#idk I've just been thinking about how he was when he joined the system years ago

[theweebsystem]

(We have permission to speak about this from Vergil)

Thinking about this post we saw where someone talked about canon Vergil wanting to crack jokes like Dante, and just be way more relaxed. But he puts up such a stoic front due to his trauma

And we're like...he's reached the point where he can do that. Our Vergil does enjoy DMC memes (ex: the infamous chair meme from dmc5. Also he chose our icon ⬇️)

He's never going to act exactly like Dante because he's just...not like that. He's more reserved and somewhat introverted by nature. But he's reached a place where he's comfortable enough to make jokes and laugh at dumb shit. And we couldn't be happier for him :')

[bobbydagen24]

what do you think about the fan HC idea of Kismet being Branch's Foster Siblings from when he was a kid?

some fans came up with the idea of Kismet having been like Branch's foster siblings following Grandma's death and while I've always thought it wouldn't mesh well with his established backstory.

thinking about it more it could potentially work like I know its not super likely to be made cannon but bare with me lol it could be the first few years following the escape when he was too young to venture on his own Branch was in a home with other displaced kids thanks to Trollstice hence how he met the kismet members.

however maybe when they started their little bad obviously Branch wouldn't join at that point in his life and after a few years when he was a teenager and could live by himself that's when he went to build the bunker by himself in the woods.

and kismet kinda had to give him space eventually given how reclusive he became like when he was in the home he wasn't super social but he deffo got worse over the years I'd imagine. so they went off from the village touring and after the first movie Branch reconnected with them and finally agreed to join the band albeit on the downlow so Poppy didn't know.

so this way he'd have met them as children like a lot of fans wanted but it won't contradict his backstory of refusing to sing back then

and technically it wouldn't contradict Branch's words to his bros in TBT given it could very well still be the case that the kids weren't looked after properly and were mostly left to their own devices given most Pop Trolls just want to have fun.

idk its convoluted for sure lol but personally I like the fan HC of Kismet being like Branch's surrogate Bros and the idea of Branch having been through the Trolls equivalent of the care system gaining hardened overprotective foster siblings that his bio brothers would eventually meet I feel is super cute and interesting to think about.

like imagine an episode of a third tv show that was just foster siblings Kismet visiting Branch but for the first time ever Brozone is there as well and things are very awkward between the two sets of siblings.

with Kismet making passive aggressive Remarks at Bro zone every chance they get and asking Branch about his special interests being smug and Rubbing it in B zone's face how much better they know Branch than they do. tho ironically when it comes to actually listenening to Branch talk about his interests or actually doing them with him both sets of siblings are equally bored out of their minds but try to hide it in front of Branch 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 and threatening to beat Bro zone up if they ever hurt Branch's feelings again.

while pretending to be polite and get along in front of Branch but in the end Branch does Realise the Tension that's been going on between them.

and it turns out Kismet were actually worried that they may be pushed out of their Dorky anti social little foster Bros life now that his "" real family "" have finally come back.

and maybe Bro zone are actually the ones to Reassure them that they don't want that given they appreciate that Branch clearly cares about them a lot.

and the two sets of siblings do call a truce for Branch's sake.

eh I know its not super likely but well they already added 4 never before mentioned siblings into the mix and Branch still has a lot of Grey area in his backstory.

all I'm saying is Branch having overprotective foster siblings is adorable as hell imo and it could technically work in cannon so why not? haha 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

besides Dreamworks ya could do with giving him some posotive additions to his backstory for a change as opposed to just more sad angst.

[dandyshucks]

realizing i wanted to ask - how did u first fall in love w/ guzma (irl) ? :o (@dmclr)

ougghh (/happy) Clara you always ask such good questions omg 🫶

umm... okay so. i should give a general "abuse CW" label i guess fjfkdl but I'll keep it vague and to a minimum of mention! also putting it below the cut because I RAMBLED SO MUCH, SORRY IN ADVANCE

tumblr kind of went crazy for the guy when the anime finally introduced him in 2019 (it took SO long to get to him, over 100 episodes in the su/mo arc 😭) and at first i didnt think much of him rly, but then somehow eventually (a few months later) i found out through osmosis that he's got trauma going on and my ears kind of perked up a bit LOL

(underwater just to set it apart from the rest of the post so it doesnt blend in and get confusing fndkdl) screenshot of the post i rbed where i first mentioned liking him fdsjkl

around the same time, i was having some realizations about my own experiences with childhood and family etc, and there was some other stuff going on in my life (also. the plague started so uh. that too.) that was just kind of culminating in like. A Lot of stress and fear and stuff. so seeing this character who has experienced somewhat similar things was ... comforting in a way? shared experience or something, idk. plus I've always been a sucker for misfit archetype characters, especially if they make a little family out of other misfits :')

another big part of the intrigue (because my crushes always start with a sort of 👀 phase fdsjkl, I have to think somebody is interesting in some way and want to find out More about them, and then feelings develop from there) for me was just the fact that he was Angry. like... the way I've personally learned to deal w abuse has been to always be meek and fawn. so seeing someone who went in the opposite direction, to become angry and strong and defiant instead, was SO fascinating to me and I was very curious to learn more about him.

so I looked into him more, loved what i found, related to him a bit, accidentally by some random occurrence stumbled upon some bf audios of him somehow??, wished he were real so we could hang out, thought about how I'd act around him and started to feel a little flustered about it ... it's all downhill from there once u reach that point smh 😔😔 (/silly)

for a long time i didn't really fully step into s.elfship territory w him - i dabbled a little but he wasnt The Focus™ in my brain yet. also we (as a system) have had a host change since then, so there was a previous juno that was not Me (even though we kept the same main name between us two parts), and they didn't like the guy as much as Current Me does djfkdl - theres also some ... relatively significant personality differences between the two versions of Juno, so I think Juno2.0 (me) meshes with him a lot better now than Juno1.0 did in 2020/2021

and then last year, i found and joined the s.elfship community and um. I absolutely did not mean for him to become The Main Guy and never would've guessed he would be, but... well,, we dont always plan things i suppose, feelings just happen 😭

anyways. it maybe seems kind of messed up but his ~tragic backstory~ is what drew me in initially bc it helped me feel less alone and scared when i was Going Through some pretty major shit lol. and then after that, i just kind of took the character base that pkmn had in place and ran with it to build on it and sort of make my own version of him that I could be friends with and eventually fell in love with ^^;;

TL;DR it was a mix of timing, similar history of abuse, intrigue bc of our opposite reactions to the abuse, and um... the way he is like,, strong and builds a safe place for other young ppl who feel unsafe or not accepted in general society fdsjkl

i get embarrassed talking abt it bc ppl seem to really hate it when abuse victims are weak in any way and need help, but ... i do really like that he is strong in some ways and would be able to give me a sort of safe place to let my guard down and receive help and care (as shown by the way he provides a safe place for the grunts, all the misfits and outcasts of Alola) ^^;;;; honestly kind of a Big part of it for me (and for pretty much all my s.elfship dynamics) is that he is able to protect me and care for me, because I have not like. experienced that ever. at least not properly. when your parents are the ones being abusive, you not only do not experience protection and care but you're also being actively hurt in some way by the people who are supposed to keep you safe. so to be freely given care and safety is kind of crazyyyy to me LOL, that is something i like a lot about him :')

OKAY RAMBLE OVER. i really tried to keep this as short as i could but,, brevity is not a strength of mine (esp when it comes to him) LOL. THANK YOU for the question !!! its fun to look back at how it all happened tbh :]

[swimming-karyss]

Ace and Sabo in the sci-fi au!

I tried to keep Ace's description simple otherwise it'll be a wall of text. And Sabo is meant to be mysterious (I didn't really think things through with the composition...). Also Sabo's picture was finished like a month ago and meant to go with the Romance Dawn Trio, so it's just flat colors.... While with Ace I was testing a new way of coloring (and he was born after 9 moths normally so he's older!)

A close-up of the pretty pretty boy

More about Ace, Sabo, Whitebeards and RA under cut!

Ace was born in other star system and was brought on Earth by Garp, for the sake of safety. He spent his childhood mostly in the Wind turbines area/district, but as time went on he sometimes spent time at Makino's place (it's in the other part of the city. I'll talk about the Goa kingdom in the next sci-fi au post bc I want to draw a simple map for illustration purposes). He set out at 17, and after some time he joined the Whitebeards!

Also his arms were personally made for him, and have a rather unique feature. These dark bars on their sides are heat meters! So not only his punches hurt more because of the metal, they can also leave burns! And his hands are warm all the time, he gives great hugs :> the temperature is controlled consciously by Ace. I've been thinking that it'll be rather dangerous if he could accidentally activate it in his sleep, and considering his narcolepsy....

also a bit of, idk, worldbuilding?

I've been thinking about cybernetic modification, bc they are removable (Sabo has three, one human-looking, one to tinker with and one to do the tinkering. Why does Sabo suddenly have engineering skills? bc I think it suits him + backstory reasons (it's his parents and I'll tell about it later) + Dragon left him with Ivankov and Lindbergh for a year(there is no way Sabo would've had his cheerful and unbearable attitude if Dragon was the only one raising him) while he deals with some stuff) and if the ports are the same(realistic? no. but who cares) so prostheses are interchangeable, then what about their length? I think that simple models with no additional functions let you just adjust the length. And more complex variants are obviously made specifically for one person with their proportions in mind.

So about the Whitebeards... I didn't really know how to call them, like 'group'? 'Company' doesn't really sit with me... Let's go with 'organization' for now. Whatever, the point is the Whitebeards provide various services like protection (bodyguards and convoying merchant ships), delivering goods, technical maintenance, etc. They have so mush influence, to the point that some parts of habitable galaxy are considered their territory. (a bit like The Interastral Peace Corporation from hsr, but not so big and the WBs usually take more mediatory/intermediary role) It's no secret that the Whitebeards don't mind dealing with the criminal sphere or breaking some laws. They may very well be considered a criminal organisation, but the World Government can't do anything because WB is just that powerful. (plus they do have their rules and a certain code of honor, so they have a lot of respect from civilians and businesses alike) It's also the reason why some revolutionaries often turn to them when it comes to transportation (while some avoid it like fire because big organization=lots of attention)

I've mentioned that the WBs have their own values and code of honor, and I think one of the services they might provide is like mercenaries/headhunters in a sense they will either assist finding ppl who has wronged their business partners(and like if someone is willing to pay additionally for hunting specific criminals maybe?) or just doing it themselves. And Ace is a part of this division(so he's the one chasing Blackbeard), and he holds a rather high position? ( he would enjoy field work way more than paperwork)

In this au the Revolutionary army is much more decentralized, because the space is big, duh. The founder trio(duo now unfortunately) as well as the four commanders each is responsible for their sector of inhabited galaxy, but they still give the general reports to Dragon like monthly(and some teams are empowered to make their own decisions and come to the best conclusion without necessarily getting "approval" from up top). Sabo is mostly in charge of communication and distribution of information between the sectors, plus sometimes he deals with problems that are important enough to get them to higher-ups but not that important to go to Dragon with them. He's got quite a lot of work to do, but he still really really wants to go to field missions, so he does sometimes, I mean who would stop him? Above him only Dragon and God. And both have enough problems to deal with already.

So, as I mentioned, the RA is decentralized and doesn't have physical headquarters or a base (they have private protected servers tho and Dragon's cool spaceship lol but now that I think, the Wind Grandma is their base... it mostly moves around the galaxy away from most common travel routes. it's very protected and is difficult to detect) so the revs are scattered all around the world, in small groups that sometimes come together for missions but mostly work by themselves. And one of such groups is Sabo, Koala and Hack, although after Sabo's promotion it's mostly Koala&Hack with Sabo accompanying (hanging out with) them, for the sake of the legend they're keeping. He has to be online most of the time and doesn't really have time to go on missions :( And their legend ties to my hc of Sabo being keen on photography, so they pose as bounty hunters who also lead a travel blog for alibi. They either lay low actually traveling and camping or speedrun the designated area in a couple of hours taking photos, editing them slightly (there is when the acquaintance with Strawhats comes in handy, and they can commission Usopp to edit the sky, lightning, etc. and everyone is happy: Usopp gets pocket money, Nami gets additional income, Koala, Hack and Sabo get more time to prepare for the missions) and putting them on queue.

Their group is small and mostly relies on Koala's hacking skills, swift strikes on WG bases and ships and infiltrating official events and facilities.

[georgieluz]

Julian!! I’ve missed you!! Sending a virtual hug and a few asks for the ask game!

❤️💛💚💙🖤🎤🎵📺🔐🧟‍♀️🍇💌🖇️🔍🪐🌚

I just realized… there’s a lot… haha sorry about that 😅 hope you’re doing well!

hiiii!! i missed you too!!! first of all, lemme return the virtual hug and then i'll get to answering!!

❤️ how tall are you?

5ft4. guess i'm joining george, johnny, frank and harry in the smol boys club

💛 what is your favourite feature on yourself?

maybe my hair? idk i feel like so many people talk about how lucky i am to have such thick fluffy hair that if i didn't choose that it would be the equivalent of cursing them and all of their families

💚 where are you from?

dwi'n dod o gymru!! actually it's fitting that the emoji is green because green and red are the welsh flag colours and i'm welsh!

💙 do you have any siblings?

just me, unfortunately

🖤 favourite hobbies outside of your blog?

archery! i used to be on my university team and we would shoot three times a week but i've graduated now and feel like i'm cheating on them whenever i shoot with my local team

🎤  have you been to a concert?

yes! i've been lucky enough to go to quite a few. some of my favourite artists that i've seen live are: my chemical romance, the libertines, epik high, vixx, kim hanbin and day6

🎵 favourite artists?

the libertines, the strokes, pulp, the cure, epik high, kim hanbin, onewe, hoppipolla, sunmi and woodz!

📺 last show you watched?

transatlantic (i'm still a wreck bc of these characters)

🔐 something no one would guess about you?

ohh this might be the toughest one bc i don't actually know how people see me so i wouldn't know what they would guess about me but maybe that i studied and competed in dance my whole life? (if you can guess what styles of dance i'll give you a prize)

🧟‍♀️ scariest thing that’s happened to you?

i don't wanna make this too heavy so i'll leave out the actual scariest things but the other week i may or may not have had an encounter with a ghost in my museum which is said to be haunted

🍇 a word your friends would use to describe you?

texted two of my friends and one replied "unnecessary" and the other said "an idiot of an enigma" so that went well lmao

💌 why did you start this blog?

because it had been so long since i had friends who loved band of brothers and i missed having an online community where i felt comfortable and happy and enjoyed engaging with people in

🖇️ what are your favorite asks to answer?

honestly i like all of them! i love interacting with people and so any asks are fun! writing asks, character discussions, get to know me asks, i'll take the lot of them!!

🔍 what character do you enjoy writing for the most?

lately it's been eddie jones!! every single idea i've had lately spawns around him and forms its own little solar system that revolves around his existence. i think it's bc i'm a little bit obsessed, but i also think the themes i enjoy writing most work very well with him so it's just the perfect match. but i also adore writing nix, he's my favourite hot mess and i love writing him. harry and tab are two i love writing who i didn't realise i loved writing until i saw the amount of times i'd written something focused on them when the work wasn't supposed to be anything massively to do with them lmao

🪐 favourite shows / series of all time?

ohhh another tough one, but i'm gonna have to say band of brothers, star trek, and lost, but succession is probably gonna end up being up there eventually but i need to give it a few years to settle before deciding. there are definitely others but they go in and out of order a lot and those are the three that always stay at the top no matter what

🌚 a show you’d tell people to stay away from?

honestly idk i think it's down to individual taste so if i knew someone didn't like a certain genre i could tell them to avoid shows based off of that but i usually don't tell people to stay away from a show unless there's something genuinely harmful in it

thank you so much for asking all of these!! it was fun to answer them and hopefully i haven't rambled on too long!!

for this ask game!

[hertwood]

dts s2 e6-7

e6 -ALEX EPISODE -every time ive watched this episode and he says his sisters name (zoe) it's startled me. i anticipate it and it surprises me every time -"we are trying to give young people a chance. That's part of the Red Bull philosophy." (Helmut Marko) oh ok. oh OK. OH OK. -i need him biblically. i need him in a way that's concerning for feminism -OK UM so i watched the first half in the morning and the second half after my shift and i was like. im so wiped idk how emotionally i'll even be able to engage -and damn do i truly underestimate my ability to be affected by something i've seen and heard about over and over again. -ok but the parallels between alex's mom talking about being scared as a mom vs daniel's mom talking about the same thing in s1e1 -random cate sighting is crazy i almost forgot how she dated pierre lmao -god i NEED an alex/williams episode next season i miss him on this show soooooo much -its silly but every time i see that clip of anthoine kissing his girlfriend its instant waterworks

e7: -first of all obsessed with seb saying y'all. love him miss him sm -GOD you can just see how charles still has hopes and dreams here he hasnt been crushed and hardened by the ferrari machine yet. what a sweet time for him :/ -sebchal makes me so *gnawing at the bars of my enclosure* -part of me wishes they showed charles' win at monza w/ more charles centric focus? it was such a big deal for him and i think it deserved more. THAT BEING SAID it does set up the sebchal rivalry dynamic well, which is what the documentarians chose to focus on, and for that they did well. -i could say the same for seb's singapore win. it makes sense from a storytelling persepctive to focus on these from the rivalry lense but damn do i know these are iconic wins for both of them and its bittersweet that they don't get their own focus -i'm so confused how charles literally looks straight down the camera lense and says that he was signed with the knowledge that he'd be second to seb, and then gets MAD when they prioritize seb???? like when they prioritize charles seb has ever right to be mad bc that goes against what he was told but charles?????? i know that its bc theyre gonna be super competitive no matter what they're told bc its in their nature but Come Onn -"every world champion has what I term an 'inner bastard', and its the ability to make the tough decision when you have to." i do NOT take will buxton slander on this blog. i love this quote sm and as a baby fan it was big in understanding driver v team politics. it is SUCH an important skill to know when to be a team player and when to be selfish, and the ones who figure it out are the ones who maximize best outcomes. (a good example of this recently imo is carlos in singapore!) -"we'll start by holding hands." when i know its coming and i'm still vibrating gnawing on my enclosure etc etc. brainworms well and alive and fed -GOD rly puts into perspective how charles has been being fucked over by the ferrari engine since Day One -sebastian vettel has the vibes of a restaurant manager who isn't doing the greatest job but he'll never get in trouble because every single waitress is swooning every time he speaks. let me know if this makes sense -with more seb history context: i wonder how much this parallels to the dynamic in rb when daniel joined--and he left the following year. christian talks all about daniel "running from a fight" with max... wonder if thats also, at least in these instances, sebs instinct as a driver in this system. don't take this analysis too serious btw i'm just spitballin

[kanmom51]

Like so many of us ARMYs, I’m concerned about how enlistment is going to affect each of the members, but here, especially how it will affect Jikook. None of them have been apart from each other for that long in 10 years, & for a couple, particularly a gay couple, I can’t imagine the amount of anxiety & pressure they must be feeling. Never having been in a relationship where one member (or both) are serving, I have no experience to draw on. I’m hoping they all come back healthy in all ways, and that Jimin & Jungkook emerge as solid as they seem to be now. Based on your lengthy observation of Jikook, what are your thoughts/concerns? I realize it’s speculation for you too, just thought maybe you’ll have something to share that I’ve missed. Also, do you think Sungwoon’s enlistment is partly the reason Jimin has become quiet again? That it’s had a sobering affect on him, that is. Thank you for always taking these questions, & giving your thoughtful answers.

Hey there. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I've been so busy lately, and it's probably a good think I was, helps deal with them being so absent lately, lol.

*Disclaimer: Before I start here, these are all my very personal feelings about the issue. It's not an easy subject and some might rather not read this or disagree with me, which is more than fine. But if you do decide to join the discussion, because I do think this will be the start of one, then keep it civil.

Anyway, to your question. Or questions actually.

I'll start by mentioning, once again, that I served in the army. I did 2 years of service. I know about military service, discipline, hardships.

Like you I worry about them all. Military in SK is different, harsher than what we know of. As far as soldiers' individual rights they are eons behind.

Hazing is still a thing, and even if there are laws against physical hazing there is still much of the psychological stuff going on, and to some extent that could be even worse.

You have rank and seniority hierarchy too.

And I can imagine small small people loving the idea of having such seniority over a member of BTS, those "rich uppity up brats" (their envy talking, not me).

So I worry about them all.

But out of all 7 I worry most for the maknae line and for Hobi.

Idk, maybe I'm wrong, but I feel that Jin, RM and Suga will be ok, they will handle it. It's the age, it's the maturity, it's their vibe.

Hobi I worry about. He's been showing us lately who he is, been more open about it, and I fear that might bring on some unwanted attention or behaviours towards him.

Same or even more so where JM is concerned. Add to that his chronic pain.

Don't get me wrong. These are two very strong determined young men. They have more internal strength than we could ever imagine. Look what they ALL went through to get where they have. Fighting through doubts on the way, persevering even when thinking of throwing in the towel. But they had a support system around them. They had each other to lean on, to turn to, and even if they didn't open up or seek the help, it was there for them. Here, most likely, they will be on their own. If and until they make friends they will have to deal with it all on their own.

JK, he should be fine as far as the physical. He'll manage the discipline too. He might be a non conformist but he knows discipline. He'll manage. I worry about him because of how hard it will be for him to be apart from JM. It's the being apart and it's the worrying on his part for JM. Good thing they are allowing them to use their phones now in the afternoons.

As I mentioned, they know discipline. That's nothing new to them. But this is different discipline. JK will manage. Being the youngest had it's perks but also it's disadvantages, and one of them will now make it easier for him to endure in the army.

And here come in my worries for Tae. Because Tae ain't good with authority. Tae is a free spirit. An alien of sorts, lol. Does what he wants when he wants, and that ain't gonna fly in the military. Add to that his mental struggles, I just can't help but really worry for him. There are people that do ok in the army and there are those that just don't fit the mould. Tae, in my opinion, doesn't fit the mould. And he won't have JM or Hobi to be there with him, to support him, to get him. I do hope he's in a happy place relationship wise at the moment, something that may ease it, or on the other hand may make it harder.

Hey, I'm not even finished yet, shit.

The emotional aspect. They are all very open with their emotions (well JM a little less open with us but aware of his own). One thing I have heard from men that have gone through service in Korea is how the army 'killed' them emotionally. They speak of how they used to cry prior to army and don't anymore. Knowing these young men, it breaks my heart to think they might have to go through that. I don't want them to have to go through that.

And I know they are famous. They are BTS. But in the army they are private Jeon or corporal Kim (when they reach that rank). And although there are those that say "the army know how important they are and won't allow anything bad happen to them", well the army can't control every soldier with seniority over them. The army can't control the disgusting behaviours we've heard of from other idols that have gone through service (taking their photos in the shower is one of them), nor can they control the hardships these young men go through, the emotional turmoil they go through, including Korea sweethearts like Taemin.

So yes, I'm worried about their well being. Physical and mental.

You ask if I think JM and JK's relationship can survive this?

My answer to that is a definite yes.

Won't be easy. Will be very hard. They have been with each other constantly for years now. And even when apart, it's only for a few days at a time and not very often. Being apart for such long periods of time will be hard. But it's doable, especially for them. These two, they are so in love with each other, totally committed to each other (and for those who mock these words I say mock away, we see it, the love, the commitment).

I don't know what it's like serving while your partner is waiting at home, but I do know what it's like being the partner at home while the one you love is serving and away from home. It's hard, it takes a lot of you, but when the relationship is strong although it's hard to be apart it also gives you the hope and strength needed to get through the hardships.

I can tell you that one thing that does happen, again, when the relationship is a good strong loving one, is that distance makes the heart fonder... The days he was back on leave...nah, too private...

And if my example is not enough, take military deployments overseas. US soldiers, as an example, leaving their loved ones, partners, children, at times for months or even over a year at a time, deployed on the other side of the world. Yes, there will be relationships that won't survive it, but a strong love, a strong stable committed relationship survives that too. And at times, when everything is over, can come out on the other side even stronger.

So, bottom line is, that I do believe they will be ok, their relationship will be ok. They will get through this maybe even better and stronger on the other side.

*Side note: I don't know about us though. I don't know how we'll survive them being away for such a long time. 😭 Unlike each other, they won't be texting us or talking to us in the afternoons, lol.

Now to you question about JM becoming quiet again...

Wait, when hasn't he been quiet over the past couple of years? I mean, he shows himself once in a while, but he's definitley not one of the more active members.

I'm sure Sungwoon's enlistment has it's effects on him, you know, making everything even more real for him. But I think JM has been preparing himself (they all have) for enlistment since the start of 2021. Mentally and physically. And I KNOW that no matter how well you think you ready yourself it's never enough, and his friend actually going to the army would effect him, but I don't think it's as you put it "a sobering effect on him". He knows it's coming. He saw Taemin go, he saw what happened to Taemin (I'd think that would have been scarier).

Anyways, hope I answered your questions. Feel free to comment or DM me, if you prefer, if you have other questions.

I'll end on this optimistic note:

These are 7 amazing strong young men. Even if they aren't together physically, they know they have people who love and care for them that will be waiting out there for them to give them all the love and support they might need (and this includes each other). They will get through this. Hopefully easier rather than harder. And when we get to see them on the other side, they will have had more life experience to write their music about. They will return to stage with a fire, a determination, and with a weight lifted off their shoulders. The weight of expectations. They will be free. Not owing anyone anything.

They will be ok.

[seokth]

i don't usually ramble on here except for when it's about fics but w the recent bangtan news, i guess i'm just looking for a space to vent to so here it goes.

idk how much of the english subs were accurate and how much of them were lost in translation, but when namjoon talked about how the kpop and idol system don't really provide much room to mature, the wording and the thought itself (and the fact that the camera panned to jungkook - the maknae who started this rollercoaster when he was just in his early teens - at this part) really hit me hard.

whenever i watch their behind episodes, i always had this lingering concern that their schedules are way too packed. but seeing as i'm a baby army and i'm still new to the world of kpop, i just brushed it off as normal in their line of work. but hearing them talk about not being able to do some of the things they really wanted to do, about how they sometimes have to sacrifice their me for the sake of we, about how they literally don't have the opportunity to just sit down and be — it all makes me realize that though they're global superstars, though they're seemingly larger than life itself, at the end of the day, they're all just twenty-somethings who want to enjoy the experiences they're missing out on while still at the prime of their ages.

and that's not a bad thing.

hearing the news first on twitter, and then seeing just shortened clips of minimoni crying and captioned screenshots of yoongi saying, "we're on a hiatus," really had my heart hammering in my chest. i was so scared and i felt cold all over. but once i psyched myself up to watch the whole dinner, i eventually calmed down because i told myself hey, this all makes sense. all 7 of them took the time to sit down and carefully explain why they're doing things the way they are, and despite the bittersweet undertones, the hour-long video had a happy and content vibe to it. honestly, i couldn't ask for more.

ngl, i've only just been in this bangtan shit for a short while (not even a whole year has passed yet, i think), and it makes me curse my timing at how i've only just experienced my first real comeback, and that cb is gonna be the last one for a while now. but this isn't about me. it's about them. and i'm so so so happy that they're thinking about themselves.

but then, what about us? what's gonna happen to us now? someone pointed out that this will be the time for us fans to grow as well. in as much as bangtan has been working nonstop for the past 9 years, armys (whether you've been here since pre-debut or have only just joined the fandom) have been pouring their hearts out nonstop as well. and in as much as bangtan needs a well-deserved break, armys need some much needed "me" time too. ofc, we'll still continue supporting bts in their respective individual projects, but this will be an opportunity for us to plant, sow, and reap the seeds of our individual growths as well.

i know it's not the same for all of us but for me, i'm at the point in my life where i really need to focus on myself and my family for real. i'm not saying that i can't do that without a hiatus, but it's more of me wanting to focus on that because of the hiatus. bangtan focusing on their individual goals, passions, and priorities inspires me to do the same for myself too. and just with the way my life is panned out right now, this couldn't have come at a more coincidental timing.

to my fellow armys, this news is a big deal so please process this however you want and need! don't be afraid to cry or to feel sad! just remember, bts is thinking about you and you have a planet full of purple friends beside you. APO BANGPO! 💜

[mmmthornton]

Stolkien Roommates AU Thots

They're both ~30 years old

Tolkien works a pretty cushy tech bro startup company where he feels uncomfortably like he's there as a "diversity hire" even though the place doesn't really hire a lot of women and all of his managers are white dudes.

Still, he gets paid well and has the income to live pretty good.

He has a 2br apartment that he rents for himself and uses the spare room as an office, but decides to rent it out so he can save money for a down payment on a house (yay boring 30's people things).

Stan is working as a waiter and doing online classes to be a vet tech.

Him and Nichole are in the same D&D group and she's worried about him living with his obnoxious and loud roommates while trying to make positive moves in his life.

During the interview, Stan asks how Tolkien knows Nichole and he mentions that they dated back when they were kids.

Stan: "Aw cool, and you guys stayed friends since then?" Tolkien: "Well yeah, when you're the only two black kids in school you have a lot of shared experiences i guess." Stan: " : [] "

Stan: "...I didn't realize until seeing your name written out, are you named after JRR Tolkien? That's cool!" Tolkien: "Yes, and I hate that nerd crap. Its just what my dad was into." Stan: (slowly putting away the earmarked copy of The Silmarilion he keeps on him at all times) "Ah, i see..."

Despite the incredibly awkward first meeting they are a good fit and Stan moves in.

One day Tolkien comes in to the living room to see Stan on the couch staring at the TV and flipping through channels / videos without really looking at any of them.

Tolkien: "....you...okay man?" Stan: "Fine. What? No, I'm fine." Tolkien: "Its...okay if you're not, if there's something I can do please let me kn-" Stan: "Okay its nothing but my insurance fucked up and i had to reset something but my medication refill happened to be riiighhht at that cusp so for the next five days while I wait for my insurance to kick back in I'm out of my meds well technically i could get my meds but without insurance its like $200 for a weeks worth which is bullshit because our healthcare system is designed by out of touch billionaires but overall i'm fine, its fine." Tolkien: " :[] "

Tolkien would probably invite him to play basketball with Craig and the guys to get him out of the house and out of his own head then.

I like the idea that they're both people who benefit from and are willing to give the benefit of the doubt to others when they come up on personal and difficult topics.

They're also both the same level of "extraverted but appreciates chilling out with a video game and weed" which makes for very good roommate hangs.

Nichole and Stan end up hosting some of their D&D games from the place and even convince Tolkien to join them in some of their nerdy bullshit. IDK i just love Stan and Nichole being dorky besties who paint minis together.

I think Nichole would be the one to notice more when their habits and mannerisms are bleeding into each other like 👀👀👀

Nichole: "Wow Tolkien, since when do you like the Souls games?" Tolkien: "Stan's been playing through them on my PS4 in the living room; its pretty neat and the monster design is sick." Nichole: "Mhmm."

Nichole: "Hey Stan, that's a nice sweater! I don't think I've seen you wear something that wasn't a graphic t or a hoody!" Stan: "Thanks! Tolkien and I went shopping since I needed more professional stuff and he turned me on to this 'color block' look." Nichole: "Mhmmmm."

I also think Tolkien would have some Rich Kid habits like, he gets Hello Fresh deliveries but just kinda forgets about it/is too lazy to use them so it ends up in the trash before Stan moves in.

Stan is way more reluctant to throw out food so he asks if he can use the stuff in the box rather than just put the whole thing in the trash, and ends up making some of the weeknight meals that they have together.

This is good for both of them because 1) Tolkien probably shouldn't order out for food so much and 2) Stan probably would skip meals (either too busy or just not feeling up to it) if the food wasn't already basically right there.

Thats all i got for now, enjoy this self indulgent mess lol.

[emeraldsandamethyst]

Character Characterization in Ghost Biology is Weird AU

It's ya Tumblr redacted gender here (this joke will age very well totally yes)

catch up in the master post [here]

I think I forgot to mention this because it's such a given to how I write Danny but Danny is trans; other traits I write, he has chronic pain, ADD and i write him stimming which can be either or both ADD/autistic things (and probably other things idk I'm no expert) i have ADD myself so I'm writing my experience, I'm not autistic to my knowledge so all I've deliberately done when writing him is give him stims; his stims aren't always healthy, he bites as a stim and tends to bite his hands or tail (very hard, especially when ghost. He will make himself bleed) but Sam or Tucker can usually redirect him to something else like a pillow or whatever; he also stops himself from hand flapping (usually) but he does do it; and shoves his hands against his ears and grinds his teeth sometimes when stressed (he's always grinding his teeth in ghost fights); oh right and he has a death scar as a ghost that he feels in both forms (Lichtenberg spirals/fractals from his hand across his chest to his opposite leg and foot)

in this AU I've given Danny two (2) obsessions as a teen, Space and Control; i love me some protection obsession Danny don't get me wrong I just went with this for this AU to make Vlad and Danny better foils because

Vlad has (3) obsessions in this AU Research and Control and Family

Vlad has only shown up once so far, alas, but he is running around doing things

Danielle's initial Obsession is Family, during the events of Kindred Spirits she develops a Control Obsession; I intend for her to keep two Obsessions until adulthood

once Danny has his baby his ghost side matures to adult and he starts developing a new obsession; right now I'm not set on what it is. It might be protection or it might be something else

Danny and his baby (Baby Phantom until they awaken/are born and Danny names them Neil) are both ice core; Vlad is fire core; Danni is a wind core

I think I mentioned it before but anyone that lives in Amity Park might be liminal. To elaborate, if they live within Danny's haunt (amity park and parts of elmerton and the rural outskirts) and are claimed by Danny then they WILL be liminal to some extent. If someone lives in Amity Park (Danny's Haunt specifically) but hasn't been claimed by Danny they can still become liminal due to ectoplasm levels but it's just a chance thing. in the case of Danny claiming them, the haunt is literally infusing itself into them to give itself more influence. It's entirely subconscious and beyond Danny's control (the haunts are the ghosts in this au, sort of, and haunts act as a kind of immune system)

So 'Team Phantom' are all liminal.

The only person that is aware of their liminality as of the beginning of this AU is Valerie Gray. She's liminal enough that she's starting to develop an obsession which does not necessarily mean a liminal person has a core, but they probably do; Valerie is liminal enough she's starting to infuse her dad's apartment with her energies during sophomore year; Danny cedes her dad's apartment (a bigger area than just the apartment or the complex, a lot of territory for someone without a core but not enough to make Valerie drain herself sick) to her and it starts the process of becoming her haunt; it's a much much slower process than it was for Danny for multiple reasons

Ghosts have family groups called Fraids (which Danny doesn't really know about because he has no ghost parents to teach him these things) and Fraids consist of Family-By-Birth, Family-By-Choice, Family-By-Theft and Family-By-Nest; I think the first two are fairly self explanatory; i'm also p sure the phandom has a better grasp of Family-By-Theft than I do;

Family-By-Nest is the term I'm using for ghosts that join together to raise children, it's a very specific thing that happens when a new ghost is born/awakens; when the new core is ready it reaches outside of itself seeking protection and care, any one that responds by offering and accepting this becomes bound to the baby and to a lesser extent anyone else that accepted the baby; in Danny and Neil's specific case, Danny had been storing a LOT of extra power (since y'know he's OP like that) and it gave all of his fellow parents-by-nest their own cores once the process finished.

Danny's fellow parents-by-nest are Sam, Tucker, Jazz, Danielle, Valerie and Dash

Jazz and Danielle are family. Entirely and totally absolutely platonic siblings. Jazz family-by-birth and Danielle family-by-theft.

Danny is polyamorous (prefers polyam over poly) and bi and ace (not sex repulsed, he likes romance and making out best but is cool with other more intense stuff); his partners (in something like a 'normal' dating relationship) are Sam and Dash (they are with Danny only not with each other); they don't have a label for their thing but Tucker is aro/ace and if he knew the term would be cool being called Sam and Danny's queer platonic partner (QPP); Valerie and Danny have been hate-flirting for years, I'm just calling it pitch, sorry. Val and Danny are pitch, they just have no idea what the feelings are or mean up until Rivalry [on AO3 here] and even then only Valerie gets something like an explanation of what it is.

This is already so long again. Uh. Right, core types and obsessions.

Dash, earth core, romance obsession [his obsession actually forms before his full core]

Sam, growth core, night obsession

Valerie, electric core, protection obsession

Jazz, fire core, research obsession

Danielle, wind core, family and control obsession

Danny, ice core, space, control obsession with 3rd forming

Neil Fenton (Baby Phantom), ice core, space obsession (@floralflowerpower has way more fleshed out ideas about baby ghosts and things, she uses the term nursery obsession to refer to babies imprinting an obsession from parents her stuff is super cool you should check it out)

And I suppose I'll end with a description of Neil. They're half ghost like Dad, when human they have red hair and purple eyes (because it's not cloning it's recombination of DNA and to simplify irl red hair is the most recessive and I decided purple eyes are as/more recessive than green, ergo Danny carries those genes even if they don't express for him); when first born they have pale blue skin, pointed ears green hair and (glowing) green eyes. After meeting Frostbite they imprint on him as family-by-choice and after that when ghost they get lil horns and their arm gets spooky translucent green with charred bones in it

Oh spirits i haven't even described adult!Danny eff. Okay this is what I'll end with (i hope)

This change happens literally when what's left of the energy he instinctively collected and then pushed into family-by-nest and Neil returns to him

Human he's as tall as Jack (6'9") and built like a long distance runner. He looks like an adult in their mid twenties (before he still looked just as 14 as he had when he died);

Ghost, when he's got legs he's 7' when he's got a tail he gets to be a long noodle boi as a treat (like, absurdly long if he had a mane of hair ppl would totally call him a dragon like an eastern style one) I'm imagining like 30ft tail but the exact length isn't important, him long boi is what important;

he's got icy blue skin, pointed ears now, and a forked tongue (he's had lil fangs as a teen and has bigger fangs now) the fangs are blunted not sharp, he has to use force to break skin can't do that on accident or well he can but it's not because he forgot his fangs are sharp it's because he did it to himself and his pain tolerance is stupid high and he didn't notice how much force he was using; he's never going to be that distracted with a partner to accidentally bite Sam or Dash and it's not an accident with Val

His Phantom jumpsuit/hazmat suit changed, maybe lil bit more white, now with neon green accents and a neon green gear circling the D P logo with (not being worn as goggles but up in his hair mimicking horns) Fenton style goggles with purple lenses

Once he learns ghost parents are supposed to have lil pouches like marsupials or seahorses (Ember tell him in Phantom's Lullaby [on AO3 here]) he manages to give himself one (it's not shape shifting tho it's a permanent change to his 'default' body)

Basically his adult body, both forms, was subconsciously influenced by what he thinks dads are: big, bright/colorful, and loud; though as a human the most he could do was be big (and accidentally be loud too r i p)

Whew okay, I think that's it for now? If you have Questions feel free to send me an ask

[rai-knightshade-art]

Click for higher resolution! (Tumblr WHY do you always DO THIS TO ME!)

Dual Character Page #1! I've been trying to cement how i think the YJK characters look in my personal headcanon (i.e. relatively divorced from the standard portrayals 😅 they're not the same as in canon so they should look different from canon), so I'm trying to create these pages featuring pairs of characters. First up: Jaina and Zekk! Who are also super special cause they get a Spotify Playlist featuring the songs I've mentioned on this page (among many others). Check it out if you'd like, it's got ship songs as well as individual songs, and is organized into sets of "vibes" but also works on shuffle!

Explanations on scenes and looks below the cut along with close ups, image id in alt text!

The Full-Body Designs:

Zekk and Jaina's finalized adult designs are pretty simple, all things considered: they're flight suits! Because these two are pilots first and Jedi second tbh (Jaina moreso than Zekk but it applies to both). I spiced them up a bit tho by giving them each some kind of overlayer reminiscent of more standard Jedi robes to denote their status. Is it practical? Ehhhh debatable, but it looks cool! Zekk wears a crossbody tunic-esque robe with traditional Ennth embroidery along the hems; meanwhile, Jaina meanwhile got a double-breasted overlayer that i saw on actual Jedi robes from the Old Republic (i wanna say they're vaguely inspired by Anakin's?? But not just Anakin, and possibly by some High Republic stuff). For the record it comes down in the back as well but as a single piece, stoll style. As for other design notes, idk physically they look about the way they do in most depictions; i alternate between giving Zekk a widow's peak and giving him a little dangly hair bit, at some point I'll probably just give him both--the long hair in a ponytail is non-negotiable tho. I like to think adult Jaina keeps her hair in a messy bun rather than all loose and flowing like she always seems to have in canon, because, like, how are you gonna get all that into a flight helmet??? You're not, that's what, so messy bun it is. She'll still leave it loose or in her signature ponytail sometimes tho.

Also, yes, i tried to keep them as close as i could to their actual height difference while still making them look physically the same age. It is Taxing who the fuck let this happen.

The Scenes:

Top (the Timeline)-just a little look into some scenes from their friendship over the years, with a kind of emphasis on how it seems like, with some exceptions, Zekk seems to kinda follow Jaina's lead most of the time up until he joins the Shadow Academy and learns some agency (albeit in the worst way possible); this timeline is supposed to kind of reflect that lead-follow relationship, until the Shadow Academy part, when Jaina actually stops for once and waits for Zekk. The final part is supposed to be her having come back to/for him after time apart, ending the cycle. Also includes lyrics from Sarah Smiles and Red, because... Idk the songs just kinda fit, you know?

Left (the Jam Session)- hey what if the Falcon had a speaker system modern car-style and Jaina and Zekk jammed out in it while flying through hyperspace, how cool would that be huh? Inspired by several jams on their playlist, mostly 80's ones because Zekk has 80's Pop-Rock vibes to me.

Bottom Left (History Rhymes)-Not me continuing my "what if Jaina and Zekk but they reference previous Star Wars eras, especially couples from said eras" agenda but with an Anakin and Padmé quote! Set in the immediate aftermath of the destruction of the Jedi Temple in Jedi Under Siege (right after the cut to black in fact, there's a time jump between the explosion and, like, the next day), Zekk is lying injured on the ground, still in full Darkest Knight regalia (including the bloodred cape--yes, i swear, that's not blood, sorry to disappoint), surrounded by rubble, having saved everyone left by keeping them from going inside. Jaina realized this, so of course she goes running up to her friend, distraught at the thought of losing him just after she'd maybe gotten him back. Cue her falling to the ground at his side, cradling his head and calling his name, only to have him blearily blink his eyes open, thoroughly concussed, see her surrounded by a halo of sunlight, and breathe out a "Are you an angel?" Before passing out again (because, again, head injury). Jaina is confused, but at least he's alive!

Bottom Right (Starlight)-no thoughts head Starlight (Taylor's Version) aka Jaina and Zekk are Jedi partners (and also maybe partner-partners) on a mission to infiltrate a high-end club somewhere in the Midrim. Zekk is posing as Prince Zekkleon of Ennth, with Jaina as his lovely companion Duchess Jaynara. Of course, dashing prince that he is, Zekk can't resist offering his hand in a dance, to the astonishment of Jaina. (Gotta say, this is going a lot more smoothly than that state dinner from their teenage years at least.) Zekk is almost certainly borrowing one of Lando's capes (or wearing one Lando just straight up bought for him, as is his wont), while Jaina's dress, tho you can't really see it very well, is based on a concept art design for one of Padmé's dresses, because I'm an absolute sucker for "Jaina in her grandmother's clothes" as a trope (i read one fanfiction about it and I've been hooked ever since). Quotes from Starlight cause goddammit this is THE JainaxZekk song for me along with Every Little Thing She Does is Magic and (Don't You) Forget About Me, among many others!

The Close-Ups:

[cool-the-binge-eater]

Apothecary Diaries - manga rec

Summary

Before it had an English name I just called it Kusuriya no Hitorigoto. It's about mao mao who was forced by kidnappers to be a court maid. A plain freckled girl who is nonchalant about it but misses working as a doctor assistant for her father.When the high ranking court ladies babies come down with an illness that others deem a curse mao mao figures out the cause. Trying her best not to get stuck in court drama squabbles only leaving a note on the cause. However a eunuch named jinshi figures her out and is forced to solve palace mysteries while also working as poison tester. (it's fine she likes to test poisons on herself)😓 So basically Chinese historical story that deals with harem life that's also a detective and medical story. So their are modern conventions and solutions that we take for granted that are used as solutions in the story. That’s the draw of alot of time traveling stories but since its not we don’t get an outsiders perspective about what we would consider wrong. Maomao has resigned herself to whatever happens to her and dosen’t fight the system directly but she still has a strong sense of justice.

Maomao- the pharmacist

Maomao is the protagonist /pov chara and is the main reason you read the story she's very eccentric when it comes to medicines and poisons but is actually very quick witted and emotionally intelligent. She's a realist and down to earth often thinking little of herself. Maomao has resigned herself to whatever happens to her. She knows she's smart and might be toooo smart. Her only motivation is medcine so political infighting and conspiracies is the opposite of that. Whenever her sense of justice shows up it really bursts and it's great to see💖😊 Even though she pettite skinny and a commoner whenever she decides to do something it really feels like she's risking her life.Also aro/ace representing she really dosent care about much except medicine.💞

Jinshi -Eunuch

He works as a foil to maomao becasue hes a born noble, the boss of her and is one of the most conniving characters. His personality starts off as a sadist/playful tease but eventually really cares for maomao in the story as he gets to know her better. Jinshi is the one who presents the issues to maomao and is the one withe the authority to give her tools to solve the cases.He's obviously hinting at maomao alot but she dosent get it or doesn't care.His job is to work in the harem and to do whatever the emperor requests if him. He's the most beautiful person in the story and alot of woman and men want him. He drinks this a medicine that make him more eunuch like to maintain that appearance. The reason why we don't know and his backstory is one of the big mysteries.

Setting

It's not a specific year which is good Apparently mongels are still a problem and they can keep in contact with the west if they want. Historical Chinese dramas I guess 🤷‍♀️. Politically ppl dislike the last emperor and just over a decade before slavery was abolished. U can technically sell family members tho if ur poor. Maomao was sold as a palace maid and all her earnings go to her "family". In fact most of the maid charachters are the same way.So some cultural things need to be addressed if your new to court drama. Honestly it's a cliche for me cuz I watch alot of Asian dramas but others might not.

In the palace we have the outer court that does real work like paper work and women can join the outer court but they are akin to secretaries. I think they dislike inner court ladies cuz they had to take a test (Also technically maids but they don't do the best job compared to inner court ladies). The inner palace only has women and they are all concubines for the emperor. There have been cases of maids becoming lower ranked concubines if they were pretty. 4 great positions are taken by great noble ladies and their families. These 4 ladies each have their own palace and are the ones most likely to become empress/create heirs.

Hanmachi/red light district is a big part of the story. Mao mao was raised there and is the 2nd location the story takes place. It's both a beautiful gorgeous palace and a dark dangerous alley. Maomao says that the brothels are both a cage and a Wall that protects them from the streets Maomao isn't a courtesan but was raised with her 3 big sisters the 3 princesses of Rokushoukan. All high courtesans need to learn to dance, play instruments, talk, play go or other board games and read. Men don't usually get to sleep with high courtesans and it dosent work on all girls but the more pure you are to get the higher the price.

BTW we never go to them but there are brothels that are lecherous, and there are cases of rape within that district and maomao has almost been in that situation which also hasn't been shown.

Adaptations/art

There are like 3 types of versions of the story for some reason. There are 2 mangas and the og light novel. The mangas not done but maybe the first one went in a different direction of the novel 🤔 idk??? I've read a little bit about the the light novel but honestly not that different. Mao mao is a very introspective charachter she has alot of thoughts and won't say alot of her thoughts or feelings due to fear of nobility or just laziness.

So the manga makes her alot more expressive while keeping her introspective thoughts. She can be very funny and comedic with her expressions. Later on when she gets stitches they keep reopening(she just roles with it and everyone gets freaked out for her)

The 2nd manga makes mao mao her personality more serious and aparently there's less emphasis on romance. Only 1 volume so can't judge on much. (Only read 2 chapters) so I'm gonna talk about the 1st manga.

(Light novel, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto manga and Mao Mao no Kōkyū Nazotoki Techō manga)

The art is really good what happens alot in shoujo series set in harems or inner courts. Is that the women are not hot they can be beautiful, pretty even but they really aren't hot.

But damnnnnnn all the girls are 🔥🔥🔥

Specifically the hanamachi ones and even maomao herself sometimes. Lol 😆 I'm gonna stop now

But seriously I like how they talk about sex, prostitution and harems. Alot of shoujo are so PG about a place that is notorious for sex work.

Last minute thoughts

Check it out there's 2 manga volumes out and more coming. (Or read the scanlations I did both)

I like jinshi when he gets jealous since he's so cool and in control alot seeing him flounder about with mao mao is fun ❤

Maomao has a pretty interesting past too and it's hinted at really early there's this guy she definitely dosent wanna meet in the outer palace (that's my hint for foreshadowing) 🤐

I would read the light novels if ur like dying to know the plot the manga is a monthly series (I won't cuz I'm lazy)

Previous emperor is a pedo current one is a dick. So yea royal family sucks what's new 🙄

[slocumjoe]

Please tell me your X6 headcanons. I've been thinking about him lately and now I cAN'T STOP HELP

I was doing something else and literally chucked my phone across my desk because STOP EVERYTHING, MY TIME HAS COME.

So, most of these can be found in my fic, (link there but idk if it’s underlined) but this gives me a chance to really contextualize them. Also, most are sad.

- Terrible at gauging reactions/other people. 

; He’s good at reading people, but when it comes to how they feel/think about him? Cannot. Comes from years of dealing with sometimes volatile scientists who get upset on a hairpin trigger. Everything you do as a courser can lead to your wiping, so you’re on eggshells all the time. He’s trained himself to keep everything under such lock and key, he gets confused with other people’s expressions and emotions. He’s basically forgotten anything that isn’t ‘cold indifference’ and ‘angry disappointment’. 

- Hates the Institute and its rules, just doesn’t realize it.

; X is a victim of systemic oppression. I hate that Bethesda wrote that as a thing for many reasons, but he is. Every synth is. When you’re under an umbrella of constant threat and terror, you will bend or you will break. X6 chose to bend to survive. You can see some of this in his dialogue, like where he likes certain things that he shouldn’t. The fact that he has likes/dislikes at all just shows that he, and all synths, are not what the Institute wants them to be. 

His hatred is like the hatred you feel towards an abusive partner only after leaving them when you realize the full extent of what they did to you. If he ever gets out, will be really distraught and messed up for a while.

- Pushes away comfort for a variety of reasons

; In my fic, it’s from guilt and feeling like he doesn��t deserve it. Outside of that, it’s also a form of denial. If he needs to be comforted, it means he’s hurting. if he’s hurting, he’s failing as a courser and/or the Institute is harmful. It’s a confirmation of everything he tries to ignore and deny, so he has to run from it. But he craves that connection. He wants, deep down, to have a place of real care and belonging, but he has no choice but to bury it. 

- Worst ending is the Institute being destroyed.

; Now, hear me out. 

If the Institute lives on and the RR + BoS are destroyed, there’s a chance of it being changed. Reformed. If it gets destroyed, he’ll be angry at the SS forever. For him to understand and accept that the Institute and its treatment of synths was wrong and cruel, he has to see it in a different light. If it gets taken down, all he sees are the ruins of what he’s clung to for his whole life. He cannot move on and recover if he doesn’t see what the Institute could have been, but chose not to be. 

If the Institute is destroyed, he eventually leaves the SS and joins the small groups of loyalist survivors. If it is reformed, he gradually comes to realize that it was wrong. The best ending is if all 4 factions survive - he fully understands the Institute and its nature, and by looking at the RR and BoS, realizes how much time and resources they wasted, how much war could have been avoided. He then joins the Minutemen or RR full-time.

- Would be best friends with Piper

; I went over their dialogue, and they share many similarities. They both are often provoking and sarcastic, don’t like getting into emotionally charged situations, and value knowledge/truth over comforting ignorance. He’d have to get over the Institute loyalty, but they’d be partners in crime. Piper is very understanding and humorous, which would pair nicely with his social ineptitude and more serious, stoic nature.

- Would be a terrifying force of nature in a modern Au.

~

; He’d be this nightmare of competence and adulting, among the barely-holding-it-together MacCready, Hancock, Piper, Danse, etc. Full time job, makes 6 figures. Works at a maximum-security lab, no one knows what he does there. He goes to work on a motorcycle. It’s white and untouched by reality. It’s eco-friendly and probably doesn't use fuel. He does not drink. He is in college, no one knows what classes he’s in. He has a 4.0 at any given time. Aces everything. Wakes up at 5 A.M to workout at the gym. His job starts at 9. Doesn’t drink coffee, only an expensive tea that doesn’t have an English label. Goes to sleep at 11 P.M. Does not have bags under his eyes, skin clearer than glass. 

I will do more when I have time, have a lot of thoughts on this brat man

[babineni]

The Path Not Traveled (part 1 of 2)

Idk how to explain what this is. Suffice to say I wasn't a fan of the last third of Edér's personal quest in Deadfire bc it included some tropes that I despise. So I guess I just wanted to write a version that doesn't include them. I wouldn’t go as far as to call this a fix-it fic bc I don’t think anything gets any better but I needed to get this out my system.

Part 2 here:

The green light of the lighthouse gave the grey clouds over Hasongo an eerie glow. Gaura tried to assess the risk of taking the Defiant back to Neketaka in the foreboding weather while she listened to a shaky-voiced farmer.

'Sh- she wasn't here when Eothas arrived,' the farmer reached for a pendant hanging from her neck. She traced the three stars on it with trembling fingers, and an unsure smile appeared as she thought back to the colossus marching through the settlement. 'I'm sorry, I don't know anything aside from that.'

The farmer's fidgeting left the Watcher unconvinced. 'Is it possible she left with Laethärn?' She held up the letter Laethärn wrote to the local fleet master.

The farmer squinted at the paper as if she had trouble reading it but Gaura could still see the disapproving frown hidden behind it. A moment later even that disappeared, leaving nothing but disappointment and anger behind.

'Elafa was no coward. Or so we thought,' she spat. 'But, aye... She and her kid were the first to start packing when Laethärn started spreading word of Eothas' approach.'

'Just what I needed to hear,' the Watcher stashed the letter, 'thank you.' She left the farmer who immediately turned towards Eothas' gigantic, muddy footprint and started praying. She only took a few steps when she glimpsed Edér trying to get through to another Dawnstar. He eventually left in frustration and approached the Watcher instead.

'Anything?'

'She left before Eothas got here.'

Edér let out a lengthy sigh that turned into a staggered laugh by the end of it. 'Thank- well, not him,' he gestured at the footprint. 'Aw, but this... this is a huge weight off my shoulders.'

'We haven't exactly found them, Edér.'

'Yeah, I know, but... She's safe. She and the kid.' He added as if the notion of the boy's existence was still beyond belief.

'Are you sure about that? Who knows where she might've ended up?' Gaura crossed her arms. Edér merely replied with a confused look then his eyes widened as her words sunk in. 'My money is on Neketaka,' she said eventually to calm him.

'Right... uh... guess I'm ready if you are,' Edér said and his attention drifted elsewhere a moment later. Somewhere far, far away from Hasongo and far, far away from that moment. Glee disappeared from the veteran's face and a thoughtful frown appeared in its place.

'Are you, now?' The Watcher stepped closer to him. 'Then tell me something: what are you going to tell her when we find her?'

Edér turned his attention back to her. 'Dunno,' he shrugged, 'I was hoping... You were always better with words than I'll ever be...'

'Let me stop you right there,' Gaura raised a palm, 'if you have doubts about this...'

'I don't,' Edér made a poor attempt at convincing himself as well as the Watcher, 'it’s just... Elafa had a life here,' he explained. 'And I... I wanted to show her the life I've built. Maybe... even ask her to be a part of it. But knowing her, she'll probably say no.'

'I wouldn't bet my life on that,' Gaura looked at the ruined settlement. 'If she did have a life here, Eothas stomped it right into the ground. Who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky.'

'Yeah. Maybe.'

'You don't sound too enthusiastic about the idea.'

Edér frowned at Gaura for a moment, but she got the impression that the feelings she glimpsed in his eyes weren't directed at her. That it was he who confused and frustrated him for a change.

'I'm thinking... maybe... instead of all that I should ask to be a part of her life - their lives,' Edér quickly corrected himself.

Gaura blinked at him in disbelief. 'What about Dyrford? I thought you liked being a mayor.'

'I did,' he chuckled bitterly. 'They probably found someone to replace me by now, anyway. They never liked long election periods.'

'That's not the point.' The Watcher rolled her eyes. 'What I'm getting at is... would you be willing to give everything you’ve worked for up for her?'

Edér shrugged. 'Was willing to do it for you. Though this doesn't feel the same.'

'Yeah, permanence is funny that way.' A distant thunder caught Gaura's attention. 'Hmm, seems like we'll be stuck here for a while. You've got some time to think this through.'

'Never been too keen on that,' the veteran chuckled. 'Besides... I'm starting to get the feeling I'll be making a mistake no matter what I choose,' he shook his head. 'Even if I...' he didn't finish the thought but he didn't have to. His voice rang with longing clearly enough.

'Well... Sometimes you've gotta make your own happiness with the things you've got,' Gaura thought back to her years in the Living Lands. The beauty of the land trying to kill her, the short-lived friendships, the fleeting sense of joy she found in moments of exhilaration. 'I'm sure you'll figure out what you need to do. Just... ask yourself some hard questions with no good answers,' there was a hint of irony in her laughter.

Edér returned the laugh. 'It's becoming my favorite hobby.' He sighed as he raised his shield to protect himself from the first drops of rain. He inclined his head invitingly then headed back to the Defiant once the Watcher joined him.

[orphankin]

Question game! I was tagged by @bunnygirlbutta , thank you! 💖

What was your last...

Beverage: Sprite zero

Phone call: probably my grandpa or stupid fucking cop guy that keeps calling that I keep blocking

Text message: telling my friend it was fair that they don't like chocolate

Song you listened to: not sure but I've got what does the fox say stuck in my head

Time you cried: usually it's every day but I've been very sick so probably like 2 weeks ago about how much I love my gf most likely

Have you ever...

Dated someone twice: nope

Kissed someone and regretted it: like immediately? No. eventually? Yes

Lost someone special: see does this mean like death or just don't interact anymore? I'm gonna say the later and say yes

Been depressed? Kind of hard not to given the circumstances

Been drunk and threw up? I only puke when cross faded

In the last year, have you...

Made a new friend? Yes a few

Fallen out of love? Nope

Laughed until you cried? Probably yeah

Found out who your true friends are: I guess kind of. Lost a lot of white friends lolol. Idk this is such a weird question that can be interpreted a lot of ways. Plus it's an ever revolving door of people so it's like. This is not static, how can I say that these are the true ones

Found out someone was talking about you: baby girl we all talk about each other

General

How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life? I mean I've met all of them in person at least once but I don't talk to all of them

List three of your favorite colors: pink, gold, white

What was your first...

Surgery? I think the wisdom teeth this year lol

Piercing? I was 8 and mad that I didn't get my ears pierced as a baby when I wouldn't remember the pain and they took me to Claire's -_-

Best friend? Elementary school Joshua he was a real one

Sport you joined? I think soccer

Vacation? I think proper vacation was Disneyland

Pair of trainers? Like sneakers or wtf are these? How am I supposed to know this

Right now, what are you...

Eating? Soy tofu soup (with nutritional fish flakes yum)

Drinking? This broth lol

About to do? Play video games probably

Your future

Do you want kids? I think down the line if I'm financially stable enough I'd like to foster like 16 or 17 year olds so I can help them prepare or set up for like entering society and for them to have a good base instead of just being tossed out of the system left to fend for themselves. I don't wanna raise like a baby tho

Do you want to get married? Very much so, yes

Ideal career? Getting to write at home

Which do you think is better?

Lips or eyes? Eyes I think

Hugs or kisses? Hugs methinks

Shorter or taller? I don't really mind this one. I guess I like feeling tall when someone is shorter than me but that doesn't happen very often

Older or younger? My lower range is two years and my upper range is 4 years, so I guess since that's higher then older?

Romantic or spontaneous? I'm demi so def fomantic

Nice stomach or nice arms? Tumby. To be clear tho all stomachs are nice I just don't think about arms a lot I guess lol

Sensitive or loud? Sensitive

Hook up or relationship? See again: demi

Trouble maker or hesitant? I don't understand this. I don't want trouble but I do want the opposite of hesitant which is bold

Have you ever...

Kissed a stranger? No I don't think so

Drank hard liquor? Yes

Lost glasses/contacts? I've never lost anything prescription

Had sex on the first date? No

Broken someone's heart? No? I don't think so

Been arrested? No

Turned someone down? No

Cried when someone died? Yes

Do you believe in...

Yourself? Not really

Miracles? Like religious stuff? No. Like someone having something happen that had really low odds I could perceive calling that a miracle instead of just improbable

Love at first sight? Not really but I want to I guess

Heaven? Like Christianity's version of it? No. Do I -hope- for an easier afterlife after whatever the fuck this is? Yeah

Santa claus? What am I supposed to say here? No

Kiss of the first date? I would like to methinks but that doesn't mean everyone should?

Angels? No

Tagging @catgirltabbi so she can see this. If any follower does this feel free to tag me so I can see your responses 💖

[whatevercomestomymind]

I'll raise you one more level:

Han WAS taught by a Jedi when he was young.

In one if the many unrecorded chapters of his early life as a smuggler, he sees this gnarled, grizzled, cynical old man who's been nothing mire than a cargo hand on a smuggler's ship that Han managed to join (purely by "accidental persuasion" of course), and this old man, when the main pilot is killed during a skirmish, jumps in, grabs the controls, closes his eyes and performs maneuvers that would make Poe Damron have wet dreams for years.

Once they get to a place to hide, Han asks him how in the hell the old guy managed to do that.

Queue several weeks of Han pestering him while the 2 of them complete repairs on a ship designed for a minimum crew compliment of 8, and one night, the old man drinks a little more than usual, and ends up confessing he used to be a teacher at the Jedi Temple, but he left the order because he saw the rise of decadence and self-righteousness in the order and knew it would die.

So then Han confronts him the next day, and manages to convince a guy who's been hiding his Force Powers for decades to teach him how to use the force. And the only reason the old guy does, is because a) the Force is very persuasive, b) he senses great power and inherent goodness in Han, and c) theyve got no fucking choice if they ever want to make it out of the system they're hiding in because their ship is designed to need 8 people to control it, not 2.

So he starts teaching Han how to reach out, using the ship's flight simulator and blasters, because of course he doesnt have a lightsaber anymore (it's kind of a dead giveaway, esp I'd you're trying to be all incognito), and he thinks the Jedi were idiots for relying on close quarters weapons anyway.

So he teaches Han how to fly by instinct, how to shoot things without looking at them, how to bend blaster bolts trajectories to miss him by inches, and how to convince people to do things without even seeming like he's trying to convince them.

He teaches Han to ignore all the fancy hand waving as they're the crutch if those who don't fully understand the Force.

"Stop waving your goddamn hand around you targ! What? You think the UNIVERSE gives a shit about you waving your hands? You think that cosmic energy fields even fucking NOTICE how your fingers are moving around? Idiot. The Force comes within, it's not in your hands, it's in your MIND and SOUL!"

So he then ties Han's hands and feet together to break him of the "mumbo-jumbo" habits everyone else has.

He cuts off life support to Han's room to train him how to suspend his bio-functions for days at a time, "because you never know when you'll have to hide in an unpressurized cargo hold."

And so between the 2 of them, they re-arrange all the ships controls so that only 2 people can run the ship, and the cockpit ends up looking like this clustefuck of tech.

And right before they take off, Han says "I've got a bad feeling about this..." and the old guy FUCKING LISTENS TO HIM, and takes a different route.

Cue space battle against the mafia and Imperial forces, and just after they get away thanks to both of their Force induced piloting and shooting, they touch down, Han looks at the old man, they breathe a sigh of relief, then Han looks confused for a minute. When asked what's wrong he tells the old man "idk, we should be safe here, we got away, but I still feel like something's wrong."

The old guy says, "don't worry about it, you're still learning the Force, " etc etc, and then out of fuckin nowhere, a lightsaber plunclges through the side of the cockpit and through the old man's chest.

And Han runs for his life from a Jedi who uses the Force in every underhanded way possible to try to apprehend Han. This guy was sent from the order to kill the old man, been hunting down seditionists from the Order for years, killing those Jedi that dared to teach outside the officially sanctioned Jedi Order.

He throws Han into shit, throws things at him, tries to corner him so he's within lightsaber range, but Han's just bad-parkour-luck-crashing all through the base, using every trick he knows and making a few up on the fly, like letting himself be Force thrown, but bending his trajectory to crash through a window, etc.

The Jedi Hunter tries to Force choke Han, but it has no effect! Like Han cant breathe, he's still getting choked, but he doesnt need oxygen for a lot longer than most because training, so keeps on running and eventually manages to get away.

And he just keeps on running.

And he blames the Force for not protecting his mentor, thinking what good is it if I get the feeling and then cant do anything about it? How the hell does the Force help anyone? Following the force just gets the people you love killed. And so on and so on in his teenage grief reaction.

So I posit that Han was a Jedi, who specialized in piloting, persuasion and survival, all while remaining incognito.

And because losing the first person who'd been genuinely kind to him was so traumatic, he blocks out the memory of it, unconsciously using the Force on HIMSELF to forget about that whole chapter of his life.

But he still has the instinctive abilities.

And this would make the scene between him and his son so so much more poignant, because then you KNOW HE'S MADE HIMSELF REMEMBER, because he sees that Kylo/Ben was reacting the same way HE DID, but running straight into the arms of darkness, and Han knows that he didnt get over his own trauma early enough to prevent Ben going down that path, but maybe, just maybe, it's not quite too late for HIM to help Ben see what the Force really is, and to heal.

But at the same time, he knows, like Obi-wan did, what's going to happen. He knows he's going to die. And he accepts it, because he hopes that his influence after his death might be powerful enough to help his son.

12 Times Han Solo Used The Force Without Knowing It