#i might throw out some more bad kid designs who know

[masterrainb0w]

I reckless..... Nat 20. Second attack..... Nat 20

[rockatnothing]

Season three of From has got me screaming, crying and throwing up!! I love it!!

Here's a bunch of random thoughts I have from episode five 🐦‍⬛ ngl I don't remember any character names so forgive that please lol

I'm theorizing that Fatima is being turned into one of the monsters. She was eating rot and was drinking Nicky's blood. Plus, she couldn't get into the colony house in a previous ep. I'm thinking the eating rot might reflect whatever happened inside the monsters to make their internal organs dry up. Honestly, I think all of the monsters were at some point human and then got turned. I think there was a mass turning sometime in the 60s because of the monsters based on their costume design. Perhaps they figured out how to kill all their monsters but as a trade off they got turned. The life Fatima could be holding is the birth of a new monstrosity.

The town and everything feels like an escape room to me. There are rules the world follows and things get more intense when the people find something new. Like with the phone/radio. There was a man in S1 Jim talked to and now we're talking to Thomas. If all of this was meant to destroy the people then why have someone warn them about Tabitha digging or returning. This world works in a specific way where there are ways to solve the horrible mysteries and active various entities helping the people.

Which reminds me of the whole thing with Tabitha and Victor's mom. It feels crazy how deliberate the town picks people. Plus that Tabatha isn't the only one that has had visions! I think all of the characters who hallucinate fit into roles. Like the town needs someone to see the kids, the symbol or the dried up woman in colony.

Who is the dried up woman??? Is she a ghost like the other dead we've seen or like Boyd has seen? She doesn't feel the same because she looks immediately scarier than the other dead. Maybe she has different motives or a different purpose narratively.

I'm glad Victor is talking to people about the past and thank god it's Sara who can help put puzzle pieces together.

I want a big reunion with Victor, Jade and Tabitha. I like their dynamic and want them to talk to Boyd because I feel like they'll solve some shit. I do kinda love the lack of communication tho. It makes things tense and you kinda know these plot hound characters WILL argue regardless.

I'm going to go crazy when Victor sees his Dad. I feel like the writers might make me cry again lol.

It was so funny seeing Kristi and Kenny have a heart to heart, then cut to a wide showing Jade just off screen. It brought a fun sleep over energy to it. Especially when jade went fuck it, wanna hear some weird shit?

In season 2 I found Randall annoying and a good antagonist. Then, as he got isolated and cicada-d I started sympathizing for him. Yeah he was a dick, but like damn he has nobody in hell. Then seeing him get picked out by the monsters and getting left alive on the ambulance really made me feel for him. I can't wait to see if he'll call out Boyd for leaving him or really how either character will react in episode 6. I hope Randall lives because it'll be a lot more interesting if he does and I want to see more of him.

I want to see Marielle and Kristi be sweet together. I love my sapphics 💚💚💚 I do like how Marielle is proving herself as a nurse and her caring for Fatima is helping her feel grounded. If something goes wrong with Fatima and the baby then I feel like it'll be a big blow for Marielle emotionally.

Julie and Ethan deserve so much better. Their dad, Jim, is obsessed with the mystery and can't pull his head out of his ass to be there for his kids. Plus I bet he's going to be super protective over Tabitha now she's back. Like let your wife be the plot hound and learn your lesson you need to protect the kids you still have. I just feel bad Julie and Ethan are thinking about what will happen when their parents are gone. It sucks.

I want to hug Donna; she is being pushed beyond her limit.

For a sec I thought Donna recognized the new cop character when the cop ran in. But it could also be a Holy shit more shit to deal with kind of reaction.

I bet the cop character has some sort of connection to one of the main characters. Like all of the new characters from season 2 ended up playing a significant role. This cop has to bring something. If not I hope the cop and Tabitha have an interesting relationship since they entered together.

Tabitha can find someone better than Jim and that better person is bisexuality

I like how before they kill minor characters they have tended to be present in episodes prior to their death. Like Nicky's death wasn't on the same level of emotional devastation as Tian Chen dying. But Nicky still felt like a real person in this world who died and not just the red shirt of the ep. The writers are doing an amazing job and I hope that keeps up.

[berrypass-de-murdler]

2 - 4 A Locked-Room Mystery

You telling me I have to WAIT for new designs you kidding???

I have some 'neat plans' for MOTLE, idk might include New Fucked-Up Lore because what else is the cartoon for?? But I'll have to see

DON'T READ THE EPISODES WITHOUT READING THE BOOKS!!

Little Logico wanders outside, and is immediately grabbed!!

LOGICO: OH FUCK NO, I AM NOT A STUFFED ANIMAL!

As charming as that is, that’s not why the people picked him up. He’s under arrest! He’s thrown in a little jail cell - this is NOT the luxury prison Gico is used to. 

COPPER: THERE you are you little PRICK! LOGICO: OH GOOD GOD!

Yep, she’s here, alongside Champagne and Bluski. 

BLUSKI: Hey. CHAMPAGNE: Hi. LOGICO: Of course, of COURSE the usual suspects are following me. WHY AM I HERE?? PERSON: A prisoner has been murdered and you’re the murder person. LOGICO: Good to know. I blame Officer Copper. COPPER: Chillax, my brother. I’m not a psycho cop anymore. Heh, around here, if they thought I looked at a guy wrong they’d put me down as a ‘bad dog’. LOGICO: Right.

In what appears to be a miniature theater for watching interrogations, Logico digs a scrap of paper from under a beautiful couch.

“In a street fight, ten people always beat one.”

Champ checks the passage.

CHAMPAGNE: This is from the Big Red Book. Major Red wrote this. LOGICO: Do you know who that is? CHAMPAGNE: Heh. Yeah. Don’t wanna get yourself in with him. [walks away] LOGICO: ...Care to share ANYTHING else??

Logi explores a phrase Irratino always whispered to him - the tallest suspect has the cheapest pen. Now just by looking at them, Champagne is the tallest guy in the room, but by legal standards, Bluski is supposed to be taller, so his pen is very cheap.

LOGICO: It- It makes sense if you look it up.

Seeing that Logico ‘caught’ his pen trick, Bluski heads to the elevator and travels way up.

LOGICO: How big is this station? CHAMPAGNE: 25 stories. Final floor, they’ve been known to throw people out the window.  LOGICO: This is horrific. I’m starting to miss the luxury prison. CHAMPAGNE: We all do mate.

Irratino is back home, asleep. He is dreaming of a human police woman wearing boots. I guess something different happens in the dream, and he shifts and giggles. But don’t worry, Logico got the clue somehow. This obviously means Copper kicked the prisoner to death! She shakes her head madly and spits all over the place.

COPPER: HOW CAN IT BE ILLEGAL IF A COP DOES IT???? LOGICO: I hate you so much. COPPER: NO, YOU HAVE TO SAVE ME! I’M A ‘BAD DOG’! I’M- LOGICO: Oh. OH, YOU MEANT LIKE THAT- PERSON: No, no.

A couple humans walk over and start creepily petting and patting Copper.

PERSON: There is no need for a consequence - it was only a prisoner. COPPER: Huh. Kinda like these guys~ LOGICO: I hATE this so much. Can I leave now?!?! COPPER: Whatever, man.

Logico tears away. He needs to get to the violet isles as soon as possible… for some reason.

The end!

Let's try to ignore Copper flirting with some background humans

(ok slight rant but I've saved it for the end so as to not ward people off, you can skip it)

I know it sounds petty but like I swear to god if anyone posts a murdle artwork, the entire tumblr fandom will notice (which is great btw!), but then if I post an artwork it's only the same three or so people who might look at it and it's just...

is it really THAT bad?? like... what am I doing wrong... ngl it's starting to feel less like the art quality and more personal...

but um... yea. i'm trying my best i guess

Uh chonkers jumpscare

The power of Goat Lord compels you!

See you next time murdlers!

[homestuckreplay]

turntechGnostic? gardenGodhead?

(page 381-387)

Dave is a cool guy, yknow? A cool dude whose default face is complete neutrality, who doesn't show emotions besides anger, the only acceptable feeling for men. If he's feeling something positive, he'll show it with a nod of the head or a twinkle of the sunglasses, not-

HEY. WHAT'S THAT SMILE ON YOUR FACE, COOL GUY????

What's fun about meeting Dave is that we get to see him talk to all three of his friends in pretty quick succession, while with John it was far more spaced out. Dave loves John so much but I think he kind of talks down to him, and with Rose, it's the witty banter of equals. With GG, Dave is the one who seems lost in the conversation. GG throws Dave for a loop multiple times, and also blatantly makes fun of him with 'bro! hehehe' and 'feeling cool today? mr cool guy?' I didn't expect Dave to like this, and it's not obvious in the conversation that he does, but that tiny smile kinda says it all. I can honestly see these two becoming my favorite dynamic of the four main characters.

We get more GG lore too! They have a 'goofy' fetch modus which I'm super curious about. It turns out they have a granddad who's a big presence in their life, not a sister. They also have a pet who TG refers to as a 'devilbeast', and who is hard to feed and can overpower GG. Could be an unruly, badly trained dog, or perhaps GG lives on a farm and this is some kind of farm animal? Or an exotic pet their grandad attempted to tame (since he's apparently a 'total badass') but who shouldn't really be kept as a pet.

Also GG might have some psychic powers, or at least believe that they do. Which definitely puts their earlier conversations with John in a new light - instead of urging him to get the package now because they're excited to see his reaction, which is what I originally assumed, they're just emphasizing how important the package is, so that he'll know opening it is a priority if and when he finds it later.

The TG lore we get is.... less delightful. He mends his window with gaffa tape, which makes it objectively less functional as a window, definitely can't help with the heat, and doesn't even cover up the full hole. Like, just put a poster over it. More effective for less effort. Also his 'takedown' of monster movie tropes on p.386 is identical to 'guy who hates musicals because people sing in them' and is just exhausting to read. Also he thinks a white puppet ventriloquist rapper is the coolest shit ever, which is inexcusable. Basically, he needs to hang out with GG more so that they can chill him out and make him more tolerable.

I missed John so much. I've been thinking for a couple days about how I miss John, and here he is! The oil in his room has gotten significantly worse compared to p.253, which is a shame, because John is a fairly neat and clean kid when his sylladex isn't totally ruining his life.

But I guess this little harlequin beastie doesn't care about that? I love this thing's design, it's so fun. It looks so angry but somehow so incapable of causing any real harm that isn't oil based. What a silly hat for something that wants to be intimidating so bad. This will probably confirm to John once and for all that clowns are bad.

We've seen a couple other jet black, #000000 creatures so far. The Wayward Vagabond, linked from p.271, has smaller and rounder eyes but the same clawed hands. And the members of the Midnight Crew, seen on p.328-331, are visibly shinier (including their clothes?) with no visible teeth, but the rightmost two have those same elongated horizontal white eyes. Notably, all of these characters wear distinctive headgear. They all have really different roles in the story, so this could just be a shorthand for characters outside of the main four and their families, but it would be cool if some or all of them were connected.

[fayedartmouth]

Hi! I saw your post where someone asked about prompts/ideas etc, and I just wanted to throw this 'idea' out there. I'm just jonesin' for S4 part 2 AU from the Town Council and JJ's freakout where Shoupe realises (or Kiara confesses what JJ told her in worry for his mental state) that there's something wrong with JJ and they're dealing with a vulnerable kid who needs. There might be legal ramifications, but more importantly, JJ just had a very public meltdown in front of the entire town.

So I didn't finish a fic about this, but I wrote a scene? If anyone is interested, I may be convinced to write more of it. As it stands, I think this actually could fit along with canon -- or it could be the start of something entirely AU. I'm kind of open minded and very responsive to feedback.

It feels like a betrayal.

To JJ, that’s exactly what it will feel like.  Honestly, she’s not sure he’ll forgive her.

But, she resolves as she approaches the police checkpoint, he’ll be alive.  As long as he’s alive to hate her, that’s okay.  As long as he’s alive.

One of the officers sees her approaching, and moves to intercept.  “No,” she says, hands up and disarming as possible.  Pope already in prison.  Sarah, John B, and Cleo are in the wind, lost as the town riots.  It’s not hard to find the cops, though, and Kiara knows what she needs to do.  “I just – I want to talk to Shoupe.”

“He’s busy,” the officer snaps, and he gives her a second look.  “You’re one of them, aren’t you?  Do you see this?  This is your fault.”

He nods to the scene.  It is a mess, and Kiara’s not oblivious to it.  JJ started it, but the rest of the Cut is finishing it.  The crowds of people can still be heard, and the distant sound of sirens seems ever present.  Kiara has some remorse, but only some.

She lifts her chin and stares him down.  “Well, maybe if the Kooks hadn’t played dirty to get our land.”

“That’s for the courts–”

“They rigged the courts,” Kiara counters, her chest puffing up.

The officer stepped forward, menacingly.  “Just because you and your friends don’t understand the system–”

“We understand the system,” Kiara retorts, unable to control her temper.  “It’s a system designed to keep people down.  And you’re surprised they’re rioting?  The only surprise is that no one has done it earlier–”

It’s a step too far, and she sees the man hesitate, fingers on his gun.  Her heart hammers for a second, as she considers how far to push it, and she understands JJ better than she likes.  That impulsiveness of his can be contagious; and he’s right about some of it.  It’s not fair.

“Hey, whoa,” a voice intervenes before the situation can escalate.  She sees Shoupe, breaking away from the conclave of cops.  He jogs towards them, pursing his lips.  “She’s okay!”

The officer yields, but only slightly.  “She’s one of them–”

“I know who she is,” Shoupe says, clearly exasperated.  He shakes his head, and rolls his eyes.  “Look for real threats, okay?  And keep your hand off your damn gun.”

The cop drops his hand, but doesn’t look pleased.  Shoupe scoffs and takes Kiara by the arm, leading her away from him – and the other cops still conversing at the makeshift command center.

“I hope you’re here to tell me how to get JJ to turn himself in,” he says when he finally pulls them to a stop.  He looks exhausted as he regards her.  “Because I really you JJ to turn himself in.”

“I don’t know where he is,” Kiara confesses, suddenly feeling ridiculous.

Shoupe doesn’t look thrilled – but he also doesn’t look surprised.  “And gee, I wonder how he got away,” Shoupe retorts.  He shakes his head, pressing his hand to the bridge of his nose for a moment.  “I swear to God, Kiara.  I don’t know what you expect me to do–”

Now, she does feel guilty.  Shoupe’s not a bad guy; he’s just not.  Her gut says he wants to help them.

And right now, they need all the friends they can get.

“I just came to make sure you understand,” she blurts.

He drops his hand and regards her uncertainly.  “Understand what?”

She wets her lips and swallows.  She still has time not to do this.  She has one more chance to drop it, to do this JJ’s way.

But JJ’s way is going to end up worse than it is.  JJ’s way is going to end up with him in prison.

Or worse – on a slab in the morgue.

She can’t bury him.

She’d never survive it.

She won’t.

“Look, this isn’t just about the court case.  And it’s not just about our land,” she says, the words tumbling out, falling one over the other.

Shoupe looks skeptical, but he doesn’t argue.  “Okay,” he says slowly.

She gathers herself with a long, slow breath.  “JJ had some personal news lately.”

Shoupe shrugs, clearly not sure why he cares.  “I’m not sure I see the point.”

“Luke isn’t his dad,” she says.  Because that’s what it is, and she knows it.  JJ’s tried to talk himself out of it, but that’s <i>what it is</i>.  She’s known since the moment he told her.  Whether it’s true or not, JJ believes it.  

And frankly, Kiara believes it.

As if there’s any way to explain Luke Maybank.

This is it.

Luke Maybank isn’t the asshole who beat his own son into the ground.

He’s the asshole who took a kid in to protect them – and then beat them into the ground. 

At that, Shoupe is silent for a long moment.  Then, he laughs.  “What?”

“He got a letter from Wes Genrette,” Kiara says, explaining it helplessly.  “It said that JJ was his grandson.”

Shoupe blinks, as if trying to keep up.  “Wes Genrette wrote JJ a letter?”

Kiara nods because what else can she do.  “He said JJ was the son of Larissa and Chandler Groff.”

“Their son drowned,” Shoupe recalls with a frown.

“I don’t know how or why,” Kiara says.  “And neither does JJ.  But he confronted Luke, and Luke confirmed it.”

“Luke Maybank’s not exactly a reliable source,” Shoupe ventures.

“But why would he lie about this?” Kiara says.  “I mean, you know who Luke is.  And you have to know what he did to JJ all those years.”

At that, Shoupe’s mouth shuts and he’s duly chagrin.  The whole damn police department should be ashamed for it, she thinks with indignation.  For letting Luke Maybank abuse his son so publicly for <i>years</i>.

While they did nothing except protect the Kooks.

Shoupe takes a long, slow breath, as if considering it.  “And JJ just found this out?”

Kiara nods.  “Just this week.  A few days ago,” she says.  “He finds out his entire life has been a lie.  That one father abandoned him and another abused him.  And on top of all that, he’s a Kook.”

Shoupe takes that in as best he can.  She sees his shoulder sag a little as the realization comes to him.  “And then they blindsided you about the land,” he says.  He closes his eyes for a second and shakes his head.  He looks at Kiara again, more weary than ever.  “He didn’t riot.  He had a damn mental health breakdown right here in front of the whole town.”

Kiara’s eyes burn.  She can still remember it, the dead look in JJ’s eyes as he walked out.  The hard set of his body as he just gave in.  He hadn’t been in his right mind; he hadn’t been okay at all.  

Shoupe lifts his hand, running it through his hair.  “And my officers nearly shot him for it,” he mutters.  “Shit.”

Kiara wets her lips, part of her relieved that he understands.  “You can’t let your officers go after him with guns,” she says.  “If you corner him, he’s going to do something stupid.”

“And they’ll shoot him,” Shoupe says, chewing his lower lip.  “Shit.”

“And at this point, he may want you to shoot him,” Kiara admits.

Shoupe looks at her, vaguely alarmed.

Kiara shrugs, feeling helpless.  “He doesn’t know what else to do,” she says.  “I don’t know what else to do, and that’s why I’m here.  He needs help, Shoupe.  And I can’t do it myself.”

Nodding, Shoupe looks thoughtful.  “I can get this classified as a mental health episode, which will change some of our response tactics,” he says.  “But if JJ is armed – if he makes a run at an officer–”

Kiara’s stomach goes cold as she swallows.  “You can’t kill him,” she says.  “Please, Shoupe.”

“I don’t want to,” he says. “But you’ve got to help me help him.”

“But how?” Kiara asks.  “I don’t know where he is.”

“You know him better than anyone – you and John B,” he says.  “You have to find him first.  You have to talk him down, get him to turn himself in.”

Now, Kiara hesitates.  “He won’t–”

“Kiara, he has to,” Shoupe says, and there’s no room in his voice for debate.  “I can make sure he gets the help he needs, Kiara, but he has to turn himself in.”

She falters badly now.  “He can’t go to prison.”

“And with the right mental health support, he might not,” Shoupe says. 

“What?  I just take your word for it,” Kiara says.  “The system has failed JJ too many times – including today.”

“I know, I do,” Shoupe says, and his voice is short and hot.  He glances around at the scene, and Kiara feels the pressure of it closing in around her.  “And I can’t go back and fix that just like JJ can’t go back and fix <i>this</i>.  But I call these shots right now, Kiara.  I’ll make sure JJ gets a mental health evaluation, and that will be taken into account with any charges we place.”

She bristles, shaking her head.  “Charges–”

“Kiara, he started a riot and nearly burned down several buildings,” Shoupe reminds her.  “We have destruction of public property, breaking and entering, looting–”

Her cheeks flush, and her mouth clamps shut.  She knows she has no defense.  She has no options.

And neither does JJ.

Just this, and only this.

“If I help get him to turn himself in,” Kiara says. “Will you promise me to protect him?”

Shoupe straightens, but he looks her in the eyes as he nods.  “I will do everything I can.”

She bites her lips and sighs.  Then, finally, she nods.  “I’ll find him,” she says.  “I’ll get him to turn himself in, one way or another.”

Shoupe nods back.  “It’s the best thing we can do for him now.”

She knows he’s right; she just has a hard time convincing herself of it.  She regards the surrounding cops with uncertainty.  “JJ may never forgive me for this.”

“Once this is settled, and once JJ is safe and taken care of, I’m sure he will,” Shoupe says softly.

Kiara smiles sadly.  “He’s lost his whole world, Shoupe.  He’s lost everything he thought he knew.”

Shoupe reaches out, bracing her arm for a second. “But he hasn’t lost you,” he says softly.  “He’ll see that.”

“I hope so,” Kiara says.

Dropping his hand, Shoupe lifts one shoulder.  “I think JJ’s smarter than people give him credit for,” he says.  “And he’d have to be some kind of idiot to give up on you.”

She sighs, because there’s nothing she can do about it.  She loves JJ too much, is the thing.  She loves him so much that she would betray him like this.  She will.  

And to get him to turn himself in, she’ll play every card she has.

“Just keep him safe,” she says.  “Whatever happens – please.  Just keep himself.”

With this, Shoupe’s nod is resolute.  “That’s the plan.”

She nods back, trying to find solace in this.

She trusts Shoupe.

She trusts Shoupe.

And she hopes against hope, she can trust JJ, too.

[scientia-rex]

I am crushing it at Christmas gifts this year. I think. I never know for sure until people report back several months later but apparently my oldest nephew (the funny smart kid who’s also a complete dumbass, turning 16 this year) ended up really liking the skincare kit I got him last year even though on Christmas Day he was like “I don’t need this, my skin is perfect, people always tell me that” so if the day of goes a little rough just know they might realize they love it down the line. My goth weeb nibling, who is his younger sibling, will like what I got them because I shopped as if for my younger self and the only real difference between us is that I didn’t get into anime. I bought designer purses on a great sale for my sisters in law, nice shoes (he made a comment about it last spring, “some nice Italian leather loafers,” and he might have been joking but hey it’s an idea) for my one good brother in law, a rocking camping chair for my worst brother in law, and nothing for my ex brother in law because if he shows up at Christmas he’s getting something from the Box of Generic Gifts (mostly plaid throw blankets from Five Below). I bought my mother in law a real cashmere sweater (not like 400 dollar nice but still nicer than the “this is technically cashmere” I always see in the mall) and a rose gold and pearl necklace (pearl pricing is stupid and insane, but a solid gold chain is worth something if she ever needs to sell it for cash). The hubs is working on a genuinely nice idea for a present for his dad. I’m going to get my mom jewelry again and my dad can suck eggs. Probably get him a box set of Why Racism Is Bad Actually books or something. I like passive aggressive presents, like the year I sent him a DVD set of documentaries on pre-colonial African civilizations. Mom made a genuine lemon face about that one. Maybe Dad needs to hear more about how the Europeans deliberately separated Africa into countries where the borders would actively create strife. I got my MA a bottle of perfume because she noted out loud how good one patient smelled and it’s an easy to find fragrance (Victor & Rolf, Flowerbomb).

I love shopping, I love Christmas, I love getting people presents. I just wish my worst brother in law would stop trying to ruin family Christmases like it’s his job. It’s been 15 long, long years of knowing him, and in that time I have never ONCE slipped him a sedative, and I deserve a martini and a medal for that. I could 100% poison that man and get away with it and I WON’T because MORALS.

[basil-does-arttt]

DMC Questions Anon here!

As we all know today is the 23rd anniversary of the first Devil May Cry game, and the series as a whole. So I want to hear you talk about DMC 1, what you love about it, headcanons you have about it, alternate scenarios you want to share, anything DMC 1 you want to talk about.

Hello again! This is gonna be a long post i have a lot to say lol

DMC 1 was my introduction to the series way back when as a little kid, when i watched an older cousin play it and eventually tried it out myself. This was also the PS2 version, and i was gifted the disc + console as well at some point.

The Alastor cutscene stuck in my head for literal years after i first saw it as a kid, that and DMC 3's mission 20 arena. Every so often it'd pop into my head as a memory, untill recently when i decided to get back into DMC fully rather than just occasionally remembering it.

DMC 1 holds a very special place in my heart because of that, its a huge nostalgia thing for me and is my favourite game in the series.

I love the setting and tone of the game, its so unique compared to the others, of course all in thanks to DMC 1 starting out as RE4. That whole gothic castle, almost horror vibe is something you dont really expect from hack&slash games these days, and even though it made for some real clunky and annoying moments in game (cough cough Nelo 2 and Griffon 2 cough cough...) to me, the good far outweighs the bad.

Oh and the soundtrack! Its so good, every theme works so well in the scene it's used for, even the abient tracks. I will say however, the bg music got real messed up on the HD remaster which is very dissapointing. (it sounds flat and doesn't have any echoing anymore, specicially the divinity statue room and Phantom's church arena in the start of mission 3). It may not be noticable to some who have only played the HD release, but i noticed it immediately coming from the PS2 version oof. I guess i have to be greatful that a HD release exists in the first place though, and it is a very old game. Still.

The combat also, (and this might not be an opinion shared by everyone which is fine) i feel is the smoothest out of any Dante in any game. All the attacks are so responsive, and although you're limited, you can still style on enemies pretty easily.

Finally the bosses. Arguably the best lineup of any DMC game, every boss is fun in it's own way and brings something new to the table in terms of mechanics. Phantom is a lot of timing correctly, Nelo pushes your fighting style to be more agressive and direct, Griffon challenges your dodging skills, Nightmare is a puzzle solving boss, and Mundus is all three. The designs are also amazing, and most of the arenas are perfect. Griffon 2 and nelo 2 aren't so great arenas but their 3rd arenas more than make up for it.

Okay enough of me gushing about how much i love the mechanics, some HCs i have for it!!

1/ That motorcycle Trish bust the door down with (and then throws at Dante) wasn't hers, right? We see it in the into cutscene before it cuts to Dante at his desk. Well, its my HC that was Lady's bike (she was not happy).

2/ (aside from gameplay mechanic reasons) The reason Dante cant use DT at the start of the game, despite having awakened it in DMC 3, is because Dante wants to push away from embracing his demonic side even more so now after his brother has been "killed". He always disliked being part demon and preferred not to tap into his demonic abilities because of that, demons are evil creatures after all and Dante is far from that, but that hate is even further exemplified after Vergil fell into hell.

3/ When Trish split off to fly solo as a devil hunter, she kept the name "Devil Never Cry" for her business. People do often confuse her for Dante's "Devil May Cry" especially when the names are abbreviated. Dante finds it mildly annoying, Trish finds it hilarious. (Sometimes she'll direct clients to Dante out of pity too when they call her number asking for Devil May Cry rather than Devil Never Cry, instead of convincing them she's the right person. Dante however always sends them over to Trish if they've called the wrong number.)

4/ Dante probably knew Trish was trying to lure him to his death on Mallet island, but he went anyways to avenge his family's death. We know he'd been searching for Mundus ever since DMC 3 (it says so in DMC 5's "history of DMC" cutscene), and he knows that finding and killing Mundus wouldn't be nearly as easy as Trish made it seem. Wether he came back or not, he was going to kill Mundus, or at least try.

As for alternate scenarios, i dont have much in mind. Maybe it would be interesting to see a scenario where Trish never betrayed Dante, and instead she tried to help him during the nightmare fight. It still would've ended the same way for her, but maybe also Dante wouldn't have gotten so angry with her when he saved her.

Ugh i just love DMC 1 so much, like i said before it holds a special place in my heart. I hope that answers everything :> <3

[mrfartpowered]

Do you have any Heidi headcanons ...

HIIII SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT!! as an apology I have written approximately two hundred headcanons for her :3 I’ve never given her much thought before this, so thanks for the excuse to finally do that hehe !!

I don’t think Heidi has any desire to be a mom, regardless of what timeline. She’s too busy girlbossing (and also she’s way better at being an aunt than a mother, it’s more fun for her that way). This is my first headcanon bc it’s a defining characteristic of her in my post-canon timeline LOL

She is a certified gamer girl. Just an absolute beast. She still speaks, yknow, Like Heidi, and this does earn her some nasty comments in games w voice chat (like COD). But then she slaughters everyone in 10 seconds flat so it’s okay <3 if u haven’t seen @cunningweiner’s markiplier!heidi art WHAT are u even doing

Sushi lover. I have zero evidence for this it just feels right

I’m a junior!Heidi truther but everybody is shocked when they find out. They can’t believe she isn’t a senior yet

SO eager to get her driver’s license but objectively a bad driver. She’s honestly too eager. It’s terrifying to be in the passenger seat while she’s at the wheel (stolen from @maslosstuff hehe)

A decent C- or B-grade student. I wouldn’t call her stupid but academia isn’t exactly her Thing. People skills OFF THE CHARTS, but when it comes to book smarts i might go so far as to call her ditzy

Hot take (maybe??) but I don’t think she has a ton of friends. Popular, yes! But in the sense the student body knows Heidi Weinerman by face and name. Like a small-time celebrity… Honestly there’s a possibility that she throws herself so deep into the work of her show/her fame that she forgets to make time for relationships (platonic & romantic). She’s only a teen! :(

She IS a lesbian I will not be considering other options at this time

Vocal stimmer 5ever 🫶 mostly singing under her breath, I think :) but also narrating to herself. It’s the vlogger effect :/

Has a secret Reddit account that she uses to blow off steam. She’ll just go and argue w people on subjects she is extremely well-versed in. What I’m getting at here is that, though her temper is not quite as bad as Howard’s, it’s worse than Mort’s for SURE. She’s the middle ground

(stolen from The Trans Bro Code, one of my fave fics in this fandom) Regardless of how u perceive Howardgender, he and Heidi had sleepovers when they were younger. They’d do each other’s hair and nails and makeup, and maybe even dress up, and gossip back and forth. They still do it as teens, but less as a tradition and more as a major form of sibling support. Some douche broke Heidi’s heart? Howard’s doing her nails w cute little designs on each finger. Howard got into a bad fight w their mom? Heidi is giving him a full glam face of makeup.

On the subject of her relationship w Howard (oh, you thought u could go a whole post of mine with just one Howard mention?) — they’re not friends, not by a long shot, BUT on some level they respect one another. I like to think Heidi admires Howard’s ability to not care what ppl think of him. She will never admit this, of course, and she shudders at the thought of being associated w him in public. But, yk, fair is fair because Howard thinks she’s kind of a freak. He does, however, respect her commitment and crowd skills

Their gossip goes CRAZYYY like ofc they had fun conversations as kids, but as teens? They trade dirt abt Norrisvillians back and forth trying to see who has the craziest insider knowledge. It’s awesome and terrifying to witness

In any timeline where she is not the in-universe equivalent of Markiplier, she has a Master’s in Public Relations and probably owns her own PR firm

[nickeverdeen]

hello!! i'd like to request a romantic matchup for tlou 2 and arcane pls (suggestive is ok too). i'm a lesbian so women lol

my pronouns are they/she. i've got long dark brown hair, dark brown eyes, and fair-ish skin (southeast asian so a light tan?). i'm about 5'2" and chubby/on the larger end of mid-size; top heavy lmao. my facial features are on the softer side, and i've been told i have a youthful face. i tend to dress more fem though i sometimes go more androgynous. my style is kinda all over the place- sometimes [tiktok] twee, sometimes downtown girl, y2k, shoujo girl, etc. i like taking inspiration from a little bit of everything and don't necessarily label my style. overall, i usually gravitate towards more fun but cool looks. i like denim, trim/frilly details, fun prints and patterns, plaids, juxtaposing elements, etc.

as for my interests and hobbies, i enjoy fashion (styling and some designing), music (listening, singing/karaoke, collecting CDs!! i used to play viola and would like to learn guitar), horror (games, analog horror, args, grotesque art?? think like ethel cain, bones and all, etc idk), and DIY (i like to make phone charms and i'd like to get into polymer clay to make hairclips, trinket dishes, etc). i'm into artists like mitski, phoebe bridgers, ethel cain, wisp, big thief, hikaru utada, sheena ringo, tommyfebruary6, artms, yena, etc (i really like music and in my dream world, i'm the vocalist/guitarist in a small band lmaoo). i was a big reader as a kid and have a collection of books at home. not too much of a reader nowadays, but i wanna get back into it eventually. love the rain and storms, and late night drives with friends!!

my personality is kinda on a spectrum. i'm on the more reserved side, but i'm very open to meeting people and i'd like to think i'm friendly. sometimes chill and laidback and sometimes bubbly- especially around friends. i've been told i'm very easily amused, and i'm also a little spacey and jumpy (sigh). kinda a major yapper in writing, but in real life interactions, i'm more the type to listen and nod along to the conversation. though i will yap and am, admittedly, just a tad annoying sometimes. i like teasing people and joking around. i also deal with depression, and have a bad habit of dropping off the face of the earth and bed rotting for days at a time (not good!! i should probably go back into therapy lol). my love language in quality time and (theoretically, if i found someone who would reciprocate) physical touch.

anyways, i hopefully didn't write too much and it's readable ;; thank you <33

I know I’m late and I’m sorry

Your The Last of Us 2 match is…

Dina

Dina would constantly borrow your clothes for her casual-but-edgy looks and gush over how you style yourself

She’d love listening to you sing, especially in moments of downtime—she might even join you for karaoke

Dina would be endlessly entertained by your jumpy reactions to scares and would (playfully) spook you when she could

On days when depression hits hard, she’d bring you little surprises—flowers she found, a new horror movie, or a snack she knows you love

Late-night drives? Dina’s game, blasting music and laughing until your cheeks hurt

She’d support your dream of learning guitar, offering to scavenge strings or help tune it

Dina would always encourage your DIY projects, even if it meant holding up clay hairclips to “model” them

She loves rainy days with you, cuddling under blankets and swapping stories about life before

Dina teases you back just as much but has a soft spot for your thoughtful, quiet moments

Your Arcane match is…

Vi

Vi is protective, always throwing her arm around your shoulder when walking together, especially through rough areas

She’s fascinated by your horror interests and would (begrudgingly) sit through analog horror videos, trying not to get freaked out

Vi would often call you “short stuff” just to rile you up, but she secretly loves your height difference

She’d encourage you to belt out your favorite songs during late-night walks through the Undercity

Vi would spar with you playfully, insisting it’s “self-defense training” when it’s really just an excuse to be close

She’d admire your DIY projects, especially when you make her custom trinkets—she keeps them all

On your off days, Vi would climb into bed with you and stay there until you felt better, teasing you into a smile

She loves the juxtaposition of your bubbly, spacey personality with her more grounded energy—she calls it balance

Vi would scavenge vintage finds for you to add to your wardrobe or crafts

[hwa-stars]

Skirt lifter (Chapter 14)

Genre: High-school au, slow burning love, fluff, mention of mature language (+14)

Pairing: non idol Park Seonghwa x fem named reader

Summary: In which Park Seonghwa is accused of being a pervert.

Word count: 2.5k

Taglist: @dinossaurz @babigriin @hecateslittlewitchling

I rolled over to my side, enjoying the comfort of the bed until my eyebrows involuntarily furrowed together when the pillow lick me?

I opened my eyes and I was met with a golden retriever that barked at me scaring me.

"What the fuck?" I scaned the room, finding my dress hanging in a closet.

I looked at myself and I was wearing a grey pijamas, looked at myself at the mirror looking for signs of bruises but I was fine, so I turned to the dog who was looking at me wailing his tail.

"Where am I?" I asked the dog as If it would answered me.

"The alcohol might not left your system yet." Someone said.

It was Seonghwa leaning at the door frame with a towel hung over his shoulders, his hair was wet.

"Good morning Pororo." He greeted with a smirk.

"Where the fuck am I?" I glared at him.

"My room."

"Why am I here, you fucking pervert!"

"Language Pororo, there's a child in the room." He signaled the dog who was looking at us. "You don't remembered? You threw yourself at the pool."

"What?" I asked worried and embarrassed.

"I'm kidding, you threw yourself into something else."

"Where?"

"Me." He smiled and I want nothing more than punched him.

"Oh God, I'm gonna set myself on fire." I started walking to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"What's with the rush Pororo?" He smirked again. "I'll drive you."

I take my purse and opened looking if all my things were there, after checking I threw him a paper bag that the catch mid-air.

"What's this?" He asked curious.

"A gift."

"But, you didn't know it was my birthday." He said still confused looking at the bag.

"I bought it when you guys where looking for suits." He opened the bag and examined the gift.

It wasn't anything sophisticated, it was a headband for his hair, since it keep coming to his hair I thought this would help him.

"It's not from a designer but it'll keep your hair away from your hair." I explained as he still looked at the headband. "You don't have to wear it, just throw it to the trash or something."

Seonghwa walked away and entered his bathroom, I kinda feel worried if he actually throw the headband to the trash. However, he emerged with the headband in one hand and a hair dryer on the other hand.

"Come dry my hair Pororo, and we'll get going." He sat in his bed and plugged the dryer.

"Why me?"

"It's teamwork, I'll drive you and you dry my hair."

I took the dryer and turned on and started drying his blonde hair and I can't keep myself for how soft it felt.

"Did you have fun at your birthday party?" I asked loud because of the dryer.

"Absolutely."

"I feel the need to apologize for passing out." I said embarrassed.

"You don't need to, actually it made my day." He laughed. "You don't remember anything at all?"

"I just remembered having some drinks with your sister and San introducing me to someone and that's it." I tried to recall more memories but it was all that I had.

"Let me help you out."

He turn off the dryer and throw it away as he reaches for my waist, bringing me closer to him and making me fall on top of him. I nervously tried to push him away but he flipped us over, now he was on top of me and pinned both of my wrists above my head.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I hissed panicking.

"Being clear." He hummed closed to my face. "Am I still confusing you?"

"Get the fuck off me Park Seonghwa."

"No."

"You're proving your pervert image to be true."

"There's nothing I can do or say to change your mind away." He carresed my cheek. "So migth as well just..."

He leaned closer and I hold my breath, I cringed myself that I just woke up and I probably looked like a mess, I didn't even brush my teeth so my breath probably smells bad.

Then as heaven would listen to me, someone started knocking the door hurriedly.

"Opened up!" Seyeon said and knock again.

"Let's keep quiet, maybe she'll disappear." He whispered.

"I know you're there, I listened the dryer." Seonghwa sighed and I take the opportunity to push him out of me.

"Do that again and I swear I'll..." Seonghwa throw me a pillow.

"Yeah yeah, we'll continue this later. Could you open the door to the annoying thing that is called my sister please."

☆☆☆☆☆

Seyeon walked me to their main door with a big smile on her face while we waited for Seonghwa who went for his car keys.

"I'll returned you the clothes once I washed them." I assured her. "And also these too." I signaled the clothes that she borrowed me.

"Perfect! I'll be expecting you soon." She exclaimed happily.

During breakfast she told me that she helped me changed into her pijamas. Results that I slept at Seonghwa's room because he 'wanted me to sleep on his bed only'.

"Don't worry, he slept on the floor." She mentioned as she read my mind.

I wasn't quite sure about that, since it was his room and his birthday. How the celebrant will sleep on the floor?

"We still have a few minutes." She whispered pulling me closer to her. "Do you like Seonghwa?"

"Why are you still asking me that?" I asked confused since it was the second time she asked me this.

"I'm sorry, it's just that he never shares anything with me, so I just wanted to know."

"I don't know if you can call it 'liking him'. I mean yeah he's handsome, do I hate his guts but somehow still wan wanted to be kissed by him? Absolutely." I said and Seyeon opened wide her eyes. "Also I'm the person to deny her feelings and play hard to get, but If I like Seonghwa? No."

"When do you planned on confessing?" She asked excitedly.

"It's Sunday, so I could drop by the church and..."

"I meant to Seonghwa!"

"What about me?" Seonghwa appeared playing with his keys.

"I just asked her, when would she throw a rock at you for annoying her." Seyeon saved me and I thanked her with a small smile while Seonghwa rolled his eyes.

☆☆☆☆☆

I exited the bathroom drying my hair when I looked at the kitchen and saw my mother cooking.

"Mom?" I asked confused and she turned around.

"I made some breakfast, eat some before you go to school." She greeted cheerily.

"Why are you up? I could have cooked for myself." I sat down and started eating the food.

"No reason, it's just been a while since I cooked for you!" She explained still with a good humor. "Anyway, would you come straight come tonight? I have something to tell you."

"Why don't you tell me now?"

"It can wait to the nigth, now eat."

This was weird, she looks excited and happy?

☆☆☆☆☆

I was going to reach to the school gates when I heard my name been called.

"Minseo?"

"Umm..." I saw a tall boy smiling at me and I didn't know who he was.

"Mingi." He replied with a smile.

"Mingi! I knew that."

"I didn't expected you to remembered me, since you were drunk."

"I'm sorry." I said embarrassed and he shook his head. "You go to our school?"

"No, I go to other but I have something to give to Seonghwa." He signaled the bag in his hand ans I nodded. "By the way, I didn't see you later in the party. Did you go home early?"

"Kind of, why did you need anything?" I asked trying to recall any conversation I had with him, but nothing came to my memories.

"Not really. It's just a shame that you didn't witness how San fall face flat at the dance floor." He started laughing.

"Omg, no way." I laughed too imagine the poor boy.

"Yeah he did, even Jongho had to drag him away since San was to embarrassed to face the people."

" But he was sprained!" I recall his injury.

"Yeah, he was whimpering, you'd think he's a cat."

Whe reached to my school gate when Mingi's phone ring and he had to answered the call and returned muttering a curse.

"Everything alright?"

"Yeah, just that I need to do something right now it's an emergency."

"If you want, I could give Seonghwa the gift." I pointed his bag.

"Would you?" He pouted and I think he looked cute.

"Sure! I was on my way to meet him too." I replied and he nodded his head and handed me the gift.

"Thank you Minseo, I owe you one!" He replied and started walking away.

I reached the top of the stairs, which were close to our classroom and I froze when I heard my name.

"What's your plan with Minseo?"

"I'm just messing with her." That was Seonghwa's voice.

I spun on my heels, not wanting to hear more about his conversation.

"Hey Minseo, good..." Hongjoong greeted me.

"Would you give these to Seonghwa? Tell him it's form Mingi." I handed him the bag and he looked at me confused.

I didn't wait for his reply when I started walking away from him to the bathroom.

☆☆☆☆☆

I spent all the day with my head on my textbooks, hopping to block everything out, but I didn't realized that I felt asleep when our teacher announced the end of the class so I shoved my books while the others classmates leave the room.

"You look unpleasant?" Hongjoong riled out.

"Gee, thanks." I mumbled avoiding his gaze.

I keep my distance from all of them since I couldn't help but think that all of them were messing with me too.

"Damn Pororo, you look awful." Seonghwa started walking to me when I step back from him and the two boys were confused. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I said coldly walking past them but I still heard the footsteps behind me.

"Are you sure? You don't seem..."

"I said I'm fine!" I snapped and walked again.

"Hey." He reached mu wrist, pulling me back. "Are we...alright?" He leaned closer to me and he seemed concerned.

"Stop it!" I slapped his hand away from me and didn't realize I raised my voice when some students looked at us.

Seonghwa looked shocked.

"Just leave me alone." I muttered before walking away, leaving him alone in the middle of the hallway.

☆☆☆☆☆

"Minseo?"

"When you said 'see you later', I didn't think you mean it literally." I tilted my head confused and Mingi laughed.

"My fater told me to meet him somewhere this area." He explained looking around my neighborhood.

"Can I ask you where? Maybe I could help you." He nodded and show me the address on his phone.

"Oh, that's my apartment building." I hummed, gesturing to follow me.

"Thanks again for giving Seonghwa the gift, what did he said about it?" He asked with a smile.

"Oh, I just asked Hongjoong to give it to him, I had to do another thing." I said and Mingi didn't ask as we reached the building. "What unit number?"

"302." He replied looking at his phone.

"302?"

"Yeah, why?" He asked confused.

"I lived there."

"What? Why would my dad ask me to meet him at your apartment?" He was still confused as I.

We arrived to my house and Mingi and I exchange glances as we heard laughs form the kitchen.

"Mom?" I called her and the laughs stopped.

My mom and I'm assuming Mingi's father greeted us with the biggest smiles in their faces.

☆☆☆☆☆

"So how did you two know each other?" Mingi's dad asked still with the smile on his face.

"From a common friend." Mingi said.

"That's great!" My mother exclaimed.

"Why are we having this dinner?" I asked looking again at my mother.

My mother never had asked their partner's to bring their children's to introduce them to me, so it was obvious that something was happening.

"We're getting married."

"What?" Mingi asked surprised.

Mingi's dad smiled before telling us how they met each other, which I didn't mind to paid attention.

"I need some air." I stood up and leave the table ignoring my mother calling me.

"What are you doing?" My mother ask sternly grabbing my arm as I reached the door.

"What are you doing? Really, getting married to someone you barely know?" I asked sarcastically.

"You don't understand how hard this is for me Minseo."

"Oh yeah! I'm sure it was hard to exclude your daughter from important decisions like this one and abandoned her too."

"When have I abandoned you? That was your father!" She whispered yelled at me.

"Being here physically doesn't mean you being a mother!" Tears started to flowing from my eyes. "You were never here mother, seems like I had lost you when my father left. I'm not against of you finding love again, but just that you asked me first."

I didn't wait for her replied when I exited the door and it started raining making it impossible to look where I was walking causing me to hit my hand with a metal pole.

I looked at the convenience store and walked to the entrance, finding jongho behind the counter as he shot me a look.

"Your mother's new boy toy is a swimmer?" He asked continuing our tradition.

"You mean stepfather." I mumbled bitterly.

"I'm rigth?" Jongho asked impressed without caring what I said before. "You look like shit."

"Can I stay here for a while?"

"Sure, I don't mind that you're dripping wet the floor and I'm gonna be the one mopping the floor."

"Thanks you're the best."

☆☆☆☆☆

The scent of ointment fills my nose and I ignored as a I felt warm on my hand too, I didn't realize that I feel asleep. However, I snapped my eyes open remembering that I was in a public place and I was surprised to see him infront of me.

Seonghwa was sitting next to me, focused on spreading the ointment on my hand that I didn't know was bruised.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I called him" Jongho answered, still behind the counter with his phone in his hands. "You were bruised and dirty from your hand and I wasn't going to get dirty by your hand."

"I can do it." I muttered trying to snatched his hand out.

"Clearly you can't." Seonghwa muttered before blowing the wounded.

"I told you to leave me alone." I reminded him tired.

"And I did, but you never specified for how long." He replied putting a bandage in my hand.

"Sorry if Jongho bothered you, you can leave now."

"Wow, no thank you?" He asked putting a hand on his chest.

"Thank you."

"Did I do anything?" He asked leaning closer to me.

"No."

"Then tell me!"

"You didn't do anything." I replied again and he signed loudly.

"I like you Minseo."

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

Modern au: how would the sully kids throw a house party? Would they get in trouble? How much fun would they have and who's idea would it be?

Ohhhh ho ho I have been thinking about this one. So this will be in keeping with my lovely wheelchair! Jake modern au world.

-So I think Spider and Neteyam are both in their senior year of high school. Spider got held back in elementary school because he was having some learning issues related to his childhood trauma and attachment issues.

-Jake Sully wakes up one fine morning on his wedding anniversary and impulsively decides that because he and Neytiri eloped the first time they should have an elaborate vow renewal ceremony with all of their family and friends this time. He's hiding away in the office with Kiri and Tuk making them help design a beautiful card with this information for Neytiri, having already sent Lo'ak and Spider to the store for flowers while Neteyam researches venues in the other room.

-So when she hears about this, Sylwanin decides they also need to have a bachelor and bachelorette party. At first she thought that she would just have a bachelorette party, but Tsu'tey helpfully reminded her that Neytiri and Jake have all the same friends and Jake has no family besides Tommy (and Norm). Sylwanin bitches about this for the rest of the evening before calling up Tommy and Norm and roping them into planning the most perfect jeytiri party ever. It involves a hike during the day so Jake can use his all terrain wheelchair and then ends with a camping trip full of alcohol and all of their friends.

-ALL THIS TO SAY; Jake and Neytiri will both be gone for an entire weekend for the first time ever. Jake is a stay at home veteran father, he is always lurking in every corner of the house waiting for you to do something wrong so he can tease you about it. Neytiri does travel for her nonprofit sometimes, but Jake is always there. And even if they went out on a date night, Mo'at or Tsu'tey or Sylwanin or Norm or Tommy or anyone else on the tight knit reserve would be around to babysit. But now, everyone they know is going on the bachelor/bachelorette trip. They won't be far, just on a different place on the reserve, but they won't be at the house all weekend.

-Lo'ak decides that Neteyam and Spider both need to have attended one high school party before college or they will never survive. So he decides they have to throw one. Kiri is in from jump, this is a hilarious idea and there is probably a low chance it gets blamed on her. Also she would never say this but she lives for all of Lo'ak's bad ideas. Spider is an easy sell, he spent so much time when he was little being too nervous to do anything wrong in case he might get sent away that he's easily sold on rebellion now. Lo'ak knows how to push the right buttons. Neteyam took a little more work, but eventually caved. Tuk is the real issue. What do they do with a ten year old during a party with strangers and drinking?

-They pay Tuk like, twenty dollars each to promise to keep her mouth shut and they all promise to owe her one favor as well. Tuk agrees to go to bed and stay in her room. Spoiler; she does not stay in her room at all.

-Some of the Sully kids have fun at the party, some do not. Spider and Kiri discover that they can really tear up the dance floor when buzzed, and they have a blast with Rotxo. They have both been practicing that choreographed dance routine from The Perks of Being a Wallflower for years, apparently for this moment, and Rotxo was the perfect Charlie.

-Lo'ak plans to spend the entire time with Tsireya and instead finds himself chasing Tuk around the house trying to get her to go back to her room. He doesn't drink at all, but Tsireya does help him and she has a fantastic time. Lo'ak Did Not have fun at the time but does remember it fondly, because it's all a blur of Tuk's giggling and Tsireya smiling.

-Neteyam has a weirdly fun time too. In my experience, when you are drinking the first few times you are like "whoa I'm drunk" when you are like, vaguely tipsy in reality. And then later when you actually do get drunk you're like "WOW I WAS NOT DRUNK BEFORE AT ALL." I think this was Neteyam's vibe. He had one Mike's Hard and then he was like "wow I'm drunk this is great!" but in reality he had a great buzz going and he was electric. He talked to everyone there, high fived Tuk when she hid from Lo'ak in the cabinets behind him, ate like four of Tsireya's cupcakes, dipped Spider because Kiri wasn't strong enough to hold him, and made out with Ao'nung in the bathroom a couple times. It was the best night ever.

-Tuk, of course, had a blast. Ruining Lo'ak's night is perhaps the best gift of all.

-I think Jake and Neytiri totally know what happened, but they are saving that knowledge for a rainy day. Also it's kind of adorable how the siblings are all partners in crime, and it makes then both think of their own siblings who just threw them such a nice party. They are both softies at heart.

[whattraintracks]

13. Worthless - TMNT 1987

Some thoughts on Raphael, master of disguise.

There's this scene in "Raphael, Turtle of a Thousand Faces" (s05e16) that I think about a lot.

So Raphael is taking a remote class on undercover detective work, and the other turtles make fun of him practicing disguises for an assignment. Splinter checks on him after he storms off, and it's such a short conversation, but I think there's more going on under the surface.

First of all, Splinter's reaction to learning about the class is hilarious. His face is fun to watch and he's so baffled he literally gasps. But then you can tell he tries to be patient and understanding. I wish I knew what he was thinking. Is it, why would you want to be anything other than a ninja? Or maybe, you've never expressed interest in this before, where is this coming from?? If you've ever worked for a while with the same group of kids or adolescents, you may be familiar with this thought.

At first glance, Raphael's response breaks my heart. He tells Splinter he's taking this class to make "more of a contribution to the mean green team! You know, something special." My immediate thought is that he's feeling a little worthless. But then I step back and wonder if I'm reading too far into it. Taking the time to learn a new skill to better support your teammates is a worthwhile endeavor. This is not, on its own, necessarily an indicator of low self-esteem. But what bothers me is that nobody knew he was doing this. Again, not explicitly a bad thing, but it seems weird to me that he wouldn't involve the other turtles or at least let them know about it so they can support him.

So Splinter, of course, immediately reassures him they're all special. Also not sure what to make of how he says this because it sounds some combination of fond and amused but also just conciliatory. What's interesting is what Raphael says next, and how he says it causes me to question that initial assumption again. He agrees, almost genuinely? Like he says "maybe" but not in a "yeah, I guess" choosing-not-to-argue-but-feeling-otherwise kind of way, he sounds sincere. Now, this could be him saying, well, duh, we're special, how many other crime-fighting turtle men do you know? This would line up with stuff he's expressed throughout the series. But he finishes very showy and cheerfully with, "But I'll be the only master of disguise!" So maybe that first impression was wrong. Maybe this is just a teenager branching out and discovering other interests. Maybe the secrecy was because he was worried the guys would make fun of him—which they did. Or maybe, he wants to distinguish himself from the other turtles, wants his own thing. 

And I wonder why he might feel like he needs his own thing or specialty. One of my favorite parts about the team dynamic in this series is that they don't really have designated roles. Leonardo is the leader in that he keeps them rallied and on task, but they all take turns offering plans and solutions, serving as the distraction, playing bait, or, more practically, just driving or flying. But since Leonardo has a defined role as the leader/master ninja, Donatello as the inventor/the one who gets them out of trouble (see one of my favorite Raphael lines at the end of "My Brother, the Bad Guy"), and even Michelangelo as the chef/pizza guy, maybe he's feeling some anxiety over his own ambiguous role.

But I can't get rid of the feeling that he thinks he's not enough and the others are brushing it off. Especially after their weak apologies—"We didn't know you were actually serious about this disguise thing." Especially as he tries so hard to prove his dedication and skill and ends up in a lot of trouble in the rest of this episode. Especially when he gives up private investigation but immediately throws himself into chemistry at the end of the episode, once again on his own and without help.

This happens in one episode, and as far as I remember, they never talk about it again, but he's my little guy, and I worry, okay! I just want him to be happy and know he's loved and valued.

[hazardous-who]

OTHER than naming Kakashi and Obito because that much is obvious (Rin too actually no team Minato choice for you no sir) Who are some of your favorite Naruto characters? Top five maybe?

I love that you've banned team Minato, haha. Honestly very fair though, I do enjoy those three a lot ! Forgive me because this response got a bit long. Whoops ! Honestly, I'll have start this one off by saying Yamato. I enjoy his character quite a lot, from the way he was introduced with this serious, cool guy vibe, only to have the classic occurrence where no one in Naruto is safe from being made a fool. I always thought Mokuton was really cool and wished we had seen more of it throughout the series, but I also adore that one of the main ways we often saw Yamato specifically use it was for shelter. I'm not sure if I'd necessarily call him my first-placer on this list, even if I'm naming him first, but I do love him dearly. There's also the fact that while his design is something that can be seen as 'simplistic' it's still so striking and one of my favorites in the series, especially his eyes !

Might !! Guy !! Guy is ABSOLUTELY one of my favorite characters of all time across -any- media, honest to god. One goofy ass, over the top introduction, and I was already sold when I was a kid and had first started Naruto. I didn't even LOOK at anyone else back then because I was so in love with Guy. I ate up episodes with him in it like I was starved, I swear. I adore characters that are comedic, loving, and overall considerate of those around them- Throw in some self sacrificial sprinkles, a 50/50 case when it comes to reading a room or adhering to personal space, make him one big dude with a bowlcut, thick brows, and one ridiculous yet somehow perfect outfit in the form of a green jumpsuit, and there he was- The ideal guy ever. There was also the fact that I really adored Rock Lee when I was younger too- Still do, honestly- So slap them together and there they were, my favorite duo to see on screen on top of it all. His friendship with Kakashi is of course very precious to me, though I'm not going to focus that at all here, even if I did bring Lee somewhat into the mix when talking about him.

Shizune ! From her rationality and level headedness, to her habit of freaking out- She goes from this character who's so smart and cool to me to such an anxiety ridden individual foaming at the mouth at times that I can't help but find her really endearing and even relatable. There's also the fact that though they're few and far between, her fighting style really stuck out to me, from being someone that when I first saw her on screen, I couldn't really see her in combat- Only for her to pleasantly surprise me with her use of things such as senbon and poison ! I already love the idea of medical-nin in general, especially if they're given the chance to be portrayed strong and not timid, helpless individuals that need other big bad ninja to protect them, but Shizune has especially ticked so many of my boxes when it comes to strength in a character, and not just physically. She's one of those that hits my "I love the type of woman that can kick my ass" button.

Konan- God, where do I even start with Konan? Her design is absolutely one of the first things that drew me to her, I'll be honest- From her striking hair and eye color(I'm a fan of both the amber and the grey), to her piercing and otherwise neutral resting face. She also has one of my favorite abilities in Naruto, both visually and functionally speaking, something that was so compelling to watch be animated, but also the fact that she was capable of mimicking terrain so well that she could even disguise her paper as WATER? That's crazy to me !! Konan also hurts my heart a lot, from losing everyone around her (I know that's a really common theme in Naruto, but man-), to putting so much faith in the future even though she wouldn't be around to see it. Her death was one of the ones that messed me up really bad, but it was also beautifully done in my opinion, especially since she put up such a fight. I just wish we had at least a little more time with her- Especially after losing Nagato and thus being on her own.

And lastly for this already lengthy response- Kisame. I'm going to start this one off by saying I am not immune to the massive, sadistic sharkman- I am absolutely down bad for Kisame and not afraid to start off by saying that. Similarly to Konan, his design absolutely HITS me, but that's definitely not all I have to love about him. I'm a fan of a character that loves to fight and is unapologetically brutal about it, which Kisame definitely is, but also the fact that he isn't just chalked up to being nothing but a meathead like I so often see those types portrayed. He's intelligent and clearly aware of his own strength- Prideful, but not arrogant about it, knowing when it's time to concede and not at all shameful about it either. Admitting to when someone else is stronger than him, either entirely, or only under specific scenarios. There's also what I feel is such a compelling situation with him being a betrayer yet also incredibly loyal, something that I could blabber on about and overall make this post far too long when it comes to his backstory and the way he goes out, so I'll leave it there !

Hope that's a sufficient, not-really-in-any-order, 'restricted' Top 5 for you !

[mwolf0epsilon]

Do you think the SW Sequels Era did anything right? I've seen a lot of backlash in regards to what they did wrong, but I'm genuinely curious to see what some people think were positives ideas to come out of the whole ordeal. (Luke's characterization, Reylo canonicity completely sidelining Finn and Poe, and Disney/Execs overall throwing their POC cast to the wolves when they weren't happy with conditions were decisions that should have never been made in my own opinion btw)

This is one of those topics that might stir up a wasp's nest depending on who you ask, but honestly the Sequels Era as a whole wouldn't be so bad if the executive decisions behind them weren't such a disrespectful trash fire.

But yeah Anon, I getcha. We've all seen people's (rightfully) negative opinions of the Sequels Era and how much squandered potential the trilogy turned out to be. That said I do think there are some positives. Mostly in the form of ideas that DO still have potential so long as they're approached with care and consideration.

With that said, what I think they did right:

The Force Awakens - It's just a straight up good movie that opened the door to a lot of possibilities. Good OST, good cast, interesting alien and creature designs, combined some pretty dark elements that could very easily be explored more deeply by anyone who's interested in sparking a debate about willing conscription vs forced indoctrination and how to tell the two apart, etc. I still consider it a part of mine and @lost-on-kamino 's Forceful Intervention AU Verse because honestly it's a movie that paid excellent homage to both the original and prequels trilogies.

Star Wars Resistance - A lot of people consider it a subpar show, which honestly I don't see. It has so many interesting themes, from privileged kids that want to actually do good instead of sitting pretty while the world burns around them, the dangers of targeted propaganda and how it's specifically used on youths that are dealing with trauma left behind by war, trying to make your way in a galaxy that isn't always friendly but that can offer you community if you know where to look, and more. The cast is fun, the style isn't the worst I've seen in terms of animation, and overall I feel like it's a breath of fresh air to focus on characters that aren't inherently connected to the Force.

Kix Lives - There is absolutely so much potential behind the reveal that Kix was not only frozen in stasis by Dooku, but also found 50 years in the future after everyone he knew and held dear to his heart have been dead and gone for a long while now. The amount of survivor's guilt and trauma would be immeasurable, if not torturous, and I feel like the writers at least owe it to Kix to help him find some legacy his brothers might have left behind. Be it artifacts or even entire lineages they might have been able to start. If not that, then at least show us some of his adventures with the crew of the Meson Martinet.

Barghests - They added a new kind of space doggo that I absolutely love the design of, and want to see in action so badly. Just look at these absolute creatures of all time:

Delightful beasts! Friend shaped! Worthy of as much esteem as the humble Massiff, the zesty Charhound or the beefy Corellian Hound!

And that's about it on my list of things that the Sequels Era did right. If only the rest wasn't an absolute mess... We could have definitely had something really good to work with.

Ah well... Nothing like rolling up the proverbial sleeves and getting to work exploring all the wasted potential yourselves!

[tobiasdrake]

Here at last. The Clockwork Castle. I am going to unleash ungodly amounts of violence in this place.

Rude. How am I supposed to unleash ungodly amounts of violence if you won't let me in the front gate? Guys? GUUUUUUUYS. Come on.

Assholes think they can keep me out. I'll have you know that when I set my mind to breaking noses, I can be very hard to discourage. Nothing is going to stop me from--

STORY TIME STORY TIME STORY TIME STORY TIME STORY TIME

Important clarifier. We are not the "prime" timeline, so to speak, that all of the branches split off of. There probably isn't a prime timeline.

Aephorul uses our reality as a war engine for feeding his efforts in other timelines.

Depending on how long ago TIA fractured reality, the other timelines might look vastly different from ours. I'm curious to see them now.

What, he didn't just send an Open Invite to all the best artisans and then magically compel them to build a village and remain in perpetuity to serve his efforts? That's what all the cool people do.

Yoyo.

Hold up, were the Three Sisters already a thing before Fleshy and TIA got to our timeline? Huh. I guess that makes sense, seeing as TIA discovered Solstice magic rather than creating it. The Three Sisters are in the same Category of Things as Solstice Warriors.

It just keeps surprising me how... all at once local and yet not TIA and Fleshy are. How godlike and yet how mundane. They just happened yesterday; They've been around forever. They're complicated.

Oh, not Yoyo.

The Watchmaker... Shit, I feel like I've heard that name before. The Watchmaker... the Watchmaker....

If no one could understand Aephorul's magic then how was the Watchmaker able to account for it in her schematics? Like. You've got two people designing a castle and neither really knows what the hell the other's doing; That's a recipe for flawed architectural design, even if they're both masters of their craft.

Ooo, sabotage. See, this is why Aephorul wanted people who are morally neutral. You don't get the same level of professional courtesy out of slaves forced to work at gunpoint.

Ohhhhhhh, good. Implication that the Watchmaker is still here, and adding fuel to the fire of my theory that Cael and the other kid geniuses are those dipshit Acolytes we keep transmuting into bloody stains on the grass.

"Whoops, my bad. I accidentally tripped over a cog and spun the entire mechanism into a blue-screen system crash. Sorry, I would have watched my step better but nobody understands how any of the magic here works so really, my ignorance is your fault."

Anyone inside the castle is functionally immortal but if you live here too long, you turn to sand and die when you walk out the front door. That would be difficult to get around for the Portal Bros.

So maybe they aren't the Acolytes? Unless those weirdass cultist suits counteract the effect in some way.

In any case, let's try not to spend a hundred years in there. This place sounds horrifying.

Having no idea they tried to trick him, he pulled some shit to make them more dependent on him anyway because he's a prick. Thus ensuring that his eternal workshop would always have a supply of hands to do the work, while unknowingly caging his own saboteurs in a pen with his critical workings.

Seems like the kind of thing that could bite him in the ass. Aephorul needs to learn to pay more attention.

That's what's throwing me about the "Maybe these kids are the Acolytes?" possibility. The Acolytes are pretty solidly in Aephorul's corner, but you'd think Cael and his gang would be coming up with more shenanigans to screw him over.

Yeah, that. They'd be doing that.

Between that and the "Can't leave the castle" thing, it seems very unlikely that Cael and the others are the Acolytes. I think that idea is solidly sunk.

So. Key takeaways:

1 - We have learned nothing about the Acolytes but a lot about their base of operations. Time is frozen in the castle but we shouldn't linger.

2 - The Watchmaker honestly doesn't give a shit one way or the other about any of this, but she is inside the castle. We might have to feed her some of her own teeth if she tries to start shit, but she's just as likely to let us do whatever as long as we don't get in the way of her own work.

Like Yoyo, she has no real allegiances whatsoever which makes her an ally to none but a valuable resource to anyone who knows which strings to pluck.

3 - Cael and his crew are also inside that castle and would be more than happy to help us ruin Fleshy's day.

Alright. I feel slightly more confident than I did before story time. Let's move out.

[popculturebuffet]

Next up for Warner Bros Animation, favorite character from the 1996-2001 half of the Kids WB era of shows: Superman the Animated Series, Road Rovers, Waynehead, The New Batman Adventures, Histeria, Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain, Batman Beyond, Detention, Static Shock, and The Zeta Project?

Superman TAS: Toyman. The comics still haven't been able to match this verison: creepy design, fun gimicks and a geninly unsettling nature. The show itself is great. Not quite on the same level as BTAS, but still a great distalation of one of the greatest heroes of all.

Road Rovers: Reviewed a bunch of this and honestly forgot it. No faviorite character bu ta decent fun action show

Waynehaed: Haven't seen it and still marvel that this exists The New Batman Adventures: Dont' have a faviorite only because I haven't seen enough, but serum lake (Who I mentiond last time) has my intrest piqued. That said what I have seen is pretty good: the show is diffrent from btas, from what I found out from said videos embracing the camp a bit more. A solid followup.

Histeria: I've only seen the one episode but it's one I need to seek out as hot damn is Histeria fun. Funny, eductational and jam packed it's a damn shame this series was basically abandoned by WB and has been mostly buired as it's on par with tiny tunes and animaniacs. Defentily could use a reboot.

Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain:

Yeah this is like hysteria one I only saw for a review and once was enough. It's what happens when execs don't realize this idea had already been mocked and somehow make it worst. Larry at least is funny entirely for the great meta punchline of just how little he fits. Elmyra... is an awful character already. I respect Tiny Toons Looniversity for rebooting her properly, making her just as cutesy but now a slightly unhinged animal photographer instead of an animal abuser. I didn't know it was possible and it's clear they woudln't of tried had fans not complained so much Elmyra was gone

But the orignal.. is a bad character. She just is. Cree Summer does her best but Elmyra is abusive, annoying and just not fun to watch. Pinky tormenting brain works because he's likeable.. Elmyra isn't. I'm baffled this series was on hulu but Freakazoid wasn't.

Batman Beyond: (techno music intensifies) Terry himself might just win this as a fun character who serves as a nice contrast to bruce. The series itself is one I badly need ot revisit as I don't remember how fucked up it was (Thanks again serum lake) or how spider-man it was, but I do remember liking what I saw as a kid and later in college on the hub, and I like how unique it is. From what I can tell the comics have yet to truly capture the spirit of it. All the props to Glen Murkami who thanks to said videos I keep mentoning I found out is the reason we got this: Superman and NBA were canceled abrubtly to make a teen batman show and not wanting to A) throw out continuity or B) leave the show to someone worse they came up with a new legacy batman... but it was Glen's excellent designwork that really got them excited, creating a blade runner future with fresh villians, a spider-man flair and a true succsor to the bat. This show is one of the DCAU's most unique and best.

Detention; I don't know the motherfucker

Static Shock: Yeah this block is pretty much all DCAU. Rubberband Man is the faviorite here. I love his redemption arc, romance with Static's sister and dyslexia episode. I don't have it myself but it's well done and as someone who DOES have a disablity (autisim and disgraphia), I felt seen anyway. The show itself has been awesome any time i've revisited it, giving Dwayne McDuffie room to do what the DCAU (which it got made part of eventuallys), does best: strip down the glut in the continuity (as little as static had being from milestone and all), and make the characters their best self. The result is a fun well paced action series with some well grounded moments. The seris can both have Shaq guest star and have an episodes about gun violence and racisim and both fit. I also marked out as a kid seeing the justice league crossover, but more on that soon.

The Zeta project: Haven't really seen this one , here it's good. ti's the odd man out in the dcau as it's the only one not based on anything prexisting. Still seems worth a look and I wish Zeta would show up in the main dc universe.