#just for the baxter thing

[weregreatatcrime]

so i’m adding in a lil spec of stockman’s pov, and since i hardly doubt he thinks of himself as “stockman” and i just. i just can’t accept “baxter” for some reason for him, i was tryna see what sort of nicknames folks have for baxter and i’m fucking dying yall

the first thing to pop up was cute pet nicknames and it took me a whole minute to stop laughing because it caught so fucking off guard-

[astronnova]

ywlma tiktok would go crazy if you ask me (i hope you dont mind the ping @ectoplasmranch ;; !!)

[buried-in-autumn-leaves]

It's you!

Despite everything...

...it's still you <3

[parisoonic]

I was reading a sci-fi book featuring Russain cosmonauts and the book mentioned the phrase 'Ни пуха ни пера'. I was tickled by the similarity to 'break a leg' BUT it has a call and response ('Go to hell' or 'to the devil with you') - who doesn't love call and response??

Heavy, you'll get a more playful response when Medic isn't hyper-focusing on the days battle plan.

[unfioreapezzi]

[rui-drawsbox]

bunny suit baxter

[drama-glob]

Given the new clip shown at Comic Con, I have a feeling we're going to see Charlie rage out against the camera crew, press or even Baxter at some point in that episode because she is very much still grieving over the loss of Sir Pentious and I would not put it past Katie Killjoy or any other reporter there to bring up how Sir Pentious died and joke about it, which would definitely upset her and the rest of the hotel family (besides Alastor :/). Plus, since Vox is in charge of TV/news/etc. and already had no problem viciously berating Sir Pentious, he could easily order any lackey to keep poking Charlie and the gang where it hurts and make the hotel look bad in the process. >:(

*Also, given the old artwork of Sir Pentious and Baxter working together along with Baxter's comments on the inventor, we're liking going to get the confirmation that they were partners before they had a falling out (possibly the source of Sir Pentious's trust issues or it simply is a result of them :/). It'll be really interesting to see then how Baxter takes the news of Sir Pentious being redeemed since he's a scientist, but since he's on the side that it's not possible, will he have the integrity to admit he's wrong or will he bury the evidence? O_O

[emilynightshade89]

[tragictempest]

My Favorite School Spirits Scenes&Dialogue

[Feel free to use any of these as writing prompts]

CW: School Spirits Spoilers, Innapropriate Language, Mentions of Murder

---

(Maddie and Simon walk into the auto shop looking for evidence)

Simon: Talk about a perfect place to dump a body... He ever bring you here?

Maddie: .....

Simon: Oh jeez. This is where you guys hooked up?

Maddie: I'm not answering that.

Simon: Classy guy.. What, was the dumpster behind the Jack In The Box already taken?

Maddie: Oh, grow up. You tried to make a move on Celeste Molina at the bowling shoe return counter.

Simon: That was eighth grade!

Maddie: It was ninth! You just looked like an eighth grader.

---

Xavier: And you know what they say...

Maddie: What do they say?

Xavier: Bros before... strong, independent women with bright futures, it's a very popular phrase.

Maddie: You're stupid... you're lucky you're cute.

Xavier: What the Lord deny in brain, he deliver in beauty.

Maddie: And boy did he deny.

---

Maddie: Look, I can't really chat right now because I've got some holes in my memory to fill.

Wally: Hey, that's why I'm here, I can totally help you fill your holes.

---

Maddie: ...Excuse me?

Wally: Oh, uh, obviously I did not mean for it to come off that way.. it was more of a hypothetical "I can help you figure things out if you need it."

Maddie: Okay... I can handle it myself. And I don't need to take advice from someone who looks like they're headed to aerobics class.

Maddie: You were murdered by your guidance counselor?

Rhonda: Yep. Guided me straight to the light.

---

Rhonda: There's still people in this school that count on you. Dead people.

Maddie: Since when did you stop majoring in who-gives-a-fuck?

Rhonda: We all have to pitch in, pussytoes.

Maddie: I'm sorry, what did she just call me?

Charley: I.. I think it's probably a flower...?

Maddie: 'kay...

---

Simon: You hate scary movies, just own it.

Nicole: That's not true. I liked Scream.

Simon: That's scary satire, doesn't count.

Maddie: And you closed your eyes the second the movie started.

Nicole: No I didn't.

Maddie: You spent half the movie looking for that twizzler you dropped on the ground.

Simon: And you don't even like black licorice, that's Maddie's thing.

Nicole: Yeah, well, Maddie didn't invent black licorice.

---

Charley: The bigger disappointment was me thinking I would get to haunt all the assholes who tortured me while I was here. But uh, instead, I was haunted by all the jokes they made once I was gone.

Maddie: What do you mean?

Charley: I was a gay kid in the 90s who died because he was allergic to nuts.

Maddie: ...

Charley: Okay, that's where you're supposed to laugh.

---

Simon: Nicole, you were supposed to give me a ride this morning. To school? Remember?

Nicole: I had stuff to do. Sorry.

Simon: I figured, you were AWOL all weekend, didn't answer a single text.

Nicole: I had an application deadline, okay? So the video statement was due, my portfolio looks like it was slapped together by a third grader, so..

(A minute later, Simon opens up her binder and looks at her portfolio)

Simon: Hmm. FYI, you're a very impressive third grader. I mean, I'm impressed.

(He turns to a page that's full of half a dozen photographs of Maddie)

Simon: Uhh.. and a little concerned. Damn, she knew you took all these?

Nicole: I took a bunch of you too, you're just.. not photogenic..

Simon: Yeah.. but.. this is intense. I mean, it's cool, it's just a lot of maddiemaddiemaddiemaddiemaddiemaddie —

Nicole: — What are you trying to say?

Simon: ..Nothing. Hey. Breathe, stop doubting yourself, okay? If admission asks why you're obsessed, say you worshipped her. Tell 'em she taught you how to parallel park.

---

Maddie: Seriously? All we do is haunt the halls of the stupid school, and none of you have seen anything suspicious from Anderson?

Wally: Well, one time I saw Mr. Anderson misspell the word "Fundraiser" on a Boosters Club poster, and I – he forgot the D. I feel like that's pretty suspicious coming from an English teacher.

Charley: Wally.. I'm pretty sure that was a pun..? So I'm assuming he probably did that on purpose....

Rhonda: Sorry, sweets, we don't just stand around staring at the living all day.

Maddie: No.. you plan weekend fun. Like movie nights.

Mr. Martin: Well, we do what we can to break up the monotony, Maddie, that's all.

Charley: Well, if I may.. to be fair, watching the same five sports movies over and over again is kind of monotonous, Mr. Martin.

Wally: I thought you loved "Rudy".

Charley: No.

Wally: Wow. Just w– I can't even.

---

Rhonda: How are you not pissed right now!?

Wally: I am pissed, Rhonda, I'm just trying to make sense of this all, this is very new to me, I don't know how I feel —

Rhonda: Try not to lose it in front of your crush.

Wally: OK, YOU DONT HAVE TO BE MAD AT ME RHONDA -- I DIDNT DO ANYTHING, BE MAD AT HIM —

Rhonda: I am mad at him.

Wally: Okay, you said you wouldn't bring that up again —

---

Maddie: Have you seen my teacher Mr. Anderson?

Dawn: You mean like him with a murder weapon? Or your dead body?

Maddie: Yes!

Dawn: Nope! Though I am pretty easily distracted...

Maddie: Is it the.. bad acid?

Dawn: ....?

Maddie: Charley mentioned something about that..

Dawn: Well no, I've never taken drugs! I just meant from all the new ways you kids have had to connect... (starts talking about the internet)

Maddie: Okay.. well I've got to go talk to the bus crash kids.

Dawn: Oh, good luck. Those banjos are all bongo, if you know what I mean... You should let me come with! I speak bongo.

---

Nicole: I'm sorry, when did you become all Scooby Doo?

Claire: ...

Nicole: I mean, two months ago, you were wiping your feet on Maddie's face, now you're... what? Trading in your pom pom for a trench coat?

---

(Charley laying on the indoor pool bleachers with sunglasses over his glasses, smelling sunscreen)

Charley: Ah, I love this smell. Coconut, verbena.. you close your eyes, you could be anywhere. Miami.. Aruba...

Rhonda: Yeah, and then you open them, and there's a band-aid floating in the surf.

Charley: I miss a good sunburn.

Wally: I miss Debbie Gibson.

Rhonda: ...??

Wally: What? I thought we were talking about stuff that we miss.

---

(Emilio walks past Charley and makes him gay panic)

Rhonda: Dial it downnn.. just because you smell like an Almond Joy, doesn't mean he knows you're here.

Wally (to Maddie): That's Mr. Figueroa. Emilio. He was Charley's crush when they were still students here. He sponsors the.. L-G..T —

Rhonda: — B.

Wally: B-T-Q club.. and Charley never misses a meeting.

Charley: I only go for the refreshments.. and uh, you're one to talk. You hit the gym every day to impress some boneheads who only know you as a name on a scoreboard.

---

Charley: Okay, let's try hypnosis.

(Dawn randomly spawns in the back, sitting at the table eating the burrito)

Dawn: Oh, God no... Not that.

Wally: Hello, Dawn.. uhhh, how long — how long you been sitting there, girl?

Dawn: Since I smelled the burrito 😊

---

(The ghosts are gathered in a circle so they can begin the anti-seance as Dawn waves an old, burnt Brussels sprout around as a substitute for sage)

Dawn: Settle, settle, settle, settle. We're under Capricornus.

Rhonda: ...who?

Dawn: The stars. Close your eyes, look inward, right to the back of your skull. What are you seeing, Mads?

Maddie: Uh, not much, it's dark..

Dawn: Dark!

Rhonda: Maybe it's the back of her skull.

---

Xavier: I just -- I feel like I'm walking into a trap.

Maddie: Funny. I don't recall you being scared when you were hooking up in your backseat.

---

Rhonda: If I thought it would help me cross over, I would go out there and tackle someone.

Mr. Martin: Okay, that's the spirit.. I think.

---

Xavier: I wasn't tampering with anything, dad.

Sheriff Baxter: Man, how stupid do you think I am? What are we, runnin' neck and neck in the dumbass derby?

---

Wally: I wanna make sure she's okay!

Rhonda: Let's check the faculty lounge..

Charley: She didn't say she needed a nap.

Rhonda: Maybe she went to speak with Simon. Sorry.

Wally: Why are you sorry?

Rhonda: You wince every time you hear his name.

Wally: This is not me wincing, this is my happy face.

Rhonda: Ah, could have fooled me.

Wally: Look -- I know she's still trying to figure her stuff out, but I can wait. We're not even at halftime.

Rhonda: I don't know what that means.. but if that is your happy face, remind me to hide when you're really happy.

---

(Maddie and her mom arguing before Maddie's death)

Maddie: You wanna take everything that dad gave me? Here. Take this.

(Maddie rips her necklace off and hands it to her mom)

Maddie: You could pawn it, get 40 bucks from it. Buy yourself a fucking welcome mat.

---

Xavier: If I ask her about the phone, she's just gonna bail!

Simon: Stop being a fucking coward!

Xavier: A coward -- FUCK YOU SIMON.

---

Simon: SAYONARA, SHIT RIVER!! Northwestern won't know what hit 'em!!

(proceeds to bump into somebody walking through the hall as he says that)

Maddie: Slow your roll, we're not even in yet.

(Bell rings)

Mr. Anderson: You degenerates are late!

Nicole: I'm not even in your class..

Mr. Anderson: You're still late.. and degenerate.

---

Claire: What did you tell the police?

Mr. Anderson: I told them the truth. That I took that money to pay off my dad. Is that okay with you? Cool. Can I go?

Claire: Did you say anything about me!?

Mr. Anderson: Y'know what? I don't remember! 😛

---

Mr. Martin: It sounds like you're struggling. Write your obituary.

Maddie: Uh, no.

Mr. Martin: Everyone here has written one. It helps us to focus on the highlights of our lives, the sweet victories.

Maddie: I've gotten out of writing papers before because of cramps. I'm pretty sure death counts as a good excuse.

---

Simon: Happy?

Maddie: Yeah, I'm thrilled. My DNA is on a boiler room wall and my piece of shit boyfriend might have something to do with that. Does it get much happier!?

Simon: Oh, so now you come around? How many times did I tell you that dude was sketchy?

Maddie: This isn't about him keeping hand lotion in his glove compartment, Simon.

---

Simon: Bathrooms.. you're not gonna linger and wait there... right?

Maddie: ...

Simon: MADDIE

Maddie: Relax, I left before I saw anything.... But you should really wash your hands more.

Simon: Okay and now I'm hanging up. Byeeeee!

[iwasntstable]

Noah. Noah Sebastian. You've seen Mr. Robot haven't you.

[differenteagletragedy]

By the time Baxter turned 30, he was happy, more or less. He had a job he loved, a beautiful apartment filled with beautiful things. He'd gotten back into dancing and made time for it regularly. And he had friends -- friends that he'd made years ago and somehow, against all odds, managed to keep.

But some nights, after he left game night at Jude and Scott's, or after having dinner with Terry and Miranda, he felt lonely. Not in a profound sense like he'd been used to, but a little nagging ache telling him that he'd like someone to come home to when the day was over.

Then you came into the picture. And the ache became a throbbing need.

You worked at the office with him -- not with him directly, but he saw you often enough to start liking you. You were about five years younger than him, he figured, and so bright and funny and smart. And beautiful. So, so beautiful.

Baxter found himself incredibly drawn to you, but also scared to actually try for anything more than the easy, teasing friendship you eventually built together. What if he messed it up? What if he wouldn't be good for you? What if he did something to dull your light?

One night, months after the two of you began talking regularly, he ran into you after a later-than-usual night at the office. He'd stayed late, finishing up some work he'd needed to get done for an upcoming wedding, and you had been doing the same thing. Usually when he spoke to you, it was with coworkers and clients wandering around, but tonight was different. Tonight he had you all to himself.

He exchanged pleasantries with you in the hallway -- he asked what you were working on, made some idle chit chat, all while trying not to notice how much he wanted you. He was so focused on keeping his feelings in check that he accidentally tuned you out

"Hmm?" he asked as you looked at him expectantly. "I'm sorry, I seem to have spaced out for a moment."

"What are you thinking about so hard?" you asked. "Pretty rude, honestly."

"I'm sorry," he repeated, "It wasn't my intention to be rude, I simply --"

He stopped talking when you started laughing. You were teasing him. Of course. But this only served to get him even more distracted, watching your easy smile, directed only at him. His eyes fixed in on your lips, and you stopped laughing.

"If you want to kiss me, you can," you told him, still with a smirk.

"Oh, I ... I didn't mean ..." he floundered, more flustered than he'd been in years. Maybe ever. "I mean, I would like to ... but I don't mean to ..."

You watched him start and stop and sputter and ramble before finally putting him out of his misery. You put your hands on his shoulders, then slid them down to grab onto the lapels of his jacket, pulling him in for a kiss.

It wasn't like any first kiss that he'd ever had. It was deep and almost impossibly intimate, with your tongue slipping into his mouth soon after your lips touched his. You used his jacket to pull him in closer, and he wrapped his arms around you, helpless to your advances but more than happy to have you take the lead.

When you finally pulled back, Baxter was a mess. Cheeks flushed, clothes wrinkled, heart pounding wildly -- but happy.

"Fix your hair," you told him, reaching out to ruffle his black locks. "You look wrecked."

With that, you turned and walked away. In a daze, he watched you walk away, down the hall and towards the main exit. Then you were gone.

Baxter had always known himself to be forward when it came to romance. But now, when it came to you, he had a feeling he wouldn't mind letting you take the lead.

[astronnova]

proposition: danny's hair turns white in random patches when he's used too much power, he just dyes it back to all black when he gets home

[sideaccount512]

> My newest HC/Theory!

Definitely 100% false -unless… 😏

[sunbloomdew]

Listen. Listen. All of Step 4 versions could canonically take place during the same summer, right next to each other. Derek's Step 4 takes place first. Father's day in America is on the third Sunday in June, so in 2021 that would be June 20th.

Moms wedding anniversary is referenced multiple times in Derek's Step 4, as an event happening a few weeks later.

Then Cove's Step 4 takes place during the anniversary, a few days before and after the event. Taking the estimated time period, their party would be happening in June, i'd say around the middle of the month, maybe closer to the beginning.

Derek makes an appearance here too!

(i actually had to speed replay cove's step 4 cause i had no, and i mean no screeshots from it lmao. that was before i learned that you can make screeshots through steam and don't have to do it MANUALLY sigh)

Then we have the last Step 4 version, the events of Baxter DLC.

I'm assuming the Adams' wedding takes place sometime in August, probably also in the middle, but leaning towards the end of the month.

So hypothetically speaking, MC could canonically participate in all of these events.

All THAT to say: imagine meeting Xavier in Baxter's Step 4 after first meeting them in Derek's Step 4, and them being like "Oh, hi MC! Good to see you again :D" with Baxter looking so confused sdhfjkshfsjk

That's right, it was a Xavier post all along! You got tricked! Xavier DLC when 👀

Just kidding, but i'm living for this version of events. And just in general, it's nice to imagine everything happening, even if it's not possible in the game itself. I headcanon it all happening, it's so fun to think about <3

[bambiraptorx]

ngl looking at STEM au now that I've watched more of 2003 is so funny because I was like "hey what if 2003 Stockman joined up with an utter weirdo of a man who wanted to create an army of genetically manipulated super soldiers"

and that's. quite literally what he does in canon with Bishop

[rui-drawsbox]

hmm im curious. whats olba about :0?

Oh anon you have no idea of what you just asked-- let me get my teacher costume

AHEM

OLBA or Our Life: Beginnings & Always it's a visual novel where you can play the perfect life you never got and cry about how much you wanted it after you finish it :DD (available on Steam for pc and Itch.io for both pc/mac and android!)

You play as-- well, you (or not, you choose)! You can choose your name, last name, pronouns, appearance, personality, hobbies, everything except your family, but you wouldn't like to change them for anything after you meet them.

You start the game as an innocent 8 years old kid that meets a random guy that tells you that he just moved across the street, he also tells you about his son: Cove! who has the same age as you. This guy tries to bribe you with 20 dollars, you can accept or refuse (or run! i like that option), either way you end up in a poppy hill behind your house and find the so famous Cove! He tells (cry) you that his parents just divorced and that he miss his mom ( :c ), you can comfort him or not, but you two still will be found by both of your families and have to go home.

That's the prologue! Gameplay aspect: it consists in 3 Steps of your life: 8, 13 and 18 years old! Each Step comes with 5 Moments, where you can spend time with (mainly) cove, if you're playing the base game. Talking about base game! You can complete it in around 5 hours (that's what took me the first time i think), and it comes with a 4th Step that work as an epilogue!

There are 6 paid DLC's (and a free one that is a name pack), 3 are other 15 moments for the first 3 Steps, 1 is a wedding dlc for our lovely Cove <3 (we'll get to him in no time), and the last 2 are extra content for two characters you'll meet in your very first playthough: Derek in Step 2 and Baxter in Step 3 (you should know this one very well if you follow me lmao), each with 5 moments extra for their assigned Step and their own Step 4 where you can follow and give proper closure to their stories!

I'll try to not ramble a lot because it's something you just need to experience yourself to get it but-- i will introduce you to the love interests! (or friendship interests, you don't need to crush on anyone to have a great time)

Cove Holden! Our lovely neighbor that we see almost everyday for like 10 years! You could also call him the second main character after you, since you learn more about him and his family during all the game. He's an introvert and ocean nerd (in the cutest way possible), depending on your choices you can shape his personality/style and become best buddies, the sweetest couple or just remain neighbours that never really got along. (you'll learn to love him, platonic or not, trust me)

Another perk of the game is that no matter what you do there's not "wrong or right" (unless you feel bad for the characters, like me), your actions does have consequences but there's nothing like a "bad ending/good ending", after all it's just your life, it goes on no matter what! Unless you want to reach a specific scene you found online you'll never have to use a guide for anything.

Derek Suarez! A caring guy! mabye a little too much, he's the oldest brother of 3 and that shaped him in a way that he always feels responsible of everything😔. During his storyline you'll help him to learn how to relax and lean on other people :D!

Baxter Ward! A monochromatic gentleman, mischievous as a cat and emotionally repressed like a pressure cooker <3. Struggles a lot with making deep conections and being emotionally vulnerable, you can imagine about what goes his storyline lol.

He's my favorite, if you haven't noticed. He has that infuriating charm that only someone that unironically says "Hallelujah" has. A very dramatic route, he's a very dramatic guy, you should see how he texts in step 3 aghsdas.

Also! all the side characters are super likeable, from your family to the baker of that bakery that is metioned a few times!

ANYWAYS, in conclusion: this is a very relaxing game! If you like visual novels you should definitely give it a try, the amount of replayability this game has is insane. My recommendations for when you play are:

Try the base game first! If you like it you can buy the moments dlcs (theyre only 3$ each!), mabye the wedding dlc after that (if you want to marry cove that is, this one is 2$ btw), Derek's dlc and Baxter's dlc (5$ each) for last. Those are pretty much the release order but i that's also the order i enjoy the most!

(play this game at least 2 times trying different choices/personality, the differences are ughhhh/pos)

When you're playing for the first time you should play the moments left to right. On later playthroughs you should change the order to find new dialogues! theyre small things but omg theyre so fun

Have fun! do whatever you want, i literally said there's no bad or good ending, take advantage of it and be as foward or shy as you want, be a little shit or a literal angel! That is your life we're talking about.