#like. i'm part human part griffin. if that makes sense?? does this make sense??

[crocodyless]

yeah i literally am a griffin huh.

[earthstellar]

what are some other nice moments from Rescue bots?

This show is loaded with them!!! :)

Here we go, some nice moments in Rescue Bots!!

I'm going to write this with the assumption that some people reading this may not have ever seen Rescue Bots or might only be somewhat familiar, as I realise the target audience skews much younger than most Transformers media does, so I'm not 100% sure how popular it was outside of that demographic in total.

Off the top of my head:

-There is an in-universe VR game called Element Quest that has a couple really good episodes, the design is cute and there are tons of meme references. Blades, at one point, goes "I used to like video games. Then I took an arrow to the knee." LOL

-I think it's cool how they actually do tie in their continuity with TFP's continuity. For example, "What Rises Above" (RB) canonically comes before "Nemesis Prime" (TFP), and this is directly referenced in the dialogue in TFP when Optimus says that he is late arriving to the base as he was exploring an underground energon deposit-- This is the deposit he explores with the Rescue Bots.

-THERE IS A MUSICAL EPISODE. IT IS EXTREMELY GOOD

-Woodrow Burns, the Chief's brother, is kind of an idiot asshole, although he's not actively malicious. But he is great with the kids and for whatever reason the only thing I can ever remember about this character is when he goes up to Cody after it's been a long time since he saw him last and says "You've grown a whole foot since the last time I saw you-- Now you'll need three socks!" IDK I just think that's a real cute dad joke thing to say to a little kid lol :')

-There is an episode where they explore the local folklore of Griffin Rock, and TL;DR the local lore is that their island is where literal griffins used to nest seasonally. So throughout the episode, there's this kind of vibe of "OK are these electrical magnetic pulses or whatever like a science problem or a magic problem" and it's actually a very cute and fun vibe, especially since Cody is talking about the lore in the first place as part of his work towards a Scouts badge and Blades is very cute in this episode, the bots are all like "okay magic isn't real but uhhh what if magic's real?" for a minute and it's great :')

-Doc Greene/Green creates a ton of fun science devices throughout the show, but the names of some are just so doofy and fun. I love the "Torna-Don't", which is a thing designed to dispel tornados. Of course. lmao

-All the weird small town local events are also very silly and cute, and weirdly realistic for those of us who are familiar with this kind of local event thing, lmao. One of my favourite concepts is one of what seems to be several crawdad-related festivals, in which there is apparently a televised crawdad race. It's a bunch of shrimps put on a tiny racetrack, like Olympic runners. LOL

-At one point, Blurr shows up, and when the Rescue Bots are trying to acclimate him to working with humans, Chase is like "Humans seem to have two genders, which are defined by how many cooties they have." This implies that as far as the Rescue Bots are aware, 1) cooties are real and 2) human gender is defined solely by how many cooties a person has, and not by anything else, thus leaving their understanding of human gender fairly open (and it is also clear they have solely learned about gender from young kids in a small town which is likely why they state there are two genders but then make it clear that gender is a cooties thing and not an inherently physical thing, which makes sense in context and is kind of great because it gives more leeway for gender diversity than I expected) and I love this a lot. What is human gender? Cooties. That's all. So someone with a particularly high number of cooties could be another gender altogether, because why not?

-There is a body swap episode, which treats us to Blades in Dani's body trying on dresses in her room. He picks an orange and white one, which matches his paint job. I also love this a lot.

-Heatwave is gruff as hell especially at the start of the series and constantly starts shit or perpetuates shit with Kade, which is super funny. Just this centuries old Cybertronian fucking with this doofus boy who keeps leaving donuts in his cab. God dammit Kade, lmao.

-There is an episode where Cody is aged up via Science Device, and we get to see an older Cody, who more closely resembles his father than his older brother does. It's cute that he'll look like his dad when he's older. :')

During this episode, he assists in a rescue, and the girl his brother has a crush on tries to hit on him, but he clearly doesn't get what's happening and thinks it's icky because of course he does, he's a kid. I just think this scene is handled well and it's cute that his reaction to being hit on is still "ewww girls" but his brother is still absolutely pissed off about it anyway LMAO like jesus Kade, relax

-Kade's mostly an asshole but he's shown to be a really good rescuer who genuinely cares about people, and he has moments where he really comes through for his family and realises on his own that he should shut up and back down on his bullshit, thus making him a better developed and more realistic asshole brother character than 99% of asshole brother characters in most shows. I think this is pretty solid because it does lead to effective character development here and there, and it makes his positive moments with his family and the bots that much nicer. :)

-Cody is such a good kid. He is often willing to give people or ideas a chance when nobody else will, and even though he's too young to actively participate in most missions, he stays involved by helping at their dispatch centre. He's a smart little dude, who has a lot of heart and a ton of potential. One of the few child characters in anything that I actually like, because I think they write him extremely well: He is young, but he is not stupid. He is not treated like an accessory or like the property of his family, he's his own person with a distinct personality within his family, with a reasonable amount of autonomy. And he's a person who is still learning and has valuable contributions while also needing guidance or support at times. 10/10

-Dani gradually gets better at helping Blades deal with his flight anxiety (and sticks up for him when the others might mock him a little for it), and this is not only inherently very nice and cute, but it also makes a lot of sense as she is a first responder/medic and we see her offer the same reassurances towards the people she helps to rescue.

-The writing for the Burns Family in general is some of the best family group character writing in anything tbh, they handle the family dynamic so well in this show, and it's extra cute as the Rescue Bots all learn a lot from observing how the family takes care of one another and the townspeople they rescue. :')

-Blades has anxiety. I also have anxiety, so I am biased and clearly love this dude, lmao. He's so fucking relatable and even though sometimes the others rip on him, it is clear that they're also very proud of him for trying his best to deal with a situation which for him is particularly difficult (he was forced to take a flight capable alt-mode when this is something he is explicitly not comfortable with) and his team mates do support him, even though Heatwave is a douche sometimes (although it is clear this is usually due to stress or something else and that the actual problem isn't Blades). Over the course of the series, Blades does develop a little more confidence, and it's very cute and nice to see him puffing himself up a little more. :)

-The overall attitudes the bots have towards humans in this show is sweet. It's clear they don't really understand humanity or humans as a whole, but it also doesn't really matter because they are so specifically oriented to their local population on the island and their focus is a relatively small community of humans. They take their duties seriously and will protect this population, even if they don't really understand the people outright. They gradually start to respect the locals (and the Burns Family) more and more as they work with them, and get acclimated to Earth. They love their dumbass weird little humans :')

This leads to a lot of fun shenanigans with the bots not understanding things, or only understanding things as they have been explained by the children, which is hilarious.

-There is an episode where local thieves steal Chase, and inspired by Cody's school drama project, he decides to go undercover after watching a bunch of old detective movies. This includes him narrating things to himself, which he is called on when Dani enters the garage and asks him "Why are the lights off? Are you talking to yourself?" lmao

-Although it isn't explicitly canonical, it's easy to interpret both Chase and Blades as being neurodivergent. Both of them display various behaviours and traits which can potentially be understood in this way, and I'm just glad that there's a show for kids where two of the main characters, who are rescue workers, are shown to be competent and skilled at their jobs and accepted by the community for who they are while also being neurodivergent. <3 It's such a good vibe when the other characters support or defend these two in particular, especially when Chase or Blades might be confused or upset about something. Chief Burns is especially great working with Chase.

-Any episode where Optimus shows up in Rescue Bots usually has some gems of cuteness/silliness. The Elvis line still takes me out, LMAO. "You're bigger than Elvis!" "I have not met this Elvis, and I am unaware of his size." 10/10 writing, I fucking love Rescue Bots

-The bots constantly call out a bunch of details that are entirely appropriate for robots from space to notice and recognise as somewhat weird, whereas a lot of the human characters are so used to 1) being human and 2) living on this incredibly weird little technologically advanced island that nothing really phases them anymore. So we can actually identify more with the bots at time, despite the fact that they are also providing an outsider point of view, which is really clever! :)

-The theme song is a fucking banger. It's so good. I love this song so much. I wish we got a full version of it, but this is the best extended version of it that I've been able to find. Enjoy!!!

-There's a lot of fairly adult stuff in the show, more than I think people realise! The tone can never get too dark outright as it is intended for young kids as the primary demographic, but there's a lot of situations, conversations, etc. that are genuinely engaging and interesting from an adult perspective, which is a large part of what makes it a great watch for all ages.

Some situational examples include scenarios where children are imperilled in natural disasters, accidents, even kidnapping at one point.

Non-kid related situations include risks and threat to civilians from AI development and the dangers that uncontrolled or poorly thought out technology can cause or exacerbate, which is significant in context and also interesting to think about given our current relationship IRL with rapid tech development and concerns around how that technology is being made and applied, either in reality or in theory.

Some dialogue examples include scenes where the bots mention their grief over being unable to save Cybertron, a sense of guilt that they were in stasis for so long even though this was beyond their control, awareness that they may be the last Rescue Bots team in operation on Earth or anywhere else in the universe (a sense of loneliness and a responsibility as the last upholders of their specific creed), struggles with their sense of duty and concerns around their ability to fulfil their expectations for themselves and meet the expectations of others while rising to the demands of their unique situation, and so on.

--

this is already pretty long lmao, there's a ton of stuff I really like about Rescue Bots, but I hope this might encourage others to check out the show if you haven't before, it's well worth a watch! :)

[rainbeausworld]

The Horned Serpent

So before I get started on this one, I have a couple of things to get out of the way. First, I will be using she/her pronouns for the Horned Serpent; this is just because UPG and because I'm used to it. I know someone else who venerates/worships the Horned Serpent, uses they/them pronouns for them, and considers them to be beyond gender / present as whatever gender they feel like. Second, I will be focusing on my interpretation of her on the Gundestrup Cauldron, in part because there's really not a lot of literature on her, even when you include works that specifically analyze Cernunnos' depictions. Third (and related), I will be using the National Museum of Denmark's estimate as to when/where the Gundestrup Cauldron was made, which is roughly in the Danubian or Wallachian Plain(s) around 150 BCE to 1 CE (link).

So first a little historical & cultural context. This area, as far as culture groups, would have been a heck of a melting pot, between the Dacians and Thracians that already lived there, the Scythians coming in and also living near by, the Gauls that moved in around the 300s-200s, the Greeks who came up and started establishing colonies along the Black Sea in the 300s, and the Romans, encroaching on everyone's business around the time the Cauldron was built. A pretty solid primer on the history of the region is A Companion to Ancient Thrace, published by Wiley Blackwell.

So I'm gonna try to make sense but it might be a little disorganized going forward. Anyway, onto the actual thoughts & stuff. So anyone who's taken even a passing glance at Cernunnos is well aware of the Horned Serpent, since she is present in basically every ancient art you can find with him. On the Gundestrup Cauldron, she appears three times, all on the interior panels. One is at the Hero's heel, who's holding the wheel; a second is at the end of a line of heroic riders, which seems to be a Thracian horseman motif; and of course the famous Cernunnos panel. In Thracian Tales of the Gundestrup Cauldron, published by Najade Press, Jan Best presents an interpretation of the interior panels as a story, and assumes that Cernunnos is singing in his famous panel, specifically about the secrets of immortality, a concept which was very popular at the time. I agree with this and I also assume that the depiction of Taranis / the wheel god is that he is also singing, and if he is singing then the lions and griffins - both predators associated with kingship (griffins were protectors of the pharaoh, and also decorated certain tombs out in ancient Persia), then the action of passing off the Wheel must have symbolic meaning, such as being handed the Wheel of Heaven.

The Gundestrup Cauldron's exterior also has very clear influence from the Scythians, you can almost 1:1 map the gods based on Herodotus's retelling of the Pontic stories. I believe there are also thematic parallels going on here on the Wheel God panel, featuring a new god/king being given the symbol of his domain. Wikipedia actually has some relatively thorough articles on Scythian religion as well as the genealogical myth specifically, which is the myth that I personally associate with the wheel-giving panel. As well, the animals in this panel don't appear to be particularly concerned with attacking anyone - if anything, the griffins and lionesses are slightly tilted from one to the next, which makes me think it's more likely that they are dancing, especially if the human/divine subjects are singing, especially if the human with the helmet is receiving a high honor, potentially his rank amongst the gods. In this panel, she is just at the hero's feet, not really joining the parade if the animals, but clearly not ready to attack either, but her attention does seem to be drawn towards the hero.

The final panel she is on is the panel featuring the nine soldiers and the heroized dead, represented by the "Thracian horseman" motif. After Alexander the Great and his penchant for having statues of himself be on horseback, it became popular for wealthy men and nobles to depict themselves riding horseback to a goddess or sacred tree (unfortunately my best source discussing this in English is also not great and he comes up with some..... questionable theories), but the popularity seems to have blown up to the point where even deities such as Zeus were depicted on horseback in a similar manner. There are also mentions in a few other sources that the Thracians believed in the ability for people to essentially become immortal after death. Unfortunately, I'm having trouble sorting out my notes and this essay has been nagging me for weeks now.

Anyway, I interpret this panel as what is expected to happen to us after we die - the "ordinary", so to speak, are lead to a deity, likely to be reincarnated (this is honestly just a guess on my part largely due to the popularity of that in Greece for ever, and Grecian influence was in full swing by the time the Cauldron was made), meanwhile the "extraordinary" are lead by the Horned Serpent.

This is where I tie all three together to my upg/theology: The Horned Serpent is a friend and ally to Cernunnos. He teaches the secrets of life after death to those who will listen. The Horned Serpent is by his side during his teaching, and when we die, if we have proven ourselves worthy during life, she guides us through the trials of the afterlife. If we succeed in these trials, we are awarded with apotheosis - becoming a god or godlike - and she stands by our side as we earn this prize.

@musingmelsuinesmelancholy sorry it took me so long x.x & I hope this makes sense!

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 18 – CREATURE FIC

with each downpour we discover what it takes by Rowantreeisme

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 1,094 Tags: Drowning, Fluff, Non-Consensual Body Modification

Summary: Tony's turned into a mer-person. It's a bad time for all involved. (Turns out, being underwater is not at all fun for him, even if that's the only way he can breathe)

Reasons why I love it: I always love when I find a fic that fixates on an aspect of a trope I enjoy that I've never thought about, and this one is a prime example of that. Steve is such a good boyfriend in this, doing everything to help Tony get a grip on his new body, and I especially love the tension that builds throughout the fic before it's finally released. It's wonderful, and I highly recommend you check it out for yourself!

Thirst by velithya

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 2,454 Tags: Vampire AU, Hurt/Comfort, Blood Drinking

Summary: Tony's out of blood. Steve has a solution Tony doesn't like much.

Reasons why I love it: Steve's absolute faith in Tony is so touching to see. I love how much trust there is between them, for Steve to let Tony do what he does, and how careful Tony is not to hurt him. And the fluff at the end is so sweet, it always makes me smile. Definitely go and check this one out, it's fantastic.

A Capwolf Christmas by picturecat

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: G Words: 1,002 Tags: Capwolf, Christmas Eve, Full Moon

Summary: There was not much that anybody could do about the fact that Christmas Eve was a full moon.

Reasons why I love it: Awww, this fic is ADORABLE, I can't, it's so cute! Capwolf in a Christmas sweater is something that I never knew I needed in my life, but I'm so happy this fic has it. If you're looking for a good time, definitely read this one, it's amazing!

Not all that glitters is gold by Just_Bill

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: G Words: 2,969 Tags: Fairy Tale AU, Talking Animals, Getting Together

Summary: "Aren't you a huntsman? Shouldn't we be hunting things?" Tony had hoped his role as huntsman's horse would've been more galloping after dangerous critters, maybe even catch a griffin or two, not this gallivanting across the country in search for royalty and their party clothes. Or where Tony is about done with this questing, but things work out fine in the end.

Reasons why I love it: Aaaah, I love this fic so much! I could read a million more words in this universe, it's so fun. Tony the Talking Horse is hilarious, and I love the world building, especially the parts concerning Tony's other life. Definitely give this one a read, it's so good!

Next to you the sky is more blue by weethreequarter

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 39,021 Tags: Merpeople, Past Child Abuse, Enemies to Friends to Lovers

Summary: There was something about abandoned buildings and the way nature was slowly reclaiming them as its own which had long captivated Steve. The beauty of the former grandeur undiminished, merely transformed. There was an atmosphere to them, a lingering sense of the lives lived or the jobs worked within their walls which made him feel oh-so small and yet so alive all at once. No two were ever the same, and he loved discovering little clues that told the story of the people who once called it home or made their living there. There was something comforting about seeing the imprints of humans long gone; no matter who you were, there was a part of you, of what you made, of who you were that left its mark upon the world. Over the years, he’d been to a lot of abandoned houses, factories, mansions and they’d all left an impression on him in some way or another. But none as much as the Mermaid House.

Reasons why I love it: This fic is CRIMINALLY underrated! Seriously, it's so good I want to shout it from the rooftops. The world building, the budding relationship between Tony and Steve, the underlying themes of otherization and trauma are all phenomenal. I really love the way Steve and Tony grow closer over time, and the ending is absolutely fantastic. This fic is wonderful, and I really hope you go and check it out for yourself!

[gabenvrhappened]

BooksOr... History Is All You Left Me

Continuing my journey through Adam Silvera's books, my next one was History Is All You Left Me. Just like More Happy Than Not, I mainly bought the paperback version for the cover, and I now decided that these are the perfecy editions for daily reading. There's something cool about carrying a book on the subway or in the park and looking like that mysterious boy I want to be so bad, but can't, most of the time because I'm a Gimini.

If you didn't stop reading this review after discovering I'm from that zodiac sign, we're all good and we can return to the book. I remember thinking it was better than More Happy Than Not. Adam's writing skills were improving — I actually thought this was his sophomore book, but it was actually They Both Die at The End — and the story had that nostalgic teenage feeling of 2017, when I was a teenager myself, falling in love and fearing if the target of my infatuation was straight or not. Thankfully, in the book, the outcome is more positive than the first book Silvera published, but up until a certain point where everything turns to chaos and depression hits our shores. Adam has this obsession with death, and I love it. I never lost someone I cared about deeply, but I know people who have, and I can't imagine how devastating it must be.

Moving on, one thing about me is that I hate spoilers. So when I discovered how Theo, one of the main characters, died through a random post on Instagram, I was so mad! That's why in my reviews, you won't find many details about storylines, because I'm a spoiler hater. But even so, I had the feeling that Adam didn't want this to be a big revelation, since it was so casually dropped in a sentence… if that's the case, I consider it a bad choice. This could've been a mystery to keep us guessing when it would happen until we saw it unfolding. The way Adam approached this, telling us in "advance", made it lose some of its "magic", if I can call a death scene magic. Either way, I'll never know if it was supposed to be a big revelation or not. Maybe that's not even the case, because the biggest scream I gave while reading this book was when Griffin, the main character and narrator, did that with Jackson (this is me avoiding spoilers, just so you know). It was also mentioned in the middle of a sentence, so who knows.

Apart from that, I really enjoyed the read. I liked how Adam used OCD to give more personality to Griffin, in a humanizing, but not romanticized, way. Sorry if that's something bad to say, but I just feel like I love it when characters have something unique about them, something that doesn't fully define them. It's not something that impacts the story, but it enriches it. I love when authors bring these types of nuances to their narratives.

Of course, there were eye-rolling parts where I could cringe at the teenage dialogue and actions choices, but it could be that I'm just too old for some things or just too jealous not to have those experiences anymore. But nothing made me feel as strongly as reading What If It's Us or Here's To Us. Man... those books are something else.

There was something, though, that made me really lose my cool while reading. Now I think it's something that Adam does for the sake of the narrative flow, so it's annoying but not something worth stressing out. But I can't wrap my head around the fact that Griffin was able to go to another city with an underage boy, being underage himself. Just like in Adam's first book and the whole issue with Aaron's mother supporting some questionables decisions, this type of plot convenience seems like lazy writing to me. I'm sure the outcome could've been better achieved in a different way.

Overall, the experience was incredible. It gets repetitive to say that History Is All You Left Me can make you feel all the emotions and make you wonder about everything. The ending was cool and unexpected, but only to some extent (honestly, from the beginning, I sensed some gay vibes coming from Wade), and I can only wonder how Griffin's and Jackson's lives must be now. Even with the new chapeter the paperback edition bring us, you can't tell that much. But for one thing, I'm glad they're not together. Some things should be left in history, and I'm glad that's what they left us with.

[old-daemon-farts]

Next set of questions: 26-50

26. Have you learned anything new about yourself? I'm not sure. Nothing has stood out as a big surprise for quite some time. 27. Where would you like to travel to? I want to make a map and travel all over the world to visit the most beautiful gardens. 28. Is there anyone that you would like to meet or get to know better? Ani of Em! 29. How often do you change forms? Almost *never* I love being a bluebird. Sometimes I'll be a rabbit or bear but it's sooooo rare. 30. What are your favorite forms to take? Mountain bluebird! 31. Are there any forms that you dislike or refuse to take? That I dislike? Some insects and arachnids I suppose. I don't like twiggy limbs or super thin, long body parts. But some spiders are super cute and some beetles are really, really stunning. 32. If you took a fictional form, what would it be? Tiny griffin 33. Have you ever fronted or attempted to front? I have tried but never succeeded. When I did our arms got all fuzzy feeling, like they fell asleep. 34. Do you have any regrets? NONE 35. Do you love your human? I ADORE her. Of course I love Kit, but I have so many emotions towards her it can't possibly be only described by a single word. 36. Have you ever felt a close bond to another human/daemon/headmate? Cayde and Kit are still my strongest bonds, but I am very, very fond of Em and her daemons. 37. What are you afraid of? The world turning into a black and white movie. I'd die if I didn't have purple in my life. 38. Does your human have a headspace? What does it look like? Not like she use to, no. It's mostly just a black void. But at one point it was a magical forest under a beautiful night sky. 39. Which form best describes YOUR personality? Spectacled bear or bluebird. 40. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? A super famous baker 41. What is the earliest conversation you can remember having with your human? How much I love rat hands. Have you seen rodents hands? Their little pads and delicate digits are to die for. On a more serious note I told her I was there for her when Cayde could not. 42. Do you have a favorite number? What it is? 42? 14? I don't know. Anything with a '4' in it? Maybe that means my favorite number is 4! 43. What is your favorite color? Does it differ from your human’s? Purple! 44. How would you describe your sense of humor? Bouncy 45. What annoys you? Wanting to hurt others 46. What makes you happy? The feeling of the warm sun while a small wind gently blows through my feathers. 47. What makes you sad? Too many things. 48. Where are you at this moment, and in what form (if any)? In my usual spot on top of Kit's head as a bluebird. 49. Do you use any form of social media (besides TDF)? I had a Twitter and my own Tumblr blog. 50. What does your voice sound like? Course sugar. A very sweet vibe but with a mature, grounded gruffness to it.

Rhea gets her spotlight

I know at some point Cayde and Rhea were trying to answer questions but it's been a bit and I don't even remember what those questions were! May have been the 30 days of daemonism challenge. But now Rhea wanted to try her hands at the 100 question list. She can only answer in small burst so there will be another couple post added later on.

1. What is your name? What is your human’s name? My full name is Rheasilvia but I go almost exclusively by Rhea. My daemian still goes by Kit. 2. How did you get your name? Kit wanted my name's origin to be Greek like her irl name. So we browsed through different mythology stuff until we saw Rhea and knew it was perfect. Many years later we discovered the name Rheasilvia in a game and then found out it's a real astrological name as well! So it became my formal name. 3. Do you have any nicknames? What do you like to call your human? I call Kit, Kit. Rhea is technically my nickname I guess but Kit likes to call me "her heart". 4. What is your gender, if any? Female with she/her pronouns 5. How old are you? Do you know your CIE date? I'm seven as of writing this and my CIEday is Jan 18th 6. How are you feeling right now? Excited! I'm always excited when I talk. I use to be so much calmer, but I came to love and appreciate so much about life that talking and being here brings me so much joy that I don't know what to do with myself. 7. What is your favorite time of day? Oh this is so tough. I like mornings I think. When it's too early in the morning you want to stay in bed and cuddle, but it's also the beginning of the day and holds so much potential. Time to get up and do things! 8. What is your favorite time of year? Spring. Absolutely Spring. 9. What is your favorite activity? Baking! 10. What is your favorite food? Does it differ from your human’s? Even Kit doesn't know her favorite foods! But I love smoothies, and fruit, and cakes! 11. List five of your favorite songs, and five of your human’s favorite songs. I'm only going to list a few of mine if that's okay. They may not be my favorites but I do like them!

Lost Boy by Ruth B.

Tulip by Jessica Hoop

Try by Colbie Caillat

Drum Go Dum by K/DA

Who's laughing now by Ava Max

12. Who was the last person you talked to, other than your human? Em of Thom and Ani 13. If you could change one thing about your human, what would it be? Not a single thing. Flaws and perfections all, I love who she is. 14. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I want to be purple. Oh wait I can do that whenever I want! 15. Are you affectionate? Very! 16. Are you introverted, extroverted, or in-between? Hm. I think I'm a social introvert. I love people and talking to others but the majority of the time I need quiet alone time. 17. Do you like to meet other daemons? I love seeing other daemons! I don't socialize all that much but I love seeing everyone around. 18. Do you have any friends, excluding your human? I do! At least 5 other humans and only three of them are daemians. 19. What do you do during a conflict? Nothing. I don't like conflict. I kinda hide until it's done then pick up the pieces after. 20. Are you happy with the amount of time you are projected currently? Considering I was gone for a whole year I am very happy with how much I'm being projected right now! I don't need to be around ALL the time. Little bit is good. 21. Do you have a favorite quote? If so, what is it? Nope, nothing in particular. But I like repeating different positive phrases a lot. 22. What is your favorite word? Purple. Oh wait you said word not color. Well it's my favorite word now too. 23. What is your favorite memory? My memory is so fuzzy but anytime I sit on Kit's head as a bluebird, thats my favorite memory. 24. What is your favorite thing about your human? EVERYTHING. But probably her heart. 25. What is your favorite thing about yourself? That I get to show the world how kind and wonderful Kit's heart is.

[inkdemon666]

Hello people! 👋 I'm so hella sorry it takes so long just to write another part but i am a very lazy person. Sorry 😫. I don't have any inspiration by now. To atone it i give you my headcanons about each ghost boy family so that my au will make some sense. Here you go. 🙇‍♀️

Ghost boys family headcanons

Griffin

I guess it's mentioned in the film that his mom is single. I don't know what happened to his father but i like to think that his dad died when he was little. His mom loves him more than anything in the world.🥰Mamma's boy🥰 I also like to think he is an only child. But his mom got him a parrot on his 6th birthday named Gary so he won't feel alone or bored. I just like to imagine him teaching Gary new words or having conversations with him like he is human being. He flexes with him in front of his grandparents a lot who they visit once in a month. He is their little angel and will sometimes poke fun at him but they love him deeply.🥰

Robin

Well it's obviously mentioned in movie that his dad died in a the war. When there is that scene him talking with Finney he says something like.

,,My uncle takes us to cinema. We see everything."

Cause he uses plural ,,We" i think he has at least one sibling. I like to think that he has a 3-6 years younger twin siblings: brother and sister. And he is so goddamn protectove of them. Just lay a finger on them and he will strangle you with his bandana. His mom is hardworking and strong-minded woman. And what does she says when she hears that Robin gets into fights? Well, she knows he is a wise kid so it's not she doesn't care, she just knows that he won't go too far. And he does, he will wash the dishes after whole family for a week. Robin apprecites she trusts him so much and loves her truly. 🥰 His uncle is like a is his favourite adult figure on the whole world and they get along very well. His uncle often tells him that he looks a lot like his father and Robin is very happy everytime he hears it. He also visits his grandparents a lot and he is their ,,little sunshine" as they call him. When Robin tries to argue that he is not small anymore it's no use because he ,,will always be their little boy."

Vance

I lowkey headcanon that Vance was raised by his dad only and his dad is single. Vance didn't even met his mom. His dad slept with her once and 9 months later she just rang at his door gave him baby Vance like: ,, This is yours." And dissapeared. His dad was left standing in door and trying to understand what just happened. He wasn't sure about raising a kid at first but decided to take care of his son as best as he can. After a while really grew fond of him and decided to give him a good life. Basicaly 🥰Dad's boy🥰. As Vance grew older, he noticed that he looks a lot like his mom. He had her blonde curly hair and slightly feminine face. Eyes we're the only thing he got after his dad. They both have bright blue eyes. They also have a dog named Brandon (maybe i will change his name) and Vance enjoys his company more than company most of the human beings (obviously). They also go to visit Vance's grandparents from dad's side a lot and they get along very well. Vance really enjoys grandma's cooking and his grandma is very happy when she sees that he really likes. Thanks to that, everyone also noticed that Vance has super fast metabolism. And his grandpa takes him and Brandon to forest a lot so kid can ,,get some fresh air once in a while". And what does his family say when he gets into fights? Well, they got used to it. They know that Vance isn't a bad kid, just not understood. And that's all that matters. And his dad knows that kids are assholes se he is just: ,,Again?" when he must come to pick Vance from police station but he never complains. His Grandma always sounds worried but let's him do whatever he wants. And his grandpa is proud of him that he can stand up for himself.

Billy

It's obvious that Billy has a dog which name we don't know yet but let's call him...i don't know...let's just call him Bobby until his name is confirmed or something ( i may change it later if you'd like to. Give me tips in comment secrion.) He has a parents who he respects a lot. He also has a younger sister and likes to poke fun at her a lot 🤣 but they get along very well and like to take Bob for a walk together. Billy also tried to convince his sister to deliver newspapers with him but his sis was too lazy to get up early which gave Billy another opportunity to poke fun at her. He also visits his grandparents once in a while and his grandma's cookies are just 🕊️seventh heaven🕊️ for him.

Bruce

I lowkey headcanon that his parents are TOO MUCH overprotective. They tell him to try hard at school and have a good grades very often and he knows that they mean it in a good way and want what's best for him, but he can't help but find it pretty annoying. As we heard in a movie, he has a younger sister named Amy and he is her number one hero brother ever.🥰 He helps her with homework if she doesn't understands something and tried to teach her baseball more than once, but she is not really into it. But she always comes to look at his matches abd give him emotional support. He also loves his grandparents a lot and visits them very often. His grandma always gives him a big kiss and he huges like a good grandson he is.🥰

Kay that's it i guess. Hope you enjoyed it. I will try finish next chapter of my au soon but we'll see.🙃 I might end up writing about things from multiple different fandoms cause this works like my therapy. Hope you guys like Overwatch or Naruto cause i might end up writing about them. See you👋

[bluekat12345]

Cody Quarry: What if Quarry raised Cody?

I've had this thought for a while, and I'm actually surprised no one has already asked me about this. But I'm not patient and I don't want to wait for an ask, so here it is.

What is Quint Quarry raised Cody?

I imagine it would be a tough time for Quarry at first, he's still recovering from his short-term girlfriend abandoning their son, and now he's responsible for a kid.

And him trying to find a suitable work-life balance would be a struggle for a while, so I imagine Cody would be with babysitters a lot.

In a more optimistic and ideal version, Cody would've spent a lot of time with his Grandparents, maybe even live with them for most of his infanthood while Quarry works.

Quarry would be awkward at fatherhood at first, but would learn as he goes, being a pretty decent Dad. He loves that kid.

While Quarry would still have his hunting business and how he primarily makes his money, I also imagine him doing animal rehabilitation as something a front, so no one knows he's a hunter.

He would do everything he can to make sure Cody never finds out about his hi-tech big game hunting. He doesn't want Cody to be part of his illegal activities in anyway.

If Cody ever asks about his mother, Quarry will lie and tell him she's dead.

When Cody's old enough, Quarry would take Cody to travel with him, and would introduce Cody to animals, where Cody would bond with them, and learn about them.

I honestly imagine Cody being like Steve Irwin in this AU, and I imagine him having Quarry's accent, since he's raised by Quarry here.

Cody in this AU would be very knowledgeable with animals, loves them and they would love him, and he desires to work in animal rehabilitation. And I imagine him a very charming boy, sweet-talking, smooth-talking, maybe even a bit of a flirt. But he would have a huge heart and wants to help all animals in need.

I also imagine Cody having an actual pet in this, like a dog or maybe even something a bit more exotic, like a dingo, a coyote, or even a lion.

But despite getting to travel with his dad and all the animals he gets to meet and work with, Cody would grow up a bit lonely, since he and his father never stay in one place long enough for Cody to make human friends.

Quarry would be aware of this, so when he thinks he has enough money, he and Cody would settle on Griffin Rock, deciding to give his son a sense of stability. He would work in any animal related work to keep himself busy and Cody would join him and get to meet and befriend humans.

That's how Cody would meet the Burns in this version of the AU, and since he wants to help animals, I imagine he and Quarry would interact with the Burns family quite a bit.

However, Quarry is a hunter at heart and eventually the desire to hunt again becomes too strong, especially with the robotic animals he sees.

So, he secretly goes off to his hi-tech hunting again, but would not bring Cody into this. He would claim that he has to do some work off Griffin Island and occasionally leave Cody with a sitter, or even the Burns, while does his business. But he never stays away too long, he doesn't want to make his son think he would abandon him.

But eventually, the Burns find out what he does, and Cody does as well. Quarry would be so ashamed of himself that his own son knows but can't deny that this is who he is.

Cody would be disappointed in his father but wouldn't hate him. Quarry is his dad, and he loves him, but that doesn't make it hurt less.

So, when Quarry gets arrested, Cody is taken in by Chief Burns, not wanting Cody to be sent to foster care, and he feels a bit of guilt that Cody is now fatherless.

It would be a tough time for Cody and Quarry, but they would communicate through letters and phone calls

Also, after the whole thing with Chumley, Quarry wouldn't break out of prison and disappear, he would stay in Griffin Rock jail, willing to serve his time if it means he'll get to see his son again. And now, Cody can visit the jail and see his father, not just write or call.

[darkpoisonouslove]

I'm not a fan of this whole blood witches thing, since something I hated about the 4kids dub is that they really forced the narrative that all witches are evil, really for no reason and there was the whole season 6 situation with Nick also making most witches evil for no reason. So I don't have hope when it comes to Fate when it comes to witches, since apparently witches are just humans that kill people to use magic, unlike the original witches in so many ways.

Me neither. The whole blood witches thing made zero sense and they should have explained better. “They draw power from sacrifice and death”? What does that mean? That you have to murder someone to grow a plant? What the hell? That seems extremely counterproductive. Not to mention that Aster Dell was really, really close to Alfea! Bloom and Beatrix went there and got back for what, an afternoon? In the flashbacks the adults WALKED there. How the fuck is it possible that they don’t know about the people from Aster Dell being blood witches if that is literally the closest village to Alfea? This doesn’t add up. Not to mention that everyone acted like the fact that they were blood witches suddenly made the whole “nuking a village out of existence” deal okay? What, without a trial? There were children there! They hadn’t done anything at the very least! It was very much not okay even if they were blood witches, excuse you! All of this was framed in a terrible way.

I will be writing a fic to fix the bullshit and I will definitely switch up the whole thing with witches. I am bringing in Griffin, Ediltrude and Zarathustra and they will be witches but they won’t be evil, obviously. I still haven’t figured out all the logistics of what is the difference between a fairy and a witch but it definitely won’t be fairies good and witches bad. Also, I will be reworking the blood witches thing. They will be there and will be blood witches but the sacrifice will most likely be their own blood which would mean that they sacrifice some of their lifespan while the death part will be about them channeling the life force released when someone dies so that it doesn’t go to waste. They won’t be killing people to use them for their magic because I am sick of witches being represented as this abominable evil.

[talistheintrovert]

I read your fic "The Bruise won't heal" and now i think i know exactly what has been bothering me about C's characterization. This is how i feel recently. The way they write C is so...unhumane and unrealistic. These last two seasons at least i feel like they don't let C to be a person. They don't let her feel a wide range of emotions, except immense guilt and automatic forgiveness (and love, but that's not the point i'm trying to make). They don't deal with her emotional baggage pt1

pt3 Why don't they let her have friends, be loved like she deserves to be and i don't know maybe get angry when you there's a serious reason to? In S5 they had so much emotional baggage and complexity to work with her and they just let it pass. Why was she not aloud to be a bit bitter like a normal person would, when you see that everyone else around her, including the love of her life, has moved on and she is just stuck there with the ghosts of the past?

pt4 I love Clarke Griffin. I really do, but i don't like that these 2 seasons, she's not aloud to be human in that sense. I want them to let C be a fucking complex person with complicated feelings that we know she is. I want her to feel other emotions other than guilt and instant forgiveness. I'm sorry if this came off as negative or something but i'm just tired of the hypocricy in this show and the fact that clarke is not allowed to feel things. It's frustrating and does a disservice to her

i think part 2 got lost in the tumblr void, thanks obama

but firstly, thank you! I’m glad you liked my fic! And secondly, yeah I understand that. It’s been really frustrating since s5, watching the way the show approached Clarke’s character and especially her trauma, as someone who identified with her. Brushing over the terrible things happening to her and her reactions, as if she’s being somehow unreasonable by being affected, whilst doing the opposite for sp/acekru and even, to an extent, wonkru and o/ctavia

The hipocrisy of sp/acekru’s decisions and their anger at Clarke really rubs me the wrong way, and I almost stopped watching the show a number of times, because of the way it was affecting me. But I stuck with it because I assumed the writers knew what they were doing, that this was a deliberate decision, that as an audience, we’re SUPPOSED to feel that way. 

I wanted for the s7 premiere to answer these asks, because I wanted to know the direction they were taking Clarke this season before I answered and for the first time in two years, I actually have some hope for Clarke’s treatment by her “friends” and her own mental state. AT THE VERY LEAST, they have let her be angry, they have written her breaking, deciding she’s had ENOUGH, and they’ve shown that her friends feel guilty about their continued actions against her over the last two seasons. 

So maybe, just maybe, the writers have been building this dissatisfaction up on purpose to build to a crescendo where Clarke finally gets the vindication she deserves. 

Or, hey, maybe they’ll put her with g/aia and I’ll go jump off a bridge. 

[ask-shakespearehigh]

Q&A post with the Mods!!!!

This is going to be a long one oh boy

How strict is the delineation of creative control vis-a-vis characters/plays between the mods? (@pedanticlecturer)

We generally have the plays split up along lines of “what we know”— we have a list at the very beginning of the blog. Sometimes we’ll draw the others’ characters (mostly me drawing some of Star’s…) but even then the final say on characterization is up to the “main” mod for that play — mod aster

what aster said -- mod star

What is your favorite play? What is your favorite character in terms of how they were written in the source material? (@pedanticlecturer)

I think my favorite play overall is Macbeth, just because I like the vibes (and the fact that I too could kill Macbeth), the fact that you don’t say it’s name in theatres, and the fact that it’s a play I did a full read through and analysis of in class. Favorite character? Puck from Midsummer. — mod aster

uhhhh,, hmm. ive always had a soft spot for midsummer since i saw it with aster esp bc of how fun the costumes were. of the comedies it has the largest potential to be the most visually pleasing bc of the concept of fairies,,,and im gay and dramatic so i love that. id die if i got to costume design for midsummer,,,or be in it,,,yeah. fav character. hmm. probably mercutio?? i recently saw a version of romeo and juliet where mercutio was played by a woman and oh my god it was amazing!!! not to mention mercutio’s portrayal in baz luhrmann's INCREDIBLE version of r n j!!! (I based my mercutio design on him) he just spends the entire time making dick jokes. love that. -- mod star

How do you answer asks so fast? I mean it's great but I'm impressed 😂 (Anon)

Personally, it’s a mix of: notifications on, quick drawing speed, and using the blog to avoid my class work — mod aster

aster is fast and (as you can see from all of my answers) im lazey -- mod star

Are there any elements/characters of the plays you're covering that you would have liked to work into this blog's plot, but couldn't due to the constraints of the setting or the synthetic nature of the blog? (@pedanticlecturer)

I wanted to make everyone gay but unfortunately due to plot constraints we have to have some hets but that wont stop me from making it lgbt as possible. -- mod star

I did want to make The Tempest more of a central play, but it just didn’t translate well. Similarly, other supernatural elements like the witches in Macbeth. This isn’t so much a constraint mentioned, but my own time/energy means that I want to show the Macbeth backstory, in a specific format, but I can’t right now— mod aster

Is there a hierarchy of import when it comes to each play's individualized impact on shakespeare high's general arc? If so, what plays are crucial to the foundation of the story? Which ones did you do mostly for shits and giggles? (@pedanticlecturer)

This is phrased like an ACT question and i might not answer it right so sorry in advance but: mod aster and i only selected a few plays for each of us to do given we dont know all of shakespeare’s works, but we tend to put more emphasis on the the more well known. But it also comes down to 1. How much we have plotted out for each play and 2. What the followers ask about most. Our two most popular are hamlet and macbeth bc people are familiar w those but around march caesar always becomes relevant again. I didnt even have designs for some of the characters until someone asked about them. -- mod star

I would say the same as star— it generally comes down to what people ask about. I will say that the overall plot is sort of separated into “has happened” and “is happening”. Like, the human potion of Midsummer, Julius Caesar, and Macbeth are all in the “aftermath” portion, while Twelfth Night, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet, among others, are happening. We’re trying to incorporate as much as we can, and I don’t think any of them were really put in without some thought.— mod aster

What personal significance does shakespeare hold in ur guys' lives? (@pedanticlecturer)

I go to a theater school rn and so ive dealt w shakespeare (although not all of them) it also helps that i was in loves labours lost last year as moth and that i read hamlet and r n j. Theres also a theater in my state that always does One Big Shakespeare per season and they always do them super well!!! My love for shakespeare probably started w seeing midsummer at that theater w mod aster!!! So. Theater kid rights!! -- mod star

To be honest, I got back into Shakespeare Because of the blog. I’ve been friends with some people that got really Pretentious about Shakespeare, and it kinda put me off of it. I did have a book of abridged plays (the plays’ plots written out in prose, basically) that I read as a kid, which is what got me into not only the plots of a lot of the plays, but also the idea of having them illustrated. And, same as star, the theater in state does the One Big Shakespeare— and they tend to do some really cool things with the costumes, setting them in diff time periods. I haven’t been able to see any lately since I’ve moved, but they still slap. — mod aster

🥰😘💙🥰🥰💜💟🥰I 😍💗💚😍😍LOVE🖤🖤 YALL ♥️♥️🧡💛💚💝❣️💕💘💖💗💓💞💝❤️💛💜 okay now i have a question i swear— how long have the two of you been doing art??? and what were your first shakespeare plays??? (@hellaghosts)

Uhh i started drawing when i was like idk 12 and i have the giant boxes of sketchbooks to prove it!!! I moved to digital art at abt 14-15 but mostly stayed traditional until this yr when i got a Neat New Tablet so some of my sketchbooks are sitting abandoned rip. My first shakespeare was either romeo and juliet or midsummer nights dream and i love both of them v much!!! I have a very old piece of art that i did for r n j for my freshman class assignment on it and it hasnt aged well alsdjfjafd circa 2016 i think??? -- mod star

Oh man. I started drawing when I was about 10, but it was Bad. I don’t think I got much into drawing again until I was about 14? Sometime around the end of middle school/beginning of high school. I would say I started getting into drawing as more than doodling/coloring edits sometime around 2015-16? I would draw on my iPad with my finger, then I got a tablet for my computer, and now I pretty much stick to my iPad with an Apple Pencil. My first Shakespeare play was….. uh…… probably Midsummer???? I have No idea. We would go to plays when I was little, so I honestly don’t remember if I saw others before. It may have been Romeo and Juliet— I had that book where it was the original and the “modernized” with the little dog that explained things— which, if you know it makes sense, but if you don’t is probably a bonkers answer. — mod aster

Do you think this blog has like? An overarching thesis (be it b/c intentionally or simply b/c ur own take on the world has bled thru to the point where u believe it’s central to the piece at this point)? (@pedanticlecturer)

Not gonna lie, I had to read that like three times AND dm you to figure out what you were asking from us and all I have is “be gay, respect women, write your own happy endings”. — mod aster

This blog started with an ides of march shitpost and you think we have enough brain energy to write a whole thesis? I projected feelings of found family onto my half of the blog but idk if that counts. Be gay do crime 420 69 -- mod star

What’s the nature/rough dynamic of ur relationship? How do y’all know each other? (@pedanticlecturer)

Met mod aster when i was like 4 and even tho we didnt live close we became like, best friends although the Best part didnt start until we were like 13-ish and eventually we talked like non stop (about anime and homestuck. Yknow. 13 year old kid things) and we didnt see each other a lot bc of Distance and now its even worse bc aster is in colleg.,e but we consider each other siblings regardless of family bc we’re adopted into our own respective families so that bled over into our friendship and it would feel weird calling him anything other than my brother now. We’ve seen each other at our best and worst and if you really want a good insight on what we’re like as siblings watch griffin and justin mcelroy’s overview video of catlateral damage wherein i am griffin and he is the long suffering justin. -- mod star

Star is basically my long distance sibling and functionally the only cousin I recognize bc like their parents are basically an aunt and uncle and like our dads look enough alike that we’ve both accidentally gotten the wrong dad for a hug or similar so like. Anyways yeah Star is the Griffin to my Justin, complete with our absent middle brother who we love dearly— mod aster

Dubiously relevant q but what kind of music do y’all listen to when u do art (if that is indeed a habit either of u partake in) (@pedanticlecturer)

It can depend on the piece? I was working on some (unrelated) oc prints that were song-focused, and for those I just listened to said song on loop. Sometimes I have playlists. Sometimes I’ll just be in a Mood and throw a song on loop. But a lot of time for the blog, I’ll listen to The Adventure Zone for the billionth time, because I have Too Much Attention. I’ve also, on request from Star, linked the most recent “loop song”.— mod aster

I tend to obsess over the same like 3 songs every few weeks so those get listened to on repeat but it also depends on the tone of what im drawing or who im drawing i might genre switch bc of that. If im drawing ophelia i stick to lana del rey and if im drawing hamlet its the neighborhood, horatio is sufjan stevens etc. i have categorized,. Most of the characters i draw into different songs/genres/energies of music but not like i ever follow that. Sometimes i just pull up a really long nonsense video and forget to draw. Essentially: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ -- mod star

How’d y’all come up with ur pseudonyms? (@pedanticlecturer)

I love space so much and my main blog is starryeydsailor space gay rights!! Im also tiny and full of energy and bright so basically i;m star -- mod star

Uhhhh i was like “hey i want to do uhhhhhh flower?” And then I google searched flower names until I found one I liked —- mod aster

How did you end up deciding the rough timeline of events in canon? (@pedanticlecturer)

It’s mostly determined by like. How we choose per story? If that makes sense. Like, we just take story by story, and decide “is it happening, has it happened, and when?” And then we fit them together in relation to each other just by dint of. All existing at once. Like, I knew I wanted Macbeth to be in aftermath, because like, even though there’s no murder, the way I’ve translated it to the AU is still kinda heavy, and it’s something that I don’t know that I could do properly if it were happening right now. Also, it’s more interesting IMO to have them at different times. Tl;dr we wing it per story and slot them together— mod aster (mod star agrees I just can word better, in theory)

If you could tell the story of shakespeare high in a different format than an ask blog, would you? Obviously y'all are making very good use of the format, but would you want to write this as a animated series or like? a comic book? or is the form inseparable from the story? (@pedanticlecturer)

I kinda wanted to do a webcomic or maybe to plot develop through like, animatics but the element of surprise comes from the asks we get and really makes us think so the blog is a good start. We didnt think we’d get this far -- mod star

Pretty much what Star said— there are certain elements where it’d be neat to do as a comic or as an animatic. Like, the fantasy dream is like, an anthology webcomic of each story, where you can like, see other characters in the background and stuff. But to be honest, we develop a lot by what we’re asked— there was a post about developing worldbuilding by being asked questions and then pretending you’ve thought about the answer, and it’s not far off. Personally, it’s hard to just lay out a story, because I have a whole WORLD and what’s relevant? What are people interested in? It’s by getting questions that I can then focus in on an area to develop. And yeah, we Super didn’t think we’d get this far lmao — mod aster

Any headcanons about your characters that you don't think will ever come up on the blog through asks or plot posts? (@pedanticlecturer)

I could make a whole separate post for this!!!!! Mostly its voice headcanons (and by mostly i mean like 1 or 2) or relationship hcs!!!! -- mod star

Honestly same. I don’t think I have voice headcanons for mine, though I bet I could find some. I’ve got a bunch of miscellaneous headcanons that just kinda float around, but like they’re scattered, too numerous for this post, and also not always things I’m sure are canon yet.— mod aster

[anyway-i-love-vanderwood]

Well since you insist: What are the general monster types in this MMO AU? Are they unique for the game, or are they just regular goblins and trolls? I'm good with either one, I'm just wondering.

✿ They’re definitely not just regular goblins and trolls, though traditional fantasy fair does crop up. In this AU, Jumin, Rika, and V are a trio of fantasy nerds, which is what caused them to want to create a video game and develop a setting for it, but V was responsible for a lot of the aesthetic design, so most of the monsters and locations have his influence...

And, more than anything, V likes things that are hauntingly, often tragically beautiful. 

V’s monsters are very unique, and that’s part of the draw of Mystic Message Online, quite honestly. His creations draw influence from classical art-pieces, folklore, and general commentary on the human condition, and aesthetically, they deviate drastically from ‘typical’ video game enemies.  Every creature has an indepth, detailed lore biography, which can be discovered by reading books and researching things within the game. Jumin knows basically all of it by heart, which makes going into a dungeon with him the equivalent of listening to a museum audiotape. This is either an interesting or a frustrating experience, depending on who you are.

In a general sense, monsters have a number of different ‘racial’ types - which factor into skills, abilities, and items that cause players to deal/take more damage from them. A rough list of them goes as follows -

Angel - originating from the celestial domain, ‘angels’ are sometimes friends and sometimes foes. V, being Christian, derives a lot of his influence for angel designs from Christian architecture and archetypes. Ally angels are friendly looking and traditionally beautiful, with shining gold wings and inlays of rococo-esque golden flourishes on their marble. Enemy angels are more baroque and gothic, with writhing forms cut deeply with twisted shadows. Some creature types attack with shards of stained glass, and some have glass windows inset into their bodies. Peering into them is sure to show you something terrible.

Aquatic - the designs of aquatic creatures run the gamut from ethereal, seductive sirens and terrifying deep-sea creatures. Rika had a big mermaid thing, and so demanded that there be at least one mermaid-themed area or dungeon, where seemingly beautiful people turned into horrible, jagged creatures of monstrous teeth when provoked. ...sort of like someone we know...?

Artificial - covers anything mechanical or manmade, such as constructs and artifically created life. Seven’s creations are all labeled as ‘artifical’, as are the homunculi that alchemists create. There are a number of quests - many of them suggested or written by Rika - about the ramifications of artificial life and the idea of a sentient creature made by mankind. These are pretty popular, and there’s a chunk of the playerbase who really wants to play as mechanical beings.

Beast - this is a pretty expansive classification, including things like wolves, bears, and many other traditional animal entities. V still tried to include some interesting beastial types though, like chimeras, griffins, manticores, etc.

Demon - these are where V dropped a lot of his ideas about human nature and tragic beauty. Demons represent the corruption of something that was good - such as rotted flowers, shattered vases, and the downfall of mankind. In every demon lingers some remnant of what they once were, but twisted beyond all belief and comparison. For example, some demons love animals, but the animals they touch become vicious, hateful, and monstrous. Some demons have within their wretched forms some object or soul that they’re trying to protect, and some demons mimic the appearance of the players that they’re fighting, showing them what they could become if they should fall...

Dragonkin - Jumin actually had lots of ideas about dragons, and during one creation session, he kept pitching things like, “Well, what about having more than dragons that just hoard gold? What about dragons who like gems, and who have the appearance of gems? What about dragons who hoard flowers, or bones, or other precious things?” V took a lot of these ideas, and every dragon enemy in some way embodies the thing it collects. Jumin keeps asking for a dragon that collects cat merchandise and V keeps saying no.

Korean-esque dragons exist within the setting as well, but they’re almost     always allies. You go to them to ask for aid, protection, and they’re often tied to elementals.

Eldritch - everything strange, spooky, and beyond the realm of mortal ken goes here. Eldritch type enemies aren’t encountered often, but Seven has a habit of making areas where everything seems normal and then you look in a corner and WHOOP HERE’S SOMETHING WEIRD. Weirdly enough, Unknown seems to employ monsters of the eldritch class...?

Elemental -  this class covers things like dryads and nature spirits, along with the beings that serve the river and mountain dragons. Some are simply manifestations of nature’s wrath, and some have sentience, being either trickster forest spirits or guardians of specific locations. Sometimes, elementals can become ‘corrupted’, and they reflect the destruction of nature’s beauty. Elementals that look like oil-slicks and rotten trees exist, and are often terrifying.

Humanoid - bandits, cultists, and other human enemies go here! Also, this class contains things that are... sort of human, like the Kumiho. NPCs in Mystic Message Online have pretty interesting societies, and the players who really like lore have a lot to explore in the various towns in the game. Goblins, tolls, ogres, and dokkaebi exist within this class as well.

Insect - so there’s a dungeon in the game where a giant spider stalks you throughout the entire thing, and it is ABSOLUTELY SEVEN’S FAULT and players HATE IT. It’s not just spiders though - giant praying mantis’s and other types of interesting bug show up in the game. There’s an area where giant moths swarm you and eat you. Who thought of that? Who thought it was a good idea? (Jumin did. he really hates moths.)

Yoosung refuses to fight the centipede boss.

Plant - Similar in some ways to elementals, plant-type enemies in Mystic Message Online are often not capable of thought. In some areas, you want to beware even the flowers, because giant versions will sometimes emerge and eat you. Seven absolutely has created troll areas where if you interact with the flowers, you die.

Undead - Gwisin, Jiangshi, and the western idea of zombies go here. Many of these creatures are tragic, and often when simply observed have movement patterns that suggest things they did in life. Some bosses of this enemy type need to be beaten in a very specific way, like reuniting a pair of tragic lovers, or taking revenge on someone who wronged the ghost. There’s one boss that V created that’s an old sailor covered in barnacles, sea-cucumbers, and coral, and another that’s a dead woman who died in the woods and whose half-rotted flesh is obscured mostly by roses.

[kane-and-griffin]

Hey so I known you don't particularly ship bellarke, but what do you think of the bellarke/kabby parallels? I'm only asking because I'm curious to see what the other side of the fandom thinks?

I actually do ship Bellarke!  Kabby is my #1 but I’ve always been invested in Clarke and Bellamy’s relationship.  I have very strong opinions about Kabby/Bellarke parallels and have talked about this at LENGTH on Meta Station, where @reblogginhood, my co-host and best friend, is a ride-or-die Bellarke shipper, so most of the time I feel like I have dual citizenship through Erin (and vice versa, since the Kabby fandom loves her too).  We both love both those ships, and we both love all four of those characters, just in rearranged order, and we like to yell about this a LOT.

I’ve meta’d on this before a number of different times, but I’m too lazy to go back and dig up old posts, so here goes.

First of all, if you are a Bellarke shipper (are you a Bellarke shipper? Am I reading this ask correctly?  HELLO FROM THE OTHER SIIIIIIIIIIDE), the most important thing I want to say in aid of positive fandom-to-fandom relations is that the phrase “Kabby/Bellarke parallels” has begun to elicit a knee-jerk primal scream reaction among Kabby shippers over the past few months, since we regularly find the Kabby tag full of posts that either describe Kabby as the “old” version of Bellarke, or that it only exists to pave the way for Bellarke, or that the parallels that exist (and they do exist, and we’ll get to that in a second) essentially make Kane and Abby metaphors instead of people who only exist in the narrative to shed light on Bellarke instead of being their own characters with value and storylines of their own.  Articles or blog posts highlighting the things that make Kabby special to Kabby shippers will get reblogged with someone saying “if you change the names, it’s about Bellarke!” or with lengthy meta about how Bellarke had that thing first or that the Kabby version of some particular moment or symbol or metaphor or visual cue or phrase only exists because it will become MORE important later, when it’s attached to Bellarke. 

So I’m frustrated because I love this ask, I love getting this question, I love talking about the relationship among these four characters, but also it’s hard - as you can imagine - to feel like we’re told over and over again that the things we feel make our ship, and these two characters, really special to us, don’t really matter on their own merits.  

Anyway, I’m saying that both A) so the Kabby fandom, where we are perpetually having this conversation, knows MOM’S ON IT, and B) so that you as a Bellarke shipper who seems delightful and asked a great question has some context for why sometimes other asks or posts about this - which aren’t phrased as nicely as yours was - receive a negative response or make Kabby shippers upset.  I think the context is important here, because this has been a BIG thing in our world of late and we’re all a little thin-skinned about it right now.

Okay but that being said LET’S MOVE ON TO THE FUN PART AND TALK ABOUT CHARACTER PARALLELS BECAUSE I LOVE CHARACTER PARALLELS AND I THINK ABOUT THESE ONES ALL THE TIME AND I’M FULL OF OPINIONS AND YOU ASKED FOR THEM SO YOU’RE GONNA GET ‘EM

oh wait I found another post where I already did this STILL GONNA YELL ABOUT IT THOUGH, MY HOUSE MY RULES

Okay so FIRST OF ALL let me just real quick BLOW YOUR MIND with my Kabby/Bellarke parallels theory, which is that the REAL parallel is Abby/Bellamy vs. Clarke/Kane and everyone else has it backwards. 

I think the easy, default place most people go to when we talk about this is to contrast Kane and Bellamy - the self-doubting, tortured, wannabe martyrs who carry the weight of every sin on their shoulders well past the point of reason - with Abby and Clarke - the resourceful mother and daughter who never give up and will drag all of humanity kicking and screaming to their salvation if it’s the LAST THING THEY FUCKING DO.  And I think there’s a lot of interesting character stuff to be mined there, for sure; I think Kane and Bellamy’s parallel redemption arcs are some of the best stuff they’ve done in the whole series (until 3A Bellamy regressed back to an asshole but let’s skip past that for the moment), illustrating the way that for both of them, the Culling was really a turning point where they realized that they will forever carry the burden of having been complicit in that massive loss of innocent life (Bellamy for throwing away Raven’s radio and Kane for not waiting like Abby asked him to) which could have been prevented if they had listened to the Griffins.  It’s beautifully executed, even in S1 when these two characters have never interacted onscreen, and it ramps up even more in S2 where we see them meet and immediately butt heads with each other before in S3 developing a real partnership.  (Which then got torn to shreds.  I’m still bitter over 3A Kellamy  I’M GONNA NEED A HUG IN S4 JASON DO U HEAR ME) (I mean I need Kane to hug Bellamy, not like I’m requesting a hug from Jason, TO BE CLEAR).  And I think the mother/daughter parallels are drawn beautifully as well, especially in S1 where we see Abby on the Ark and Clarke on the ground filling similar roles and working towards the same goal, barreling through the opposition however they must.

BUT.  If we’re talking about which characters are MOST SIMILAR, then I think you CANNOT get away from the reality that the parallels are actually gender-flipped.

Clarke has a lot of her mom in her, clearly, as well as a lot of her dad.  But she’s not actually the kind of leader her mom is.  She’s the kind of leader Kane is.  Abby and Bellamy are the ones with the crowd charisma and the stubborn recklessness; Clarke and Kane are the cool-headed, deliberate strategic thinkers.  Bellamy and Abby have quick minds and no fear and will do absolutely anything, no matter how insane, to protect the people they love.  You can map, beat-for-beat, so many of the things Bellamy does for Octavia onto the things Abby does for Clarke, and vice versa.  Abby sneaking the kids out the back door with guns in the middle of the night to go find Clarke? Bellamy would do that in a second.  Bellamy sneaking onto the dropship to make sure Octavia doesn’t go to earth unprotected?  ABBY AF.  They both begin the show as people who are fiercely focused on keeping the person they love most safe, and it makes them blind to ancillary consequences.  Bellamy will fight anyone.  Abby will tell any lie.  There is no such thing as too far, when the person you love is at stake.  WE know Abby’s hope that the kids are alive is borne out by fact, but NO ONE ELSE ON THE ARK KNOWS THAT.  From Kane’s point of view, she’s being as unreasonable and reckless as Clarke thinks Bellamy is when she yells at him about the radio.  Or think about Abby sneaking Bellamy and Finn out the back door with guns to go hunt for Clarke, even knowing she would get in trouble for it.  You know who else would do THAT EXACT SAME THING in those circumstances?  BELLAMY BLAKE.  I bet they cooked up that scheme together off-camera.  So what I think is interesting for both of them is how their circle expands over the course of three seasons to change the way they are as leaders, and the ways in which their recklessness is tempered by their leadership partners. 

I’m fascinated by the relationship between Clarke and Kane, and I hope we get more of it in S4.  I heard rumblings that they go together to find Kenza, the Nightblood scout, and I’m hoping we get a lil’ dad/daughter road trip bonding, because I think they have a really strong connection and they share a similar leadership brain.  Where Abby and Bellamy are quick and passionate and make snap decisions, Clarke and Kane are more calculating.  They’re thinking in the big picture and the longer term.  Floating 300 people to save the whole Ark, and irradiating the residents of Mt. Weather to save all the Sky People, are identical decision-making processes; not everyone can live, someone is going to have to die, so how to we map out the most effective path where the fewest of my people die as possible for maximum survival?  Whereas there’s nothing Bellamy wouldn’t burn to the ground to save Octavia.  Leadership isn’t PERSONAL for Clarke and Kane, not right off the bat.  It’s about the numbers.  It’s about as many people as possible surviving.  And so sometimes you have to let the bomb fall on Tondc, because letting those people die is the only way to give your own people the chance to live, even though Abby “there has to be another way” Griffin finds that notion so appalling she can hardly even recognize her daughter in that moment.  But you know who understood it immediately, and didn’t judge her?  Kane.  Kane and Abby’s scene underground in 2x13 is such a beautiful, crucial moment in their relationship, but it’s also the moment the show really begins to lean in on this idea that Kane can see Clarke more clearly than Abby can, because she’s Abby’s baby girl and Abby is still trying to protect her from harm - including from the harm of having to make, and then face the consequences of, terrible decisions.  But Kane is the one who tells Abby not to diminish either Clarke or Lexa’s leadership skills just because they’re young.  Kane is the one who calmly talks Clarke down when they’re trying to figure out who poisoned Lexa’s drink, using the same kind of coolheaded, rational language we can easily imagine Clarke using to one of the delinquents if the shoe was on the other foot.  And so it makes perfect sense that it would be Clarke and Kane who make the strategic decision, together, that Skaikru joining the Grounder Alliance is the smartest long-term tactical decision - a notion we see that Abby and Bellamy don’t like, because they, emotional thinkers that they are, still haven’t forgiven Lexa or decided they can trust her again.

I’m really interested in where the lines end up getting drawn in S4, but it definitely seems to me, from the bits and pieces we’ve seen and heard, that Clarke has some kind of crazy-ass save-the-world plan that other people think is too reckless or too dangerous or will have too high a casualty rate, and that the group sort of divides itself into factions based on who is willing to get on board and who is resisting (or just giving up and waiting to die).  And it does seem, from the trailer, that Kane and Abby are using the same language Clarke is using.  We’ve also heard that Bellamy and Clarke are back as a power duo again, so my guess is he’ll be on the squad too.  So what I’m really excited about, because we’ve never really had this before, is the four of them working together as a co-leadership team.  I want to see Chancellor Kane and Ambassador Clarke negotiating with Roan and Luna.  I want Abby and Bellamy working together in Arkadia to convince their people to go along with Clarke’s plan.  I want Clarke and Abby to talk about Lexa and Jake, about how you go on with a hole in your heart and how to grieve and heal.  I want Kane and Bellamy to talk through all the things that happened in S3, how Bellamy almost got Kane executed because he stopped trusting him, how ALIE made Kane almost murder Bellamy in cold blood, and where they go from here.  I want us to see the parallel relationship dynamics - the big-hearted, loving Griffins who are used to giving and receiving affection reaching out to the isolated protector men who are still getting used to the idea that they have a place they belong and people who care about them. 

TO CONCLUDE: Abby is Bellamy and Clarke is Kane and they’re a big beautiful leadership power squad family and I love them all with my whole heart THANK U AND GOODNIGHT

[shinynewtoysyndrome]

Previously on the Finale of Beywarriors: Cyborg, Part 1

Bran, the big bad: Sayonara, suckers. Hope you like Savage Destroyer! Don't feel too bad that your planet is a worthless piece of shit.

Ramon, el freaky fish guy: Language, amigo.

Abridger's note: Ramon is Hispanic here for obvious reasons. He wasn't Hispanic in the Toonami English dub.

Al: Fish guy got better abs than me. Alright fangirls. Forget blandie. Ship me with the fish guy!

Ramon: My name is Ramon. You're killing my homeworld. Prepare to feel our collective wrath.

Bran: As if. These human nations couldn't collude even if their lives depended on it.

Nico, in an over-the-top hero voice (which if you think about it is his normal everyday voice): THAT'S WHERE YOUR WRONG, FIEND.

Bran: You're lying, bland kid. Go home and, I dunno, emigrate to the Orb Union or something. You'd fit right in.

Nico: My patriotic fervor makes a nonsense of your obtuse attempts at making fun of my perceived lack of a personality.

Flame Trio, along with their Bey Warrior Bit Beast Cyborg thingies: 'Sup Vanilla.

Nico: I'm still not getting it. Why are you calling me that?

Flame Trio: Is it seriously not getting to you that we think you're bland.

Nico: Look, if we all took too much time on personal matters like you do, we're never gonna get the job done.

Al: Well that makes sense.

Flame Trio: A consummate professional. We respect that.

Nico: That's not what you said the other times.

Flame Trio: Just run and set the plan in motion. We've got this.

Nico: Good call.

Flame Trio: Nope, we don't got this.

Nico: Oh, come on. Do I have to do everything around here?

Flame Trio: Just go, you walking piece of cardboard.

Gai: You're not the only one who's got this.

Bran: Guy, I thought we had something evil together.

Gai: Oh, I've been saving such a redeemed hero speech for this.

Voiceover: Attention people of Teslandia. Apparently we've all been played like a bunch of suckers and the real enemy had always been that alien dude named bran. Uggghhh. He must dine on gluten and all that. Anyway, that trio of military dudes plus that burly vigilante guy are all playing hero.

Prime Minister of the Lightning State: Didn't we hire that no-nonsense cardboard kid to play our hero? Why hasn't he upstaged them yet #Lightin'FuckYeah

Ramon: Madre de Hydra Akheilos.

Nico: Okay, so we got Dragoon in place. What now.

Dr. Prost but now has Cryaotic's personality: Hey Blue. Red here and I were just about to use that blowhard's technology against him.

Nico: How long will it take?

Dr. Prost: It should be done by-

Sola: MOTOR SKILLS!

Dr. Prost: Agggghhhh

King August the Dramatic: Here I come for my heroic redemption arc.

Bran: So you're all betraying me left and right. Touching, you're all united now. Filthy swine.

King August the once bad but now good: Ahh, to be rounded and complex. Wouldn't you say. This is how heroes are meant to be. BYRONIC! EAT YOUR HEART OUT, uhh...

Marius: Nico, sire!

King August the temperamental: Smithers, release the Warriors!

Marius: Yes sir!

Bran: You can't win, I'm too powerful.

Nico: That's what you think!

Flame Trio, King, Smithers, and Gai: Great. Upstaged once again by off-brand Canadian hero product.

Bran: You were better off with Johnny Test.

Nico: The joke's on you because I have no idea what that is!

Nico: Oh you have got to be kidding me.

Bran: Awww, does widdle bland kid want to run home to his gramps.

Nico: I'm a brunet.

Everyone: YOU'RE A BLOND.

Bran: A dumb blond.

King August the Blond: I am offended by that.

Nico: Blond as in yellowish hair or bland as in nondescript and lacking in features.

Al: Darn it, why does everyone get to be a hero but me? I've got better abs than all these suckas.

Gai and Ramon: AHEM.

Nico: As if you need to be ripped to be a hero.

Gai: You bit thingy may be stronger than me, but I can still make things haaaa-

Gai: SHIT WHY DOES THIS HURT SO MUCH.

Nico: I know right?

King August the Observant: We dented it.

Gere of the Flame Trio: We'll dent it again.

Both: GOOOO SHOOOOOOT

Nico: I won't let your sacrifice be in vain!

All three of them: But we're not yet dead.

Al: Bring out your dead!

Nico: I understood that reference!

Ramon: Of all the references bland man could've gotten. Anyhow, ninos, while you were battling, I was making sure that Bran was distracted. Now go extract the energy from that behemoth and lets finish this. Vamos!

Bran: You can-

Ramon: And now you'll be done in by your own pocket dimension tech.

Bran: FUUUUUUUCCCK

Ramon: What do you know. The blue guy with the abs beat the villain.

Al: I don't think he's using the Spanish language correctl-oowwwww using Lightning Griffin as a shield hurts. But if this shared pain means being a hero, so be it.

Nico: They did their part. Now it's my turn!

Al: He did it.

The rest of them: All that character development to be upstaged by a talking piece of cardboard.

Nico: Awww, shucks guys. We all did it. Together.

Gere: Wait, so your normal personality is a humble, friendly, socially awkward teen?

Nico: I thought that was obvious.

Gai: We went around thinking you didn't have one, what with your near monomaniacal obsession with acting the part of the hero.

Nico: PROFESSIONALISM!

Prime Minister of the State of Lighting: Lightning, Fuck Yeah.

Ramon: Wait, amigos. Something isn't right.

Nico: Well, thank you, Ms. Clavell.

[darkpoisonouslove]

1, 2, 12, 15, 21, 28 :)

Thank you!

I answered 1 here.

2. What are some common elements of stories you are tired of seeing? What would you avoid writing about?

I don't want to be too negative so I'll just try to list them briefly:

- love triangles - they're almost never done well. Like, 99.9% of the time they don't make any sense and are obviously just added for cheap drama. Can we, please, see something new?

- time travel - it also doesn't make sense and I feel like you don't need to go through so much trouble in order to set up a compelling story. Like, what does it add to the story, really? I'm tired of "ooh, we have to be careful not to change anything" when they already have just by being in a time period where they're not supposed to be (at least Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. addressed that which is why their time travel is one of the few times where it was done in an acceptable way).

- secondhand embarrassment - that's really a "tool" used only on TV but I hate the hell out of it. So much comedy relies on it and that's one of the biggest reasons why I don't watch much comedy. If you can't be funny in any other way, then you're not funny, period.

- Chosen Ones - talk about done to death. Really, we've seen this plot a thousand times and it rarely has something interesting to offer. If the hero is an unwilling emo about it, there are a thousand other people who'll be happy to do the job and will probably do it better. Can we just read some of their stories?

- prophesies - again, something that we've seen way too much of. It's either "ooh, we misinterpreted the prophecy so it turns out the hero won't die" or "well, now it's real depressing". And I say this with the full awareness that my favorite series (the Underland Chronicles) has prophecies. However, Susanne Collins knows how to write.

- "you can't bring people back from the dead because it makes death meaningless" - I. Am. So. SICK. of hearing about that. Yes, we know death is part of the journey and that in life you can't avoid it. But this is fiction. We can explore other options. Besides, who says that once a necromancer has brought you back to life that removes death from the journey? You were still dead. It was part of the journey. Just not the part we are used to it being. Why do we have to limit ourselves to the realities of human life when we can explore other scenarios? I have many feelings on this but I don't think I can structure any of them more so I will leave it off here.

12. What is the fashion like in your wip? Do you have any pictures saved of outfits your characters would wear?

Okay, I spent several hours making moodboards here because there were too many pictures to actually put all of them in.

The first one (on the left) is Samara and the one on the right is Stella. I feel like those are outfits they could wear in the canon universe.

Here I put some stray outfit ideas for different Winx characters:

Those are some ideas I have for Marion:

These are all pics I have for Ediltrude:

Now here's some AUs. This one is for the Arranged Marriage AU:

And this one is for the Artist/Painter AU:

And here are some ideas for Griffin that I haven't necessarily sorted out in my different verses yet:

I also did one with hairstyles for her:

I have more but it's starting to get late and my eyes are tired from making these.

15. Why physical quirks do your characters tend to have? Eyebrow raising, picking nails, biting lips, pacing, crossing arms, etc.

Smirking. That's pretty much it with all of the characters I write (I mean, is this really a surprise with Griffin and especially Valtor?)

In the couple chapters I've written from the Winx rewrite Bloom's been blushing and just showing all the signs of anxiety and embarrassment quite a lot as well. But that's supposed to go away with time.

21. How do you come up with titles? Do you use placeholders or tend to change your titles while writing the first draft?

The titles rarely come to me during the first draft. Only if I'm lucky. Since I write most of my first drafts on paper, though, they usually go titleless until I need a title for the document when I start editing and typing them up on the computer. That's when the struggle begins. I usually have some ideas for a title at some point but sometimes I have to edit the story and even then I don't always have the title. If that's the case, I do happen to use placeholder titles sometimes. It's rare that I'd have the title beforehand. I just try to think of words connected to the main idea of the story and then piece together a title that isn't a whole novel in and of itself.

28. Do you need background noise to write? If so, what do you listen to?

I listen to songs from my music library. Sometimes I may even have a playlist for the specific work I'm writing. But usually that's not the case so I just try to play songs that have a similar vibe to what I'm working on. If I find it too hard to concentrate with music, I try to find something without any lyrics or something in a language I don't understand (hence the Turkish radio experiences). In rare cases I resort to white noise. Also in rare cases I might even watch something while I'm writing but that doesn't usually give results because I just end up watching the thing. I can't really write in silence, though. Somehow that ends up distracting me.

Send me writing asks