#just imagine an interior. just . just imagine it

[cj-the-random-artist]

I let them get friendship married so Narinder can get his tax benefits lol

But legitimately. I mulled this one over repeatedly for literal months. Like. Do I want them to get married in front of the cult? Should they even get married? It would be hilarious if the Goat married them and then cried at the altar the whole time, but also... that doesn't feel right, so maybe I won't do that. And then once I decided it should be a personal friendship-marriage ritual where it's just the pair of them making vows to each other, I wrote four different scripts and hated them all and ended up just pulling this one out of thin air pretty much on the spot and that was that. At one point, I wanted Lambert to basically suggest this idea and then have them get friend-married on the spot, but that didn't feel right (and it was also gonna be unreasonably long) so that's why there's no context going into this one. And the actual friend-marriage ritual is... maybe not the best designed one ever? I wanted it to in some ways be similar to like, the way I imagine a romantic marriage happening in the cult- the parties exchange vows and do rings and stuff...? (If it's not obvious, I haven't been to many weddings...) But I figured they wouldn't want an audience, or to party with the whole cult afterwards, or anything like that. I also had them kiss each other's rings as opposed to like... faces... because one of the fights I had with myself in deciding how I would want this to go was whether it would make sense for them to kiss or not. And I ultimately decided that in this AU at least they just wouldn't want to. They're also wearing the rings on their not ring fingers cuz. Honestly it just felt right that way. Based on vibes. But basically I just wanted them to exchange a vow of eternal partnership in a very casual, chill setting, because I don't picture QPR AU Narilamb doing... anything other than that.

Also this is the rest of Lambert's office, which I actually had a pretty clear vision for after my last doodle but I didn't really bother to draw before starting this comic. Maybe I should've but eh it looks good enough. Interior backgrounds are hard......

Anyways. I think I'm happy with this one? I was enamored by the concept of a chill friendship marriage, so I definitely leaned into it here. As per usual, it's not perfect, I think I could've done a lot of stuff better / differently, but honestly?? If I were to ever get friend-married I would want it to go about like this, it makes my little aroace heart happy, and I spent too long on it to not show it to anybody. Thus. Enjoy, and also happy new year cuz I totally forgot to make a post individually about that...

[kj-crayons]

1. The Prologue from Into the Woods

2. Was Gilmore Girls, anymore I don’t watch very much TV

3. Writing more than reading anymore. I used to be a huge reader but I just don’t have as much time for it as I would like

4. A cool summer breeze at midnight when the air is the best it’s been all day but still warm and in the 80’s

5. Noise canceling headphones + punk rock music + going for a walk

6. Eucalyptus and citrus scents. Cinnamon/ fally scents are kinda triggering, but anything that smells like spring is lovely

7. Honestly, myself. I feel like me when I am alone, or when I’m in control of my situation

8. Old, fuzzy fabric car interior chairs

9. I unfortunately don’t remember much of my childhood, but probably when I finally figured out how to ride a bike

10. Silly Christmas pictures with my baby brother

11. Weighted blanket

12. Weight, warmth, and music

13. Shower

14. Running tech on a new theater show

15. Toast with butter and cinnamon sugar

16. I haven’t decided what it is yet, but whatever my next cosplay will be

17. Time and attention and care. People who notice when I’m anxious or who will sit and talk to me after a long day. Being reminded to take care of my chronic conditions is rather ignore, being held and kept warm by another person

18. I imagine my 30’s. Financial independence from my parents, choose where I live and work and who I’m around, hopefully have a steady enough job. Freedom from the things that stop me from being me now

19. Haven’t ever received a love letter, and what I’ve written has been mostly sappy poetry 🫢

20. When I was 4 or 5 and my dad woke me and my brother up to see a Super Blood Moon at like 1am. It was so incredible to see how big and red the moon was, and it’s really stuck with me and influenced my love of fiction, my writing, and my creativity

21. Tea

22. “ Songs for Those Days ™️ (Alt/ Indie playlist) “

23. I’ve gotten flowers from friends, for plays and musicals, and for when I graduated

24. Best Friend is a kind of silly concept, but if there’s one thing I took from my ex it’s that anyone who deserves it or who loves me (platonically or otherwise) can be my best friend.

25. My soul is probably a dark turquoise. I do a lot of witchy shit and aura reading but reading my own is harder

26. Somewhere queer friendly, with good health care, and a north facing front door. Otherwise, I’m not picky

27. It’s hard to get motivated to but I love gardening. It’s actually one of my goals for new years to make a windowsill herb garden

28. I’m proud of making a life where I get and deserve to be happy and loved

29. I think I’m kind in the New Yorker sense. I don’t show it with words a lot, and have been told I come off as kind of intimidating but I’d give you my kidney if you needed it

30. Hobbies include Dnd, cosplay, descending into the void, cooking, and generally anything that helps me feel either a little bit lighter, a little bit happier, or a little less alone

✨soft asks✨

What song makes you feel better?

What is your go to comfort show?

Reading or writing? Why?

Whats your favorite feeling?

How do you like to take care of yourself?

What’s your favorite candle scent?

Who do you feel most like yourself around?

Whats a fabric/texture that’s nostalgic for you?

Best childhood moment?

When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? (or just felt really good afterwards)

Do you have a comfort item? Tell us about it!

What calms you down?

Bath or shower to relax?

Whats something upcoming that you’re excited for?

Comfort food?

What’s something you want to create soon?

How do you feel best loved?

What age in life do you think you’ll feel most yourself at?

Have you ever written or received a love letter?

Tell us about a memory you hold close to your heart.

Tea, Coffee, or hot cocoa?

Name of your favorite playlist?

Have you ever received flowers?

Who is your bestfriend?

If your soul was a color, what would it be?

If you could live anywhere with anyone you want, where would it be and who would you bring?

Do you like to garden? Have you ever grown something?

What are you proudest of?

Are you a kind person?

What do your hobbies look like?

[the-writerwoman]

Another little brainrot I had this afternoon.

So I was watching the 1999 The Mummy as I was typing today, as it's one of my favourite films ever and then the idea popped into my head and I was like OMG IT'S PERFECT. So in between chapters of heartstrings across the hallway, I wrote this out.

We got the dashing bodyguard/treasure hunter Rick O'Connell played by Logan. And eager, naïve Egyptologist Evie played by Wade. I imagine them as Origins Poolverine because I was Logan to have that fluffy hair when it's cut all nice :D

Please please please I am begging someone to draw these two as Rick and Evie. I will write out a Poolverine drabble of your choice, I just can't draw for the life of me and I need to see Logan with the white shirt and leather gun straps. And Cute Egyptologist Wade. We all know we want it :D

Anyways, here's the drabble! I used the scenes from the prison and when they meet him at the boat. I hope you enjoy!

------------

Cairo prison was everything Wade imagined hell would be. The air was a stifling mix of sweat, rot, and despair, and the prisoners staring at him through the bars looked like they hadn’t seen sunlight or soap in years. Wade was regretting this trip more with every step, but he wasn’t about to back out now. Not after Weasel had gotten him into this mess.

“Let me get this straight,” Wade hissed under his breath as they followed the warden through the grimy courtyard. “You told me you found that box on a dig in Thebes.”

Weasel, ever the picture of nonchalance, adjusted his collar and smirked. “I did say that.”

Wade glared. “You lied to me.”

Weasel’s smirk only grew. “I lie to everyone, Wade. What makes you so special?”

“I’m your brother!”

“That just makes you more gullible.”

Wade stopped in his tracks, running a hand down his face as he processed the sheer audacity of his brother’s words. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”

“And yet, here we are,” Weasel said, gesturing grandly to the prison around them. “On the brink of adventure, thanks to my cleverness.”

“Cleverness?” Wade scoffed. “You won that box from a drunk at the Casbah!”

“Picked his pocket, actually,” Weasel corrected, a glint of pride in his eyes.

Wade groaned, resisting the urge to strangle his brother on the spot. The warden, who had been listening to their exchange with obvious amusement, ushered them toward the holding pen.

The warden paused outside the cell, shouting something at the men inside the building. The iron bars looked like they hadn’t been cleaned since the pharaohs ruled Egypt, and Wade wrinkled his nose as the smell hit him—a mix of rust, body odor, and something distinctly fishy.

“And what exactly is he in prison for?” Wade asked, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.

The warden’s grin was so smug it made Wade’s skin crawl. “Ah, I wondered that myself. So, I asked him.”

Wade arched a skeptical eyebrow. “And?”

The warden’s grin widened. “He said...he was just looking for a good time.”

Before Wade could question what the hell that meant, the interior cell door was thrown open.

A man emerged, dragged into the room by four burly guards who looked like they were on the verge of quitting. He was in dirty clothes, and his wrists were shackled with iron cuffs. His hair was a wild mess, and his scruffy beard barely hid the scowl etched into his face. Wade noted, with no small amount of alarm, that his glare seemed capable of reducing grown men to tears.

The guards shoved Logan up against the bars, and for a moment, the environment was silent except for the clinking of chains and the background noises of the prison. Logan’s eyes scanned the area, lingering on Wade and Weasel with a mix of suspicion and irritation.

Wade wrinkled his nose, leaning toward Weasel. “He’s just a filthy criminal?”

Weasel cringed, giving Wade a sharp nudge. “Way to make a first impression.”

Logan’s sharp gaze zeroed in on Wade, and Wade felt a shiver run down his spine. Then Logan’s attention shifted to Weasel, and something dangerous flickered in his expression.

“So,” Logan growled, his voice rough like gravel, “who’s the loudmouth?”

Wade’s mouth fell open. “Loudmouth?!”

Weasel chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. “He’s my brother, actually.”

Logan tilted his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Yeah? Well, I’m sure he’s not a total loss.”

Wade bristled. “Excuse me? You’re the one chained up like a circus animal.”

Logan ignored him, his smirk turning into a full-blown grin. Wade hated it. He hated the way it made Logan look less terrifying and more... charming.

“I hate this guy,” Wade muttered under his breath.

Weasel leaned closer, whispering, “I think I like him.”

Before Wade could retort, the warden clapped his hands. “I’ll leave you to it. Back in a moment.” He exited with a chuckle, leaving Wade and Weasel alone with Logan and the guards.

Logan watched the warden leave, his smirk vanishing. “Oh yeah,” he muttered, “I’m trembling with anticipation.”

Wade stepped forward at Weasels' not so gentle nudge. 

“We, uh, found your puzzle box,” Wade said, trying to sound confident. “And we came to ask you about it.”

“No.”

Wade blinked. “No?”

Logan leaned closer to the bars, his smirk returning. “You didn’t come for the box. You came to ask about Hamunaptra.”

Wade froze, glancing nervously at the guards to make sure they hadn’t overheard. “How do you know the box pertains to Hamunaptra?”

Logan’s eyes narrowed. “Because that’s where I found it. I was there.”

Wade’s jaw dropped, but Weasel, ever the skeptic, folded his arms across his chest as he leaned closer to the bars.

“How do we know you’re not just feeding us a load of crap?” Weasel asked.

Logan’s gaze shifted to Weasel, and his expression darkened. Recognition flickered in his eyes, and Weasel’s confident demeanor faltered.

“Hey... don’t I know you?” Logan asked, his voice low and menacing.

Weasel stammered, but before he could finish, Logan’s fist shot through the bars, connecting with Weasel’s jaw. Weasel dropped like a sack of potatoes, landing in an ungraceful heap. Wade stared down at his unconscious brother, then back at Logan.

“Well,” Wade said dryly, “can’t say he didn’t deserve that.”

Logan shrugged as a guard clubbed him again, his head slamming into the bars. He didn’t react, his smirk firmly in place. Wade hesitated, then stepped closer, his curiosity outweighing his caution.

“You were actually at Hamunaptra?” he asked, his voice quieter now.

Logan smirked. “I just decked your brother.”

“Yes, well,” Wade said, waving a hand dismissively. “I know my brother.”

Logan chuckled, the sound low and gravelly. “Yeah, I was there.”

“You swear?”

“Every damn day.”

Wade frowned. “No I didn’t mean that, I meant-”

Logan didn’t lose his smile. “I know, I was there. Seti’s place. City of the dead…” he waved his hands in a showy way. Wade moved forward even more, his eyes bright with excitement. 

“Could you tell me how to get there?” Logan’s eyes looked at him in disbelief. Wade looked behind him to where the Warden was shouting something. He leaned right up to the bars, using his hat to cover his face in case anyone was to read his lips. 

“I mean, the exact location?” his voice low so that only Logan could hear him. 

Logan’s head bobbed about as he said in a serious tone. “You wanna know?”

Wade blinked. “Well, yes.”

Logan’s brows furrowed to look even more serious and Wade was drawn in. “Really wanna know?” Logan rumbled.

“Yes!”

Logan crooked his finger for Wade to press his face right against the bar. Before Wade could react, Logan surged forward and grabbed his face between his thumb and finger, squishing Wade’s cheeks together. Then he kissed him full on the lips. Wade froze, his brain short-circuiting. Logan pulled back, baring his teeth like a wild animal.

“Then get me the hell outta here,” Logan growled.

Before Wade could respond, the guards yanked Logan away from the bars, his fingers falling away from Wade’s face, and dragged him off the floor. Wade stood there, stunned, his lips still tingling. Weasel groaned from the floor, his voice muffled.

Logan elbowed one of the guards who tried to grab him.

“Do it, Loudmouth,” he shouted as he was dragged back into the cell. 

~~

The Giza port buzzed with life, a chaotic orchestra of shouts, laughter, and the clatter of hooves against the sunbaked stone. Camels groaned as merchants hauled crates up gangplanks. Hawkers zigzagged through the throng, waving everything from toy tombs to suspiciously shiny scarab beetles. The Nile shimmered in the midday sun, and beyond it, the pyramids loomed like silent sentinels.

Wade swatted at a hawker thrusting a poorly carved “ancient” idol at him, the kind that looked like it might have been made last week. He grumbled under his breath, weaving between crates and barrels while shooting glares at his brother, who strolled casually ahead, hands in his pockets.

“Do you think he’ll actually show up?” Wade asked, flicking a loose thread from his sleeve.

Weasel barely glanced at him, too busy sidestepping a squawking parrot perched on a vendor’s stand. “Undoubtedly knowing my luck. I know the breed. He may be a cowboy but his word is his word.”

Wade snorted. “His word? Please. Personally, I think he’s filthy, rude, and a complete scoundrel. I don’t like him one bit.”

Weasel smirked but didn’t respond as a voice came from behind them. 

“Anyone I know?”

Both brothers turned in unison.

Logan stood a few paces away, freshly shaved and looking nothing like the man they’d left in chains at the prison. His wild hair had been tamed into something ruggedly handsome, his overgrown beard shortened and styled, and his worn, tattered clothes had been replaced with crisp trousers, a button-down shirt, and a light cotton jacket that seemed custom-made to fit his muscular frame. Even the boots looked polished. He strode toward them with the easy confidence of someone who knew they had everyone’s attention, especially Wade’s.

For once, Wade had no quick remark. He opened his mouth to say something snarky, but the words caught in his throat. “Oh… um… hello.”

Weasel, however, had no such hesitation. He stepped forward, grabbing Logan’s arm in an enthusiastic handshake.

“Smashing day for the start of an adventure, eh, Howlett?” Weasel grinned, his voice loud enough to draw stares from nearby hawkers.

Logan didn’t smile. Instead, he frowned and quickly patted down his pockets. “Yeah, sure. Smashing.” His voice dripped with suspicion as he eyed Weasel. Weasel laughed nervously. 

“Oh no, I’d never steal from a partner, partner,” he reassured. He went to go give him a friendly tap on the shoulder but the look Logan gave him stopped him. 

“That reminds me, no hard feelings about the, er-” Logan points to his face. Weasel flaps his hand in a dismissive gesture. 

“Oh no, no. Happened all the time.” Weasel said with a grin. 

Wade finally found his voice. “Mister Howlett, can you look me in the eye and guarantee me this isn’t some kind of con? Because if it is, I swear—”

Logan didn’t wait for Wade to finish. He stepped closer, close enough for Wade to catch the faint scent of soap, leather, and something distinctly him. Logan’s piercing gaze locked onto Wade’s, and the weight of his intensity made Wade falter, though he’d never admit it.

“Let me put it this way,” Logan said, his voice low and steady, “My whole damn garrison believed in it so much that, without orders, we marched halfway across Libya and into Egypt to find that city. And when we got there, all we found was sand and blood.”

Wade’s throat tightened, his bravado cracking under the raw honesty in Logan’s voice. He swallowed, forcing himself to maintain eye contact.

“Fine,” Wade said, a little too quickly.

Logan’s gaze lingered on him for a beat longer before he stepped back. “Let me get your bags.” Without waiting for permission, he grabbed Wade’s luggage like it weighed nothing, and started up the gangplank of a passenger barge.

Wade stood frozen, watching Logan’s retreating figure. His brain raced with half-formed thoughts and indignation, none of which made it to his mouth.

Weasel, ever the opportunist, sidled up to Wade and nudged him with an elbow. “Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right—filthy, rude, a complete scoundrel. Nothing to like there at all.”

Wade snapped his head toward Weasel, glaring. “Shut up, Weasel.”

But his eyes betrayed him, drifting back to Logan. There was something about the way the man carried himself now, as though shaking off the grime of his prison days had unearthed the raw charisma beneath.

[keferon]

Man, I was thinking of your Jazz mech au and then you called it Space Ratatouille and I was thinking. What if Prowl was Jazz's mech instead of Jazz having is own. Prowl is sentient but maybe he has a cockpit that allows Jazz to control his movements. Now that's some real funky ratatouille.

I just like the idea of Jazz poking and pulling random things in Prowl and poor Prowler is doing his best to look normal infront of others.

I NEED YOU TO HEAR ME OUT ON THIS ONE BECAUSE I HAD THIS IDEA SINCE THE VERY START OF THE AU

So!

Prowl can’t just be Jazz’s mech because he already established as a normal Cybertronian right

But you know what he can? He can scan a piece of technology and then transform into it. That means he absolutely can scan Jazz’s mecha. And then become mecha himself. You see where I’m going with it YOU SEE RIGHT?

[felsicveins]

Well, now we know where Barley was

Part 1 | Part 2

[marzipanandminutiae]

#I love the disappointment room because the supposed example I saw was just. like. a whimsically decorated nursery#I’m going to cruelly call my child’s bedroom the disappointment room because they have a clubfoot or whatever#but by god the room WILL be adorable#(I call my bedroom the disappointment room because I’m BAD at SEX)

oh no the owner decorated the room like that herself. that's not how she found it. it did have a little whimsical playhouse front, though

basically this couple in West Warwick, Rhode Island bought a 19th-century house and found this in the attic (garlands added by them, I think). It has a metal floor and the door locks from the outside. she was curious about it and went to the library to check it out, and some random woman- not a librarian or anything, like I said; not that that guarantees a correct answer -said "oh it's a Disappointments Room!" meaning a room in which to lock away a disabled child, purpose-built, and hide them from the world

and the homeowner just. believed that. with no further questions. and decorated it like that to "memorialize" the child she imagined was imprisoned there

my assessment as someone who works with 19th-century history for a living is that it's probably upstairs coal storage that someone turned into a playhouse for their kids when coal fell out of use for home heating. the metal floor + drain setup is to sluice it down with buckets of water if it needs cleaning. the doorknob on the outside only is kind of unwise for that purpose, but you can clearly reach through the interior windows to open the door. but you don't have to know that for the story to fall apart.

why would there be windows if the point was for nobody to see the child? why put in a metal floor when a kid walking around on that would make a lot more noise than on wood or carpet? you'd have to use local builders to construct the room, back then, and there was no guarantee that they wouldn't reveal the secret. and once again, the door is EXTREMELY OPENABLE through those little interior windows. a child past toddler-hood could reach the doorknob and bolt from the window closest to them

furthermore, the child she decided was the room's intended occupant, Ruth Carpenter, WAS known to the community (her grave is public and there was an announcement of her tragically young death in the paper) and there's no source to suggest that she was at all disabled, physically or intellectually. her logic was that "the child isn't mentioned in newspaper profiles of her parents"

the profile in question focused on the father's judicial career. why on earth would it mention a child?

honestly it all falls apart under close examination, like all of these myths. disabled people WERE hidden away at home sometimes, but you don't need a special room for that. just a strong lock and ordinary, banal cruelty

(she started a charity for disabled children in "memory" of Ruth's supposed experiences, but it appears to be inactive now based on the FB page. and the mission seems to have always been a bit muddled- something about getting stim toys for neurodivergent children, perhaps? a noble thought for sure, but I'm not sure how strong the follow-through was)

[ophernelia]

recent lykaia interiors. concession stand interior inspired by the lovely @folkling. i am dreaming about that bowling alley.

[sophsun1]

Queer as Folk – 4.14: Liberty Ride

[beevean]

Beautiful addition! I can imagine Lydie learning how to ride a horse. She'd probably do it in the "ladylike" way (sitting with both her legs on the side of the horse, rather than straddling it like Maria in SoTN), but I can see her having her own special horse and going on rides with her besties :) (I don't know about Maxim, but Juste would 100% have his own horse too.)

The fact that she doesn't have her own friendship bracelet is sad. She might feel a bit out of place due to her being a girl, or not a fighter. She might even feel like a third wheel, at times. And this might push her to be even more active, even more involved, because she doesn't want to be left behind. But the other two love her as she is :) her theme is called Beloved One for a reason. As for Lydie being the one keeping peace, Juste saying "you heard the lady" tells us everything we need to know lmao

(it makes you wonder how Juste and Lydie's relationship would evolve or break down, in the normal ending where only Maxim dies... Especially since Juste, judging by the best ending, has the tendency to hide the truth.)

#Lydie is uniquely lacking in characterization not just bc HoD isn't interested in her as a love interest #but bc it's also not that interested in her as a *sacrifice*. Hence her not being martyred like most characters in her archetype #She lives in most endings and is thus absent a big reason her archetype usually exists! #Which frees her from this narrative overall! But also still leaves her kinda flat and lacking in plot agency anyways #Imo the worst thing the game does is inexplicably reward Juste with her affection for completing the interior decorating sidequest #I feel like using her as arm candy for the player in particular was much more sexist than her just being out of focus

Yeah. Lydie is by far the flattest of the girls in CV, which is a shame. She doesn't even have the pathos coming from her being dead. She's there as a reason for Juste and Maxim to go into the castle, and her actual dialogue is not particularly interesting. Probably the line that could be broken down the most is "Blaming yourself is the same as blaming him", if the two survive Maxim. She doesn't even know the circumstances of her kidnapping, let alone of Maxim's death, but she knows how deeply Juste cares for him and how close they are.

also yeah I feel that Lydie swooning for Juste if he completes his interior decor quest, while hilarious, is a bit forced just to pretend to give the player a reward - which, guess what, falls flat because of Lydie's own lack of screentime, so why should they care that Juste got the girl lmao. Then again, I do feel the same for Maria inexplicably deciding to "ease Alucard's torment" if he 196%s the maps, even worse in that case because, while at least Maria had a bigger presence in the plot, Alucard showed no romantic interest in her at all. Oh well.

An idea that won't leave my head is that Lydie is an excitable tomboy.

Think about it. Lydie, who in appearance is a frilly delicate girl, has two boys as her best friends. Two rough warrior boys, at that. How did she become part of the group? Surely she does more than just sitting demurely as they spar?

I like to think that Lydie is actually kind of reckless and likes to play danerous games. She's the kind of girl that would ruin her skirt climbing up trees or jumping on stones to cross a river. She causes a lot of headaches for her family, who want her to act proper, and this may be why she loves to spend time with her friends, who don't care if she is improper because they just like her as she is. I don't think she is that big of a rebel, because she still looks like someone who takes care of her appearance (the hair alone requires careful styling), so she might play coy with her family and be on her best behavior... until tempted by her besties.

Generally speaking, if I were to write Lydie, I think I'd move away from the "gentle" archetype and make her a ball of energy lol. The kind of person who is constantly fidgeting, bouncing on her feet and clapping her hands because she just can't wait to spend more time with her favorite people in the world!

I could also take this artwork as proof that she likes nature and animals. She doesn't have the innate talents of a witch or a Devil Forgemaster, sadly lol. She just tries her best even if she gets her fingers picked at or bitten.

Also, we know that after Simon's victory, the Belmonts became heroes of the land, and a whole village was built around them. Juste, most likely, didn't grow up shunned for his bloodline. But! He was still born different. Frail, pale, and with strange magic potential. While discrimination due to magic is not as intense at this point in time as it was in centuries past, it's possible Juste was surrounded by rumors, perhaps even doubted as a worthy successor of his grandfather. You know, for that nice family legacy stuff :)

The point is, I think Lydie never cared. Along with Maxim, who gets to experience for himself how strong and driven Juste is, Lydie might have been the first person to not treat Juste like the latest Belmont with all that comes with it, but as a boy worth of befriending. Lydie got to know Juste's various quirks, like his stubborness, or his fastidiousness when it comes to fashion and decor (I bet they joked that she could learn from him lol), and decided he was funny and that's how a friendship started.

Oh, and the wiki suggests that her surname hints at her ethnicity being Transylvanian Saxon or Banat Swabian. I think it's pretty cool and it could influence her in some way.

I need to think of more quirks to give to her. But I really would like to flesh her out a bit because she has potential to be interesting :>

[chudenko-art]

My Operator Arden and their Excalibur (I still choose him for most Quests playthroughs)

Just a side note: Arden's pronouns are she/they

[holocene-sims]

grandma aoife's bakery 🍰✨🥧

[phaedraismyusername]

It's been forever since I've mentioned any books so I just wanted to shout out a few of my favourites from this year so far

Mapping The Interior by Stephen Graham Jones

This little 100ish page novella was my very first read of the year and I truly could not have started with better. It follows a 15 year old Native American boy who believes he sees his dead father walk through their house one night and his mission to recreate the experience to find answers. It's an exploration of grief and trauma, and whether or not these cycles can be broken

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

This is so not for everyone lol. I've read four of Tremblay's books this year and this is my favourite. This book is about a horror movie that was never released. A couple of decades later, after a few scenes and the screenplay made it onto the internet, the film has gained a cult following and the only surviving member has agreed to be a part of a much anticipated remake. This is told through excerpts of the original screenplay, the autobiographical audiobook by "the thin kid" and the current timeline of the film getting made. It's weird and uncomfortable and I ate it up in a single day

Sea Change by Gina Chung

Obligatory sad girl seeks peace entry in the list. Ro has just turned 30, works at a mall aquarium, and her boyfriend has just left her to go to Mars. Estranged from her family and sidelined from her best friends life as she plans her dream wedding, Ro spends her nights drinking sharktini's and generally making bad choices. The only light in her life is a giant Pacific octopus, Dolores, who she sees as her last real connection to her missing father, and what happens when Dolores is put up for sale. It's sad and melancholy but with a throughline of hope that slowly blossoms into what my heart needed to read lol

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo

I loved this so much. This book follows a Chinese American girl named Luli Wei as she breaks into 1930s-ish Hollywood and her journey to becoming a star as the monster known as the Siren Queen. I know that's a short summary in comparison but that's because the sale is absolutely in the vibes which are basically 'what if classic Hollywood was Faerie and make it sapphic' and if any one of those words appeal to you in the slightest then I beg you to try this one. I took out an American library e-card just to get my hands on this and it's best decision I've made all year. Please read it lol

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

This audiobook y'all. The book follows Lillian as she reconnects with her childhood sort of best friend from boarding school who has written to her begging for help with her politician husbands two children when their mother suddenly passes away. Lillian, living the life of the persistent down and outer, agrees easily, it's just for the summer and she can't turn down the money, after all how hard could it be? There's one little catch though, sometimes the kids burst into flames. When I say this audiobook broke my heart and then healed my soul I promise you I am barely exaggerating. I'm sure you could just read it and it would still be good, but Marin Ireland's narration brings so much heart to this story that I physically cannot bear to recommend it any other way lol. If you only listen to one book this year then this is the one it should be

[deathreversed]

The sudden thrumming of bass from above makes Nier want to climb up to the third floor and silence it, but she stops herself, for Mika's sake. Instead she simply lets herself be led to Mika's room, bowing her head as she's shown inside. The interior is chic and elegant, something she would've expected from someone as put-together as Mika.

"Oh, I don't... really pay attention to things like that..." she admits. "My room just has things I need, and that's all... But I imagine you didn't call me here just to show me this, right?"

There isn't much seating, but Nier finds a small chair in front of a vanity and takes a seat. Death simply floats at her side, still carrying the tray with the tea set. Listening to Mika talk, the frown is almost immediately apparent on her face, because even Mika is getting one, very important fact wrong. All the other things she's saying barely register, because Uzi got it wrong, and now Mika's getting it wrong, and Nier really doesn't want anyone getting it wrong because she's just not that kind of person! If people think she is then what was it all for? Why is she being so careful?

"Mika, wait. One of the things you're saying isn't right, even though I- I already explained it. That wasn't me. At the museum, that was someone else! I-I wouldn't- I would never do those things!" She doesn't even realize she's risen to her feet, crossing the room with a frenzied expression. "I never ate anyone! You shouldn't have let her do what she wanted, because she wasn't me!"

"No matter what you think, no matter what you try to convince yourself of, it was you."

No it wasn't. It wasn't Nier, it wasn't. She can barely hear the tray Death carries clatter to the floor over the sound of music from upstairs as she leans in towards Mika. "You don't believe that... that thing, do you? Over me? I don't want you to hate me for what someone else did!"

Death's cool hand brushes her shoulder, and Nier leans away from Mika to look up at the primal. "D-Death... What is it?"

Death tilts her head. "My beloved... Were you not listening?"

"Eh? N-no, I... I suppose I was distracted..." says Nier, her ears flicking. She wipes tears from her eyes as her mind attempts to recollect the past minutes, and as soon as she recalls Mika's words before she'd interrupted, she-

"A-ah... Y-you...?" She trails off, staring at Mika with wide eyes as her face goes red. She never expected this. "S-so all the things Uzi said... I-I thought she was lying, y-you really...?"

For a moment, she reaches out. There's some kind of seed there, a possibility that Nier hadn't considered. It's something she never could have found anywhere else but here, in Spirale. It's true that Mika's been so kind to her, so considerate, and Nier feels the same. She cares about Mika too, she wants to keep her safe, and she wants to see her happy.

But does she love her?

Nier's hand falls, and she looks away. "I-I'm sorry, Mika... There's... a-already someone else that I like... I wouldn't be able to return your feelings..."

She sits back down, wrapping her arms around herself. Maybe, if... No, she won't let herself think about maybes. This is something she's already figured out back home, and now that he's here, she isn't going to let the opportunity pass her by. "If you want... I can just leave... for now..."

"Mmm alright. It's just this way..." She said, responding to Nier's thoughtfullness with a smile. Even if the figure that showed up behind Nier and the fog was something Mika immediately wanted to address, not to mention finally managing to put a name to the figure she called "Death". But she probably would get an answer regardless of if it was here or not. Everything would be explained in due time, along with an answer she wanted to finally hear from the erune's own feelings.

Still Mika lead the three of them up the stairs and to her room, noting the loud music coming from the floor above with another sigh as she opened the door to her own room. Decorated about what one would expect from someone like her, but spacious enough that it didn't feel too overly intoxicating. Still despite how much she cleaned it up there were still a few signs Mika only recently caught up with cleaning it up. As opposed to how she left it only a few weeks ago.

"Make yourself at home. I don't really know if this is how your own room looks back where your living but this whole thing took awhile as well." As for herself she chose the bed, sitting down at the edge of it and placed both hands on kness.

"I was talking with Uzi after everything happened at the museum. When I couldn't save you and I broke down crying I went back home and locked myself in my own room for days. And well honestly I would've stayed there if she didn't come by and knock to check on me."

Something she was thankful for despite their argument just today. It was the biggest slump she was in since arriving in Spirale and one she would've stayed in without someone's help. Even if that person was just as angsty as she was.

"We talked a little bit and I mentioned your name, hence why she was able to recognize you in the first place. And well o-one thing lead to another and she mentioned how I felt about you."" Even if she tried to hide it Mika's face turned red, made even worse by her crying a few moments ago. Embarrassment and an awful emotional state, what more could one ask for?

"...I was an awful person shooting you. I should've just let you have your way at the museum. But I told you there that the reason I did all of that was because I wanted you to be the happiest girl out there. Because the truth is Nier..." Mika's voice lowered as she looked over to her, almost putting a hand on their lap before pulling it back and keeping it on her own..

"Every time I'm with you I feel a special way. I think I'm starting to have feelings for you that go beyond friends. Like lovers...and I don't know if I'm alone in that sentiment."

[fortjester]

an angle that i can't remember anybody pointing out abt Gideon re: christ allegory is the idea of Wake as Mary conscious of what her role entails. Mary conscious of and accepting of the sacrifice her child will be used for.

she's visited by one of god's lyctor's – directly contacted by Mercymorn with an opportunity – and outside her interactions w G1deon, she's the only one of them Wake ever meets. in the bible, the angel who visits Mary is the same angel that directs the wise men to seek Mary and Jesus out in Jerusalem, which adds a more sinister parallel to Mercy being the one to direct G1deon to Wake's location over the Ninth.

Wake has no direct interaction with John/God until after she’s already dead, and therefore Gideon’s conception is, like Mary’s conception of Jesus, almost completely separate from God at all, except that the resulting child will be his biologically (or spiritually in Jesus’ case).

she takes a literal journey while heavily pregnant to reach the Ninth, and has to give birth in less than ideal conditions and surroundings. and the story diverges further from there, because instead of being visited and given gifts for her child’s birth, she’s attacked, betrayed, and murdered before she can complete the mission she did any of this for.

(one could argue that G1deon and Pyrrha’s role in this allegory is both that of the wise men (keeping up three separate identities = three wise men right? g1deon, pyrrha, and the Saint of Duty all visited on her in one form. much to think on) – but also of Joseph (especially given Pyrrha tells John in HTN that she didn't tell him abt Wake's pregnancy because she assumed the child was hers, and upon finding out Gideon isn't hers, she's obviously conflicted abt it, but inevitably settles on wanting to be a parent/parental figure to her despite the truth and the complexities of Wake's actions) but that’s just a whole Can of Worms, because we know very little of what actually went down during their interaction leading up to the airlock, so we’ll just let the concept lie there for the moment.)

Wake conceives, carries, and gives birth to Gideon, the distanced but biological child of God, knowing she’ll be used as a sacrifice, knowing through trial and error that the only viable method for this plan to work is through carrying the child herself. she does it all under the faith that if she does it all correctly, if she works hard enough, toughs it out, it will all be worth it. arguably, she never sees the Tomb fully opened, but she sees it breached.

another fun tidbit from this train of thought is the idea that her niece is named Our Lady of the Passion, a tangential name for the Virgin Mary in some sects of catholicism. beyond death, Wake’s belief in her mission to rid the universe of John and the Houses, her passion, as it were, is once again present in Pash, who is not exactly present when the Tomb is opened, but is around and conscious enough of her connections and roles to realise her dang cousin is also hanging around on the same planet her aunt died on. excited to see whatever dynamic she and Gideon develop in atn, Muir willing.

[folkbreeze]

Restaurant in Tartosa, still a wip

slowly building back the Tartosa restaurant wip my game decided to trash, except this wasn't in the original and I still need to recreate the back part

[skeletalheartattack]

...am I just losing my mind or did yer icon become evil? I don't remember that BeAst behind Boe

yuuuump always been behind me