping yawn, stretching your arms up over your head. “Now that that’s settled, I think it’s time for me to slee—hey!”

Rockford’s other hand retracts from your jacket pocket, quick as a fox, the playing card from Cassius caught between careful fingers. He holds it up towards the lamp, flipping it over, examining both sides. To you there’s nothing extraordinary about the card’s appearance, but evidently something must stand out to Rockford’s gift to spend extra time analyzing it. 

“Three of hearts,” he states the obvious, but there’s something about the narrowing of his eyes you don’t like the look of. 

“Does that mean something?” you wonder, glancing over at the wall where the knife still has the joker pinned. “What’s Cassius’ deal with playing cards anyways?”

“My brother picked up many pointless talents during his youth–tying cherry stems into knots with his tongue, mimicking birdsong, rolling a coin across his knuckles among others. But his favorite trick has always been cartomancy.” The hand still holding yours suddenly flips, exposing your palm and Rockford presses the card there with the three red hearts facing up. “If you believe these are capable of fortune-telling, then this particular card serves as both a warning and a piece of advice.”

“Well that’s clear as mud.”

Rockford leans back on his hands, all loose and casual now that his burden is gone and seeing that does something to you, it really does. “It means he likes you, Roan. That you’ll be seeing him again sooner or later.”

You groan, eyeing the playing card with a new lack of enthusiasm. “Hopefully later.” 

“Did my brother offer you money to spy on me?” Rockford asks out of nowhere.

“Yeah,” you answer, a little dumbstruck. “How did you–?”

“You’re not the first. Won’t be the last either, I’m certain.” Rockford steamrolls on before you can make a comment about their bizarre family dynamic. “Did you take the money?”

Huffing indignantly, you cross your arms. “Of course not. I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Pity,” Rockford says, dry as dust. “We could’ve used the extra income around here.”

The Suitcase

Rolling your eyes, you fling the playing card at his head. It misses him by leagues, soaring through the air frisbee-style and landing on the couch. Banjo stares after it for a moment, probably contemplating if it’s worth fetching, before settling his head upon Rockford’s knee with a quiet exhale.

It’s not as easy for you to turn away.

“Rockford.”

“Hmm?” He tweaks one of Banjo’s silky ears, distracted. 

You point a finger at a yellow suitcase standing out so glaringly amongst the couch pillows it’s ridiculous you didn’t notice it sooner. “What is that?”

Rockford reluctantly drags his gaze away from Banjo, the pup attempting to lick and nip every inch of the man’s hand, and acknowledges what’s caught your attention with a bland, “Oh that? It’s Carmin Carrillo’s luggage.”

Surprise raises both your eyebrows, gaze flickering back and forth between the suitcase and your match. “Seriously?”

Instead of outright answering, Rockford crawls across the short distance and grabs hold of the suitcase’s handle, yanking it onto the floor with a thud. He taps the personalized tag attached to the zipper, black with yellow initials CC, confirming the owner is indeed the victim. 

“Found it discarded in a dumpster a couple blocks from the warehouse,” Rockford tells you before gently nudging Banjo away with his foot when the mutt tries to give the case a thorough sniffing. “Careful. That’s evidence.”

“Does Inspector Dorrance know you have Carmin’s suitcase?”

“I sent a text to him highly suggesting he stop by here tomorrow at his soonest convenience. He replied with a thumb’s up.”

“Okay…” You frown lightly. “How did you even know to look for her bag?”

“The victim’s coat was wet, however her umbrella was unused which means she not only faced rain but strong wind too,” Rockford explains, and you remember how he’d studied the body, touching her coat and searching her pockets. “That kind of weather hasn’t happened anywhere in Fox Leap today which means she came in from outside the city. But she can’t have traveled more than an hour or two since her coat would’ve been dry. Quick weather check on my phone showed Toven was a match.”

Your jaw’s hanging open, you know it is, but it’s just–he’s so–and his mind, oh his mind is–

Beautiful, you think. Beautifully brilliant. Shining like the steady white beam of a lighthouse cutting through all the bullshit and distractions to the beating heart of it all: the bloody truth.

“There were mud stains on the back of her leg. Tiny splashes you’d only get from dragging a wheeled suitcase around. Except Kez told me no such thing had been found with the body.” His tone is almost totally inflectionless, flat like yours used to be when giving a field report to your higher ups. A recitation of pure, solid facts compiled and organized connecting A to B to C. “Most probably the killer drove the victim to the wharf, then accidentally forgot her suitcase was still in the car. No way he pulled it along with him or carried it on foot, that would’ve definitely attracted attention. And I say ‘him’ because statistically speaking, it’s most likely a man behind these deaths.”

“Uh…” You don’t know what to say, reeling from the influx of information. “Right, yeah. Makes sense. So, um, you really pieced together all of…all of those itty bitty details from just a few minutes of observation at the crime scene? That’s amazing!”

Rockford is quick to shake his head. “Remember our truce, Roan. There’s no need to flatter me.”

“Well, that’s unfortunate.” You click your tongue at him, causing Banjo’s head to tilt quizzically at the sound. “If you can’t tell when I’m being dead serious versus blowing smoke up your rear then maybe you’re not the master of perception like I thought.”

“No such thing as a master of anything,” he reasons, uncharacteristically flustered in such an endearing way your mind-gift threatens to melt.

“Humble,” you can’t help but tease, “that’s cute.”

“Good to know.” He clears his throat, changing the subject swiftly, probably hoping you won’t notice the red tint of his ears. Gesturing at the suitcase, Rockford says, “All the victim’s essentials are just as she packed them. Clothes, toiletries, charger. But her phone is noticeably absent. Wasn’t on her person or in her bag.”

“Maybe she left it back home accidentally?”

“In this day and age?” He scoffs. “Please.”

He’s got a point. Everyone’s glued to their phones from the moment they wake up to the moment they fall asleep, relying on them like an extra limb. Even Rockford’s got his cell within easy reach, acting as a paper weight on top of a stack of documents near where he was previously laying. Coming on an overnight trip to Fox Leap, Carmin definitely would’ve had her phone with her.

“She could’ve lost it,” you suggest, thinking of other possibilities. “Or…”

He leans in, brown eyes brightening, eager for you to reach the same conclusion he has. “Or?”

It takes you all of three seconds

“The killer has it,” you blurt out, an exclamation that Banjo echoes with a bark.

“Correct, Miss Roan,” Rockford states, matter-of-fact. “She might have left it in his car, just like her suitcase, or he took it from her directly. Either way, it’s in his possession.”

“You think he still has it?” Your eyebrows draw together dubiously. “If I were the killer, I’d throw it into the nearest body of water I could find.” 

“And that’s the difference between a clever and a brilliant killer.”

“Huh?”

“The brilliant ones are desperate to get caught. They crave attention. An audience.” Rockford spreads his arms out wide in a theatrical gesture, eliciting a quiet snort from you. Still, makes you wonder…

“How many killers have you encountered?”

Rockford falters for a moment. You feel it in his mood again, another one of those dark flickers, a bobber in the water dipping and coming back up, reacting to something deeper and unseen. He doesn’t try to hide it this time, doesn’t make a move to shove you out of his mindscape either. However, you’re reluctant to pull on that string any further. Tonight’s already had enough highs and lows involving a laundry list of emotions, thank you very much. He knows you know it’s there and you know he knows it’s there—whatever it is. For now, that’s enough. 

“Enough to be certain our killer has made a mistake tonight, Roan,” Rockford says without an inkling of doubt coating his voice or staining his mood. “It’s up to us now to set the trap and put an end to his poisonings. Together.”

Together, you think with a slight smile. I like the sound of that.

[anthurak]

Crystal Wind Rin AU/Yugioh Arc-V Rewrite Ideas: Part 3 - Developing the Dragons

(See Part 1 and Part 2 of this little series, among others. And also this one ask I answered that actually becomes relevant here.)

Following the Synchro arc, Rin’s role in events continue to deviate heavily from Yugo’s original one. Namely that she continues to work much more closely with the Lancers. In particular, Crystal Wing’s ability to travel between dimensions becomes much more important.

Like when Roget’s portal escape plan blows up in his face, here only a couple or more characters get sucked through rather than the whole team (say, just Yuzu), leaving the rest to try and figure out a way to follow. Which is when Crystal previously teleporting herself and Rin is brought up, and unlike Yugo, Rin is simply able to straight up ask her dragon partner to transport them.

Though it turns out that Crystal has never been entirely sure how she’s able to teleport, nor does she really know how to teleport accurately. Like how when she first teleported herself and Rin to try and chase after Yugo’s kidnappers, they ended up in the Xyz Dimension. Crystal is pretty sure she can teleport to a place she’s already been to, but for anywhere new like the Fusion Dimension, it’s basically a dice-roll.

So either the heroes decide to try their luck with that dice-roll, or simply head to the Xyz Dimension (since Crystal can teleport them there) where there is still enough of an Academia presence that they can hopefully find a way to break into the Fusion Dimension from there.

Either way, most of the Lancers end up in the ruins of Heartland City much like they did originally.

And being exposed to the image and effects of this ruined city has a very interesting effect on Crystal Wing.

At this point, Rin is still very unsettled by just how cheerfully Crystal slaughtered those Academia goons, though rather than being afraid of Crystal like she was in the past, Rin is afraid FOR her partner.

But the more time the Lancers spend trekking through the ruins of the city, fighting Academia forces and doing what they can to help survivors and refugees, Rin quickly notices that Crystal is acting strange. Confused, nervous and even afraid at the sight of the devastation and suffering in ways she can’t explain to Rin. Lashing out at Academia forces yet freezing up at the sight of refugees.

Of course what’s actually going on is that Crystal is getting flashbacks to the rampages she and the other dragons went on at Zarc’s command, as well as being confronted with the consequences of all that death and destruction. This is when we start getting the major hints as to what the four dragons were doing at Zarc’s command, with this arc also having Odd-Eyes and Dark Rebellion undergoing similar ‘Were we the bad guys?’ realizations. As well as a start of characterizing Zarc as having been essentially a manipulative and abusive parent-figure to the dragons.

Each of the three dragons with our heroes take this growing realization in distinct but similarly BAD ways, with their respective partners and friends each having their own way of trying to help them.

Odd-Eyes takes a very classic ‘curl up in a self-defensive ball and try to push everyone away’ with a ‘Don’t come near me! I’ll only hurt you!’ attitude. With Yuya giving his partner a likewise classic All-Loving-Hero ‘You’re not a monster’ pep-talk. Which ties into his own journey across the story thus-far and drive to make people smile, and how Odd-Eyes has helped him every step of the way. That it doesn’t matter who he used to be and that he doesn’t have to hurt anyone ever again.

Dark Rebellion takes a more subdued but much more personal reaction of trying to shut out the others, as he feels especially guilty and unworthy towards Yuto and Shun. Given that the destruction he caused was all too similar to what his friends suffered. And rather than any high-minded, optimistic pep-talk, Yuto and Shun simply offer Rebellion forgiveness for what he did. Which again is particularly poignant given their history.

Finally, Crystal Wing takes perhaps the most extreme reaction of lashing out in a very ‘I’m a terrible person and you should hate me!’ response, particularly aimed at Rin. Which in turn represents a major hint towards Rin’s past as Ray, implying that Crystal is already figuring out just who Rin used to be. And Rin responds to this with some ‘You’re not a monster’ and ‘What you used to be doesn’t have to define you now’, but most of all that she could NEVER hate Crystal. That regardless of who she was or what she did, Rin will ALWAYS be with her. Showing that Rin is actually just as completely ride-or-die for Crystal as Crystal is for her, and giving a hint to just how different Rin has grown from Ray.

Of course this might not be the healthiest approach to take, but Rin still has a bit of the ‘everyone for themself’ mindset that growing up in the Commons instilled in her, and after losing Yugo she’s pretty desperate not to lose Crystal too. So she is with Crystal no matter what, including overlooking the murder of a few hundred/thousand/million people. Basically, Rin and Crystal are just a bit mutually dysfunctional/codependent/toxic, but hey that’s what makes these relationships fun XD

Also, Rin’s and Crystal’s big talk/argument/reconciliation probably also ends with their first big, dramatic kiss. :D

Now, all of these arcs for the dragons don’t exactly play out all right at the same time, but rather are rather touched on and drawn out across the entire arc and possibly even the rest of the story.

Though one major payoff for Crystal comes later in the Xyz arc when the heroes are about to/already assaulting the Academia HQ in Heartland, only to discover that there is an army of Obelisk forces about to attack the refugee camps. With the heroes debating whether to call off their attack or to somehow split their forces to go help, Crystal speaks up that she and Rin can handle it.

Of course most everyone immediately realizes what Crystal is suggesting, with Rin in particular being very adamant in asking Crystal if she’s really okay with what she’s thinking of doing.

But as far as Crystal believes, she is a destroyer. At least this way, she can use what she is to help and protect people who need it.

And of course, Rin is absolutely behind Crystal and is going with her. And while some characters like Yuya question if this is really a good idea, the rest agree that it’s the best plan they have.

So Rin and Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon speed off and proceed to go on an absolute RAMPAGE on the Obelisk forces, one that is darkly reminiscent of the flashbacks/visions of the destruction the dragons once inflicted on the original dimension. We see Crystal Wing tear through hundreds of Ancient Gear Hounds and even a number of Chaos Giants, only growing with power as they try to fight back. Unleashing massive blasts of energy tearing through monsters and duelists alike. All while Rin stands atop Crystal Wing with a look of grim determination and acceptance, even bringing in her other Windwitches to help in the battle.

Thus providing a dark parallel as well as a striking contrast to the dragons’ previous rampage through the Original Dimension. Where they once inflicted terrible devastation on countless innocents at the whim of their sadistic master, now Crystal is turning her destructive power on others who have inflicted terrible devastation, in order to PROTECT innocents in danger. Alongside a partner who views all this not with sadistic pleasure, but grim determination and concern for Crystal.

And during all this, we see Leo Akaba actually witnessing all this from the Fusion Dimension with what can only be described as overwhelming horrified disbelief. Watching one of Zarc’s dragons enact terrible destruction in a way that absolutely gives him traumatic flashbacks, but alongside one of the fragments of HIS DAUGHTER. The sight of a fragment of his daughter Ray not only with one of Zarc’s terrible dragons, but seemingly HELPING it in a rampage of destruction pretty much sends Leo into an enraged, terrified breakdown.

All while being entirely oblivious to the irony that said fragment and dragon are fighting AGAINST the terrible destruction that HE caused.

[proxylynn]

How strong is Adam actually?

[Power scaling is hard due to Heaven not having been fully fleshed out yet. The most influential Catholic angelic hierarchy was that put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite in the 5th or 6th century in his book De Coelesti Hierarchia (On the Celestial Hierarchy). Dionysius described nine levels of spiritual beings which he grouped into three orders:

Highest orders: Seraphim, Cherubim, Ophanim (thrones)

Middle orders: Dominions, Virtues, Powers

Lowest orders: Principalities, Archangels, Angels

During the Middle Ages, various schemes were proposed, some drawing on and expanding on Pseudo-Dionysius, others suggesting completely different classifications.

Now, with what we know of Vivz's lore shown so far, Angels have their own hierarchy, with certain groups and tiers of angels dictating the degrees of authority in their government, such as the high-ranking Seraphim. It has also been stated that the powers angels possess are distinct from the powers that demons possess, with the former inherently holding dominion over the latter. Seraphim are still up high on the power dynamic but we're told there are "Elders" and Sera herself answers to these beings who can outrank/outpower her, hinting they have the power to make an angel "Fallen". We saw the Cherubs in Helluva Boss but, like they are in modern media, they aren't like their biblical source as badass warrior enforcement, but cute baby-like messengers that appear near on par with Imps (this might have been just the ones in the episode or the joke due to both groups being parallels for the bit). Ophanim are also present and have been since the start (the many-eyed wheel heads) but we don't know their role or if they are still up there with Seraphim but likely so. In the episode "Overture", Adam mentions a sexual encounter with a "Virtue chick". The term "Virtue" is also often the angelic counterpart of the Seven Deadly Sins, each one being a direct inverse of the respective sin. It is unknown which use of "Virtue" Adam was referring to.

Which now brings me to Adam and the Exorcists. Adam is a human soul that went to Heaven and for being an ordained mortal soul, the dude is fucking OP, on par with Overlords, which I think is hilarious considering I believe mortal souls being angels are the bottom bitches of Heaven's citizens which shows just how insane divinity can be when compared to the demonic powers. Now for the hard part, because Adam hints at making the Exorcists. We don't know if they are former human souls like him or if he himself made them, as he even gave Vaggie her name and Carmilla refers to the other Exorcists as Vaggie's sisters. Now this could mean they are all creations, and it does fit with Adam's ego to make a group of women who are subordinates under his command, but they also could've easily been recruited by Adam and he merely gave them new names upon being Exorcists. I also think Exorcists are even weaker than basic angels and are as barebones as an angel could be possible. Exorcists rely heavily on their weapons and lack defense, wielding no shields and having little armor, very much brutal crusaders that live for the slaughter of the damned under the guise of a holy mission...They're pawns. They also appear to lack abilities other than flight and making portals to traverse realms. Exorcists are very bloodthirsty and love violence. They seem to take sadistic joy in killing demons. Their loyalty is a core staple of their character, even so, Exorcists don't tolerate betrayal of any kind, and express hatred for Vaggie and the desire to gleefully kill her when offered the chance to go after her, becoming even more eager to do so when Adam offered a reward to the Exorcist who successfully brings him Vaggie's head.]

{So after all that, to answer your question of how strong is Adam...The dude was fucking strong. As the first human soul to go to Heaven and with millennia of training under his belt, his strength was up there to possibly archangel level and he was a threat to take seriously.}

Abilities

Flight - Adam had a set of wings that he could use to fly at great speed. He could also remove a feather from his wings to use as a quill pen.

Nephokinesis - He could control clouds he creates and make them into steps.

Cloud creation - With a flap of his wings, he can create a gust of clouds around him.

Immense strength - He was shown to be able to smash a light projector in front of him with brute strength in a moment of rage, and later shatter Alastor's barrier with a single punch. He was also shown to be strong enough to physically overpower Charlie, despite the latter assuming her full demon form. However, Charlie managed to use more of her demonic powers to stop him from punching Lucifer, utterly overpowering him and confusing him, indicating that he is only stronger than Charlie if she doesn't focus on all her power.

Enhanced endurance - Despite having not experienced pain for likely millennia, Adam was able to easily shrug off getting stabbed by Charlie with her trident despite saying that it hurt and he quickly retaliate after being repeatedly punched in the face by Lucifer.

Angelic power - As an angel, he most likely possessed high angelic power, especially as the leader of the Exorcists. His strength was proven to be immense, surpassing all but the strongest of Demons and Sinners as he was able to easily overwhelm both Alastor and later Charlie, who had assumed her full demon form and could have won had Lucifer not interfered.

Portal creation - Adam could create portals for other Angels to use, notably to transport himself and his Exorcist army to Hell at the start of each annual extermination. He also opened a portal to banish Charlie and Vaggie back to Hell in "Welcome to Heaven".

Conjuration - Adam could summon objects as he pleased, summoning his guitar and physical Exorcist copies during Hell is Forever, a golden scroll informing Charlie of Heaven's decision to move up the next Extermination, and a piece of golden paper to write on in court.

Alteration - Adam also showed he could alter the objects he created, such as when he made his axe guitar larger while fighting Alastor.

Photokinesis - Adam could fire blasts of holy light strong enough to vaporize Sir Pentious and his war machine in one small blast and slice tall buildings in half. He also showed he could channel his light through his guitar/axe to create powerful blades of light that were able to cut through Alastor's cane and through his fist to destroy demonic barriers. In "Overture", he created a giant bright orb of light above him while he was singing Hell is Forever.

Skillset

Musical talent - He was capable of singing and in "Overture" was implied to have been part of a band.

Guitar-playing - Adam was talented at playing the guitar and did so seemingly whenever he could.

Axe proficiency - Adam wielded his guitar-axe with amazing skill as he could fight out and seriously wound Alastor during their duel.

Leadership - Adam appeared to be a competent and capable leader of the Exorcists, often personally leading them into battle. Additionally, Adam appears to genuinely care for his subordinates.

Strategic mind - In both "Overture" and "The Show Must Go On", Adam demonstrates sound and logical thinking both in and out of combat; in the former, Adam waits to begin the next extermination so as not to prematurely reveal his plan, while in the latter, Adam personally attacks high-threat targets to even the odds for his Exorcists, as seen with his battle with Alastor, since he recognized him as the conjurer of the hotel's barrier.

[lilyofporcelain]

Servility - Part III

[Part I] [Part II]

It had been difficult, she thought, to pick out something to wear that morning. Laeynna couldn’t remember what she wore when she was younger and she suspected the only thing her father would have cared about was that she was covered. Fortunately for him, she had never been the sort to want to show herself off. When she began to think on it a little more, it occurred to her that she hadn’t thought of herself as necessarily pretty, or the type of woman who was inclined to stand out in a crowd. But clearly other people had different eyes. She was grateful for them.

He’d made her breakfast. French toast. Bacon. Eggs. It was hearty, and delicious. She couldn’t think of a time in which Andaeros’ cooking had not tickled her fancy. He didn’t press. Didn’t pry. Didn’t push. Knew what she was getting up to. Knew that what she’d likely needed most was simply his support and he offered it in excess abundance. She was grateful for him, even as she couldn’t exactly finish everything he’d made for her. But he’d also said anything she didn’t eat, he simply would. No food would go to waste.

When she left him, it was with kisses exchanged.

Love you, babe.

The words, simple as they were, left her pink in the cheeks. It was just what she’d needed when she’d set out, her insides aflutter with nerves. How many years had it actually been since she’d seen her father? Laeynna had lost count. She wasn’t sure she could remember anything about that final day. If she’d known that their last conversation would be… indeed, the last, would she have done anything different? At that time, she doubted it. She had been hungry with her ambition and it had controlled her so soundly that in the way wild, rabid animals were put down, Laeynna had almost not been any different.

A moment’s consideration more and she realised that no, in order for her to become the person she was in the present, in order for that growth to happen, she’d had to experience everything that came before. Otherwise, it would have made the present rather unimpressive and a bit of a hollow triumph. On some level, it was important that she was proud of who and what she’d grown into, and the idea that she’d survived everything to make it to that point. More than once, she had been described as a strong and resilient woman and though she’d often tried to be deaf to such evaluations of her character, there was a distinct truth in the words.

Laeynna travelled by foot, just as she had most of the other destinations in her life. Portals had, undoubtedly, made things convenient, but for her there had been a discomfort in taking them. Maybe a lack of understanding. In her official tutelage when it came to schools of magic, she’d never gotten that far and thus had never studied how they were created, what was needed to anchor them, how they determined where one was located to once passing through. The not knowing had left her wary and a good deal suspicious. After so many years of not taking them, she considered herself far too set in her ways. Besides, why take a portal when one could take the scenic route? The romantic within her, which Laeynna insisted didn’t exist, appreciated the view. Or maybe it was less the romantic and more the botanist. She was certain that at some point, the two ideas held hands with one another.

Nestled into the reds and golds of Eversong, a forest that looked like it was ever infinitely touched by autumn, House Luridveil’s modest lands and estate were nestled in an area that only saw hired help enter and leave. Her parents, to her recollection, had never exactly been a part of the upper echelon. They had been known only enough that names were familiar to some. At least to those who were in similar circles. In her youth, there had been parties and galas that the Luridveil members had certainly been all over, ever climbing higher in a society where hierarchy tended to define one’s comforts. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. Perhaps even spiritually. But the thing about climbing was that there was always someone, likely many someones, who sat above. Her father, she suspected, had held sense to know when to stop.

She wondered how that came to be. Where had his wisdom come from?

Laeynna saw her family’s manor before she suspected anyone on its grounds saw her. Elven architecture of blues and silvers, clinging to days that had preceded her, stretch above her, elegant and looming. Much the way quel’dorei society often had. Once upon a time her eyes had been blue. She didn’t much discuss her age or the different things she’d experienced, but she suspected she was probably older than most people thought she was, for not much of her behaviour reflected the adequate number of years she’d seen life. And in truth, she hated keeping track of her age. It didn’t matter anymore. At a point, it was only a number and that number… aside from recollecting what had or hadn’t happened, ended up only being a number.

That sinking feeling in her stomach, the invisible weight that sat upon her chest intensified. Halting in her steps for a moment, her chin tipped up, and up… and up. On the tallest tier of their home, she and Ankalei had shared a room. The tier below held her father’s study and personal quarters that belonged to her parents. On the bottom, sitting room and parlour for guests and company. Dining and kitchen. It was strange how just being near it almost made her feel like she’d begun walking through time. She hadn’t, of course, but the memories of days that had long passed felt incredibly strong.

She had always run. In the face of everything that frightened her, that left her wary, that she was unfamiliar with, she had fled. Even when it had come to Andaeros, realising she’d had more than a moment’s fancy for him, she’d wanted to run then, too. But she had faced that. She’d faced so many other things that she ordinarily would have avoided. She could face this, as well. If she didn’t, she’d never know how it would go and that, she thought, would haunt her. Laeynna had plenty of things already doing precisely that. She had no intentions to add another to it. With that in mind, she forced herself to press on. The coward that lived inside of her would have to be leashed and caged. She could not run from everything, after all, and she certainly couldn’t run forever.

A very special emerald she carried on her almost felt as if it warmed in reminder of just such a thing.

At the double doors, all silver detail and unnecessary flourishing design, accented by blue trim and a pristine white that made her think of moonlight, she was greeted by exactly two house attendants. They exchanged looks betwixt one another before turning their attention back onto her. She had also worn blue and silver. Intentionally. Dark hair pulled up in neat and elegant coiffure. Laeynna knew her audience and she knew that when the members of her household, even just staff, looked at her, it was important she carried herself appropriately. As such, it didn’t take her long before she brought hands into her skirts, dipped down in a curtsey that was deferential at best, and rose.

“I have an appointment with Lord Luridveil,” she said then, folding her hands together. “Afternoon tea.”

There was realisation in the eyes that met her and for a moment, she swore she saw the flicker of concern. Perhaps her father had already notified the help. It made her wonder if somewhere in those rooms of excess grandeur her mother wandered halls waiting to give a similar collection of disparaging remarks, things locked away for far too many years that were likely to come boiling rapidly to the surface. Yet aside from that glimpse of recognition, there were no hurled insults. No glares. No icy penetrating gazes. Just the rigid motion of a hand that lifted to open one door, and the second attendant, beckoning her to follow.

“This way, little miss,” he said.

Little miss. That had been the title given to Laeynna from her earliest years, likely because between her and Ankalei, she had been the younger. Reknon and Seilahs had never had other children and thus that made Laeynna the youngest of her household. It was an affectionate term, though she suspected that the usage of it in the present was less affection and more a combination of acknowledgement of her person and a reminder of required etiquette.

She followed him in and as the door was shut after them both, the sensation was surreal. In a way, stepping inside of the home she’d once lived in decades upon decades prior, a first glance made her think that almost nothing had changed about it. Cabinets and tables were pristine. Not a speck of dust on bookshelves or the magical braziers that had enchanted her so much when she was little. It was… spotless, something she had to assume was likely all thanks to her mother. As she was escorted through rooms, her eyes kept falling onto trinkets and baubles that she was certain were things she’d recognised—a hairpiece that she and Ankalei had fashioned from a shoreline shell as a gift for their mother, an early and rather rough painting hung on a wall that she had done of one of her father’s plant studies, a piece of music that had been written by the two sisters for one of the many galas that they had been in attendance to. And more. Laeynna and Ankalei were everywhere in the manor and the more she looked around, the more she wondered if she hadn’t been the only one who had trouble moving forward in the world.

What… must it have been like for her parents? The death of one daughter. The supposed execution of another. Maybe instead of anger filling their hearts, it had been sorrow. Parents weren’t supposed to outlive their offspring. Laeynna thought, for several moments, that she might have been looking at all of this wrong. Of course, the only way to know was to ask and in a reuniting conversation between herself and her father, it probably wasn’t the right time to begin travelling down just such a path.

In the end, it was simply a strange sensation to know that she still touched so much of a place she had often thought about and longed for, but felt barred from.

The stairs to the second level felt like they took longer than they truly did. When she found herself shown into a study that she had known well, the door was opened, and she was quietly ushered in. The door shut behind her and she found herself greeted by his back and the scent that she could only describe as bergamot spice.

Reknon Luridveil had always been a practical, pragmatic man. Ambitious when the situation had called for it, but cautious enough to know when and how to move himself in unseen ways. Never a soldier and only ever an academic, he was a man of magic and science, inclined to meld the two fields into one another. In his name, he had penned more than a few theses on his research and even in the archives of their grand city was a largely hypothetical and logical written look at the chaotic energies of fel and how such energies might be better used in constructive fashion as opposed to destructive, reiterating the need for care and moderation. In some circles, he’d found himself with allies. In others, he’d found himself with those who perceived him with rightful suspicion. But what possibly could have been so threatening about a man whose only real crimes were looking elegant and knowing how to host a proper conversation?

His hair has gotten longer. It is so long.

Dark as a midnight sky and streaked with silver, it betrayed his growing age. Laeynna doubted she even knew how old he was. She had never asked and he had never volunteered the information. When he turned, she felt confronted by a past she doubted she was ready for. Her father was both extremely recognisable and, at the same time, almost like looking at a foreign individual. She wondered how that was even possible. For several moments, the two simply stared at one another, as if the Bronze had suddenly entered the scene and simply placed that frame of time in stasis.

And then he spoke, low and almost with the power to lull. “You look so much like your mother.”

She had nearly forgotten how oddly charismatic he was, through doing little else but speaking. The observation did not surprise her. In fact, she had heard sprinklings of it once or twice when she was in the markets of the city. Not wishing to stay around out of fear of discovery, she had greatly minimised the amount of time she spent shopping after that. Uncertain whether she should have taken it as a compliment, she awkwardly dipped her chin and then not long after that, the rest of her dipped into a curtsey that was considerably more awkward than the one she’d given to the front door attendants.

Laeynna was met with something that was not quite a laugh, but perhaps a touch of humour in it. “Even your expression mirrors hers.” Shaking his head slowly, Reknon lowered a hand for her to take the plush chair that sat on the opposite side of his desk, dark wood in its design. “Sit. Eat.” He gestured to the delicate tiered tray of silver containing… no shortage of some of her favourite things to indulge in.

As awkwardly, she seated herself and still rigid, still composed, folded her hands together. Eyeing the tray for several moments, she wondered if the breakfast Andaeros had made her was going to come up. The way her nerves bubbled and boiled about, she wouldn’t have been terribly surprised. “I am not hungry, but thank you,” she managed to say after she gently cleared her throat.

With his gaze fixed on her, penetrating and digging, he merely studied. But then he said nothing and poured for them both each a cup of tea. Delicate rose touched the air, splashed against the interior of painted cups in vines and floral patterns. With hers, cubes of sugar, lemon, honey, and cream, as if he either could not remember how she took her tea, or understanding that potentially her tastes had changed.

And then he sat.

The silence between them, palpable, like two predators sizing up one another, except it wasn’t malice in the room. There was no malevolence, no unkind words thrown about with ease, no accusations, no… nothing. Just the quiet clink of silverware against porcelain. Somehow in the heavy quiet, it felt like even stirring her tea, even breathing was so much more evident than it truly had been.

“Zinnvais,” he began finally, as if the cogs in his head had finally turned enough for him to figure out how to begin. What he intended to begin with. But then he paused and his focus shifted, still eyeing her appearance, the way dark hair framed her face in light curls and waves. “Laeynna,” he corrected himself. “That is what you answer to now, yes?” Instead of waiting for an answer, he simply took note of her expression, a faint change that likely so few others would have noted. Yet to him, it was only most evident. “You are hardly the only resourceful one in this household.”

Pleased by the slightly sheepish pull in her features, Reknon continued. “I would ask how you have been faring, but the tone of your letter provides answer well enough to that. No husband or children to confide in?”

Laeynna’s lips pursed firmly and for just a moment, she felt, and looked, cross. Deciding that it was not worth even her response, she dropped her gaze into her teacup and took a long drink. If it was a jab at her, it was a cruel one. If it was humour, that too was cruel. If it was for the sake of getting a reaction out of her, it was overwhelmingly effective.

“Your conversational skills are as impressive as ever.” It was another prodding met with more of the same. Huffing out a breath that was either resignation or simply fatherly acceptance, Reknon fished out the letter she had written him. His eyes scanned the contents again and in the same voice he used in all of his conversations, thick Thalassian accent and flourish staining his velvet words, he recited her words back to her. “‘I do not ask to return home. It is not a room I beg of you. It is but your influence, your connections, your coin, and above all other things, your counsel.’” He looked over the edge of the vellum to his daughter, raising a finely-kept eyebrow before he continued. “‘My heart is in turbulence and strife.’”

Her father tsked softly and set her letter down. “Turbulence and strife,” he repeated. “What a wonderfully dramatic use of colourful language. Why, by looking at you, you are the very portrait of composition.” Lifting his left hand, he tapped at his temple, “Ah, and yet, you always have been the master of concealment.” As he sounded more scientist than father, a small little curve hooked into one side of his mouth. “So then.” Reknon tossed the letter to his desk, taking his teacup into hand. “What has you in such dire straits that you would seek out a family who believed you to be beheaded? It must be something catastrophic.”

Therein lied the issue. Had he but asked her days before, the prior week, her answer would have been entirely different. She still wondered if even it was. Andaeros had surprised her with something she had never foreseen. The reminder of it, that pretty emerald used to pass the wards of his apartment, practically burnt where she’d stashed it. Nothing else in their relationship had gone exactly the way relationships were supposed to. She still wondered if it was even remotely acceptable for him to have made such an offer. He wanted to face his fears, he said. What choice did she have but to believe him.

"I do think I have a place. I just don't know where it is."

“I do. It's with me. In my apartment.”

It had been too late to write her father back to explain and she couldn’t very well take back her words. Andaeros had been right when he gently ushered her to make contact with her family, though it was really Ankalei who deserved it. In ways that she had wronged her twin sister, however, she had not been free from wronging her mother and father. And if he could face his fears of love, of the future, of commitment, of dedicating himself to her? She could face her fears of the past. 

“I…” Laeynna began, transparently uncertain of how to even begin explaining the situation. “...Things are merely difficult,” she finally managed to say. “Where once I thought I could have made friends, where I… attempted to make friends, to open myself up, to allow myself to be vulnerable, circumstances changed. It undid nearly half a year’s worth of my efforts. And I have found myself wondering why I should expend any more.”

She shook her head slowly, fiddling with her spoon inside of her tea, a light brown touched by her cream and a hint of sugar. “I had originally come in hopes that you would help me find a place to belong. Somewhere far away from Quel’thalas. I was willing to do anything if you could grant me that. If I had to be alone, then I wanted it to be somewhere that no one would think to look for me.”

He eyed her with interest, the pear green of his gaze taking her in. The way her shoulders dropped from how proudly she’d been holding them just moments before, as if his words so easily cut her down to size. “Originally,” he pointed out with some interest, knowing very well that she picked her words as carefully as he did. It was a trait that he had inadvertently passed down to her, though he regretted it in those moments. Too much of a good influence, it seemed. “And yet something has changed.” With a hand at his chin, tracing along the black that bare kissed his chin, his attention was sharp without being serrated.

Laeynna could not bring her eyes back onto his, perhaps because she thought he might see through to her. Yet when he spoke again, she could not find herself entirely surprised. Years had kept her away from him, but in spite of that, he was still her father. At a point, no one knew or understood Laeynna and her habits—good and bad—better than her own family.

“Aha…” Her father continued, refilling his cup by half, merely a method of warming what remainder sat in it. “Something important has stopped you.” When she offered no argument, no protest, no counter, no witty retaliatory comment, he surmised with a great deal of confidence that he was little more than right. “...Does this something important have a name?”

Pursing her lips again, Laeynna focused so intently on her tea, that it was nearly more like a tutelage evaluation than a cup of something she ordinarily would have sought refuge in. Her response came, somewhat quiet and carefully delivered. Something important. Of all things, that was the very least that he was. But it would have to do. “Andaeros.”

The name itself didn’t immediately provide any recognition. In his momentary quiet, it was evident that he was rifling through the names he’d known, wondering if there were connections. Past and present were cycled. There was an Arkados, but that was certainly no match. Damn their people and their ‘A’ names anyway.

“...Andaeros…?”

His gesture was leading and Laeynna, after a very quiet, demure sip from her cup, fed him the rest. “Dawnflare. Andaeros Dawnflare.”

That name too did not spark recognition. Possibly a name that simply melted into the sea of elvenkind. Perhaps a no-one. Perhaps a someone. His expression neither depicted relief or suspicion. Simply a blank space with a gently furrowed brow. Shaking his head, he could not find another point in which to immediately pursue. He opted for a second. “And this… Andaeros Dawnflare…” As if he could use his voice to emulate the way in which his daughter had said it. Clearly something weighted, though to what extent he could not determine. It was little more than a side to her he was relatively unfamiliar with. “Do you feel this Andaeros is holding you back?”

That was a question. Laeynna had nearly responded without a moment’s hesitance, but as she gave it due consideration, she realised that she had never considered that to be a possibility. A woman of many years before would have likely said he was. That was what had happened to Atos, after all. He stood in her way. Stopped her from being what she thought she could be. What she thought she wanted to be. But her father, she had suspected, never knew a lick about the man. Of course, she’d assumed he thought her sentence carried out and he had proven her wrong there. Perhaps he knew more than she had allowed herself to think possible. Maybe, she’d never had any secrets from her father. 

…Did that mean he knew of Ankalei?

About the time that her expression began to mirror the thoughtfulness that so easily crossed his features, Reknon’s sudden tap atop the surface of his desk pulled her from the thoughts of her sister. Of Atos. Back onto Andaeros, the real minute topic of discussion. If he was holding her back, then surely, it was in a good way. Preventing her from… what likely would have been, could have been, was very likely to become a point of no return. She didn’t know what that point looked like, and wasn’t particularly eager to find out. In other ways, she worried she felt a tint of resentment. Of bitterness. Less for Andaeros and more for herself. If she had been a stronger person, she would have simply left. Told him no, put everything elsewhere, and sacrificed everything to retreat into herself. She still felt like it was unlikely there would be any positive outcome for her at the end of this pathway. But perhaps she’d travelled too far on it to not see it through to the end.

She owed that to herself, she supposed. If Andaeros was holding her back, it was because she let him. If ever she felt a jaded cynicism over it, then it would only be to herself. That was the right course of action.

Finally she shook her head, “No. Of course not.” It both was and wasn’t the truth, she decided. Sometimes truth was not so simple, perhaps. “If you would, I would still like a place. I was thinking within the Broken Isles.” At least a place for her to retreat to when she couldn’t endure what pressure she felt came from staying in Quel’thalas. A safe place. A safe space. Just somewhere that she could be without being surrounded by worry and insecurity and the other things that would possibly distress her. A form, perhaps, of personal therapy, though she never would have been arrogant to put it in such a way.

“...You owe me nothing,” she continued. “I owe you the world. Yet I ask this of you. I think without it, I will lose myself and become someone, something I do not wish to be.” Perhaps Laeynna meant to add more, but that pressure upon her chest had grown so tight, she felt she had extended past her boundaries of comfort. She’d placed herself at his mercy, made no expectations. In her eyes, there was nothing more she could do.

A small bit of her tea remained, but finding no room for it, she helped herself up, her focus on her father attentive, though lacking the melodrama that surely must have accompanied her words from the week before. Maybe because she’d had her breakdown in her quiet. The thing about crying was that at a point, she didn’t have anything else left in her. There were no more tears, just the sense of a dulled pain in her heart, throbbing with every beat of her pulse and reminding her of its presence. Soothed a little by potential promise, but held carefully by wariness and a need to protect herself whilst also facing her own fears and uncertainties about a future she could not know.

Andaeros and his realism, how it seeped into every part of her. Perhaps his fear had infected her. No. Unlikely. She had never been an easily changeable woman. Even in her youth, that had not been the case. Laeynna was not fickle. Was not so easily stirred to begin with or moved. If anything, she was often so laser-focused with her intent, that to call her bullheaded and uncompromising to a fault may have been accurate. She had made no decisions that were short-lived. Choosing Andaeros… That was not inadvertent and it was not spur of the moment.

No regrets, even when she felt as she did.

“Please,” she continued as she made way for the door in which she’d come through. “Think on it. If you choose to decline, I shall abide that. I shall not bother you again.”

“Next time, Laeynna,” she heard her father say when her back turned to show herself out. With the door opened from the way it had clicked into place, she paused. “Next time, bring him with you.”

Looking over her shoulder to Reknon, Laeynna studied him for several moments. There were any number of things she could have said in response to that. Most of which were refusals in one way or another. She could understand why he made the request he did. If it was a request at all. Sometimes it felt like everything her father presented were just firmly-worded demands under the guise of heavily-implied suggestions. Likely a result of the way he used his voice. Curiosity. Laeynna had never brought someone home. Had never introduced anyone to her family. Must have been someone quite special indeed for her to have even made mention of a name. But she seemed to know even as she found herself out in the hall, closing the door after herself, she would do no such thing.

Perhaps, she thought, slightly amused even under the weight of reality. In a fever dream.

As she made her way down the stairs, she stepped carefully, keeping a weather eye out. She wasn’t ready to see her mother. Whilst her father had not been necessarily unkind, she did not think she would have the same fortune with his wife. Instead, she offered merely polite nods to the attendants along the way and once she was shown back outside, she loosed a breath.

She’d survived. That was all she could have done for the time being. Stretching her arms above her head as she descended the steps of her family’s manor, she slid musician’s fingers into her dark hair. The trip back would be a bit. Perhaps a glass or two of wine would help her digest all she’d experienced in moments that surely didn’t feel as long as they’d seemed to.

And perhaps she could find a little something to bring home for Andaeros. He deserved it after everything. Nothing with Laeynna had ever been easy, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t soften it a bit.

Mentions: @andaerosdawnflare

[squealing-for-harusono-sensei]

Is Sasaki to Miyano BL? (Pt. 1: Genre is COMPLICATED)

I can practically hear some saying "Obviously??" And others yelling "NO IT'S NOT!!!" to that question.

For those of you who don't get why this is even in question, it's because Harusono-sensei doesn't classify Sasaki to Miyano as BL. The first volume cover denies that it's BL and on the site where it's published, it isn't categorized as BL.

Some may argue that it doesn't matter. It's about two boys who end up together, isn't that enough? "Death of the author" and all that.

I studied literature in college. Admittedly, I had a hard time understanding genre–so I had it as one of the main topics of my graduating thesis out of spite. And got the best possible grade. So I think it's safe to assume that I learned and know more about this than the majority of this fandom. And I say, that question? Is VERY complicated to answer.

The thing is, a lot of people think of genre as a binary. Either something is or isn't a part of that genre. In reality, it's closer to a spectrum and there are a lot of grey areas.

Take the arguments I presented for and against Sasaki to Miyano being BL. How much you buy into either of those arguments is largely depended on

1) Who you think has the most authority over what genre a work is. Is it the author or the reader?

2) What makes a BL BL? Is love between two boys really the only factor?

Neither of these have a clear answer. The reason why I was so confused about genre was because the academic world don't agree on what it even is. We all agree that genre is a thing, but we can't define it.

As I see it, genre is a byproduct of the human instinct to see patterns in things. We see a story and go "This is like that other story!" Once we have a large enough amount of stories that resemble each other and we give that group a name, BAM! We have a new genre.

Which is why defining it is so hard. Stories can be similar in a lot of different ways. But stories aren't similar if they only have one commonality. And yet we tend to boil the similarities down to only one aspect.

Take the isekai genre. Stories about going to another world goes WAY back. And yet, it's only within the last decade that we gave them that name. As I see it, it's because earlier they were similar enough to fantasy stories to simply be lumped into that genre. Whether the main character was born into a magical world or came into it later in life didn't change things enough for those stories to be dissimilar. At most it was a sub-genre of fantasy (e.g. portal fantasy). But suddenly we got a lot of stories about being transported into another world that were very similar in a distinct way. The main character was similar. They ended up in similar worlds. They were, for one reason or another, OP in this new world. They had similar tropes, characters, plot progressions. So these stories were given a name–isekai. Meaning different world. And then, because being transported to another world is the most distinct feature, all stories with that premise is categorized as isekai regardless of how well the term actually fits. (Although if it only has the premise as point of similarity, veterans of the genre will typically say that it is only technically isekai, or distinguish it from other isekai in some other way.)

Looping back to BL, if romance between two boys is the only defining factor, we can't call BL a genre...right? Well, yes, but once something is a genre things get even more complicated.

But does it have to be? Couldn't we just solve it by having the author decide the genre?

Sadly, authors are not immune misclassifying their works. Authors are not immune to misunderstanding genres, for one, though I think we can safely rule out any of those reasons in this case. Harusono-sensei clearly knows a lot about BL–a lot of Sasaki to Miyano's humor wouldn't work otherwise. However, that doesn't rule out not being able to see the forest for the trees. Sometimes an author is too close to their work to recognize the genre because they get bogged down in all the details that make their work unique. There is also the possibility of Harusono-sensei just plain lying to us. Because sometimes authors do that.

But why would an author ever want to lie about the genre? Because genre shapes expectations.

This is why the question of what genre a work is even matters. In worst case scenarios, it's like eating something sour when you were expecting something sweet. You probably wouldn't like it, even though you would have liked it if you had known it would be sour. The worst case scenario isn't relevant for this question, but the point is that being told that something is a specific genre is going to affect how you experience the story.

Regardless of whether or not Sasaki to Miyano is or isn't BL, Harusono-sensei did have something in mind when she called it Boys' Life instead of BL. So whenever you recommend it, I think it's worth pointing out that it's a Boys' Life story. Because that's the expectation that Harusono-sensei intended for readers to have.

Does that then exclude Sasaki to Miyano from the BL genre? Not necessarily. Partly because I think that Harusono-sensei is half lying about the "not a BL" thing. More about that in part two, where I explore what I think Harusono-sensei intended with calling Sasaki to Miyano a Boys' Life story, NOT a BL.

But I did mention that the author might not be the most reliable source of what genre the work is. So I probably should try to answer the question instead of just making it more complicated.

If you try to rationally figure out the answer instead of just going by "I know it when I see it," there are a couple of different ways to do it.

One way of thinking about genre is that it's a collection of common traits that might occur in a genre. It might common character types (e.g. badboy uke), common tropes (e.g. kabedon), common plot developments (e.g. misunderstandings), etc. etc. Some are more critical than others. If there is no romance between two boys then it is categorically not BL.

Another is seeing genre as there being an imaginary story that perfectly exemplifies a genre. Whether or not a story is a part of that genre depends on how close it is to that ideal genre story.

These are just some examples, but the problem is that there isn't really a clear cut answer no matter how you try to figure out a genre. A lot is up to personal interpretation. Plus genre keeps changing. Each new story that is widely accepted as a part of that genre broadens what the genre can be.

Plus the simple fact that no one can read every story that may or may not be a part of a specific genre. I tend to avoid dark stories and have gotten less and less tolerant towards non-consent with age. So there are parts of the BL genre that I don't really engage with. Which then affects how I view the genre.

As I see it, the more you read a genre, the better your understanding of it is. And everyone who are avid readers of a genre will have similar but slightly different understandings of the genre.

Trying to figure out what genre Sasaki to Miyano is the rational way is way more work than I am willing to do. And realistically, kinda impossible. So I'll just give my two cents as someone who has read a lot of BL.

Sasaki to Miyano is partly BL. Which probably sounds like a cop-out answer, but I do mean it. While wholesome, it works a lot more on real world logic than BL logic and also focuses on things outside of Sasaki and Miyano's relationship. But the focus on the romantic aspect of Sasaki and Miyano's relationship, dealing with some of the same themes as BL, and the importance of the BL genre on the story can't be ignored either. So I consider it a fusion of BL and slice-of-life.

But if you read a lot of BL and have a different take? Then it's just as valid as mine.

[kaylinalexanderbooks]

Hi! I’m not dead, just very overwhelmed so I won’t be posting for a while (well a while longer than this)

In the meantime, how do you name things? WIPs, characters, worlds, places etc.

Have a good day!

- @imsoveryveryconfusedatlife

Hello again, friend! Sorry you're overwhelmed I totally get that.

WIPs

Well, it depends. I don't like one word titles that much, and The [Word] isn't much better (for my things specifically - I prefer making them a bit more distinct). For me, I like 3+ words for abbreviations.

Most of the time, the names just came to me. Let's look at these guys:

The Secret Portal - refers to the main gimmick, magic source, concept, inciting incident, etc of the story. Can't exactly reduce the conflict or broader concept down to a snappy title, so here's the Thing that got everything started and makes it possible. Plus, it gives the reader a bit of context going in, since knowing a portal is involved I think helps.

School of the Legends - what else am I supposed to call the fairy tale school parody? Everything else is taken lol

It Was All Just a Dream - well it's a classic trope that's hated by a lot of people, though it's occasionally used well, it's hard to pull off. So I'm just telling you straight up that it's all a dream. Plus, it's snappy and demands attention

Characters

TSP - mainly they come to me but sometimes I will scroll through behindthename.com

SOTL - I usually try to find a name with a relevant meaning since I'm working with fairy tales

IWAJAD - legit they just came to me, but the less common names like Noemi and Phinessa are names I've gotten from real people

Worlds/Places

TSP - I cry and pull my hair out until I find something that kinda works

SOTL - jury's still out

IWAJAD - real life baby

Thanks for stopping by!

TSP intro

TSP tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @illarian-rambling @televisionjester @finchwrites

@nebula--nix @literarynecromancy @honeybewrites @the-golden-comet

SOTL intro

SOTL tag list (ask to be +/-): @illarian-rambling @katwritesshit @wyked-ao3

IWAJAD intro

IWAJAD tag list (ask to be +/-): @thepeculiarbird @mrbexwrites @drchenquill

[spiderculechronicals]

I love this turn of events bc Peter 2 gets to be a baddy a lil bit and it saves the reveal for the reset until right now and that is ok by me

___

“Hey, Dr Strange!”

“Hello Peter,” Dr Strange greeted him, then turned to the others. “Ah… Mr Parker, Mr Wilson, and… Mr Parker…”

“Dr Parker, actually.” Peter 2 smiled with confidence.

“Dr Parker.” Dr Strange corrected himself and nodded, a barely discernable smile tugging at his mouth. He glanced at Peter 1, who was gazing at Peter 2 with pride and fondness. The look was mirrored on the face of Peter 3, who was hanging on Deadpool’s arm. “Ah, come through, please.” Strange made a series of hand motions with glowing symbols in the air, creating a sparkly-edged circle portal in the room. He gestured to it.

“Whoah! Hold- time out. Where the fuck is that going?” Wade spoke up.

“It’s a portal, it’s perfectly safe-“

“I know what the fuck it is, Professor Weirdo, I asked where the fuck is it going..? And are you coming with us, orrrr…?”

Dr Strange looked to Peter 1 to back him up.

Peter 1 caught his eye and blinked. “Is… is that not a valid question? That sounded like a valid question to me…?”

Dr Strange sighed. “Right. I suppose it is. The office building that has the paperwork prepared is located a four hour trip away by standard transportation. This is faster. I will be going with you. I can’t go first because I need to maintain the portal.”

Wade squinted and walked over to the portal, then poked his head through to investigate. He pulled back. “Alright. Checks out. Jesus Christ I swear all surgeons are entitled fucking assholes…”

 

They eventually got settled and Wade quickly informed Strange that he didn’t actually need the service for himself, he already had an established identity with paperwork and a credit score, he was merely there as moral support for his soon-to-be-husband. The question came up as to whether, for the sake of alleviating confusion, the two surplus Peters would like to alter their name or other information.

“Uh… is there a law against multiple people having the name Peter Parker that I’m not aware of? Is this like, the screen actor’s guild or something?” Peter 3 smirked. “I’m not changing my name until we get the marriage license.” He patted Wade’s knee for emphasis. Peter 2 echoed the sentiment about keeping his name.

Strange informed one of the case workers that as it turns out, one of the Peter Parkers needs his paperwork changed to include the title Dr. Once they realize it’s not a medical doctorate, it doesn’t seem to be an issue. Peter 2 sighs. Strange shrugs, and the two find themselves alone for a little while as paperwork is adjusted elsewhere, and Peter 1 and Wade had been left to wait in an outer lobby, and Peter 3 was shuffled off to have pictures taken.

“Eh… don’t take it too hard. I don’t practice medicine anymore, but like hell I was going to drop the honorific. You earned your title, Dr Parker.”

“Thanks,” Peter 2 said, smiling with mild amusement. “You care a lot about Peter, don’t you?”

“It’s my experience that anyone who actually gets to know Peter Parker does,” Strange said. “And respects Spiderman greatly. He’s the future I hope to see for super heros.”

“Did you get a little swell of quasi-paternal pride when I said I was Dr Parker…”

“… Perhaps.”

“How bad is Tony Stark going to react to Deadpool being involved?”

Strange sighed. “This iteration of Wade Wilson does seem to be… tempered... significantly by the influence of…”

“… His Peter.” Peter 2 filled in helpfully. “I take it you looked up the past year and a half with regards to his activity?”

“I did. He was absolutely correct, this universe has made a net gain.”

Peter 2 chuckled. “Did you know that in my universe, there was no Stark Industries? Iron Man and Captain America were comic book characters to me.”

“Now that… is fascinating.” Dr Strange smiled.

“There clearly was a Stark in Wade and Peter’s universe, but I got the distinct impression that there existed bad blood there. That Tony did not mentor a young Spiderman.”

“I’d say the loss was Stark’s…”

The case worker returned with several new pages for Peter 2 to initial and sign. Peter 2 sighed softly and set to reading, moving quickly but clearly taking the information in. Once he’d reviewed all the pages he went through and initialed and signed where indicated. The caseworker left them again in the cubicle booth.

“So…” Strange began, and Peter 2 just sat back with his chin down and smiled, having a feeling about what was coming. “You and… Peter…”

“He’s not a kid, you know.”

“… I do know.” Strange paused, searching for wording. “He’s very much an adult. I’ve also noticed that in a span of perhaps two days, his mental health has gone from self-destructive high masking depression to confident, secure, and hopeful.”

Peter 2 looked mildly pained at the idea that Peter 1 had been suffering from depression prior to their arrival. He met Strange’s eyes. “… he was depressed?”

“He lost touch with his social circle when they went away to university out of state and he stayed behind, opting for a two year degree at a community college with plans to transfer that never materialized… I strongly suspect due to lack of action on his part, which is not to say it was a weakness of character, but… his heart belongs to the city and it would be hard to leave. He came to me hoping for a way to repair the past, and… though it didn’t go as planned, I have to say the ultimate result was just what was needed.”

“Aw, Peter…” Peter 2 murmured softly, deciding then and there that it would be his life’s goal to make sure Peter 1 had another crack at higher education and achieved at least a Master’s. He looked up at Strange. “Why are you telling me this? Me, specifically.”

Strange tilted his head and lifted an eyebrow. “Because you’re less likely to curse me out defensively and go on a tangent about my cape or the white streaks in my hair…”

“They are rather striking.”

“Thank you.”

“How did you destroy your hands? By the way. I noticed the scars.” Peter 2 said, deciding not to be a soft option.

“… drunk driving.” Strange admitted, accepting this fate with grace.

“Sss…” Peter 2 made a grimace. “You lose someone too?”

“The woman I loved.”

“Did she…”

“Died in the crash.”

“Holy shit. Okay. Yeah you… you were to blame for that one. That’s… hard. You still alone?”

“I have enough on my plate to keep me going.”

“You tried to change the past for yourself before and knew it wouldn’t work.”

“Some things are set.”

“But you didn’t want to turn Peter away, even though you knew he was asking the impossible, because he needed something to give him hope, or… it doesn’t bear thinking.  So, you cast some kind of spell, but not the spell he thought you were casting.”

“I made no pretense that the spell would work as he thought it should…”

“Hey, I’m not complaining.” Peter 2 put a hand up. “I just know a guilty conscience when I see it.”

Strange raised an eyebrow. “From the mirror?”

“Mm…” Peter 2 held eye contact and conceded with a mirthless smile. “I’ve taken the blame for things that weren’t my fault… and then ended up doing things I thought that version of myself was capable of. So yes. From the mirror.” He sighed. “This universe feels like a brand-new start to me. I wasn’t going to take direct action- I believe the clinical term is passive ideation. But Wade and his Peter? They were doing fine in theirs. They were thriving in their own way. But they’ve both taken on this world with an open heart. And I say Wade’s Peter, but I have to be honest, he’s mine too. We’re all part of each other now. And we all fiercely and wholeheartedly love the Peter who brought us here. I have the incredible honor of being chosen by him for the role of boyfriend… I think this is what you were initially getting at. But it’s a polycule, look that up if you need to, and there’s… a developing dynamic. But, also, yes… it’s been consummated. With enthusiastic consent. As you say. He’s an adult.”

Strange took this in with an admirable composure. “Alright, that explains a lot…”

[clueless-fan-critic]

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse: The Edge of the Sony’s Spider-Verse.

Alright. Let’s get to the meat of the business sandwich.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the sequel to 2018 smash hit film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse that honestly broke all of my expectations about the film being a two-parter with too much info. I honestly loved the movie just as much as the first with its iconic animation style, charming characters, and impactful story. Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, it felt like the film was greatly cohesive without any confusion to the plot. It feels as if the film was not just a mandatory assignment but also a passion project made in the years before it was production. While I’m a fan of Marvel and the MCU (to some degree), I’ve definitely became a Spider-Verse fan.

Let us get into this Spider-Man classic once again.

The Animation

Alright. Let’s get this out of the way.

The animation was incredible and awe-inspiring much like the first film, but pushed into overdrive. Each animated world has its own style that reflects a different version of Spider-Man. From Hobie Brown’s collage-like style to Pavitr Prabhakar’s bollywood inspired environment. Gwen’s dimension is especially colorful with the watercolor style reflecting her comic book covers. Almost every character has a distinct style to their animation from 1960s campy to 90s angst. While the movie visually stunning and dynamic, let’s get into what’s going on story wise.

The Characters

The main characters of the movie are definitely Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy. They both are different sides of the story that reflect the theme of who someone is as Spider-Man and what kind of story they have or what they want out of life. In a way, it continues the ideas and themes about expectations with choosing their own path in spite of others’ opinions and expectations.

Afro-Latino protagonist Miles is someone who’s dealing with the crossroads of who he wants be while grappling with the expectations from his family. He’s also struggling with balancing his two lives as a teen and a superhero with his responsibilities to his family. When face-to-face with Miguel O’Hara, the Spider-Man of 2099, and the fact about canon events, Miles chooses to go against it believing he can save people without risking the Spider-Verse. The phrase “I can do both” is what caught my attention because it is possible for some people, but not a choice for Spider-People in that they must experience canon events for the sake of the Spider-Verse.

Gwen is faced with the rigid expectations of what it means to be Spider-Man and how she faces the choices she makes. Gwen makes the decision to go against Miguel and the Spider-Society to save Miles on the wrong Earth, deciding to become her own hero that she wants to believe in.

The Spot, Johnathan Ohnn, is the main villain of the movie with his power to make dimensional portals after the collider exploded in the previous film. They at first portray him more of a joke character, but then slowly build him into a terrifying threat with colossal amounts of power at his hands. This is shocking because I always thought of him as a lackluster villain despite having a cool power. They actually made what could of been a joke into someone more terrifying in concept alone.

The numerous cameos from the Spider-Society range from interesting to hilarious. One of them is an obscure spider-person in a wheelchair and with crutches named Charlotte Webber or Sun-Spider of Earth-20023. Others include a cowboy, cat, t-rex, and even dune buggy. They all could just be glorified cameos with no substance, but they actually bring out the abstract craziness of the Spider-Verse and what it means for future of the franchise as a whole.

The Story

The whole story centers around Miles Morales and his journey into becoming Spider-Man, but also Gwen’s journey and how the Spider-Verse is being threatened by the Spot.

The villain is definitely the Spot and his crusade to destroy Miles, but the antagonist is Miguel O’Hara’s ideology about the Spider-Verse. Miguel’s insistence of maintaining the order of the Spider-Verse goes directly against Miles’ idea of what it means to be Spider-Man. Miles wants to save his father from a fated death as a police captain, but Miguel wants to let it play out so that the universe isn’t destroyed because of canon events.

The idea of canon events creates the division among the Spider-People where they choose to let people die to preserve the universe or risk its destruction. This idea is pretty similar to what Doctor Strange presented in No Way Home with letting the villains die than risk the universe. I think because Miles doesn’t follow the canon, he can break the cycle that all the Spider-People endure and have them even question the very system they follow.

I liked how the story left us on a cliffhanger that made us crave more of the movies and possible spinoffs. Leaving us wondering what will happen to Miles on Earth 42 with his evil doppelgänger or what Gwen’s plan is now that she’s leading a splinter team against Miguel and the Spider-Society.

Afterword

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a miracle in the landscape of sequels and two-parters. It has pushed itself to a whole new level of animation with unique colors and styles. The story and characters are pushed to their limits with dilemmas of preservation and duty along with freedom of choice and finding one’s way. It reminds us that no matter who you are, you can still be unsure of what you want and still be okay with questioning things.

Now I can’t wait for Beyond the Spider-Verse next year.