#my motivation to draw has kinda tanked

[magnesiumxp]

two wips ill probabaly never finish

[a-clown-with-wings]

Super late but I keep seeing your art on my dash from the dca tag and I realized I never followed you??? Jail, jail for me for a 1000 years for this crime

Anyway just wanted to hop in here to say I love love love your art!!! Something about the way you draw shapes is just. So pretty. Your art tastes like pancakes to me. Sweet and soft!

Anyway!!! I wanted to ask!! (And I'm sorry if this has been asked before, as I said, I'm late to the party wugdhdu)

Are Jinks and Missy a Dca au?? Your own ocs inspired by them?? I'm so interested!!!

They're lovely and if I could they'd both get smooches <3

Okay that's all!! Hope you have a wonderful day/night!!!

JUMPING UP AND DOWN SCREAMING !!!

HUZZAHHH !!!

I have been trying to put more motivation into my art that’s separate from the amount of engagement I get (since getting lost in likes can tank the hell out of people and ruin the quality of art for some people), but things like this do also make me more motivated and reminds me that there are people that like what I post. My mental state has improved drastically and now this just seems like an extra treat for me ! Thank you so much!

As for Jinks and Missy, they are in fact a DCA AU that I’m working on. If I go back enough, I can find old art of when they were both called Autumn and Winter (it’s ugly art lol), but they kinda just started as a small interest of clowns that I manifested I think. (I used to be terrified of clowns. 2016 did a number on me.)

I’m working on their story right now, including a masterpost that I have to figure out how to organize, but I’m glad that I have captured yet another person. You are going into the pile with the rest of them 😈😈😈

When I’m done with asks and start getting more organized with them, I’ll start doing more lore drops so that people arts in the dark. I hear your pleads. I promise!! Winter break will help, so you’ll just have to wait for that.

You all make me so happy and add a reason for me to keep going. I love you all!! 💖✨🎉

[iheartgod175]

Some Quick Thoughts

--Sorry I've been on and off of here, everyone! Work's been crazy, and so has home life, but I'm starting to come out of the dreary tunnel now, meaning that I should be back on here a lot more often now.

--My writing motivation has been on and off for the last few weeks, mostly due to getting back to work after getting hit with the 'Rona (after my birthday, which was a double whammy). The project that I was working on before getting sick was The Zula Patrol: Dreamscape Crusade Remastered, but now it's shifted to a few other projects that I haven't worked on in years or are on hiatus. Those projects are Mirror, Mirror, and Sodor Magic Crusaders.

--I haven't really been into Thomas the Tank Engine in a hot minute, but I have kinda been into Nanoha again. And I'm about 45% through the actual sixteenth chapter, where things go wrong for multiple characters. I also had a cool idea to switch up how Emily is handled in this story, since I don't want it to be a total cut and paste from the canon events in Nanoha (the fic itself already plays fast and loose with canon as many Devices that appear later in the series appear in the first installment, Mid-Childa doesn't exist, and rather than the Jewel Seeds, we get the Book of Transformation).

I'm also doing a total readthrough of the story to get up to speed with what's going on, and the difference between my old writing style and my current writing style is like night and day, haha! I'm still planning on rewriting a few chapters to make things clearer and clean up any errors/descriptions. At least, until I decide to get the ball rolling on The REMAKE 1st. And while SRBA was unanimously the top pick for a DCR-style remaster, a few people wanted to see this project, too.

--Mirror, Mirror's fifth chapter is something I've been working on for the better part of two years. I'm raising the stakes here in this chapter! Like SMC, I'm about 40% done with this chapter; just adding a few points from ideas and brainstorms I had, and working off of that.

--Sheriff Callie's Wild West has also been tickling the brain a little. I've been trying to get to chapter 7 of You've Got My Attention for the longest, but everything I've tried has not worked. Yesterday, though, I had a little idea on what exactly happened in Callie's past that's made her so closed off on love and why what those criminals did crossed the line. I haven't even started on this chapter yet, though, so please don't rush my inbox with messages about when it'll be done!

--A huge thanks to the folks who have been reblogging my ZP stuff from last year, including all the ship art ^^ Actually, thanks to everyone who's been reblogging/liking my art. Especially the art that I did with Chuck E, because I was not expecting that kind of response. It really makes my day!

--I do have a mini art bomb coming soon. I've been drawing more and want to share what I've been working on!

--And last but not least, I will get to doing my Animation Bucket List soon, because reading through my old Netflix Bucket Lists made me realize that I missed doing 'em. And since I've seen a lot of anime since then, I really want to share what I liked, hated, and am ambivalent on.

[unpopularvivian]

My Ttte Designs (Toby):

Headcanons:

Shy, gentle, nervous but wise and extremely caring towards others. Is one of Sodor's oldest but finest engines.

Human age is 54 while his actual age is 121.

He and Henrietta are married for 30 years while he and Edward are married for 10 years.

Disrespect one of his loved ones, especially if it's Henrietta, and he'll sent you to your grave.

Has a super close bond with the humans of Sodor and sees them as this one, big, loving family.

Even though he's prone to panic in certain situations, he has the patience of a god and is very good at handling emotional problems. His compassion and empathy makes him very popular with engines and Sudrians.

Loves jazz, romantic music and electro swing.

Is the Harold Hutchins to Gordon's George Beard and they're best friends because I said so. He acts like the heart of the duo while Gordon acts like the brains. These two will do anything from becoming wingmen for each other to trying to figure how to use the internet.

He doesn't have too many people that he hates but if you manage to be one of those people; Then congrats! You're officially one of the worst people to ever live on earth!

Bisexual and transgender (Ftm). Has top surgery and his scars are kinda faded. Scars are double incision and are curved. (I swear, if ya'll are ever drawing him shirtless and you incorrectly draw his top surgery scars, I am going to break into your house and break all of your limbs-)

Street-stupid as fuck and doesn't understand modern society that well.

Has PTSD, depression and separation anxiety. Extremely fast-moving water, great heights and loud sounds all give him shivers down to his spine because they're all part of events that he used to be in. Sometimes, he feels disconnected to the rest of the world and doesn't have any motivation to do anything. And about his separation anxiety? Try separating Henrietta from him and he'll be missing her instantly.

Loves to bake and cook food. Is a god at it. (Unlike Edward-)

Has 4 adopted children: Mavis, Percy, Phillip and Pluto.

I like to imagine that he used to have a stupid long ahoge that he unfortunately lost during his younger years. It hasn't grown back ever since. RIP random ahoge, we'll miss you. 😞

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair-"

PRIVATE HE'S AFRAID OF COCKROACHES!!!!!

(USING SHE/HER AND THE NAME "TABITHA" FOR THE NEXT FEW HEADCANONS. TW: MENTIONS OF DEADNAMING, TRANSPHOBIA, HOMOPHOBIA AND DEATH)

When Tabitha was first built, she was devilish, tomboyish daredevil who took over the quaint little world that she lived in by storm. She had two older brothers who she bonded quickly. Tom, who was the middle child and was fun-loving and Leonard, who was the oldest and acted as the voice of reason and discipline.

In her old tramway that was located nearby on a pretty little coastline, Tabitha met two tramway coaches named Henrietta and Hannah. She got along quite well with Hannah due to their chaotic personalities but butted heads with Henrietta because of her more reserved demeanor. (What Tabitha doesn't know that she's going to get married to Henrietta someday hehehoho)

However, Roger, a very bratty and absolutely shit tram engine bullied the two all lot. (Ya'll probably who I'm talking about) And not only was he spoiled and jerkish, he was also extremely transphobic and homophobic towards Tabitha, often calling her many slurs and derogatory nicknames. But the haughty steam tram would soon meet his end when he was crushed to death. What the others didn't know that things would be way worse....

During a cheerful and calm day, Tabitha was working with her two brothers as usual along with Henrietta. Out of nowhere, a large boom filled the air with terror and doom as an disheveled old man, wearing shattered goggles, was driving a gigantic tank as cannons were blasting everywhere, destroying trucks and houses. Leonard immediately took his then-sister's hand and started sprinting towards the other direction with Tom and Henrietta following in hot pursuit.

Bullets sliced through the smoky air as the screams of dying people and engines filled the atmosphere with dread and hopelessness and just as the crazy old man was about to shoot Tabitha, Tom suddenly went in front of her, surprising the lunatic and causing him to miss and have the bullet hit the ground instead. But, the bullet ended up ricocheting a piece of shrapnel straight towards Tom's face and pierced straight through his eye, killing him instantly.

And went the young tram thought that the worse has been over, a shriek of pain echoed through the sky as Henrietta dragged Tabitha to a safe place. Turns out that Leonard had acid poured on his face by the old driver for refusing to let him kill Tabitha.

The next day was the funeral for Tom and Leonard, the sky was a cloudy grey as rain poured onto the ground like bricks hitting pavement. Nobody make a sound except for the anguished cries of Tabitha for she just lost the people that she loved the most. Ever since, the poor tram hasn't been the same.

(TOBY, IN HIS AWKWARD TRANSITONAL PHASE)

Started using he/him and the name "Tobias" that Leonard give to him. Shortened it to "Toby" because he didn't like being called by his full name.

Wore awkward brown suspenders, a white buttoned up shirt and had shiny black loafers. (Man, he was really wearing the loser fit wasn't he) Later got a fuzzy homemade oak-colored sweater made by Henrietta for him as a gift when he worked on his own little tramway.

Easily scared, very jumpy, frightened and extremely shy toward others. Only communicated in whispers. (Not too unlike to his wimpy CGI persona!)

Was pretty neutral on liking flowers but ended up loving one of them, roses, after Henrietta put one on his head during one of their dates.

You thought that Edward was his bisexual awakening? Ha! Edward was only his bisexual REAWAKENING. His actual first bisexual awakening was when he met a fellow blue lorry whose name was Alec. Unlike the rest of the lorries and trucks that were assholes, Alec was mild-mannered and polite and had a pleasant conversation with Toby, who the latter caught feelings for him. However, because homophobia was at a dangerously high stake during that time, Toby had extreme feelings of internalized homophobia and avoided Alec when ever he could. (Poor him, it looks that Toby couldn't catch a break)

Toby and Henrietta literally got married when Toby tried to propose her but failed horribly, only to find out that Henrietta was also going to propose to him as well.

His bond between his driver and firewoman started to grow since the two were a couple themselves and would give relationship advice to Toby whenever he had trouble with Henrietta.

[kilowogcore]

Anarchy in Structure

So what is anarchism? Well a lotta amazin' philosophers an' political theorists have written essays an' books an' all sorta stuff on that subject.

But they don't run this account, so instead yer gonna get a straightforward an' simple guy's understandin' of it. I ain't gonna pretend ta' be the best read on theory, I ain't gonna pretend I understand every single possible question. In fact, in order ta' keep this short, I'm gonna have ta' generalize a whole lot. But here's how I see it.

A lotta people who ain't studied anarchy think it means no state, no laws, no rules, no nothin'. That ain't it. It just means there ain't no hierarchy. No hierarchy don't mean no structure. It just means the structure ain't got rulers an' subjects. It's a system where everyone's got equal power within the structure.

What does yer boss actually do? Well if ya' got a typical job, they probably draw up plans ta' coordinate yer team, ta' give ya' a single vision so ya' can all work together, they plan yer work schedules, an' they deal with a lotta admin paperwork.

So here's my question - why do they have ta' be in charge ta' do all that? All that work can be done without havin' the power ta' hire 'n fire people. Ya' don't need ta' control people ta' do admin an' coordination work.

Ah, but who's gonna force the workers ta' follow the plan? But if there ain't no bosses, if everyone's equal, then that means every worker has a stake in the company equal ta' the work they do. It means that when they do good, the company does good, an' everyone profits. So why wouldn't they follow it voluntarily? Sure, there'll be some contrarians an' jerks who don't just cuz, but not enough ta' tank the company.

See how that works? No one person is in charge makin' these decisions, an' as much as possible is voluntary.

I'm usin' a company still concerned with profit as an example cuz it's a well-known kinda structure, but this works fer any kinda structural need, includin' ones with no direct profit motive.

Now, I'm sure ya' got questions, but here's the thing: This ain't theoretical. Worker co-ops already exist. Anarchist communities already exist. And while they exist within a larger super-structure of capitalism, they show how anarchy can work within a structure but without a hierarchy. If ya' got questions, ya' can see the solutions these existin' systems come up with. Ya' can also look up anarchist theory on websites like The Anarchist Library.

I can't answer every question in a single post, I'm just tryin' ta' get ya' ta' challenge whether or not individual authority an' power are really necessary ta' get stuff done.

I think it ain't.

[anonymousredactedconfessions]

The Fandom: Why do y'all always make the popular characters White passing when you draw or create something about them? Where's the diversity?

Also the Fandom: Stop giving non-human characters bizarre skin tones! They don't need to be Grey or Red or Purple. It's weird that you all do this.

Also-Also the Fandom: Stop making Tank (Darlin. I hate the name Tank) and other popular traumatized characters have darker skin tones! It's really kinda racist of you all to be doing that just because you associate us with that kind of lifestyle!

Me: Absolutely flabbergasted each time I read these kind of comments on my Artwork I post.

But seriously. Just because I Hc Asher as a Mixed race guy, Milo as having Spanish heritage, Darlin as Japanese, Gavin as having Dark Brown skin, or Vega with skin that's black as night. Doesn't mean I'm forcing you to accept my interpretation of what they look like. It has and will always be up to each of us to imagine what they look like. Like I'm sorry if my personal Hc bothered you but my motivation was never because I am Racist. Hell, I'm Chinese/Korean and I still Hc most of the characters as White. If you don't like my ideas or Art please feel free to block me rather than bombarding me with hate.

🐺

.

[sukunasun]

I finished the "Say It's Here" sequel and gosh, I'm bowled over! I feel like your understanding of each character's psychology has been heightened since the original was published and It's so impressive! I particularly enjoyed how economical you were with the descriptions according to each character's personality, motivation and dynamic with the protagonist

Also, my god, not higuruma hiromi being the highest quality rebound ever???? Currently obsessed with him and it's kinda funny/sad how many parallels people draw between him and Nanami, understandably, but I LOVE that you flesh out their distinctions here too. Not quite a cameo but he feels more fully realised and real(?) in his short scene than in some entire pics revolving around him that I've read! I quiver to consider what you'd unleash upon the world with a full fledged fic for him (with a different reader character ofc)

But Srsly how does she keep hooking such hotties

Higuruma's "ruthless" rationale and observations is rather kind in its own way, and I thoroughly enjoyed how accurate it felt and also that the reader doesn't mistake it for anything affectionate or coddling. I find that clarity extremely appealing about him, plus it must feel so ridiculously refreshing to the reader character after all the guesswork and her ordeal with nanami

I also think that's one of the more satisfying distinctions you make with their portrayals; nanami (initially) employs logic as a coping mechanism, whereas it's hiromi's basis for functioning, a bit like a bug versus a feature?

At least in accordance with canon events, I think that mindset translates well, nanami's response to traumatic incidences in his formative years whereas hiromi had this rationality inform his life's work?

Especially when ambiguity is often the fulcrum for romantic tension (will they/won't they), my mind short-circuits and a little shiver goes down my spine at the thought of Hiromi instead bluntly telling someone: Us? Sure, Why not?

And then calmly proceeds to decimate every excuse one tries to tank their own dating prospects. You can't filibuster flirting with this man, he's so fucking direct (and vice versa 🤭, sometimes a gal just wants a classic Dom yknow. God, i need help)

A N Y

W A Y

Nanami feels more than he lets on in this story, Hiromi is exactly what you expect - which is such an interesting lesson or refraction for the reader character in managing her expectations and self-doubt

Nanami's grovelling feels mostly earned, maybe because it's been a while since I read Say It's Here his interiority is a tad more obscured, or cause the sequel more heavily focuses on reader's POV, which is really well assisted by suguru's commentary/probing/ribbing. Special shoutout to satoru's point blank shit stirring (he and hiromi would be fabulous frenemies)

Also love the open ending because ironically it feels better than emotional closure??? Or probably the finality of her rejecting nanmi again, oof. It's such a satisfying coda oddly i (almost) don't want this story to continue. What a magic trick!

There's such finesse in all the characterisations here, even without my massive bias for higuruma I'd be rereading this a dozen times!

;__; im so sorry this response is so late but thank you so much for sending this in. i'm so glad you got to read the piece!

i care more for the opinions of nanami stans for being able to write/understand him and his appeal in a way i can't. still, i try my best to offer something worthwhile. the open ending was more because i couldn't decide the best outcome for the reader and nanami. there were moments i thought about writing an epilogue to hint at the possibility of them getting back together but i've decided it's best to leave it up for interpretation. after all, nanami comes off to me as someone who wouldn't need a 'yes' right away.

also re: higuruma— gahh i was so uncertain if i did him justice, so thank you for noticing that distinction. often i'll write and delete and write again because i worry if it wasn't clear enough. to me, he's very different to nanami. not even the same sides of a coin. still, i get the comparison. both have been strung into the dilf narrative so often i forget that nanami is literally three years older than me.

[alister312]

do i even have to ask..... the character ask with gregory. Yes. All of them (if you can think of something)

THERE ARE. 50 OF THESE THINGS.

i honest to god tried but its midnight and im tired so i didn't get to all of them. maybe i will another time. here's the ask game for anyone maybe wanting to see certain ones i skipped answered.

1. Canon I outright reject

There is so little canon to him to even embrace but uhhhhhh. Him being so shit at drawing a directional compass. He's a smart boy I don't think he would fuck up a compass as badly as he did on his map in the movie.

2. A canon or headcanon hill I will die on

He has led a rich boy life. While I do love the idea of his parents as professors, it makes so much more sense if they're wealthy social elites and he's got all these immense expectations placed on his shoulders from a young age. He develops crippling imposter syndrome and anxiety due to this but is extremely good at masking it and accomplishing things so no one knows (except ofc Christophe).

3. Obscure headcanon

Big big fan of the "Gregory can play an instrument" headcanon, though I don't always see it implemented. Like, yes he sings but what if he also played the piano or violin? I think he does.

4. Favorite line

I kinda really like his little "O-ho..." after meeting Stan for the first time. It's just a solid line read and further solidifies the headcanon of him as a wealthy upperclass kid. He's clearly uninterested but he's learned he can't say that... he's gotta cage it. Maintain a good public image.

5. Best personality trait

The fact that he's so quick to stand up for others and put himself on the line for them!! Whether it's acting as Wendy's voice against Garrison or volunteering to go to the dangerous USO show, Gregory is willing to put in the work! Doesn't fall into that rich kid cliche.

6. Worst personality trait

Of course it's the flipside of his best trait: the fact that he thinks he has to do everything for everyone. He's gonna exhaust himself as well as come across as extremely controlling!!

7. Age/height/weight headcanon

Age depends on what sort of AU I have going on... though by default I tend to image him in his late twenties, early thirties? Usually makes the most sense.

Gregory maxes out at about 5'10" to me (with Christophe being more 6'1", 2"). Gregory carries himself very well though and may even wear shoes with a bit of height, so people usually believe he's a bit taller than he actually is. He's never slouched once in his life and he won't start now.

Weight I'm honestly not sure? He's fit and slim (swimmer's body type), well balanced. I know that much.

8. Unpopular opinion about them

He would never grow his hair out long. I know the Les Mis stans love to give him a ponytail and the Hell/park fans love to give him a ponytail but I absolutely don't understand. I get him maybe caring deeply about his hair, but that's why he'd keep it short. Much easier to style and manage.

9. Scene that first made me love (or hate) the character

I don't remember but it was probably the line about everyone being rogues. It's just such an iconic line.

10. Best moment on screen (or in the book)

La Resistance. Howard McGillin killed it as his singing voice and the sequence in general is just an absolute highlight of the whole film.

11. Faceclaim for the role

I don't actually have one?? Like I have a very clear image in my mind whenever I draw him but I've never sat down and found real life people who look like that. I'd know if I saw though.

12. Crack headcanon

Gregory really likes fish. Not like in the sea exactly, but big tank aquariums. He knows all about proper tank and fish care and has a beautiful one in his office. His pride and joy.

13. Dumbest thing they’ve ever done

Trusting his bestest friend Christophe to Stan and crew was a pretty dumb move. Especially when he knew how unequipped they were to handle everything.

14. Most heroic moment

Again. La Resistance. He's so good at rallying and motivating people <3

15. Worst thing they’ve ever done

Trusting his bes-- nah. Joking. Worst thing he did was what he DIDN'T do, which is run off to go find Christophe after not seeing him with Stan.

16. Deepest darkest secret they won’t even admit to themselves

Not a secret so much as a fear that all his activism and fighting will be for nothing ultimately and he'll leave the world having not changed it for the better at all. He knows on some level he will, what with the friends he's made, but he wants to do something on a grander scale.

17. Quotes, songs, poems, etc. that I associate with them

A bunch definitely but I am trying so hard to get all these questions done so I cannot dwell.

18. What they’d go to see a therapist about

what WOULDN'T he see a therapist about it. um. parental expectation issues. aforementioned terrible imposter syndrome and anxiety. probably war trauma and mercenary trauma.

19. Vices/bad habits

He can go for days without sleep and very little food. He's just too focused on being busy to really bother. Christophe has had to force him to take a nap many times before.

20. Scars

Ella had such a gorgeous way of putting it in the one gregstophe fic she wrote, with Gregory having some thin snicks of scars from sword blades? Something like that. It's good. He doesn't have scars he can't hide. He's got a public image to maintain.

21. Drink of choice (not just alcoholic)

I do see him as a tea drinker. No sugar, maybe a splash of milk depending on the kind of tea. For alcohol, he's a gin drinker. I'm only projecting a little bit there.

22. Best physical feature

His smile! He was born with perfect teeth... never needed braces and brushes and flosses after every meal. Uses whitening stripes on a regular basis. Flashes it proudly whenever he meets someone new.

23. If they were a scented candle, what would they smell like?

Pamplemousse. It's got a bit of citrus kick but it's on the sweeter side. Also it just sounds the way I imagine he comes off as.

24. Most annoying habit

Spins pens/pencils between his fingers while he's trying to concentrate. The frustrating thing is he always does this perfectly, never drops it. It's just a thing he does and doesn't get it when others ask him how he does it.

25. 3 things they’d want to take with them if they were dropped off in the middle of nowhere

Water bottle with filtration in it, multitool, and his favorite book. He's practical.

26. What they would do if stuck in an elevator with Stan (looking at his keychain rn)

Wait patiently while Stan exhausted himself panicking about being stuck and doing stuff like trying the doors in vain. Once he was done, Gregory would call the fire marshal to come get them out. Stan would hate him for how nonplussed he was the whole time.

[candlecovewiki]

Heyyy! Just checking in on you!!

Anyway, got any fun little headcanons? Anything a little silly and goofy?

HI sorry for kinda disappearing and abandoning the poll, motivation to do it tanked like hell ill probably pick it up after this semester ends

but yes! i have many silly goofies i can share

— percy and poppy’s dynamic in general. idk how to describe it but their mutual hatred/exhaustion with each other’s bullshit just accumulates into scenarios where they’re just drinking together and talking about their fears, and then one of them says something that sets the other off and they smash their bottles over each other’s heads

— milo’s accent changes like every episode and there is no explainable reason for this. just how he is

— my voiceclaim for horace is violent j from insane clown posse

— skintaker has HORRID fashion taste. i may draw him dapper but it’s probably horace that helps him coordinate outfits. in reality, if skintaker had to dress himself he’d dress SO fucking bad

— this one was made possible by joking about it with @thecovecorner but thade’s first time on the surface was probably a NIGHTMARE. he feels the sun and it’s nice for .2 seconds and then he’s shriveled up on the ground like a dried up worm. lillian finds him like this

[juvederm]

this story been a wip since like 2019 maybe even 2018 and i have one version of it completed that i now just call a draft bc it's so incomplete to me even though it's posted on ao3

let me ramble

like if anyone's wondering why josh is such a focal point in my art it's literally bc of this damn story like 😭 i try to draw things that could potentially be a visual or something to be added in the story (ie drawing scenes that may happen or outfits he might wear) in order to keep myself motivated

since he's like the main character of the story, he's all i draw and talk about for the reason i just stated, like i can't allow myself to get unmotivated about this story bc it's been up my ass forever and has about 8 drafts at this point

it's such a hassle mainly bc of the complexities of how josh got the prank to work, the money spent, the routes he took, etc. i'm trying to find all of it to make the story as accurate as possible bc i can't have it not aligned with canon, while also having showing a diff angle of josh that i feel isn't in most ? fics about him ? and if it is, the fic is usually unfinished and untouched or a standalone

i stray away from that common way people used to write josh (or characterize him) as some suave, inappropriate and sometimes flirty dude (which is sooo inaccurate to his character i can't even emphasize that enough). i think he did make sexual jokes simply for the laughs or shock value. i think he does have charisma but not in the Womanizer kind of way that mike has. like josh has charm, but it's not because he's flirty. it's because he has this weird aura to him that makes him interesting, and makes him charming because of how he handles it

and i've said it before, i think it's all a front for him. he's not really like that. he probably dislikes being so fake, but is afraid of judgment and being isolated from others. so he tries to fit in as much as possible. even if it means drinking and partying enough to be called a "party animal" and being described as someone who "outdoes" everyone during drinking contests

i tried painting it as a slow descent for him in the story i'm writing. after he loses his sisters, everything's starting to fall.

best way i can describe josh: a steel tank rolling down a muddy hill that can be derailed by a twig.

i also tried showing his psyche through the clothes he wears. and his two different rooms (his room at his mom's, and his room at his dad's; i think they're divorced so).

his room at his mom's house has a lot more of his interests everywhere. you can definitely tell he's an art kid, movie obsessed introvert if you would walk into his room. he's eccentric when by himself to a degree where it's genuine and not a front. he kinda has an eccentric style as well, but after losing the twins, he loses that spark

when he moves in with his dad however, his room there is incredibly bleak. there's no posters, the spaces are wide, and there's no range in colors. just black, white and sometimes grey, maybe silver. and his clothes devolve to bland white shirts, black pants, black coats, etc. no poppy colors whatsoever. this kinda goes more into the head canon i have about his step mom, who is kind of on the traditional side.

and also when josh moves in with dad, he becomes invested in solitary activities such as painting, gardening or piano. all of which he does when he's completely alone. and painting and piano playing could be a way to vent out his emotions, even then josh tries to suppress it. he's way too used to doing that. but sometimes his artworks show that.

that's another thing. he's always been artistic and obsessed with painting. he had a lot more abstract pieces but as his mental health declined, the paintings became colorless and desaturated, depressing and claustrophobic (and also involved more of his fears like spiders and isolation)

anyways. maybe i should actually write for the story instead of talking about it

[ursaspecter]

Decided to upload more Danny Phantom content! This time it’s just sketches though. I might add color to the others, but for now I kinda just like them as sketches. Also is it just me, or did Jack and Maddie kind of turn out Ghibli-esque? I had a real fun time drawing everyone’s hair, especially Vlad, Sam, and Maddie’s.

Also I wanna thank y’all so much for the comments you left in the tags on my Danny and Vlad arts! They all mean so much to me and really motivate me to keep drawing. I really appreciate it!

Program used: Clip Studio Paint Pro

Reblogs > Likes!

IDs under the cut!

[ID 1: Sketches of the characters Vlad Plasmius and Danny Phantom from the show Danny Phantom. Vlad is on the left, and Danny is on the right. They appear to be in a fight with each other. /END ID]

[ID 2: Sketches of the characters Sam Manson and Tucker Foley from the show Danny Phantom. Sam is on the left, and Tucker is on the right. Sam has choppy hair tied up into two small pigtails with the rest of it hanging free. She has several ear piercings and one eyebrow piercing. She has dark makeup to accentuate her cynical expression. She is wearing a black choker, a Star of David necklace, a cropped tank top, fishnet arm socks, and a plaid skirt with a studded belt. Tucker is wearing a beanie, a pair of thick framed glasses, a large pullover hoodie, a t-shirt, and a pair of jeans. /END ID]

[ID 3: Sketches of the characters Jack and Maddie Fenton from the show Danny Phantom. Jack is a large, hairy man wearing a cloth jumpsuit and a determined expression. His left arm is wrapped around his wife, Maddie who is a smaller woman wearing a matching cloth jumpsuit and a pair of goggles. /END ID]

[a03bkdk]

fantasy bkdk fic rec list

a certain kind of magic by eatdirt

((4590-1/1))

“Forgive me, kind witch! I—I do not wish to disturb you, but I’m afraid it's urgent!"

Katsuki will later blame his bewilderment that anyone—let alone a human boy in filthy rags—would drag themselves all the way out to his home on the outskirts of civilization, for why he stalks down the stairs and cracks open the door.

“Are you a fucking idiot?” he growls.

Or, the one where Katsuki is a witch in a weed-infested swamp and Deku won’t stop coming around.

the shrinekeeper and the harvest god by bkdkwritingsdump

((smut-30148-18/18))

Izuku keeps the shrine of the harvest god, a minor god mostly worshiped by farmers and ignored by everyone else until the yearly harvest festival. During a spring thunderstorm one year, a mysterious man named Katsuki shows up at his shrine seeking shelter from the rain, but ends up over staying his welcome by a few months. In that time, Izuku not only begins to become suspicious of his identity, but finds himself longing for something more between them.

cupid, draw back your bow by almasaga

((i dont remember if there is smut-16496-2/2))

Cupid remembers the oath he took, remembers the broken arrow, remembers the wrath of his mother and goddess, remembers his roots, remembers that he is a god.

But when he hears him he forgets it all.

“Are you there still?” Asks a voice, clear and never wrong. The only voice he wishes to hear.

“Always,” he says and it blows through his beloved.

solar by kindaopps

((smut-7037-1/1))

Here he is, a god, wanting a mortal.

deku by mirachadoodles

((smut-20852-9/9))

Neither seemed willing to look away in the tense silence that fell, drawn to one another as if by a thick and brilliant thread.

The boy viewed him thoughtfully, as though he recognized him from another life, as though he knew him.

It was odd—he felt the same way.

---

Or, shortly after Katsuki's dragon went missing, a naked man attempted to break into his family barn. Izuku had no memory of his past life, and apparently had no idea how to be human, either. He was just acting on instinct.

a cat named deku by  silentsongbird

((6662-1/1))

Bakugou begrudgingly takes in a stray cat that has been hanging around his home. He says he's motivated by the weather turning colder, but he just can't resist the little fur ball. One night, Deku decides to let him in on a little secret.

if the stars align, then for us they were meant by runawaydeviant

((smut-17485-6/6))

Katsuki and Eijirou crash land in a forest to the south of their homeland. Injured and stranded, they befriend a local nature spirit, who is much more than he first appears to be.

soulmates in steel and (p 2)mine is yours by lalazee

((3000-1/1)) (p 2(smut-2509-1/1))

Midoriya Izuku returns to a tribe long lost and forgotten to claim his rightful throne. At least, that's what King Katsuki assumes of him.

(p 2) One large, calloused hand spread sparks down Izuku’s chest, ribs, rested at his lightly bruised hip. Izuku knew fingerprints still remained from last time, and the last, and the time after that. He felt more like a dappled deer now, all those spots smattered across his thighs, ass, hips, wrists. King Katsuki was certainly a man who marked his territory.

but the entrails are the best part! by supercrunch

((15278-1/1))

The boy straightens up. He’s about half a head shorter than Katsuki, face soft and youthful and sweet. He turns to look at him properly. His dark hair shines in the dying light, basket of blooms looped over one arm and mouth quirked into a tiny half-smile. The sun hits his face and makes his eyes a bright greeny-gold, just like emeralds.

Katsuki likes emeralds.

“Pretty,” he says, reaching out and picking the stranger up around the middle. He’s surprisingly heavy, although Katsuki doesn’t mind. “I like you. Come see my nest.”

The boy hits him.

He’s stronger than he looks, turns out. Katsuki drops him and falls onto his back, pain blooming across his face. Birds sing. The sky’s a lovely shade of orange, clouds floating lazily by. The boy scarpers. He leaves his basket of flowers behind, footsteps thumping on the ground and fading away as he escapes.

The sun sets. Katsuki, lying flat on his back with a bloody nose, decides he’s just fallen in love.

happenstance by merrywetherweather

((78566-22/22))

When Katsuki was just a child, his mother, the King of Lucia, took him to enact diplomacy with the Midoriya's, the royal family of the neighboring country of Tayloria. After that day, his fate was sealed, his marriage arranged to the Midoriya's elusive omegan child.

At the age of twenty, he leaves for Tayloria again, this time, to finally wed his fiance and cement the allyship of the two kingdoms indefinitely. Only, his fiance turns out to be the child he had met on his very first visit, a naive, idealistic young prince who wants nothing to do with marrying the prince of Lucia.

Good thing he just assumed Katsuki was only part of his fiance's entourage.

An arranged marriage between two princes aob au where Katsuki tries to abide by Izuku's desire for a natural romance to develop without letting Izuku know his true identity.

plums by Ivillpunchyouinthethroat

((14116-3/3))

There’s a boy stealing plums from the garden below the balcony Katsuki’s lounging at for the night.

Correction.

There’s a boy stealing plums, very badly, from the garden below the balcony Katsuki’s lounging at for the night.

mermaid AU breathe In by contrarybee

((series-smut-3 works-45236 in all))

Midoryia Izuku was born in captivity. He's never known the ocean.

His human carer Yagi-san tells him they're getting a new merman in the aquarium, one that they hope Izuku might like. Having been alone since his mother's death, Izuku is beyond excited to have a new mer around, but Bakugo Katsuki might prove to be too much. Or maybe he's just right.

fishy by warschach

((smut-19417-1/1))

Izuku’s convinced his hot co-worker/neighbor, Katsuki, is a mermaid-or merman- you gotta consider genders even with mythical creatures- and plans to prove it.

(or this is kinda like the show ‘Monster Quest’, except Izuku actually finds said monster, falls in love, and have sexy times.)

home is where the waves crash. by tiredwrites

((4105-1/1))

Izuku thrashes in his cage, the fins that line his large tail flare with a dangerous purpose. The claws his fingers taper into slice through the water and catch the light that filters into the clear water of the aquarium tank he's in.

His gills flare in irritation as he flips around, muscled tail ramming into the three-inch glass barrier with a thundering BAM!

Bioluminescent sacs under clear scales flare and glow, flashing a brilliant toxic green. The team that had brought the merman into the tank watch the mer flail and roar, flexing the powerful jaws that can often unhinge, like a snake.

only the roses know by katyastark

((13193-5/5))

Izuku didn’t want to marry a foreigner. The person he wanted was here… somewhere. He didn’t have a face or a name to ascribe to his admirer. Only roses. For every name day and holiday since he was thirteen, he had received a perfect orange rose. He’d never seen anything so beautiful. The roses never failed to make him feel doted upon. It was their secret, and Izuku cherished it more than anything else in the world. He didn’t want to give that up for some stranger, for an alliance through a loveless marriage.

torn fur, blunt teeth by scribespirare

((smut-43013-17/17))

After eight months of being collared, Izuku is finally free. But a dark, stormy city is no place for a lonely shapeshifter on the run.

ignorance leads to bliss by nikawithspice

((smut-3941-1/1))

A brave wandering adventurer swoops in and saves a beautiful prince from danger, gets dragged to a celebratory bonfire and has a night that he could only have dreamed of!

Or, the one in which Midoriya Izuku accidentally gets married to a Dragon Prince but wouldn't have it any other way.

[beaskaa]

Yoooo! Your axolotl!dream design is really cool 😄 I'm really looking forward to the other part(s) to be drawn!

I think it's a really clever design and headcanon - you can even tie the staying hydrated part back into the lore, because Dream jumped into the cauldron a lot when he was visited to "splash."

Feel free to disregard, but if you want some angst ideas:

- the harsh conditions of the cell cause Dream to start shedding his slime coat = he looks really patchy and his skin starts to get messed up since he can't get back to the correct conditions to regrow/renew the coat

(which you are already kinda doing with the melty look in the last panel of the recent comic)

- axolotls are supposed to be in cool/almost cold water, so the heat from the lava causes major problems not just to his skin, but heats up the water he has access to and causes problems that way as well (can't cool down at all, everything and everywhere is warm/hot)

- axolotls have also been reported to have eaten their shed slime coats... and potatoes (any vegetable) aren't a food source for axolotls, since they are predators and don't really have teeth/can't chew their prey... mild body-horror elements? If you're comfortable with that -- since it's Minecraft Logic™️ and your version of Dream is a hybrid, maybe the diet restrictions change a bit?

Info from: https://axolotlnerd.com/axolotls-shed-skin/

"(...) they will shed their slime coat, not their skin. And that is an indicator that there is something wrong with the water or the conditions in the tank."

"Other tank mates might cause a lot of stress for your axolotl. As they are relatively territorial beings (...)"

High stress = "(...) will result in them not eating, hiding a lot, and shedding their slime coat."

"Axolotls aren’t supposed to shed naturally, and it only happens when there is something off with the water, or if the stress levels are too high."

"(...) look for other signals of distress, which might include unwillingness to eat, apathy or lethargy, unusual behavior, floating in the water, and the overall unwell feeling."

Got a bit excited on the info dump, but maybe some of it will be useful?

Have a great morning/noon/night! 😄

Omg Yes

I love this ask so much. I know little about axolotls, and even if I try to read about them, I’m still very limited, so asks like this are a god blessing. There was a lot of information that I didn’t know! And you even mentioned your source *bless you*

First at all, thank you for pointing out that lore bit, I didn’t make the connection before, so that make me delighted to see canon elements working with that headcanon.

Considering your angsty ideas:

the harsh conditions of the cell cause Dream to start shedding his slime coat

Great point, I will 100% adopt that. A visible consequence of the living hell that is his cell. I did some google research to see what an axolotl shedding looks like (and poor little creature) so I can see how I can incorporate that in the future.

Now I wonder how that must feel to hug Axolotl!Dream. He must be slightly slippery and gooey

The heat from the lava causes major problems not just to his skin, but heats up the water he has access to and causes problems that way as well

Yeah, that make sense! Even if he can avoid drying out, he’ll still be in a constant state of hyperthermia, that will lead to healths problems (sleepless, uneasiness, lose of appetite, headache…) . With time, I see his organism adapt to the hotter habitat and he will be slowly getting better (but surely with lifelong consequences).

axolotls have also been reported to have eaten their shed slime coats... and potatoes (any vegetable) aren't a food source for axolotls, since they are predators and don't really have teeth/can't chew their prey... mild body-horror elements?

I feel fine with drawing that (him eating his own flesh pog), but can’t say if I will, I’m not inspired at the moment! You raise a good point about his diet. Hum… I think he does have teeth (from his human side, maybe retractable teeth like toothless from « how to train your dragon »? That could be cool) and have an omnivore diet (with a preference for seafood, he could last with only eating fish). So clearly having to eat only potato is less than optimal (as for everyone actually) so he definitely grow sick and weak because of them too. That would lead to Prison axolotl!Dream being pretty underweight :(

Btw that how I see his character, but I fine with other interpretation !

Also I want to point the « relatively territorial beings » it work well to explain Axolotl!Dream drives to destroy L’Manberg

« Look for other signals of distress, which might include unwillingness to eat, apathy or lethargy, unusual behavior, floating in the water, and the overall unwell feeling." THE ANGST it’s perfect.

Thank you so much for taking the time of writing this, it was really useful and clever! You definitely give me ideas and boost my motivation <3

[milkacchan]

Request for anon: Omega angst???

Omega angst 😌

• It was Katsukis fault really

• well- sorta

• you already had the fear of being too overbearing and because of that you held most people at an arms length

• and you fought yourself so hard

• you desperately wanted to be comfortable in front of your friends- your pack- you wanted to proceed with your semi clingy antics and stupid bullshit you did with those you really trusted.

• But you didn't want them to leave- you didn't want to be called clingy, or crazy, or dependent.

• So you kept that arms length- for a really long time.

• your 'omega' rarely showed

• but the inevitable happened and you DID get comfortable.

• and new territory came with that.

• you were more open, you were more affectionate, you didn't particularly mind when your 'omega' showed itself- the Alphas, omegas, and Betas in your group didn't seem to particularly mind either.

• your fear lingered- sure- sometimes someone acted 'wrong' and you got scared you did something, you panic quietly and deal with it yourself or ask for quiet reassurance

• and they learned how to deal with it efficiently soon enough

• But then it happened.

• You just wanted attention

• You weren't having the best day and you just wanted someone to hug

• and Katsuki was there

• So you hugged him from behind and he seemed fine with that

• until he had to move

• but you weren't ready to let go- not yet. You needed to calm down, you didn't want to let go.

• He grumbles something and gently moves you off, "You're such a clingy fucking omega." He picks up his phone from the counter.

"Oh. Sorry," you give him a sheepish smile- one thats definitely fake, but it convinces him.

"If I'd known you were so damn needy.." he mumbles to himself as he walks out if the kitchen.

• He didn't mean it of course, you shoukd've known. He had somewhere to go. And you wouldn't let him go.

• but he made no effort to clarify that afterwards- not that you told him it bothered you, how would he know?

• but you were in your head- already having been struggling with the fact that maybe you /were/ too much- just like you'd been told your whole life

• You should've kept them at an arms length.

• You kinda shut down after that

• and they took notice almost immediately

• and it fucking scared them when you started to pull away.

• You rejected scenting, hugs, compliments and voices concerns

• it was stressing Denki out too- the groups second omega who heavily relied on your affection.

• He relied on the way you held him, how you scented him and how you kissed his cheeks

• He relied on the way you ran your thumbs across his cheekbones and counted his freckles

• he relied on your smell-

• and now he didn't have it. Any of it.

• But what really scared them was two weeks later, when your heat approached and you hadn't asked for any of their things

• they'd known you for years- and you always asked for at LEAST one thing from each member

• and you usually wore someones jacket until it hit

• but you hadn't asked for a single damn thing. And you wore a jacket- your own and you refused to let anyone scent it.

• Kirishima had tried- and you were temptedn so fucking temoted to give in. God thats all you really wanted, your friends things- their scents- their noses rubbing along your neck

• but Katsukis words rang through your head again, 'clingy omega,' and that was something you didn't want to be

• so after slightly leaning into the redhead you snapped at him, shoving him off and stroming out of the room.

• they send mina next- well- she goes on her own accord.

• You tell her nothing.

• Then, Denki decides to step in. He misses you- he misses you so much and he can't figure out why you pulled away. You smell different now- not like you usually do. Theres a bitter undertone that never fails to make him wrinkle his nose

• "I mean- do you want anything..? Some shirts, jackets maybe?"

"I don't need them." You say.

"Oh do you already have some?"

"No, I'm not building a nest for this heat."

His eyes widen. "You're- what? Why not?"

"I don't need it. I don't need the groups clothes or help to take care of my stuff. I'll be okay," you give him a soft smile

• When Denki see's the group that night- he immediately goes for Bakugou, grabbing his shirt and shoving him back. "What did you do?" He growls. "What did you fucking say!"

"Hey hey, Kaminari, calm down. Whats going on?"

"She said she's not building a nest. She said she doesn't need us when it comes to her problems." His gaze never left Katsuki. "We worked hard to make her feel okay with us- what did you fucking say!"

Mina and Sero were quiet, eyes training on the blonde.

"I mean I called her clingy awhile ago- but I thought she knew I wasn't being serious, she never said anything to me afterwards so it must not have been a big deal-"

"Not a big deal? You know how paranoid she is!"

"Has she already left?"

Denki nodded. "Fix it."

He smelled sour now, bitter overtook the room- even Sero was affected by it, and the beta was rarely affected by smell.

• That heat was absolute hell for you

• You had no comfort

• You just writhed in your own discomfort- slick pooling down your thighs

• The toys you had brought some comfort- but that was it.

• You didn't have Kirishimas hoodie or Bakugous Favorite shirt.

• Seros jacket or Minas tank top.

• Denkis favorite pair of PJ bottoms, you were alone.

• You had this Heat Buddy that Denki got you, it was a teddy bear and stored scent packets- ones that would he comforting to omegas but it wasn't nearly the same, you decided as you buried your face into the cloth animals stomach

• Youre omega screamed and clawed and cried of the lack of comfort. No familiar smells, no pieces, no staying in touch- no help.

• Your omega kept you on edge the entire week if your heat, not once letting you rest.

• That heat took everything out of you, all your strength, energy, motivation- you almost felt worse coming out of it than you did going in

• Probably had something to do with the lack of comfort, the lack of smell and submission.

• But when you return, you look exhausted and everyone takes notes of it

• They can smell you through the scent patches and its not pleasant.

• You're snappy, on edge and irritable. Constantly on the verge of tears the whole day and /extremely/ protective of yourself.

• Bakusquad is waiting in your fucking dorm room when you get up there

• You don't even have the energy to snarl at them- you just whine.

• Your pack is in the room- and they smell so nice, but they're worried. So so worried.

• The tears threaten to spill over and you drop your keys

• You don't hear exactly whats said, you just know you're sinking to the floor the next minute, head in your hands.

• You're crying and arms wrap around you, ones you immediately recognize to be Katsuki

• You lean into him, apologizing weakly. You didn't mean to be a shitty Omega, you didn't mean to be clingy, you didn't mean it.

• he moves a hand to your cheek.

"It's okay," he murmurs. "You're okay. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm sorry, as shouldn't have been so harsh. You're not really clingy,"

"I should've told you it bothered me. Don't apologize."

"No, im definitely in the position too."

• Once you've calmed down, you look half asleep. Katsuki softly noses at your neck and youre more than content with it, finally, /finally/ giving into your omega urges.

• Katsuki carries you do the bed, and your pack surrounds you, smiling gently when he touch you.

• Denki lays his head on your shoulder and you gently rake a hand through his hair before returning it to Seros hand.

• Mina nuzzles your neck, your scent patches long gone

• Kirishima is gently rubbing circles into your wrist before he rubs his own wrist against yours.

• Soon you're asleep, mouth slightly parted, head leaning against Denki, back against Katsukis chest

• Theyre thankful it worked out

• You start wearing their hoodies again. You snuggle into their blankets, you fall asleep in their rooms

• And come your next heat, you're ruffling through draws to find/exactly/ what you want for your nest

• And they let you.

[five-rivers]

Maybe a Secret Saturday and DP crossover with the Fenton's being approached to join the Secret Scientists. The parents are quickly deemed too biased against ghosts to join until further notice. Their kids, on the other hand. The son's not quite a scientist, but he has potential. And their daughter would be perfect.

“Remind me why I’m doing this again?”

Doc gave Zak a look.  “Because the Secret Scientists need new members.  Potential members need to be screened by existing members.  And the Fentons have kids your age.”

Zak raised a skeptical eyebrow.  “I don’t exactly get along with ‘kids my age.’”  It was true.  Ulraj and Wadi were exceptions to the rule, and even interactions with them had been rough at first.  It had been four years since he met them, and they were still just about his only friends.  

Zak just didn’t do ‘normal’ very well.  Sure, he could integrate himself into a group for the sake of information gathering, but that usually didn’t last very long.  Thirty minutes, tops.  

“I know,” said Doc.  “But sometimes people will say things to and around kids that they wouldn’t otherwise, and we want to be thorough.  Make sure we’re inviting ethical people.  No more Abbies.”

“I guess that makes sense,” said Zak.  He sighed.  He knew Fisk wouldn’t be able to come.  Most of the time, they were able to get away with people assuming he was a guy in a suit, or just ignoring him in favor of much more obvious, more immediately dangerous cryptids, but that wouldn’t be something they could get away with when it came to prolonged contact.  

It never seemed fair to Fisk.  

(Cryptids always seemed to get the short end of the stick.  Even the ones who were as intelligent as any human.)

“You don’t have to be friends with them,” said Doc, putting a hand on Zak’s shoulder.  “Just like we don’t have to accept the Fentons into the Secret Scientists...  But give it a chance?”

“Okay,” said Zak, shrugging.  “A chance.”

.

Danny loved his parents.  They loved him.  He knew that they were brilliant scientists who had made incredible breakthroughs in a difficult and poorly regarded field.  They deserved recognition and funding.  They had no colleagues with whom to correspond or test ideas with.  They had no real friends.  They deserved that, too.  

All in all, Danny thought they deserved the position in the think tank that was about it interview them.  

But Danny felt sick at the idea of them spreading their biased and hateful theories about ghosts to yet another group.  He hated the very thought of even more people, more scientists, more people who were trying to do good in the world, calling him and the other ghosts evil just because of the way they existed.  

But he didn’t know how to stop it.  Not without revealing himself, and he was too much of a coward to do that.  

... Maybe he could convince their kid he was a jerk?

Ugh, no.  As inconsiderate as he could be unintentionally, he was incapable of being a jerk on purpose.  Unless the person deserved it.  

(Jazz had once theorized that it had to do with his ghostly Obsession of helping others.  Danny theorized that not all aspects of his personality had to do with him being a ghost.  Jazz had dropped the theory shortly thereafter.)

He was worried.  

Could pull a Harry Potter and drop a cake on someone’s head.  Would that work?

Unlikely.  

There was one option, but it was a bit of a longshot.  He could tell the interviewers that he had doubts about his parents’ work and conclusions.  But would they believe him?  He was just a teenager.  Easy to dismiss.  

What if he approached them as Phantom?

(What if they were just as gun-happy as his parents?)

This was hard.  

He sighed, and swung himself off his bed.  Regardless of what he actually did, he needed to make himself ‘presentable,’ otherwise he’d never hear the end of it.  

Although, concerning his appearance and his secrets...  He tugged lightly on the lock of gray hair he’d sprouted lately.  It had become a nervous habit.  One he really needed to stop, because drawing attention to white hair on his head was not something he wanted to do.  

Maybe be should start dying his hair?

“Danny?” called Maddie from downstairs.  “The Saturday’s are here!  Come on down!”

Danny clattered down the stairs, being loud on purpose (the better to be undetected when he wanted to be quiet).  

The Saturdays...  Huh.  Danny had not expected to ever see another family wearing jumpsuits.  Much less orange jumpsuits.  Jack looked overjoyed.  

The Saturdays’ jumpsuits looked just slightly more combat ready, however.  Danny’s stomach, which had already been sitting rather low in his chest, plummeted. 

He did not foresee this going well in any way, shape, or form.  

He forced himself to turn his attention towards the son.  Who was color coordinated with his parents, but not, thankfully, wearing a jumpsuit.  

(Interestingly, he did, however, appear to be armed.)

“Hi,” said Danny, waving slightly in greeting.  

“This is our son, Danny,” said Maddie.  “Our daughter, Jazz, is at a study group right now, but she should be home before too long.  Danny, this is Doctor Solomon Saturday, his wife, Drew, and their son, Zak.”

Zak smiled at Danny in a slightly strained, awkward way.  His teeth were just a little sharper than human average.  There were flecks of orange and gold in his eyes.  

This was a person who wasn’t quite human.  

Maybe this would be easier than Danny thought.  He tugged on his lock of white hair.  “Prematurely grey buddies, huh?” he said.  

“Oh,” said Zak, touching his own, much larger, tuft of white hair.  “Yeah.  I guess so.”

“Um,” said Danny, acutely aware of all the parental eyes on him.  “Video games?”

“Sure,” said Zak.  

“Great,” said Danny.  “Let’s go.”

.

Zak followed Danny upstairs.  

He was 99% certain the other boy wasn’t entirely human.  He wasn’t sure if it was simply intuition, or some remnant of his Kur powers, but he would put money on it.  If, well, he had anyone who’d bet with him.  

(Doyle, maybe, but Doyle wasn’t here.)

(Where had this intuition been with Argost?  That’s what he wanted to know.)

“So,” said Danny, rocking slightly.  “Do you play Doom?”

“Now and then,” said Zak.  “Kinda prefer older games.”

“How old?”

“Uh...  I kind of like the pokemon games on the 64?”

“Oh, yeah, I’ve got a couple of those,” said Danny.  “Um.”  He flopped down in a beanbag chair.  “Just... make yourself at home, I guess?”

“Thanks,” said Zak, managing to catch the controller Danny tossed at him and sitting in the desk chair.  

“So...” said Danny, not making a move to turn on the system.  “This is going to be weird to ask, but, um.  Do your parents know you’re not totally human?”

Zak stared.  He... hadn’t expected Danny to be able to tell that he had been Kur, much less come right out and ask him about it.

“Or...  you know what, forget I said anything.  It’s just a joke, haha, so, games-”

“Do yours know?”

Danny frowned.  “That you’re not human?” 

“No, that you aren’t human.”

Danny looked away.  “No,” he said, fiddling with the controller.  “They’re not... very good about that kind of stuff.  If your parents are, that’s good.  It’s just...”  He rubbed the cord of the controller between his fingers.  “Mom and Dad are great at the technical side of things, but they don’t like being wrong.  And they think ghosts are unfeeling and mindless, so...”

“Oh,” said Zak.  “Um.  Are you,” he stopped, realizing that asking someone if they were dead was probably not a great idea.  He slumped down in his seat.  “I’ll tell my parents.”

“Yeah, if you could not tell them about me and just, like, the other bit, that’d be great.”

“I can do that,” said Zak.  

.

Jazz carefully placed an envelope under the windshield wiper of the Saturdays’ car.  Knowing her brother, he was probably going to try something dramatic, but if these people were serious about being scientists, she was sure they would take evidence and data regarding the intelligence of ghosts much better.  

And Danny had thought he was just humoring her when he helped her interview those ghosts!  Thought she had no other motives other than curiosity!

Well.  Honestly, he was right.  Back then, she didn’t know there was a think tank considering inviting her parents to join.  

But, hey, it came in handy, didn’t it?

.

“It’s such a shame,” said Drew, writing her recommendation against the Fentons joining the Secret Scientists.  “They seemed like such nice people.”

“Yeah, but if both their kids are telling us they shouldn’t be let in,” said Zak, “and they don’t even know about the Secret Scientists, they think you’re just part of a think tank, how nice can they really be?”

Drew made a face, and reached over to give Zak a quick hug, which he just as quickly escaped.  

“The daughter, though,” said Doc.  “She has a good foundation, here, with her research.”

“Maybe once she graduates high school,” said Drew.  “We have scholarships, don’t we?  Or maybe an internship...  Cryptid psychology might interest her...”

“What about Danny?” asked Zak, yelping as Fisk snuck up behind him and poked him.  

“Hrrade hhr hrend?” said Fisk, slyly.

Zak narrowed his eyes.  “Maybe,” he said.  

“We’ll keep an eye on them,” promised Doc.  “All the Fentons.  Just in case.”

[punz4lyfe]

Pokemon Journeys’ Bea.... Kinda Sucks

Hello again! After a weekend of contemplating, I’ve decided to write a little blog review of Pokemon Journeys’ version of Bea from SwSh. Originally, I was planning to do after we get a bit more episodes of Bea, but with all the leaked episode titles we’ve been getting, I’ve got a feeling we won’t see this lady until sometime at late-February, or even March, so let’s just get this outta the way now.

Also, please note that since Bea has only made two actual appearances in the anime, many of the points I will talk about will be subject to change depending on how the writers will handle her in the future, but with all that said, let’s get right to it.

Before we begin, let me just say this: in the games, I find Bea okay. And in Twilight Wings, I love her character and I feel she had a great amount of focus and depth. However, in the anime, I find her.... a little lame. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate her or anything and I feel she has a ton of great potential. So much so, that she could honestly surpass her Twilight Wings variation, but as of now, I’ve got some problems with her.

Problem #1: Her Goal/Motivation

So my first major problem with her character is her goal. Like almost every other trainer we’ve seen in Journeys, Bea wants to rise her rank in the World Coronation Series so that she can battle Leon and take his place as the world’s strongest trainer. But here’s my question for though: Why? Why do you want to be seen as the world’s strongest trainer?

In many past regions, almost all of Ash’s past rivals had the “what” to their goals: Conquering a regional league. However, many of them also had different “why’s” that added to their own motivation. Paul had a brother to prove himself stronger than, Alain had his whole thing with solving the secrets of Mega Evolution for Lysandre as well as finding a way to cure Chespie’s coma, and Gladion wanted to find his dad. From Bea, I’m literally getting nothing from her. Does she have a master she wants to prove herself to? Well, we later find out she trained under Johto’s Chuck, but that’s all really. Does she have some kind of troubling childhood where she was initially seen as weak by her peers, and now with the chance in hand, she can prove everyone wrong by becoming the world’s strongest trainer? As interesting as that sounds, that doesn’t seem to be the case, either.

Without any proper motivation, I have no reason to care for her goals. Please, writers, in her next appearance, please give us the “why” to her actions and not the “what”. Bea has a really cool design, so this is your chance in giving her a cool backstory to boot.

Problem #2: Her Team Sucks

As I’ve mentioned, Bea wants to conquer her way through the World Coronation Series and take Leon’s place. And how is she gonna do that? With a team of all-fighting types? That’s not good enough!

Fighting types are awesome undoubtedly, but like all types, they have their weaknesses. Imagine if Bea faced off against a trainer who, in turn, had a team of all fairy, flying, psychic, or ghost types. She would be completely screwed and she must’ve been pretty lucky to reach her current World Coronation status with a team like hers. There’s honestly a huge list of trainers I can think of who could completely screw Bea over, like Agatha, Skyla, or Sabrina. Heck, if you really think about it, if she were to face Leon, who we know possesses a Dragapult and Charizard, she honestly wouldn’t get far due to Dragapult’s half ghost typing and Gigantamax Charizard crushing her team like ants because it’s a flippin’ half flying giant. And if she were to take Leon’s place, it probably wouldn’t last long since someone can easily identify her preferred type and screw her over with the typings I’ve previously mentioned.

As a matter in fact, let’s imagine a what-if scenario: Ash using Gengar against her Grapploct, who the anime seems to be emphasizing as one of her strongest Pokemon. Looking up her Grapploct’s moveset in the anime, Detect would only delay the inevitable and Close Combat and Octolock wouldn’t do anything due to Gengar’s ghost typing, leaving Liquidation as the only option Grapploct would have to hurt Gengar. Meanwhile, all of Gengar’s own moves can easily affect Grapploct, especially Psychic. And before you bring up the time Gengar lost to Korrina’s Mienshao, keep in mind this, he was taken down by a Beat Up attack, a dark type move that’s honestly pretty broken if you think about it. Does Grapploct know any dark type moves? Nope. Would any of her other Pokemon know some? Most likely, but my point still stands that, with the right mon, you can easily screw up her own team.

That’s why many Champions and Elite Trainers have well-diversed teams. Because if they just stuck to one type, then someone could easily take advantage of that. Many of Ash’s past rivals also had well-diversed teams to keep the stakes high whenever Ash battled them, just look at Gary, Paul, Trip, Sawyer, and Alain. Speaking of stakes...

Problem #3: The Stakes Are Kinda Small

As I just mentioned, because of how straightforward her team is, the stakes of her and Ash’s rivalry are honestly kind of small in that regard. But that’s not all. I know this might be an unpopular opinion, but in all of her battles against Ash so far, I still don’t feel the reason to take her seriously.

Going back in her debut appearance, before her battle against Ash starts, she states that she previously beaten Korrina and called her ‘weak’. And to that, all I have to say, so? Ash has already beaten her a while back, and then he became a champion, and then he beaten her again. I have no idea what you’re exactly trying to prove with that, Bea. Not to mention, we didn’t even get to see who she used against Korrina and her Mega Lucario. Was it someone in her current roster or perhaps a secret weapon? Why would you hide this from us, writers?

Anywayz, going into the battle itself, Ash lost without defeating a single Pokemon. ...Yeah, I’m still not seeing the reason why I should take her seriously, considering the only mons Ash used were little baby Riolu and newcomer Farfetch’d. If it were a three-on-three with Ash using Dragonite, but he still lost, then I would see Bea as a big threat to his goals, but no. And while the lost did lower Ash’s own rank, be quickly raised it back up off-screen by her next appearance, so I guess that wasn’t much of a big deal overall.

In their next battle, Ash used Pikachu and Riolu again and it ended up in a draw, affecting neither of their ranks. Even with a draw, I don’t see any reason to take Bea seriously. While she managed to take down Pikachu, it should be noted that it took two of her Pokemon to do the job, plus Pikachu’s one of the most inconsistent characters in history, so him losing to Grapploct doesn’t really bring in a lot of stakes. And since Riolu and Grapploct tied, that pretty much spoils the fact that Ash’s aura dog will most likely take the W in one of their next battles, especially since Riolu has now evolved into Lucario.

Most rivals in the past usually consistently beat Ash a few times in a row to really set up the stakes for their rivalry. It would add interesting conflict and dynamic in their final confrontation, but considering the recent tie and that Ash only used his two newest mons in their first battle, I don’t really care about Bea as a rival. Not to mention, it took two mons to take down Pikachu, Dragonite and Gengar’s typings royally screw her over, Lucario’s evolution and Farfetch’d’s future one might set them up to be equal or even stronger than her mons, and Dracovish has the potential to be an absolute tank.

Final Points

Overall, with what we’re given so far, Bea kind of sucks as a rival. We don’t have any motivation or depth, her team sucks, and there aren’t really many stakes. She’s pretty much the generic mean boss lady we will have to defeat by the end of the journey. I honestly get a lot more stakes from FF7′s Turks.

But is she the worst rival that Ash has ever gotten? Not by a long shot, especially since the likes of Nando and Cameron exist omg Cameron why do you exist? And like I said, since she’s only made two appearances, there’s still a lot of room for improvement, so many of my issues with her could change over time. I just wanted to get this off of my chest and hopefully provide some insight to my fellow fans on how Bea could become a better character in the anime.

Though, I kind of feel there could be some better directions with her. Even if we get more development, her team will suck by the end of the day, so why not make her a rival for Korrina? They’re both fighting type specialists who aim to be the strongest, plus you could pull off a super cool rivalry over which is stronger; Mega Evolution or Gigantamaxing, with Lucario and Machamp respectively. I honestly feel Hop would be a better rival for Ash due to similar personalities, goals, and diversity in teams. Assuming Hop exists in the anime verse, of course.

If you made it this far, thank you very much for reading my thoughts over Journeys’ Bea! Please feel free to follow for more anipoke content! (am i cool already)