#on the other hand it’s their art and they are allowed to make bad financial decisions with it

[insert-game]

i gotta get off my for you page bc it keeps showing me shit about W/atc/her and i do not give a fuck djdjdj

[fullscoreshenanigans]

What sort of occupation do you think Norman would like?

Because I 100% agree he should not be a CEO

[Offshoot of this post]

I'm very biased by @officersnickers and @salsae and either see him as a doctor of some sort (default to pediatrician) or a university professor/researcher. Something that can incorporate his affinity for mathematics and science, provide him with mental stimulation and challenges, and allow him to achieve recognition on a global stage if he so desires without throwing away his empathy and humanity.

(Chapter 85 Bonus Comic | Mystic Code Book Chapter 7 Q&A)

I feel like that last element is a big thing for a lot of people given what he went through at Lambda. The worst year and some odds month of his life had him isolated away from his family in a cage, alone, and he suffered greatly for it.

It's an idea that's illustrated so poignantly in the chapter 128 cover art. Ray has become so much warmer and devoted to his friends and family after being afforded the chance to hope "for a future that is like a dream" and to care for them openly under Emma's tutelage, heart a wellspring of love and empathy. They're all shaping each other while he's left to wither, and the cunning and ruthlessness that save him almost lead him to a point irrevocable (by the narrative's standards; for some, he passes it).

(Chapter 181.4)

It's hard to ascertain what capacity a CEO operates in in this future, what ethical standards there are and what boundaries he sets for himself on top of the vast range of industries they dabble in, but that he's tied up in it at all with all the negative connotations surrounding the role and potential exploitation involved after overturning fate itself and restructuring a world order leaves a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths, even with the simplicity and flexibility it affords in explaining away financial woes.

With a doctor, teacher, or any career without that level of baggage, there's the opportunity for him to incorporate his interests and be met with engaging challenges while simultaneously tempering that ruthlessness via establishing interpersonal relationships and working toward a collective, communal good. The possibilities for him are endless, but that's what I like for him since he holds Emma as his guiding star.

(Chapter 14)

For Emma, I've seen multiple instances of her being a teacher, especially one who works with young children due to how wonderful she is at understanding and empathizing with people, but she also has the tenacity to become a political activist or some other role of leadership.

(salsae's to have and to hold and these hands could hold the world)

Like Norman, anything that gets her actively involved in the wider world for a communal or societal good and allows her to flourish works for me.

For Ray, I have such a big soft spot for him being a librarian and rekindling his childhood love of reading under kinder circumstances and sharing it with future generations, but with his aptitude for science that Shirai mentions in the mystic code book and we see crop up throughout the story

(Chapter 140)

there's a lot of possibilities for him too, though out of the trio I feel he'd be the least likely one to entertain the spotlight.

(Chapter 181.4)

But maybe an architect who blends art and science together to construct a community given one of the things he wanted to do in the human world with his family was see the Sagrada Família (another one influenced by Snickers).

Interestingly, I've yet to stumble across any fanfics or headcanons where he becomes a professional chef, and I wonder how much of that is a shared sentiment of viewing cooking as part of his love language that he'd rather stay personal, something he only does for his friends and family rather than making a career out of it.

(banana_slug_army's The Language of Cooking)

While also unlearning bit by bit the idea etched into his psyche after years as Isabella's spy that love is always transactional.

[sammylbir]

Rewriting Tenko Chabashira

Hello, everyone! Welcome to another rewrite post!

This time, we'll talk about our favorite aikido master, Tenko Chabashira! While she is certainly not hated, there are a few things I'd improve on her and due to this, I am making this post. Keep in mind that those are my opinions and you can feel free to disagree with me. Okay? Let's go ^^

Appearance:

Okay, I'll first make her more muscular. Not to the extreme as Sakura but still noticeable. Her attire would also be a tad different. Her hair accessories and haircut would remain the same, but she'd wear more traditional martial arts clothing. She wears a kimono with no sleeves that are ripped off, exposing her arms. She would still wear a skirt, but this one is a bit longer and her legs now show some bandages and scars that she has from all the training. Her clothes are a bit of darker value, but have a simmilar color scheme to her original design.

Personality:

One thing I really didn't like about the translation, is how they took away Tenko's polite speech. In the original version, she mostly spoke in a very polite manner, even adressing everyone with the honorific -san, instead of -chan and -kun. It made her more soft-spoken than in canon, so I will add something simmilar.

Tenko's speech in general is very polite and refined. Even when she insults the men, she still speaks in a very polite tone and doesn't cuss. Example dialogue being:

"You men lack manners. Control yourselves already!"

"Typical male behavior. Can you please cut it out? You are setting a bad example for future generations!"

"If you peak, then I am forced to use you as a practice dummy. So if you happen to care about yourself, do not force my hand."

Something of the sort. She would still be gullible and naive and would be a bit insecure about herself, because her body does not look traditionally feminine. She also acts creepy towards girls she likes, because Tenko spent most of her childhood in the mountains and therefore didn't have much chances to practice social interactions. More on that really right now. Scroll down please ^^

Past:

I always found Tenko's reasoning for dislking men in canon ridiculous, so let me give you a better backstory.

That being her dad.

Similar to Mahiru. Tenko's dad wasn't the greatest. Sure, he was not abus1ve to her or her mother at all, but his poor financial decisions and love for alcohol drove them apart and into debt, forcing Tenko to drop out of school when she was younger, just to make sure that her family business could stay afloat. This made her feel with so much frustration and aggression that at her young age, Tenko committed some petty crimes and even worked for a gang of sorts, in order to make extra money and to relieve her frustrations. However, after her first male friend and leader of the gang made her take the fall for a crime she didn't commit, the court sent Tenko to a monastery deep in the mountains, to work on her anger issues.

This was both Tenko's best and worst day. Because on one hand, visiting the monastery allowed her to meet her master and to reconnect herself with aikido. On the other hand though, this shattered her trust in men completely.

Thanks to this, she at first had a hard time to open up to her master, who was a male. Only thanks to the master's wife, was she able to eventually open up and connect to the master and the rest of the temple.

They practiced aikido there, but Tenko began to feel a bit annoyed, at how limited aikido was. Thanks to that, she crafted her own martial art an extension of aikido that being "Neo-Aikido". I'll explain her martial art and the rules as of now. Keep in mind, I am not an expert when it comes to martial arts, so should I say anything wrong, please let me know.

Neo-Aikido Rules:

-Before each battle, you need to bow. You can however attack the opponent before the match starts, but only if you know that your opponent is looking at you directly during bowing. For this, the arena has a nice reflection, to see your opponent's face.

-During the bowing, they say a sermon. Said sermon being:

I wish ye the best of luck

And to test your spirit and determination

In this match between body and wits

-Similar to other fighting sports, there is more than one round. Each round lasts 2 minutes. There are 5 rounds in total

-Nun-chucks can be used in the second round, but should your opponent disarm you, you are not allowed to use them for the rest of the fight.

-Should neither of the fighters have managed to knock each other out by the end of the 5th round, the arena will transform. Both contestants will only be able to stand on one block above a pit. Whoever falls into the pit first, loses the match.

-After each match, you help the loser up and bow down. And said loser has to bow down too and say the following sermon:

I thank you for the fight

I respect your strength and wits

For I shall look forward, for another match.

Sexuality:

Okay, I had to adress this sooner or later. Tenko's sexuality. In canon, it was never confirmed if she was truly a lesbian or just a closeted bisexual. I do like the idea of Tenko being bisexual personally, but at the same time I do not want to speak out against the people, who headcanon her as a lesbian.

Now, how do I please both sides? Simple. I'll rewrite her love hotel scene. In this one, instead of asking Shuichi to make love with her, she compliments him about his training as a practitioner and apologises to him, for how harsh she has been to him. She then says that most men in her life had been jerks and that she is glad that Shuichi did not turn out like the rest of the men.

Tenko then advises him, to be more brave in the future and to be a good example for future men, so that women can feel more safe in this world.

As you can see, the love hotel can either be seen as romantic or platonic. Therefore, her original love hotel suite is a lot less lesbphobic, but does not deny the possibility of her being bi. I may write a concept for that love hotel in the future as well.

Additional Notes:

-The reason she admires Himiko, is because Himiko embodies all the traits that a woman should possess in Tenko's eyes and that's why she is trying to spend time with her.

-Himiko will eventually call her out on her creepy factor and Tenko learns to respect her boundaries in the future.

-Tenko wakes up at 3 AM and meditates for 2 hours, before going to bed at 9.

-This version of hers, would dislike Miu a lot more, because Miu is not very "lady-like" and rather rude too.

And that's it! I hope you liked this take of mine! Likes and re-blogs are appreciated and I'll see you guys soon!

[sweettoothvn]

Sweet Tooth Character Questions (part 1)

On the discord server we have a lot of people ask for scenarios on how the Sweet Tooth cast would react if (insert thing) So i've decided to share some of those questions with you all! Of course if you're interested in joining us, the link is on the pinned message, or here

Questions and Answers under the cut!

"Sweet tooth cast bad habits?"

Andre has a lead foot, drives too fast and too recklessly. He also rarely sleeps and mixes coffee with energy drinks.

Casey chews his lips sometimes or even his hair when he gets nervous. Recently Kieran bought him one of those chew stim toys though.

Chrys yanks her collar when she gets nervous, stretched out a few shirts from that.

David bounces his leg when he's particularly anxious. He also puts the worst things he can find in his coffee, anything to keep him awake, he cant sleep, shouldn't sleep, he wont allow it. He also smokes and has a drinking problem,,,

Eddie, like his father (Brook), chews his nails or picks at scabs. His posture could use some work too. Phelo (another one of his dads) claims he swears too much but he thinks "Phelo is a fuckin pussy for not swearin so much" so who knows.

Kieran smokes typically when he's stressed... which is quite often. In the past he used to tug on his hair a lot, now a days you'll see him run his hand through his hair. This usually shows he's going through some bad shit.

Noble is amongst our smokers, only smoking more products than the other three. Anything that could get him high enough to not feel it going in him, no matter how. Kleptomania is another habit he needs to kick. Someday.

Zach is the last of our smokers, probably smokes more than Kieran, but not as much as Noble. Most of his other bad habits include fidgeting, lying, and saying 'yes' to everything

"How do the Sweet Tooth cast go about winning over their crush?"

Andre is big on cooking so obviously he's going to try and win them over by showing off how much he can feed them. Based on how much they can feed him then that means he can support them financially so therefore he should be the best choice right? Also food. Its mostly just cause he likes cooking for people.

Casey is going to gift them all sorts of sweets and take them to his favorite places. If they dont have a Sweet Tooth then he makes sure to take them to restaurants that they might enjoy. He wants to have all sorts of experiences with his crush, good or bad. He just wants to be near them.

Chrys is a big foodie herself, similar to Andre, she'll try to impress them with food. Of course, she's not as shy as Andre so she will flirt as much as she can within her crush's comfort level of course. Whatever her crush's interests are she's researched just so she can understand what they're talking about and how to respond accordingly.

David being quite tsundere tends to insult his crush a lot... but in order to impress them he tries to show off how much power he has- not realizing that maybe showing his softer sides like how he cares for his bunnies might be the ticket.

Eddie might try to take them on nature walks or show off his knowledge of the forest or The Intrepid. Maybe he tries to impress them with his survival skills so they feel safe with him.

Kieran is going to show off not only his talents but his body. Typically dressing in particular ways that his crush might find attractive along with being closer to them. He'll flirt and be quite forward with what he wants, thinking that if he appeals to their lust rather than romantic interests that that is the ticket. Hes learning.

Noble bakes as much as he can for his crush, spoiling them whenever he can. He takes photos of them, showing them how beautiful they are and making sure that they know it. If his crush is more on the wild side he would he more willing to do risky feats... and in general...? Well lets say his competition has been thinning out.

Zach typically tries to show off with his art, drawing their favorite characters or animals. He might show off his knowledge with astrology and astronomy, comparing his crush to some of his favorite ancient stories. Constellations were made to help with navigation, and whenever his crush is around he cant help but think of them as the north star or his own personal constellation, knowing he never feels lost with them.

"What does jealousy look like in the cast?"

Andre isnt one to get jealous very easily. He trusts his partner wholeheartedly... but he doesnt trust other people... some people he's okay with them being around, for example he wont get weirded out of Chrys is joke flirting or teasing his partner as he knows that she tends to do that with most people. Now Kieran...? Ohh... oh he better stay away. Especially Noble too.

Casey is a bit insecure about himself. He's shocked that his partner even wanted to go out with him! Him! Of all people! There were better choices out there but they picked him... hems so flattered and touched but... what if they move on...? He simply watches it happen. If his partner pulls away from the person flirting with them, he sighs relieved. But if they flirt back..? Even if its in a way that is meant to trick the other person, well... he cant help but feel a bit upset. Casey is also the type to not stand up for himself but god be damned he will fight for his partner though. If someone touches them, well Kieran sure taught him where and how to punch.

Chrys will get handsy and lean on her partner, try to fluster them and remind them who they belong to and that she belongs to them. This is only of course if she sees someone persistently going after her partner, or if someone she doesnt trust has started talking to her partner. Your lap is now her throne. Good luck~!

David is a gossip king. He'll spread rumors about the person in question who dared to talk to his partner like that... He's hesitant with his partner speaking to Eddie, but he does trust them with Andre, Casey, Chrys, and surprisingly Zach. Anyone else is a definite no. He's probably maybe just a biiit... overprotective and possessive over his partner. Call him crazy all you want but you are his.

Eddie will cause arguments with the person who decided to talk to you like that, how dare they?! Right in front of him too! They dont even to deserve to look at you like that! If it escalates any further well... Eddie is coming home with a couple or several bruises. He's proud regardless, asking for your praise cause he fought for you and not realizing he fought OVER you.

Kieran might try to intimidate or 'seduce' whoever is talking to his partner, trying to take them away from him. He'll make them feel as little as he can and crush their heart with his words. If that doesnt work, well, a little bit of boxing never hurt anyone right?

Noble will be as 'gentle' as he can be. Playing up a sickeningly sweet smile as he takes your hand, pulling you away from whoever you were talking to. If they dont seem to be too much of a threat then he might allow you to talk to them. But if they appear like someone who could ruin what he worked so hard to get? He's going to make sure they dont see you anymore, or another day to be more precise...

Zach was always sure that the people in his life would leave him. Use him up and move on. People are mosquitos, parasites. They always have been. But you... you built him up... you helped him grow... he cant watch as someone tries to take you away... it taking everything in him to be improper and handle the situation immaturely. He talks to you, voicing his insecurity and apologizing for his feelings. But if whoever is talking to you persists, he might not be able to hold onto the little patience he has left and throw a few punches. He doesn't seem like the fighting type but he hits hard

[cyberphuck]

Disclaimer: this is not (currently) sadness or self-pity, it's bafflement. I'm not trying to guilt or pressure anyone, I'm expressing genuine confusion. That said,

Not only have I not gotten any commissions from the Flat Fifty post, I *never* get any interest except from people inside my immediate social circle. It's not like "maybe my art sucks :( " because I know my art doesn't suck. I'm obviously not some unknown genius working in obscurity, but I'm at least a little better than "so bad that asking for payment is laughable."

Its not even "well, it's Christmas," because I've had commission pushes at other times of the year, sometimes at ridiculously discounted prices. I've come up with novel offerings (fic covers, cum jars, pfps, character files, etc) and again, nothing. I don't even get hate anons telling me my art isn't worth what I'm asking. It's like I'm wearing an invisible hat.

I've tried doing free stuff in order to drum up interest for paid, tried the "like it? Reblog it!" signature, and half a dozen other little ways to get eyes on my art, to no avail. People do support me both by sub and by donation, but it's usually because I'm hilariously poor, not because they're excited to see what I do next (it's why my posts on Patreon are free. I've been down the road before of "showing creative works to no one.")

(I've also dipped my toes into getting prints, stickers and merch made, but there's always a fee up front that I have never made back from sales, not that I've ever made a sale, lol. When I do get stickers or cards, I end up giving them away for free.)

I want to make it clear that I don't want to do this for a living. I don't want to be doing paid art all the time. But at times like this month when several disasters hit at once, I have to get online to make e-begging posts and I fucking hate it. It's humiliating and also scary because I know largesse from also-poor friends will only last so long, and I know people will think I'm some compulsive purchaser who wastes every dollar they have and then begs for more (I could post my budget but I don't know what the reaction would be to how much weed dad buys. My reaction to it is "at least I've forced him to spend less than he was").

So it's not an issue of "I want to be a financially successful artist." It's "when I need extra money, I want to be able to earn it if I can." Same with subs and tips-- it'd be nice to buy some treats for myself here and there, but I don't want to feel like the Patreon is an allowance given by indulgent parents. I want it to be what Patreon was originally built for: people giving a little to support an artist so that artist can make more stuff.

But over and over: nothing. A handful of likes, a quarter of that in reblogs, and nothing in sales. And I cannot for the life of me figure out why.

[love-kurdt]

Remember This Moment

a very sweet, kinda bittersweet chrismukkah ficlet featuring mike wheeler, will wheeler, and their two year old daughter, joan

word count 1.5k

ficlet ao3 link

Shreds of russett potato fell into a bowl from the grater that rested across it. The potato in question was being vigorously pushed and pulled back and forth across the surface of the grater in a strong grip, belonging to one William Wheeler. But the hand was quickly losing momentum as the potato got smaller and smaller, losing its initial mass. Seconds later, he lost his grip on the potato, and it fell to the floor with a thud. He groaned in frustration as he picked up the scrap and threw it out while behind him, a pair of little hands clapped with joy. Well, at least one person in the house was having a good time.

His daughter, Joan, sat in her high chair with her giant crayola markers and a few sheets of printer paper, but was obviously more entertained by her father’s failure. He turned around after grabbing a paper towel, wiping the starchy potato juice off his forearms and sauntering over to where Joan sat. She giggled and reached up to him with grabby hands, and he picked her up, settling her on his right hip. He carried her over to the counter, showing her his sad attempt at latkes he was working on.

When he and Mike first started looking into adoption, the question was constantly brought up as to which religion their future child would be raised in, if any at all. Both of them agreed, with Will being Jewish and Mike growing up Catholic, that they wouldn’t limit or compromise the traditions of the other. Ever since they got together (and even before that, honestly), they spent their Decembers celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas. And this was Will’s first time trying to make his mom’s famous latke recipe.

“See, Jetti Spaghetti,” he began, calling her by the ridiculous nickname that he’d made up– and that his husband objected to every time it was uttered in his presence– inspired by the one and only Joan Jett. “These are potatoes. Can you say, ‘potato’?”

“Po-yay-yo,” Joan repeated in toddler speak, and Will laughed heartily as he picked one up and let her hold it with a glimmer of fascination in her brown eyes.

“Not quite, but you’re getting there. Kind of.”

“She’s barely two, give her a break,” his husband laughed from where he stood in the doorway. Will had no idea how long Mike had been standing there, but the dopey grin on his face led Will to believe that he’d seen the whole thing. Will set Joan back in her high chair as Mike crossed the kitchen to where he stood. He was still wearing his coat; he’d just come back from work. He leaned down, pressing a firm yet loving kiss to Will’s lips, brushing their noses together. “Hey, handsome.”

“Hey, yourself,” Will replied with a light smile. “You’re home early.”

“Well, the blizzard was getting bad, and I wasn’t about to get stuck in three feet of snow,” Mike sighed, shucking his coat off and tossing it onto one of the chairs next to him. He spun around then, sneaking up on Joan, who was fixated on her latest Marker Masterpiece™.

“Hey, Bug!” he exclaimed, and scooped the little girl up in his arms, kissing her face as she screeched, “Papa!” high pitched and happily. Mike missed his baby girl like crazy. Getting such a significant raise at his publishing job had been both a blessing and a curse; they were financially stable, but he felt like he was missing out. When he first became a parent, he’d been the one spending time at home, playing with her, preparing her meals and singing her custom-written lullabies. It all felt like so long ago. But Will’s job as an art teacher provided a more flexible, less time-consuming schedule that allowed him to spend more time with Joan.

“I’m so jealous you got a snow day, I missed this little munchkin,” he cooed, but his eyebrows suddenly furrowed in pain as Joan pulled roughly on his long hair, cackling as she did so. “God, this kid is really out to get me,” Mike feigned complaint and let Joan down, and the two watched their daughter toddle through the kitchen and out into her play corner in the living room.

Will turned back to the task at hand, grabbing a new potato and the peeler off of the counter. He felt Mike’s arms wrap around his middle and his chin resting on Will’s head. How was Will supposed to get anything done with a giraffe-koala hybrid clinging onto his back?

“Damn, baby, these look good already,” Mike hummed, and Will scoffed.

“They’re literally just shredded potatoes.”

“I stand by my statement,” Mike said, and his arms got tighter around Will’s torso, as if to hold him there until he believed what Mike was saying. 

“They could turn out disgusting,” Will frowned, giving up for a moment and turning in Mike’s grip to face him, leaning against the counter.

Mike ran a hand up Will’s arm, over his shoulder, and up his neck before brushing some hair out of his face. “Will, you’re amazing at everything you do, don’t doubt yourself.” Will looked up at him then with teary eyes. 

“I just wanted Hanukkah to feel somewhat normal this time, you know?”

Joyce’s absence weighed heavily on everyone’s minds last year; she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was gone within the year. She was only 57 years old. She never got to meet Joan, and that kept Will and Mike up at night. They missed her more than anything.

“I know,” Mike held back his own tears as he comforted Will, pulling him into his chest. “And you’re gonna make her proud. She was always proud of you, no matter what.”

“Thank you,” Will muttered into Mike’s (Will’s) worn flannel. They stood there for a moment, holding one another close. Eventually, Mike pulled back and held Will’s face between his large hands, making Will feel warm, safe, and so at home.

“You got a sec? I have something I want to give you.”

Will quirked an eyebrow, but nodded anyway. “Sure.”

Mike took off then, coming back to the kitchen a minute later with a small package in his hand. He had wrapped it in newspaper, so tightly that Will could observe its disc-like shape. He held it out to Will, who took it in his hands, looking confused.

“Mike… what is this?” he asked, and Mike shook his head.

“Just open it.”

And Will did. He ripped the newspaper to reveal an ornament. Like, an ornament that belonged on a Christmas tree. Except it was a small, circular frame made of clay, with a little menorah painted on one side, and a Christmas tree on the other. The lower part of the frame had the words Daddy, Papa, and Joan’s First Chrismukkah on the surface. And in the center of the frame was a photo of Mike and Will one year ago, huddled together on their couch with little Joan seated in between them. It was their first photo together as a family.

“Oh my…” Will put a hand to his mouth to muffle a sob, “Oh my god.”

“I know, it’s cheesy as fuck, but I just thought this would be a good time to remind you of what the holidays are all about– family,” Mike said, and Will just stood there, staring at the ornament in his hands, thinking about how lucky he was to have married such a sweet and thoughtful human being. “And that begins with traditions… like your mom’s latkes. She gave you that recipe because she knew you’d want something to remind you of her. And, like, maybe we could pass the recipe to Joan one day. I’m sorry, I’m kind of rambling, but I just want you to know that–”

Will cut off his husband’s next few words with a tearful, passionate kiss. “Michael. I love it. I love you. You’re amazing. Thank you.”

“I love you, too,” Mike kissed Will’s forehead.

“Daddy, why cwy?” they heard their daughter’s quiet voice ask from below, and Mike knelt down to her level.

“Daddy’s a little sad, Bug. He misses Grandma,” Mike explained, and Joan turned her head up to Will, lifting her small arms to hug his leg. 

“I sowwy, Daddy. Gwannma-zin heaven.” Grandma’s in heaven. Will was going to melt. She was such a little empath. They’d taught her well.

“Thank you, sweetie,” Will smiled at Joan, then back up at Mike. “I was thinking you could ‘help’ me make these potato latkes. You can help me mix. How’s that sound, Jetti-Spaghetti?”

Mike playfully rolled his eyes at the nickname that had, surprisingly, been growing on him a little bit. Joan squealed with glee as her Papa lifted Joan onto the counter and handed her a wooden spoon to play with while her Daddy handled the rest of the potatoes.

And Will… let’s just say that Will Wheeler made some damn good latkes.

[twilightmalachite]

Machina - Epilogue 2

Author: Kino Seitaro (with Akira)

Characters: Mika, Shu, Makoto, Sora

Translator: Mika Enstars

"I’ve been cheated~! It was a mistake to admire ya, Oshi-san!"

Season: Winter

Location: Machina Stage

Shu: The curtain for our stage is about to rise.

Mika: Mhm. In these moments before the performance… I’m always so tense, or rather, excited. My head is strangely clear, but my body’s achin’. ♪

Shu: That’s good tension. Keep it going for the performance.

Kagehira. The digital art you created wasn’t bad as it seemed.

For Machina, I asked you to take an active part in the stage design so as to not put your creative motivation to waste…

But I didn’t expect to end up bringing in something as old-fashioned as CRT TVs.

If these giant monitors are considered state-of-the-art technology, then this is reminiscent of scrap art. Was that contrast intentional?

Mika: Ehehe, are ya praisin’ me, Oshi-san?

I am real glad ya didn’t yell at me, though. I really like this stage turned out, y’know.

When I heard that we could use video in our production, it all jus’ clicked.

Waaay back, when I’d go to the garbage dump, at times there’d be lots of illegally dumped TVs and such like this.

It cost money to properly dispose of that sorta stuff, right? Some of them would be fully intact, to me it looked like a treasure trove.

I didn’t use ‘em ‘cuz I felt that my work in the Test World looked like worthless garbage to ya, Oshi-san.

Though a world like that might appear worthless to some people. But it was fun t’be able to relax and create a work of art while rememberin’ how I felt back then…♪

I found myself thinkin’ “Ahh, I really do admire Oshi-san” again.

Shu: Hmph. The moment I go soft on you, you get carried away… No matter the means, rubbish is still rubbish.

I allowed it this time because it happened to fit the theme, but I cannot allow you to pick things up from the dumpster.

Mika: Nnah, I-I thought we’ve been over this!

We decided in the end to not meddle with each other’s personal items! Are ya gonna insist that I’m wrong again?

Mika: I’ve been cheated~! It was a mistake to admire ya, Oshi-san!

Shu: Non! I didn’t mean it like that. What I meant for you is—

Makoto: (whispering) It’s about to begin, both of you!

Sora: (whispering) Get into position!

Shu: …Ahem. We’ll talk about this later. For now, let’s focus on the performance.

Mika: …Right. It’d be rude t’the audience if we were arguin’ on stage!

Shall we then, Oshi-san?

We’ve gotta deliver our songs to those waitin’ for our work, right?

Mika: There are those that like us, of course, but there’s also those who hold grudges and those who are skeptical of us.

Especially to those who flamed Oshi-san’s SNS and those who got caught up in the Test World fiasco, we probably don’t look good to ‘em.

Even so, if they try to listenin’ to our songs, even fer a little bit, we’ll do our best to reach their hearts with our song! ♪

“♪~♪~”

Shu: …Hehe.

You’ve improved once again, Kagehira. What a well-tuned singing voice.

You may be clumsy, but I recognize your passion for art.

The electronic world may be built of the binary variables zero and one, but only humans hold the variable of emotion. And the one who makes it shine the brightest right now is you. I hope you will continue to improve.

There is so much in this world—many different principles, ideologies, financial standings, races, and genders.

And there is no small number of those whom I find to be the most distasteful human beings. And alive.

However, art exists to provoke questions of its viewer, putting aside such notions.

Nothing in this world is convenient. It is frustrating, but it by no means is a dead end. In this labyrinth, we can still progress, even whilst asking ourselves the same questions.

Shu: Even if the created world comes to its end conveniently at the hand of a god upon a machine. Reality has us lose our way, sometimes we stray down the wrong path, but we continue on regardless.

Through this miserable reality… I hope we can walk together for a long time.

With you, an existence so different from mine.

“♪~ ♪~”

← prev | story directory | next →

[bylersecretsanta2023]

from a secret someone, to @punkhandheldcheesegrater

Remember This Moment

a very sweet, kinda bittersweet chrismukkah ficlet featuring mike wheeler, will wheeler, and their two year old daughter, joan

Shreds of russett potato fell into a bowl from the grater that rested across it. The potato in question was being vigorously pushed and pulled back and forth across the surface of the grater in a strong grip, belonging to one William Wheeler. But the hand was quickly losing momentum as the potato got smaller and smaller, losing its initial mass. Seconds later, he lost his grip on the potato, and it fell to the floor with a thud. He groaned in frustration as he picked up the scrap and threw it out while behind him, a pair of little hands clapped with joy. Well, at least one person in the house was having a good time.

His daughter, Joan, sat in her high chair with her giant crayola markers and a few sheets of printer paper, but was obviously more entertained by her father’s failure. He turned around after grabbing a paper towel, wiping the starchy potato juice off his forearms and sauntering over to where Joan sat. She giggled and reached up to him with grabby hands, and he picked her up, settling her on his right hip. He carried her over to the counter, showing her his sad attempt at latkes he was working on.

When he and Mike first started looking into adoption, the question was constantly brought up as to which religion their future child would be raised in, if any at all. Both of them agreed, with Will being Jewish and Mike growing up Catholic, that they wouldn’t limit or compromise the traditions of the other. Ever since they got together (and even before that, honestly), they spent their Decembers celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas. And this was Will’s first time trying to make his mom’s famous latke recipe.

“See, Jetti Spaghetti,” he began, calling her by the ridiculous nickname that he’d made up– and that his husband objected to every time it was uttered in his presence– inspired by the one and only Joan Jett. “These are potatoes. Can you say, ‘potato’?”

“Po-yay-yo,” Joan repeated in toddler speak, and Will laughed heartily as he picked one up and let her hold it with a glimmer of fascination in her brown eyes.

“Not quite, but you’re getting there. Kind of.”

“She’s barely two, give her a break,” his husband laughed from where he stood in the doorway. Will had no idea how long Mike had been standing there, but the dopey grin on his face led Will to believe that he’d seen the whole thing. Will set Joan back in her high chair as Mike crossed the kitchen to where he stood. He was still wearing his coat; he’d just come back from work. He leaned down, pressing a firm yet loving kiss to Will’s lips, brushing their noses together. “Hey, handsome.”

“Hey, yourself,” Will replied with a light smile. “You’re home early.”

“Well, the blizzard was getting bad, and I wasn’t about to get stuck in three feet of snow,” Mike sighed, shucking his coat off and tossing it onto one of the chairs next to him. He spun around then, sneaking up on Joan, who was fixated on her latest Marker Masterpiece™.

“Hey, Bug!” he exclaimed, and scooped the little girl up in his arms, kissing her face as she screeched, “Papa!” high pitched and happily. Mike missed his baby girl like crazy. Getting such a significant raise at his publishing job had been both a blessing and a curse; they were financially stable, but he felt like he was missing out. When he first became a parent, he’d been the one spending time at home, playing with her, preparing her meals and singing her custom-written lullabies. It all felt like so long ago. But Will’s job as an art teacher provided a more flexible, less time-consuming schedule that allowed him to spend more time with Joan.

“I’m so jealous you got a snow day, I missed this little munchkin,” he cooed, but his eyebrows suddenly furrowed in pain as Joan pulled roughly on his long hair, cackling as she did so. “God, this kid is really out to get me,” Mike feigned complaint and let Joan down, and the two watched their daughter toddle through the kitchen and out into her play corner in the living room.

Will turned back to the task at hand, grabbing a new potato and the peeler off of the counter. He felt Mike’s arms wrap around his middle and his chin resting on Will’s head. How was Will supposed to get anything done with a giraffe-koala hybrid clinging onto his back?

“Damn, baby, these look good already,” Mike hummed, and Will scoffed.

“They’re literally just shredded potatoes.”

“I stand by my statement,” Mike said, and his arms got tighter around Will’s torso, as if to hold him there until he believed what Mike was saying.

“They could turn out disgusting,” Will frowned, giving up for a moment and turning in Mike’s grip to face him, leaning against the counter.

Mike ran a hand up Will’s arm, over his shoulder, and up his neck before brushing some hair out of his face. “Will, you’re amazing at everything you do, don’t doubt yourself.” Will looked up at him then with teary eyes.

“I just wanted Hanukkah to feel somewhat normal this time, you know?”

Joyce’s absence weighed heavily on everyone’s minds last year; she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was gone within the year. She was only 57 years old. She never got to meet Joan, and that kept Will and Mike up at night. They missed her more than anything.

“I know,” Mike held back his own tears as he comforted Will, pulling him into his chest. “And you’re gonna make her proud. She was always proud of you, no matter what.”

“Thank you,” Will muttered into Mike’s (Will’s) worn flannel. They stood there for a moment, holding one another close. Eventually, Mike pulled back and held Will’s face between his large hands, making Will feel warm, safe, and so at home.

“You got a sec? I have something I want to give you.”

Will quirked an eyebrow, but nodded anyway. “Sure.”

Mike took off then, coming back to the kitchen a minute later with a small package in his hand. He had wrapped it in newspaper, so tightly that Will could observe its disc-like shape. He held it out to Will, who took it in his hands, looking confused.

“Mike… what is this?” he asked, and Mike shook his head.

“Just open it.”

And Will did. He ripped the newspaper to reveal an ornament. Like, an ornament that belonged on a Christmas tree. Except it was a small, circular frame made of clay, with a little menorah painted on one side, and a Christmas tree on the other. The lower part of the frame had the words Daddy, Papa, and Joan’s First Chrismukkah on the surface. And in the center of the frame was a photo of Mike and Will one year ago, huddled together on their couch with little Joan seated in between them. It was their first photo together as a family.

“Oh my…” Will put a hand to his mouth to muffle a sob, “Oh my god.”

“I know, it’s cheesy as fuck, but I just thought this would be a good time to remind you of what the holidays are all about– family,” Mike said, and Will just stood there, staring at the ornament in his hands, thinking about how lucky he was to have married such a sweet and thoughtful human being. “And that begins with traditions… like your mom’s latkes. She gave you that recipe because she knew you’d want something to remind you of her. And, like, maybe we could pass the recipe to Joan one day. I’m sorry, I’m kind of rambling, but I just want you to know that–”

Will cut off his husband’s next few words with a tearful, passionate kiss. “Michael. I love it. I love you. You’re amazing. Thank you.”

“I love you, too,” Mike kissed Will’s forehead.

“Daddy, why cwy?” they heard their daughter’s quiet voice ask from below, and Mike knelt down to her level.

“Daddy’s a little sad, Bug. He misses Grandma,” Mike explained, and Joan turned her head up to Will, lifting her small arms to hug his leg.

“I sowwy, Daddy. Gwannma-zin heaven.” Grandma’s in heaven. Will was going to melt. She was such a little empath. They’d taught her well.

“Thank you, sweetie,” Will smiled at Joan, then back up at Mike. “I was thinking you could ‘help’ me make these potato latkes. You can help me mix. How’s that sound, Jetti-Spaghetti?”

Mike playfully rolled his eyes at the nickname that had, surprisingly, been growing on him a little bit. Joan squealed with glee as her Papa lifted Joan onto the counter and handed her a wooden spoon to play with while her Daddy handled the rest of the potatoes.

And Will… let’s just say that Will Wheeler made some damn good latkes.

[bramblewolfbooks]

“Critically acclaimed” game designer Sahoni’s mostly stream of consciousness list of top 5 2022 games I actually got to play this year

Not to be that guy, but this was a weird year for me in that I actually got a chance to play games this year. Some bizarre alchemy of stability, financial independence, and learning to set better boundaries has allowed me, nominally a game designer, to actually play games. It even let me play enough games to have a top 5. Not that this has ever stopped me in previous years from having an opinion.

But being able to have a game in my hand and have that experiential and tactile experience first-hand instead of having to rely on watching along with friends or watch a let’s play has left me with some unexpected opinions. I found myself willing to put myself out there for the imperfect or a game that doesn’t meet the platonic gamer ideal. Not that this has ever stopped me in previous years from having an opinion.

But I’m certainly more secure in them.

The following list is a series of games I came away from still thinking about them. There is no real order to it all, just that I have thoughts and I want others to share with others the experiences they brought me in the hopes you can make your own, or tell me about games that made you feel the same way.

Scarlet Hollow

Scarlet Hollow is the game that finally cracked through my shell and got me to like visual novels. It’s not like I haven’t played any before. I love games Like AI: Somnium files and Ace Attorney. But for some reason, there has always been a giant mental disconnect for me on a gameplay level. Something about needing just that little bit of game just to let myself surrender into the sort of stories this medium can tell.

But I never felt that need with Scarlet Hollow. Scarlet Hollow, by Black Tabby Games, is a horror visual novel set in Western North Carolina. And as a North Carolinian I clocked that from the get. That’s my home. It might have been that familiarity which helped me make that connection, but the game has two major strengths that really kept me engaged.

The first is the strength of Abby Howard’s (of Junior Science Power Hour and The Last Halloween) heavy inky arts, making up the hand-drawn and tenuously detailed backgrounds and expressive character-first portraits of the game. I constantly found myself stopping to just soak in a character’s expression or at the reveal of a new horror. If comics are a narrative-visual medium, where the parts come together and blend to tell a greater whole, Abby Howard took that same lessons to heart about pacing and presentation into this visual novel, elevating it to something greater. This is a very comic book sense of each scene transition being treated like a page turn or new panel.

But I think the aspect I enjoyed the most was the dialog. This game has two big systems going for it. The first is, at the beginning of the game, you choose basically two powers for your character out of 7, including options like “strong”, “booksmart”, and “talks to animals”.   But soon after that the game springs on you it’s second hidden system. Certain dialog choices you make will reveal and inform your character in the future.

Very early on there is a forced and awkward conversation with a guy on a bus who offers you a bag of boiled peanuts (one of those North Carolina touches) and you have the option to say “no thanks, I’m allergic to peanuts.” from that moment on, if you chose this, you are indeed, allergic to peanuts. Maybe it’s my infamiliarity with visual novels, but I found both of these systems novel. This is a game where I never felt like there was a bad dialog choice. All of these possibilities had potential to lead me somewhere interesting, scary, or emotionally revealing.

I was drawn deep into the world or a dying North Carolina mining town that understood how a small town actually works. With southerners that reflected the sort of people that make up my world and not some country music construct or white liberal nightmare. People of color, queer folk, the blue collared and deep rooted. It also acknowledges native folk exist unlike most Appalachian narratives I see where we tend to be an afterthought at best.

Only 4 parts of the planned 7 are out so far but if you end up craving more as I did you should also check out Slay The Princess, the studio’s other visual novel, which features the voice talents of Jonathan Sims of the Magnus Archives as a self-aware narrator urging you to kill a chained princess in a remote cabin and in order save the world.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns 

Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a hot mess. There is no other ways to describe it. It’s constant crashes, weird graphical bugs, and seasickingly uneven writing leaves a lot to be desired. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t some of the most fun I’ve had in a game in years.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a tactics game from Firaxis, the same folks behind the x-com games and you can certainly feel that. There is that technical grit that you should expect, especially on higher difficulties you can feel yourself gritting your teeth as you solve the puzzles they present you with, trying to maximize your economy of card plays and movements.

I really found satisfaction in how they expressed the various superheroes of their cast through the card based deckbuilding mechanics that make up your movement options. The best example I can think of is how Iron Man is a sort of high damage jack of all trades, but he’s expensive and likes to be the center of attention so he wants to clog up your hand with more Iron Man cards. Peak Tony Stark.

But everyone seems to have their niche, although some people don’t seem to feel that way until you unlock their passives. Spider-man is a low damage character that excels at bouncing around the screen pecking off minions and using environmental damages. Captain America is a tank character that specializes on building a resources called shield and the group shared heroism. Magik (from New Mutants, a personal fave) reposition and teleports enemies and allies both. Blade messes around with bleed. It’s satisfying and made to feel more empowering and accessible than x-come with things like your attacks always hitting (this, of course, applies to your enemies too). It feels good. I’m going to keep coming back to replay this.

The other half of the game is that you’re in this explorable campus, a haunted abbey transplanted from Europe in a pocket dimension outside Salem. (The game unwittingly makes a lot of assumptions that you’re white.) Your marvel OC, a very predefined in a commander shepherd sorta guy, explores this space for resources, costumes, and more between all the standard x-com prep stuff. There is also the social links which is probably the meat of the experience.

The social links are your time to spend one-on-one time with each character. I remember notably when they first announced the game, they spent a not insignificant amount of time telling video game outlets “No. You can’t romance any of these characters. No. you can’t kiss them. You can just be...really good friends.” Par for the course for marvel’s weirdly defensive sexlessness outside of comphet. (something that feels reflected in the fashion of the game to be honest).

Marvel has always been weird about OC’s, even outside of the normal comic book company “lalalala, please don’t show us your oc’s we don’t want a plagerism suit.”

I genuinely think this is the first time they’ve allowed them in any form outside of a lego game since the 90’s. I certainly remember the surprising lack of character creation in their official Tabletop games. Or that one time they tried to make an official marvel fanfic site with the rules “no oc’s” and “no shipping”. I remember how long it took for them to embrace the concept of “spider-sonas”.

But despite this, all these hang-outs feel strangely intimate. Not always romantic, but definitely intimate. I’m talking about someone’s deep personal trauma deep in the woods and then gifting them a music box of a song that’s from their favorite album. I have no doubt in my mind my Hunter and Blade are dicking down hard in the woods. Despite some anne-riceian views on fandom, Marvel can not stop the fanfic. My half-demon is kissing the half-vampire right now.

The writing, while uneven, never doesn’t feel at least comfortably saturday morning cartoon at it’s worst. Which, honestly, is something I’m perfectly okay with for a supehero affair. Same with the quippy nature that seems to be grating some folk with this game. I don’t understand why we’ve suddenly decided to start blaming Joss Whedon for something that’s been a staple part of American theater and film since vaudeville. It’s not like quips and banter aren’t an established and recognized part of superhero fiction and there are plenty of very real things we can blame him for instead. It’s pulp y’all.

I will say when the writing is good, it’s excellent. It knocks it out of the damn park and the out of combat stuff and tiny little exchanges are some of my favorite things. Whether it’s the story about your immortal lesbian aunt that raised you to be a weapon, her wife (now a ghost that is hiding in the abbey), and the scarlet witch. Or Tony Stark having to learn humility and to give other members of a club space instead of running them over in an attempt to be the big boss guy. Or introducing other folks to Magik’s whole deal. It all just feels good and earned.

I came away from this just desperately wanting Firaxas to make a New Mutants game in this style now. Please. I’ll buy about 12 copies just by myself.

I’m a firm believer that about 90% of non-comic related super media doesn’t earnestly engage with the concept of superhero comics as a medium, either out of embarrassment or apathy. Superhero media is big, strange, and often high-concept weird. None of which I would use to describe most things post Iron Man. It’s a big reason why I think people have this big bland aftertastes after the past 15 years of so of being hosed down with the greatest afterswill of DC and Marvel.

A have a heuristic just for batman shit of “how easily can you see this man throw a batarang?”. Because if you can’t be willing to buy into the conceits and fantastical that much, how much can I trust you with anything else? How can I trust you to understand the underlying nature of the stories being told?

Midnight Sun’s understands a couple of things about superhero fiction better than most. One, that the strange and fantastical are vital to both the color of the world and greater humanity of these characters. Two, that a world of superheroics are very much build upon a conceit of duty and responsibility for others. You don’t see a lot of superheroes in movies and tv ever really doing anything superheroic. And while not all superheroes define themselves by some form of duty, it still defines their greater world. Superman in the Christopher Reeves movies takes the time to show him rescuing civilians. Into the Spiderverse shows Miles struggling to live up to this idea of doing right, even going to far to state the message of “anyone can wear the mask” directly to the audience.

Midnight Suns takes great care to tell you who all these characters are fighting for. It shows them stressed out and frustrated about not being able to respond to every situation, even the ones that are personal, after being stretched thin. Agreeing to help others do what they can when faced with tragedy. Even just being there for a friend when they need it. If you ask me, that’s marvel midnight sun’s greatest strength. I can deal with tony stark and bugs if it’s a story about that.

Signalis

I probably don’t have much to say on this that hasn’t already been said, but it’s so nice to see a game that wears it’s inspiration on it’s sleeves, but still is not afraid to be it’s own thing. I’ve been watching this game for a long time. Just the right amounts of alien, RE, silent hill, and anime. I was so pleased to see other pick it up with the enthusiasm I’ve been rooting for it with. It deserves it.

Signalis is quiet.

Yes, it has it’s share of space-y white noise and grinding Akira Yamaoka industrial, but it’s not afraid to just be quiet. It’s honestly refreshing in a world of games who can never shut up.

But Signalis wants you to feel that gripping sense of being isolated and alone. It’s precedented on being lonely and the only times you’re not alone are when you are in danger. Limited inventory leaves you with no room for something sentimental. No favorite weapons here. Not lockets you keep with you. It’s illegal to even be alone with yourself. Even when you do find someone to talk to there is an emotional separation that acts as a brick wall between you and them.

You are lonely.

It’s retro scifi style is made to evoke things like alien, but also the building genres and expecations of vhs horrors and our own nostalgia. VHS is a lonely technology. It’s use of ps1 aesthetics are made to push the feeling of playing a game by yourself late at night while a crt tv hums and scans.

I think the thing I like most is when the game stops to show you this, cutting from it’s gods eye third person view as you stomp about a metallic brutalist hellscape and pulls you into first person, made to experience this cold isolation first person as you explore a diorama or a dark snowy gap between buildings. It’s taking you, essentially, the main character’s only companion, and making that as non-existent as possible.

Soul Hackers 2

It’s the best game Atlus has written since the ps2 and I will not be taking any notes on that. It’s pure objective fact. It’s a game about adults in a capitalist hellscape, dealing with adult problems and relationships in a very anime way. I once heard some youtuber describe this Atlus budget title as “the best vita game you’ve never played” and that still feels apt.

You can see this game struggling to make thew most out of what it’s be given with static backgrounds, bland repeating dungeons, and a combat system that just kinda feels like it needed to bake for about 20 more minutes. But what it made it’s choices to include put in so much work.

As a sequel to a ps1 game about detectives (and humanity as a whole) of a sort summoning demons on their cellphones/weapons in a cyberpunk dystopia experiencing the emergence of new life in the form of AI, Soul Hackers 2 decided to take a different approach. It’s a game about emerging AI experiencing humanity, while being detectives of sorts who can summon demons on their cellphone/weapons in a cyberpunk dystopia. Very different.

I found myself delighted to spend time with it’s characters in all the various ways the narrative designers found ways to inject scenes and story into the normal dungeon crawling loop. All fully voice acted of course. I got drinks with them. I listen to them bitch or praise food we got together. I listened to little skits every time I unlocked a new passive ability for them that revealed some new wrinkle in their personality. This limited cast felt like it had the chance to be colorful and fully realized characters. There was an emotional maturity there I have otherwise felt lacking in other Atlus titles.

People were allowed to have complicated and maybe even unhealthy relationships and not only does the story acknowledge that, but the characters too. But that doesn’t mean that relationship is solved. People are messy and that’s something our little ai fragment is gonna learn again and again. Party members had tension and buck against each other, but it always felt like it would be something understandable on either end. It trusted you to understand things, make inferences, and read it in good faith. Probably lessons I could learn myself when it comes to writing.

Tinykin

Tinykin is cute. It knows it’s cute (maybe to it’s detriment at times).

In tinykin, you play a starfaring anthropologist looking for the ancestral home of humanity, only to end up in a house, frozen in time in the 90’s and you the size of a bug. You travel from room to room, collecting things to satisying chirps and navigating cities set up by various bug civilizations trying to get an answer to why...and to build yourself a new spaceship.

But it was a perfect bedtime game. Chill. Very little tension. You mess up and miss with a jump, you “died” with a little pop and reset to your place before the jump immediately. It’s a collect-a-thon that didn’t really track or gate things based on how much you collected. It’s the wort of game you could just set up and let a little cousin go to town without worry they’ll get frustrated or lost, because getting lost is half the point.

I wasn’t really biting any of the very high school atheist commentary on the nature of religion the game was throwing out there. Luckily the times it popped up were brief and inconsequential. What was much more appealing was all the ways you can move. You get a bubble to float off a double jump, a soap bar to slide and grind, and a collection of pikmin like critter to command and allow you to get to new places in an assortment of ways.

It felt good to move from one end of the room to the other like an off-roading borrower and you could feel just how much time the devs spent to make it so. Mid my playthrough they added challenge races which adds a whole new layer to how those tools can be used. This is a game I’m dying to see speedrun. Games I didn’t get to play but wanted to... -Live-a-Live

remake of a rpg classic, finally in English. I'd play this for music alone.

-Kowloon High-School Chronicles

remake of a ps1 cult game, finally in english. I want to be a high school indiana jones dungeon crawling to solve the mysetry of why a bizarre omnitemple is underneath my high school filled with occult-y weirdos. Interesting dialog system

.-Inscryption

card game cool. genre-bending card game things by a guy whose previous weird expectation subverting games I found neat.

-AI: Somnium Files- Nirvana Initiate

I loved the first one and it just looks like more of the same

-Ghostwire: Tokyo

I don't want to play this out of an expectation of this being some horror or action experience that would be fulfilling in any meaningful way, but rather pure vibes. Like a VR chat world with actual shit to do.

-Norco

A cyberpunk game about the invisible south. I'm in.

-Citizen Sleeper

Cool cyberpunk game about a robot finally earning freedom for their indentured servitude, only to find out their warranty has expired and their body is failing...takes a lot of cues form solo journaling games.

[cookinguptales]

🍄🍄🍄

Hi! It's been a while since I had a reading of any kind, and I love that mushroom tarot you're working with. May I please have a reading?

First of all, love your icon. That's my favorite song of all time. 💜

Second, isn't it a gorgeous deck?? And I was so pleased to see a few of my favorite designs come up for you.

(Three of Cups, Five of Pentacles, The Magician) (Common Button Mushroom, Dead Man's Hand, Fly Agaric)

Because you love this deck, too, please indulge me for a few minutes and let me talk about these cards! The Three of Cups, a card about friendship and happiness, has the adorable Merry Mushroom canisters that I'd love to have in my own kitchen. The Five of Pentacles, a card about loss (uh sorry), has the Dead Man's Hand, or False Truffle, which looks just like a truffle but could kill you if you eat it. And The Magician, along with mimicking the RWS card's iconic imagery, also chooses a hallucinogenic mushroom that's been used in shamanic traditions for centuries.

I love how thoughtful and gorgeous this deck is. ;;

Anyway, onto the actual reading.

It's odd, because in some ways the Five of Pentacles is really the direct opposite of the Three of Cups. The Five of Pentacles is about going through times of hardship, usually financial but occasionally health or something else, and feeling very alone. But the Three of Cups is about partnership, collaboration, joy, and being surrounded by those who love you.

The vibe I'm getting off of this is, again, a moment where the center card seems to be the primary concern and the other two cards are supportive. This card tells me that you're going through a really rough time. Things are just not going your way at all and you're feeling really fucking alone. I think what's going on here, though, is that this spread is saying that's not true. There are still people in your life who want to love and support you, and you're not as alone as you feel. But it's only by reaching out and asking for help that you'll get through this hard time.

The reason why I think it's this way around instead of good times in the past and bad times in the present is because of the third card, The Magician. The Magician is typically a very positive card, and it makes sense that it would be what's awaiting you on the other side of this very tough time if you get help.

The Magician is a card about manifesting your will and creativity and bringing those goals into the real world. It's a card about inspiration and art and new projects. It's just a really fun card, I think. It's about accessing beautiful creativity and inspiration from inside of you and harnessing it into real-world effects. It's about making and moving and shaking! It's always a lot of fun to see in a reading.

So overall... I think any rough times you're currently going through... Like I'm not going to say that the actual things plaguing you are going to go away. But there are people who are willing to support you through these hard times, and if you allow people to remove a little of the burden from your own shoulders, you'll be able to access the willpower and creativity that's currently limited inside you.

Good luck! 💜

[nugentappraisal-blog]

Water Damage Restoration in Malaga -Customizable Packages At Perth Flood Restoration

Water damage is a serious hazard to residential and commercial buildings, with untreated cases potentially resulting in structural collapse and serious health risks. Thankfully, the team of experts at Perth Flood Restoration has a great deal of experience with water damage restoration in Malaga, so they can guarantee accurate and thorough repairs. Our professionals are aware of how crucial it is to respond to water damage quickly. Prompt action not only averts additional harm but also protects the inhabitants' health and welfare. This post will discuss the critical need of acting quickly, describe our painstaking restoration procedure, and emphasize our steadfast dedication to client satisfaction.

Since we at our firm understand the psychological and financial toll that water damage takes, we put our clients' happiness and wellbeing first. Offering professional guidance on efficient management and mitigation tactics, our staff is committed to helping property owners navigate this difficult circumstance. Our goal in imparting knowledge is to provide property owners with the understanding required to confidently handle the intricacies of water damage restoration. Our all-inclusive method includes:

A full comprehension of the effects of water damage

Professional advice on quick action and mitigation

An exacting restoration procedure catered to certain requirements

steadfast commitment to the welfare and delight of customers

Any time can be a bad time for your home to experience water damage, which can take you off guard and cause chaos. Causing havoc are unseen culprits such as busted pipes, concealed leaks behind walls, and leaking roofs; Mother Nature may cause disaster with unexpected storms and floods. On the other hand, quick intervention can lessen the damage. The same way you would step in to stop a child's tantrum from getting worse, you can stop water damage from turning into a major problem by acting quickly. It is best to address the issue as soon as possible. Action postponed can result in expensive repairs, extended disruptions, and needless stress.

You are allowing mould, germs, and viruses to take hold and grow if you ignore a leaky water system in your house. Growing bacteria can turn your room into a haven for other microbes, making you more susceptible to illnesses, respiratory disorders, and other ailments. That being said, there is a fix: move quickly.

Saving, repairing, and revitalizing is our clear mission. We treat each damp surface quickly and precisely, guaranteeing a quick and effective drying procedure. While preserving your health and wellbeing, our mission is to revitalize your house. Utilizing cutting-edge technology to battle water damage, our team of experts at Perth Flood Restoration is committed to providing outstanding results. Our commitment to offering prompt, dependable solutions that restore your home and peace of mind stems from our understanding of the risks associated with delayed action.

Getting rid of water damage and protecting your health require quick clean-up and repairs. Our group of heroes can help with that because they are highly skilled professionals with state-of-the-art tools and unmatched expertise. Our prompt emergency response ensures that water damage is dealt with immediately, allowing your home to be restored to its previous splendor.

With the amazing water damage restoration in Malaga offered by Perth Flood Restoration, you can reclaim your space and regain peace of mind. Whether at your house or place of business, our knowledgeable staff is adept at handling water-related problems quickly and effectively to cause you the least amount of inconvenience. Call now!

[beatbawksradio]

vent about having my accomplishments undermined

just feeling melancholy today about smth that happened literally 12 years ago, that has ended up still sticking with me today. it kinda sent me on this spiral of thinking about other scenarios like it and how often ive been trapped with people who treat me like this.

see, back in 2012, i went to my first and only ever convention. I've never gone to another mostly bc ive struggled financially all my life and can't afford the tickets for such a social luxury that im too anxious to even properly enjoy. but, its also bc of how... conflicting my first experience was. there was a panel for pokemon fans basically, which my friends was excited to bring me to, and during this panel, they held a tiny little drawing contest. it was like, you got small dry erase boards, and 15 seconds to draw the pokemon described. being an artist and also young (still in high school), i was super pumped to volunteer for it- i have always had very extreme stage fright, as evidenced by me being red as hell and sweating the whole time, but i powered through that for the sake of having fun in my Element. the final challenge was a 60 second chance to doodle mewtwo, and this was right when the y mega was revealed so i went with that, and the crows went insane. i won the contest, by a landslide, and it was such a genuinely amazing and unbelievable moment in my life. it was just a stupid local 15 second drawing contest with a small crowd of people, but hearing everyone be so excited about my art was so. just incredible.

but... afterwards... the friend who brought me there, while i was excited and celebrating that id actually, yknow, won something for the first time in my life, instead just. told me "well it wasnt really fair bc those other people weren't actually real artists like you are"

and that completely took the wind out of my sails. it crushed me. i felt like i had cheated, like i had stolen a victory from people more deserving, and that i should've never have raised my hand to begin with. id won a little prize from it but couldn't even feel all that happy about it. i felt like i didnt deserve it. i felt like people were mad at me for being decent at art

12 years, and that experience has still stuck with me. i remembered it bc my job is doing this funny little "daily stretching" challenge, and i was going to sign up for it bc i already stretch all throughout my work day, but i ended up holding myself back. bc i thought, well, is it really fair when i already do this as a daily habit? this challenge is to get people who don't stretch often to do it more, and reward them for it. would it be right to reward someone who doesn't need the extra push?

so i didn't. i thought itd be unfair. i thought people would be mad at me if i won bc i have such an advantage already.

and its just sent me down this spiral of remembering all the times ex-friends and past abusers have done this. how I've never been able to just feel proud of myself or happy that ive accomplished something or that im even just decent and capable at whatever the thing is. i can't talk about my meta-raised pokemon bc it isn't impressive when meta specialized mons plow through things. i can't talk about my art getting big numbers bc it isn't impressive when you bandwagon something and it gets spread around bc of that. i can't talk about defeating a tough monster in monhun bc its just my leveled up equipment carrying me. I'm not allowed to be good at anything, bc I'm either just cheating or i dont deserve the win bc i work harder than others. and me winning makes everyone mad that they didn't win instead

so i just accepted being a loser. being stupid. being bad at everything. bc it was easier to be a loser and let my friends always beat me at everything than to make a loser out of my friends, even though i was never trying to compete to begin with, i just wanted to have fun. but I'm not allowed to have fun bc me having fun makes other people upset and mad. and that sucks. id rather just lose. then everyone else can be happy

but. yknow. obviously that's not healthy. and what it ended up leading to was me just, isolating. i didn't wanna show my art to people anymore, i didn't wanna play games with anyone, i didn't want anyone to see me and be negatively affected by my existence. so i just started doing things by myself, and trying to live off self-sustained validation and happiness. and there is some merit to learning how to validate yourself and make yourself happy, but it shouldn't come at the cost of your ability to socialize entirely.

bc the problem was never with me. it was the people i was surrounded by. bc real friends talk you up, cheer you on, and celebrate your accomplishments. they dont see themselves as losers just bc you've won, they see themselves as teammates who have won simply bc you're happy. they don't make life a competition. that's how friendships are supposed to be. it was never about there being something wrong with me. i wasn't the problem

[al-the-remix]

#would explain buck’s bank account#^prev#tommy: i’m working at the wrong station (OH MY GOD IT’S SLUTTY EGGS GUY’S KITCHEN be cool be cool be SO UNBELIEVABLY COOL—)#buck was making good monetization money before but now he’s got that headless shirtless oiled-up hunk dividend??#tommy ‘i don’t [have daddy issues]’ kinard is definitely his sugar baby#bucktommy (@26-cats-in-a-trenchcoat)

These tags are great because--although I don't know if I could mesh it with this au--I've already been drowning myself in trope subversion sugar baby!Tommy Kinard thoughts for like two weeks now, lol.

It just works! Buck's got all this mysterious expendable income and no one can figure out if he's a trust fund kid or constantly living on the edge of total financial ruin (or both simultaneously). But all that doesn't matter at the moment because he's got this smoke-show boyfriend who's committed to him romantically and is so mature, and capable, and seemingly got all his shit together. And Buck, well Buck's always liked to show off; so it doesn't take much for him to start stocking his fridge with the hoppy IPAs Tommy prefers, and showing up to their morning dates with his perfected coffee order (he never lets Tommy pay him back) and a bag full of pastries from the bougie Portuguese bakery Tommy usually reserves for special occasions.

Of course there's Buck’s penchant for the rich Italian cuisine Bobby taught him to cook and suddenly Tommy's starting to feel all of Buck's extra attention around his midsection, specifically. So they have to have the conversation that goes something like:

Tommy, testing the waters--"If you don't put the breaks on I'm going to start thinking you're fattening me up on purpose."

Buck looking at him with wide, glossy eyes and a pink-cheeked smile, like--“And that’s a bad thing?”

But he gets it, with Tommy staying in shape is about more than just looking good. So then Buck switches his tactics, the pastries go back to being a special occasion thing, and instead he sets out to become proficient in a whole new set of culinary arts, experimenting with lighter cuisines (mediterranean, middle eastern, various east asian dishes) and dragging Tommy to farmers markets in a burrow Tommy would normally never venture into in fear that they'd smell the trailer park kid on him from miles away. Now, Buck's fridge is filled with the kombucha Tommy likes but wont buy himself and bushels of organic greens from farm-to-table initiatives so he can make Tommy his green juice in the morning.

And it's all a lot for Tommy who's spent most of his childhood, and a significant part of his adult life, safeguarding himself from people who doled out attention for entirely the wrong reasons, the same ones who always ended up being trouble if they felt like you owed them something. Tommy just ends up doubling down in the form of acts of service and their whole dynamic gets thrown off the rails for a bit with their competing levels of intensity: Buck not understanding why Tommy can't just accept nice things, and Tommy not understanding why Buck might want to give him a gift without expecting Tommy to like, vacuum his apartment in return.

When it finally comes up, Buck is simply reiterates--"I want you to feel comfortable here."

And Tommy's like-- "Comfortable? If you keep doing this I'm never going to leave.”

“Maybe that's what I'm going for," Buck replies with more hesitancy that Tommy expects after all that peacocking.

So Tommy just takes Buck's hand in his own and assures him, "You know you don't have to buy me things to get me to stay right? You're enough, Evan."

Buck squeezes it back and assures-- "And you don't have to do things for me to be allowed to stay."

Anyway, in my head it all culminates in Buck getting to be a good boy for his daddy, and Tommy learning to let his boy take care of him (and also Buck responds better to words of affirmation anyhow..)

tl;dr they both have daddy issues and they heal each other through gift giving and acts of service and lots of nasty sex and praise 😌

One of my favourites headcannons the fandom seems to share is that during the cruise ship rescue Buck recognizes Tommy from a sexy firefighter calendar he featured in while still at the 118 and that it's partially responsible for Buck developing such a strong interest in Tommy so quickly.

But, I find it equally funny to imagine Buck having one of those tiktok accounts where ripped men post borderlind pornographic videos of themselves finger blasting oiled up chiken or whatever while they craft a meal that looks like it belongs on the menu of a three Michelin star restaurant--tight apron, no shirt, good lighting, horny camera work, whatever tiktok song is trending in the background--the whole nine yards. (I'm imagining something along the lines of this guy's videos).

And the whole time poor Tommy’s trying to keep them all in one piece while flying head first into a hurricane, in his head there's just a mantra of: "is that the guy who makes the slutty eggs? Is that the guy who makes the slutty eggs? Is that the guy--"

(As it turns out Buck is indeed that guy)

Now there's an extra bit at the end of all his videos where Buck sets the plate down infront of a headless hunk seated at his kitchen island who makes a lot of appreciative moaning noises while he devours whatever Buck just prepared for him.

[sublimeobservationarcade]

New Book By SpeakTruth on Money, Credit & Financial Freedom

Money Matters: Navigating Credit, Debt & Financial Freedom is the new book by Robert Sudha Hamilton designed to help people everywhere. Understanding the consumer credit system and the laws that govern it is an essential prerequisite in the 21C if individuals are going to survive and thrive. Too many of us are fighting blind in an economy set up to favour some sections of society at the expense of others. There are comparisons between China’s social credit system and the West’s consumer credit reporting system. Money matters and determines the score in the game of life, as far as our financial institutions are concerned. In this new book by SpeakTruth on money, credit and financial freedom the reader gets to investigate banking, credit, debt, and the rules of the financial game. https://read.amazon.com.au/kp/embed?asin=B0C3KQ8RBP&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_434PYD04A8KRERSC533K

Money Matters By Robert Sudha Hamilton New Release Book

In this collection of recent articles on the Australian economy and the issues facing its citizens the spotlight gets turned on the those with their hands on the tiller. Speaking truth to power and calling for greater awareness when it comes to the many assumptions made within our economy. Ignorance by the populace when it comes to the economy and the credit system allows for institutional bias to continue despite the growing inequity in Australia. The so-called lucky country is fast becoming one of the most inequitable nations on earth. The concept of a ‘fair go’ used to be an Australian byword but now is a bad joke in 2023. The rich are getting much richer and the working poor are a growing demographic. The rampant inflation in the domestic property market is a runaway train turning this country into a disaster zone for future generations.

Poverty (Armut), (1919) by Aloys by National Gallery of Art is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Credit, Debt & Financial Freedom Matters Now More Than Ever

One of the primary reasons credit and debt are important is that they allow individuals and businesses to make investments that would otherwise be out of reach. Credit and debt also play a critical role in the housing market. Most people cannot afford to buy a house outright, so they must take out a mortgage. The ability to obtain a mortgage makes it possible for people to become homeowners and invest in their future. The housing market dominates most domestic economies in the West. Central banks, however, do not include this highly inflated market in our main inflation rate. Inflation in the residential property marker in Australia over the last 30 years is around 382%. This market has been on steroids. The big four banks have had their bottom lines pumped up by billions on the back of this tsunami of speculative investment. However, an increase in the money supply can also lead to inflation if the supply of goods and services does not keep up with the increase in the money supply. This can lead to a decrease in the purchasing power of money and an increase in prices. We have seen this in the post-pandemic period with high inflation plaguing global economies after supply side shocks and governments pumping money into their economies via welfare payments and business subsidies. Central banks, which are responsible for managing the money supply, use monetary policy to control inflation by raising or dropping interest rates on the cash rate. Quantitative easing and quantitative tightening are, also, applied to ensure that the money supply grows at a sustainable rate or is reduced depending upon the state of play within the economy.

Broadsheet with a ballad addressing poverty, woman sitting in a field of flowers with a duck that has a human's head by José Guadalupe Posada is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0 The inescapable fact of our capitalist economic system is that it operates in a permanent boom and bust cycle. The wheel of fortune is a good analogy for this, as it turns we can find ourselves on the wrong side of this cycle. Financial freedom can rescind from our grasp and we can find ourselves plunged into the dark recesses of debt. Knowledge is power. Money Matters: Navigating Credit, Debt & Financial Freedom is the new book by Robert Sudha Hamilton. ©Midas Word Read the full article

[matchupsblog]

Hello lovely! I was wondering if I could maybe hopefully get a Dirty Dancing, Star Wars and Game of thrones matchup? I’m 20 and use she/her pronouns. I’m bi so any gender is fine. For personality I’m creative, introverted, and individualistic. Though I’m introverted, around my friends/when I’m comfortable I can be quite talkative and humorous. However, I definitely treasure my alone time the most. Im a very big homebody and can be very hermit introvert sometimes. As for bad traits, I am sometimes the worst pessimist when it comes to myself. I’ll be fine motivating others but then when it comes to me I live by the “be ready for the worst and you wont be disappointed” As for hobbies escaping to new worlds while reading books/comics, watching movies, and playing rpg video games. My favorite genres are fantasy and sci-fi, though I do love a good classic from time to time. Apart from that, I love working out. My interests on the other hand are art focused. I’m currently in art school working with mostly digital mediums, though I sometimes work with traditional. I love my practice and everything including, game, web and interaction design, video art and visual effects, 3D modeling and character design, and digital illustration. Sometimes I whip out graphite and ink.

A list of random likes: coffee, chai tea, dark chocolate, rock/blues/jazz/80s pop/soundtrack music, statement jewelry and accessories, cafe art shows, arcades, comic book stores, purple, thai/Indian/Chinese food, roller blading to classic rock, quality alone time.

A random list of dislikes: people i am unfamiliar (I have trust issues oops) with and have to make small talk with, the biting cold, rain, non fiction, staying too close to reality and not being allowed to daydream/imagine/roam freely in my thoughts, physical touch, overly crowded areas. I think that’s it thank you!

Hi! Sorry this took so long but here it is now.

For Dirty Dancing, I ship you with...

Johnny Castle

Johnny would love your creativity and encourage you to pursuit your interests, regardless of financial and other issues.

You had known eachother since childhood. One of your favourite memories was sitting on some wall with Penny near where you all lived and pretending to bet on whether Billy or Johnny would win some fight they were having for some stupid reason you could not remember.

You had grown up together, never being apart for long. Penny had a vague memory of Billy making a joke when you were all in your early teenage years. He had claimed that you and Johnny had a magnetic force pulling you together, and that it was virtually impossible to sepparate you.

All four of you had started working at the hotel at the same time. Johnny and Penny being the first to get jobs, then they later managed to reccomend you and Billy for vacant jobs in the staff. Apart from the pay and shitty treatment from the more fortunate staff, the four of you working together almost felt like a dream that you never wanted to wake up from. You took a job working as an art teacher, running painting, drawing and many other types of classes over the weeks at the hotel.

When you found out that Penny was pregnant, you tried to be optimistic for her, but you couldn't help but be afraid. Afraid of what might happen if Max found out, of all of you losing your jobs and therefore everything. Johnny could tell. It was difficult to lie to him anyway but as Billy also joked about, you both knew eachother too well.

A part of him supposedly knowing you too well was that he knew you were extremely pessimistic about yourself, and he hated that. He wanted you to really know how he felt about you, and know how amazing you truly are.

Since it was definitely one of the bigger rooms that staff had, you shared a room at the hotel. There was a lot of empty space in the room, so the two of you converted one of the corners into a kind of art studio for you to use in your free time.

That was how the two of you often spent your free time. He loved to watch you work- your focus and dedication was inspiring to him.

When it came to romantic gestures, you both knew that you never had much money, and when you did it wouldn't last long. It was the small things that you really appreciated. Whether that was you buying him a new vinyl, him getting you a new book, or any other small gestures.

Some of the best moments of his life were the two of you, sat in your room listening to music. Whether you were deep in a conversation about pretty much anything or in complete silence, the two of you couldn't have been happier. He enjoyed your company just as much as you did his.

—————————————————————

For Star Wars, I match you with...

Padme

You grew up together on Naboo, which meant that you had known eachother well from a young age.

That also meant you could feel comfortable around her from a young age.Wh

The two of you share a lot of private time. Padme loves to see you being open and feeling as if you can really be yourself. Padme almost felt the same, given her political position, she needed to hide who she really was from the public. You could both be honest and yourselves when you were alone.

When Padme would leave Naboo or have to stay elsewhere for her work, she would practically count down the hours before she could return home to you. Even if it was only a few days, you would miss eachother a lot.

Padme would try to stay positive and optimistic when you found it difficult. Even if you tried to hide it, pretending to feel happy and confident around others, she would try to help you feel more confident in yourself, whether that be small gestures or larger ones.

Whilst your interests may have differed (Padme dedicating her life to politics and you dedicating yours to arts), Padme took an interest in your work. She loved your art and how unique it is.

Another thing that you both loved was reading together. Both of you would enjoy reading fiction together, often using it to escape the world that you lived in.

When you read together, there would be a comfortable silence until it was broken every now and then by one of you commenting on the book you were reading.

Given that she was forced into politics at a young age, Padme was more experienced in creating formal relationships and found romantic gestures more difficult that you would.

Often, Padme would gift you with new art supplies.

She would be fully aware of your boundaries when it came to the relationship between the two of you and your relationship with other people, especially people that you do not know well.

Since you would be uncomfortable around people you are unfamilliar with, she would do what she could to keep you out of her work. Whenever she attended dinner meetings or other events that might involve your attendence, she would try to keep them short and fast, so that you would not be uncomfortable.

—————————————————

For Game of Thrones, I match you with...

Jamie Lannister

(I've only seen the first four series and avoid spoilers at all costs so sorry if he turns out of be an asshole in later series but he seems like a relatively decent person at the minute)

You had met in Lannisport years before he moved to Kingslanding.

When he moved to Kingslanding, you had already been together for quite some time so you moved with him.You

Whilst you had been with him, you had been able to be more open and confident in pursuing your interests. He loved that you felt this way and wanted nothing more than for you to be able to follow your dreams and be able to do what you are really passionate about.

When you were home together, Jamie would love to sit down with a drink of wine as you worked on your art.

As it would just about anyone, his title 'Kingslayer' would scare you. Make you feel anxious in battle. No matter how good he was at fighting, it seemed that this name was almost like a target on his back. He tried to convince you that he could protect himself, though you always worried that his title was like a challange and one day someone would be able to say that they had murdered the kingslayer.

When you moved to Kinglanding, you would spend most of your time together since neither of you really knew many other people. This didn't change as you began to get used to your new home, though you valued your alone time and he respected this, giving you space when you wanted it.

He would be aware of your discomfort around unfamilliar people and try to make sure you were rarely, if ever put in a position that could make you feel uncomfortable or anxious.

When Jamie realised that he wanted to marry you, he took you to one of the gardens in kingslanding. You spend almost an hour walking around the gardens together, talking about anything that came up.

When you reached a spot with one of the most beautiful views for miles, he seemed slightly panicked, which was not something you had seen in him before. He was fidgeting, stuttering a little and you were almost concerned.

He didn't seem to know what to say, though afterwards you were certain he would have tried to rehearse it in the mirror or in his head hundreds of times before doing it.

When he did manage to build up the confidence to get down on one knee, all he could do was ask that nessecary question.

"Will you marry me?"

———————————————

Hope this is okay for you!

[kinsey3furry300]

So how the heck do the Avengers pay for stuff, and how rich are they?

So, in the wake of “Falcon and the Winter Soldier” There’s a lot of debate about why Sam didn’t seem to get paid well for his work in the Avengers (at least in the MCU continuity), and this has got me thinking: we’ve got no evidence that the Avengers are, financially, anything but a hot mess. So lets break it down, Avenger by Avenger, using real-world pay scales for the ones who have jobs.

Tony: a billionaire, so clearly he’s a financial genius, right? Well….. his actions say otherwise. He’s shown to be wildly irresponsible with his money. He inherited a lot of wealth form his parents which was managed by the first Jarvis, Obadiah, and Pepper for him, he buys and then gives away not just woks of art, but entire collections by major 20th century artists on a whim, destroyed his own cars and home without concern, he tanks the value of his own company in the first Iron Man with a bad press interview, gets kicked of his own bord of directors, and ultimately, in Iron Man 2, gives control of his company to Pepper. He’s insanely rich, and insanely smart, but man, he’s not smart with his money. So all the cool stuff, his suits, the Avengers tower, the facility up-state: that’s all paid for by him, but Pepper is holding the purse-stings.  So, does he pay the others? We have no evidence for most of them… but we do with Spidey. Peter Parker is in the Stark Internship Program a euphemism to hide the fact he’s training and mentoring him as a super-hero, but I find the wording interesting: he refers to Spidey, his surrogate son and chosen heir, as an intern. I.E., Unpaid.  I’m guessing this is Howard’s influence over him, some sort of ‘make you own way in the world, son’ attitude, but  if he’s not paying Spidey, is he paying anyone else? He certainly pays for stuff super heroes suits and things, equipment, fuel, the base, but does he pay anyone a wage? No one ever mentions it. You think it would come up.

So, if he’s not paying them a wage, where do Avengers  (and thier allies) get their day-to-day money from, and are they rich? Using google and https://www.federalpay.org, lets find out.

Cap: Well, before Civil war, he’s a shield operative, and he presumably still holds his military rank: he’s a US Army captain, with (well) over 40 years service, so USD$88,142.40 per year, with $237.71  drill pay (pay per drill you have to do on weekends, on leave or outside of normal service) and $175.00 per month hazard pay (which I bet is interesting) on top of that. As a WW2 veteran, he’d be eligible for a war pension if he:

Was not discharged for dishonorable reasons; and,

Served 90 days of active military duty; and,

Served at least one day during wartime ("wartime" as determined by the VA); and,

Had  countable family income below a certain yearly limit; and,

Is  age 65 years or older; or

Regardless of age is permanently disabled, not due to wilful misconduct.

As he’s still receiving 90k per year, he’s ineligible for a pension as his countable yearly income is above the limit.  So if shield pays him in accordance with his rank and years of service, about $90, 600 per year incuding hazard pay.

After civil war, he’s a fugitive on the run, so presumably flat broke. I’d asume he gets his pension returened to him after the snap.

He’s also just gone from the 40’s to the present day, so 70 years of inflation probably makes buying things very confusing for him: everything would seem insanely expensive at first. He’d also not know what the correct prices are for anything invented after 45. You might get used to how much more expensive food and coffee is, but how much is a smart-phone worth? $200? $2000 $20000? Who knows? I bet the others have to facepalm a lot when he either refuses to pay for what he sees as clear price-gouging, and at the same time regularly pays insane amounts of money for goods and services because he doesn’t know better. He also has no known assets other than his pay: he rents an apartment making him one of the few American males in his age-group who isn’t a home-owner

Thor: Does Asgard even have currency? It’s depicted like a “Crystal spires and toga” type utopia with no poverty: even working class Asgardian’s like Scourge seem to be pretty well-off and want for nothing, so he’s from a post-scarcity society where actual magic is a thing. His “Another” coffee cup smashing and the fact he doesn’t have a computer of phone in Ragnarök might indicate that, no, he just doesn’t have, need or understand money. Splitting a bar tab with him must be a nightmare. His breakdown post snap indicates he’s got some cash, but not a huge amount, and is probably skiving of Valkyrie and the other Asgardians.

Banner: Okay, so a PhD could make you a lot of money from patents… in pharmacology or engineering. Theoretical physics? Not so good. And if Banner did have any patents, they’ve probably been seized under eminent domain by the US military.  At the start of The Hulk film, he’s working a entry-level factory job at a botteling plant in Brazil. The minimum wage in Brazil is 1069.62 Real per month, that’s 12,835.44 Real per year, or around $2437.79 US per year, before everything goes wrong for him! He then runs off to India, works for Tony for a bit and then gets shot into space. Spidey may actually make more in allowance than Banner does, and Banner is a gown ass man with bills to pay: I’d imagine he loses a lot in ripped clothing.

Natasha and Barton: Pre Civil-war, both are government spooks, so how well does that pay? The salaries of CIA Intelligence Analysts based in the US range from $25,838 to $685,701 , with a median salary of $125,340, so let’s assume that Shield pays in a similar range: $685,701 per year for Director Fury, around 125,000 for Natasha and Cliff, which explains Cliff’s nice, middle-class mid-western home. Post civil war, presumably not great: we know that Natasha spends a lot of her savings running and hiding all across the world, and Cliff takes a deal and presumably lives of his savings, pension and his wife’s income.

Rhodes: Full USAF colonel with over 10 years service? $105,562.80 per year, plus $293.23 drill pay per drill and $175 per month hazard pay, and because he’s team Stark and not Team Cap in Civil War, he’d not lose any of that. He presumably also gets an injury pay-out after his accident. After T’challa and Stark, he might be the best paid avenger.

Dr Strange: spends all his money he made as a surgeon on trying to cure his hands: spends literally his last dollars heading to Nepal to train. Wong even jokes with him about their lack of worldly money when asking for a tuna-melt. But, can use illusion to make people think he has money, and his home and clothes etc. come with the job, so in the same boat as Thor in that he has no money, but needs none AKA, he’s a bastard to try and split a restaurant bill with.

Wanda and Vision: No know source of income, just sort of live in Tony’s hose and eat his food, and on top of that Wanda goes on the run after civil war… yet they can stay in fancy hotels in Edinburgh, a relatively expensive city, and Vison apparently bought them a house to retire in, so one of them has some source of money. Maybe Tony gave Vision years of back-pay form when he was still Jarvis, or maybe the vison has a day job, which is, frankly, hilarious. Could you imagine him as a barista? I can, and it makes me very happy.

Scott Lang: I’d assumed he’d be super, super broke, but apparently the average pay for a private security consultant in the Bay area is $85,430 per year. Not bad. Pity he gets sucked into the quantum realm just as his business is taking off, so presumably, flat broke again.

Bucky: no known income, and I doubt Hydra paid him for being the Winter Soldier so he probably has no savings, but he should, technically, qualify for a military pension. As a single veteran, he’d be  eligible for federal tax-free pension of up to $1732 per month, or $20,784 tax free per year. Not much for someone who lives in NYC. He may also be eligible for medical benefits over the loss of his arm. Whether or not he got to see any of that money given how confused his life has been over the past 10 years is unclear, but on paper he’s eligible.

T’challa: He is, quite possibly, richer than Stark, and as an absolute monarch pays no tax and has access to his Nation’s vast wealth in vibanium. It’s good to be the king!

Captain Marvel: USAF captain, and a test pilot; the test pilot school only accepts applicants with a service length of less than 9 years 6 months (10 years six moths of helicopters) as they don’t want older applicants. With 8 years service, $79,538.40, plus drill pay and hazard.  However, no know (human) pay since 1990. Flat broke.

Guardians of the Galaxy: no data, but I’m assuming “Cowboy Bebop” levels of perpetual never-ending poverty given the way they choose to live. I’d also assume Rocket has taken all their cash into some sort of Ponzi scheme of his own creation, because just look at him, of course he has.

Spidey: he’s got about $10 of his aunts’ money at any given time, so he can buy lunch… which may in fact be more than Banner or Lang, and we know it’s more that Strange or Thor.

 So, here the big one: how rich or how broke is Sam?

Sam Wilson: annoyingly, we’re not directly told what rank Sam held in any MCU film. USAF pararescue “Maroon berets” are generally NCO’s (but there’ are officer-ranked pararescue) , and he’s seen working on his wings at one point, where as officers don’t generally work on or maintain airframes. He’s shown wearing a Nation Air guard grey while jogging at one point to confuse the matter further. The general consensus on redit is he’s a former USAF tech sergeant (E-6). But how long was he in the air force? With six years service (the minimum sensible time he could have served to work in pararescue based on his age), that would be $41,464.80 per year, plus drill pay and hazard. As Anthony Mackie, the actor that plays him, was 36 as of Civil War, and assuming the character is the same age, and assuming he retired from the air force that year, and he joined the USAF at 17, the youngest you can join, he’d have served 19 years, giving him a pay of $51,566.40, the maximum pay you can get at this rank before promotion to Master Sergent,  but meaning he left just before he’d qualify for the 50% final salary pension you’d qualify for after 20 years. Which seems weird. So let’s assume the character is one year older than the actor that plays him and served 20 years (ages 17-37), that means Sam has a military pension of $25,783.20 per year (20,784 of it tax-free), plus any injury benefits. He councils other veterans, but doesn’t get paid for that. He also chooses Team Cap in Civil War, so would become a wanted criminal, and so lose his income between 2016 and 2018, and then gets snapped and has no income for 5 years, which would destroy his credit rating. Like the rest of Team Cap, he presumably gets his post snap pardon, and goes to work for the US government at his former pay and rank. However, given how Captain John Walker treats him as an equal, it’s possible he’s been promoted to a captain when the  hired back, giving him a pay of between $54,176.40 to $88,142.40 (with 20 years experience, depending on if they take into account his prior service or not, and how much prior service he has), but either way, he’s just starting this as a new job after being legally dead for 5 years: no savings, and no credit.

Commercial fishing vessels cost about 10% of their total value per year in maintenance alone. I can’t identify what sort of boat the Wilson’s have, but some quick googling indicates that the cheapest  15m long wooden in-shore shrimp trawler costs around $140,000, so that’s $14,000 per year in maintenance costs alone, minimum. And that’s a lower estimate, assuming the rest of the business is sound, which we know it isn’t.

So, in concussion, yes, Sam is in some serious financial trouble until he can re-build his savings and credit, but the scary bit is he’s not alone in that: he’s probably better off than Lang, Banner, Danvers, Strange, Thor, Bucky, Wanda and Parker. Only Clint (if he gets a full pardon and gets his full pension), Rhodes, Stark and T’challa aren’t in some sort of potential financial problems. That asshole bank teller was right: despite the fact it seems to pay well on paper, with a few exceptions, the Avengers financials are probibaly a mess. EDIT: Rocket is running the Ponzi scheme, if that’s not clear from context. The others know they have money somewhere, but not where it’s gone. And It’s been pointed out to me that as he’s technically a POW while he’s the Winter Soldier, Bucky is owed over 70 years back-pay, equal to over 3 million dollars, details in the notes.