#ngl i could tell when i was satisfied with how i was writing Gin when i wanted to HIT HIM WITH A BAT for being STUPID

[cacklefrendly]

Hi, I know you're busy moving, but when you have time I'd love to hear more about the "seafoam" selkie AU. I've read your fic two times already, it's so well written and I love how that AU fitted perfectly with their dynamic and made it even more interesting (like how Gin was ready to let Vodka go, prioritizing his well being, that was such a nice touch, and Vodka coming back made me tear up). I couldn't leave a comment in the fic, but when I have more time to elaborate I certainly will. Congratulations on moving! I hope the place is nice :)

i have been FOAMING AT THE MOUTH to answer this since i noticed it akdhakskAJJ-

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA IM GLAD YOU LIKE SEAFOAM!!!!!! AND THANK YOU FOR THE CONGRATULATIONS!! the place is SO NICE — I'm renting a small condo with my sibling and a friend of ours, and while there's not much space, we all actually like being around each other so it's done absolute WONDERS for both my mental and physical health (　＾∀＾)

and yes, i can ABSOLUTELY talk more about seafoam! i am SO READY to talk more about seafoam!!!! i do not CARE that i am restricted to my phone!!!!!!!!! IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT SEAFOAM YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(none of this is ordered in any way and there is a non-zero chance that i yap more about it in the future)

selkie pelts are alive. they're warm to the touch, and their undersides feel and look like living skin. cut one and it bleeds, scabs, and scars. if you put both on a table, most people won't be able to tell the difference between a seal pelt and a selkie's by sight, but very few people can touch both and say they're the same thing.

new pelts are grown about three times over the course of a selkie's life: once as a young child, once as they enter their teens, and once somewhere in early adulthood.

it's a simple, yet really weird process — the selkie gets stuck in their seal form, and like a lobster, the new pelt grows underneath their old one (making them appear bloated and malformed). over time, their old pelt dies, and the selkie can freely shift forms using their new pelt. (the only other time a pelt will die is if its owner dies in their human form)

what's done with dead pelts varies by culture, but it's pretty normal to take someone's teenage pelt and turn it into something like a belt as a celebrationof them reaching adulthood — dead pelts are nearly the same as tanned seal leather.

- - -

the bond between a selkie and their pelt can be permanently severed with enough time spent separated from one another. the selkie is essentially turned into a human. a normal human can take the (still living) pelt for themselves — and become a new selkie, if they spend enough time wearing it. the further away the pelt is from its owner, the less time the separation takes, but the average is ≈30 years.

it would've been bittersweet: a core part of Vodka that he loved dearly would be gone forever. at the same time, he would finally have his agency back, and nobody could ever hurt him like that again.

Vodka’s pelt was being regularly damaged, torturing hurting him and putting additional stress on his connection — therefore accelerating the separation process. if Gin hadn't found out and stepped in, Vodka would've been completely cut off from his pelt in 2 - 3 more years. (total of 8 - 9 years)

i think Vodka would've gone to a beach, built a bonfire, and thrown the pelt into it. then he'd just try to forget it all, somehow. i don't think he'd ever tell Gin what he used to be.

- - -

so, Gin mentions that Solbeso "called [Gin] in to gloat" a month before seafoam, during which he showed off Vodka’s pelt.

what Gin doesn't mention is that he left Solbeso's place, got home, saw the new injuries on Vodka’s back, stood there for like 20 seconds as the Implications of "Vodka is a selkie and Solbeso stole his pelt" sunk in, and bolted back to Solbeso's place THAT SAME NIGHT to take the pelt.

he spent the rest of the month conflicted over whether or not to hand it back to Vodka. he also did his best to restore it, partially as a way to buy himself more time to think.

in case it's somehow not obvious, a large part of Gin’s final decision to give it back was guilt. he assumed that Vodka had been Gin's slave, and that if Vodka had a choice, they never would have spent so much as a day together, let alone 6 years.

(but Solbeso never actually ordered Vodka to listen to Gin at all. he called Gin in, said "this is your new partner," and never gave Vodka any direct order to obey Gin. sure, it was heavily implied, but this kind of magic is very picky.)

- - -

before seafoam, Vodka wears coats and jackets like 89% of the time, even indoors, as a self-soothing measure. this is normal, in his situation. most selkies whose pelts are stolen will try to keep their shoulders covered. (shawls and shrugs are the primary go-to, but kidnapped selkie children may also use blankets and towels)

after Gin gives him back his pelt, Vodka progressively wears jackets less and less — unless they're appropriate, of course. he also starts casually leaving his pelt around the house, which in selkie culture is a gesture of an absolutely WILD level of trust. (he used to do it with his jackets, too!!)

it makes Gin’s stomach drop every time he walk into their living room and sees the embodiment of Vodka’s free will just. tossed over the arm of the couch. or the back of a chair. like it's NOTHING. where SOMEONE LIKE GIN COULD JUST TAKE IT. AGAIN. he's even leaves it IN GIN'S CAR!!!!!!!

he does not understand why Vodka is so okay with this. Vodka himself has considered the matter at length, and concluded that if Gin kills another person to protect his pelt then it'll be really hot, actually.

- - -

And now,

AN INCOMPLETE LIST OF LIES THAT GIN TELLS THE READER (AND HIMSELF):

Gin wouldn't know — he didn't care much about shorelines.

directly after an entire paragraph describing the highly secluded and easily defendable beach he specifically chose to bring Vodka to, but okay.

And he was selfish, Gin admitted to himself…

as he's actively walking to GIVE VODKA HIS FREE WILL BACK and potentially LOSE HIM FOREVER, but OKAY.

Maybe a kinder person would have something poignant to say. Or a 'thank you,' perhaps. Whatever.

it's not like he cares or anything. baka.

The ocean spray stung Gin’s eyes.

no, it didn't.

He should be more careful around sand, he thought, blinking. It seemed like some had gotten into his eye.

no, it DIDN'T.

"I'm not standing in your way anymore, so I recommend you get back in the water before somebody sees you."

it's not like he CARES or anything. BAKA.

"Stop looking at me like that." / Like one of those idiots Vermouth has eating out of her hands.

"yeah i was 1000% going to shoot up my beloved car to ensure your safety it's no big deal stop lookin at me like that" THAT LOOK IS CALLED "LOVE"!!!!!

YOU FOOL!!!!!

YOU LANKY WRECK OF A MAN!!!!!!!!!!

[averagecatdoodlesenjoyer]

🌟

Genuinely all of the main cast are my favorite characters. Though I do have to admit that I've also grown quite fond of the dummies and the floor masters over time.

...I imagine this answer isn't very satisfying so I'll tell you why I like each character but it's also 2:30 am for me and I'm very sleepy so this isn't a serious analysis or anything just pure feelings.

Warning incoherent ramblings and bad English

Sara: imagine being the strongest person in a death game and a group of people unanimously decide that you're their leader that will lead them to survival and there's also that one guy who hates you and wants you dead and also you're 17. I could never. I think Sara is a really cool protagonist honestly amd I also have a soft spot for caharcerts who are so very serious and powerful but also so silly..... I love Sara she's such a good character..... I love Sara..

Joe: ngl it was love from first sight. I love the 'happy go lucky best friend' archetype and he's so deeply caring and kind (and he can be pretty smart and a quick thinker too when the situation calls for it) and just.... ooghh im gonna cry

Keiji: weird guy relatable in the way he hates himself so much and is so convinced of being a bad person that he acts like one.

Kanna: Kanna!! Hi Kanna!! Haaaiii Kanna :333 she wears a bucket and acts like any 14 year old dragged in a death game would. She's very deeply trusting in contrast to Shin and it's sort of one of the biggest things about her character and I'm just :((( Kanna my dear precious baby girl.... Also do u ever think about how Kannas first trial was evaluating trust and Kugie trusted Kanna enough to let her use the key but Kanna couldn't save her and then she tells Sara to kill her and trust in Shin. Do u ever think about that. I just made that up its 3 am idk if this makes sense.

Q-taro: great character AND the fattest ass in the death game.

Shin: one of the best antagonists I've ever seen. Nankidai literally went 'what if the most reoccurring antagonist is Just Some Guy who is weak and kind and timid and is only an antagonist because he was told that he's doomed by the narrative' and it's AWSOME.

Reko: she's the normal one of the group if I'm being completely honest. I love her. I really enjoy that we see her in several different lights: the Reko who is kind to the weak (Sara's POV), the Reko who is harsh to the strong (Mishima's POV in YTTS), and the Reko before Alice's case, who is more abrasive and cold to everyone.

Nao: what can I say, I love my wife. She's grown A LOT during the events of the game and then DIED in a very sad way... Very tragic. Also I love that when bad stuff happens to her she thinks 'ok how can I incorporate this in my art' (how she wants to sketch the insects from the 'fly swatter' attraction and her fondness events in YTTS) very relatable tbh.

Kai: he has done nothing wrong ever and he's also very relatable.

Gin: WHO put him in a death game. He should be playing roblox not witnessing the horrors. He would call me a homophobic slur and I would forgive him.

Mishima: I genuinely believe he's actually the most powerful character in the game. Have you SEEN how easily he figured out that Shin was lying to him in YTTS and made him actually open up and befriend him instead. The only reason that his survival percentage isn't very high is because he puts others before himself and maybe in some simulations he died because of a trap involving trying not to smoke idk. I also LOVE his cartoonish mannerisms. I like to imagine he's very animated.

Alice: I would hate this guy irl and that's why I like him. He's so intense in everything it's hard to not find it enjoyable or at least entertaining. And then you find out that he's also actually pretty kind and protective of his loved ones and deeply sad and has a very tragic and complex backstory and it's the guy who says 'yikes!'.

...ok I won't write about the dummies and floor masters but I hope you were at least mildly entertained reading this. I have a lot more to say about every character and why I think they're all great but I'll need more time and energy for that