#so. yeah. one day. dunno

[platonic-qpr-selfshipping]

me every time i need f/o affection: hey does anyone wanna hear some f/o imagines

[amelia-yap]

it's april and they are bloody fools

[strwbrryfire]

🍏 and what i find is kinda scary

makes me just want to drive

[ninja-knox-ur-sox-off]

Listen i don’t…. I don’t have words I just have vibes to present okay i just have vibes

[slavhew]

And I just have to tell you that I

Love you so much these days,

[anemonet]

Iterator can from my wips (please read that in the tone of blorbo from my show :) (that superstructure is a girl (he/it) to me)

[starscream-is-my-wife]

Megastar (my first toxic yaoi) x Bingjiu (my most toxic yaoi)

[midnightdemonhunter]

But don't worry. By then, he wants to.

(@romanromulus :D )

[marshmalleaux-queen]

decided to make a couple of non-self-insert OCs mostly for funsies and I...kinda love them already fjdhfj. I actually had vague ideas for them a few years ago but I wanted to flesh them out a little more 👀 also I think I wanted to write more in the images but I got too excited and wanted to post them right away 👉🏻👈🏻

[ch1zzie]

It's waldy

Futur water too but not done

[your-unfriendlyghost]

I’ve been seeing a lot of things talking abt how Steve’s dad being an alcoholic and is this confirmed or smth or did we all just become a hive mind on this??? Because it does say in the book that Steve doesn’t have the greatest relationship with his dad but I don’t remember anything about alcoholism? Did I miss something In the text or was this something confirmed outside of the book/movie I don’t know about??

Good question. Instinctually I wanted to say it was canon, because it seems so engraved into his character for me, but yeah no I just re-skimmed the book for it- All it says is that Steve's dad “...told him about once a week to get out and never come back. It kind of bugs Steve, even if his old man does give him five or six bucks the next morning to make up for it." (Pg. 105)

So yeah I guess that's just a headcannon then/mass hallucination lol.

I mean, it is a solid theory, considering alcoholism is something that could easily lead to erratic behavior like that- I mean, kicking your son out at night but feeling guilty(?) enough to give him $5/$6 by morning? (Keep in mind that's roughly $50/$60 in today's money!) It definitely seems like the sort of actions that'd be brought on by angry drunkenness and then regretted* once he's sober, so I can see why folks flocked to it. But uh yeah it's not technically canon! Ig it's just as possible that his dad just has serious rage issues, completely on his own.

*I'm using "regret" loosely here. To me the money is because of regret, but one could argue that it's more just to keep Steve quiet. I'm gonna stick to thinking of it as guilt though, because the messy human-ness of that is more interesting to me personally

Speaking of which, I think a similar mass hallucination is the idea that Steve's mom abandoned him! This one's less extreme as I think more folks know it isn't canon, but it does still feel relevant to the topic lol. This is a headcannon I only go for sometimes, but a lotta us treat it like it’s canon when it really isn’t. She’s never mentioned, for all we know she’s like, mom of the year or whatever. (Well ig not mom of the year considering Steve’s always being kicked out…but that’s another can of worms lol)

[a2zillustration]

December Baking 2024

My Great Aunt's Molasses Cookies - 5/5

I actually made a metric ton of cookies this month, but this was the one two batches I made by myself. This one comes straight from the fam, so I have to type out the recipe (spoilers, it seems suspiciously like the recipe on the molasses jar, but it is slightly different).

INGREDIENTS 3/4c shortening 1c sugar 1/4c molasses (we get mild) 1 egg 1/2 tsp cloves (we don't use them bc my mom hates them) 1/2 tsp ginger 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking soda 2c flour extra sugar for rolling

DIRECTIONS • Preheat the oven to 375ºF

• Mix shortening and sugar; add molasses and mix.

• Put egg in a separate bowl and put the dry spices into the egg. Mix together and then blend them in with the rest. (author's note: I don't really know why we do this bc mixing the spices with the egg is hard and you have to really scrape it out of the second bowl, but who am I to judge)

• Add in the flour and baking soda. (author's note: I mix these and the salt separately, like you would a normal cookie recipe, then add them gradually)

• Use a small cookie scoop to make the balls and roll in sugar.

• Bake on ungreased sheet at 375 degrees for 8-10 mins. They need to look done but not necessarily brown. Makes approx. 3 doz

NOTE: The first batch was made subbing in butter for shortening. I added ~1/2tsp of corn starch just to see what would happen, but they still spread considerably. They're much chewier than the shortening version though. Next time I might try using slightly less molasses or adding a little more flour to offset the extra liquid from the butter.

ANOTHER NOTE: The shortening cookies do come out a little crunchier, but you can do the trick where you put them in a container with a fresh slice of bread for a day or so to soften them up.

Anyway, we love these cookies. My mom makes them all the time because they make a lot, they're pretty easy, and they taste really good. Plus, they're usually something that you wouldn't see when you'd expect cookies!

[bad-traffic-smp-ideas]

right... okay. i'm considering something. sound off in the comments if this is a bad idea

[mentallyillcaterpillar]

Maturing is realizing that listening to the Wicked soundtrack on a regular basis as a child is what led to you becoming the disaster lesbian obsessed with enemies to lovers that you are today.

[venomgaia]

Guys that go bump in the night

(minorly inspired by @karniss-bg3 's response to this ask)

[fumifooms]

Marcille & Chilchuck contrasts & similarities

Yesterday in the Dunmeshi Discord we talked about narrative foils and I ended up writing a lot about my fave duo so. Informal character analysis time. I give some in-depth interpretations on aspects of Chilchuck’s character near the end as well, not just analyzing their characters in how they contrast each other

Marcille and Chil are so foils to me. "Has experienced loss through death and now clings onto the people around her and is overly interested in engaging in social gossip" vs "has experienced loss through rejection and now refuses to open up to anyone until socially starved", both are responding to their experience with loss in fully different ways, socializing and trying to learn all she can for the short time she has with others but trying to keep digestible enough that she’s not too attached if she loses them, vs refusing to socialize so the problem stops before it begins but eventually unable to resist the pull that comes with being a social creature. Like I guess what I’m trying to say is that Marcille engaging with social gossip could be a shallow way for her to vicariously experience social relationships if she feels like forming deep bonds is unsafe. Family is a core motivation and value for them but in different ways. Both want to keep the status quo but in different ways.

Divorcee who avoids love wether it be in the people around him or thinking about his own (past?) romance vs hopeless romantic that idealizes love without herself having been in a relationship or even in love herself as far as we know. Middle child vs only child. Emotional constipation vs emotional intelligence. Streets savvy vs prestigious academic, field experience vs book smarts. Crass vs prim. Overbearingly social vs private to a fault. Never externalizes his feelings and to a degree represses them vs wears her heart on her sleeve and her feelings on her face. They start out underestimating each other in different ways, one by assuming his age and the other by undermining her skills, experience and willpower. Both seeing each other’s motives as somewhat skewed (money and research of shady magic respectively) but growing to respect them.

They also both seek approval and validation from others, unlike Senshi and even Laios who don’t seem to care about outside perception as much, Marcille worries early on that she’s not helpful enough and slowing the party down meanwhile Chilchuck is almost always trying to prove a point early on that he’s capable and mature. Coincidentally enough, Chilchuck’s approval was both the catalyst and the key to resolving her arc about it in the mandrake chapter, meanwhile besides Senshi Marcille is the one whose perception of Chilchuck gets the most changed over the course of the whole manga. Something else notable is how they deal differently with their races being judged, while Chilchuck reaffirms himself as a proud half-foot, Marcille hides her half-elf nature and is embarrassed of it when it’s revealed. Something subtle yet interesting is also how they both are shown to prefer lying in a way that makes them look bad rather than admitting ignorance on something. Chilchuck says that he cheated on his wife and that’s why she left rather than just saying that he doesn’t know why she did. Marcille in the mandrake chapter says that she has used a dog to harvest mandrakes (thus killing it) before while in truth she never has, and everyone including herself is like "That’s horrible… The poor dog!"

Their dad dies. Chil is like "Hm. Cool. Anyways he died doing smth he loved right so haha lemme drink myself into an early death bed too yolo 🔥🤟" vs "He died and it shattered my world and I must devote all my life to wiping death out of existence".

"I am going to knowingly shorten my lifestyle through unhealthy habits actually."

Problem solving approaches

One thing I love about them is how they have complete opposite approaches to problem solving. Besides striving for workers’ rights and job stability for halflings with an union, he’s very "laissez-faire". He won’t do the righteous thing just because it’s the right thing if he doesn’t have an incentive or a safety net, like going to save Falin. He doesn’t chase after his wife to talk it out and make amends, he gives her space and either hopes she’ll talk when she’s ready or figures that he shouldn’t try to do anything about it. He doesn’t mention the mimic he noticed to the others to not make a big deal out of it and hopefully it won’t come up again. He’s a "if the glass is half-full that’s fine enough for me, I don’t need things to be as good as they could be" type, a "leave it alone until it figures itself out" type.

Marcille? Marcille is idealistic and in-your-face. If there is an issue you better believe Marcille will address it and try her hardest to fix it, will talk it out and attempt to understand & strive to make things as best possible for everyone involved. She will FORCE you to talk about your FEELINGS wether you like it or NOT. Leaving it alone? Keeping things as just okay when they could be great instead? No no no no no, that’s not right, she’s going to try and fix it now. She will make you stand up and fight for the best that your life could be, to be honest when something bothers you and do something about it, will make you stop suppressing yourself because you’re scared of things getting worse.

Which, you know, both methods certainly have their pros and cons, but they’re very complimentary in that way. He grounds her into a more down to earth mindset and teaches by example that it’s okay if things don’t necessarily work out and moving on is possible and not necessarily miserable, while she encourages him to not give up so fast or stay quiet on things that bother so much. He soothes and she emboldens 🔥 Funny, because you could have thought it would’ve been the contrary, which is not untrue either, but he’s the "has experienced the harshness of life and has settled for something comfortable but modest" while she’s the "wants to make the world better and goes to great lengths to change it while still trying to find herself & uncomfortable with some aspects of life like loss".

One overly focuses on dealing with issues by changing things around her while the other overly focuses on only changing himself.

——

Chilchuck leaves things alone if he thinks they’re best left unaddressed or thinks they’ll work itself out. Like the mimic he didn’t tell the group about but it backfired later. Like how he didn’t chase after his wife or seemingly tried to contact her at all. Like how he prefers not to dig into people’s personal issues in parties and be left alone to deal with his stuff on his own as well.

Meanwhile Marcille is overbearingly in-your-face and loud and "if there’s a problem we’re dishing it out right here right now. Your wife left you?? And you didn’t try to get her back?? I am going to write out a script and a plan for you to apologize and please bring these piles of presents."

She’s secretive about her fair share of things as well but she’s very proactive. While she seeks to research something that’s a core motivation and life goal to her + save someone she deeply cares for Chil is there for his job and to get money and "hey if something happens I’ll have done my part. I took you guys here now you guys figure out the rest and fight the monsters or something". They both like to have a say in the strategy, Chilchuck moreso as time goes on, but Marcille involves herself much more into almost everything.

Espescially early on, they’re always sticking by each other judging Senshi & Laios together and being like "Am I seeing this shit right. They’re crazy right? Tell me I’m not the only one here with common sense" and forming a 🤝 relationship over it and considering that, it sometimes feel… Contradicting? How they also have a lot of conflict together over time about how different they truly are. But it’s interesting and nice to see how even though they do have arguments it always gets resolved pretty promptly, like they’re truly hashing it out as equals and then when that’s done they’re back to being on the same wavelength. The exception would be Marcille taking a long time to come around on Chil being old, but arguments and debates like the one on dark magic and if it’s okay or wrong to use it, which was pretty serious and not just banter? They came to find a middle ground or at least understanding, and it didn’t seem to lower the respect they hold for another afterwards.

Chilchuck’s repressing habit

I do think Chilchuck has a repressed thing where he doesn’t WANT to think about it about his feelings sometimes, like with his wife- and maybe with his father? But the way he was so casual and nonchalant about his father dying has always struck me. I’m not sure if this is a "my feelings on my father were mixed and complicated at best" thing or a "I just don’t want to spend time thinking about it" thing or something else, but it gives food for thought.

When it comes to alcohol there’s this saying where an alcoholic parent will have 2 kids and one will grow to be alcoholic too while the other will never even touch a drop of alcohol and both when asked why will say "I watched my father". Chilchuck is def the first I think. He gives the vibe of "An alcoholic parent puts a strain on familial relationships?? Pshh, my father was and look at me! I turned out great!" Which is something I’ve heard irl lol which always makes you go like 👀 yes indeed you’re perfectly well-adjusted and haven’t been affected by your father’s alcoholism at all it’s clear as day. On that topic, Chilchuck’s family, both currently and when he was a kid, are very interesting topics to theorize about with the hints and cues we have, how his wife truly felt and what happened for her to feel unappreciated enough to leave, how distant is he from his daughters if they haven’t seen each other in the same year either and Flertom was the only one to send him a letter? But that’s a topic for another day

Chilchuck probably has such a complex…. Of like not being… Like allowed to take space I guess? And he does wish to affirm that right, he takes space and asks for it so very overtly, he formed a half-foot guild to demand better working conditions as one of the biggest examples of that. He grew up poor and undermined but he knows that he’s capable and someone worthy of respect and demands it, and takes every opportunity to prove himself. But on the other end, he doesn’t seem to want to keep his hopes up in general, like asking for something to be better is bound to fail, that it’d be too good to be true. He tries to keep out of where his job doesn’t need him, from a sense of efficiency that cuts down on unnecessary stops but also because he just thinks it isn’t his place to do so. It strikes me that it’s hinted that like… He doesn’t even really consider the possibility of going to his wife and trying to mend the relationship. Like it’s either she’ll decide to take him back on her own or he’ll be left out in the cold waiting, never knowing just where he’s truly at with her and if things are over for good. Like… Shooting his shot and making his case doesn’t even register as an option? Like he’s not worth fighting for, like whatever he did wouldn’t change her opinion anyways?

He def has a "life isn’t like a fairytale where everything goes well" philosophy where sometimes it feels like he just gives up on how things maybe could be better, especially interpersonally. Maybe it’s why he focuses on simple joys like alcohol instead of trying to keep up with relationships which can be complex and very fickle, in his own words. Something like alcohol is predictable, always there to fall back on, safe, gives him sensations without other emotional/social risks attached. Ironic for someone whose job is all about risks, but understandable

He contradicts even himself… Bro yes you’re capable, yes you’re great, yes you matter, now maybe speak about your feelings maybe??? Or do you not think your emotional issues deserve to get fixed and have closure???? Are you so used to being dismissed, overlooked and undermined that you think no one will listen even if you speak up?? And this recontextualize his "I’m not even gonna try and talk this issue out because I know (assume) that it won’t solve anything anyways" approach, doesn’t it.

"I must break my party members’ stuff or lie to them because if I just tell them my opinion and my feelings that I don’t want them to die they won’t care anyways and keep going"

In a way everyone is the glue of the party in different ways, Laios giving the group a direction and a plan, Senshi keeping them fed and grounded, Marcille making everyone more social and encouraging bonds to form, and for Chilchuck he’s the one most focused on actually keeping everyone alive I think.

Conclusion

Idk I’m not gonna repeat every point but have this as a parting contrast:

Guy with shortest lifespan possible who doesn’t mind knowingly shortening his own with an unhealthy habit, here for a good time not a long time, VS girl with longest lifespan possible who wants to lengthen everyone’s life, who focuses on how long she can keep something or someone rather than how happy her time with it has made her already. They’re both loud in their own way, and both are still insecure despite appearances. In a way, both of them focus on taking care of others while overlooking their own demons.