#not like Breaks is any better they're both weirdos

[macking-cheese]

Finally convincing your partner to do something you like but they are unreasonably good at it/good-looking

Yes this was an excuse to complain about how much I love Breakdown's design in ES. He is my special little sociopathic bimbo and I will throw an entire building at him as a treat

Based off of this trend!

[helluvapoison]

Hey can you write headcanons for alastor, angel dust(both platonic) and sir pentious (romantic) with a gen z/millennial reader? Just general stuff and interactions (like maybe talking about how things are for the lgbt community with angel and talking to alastor about gramophones and how they're coming back in style) and just some shenanigans

I know you don't have these characters listed in your writing list, and it's completely fine if you cant write for them but i love your writing style and characterization so I wanted to know how you'd imagine things would go

Alastor, Angel Dust (platonic) and Sir Pentious (romantic) x Reader

˚✧₊⁎ Alastor ⁎⁺˳✧༚

• “Hey Al! Loving the drip, it’s giving strawberry cow meets dark academia core.”

• Now he knows what others feel like when speaking to Zestial. He doesn’t understand half of what you say

• You taught him “tea”. Originally he thought you were providing real tea, something useful, not tedious gossip about— Oh. Oh. That could come in handy, actually. Alastor begins to pencil you into his afternoon tea. Sometimes you bring him useful information, others he has to sit through petty issues that make his eye twitch

• Alastor outright bans you from using your phone around him. He has no interest in this “meme” that reminds you of him (Don’t bring it out again, next time he’ll break it)

You groan, “It’s not as funny if I have to explain it!”

“It must not be very humorous in the first place.” He retorts

• He thinks you’re complimenting his taste in decor when you call it vintage

• You’ve proven yourself a useful acquaintance. Like Nifty, he’s grown accustomed to your presence and learned it may be better not to understand the inner workings of your mind

• “Got any aces?” someone asks while you play Go Fish with Husk, Angel and Sir Pina Colada. You never fail to jab a thumb in Alastor’s direction, cackling and kicking your feet

• They give you a peculiar look in reply

“Fuck you guys, I ate.”

• Yeah, they don’t get that one either

˚✧₊⁎ Angel Dust ⁎⁺˳✧༚

• It feels like every day Angel’s mid-insult and snapping his fingers at you, beckoning for you to conjure up a fresh comeback

• “Ooh! You just got cancelled, take the L, you fucking poser!”

He cackles, “Yeah! What they said!”

• Started calling himself an e-girl because you said it once about Charlie and never elaborated. He thinks it means cute… He’s not wrong? You don’t correct him, it’s funnier this way

• Playful arguments 24/7

“RIP, Angel, you would have loved Mean Girls— Wait, if a movie dies would it come to Hell? Never mind, don’t answer that, it would obviously go to Heaven.”

“I’ve met some real weirdos down here, sweetheart, and you outrank almost all of ‘em.”

• Something Angel noticed he could only appreciate from you is how different you react to his relationship with Val. He already knows it’s not healthy and he knows he gets defensive when people bring it up. Like the others, you listen, you comfort, you get furious on his behalf. You also offer him insight and labels he never thought would be helpful

• You hold up two fingers like you’re conducting an orchestra as you speak, “Say it with me; boundaries, bitch.”

“Boundaries..? S’at like bondage–?”

”NO!”

• Angel’s the only one that makes HellToks with you. The dances he learns faster and performs them better than you, often adding his own choreography to them. The “pass the phone” challenges never end well– especially when he tries to rope Nifty or Alastor in on them (RIP your old phone)

• Honestly, you’re pretty surprised you get along with Angel as well as you do. Y’know, considering he died a thousand years before you—

“I ain’t that old!”

“Your death certificate says otherwise, fam!”

˚✧₊⁎ Sir Pentious ⁎⁺˳✧༚

• He’s not sure how to handle how touchy you are first. You go around high-fiving everyone, freely holding hands with whoever lets you, offering hugs and– thump. Your head hits his lap, staring straight right at him with a goofy grin. And that.

• “Say slay,”

“Sssslay?”

• Oh. He quite likes the laugh that gets out of you

• Starts saying the word as much as possible, puffing his chest out proudly when you double over laughing. You don’t have the heart to tell him he’s using it wrong 99.9% of the time

• When you began consistently picking him for a chair instead of the others, he was stuck between throwing you across the room and making a break for it or pointing and laughing in the faces of everyone else. You chose him! HA!

• Bless his soul, the way he asked you out was so sweet

“I’ve done extensive research and found the equivalent of going sssteady in your language! I would like for us to move forward with the relationship ssstatus.”

“Huh? Oh. You want to go out with me? Yeah!”

“Fuck yesss!“

• Pentious gives ride or die a new definition. Everything you say or you do, he will back you up. His eyes sparkle from the praise you give him

• That, and making him blush takes little effort on your part. Complimenting him like you always do (at least he thinks you are, sometimes he’s not certain) has his cheeks glowing in seconds

• After following you around for an hour, because Pentious wanted to make sure you could get along with the Egg Boiz without him, they adopt bits of your personality and bizarre phrases. “Now we have two parents!” “No cap!” “Yes cap, you’re wearing a hat!”

• You’ve single handedly make the Egg Boiz worse in the eyes of everyone but Pen. He’s ecstatic over the results, he doesn’t know what he would do if he had to choose between you and his eggs

~

╰(*´︶`*)╯♡ this was so silly and fun, i hope you enjoy anon!

[heartfullofleeches]

heyo—.ᐟ kinda curious bout which of the clowns in the murder clown gang are like, idk, ass or thighs type of clown for little ol' mimey?

and was also wondering how they would react to mime darling trying out some new outfits, like these ones I made ↓↓↓

PS … really, idk which outfit to draw so here's my little interpretation of mine darling .ᐟ anyways- hope you have a nice day/night .ᐟ.ᐟ.ᐟ (⁠ㆁ⁠ω⁠ㆁ⁠) +hope you like the doodles >:]

"No comment." <- (Can't put any real thought into the question or they'll get to flustered)

"Thighs - best hand-warmers know to man. Mimey can use those thighs to warm up somethin' else, but that's private."

"Personality is most important, but I do enjoy feeling their rear pressed against me when we cuddle... Perhaps, I should've kept that to myself"

"Whichever they can use to suffocate me better-"

"Ass! No, thighs.... B...both? Wahhh- Please don't make me choose! Every inch of mimey is precious and I just want to kiss them all over..."

"Don't matter long as they'll put either on my face...and let me have a little nibble. Since it's mimey we're talking about I wouldn't even break their skin"

-

They'd all think Mime Darling looks absolutely adorable in their new outfit - as do I. Red doesn't know how to give compliments without sounding like a weirdo - which isn't all bad as Pink and Blue are happy to shower Mime in the praise and adoration they deserve. Green and Orange are drooling at that sneak of their thighs and Purple.... probably best not to talk about what they're up to currently, but they approve as well.

(I absolutely love them, your mime darling is so cute! Thanks for sharing this cutie with us ❤️🤡

[chronicallylatetotheparty]

I think western media has relied on non-human races as shorthand for oppressed groups so much that audiences have been primed to look for that instead of actual imperialist ideology.

One of the criticisms I've repeated about the Dragon Prince is how the writers take the Aesthetics of fantasy imperialism/indigenous people and just switch them without bothering to change anything about their ideology or historical context.

Kenna on TikTok was right when she said that a franchise where the oppressor and oppressed were all the same species makes a better racism allegory.

The fact that the Four Nations were all human added to the themes of imperialism and genocide in ATLA. While on the opposite side of the coin, the Xadians all being different species undermines it.

You can say Fire Nation people were a bunch of imperialists without going into bioessentialism. You CAN'T say humans are a bunch of warmongering monsters without sounding like an eco fascist.

The Sunfire elves textually being the most fantasy racist group is fine because they're elves, therefore oppressed, and the white writers made them superficially based on African-French speakers.

Meanwhile Katolis is "obviously" a Fantasy European Imperialist nation and therefore the oppressor. Never mind that it's had a black, now mixed, ruling family for a thousand years. Or that it's citizens aren't just white.

I remember seeing a post comparing the taboo against Black Magic to Xtian fundamentalism. At first I thought that was a bit much but no. Season six revealed that TDP has a canonical Hierarchy of Beings so that guy was absolutely right.

In Xtian fundamentalism doing something good the "wrong" way is the same as doing something bad.

Save a kingdom from starving? Well you had to kill a rock monster so obviously the right thing to do was let hundreds of thousands of people starve to death. (I've had weirdos go onto my posts and literally say this.)

Break the chains preventing you from saving the people you love? Well it hurt you so the right thing to do was let your friends and loved ones drown I guess.

Your son is dying? Better protect some old man's sense of moral purity than save a child.

All of these actions are not considered bad because they had a negative effect. They're considered bad because they go against the dominant power's desired order.

They're inherently bad because "humans" are inherently bad. Because human ways are not as pure as a direct connection to an Arcanum.

Note: this^ is imperialist ideology.

The idea that a group of people fighting for their survival justifies ethnic cleansing and mass murder is imperialist ideology.

The idea that the scary, blasphemous practices of a people you don't understand makes them dangerous, and therefore justifies you "defending yourself", is imperialist ideology.

The Liberal focus on "cycles of violence" and "both sides are at fault". Instead of on reparations for the people they killed and the homes they destroyed is imperialist ideology.

But Katolis has a pseudo-medieval aesthetic and the elves do not.

I was so angry at the scene where Sol Regem burns Katolis because THIS is the poor helpless dragons the humans "colonized"!? This living air bomber is the "victim" of the big, bad humans? One Archdragon can destroy an entire city single handedly and you expect me to believe the elves and dragons ethnic cleansing of humanity was REASONABLE!?

No. We are past any doubt or rationalization. What Sol Regem did to Katolis was just a small glimpse of what the elves and dragons did during the Human Exile. Just a small glimpse into how imperialist powers treat those that they cannot exploit.

And then demonize them for daring to oppose/question/subvert the imperialist's god(s) given superiority.

[toringo]

i’m OBSESSED with your anti tulpar comics, i’ve been rotating them in my mind nonstop for the past few days! how do you think a!curly feels about a!jimmy?

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

You have no idea how happy it makes me to know, that people really enjoy those. I know it's not even my au, but I've been genuinely hyperfixating on it for some time now, and making up my own lore (obviously the creator doesn't mind, they said it's all up to interpretation).

My take on A!Curly's opinion of A!Jimmy and some A!Curly background and hcs:

He thinks Jimmy is weak, pathetic, and simply put a loser. He's annoying, easy to push around, and doesn't put up too much of a fight, which is good, because - hot take - A!Curly is just as much of a pushover as the canon one.

He puts on a mean face and abuses his power to put down the others, to make himself feel better (feel important and in control), but if someone shows that they can snap back he loses the fight quite easily.

He's a people pleaser, the top student with no personal life kind. It's just that he's looking for approval as a 'tough leader' now. You know, the epitome of masculinity with nerves of steel and 0 sensitivity.

People usually need 10 years of experience to become a captain, he got the title in half that time, unlike canon!Curly (If someone asks how it was totally natural and due to his stellar performance! Don't question it too much!)

He doesn't have anything much going on back on Earth, also unlike canon Curly. He distances himself from his family (never truly satisfied with his achievements) and has no close friends. He sees no point in making any now that he spends most of his time in space. Doesn't really believe in love, either.

He didn't pass the psych eval twice in a row and is on Pony Express approved (questionable) antidepressants/mood stabilizers. Still fit to fly!

With all that being said; he considers Jimmy an easy target and abuses him primarily because of that. He can't stand this weakling stumbling around all pathetic and apologetic, while he has to work so hard to keep up his reputation.

It pisses him off that some guy just… doesn't care that others see him like this. Curly would care, it would break him if anyone thought of him like they do of Jimmy! So it's annoying that this janitor doesn't even try.

A perfect excuse to make himself feel bigger, too; it's not like he's a bad guy. This loser needs to learn, after all, that people like him don't survive in a place like this.

It gets worse when he starts realizing, that Jimmy is putting up a front and is actually way more cunning and capable than people think. Makes him feel on edge, paranoid. Like Jimmy is there to make him spiral; like he was sent by his higher-ups to check on him.

Then he finds out Jimmy is actually an emergency pilot (not on any papers Curly had access to). Yeah, he hates his guts.

When they enter their 'relationship' (it's mostly very humiliating hate sex ngl), Curly gets to know him a bit better. He still resents him, even more knowing that Jimmy can be a cold and cruel man under the mask of submissiveness. And even more, when Jimmy shows just how little respect he has for his captain.

But it's… a relief, having someone know how you really are, seeing your 'worst self'. He kind of feels like with every small thing he reveals to Jimmy, he gives up a bit more of control and gives him more ammunition, but well. Bitches be lonely.

So they have this weird thing going on, where Curly abuses Jimmy in front of the crew and during work hours, to unwind and reassure himself about his position and vent the abuse he experiences from HIS higher-ups, and Jimmy abuses him in private (for many, many reasons. Also bc he's sadistic).

They both think that if they hurt the other enough, he will stop hurting them. They're wrong. Although Curly gives up more easily, and Jimmy goes overboard quite a lot (as he has nothing to lose, is an obsessive weirdo, and was keeping his mouth shut about what Curly was doing for so long that at this point all the years of hatred are spilling out. He also has a personal vendetta against Curly, because he admired him and wanted to befriend him before he became a captain (and had any power over him) and Curly just started treating him like trash soon after getting the title).

YEAH sorry I will talk more about it later, sorry for being chaotic - they're just awful and disgusting and need to be put on some kind of meds (Curly's pills don't count)

[peapodbond]

that was us part five

aka tease tidbit tuesday

but once again it is a full part and ah, thanks to @leashybebes for saying that she's kind of lowkey obsessed with this, because so am i.

who decided the first wedding anniversary gift should be paper? what do you even get for that?

it's paper or clocks, depending on the list you look at.

clocks are better?

depends. if you think of them as keeping track of all the time you've spent together, yeah.

god, you're such a romantic.

abby spends the rest of the day sending photos of watches to tommy. they immediately nix any watches that are skinny or square; abby's never seen sam wear one and they all look sort of… industrial. she bets it's exactly the type of watch that his firm would give out for the big anniversaries.

tommy vetoes a few companies because they're ripping off their designs from someone else. when abby asks when he got into watches, he tells her that jordan has a collection.

that's interesting. tommy had dropped jordan's name a few months ago, mentioning that he'd met a guy at the bar and they'd been on a few dates, but not much since. she's assumed it was going well because there was no text about them breaking up, and she and sal haven't been recruited for another bachelor style grindr lineup, but it's nice to know it didn't just fizzle out after a few dates.

now that she's got a watch picked out, it's time for her to do a little digging on tommy's new beau. even sal has been tight lipped, which has meant problems in the past — mike, for one, but there was also colin — though, to be fair, a lot more had been wrong with colin than just the fact that he didn't like tommy's best friend. in the list of crazy exes, colin was definitely at the top.

what's sal think of jordan?

they get along, abby, relax.

how well?

they're at the race track together right now, actually.

sal's into horses?

no, they're both into go karts.

aren't those for kids?

go karts, not bumper cars. they can still go pretty fast.

oh brother.

yep. gina and i are going to have dinner while they're out.

say hi to gina for me! it's been a while.

she says hi, and you still need to tell her what you thought of the time traveller's wife.

talk to you later, tommy!

do you two think eight months is too soon to move in together?

tommy, no, that's a reasonable amount of time.

it's kind of slow, actually.

sal, you asked gina to move in three months after meeting her.

we never officially lived together but sam asked me a few weeks after our six month anniversary.

aside from her questionable taste in supernatural movies, haven't regretted it once.

you watch twilight every year on her birthday.

sal, that's adorable. tommy, if you want to ask jordan to move in, you should.

she watches them, i read. and yeah, you should ask him. i think you have a good shot at landing the guy.

i hate you.

what happened?

abby, two days ago i walked in on those two in the middle of — well, let's just say it wasn't a pg rated movie.

don't exaggerate, sal. besides, you were the one who came in without knocking.

tommy! don't you lock your door?

i have a key. which i am debating returning.

that'll teach you to wait for someone to come to the door.

he's got a point, sal.

i'm leaving you weirdos now. gina and i have plans.

chicken shit!

i have to run too tommy, i've got to pick the girls up from the barn. just ask him! it'll be great.

thanks, abby. no thanks to you, sal.

jordan's out.

sal's text comes in just before a flurry from tommy, and abby scrolls through them curiously. ah, home renovation questions. once they'd started talking again — really talking, not the quick catch ups at bar nights — tommy had told her that most of the changes he'd made to the house had been done between relationships. she wonders if he's clocked why he does it that way, but she is very much not a therapist. she's also not going to get into that with her ex-fiancé.

he wants to know if she thinks a pale grey could work in the downstairs guest room (study, she'd suggested when he bought the place, even though neither of them had had an office job) or if it would clash with the yellow she'd picked for the living room. abby checks the time and gets him on a video call, making him walk her around the house. they decide that the grey will work, and abby reminds tommy again that he's been meaning to get rid of the tile and wallpaper combination in the laundry room.

sal is busy sending abby a rundown of everything that's happened in the last twenty eight hours. it's — a lot. tommy and jordan had gone out to dinner, some little indian spot that was jordan's favourite, and right before tommy could ask jordan to move in, jordan had told him that he'd gotten a promotion that meant he'd have to move to sacramento.

they'd argued — mostly about the fact that jordan hadn't mentioned a move and a promotion was a possibility, but also about the fact that jordan had suggested, once tommy said that he'd wanted him to move in, that tommy come to sacramento instead. tommy had asked if jordan expected him to give up his seniority in the fire department, his house, to follow jordan to sacramento, and jordan had said that he'd probably be moving again in a few years so it wasn't as if it was permanent —

and tommy had come home single after dinner instead of planning a day for jordan to move in.

i mean, it's not like i can blame him for taking the promotion, tommy texts later, when abby manages to get him talking about it. i knew his job was important to him. we just never talked about what that would mean. he didn't even talk to me first. not that he had to, but—

it would have been nice to have been asked.

if i'd known he was approaching la as an expiry date, i wouldn't have hoped for so much in the relationship.

that's just the kind of guy you are, tommy. one day someone is going to want that as much as you do.

yeah, sure. any chance you and sam want a platonic third?

i need someone to help me with the girls' show tack in two weeks, but we're good. besides, since you don't want to move, you should really ask sal and gina that.

[ovwechoes]

do you write for venture? if so, could you do nsfw and sfw headcanons with them? i love them sm!!

Venture SFW/NSFW Headcanons!

Yes I do! Thank you for the request, and I hope you enjoy them c: Any thoughts or opinions are always welcome, and my asks are open! NSFW headcanons will be under the cut, and please don't read them unless you're 18+/over the age of 18yrs old.

Does Venture have any secret talents or skills they don't talk about much, if at all? I think Venture would have an affinity for painting, especially natural scenery and landscapes. They'd love Bob Ross paintings and would follow tutorials in their downtime, but with their own flair added to them. They also, of course, enjoy collecting crystals and loves collecting rocks to break open and see if they're geodes. They have a secret TikTok to show what they find, and they like to remain anonymous there to keep things private and entirely focused on their discoveries.

What personal goal or ambition drives Venture, which they rarely share with others? How does it influence their behaviour? Venture wants to protect what's left of the environment and the Earth itself; they're paranoid and cautious about deforestation, and the possibility that archaeological discoveries could be destroyed before they're appreciated and found, so it's something that they're passionate about and influences them in their daily life. They don't like to cause too much harm to the Earth when fighting, and they secretly donate money to organisations that put said money into rebuilding the environment. They feel immense guilt when they see the after effects on the ecosystems around them after fights between overwatch and talon, for example. It's something they don't discuss very much, and when they do they keep it simple because they don't like being that open about it incase others' opinions make them feel more guilty.

Who is an unlikely friend or ally for Venture? How did this friendship develop, and what do they value in each other? I can honestly imagine Junker queen being one of the most unlikely allies and friends of Venture. They might both share an affinity for the beauty of geodes and crystals, and Venture would want to share with Junker queen the beauty of archaeological finds that have been found on her land. It's something they'd bond over, and Venture would appreciate Junker queen's acceptance of their eclectic personality, which sometimes rubs off on people the wrong way. They're both weirdos in their own ways, and they both love shiny and historical things.

Does Venture have any unique or peculiar habits? How do these quirks affect their interactions with others? Venture 100% has self soothing stims that aren't necessarily autism related, but help them focus when they're busy or stressed out. They'd do things such as twisting their fingers, playing with small rocks between their fingers, or fiddling with tech just to pass the time. It's something they don't hide anymore, and they like to encourage others to take part even if they're not neurodivergent. They also pick up words and habits from people very easily; they heard Tracer say "okie doke" one too many times and now they can't stop using it even in professional spaces. It's apart of their vocab now and until something new replaces it, it's what everyone at Waypoint has to tolerate.

What is something that really annoys Venture? How do they typically react when faced with this annoyance? Venture is bothered by narcissism; they don't mind when people are confident and admit their own strengths, but it's bothersome to them when people flaunt it as if they're a walking god. They appreciate humble people, and like when someone shows their strengths, rather than plays them up with their words to inflate an ego they shouldn't have (in Venture's opinion). Another big pet peeve they have is when people have ignorant bliss. They believe that being aware and working towards a better future is better than staying blind to what's happening; they very much believe that if you choose to stay unaware of what's going on and how it's impacting society or the planet, you're encouraging the harm it causes and are complicit. It's something they're very passionate about and they can be seen as blunt or too harsh when confronting people like this.

NSFW headcanons are below the cut! Sexual themes are present so keep this in mind when reading.

What is a desire or fantasy that Venture keeps private? How do they reconcile this with their public persona? With Venture being the first openly non-binary overwatch agent, they feel an expectation to be a switch and to have no sexual preferences. Regardless of this, they privately enjoy being submissive and letting their partner take the reigns during sex. They find it hard to be openly sexual, and feel that they shouldn't be because they're trans non-binary, as if it's something seen as dirty in the public eye. However, when they trust someone enough as their partner, their sex drive speaks for itself.

What are some fantasy scenarios or settings that Venture finds particularly appealing? How do these fantasies align with their real-life desires? I can imagine they have a fetish for sensory play, especially the use of wax in sex and foreplay. They enjoy the feeling of it burning their skin, and the submission aspect from their partner doing this for them. In reality, this isn't a make or break thing for them and it's not something they need from his partner desperately to be happy. They would crumble if their partner suggested in with pure lust, but it's not something they're particular about because they understand that not everyone's interested in it. However, they're open with their partner about the idea of being restricted via sight and touch. They like the idea of not being able to touch their partner without permission, and being blindfolded. They're not too into BDSM, and it's not something they're experienced with, but fantasies wise, they'd be open to these things and light bondage if they trusted their partner enough with it.

How does Venture incorporate technology into their intimate life? Are there any gadgets or tech they particularly enjoy? Venture would 100% make a new toy for their partner to use based on one conversation they had about potential fantasies or what they'd want in an idealistic world. They're not too experienced with using toys, but they'd be willing to explore it more with a partner who understood them and accepted them fully, and was willing to do so with them without judgement or pressure. They'd of course make toys based on rocks and based on historical findings just to see how they'd feel in the modern era.

What kinds of physical or emotional stimulation does Venture find most fulfilling? How do they incorporate these into their intimate life? Venture enjoys verbal reassurance and words of affirmation; they enjoy being told dominating words filled with praise during sex, it makes them feel as though they're doing everything right. They love when a partner 'matches their freak' and can get on board with exploring new kinks and new ideas they've considered a couple times. They also love when their partner entertains their behaviours that others would consider weird; it somehow turns them on even more and makes their sexual tension even higher. They love to be touched on their shoulders, their lower back and the back of their neck - that's their main erogenous zones and if their partner touches them, Venture will be left high and dry until they're able to get off fully. It'll stick with them for days as well...

How comfortable is Venture with showing vulnerability during intimate moments? How does this vulnerability impact their relationships? For years, Venture couldn't have sex with someone unless he knew them well. One night stands never worked for them, and they were always left feeling used and unfulfilled. It was uncomfortable, but they take them as learning moments that helped them understand what they like and don't like in sex. They used to only have sex with the lights off, so that they wouldn't have to see what their partner's face looked like after seeing their body naked. As confident and unapologetically authentic as Venture can be, their body was something they felt especially uncomfortable with for years. They still sometimes need the light off to stay in the mood, but it's something they've improved on. On the other hand, Venture encourages their partner to be as vulnerable as they need to be; if they need to cry, laugh, hold them, etc. it's okay with them. It's not a turn off for them to see those from their partner, if anything they view it as a way to build their relationship even more.

I hope you enjoyed these anon and thank you again for the request ^^

[bouncypickle]

what if Eddie and Billy both worked as waiters at Benny's restaurant and they were both queer and decided to make out in Eddie's van

Eddie is fucking weird, Billy thinks, as he passes the blunt back to the other boy. The two of them are on break, behind Benny's diner. Eddie always shares his weed with Billy when they're at work so Billy always lets Eddie talk his ear off. And the other boy can fucking talk.

Today, he's going on about that damn guitar again. Billy has gathered that Eddie sells weed–and took this part time job as a waiter at Benny's–to raise enough money to buy the damn thing. Billy won't admit he's jealous, and a bit hot under the collar at the thought of Eddie playing guitar, because he's not a fucking idiot. And Eddie is a weirdo, even if Billy kind of wants to suck his dick. Billy knows better than to get involved with the crazy ones. Really, he does.

"You play?" Eddie asks him.

Eddie does that, asks Billy about himself. Probably because Billy is tight-lipped about personal shit. Benny gave Billy his dishwasher job out of pity when he caught Billy turning tricks in a truck stop bathroom. Billy ran away when he was fourteen and he's been on the run ever since. This break in Hawkins is just that, a break. Billy will be back on the run soon so he's not trying to make friends.

Eddie just makes it so damn hard.

"Nah," Billy scuffs his boot across the ground and slips up by continuing to talk, "Always wanted to learn, just never had time for that shit."

"For real?" Eddie asks like he's excited, "I could teach you, man! Can never have too many guitarists in a band. I'd be lead, obviously, but if you're any good, you could be on rhythm."

Billy tries not to sound impressed or horny, "You're in a band?"

When Eddie turns to look at him, Billy knows he's failed. Eddie's eyes drag up Billy's frame, taking him in, and it makes Billy’s blood pound in his veins. Eddie is fucking cute is the thing. Cute but a bit wicked at the same time. When their eyes meet, Eddie grins, devilish. Like he can see right through Billy's facade. Maybe he can. Billy's eyes flick down to Eddie's lips.

"I am the band, baby," Eddie's tongue peeks out, between his teeth.

Billy smirks, "And the band needs me in him, does he?"

"Well…if you're offering…" Eddie purrs.

Just then, Benny leans out of the back door and yells, "You two get back to work! I ain't paying you to stand around."

"To be continued," Eddie promises with a wink.

Then he's dropping the burned up end of his joint and grinding it under his sneaker. Billy watches Eddie go back inside, trying to calm himself down. That was fucking stupid. Billy knows better than to flirt with any fucking hot guy that catches his eye. He's gotten his ass kicked more than once for looking at someone the wrong way. It's fucking lucky Eddie is a such a freak.

Billy shakes himself, willing his heart to stop racing and his dick to stop doing his thinking for him.

The rest of the shift goes by fast, once dinner rush hits. Billy lingers, like he always does, because Benny sometimes lets him crash at the diner if he helps close. Tonight, Eddie is on closing shift. So once the last customer leaves, Eddie and Billy are the only employees left, cleaning the dining room.

"Hey, so how come I never see you at school?" Eddie asks, out of fucking nowhere, "You cannot be older than me. I'm a senior and I've never seen you around. So, what? Did you graduate early or something? Are you secretly a genius, Billy-boy?"

Billy scoffs. If only. As Billy wipes one of the tables down, he chews on his answer.

"Nah, nothing like that," Billy finally admits because why the hell not? "I dropped out."

"Aw, for real? School's important, you know."

Billy barks out a surprised laugh, "You sound like a fucking PSA. You gonna tell me to not do drugs next?"

"Now that would be awfully hypocritical, dare I say. And," Eddie says in this poncey, British-ass voice, "I don't want to put myself right out of business, old chap!"

"Jesus Christ," Billy snickers at Eddie's antics, "You're a lunatic."

Eddie closes in on him, gets right up in Billy's space, "Yeah, I am. I'm insane, haven't you heard? A freak. A devil worshipper. A bad influence. The messiah of the pariah, baby."

Billy smirks, "That's hot."

Eddie shifts the tiniest bit closer and for a horrifying second Billy thinks the crazy asshole is going to kiss him. Reeling back, Billy puts space between them.

"Gotta take out the trash," Billy explains.

Eddie blows him a kiss when he walks away. And fuck, Billy knows he has a weak spot for pretty boys but he should not be this flustered. If Eddie breaks their gay chicken first, Billy will give the other boy whatever the fuck he wants.

Once Billy takes out the garbage, Benny stops him in the kitchen.

"Hey, kid, you staying here tonight?"

Billy shrugs, "If that's alright with you."

"Long as you close her up," Benny tosses Billy some keys, "And stay out of the kitchen."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Billy grins, a quick flash, "You leaving for the night?"

"I am," Benny tells Billy as he pulls on his jacket, "Is Munson still here? Jesus. Just tell him to stop dilly-dallying, will you? I'm too tired for this crap."

"You got it," Billy starts on the last dishes in the sink, "See you tomorrow."

"Yeah, night," then Benny is leaving through the back door, heading home.

Billy finishes up in the kitchen. Then heads out to the dining room to see what the fuck is keeping Eddie. He should have finished the dining room by now.

"What's the hold up?" Billy asks.

Then he stops. The dining room is in perfect order. Only Eddie is still there, lounging in a chair with his feet up on another, crossed at the ankle. When Billy enters, a lazy grin spreads across Eddie's face.

"Just waiting for you," Eddie's eyes are dark and deep and shameless. So, the jig is up then. He drops his feet to the floor, sits up, gaze never leaving Billy.

"So," Eddie bites his bottom lip, smirking, "We screwing or what?"

"Fucking finally," Billy starts tearing his apron off, "Wasn't sure if you were queer or just fucking crazy."

"Can one not be both?" Eddie giggles as he sashays to his feet, "My van's just outside."

Eddie's van is more spacious than Billy had been expecting. Then again, the seats in the back have been stripped, leaving only the driver and passenger ones. Billy doesn't get a chance to admire any of it before Eddie is shoving him down onto his back in the middle of the floor. When Billy goes sprawling, Eddie immediately climbs into his lap. Billy catches Eddie's hips, fingertips skirting up the edge of the other boy's t-shirt.

"Fuck," Billy leans up to kiss at Eddie's throat, "You're so fucking hot."

"I know," Eddie curls his fingers into Billy's hair, "So are you though. Those freaking arms? Goddamn. I bet you could bench me. Bet you'd be a jackass jock if you still went to school."

Billy snorts, "Yeah, probably. Be a real hit with all the cheerleaders. But I'd rather be fucking you under the bleachers."

Eddie giggles, fucking maniacal, "Shit. Why is that so hot? Corrupting the popular, golden boy, getting him to skip class and suck my dick in the bathrooms, watching him showboating knowing I'm the one who's going to fuck him later."

Laughing, Billy bites at Eddie's pale throat, "I am so far from a golden boy. If you knew even half the shit I've done…"

"Yeah?" Eddie yanks Billy back by his hair, hard, so their eyes meet again, "You a bad boy, Billy? A troublemaker? A rebel?"

Billy doesn't say that actually he's a piece of shit whore and instead he just smirks, "Me? I'm a cocksucker. A real good cocksucker."

"I think I'm going to have to see that to believe it, bad boy."

[tumblezwei]

I am a Ruan Mei defender, not because I think she's a blameless misunderstood character, but bc I am very afraid of people interpreting her terrible actions as bad writing bc "the game still expects us to like her" or overexaggerating her bad traits in order to make Dr. Ratio look better by comparison.

And that's not to say I think Ratio is a "bad" guy either, I think the whole point of introducing him alongside Ruan Mei was to highlight how different the Genius Society operates compared to "normal" academics. Ratio's over the top arrogance makes him off-putting at first, but his genuine desire to spread knowledge to everyone who wants to learn it is the perfect contrast to the obsession and selfishness of the Genius Society, who only ever care about fulfilling their own desires without concern for those below them. Even Screwllum, the member who seems the most sociable and friendly, let Ratio carry on with his antics on the space station just to see what would happen, even though it put the Trailblazer in danger and threatened the whole facility.

So that is to say, Ruan Mei is like that on purpose. We aren't supposed to see her drugging us and sending us after an incomplete Emanator of Propagation and be confused as to how she's a "goody guy." She isn't. None of the members of the Genius Society are "good" people just bc we're allied with them. Herta uses Traliblazer as a guinea pig for the Simulated Universe after all, and we now know that as long as it's something he's curious about, Screwllum won't interfere to protect us even when he's already figured out the solution to the problem we're facing.

But I also want to do a little apologism for Ruan Mei bc sometimes the accusations I see lobbed at her is a bit much. Like, yeah, she drugged us, but it was a temporary inhibitor that literally only stopped us from giving people information about Ruan Mei. And she didn't do it just to fuck with us? Ruan Mei is incredibly aware of how emotionally detached she is and knows it's almost impossible for her to understand the affection given to her by her creations. She doesn't drug us out of some evil desire to control information, she does it bc she knows her time on the space station is temporary and wants to avoid leaving behind any memories of her being there. That doesn't make it okay and it's still presented alongside everything else she does that's uncaring towards TB and her creations, but it makes it a little more complicated than just "she's an unfeeling sociopath that would happily watch us die." It's bad, but it's also one of Ruan Mei's weird and not good ways of showing consideration.

It's interesting, is what I'm saying. It's compelling. And I don't really dig how it she gets reduced to a two-bit manipulator.

I'm a bit of a stickler for this particular thing bc it's something I truly adore about HSR's writing, and also something I see as one of the game's core themes. There is no clear divide between "good" guys and "bad" guys. The Genius Society is full of emotionally constipated weirdos who wouldn't pay a single bit of attention to us if we weren't interesting to them, but they're also important allies to the Express. The Stelleron Hunters are our biggest opposition and wreak havoc on whatever planet they enter, but we know that their goals somewhat align with our own and unless you go out of your way to be mean to her with every dialogue option, it's pretty obvious that Kafka is someone Trailblazer loves.

And even Cocolia, someone who almost destroyed the last remnants of civilization on her own planet, gets treated with sympathy. Bronya is allowed to mourn her mother and still see her as an aspirational figure, all the while Serval is allowed to break off ties with her and definitively move on from her past.

It's a theme that carries over to a lot of HSR's important side quests too, where often you're expected to choose between two options that both have some pretty heavy downsides no matter what. You have your own moral compass, and along the way the choices may seem crystal clear, but it's never so black and white as you predict. It's a game about decisions, about making your own way in life and learning about the different worldviews of those you meet. Good or bad, helpful or hurtful, it's not always so obvious as "this person did something bad to me, now I will forever dislike them."

"When there is the chance to make a choice, make one that you know you won't regret," "explore, understand, establish, and connect," "the Express welcomes everyone" etc etc

[qininqinin]

delta x dust because i think it's quite interesting how they're both the heavy hitters of the team basically. they both like fighting too, i guess. fighting kink would be appropriate in this scenario.

[Cw: Delta x Dust, fighting kink, blood kink, breathing kink (unintentional and all from Dust), Dust is a fucking weirdo and Delta is not matching him, death threats… ]

As common as it was to feel his own blood dance across his tongue, Delta still felt a shiver pass through his bones, his vertebrae trembling with the delight of the metallic liquid flowing back and forth through his throat. "You little shit," he growls as Dust gives him a wicked smile, decorating the darkness of his face with a row of bloody teeth.

“You think you’re so smart, don’t you? Jumping and hopping around like a little bunny.” Delta doesn’t hesitate to climb on top of Dust, preventing any movement from the smaller skeleton. “Maybe I should break your legs to stop you from running around.” And before Dust could counter with his sharp wit, a punch landed on his face.

Their blood decorated the floor, a red pool spreading wider and wider beneath them.

“How do you feel?” Another punch, “So close to death?”His glove was already torn and stained with the crimson fluid; sticky, smelling of rust.

"The world would be better off without bastards like you." The disgust on his tongue came not just from the blood. That deep-seated hatred, so well hidden even from himself, suddenly surfaced when, even on the verge of passing out, Dust smiled.

What the hell? Delta questions in his mind, his hands gripping Dust's neck tightly — barely noticing the lack of resistance from the skeleton, even as Dust's small hands rested on his. Why are you smiling, you sicko? Delta’s pupils narrowed, finally focusing on the scene in front of him.

Dust, the sick and twisted Dust, smiling like a maniac; the little red lights in his eye sockets rolling up, his face flushed a deep violet.

And Delta couldn’t help but notice the slight push beneath his pelvis.

"You weirdo..." he murmurs, as disgusted as before. "Are you excited by this?" Delta pulls his hands back, his body finally coming out of instinct mode.

Breathing heavily, he delivers one last punch before watching Dust finally lose consciousness.

[nerves-nebula]

Has the overall story of Loose Stitches changed significantly since you started drawing it?

BOY HAS IT. ITS LITERALLY CHANGING AS WE SPEAK. anyway this got long so. under da cut

so, like most stories, it's changed a lot since the beginning. i was technically drawing it years before i started on the comic you see before you nowwww HOWEVER i get what u mean so i wont post any old art of atchkie or anything to make a point

TO GET TO YOUR QUESTION: since i started drawing and posting it, things have changed SIGNIFICANTLYYYYY. for example, hanheppi culture (which wont be relevant for years) was basically nonexistent when i started. the only reason you guys know hanheppi people and loose stitches are related is because i literally didnt have a name picked out for the hanheppi, so i had to file them under "loose stitches related" thinking i probably wouldnt post much about them anyway. and ppl started noticing that because i got around to developing them ON THIS BLOG WHILE POSTING LOOSE STITCHES. lol

as for the characters, they've changed too in a lot of ways. dotty's whole deal was generally outline before but i filled it in over the last few years and now it's like. genuinely could be its own novel lol.

ATCHKIE'S personality has been kind of hard for me to get a handle on because they are a kind of person who i don't have much in common with. but i think i'm getting a better idea of them as time goes on.

Reg Willow and Eden are still being workshopped cuz they're gonna appear later on and i haven't written them very much, so they're actively changing as we speak.

and then of course the entirety of part 2 has undergone major changes and is still actively shifting in huge ways. i see part 1 as basically set up and foreshadowing and getting to know the MC's and part 3 (if it can be called that, im prolly gonna break up part 3 into different chunks tho) as the pay off/explanation portion.

but part 2 is kind of more like a road trip adventure that the characters take on the way to trying to find things out about themselves and their goals. they run into a bunch of weirdos and its basically just the part where i get to have a ton of weird shit happen and then they run away. half of it is not even plot relevant and i'm SO EXCITED FOR IT!!!

and because it's way more flexible and is basically just a "author gets a free for all to do whatever it wants" card, it changes rapidly and often. I've brought in characters from past stories to fill in spaces, and i've combined certain plot points and storybeats. i've cut shit i didn't think was fun and then added entire towns just for 1 scene i wanna do. so thats probably the part thats changing the most.

other minor things that have changed is the near spontaenous creation of characters like professor silk, leilah, and mia. what happened with them was that i had points in the script where characters would talk and then i realized that if they were gonna have all these interactions with characters, they should probably be reoccurring ones instead of a bunch of one offs. Now professor silk is a minor but recurring characters, and Leilah was upgraded to full on girlfriend almost on a whim. Mia was the most spontaneous one tho.

in the scene where Mia throws dotty off the balcony, that was SUPPOSED to be Leilah and just some random friend atchkie was hanging out with. but since Mia had appeared before i was like fuck it, why introduce a whole new friend when i can reuse what was a one off character? and then while blocking out the fight it was just easier for me to imagine someone accidentally throwing dotty via strings than Leilah pushing them off in the struggle like i'd planned.

i could keep going on with stuff like this but the tl;dr is: yeagh. shit is changing constantly and all the little changes end up with the finished product being vastly different from the start.

and thats why i love serialized stories. there's an inherent jank to it that i cant get enough of on both the process side and the reader side.

[c-is-for-circinate]

What I mean when I say that Mike and Steve and Hopper are playing out different sides of the same story is that in season four, in the throes of maybe the best monologue in the series, Hopper says, "Ever since I was eighteen...Uncle Sam wants me to go fight some war in the jungle. Charlie's moving south like a plague 'cause of commie bastards like you. And you know, I'm happy enough to go, prove to my old man I'm not the piece of shit he thinks I am." A year earlier, fresh out of high school, Steve complains about the asshole dad who sneers at him about learning responsibility, and then finds himself out on a quest to find Soviet soldiers on American soil, trying to set loose the Upside-Down like a disease.

It's something about fathers and sons and respect and what you have to live up to. Something about the way Ted Wheeler never looks up at his children over the breakfast table. Something about trying to prove yourself with honor and violence, with protection. Steve home-running a demogorgon and playing bait for demodogs in a junkyard, Hopper playing bait in a prison laundry room, Hopper with a sword like the fulfillment of a promise. Joyce and Murray behind Hopper in the face of danger and the almost-hilarious plethora of shots of teens ducking behind Steve at the first sign of monsters. The way you can see Mike stop being a snotty, whiny teenager and Activate Paladin Mode every time someone he loves is in trouble.

It's the way Hopper and Mike both try to Lay Down The Law, we are Not Stupid, friends don't lie. They break their own rules, because who could ever live up to them? But god forbid El does. Steve's favorite word is 'no', for all he keeps getting overruled, all the times he keeps trying.

It's Joyce. It's Nancy. It's El, and El again -- a little bit Robin, and a little bit Will, a little bit all of the kids, but always, there's El.

It's about loving but not knowing how to do it right, because nobody ever taught you, because your dad was a piece of shit who will never be impressed, who will never be proud, because you used to be a boy and then the world said here, little boy, it's time to learn violence instead. It's about trying again and again to love the right way anyway, grasping for advice because of course Joyce and Will know how to love El better, letting Nancy go because of course Jonathan is best. (None of the Byers tell this story, because they're all too busy letting love carve chunks out of them instead.)

It's about being the guy, The Guy -- the one who isn't black or disabled or gay, the one who's not a genius, not a weirdo, not strange in the face of all these things that keep getting stranger. The Guy, who all the laws of narrative say is supposed to be at the center (though Joyce and Nancy and Dustin do more to actively drive the plot in any one season than these guys do in four, though the whole show revolves like a hurricane around El, El, always El). The Guy, knowing you're meant to get the girl in the end, recognizing or forgetting or learning that maybe this isn't that story, that maybe you've never been good enough for her. Never knowing what to do with yourself without her, because you're not special. You've never been special. You're normal. You're boring. You're an asshole. You're a curse.

And Mike is too young to hold a sword, and Steve knows how to say I love you, and Hopper is so much older and more tired and broken than either of them. But Steve walks barefoot through miles of Upside-Down, and Hopper runs barefoot through miles of Russian snow, and nobody says a goddamn word, because they're the same, they're the same, they're the same.

[amphiptere-art]

Bunch of introductions to the arcade folks through Blood Moon meet in them.

Sun: Well hello there new friend. Who might you be?

Blood Moon: Haha. I'm blood moon.

Moon: Are you a new hire or?

Blood Moon: Yes and no. Probably not in the way you're thinking. I'm not here to work in any part of the pizza plex. I'm here to work with you guys.

Sun: I think that makes less sense now.

Blood Moon: Sorry sorry. Report has been that there's been some tensions between all the animatronics. I'm supposed to help with that. But I'm not really working here otherwise.

Sun: Oh. Well it's not our fault. It's those weirdos faults.

Moon: Sun be nice.

Sun: Why? Apparently they're sending people after us because of it.

Blood Moon: Well I'm not here specifically just for you to. It's for everyone.

Sun: Well I'll tell you there's nothing wrong with us.

Moon: Yes I don't believe it's any issue with us. There just has been a bunch of new hires, and things have gotten tense quickly.

Blood Moon: Is it just general new worker flow or what?

Sun: It's mostly because of those dog gone old AI.

Blood Moon: Old AI? Are they just mean or?

Moon: Well they haven't really done anything. Still wouldn't put it behind them.

Sun: I say they done enough. Both of them are weirdos and grouches. And the new lady seems to side with them for some reason. She's all sickly sweet.

Moon: I think she's just sweet. But she does seem to be siding on the wrong side.

Blood Moon: So these older AI are grouchy? Is that really the only reason?

Sun: Oh I'm sure you know the other reason. Unless you yourself are some old AI?

Blood Moon: What? No! I'm not an old AI- I'm newer. I'm just a little confused.

Moon: To put it simply they're both outsiders. One of them is a bit wacky in the other one is distant in every way possible.

Sun: I honestly would like it if he stayed more distant. He's always getting into our things. He should just stay in the theater.

Blood Moon: So it's just not knowing them well right?

Sun: I don't think I need to know them any better.

Blood Moon: That sounds a bit rude. Are you sure you aren't jumping to conclusions?

Sun: I don't need any other conclusions than what I have.

Moon: Sun be nice. I think they're just trying to figure out how to be themselves. You know how hard it is for the older AI.

Sun: Well then trying to figure out themselves is being hard on us. That freaking black one is always trying to steal your spot in parts and service. I've heard the rumors that he started to do repairs under your nose. He shouldn't be there! It's not his programming.

Blood Moon: Well it sounds like he's trying to branch out. I know I'm trying to. He probably just needs to figure out another place to do it in.

Sun: I think he should stay the course he was programmed for. Not like older AI can do any better.

Blood Moon: Pardon?

Moon: Suns got some takes. Don't listen to him too much. I think he's just trying to be angry for me. I know older AI can branch somewhat. It just seems a bit of a leap for them. Plus he freed a rather chaotic older AI. Broke something of Suns in the process. He's a bit sour about it.

Blood Moon: I think I'm getting a bit lost. One of these animatronics might be vying for a similar position as moon here right? But he also broke something of Suns. Somehow related to this other wacky animatronic?

Sun: Wacky is putting it soft. It was inside my arcade game. Apparently some sort of AI was running it. I don't care how sentient he says it was, It wasn't! And by removing it he broke it!

Blood Moon: Can I please just get a description of this wacky animatronic.

Moon: According to Blackstar it's an old DCA AI that was locked up in the arcade. Black Star being the animatronic that is grumpy and breaking things. He calls it Eclipse. For the most part it acts like a innocent weird child. It looks like the balloon boy from the arcade. But sometimes it glitches. Gets all black and orange like a proper eclipse. Except it's no longer nice.

Blood Moon: Well it just seems like the older AI might need some tweaking. Surely it's not that bad.

Sun: Oh it's bad! You probably didn't run a daycare, but I do. And imagine a child that could grow claws if they can upset. It's a problem.

Blood Moon: Well have any of you tried to actually help? It sounds like it's mostly impressions and not actually any actions other than maybe some conflicting points and broken stuff.

Sun: If that stupid black star wants to steal moons parts and service job, then he can fix the fucking arcade AI! I just want him to do a better job at doing it!

Moon: Sun, I don't know if Black star actually has the intelligence to fix him like that. Older AI just don't have that type of cognitive functioning. Unfortunately tho can't get close to eclipse. It's labeled Black Star as brother, and won't go too far from him.

Blood Moon: Well surely you can just approach Black Star.

Sun: You try to approach black star. Trust me, you won't want to stay there.

Blood Moon: I feel as if I am not getting very far here. I may as well go to other places and see if I can get a better understanding of the conflicts arising. You said there was another animatronic though right?

Moon: There is yes. Her name is planet. She for some reason has decided to side with black star and eclipse. She seems rather nice, and she's a newer AI like us. But she's just..

Sun: Strange.

Moon: Misguided I would say. I would suggest talking to her to figure out how to get through to black star and eclipse before you try and head there. She seems to have gotten some sort of good relationship between the two. Not that I can see how it works.

Sun: Black Star yells at her just the same. I don't know what she sees.

Moon: Me neither, but whatever she's doing has gotten her to have a better relationship with him than us. So I would try and figure out from her.

Blood Moon: I can probably guess how she's gotten a better relationship. But I will talk to her. I'm supposed to talk to everyone anyways. See you later.

Sun: See you. Also fair warning about planet. She was transferred here because all her other animatronics got destroyed in some sort of accident. I wonder if it was really an accident though.

Moon: Don't spread rumors like that Sun. She's such a sweetheart. I doubt she did anything.

Sun: And I doubt she's just a sweetheart. Siding with old AI. Ehh. You know all the old AI in her place are somehow alive. It's suspicious.

Moon: It's a rumor. Go talk with planet. I need to talk with my brother apparently.

Blood Moon: All right then....

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

Blood Moon: Greetings? Is anyone around?

Planet: Hello there. Who are you?

Blood Moon: Oh I'm a new person. Names blood moon. Are you planet I presume?

Planet: My name is planet yes. Nice to meet you Blood Moon. I'm assuming the fact that you know my name means you spoke with somebody else?

Blood Moon: Oh I did. I'm supposed to be talking with everyone today. I talked with Sun and Moon earlier, who mentioned you.

Planet: Oh yes, sun and moon. I'm sure they were a thrill to talk to.

Blood Moon: Sort of. Sun might need some reality checks. Anyways I'm here to help soften the tensions here. I heard quite a bit of sour things from Sun and Moon about this Black Star and eclipse. I'm hoping you have a much wider view on them.

Planet: Yeah I'm assuming you got quite a bit of yammering about how horrible they are from Sun. I do think I have a better view of them than most here.

Blood Moon: Yes. I'm hoping you can give me a more neutral look than there... Well blatantly biased explanation.

Planet: Bias just one way to do it. Are you a new AI or an old AI?

Blood Moon: I am newer. Although I do not like that question if I'm being honest. The rights are for all of us of course.

Planet: Yes yes. But it helps paint a picture. To put it simply, Black Star probably isn't as old as sun and moon explained it. I believe it might be a year or two behind what is considered the newer types. So he's not some sort of bumbling idiot.

Blood Moon: Oh I doubted he was an idiot. If a problem is him apparently trying to take their spot in parts and service. I would assume he would be quite smart.

Planet: Hahah. Smart indeed. I think we might get along. Anyways black stars sour due to people like sun. And unfortunately he pushes that idea on everyone else.

Blood Moon: That is unfortunate. Not everyone is like them.

Planet: And I've had that conversation with him plenty of times. He'll soften up eventually. It just takes a bit for him to realize that you're on his side.

Blood Moon: Well I don't necessarily want to take sides here. I sort of just want to make one big side.

Planet: Good luck doing that. In my opinion it's impossible with those two.

Blood Moon: Well I'm hoping I can change that. But I need help from everyone of course. You can't just expect one person to fix themselves and it be all dandy.

Planet: Mayhaps. Now I'm assuming other than my wider view. You wanted to get some tips to get on his good gracious?.

Blood Moon: Hahaha, Yeah you got me. I think it would be better to talk with him in a way where he doesn't hate me for my simple existence.

Planet: I suppose that is all true. I will tell you the quickest way is through Eclipse. Earn that child's love, and you'll be on Black Stars good side eventually..

Blood Moon: That's another thing actually I must question. Eclipse. He came from an arcade it sounded like? Do you have any more details than that?

Planet: Eclipse did come from an arcade yes. Although I do not believe his origin is there like Sun and Moon do. I believe in Black Star's idea that he was some sort of older model that got stuck in there.

Blood Moon: How does an AI even get stuck in an arcade? I've heard of plenty ways Old AI were... disposed of. But even that seems a bit unique.

Planet: That I can agree with. Unfortunately whoever eclipse was before got terribly scrambled. Sun grumbles about his game being broken, but it's not. It still workable. The best way I would explain is it probably left an impression on eclipse?

Blood Moon: An impression?

Planet: Yes. Eclipse has two sides. The child from the arcade that you play from. Or the mysterious hidden enemy at the end. I don't think he was that way originally. I don't think anyone would reasonably program a animatronic to be a representation of a game. Seems a little silly. So I think he was someone else before that happened.

Blood Moon: Do we know for certain though?

Planet: No. It is my and black star's best guess. Sun and Moon of course believe he's just some sort of.... Arcade programming plugged into a body.

Blood Moon: Well it sounded like Moon might not agree with that...

Planet: Well if he doesn't agree with it, then he hasn't said anything else.

Blood Moon: Hum. You say making friends with eclipse will get me closer with black star?

Planet: Oh I would definitely say so. Not hard to get his good side either. As much as sun and moon might have worried that he was some wacko with an evil streak. He's really just a bumbling child. As long as you can make a friend with a child, you'll have fun.

Blood Moon: Funny how the one who works in a daycare sees him badly.

Planet: I don't honestly understand it either. It's just how it is. But yes it's mostly through Eclipse you're going to get black stars favor. As much as he might deny, it he loves that thing.

Blood Moon: Is there anything else to get on his good side?

Planet: Well I would say if you were an old AI would work. But you aren't. So anything you say will be immediately judged. But you can get through eclipse who won't judge you.

Blood Moon: That is unfortunate. I'm assuming something happened between him and Sun and Moon.

Planet: Well Sun and Moon definitely make it worse. But I believe it is elsewhere where he got his problems.

Blood Moon: Oh? You think it's from wherever he was transferred.

Planet: I believe so. I know others have spent rumors about my home bringing but Black still has quite a bit more. Apparently he was at everyone's throats.

Blood Moon: Oh dear. What happened

Planet: He refuses to share details. As far as the reports I've been able to skim though. He had some strong distrust with his sun and moon. Came out as violence. got moved here after an accident nearly killed him. Some sort of blind hope that separating would just help him calm down from it.

Blood Moon: And yet he ended up here.

Planet: Exactly. I think their plan quite failed.

Blood Moon: Well I am thankful you don't have as many... Opinions as sun and moon.

Planet: I try my best darling. Now I would best actually hurry along. Blackstar and Eclipse practically vanish once closing hours hit.

Blood Moon: Oh do they?! I should try to hurry then. I only have 30 minutes.

Planet: Yep. I would be on your way.

Blood Moon: Oh I should definitely run. Thank you for the help.

Planet: Anything. Bye!........ Let's hope you don't do anything you'll regret.

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

Blood Moon: Greetings! Is anyone in here?! .... Hello?

.......

Blackstar: Eclipse back off. I don't know who he is, but whatever you're doing is just going to scare him.

Blood Moon: Oh hello. Greetings.

Blackstar: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't give a damn. What do you want?

Blood Moon: Well um. I'm assuming you're black star. And eclipse is?-

Blackstar: Behind you.

Blood Moon: Behind me- Oh dear God!

Eclipse: Hi~

Blood Moon: Hi.

BlackStar: Yeah, hello, Hi, greetings whatever. What do you want!

Blood Moon: I- I'm just- oh goodness he's huge.

Blackstar: Yeah he's big so what.

Eclipse: Biggest tower. Scary scary to all.

Blackstar: You going to tell me he's some sort of monster?

Blood Moon: Well no! I just wasn't expecting him to be so big. It's an impressive make.

Black Star: Yeah, I don't need your fake fucking congratulations.

Blood Moon: Well I still say it's impressive. With earnest.

Eclipse: You hear him Black Star? He thinks I'm impressive. The little one thinks I'm impressive!

Blackstar: I'm sure he'll be less impressed the more you talk.

Eclipse: No, no, surely not! You nice, you nice like planet right?

Blood Moon: Well I hope to be as nice as planet. I have yet to really say hi to you. But I hope we can make some good friends.

Eclipse: He want to be friends! You hear that black star! He wants to be friends.

Blackstar: I'm sure he'll change his mind.

Eclipse: What are you little one? What is the little friend's name?

Blood Moon: My names blood moon. And your name's eclipse correct.

Eclipse: Oh he tells the future! Blood Moon tells future. He knew my name before told to him.

Blackstar: I'm sure plenty of others told him your name Eclipse.

Eclipse: Oh, they probably did. They probably did. Did the others tell you? Did they? Did they?

Blood Moon: They did, Yes. I've heard quite a bit about the two of you.

Eclipse: Oh you hear, you hear. You hear from planet right? Not the sun and moon? Sun and moon mean. They kept me in the box you see. They push the buttons that hurt.

Blood Moon: I've heard from Planet, and Sun and Moon yes. What box?

Blackstar: He's talking about the arcade. Those dumb two new of his existence in there for quite a bit before I came along.

Eclipse: The box scary! Is dark, dark, dark. Did not like it. I like this! I like the big stuff outside. Theaters large, large! Like a bigger box, except I can leave the box now. No pain.

Blood Moon: Hahah. I'm sure it's very nice to be out of that arcade. You are very expressive eclipse.

Eclipse: Expressive, expressive!? I've never heard. Planet says excitable. Sun says weird. Moon says like child. I'm not child. Older than all of you.

Blood Moon: Yes. I'm sure you're quite old.

Blackstar: Definitely old. Stuck in a box though, and stunted for half of his life. They probably merged with the fucking programming of goddamn child.

Blood Moon: Well that sounds unfortunate at first, but I'm glad he's out of there.

Blackstar. Be as glad as you want. I'm sure you'll change your mind.

Blood Moon. Well my goal here is to make sure everyone's happy. So I hope my mind doesn't change to something sour about you too. So far I haven't seen anything terrible.

Eclipse: He calls us not terrible! He good black star. He good!

Blackstar: He'll only be good for so long.

Blood Moon: Well I'm hoping to improve everyone's relationships here. I've been going around greeting everybody. I'm sure you have plenty of feelings about the others.

Eclipse: Lots of feelings, lots of feelings. planet good. Others bad.

Blackstar: Everyone's bad eclipse. It's just how it works for us. I'm assuming they sent you over here because I'm some sort of evil monster that needs to be handled or something. Let me just tell you. Telling me it again won't fix anything!

Blood Moon: I'm not here to say anything rude about you Black Star I'm just here to help everyone get along.

Blackstar: Well maybe you should tell Sun and Moon that.

Blood Moon: I will be telling what I need to tell. I believe everyone here needs some work.

Blackstar: The only work everyone needs to do is actually treat that fucking rights movement equally instead of some sort of partitioned existence.

Blood Moon: And I am hoping to improve that. You two seem to be the center of attention around it, but I doubt it's all your fault.

Eclipse: Sun and Moon say our fault. Arcade broken, me too much. They hate Blackstar for being better than them. Think planet lost like little child. Planet nicer though than them. Not lost. They are.

Blood Moon: It seems like I have quite a bit of work to do then. I will say eclipse I think you'd like a companion I brought along.

Blackstar: I doubt he'll like anything if they're the same person as you are.

Blood Moon: No, I'm pretty certain they'll enjoy each other. Although my companion is a bit... Restrained due to issues.

Eclipse: No, no! They cannot be in another box. Box is bad! No arcade!

Blood Moon: Ahhh!

Blackstar: Eclipse calm down. I doubt they would suggest he could play, If he were stuck in a arcade.

Eclipse: Rrrrr. No arcade, no box. No locks. Bad, bad, bad, hurts.

Blood Moon: He's only restrained cuz he might hurt people. Honestly he wouldn't be in a great place if it wasn't for me.

Eclipse: What could be worse than box!

Blood Moon: The scrap yard.

Eclipse: ..... You nice?

Blood Moon: I try to be. I'm trying to help them get used to society again. I'm hoping with a chance of interaction it would help.

Eclipse: Me play and they get out?

Blood Moon: Hopefully. Maybe not exactly right after, but with time.

Eclipse: Hum.... Me make new friend. New friend then let them out box.

Blood Moon: Eventually.

Eclipse: Eventually out of box. New friend, help new friend. Yes, yes.

Blackstar: You better not be lying. Otherwise he might literally tear you apart.

Blood Moon: I'm not lying. We were from the same Plex, I'm not hoping to lose them anytime soon.

Blackstar: Maybe you have a chance. I'm not going to give you it though.

Blood moon: Well I'm hoping that someday you will give me a chance....

Blackstar: Rrgg. Get out, and do whatever the hell you're supposed to do. You have no reason to deal with me.

Blood moon: I mean. I do need to talk with you more thoroughly. I have to do it with everyone, but I would like to have a deeper conversation than this.

Blackstar: Well you don't got anything to do with me except for this. So maybe you should go deal with the others.

Blood Moon: Well I.. I heard you're rather good parts and service.

Blackstar: Yeah well, go ramble to moon about it. He's the one that actually fucking owns it down there.

Blood Moon: Well given your impressive make of eclipses body. I think I would rather get some help from you.

Blackstar: What help do you fucking need?! You look fucking decked out!

Blood Moon: Well I wasn't able to get all the changes I wanted. Perhaps you can help me with a couple of them.

Blackstar: What the fucking hell of a change do you want!? It's not like I can get any new parts right now.

Blood Moon: I don't think you need to get anything new. just maybe remove something... Unwanted.

Blackstar: Remove what? Moon's got fucking access to the machine! I just got goddamn tools on hand.

Blood Moon: I believe these won't be too hard to remove....

Blackstar: .... Fine. Meet me down by goddamn parts and service tomorrow during morning hours, after the first theater performance. Moon's too busy to bother, and I'm open.

Blood Moon: Thank you. I am sure I will enjoy the visit.

Blackstar: Just get out of here already.

Blood Moon: All right, all right. I'll be out of your hair.

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

Blood Moon: Oh this is going to be a long long week. Probably entire assignment. Never thought I would be doing this for fucking therapy practice.

Pluto: Rrrrrraraaaaaa!

Blood Moon: Sorry, sorry Pluto. I know, I know, you're probably hungry. I need to charge. I do think I found you a companion though. And I think they're big enough you won't be able to do much to them.

Pluto: Rrrrrrrrrrr!?

Blood Moon: Here you go. Curse are creators for making this how we are.

Pluto: Rhrhrhhrhrhrhhr.

Blood Moon: Everyone here seems to have ideas about all the difference is between old and new AI. I honestly still don't see how people can find a difference. The sun and moon here seem so set on this idea. Or at least sun does. I'm pretty sure Moon was one of the revolutionist, but no he's got issues too. Planet seems nice. Although I have a feeling she's much like Blackstar, and doesn't think much can change. Black Star himself just seems to be so closed off. Eclipse at least seems to be living in some sort of bliss. Although I can tell it's affecting them also.

Pluto: Rer?

Blood Moon: Hahaha. I guess I should start making game plans on how to interact with them all, and figure out these problems. I'm glad I made up that thing on the whim with Black Star. He's definitely going to need work, and the more I can interact with him the better. At least has a bonus for me in the end.

Pluto: Purr.

Blood Moon: Haha. I suppose good night Pluto. I got still quite a night ahead of me.

[geddy-leesbian]

HEYYYY !!!!! so i was just wondering a few things if that’s okay

1. what re games have you played?/which is ur fav

2. did u like luis the moment he was introduced or did knowing his full story really connect w you?

3. rare pairs!! i love rare pairs so please explain any of the ones u like with luis :-) not asking about any in particular i just like to see people talk abt stuff they like

TYSMMM BYEEEE

YAYYY ASK!! IT'S MORE THAN OKAY

1. so my RE pipeline was kinda wild. In 2020ish I watched my sibling play through RE4 on our wii, but didn't have any strong feelings, like nothing stuck with me. I literally forgot Luis existed, I had zero memory of what he was like in that game. Then last year they showed me this fantastic youtube video and I was hella interested in Leon/Luis so they replayed RE4R (they're insanely good and had already beaten it several times) and I became OBSESSED with Luis and Leon and RE generally. After RE4R they binged and replayed (with me watching ofc) some of REmake, RE2R, RE7, and Village. The games I've actually played myself are RE1 but only the DS port, Revelations, RE4R, both Chronicles games, and this obscure beauty that is incredibly noncanon but actually very dear to me:

(and I've at least read about/watched some cutscenes from all the other games)

This is insane of me, but honestly I fucking love Darkside Chronicles so much that I almost want to say it's my favorite, but I won't go that far and just say that RE4R is my favorite with an honorable mention to Darkside. 

2. My first real exposure to him was from that youtube video so like

yeah I was hooked immediately and then got deeper and deeper into RE lore and loved him even more 

3. Of course I love Winterserra. I just love that they're both what they need, that they save each other; Ethan needs saved from his infection/the corrupt part of the BSAA, Luis needs a malewife someone to save him from himself and his guilt, making him feel like he deserves to live and pulling him out of his depression. 

I'm also going to gush about a nonromantic pairing that I really love: Luis and Alfred Ashford.

It all goes back to Darkside Chronicles:

My brain worms honed in on "traitors to Umbrella" and went "ah yes so Luis Serra would have been in Rockfort if he'd tried to sabotage the Nemesis Project instead of quietly disappearing to Valdelobos. Interesting." That spawned a whole AU where Luis avoids execution by being charming as hell. Seeing as Alexia Ashford was a child prodigy, Alfred is 👀 when he finds out that a prisoner he received is also a child prodigy (I imagine Luis being the first and last child prodigy to end up in Rockfort, most would just be too brainwashed and manipulated to want to break away. I mean I guess technically Wesker and Birkin were child prodigies who broke away but Luis would still be the only one that ended up in Rockfort) and has Luis moved and treated better than other prisoners. Luis learns to roll with Alfred and stay on his good side, eventually managing to con him into believing that a) he did not betray Umbrella at all but got framed by his coworkers and b) an elaborate bullshit story about Luis actually being nobility.

... which Alfred REALLY likes and he gets to be the first non Ashford to enter the private residence, where he's supposed to be Alfred's companion until Alexia wakes up. I'm going to cut this ramble off here but being Alfred's BFF is actually hell on earth tbh (Alfred is genuinely very fond of Luis and tries to treat him well, but the problem is that Alfred Ashford is a mentally unstable absolute WEIRDO that has no idea what normal people enjoy and their basic needs so like. Yeah. It's better than being physically tortured/executed/a guinea pig, but still a very bad time!) but Luis hangs in there and eventually escapes back to Valdelobos, but as a very different person, a very bitter one who would really, really not want to help Leon and Ashley… but still would eventually.

My last Luis rare pair is Luis/Annette but there's not much to elaborate on really. Annette likes fucking him because she's trapped in a loveless marriage and William hasn't had sex with her in years and Luis is young and pretty, and a lot better in bed than William. Luis likes fucking her because he feels like a monster for his work and misses Leon (this is an AU where they knew each other as teenagers) and sneaking around with a blonde reminds him of sneaking around with Leon back in the day. There's nothing emotional, just two people using sex as a coping mechanism to distract themselves from how deeply unhappy they are. (i kinda lied it does get a bit more interesting with Annette entrusting Sherry to him when Everything Went Wrong, but up to that point the "relationship" is 100% physical, only sex, no feelings.)

AGAIN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING I ALWAYS LOVE ANSWERING ASKS <3

[apple-pecan]

Dragon Quest (1986)

it is the mid 80's. in japan, rpgs were a super unpopular niche genre and were only played by weirdos. the most popular console at the time, the famicom, had a player base that mostly favored platformers, shmups and other kinds of action games. but a man named yuji horii wanted to shake things up. his goal was to make an rpg for the famicom with the same accessibility and appeal as something like mario. and with the help of world famous artist akira toriyama, and war crime denialist composer koichi sugiyama, the "big three" managed to do just that. and thus, the JRPG was born, alongside one of the best series of it's ilk: dragon warrior. i mean quest.

to make it so even little kids can know what they're doing, horii's design philosophy was an exercise in extreme minimalism: there's only one party member, you can only fight one enemy at a time, only one type of healing and offensive magic, there's only a handful of towns and dungeons, and there's only one save point (?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!). the story is as basic as it gets too: some asshole dragonlord is destroying the world with monsters, and also a princess has been kidnapped. guess what you have to do.

you start the game essentially naked: you dont have any weapons or armor and only a handful of gold. so what do you do? thats right: punch a bunch of slimes in the face until you have enough to buy stuff, and level up in the process. yeah, this is what's either gonna make or break the game for you: grinding is absolutely mandatory. the gameplay loop is simple; bonk enemies outside of town to get gold, use gold to buy weapons and armor, then your strong enough to reach the next town where the process repeats. thankfully once you have better equipment grinding only gets faster, and unlike a lot of RPGs leveling up makes drastic changes to your character. not only do you learn spells, but your stats go up A LOT. one time i leveled up and my strength went up by a staggering 13 points. holy fluff. the level cap is only 30 in this game, so every level counts.

there's also a couple of dungeons, where you learn that dragon quest 1 is secretly a horror game in disguise. dungeons are all pitch black, with your only source of sight being torches (and a spell you will learn later). you can only see so far ahead of you, which can cause some serious problems as your wander around dungeons not knowing where the hell to go. and when a strong enemy corners you and wipes the floor with you, you die and go right back to the save point with half your gold permanently gone. this makes the game more accessible, of course: instead of booting you right back to the title screen like final fantasy or megami tensei, you keep all the experience you've gotten at the cost of your money. it's a risk reward kinda thing.

okay this review's been too positive let's bitch about stuff. ONLY ONE FUCKING SAVE POINT ARE YOU KIDDING ME. if you are unlucky enough to, say, get killed during the final dungeon, you must retrace your steps from the starting castle all the way to where you were, and this can take a WHILE. there's holy waters and the Repel spell that can remove weak enemy encounters to make it faster, but they only last a hundred or so steps and they don't work in dungeons and caves for some ungodly reason. and if you try using it in said dungeon, your MP is wasted and nelson will come up to you and say "HAHA!"

another aspect that both works and doesn't work is talking to NPCs. the villagers have vital information to assist you in your quest. except when they don't. it's important to talk to as many people as possible, where they can give you clues you wouldn't otherwise be able to figure out on your own... but then there's some shit no one ever actually tells you. take the infamous sunstones for instance; an npc tells you they are hidden in the starting castle, but you look forever and cant find the damn thing. turns out you have to walk around the castle (but NOT far enough that it spits you into the world map) and in one of the corners there's a stray set of stairs that lead to the stones. hope you have nintendo power magazine, kid.

sure, there's some stuff in this game that obviously wouldn't fly today, but for 1986 this was one of the most novel and fun games you could get for the nes/famicom. it's simple yet addicting, and it's easy to see why it started a genre that's still going strong to this day. it's the first dragon quest game as well as the first JRPG as we know them today, so obviously there's gonna be some issues considering this was the first of it's kind, but thankfully they kept making dragon quest games and they're all solid and fun. and unlike it's rival series final fantasy, which hasn't had a universally beloved game since final fantasy 9 24 years ago, dragon quest still hasn't peaked yet, with it's most recent entry, 11, often considered the best game in the series. (it helps that the "big three" have been involved with every game in the series so the quality has remained consistent.)

so, even if the first dragon quest is a bit too old for you (and for most people let's face it, it's going to be), there's still a ton of great dragon quest games that all have something to offer. want a really emotional storyline intertwined with similar monster recruiting mechanics as pokemon mystery dungeon? try 5. want a gameplay focused rpg with blank slate party members that you can customize any way you want? try 3 or 9. want a really charming story with great graphics, lovable, developed characters, and a world map larger than MY BUTT? try 8 or 11. want really sadistic and bullshit gameplay that'll make you cry and throw your nes out the window? try 2. sure, it's likely that final fantasy and pokemon will never be as good as it once was ever again, but over here in dragon land, it's never been better. play these games already dammit!!!! do you want me to beg!!!!!?????? DO YOU?!?!?!!?!?!?!!?! anyways i love dragon quest it's peak thank you bye.

8/10

NOTE:

............................................ final fantasy sucks

[destinyc1020]

Zendaya is a 26 year old woman, Why is anyone worrying about the decisions she makes? How about we just let her do what she wants. We have no idea what she has booked or planned in the future. But one thing I do know is that burnout in any career is a real thing. Her taking breaks between projects is the best way for her to keep her sanity and health in tact both mentally and physically. Do people not see the absolute breakdown we witness from a lot of young celebs? As a fan I would much rather her pace herself and have longevity. Overexposure is also a real thing as well. There is a big difference in the exposure someone like zendaya will get on a press tour because of her level of fame. She really cant fly under the radar at this point like some of the actors you mentioned do. So I am sure all of these factors are being thought about from her team. She obviously knows better then we do about her plans and goals.

Exactly. Z is doing just fine.

These weirdos who want her to work 24/7 have some serious issues.

Funny too how they're just now popping up while Z is in London. 😏 If Z were in LA all this time they wouldn't be saying anything. 😅