#let my man have STYLE and FLAIR

[patroclusdefencesquad]

[soaringwide]

PAC: How to enhance your personal allure and beauty? • Glamour Reading

This reading is meant to dive into your own personal glamour and find ways to magnify the way you appear to others, privately or publicly.

Beauty is about weaving illusions in some ways, but the best lies contain a part of truth. How to weave lies and truths to enhance your expression of beauty is what I'm going to try to uncover today, which is why we're going to look both at your natural abilities and untapped potential.

It's something I've wanted to do for a long time since it's a subject that fascinates me, and wanted to test it out in a tarot spread, so a pick a pile readings seems like a good starting point.

If you'd like a personal reading, I'm in the process of opening my website but in the meantime I'm available through DMs.

As always, this is a general reading meant for multiple people so it might not apply 100% to you. Take what resonates and leave out the rest.

If you liked the reading and want to tip me, I have a ko-fi.

PILE 1

Cards: The Hanged Man, Death, The Chariot, Knight of Cups, The Fool, 7 of Cups, Queen of Pentacles, 10 of Swords, Ace of Pentacles, Page of Pentacles

First, let's look into your natural beauty and talents, if you will. This is easy to tap into and you might already do it to some extent, and is what people perceive from you at first glance.

I see someone with a strong, magnetic presence that might be intimidating to some people, giving the vibe of someone who is confident and knows what impression they want to give off. You have a very deliberate style and strong personal allure that might lean into darker types of aesthetic, but it would definitely be ornate, romantic (in the true, dramatic sense of the word) and as far away from minimalism as possible. I see you choosing little elements that others might not notice but that are full of meaning and symbolism for you, like a piece of jewellery, or swapping the color of your shoelace or socks to fit into a vision you have in your head. Wearing hats or headpieces might also be something significant for you. You see your clothes and other visual upgrades as some type of armor you wear to feel stronger, more confident, and make a great impression on people around you. You like being noticed and want people to find you beautiful or stylish, but at the same time have very little regard for established rules and like to bring a twist of change in the way you appear to others. It's like you're already practicing glamour naturally, funnily enough, because I see you magnifying your natural talents already and you definitely are shrouded in some type of glamourized, attractive mystery.

When it comes to your ideal archetypal beauty, what you can draw inspiration from to push yourself even further, i see you as someone who embodies the characteristics of going against expectations when it comes to style and appearances. I get the idea of playing around with gender expression (might not apply to all or be applicable to varying degrees), going against what's commonly assumed to be fitting for your perceived gender to create something unique and different, but it could also simply be about going against common taste. It's about carving out your own path, inspired by yourself and your unique perspective on life, and by extension, on your style and appearance. This is not someone who follows trends and style guides mindlessly, but someone who is not afraid of calling everything into question, in order to incorporate what they choose and add their own unique flair to it. Taste is subjective and it's something you can learn to lean even more into.

Now, for the untapped qualities, or raw power you can learn to incorporate, I see strong Uranus influence, which was already highlighted in your ideal archetypal influence.

There is an elements to finding joy and pleasure in shocking others a little bit. Letting yourself be completely free with your style expression, but keeping personal enjoyment in mind. The goal is not to shock for the sake of being an obnoxious eccentric, but going to the core of what makes you feel empowered and free and fining the graceful pleasure in it. There is also the idea of weaving some type of illusion so that people can never guess what you're going to do next. I think you have an untapped natural talent for manipulating how others see you a little bit. Right now you focus on your personal magnetism, but you could push that even further and endow yourself in whatever illusion you see fit for the time or situation. I see you being able to work on your appearance like a beautiful work of art, following the vision you have in mind.

For how you can magnify everything I mentioned, here is what I see.

First of all, it seems that despite all the great things I said about you, deep down, you feel quite inadequate and vulnerable, which is perhaps why you put so much effort into your ''armor''. I've got to tell you that these doubts are only in your mind and that the powers I describe are felt very strongly by others, they might just never say it or only give you a light compliment, which you don't even take into account. You seem to keep these worry very private and assume everyone can sense that when it's not the case. So yeah I definitely see you are already doing sooo much but it's just in your mind you don't see it, which is the first thing you need to focus on. Because I think that these doubts might influence your stylistic choices to some extent, which would be self-sabotaging your natural and ideal strengths. Therefore, you first need to clear out these thoughts and hurts in order to see yourself as others see you, in your highest potential.

Secondly and once you've done that, you definitely are advised to invest further in your appearance, and by that it could be money but also time, effort and energy. I feel like there is a new direction that is available to you, perhaps to switch things up a little or express some things more intensely. In both cases, the very strong message is to be deliberate in your vision and keep your eyes on this. I think you already do it to some extent, but here we're talking about Glamour, glamour, like, it's not enough to pick a pair of earrings or the color of your top, you need to focus on what it is the impact you want to have on others is, and how to best achieve that, keeping in mind the strong Uranian influences about being your own Icon and breaking boundaries along the way. Really, the next step involves planning and deliberate steps. Don't just throw whatever in your cart but be mindful of what story it's telling and if it aligns with your vision.

If you liked the reading and want to tip me, I have a ko-fi.

PILE 2

Cards: Queen of Cups, 8 of Swords, The Star, The World, The Lovers, The High Priestess, Knight of Cups, The Hanged Man, Ace of Wands, 9 of Cups

First, let's look into your natural beauty and talents, if you will. This is easy to tap into and you might already do it to some extent, and is what people perceive from you at first glance.

What's actually really interesting is that there seem to be an opposition between constriction vs liberation, as embodied by Saturn in Aquarius qualities. It seems being in touch with your imagination and ideals is natural to you, you appear dreamy but in a melancholic way, a loner that people don't approach easily. People might get the sense that you are lost in your thoughts and that something else is taking your attention. You don't project a strong sun-like charisma, but rather, charm people when they get close to you and get a feel for your rich inner world. You are very authentic in the way you approach your appearance, as in, you don't seek to appear as someone you are not, up to a fault I'd say. Like, if you don't hold a high opinion of yourself that might stop you from dressing how you like because it doesn't feel true in some way. It's also like you feel constricted when you have to follow a dress code and would rather be able to wear whatever puts you at ease in the given situation, but then again it's a problem is you feel weak or stuck because it influences your choices. On top of that, I'm again getting strong ideals, so I would not be surprised if your social or political ideals influence the way your present yourself. Perhaps you have an inclination towards sustainable fashion or cruelty free beauty and it helps you feel more aligned with your inner world.

When it comes to your ideal archetypal beauty, what you can draw inspiration from revolves around the idea to let your idealistic and creative nature run free, like the waves on the ocean's shore. This hints at a poetic approach to your style and appearance, with the desire to evoke gentle feelings. Your archetypal beauty is one of a siren, enchanting and mysterious. You might benefit from beautifully ornate jewelry, nacre, pearls and shells come to mind, and I'm also getting renaissance inspired aesthetic like cherubs imagery and dramatic silhouettes, rosy cheeks and braided hairstyles. The ocean is wide and mysterious, fascinating and unknowable, and that's definitely an allure you can harness at your highest potential. Even in that configuration, you're still highly focused on your inner world but it appears on the outside as well.

Now, for the untapped qualities, or raw power you can learn to incorporate, I see a few messages.

The thing is that, despite the saturnine influences, you do have raw potential for a more radiant and inviting, shall we say, energy to you. With the Lovers which is connected to Gemini, you can really learn to actually express your rich inner world and come across as communicative and adaptable regardless of the social situation. Balancing out the coldness with warmth and being more inviting if you will. Someone people can't stop looking at, which implies you actually have to get out of your comfort zone and accept being seen by others.

Paired with you natural characteristics, this has the potential to increase your magnetism and make you mysteriously seductive because people will tap into both layers, sensing an inviting and charming first impression but also getting a feel of your deep inner world. There is also the potential to truly express your emotions through your clothes and appearance and thus sticking true to your desire for authenticity. Don't shy away from being creative and even artistic with your appearance. You have a natural inclination toward romantic styles and flowyness (sheer fabrics or silk-like textures) which can make you stand out in a crowd. Approach your style like a dream, something that is felt intensely and that you can get lost in. Play around with color combinations, and I would suggest having fun creating color palettes that evoke specific feelings rather than being minimal because you want to blend in. You can really project a striking vibe with your newfound confidence, with the help of your clothes and beauty care.

For how you can magnify everything I mentioned, here is what I see.

First of all there is a need to change you ways drastically. As we saw, there seem to be an opposition with how people currently see you vs what your potential is. Don't get me wrong, everything is present within you but it's like it's dormant. I sense you being somewhat stuck in your routine and stylistic habits and reluctant to change anything. You are being called to step up and take actions toward change. Dare to wear what makes you feel like your creative and dreamy self. You know yourself well but if you truly want to change the way people see you you have to take deliberate actions towards that. Not by wearing what you think people want but by going to the highest vision you have of yourself.

You would also benefit greatly from a more optimistic outlook on yourself and learn to communicate happiness, ease and expansion. Be more generous with your energy, which means that you don't have to hold everything in in fear of being judged or disliked, but rather learning to stand strong in your individuality and communicate it to others. Not everyone will like it obviously but those who do will be enchanted by your presence.

If you liked the reading and want to tip me, I have a ko-fi.

PILE 3

Cards: Ace of Cups, The Magician, 3 of Pentacles, The Hermit, 9 of Swords, 5 of Pentacles, King of Cups rx, the Fool, 7 of Cups, 3 of Swords

First, let's look into your natural beauty and talents, if you will. This is easy to tap into and you might already do it to some extent, and is what people perceive from you at first glance.

I get strong Mercury qualities when it comes to how you naturally appear to others. You manage to seduce others with your quick wit and knowledge on many different subjects. It's like, there is nothing you don't have a smart or funny opinion on and people love that about you. You are highly intellectual and I think you like mirroring that in your appearance, favoring established aesthetics and proven formulas, relaying more on your personality than your clothes so to speak. And if clothes you chooses to put the accent on, I see a more traditional and refined approach. Modest and put together. You are meticulous in your choices and don't like appearing messy. Nothing comes in excess, you pay attention to color and texture harmony and like a balanced, classic look. As a result you appear serious and put together to others.

When it comes to your ideal archetypal beauty, what you could embody when pushed to your highest degree, with the Ace of Cups, it is quite abstract than a given aesthetic. I see you having the power to initiate strong positive emotions towards others. Perhaps they admire you or have fond feelings for you, or they may fall in love or become friends with you easily. You make them feel easily connected to you by you presence and allure, you energy having that color that drives people in. It's like, a very friendly and gently type of charisma.

Now, for the untapped qualities, or raw power you can learn to incorporate, I'm not sure why but I feel a strong rag to riches vibe here. As in, it is possible that you have experienced mental and financial hardship in the past, a situation might have improved to some extent, but that probably isn't fixed completely yet. That left you scarred and you try your best to hide it, which is why it's in the raw power position. I see the potential to use that as a strength to add depth to your character. With the King of Cups reversed, you feel inadequate and undeserving. I'm getting the sense that when it comes to glamour, you can fake it till you make it so to speak. Don't forget we are talking about magnifying your allure and I think there's definitely an air of like, you know who you are and you are aware of your situation, but you don't want to appear that way to others. It's strange because for all pile I got strong impression and aesthetics here, but for you it looks more like something that's dragging you down, which means there's a potential to turn it into a strength in some way. You got the Ace of Cups as ideal archetype and the King of Cups is nothing but the Lord of this Ace, so if you manage to flip it you can embody its quality and empathetic, abundant authority and trigger positive feelings in others. There is also this idea that, even when you make that shift, you won't forget where you come from and will keep being highly empathetic and kind, and that will be part of your charm.

For how you can magnify everything I mentioned, I notice a strong idea of starting fresh and stepping away from the heartache that plagues you. There is a youthful carelessness to it as well, the idea of opening yourself to the world and see the richness you have within with your larger than life personality. You would benefit from letting that aspect of you loose a bit. You are a bit chaotic at heart and this is so so endearing to many.

Furthermore, don't get too focused on glimmers, as all that shines is not gold. I think you may have a tendency to seek material things to counter or hide your difficulties with money, but here it's all about character expression when it comes to charm people. But be mindful of how you interact with others as to not to appear aloof or unapproachable.

If you liked the reading and want to tip me, I have a ko-fi.

[flamingpudding]

I had a crack idea that I was thinking of so you know in Dan is Klarion au I was imagining a au based off of that one where all of Danny's children are Klarion is like the robin thing for Batman it started off with Danielle when nabu insulted Danny as the Ghost King and Balance

Ever since Ellie decided that she needed to get back in blood so she made the chaotic antihero Klarion and and her suppose it familiar 'cat' Teekl the way to help out her mother and mess with Dr Fate/Nabu Teekl is actually a bear with an illusion on that makes him look like a cat in the human's eyes

Whatever since the anti-hero Klarion in The Phantom family has been passed down each of them giving their own flair to the persona of Klarion with a different animal every time that they had pretending to be a cat

Tell her to finally passed on to Dan it is an honorary sibling thing each of them has their own antihero name once they passed down the title of Klarion

Diana's query and takes after his father's style of dressing and his tickle is a phoenix

First of Thanks for the Ask! Inspirational as always! Helps with my writers block [insert awkward laugh]

Either way because this is split in two asks... you get two version! One focused on how it started and the other on the reveal! Though the might be some little Shorts... Also there is something really funny to me about a giant bear letting Illusionen into a cat... So Enjoy!

(BTW still thinking over the other ask... and working on it don't worry!)

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

Ellie huffed as Danny reprimanded her for her actions. She just huffed crossing her arms. She was just helping Danny. Her mom got a lot on his shoulders and she as the sort of oldest saw that the best. Sure technically Dan was older then her but, he shrunk down to kid level again and now she was the oldest.

Well if she ignored her other brothers but they were only saved recently and still in treatment with Frostbite. So she was the oldest. End of story.

"Ellie you can't just go off like that you know that messing with an Ancient is not-"

"Mom, That Nabu-Guy was being a pain in the a- " - "Ellie!" - "A PAIN, babbling on to much about Order here Order there. How keeping Balance means keeping Order and bla bla bla!" She cut in stopping her mom before he could go on another rant about the Ancients, she needed to treat with respect.

"He doesn't respect you, the Ancient of Balance! You are the literal Symbol of Balance between Life and Death! Aside from being the Ghost King. So of course I had to mess with the one HE mentors!" Ellie added huffing as she crossed her arms.

Danny pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ellie, you created an entire alternate persona!"

"Yea so?"

"You used an illusion spell on Fluffels!"

"And? Any good Anit-Hero needs a Mascot." Ellie shrugged once more looking up at her mom before looking over to Fluffels, her pet ghost grizzly that was pretty much double maybe even tripple her size and the fluffiest ghost grizzly you could find in the entire Ghost Zone, and the cutest.

Danny on the other hand groaned, wondering if he had done anything wrong while raising Danielle. Sure he had been a teen himself but good damit why the hell did Ellie decided messing with the Ancient of Order or rather his mentee was a good idea. "I am calling Jazz! You can explain to her what you were thinking!"

He was definitely to overworked and stressed to deal with Ellies mischievousness right now. Well she did call her alternate persona Klarion, Lord of Chaos. Nope! He was not dealing with this right now, so Danny did the sanest thing he could think of. Turning on his heel and walking away. Where to? Who cares maybe he would check in with his old man Clockwork and see what Ellie had actually been up to, instead of just reading through Nabu's complains.

Ellie on the other hand blinked watching her mom leave before calling after him. "Does that mean I have to stop, being Klarion?"

"Mom?!"

"MOM!"

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

"Well hello my lovely Amadillos! Long time not seen!"

Ellie shouted cheerfully as she twirled into appearing hair styled into a horn like form, black suit and she might have over done it a little with the black eyeliner but hey it was an iconic look wasn't it. She smirked as Fluffles growled which translated into a meow for the mortals before her thank to the illusion spell.

The mortal teen looked up at her surprised as she floated down her hand glowing with red ectoplasm (a color change from her usual green ectoplasm that had taken a while to learn from Pandora). Young Justice was currently transporting something of interest to her. Well of Interest for the Justice League, really but Doctor Fate was involved which meant Nabu was involved, which naturally meant she would get involved. It didn't hurt that she would also get to try to try some new tricks.

"You got something interesting there... and I want that." She grinned. Ellie didn't give them long before she acted using the new tricks she had learned.

"Woah! Hey there, watch the pointy and sharp thowies!" She laughed making a quick shield as she blocked some batarangs and arrows before blinking.

"Hey they look different. Robin, did you change equipment? Did you get a new haircut too?" She asked curious but didn't really receive an answer as they ignored her questions and shouted something about distracting her while the others continue the transportation. Still she bend down to pick one of them up twirling it between her fingers. "What gives didn't they have a different design before?"

In hindsight it was probably not a good idea to just abandon her original goal but Robin was making her curious. And she could always find a different way to mess with Nabu. Her mom had given her an indirect okay years ago anyway.

"Teekl!" She called out and only her eyes could see how Fluffles jumped at the call growling in response as he swatted away some of the more annoying Young Justice kids. To the mortals it probably looked like Teekl was using ectoplasm, or well magic, in their eyes.

She used that change to go up into Robins face smirking widely as she looked at the other more closely, trying to get a read on him. "You are different! You aren't the same Robin I meet before!"

She ducked in time avoid Superboy as she hopped back excited with a new idea for her family.

But first she would have to deal with the little chaos and mischief she was creating.

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

".....and that is how I learned that the Robin title is getting passed down. So I was thinking of doing the same!" Ellie broadly stated looking at all her younger siblings before her. "We all get pretty annoyed with the way Nabu treats Mom so there always has to be a Lord of Chaos to 'balance' Nabu out!"

She grinned at her siblings expecting the same kind of excitement she had and they didn't disappoint. Danny had been there for all of them, even going so far as in to find a way with Clockwork to save some of their lives. So of course they all would jump at the change to mess with the one Ancient that was badmouthing their Mother just because Balance didn't entitle Order the way they wanted.

After all Chaos was needed to Balance Order out.

This was going to be fun...

[Follow up part Linked here]

[monakisu]

rating oil paintings i did in high school based on their likability (to Me) ⊙▂⊙

light study 💡 - the earliest one out of all of these bcuz i technically painted it in middle school but then went back in HS to add the seagulls and boat so i could fit it into the theme of my AP art portfolio LMAOOO but still one of my favorites, which is sorta sad cuz it’s so old… 9/10

filial love - honestly didn’t care for this one very much because it was meant to just be more fodder for my AP portfolio but turns out my mom likes it a lot!! she says it reminds her of “the lion of judah ✝️” (whoever that is) so i was happy to give it to her! she displays it in her room so her fondness really carries this one’s rating: 10/10

play nice with your brother!! 🐻‍❄️ - i like this one a lot! because it’s one of the only paintings my hardass art teacher let me use neon colors on (or at least as neon as u can get with oil paint). usually he just paints over my colors to make them grayer. that guy… otherwise this one is just not very interesting. 8/10

koi pond 🎏 - PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT I MEAN when he paints over my stuff with gray!!! i was so excited to paint this one and added all sorts of flair that i like—pink dots as leaf highlights, super detailed colorful water—AND THEN HE JUST WENT AND SMEARED ALL MY DETAILS 💀💀💀 so i Hate this one and avoid looking at it as much as possible. 0/10 below it is a version from a diff angle that i did in an hour with shitty free acrylic verrryyy recently in college, and u can just see how i went ham on the colors right?! eugh. what could’ve been… 🪦

with heavy heart ❤️ - a pretty big old lady (18x24”). i feel obligated to like her because she won me the congressional competition for my district so i got to go to the capitol to see her framed there and briefly meet my stale white bread representative but HONESTLY all i can think about is how hideous my makeup was at the time and i get upset. 🙁 i do think this granny is very pretty though!! 7/10

my ocean blue 🪼 - this one im not sure if i like it or only tolerate it. i just wanted to paint a super colorful coral reef!! "🐠🪸🫧" you know?? but my mom and teacher said it Needed a message for ~intrigue~ so they brainstormed together (without me) and made me add this random ass child with a VR headset smack dab in the middle… something about cyberreality? IDK i just want her ass gone so badly. i also never got around to finishing the stripes on that fish in the front but nobody calls me out on it so it's whatever 🤷‍♂️ LOL 4/10

radial self portrait 🎯 - HUGE DEVIATION IN STYLE not only bcuz this one’s gouache instead of oil but also because i got to paint without an old man (art teacher) hovering over my shoulder!!! 😸 it was my first time painting something super stylized and i realized that painting can actually be Not Agonizing!!! 😸😸 this was at my summer camp where we had to come up with a radial pattern using a compass (i hate that little pointy shit) and then combine it with our self portrait. it’s me having a headache! i painted this in a single stressful sleepless night because i have HORRIFIC time management when i’m left alone so it’s pretty sloppy. also at the time i had those blonde e-girl bangs hahaha… i still like this one a lot!! i was just SO happy i didn't have to go photorealistic AND i could use my favorite colors (mainly hot pink)!!! 10/10 😸

overall my high school painting in experience was spent beefing with my art teacher and inhaling paint fumes. sort of miserable honestly -_-

[sleepysuburb]

Top 5 Steve/Reece character designs? (Hopefully this hasn't already been asked lol? ^_^

it hasn't!! character design is one of my main passions so this is an ideal question 👀 I really went balls to the wall for this one so it's under a readmore!! sorry for the chunks of text!

REECE

1. Stu. I'm so obsessed with Stu's design choices; the way he's clearly meant to look a little "too old" (not my opinion! I think he looks gorgeous) for his fashion sense, with his little tummy and his loud shirt, his tight jeans and very 90s auburn-blonde hair, his pink lip gloss (!!!!!!)... he's comfortable in himself and knows what works for him, so why change it as he gets older?

Conversely, the loud way he dresses is put into stark contrast with Carl's more age-appropriate, sensible dress and neat haircut, which gives him just one more reason to be at odds with him. He's visibly gay and camp with it, while Carl's repression is mirrored by his straightlaced design - I always see this canyon between their respective expressions and what it represents as a big source of bitterness, embarrassment and envy in their relationship, going both ways.

2. Stella. Oh Stella the riot grrrl you are... the choker, the lace tights, the leather pinafore over black mesh; it's all so babes in toyland/hole etc. Her hair is so quintessentially 90s, but specifically its a style and colour combo often worn by rebellious, troublesome, outcast women in media; to me, her design embodies this yearning for excitement outside of her marriage and a resistance to 'settling down', especially with Charlie. also she's hot. who said that

3. Mr Jelly. Never has a washed up clown looked so... washed up. I love the way his makeup is clearly slept in and not touched up for days/weeks/months at a time, cracking around his persistent frown lines and pilling around his eye bags, and how his hair is badly combed over his bald cap like he's actually trying to hide a severely receding hairline. He looks like the sort of grimy, scary horror clown you wouldn't want around your kids, only to subverse that somewhat - he's not cruel or creepy really, just a sad, disenfranchised man whose career was stolen by medical malpractice and intellectual theft. and his hook!! what a great tool for clowning-based mishaps.

4. Brian Macmillan. I'm predictable. but LOOK at him. we never really see him without at least an element of the dame - sometimes he's in full costume, sometimes half dressed in a bra and girdle with his makeup partway done, and sometimes looking totally regular, but wearing that scoop neck polka dot blouse we're all obsessed with. Despite the dame typically being a comic, matronly character he brings this glamorous drag queen flair to the role and, with his angular glasses, a sense of sharp, cruel intelligence that reminds me of the big bad wolf, with his permanent sneer and the way he prowls around the theatre lording himself over everyone... he feels like he should have fangs all the better to eat you with. also he's hot. who said that

5. Neville Griffin. my gf will kill me for this one because they hate the way he looks, and I get it - his design, even in isolation to his rotten personality, does a great job of making you hate him. He starts off as this lank, greasy, ungroomed-looking young man with casual, ill-fitting clothes; he's ill at ease in himself at this point, hasn't figured his career out, let alone his image. not even enough to make himself presentable. You almost (almost) feel sorry for him. and then cut to him further along in his career - he's arrogant and obnoxious, with his turtleneck and flash suits, his gold jewellery, all of it screaming that he knows he's better than you and he feels untouchable. somehow he still looks greasy, but this time like he doesn't care about other people enough to be fucked showering properly, you know? and always, always in the background, those awful posters of him with his big, bared-teeth grin. also he's h

STEVE

1. Herr Lipp. everything about Herr Lipp is just so unsettling and creepy. his suits are that uncomfortably 70s-sleaze combo of brown tweed, yellow, orange and green that so many people instantly associate with pervy old men. he always looks so wet, like mystery wet all the time, glistening upper lip and shiny forehead, his eyes all bloodshot and damp-looking due to the - I'm guessing some kind of tape or glue? - Steve has in his undereye crease, his hair slicked to the side... it's like he's always exterting himself or sweating guiltily because he knows he's doing something really wrong. that just ramps up when he's trying to get Justin to stay, and the way his appearance maniacally degrades through that sequence is genuinely the stuff of nightmares.

2. Pauline. the human embodiment of a 90s M&S workwear catalogue. she looks like if a generic office job grew legs and developed a seething hatred for everyone below it, and at first, that's kind of what she is. I love the motif of sharpness and orderly lines in her design, from her 'horned' hairstyle to her straight pencil skirt to her angular specs. it's all set off by her lurid pink lipstick, that betrays the real harsh interior lying beneath her neat, jobsworth exterior. in s3 her design becomes notably less put-together and more masculine, as if to try and offset her new vulnerability; her hair is cropped short and her clothing more masc-leaning, tending more business-casual than just business. she doesn't have her job to cling onto anymore, and it shows - but I also love that they went headfirst into making her more visibly queer. also sh

3. Ed Buchan. he's smart, anyone could tell that, what with the way he dresses like an academic - but despite that his clothing is so at odds with what's 'normal'. he looks old-fashioned and out of touch with his patterned jumper vests and his glasses with their chain, especially next to all the police in their sleek, no-nonsense suits. He's automatically an outcast and othered from them all. he has this sweet soft face and the look of a puppy vying for approval, while the others appear hardened and jaded; and they (mostly) are, while he remains gentle even after being kidnapped. also

4. Jed Hunter. he's so clearly influenced by real casting directors the league must've met. there's a slight southern inflection to his speech and since we see him in London in s3 I'm going to assume he's from there - his design, with the mullet situation, designer stubble, sleek clothes and smooth mannerisms, screams well-off, gentrified londoner. he's out of place in Royston vasey, but equally his pretentious brand of normalcy is strange in its own right. he's a caricature of 'cool'.

5. David Sowerbutts. David's design is almost cartoonish, which isn't a surprise considering his concept art was drawn by Reece and was cartoony and exaggerated from the off. he puts me in mind of a little boy in a propeller hat, but if that boy was a grown man and the propellor hat was an appalling bowlcut. all his changeable features, his terrible kitchen-scissor half-shaved haircut, his chunky utilitarian glasses and his simple, dull clothes are minimal maintenence things, making it clear Maureen does everything for him and does it in the most no-frills way. the fake teeth are excellent because they extend his lower jaw and force him to keep his mouth open a bit, making him look more vacant, but on top of it all you have these furrowed brows and intimidating stare that let you know he's capable of more than he lets on.

[mxnsterbabe]

Male Drider/Female Reader SFW Wordcount: 2,910 Tags & Warnings: character of colour (reader & monster) Commissions | Ko-fi | Masterlist

You own a dance school and have one especially unusual student - a clumsy drider who loves human culture.

The sun had just begun to set, casting a warm golden glow through the large windows of Rae's dance studio. She smiled as she watched some of her students chat; Kamaria was putting on her shoes, pausing to laugh in that pitched, gnollish way when Andromeda said something silly.

The studio was a sanctuary, a place where music could chase away the worries of the day. Rae's students were a diverse group—humans, elves, tieflings, a gnoll, and even a cyclops—each bringing their unique flair to the dance floor. She loved the mix of cultures and styles, finding joy in helping each person find their rhythm.

As she was about to start, the door creaked open, catching her attention. Rae glanced up to see a towering drider hesitantly entering the studio. The rest of the class turned their heads in surprise. It wasn’t every day that a drider joined a dance class.

The human half of the drider was a lean, tall man with richly dark skin several shades darker than her own, and striking grey eyes. His hair was tied in a haphazard bun, a few braids hanging loose. His spider half was equally impressive, a sleek black with a hint of iridescent sheen that caught the light.

Rae felt a jolt of nervousness, unsure how to teach someone with more than two legs.

He approached her, his many legs moving in unison. “I’m sorry I’m late,” he said, his voice deep and calm. “My name is Amandi.”

Rae took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “It’s alright, Amandi. Welcome. I’m... I’m glad you’re here. Why don’t you find a spot and we’ll get started?”

Amandi nodded, moving to an empty space near the back of the room. The rest of the class whispered among themselves, glancing curiously at the new arrival. Rae clapped her hands to get their attention. “Alright, everyone. Let’s start with our warm-ups.”

She led the group through a series of stretches and basic movements, her eyes constantly drifting to Amandi. His upper body moved fluidly, mimicking the steps with surprising grace, but his lower half struggled to keep up. The floor seemed too slippery for such slender legs, and his delicate spider feet were bare. She could see the frustration in his eyes, and her heart went out to him.

As Rae moved on to the main routine, she couldn’t shake her apprehension. How could she adapt her instructions for someone with a completely different body structure? The thought was daunting, but she reminded herself that everyone deserved the chance to learn and enjoy dancing.

“Alright, let’s try the first sequence,” she said, demonstrating the steps. The class followed her lead, their movements in sync. Amandi tried his best to keep up, but his many legs seemed to get tangled, causing him to stumble.

“Okay, everyone take five,” she called, giving the students a break.

A few glanced Amandi’s way as he tried to regain balance. He ducked his head in embarrassment, brows scrunched in frustration.

“Hey,” Rae said softly, approaching him. “You’re doing great. It’s just... maybe a learning curve, you know?”

Rae could see the tension in Amandi’s eyes, and she wanted to ease his worry. “You know,” she said softly, “street dance is all about expressing yourself and having fun. It’s not just about perfect movements. It’s about feeling the music and letting it guide you. You’re doing great, really.”

Amandi’s lips curved into a small, grateful smile. “Thank you, Rae. That means a lot.”

She nodded, encouraged by his positive response. “Let’s head back to the class and try again.”

They rejoined the rest of the group, and Rae resumed the lesson. She demonstrated a basic move, breaking it down into simple steps: a bounce, a slide, and a quick step to the side. The students followed along, their movements tentative.

Amandi tried his best to keep up, but his numerous legs seemed to have a mind of their own. He bounced too high, slid too far, and his steps were more like stumbles. The other students couldn’t help but steal glances at him, their concentration wavering.

“Alright, let’s put it all together,” Rae called out, her voice bright and encouraging. She started the music, a lively hip-hop beat that filled the studio. “Five, six, seven, eight!”

The class moved as one, their bodies finding the rhythm. Kamaria’s gnollish laugh rang out as she nailed the slide, and Andromeda’s wings fluttered slightly as she spun with ease. Amandi’s movements were still uncoordinated, his legs tangling beneath him.

“Focus on the beat,” Rae encouraged. “Feel the music.”

The distraction Amandi caused was painfully obvious. Students glanced his way, their own steps faltering. Amandi, determined but struggling, misstepped and stumbled forward, all eight legs skidding on the polished floor. He crashed into the mirrors with a loud thud, and the music came to an abrupt halt.

Rae rushed over, her heart in her throat. “Amandi, are you alright?”

He looked up, embarrassment and frustration etched on his face. “I’m fine,” he muttered, his voice strained.

The rest of the class had gathered in a concerned circle, their earlier amusement replaced by sympathy. Rae helped Amandi to his feet, her touch gentle but firm.

“We’ll figure this out,” she said softly, meeting his eyes. “We’ll find a way to make this work for you.”

Amandi nodded, though his expression was still clouded with doubt. The rest of the class murmured their support.

Rae felt a surge of determination. She knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but she was committed to helping Amandi find his place in the dance.

“I think that’s enough for today,” Rae announced to the group. “We’ll come back and try again next week.”

The students began to file out, murmuring amongst themselves. Rae could hear snippets of their conversations. Kamaria, always the most outspoken, paused by Amandi on her way out.

“You know,” Kamaria said, her gnollish voice soft and encouraging, “I was just the same when I started. Couldn’t get my legs to cooperate at all. I got the hang of it, and so will you.”

Amandi managed a small, appreciative smile. “Thanks, Kamaria.”

With Kamaria’s encouragement, the rest of the students offered nods and murmurs of support before heading out. The studio gradually emptied until it was just Rae and Amandi left. 

Rae approached him, noticing the slump of his shoulders and the lingering embarrassment in his eyes.

“I’m really sorry,” Amandi said quietly, his voice tinged with frustration. “I didn’t mean to disrupt the class.”

Rae shook her head, stepping closer. “You have nothing to apologise for, Amandi. This is new for both of us, and it’s going to take some time to figure out what works. I’m just glad you’re here and willing to give it your all.”

She reached out and touched his arm, her fingers brushing against his smooth, dark skin. She couldn’t help but notice how lean and slender he was, his human half exuding a quiet strength. Her eyes drifted to his spider half, which seemed almost delicate despite its size. The sleek black legs shimmered in the low light.

Amandi looked at her, grey eyes sparkling. “Thank you for being so understanding. I know I’m not exactly built for this.”

Rae’s heart warmed at his words, and she found herself drawn to his sincerity. “You’re determined and passionate, Amandi. That’s what matters most. The rest will come along on its own.”

She smiled at him, feeling an unexpected flutter in her chest. There was something incredibly endearing about his shy smile. She admired his willingness to step out of his comfort zone and try something new, despite the obvious challenges.

“You really think I can do this?” Amandi asked, his voice soft and uncertain.

“I know you can,” Rae replied firmly. With a final, reassuring smile, Rae squeezed Amandi’s hand gently. “See you next class?”

Amandi nodded, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “I’ll be here.”

***

The following week, Rae arrived at the dance studio earlier than usual, wanting to prepare for the evening class. To her surprise, Amandi was already there, standing near the entrance with a bashful yet determined expression on his face.

“Hey, Amandi,” she greeted him warmly. “You’re here early.”

He nodded, his grey eyes reflecting a quiet resolve. “I wanted to get some extra practice in before class. I’ve been working on the steps over the weekend.”

Rae’s heart swelled with admiration. “That’s great! Let’s get started then.”

They moved to the center of the studio, and Rae began demonstrating the steps they had worked on last time. Amandi followed her lead, his movements still a bit awkward but much improved. His upper body moved with more fluidity, and his spider legs seemed more coordinated, albeit still with the occasional stumble.

As the rest of the students trickled in, Rae couldn’t help but watch Amandi from the corner of her eye. His lean muscles flexed with each movement, his concentration etched onto his features. He really was striking, dark skin glistening with sweat.

“Alright, everyone, let’s start with the basics again,” Rae announced once the class was assembled.

A few students groaned, particularly Andromeda, who rolled her eyes. “Do we have to? It’s so easy.”

Rae smiled, her tone firm but kind. “Yes, we do. It’s important to master the basics. Trust me, it will make everything else easier in the long run.”

She glanced at Amandi, who gave her a grateful smile. He was clearly more comfortable and confident than he had been the previous week. They began the routine, Rae leading them through the steps slowly at first.

As the music played, Rae found herself continually drawn to Amandi. His determination was evident in every move he made. The lines of his lean muscles were pronounced under his smooth, dark skin, and his spider half moved with a fluidity that hinted at countless hours of practice. There was a grace to him now, a confidence that was beginning to shine through.

“Great job, everyone,” Rae called out, watching as the students repeated the steps in sync. “Let’s try it a bit faster.”

The class picked up the pace, and Rae’s heart swelled with pride as she watched Amandi keep up. He still had moments of clumsiness, but they were fewer and farther between. His improvement was undeniable.

She moved around the room, offering pointers and encouragement. When she reached Amandi, she placed a hand on his arm to correct his posture. His skin was warm under her touch, and she felt a slight shiver run through her.

“You’re doing really well, Amandi,” she said softly, her eyes meeting his. “Just remember to keep your shoulders relaxed. You have six extra legs to contend with; try to move them in sync.”

He nodded, his expression earnest. “Thank you, Rae. I’ve been practicing a lot. I really want to get this right.”

As the class continued, Rae found it increasingly difficult to focus solely on the routine. Her thoughts kept drifting to Amandi, to the way he moved, the way his determination shone in his eyes. There was something incredibly attractive about his dedication and the quiet strength he exuded.

When the class finally came to an end, Rae gathered everyone for a quick debrief. “Great work today, everyone. I know it can be frustrating to go over the basics, but it’s essential for building a strong foundation. I’m really proud of the progress you’ve all made.”

As the students began to disperse, Rae lingered, her gaze once again finding Amandi. He was talking to Kamaria, who gave him a friendly pat on the back before heading out. Rae approached him, her heart racing slightly.

“Amandi, you were fantastic today. I can see how much effort you’ve put in, and it’s really paying off.”

He smiled, a hint of bashfulness returning. “Thanks, Rae. I’m just trying to keep up with everyone else.”

“You’re doing more than that,” she replied warmly. “You’re becoming a great dancer.”

He smiled; tentative, bashful. “I might have been practicing over the weekend,” he admitted. “By the way, how are you getting home?”

“I drive. I could give you a lift, though…” Rae trailed off, cheeks warming. “Though I don’t know if you’d fit in my little Nissan.”

“Oh, I only live around the corner anyway. Can I walk you to your car?”

Rae tried to ignore how her heart fluttered at the offer. As if she would say no.

They walked out of the studio together, the cool night air refreshing compared to the warmth of the studio. As they reached the parking lot, Rae approached her car and fumbled for her keys, only to find that the engine wouldn’t start. She tried a few more times, but the car remained stubbornly silent.

“Looks like I’m not going anywhere tonight,” she sighed, leaning back in her seat.

Amandi stepped closer, concern etched on his face. “Do you need help?”

Rae shook her head. “It’s too late to call a repair shop. I’ll just have to figure it out tomorrow.”

“Where do you live? I could walk you home,” Amandi offered, his voice gentle.

Rae hesitated for a moment, but the idea of walking home with Amandi was strangely appealing. “Are you sure? It’s a bit of a walk.”

“I don’t mind,” he replied, his tone sincere. “Besides, it’ll be good exercise.”

Rae smiled, grateful for his kindness. “Alright, I’ll take you up on that..”

They set off, the quiet streets bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. The city had an almost magical quality after dark, and Rae found herself enjoying the peacefulness. 

They walked in comfortable silence, their steps in sync,

After a while, Rae felt the urge to break the silence. “You know,” she began, her voice light and teasing, “I think you’re going to be the star of our class soon.”

Amandi chuckled, the sound low and warm. “I doubt that. I’m just trying to keep up.”

Rae felt a flutter in her chest at his humility. “Well, I think you’re amazing; and not just because of your dancing.”

He glanced at her, his grey eyes curious. “What do you mean?”

Rae hesitated, feeling her cheeks warm. “I mean... you’re determined, kind, and... well, you’re a great guy.”

Amandi’s eyes widened in surprise. “Me? But… why?.”

Rae stopped walking, turning to face him fully. She reached out, her fingers lightly brushing his arm. “You’re unique, Amandi. I find that incredibly attractive. Your strength, your grace, and the way you light up when you talk, it’s all so captivating.”

Amandi’s gaze softened, and he took a small step closer. Rae could feel the heat of his body, his hard muscle beneath his t-shirt. Her heart raced, and she felt a heady mix of excitement and nervousness.

“I... I never thought anyone would see me that way,” Amandi said quietly, his voice filled with wonder.

Rae smiled, her fingers tracing the lines of his lean muscles. “Well, I do.”

In the soft glow of the night, she could see the warmth in his eyes, the flicker of something deeper. She leaned in, her breath hitching as she closed the distance between them. Amandi’s lips met hers, tentative and soft at first, but growing bolder as the kiss deepened. She felt the gentle clink of his fangs against her own teeth, and shivered.

She pressed closer, her hands resting on his shoulders. She could feel the strength in his lean body, the delicate yet firm hold of his arms as he wrapped them around her.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting together. Rae smiled, her heart pounding. “I think you’re amazing, Amandi,” she whispered.

Hand in hand, Rae and Amandi walked the remaining distance to her home. The night felt alive with possibilities, the air humming with promise. Rae’s heart raced, her thoughts a delightful jumble of excitement and anticipation.

As they reached her front door, she turned to face Amandi. His eyes, striking grey, held a softness that made her feel cherished. She soaked up his presence.

Then, with a bashful smile, Amandi leaned in. His lips brushed hers gently, a tender, almost hesitant kiss that spoke of his growing affection. Rae responded, deepening the kiss, savoring the warmth and sweetness of the moment. Her hands rested on his shoulders, feeling the lean strength of his muscles beneath her fingertips.

When they parted, he was beaming. “Rae,” he began, his voice soft and sincere, “would it be alright if I took you out sometime? Maybe for dinner, or a walk?”

Rae’s heart skipped a beat. “I’d love that, Amandi,” she replied, her smile matching his. “Although, you do realize the dance class will be talking about us. They love some romantic gossip.”

Amandi laughed, the sound warm and rich. “Yeah, I figured. Sorry.”

Rae shook her head, her smile widening. “I’m not sorry at all.” Then, “thank you for walking me home,” Deft fingers traced the underside of his jaw, along his clicking mandibles.

“It was my pleasure,” Amandi replied softly. “I’ll see you soon, Rae.”

“I can’t wait,” she replied, her heart full.

With a final, lingering smile, Amandi turned and walked away, leaving Rae standing at her door, her heart brimming with anticipation. She watched him until he disappeared into the night, the memory of his lips still lingering on her skin.

[tspud-whiteboard]

[Full Previews, Final Files and Extras can be found on GoogleDrive!] !!! THE DEADLINE HAS ARRIVED !!! (End of June it was) I am currently working on putting together the final files, but as this might take a while, YOU CAN STILL KEEP SENDING ME YOUR FELLAS! Once I’ve prepared the actual, finished, fullsize versions, this pinned post will unpin itself and I’ll put a different one here, with the final previews, the download links and some information what the future may hold... maybe I’ll do a Season Two if the interest is there. But we’ll have to see about that. For now, [SUBMIT MORE] like the wind while you still can! Hello, hello! Welcome to The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe Whiteboard Collaboration (a just-for-fun fan project)! I’m assuming that you found your way here because you’re well aware what The Stanley Parable is, and that you are curious to know what a Whiteboard Collaboration might be about!

Let me cut straight to the case then. It all started in 2023 - the 27th of April, to be precise - which just so happened to be the One Year Anniversary for the release of The Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe on Steam and consoles, along with the historically very important and internationally renowned - or at the very least grudgingly accepted - 4/27: STANLEY DAY!

To celebrate the occasion, and only one day too late on the 28th, an idea came forth to put together a Whiteboard, containing all those Stanleys by all the fan artists out there (all credited, of course!), a worthy tribute to the Man of the Hour! And as you can see... we’ve already got quite a few collected!

But why stop there? Since plenty of people also came up with their own Narrator designs, and there’s a good few Timekeeper-Settings-432s and Curators, and plenty of other characters (defining the term loosely here), we might as well give them all their own little space to look absolutely dashing next to each other! Imagine, all those different designs, united in one glorious collection!

My point being... I’d love to see yours in there as well.

So... how can you join in?

The gist can be found up there in the first image, but let me also put it into text form down here, with some extra information:

[Submit] your Stanley, Narrator, 432 or Curator mugshot (or all of them at the same time!). You have [some other canon TSP favorite]? Go ahead, submit ‘em, too! We’ll find a spot. The format of the picture needs to be 300px (width) x 400px (height) to fit with the others. I can resize and cut them into shape if needed, but it’ll be easier on all of us if I don’t have to do that. All pictures will have a small white frame added by me afterwards, to give them that authentic printout flair.

Should the [Submit] button not work for you (I triple-checked and it works for me, but then who knows what this thing does while I’m not looking), sending your artworks through PM or tell me where you posted them is fine as well!

AUs and all art styles are fine! Please only submit one picture per character (if you have more than one design, maybe pick your favorite, or elegantly squeeze them into one picture. If you absolutely cannot decide, sending two pictures per character is okay, but I’d like to cap it there to give everyone equal amounts of space.

Must be Safe For Work!

This is also very important: Tell me how to credit you! Your name will go under your artwork, I do have to put something there. I’ll likely default to your username if I have nothing else to go by, but it’s best if you directly tell me, right there in your submission.

I will publish your submission(s) on here as soon as I’ve added it to the queue, so you’ll know it went through okay, and so you can show it around to others if you wish! (I can’t do that with PMs, of course.)

THE DEADLINE: Please try to submit your artworks before the End of June! Yes, 2023. This month. In this year. There’s a chance I’ll change this if a sudden influx of new entries rolls in, but as of now it looks like it’s a good time to start wrapping this up. I want my life back and all. ...But prove me wrong, why don’tcha? Why not tell your favorite TSP artists that they NEED TO BE ON THIS THING? NEED TO! WE CRAVE THEM, PRECIOUS. ...Sorry, got carried away there.

I give updates regularily. Previews of the latest Whiteboard statuses, questions that need answering, sometimes I might just add some nonsense rambles, all inclusive, for free.

The FINAL files, whenever they’re ready, will be 8000x4000px in size each and are mostly a much bigger version of the previews, with maybe a few small changes for the aesthetics.That’s quite massive. Humongous. It’s really impressive to browse all those artworks next to each other at that size. Here’s the [Google Drive] link, for all to download from and share around. So far, you can always find the latest Previews and a bunch of random Extras there, along with the first fullsize Stanley board as a test. Please do make suggestions if there’s better options, or if you can’t drive the Google.

I also post on Twitter and the Crows Crows Crows Discord server (fanart channel). If either of those are more comfortable options for you, or if you know someone on there who might also be interested in joining this collaboration, maybe poke me so I can give you directions. Or you might be able to find it yourself, I’m not actively hiding them away. Not even passively.

I think that’s all for now! If you have questions, suggestions, reservations, my Asks should be open. Looking forward to hopefully a lot more additions to the Whiteboards, there’s quite a few of you guys I’d loooove to see on there!

[palmviolet]

Hello, hello! Sooooo, i love your ST fic and I am in awe of your writing skills. Especially your deep pov writing. It reads so close, so visceral ... so mind blowing good. So let me ask you this: HOW!? I aspire to write more in a deep pov but fail at it. I'm able to tell a story from one pov (what characters are doing/perceiving/talk) but it lacks the depth of that inner world? Do you have any tips when to dive deeper, what to pull from? Is there a good ratio of doing/perciving vs. inner world? I'm grateful for any help/tips you would share. <3

thank you so much! i love answering writing questions and i shall endeavour to do my best with this one. most of my writing practice comes pretty unthinkingly, in that i sort of construct characters' interior monologue on instinct, but i've developed that ability over a number of years of work. the main thing i can say is just read as much as you possibly can — i often find that each thing i read imbues me with a different sort of style for a time, which is something i can bank in the repertoire. exposure to a lot of different styles means you can experiment, and eventually find what suits you best. no one style of perspective or narrative is inherently better than the others, and it definitely benefits you to try them all out!

that being said, it sounds like you're trying to go for an extremely focused third person, which is what i generally use. and my advice there is that on the whole it's a matter of balancing internal thoughts with actions. internal thoughts meaning not 'he thought [xyz]' but rather just [xyz]. for example, instead of 'he thinks about how difficult it will be to do this', something as simple as 'how is he supposed to do this?'

basically, you integrate what the character might be saying to themselves in their head into the flow of the narrative. thoughts and memories become combined into a flow that could be a monologue, just interior and in the third person still: 'how is he supposed to do this? he can't do this. he's the son of a con and that con, his father the con, his father said to him get out and now he's here, being asked to persist, being asked not to get out. stay in one place and don't run. but what he's good at, it's running, it's the thing handed down to him from a man who hated him who taught him things anyway-'

and so on. see how it contextualises the character's history and thought patterns — in this case eddie, who tends to let things get away from him, has a very scattered interior monologue — into what they're experiencing in the present moment. it's not, 'he thought about his father, who'd told him to leave, which made it difficult to accept that now he had to stay,' which is an equally valuable way of expressing the same ideas but evokes a greater sense of distance from the character's headspace, which is not what we're going for — instead we're experiencing the flood of eddie's panicked, scattered thoughts in the way those thoughts are delivered.

basically, in this style of writing, the medium is the message. but this is most important in the more functional bits of the narrative — passages like the one above should be used sparingly, to maximum emotional effect, since they can slow the pacing dramatically.

in general, try to imbue the syntax and the flow of details with the narrator's personality — such as in a moment of description, pick out only the things that are relevant to the narrator, the things that the narrator would notice, and do so with extreme prejudice. for example, in better by you, eddie's constantly noticing car models or band names; he might notice a side character's blond hair, square jaw, and general atmosphere of looking like they listen habitually to duran duran. so transmit the things you want/need your reader to know about the side character not only through basic detail (the visual of blond hair, square jaw) but also through your narrator's unique flair (duran duran listener, meaning eddie finds this guy unoriginal and beholden to trend cycles). contextual details of the narrator's life are key, and indeed it's in these fleeting moments of description that their character comes across most naturally — this moment, for example, tells us that eddie is a music snob prone to snap judgements. so in a single sentence we've established the side character's appearance and possible personality (which could be subverted later, owing to eddie's presumptions) while also reaffirming one of the narrator's key character traits.

all this is is also a matter of balance. you can't be trying to reveal character traits with every single sentence of your writing — a lot of those sentences are just there to get you from a to b, and to get bogged down in writing a personality is a surefire route to purple prose. i'd recommend trying this approach and then going through and paring back the internal monologue: phrases like 'how is he supposed to do this?' pack a punch and should therefore be sparing. i will say that my stranger things works tend more towards the YA side of things, which is a genre that encourages a strong, declarative internal monologue with thoughts written out on the page like that. i've been trying to move towards a slightly more understated style (but still focused 3rd person) in my works for other fandoms simply because ST is more of a YA show and the others... are not lol. but as a general approach it's better to throw everything on the page and then cut it down — just go wild. pretend you are that character. imbue it with every single thought they might ever have or have had and then, when it comes time to think about pacing and action, choose the juiciest, most concise bits to keep. you won't have realised it when writing, but just the act of trying to embody that character will have seeped personality into the most basic of action sentences, meaning the more obvious thought-statement ones become superfluous.

i hope this was helpful! it's late and i wrote about 4000 words today and replied to 47 comments so i'm sort of frazzled but i do love talking about my craft, so feel free to ask me anything else.

[probablyin-bed]

Sweet as Candy

Happy Halloween!!! Here's a little blurb inspired by a conversation I had with my friends.

cw: none really!! some halloween domesticity w eddie. Maybe some suggestive stuff.

18+ pls!!! MDNI

I do not consent to any of my work being reposted or claimed as someone else’s.

🎃

🎃

🎃

"Eddie! You're not even trying to make the candy last!" You scolded as you watch him give another fistful of candy to a trick or treater. Ever a generous man.

"Babe, she was cute. She deserved way more than two pieces for that princess leia costume, " You tilt your head so you can see the little girl walking away, showing off all the candy she just got to her parents. She was pretty cute, she wore the long white dress and had her hair styled into the signature leia buns.

"Besides we should be getting way more than 5 bags of candy, I refuse to be a 2 piece household." Eddie had been very adamant about this since the first group of kids showed. But, It was only two hours later and you were just about to finish off the fourth bag.

"5 bags should've lasted us way longer than two hours baby. S'all i'm saying."

"7 bag minimum next year. The kids will know to come back to this house because of how much candy they get. Just watch."

"Yeah, but maybe if you didn't use both hands to scoop the candy maybe 5 would be enough."

"These hands are doing the lords work in the eyes of those kids, sweetheart." He holds up his hands as if to show you proof, never losing his dramatic flair after all these years.

"M'thinking your hands are too big." You tease with a slight shake in your head. As you turn away from him to get the last jumbo-sized bag of candy, you don't catch that famous glint in your husband's eye.

He shuts the front door to your newly purchased home and creeps up behind you. You're oblivious to his scheming until you feel those big hands grab your sides and pull you into his chest.

"You mean these hands?" His voice dropping into that low tone he knows will turn your legs to jelly. His hold on you never falters as his hands roam up and down your sides, along your hips and around to your tummy. Your head falls back to his shoulder and your eyes flutter shut.

"Yeah. Those hands." The words come out of you light and airy. The attention making your brain get all fuzzy, you can't help but to melt into his touch. His lips find that spot on your neck and he leaves a few loaded kisses as he hums in acknowledgment. You get lost in the moment and forget where you are, what you're doing. It's all just Eddie Eddie Eddie.

You wish you could stay this way forever, blind to the world around you. Just him and you, happy and at peace in each others hold. The bliss doesn't last nearly long enough before the assault on your doorbell fills the quiet.

You can't help but let out a small whine. You want to stomp your feet and throw a fit until he just takes you to bed but you know he's been looking forward to handing out candy to the local kids. It was one of the first things he said when you moved in. You couldn't be selfish and ask him to call it quits for the night.

Eddie hesitates though, his grip loosened and head turned in the direction of the door where all the kids are waiting. You expected him to leave you high and dry, but you could never hold that against him. He pulls you back into him one last time to whisper into your ear. You have try to hold in your laughter when you feel his warm breath on your neck and the physical affect your little moment you just shared had on him.

"Baby."

"Yes Eddie?"

"Do you think we can just put the rest of the candy in a bowl and call it a night?"

"Please."

"I'll be right back."

With a smack of a kiss to your cheek, he's off to find that damn bowl.

🎃

🎃

🎃

ty for reading :)))

[moonselune]

Wyll and a druid + ranger multiclass tav for a drabble?? Tav is really good at swordfighting so maybe she's asking him for styles or they're sparring

Ooo Ooo Wyll is actually the type of man I need in my life but have absolutely no hopes of finding xoxoxox

ANYWAY

Hope you like this :)

----

The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the camp as you tightened the straps on your gauntlets. You were a formidable fighter, drawing on your blend of druidic wisdom and ranger agility, but tonight you sought a different kind of challenge, growing tired of Karlach's brashness and Lae'zel's criticality. You watched Wyll, the formidable "Blade of Frontiers," sharpening his sword with practiced ease and a thought bloomed in your mind.

"Mind if I join you?" Your voice broke the quiet, a hint of mischief in your tone as you slowly walked towards him. You had always admired him, his bravery, his gentility, his politeness, but now you were looking for something a bit more intimate in him.

Wyll looked up, his eyes sparkling with interest. "Thinking of adding some flair to your fighting style, Y/N?"

You grinned, your fingers dancing over the hilt of her sword. "Something like that. I could use a few pointers from the legendary Blade of Frontiers."

Wyll stood, stretching his muscles with a fluid grace that had you subconsciously staring. "Alright then, let's see what you've got."

You took your stances, eyes locked in mutual challenge. The first clash of their blades echoed through the camp, a symphony of skill and strength. You moved with the fluidity of the forest, your strikes precise and swift. Wyll countered with a blend of elegance and power, each motion a testament to his training.

"Not bad," Wyll teased, parrying a particularly fierce strike. "But you're holding back."

You smirked, your eyes narrowing. "You'd know if I wasn't. You seem to enjoy watching me train"

You lunged, pushing him back with a flurry of strikes that had him on the defensive. It hadn't helped him that he had become flustered at your comment.

Wyll's smile grew as he recovered, a flicker of admiration in his gaze. "That's more like it." He pivoted, his blade dancing through the air as he countered your attack, their proximity closing with each movement.

As the duel intensified, the air between you seemed to crackle with a different kind of energy. Each clash of your swords brought you closer, breaths mingling, eyes locked in an unspoken understanding. Your heart raced, not just from the exertion but from the flush that began to overtake you, the animal within you going primal.

Wyll's next move brought him dangerously close to you, your faces inches apart. "You fight well, Y/N," he murmured, his voice low and intimate.

"Likewise," You replied, her voice barely above a whisper. You could feel the heat of his breath, the intensity in his gaze.

Your swords crossed again, but this time, instead of pulling away, you let the momentum bring you even closer. Wyll's hand found your waist, steadying you as he paused, the world narrowing to just the two of them.

"Careful, Wyll," You said softly, her lips curving into a playful smile. "You might make me think you like this."

Wyll chuckled, his grip tightening slightly. "And if I do?"

Their swords lowered, forgotten for the moment as you leaned in, you eyes flickering to his lips. "Then you'd better be ready to prove it."

With a boldness that matched your fighting spirit, you closed the distance, your lips brushing against Wyll's in a desperate kiss. For a moment, the duel was forgotten, replaced by pure desire.

When you finally pulled back, breathless and flushed, Wyll's grin was wider than ever. "Consider me challenged," he said, his voice husky.

You laughed softly, stepping back but not breaking their gaze. "Good. Because I'm not done with you yet, Blade of Frontiers."

[askroahmmythril]

RMN-001 - Vegas Man

Y'know, I guess I never really gave my original eight Robot Masters write-ups like I've done with the later ones, so may as well do that along with finally doing my own finalized renditions of them. So let's start with my first custom Robot Master, Vegas Man!

Designed as an entertainment robot, Vegas Man operates a very glitzy casino. Truthfully, the place could be described as fairly gaudy, lots of gold trim, neon signs, flashing lights, but Vegas Man believes in making it super bright, flashy, and eye-catching. He was made with a bit of a western outlaw flair, in keeping with slot machines sometimes being called "one-armed bandits." He has a bit of a fascination with luck and fortune, and even though he could easily rig games in his favor, he refuses to do so, wanting to see what fortune has in store.

(Originally, I tended to envision him having a Cajun style accent in the vein of 90's X-Men cartoon Gambit, but I'm torn now between that or a smooth southwestern drawl to go more with his overall looks.)

His weapon is the Casino Shield. It summons four ace cards to spin around the user. Damage can destroy the cards one at a time. Hitting the fire button again makes any remaining cards shoot outwards. If a card hits an enemy, it explodes into a flurry of cards of that suit, causing a small "area of effect" damage field there for a short moment.

[mslanna]

OH MY GOSH! Those pictures/inspirations for a chivalry AU have got me imagining a scenario with Raphael as a warrior prince/king taking his loyal knight (who is also maybe lover) aside - maybe even temporarily leaving the Hėłłš to go to some kind of special location on the Material Plane - and privately proposing that they rule together.

Also 'discount Raphael' is right! If the man doesn't have (or had) a cambion form then he's an imposter. 😈

Well, this took a while. 🙈 And a different course. 😅 Hope you still like it, Nonny.

they/them Tav without body configuration PG13 Read it on AO3

A Cure for Restlessness

Six years after defeating the Netherbrain, Tav still hasn't settled down. They gave Raphael the Crown of Karsus and returned to rebuild Baldur's Gate. But it didn’t take. After only a few months, Tav took up their helldusk armour (a small token of appreciation), slung their favourite maul (enhanced by the wizard from Waterdeep and the selunite cleric) over their back and walked away.

Raphael watched with interest. He had considered them a piece in the game of ruling the city. But something drove his favourite client and off they went. As a paladin, Tav was a welcome sight for many in need. It only worried Raphael that they travelled alone and rarely stopped by at their companion's homes.

Tav isolated themself and the devil didn't know why. He doesn't like not knowing things. But the scouts he sends return with empty hands. There seems to be no reason for Tav's restless travels. Every now and then, Raphael offers jobs through middle men. After accepting a couple, Tav sends back the message that he can come himself the next time.

He does.

Tav stands out in the tavern – their armour shines with use and care, but the paladin within looks lost; tired, restless – driven. They force a smile as he slips into the booth opposite them. "I thought you'd be too busy conquering the hells to trifle with mere mortals."

"I always have time for my favourite client." With a wave of his hand, Raphael changes the wine into something actually potable.

"Checking in on me with flimsy quests?" The smile doesn't waver. It sticks to their face like a marble mask.

"I find your choice of life – interesting." Raphael scrutinises his adventurer. They don't look well-rested or well-provisioned. "And it is taking a toll on you. I wonder why."

The smile flickers into something sadder but more truthful. "Do you now."

"Our cooperation was a fruitful one, little mouse. I never let a useful token out of sight." He sips and watches while Tav stares into their own cup. When they finally look up, Tav's glance skitters away from his.

"So you still consider me – useful?"

"Always." Raphael raises his cup. "Let us drink to that."

They do and after this first, awkward meeting, it is Raphael who decides on the setting. Always something with style and flair. A place Tav stands out for their armour more than he does for his finery. Always offering food and wine. Usually offering work. The meetings work better when he brings a quest along.

"Of course they do," Tav discloses, eyes on their empty plate. "It means we get to meet again soon."

Colour rises to their cheeks. It is endearing and a useful thing to know. Despite the progress Raphael makes conquering the hells, dealing with his little mouse has become a treasured constant.

He meets Tav in Lastlight Inn, a trove of memories, and offers a game of lanceboard. Tav accepts though they play astoundingly bad. They ask about Mol, still avoiding to return to Baldur's Gate. There is little reason for them to. All former companions settled elsewhere.

"Too many bad memories and not enough good ones," Tav says one day. They shake their head. "Too many things ended there. And not for the better."

"You saved the city," Raphael counters. "The Swordcoast too, if not all of Faerûn. What is that, if not cause to celebrate?"

Tav sighs and empties their cup in one draught. "Important isn't the same as personal. But personal hurts more, matters more. And I lost good friends that day. And more."

Raphael doesn't prod at the 'more' Tav mentions.

He doesn't want Tav back in Baldur's gate. Raphael wants them in his House of Hope, so he doesn't press the point. And they meet with him happily, and it is a thread to pull on gently unless it slip thorough his fingers again. He let that happen before, misjudging Tav and their plans. He would be more careful this time.

It takes careful planning to lure Tav back to the city. A complicated job that loops back unexpectedly but naturally to Baldur's Gate. His room in Sharess' Caress changed enough to remind of its former state but not trigger any averse memories. Or so he hopes.

The disappointment on Tav's face when they enter is a surprise. Everything they can't see from where they stand morphs back into its natural state. He can't make out where he went wrong. But the meeting goes on without a hitch and when he suggest they meet again in the Devil's Den, Tav agrees.

They met in is room in Sharess' Cress to seal something akin to a deal more and more often. Raphael changed the room back to its former glory and that relaxed Tav. It pleased Raphael that his little mouse came so willingly. Each visit to their dreaded home town less reluctant than the last. Still they were oblivious to his secondary motives. Or Tav ignored them on purpose.

Yet Raphael kept up the unnecessary little touches, the invasion of Tav's personal space. He leant close enough to smell their hair – brimming with sunshine and blood – and the sweat seeping into their armour.

Catching this little mouse is close to an obsession, close to what Hope kindled in the devil. But this time, he is careful, crafty. Tav gets accustomed to his proximity, his – attentions. When Raphael is sure that Tav will neither run nor scream, will, in the worst case, break into discussion, he prepares his stage.

The room in Sharess' Caress is set with care. Tav's favourite foods and wine. Subtle scents and almost audible music. His little mouse enters, death and victory in their wake and for a moment, Raphael allows himself a glimpse of the future he plans.

He closes his trap slowly and Tav shows no sign of noticing. Maybe they do not care. But at least they are not as careless with their life any longer as they were directly after their victory. Raphael lost more than one warlock in those years.

When his hands catch Tav's they blink, wary and confused. Yet when Raphael lets go, he notes the slight slump in their posture. An uncertainty he doesn't know where it stems from. An obstacle he carefully files down with conversation and carefully careless touches. But it is not until he catches their chin between his fingers and presses a gentle kiss to Tav's lips that understanding hits home.

They melt against him easily and eagerly. It is a victory so effortless that Raphael wonders if he is dreaming.

A feeling that last as he devours them whole, inch by inch, slowly, deeply, thoroughly. He takes them again in his true form, an ecstasy too good to be bricked behind his mortal skin; sucks up their taste and his name from their lips.

A sweet victory. A step into his future as sovereign of the nine hells. A path he never planned to take alone. He stays the night, wrapping his prize tightly in his arms and wings. When morning comes, Tav moves in his arms.

Raphael whispers his promises into their ear and Tav presses back against him mumbling. He leaves a key to the rooms on their bedside table. Tav lies with their face soft and serene. It calls to him and Raphael returns for a last kiss.

# # #

Tav didn't return to Baldur's gate. A riddle Raphael had no answer to. They avoided the place even more than before, roaming further and longer. When he attempted to meet them somewhere else, Tav just didn't show up.

Raphael pondered, as he did years ago, what went on in the paladin's head. Were they unwilling to commit? Was his offer unclear? Did Tav just not want him? Despite a memorable night of proving the opposite?

Forcing them into the city didn't go well. Jobs that warranted a visit were refused. Profitable or honourable – Tav avoided Baldur's Gate like the plague. With one leg in a bloody war for Avernus, Raphael didn't find the time to craft a scenario subtle enough for his liking and for a while his pursuit of the little mouse languished.

Only when Zariel was finally contained in their castle and he launched a prolonged siege, did his attention hone in on the spot of loss in his life. That nagging little thing. The victory that should have been his twice already. Sometimes he still felt Tav's lips on his skin when he closed his eyes. How could that devoted glow in their eyes been a lie?

A hunt was staged, leading Tav from the Coast into the city in hot pursuit. It worked as far as getting them into the city. Yet they did not drop by the Devil's Den. Tav concluded their business and left Baldur's Gate without a look back. Bringing them back remained a challenge. But with Zariel firmly locked up and their forces dwindling, however slowly, Raphael had time.

If Tav noted how much of their work led them back to Baldur's Gate, they didn't show. He sent warlocks to keep an eye on Tav. Never Korrilla though. That face was known to his little mouse. Things had to look natural.

It's a miscalculation on his part that finally does it. Raphael is enraged at his failure and exhilarated at its success. Tav drags themself into his rooms with great effort. To Mamzell Amira's aggravation they leave a trail of blood. But Tav is a hero so some things can be forgiven.

When the armour falls, Tav's body is a mess. Shirt and trousers are plastered to their skin with sweat and blood. It's just a small sleigh of hand to turn one of the many bottles on the side board Tav clings to into a small healing potion. Tav downs it in one gulp. It helps. But not much.

Tav peels out of their clothes wincing in pain. But by now the skin is unbroken. Dark blue and purple splotches cover it and the placement implies broken ribs, bruises and contusions. The mortal hobbles towards the pool and clamber clumsily into the warm water. The heat helps their cramped muscles relax and Tav lays their head back on the tiled floor.

The job wasn't bad per se. But this was Baldur's Gate and at night all hooded adventurers looked the same. Bad luck for everybody involved in Tav's case. But at least they get to wash off blood and grime whereas the bandits lay dead in the streets. Though their bodies are likely looted and vanished into suspicious pastries by now.

Tav breathes deep, gauging the amount of pain it causes. Once they are clean and feel slightly human again, they will search the place for more potions. The devil wouldn't have a hideout without backup.

Thinking of the devil – the soft woosh of apparition snaps Tav from their deliberations. The open their eyes wearily and there he is. Not unexpected but certainly unwelcome.

In his human form Raphael presents unthreatening. A conscious choice to put clients at ease. A handsome face to overcome apprehensions and doubts. He hopes it is enough to keep his mouse from bolting. Not that they would get far in the shape they are in.

A mistake, a miscalculation. Every day life in Baldur's Gate. But he is willing to grant the remaining, fleeing, pursued, perpetrators the mercy of a quick death. After all they shooed Tav right to where he wants them. Raphael glances over his little mouse, taking in the black and purple skin. Maybe a little torture for the bandits.

Tav winces in the water, stopping themselves halfway through trying to cover their body. As if Raphael doesn't know its every inch. Not as well as he'd like to, but that will be amended. Soon, he hopes.

"Would have been asking too much that you don't appear, huh." Tav curls up a little into themself.

"Is it not my place as much as yours?" Raphael heats the water a little more, engulfing his mouse in relaxing warmth.

They reply with a snort.

"Why are you here?" Tav crosses the arms before them even if the pain of doing so is clearly visible on their face.

"To see you, of course. What a question." With a wave of his hand, Raphael draws a glass filled with clear water from the air. "And I do not like what I see."

Tav's lips harden and they try to shrug.

Raphael steps to the edge of the pool. The water steams and he wants to strew petals into it. The scent of roses and jasmine fits his mouse well. But they are not ready. Yet. And also not healed. First things first.

"And what is that supposed to be?" Tav jerks their head in the direction of the glass.

"Healing waters from my House of Hope." Raphael slid closer holding the stem of the glass carefully.

For a moment Tav looks at their tattered body. The outline ripples in the water. "Why would you do that? What do you want?"

"Does it seem so strange that I want to help?" He tilts his head.

"You're a devil. You deal in deals and nothing is for free."

"And I cannot make an exception? Not even for you?"

"You got what you wanted, didn't you? So what is left?" Tav's tone is hard and hostile.

"And what would that be?" He steps closer to the water.

"My body," Tav spits. "You got it."

"I am not having it right now," he replies and rakes his eyes over them. "And while I am eager to remedy that, you don't seem to. A wish I will respect even if I do not understand it."

Raphael snaps away his clothes and steps into the hot pool. Tav's eyes follow his every movement and he smirks, when they cannot keep their eyes to themself. He sits, holding the glass over the water.

"You left." Suddenly Tav sounds small. Lost. "I – you were gone."

"I left you the key."

"A memory of what I lost. What you took. A small joke on my expense."

"Oh." Realisation sets in like ice down his spine. "You did not hear a word I said, did you? When you pressed your back against me and mumbled sweetly, you didn't actually hear a word I said."

When Tav's reply is a look of confusion, Raphael moves to sit at their side. He leans and repeats his promises one by one and Tav's eyes grow big and wet.

"Drink," he ends and raises the glass to their lips. "To heal your body."

Cool fingers close over his as Tav accepts the water. They drink deeply with closed eyes.

"To heal the body," the repeat and take the glass from his hands. Tav empties it and puts it down on the floor. Before Raphael can reply. Tav straddles him and adjusts their position with more grinding than necessary. He feels his immediate reaction and so do they.

With a smile Tav presses their forehead against his. "To heal the soul." They kiss him and Raphael is more than happy to oblige with this quest for their healing.

# # #

Things went smoothly after that. Though Tav carried a soft uncertainty with them for a couple of months, Raphael made sure to prove it groundless at every turn. He made a home in their body as much as he had in their heart, leaving only their soul untouched.

And Tav reciprocated. They answered touch for touch, kiss for kiss and call for call. A smile spread over their face when he approached that was his alone. As was their body and Raphael took advantage of it. In return Tav demanded his attention, demanded him and all of him.

There were few sounds as sweet as his name dropping from Tav's lips in rasped pieces, few tastes so satisfying as Tav's sweat and sex mixed with a hint of blood. They bled form him happily. Marks of his teeth and nails covered them in divine patterns and Tav wore them with pride.

He lured them in slowly. A job here a request there. Little things that got them around in Baldur's Gate. Small jobs that were more for visibility than their results. A strategy that worked. More people approached Tav and bound them I the city for longer periods.

Once it became known that the Hero of Baldur's Gate was back, the number of petitions grew immeasurably, became too much for one mortal to handle. If anybody frowned up Tav's place of residence in the beginning, it was soon just another quirk. Tav placed a heavy curtain before the pool and sleeping area and nobody questioned their choice. Mamzell Amira was proud to have such a prestigious lodger. It did not matter Tav didn't sell their body under their roof. Tav fanned her business still.

When Tav rested against his side, exhausted and relaxed, pliable in every way, Raphael nudged ever so gently towards greater things. If helping everybody themselves was impossible, why not improve the city in a way that helped the petitioners instead? If marauding bandits threatened the outlying farms, why not campaign for better protection. They were sure to have ideas fit for such a venture.

Tav didn't go easily towards such options. They were very much hands on, be it their weapons or him. A trait Raphael appreciated in general. It hindered his efforts to gently insert Tav into the political scene of the city. But the devil hadn't gotten to where he was without patience. Patience and subterfuge.

The first projects that Tav was involved with were smashing successes. Expectedly, Tav was encouraged to apply themselves more often to the bettering of their city. Opposed to his dealing in the hells, this was a pleasant mix of gentle nudging and passionate sex. A life Tav was also more than suited for.

# # #

Ten years after the defeat of the Netherbrain Baldur's Gate holds a grand celebration. All companions are invited, most attend. The Carnival of the Last Days premiers a show centring Tav and their heroic fight. The city is filled with market stalls, wine and food flow freely. Tav heads the parade and shares a speech with the attending companions. The vampire spawn joins after nightfall and Tav dances late into the night.

But Raphael is patient. He knows they will come to him in the end. So he prepares his suite. An exact replica of the room his little mouse walked in ten years ago. The refreshments, the dark red wine and the scented oils and soaps to mingle with the rose petals' heavy smell.

When Tav opens the door, he turns, dressed as he did back in the day, blue and red. Their eyes light up and Tav sweeps into his arms to bury their face against his throat. They smell of people and food but Raphael is not surprised to find them barely tipsy. As grounded as they are in the city's political landscape, Tav has no love for the elaborate festivities in honour of their deeds.

"You are disappointing your many admirers." Raphael hands them a goblet filled with heavy red wine.

From him, they take it and drink, a smile on their lips. "Are you disappointed, too?"

"Never." It slips from his lips easily and Raphael is surprised to find it true. Complicated, inscrutable, a challenge – Tav was all that. But they never disappointed him even when they thwarted his plans for them. He raises his cup to them. "To our future."

"And to our past," Tav adds. They both drink and Tav looks around the room. The Devil's Den is bare by the standards Raphael set. They know something is afoot.

"I didn't think you'd stick around for so long," Tav admits.

"There are many benefits to being a devil's favourite."

"Any I didn't have the pleasure of experiencing yet?"

"Are you interested if I say yes?" Raphael puts an arm around their shoulders. The feeling of Tav melting against him is delicious as ever. "I can give you a tour."

"Sounds promising." Tav takes another sip. "Will I need more wine?"

"I am amply provisioned where we will go." He transports them into his House of Hope in a flash of hellfire. Tav doesn't flinch and shows only curiosity when they arrive. Raphael did not bring them here yet. It was the last step. Tonight he would succeed in securing them forever.

"You home?" Tav asks softly.

"Indeed." He takes their arm and puts his hand over theirs. "I promised you a tour, did I not."

He shows them around and explains as they walk. Tav picks up something to eat as they pass through the feast hall. They are less than happy with the debtors but as a fixture in his home, Tav needs to know.

The boudoir is another precarious station. But Haarlep behaves – under threat of unimaginable pain – for once. They wear the form of a lithe drown and cycle through a few other forms as demonstration.

"Not that I need them now," the incubus sighs. "Now he only wants to fuck you."

"A temporary setback, I am sure." Tav seems unperturbed.

"I like them," Haarlep says towards Raphael. "I do hope we can play some time."

Raphael doesn't reply. His little mouse is his and he has no intention to share. Tav follows willingly and the tour continues. The throne room is a relatively new addition to his house. But every ruling devil needs one. Hewn from black marble with white highlights the hall stretches into all directions.

As he steps through the double doors, Raphael changes his dress with a wave of his hand. Back is the black with the red sash. The Crown of Karsus sits heavy on his head, a burden he wears willingly for the sake of power and order.

Tav hesitates. He can feel their eyes flicker around uncertain. Their glances hitches on the thrones. Two. Of the same size and make. Standing next to each other on the dais at the opposite wall.

Raphael reaches out and Tav takes his hand, lets him guide them through the room. "You said that the most annoying thing about politics is your lack of power to see changes through."

Tav nods carefully. The suspect a trap and they are not wrong.

"I can give you the power to make the changes. Power enough to not be questioned at every step along the way." He stops before the two thrones and gazes at them thoughtfully. "Not in Baldur's Gate, though. That city is not under my jurisdiction."

He turns to his mouse. Tav looks at him with the same deep-seated longing they always show. A tender emptiness only he can fill. It is time to finally conclude his deal with them. For a moment, Raphael catches Tav's chin between his fingers. Maybe he is delaying the final moment of truth. He was certain twice already.

"Rule with me." Raphael pulls a crown from the air, akin to his own, complementing his in ways his little mouse complements him. He presents is with grave decorum, ready to set it upon Tav's head as they crowned him all those years ago.

He sees the questions rush behind Tav's eyes. Hundreds of them to which he carefully prepared answers – logistics, occupation, their absurdly short lifespan. Raphael is ready to reassure them as long as necessary.

Tav stands very still. For a moment their lips move and their eyes search his face.

He can wait. At this point, Raphael has all the time in the world. The crown warms up to his touch, it's weight carefully chosen to be noticeable without being a burden. How he longs to place it on their head. His crowned little mouse, a crowning achievement.

With a sudden, Tav breaks into motion, but instead of kneeling, they throw themself at him. Their arms close around him tightly and though Tav buries their face deep against his chest, Raphael understands the one word coming from their lips.

Yes.

His arms close around his prize and the crown dangles uselessly behind Tav's back. For once it doesn't matter that Tav doesn't adhere to his script. He offered them the world and all it contained. And Tav chose him. Not the crown and its privilege. Not the luxuries of the life he offers. Tav chose him. Unreservedly. Completely.

Finally.

[egg-emperor]

I'm planning on doing a complete redraw of this (primarily to uh... make his torso NOT look weird as shit, I'm trying to make him fat but not like 100% classic eggman body style, just still fatter since I didn't want to copy the movie's skinnier body. But I don't think I portrayed it well here, but I'm still not used to the original classic proportions.), but what do you think? It's my interpretation of eggman's younger appearance before the sonic 1 game.

My idea here is that, like his film counterpart, he had a full set of hair (but he has a man bun instead, referencing the twitter takeover), but his reasoning for shaving his head and growing a full mustache is so he can resemble the man he admired, gerald robotnik.. the outfit is inspired by the films, but I tried to mix in alot of the classic designs elements just to suggest that he loves this style he puts it in most of his outfits up until his SA1-onward appearance

I'm gonna redraw this soon, since the torso just looks really bad, but is this good or... no?

I like it! I like how you gave him the man bun he mentioned in the Takeover XD it looks pretty good on him. I have no issue with the idea of him getting fatter thus coming into his identity with his egg shape more over time, I think it's cool and interesting and it's far better than the idea that he was ever stick thin and was suddenly hit with an immediate drastic change in body type

I also like him growing out his stache and letting it be more free and not as styled over time, less tame and more wild like his personality as he only becomes more openly crazy, as even classic Egg observes in modern Egg in the future hehe. I also hc he shaved his head by choice, at the first sign of balding, but was also happy to look more like his grandfather. Growing out the stache does point to inspiration too

You added a much needed flair to the movie inspired outfits, they look a lot more stylish and not bland like the movie's which is much more Eggman, and I dig what you did with the third to last too. This is a believable progression of his design and definitely along the lines of what I'd like to see if the animated Sonic movie of my dreams happened and they decided to show him in the past. Good job!

[righthonyakutranslations]

Please, Jeeves - Translation Proofreaders Wanted!

Update: We've got the proofreaders we need! Thank you so much, everyone!

Hello, all! You may have heard tell of a fan translation project for Please, Jeeves - the Japanese manga adaptation of the Jeeves and Wooster short stories by P. G. Wodehouse! Well... we at Right Honyaku Translations (yes, it's a group started solely for this project) are quite happy to announce that the translation of the first chapter is complete!

However, while I (Red, the translator and moderator of this tumblr) may have a lot of dedication and enthusiasm, as well as several years of Japanese under my belt, in truth I am not entirely fluent in the language and still make mistakes. As such, we are looking for proofreaders for the translation! It may be a long shot, given that there are a lot of moving parts and the whole thing is a volunteer project, but in a perfect and ideal world we would love to have the following:

A Japanese speaker, preferably fluent, with experience editing English-language texts. This is in order to make sure the translation of the original Japanese has no mistakes. (Familiarity with the Japanese translation of Jeeves - specifically, Morimura's translation, as it differs in many respects from the newer translation by Iwanaga and Koyama - is not a requirement but would be a great bonus.)

A British English speaker, preferably with some knowledge of old British literary style, and P. G. Wodehouse's writing in particular. This is in order to make sure the English translation does not dip into any non-British pitfalls we as Americans are unaware of, and sounds suitably Wodehousean.

However, if you don't fit those descriptions, but think you can lend a hand, let us know! We'd appreciate all the help we can get.

There are also two things to note, so the translation doesn’t look utterly strange. I'll stick those under the cut if you're interested.

Firstly, since much of this manga is taken from Morimura’s Japanese translation of the original Jeeves canon, a good deal of this is back-translation i.e. rather than literally translating the Japanese, I am often replacing it with its original English line as written by Wodehouse. This will only change if a scenario in the manga is extremely dependent on the Japanese wording over the original, which I have not yet encountered. One thing this manga does a lot is have partial alterations made to Morimura’s translation in its dialogue, in which case I translate it by combining the original Wodehouse line with some changes of my own.

Secondly, given that Japanese is a radically different language from English, it does not really possess equivalents for all of the broad, hyper-specific Edwardian slang as used in the original stories - for example, you end up seeing “cove” being translated simply as 「男」or “man”. So I have endeavored for my translation to be not just a translation, but also something of a Wodehouseification - in short, making the translated dialogue sound as if it would fit into the written world of Jeeves, even if it means putting extra Edwardian flair in the dialogue that wasn’t present in the Japanese original. A bit like a localization, what? I’ve done something similar while translating Japanese fan comics of The Great Ace Attorney (since the official English version adds a great deal of Victorian flavor in its structure and word choice and I thus wished to mimic that), and I’ve written fanfiction in the world of Jeeves before, so I hope that I am reasonably up to the task.

[octo-artist]

Calm Before the Inkstorm

Pre-war yan! Octavio x reader x platonic pre-war yan! Craig

Chapter 2: bright afternoons

Tw: toxic relationship, controlling behaviors, general yandere tendencies, slight abuse warning, abuse of power, no beta we die like men.

I do not condone the actions in this fic, if you are in a toxic relationship please seek out help.

Certain parts are heavily inspired by Dissonant melodies by DriftingNova

Y/N = Your name

T/C = Tentacle color

E/C = Eye color

Mastserlist Previous chapter Next chapter

———————————————————————

The next day rolled around, Craig and Octavio once again speaking, this time looking over some sheet music Craig had provided.

“What kind of slimy hipster writes sheet music with 10 notes in an octave?!” Octavio exclaimed in confusion as he read the sheet music.

“Well I’m self-taught, and ten was a number that made sense to me. What do you use?”, Craig responded to which Octavio yelled, “Eight! That’s why it’s called an OCTave”

Y/N chuckled at the duo from where they were watching and working.

“Man who knew being in a real band would be so difficult…”, Craig sighed as he fell back with his arms behind his head.

“Real band? Psh.” Octavio brushed off as he continued reading the papers, “this is the first time we’ve met up to practice. We’ve never even played in front of an audience.”

Shooting up waving his hands up and down Craig exclaims, “AN AUDIENCE! THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. The neighboring village is hosting a festival tomorrow night! We should go perform ~A fresh festival of song and spectacle~” when he finishes Octavio looks up at Craig confused while Y/N smiles and chuckles at Craig’s excitement.

“I think that would be a splendid idea don’t you Tavi?” Y/N says over their shoulder to the duo, “a festival sounds like fun!”

“As appealing an idea it is, there’s no way I’d be allowed to jam with commoners like that”, Octavio states returning to the sheets of paper he was holding.

Craig, confused and disappointed, asks, “Why not?”

“Well I mean, im… I’m the future octarian king. I have to watch my image.” Octavio states plainly as he looks at Craig.

“Wait…” Craig processing the information soon exclaims, “YOU'RE ROYALTY?!”

Y/N bursts out laughing hysterically at Craig’s denseness as Octavio shouts back “Of course I am! I told you I was a PRINCE!”

“WHA- I thought that was just a STAGE NAME!” Craig cries out in shock.

“YOU'RE SITTING IN PALACE!!” Octavio shouts back the argument, making Y/N’s laughter worse as they set down their gardening tools to kneel down and catch their breath.

Octavio taking notice sighs saying, “Great we broke Y/N”

Craig holds his face looking at the ground talking to himself, “w-wow… Real royalty.”

Pinching his nose Octavio grumbles, “I had to lie and tell the guards you wet the son of some inkling governor to let you in. No way I can just walk out.”

Snapping out of his stupor Craig looks to Octavio and suggests, “Well, what if you snuck out?I mean no offense but I snuck IN twice!” He points at the wall continuing, “you could put on a disguise and jump the fence ~with all the flash and flair of a rebel prince~”

“Huh, a ‘rebel prince’” thinking it over, Octavio grins and states, “You know what cap’n, I like your style! Tomorrow night I’m goin off the grid!”

Time flew as the days passed, the next evening closing in as Y/N sat in Octavio’s room, the prince making final adjustments to his disguise. “Well don’t you look dashing in that.” Y/N teased causing a deep maroon blush to cross Octavio’s face as he tries to hide it with a smirk and responding, “you’re so lucky I need to be ready for when Craig arrives because otherwise I’d get you back for that little comment my dear.”

“Speaking of being ready, I should return to my room to change into my own street clothes so I can come see the two of yo-“, Y/N began.

Interrupting them Octavio says “I don’t know Y/N I worry you’d get lost in the crowd or hurt if you go, folks are unpredictable, maybe hang back and wait for me to return?”

“Tavi, that's not fair, I want to see the two of you perform… I can handle myself fine and I won’t stray far from the stage”, Y/N argued back.

Octavio halted his preparations to approach Y/N kneeling down to where they were seated. “Y/N you know I love you and I just want what’s best for you, and what’s best is for you to stay here where it’s safe. Maybe next time you can come with us but if we get caught you could get in serious trouble with the council.”

His tone was firm, as if to try to leave no room for arguments, leaning in he gave Y/N a kiss before standing up again and grabbing his instrument. “I’ll be back soon, keep the bed warm yea?” He smirks saying that last part before dipping out into the darkened garden to sneak out.

“‘Keep the bed warm yea?’” Y/N says in a mocking tone before scoffing, “As if, I’m going and he can’t stop me! I’m a grown inkling and I can handle myself just fine!” And with that statement they stand up and march off to their quarters to change out of their work clothes and into something more comfortable. Biding the guards at the entrance goodnight as they leave.

“Let’s see, money; check, pocket watch; check, bag; checkeroo. Looks like I’m good to go. Music festival here I come! Sorry tavi but I’m not missing out on a night of fun!” At this Y/N happily jogs down to the nearby village lit up with colorful lanterns and abuzz with excitement and life. The sound of children laughing and cephalopods from all over laughing and singing filling Y/N with a sense of peace and joy. The air carried the savory scent of crabby cakes and the sweetness of sugary desserts. Vendors lined the pathway displaying a variety of goods and games.

“Hmmm I know Mia was disappointed she couldn’t make it to the festival since she was on rotation tonight so maybe I should get her something to make her feel better. She’s got a sweet tooth so maybe I can get her some dango and candies.” Y/N thought as they browsed the stalls. Finding one filled with various desserts all nicely packaged they found what they were looking for, paying the vendor and carefully placing the packaged sweets in their bag with a smile.

As Y/N approaches the center of town they hear the stage announcement for Octavio and Craig’s group Out of the Blue, picking up their pace they find a spot in the crowd to watch the performance excited for their friend and lover. Soon the duo stepped out and prepared to start, only for it to come out quite disjointed causing the inkling to cringe a bit in response to the sound. The two quietly argue on the stage before starting again, still a bit out of time but significantly better than before. As the two wrapped up, Y/N noticed Octavio’s gaze landing on them and could feel his anger at the fact they didn’t stay put like he’d told them to.

“Looks like I’m getting scolded when we get back…”, Y/N thought as they began to realize the flaw in their plans. “Oh well, at least it was fun while it lasted”

As Y/N turned to walk off and continue perusing the area they were soon stopped when a rather miffed Octavio called out to them, “Oh no you don’t, Y/N get your ass over here right now!”

Y/N weighing their choices carefully speeds off not wanting to be scolded in the middle of a crowd, Octavio chasing after them leaving a very confused and concerned Craig to wait for the results when the upset prince told him to wait there.

“Y/N get back here right now!”, Octavio yelled after them, garnering a few folks' attention.

“Nope, not till you’ve cooled off!”, Y/N responded weaving between people, ducking into a less crowded street to try and move a bit easier, only to quickly be snatched up by the angry prince who had caught up with the lack of cephalopods in the area. “You were saying?”, He states holding Y/N up off the ground.

“Oh come on you can’t honestly think i’d miss out on a festival did you? You know how much I love them!”, Y/N pleads their case in hopes of getting octavio to let go of the situation and just return to the festival and have fun. Octavio, leaning in closely pinning Y/N to a nearby wall out of sight, responds, “If you think I’m going to let you off easy when you deliberately disobeyed me both as your partner and prince you are sorely mistaken. But that will have to wait till we’ve gotten back to the palace. Here is hardly the place for you to receive your… punishment.”

At this he pulls away releasing Y/N from the wall but holding onto their hand tightly so they don’t slip away, leading them back to the festival where Craig is waiting with participation ribbons, Octavio grumbling at not even getting a proper placement in the competition.

Craig sensing the tension asks, “hey is everything alright? Y'all kinda just ran off suddenly and it seems like something happened…”

“Everything is fine, just a typical lovers spat.”, Octavio snaps before taking a breath, “let’s just get going, the festival is almost over so we might as well leave now.” This suggestion prompting a look of annoyance from Y/N who had wished to spend more time at the festival.

“Oh well, ok then, how about we go hang out at the treehouse for a bit before y’all get cooped up in the palace again.” Craig suggests

“I-“, Octavio begins before Y/N cuts him off saying, “That sounds nice! Don’t you agree tav? I know once we get back we’d just be heading to bed so why not stay up a little longer?”

Octavio looks at Y/N shocked only to grumble out an agreement.

“Great! Just follow me! It’s not much but it’s home away from home.”, Craig begins to ramble as they walk, Octavio slowing down to whisper in Y/N’s ear, “don’t think I’ll forget about your punishment for disobeying me. You’re just delaying the inevitable.” This statement making Y/N sweatdrop knowing that they’re going to have a hard time walking the coming morning once they’ve returned to the palace.

[s10127470]

What If One Piece had an LA-based Dub? (Part 1)

So recently, I’ve been talking with some friends on Discord about One Piece, specifically about its’ English dubs.

And essentially, we feel like that One Piece hasn't really gotten the best treatment when it comes to English dubs.

Like, we already know the travesty that was 4Kids.

But this also applies to their long-standing and current dubbers, Funimation.

This is probably a controversial opinion, but I don't think they were the best choice to dub One Piece.

Like, yes, they are of much higher quality when compared to 4Kids.

But even then….

For starters, I feel like there's a lot of miscasting here. Even among the main cast.

Probably the most obvious being in the case of Christopher Sabat as Zoro.

He just makes him sound way too old. He's suppose to be a young man.

I can't be the only one who thinks that it sounds too much like Piccolo.

And finally, I feel like Funimation's dubbing is a bit too…..straightforward (if that makes sense).

After rewatching the 4Kids dub, I've grown a sense of appreciation for it.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s still not that good.

But I feel like there’s some elements that they do better than Funimation.

In contrast to the Funimation dub, a lot of the performances have a little more life and energy to them.

Even if they're not all that good…..

One thing I really like is that many of the characters have accents, which just feels right given how the whole premise of the series is about traveling the world..

This is made even better when you get remember the Netflix adaptation, which gave a lot of characters accents, including the main ones!

Plus, 4Kids is just much better at handling the frequent comedic and silly moments.

Hell, why do you think this scene blew up in popularity?

Plus, they did a slightly better job at translating some scenes to English and not having them come off as a direct, one-to-one translation.

It's a little hard to explain, but essentially they keep what was said in the original Japanese version and kinda give their own flair to it.

But with this discussion, being the idea man that I am, it gave me the idea of an alternate timeline.

One where One Piece wasn’t picked up by 4Kids or Funimation.

But instead, it was picked up by Viz Media, who would commission an English dub out of the voice acting capital of the world: Los Angeles, California!

I feel like this alternate timeline would not only give us a much better dub than the other two, especially 4Kids.

But also do the franchise a LOT of favors....

If you know One Piece, you'd known that the series had a hard time catching up in popularity in the West.

It was 2000s. The decade was all about making everything cool, hip and edgy.

And anime was one of the prime contributors to this trend.

Plus during that time, a lot of anime fans had this stigma against Western animation, seeing it as nothing but kiddy shit.

These people are the one of the reasons why we have crap like this.....

And since One Piece is famous for having an incredibly cartoonish art-style and world, it did not do it any favors.

Made even worse with the 4Kids dub, which infamously kidified the anime to absolute HELL.

However, I feel this dub would counteract that.

The dub itself would premiere on June 2nd, 2003 on Cartoon Network as part of Toonami.

And although the would probably have some censorship, it would be NOWHERE near the level of 4Kids.

Plus, from what I've seen, anime that aired on Toonami was able to get away with a lot more explicit content due to it's clear aiming at older audiences.

For the East Blue Saga, the dub would air new episodes every week, Monday through Friday.

That's what we're gonna be covering for this part.

As we go through each arc, I'll be sharing my voice choices for the major characters in each of them.

So without further ado, let's set sail!

Romance Dawn (June 2nd-June 4th, 2003):

Starting off this showcase we have our main star the future king of the pirates himself, Monkey D. Luffy!

When thinking of a voice for Luffy, I wanted him to still be voiced by a female.

And one of the major female VAs, I've come to a tie on who would be good voice for Luffy.

And that tie is between Colleen O'Shaughnessy and Kari Wahlgren.

Between the two of them, I think their voices both perfectly fit the type of voice Luffy would have.

Pretty goofy and silly while still being able to do the more serious and emotional moments well.

And while you can still tell they're a woman, they're still able to convincingly sound like a boy.

I think the coolest thing about this choice would be that in the case of Kari, this would be one of her earliest voice acting roles, as she entered the realm of voicework in the prior year of 2002.

And about a year into her career, she would find herself becoming the official English voice of one of the most famous and revered protagonists in anime/manga history!

Next we come to Koby, who would be voiced by Pamela Adlon.

Oh yeah, let’s talk about that real quick.

In contrast to other anime dubs, this one would primarily feature voice actors typically found in Western animation.

I feel like this would make One Piece stand among the crowd, and it kinda fits since the main character himself does draw heavy influence from the Golden Age of Western Animation.

As for why I choose Pamela, especially since Koby pre-Marines was shown to have a whiny sounding voice, was because I was coming at this with the knowledge of his post-Marines look.

I’m not a fan of how the Funimation Dub gave him a new voice after we were reintroduced to him, whereas the original Japanese version kept his voice actress.

So I wanted to do the same thing they did.

I feel that Pamela was the best option.

She’s known for having a noticeably deeper and hoarse voice when compared to most female VAs.

Hence she’s famous for voicing a lot of male characters, particularly boys.

As for her performance as pre-Marine Koby, it would be pretty similar to her performance as Otto Osworth from Time Squad….which is funnily enough, a Cartoon Network show.

Now we come to Alvida, who would be voiced by Wendee Lee.

And yes, she would voice both forms of her.

Her original fat form, and current slim form.

Now we've come to the second member of the Straw Hats, Roronoa Zoro!

He would be (at least for now) voiced by Ben Diskin.

His performance would be sound like a slightly more serious version of, and I can't believe I'm actually referencing this guy, Ban from The Seven Deadly Sins.

One cool thing about Ben voicing Zoro would be that he would bring a lot of authenticity to the role, since he would've been around Zoro's age at the time of dub's release (20-21 years old).

Also, this would really funny to think about since around this time, Ben was voicing Numbuh 1 and 2 on Codename: Kids Next Door, another Cartoon Network show.

Rika would be voiced by Kath Soucie, essentially sounding like a slightly older Lil Deville from Rugrats.

Helmeppo would be voiced by Jeff Bennett, who would definitely sound like the recent gay shipping icon as of late, Bradley Uppercrust III.

Like, you can't tell me that his voice wouldn't fit Helmeppo like a glove.

And in just you don't believe me, here are some clips to prove my point.

Next we come to his father, Axe Hand Morgan, who would be voiced by Jim Cummings.

And for his role, Jim would definitely use his serious voice that he uses with characters such as Mister Moloch in Project G.e.e.K.e.R. and Hernán Cortés in The Road to El Dorado.

Now to come to Red-Haired Shanks, who would be voiced by Steve Blum doing a Cockney accent.

Yeah, he's basically gonna sound like a swashbuckling Spike Spiegel.

Which actually sounds pretty cool....

As for the rest of the main Red-Haired Pirates.

Benn Beckman would be voiced by Wally Wingert.

Lucky Roux would be voiced by Bill Fagerbakke.

And Yasopp would be voiced by James Arnold Taylor.

And finally, we have Higuma, who would be voiced by Rob Paulsen.

Orange Town (June 5th-June 10th, 2003):

First start off come to the third member of the Straw Hats, Nami.

Nami would be voiced by Kate Higgins.

Who weirdly enough, when it comes to LA voice fan-casting for One Piece, she's always the one to get picked for Nami.

And I can totally see why.

She would definitely fit the character.

Next we come to the big bad of the arc himself, Buggy the Clown.

Originally, I was gonna have Mark Hamill voice him.

But I figured that would've been too easy and too obvious.

So instead, I decided to choose Steve Blum as the voice of the character.

His performance would be pretty reminiscent to that of The Green Goblin in The Spectacular Spider-Man, but a little more silly sounding.

Even his laugh would be pretty similar to Gobby's.

Plus, Buggy's casting choice is pretty funny to think about since as I mentioned earlier, Steve would also be voicing Shanks.

Which would make Buggy's pure adulterated hatred for him even funnier.

As for his main crew members.

Mohji would be voiced by Liam O'Brien, essentially using the same voice he used for Zazz in Sonic Lost World.

Cabaji would be voiced by Yuri Lowenthal, using an Eastern European accent.

And Ritchie would have his vocals provided by Frank Walker.

As for the one notable characters of this arc.

Chouchou would have his vocals provided by Dee Bradley Baker.

And Boodle would be voiced by Tom Kane.

Who was also voicing Professor Utonium on The Powerpuff Girls around this time.

Syrup Village (June 11th-June 24th, 2003):

First we have the fourth member of the Straw Hats, Usopp.

Just like with Luffy, I have two VAs in mind that could voice the God himself.

James Arnold Taylor and Jason Marsden.

Both of them would strike that perfect balance of being able to sound silly while knowing when to take it seriously.

Also, if JAT was voicing Usopp, he would essentially sound like a younger version of his own dad.

Kaya would be voiced by Tara Strong.

The Usopp Pirates would be voiced by Grey Griffin (Ninjin), Colleen O'Shaughnessy (Pilman), and Nancy Cartwright (Tamanegi) respectively.

Jeff Bennett would also be voicing Merry.

Dee Bradley Baker would also be voicing the big bad of the arc, Kuro.

Jango would be voiced by Phil LaMarr, who would doing a what could be best described as a knock-off Michael Jackson impression.

Which, let's be real, would fit the character perfectly.

Phil would also be pulling double duty as Siam, with the other half of the Nyaban Brothers, Butchie, being voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.

And finally, we have Gaimon, who would be voiced by Charlie Adler.

Baratie (June 25th-July 10th, 2003):

Starting this off we have Kuina, who would be voiced by Grey Griffin.

Shimotsuki Koushirou would be voiced by Phil LaMarr, essentially using the same voice he uses for Samurai Jack.

Now we come to Johnny and Yosaku.

Johnny would be voiced by Nolan North, while Yosaku would be voiced by Mikey Kelley.

So essentially we have Raphael and Michaelangelo tagging along with the Straw Hats.

Finally, we've come to the fifth member of the Straw Hats (and the last one as of right now), Sanji.

Sanji would be voiced by Josh Keaton.

And just like with Ben as Zoro, Josh would bring a lot of authenticity to his performance (given that he would've been 23-24 at the time)

Also, we all know how Zoro and Sanji are rivals.

This would be funny to think about since this wouldn't be last time Ben and Josh would voice a duo of rivals.

Zeff would be voiced by Clancy Brown, essentially sounding like a slightly more serious Brooklyn version of Mr. Krabs.

We would also have John DiMaggio playing double duty as both Don Krieg and Fullbody.

Ghin would be voiced by Crispin Freeman.

Patty and Carne would be voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson and Tom Kenny respectively.

Pearl would be voiced by Jess Harnell.

And Hawk-Eye Mihawk would be voiced Lex Lang, doing a French accent.

Arlong Park (July 11th-July 31st, 2003):

Starting this off, we have Arlong himself, who would be voiced by Fred Tatasciore, which will be really funny to think about once we get to you-know-who.

As for the rest of main crew.

Kuroobi would be voiced by Doug Erholtz.

Hatchan would be voiced by Bill Fagerbakke.

And Chew would be voiced by Jeff Bennett

Nojiko would be voiced by Michelle Ruff.

Genzo would be voiced by Cam Clarke.

Bellemere would be voiced by Vanessa Marshall.

Which would be really weird to think about since she was on Cartoon Network's latest original series at the time, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, voicing this guy....

Well I'm pretty sure I just ruined Bellemere's death for most of you now since it's hard not her with the voice of Irwin now......

Anyway, Nezmui would be voiced by Tony Oliver, essentially sounding like an evil version of Lupin III.

Or how he was in the original manga....

And Moomo would have his vocals provided by Frank Welker.

Buggy's Adventure (August 1st-4th, 2003):

I don't really have anything to say for this one except that it will be part of the dub.

Roguetown (August 5th-12th, 2003):

Starting this off we have Smoker, who would be voiced by James Arnold Taylor, essentially sounding pretty similar to Walker from Danny Phantom, but without the Southern accent.

Next we have Tashigi, who would voiced by Karen Strassman.

Daddy the Father would be voiced by Jeff Bennett.

Five-Alarm Carmen would be voiced by Candi Milo.

And finally, we have Dragon, who would be voiced by Dave Wittenberg.

Well, that's all I have for now.

It's not the most detailed post I've made, but I thought it was fun to do.

Plus, I always like to showcase by knowledge of voice actors.

Which speaking of, I'm not sure how this post will do since I'm not sure how knowledgeable of voice actors any of the potential viewers are.

But hey, I'll just have to wait and find out.

Anyway, let me know what you think about this alternate timeline I created.

And for the two choices I had for Luffy and Usopp, who do you think would be the best choice for them?

And finally, I really hope @mysticalchildsuit actually likes this post since the last time I made a post about One Piece....they were.....