#in cycles and cessation

[chiiimchar]

siffrin quest speedrun complete! you will never forget this!

@the-bitter-ocean <- creator of the au and beloved mutual ^_^

[tealgoat]

Uhoh!

In Cycles and Cessation/ Mira Looping au by @the-bitter-ocean She also made the wonderful sketches/composition for this! Go check her out!!!

[the-bitter-ocean]

(ACT 1 SPOILERS) Here are some more cutscene redraws for ICAC au! Sketches are under the cut:

[llilyrose]

Doodle for @the-bitter-ocean's In Cycles and Cessation au!!!!! (Alt. Version and writing under the cut!!)

{You pat the spot next to you.}

{They take it, albeit a bit hesitantly.}

"Mira? What's, um... What's this about?"

{What's this about, indeed...}

>"You like the stars, don't you?"

{They hum, simply.}

"... Yeah."

>"Well,"

{In the past you've struggled with sharing your thoughts, and the processes that lead to them. There's just -- there's SO MUCH going on in there!}

{At least you're good at remembering lines.}

>"I've noticed that you like to skygaze. A lot. And, you know, there's nothing wrong with that! But."

>"But you're not cloudgazing. Isabeau told me you're looking at the stars - the twinkly things in the sky?"

{He nods. It's permission.}

>"He also told me that, er, that thing you say sometimes - it roughly translates to stars in Vaugardian."

{He nods again, though it's more reserved. It's still permission. You haven't messed up yet. You continue.}

>"So I thought!! Um!!! Maybe you would want to skygaze with me?"

{Their smile is fond.}

"Mira. You didn't have to go out of your way..."

{No! You do!!! You absolutely do, because you know this means a lot to them, you know they're yearning, you're achingly familiar with their anxieties --}

{Change!! He won't even let you help him if you don't get anything out of it yourself!}

{... It feels like cheating. A bit selfish, to impose your problems on him, in a moment that's meant to be his. So you'll just... repeat your lines. Repeat it, Mira.}

>"The stars. Are they important to you?"

{Silence drags on. You hear the rustling of fabric. You're not sure if he's rubbing his arms or shifting to get a better view of the sky.}

{The lack of response urges you to bring a nail to your teeth. You make the beginnings of the motion, but Siffrin interrupts you before you get the chance.}

"Kind of. I think? I'm not ... entirely sure."

{It's the same thing they've always said.}

{The lack of change hurts you. The lack of change is comforting.}

{You...}

>"It's okay."

{A breeze brushes past you. It drowns out the gentle sounds of their breath.}

>"This kind of thing is . . . complicated. For me, too, if you can believe it."

{Hook. You hear him turning his head towards you, curiously.}

>"The change belief is home, for me. Growing up in a House of Change, of course, probably influenced a lot of my thinking, but."

>"As important as change is, as close as this ever-shifting belief sits to my heart, I have a complicated relationship with it."

>"The housemaidens... each of them has Changed, at least once. We have festivals to embrace it! And I'm happy for them! I'm so, so happy for them."

>"But I'm disappointed. In myself, I think? Because... Because I haven't changed. Or, I have changed, but I've never Changed, capital-C."

{Line. You hear a disgruntled "hrmpf" from beside you. You keep going.}

>"And nobody is pressuring me. I don't have to. But, I feel like- in this belief, this belief that revolves entirely around changing myself, changing the core of my being, into something completely different, completely new-"

>"I like me as I am, Siffrin."

>"But sometimes it feels like I'm missing out on key experiences in my culture."

>"So... yeah. It's complicated. These things are complicated. It's okay to be complicated."

>"Is it-- are the stars something like that, to you?"

{Sinker. You look back, and Siffrin is staring at you, sadly. He notices you looking, though, and shifts his gaze back towards the sky. The stars. They're thinking.}

"... Yeah."

{They pause. You wait. You'll give them the time.}

{You have plenty of it! Hahahahaha!!!!!!!}

{No. Positive. It's okay.}

"It's complicated for me, too."

"You like to say I'm easygoing. I think it's just the way I was raised."

"To say I follow my belief is more literal than anything."

"The Universe leads. We follow."

>"The Universe?"

{Wait for your cue.}

"The Universe. It's... everything. It's everything at once, and also everything beyond?"

"It's... the stars, in the sky, I think. It's the waves crashing onto a beach, the whistle of wind in your ears."

"It's not like everything is predetermined. We just... if something goes wrong, or you think you see a sign, you can throw your arms up and say 'the Universe willed it.' And you wouldn't be wrong."

"I... don't really like that idea? That some higher force makes the decisions for me. That I can't shape who I am on my own."

"I don't like the idea that-..."

{They snap their mouth closed. You don't miss the way their voice cracked.}

{It hurts. It hurts you every time. Every time you help them it just resets. You're not sure how many more times you can do this.}

{It's like all your change never mattered in the first place...!}

>"You don't have to share, if you don't want to!!!"

{You won't complete his quest if you do this. You won't get his ability if you do this. You won't be family if you do this. But you can't anymore. You can't.}

{But.}

"... It's okay. I just..."

{There's no backdoor anymore.}

{Your gut clenches as they speak the words you've toiled over for loops, now.}

"I don't like the idea that forgetting everything about my culture was for some greater purpose. I don't want that. I don't want to forget who I was, I don't want to forget who I am, I don't want to forget you! Any of you!"

{His voice is wet. Something pangs in your chest.}

"If forgetting is all I can do, if forgetting like this is the path set out for me, then..."

"What kind of person can't remember their home? Their childhood? What is a person without their memories?"

"is this what the Universe wanted from me? Is this all I'm for?"

{You've heard it all before.}

{And yet. And yet.}

>"Don't talk about yourself like that!"

{He flinches. You yelled! Why did you yell???}

>"You don't...! You don't deserve to treat yourself like that!"

{You can't stop yourself. The thoughts you bite back flow out of you like a river.}

>"'What kind of person am I without my memories?' You're Siffrin, that's who! With or without your memories, we love you as you are, the person you are!"

{You pause. He's scared of you, isn't he? You're being loud. Too loud. You're derailing the conversation.}

{Change is good. Change should be good. But it feels like every time you try to change your situation, it bites you back and turns tail!}

{You messed it up, you messed it up, you--}

{You feel a tug on your heart.}

~~

"-is this all I'm for?"

{You smile, softly.}

>"Of course not, Siffrin."

{He tenses. You always notice it.}

>"You... don't have to deal with this alone. Why didn't you tell me? Or anyone?"

"It-"

{They pull their hat over their face.}

"It, um... didn't really matter."

{It still hurts you. That he didn't think he could tell you.}

>"We'll never forget you, Siffrin. And you'll never forget us, either. I'm sure of it."

>"Memories or not... you belong here. With us. We love you, you know that, right?"

{They shrink back, flustered. It hurts. You've seen it before. You've seen it.}

>"If you're so worried about your lack of memories, we'll just... make new ones!!! Together!!!"

>"You're not alone in this anymore. You're here, with us, and we have a future to look forward to, together."

{He's crying.}

{That look in their eyes. You know.}

{You know he knows he is loved.}

{You hate that you're getting tired of it.}

[pixxyofice]

the time loop support group has taken over my brain. please help. all under cut because of various act 5 (and act 6) spoilers because of how these aus work HAHA. below the cut!

(thank you to @tealgoat, @basilpaste, @the-bitter-ocean, and @startagainaprologue for having amazing aus :3)

time loop support group. beloved.

[winterstorm032802]

[The King is defeated. You only need to talk to Isa before the Head Housemaiden.]

"Mira! We did it."

[You smile.]

"We did. I'm so glad."

"I can't wait to celebrate."

"Isabeau, I wanted to say thank you for helping me."

"Of course! But... Mira, are you alright?"

"I'm okay, Isabeau."

[He looks down at you. Looking as if he knows everything.]

"Don't lie to me."

[Isabeau crosses his arms and frowns.]

"I get it. It's difficult. But you can tell me anything. If this is about the Change God and how-"

"It's not about that."

"Then what is it?"

"...you wouldn't get it."

"Does it have something to do with Timecraft?"

[You freeze.]

[What is this?]

[Why is he saying this? He's never said this.]

"...w-"

"You were insistent on Sif reading all of those books that none of us could read. You've been... distant. As soon as we got to Death Corrider, you immediately side stepped Siffrin and pulled the lever behind that pillar as if you knew where it was."

[Why do you have to be like this?]

[Why does he have to be so good at reading your emotions?]

"Isa-"

"Not only that, but... everything you say and do looks almost... forced."

[These notes are jumbled. You can't read it or find the right melody.]

"Isabeau, I-"

"Mirabelle... you're involved with something about Timecraft. What is it? You can talk to me."

"Talk to you? Is that so?"

[A smile breaks out on your face.]

"You want me to talk?"

[The others turn, confused on the commotion.]

"Mira?"

"Let's talk. I've been stuck in these loops with no way out. There's no answer or escape, and you think you can help me? You can't even say what you want, what makes you think you can make me?"

"That's not what I-"

[You tremble, your stomach churns.]

"You have no right to tell me what I can do. You can't help me. None of you can help me! I'm supposed to be the one who does it all! I'm the chosen one, right? The load of crab that is! I'm not the chosen one to save Dormont... but I'm the chosen one to be stuck in these loops..."

"What's going on?"

"Isa? Mira?"

"Mirabelle?"

"What makes you think you of all people could help me, Isabeau? I don't want your help. I never needed it! I know you'll all look down on me! That's why I don't need your help!"

<<<

"Of course! But... Mira, are you alright?"

"I'm okay, Dormont is saved, and no one is frozen anymore!"

"...yeah, everyone is safe now."

[You turn on your heel before Isabeau can say another crabbing word.]

.

.

.

Woo-hoo! Unhinged Mirabelle! I want this girl to snap. Let her be unhinged. Anyways!

In Cycles and Cessation

I feel like Isa might figure it out first, because he's so good at knowing Mirabelle and her emotions at times. Odile might have a clue, but due to her not recognizing that Mirabelle was stressed from being in the House, she might doubt what she thinks and chalk it up to just being in the House.

This AU of Mirabelle looping is made by @the-bitter-ocean

Another edit. One effect version and the other clear. (I had so much trouble with the hair in front of her face, I don't know why. Please ignore any mistakes. I'm begging you.)

"You want me to talk?"

[eurydice-pens]

my favorite hater @the-bitter-ocean

[anch0-a]

I made two (2) doodles of ICAC au by @the-bitter-ocean !!!!!

Im so happy i finally have some ideas to draw about it!!!!!!!

2 hats spoilers under the cut

[basilpaste]

icac mira my friend icac mira......

this ideas been floating around in my head for a while!!! i love the aesthetic of art where you cram lyrics into places they dont really fit. these are from your heart is a muscle the size of your fist by ramshackle glory!!! and the au of course is by my pal @the-bitter-ocean!!!

[harunefrog]

"I got it!"

Mira in da Timeloop au by @the-bitter-ocean

[tealgoat]

Lagtrain

In Cycles and Cessation/ Mira Looping au by @the-bitter-ocean

[the-bitter-ocean]

(ACT 4 SPOILERS) Decided to be silly and wanted to post some sprite/ portrait Mirabelle redraws that I did for the ICAC Au!! Under the cut will be artists notes and the Speedpaint process:

GENERAL ARTISTS NOTES:

I wanted to capture the vibes of the original Mirabelle attack sprite that’s in game, but also add my own twist on it rather than just copy the exact pose verbatim. Since the original pose that the sprite is based off in game is paper/ healing I wanted it to have a sense of seriousness to it

I changed the craft sign with the hands to be both paper and scissors, since she’s a dual type and I think that the vibes of “just attack” in the original game is to go all out and not hold back. Whatever is the most efficient and quickest way to brutally take out your enemy.

This is also why the the sparkles and effects around Mira is different: She’s using both paper and scissors so she’d have the FX for both in her attack portrait.

I changed the expression to look more serious (shadowed face, the circles within circle eyes is a reference to the fact her eyes go in a spiral when she defeats the king in the canon game of ISAT.

For anyone new to the Au and didn’t catch the design details beforehand: in the ICAC au Mirabelle was the one to lose the eye protecting Bonnie from the sadness instead of Siffrin! She has a eyepatch made by Isabeau and it has the change symbol on it. Her hair usually covers the blind eye in most sprites barring few exceptions ( certain parts of act 4, Act 5 and act 6 etc.)

She also has a sharper/ pointier bow in comparison to canon isat Mirabelle. This is mainly because I noticed the pixel sprites for Mirabelle the bow looks very sharp and pointy in isat but the sprites themselves are rounded, so I thought it would be neat to play with the shape language of the design and make the bow sharper in the portraits as well

[bbloveseevees]

“Isaloops” this, “Miraloops” that-

WHERE ARE THE MULTIFANDOM LOOPS???

AM I THE ONLY ONE DOING THIS THING???

(For context: In Stars And Minds (aka RazLoops))

[kadethecat]

Fic I made in January for @the-bitter-ocean ‘s Mirabelle Looping/In Cycles and Cessations au!

This features important spoilers for acts 3+ of In Stars and Time! Don’t read if you haven’t played just yet! (And trust me when I say it’s better to go into the game blind)

[pixxyofice]

THE TIME LOOP SUPPORT GROUP IS REAL AND IT IS- oh stars is that 12,029 words

Spoiler Warning For The Entire Game! Including the Act 6 Secret!

[staxxxondeck]