#i'll revisit this later to add to it

[gas-station-chai]

Yo Chai, I was thinking about cosplaying Jack on tiktok and basically no one I know is into tftgs, can you think of any audios that would be good for him? I have a couple but nowhere near what I'd like lol

Okay so I have so many options for you bc I've got a messy playlist dedicated to every song that reminds me of TFTGS, but I'm gonna spare you my infodumping and try to limit myself to only explaining why these three songs might fit:

First note, it really depends on what aspect of Jack you wanna show off; Wanna portray him in an angsty way? I think Destroyed By Hippie Powers by Cars Seat Headrest would fit great! Showing off Jack before his (mids)diagnosis as content and (sort of) happy, and then cutting to the tired, apathetic, go-with-the-flow version of him we know so well. 

(What happened to that chubby little kid who smiled so much and loved The Beach Boys? What happened is I killed that fucker and I took his name and I got new glasses)

Or do you wanna show off how Jack as a character gets manipulated constantly? (I do, LOL) In that case, you could go with Fool by Djo, with Jack acting generally confused and anxious as he spirals into madness through the chorus (maybe with text of a bunch of gaslighting quotes from Vol. 3 surrounding him?). 

([...] I'm a jester and I'm yours Call me your (look into my eyes and baby, whisper) fool I will be your fool (I'll be your fool) I'll perform for you (perform for you) Just tell me what to do (do) I always felt so foolish anyway)

Or lastly, you could go with Dark Red by Steve Lacy and pair it with Jack acting out… well, there’s a ton of instances where Jack’s got a bad feeling about something and ends up being right about it. But my favorite one to imagine with this song is the cooler scene in Volume 1, where Tony’s trying to convince Jack to get into the cooler and flashes him the gun in his waistband. (actually, this is something I’ve been wanting to draw out, too :3)

(Something bad is ‘bout to happen to me…)

Of course, these are all just suggestions from a guy with limited(?) music taste, so I'm sorry if any of these don't fit the vibe you're goin for. No pressure, no stress to use em! Good luck and have fun cosplaying my favorite wet cat of a man <8

[littlebunnysander]

Screenshotting my original post so my addition shows up in the tags.

Two-siding a genocide in your ongoing podcast while an actual real world genocide is going on is WILD.

The humans have been confirmed to be colonizers of land originally inhabited by monsters. They have carried out multiple genocides and forced the monsters out of their homes and into cities on the fringes of the world. Then more human invaders show up to destroy those cities (also the monster cultural centers).

We have confirmation that the city they hit first has been leveled entirely now. The city that Olala was seeking because it contained so much information and history about monster kind.

We've also got political leaders refusing to get involved unless the bombing comes to them, and the monsters being treated as primitive and ineffective against the advanced tech of the off-world humans. This is a really uncomfortable if unintentionally a parallel and actually awful if it is intentional. Best case scenario, it's trying to make a connection between fictional monsters and real life people in a way that's both othering and pretty racist. Worst case, the writers actually believe this is a two side issue and that any attempt to stop Israel is "just as bad" as an ongoing genocide.

Does anyone know if anyone has made any statements? I'm not expecting every creative to do so, but when your work is hitting this close to real world situations, it might be necessary.

[marypickfords]

i finally learned how to extract audio from movies and now i'm saving HGL's film commentaries so i can listen to them like a podcast :)

[hide-your-bugs-away]

Where did you watch Don't Look Back (1964)? I've been wanting to watch it for a while now because I'm always itching for literally ANY Alan Price content but I don't know where to find it to watch it. I was wondering if you knew?

HELLO AAAAA THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT TO ASK!! Dont Look Back is constantly playing on loop in my brain... my favorite movie of all time, no contest, and not just because the fruity and moody piano man who changed my life plays the comic relief and emotional linchpin (though, I could honestly write a huge analysis on the significance of his role in the film as a whole)... it's such a great time that perfectly encapsulates why I love that era of music so much - especially that snapshot-existence of early-'65. 🥹

(More under the cut because Connie starts rambling...)

Anyway, the place I originally watched the film was on YouTube (back in 2020!) A full, high-quality upload of the movie was on the platform (miraculously never taken down for copyright) for years... up until that stupid SESAC situation happened on YouTube a couple of months back. A lot of Bob's content was caught in the crossfire, and while most of the music and videos came back, those full uploads of Dont Look Back are all gone now for some reason. There is still one single upload of the movie on YouTube, however, it's AI-colorized and upscaled to... mixed results 😬 Putting aside my own feelings and negative bias towards AI tools being used in that way (especially because the colorization of films can be an expression of art in itself), it just doesn't look super good?? In my opinion?? It just superimposes a lot of oranges and browns to everyone's skin and hair and that's it,, not a lot of those truly striking colors that 60s London was known for, especially in the mod/beat scenes. Not to mention, like a lot of black and white movies from that time period, it honestly feels *best* to experience it the way that people 60 years ago saw it, because the choice to make it black and white in the first place was an artistic decision, in a lot of ways (along with being a practical choice on Pennebaker's part, no doubt).

All of that to say... I have both Dont Look Back and 65 Revisited saved to my Google Drive and I'd be happy to share it with you 👀 Alan's in only a bit of 65 Revisited, but it's the part in the Newcastle tie shop which is 10/10. I also have Snapshots from the Tour saved on my computer - it isn't saved on my Google Drive yet, but I can send it your way as well if you'd like 🙏 There's a great scene in that one where Alan's talking about blues music with Albert Grossman (Bob's manager) and Tom Wilson (Bob's record producer, later for the Animals as well after they ditched Mickie Most) and agghhhgGggh IT'S SO FASCINATING TO WATCH. ALSO. ALAN PRICE CIRCA 1965. AAAAAA. Freshly seperated from the band (and the Eric) who introduced him to that music in the first place... CRIES SO LOUDLY.

SO.... yes!!! Feel free to message me and I'll share that link with you!! 🥹 IT'S SUCH A GREAT AND FUNNY AND INTRIGUING MOVIE whether you're a Bob Dylan fan or Donovan fan or Alan Price fan or just a fan of that era of music in general AAAAA as I said before... IT CHANGED MY LIFE. ALAN PRICE HAS A MENTAL BREAKDOWN AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN THE SAME. /pos

[purenguyening]

Maybe it's just because I haven't used LibreWriter in forever, but I do find it a little odd that there's no default keyboard shortcut to insert a footnote.

[chaos-bites]

💀 Subtle Hel Worship 🪦

Honor your ancestors or passed loved ones

Visit cemeteries; leave flowers at graves (with permission!!!)

Try veiling

Have a candle that reminds you of her (no altar needed)

Wear jewelry that reminds you of her

Keep a picture of her in your wallet

Have imagery of birch trees, cemeteries, skulls, snakes, wolves, or dogs (dogs are huge) around

Have a stuffed animal dog, wolf, or snake

Practice mindfulness; try meditation

Explore abandoned places (urb-ex; be safe!!!)

Take time to yourself every day to decompress

Drink relaxing teas or beverages; black tea or coffee is especially good or dark hot chocolate

Eat a comforting meal

Engage in activities you find calming; drawing, painting, crocheting, reading, etc.

Feel your feelings; cry if you need to, scream if you need to, etc.; find a healthy outlet for these emotions (drawing, boxing, dancing, etc.

Support homeless or animal shelters, healthcare or humanitarian organizations

Volunteer at homeless or animal shelters

Feed neighborhood dogs, cats, birds, etc.

If you have dogs, play with and take care of them; play with/take care of any pets c:

Cook a meal for someone you love

Donate supplies to animal or homeless shelters

Cook a warm meal for someone in need

Collect animal bones (please thank the animal's spirit after doing so)

Recycle, make/use compost (great with gardens)

Spend time with loved ones; spend time with any elderly or older folks that you love

Take care of your basic needs; eat three meals a day, get some movement into your day, take a shower when needed, etc.

Revisit things from your childhood; keep any stuffed animals from childhood or buy ones you've always wanted

Practice patience, especially with yourself

Take a walk at night, especially on the new moon (only if it's safe in your area!!!)

Have a nighttime/bedtime routine

Learn more about death; get more comfortable with the concept itself; focus on figuring out what your beliefs on the afterlife are (if any)

Collect old items or antiques; try to restore them or give them a fresh coat of paint/polish; keep them or give them to someone who will love them

Have compassion towards those who are often looked down on by the wider society, such as addicts or the homeless; donate to causes that aid them /their recovery

Eat an apple; go apple-picking; visit an apple orchard

Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable; when at home, get comfy!

Learn to get comfortable with change, especially necessary change; try spontaneous things, go outside your comfort zone, find effective ways to manage stress during changes

Take note of the seasons changing; maybe capture the moment of an Official Season Change™ in a painting or picture

Take time to reflect on yourself objectively; if you find yourself being unkind, take a step back

Observe the life cycles of animals; learn more about the natural world around you

Practice compassion and forgiveness towards yourself and others

Set healthy boundaries; learn what your personal boundaries are

Let go of what no longer serves you; release what you no longer need in your life

Go out in weather that reminds you of her if it's safe to do so (may sound weird, but I associate fog with her)

Be kind to children; play with them if offered

Start a new hobby - something that is calm and enjoyable; crocheting, carving, painting, etc.

Live your life unapologetically

-

I'll likely add more to this later as I feel it's incomplete. For the time being, this is my list of discreet ways to worship Hel. I hope this is helpful! Take care, everyone. 🩵

Link to Subtle Worship Master list

[1driedpersimmon]

Do you have any advice for people who might want to get into making comics like yours? I'm always pleasantly surprised by how fast you pump them out and even have other little projects/doodles on the side. How do you keep the quality consistent?

(sorry if this sounds a lil cold (?) i rlly love your peppercakes they r so skrunkly)

First off - Thank you !! I'm honored you like my lil guys and comics hehe! (and no worries on the tone !! I didn't think it sounded cold at all!)

Alright secondly lets see...

Short answer: You really just gotta start and keep going!! Once you start you get the momentum and it gets much easier (like riding a bike, which people like to use as comparison often).

Long answer:

Alright I thought about how to answer for this for a bit and I think I'll break it down to the main aspects.

So timing ! Basically I'm drawing 24/7 (and I'm currently not working as it's an off time for me, but I shall in a week and you will see that my posting frequency will decrease substantially). Ok maybe not 24/7 but I essentially am drawing from the moment I wake up to when I sleep (minus eating, restroom, working out, some errands) and while I do not say this is the key to being better, I'm just realistically displaying how much time I'm spending on drawing. (... one of my new years resolution is to not in fact do that and go out more because I feel like I'm being cooped up in my room a lot haha). But minus the amount of time I spend itself a lot of it has to do with the importance I take in speed drawing. And when I say that I mean quite literally how fast I can draw. AND I think a large part of where that speed comes from is how I like to generalize designs and just my overall process of drawing. (Which, I will not go over now but if you'd like I could make a separate post on how I go about doing my usual sketch, lines, colors, etc) Like, I love ff and all of it's crazy designs but it's so complicated I simplify everything till it's juussstt recognizable, and that's something I feel like really adds to the speed of things.

Also that's sweet of you to say for the quality haha (I always am thinking stuff like ah man this aint it... not my finest work, and then just post anyways cuz who cares I already made it heh)! That being said my quality wasn't alwaysss consistent! Here's an example of my very first "comic" I made for my characters:

And here's the same 4 panels I redrew just about 2 years later:

So I've been basically drawing comics for this for just about 2 years now (will be 2 years officially in a few months) and I most certainly did not get here in one night. I think, as I've mentioned, it's really important to keep up with the comic making (or drawing in general) so that, yes, you can get better, but the way you get better is that it becomes familiar to you. So you can approach concepts and ideas with a more experience. And I think a large part of what holds alot of people back is the idea that "ah I can't do this idea I'm not good enough." So what !! Still do it, I most certainly did it a couple years ago when I barely scribbled my ideas. And then you can totally go back and redraw it ! no "Rule" saying you can't go back and revisit your ideas, like hell even professional artists go back and republish their works with their improved art styles ! (ex. Tokyo Ghoul... even though I don't care for the story, it's still pretty cool! I think he even added more scenes? Anyways..). I think there was that one post going around where it was something like do it scared and that's really REALLY what you gotta do.

And that leads to my final point. You gotta love doing it. I like to make comics because I LOVE my characters, their story, and actually the act of putting it all together into a story, drawn comic, visuals, etc. And, I found my method of loving them. For me, what held me back was the "structure" of comics. I mean you can p much see that the way I like to do things is def not the "traditional" manga/western comic book style right? I won't go as far to say that I "made up this way" of comic making where it's one panel at a time but it certainly worked for me. (I have no idea how many comic wips I have collecting dust in my folders from my earilier days of making this comic where I just gave up 20% of the way in because I really could not vibe with the formatting, but then I figured out I really like to "thumbnail" comics (a result of when I was studying storyboards alot imo) and I went on from there).

This is where I feel like alot of people get stuck too. Where they really do like their ideas, their character, their stories and such, but as soon as they try and go through the process of creating in a certain way... the wind is just instantly taken out of their sails. And while I do believe sometimes you just gotta push through and do it anyways, sometimes that's not the right method to go about it. So instead of brute forcing a method of creation and eventually forming a bad relationship with the process, find a method that works for you. And maybe it doesn't look all that great or good compared to others, but that comes in time and as long as you like doing it, that's what really matters at the end of the day.

Tl;dr: be a lil freak, and lil weird about what you do (this applies to everything, not only art :3)

Alright so I think that's all the points? idk if you still want to ask me stuff, feel free to anytime :) Always happy to share my thoughts!

[writers-potion]

How to write things that could be trigger warnings?

Novel Trigger Warnings: How To?

Writing About Sensitive Themes

Trigger warnings or no trigger warning, a writer must take caution to provide an accurate and meaningful exploration of topics like suicide, abuse, trauma, etc.

Make use of sensitivity readers to provide feedback

Get a first-hand account from someone who has a similar experience to what your character will. Even if you can't get an interview with someone face-to-face, there are amazing blogs and YT videos out there.

EXPLORE IT MEANINGFULLY, NEVER USE IT AS A "SHOCK FACTOR". Think about how the triggering elements add depth to character, throw a meaningful question to the audience or make the worldbuilding more realistic, etc. Throwing these elements in because you can't think of a better idea is exactly what you don't want to do.

Don't let the trauma/mental disorder, etc. become a character's entire personality. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking, "oh that character with cancer" or "the troubled one" - nope. A character is more than just an aggragate of their dark past.

Think about the genre you're writing. If you're writing horror and label is correctly, you can expect readers to give you more liberty to throw blood and gore around. If you do this for a YA romance, it's probably going to be a big no.

Focus on the characters and their reaction, rather than the act itself. Life is 10% events and 90% how you deal with them.

Stay away from exaggerated stereotypes. No Hollywood.

To Warn Or Not To Warn

A trigger warning is essentially a statement cautioning a consumer/reader that the content may be disturbing or induce a traumatic response. 

Common Arguments For Trigger Warnings

They give a reader the choice to avoid encountering content that forces them to revisit past trauma.

It isn't always obvious from the book cover/synopsis, etc. that potentially triggering content comes later down the story. It helps them make an informed decision.

Common Arguments Against Trigger Warnings

It becomes a spoiler.

Trigger Identification: There are as many different triggers as there are readers, making it a practical impossibility to adequately warn every potential reader about every potential trigger.

Genre expectations should adequately help readers choose. If you're reading an action thriller, you'd reasonably expect violence.

Some teachers, librarians, and publishing professionals argue that content labels are a form of censorship, and that the line between labels and trigger warnings is thin.

I am yet to make up my mind on whether trigger warnings are a necessity, or it should remain a choice that's left up to the author - so I'll leave it up to you to decide. Let me know in the comments about what you think.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* . ───

💎If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 

💎Before you ask, check out my masterpost part 1 and part 2 

💎For early access to my content and priority questions,  become a Writing Wizard 

[amberbeach]

'AFTERMATH'

gif belongs to me

The chill of the space beside him alerted RJ that you were no longer sleeping beside him and had been gone for at least ten minutes. He sat up, looking around the room, the moon outside peeking in through the curtains granting enough light that he could see you weren't in your bedroom. He glanced at the clock as he got out of bed and quietly made his way to the living space, finding it was encased in darkness.

He looked around in confusion until he heard a noise from downstairs in the pizza parlour. A smile formed on his lips as he headed downstairs to the kitchen where he found you spreading sauce on the pizza dough you had made.

RJ chuckled, startling you, and you looked at your husband when he approached you. "Let me guess, midnight snack?"

"What? I'm eating for two now." You placed a hand on your bump, and RJ smiled as he stood behind you, placing his hands on your arms while kissing your cheek.

"Here." He took over the cooking, and you helped add toppings, looking over at him.

"Did I wake you?"

He shook his head, "The bed was cold."

He didn't have to elaborate for you to realize why he had started looking for you. It had been months since the incident, but the look in his eyes told you that it was still very much on his mind. RJ could never shake the fear that overcame him when he found you were gone. It took him back again and again and revisited him in his sleep. The night you were taken by Dai Shi, who stole your animal spirit to make himself stronger, haunted him every day since.

You frowned, observing your husband, whom you had met at the academy. You got married weeks after graduation and have been together ever since, and there was no greater test than helping him mentor three teenagers who could save the world.

You couldn't imagine how it must've been while you were gone. RJ had spoken about it after a nightmare, and you discussed his need to be closer to you once you returned. You knew that if the roles were reversed, you would've lost your mind with worry. And since your pregnancy, RJ was more protective than ever.

You approached the Purple Ranger, wrapping your arms around his waist, pressing a kiss to his shoulder after he placed the pizza in the oven. He smiled softly as he turned to you, and you rested your head on his chest as you stood in the lit kitchen, in his warm embrace.

"I'm sorry. I never thought - "

RJ shook his head, "I know. It seems silly now, months on, but I can't shake that feeling." He pressed a kiss to your head, meeting your gaze when you lifted your head to look up at him. "I thought I'd lost you. And I couldn't survive that." He placed a hand on your cheek, and you sent him a small smile.

"Do you remember what I told you at our wedding?"

"No matter what happens, we'll always have each other."

"Which means when - if - something happens to me, I'll haunt you forever."

RJ cracked a smile, and you smiled when he began to chuckle. He kissed you tenderly before walking to the oven to check on the cooking pizza. You placed your hand on your stomach in surprise, a smile forming on your lips.

"RJ," You called softly, gaining his attention.

He met your gaze, glancing at your hands. "What's wrong?"

"They're kicking." You told him.

He approached you, and you held his hand on your stomach. Moments later, he felt pressure against his hand, and he smiled brighter than you had seen in a while.

You met his gaze when he placed his hands on your cheeks and kissed you tenderly. "I love you."

"I love you too."

That night before time ticked by into the early hours of the morning, you headed upstairs and back to bed. RJ laid on his side while you sat with your back against the headboard, sharing the pizza you made as you added to the list of names you liked for both genders.

After the pizza was finished, RJ shifted until his head rested on your lap, and you smiled softly, combing your fingers through his hair, leaning over to turn off the lamp to allow your husband to succumb to sleep, knowing it didn't come easy to him lately.

While you still felt the void left by the absence of your animal spirit, it was nothing compared to the prospect of losing each other. And you were thankful that he and the Rangers had found you when Dai Shi went to extraordinary lengths to hide you away. He was growing stronger, but you knew the final confrontation between him and the Rangers was coming soon. And as you looked down at your husband you silently wished for him not to come to harm, and the Rangers.

Right now, you were still healing through the aftermath.

[orangejuicex3-mieoi]

do u know what happened to Skylars art accounts ? It’s probs weird to ask but I know u guys were friends and I used to really love her art but can’t find her socials

skylar and me are still friends! I still text her everyday HAHA she just deleted all her social media and doesn't draw much anymore! She's actually working to become a dentist now and only draws maybe once every few months? She's pretty anti social media now and plans to eventually have a dumb phone (like a very minimal flip phone or something) so im not sure if she will ever have an art social media again. I'll ask her if she wants to say anything in response and if she does later, I'll add it to this post with an edit!

Here is skylars response:

"I don’t have any social media anymore, whether for myself or my art. I honestly don’t draw much at all anymore. At the time I had my accounts, I was very ill and agoraphobic. I used my hobbies as a distraction from working on myself, and so I spent the entire day drawing, or playing video games, or doing some loser shit. I started drawing less once I started trying to be better. Got my GED, my license, a job. I’m in school now. Got accepted into my program of choice and I’m in therapy. It takes a long time to be properly diagnosed, but it seems like we’re working toward diagnosing me with c-PTSD lol, so yeah, that’s kinda fucking my life up. There is a part of me that misses drawing. I think about it a lot. I think about making an account and trying to indulge in it. But, honestly, I fear it, along with any hobby I used to have from that time. I hope that when I’m really, truly healthy I’ll be able to revisit it and engage with it and grow with it again. Right now, I kind of reject my love for it. I don’t really trust myself with, uh, joy? I get really addicted and obsessed with my escapism, and I’m trying not to lol. If I were to annoyingly quote a song at you: “I’ve been much better, but atleast I’m healing.” I’ll send Brandi some of my more recent drawings to add, but there’s nothing impressive or finished among them. Thank you for asking about me. That’s very sweet. I never had nearly as many followers as Brandi did/does (nor did I deserve them), so it’s funny to me that someone is still thinking about me. Sorry for my verbosity. I’m a sick woman."

and I'll attach some of her recent drawings in a sec! :) I had to crop them so tumblr doesnt flag LMAO this is mari skylars main oc rn!

I also did some style exploration of her oc a few months ago for fun since skylar's been playing with her head shape!

[nightwonder7]

What are your thoughts on the new Hullabaloo content?

AAaaaahhhh sorry it has taken me so long to get to these asks! 😭 I've been too eepy to properly articulate any replies ;u;

The short of it, it was so good!!! O0O I liked the story a lot more than I expected. Like gosh, the writing, the presentation, the animation, the voice acting (Joker's performance at the tent gave me chills)! Everything was so impeccable and much more than I thought it would be :0 Certainly a breath of fresh air and an upgrade from the diary stories of game 4 and 9 (I wouldn't mind at all if the devs revisited those with the same caliber as Closing Night 👀 at least it seems all the stories from now on will be presented this way)! While character and essence trailers tend to be very poetic and ambiguous, Closing Night was pretty straight forward in the plot, which was really nice.

The characters themselves and their dynamics were probably the most striking to me. It's one thing to read the lore through letters and deductions, but seeing the characters actually perform in real time gives more insight and adds layers of depth and complexity that are hard to perceive through other formats. Even the little things; the way they speak, their demeanor, their body language, how they act towards each other in different situations... Like how Mike tends to use grandiose gestures while he speaks, or how Violetta talks with such softness and meekness in her voice (she is definitely the kind of person to apologise if someone else were to step on her toes... okay, bad analogy, but you get what I mean gfhjgdg). It's these details I'm so grateful to have witnessed in these characters. (Emphasizing that these characters come from a media where most of the lore is tucked away in written documents that a lot, or even most players, don't bother to seek out. It's nice that the later story installments to IDV have enabled more of them to learn more about the lore, cause it's all so very interesting and a shame to miss out on) It was an absolute treat to see them all interact with each other and the environment!

I love how the point of contention was building up through it all, and how it all came to a head at the end. I loved Mike's development as he realised what was truly going on at Hullabaloo. His perception of his perfect childhood paradise practically imploded on him in such a scale that he could no longer handle it ;-; All of them were victims to the circus and each of them had their own sets of trauma from the abuse. You could understand why they all acted the way they did, even if some of their actions weren't always the best. Man, the writing is so good!

Overall a very good story and presentation that I really enjoyed! Lots of angst, which I love 👀 I feel like I've gotten a better understanding of these characters now too; just hoping I'll also manage to portray them somewhat similarly fgdshjfsd XD Anyway, I'm looking forward to game 0 now! (but plz I want more Ashes of Memory first 😭)

[burningcheese-merchant]

oh great burningcheese-merchant, I know you're on a craze with this couple, who are awesome btw, but I come here today with a humble request as a long time reader that maybe you could consider revisiting your "cookie run ship backstories" on AO3. There are some couples on that fic I was eagerly awaiting to read about 👀 ofc no pressure, if you don't wanna come back to it, that's totally cool, I'll read whatever you choose to write because you are that fantastic at it ☝

You read that? And you actually like it? And you actually like it enough to come ask me to continue it???

I didn't think anyone cared about that one (or any of the not BurningCheese ones tbh, those have stolen my entire show 😂)! I did it for funsies and was surprised it even got to 400 hits! I'm really touched you want more, I'm going to add another ship chapter as soon as possible (later today probably, since they're all done and old as hell) just for you! (I'm between AbyssEel or BlackCaviar. I like how I wrote those ones in particular. I hope those are some of the ones you wanted to hear about haha)

Now... Look at the camera and tell everyone that the PitayaFire chapter is your favorite :) Don't mind the gun pointed at you, please ignore the cool metal of the shotgun barrel digging between your shoulder blades, forget that it's fully loaded, just tell the world that that was the best one and you ship PitayaFire to death and think everyone one else should, too :))) (kidding, obviously. You enjoy whatever you ship you want. I'm just so alone on PitayaFire Island waaaaahhhhhhhh)

I really am grateful for all the people that enjoy my writing. It means the world to me that I'm actually good enough at something that people enjoy what I do with it. I hope I'm able to keep entertaining you all with my nonsense stories, BurningCheese-related and otherwise ❤️

[datapacks]

i agree that mojang's insistence on uniqueness is not only weird, but also it makes every new feature feel like "oh hey, we wanted to add a new biome but it had to be unique enough for it to get added, so here's a whole new game mechanic we only got made through a blood sacrifice" i think the pale garden is *close* to a reasonable balance, but the fact it doesn't just Exist and instead requires a whole conference about what's new and unique about it makes it fit that precedent of "new things need to be NEW new" but also if the pale garden had just been a new biome with no new mobs or mechanics, with a unique grass and foliage colors people might would've complained about it being underwhelming

i think something that could make it feel a bit less like "this is a mod someone had an idea for that's completely self contained" would be making the mechanics more universal, like if we got a few different resin types (like an earthy green one in the jungle biome), or like if the hanging moss could generate in other forest biomes like how spanish moss isn't just confined to small areas. the new mechanics don't Need to feel isolated, but the way they're getting implemented makes it feel like they're just adding stuff for the sake of adding stuff and not considering the rest of the game *despite* saying they want to go back and revisit old things... it's so strange!

Yeah like they keep saying they always try to fit every feature into every pre-existing feature and that's "why updates take so long even when they seem to add so little" then you look at their actual development pipeline and 80% of what they show as examples is just texture tweaks. Idk I have a lot of scrambled thoughts on all of this I'll figure out how to word it more concisely later.

[nnnn99999]

I finished watching ep 1 and 2 of bad buddy series and I love it already. I really want to watch more but it's already super late and I need to go sleep. Here are my thoughts on this series so far.

The production is really good so far.

The music really stands out to me. It is used a lot but doesn't feel overdone. I need to rewatch to be sure if it's as intentional as I think it is, but the music adds context to the scenes which is fun.

This show is so funny. Not in a cringey way either. More like a lighthearted and natural way. Like I found myself genuinely laughing out loud at times.

Pat, Pran and Pa are so adorable.

The baby versions of the characters are so cute oh my motherly heart.

I am really digging the PatPran frenemy dynamics. I need to see more before I elaborate why I like their dynamics so much. I just adore them already.

When I look at Pat I just see a husky.

Pran seems to be the most self aware character so far. I want to see if he will be the first one to notice the dynamic shift as their relationship changes.

Seeing the PatPa sibling dynamic made me appreciate my sister so much. Sure, she often uses the older sister card to make me do stuff, but at least she is not gross. Also she gives me tasks, not chores. Yes Pat I am telling you to stop making Pa do your chores. Justice for younger siblings who have to do chores for their older siblings!

The PatPran fake fighting is so funny. Baby PatPran falling over when their hands are a mile away from each other was so hilarious. The adult version of the fake fighting is actually one of my favorite scenes so far. I need to revisit this when I am done watching the whole thing because I know there's a lot I missed here.

I hate when parents try to indoctrinate their children. Just let them breathe okay? Have your feuds and friends and whatever without dragging your children into it. Also stop putting pressure on your children and let them do what they want. Just give them the freedom to grow. They are their own person, so let them explore themselves on their own. Ugh I'll leave it at that for now but I already have so much more to say about both sets of parents and I can tell its probably going to get worse. Like I know they love their children a lot but ugh. I just know these parents are going to piss me off later on in this show. I just know it.

That one scene where Pat touches Pran's face without washing his hands after peeing was so gross. I know Pat is gross in general but that was too much.

The number of times I went 'boys being idiots' in just 2 eps is astounding. This is the brand of idiocy I have only ever seen within a group of boys. These boys sent me back to my school days. I have seen these exact scenes and conversations happen. Especially the one where Pran's friends tease him about being hit on. I will never forget that tone of voice. Even the getting ready to fight at the drop of a hat is so familiar. The number of times I have seen boys getting all up in each others' faces for the stupidest reasons imaginable are countless. I have never seen boys actually fight in school but I had a guy friend tell me all about their fights outside of school. Then these same boys who were punching each other because one hit the other with a paper bullet launched from a rubber band slingshot(they were having a war in class and I almost got hit multiple times) would hug each other and jump around when the school team won a sports match. Also, their collective IQ seems to magically disappear when they are together and they are left with half a braincell to be shared by the whole group. That's why they become boys being idiots.

OhmNanon are undoubtedly the stars of this show and not just because they are the main characters. They are doing such a great job of selling me their characters. Their scenes together are so fun to watch.

I am going to write a separate post about Ohm Pawat specifically because I already have so much to say about him.

Yeah I think that's about it. Actually there is more but I want to see how some things develop before I comment on those. @airenyah I am so glad I can share this with you. I love it so much already. I totally understand the obsession, I am quickly getting there too. Like I want to rewatch it already. I knew I was going to like bbs considering our mutual love for simm and ha but I really didn't expect to like it so much already. I didn't even watch the trailer, I just jumped into the 1st ep directly. And well I am having a blast!

[the-ooftroop]

wait im just finding out that through the other anon that the burntrap video was taken down, thats super sad i thought it was great - did you ever say why?

Alright, I'll get in depth about it as much as I can without airing too much interpersonal drama. It's all over with now, it shouldn't be an issue.

At the time, theory landscape around Burntrap was probably about as unpleasant as it could've gotten, and the video did NOT HELP. AT ALL.

Those of us in the discussion were frustrated to all hell about how people talked about the Mimic and Burntrap and wanted to try and add something new to the discussion- the problem is being so damn heated about it only stoked the flames and one of the people featured in it made a quick reputation of being a nightmare to deal with on Twitter any time people dared discuss Glitchmic in their own spaces. Constantly instigating arguments with people and making the whole concept of Afton = Burntrap tied to negative associations with the people arguing for it. Even when people did go after them, it could've easily been dealt with by letting them be and muting/blocking.

That's my hindsight talking, though. In the moment I was more blindsided by the negative reaction to it and how much heat my friends and I were getting, so I wasn't seeing that ultimately we were just fanning flames we didn't need to fan, and I ultimately enabled the bad behavior when I could've done more to stop it. For that, I'm sorry.

Failing to recognize the problems here caused a lot of issues for me later on, both publicly and privately- at the risk of being too on the nose, I don't associate with the person whose behavior instigated so much vitriol anymore.

At some point I *might* decide to revisit the topic of Burntrap on my own with a scripted video that I can make responsibly for the sake of just... having something interesting to talk about. The Scott interview was far more interesting to me than anything we've gotten story-wise in a while and I think it paints a much clearer picture of what might be going on with the character, but that's something for another time.

I will never bring back that old discussion video, though. It wasn't a healthy one, and it has too much personal baggage for me to wanna deal with it anymore regardless.

...I also just no longer believe the conclusion we drew by the end of it, anyway. I know it and the MXES video we followed it with had their moments of humor and intriguing points, but they're toast. It's not worth bothering with, but hopefully I can make up for that one way or another.

[brightoakgame]

Irregular Monday Update, Edition 16 (new, improved--and soon to be voiced...!)

Good heavens, it's been...a minute since my last proper update, hasn't it? 😶‍🌫️ To start, I want to apologize for the prolonged delay and quiet! My family is in the midst of a long-process major move, uprooting from my beloved home state and preparing for new adventures elsewhere, with the big jump likely to occur sometime around the start of the new year. Most of the past year has been a series of small leaps from one lily-pad to the next in preparation for this, and it's only been within the last month or two that things have finally stabilized enough to allow for some progress on game development. ✨ (read on, MacDuff)

Which, of course, brings us to the first update: Tell It Slant!

An Old Friend trash-talking Edgar Allan Poe in Tell It Slant

Tell It Slant is the game I had the joy of writing (and horror of script-coding) for this Spooktober! 🎃 Participating in a short jam project felt like the ideal way to get a little exercise in before launching headfirst back into Bright Oak, and I had the pleasure of working with a phenomenal, phenomenal team (directed by the wonderful E.C., with art by Jessey N. Droz, music by Senaeris, and a gorgeous UI courtesy of Remnantation, Windchimes, and vronfrog). There are over 270 entries this year--all free!--so if you're looking for something ~spoooooky~ to read this October, this is a great place to start! I'll be posting my personal shortlist of favorites in a few days. ✨

There are few teachers better than experience, and this project was no exception. Amidst identifying places I can improve (and discovering I am nothing if not consistent: there is less than 300 words difference between Tell It Slant and Burdock), something I found particularly striking was working with our remarkable, phenomenally talented cast of voice actors: CobaltKobold, Vanessa Benoit, and the inimitable Chase Via. I never intended for there to be voice acting in my projects prior to this, but after Tell It Slant, my previous works feel so...quiet. Moreover, watching the streams of Tell It Slant, I have come to recognize that having voice acting also adds a layer of accessibility that I'd really like to embrace going forward. Thus, after some discussion with voice director EeeCee and my personal security blanket Remnantation, we come to the next update:

Burdock (revisited!)

Burdock was my first-ever jam project, made last Spooktober (alongside Butterfly Rocket Studios regulars Remnantation, John Åhlin, and Windchimes, as well as the talented ingthing). Rem has expressed interest in embellishing the art, and it feels like the best starting point for me on incorporating voice acting on a personal project. If you enjoy the work of our talented cast in Tell It Slant as much as I do, you'll be pleased to know that three of the Fair Folk in Burdock are likely to sound...rather familiar. For the rest of the troupe, I'll post a link to the casting call later this week. 💚 The re-release goal we're working on presently is this winter, ideally before the year end. ✨

(I spy with my little eye...a Forster sibling dialogue from Act II! Since code tends to run off the page, here's a snap of the raw script instead)

...but what about Bright Oak?!

Bright Oak remains the big constant in my heart, and it is not exempt from this shift in perspective: it is now my intention to have Bright Oak also be fully voiced, with the exception of the main player character and their internal narration. What does that look like as far as the release timeline? Frankly, I'm not entirely sure yet. Given that I'll be getting a major assist on this from the talented E.C., I do not anticipate it to be of as much impact as the impending out of state move, however, and--depending on what avenue I end up taking to secure funding for this addition, whether continuing to work out of pocket or if I need to court crowdfunding--I do think the full game should be complete and ready for release within the next year. Even with all these twists and turns, I'm confident that in the end, we're gonna have something well and truly special, and I cannot wait to share it with you all. ✨

And that...is more than enough from me for today! Thank you all for your unswerving patience and support; I appreciate you more than words can say. 💚 B.