#so they're like 'i will be kind to you on purpose'

[tenebraevesper]

Sonic X Shadow Takeover Analyzer (Part 2)

I was so excited to hear this Takeover since it is only Sonic and Shadow talking to each other and answering question. It is one of those times where you get to see their dynamic without anyone else's input.

Since I feel like I could write an essay about these two, I decided to instead put all my thoughts into bullet points, this being Part 2 of my list:

Obligatory ''Shadow likes Latinas'' joke.

I love how Sonic sees their rivalry as a friendly competition, even describing it as being two sides of the same coin and pushing each other to be better. Shadow points out how he fights because he has a purpose and he will fight Sonic if their ideals clash. Sonic isn't buying it, though. He really wants to make it clear that his presence is important to Shadow and he wants to hear that from Shadow himself. Shadow finally agrees, with Sonic sounding so proud of himself.

Addendum: Considering how the cutscene battle in Sonic X Shadow Generations went, Shadow definitely can't resist fighting Sonic to best him, regardless of his own goals. Their rivalry gives him purpose.

''GO OFF KING!!'' Sonic, what?! X3

Shadow goes on a rant about Super Monkey Ball, with Sonic immediately trying to apologize for the whole thing. It's hilarious!

''THOSE MONKEYS NEED TO PUT ON SOME PANTS!!'' Shadow, you don't even wear pants.

I love how when Sonic and Shadow talk about Jet, Sonic immediately turns the question to be about their rivalry, pointing out how their little competition is why Shadow keeps Sonic around. Shadow just groans in exasperation, but we all know Sonic's telling the truth.

Black Doom really has an obsession with Radical Highway. I suppose Radical Highway is to Shadow what Green Hill Zone is to Sonic. Also, love how Shadow retorts to Sonic's ''Radical'' pun by calling him ''Mr. Green Hill Zone''.

When they're asked to draw something, their immediate response is to draw each other, with Sonic even trying to give some input to Shadow. They're not the best at it, though; something they wholeheartedly agree on.

Shadow is so proud to have his Year, and Sonic likes it too, to the point of showering him with constant compliments. Shadow enjoys it, but claims how he's not ''seeking attention''. Nobody's buying that Shadow.

Sonic Shuffle get mentioned!!

Shadow played chess with Maria, which is really nice. Also, if Sonic ever plays chess with Shadow, he'd totally be the guy who eats the chess pieces, much to Shadow's confusion. Also, the fact that Shadow claims how Sonic would lose on purpose to annoy him is both hilarious and also kinda sweet, considering how Sonic has been acting in this whole Takeover.

Fadel is back and trying to get into either Team Hero or Team Dark... and Sonic and Shadow clearly refuse to have him on their teams. I find it hilarious how Sonic immediately directs him to Team Dark and Shadow claims how applications are closed, then points him at Team Hero and gaslights Sonic into reluctantly accepting Fadel into the team.

I actually watched Games Cage's reaction to that, and he is completely oblivious to the fact that Sonic is being passive-aggressive by mentioning how Tails called dibs on their only parachute, meaning Sonic is cool with letting the guy fall off the Tornado. X3

Sonic is so persistent about wanting to hug Shadow! I get Sonic Prime vibes from this and I'm loving it.

''I don't need... your kind of hugs.'' There's two things I can conclude from this:

Shadow only likes the hugs Maria and Amy gave.

Shadow actually would be fine with Sonic hugging him, but they have to be meaningful rather than fleeting considering his earlier comment. Sonic is totally oblivious to that, though.

Sonic Boom ''Shadow broods in a cave'' reference!

Besides training, Shadow's hobby is reading. He's a bookworm, and Sonic sounds so excited about learning that. I can totally see Sonic thinking about dragging Shadow into another Storybook Adventure.

Shadow's first time turning Super was still him learning how to control that power. It explains why he ran out of energy back then, while Sonic had more experience and could keep it longer. Sonic also keeps complimenting Shadow about looking cool in his Super Form, even calling him wise for pointing out how that power needs to be controlled.

WHY DOES SONIC HAVE ABRAHAM TOWER ON SPEED DIAL?!

Shadow definitely doesn't work for G.U.N. That's something that has been confirmed. I have to say, the whole conversation between the Commander and Shadow was really awkward, but the kicker is Sonic's being oblivious to the whole awkwardness. He is so proud that he arranged a call between them.

I love how Sonic's neutral opinion about Orbot changes immediately the moment he hears Shadow's own thoughts on the robot. Once Shadow says he dislikes Orbot, Sonic immediately agrees with him, and when Orbot offers to get them coffee, causing Shadow to like him, Sonic also agrees that Orbot is fine. This really feels like Sonic wants Shadow's approval by agreeing with his opinions.

Sonic and Shadow are arguing about who is better at raising their Chao. They legit sound like married couple arguing about how to take care of their children. Sonic is definitely the fun dad, while Shadow has to take care of the discipline.

Shadow doesn't believe in ghosts, despite Sonic pointing out how they ran into paranormal stuff several times. Sonic also tries to scare him a couple of times, with Shadow showing no reaction.

Shadow's favorite Doom Power is Doom Morph, and Sonic is a little jealous of that form once he hears more about it. The fact that Shadow just keeps bragging about it and annoying Sonic is hilarious.

''Skill issue!'' Lol, Shadow. I can imagine Sonic rolling his eyes at that comment.

Shadow scolds the person who listens to the Twitter Takeover instead of studying for their exam. He really cares about their education, while Sonic points out how he needs to lighten up.

Let's be honest, Sonic and Shadow definitely love hanging out with each other, admitting it in their own way that they care about each other.

I believe that this Takeover proves that Sonic and Shadow really have a good dynamic when they sit down and hang out with each other. They bicker, they tease each other, they come to agreements and disagreements, they care... It is so enjoyable to listen to them and I'm looking forward to seeing more!

Oh, and yeah, this was a feast for the Sonadow fans, if you ask me. I hope you guys will enjoy my notes, because I'm definitely going to take advantage of all the new information I got. I can't wait for the meal we'll get once the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie comes out.

#Sonic X Shadow Takeover Analyzer (Part 1)

#Sonic Cyber Revolution (Masterlist)

[laswells-ashtray]

hi the post about soap buying ghost the blanket has been on my mind like all day and i have to hear more. if you have more. please. 🙏🙏🙏

this is the only ask I have right now that isn't about Sergeant Price and MacMillan so I welcome it happily. I'm running out of ideas for those two.

Soap bought the blanket as a pisstake, he'd walked past it in Home Bargains in September, it was out with the Halloween shite, and he'd bought it as a joke. Honestly, he'd expected Ghost to throw it away or give it to someone else.

He'd been in Simon's room more than once for... professional conversations between a sergeant and a lieutenant. And not once had he spotted the blanket, even when he was face down arse up on Ghost's bed. And that happened a shocking amount.

But then he walks in on Simon asleep with the blanket and he decides two things: Ghost is just a bloke and he urgently needs to wife up Simon Riley.

The next time they end up sprawled out in Simon's bed together, he asks about it.

"Ye ever use that blanket I gave you?"

"Yeah, I also rescue kittens and bake for the elderly."

Nevermind, he doesn't want to spend the rest of his life with an Englishman. He's better than that.

"Kept it for when the draft gets bad around here in the colder months." Simon admits quietly, like it's some kind of punishable offence that he's using a blanket for its intended purpose. Like enjoying a gift is a foreign experience.

The next time Johnny lands his arse in Simon's bed the blanket is there, coincidentally that's also the first night he sleeps in the Englishman's bed.

They fall asleep and Soap thinks nothing of it until he wakes up at around 3am, Simon is still dead asleep as are most people on base. He's firmly pinned under a quietly snoring lt. Simon is lying on top of him with a hand over his waist, but instead of grabbing onto him his hand is firmly gripping the edge of the blanket in a tight fist. And given how flat the edge of the blanket is, Soap has to assume he sleeps with that same edge in his hand most nights.

It isn't until one day they're all blethering that it makes sense. Gaz is talking about how his sister is expecting a baby and he's already bought the wee lassie her first bear, one like he used to have when he was wee. That becomes a whole other conversation.

"You didn't have a teddy bear when you were a kid? Really?!" Gaz sounds appalled but it doesn't surprise Soap, he can't imagine The Captain Price with a wee bear. He just imagines a toddler's body with Price's head.

"My old man would've had an aneurysm if I'd been caught with something as girly as a stuffed toy."

"I never had one either when I was a kid. Best I had was some ratty old blanket that Mum bought from a second-hand place." His reaction is subtle, the way he freezes and realisation washes over him. Ghost doesn't talk about his childhood a lot and they never ask. But suddenly everything makes sense to Soap.

The big and scary Ghost who spent his childhood comforted by some tattered old blanket. The same one who clutches the blanket Soap gave him so tightly that he worries about the strength if the fabric.

Soap can't judge, he wouldn't anyway but he truly can't because he used to sleep with a ratty old Chewbacca bear that he'd lob off of his sister's head when she would piss him off.

If later on he buys Simon another blanket to give him the choice between the two then that's his business. And if a simple stuffed bear with a silly and all too familiar hat appears in Price's office then that's Gaz's business.

[solomonomenon]

Can you do each skz how they're in bed? <3

how are skz in bed?

⚠️ for entertainment purposes only *based on tarot

𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣

he’s like the ultimate romantic. he’s all about creating that perfect moment where everything just feels right—emotionally and physically. picture him setting the mood with soft lighting, maybe a cozy atmosphere, and wanting to give you that feeling of connection, satisfaction, and happiness. he’s not rushing it, he wants you to feel cared for, loved, and like you’re in this together. think slow, passionate kisses, wrapped up in each other’s arms, where it’s more than just sex—it’s bonding.

𝙡𝙚𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬

he is serious about his skills. he’s not just jumping into it, this guy knows what he’s doing. he’s the type who’ll take the time to figure out what turns you on, what makes you tick. he’ll remember that one spot on your neck or how you like to be touched and get better every time. it’s all about the little things like making sure you’re comfortable and giving you that satisfied feeling without ever rushing. he might even be the type to get a little creative and try out new things to keep it fresh. no half-assing here, just pure dedication.

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙗𝙞𝙣

he’s all about pushing boundaries and seeing where the adventure takes him. he’s probably got a bit of a wild side, always looking to try new things—whether it’s different positions, new locations, or just a more daring approach. his energy screams explorer, so in bed, he’s the type to take charge and bring you on an exciting ride. imagine him setting the pace and making sure you’re always craving more, constantly wanting to keep it exciting and fresh. one minute you’re in the moment, and the next, you’re both exploring something completely new. he’s not afraid of a little spontaneity.

𝙝𝙮𝙪𝙣𝙟𝙞𝙣

he’s the passionate lover who’s all about making you feel like the only person in the world. he’s probably into the kind of sex that’s intense and romantic at the same time—imagine him showering you with compliments, deeply kissing you like he means it, and setting an emotional tone that makes the entire experience feel electric. he might want to take his time with you, going slow and making sure everything feels right. you’re not just physically there, he wants you to feel that deep, emotional connection. think candle-lit vibes, soft whispers, and him making sure he’s bringing you the ultimate pleasure, body and soul.

𝙝𝙖𝙣

he’s the type who might not say a lot, but you’ll feel everything. he probably doesn’t like to rush into things, he’ll be more focused on the quiet intensity between the two of you. his energy is subtle, but it’s magnetic, like he can sense exactly what you need without even asking. he’s not all about talking, he lets his touch, his eyes, and the chemistry between you speak louder. it’s deep, intuitive, and can feel almost otherworldly like you’re both on the same wavelength, lost in the moment. think of him guiding you into a sensual, almost hypnotic experience where everything feels intimate and natural.

𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙭

he’s the type who can switch between playful, passionate, and tender without missing a beat. imagine him being spontaneous, one minute he’s teasing you with sweet kisses, the next he’s flipping you over, giving you that rougher energy. he knows how to keep things balanced and exciting, making sure you’re both getting what you need without it ever feeling too much. he’s flexible, adaptable, and knows how to keep things in sync between you two. expect him to keep you on your toes, always switching things up to keep it fresh and never boring.

𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙢𝙞𝙣

he’s fiery in bed, and he knows it. he’s got that “I know what I want” energy and won’t shy away from showing you just how confident and passionate he can be. he’s probably not the quiet type and he’s more likely to take control, leading the way and making sure you’re both getting exactly what you want. everything he does is purposeful, intense, and you’ll feel that energy building the whole time. picture him teasing you, getting you to beg for more, and giving you that dominant-but-sexy vibe that makes you feel both excited and a little breathless.

𝙟𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙞��

this guy is a bit more reserved, especially at first. he’s probably not rushing into things, he wants to make sure he’s comfortable and emotionally secure before he fully lets go. he might hold back just a little, but once he feels safe, it’s a different story. he’s probably someone who wants to take care of his partner, making sure you feel stable and taken care of in the moment. expect a slower, more intimate experience, where he’s giving you just as much attention and care as he’s receiving. but don’t mistake the calmness for lack of passion, once he’s fully comfortable, he’s all in.

─── ⋆⋅ ☾⋅⋆ ────── ⋆⋅ ☾⋅⋆ ───

[travelingtwentysomething]

I need to know if literally anyone else has seen any of the interviews for Gladiator 2 press, and if you've noticed any tension between the cast? Especially between Paul Mescal and Joseph Quinn and possibly Pedro Pascal because I have a theory that Joseph Quinn "stole the show" you know, and this was supposed to be Paul's big moment as the star of the movie. And maybe he didn't like it and is being petty about it or something behind the scenes?

I watched an interview with Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington for Vogue and Denzel said he learned to be humble from Paul and Paul looked like he couldn't look Denzel in the eye when he said that. And I feel like Joseph has been taken off some of the press even though I know he's shooting for Marvel, but it seems like they're really not putting them together on purpose. Also saw some sort of promo with Paul and Pedro where Pedro said something like I hate that it has to be said but Paul is amazing in this or something to that effect, and there was some tension. And it was right after the premiere when everyone started talking about how Denzel and Joseph Quinn stole the show. I also saw an interview with Mescal and Fred Hechinger where Paul said they had good energy today but if it was yesterday it would have been thumbs down energy, and then I saw interviews with Joseph and Fred paired up that were from the day before, and the way Fred looked when Paul made that comment made me think that that was some sort of negative comment against Joe. Am I reading too much into this? Am I making this up? I just feel like I see some sort of tension and I'm reading it because my intuition lighting up like a klaxon.

Did you see that interview where they were all together and playing that friendship quiz game and Joseph said that Pedro said Joseph was his favorite actor and Pedro said that he "said that he was special and that can mean many things" and Joe looked kind of sad and then Pedro kind of got in his way and blocked him from the camera for the rest of the next portion of the interview, like maybe there's a issue with Pedro and Joe or something, or Paul and Joe and maybe Pedro's in the middle of it all? I'm just so confused about all of this but I just am sensing the tension.

This has been a random rant. If anyone is sensing what I'm sensing please comment on this I need to know that I'm not crazy or if I am whatever

[livingislands]

Hi pookie 🫶 do you have a favorite AU for your punch out blorbos? Like sci-fi mech au or something?

First off hi pookie 🫶😘

Secondly yes and while nothing is like super thought out yet I so have basic ideas

WIRE-FRAME

I think i rambled to you about this during vc lol but I have different versions of it

VERSION 1:

Mac gets into an accident (when or how is yet to be determined) and idk the people doing his surgery or freaks so they're like "hey yeah this kid isn't going to make it....UNLESS☝️‼️‼️‼️" and they basically do a consciousness transfer where his mind his put into a half hologram half machine form which has a wire frame base. Mac continues about his normal life but idk something happens that causes his "skin" to freak out mid combat and reveal his actual form. Spiraling ensues as he begins to question literally everything about himself and his identity (both as a living, breathing, human and as Little Mac). The other boxers understandable freak out, because holy shit Little Mac got into a life threatening accident, but HOLY SHIT HE'S A ROBOT NOW?????? There's definitely mixed reactions to the information: pity to his condition, apathy(more so defensively because if he's a robot (like he literally has no flesh and bones. Not even a brain) Then who or what were they talking to? Is he an unfeeling hunk of metal? Is how he reacts, each laugh, roll of the eyes, or tear truly his? Or is it simply a reaction because if Little Mac behaved as such, than it will as well), or maybe even fear? Stop watching terminator you guys this is different.

VERSION 2:

Similar concept except Little Mac knows what he is. He doesn't know anything beyond one day waking up in a lab with countless people looming over him. They run tests on him, mumbling to each other things he couldn't understand. They called him something, he's forgotten what, but they'd call him 'Mac'.

He's a machine made and built to be an unstoppable fighting force. That's his entire purpose. He was 'given' to Doc under the pretense of being an underdog who wants to take on the title of champion(his story being to honor his mother and to prove he's something more beyond his circumstances. How ironic). No one is aware of his true nature, but Mac isn't concerned with concealing who or what he is.

As per the rule of humanesque robot, he slowly but surely starts to feel. the warmth of Doc's hand on his shoulder as he tells him "well done, son", the smooth coffee going down his artifical throat as he converses with Joe. These things shouldn't matter, shouldn't overheat the machinery beneath his skin, yet it does.

(Spoilers if the gang ever finds out he's a robot (without knowing the proper context of his creation) they are for sure avoiding him which would make Mac feel absolutely horrible 🫶 cuz his creators were right he is just a machine who serves no purpose beyond what he was made for. He has the strength and capacity to kill, but doesn't not out of kindness or connection, but because he's told "not yet". Is he really his own person if at the end of the day, he does as he's told?

I technically have other ones but they're more "this would be fun" rather than fully fleshed out or thought about for more than 5 minutes: Beastars, MHA, a horror-esquw au (i wanna make Glass Joe a freaky porcelain doll like thing let me have this)

Then ig this would count as an au but those "everyone lives together in one house" things. I need to specially because how dare everyone be at minimum states away to literal countries across water away????? How can I have my found family ease of access if Lil Mac gotta clear out a week, get a plane ticket, and pack his shit to hang out with Great Tiger???? Literal bullshit I say chat

[eff-plays]

Ok so I have been trying to pinpoint why Hira goes for Astarion in the beginning and I think it's a combination of smaller reasons, instead of one big reason.

First one being that they're inherently curious, a bit of a nosy bastard, and as I mentioned before, a hot vampire elf who brags about his sexual prowess is either gonna be great or terrible, which is great in a different way. Bards are gonna bard, and bragging about sleeping with a pretty vampire elf is a fun tale at the very least. (Also, in their experience, high elves are among the worst races in bed, so this will be extra funny if the trend continues.)

Second, they're midly attracted to him, probably because of the belligerent sexual tension, which they assume is mostly one-sided. Out of all the people who proposition them at the party, he's the most appealing. Lae'zel seems fun but very intense and might break their spine, Gale is too nice to ruin, and Shadowheart just isn't their type.

Third, I think they don't realize how fucked up he is at this point, because he hasn't actually told anyone, obviously. They're just like "oh just another bad boy with a big mouth and a bigger ego, I've handled those before, nbd" so they don't expect to step into premium bullshit. It'll just be a one night thing and then they can move on.

Fourth has something to do with their backstory, in which they were betrayed by someone they thought was the love of their life, pretty much out of nowhere. So going for a guy who's an outright stated untrustworthy freak is like, cool, I know what I'm getting into, don't have to trust him with anything, especially not my heart.

As for why they go for him long-term? I don't think it's a conscious decision, actually. I think the romance interactions with him post-sex but pre-Araj can be read as somewhat platonic, or at least not overtly romantic. As I stated before, they don't have sex that second time in my headcanon, so Hira continues to sort of gently flirt with him but keeps things cool and doesn't do anything overtly romantic or sexual. But somewhere after the mirror scene and before the hug, Hiraeth realizes that Astarion is just a scared animal, hissing and scratching in self-defense, and sort of treats him like that?

They don't believe in perfect victims, and think he's fully within his right to be a huge bitch about everything, and that he's actually surprisingly functional for what he's been through. They can't even imagine 200 years of torture, so this guy being as, frankly, normal as he is, is a good sign that there's plenty to salvage in there. In his shoes, they'd probably be on a killing spree. So they think, ok, I'll just give him room to figure himself out, give him a nice cozy nook to feel safe in, and keep him fed (with my blood). Not fix him, but give him space to fix himself. If he does, that's great! They don't even consider that they might be together at any point.

He does give them plenty of glimpses that he's not just a little garbage man through and through, even if they enjoy him being a little bit garbage sometimes, so they find that they have a lot of gentle thoughts of him, particularly when after he's been vulnerable with them or struggled to find the words to accept their kindness, despite clealry wanting to. He tries to hide that he has any genuine emotions, but because they can tell he's lying, they know there's something to hide, and they want to see what it is.

So they keep treating him like an equal and a valued member of the team, hearing out his stupid ideas and considering his cringe opinions. Not because they agree, but because he deserves to be heard, even if he doesn't deserve obedience.

So when they give him that nice hug and he immediately takes their hand and says he likes whatever this is, they're genuinely taken aback like, what? Already? I mean sure, yes, let's try it out, but are you sure? I'm not really offering you anything extraordinary except my continued care and support, which I will give anyway.

(Good ending) Astarion acknowledges Tav's patience with and care for him in the final romance cutscene in the game, and I think that works as a motivatior for him, as well. I don't think Astarion always likes or agrees with Hiraeth's penchant for kindness or their silly little oath, but in the end, he understands, at least logically, that if they weren't this kind to others, they would also not be this kind to him. So them being a soft-hearted little idiot is a prerequisite for them being his soft-hearted little idiot, which means fine, he'll tolerate it, even if he'll grumble about it, even if their kindness is a waste sometimes. Like maybe he sometimes gets really jealous when they turn their bright sun of a smile on anyone but him, but he'll be fine as long as it's only for him at the end of the day. Ya know?

Haha anyway. I'm insane 💅💅💅

[silverwhittlingknife]

So you're a go to source for all things Dick&Tim bros and you tend to write primarily from Dick's POV. So, odd question, but if you were to summarize their relationship from his POV in FIVE panels which panels would you pick? Keeping in mind that one specific aspect of their relationship that you love needs to be clearly represented by each panel (loyalty, trust etc). I hope this is a fun challenge and not an annoying question so if you don't want to answer that's cool! Have a wonderful day!

No more talk. The same thoughts run through two minds... (SotB 29) / You're my equal. My closest ally. (RR 1) / I can't stop thinking how much I rely on him. (GoG 3)

25 Feelings Dick Has About Tim

This was such a kind ask & a cool challenge which I totally failed; here are TWENTY-five panels of Dick's POV on Tim sdfdsfds Look, I got carried away! Marcia and Cindy! The boys!!

OKAY SO BEFORE I GET TO THE PANELS A FEW NOTES:

WARNING THAT THERE ARE SOME NEGATIVE EMOTIONS IN HERE because I love conflict but but but you gotta remember those are not the final word!! They are complicated people and sometimes they get mad at each other BUT ultimately their relationship is so hugely important in both their lives & they love each other and rely on each other so much -!!! <3

Also I have CONCLUDING THOUGHTS at the end about what Dick's POV leaves out (mostly: a lot of Dick defending & protecting & supporting Tim, which Dick does instinctively but isn't very self-aware about most of the time)

I have loosely organized my list into 5^5 format (5 categories with 5 examples each!), so if you want to skip to a relevant one, here are the categories!!

Below the cut:

I hate him and find him infuriating (#1-5)

On second thought, he's endearing & fun (#6-10)

Grief is complicated & he's all tangled up in mine (#11-15)

I love him & think highly of him (#16-20)

I rely on him & though it's hard for me, I trust him (#21-25)

I hate him and find him infuriating (#1 - 5)

1) He thinks he’s so smart and can psychoanalyze me and Bruce, but he doesn’t know me at all, he should get lost (New Titans 61)

2) He thinks he’s so smart and can psychoanalyze Bruce but he doesn’t know Bruce at all, he should get lost (Gotham Knights 26)

3) He is so nosy about stuff that is MY business (Robin 0)

4) He sounds like an insincere suck-up half the time... but okay, fine, if you push him he's got a sense of humor about it (New Titans 65)

5) I'm sure he's a better vigilante than me. It's my fault for being a failure, but I resent him anyway. (Nightwing 9 - Dick's having a nightmare)

On second thought, he's kinda endearing (#6-10)

6) He worries too much and gets anxious so easily, but it makes him fun to tease (Robin 67)

7) I'm not that competitive - okay, so maybe I'm a little competitive, I gotta make sure he doesn't get a swelled head (Prodigal)

8) I'm supposed to be his favorite! It is not cool for him to be fanboying over my not-girlfriend's not-boyfriend!! (Birds of Prey 19)

9) We have fun together. I can kick back and relax when it's just the two of us. Plus I get to boss him around a bit. (Prodigal)

10) He’s always trying to reassure me, and I guess it's a little comforting, but also he doesn’t really get it. Or me. He makes excuses that he shouldn't, because he doesn't understand that I suck. (Nightwing 64)

Grief is complicated and he's all tangled up in mine (#11 - 15)

11) He reminds me of everything I try not to think about. Sometimes the memories are so strong it hurts to look at him. (Batman 441)

12) WHY IS HE BEING IMPOSSIBLE ALL OF A SUDDEN??? THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING (Nightwing 139)

13) We're the same. He says all the things I don't let myself think about. It's like arguing with myself. (Nightwing 139)

14) He thinks he gets to tell me what to do but he doesn’t, fuck him (Battle for the Cowl)

15) Life sucks, so what. I sucked it up so he should too (RR 1)

I love him and think highly of him (#16 - 20)

16) He’s the closest thing to a brother I’ll ever have.  If someone hurts him I will hurt them harder. (Nightwing 6)

17) I can't handle the idea of losing him. (Nightwing 97)

17) He’s so good and I’m not. I'm afraid I’m bad for him. (Nightwing 110)

18) He’s better than me, and it’s kind of a relief because I know no matter what he’ll be okay. (Gates of Gotham 3)

19) In my head he’s the responsible one.  (Gotham Knights 10)

I rely on him, and though it's hard for me, I trust him (#20-25)

20) I know I have to trust him but I'm afraid he'll make the wrong choices and get hurt (Nightwing 139)

21) I'm sure I know what he should do because I see myself in him - not that I can take my own advice, but he should (Blackest Night 3)

22) I trust him.  When I’m losing my grip on things, he pulls me back. (Gotham Knights 10)

23) I want him to trust me (Red Robin 12)

24) He can tell when I'm lying. Sometimes he sees my weaknesses better than I wish he did. (Detective Comics 874)

25) He’s always there when I need him. (Teen Titans / Outsiders Secret Files)

Final rambling thoughts:

TIM: Uhh, okay, so I'm just skimming this list - do you really trust me? you're not just saying that? - but anyway, I'm confused because you left some stuff out? Like some stuff that's kinda important? DICK: No? I think I got everything? TIM (starts counting on his fingers): The time I was having a bad day but then I called you. The time I got captured by Two-Face but then you saved me. The time I fell off a train but then you saved me. The time I fell off a building but then you saved me. The time I fell off a different building - DICK: I feel like you're trying to make some kind of point but I'm not sure what it could be.

SO THE THING IS, I put 25 panels in here and not a single one has Dick catching Tim when he’s falling!!! But I think that's a central motif of their relationship from Tim’s POV, not Dick’s. I love Dick, but in some ways I think he is spectacularly un-self-aware.

And I think he especially has a lot of blind spots about Tim. He kinda intermittently gets that Tim admires him, and he enjoys it in a playful I-get-to-boss-you-around way. But Dick tends to consistently underestimate all of his own good qualities & skills, and he meets Tim at a point in his life when he's especially down on himself & his abilities. And so he's unable to see his own influence on Tim, & therefore unable to fully understand a lot of Tim's priorities and loyalties and motivations, because you can't actually understand Tim without understanding Dick's impact on him. There's a fascinating moment in Bruce Wayne: Murderer when Dick's completely blindsided & upset to discover that Tim doesn't entirely trust Bruce, even though this has been a definitive fact of Tim's whole thing ever since he showed up with his Batman needs Robin theory, and Barbara has to actively remind Dick of the obvious-to-everyone-except-Dick fact that a lot of Tim's loyalty is to Dick, and Tim loves Bruce but feels free to be more wary of him. (And to give Bruce credit: this is not something he ever begrudges.) But anyway Babs points this out, and Dick manages to sorta process it for about five seconds, but he cannot actually accept it into his worldview so instead he discards it at the speed of light and goes off and has an argument with Tim instead sdfsfdsf

All of Dick's virtues - Dick's kindness at the circus and Dick's determination to fight through grief and Dick's rigid sense of morals and Dick's vigilante skills and every time Dick has ever backed Tim up or listened to him or protected him or saved him from something or just been casually kind to a stranger in Tim's presence etc etc etc - all these things loom really large in Tim's mental story of Who Dick Is, and What Dick And Tim's Relationship Is. Tim meets Dick before he meets Bruce, trusts Dick more than Bruce, aspires to be Robin instead of Batman. And so in Tim's default version of the story, Dick is the super-special and admirable hero and Tim is... nobody in particular, a tagalong outsider who's barely managing to be a hero, not part of Dick and Bruce's family and not part of their story, who, if he's VERY LUCKY and tries REALLY HARD, might be able to fight his way to proving himself and offering something to Dick that Dick will value, if Dick doesn't get fed up with him first.

But that's not Dick's version of the story!!!

Dick's version of the story is almost the exact opposite, a story where Dick's an outcast failure black sheep who's screwing up everything he tries, and meanwhile Tim is The Sudden New Perfect Robin Who's Better Than Me And Probably Bruce Loves Him More And Probably They Gossip About What A Loser I Am, mixed with a complicated edge of Tim Thinks He's So Smart But He Doesn't Know Me/Us At All. Dick gets much more attached to Tim over time, and Tim gets unnervingly better at the know-it-all psychoanalysis so then Dick gets to have complicated feelings about him being right instead of just annoyance at him for being wrong, plus Dick's relationship with Bruce improves a lot, so Tim stops feeling so threatening. But Dick never fundamentally changes his basic theory of their relationship in which Tim is highly impressive and capable, and Dick is not so much.

And so asking Dick about Tim is kinda like if you asked George Bailey to tell you about Harry Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life; like, you'll be there for five hours while he tells you how great Harry is, and how accomplished Harry is, and how he doesn't really get how or why Harry does the things he does, and maybe George does feel a little resentful or jealous sometimes, but that pales in comparison to all his admiration and trust for Harry who he loves so much, who's better than him in so many ways, and he's not gonna openly gripe but secretly he can't help but feel sometimes like he's such a failure in comparison to Harry, a perfect person who emerged fully formed from Zeus's head with all the virtues and also all the accomplishments, etc. etc. etc. --

-- and he will not actually remember the part where he changed and saved Harry's whole entire life unless you literally send him to an alternate timeline in order to force him to remember it. <3

[galactaknightyaoi]

☀️ IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!! 🌙

This is my gift to myself :) I drew my favorite guys ever.

For a while I've been itching to draw the wedding outfits from this post again. I made them up on the fly as I was drawing, but I actually really like how they ended up turning out. They're super cute!! (though, yet again, you can't see almost any part of Dedede's outfit... 💔)

But then I couldn't get it out of my head to make a companion piece for it, with their mirror versions. And so. I did. What they have going on is a little bit messy, though...

Marriage or divorce!! Take your pick.

[miodiodavinci]

PSA: PLEASE DO NOT FOLLOW THIS ACCOUNT

this is not my account. this person has been using my name on various social media accounts since 2016, almost always with this black and white masked avatar

i noticed them back in 2020 when i saw their youtube account, but didn't pay it much mind at the time because it was. clearly obvious which account was mine. but since then they've taken my username on twitch, itch.io, bluesky, and god knows how many other sites (frustratingly forcing me to be "miodiodavincii" on most of them)

so please just be aware that this is not me. my public accounts are all listed on my carrd or linked to each other, and almost always feature the hachikyo icon or some variation thereof. i'm seriously frustrated this time because a ton of my friends have already followed this account thinking it's me, when really it's just some. complete stranger who is weirdly addicted to using my username for every single account of theirs (see examples below)

this whole situation has frustrated me enough, though, so i ahead and made a bluesky for real. please be aware that this is my real bluesky. i'm not associated with any of the black and white accounts. if you followed the other account thinking it was me, please be sure to unfollow and refollow the correct account OTL

[hamofjustice]

nemona feels like an obscure blorbo instead of the main rival character from the latest pokemon game because to get to her really good content from people who really get it, you first have to wade through the ocean of yandere pervert obsessive stalker annoying punchable bimbo amazon goddess interpretations of...

... a neurodivergent and possibly disabled high schooler who's desperately trying to make any friends or get any support from her rich neglectful family - while everyone in her school is jealous of their own imagined version of a privileged asshole version of her they made up - who deeply and platonically loves and supports the one new kid who agreed to take the time to get to know and respect her and her special interest without having to hold back her true self

unlike her, it's not great!

kinda feels like she has the same problem in our world that she does in hers.

[sergle]

I love to hear what people say about Youtube Drama* but it's SO tacky when it gets so offbase that the posts people make start to be about completely off topic infighting within the Watcher fanbase

[fantasy-anatomy-analyst]

Reblogging because building a culture is an important part of creating new fantasy people species. Including religion.

Here are my thoughts, based on what I have already done with religion and spirituality in my own writing:

To elaborate on what has already been said, the most common questions I think you'll find answered in most religions are "where did it all come from" and "where are we going". Or in simpler terms, creation and death. You look at religion and myth and folklore around the world, you're going to find a whole lot of creation stories and afterlife explanations. You don't need to write big global religions to have people exploring these topics in their own local spiritual belief systems. They're nearly universal questions, things people want to understand but have no mortal proof for.

Many deities in polytheistic religions also serve as explanations for, or embodiments of, major natural phenomena. Storms, seasonal changes, the ocean, etc. Natural disasters of all sorts are given a face, whether it's a deity or powerful spirits. Landmarks like mountains are viewed as sacred locations.

Methods of worship also make a big difference, even if you're writing groups that have similar beliefs. Do they pray? Do they leave offerings on altars or in temples? What sorts of offerings? What kinds of prayers?

Do they believe their deities will actively help them, or do they believe in appeasing their deities to avoid destruction? And what about deities that serve a dual purpose, like a god of harvest that also acts as a god of pregnancy and childbirth? What is the role of religious leaders in this culture?

And not all religions worship deities, of course. Perhaps you can write a culture that practices ancestral veneration instead. What power do they believe their ancestors have? How do they pay their respects to the dead?

Religion also often extends to things like weddings, funerals, and various rites pertaining to age milestones. Birth, adulthood, old age. There are also beliefs around morality. Do they believe in things like sin? What is the process of repentance and forgiveness if they do? Do they ever perform blessings of guidance or healing? Does their religion have special authority figures?

There are so many little details you can explore when writing religion and all the cultural aspects of it. And don't be afraid to add some similarities even in very different religions! In my own worldbuilding, there are three moons and a visible planetary ring, and pretty much every culture within this world has looked up at those things in the night sky and said "yeah, that is the realm of spirits, for sure" regardless of anything else they believe. It adds a little cohesion to the world and shows that despite their differences, even being different species, they're all still People and they have things in common.

Submitted via Google Form:

How can a world have no major religions but a vast number of small ones. Like no religion accounts for more than 1% of the entire population except maybe atheist for maybe 5% of the population? But what does that say about the distribution of culture/countries?

Tex: Major religions are often major because they are state-backed - i.e., they have lots of money at their disposal, so they become economically and thus culturally relevant. Religion answers, approximately, two major questions: 1) Are we alone in X or Y manner? and 2) I’m scared of X thing that I have difficulty understanding, what is Y solution?

For a place like Earth, the planet that we know the most about, there are no planet-wide confirmations about the physical existence of any deity in particular (as in, shows up in a grocery and says hello to you in an entirely unambiguous manner that all onlookers can agree upon). This means that religions on Earth are predicated on the idea that belief - and, thus, willpower - makes the deity real. Or at least “proves” it. Your mileage may vary.

Because of this, the real-world religions that you can observe and study will have many, many commonalities to the two general questions I stated above. The first question usually contains subjects such as sentience, and the emotional frills of that. The second question usually contains subjects such as death and the process of dying.

In order to have many distinct religions, you would need a lot of unanswered questions for various societies to answer, a severe lack of contact and communication between groups of societies, and most importantly a lack of (or lack of need of) money. The more travel there is, the more people of different backgrounds will talk to each other, and the more ideas will be confronted, shared, and discussed. Trade would correspondingly be low, because of the lack of travel.

Utuabzu: There’s a couple things to consider here. Firstly, how are we defining religion? This isn’t a trick question, it’s a genuine issue. The Abrahamic concept of religion doesn’t really carry over well to other spiritual traditions. Most other belief systems are more local and action-focused (orthoprax, concerned with what one does, rather than what one believes), and often lack any mandatory set of beliefs, or standardised mythology. Religions like Chinese Folk Religion, Shintō, Hinduism*, etc. can have wildly varying pantheons and myths depending on where you are and who you ask. So depending on your definition every tiny village could have its own religion, because it has its own version of the cultural mythos and its own pantheon including some distinctive local gods and dropping some more common cultural ones.

Universal (applicable to everyone regardless of origin or location), proselytising (actively attempting to convert people) religions are rare. There’s only actually a few of them. Most notably, Christianity and Islam. They are both also orthodox religions (concerned with believing the correct things), which means they have a standard mythology and theology (or several competing standards that have historically attempted to resolve their differences via murder). A third, very notable difference they have with most belief systems is that they are exclusive, you can’t (or at least you’re not supposed to) combine them with other belief systems. Most non-Abrahamic belief systems are more or less fine with syncretism (combining belief systems), most clearly seen with the way Buddhism** is practiced concurrently with folk religions across Asia.

So, in answer to the actual question, your best bet here is to just not have an equivalent to Christianity or Islam. I suggest reading up on non-Abrahamic and pre-Christian/Muslim religions and religious practices, as that should give you an idea of what such a world might look like. I’d expect it to be colourful and diverse, with cities filled with temples and shrines to an ever-expanding array of deities and hosting various festivals much of the year. Many people would likely layer a philosophy like Daoism or Stoicism over their day-to-day religious practice, and it would be common and expected for people to show respect to or make  offerings to local deities when traveling. Religion would be a thing you do, not what you believe.

*Hinduism is less a religion and more a family of closely related religions and spiritual traditions that all originate on the Indian subcontinent. Which is why the Indian government considers Jains and Buddhists to be Hindu.

**Buddhism can be described as a religion or as a philosophy, depending on who you ask, what the context is, and whether Mercury is in Gatorade. Western definitions don’t really apply cleanly to non-Western contexts.

[sysig]

Wuh oh (Patreon)

Bonus:

The novel experience of being crushed by a giant rock, a visual metaphor

[seaquestions]

blake lets him keep it. this is a dire lapse in judgement on his part but they're just gonna have to live with it. (ids in alts)

[cator99]

my brother sent me a link to a yt video and was like "IDK why I watched 1/3 of this now I cant sleep and I'm definitely going to have nightmares 😭" and I realized it was the exact hour long video about US govt involvement in snuff film circles that I put on to fall asleep to 2 nights in a row. But of course I can't say that so I just sent him a more booboo baba video as a palate cleanser

[fragarianmusings]

This is something I've been leaning towards from the media I've consumed over the years (especially from my preteen vampire phase lol) and after much considering, may well apply on my own personal take in any of my oc universe/s that involve vampires and the like. I like the thought of there being two different ways to turn: drain, then feed and dying with a significant amount of vampire blood in your system. To elaborate:

First, drain then feed. It's been used in a lot of vampire media and is one of the most common methods, and for good reason. It adds that extra layer that ensures the vampire doesn't carelessly turn every victim they didn't drain (remember Daybreakers?). Plus, I remember seeing a comment on a Reddit post that talks about the "science" of it (even though I'm personally iffy when they make vampires too scientific, but it can be done), where the vampire blood that's being fed completely replaces the one that used to fill your system, which is why you change.

And the other, dying with a significant amount of vampire blood in your system. (Note I said significant.) This style, while less common, has been used in a few iterations, but I could never really buy into the notion that even a minuscule bit of vampire blood is enough to change you. I feel like that'll also lead to a mass overpopulation quick (but this time on purpose than by accident) where the vampire can just create their own little vampire army if they inject or force-feed their blood to a bunch of humans and kill them off to transform them. Which is why it has to be a significant amount of blood, something they can't just easily give out left and right without needing to replenish what they've depleted from themselves. You know how they say the human body starts to fail at around 40% blood loss? I like to think that's about how much a vampire needs to give to trigger a turn (maybe even more, hehe 👁️).

...Actually, the vampire should also give up a huge amount of their blood in the first method to be able to trigger a turning as well. Draining the human to the point of death then only giving an good amount of yours would be too easy in my opinion. Gotta make the vampire actively work for it if they really want to make another one of their own, right? Maybe it's the sadist in me, but I like that the vampire has to suffer a little as well in the process of "creating" (in quotes because as per the parasitic nature of their kind, they're more-so taking from another life; unless it's a universe where vampires are born, you usually need another human to make a vampire). >:)c

(I'll be honest, this was partially inspired by that short-lived (and cheesy) vampire show called Moonlight. I know they use the drain, then feed variant too, but there was one episode where they kinda...inadvertently showed "another" way to turn? There was this one vampire who was created because he had vampire blood in him right before he was drained (i.e. he was supposed to have died, but turned instead because he died with vampire blood in him).)