#i wrote this before the uh

[vaguely-concerned]

To the ‘themes I am picking up on in Veilguard’ list, let's go ahead and add what I have a sneaking suspicion will actually turn out to be The theme:

— the world has changed and can never be as it was again.

— I have been changed and can never be who I was again.

— in this simple unavoidable truth there is endless grief and endless hope.

And I… may be getting a bit emotional about it haha. Let me show my work a bit: 

if da:o is a game about people who are already dead or half ghosts in some form (through societal forces, psychologically, functionally, literally, in body, through the joining etc.) coming together anyway to save the world from being swallowed by total nihilism and despair (symbolized by the blight) through the power of love and friendship and also this sword/potential heroic sacrifice that I found, da2 is a game about people who have lost their homes and been set adrift finding and building new homes in each other (while completely failing to save the world. also through the power of love and friendship. as well as years of petty bickering <3 we must imagine kirkwall if not happy then worth having been because the love was there the love was there and that's the only sanctifying force we can ever have in this doomed world and city of ours), and da:i is a game about old stabilizing-but-unjust comfortable lies vs. disruptive but potentially liberating uncomfortable truths, and the power of friendship to help us distinguish the one from the other and navigate through them...

folks… I'm starting to think that veilguard might be a game specifically about moving towards recovery and acceptance after trauma — about how even in this flawed, severed, scarred state, what is here right now is worth loving and worth caring for. even in an imperfect and impermanent world and self, there is worth and joy. and of course the first real tragedy — and threat — of Solas is that he just cannot find it in himself to accept this and move on, to let go of what was, the regret won’t let him go or he won’t let go of it. which means that even though on the surface it’s Elgar’nan and Ghilan’nain (and the will to subjugate and violate they represent) who are the main villains, the real antagonistic force in this story beneath that is the Dread Wolf’s despair. A despair Rook must make an answer to by the end of the game, one way or another, compassionately or with righteous fury, triumphant or pyrrhic.

The world will change again and again and so will you — BUT the crucial element is that so will everyone else who exists along with you, you are fundamentally not alone in this existential truth. all we’ll ever have is each other and my god that is plenty, my god that is enough!!! Which is the second thing Solas just can’t accept, he keeps himself separate and completely alone out of an awful mix of fear and pride and feeling himself unworthy of anything else. Rook and the player want to save the world of Thedas because it’s where everyone we love lives, Solas wants to go back to the past because that’s the only neighbourhood where he can still visit those he loved — and the person he himself was, before. A very sympathetic and human instinct/trap to fall into when touched by trauma, I think, if only it wasn’t backed by godlike power, a fundamentally oppositional personality, and a catastrophic lack of therapy to make it literally everyone else’s problem too lol. It’s varric and solas’ banter about the man on the island and where meaning in a life comes from all over again, writ large and with detail work — and the added idea of ‘what if there are also other islands out there, though. With other people on them that you could find if you reach for each other’. Rook with the best of intentions has to make choices to which there are no perfect outcomes and live with what happens — and not cut themselves off from everyone else around them even when there is regret or shame. You get back up every day and you make a life with other people doing the same and you do your best, and that’s the only victory this world will give you. In the end, that is more than enough, that is essential. And I um. I love that. So much. It’s why some of the writing clumsiness on top can’t hurt me because this thematic spine is so solid and so beautiful to me. It’s DA2 all over again that way for me personally — I forgive this story for what it isn’t and couldn’t be, and I love it with my whole stupid open heart for what it actually is. Thank you for coming to my TED-talk and goodbye etc.      

(For my fellow TLT heads out there — you know what this story is reminding me of most of all, actually? It has some big Nona the Ninth vibes down there in the deep. It’s about… the horror and unspeakable beauty that can only be found in liminality, and the role of love in making that basic fact of existence bearable. And also even more unbearable at the same time. I'm so sorry.)

[justvea18]

I just wanna share this thing I wrote in my Priv😁

[leafyloveslaughing]

tiresias what are you doing hereee

[a-star-that-burns-brightly]

[ content warning: discussion of in-canon sexual abuse ] Maybe it’s just because I’m not too active in the ALNST fandom and mostly observe from afar, but I think this fandom brushed aside way too quickly the fact that Till was sexually assaulted. I have never seen anyone talk in depth about like, what that actually means in terms of his arc and the storytelling of his character. Which I find deeply, deeply upsetting because holy fucking shit.

This man right here has been told, basically his entire life, that not only is he himself not worthy of being treated as a human, but that his body is not his body, but a piece of property that can be owned. And whoever owns his property can use it for whatever, and however they wish. Now, dehumanization is nothing new or unique in this world, obviously. The very concept of Pet Humans is dehumanizing by nature, leaving all six of our main characters as victims to it, even those who are more well-off like Mizi. But Till is a specially fucked up case almost distinctly unlike the rest, because he is actually treated like a fucking dog.

(x) Ivan: If you keep rebelling like that, they won’t ever remove your collar you know? Till: This annoying bastard… — Ivan: I told you so, didn’t I? You didn’t listen? Till: This annoying bastard... (translation courtesy of @leiikos on youtube)

(x)

An unruly animal who needs to be leashed up and put in it’s place. Animals, as is common knowledge, are not on the same level as a human being. But they are ordained to follow the commands of those above them. And if someone (thing) isn’t doing as it is told…

It deserves to be taught better. But I’m getting ahead of myself. This is the mindset that has followed Till his entire life by the ones who were supposed to take care of him. He is not human, even less human than the existing inhuman. He is a pet, even more so than the other pets, an animal. A thing. Property. Something to own. And the best thing about owning something?

You gain the ability to do whatever you want to it. Till’s body was not his from the start. It was used as something to toy around with, experiment with, to train and train and train, presumably for his whole life. His body, his skin, his flesh and bone and blood, it was all nothing more than a plaything. So what if he screams? Just ignore it. Or don’t. If this competition has taught us anything, voices have the most value of all. On top of it being reinforced that Till is not deserving of humanity, he is also not deserving of his bodily autonomy. People are free to do whatever they want with his body because it’s not his body, it’s theirs. And that brings us, finally, to the scene itself

He can’t sing her song, he refuses to. This isn’t the first time he’s refused to do something, far from it actually. What was once an innocent puppy with dilated hope in his eyes has grown into an angry, disobedient mutt. And we know what happens to an animal that refuses to do what they’re told. But there’s something interesting about dogs, or rather about the ones they descended from, the wolf: When the circumstances call for it, they will bite the hand that’s supposed to feed them.

And here is where I intrude to remind you that this is the only time we see anyone physically fighting back against the aliens in the confines of Alien Stage. We see Hyuna and Mizi fucking up aliens in All In, but that was after they had escaped from the cage. And you could make a case for Mizi trying to escape the grasp of the guards that grabbed her in Ruler of My Heart, but from what we saw she didn’t actually lay a hand on them and more so just tried to force herself out of their grasp. though if you disagree with me on that that's fine Here though? Till has this bitch’s face grabbed into his palm with a bottle in hand ready to smash it directly in between it’s eyes. I consider this to be the first act of physical violence shown against the aliens within the uncomfortably tight enclosure. And it’s triggered not because of anything personally done to Till, which on its own could probably fill a list that reaches the ground. But because of the prospect of Mizi being dead. Till knows that this place is shit, that his life is shit. Said so directly on his profile.

Dislikes: Everyone, including Guardian Urak (translation courtesy of @kh47uo on twitter)

But he stays regardless because Mizi is there. If Mizi is dead, Till has absolutely nothing to lose…Right?

I can almost imagine him thinking: There’s nothing you can put me through that’s worse than every other way you’ve hurt me. …But there was. Oh there was.

A final, disgusting message to the pet to put him back in his place. Back on his leash. Making sure he will never forget where he stands for the rest of his days.

And that is really what the sexual assault of Till represents to me. It is a cruel reminder to Till that fighting back is impossible, having hope, being free, it might as well be a fool's fantasy. He will always be less-than-human, less than anything. His body will always be the property of the ones that were supposed to protect him, claimed, and then used used used until it’s worn out and dead.

And the aliens chose to exemplify that fact in the most direct way they possibly could.

So what if he screams? Just ignore it. Or don’t. If this competition has taught us anything, screams have the most value of all

[charming-doodles]

Happy Holiday Truce @jackdaw-sprite !!! (And a happy new year~)

I kinda smushed two Lost Time prompts and was inspired by two posts you tagged as Lost Time for inspiration since I've never really written or drawn art exploring Danny and Clockwork's relationship before. (Hope that's ok xp) I hope you like it ><

Danny raced through the Zone, struggling to reach Clockwork's lair as ghost after ghost delayed him, picking a fight with what Danny's core quietly noted was motivated by desperation.

Desperate to what? Beat him to the ground?

No, that wasn't it.

His core hummed with... discomfort??? Unsatisfaction??? None of these ghost were giving him what he wanted.

What did he want?

Danny didn't know. Didn't have time to think as he blasted away one of his rouges, confusion bubbling when Pandora of all ghosts seemed to bow at her defeat. Although, it wasn't like she was putting much effort into their fight. She seemed only amused. A quiet acceptance lingering in her eyes as he slowly floated away from her.

"I understand I can't have you. Not with how your cores call for each other."

...what?

He didn't stick around for an answer. A desperate need like no other pulling him towards Clockwork. Idly, as he finally reached Clockwork's lair, a conversation he had with Clockwork resurfaced.

"Ugh, that's the third time this week that Skulkers broken his promise not to attack during school hours! And it's only Tuesday!" Clockwork simply smiled in amusement as Danny ranted about his day.

"But as I recall, you've successfully ended the fight before the Fentons showed up with minimal damage. You're improving. What is there to complain about?"

Danny snarled but pulled back, startled at his harsh reaction, hands slapping his mouth closed. Where did that come from?

"Sorry, it's just that..." He growled softly, flexing his hands into fists, "Lately these fights have been feeling so... UGH lame!"

"Lame?"

"Yeah! Lame." He huffed, looking away from Clockwork, knowing he was laughing at his childish insult.

"Poor thing." Danny's core bubbled at the insult. Clockwork raised his brow towards Danny, the ghostling's irritability easy to read with how little control he has in hiding his core's projections. "Is the lame fights to blame for your irritability or does the baby ghost need a bedtime?"

"BEDTIME?!" He stuttered at the offense, his core surged at the insult. He groaned. "Don't tell me you want to pick a fight, too! That's what everyone seems to want from me lately! At least you'll be a challenge."

Clockwork's eyes pierced right through his soul and Danny involuntarily shivered with fear.

"Perhaps tomorrow."

"Tsk- Perhaps tomorrow." Danny mocked. "Scared you'll lose?"

"No." He smiled a little, "I'd like to see their desperation as they fight for guardianship one last time. I let this go on long enough."

Guardianship. His core hummed with recognition. Expectation.

This was it. What was it? He wouldn't be alone anymore! Since when was he alone? He just had to prove himself! But why??

He entered Clockwork's lair with a grimace, irritated and tired from all the ghosts attacking him since their last conversation. Everyone understood what they were fighting for except him. Would Clockwork even explain himself after?

He didn't have much time left to think, when Clockwork swung at him. His core hummed with excitement, wild green eyes meeting calm, piercing red.

Game on.

[solalunar-eclipse]

Sonadow Snippets #1

(I really want to get back into writing these two—and I have a lot of ideas for them—but I don’t know where to start, exactly. So, I’m trying something new, and writing mostly-unedited shorts. Hope you enjoy!)

Lakes were alright, Sonic thought.

Of course, most bodies of water were ‘alright’, so long as he personally wasn’t near them. It was when he and anything larger than a puddle met that problems started to occur, mostly in the vein of him avoiding contact with the water at all costs. (He’d make an exception for swimming pools if he had a life jacket on, and even then only during competitions.)

But right now, he was surprisingly comfortable, all things considered.

Sonic was curled up on his side, propping his head up with a hand as the rest of him sank into the sand ringing the edge of the lake. There was a slight chill in the air, giving the forest a fresh scent that he could never seem to get enough of. And out on the lake, a black and red figure skated gracefully, kicking up glittering arcs in his wake.

When he’d first heard that Shadow liked to skate on water, he’d dismissed it as one of those things that was fun for a half-alien, not so much for himself. Over time, though, he grew curious, especially after Shadow claimed that it was better than skating over land in some ways. After that, he’d asked to see it for himself, and now…he kind of saw what Shadow meant.

Of course, that didn’t mean he was going to try to run on top of the water anytime soon. Nooo, thank you, Sonic the Hedgehog was just fine as he was. But there was a special kind of art to the way that his rival-turned-friend interacted with the surface of the lake, churning up the normally still water and turning it into part of his routine.

Because this was a routine, in a way. Shadow wasn’t just skating in circles—he was doing spins and flips, occasionally letting his momentum carry him on one leg, and doing all of it backwards as much as forwards. It was downright impressive.

Sonic watched intently, noticing how Shadow’s quills whipped in his self-made wind and gave his silhouette an almost beautiful sense of motion. No, scratch that, it was beautiful. Seeing him move with such grace was…magical, honestly. Definitely a privilege. Sonic couldn’t draw very well beyond little scribbly stick figures, it was Knuckles who had a great sense of things like landscapes and anatomy (though his people were a little rougher than his wildlife).

He wasn’t sure if Knuckles would see this the way he saw it, though.

So instead, Sonic tried to commit this moment to memory, refusing to lie down properly and look away even as his arm and neck began to ache. He watched intently until Shadow finished, finally skidding to a stop on the sand a ways away—far enough that the particles he kicked up wouldn’t get into Sonic’s eyes, which he appreciated.

The other hedgehog approached, brushing his windswept quills back into place. Sonic wished he’d have let them stay that way a little longer, it was kind of nice to see Shadow a little less than impeccable for a moment. At the same time, though, that tidiness was a part of who Shadow was, and he wouldn’t have changed that for the world.

“Thoughts?” Shadow asked, seeming genuinely curious, and perhaps…even a little apprehensive?

Sonic sat up properly, beaming up at him. “That was so cool. Mind if I come again sometime?”

To Sonic’s delight, Shadow gave him the smallest of smiles back. “I believe that can be arranged.”

[mylarena]

thinkin abt soap being able to touch ghost, unlike literally anyone else on base. like, even gaz and price get minimal leeway on it. the medics act like hes a feral cat when treating him. theres rumors that he once broke a guys wrist for patting his arm.

but then soap shows up, and hes like, Ah Nah Man, Itll Be Fine!

and punches him in the shoulder and says 'save ya a seat, sir!' and sees the momentary flash of shock from his absolute fucking audacity before he turns and ignores the absolutely killer glare he gets as he walks away

then ghost pats his arm before he leaves the camera room, leaving soap too shocked to do anything but give him a weak thumbs up as he walks away

then soap pats his shoulder before climbing onto the helo out of las almas

and thats just the start.

people around base see soap bump shoulders with ghost while walking down a hallway and everyone can only look on in horror as ghost-- does nothing. huffs and rolls his eyes, but does nothing.

and anyone who witnessed it are simply not believed when they tell people about it.

but they know.

then it happens again, and more people see it, and then its flying around the base in whispers and gossip.

"soap gave lieutenant ghost a shove and he didnt even react!"

"he sat next to him during the brief, and he was pressed right up to him!"

"they were sitting across from each other in the mess, and, you wont even believe this, but they were playing footsies! soap was stealing things right off of his plate! and ghost just let him!"

and ghost starts being more open to other peoples touch, too. nothing even fractionally as close to what he lets soap get away with, but price gets to ruffle his hair in the 141 common room in the rare occasion that ghost is without his mask. gaz can throw an arm around his shoulder without being growled at like a fuckin dog.

the next time a rookie accidentally bumps into him, theyre terrified for a moment that theyre either going to be booted off the base for disrespecting their CO or gutted like a fish, but ghost just nods stiffly to their frantic apology and steps to the side to walk right past them.

and, even wilder than everything else, ghost is seen initiating contact with soap. patting him on the back (making soap beam like the sun), ruffling his hair (causing soap to borderline giggle), grabbing him by the chin to tilt his head to get a better look at a wound over his eyebrow (making soap look up at him with a gentle expression, settle a hand over his wrist, and softly reassure him that he's okay.)

and it says a lot that eventually when someone says that they walked into the gym late one night and caught ghost and soap pressed chest-to-chest with soaps arms hooked up and around ghosts neck and ghosts hands on soaps hips, people dont immediately dismiss it as something entirely unbelievable.

[keylimeart]

yapping about my little xmen au 🫶

[ace-malarky]

the problem with trying to finish a piece I started writing years ago is that while I like. Vaguely remember what it was about, things have Changed in the interim and also I don't know how to join this lmao

[nyoomfruits]

💕 & loscar (alternatively landoscar) pretty please!!

went on a wild tiktok/ao3 binge for this one because i realized i know very little about the dynamics and ended up going for very cliche pairing accurate angst lmao

💕 kissing somewhere other than lips

Logan ends up watching the rest of the Canadian Grand Prix from a corner in the garage, tucked away between some storage boxes and a stack of tires. It’s clear no one really knows what to say, because the engineers flit around without speaking to him and only occasionally send him half smiles that are probably meant to be encouraging but mostly just remind him of what he stands to lose.

James has been openly courting Sainz in the press all week. They know. They all know.

So he watches the race, the constant shuffle of the top five with his heart in his throat, lets out a long breath when Oscar gets passed by Hamilton, then Russell. He doesn’t know if he’s disappointed or relieved that Oscar didn’t score a podium, and he doesn’t know if that makes him a horrible boyfriend or just human.

The trek back to the Motorhome is short, the debrief even shorter. Logan avoids the pinched expressions of everyone in the room, answers all questions with yes and no, pretends he isn’t five seconds away from crying.

He just wants to go home.

The paddock is mostly empty when he leaves, and he never stops being surprised by the absolute lightning speed everyone manages to pack up ever time again. But he’s grateful for it now, because it means that when he encounters Oscar, waiting for him by the McLaren motorhome, that Oscar can wrap an arm around him without anyone noticing, pull him close, press a soft, lingering kiss to his temple. “Pizza?” Oscar asks, because he knows better than to talk about it.

Plus he knows Logan will break, later tonight, when they’re already in bed, lights turned off, so Logan can just whisper his insecurities into the dark around them and can pretend Oscar doesn’t hear. Oscar will pull him closer, then, hand over his heart, lips pressed into his hair, and he won’t know what to say, because Oscar’s never been good with that kind of stuff, but he will hold Logan, and maybe that’s enough.

“Yeah,” Logan says, as a gaggle of photographer’s trips out of one of the alleyways between the motorhomes, and Oscar’s hand slides of his shoulder, back into his own pockets.

God, Logan thinks, glancing at him sideways. Please. Let it be enough.

[demon-of-arts]

[anishenanigans]

happy pride month to Mei who is definitely trans. I yearn for the day people start talking about this more.

[springtrappd]

everyone: wow I can't wait for tftp to explain what's up with the blob

tftp: so about this mimic thing--

everyone: wow I can't wait for ruin to explain what's up with the blob

ruin: so about this mimic thing--

everyone: wow I can't wait for hw2 to explain what's up with the blob

hw2:

everyone:

hw2: so about this m--

[timeregistry]

I wanted to reply to this comment with a picture but you can't do that on tumblr (I think?!) but it made me giggle so much that I wanted to just do a quick thing because idk inspo comes in all forms DONT LOOK AT IT TOO HARD but thanks for the banger idea @mysteryart5645 (I hope you don't mind the @ !)

[silverselfshippingchaos]

y'all ever think about how j.oongi wears eyeliner 😳 I do. A lot haha.

[kaiserouo]

oh my god why do i not know this until now

yeah it's kinda fun