#socs 2: impact

[sonic-oc-showdown]

ROUND 1

Impact belongs to @yeets-ix

Ebony belongs to @mynders-universe

Find out more about them below!

Impact the Shrimp:

He's a cowboy mantis shrimp who lives on an island where he's the self-proclaimed sheriff. He's a power-type character with all the expected quirks of a Mobian mantis shrimp - swimming and water breathing, superhuman eyesight, and being able to punch REALLY fast and REALLY hard, enough to make shockwaves. He's really good at interrogating people, and he can also cook - yes, he DID fry that rice! He also tries way too hard to be gruff and intimidating, when he actually sleeps with a nightlight. Also he has a weird homoerotic rival who's a Mobian mosasaur, so there's that.

Ebony the Hare:

(art by @/Jorrated)

Atop her mountain airbase, Commander Ebony maintains control over the Keystone Desert Valley on the behalf of Doctor Eggman. Ruthless and dogmatic, this hare has cunning to back up her powerful kicks. The one thing she seeks above all else is a valiant and earnest hero, to prove (to herself…?) that their selfless endeavors are fruitless and only bring suffering to those around them.

[the-names-nine]

please do ask me questions about Impact, he needs all the information he can get

[the-names-nine]

@sonic-oc-showdown

✨- "Impact" just sounded cool for a guy whose deal is punching so hard it makes shockwaves TBH - the name was decided before he even became a cowboy.

🌼 - He's a BIT older than Sonic, 16-17. Doesn't really act like it though when he's not in his "Sheriff" persona.

🌺- In my brain movies, he's got this one outlaw dude who he's always butting heads with and trying to catch, whose relationship with him is also VERY gay-coded. He's a mosasaur because I'm a secret paleo-nerd. Gotta give him a better name than "Tyler Saurus" tbh

🍕 - I'm going to defy my source pages and say "Onion rings." He also really likes them on a good, fresh-grilled "cowboy burger."

💼 - He's the sheriff! He basically just applies that to being the protector of his island. There isn't any "police" or anything, considering it's a small island settlement. He just likes being "sheriff."

🎹 - He's a surprisingly exquisite cook! A SHRIMP FRIED THAT RICE. Although pincer-hands can make certain recipes more difficult... dunno if that design element is gonna stay tbh. Maybe he also collects dried seashells, considering the star on his cowboy hat is meant to be a dried sea star.

🎯 - He's got a really keen eye for detail, not just because he can see more colors. Almost photographic memory if he wants to have it. He's also come up with a surprising amount of uses for shockwaves, whether firing them underwater to heat things up, or using them to propel himself through the air - maybe he can even go at super speed by just PUNCHING BEHIND HIM.

🥊 -He loves INTERROGATING people, because he's GOOD at it! He hates doing stuff at night because he's freakin' terrified of the dark. He's also insecure about his freckles, so he wore a bandana at first to look more intimidating.

❤️ - This is where we start getting into bridging today with five years ago - parts I'm not sure about! Probably some really fun cowboy LARP with his BFF/brother figure Archer the Fish.

✂️ - His dad just disappearing from the island when he was just BARELY old enough to process it.

🧊 - He wasn't always a cowboy. He was originally a more laid-back, neutral character who didn't have a drawn design - he'd randomly pick whatever side he agreed with more in any conflict. His MS Paint cowboy design was created in a sudden eruption of motivation (I get those) long before I ever actually dedicated myself to Sonic art. He is also in desperate need of another redesign, something simpler with fewer colors.

🍀 - I wanted a cool yet down-to-earth OC who would seamlessly fit into the game/comic world, and I wanted a Sonic OC based on a cool real-life animal with some kind of superpower of its own. Then someone on a Discord server suggested I make him a cowboy, and... here we are.

🌂 - He's a Western guy. And he's going Yeehaw Mode.

💚 - Impact is crusty cis... and very much bi. I originally intended for him to have a crush on Knuckles when he was trying to be more connected to the outside Sonic world, but now he's got that mosasaur toxic yaoi guy, so...

🙌 - He's got his brother/"deputy" Archer, an... archerfish who uses a bow and arrow and maybe SOME hydro kinetic powers. Or he just built a special bow that shoots water arrows... hmmm. I did conceive a couple of OCs around Impact - I wanted his island to have a little culture like Spiral Hill. Dunno how that will hold up.

🍎 - His dad was a pig. I'm probably scrapping his old backstory, but his biological dad SUCKED. Archer's parents, while we never really see them, are chill and Impact loves them.

🧠 - I like how out there he is, while still being grounded. I'll admit - I've conditioned myself to be iffy with crazy OP Sonic OCs. Your hedgehogs and Black Arms and chaos gods are all cool, really, but making one of my own just isn't my style. I'd rather make cool obscure animals into fun Mobians with outlandish powers that could be used for small but cool stories. That's just me.

✏️ - I literally dusted him off from when IDW was new to submit him. I barely remembered he exists. He's just my first "serious" Sonic OC not made for a specific story, and my "flagship" one. Can you tell by how much I'm struggling to remember and add as I write this, that I need to workshop him a LOT with my new ideas and understandings?

💎 - He might graphically lose an arm/hand down the line... and get a cool upgrade to replace it. He'd also DEFINITELY go down shooting in the Metal Virus. But him just straight-up dying, I... eh. He doesn't get favoritism immortality, I'll go with that.

💀 - He's so fucking scared of the dark oh my lord, he sleeps with a nightlight and doesn't want to dive in deep water where he can't see the bottom. Stick him, Sonic and Tangle in an underwater cave and cities will burn.

🍩 - BAD OLD LORE TIME! HIS ARCHNEMESIS WAS MIMIC! And guess why... Impact's dad killed Mimic's mom and then drove him off the island just for being her son! That's why Impact's dad left! That's the beginning of Mimic's entire spiral into villainy! I may KINDA keep this around, since it would make sense with all the sea creatures on an island and Mimic's possible country accent, but... wow.

🎓 - First made him when IDW was new, partially inspired by Tangle, and connected him to Mimic basically when Mimic was first revealed/accepted by the fandom (we literally guessed his name)... so, 5-6 years lol

🍥 - Somewhere between 15 and 18... I had some crappy CRAPPY OCs beforehand when I didn't quite even understand Sonic. Impact is my first genuinely good one.

Ask Game for someone’s OC(s)

✨- How did you come up with the OC’s name?

🌼 - How old are they? (Or approximate age range)

🌺- Do they have any love interest(s)?

🍕 - What is their favorite food?

💼 - What do they do for a living?

🎹 - Do they have any hobbies?

🎯 -What do they do best?

🥊 -What do they love to do? What do they hate to do?

❤️ - What is one of your OC’s best memories?

✂️ - What is one of your OC’s worst memories?

🧊 - Is their current design the first one?

🍀 - What originally inspired the OC?

🌂 - What genre do they belong in?

💚 - What is your OC’s gender identity and sexuality?

🙌 - How many sibling does your OC have?

🍎 - What is the OC’s relationship w/their parents like?

🧠 - What do you like most about the OC?

✏️ - How often do you draw/write about the OC?

💎 - Do you ever see yourself killing off the OC?

💀 - Does your OC have any phobias?

🍩 -Who is your OC’s arch-nemesis or rival?

🎓 - How long have you had the OC?

🍥 - What age were you when you created the OC?

[blackstarlineage]

The Kingdom of Mapungubwe: An In-Depth Analysis of Southern Africa’s First Great Civilization

Introduction: Mapungubwe – The Forgotten African Power

The Kingdom of Mapungubwe (c. 1075–1300 CE) was one of the earliest known states in Southern Africa, preceding Great Zimbabwe and laying the foundation for later powerful African empires. Located in modern-day South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, Mapungubwe was a centre of trade, wealth, governance, and advanced social organization.

Despite its historical significance, Eurocentric narratives often ignore or downplay Mapungubwe’s role in African civilization, falsely portraying Africa as “uncivilized” before European contact. From a Garveyite perspective, studying Mapungubwe is essential because it represents:

Black economic success – Mapungubwe controlled Southern Africa’s early gold trade.

Black architectural and governance excellence – It had organized cities and a structured ruling system.

Black global influence – Mapungubwe’s trade networks extended to the Middle East, India, and China.

By understanding the Kingdom of Mapungubwe, Black people today can reclaim their lost history, reject colonial distortions, and recognize Africa’s early global impact.

1. The Origins and Rise of the Kingdom of Mapungubwe

A. Geographic and Strategic Importance

Mapungubwe was located at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers, making it a key trade hub in Southern Africa.

The region had fertile land for agriculture, abundant cattle, and access to gold, making it economically prosperous.

The kingdom’s rulers established a socially stratified society, separating elite rulers from commoners—a system that later influenced Great Zimbabwe.

Example: The Mapungubwe Hill, a sacred royal centre, symbolized the kingdom’s centralized leadership and class-based society.

Key Takeaway: African civilizations were highly structured, organized, and rich in resources long before European contact.

2. The Economic and Trade Power of Mapungubwe

A. Gold, Ivory, and the Rise of African Trade

Mapungubwe was one of the earliest African states to exploit gold mining, exporting gold to Swahili coastal cities, the Middle East, and Asia.

The kingdom also traded in ivory, copper, animal hides, and ceramics, making it a key supplier in the early African economy.

Gold from Mapungubwe was transported to Kilwa, Sofala, and other major Swahili trading cities, where it was exchanged for glass beads, Chinese porcelain, and luxury goods.

Example: Archaeological excavations have uncovered Chinese porcelain, Indian glass beads, and Arabian goods, proving that Mapungubwe was linked to the global economy centuries before European exploration.

Key Takeaway: Africa was not isolated—Mapungubwe’s wealth fueled a sophisticated global trade network before European colonization.

B. Agricultural and Cattle Economy

Mapungubwe’s people were also skilled agriculturalists, growing crops such as sorghum, millet, and beans to sustain their population.

The kingdom raised large herds of cattle, which were not only a source of food but also a symbol of wealth and social status.

The economy was so advanced that wealthy families lived in stone homes, while commoners lived in well-structured settlements.

Example: Cattle and grain were taxed, and surpluses were stored in granaries, showing that Mapungubwe had a regulated economy and a taxation system.

Key Takeaway: Africa’s economic systems were sophisticated, with taxation, surplus storage, and wealth redistribution.

3. The Political and Social Organization of Mapungubwe

A. A Centralized Monarchy and Class System

The king ruled from Mapungubwe Hill, separating himself from the common people, showing a class-based hierarchy.

The ruling class controlled trade, wealth, and religious ceremonies, reinforcing their power.

Unlike previous African societies that were more egalitarian, Mapungubwe introduced a system where royalty and the elite were separate from the working class.

Example: This system of social separation was later adopted by Great Zimbabwe and other successor states in Southern Africa.

Key Takeaway: Africa had complex governance systems with structured leadership, taxation, and social classes.

B. Religious and Cultural Practices

The kingdom’s religion was deeply rooted in ancestor worship and spiritual connections to the land.

Rulers were seen as divine or semi-divine figures, reinforcing their authority through spiritual beliefs.

The elite class performed ceremonial rituals on Mapungubwe Hill, which was considered sacred.

Example: The Golden Rhino of Mapungubwe, one of Africa’s most famous artifacts, symbolizes the royalty and religious significance of the king.

Key Takeaway: African civilizations had spiritual and political institutions that reinforced governance and stability.

4. The Decline of Mapungubwe and the Rise of Great Zimbabwe

A. Environmental and Economic Factors

Around 1300 CE, Mapungubwe declined due to climate change, specifically a severe drought that affected food production and trade.

The gold trade shifted further north, leading to the rise of Great Zimbabwe, which became the new center of power in Southern Africa.

Internal conflicts and population movements also contributed to the kingdom’s decline.

Example: Great Zimbabwe (1300–1450 CE) inherited many of Mapungubwe’s political and economic traditions, proving that African civilizations evolved and adapted.

Key Takeaway: African civilizations didn’t simply “disappear” as colonial historians claim—they transformed into new political entities.

5. The European Suppression of Mapungubwe’s History

A. Colonial Erasure and Historical Racism

When European archaeologists discovered Mapungubwe in the 1930s, they attempted to suppress its significance to maintain the colonial myth that Africans had no history.

The Golden Rhino and other artifacts were hidden for decades, because they proved that Africans had advanced civilizations before colonialism.

South Africa’s apartheid government censored Mapungubwe’s history, fearing it would empower Black South Africans by proving their rich heritage.

Example: The Golden Rhino was kept hidden until the 1990s, when post-apartheid South Africa finally acknowledged the greatness of Mapungubwe.

Key Takeaway: Colonial powers deliberately erased African history to justify oppression—our job is to restore the truth.

6. The Garveyite Vision: Reclaiming the Legacy of Mapungubwe

Africa must reclaim its economic independence, just as Mapungubwe controlled its own gold trade.

Black people must rebuild strong governance systems, inspired by Mapungubwe’s centralized leadership.

Pan-African unity is necessary—African nations must work together, just as Mapungubwe influenced later African states.

African history must be decolonized, ensuring that the legacy of Mapungubwe is properly taught worldwide.

Final Thought: Will We Reclaim Mapungubwe’s Legacy?

Marcus Garvey said:

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.”

Will Black people allow our history to remain hidden, or demand its full recognition?

Will we continue to depend on foreign economies, or reclaim Africa’s economic power?

Will we build new African empires, or allow our civilization’s achievements to be forgotten?

The Choice is Ours. The Time is Now.

[mymidnightramblings]

I grew up a child of physics

I grew up a child of physics. I watched Star Trek and Star Wars, and I kept glow-stars in my room at night. I begged for telescopes for my birthday, and I spent time amazing my cat, named Schrodinger, with Newton's cradle. At the age of seven, my dad taught me momentum using balls and a slide. At the age of 12 my mom was teaching me loads while we built tables together. I swung on swing sets and counted how long each swing would take. How I could affect the time it took. I was a child of physics. Now I’m an adult with no idea where to go. 

Congress is defunding NASA this year. I see so many people saying there is no reason we should fund NASA to begin with– focus on the problems on earth then focus on looking beyond. To that I say, looking beyond is what makes us human. The very first humans looked up at the same sky as us, albeit tilted a little differently, stars in slightly different locations, and wondered about their place in the universe. Every major religion has some basis in the stars. Wondering what is out there – where we belong, how our world works– that is human. And we are cutting the budget of the people who study it. 

Now, many people say more money should go from irrelevant government programs to social welfare. Things like social security and medicare. I agree. Why put money into NASA when 41.73 million people live in poverty in the United States? In 1969, during the first moon landing, 8,000 New Yorkers gathered to watch the exciting touchdown of the Lunar Module. However, about 50 blocks further an estimated 50,000 people were protesting it. Most of these individuals were african-american or from a low-income community. Why? The fact their government would rather “throw away” 25.8 billion in 1969 dollars than invest in the lower class was absurd, and it was a sign that their government did not believe in them (Smithsonian). That resentment is completely understandable. Imagine being unable to feed your children, then watching the TV to see the government throw away money you would give your life for just to win a “space race.” Coming from a place of privilege, exploring space seems exciting and expected as the next step, but for those in less fortunate circumstances it makes less sense to put money into NASA when more money could be put into social welfare programs. It doesn’t feel as though NASA is helping the public in any way. This case can still be argued today, with a caveat. NASA is helping the general public in ways one wouldn’t expect. It generated over $71.2 billion in economic output, supported over 339,600 jobs (not counting internships), and resulted in $7.7 billion in tax revenues (NASA Economic Impact Report). Additionally NASA has countless opportunities for underrepresented individuals through internships and engagement opportunities. I, myself, took advantage of such an opportunity for colored women in 2022, where I was able to attend a conference at the Goddard Space Flight Center. They are inspiring the next generation in underrepresented areas as well through their outreach programs, which are run in many low income communities through their Equality and Environmental Justice program (Earth and Applied Sciences).

Additionally, NASA is one of the most resourceful government agencies. In 2023, NASA got allocated $30.92 billion dollars–0.3% of government funds–and they used $28.28 billion of it (USA Spending, FY 2023) NASA uses around 95% of its government funding, with an estimated 3% hidden from the public due to black-budget (sending up hidden spy satellites alongside routine space flights.) 2% of that money is what is actually unused. Now, let's look towards the government's military spending (in 2023), where over $515 billion– 26.5% of its allocated $1.5 trillion–go unused (USA Spending). 

NASA is not some stupid “astrology science” agency, as someone so kindly told me. The innovation found within NASA’s research and engineering teams have helped forward society to new depths. Without satellites the internet would not exist, nor GPS, nor telecommunication services. They actively combat cataclysmic and apocalyptic events through their asteroid and solar ray detection. They have moved asteroids out of the way, and study sun activity to avoid another Carrington Event. NASA is doing the opposite of exacerbating an apocalypse. Why haven’t you heard of any of these space rays attacking Earth? Because NASA keeps an eye on them and takes care of them. Just because you don’t see something doesn’t mean it doesn't exist. Many people believe in a God they don’t see. Many people believe in Santa Claus. If the evidence exists, follow the trail that's been made. 

Now, most MAGA supporters consider themselves “macho” men. Let’s be “macho” men and face our problems rather than running away or making it worse. Starting with the biggest problem. Climate change. 

 Climate change is a terrifying problem, and rockets seem to be exacerbating it. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), rockets launched more than 1000 tons of soot into the atmosphere, and this is only projected to be worse. Additionally, this soot being deposited in the stratosphere rather than in the troposphere means that the pollution will dissipate over a longer period of time (Kluger). Currently, there is no fix for this, and I completely agree that the pollution created by rockets is quite large. However, we aren’t launching rockets every day. The pollution these rockets put out as a whole are more on the scale of cars and ships. This is because there have never been more than 200 rocket launches a year, and in the past there have been well under 150 per year (US Private Space Launch Industry). In fact, the global aviation industry, which consists of commercial airlines, cargo planes, and more, releases 2.5% of the world's carbon emissions (US Private Space Launch Industry). Moreover, as technology evolves, transportation becomes less damaging. We see this with the rise of electric vehicles, nuclear reactor submarines, and now with more methane fuelled rockets which pollute less. As time goes on, rockets will release less and less pollution, however we need to experiment more with rockets to get to that point (Kluger). 

We are experiencing the biggest threats to some of the most major government institutions. The president does not control the budget, congress does. Keep that in mind when you vote bi-annually.

[marielaure]

My thoughts on @butterflypython post:

“Am I the only one who finds Kaz’s ending…unsatisfying?” -Butterfly

*Spoilers for Crooked Kingdom*

No, you are not. I just needed to reread the duology to figure out why (for my opinion). On paper, Kaz’s story ties up nicely, he has multiple stated goals and by the end, gets all of them. However, the drawback to this is the emotional journey in-between.

Kaz’s goals stated in Ch. 3 of SoC:

1. “Pay his debt to Jordie” (revenge on Rollins + get rich)

2. Rid of Haskell and start his own operation (did anyone else interpret this as Kaz wanting to leave the Dregs? Because I did and that impacted my view on his ending as well)

While it’s great for characters to have stated goals and achieve them, the problem with Kaz’s ending was these goals.

We as readers know that the mentality of “paying a debt” to your dead brother is harmful, and we want Kaz to realize that too. He never does. Kaz lost out on a lot of experiences because of his misguided focus on revenge and wealth…that he doesn’t want. He feels obligated to strive for this. First, through the fact that this mentality kept him alive after his brother’s death. Then next that he lived in an environment where that was his only outcome for life (The Barrel and gang life).

I think this is where narratively Inej (and to a lesser extent Jesper and the other Crows) were supposed to be how Kaz was challenged in these goals. Inej constantly tries to push for more (was there never another dream?) and Jesper with his “I want to live, you are not dying for us” for instance.

Now, I do agree that Kaz’s ending is realistic. Realistic is not always satisfying though. This is no bash on the author’s writing, we are all obsessed with this story due to its captivating craft. So, is there a way to keep the story the same while addressing all the emotional weight behind Kaz’s goals? Yes, and it’s a fairly simple tweak too.

Take out Kaz’s last chapter (the aftermath at the Slat - Ch. 45) and put Matthias’s funeral chapter (Ch. 44 Jesper) from Kaz’s POV. What does this address?

1. Revenge

Before or after Kaz’s “How?” there should be his typical Barrel-mentality of retribution. Matthias was his crew, an act like this cannot go unanswered—just like Jordie, Inej, etc.

Funeral: I want Kaz to look at Matthias and think about everything in the duology. Matthias was a decent man, just like his brother. His brother never got a funeral, no one but him even remembers Jordie. Have Kaz look around at Crows and co. and see how tired they all are. They don’t have the energy for revenge. Have him realize the NPC Dregs wouldn’t have the motive to carry out retribution. Have Kaz realize he is tired, that he doesn’t want to avenge Matthias. Not because he doesn’t care for Matthias, but because of reflection of the Pekka revenge. The revenge felt good in the moment but Pekka still has a family to go back to while Kaz is alone. The other Crows are leaving or dead. And Kaz realizes that while revenge kept him alive and felt good for that five minutes, it’s not worth the time or the experiences with the Crows he lost.

Matthias is a merciful, decent man. BANG! Kaz doesn’t realize it but we do! This parallels Matthias’ plea to Nina to spare Fjerda and not to seek revenge for his killer.

BOOM! All that emotion hits us as readers so when Kaz gives his non-answer (build something new and burn it down), we as readers know the inner turnoil Kaz is going through. It also makes his response even sadder than it already is. Not only does Kaz want to reject self destruction, it’s the only life he’s ever known and it’s the only way he knows how to express himself.

2. Money and Purpose

Have Kaz realize he never really wanted to be rich. This can be around the part of when Kaz explains how the money is being split and gives Matthias’ share to Nina. I think he says something about how money doesn’t make up for it, but Nina says how it’ll help, she’ll use it to make the world a better place. BANG! Kaz thinks back to young him and Jordie. Jordie wanted to be rich…Kaz just wanted family.

Have Kaz look around at all the Crows and appreciate them. And it has to be heartfelt shit—for Jesper put all the prequel good times we never heard from either of them, but that were implied, make Kaz inwardly think it. Have Kaz realize the Crows made him feel that sense of family again…and he didn’t realize until too late. BANG! Have Kaz sad that all of them are leaving and wanting to work to be closer with them/find that family feeling with them or others. If you want to be super angsty, make him think about not wanting to die alone (callback to the Nina and Kaz morgue chapter).

Purpose: maybe towards the end of the chapter have Kaz reflect on how the other Crows have a very big picture purpose, but he doesn’t. Maybe Kaz tries to come up with one and regrets that he can’t (because of all the reasons above). I think a satisfying conclusion that leaves the door open for more growth would be for Kaz to have a goal of finding something to be a purpose. He can’t come up with one now, but he has a future, money, and connections now to do so (not like when he was nine and alone). Have him think: maybe I’ll talk to Jesper and Wylan about it if they’re staying in town.

That’s all I got, I think Kaz not having a purpose isn’t a bad thing and makes sense with his background. He just needed to realize a lot of stuff on page, in-depth, for us readers. I think all my points were the journey Kaz went on…just a bit more off-screen and subtly. I don’t like the notion of Kaz’s purpose being Inej/Inej’s dream nor do I like how Kaz is still waiting around for Pekka and the Council of Tides stuff. As a reader it makes me feel like Kaz learned nothing, even though I think he did/was intended to.

*Slight apology for the change in tone at one point, I’ve got a lot of feelings on how Jesper was written/treated in the books this time around. May make analysis but no promises.

[the-names-nine]

You drew him with comically long gangly arms… BECAUSE MANTIS SHRIMP…

(character belongs to @yeets-ix)

impact is so cool im rooting for him

@sonic-oc-showdown

[l0stfoster]

Paul anon here to say eeeeeeYEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH I LOVE ME SOME CURSED PAUL DOODLES THATS MY SCRUNKLY BOY IM LOEHEVDJDGUEHE I LOVE PAUL HOLDEN

I wanna know more about the feather situation now tho ohhhh you got me intrigued ohhhh my goddddd

And paul just thinking and knowing hes the reason johnny’s in a wheelchair and that’ll probably haunt him for the rest of his life cuz now hes so associated with the greasers he probably knows johnny a lot better now and ohhh im gonna be sick . He probably has so many feelings about the shit he did b4 he was kicked out of the house ohhhh my sweet boy i love you so bad

Paul anon I hope you know you're an icon among the writers. Novva has previously expressed how much they want to put you in a jar and observe you (/pos)

As always I am so joyous that you're enjoying Paul here hehe. I've said it once and I'll say it again. Canon Paul can go kick rocks, Cursed Paul, on the other hand, needs a break from me. I talk a lot below so yeah another below the cut.

The feather situation was a little thing I'd thought about recently, since I've brought up to the writers before about how Two would eventually offer Paul a feather for flock marking, and Paul, by god, does NOT want the feather. Not only does he feel like he doesn't deserve it for what he's done; but it proves something about himself too- that he's getting attached. What the fuck does it say about him if he begins to connect with these people? It doesn’t help the guilt, that’s for sure. Two tries for probably months to get him to take it; literally days on end of offering and being ignored or shrugged off- finally, Paul takes it, but he doesn't wear it, nor does he keep it on his person. The only reason Paul wears it visibly for the first time is because god DAMN does Two pull off some REALLY good sad, pathetic bird eyes (and Dally looks ready to kill him for upsetting Two-Bit, so.)

He just gets so damn unlucky with the timing and circumstances surrounding it. Not only do the harpies already hold beef with him because of Two’s original jumping and the feather issue (most of them are clueless to the fact that Two’s forgiven him, while others are aware and have kinda chilled), but having a soc who’s harmed one of their own in their territory does not sit well with a majority of them, even all these months later; something especially impactful to the Shepard’s Gang. The second one harpy spots Paul with this feather, the immediate assumption is that he’d taken it just as he did with the first one.

I don’t talk about the Shepard’s all too much, but this is a good time to mention that Two and Tim are pretty good friends— so, well, he takes this as a matter that he can settle himself; and it’s a good way to warn this rich boy imposing on their territory that he’s on strike two of three, whether he’s one of the cursed or not.

Paul Gets Jumped, Part 2. It’s definitely not as bad as when the socs got him because, despite their gripes, Tim is half aware that Darry does gaf about this guy (he’s very out of the loop, and doesn’t even know the two are dating). As bad or not, it does freak Paul the hell out due to how familiar it felt to the first time he was jumped. That’s called trauma big guy, you and Johnny can bond over shaking like chihuahuas when you walk home alone. They take the feather away from him too, and you bet your ass he will NOT ask Two-Bit for another one because he doesn’t want him thinking Paul had purposefully disposed of it, especially with how often he’d been turning it down. This mf also ends not up being very fond of harpies outside of the ones he knows (ie; Two, Mrs. Mathews, etc) for a little while. Refuses to walk outside the house unless he’s got someone else with the gang. Two dive bombs on and grabs Paul while he’s walking home once and the entire East side loses power for like 5 hours lmao. Two was not happy when he found out about it too. Harpy: “Oh yeah we got this back from a soc while ago here" Two: Two: “-Isn’t that Paul’s?” Harpy: Harpy: “Th. The soc?” Two: “Yeah??? Paul??? Darry’s boyfriend?? This was his-“ Harpy: “I mean, he had it b- ohhh shit. You gave it to him on purpose.” Two:

Tim is very confused when a ruffled Two slams the door open and off its hinges at his house

Two, slamming the door open: “WHY WOULD YOU JUMP HIM WITHOUT EVEN ASKING ME ABOUT THE FEATHER????” Tim, half asleep on the couch: Tim: “..g’d mornin'?”

ON THAT NOTE Paul is,, so utterly haunted by both Johnny's and Two's disabilities, and that is absolutely not helped by the fact that they don't even seem to hold it against him. In Johnny's eyes, Paul wasn't the one who'd jumped him, resulting in him carrying the switchblade that killed Bob. He wasn't the one who held Pony underwater with the intent to kill. Two himself already knows that Paul didn't expect him to be burned as he was, nor was he the one holding the lighter. The blame the gang directs at him varies; especially when they see that the two who fell victim don't even seem to be mad about it. I think that a large reason as to why Pony throws his blame at Paul for Johnny is because, well, Bob's not around to take it. He's an emotional teen who's taking it out on the person he knows had some correlation to it. Besides, I think all of us know Pony blames himself for the church fire; directing that anger at Paul makes it easier to cope.

But yeah, Paul's practically eaten alive by the guilt. It sure as hell doesn't help that he already feels bad for being directly related to the witch that cursed Tulsa.

[artsquirrelb]

I will slowly update my art here 😊🫶 You can call me Soc (meaning squirrel in my language) 🫶

You can also find me at

Twitter: https://twitter.com/artsquirrelb

Instagram: https://instagram.com/artsquirrelb

Pixiv: SocNau - pixiv (requires loging in to view mature artworks)

Prints: Art Prints by Soc Nau - INPRNT

Multifandom but I mostly like:

- Genshin Impact, Persona 3 (sometimes 4 & 5), Pokemon, Honkai Star Rail, Xenoblade 2 & 3

- Spy x Family, Haikyuu, Detective Conan/Case Closed and a few more mangas

I like several ships but I only have a few OTPs I hyperfixate on (and thus I don't like any other ships that only have 1/2 of my OTPs):

- Diluc x Jean (Genshin Impact, tags #jealuc #dawndelion)

- Akihiko x Mitsuru (Persona 3, tag #akimitsu)

Also I'm not very fond of self-shipping so please refrain from breaking my OTPs with your simping in the rbs/replies. Thank you.

[the-names-nine]

I’ma be real with you fam

If mine and your OC (in the sonic OC showdown) didn’t have rare concepts we would probably not be this close in the voting right now

we came out of butt-nowhere to submit our guys with next to no art and in my case no story. if our OCs were "typical" we would just be two random throwaways.

best of luck!

@sonic-oc-showdown

[the-names-nine]

You drew the sheriff better than I ever could... even his crappily designed, outdated clothes...

But look out, interrogation is Impact's deal, he's got an eye for detail, and he's used to those reliant on pushing people's buttons to hide their own trouble... ;>

The young shrimp was excited to have gotten invited to this competition, it'd be a chance to get him off the island at least. There wasn't going to be any fighting, so he wasn't exactly sure what they'd be competing over, but he didn't really have time to consider that when he say his opponent looming in front of him, the unmistakable red and black attire of the Eggman Empire adorning his enemy. She turned to look at him, her gaze locking onto him and giving him pause. There wasn't even a sense of her sizing him up, she already looked disinterested and annoyed.

"Impact the Shrimp? I've looked into your file. Another fool playing hero, you're just lucky that the people on that island you 'protect' have never needed your help."

... Oh boy, this was going to be rough.

Round one of the competition begins! Hoo boy, I'm gonna enjoy having my angry hare competing. >:D

Impact the Shrimp belongs to @yeets-ix

OC competition being hosted by @sonic-oc-showdown

Go and vote for either Ebony the Hare or Impact the Shrimp here!

[greasegotahold]

This post started out with a point then turned into rambling abt the stage show lol

So like. at least in my irl circle and from what I heard yesterday, a lot of ppl prefer the musical to the movie. Acknowledging the bias of theatre ppl toward theatre, that's not the reason I heard most; what I heard most is that the musical stays closer to the book than the movie. Granted idk how many if any of these ppl have seen the complete novel extended cut of the movie, but even so this argument sits wonky with me

Bc the musical takes quite a few departures from the book, some p dramatic. Darry is not the gang's leader, Dally is. Randy is an ensemble part with one line; Cherry gets his ending "even if you win, nothing will change" moment. Sandy is already gone. Evie and Sylvia are gone. Steve is not a big part of Soda's life. Two Bit isn't acknowledged as an alcoholic. Johnny was only jumped a week ago, and it's not a secret who did it. Bob is the one who jumps Pony at the start and even comes up with an excuse for it. Dally doesn't give Johnny his heater, Dally commits a far more direct suicide, no sickness or court proceedings, so on and so forth.

Now I understand why we made just about all of these changes: the show is just about 2 hours as is, not counting intermission; streamlining needed to happen, for time and for clarity of storyline. I even prefer a lot of the changes (Cherry is just. Such a livelier character lmao. She's given stuff to DO. I love her in the book and movie but the stuff they added in the musical I simply love.) I bring this up just bc it. Is honestly just as different as the movie if not more so in how it departs from the source material.

Which means when ppl are saying it's closer to the book, they mean in feel.

And in many avenues; talking about the the extreme accessibility of the book as an adult with other adults, attempting to articulate my issues with the film adaptation, and then later attempting to defend the movie on those same shortcomings, I think I know why.

It's the ever-present narration. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Ponyboy tells his story, he doesn't show. And that makes the book an extremely straightforward read, and absolutely how he can tell us so much shit that happened in so little time, but it also makes it hard to capture in a standard movie adaptation, especially when the movie also needs to trim down and streamline characters and plot points.

But what does Pony do throughout the musical? He narrates. Yes the story plays out real time, but it's still interspersed with these slowdowns where he talks to the audience, where he's narrating.

And I think that's what's really clicking so well with the musical, despite all the changes to characters and their dynamics and plot beats.

And for certain things, the impact is still there, they just changed it around. Johnny was jumped last week instead of months ago and we don't get the excerpt abt how he wound up buying his first blade, and how he would kill the next soc who tried to jump him, and Dally no longer gives him his gun, but he does give him the 6 inch switchblade when Johnny is genuinely worried his dad will kill his mom, and then shows him how to stab to kill. The circumstances are different, but we still get Dally giving Johnny a lethal weapon. The motivation changes for why Johnny carries his blade, from self defense to an explicit want to protect others, but this makes it a more direct setup for when he kills Bob to save Pony.

And a lot of the straight up original additions to the plot feel seamless. The added backstory for Cherry's parents, her dad's alcoholism and her mom's kind of just. Surrender to hopelessness and despair. Not only explains why she's so touchy about Bob drinking, but it makes the change from going along with him to stop a fight into her refusing to back down after breaking up feel justified. To be clear, I don't fault book and movie cherry for doing what she does in that scene, she's trying to keep everyone else safe, I just think that the change was set up and well executed in the musical.

Also sidenote but in Justice For Tulsa...I have so many feelings after getting to see it. The cop shining his flashlight down on Two Bit as he gets jumped, but then he just keeps on walking bc why would he care abt a greaser...Bev buying right into the boys' escalation against the greasers vs Cherry's outright rebuke and then Marcia is over here looking genuinely Physically nauseous over having to choose a side. And of course the moment where the cop beats Dally after handcuffing him, that speaks for itself.

(Sidenote, unrelated to anything, I just wanna say when I listened to the soundtrack for the first time, years since I had read the book or watched the movie, somehow I just knew when the soc boys started singing their threatening section, that they were jumping two bit. I guess I just had a faint buried memory that Two Bit was the revenge-jumping victim lol)

[cravingpepsimax]

Unintelligible rant:

Putting aside the fact that shipping does not reflect anyone’s morals or values and is not indicative of personal relationships (or at least shouldn’t be), it’s just fun to just explore these dynamics

If these people who get so mad about stancest shippers are mad because they think that means they’re actually into incest, what does they say about them and their tastes that they ship Billford, a canonically abusive, manipulative, hate filled relationship?

LEGIT LMAO

the funny thing is that antis that ship b1llford do… exactly what they accuse proshippers of doing? i’ve seen so much cute fluffy b1llford content made by antis, i’ve seen antis call things that were a part of bill’s abuse hot, and it’s like… guys, aren’t YOU the ones that claim to be against the romanticization of abusive dynamics? WHAT IS THIS IF NOT ROMANTICIZATION OF ABUSIVE DYNAMICS????

the truth is that many antis, as intense as many may act, don’t have any actual moral backbone. few years back, liking b1llford WAS considered proshipping. they don’t care about protecting others, they care about liking the morally correct thing.

this is one of the many reasons i stopped being an anti. honestly? to an extent, i still believe that shipping can have a negative impact on reality. there aren’t — and never will be — any studies specifically on the impact of shipping Problematic Things, so i’d hardly die on this hill, but the logic does make sense. if you’re in an abusive relationship, and you primarily consume media that says that behavior isn’t abusive, or that it’s hot or whatever, it makes sense that you wouldn’t really question it. especially if you’re a child.

but then i noticed that — despite what other antis were claiming — no one was acting like this was what they actually believed. in fact, quite the opposite! they’d harass and call proshippers pedophiles, despite that, one, calling someone a pedophile because of what ships they like being fucking insane, and two, proshippers — particularly ones with a fixation on adult x minor pairings — being victims themselves. accusing anyone of being a pedophile due to the ships they like is insane, but accusing a VICTIM of being a pedophile? because of what fictional characters they make kiss? that’s fucking evil. it certainly won’t get them to reconsider how healthy their coping mechanisms are — they’ll just double down.

and then, just. all the pieces started falling apart!

if antis care SO much about reducing harm, then WHY do they keep parroting the impossible solution of “oh, just make it all go away,” as if that’ll EVER happen? why do they never promote any form of like… shipping harm reduction??? like, i acknowledge the possible harm of shipping adult x minor pairings, but i still ship dipford. it’s not that i just don’t care, it’s because there are things you can do to minimize the possible harm. going “STOP IT!!!” does NOTHING.

why are abusive ships like b1llford suddenly okay now??

why is shipping incest bad — how could shipping two consenting, but related, adults actually be used in a harmful way??? if you’re trying to coerce someone into an incestuous relationship, you probably have more effective methods than shipping. arguing that shipping could be used to harm children makes sense, this is often done online and children are very susceptible. arguing that it can be used as a tool to normalize abuse to a victim is a stretch, but arguably still plausible, especially if it’s an online/long-distance relationship. but incest???? no! what???

i’ve seen some people argue that shipping incest can end up with you becoming attracted to family members, but like, 1. what the fuck that’s not how ANY of this works, and 2. that hardly seems like it’s on the same tier as “something that could be used to groom minors”.

just. none of it ended up making any sense?????? and then it hit me — whether they’re aware or not, they don’t actually care about the possible harm — they care about doing what is socially acceptable. that’s why it’s okay to ship b1llford now. because shipping abuse is now considered okay.

[dreamtigress]

Please consider streaming/watching Shadow & Bone on Netflix! It is an amazing show and cast.

From Discrod RE saving SAB...

1. Don’t cancel Netflix.

> We should __NOT__ cancel Netflix as a statement. It won’t matter. Even if every SAB and SOC fan cancelled their account, it would barely be noticed.

2. Stream Shadow and Bone.

> Netflix wants to see new viewers. They are more likely to reconsider their decision if the show gets back into the Top 10 (and stays there for as long as possible) and has unique __NEW__ viewers who are watching the show from start to finish. The easiest way to do this is by streaming the show ourselves. When it trends, subscribers will see it as well and hopefully watch the show.

3. Use the hashtags and talk about the show.

> Engage potential new viewers and spark conversations by talking and hashtagging about the show on Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Share why you love the show and characters and why it's important we get it back to finish their stories. Talk about the representation, the diversity, what it means to you, how much the cast and crew and writers love it and want to continue with it, etc.

4. Engage with the writers, cast, crew, etc.

> Industry folks are not happy about how SAB was canceled, and they are done with keeping quiet. Conversations are being had, and Netflix is trying to calm relations, especially since they’re under a lot of industry scrutiny since the strike ended. This is a very unique anomaly that works in our favor, and we only have a small window of opportunity to make a big impact, so we have to act fast. Engage with the writers and cast (be respectful, friendly, and kind!) and keep them talking about the show, cancellation, etc. (to us and/or in their industry circles).

5. Send physical mail.

> Send (respectful) letters and physical items to Netflix HQ because those are things they can't ignore since they have to be physically sorted through (letter information can be found in <#1175231261569204245>).

6. Work as a focused team.

> We have to be a **COHESIVE** unit as a fandom. If everyone is split apart, it will not help because we won't make the impact or numbers Netflix needs to see. Prioritizing SAB over SOC (or vice versa) isn’t what will convince Netflix to save SAB or green light SOC. Netflix will make the final decision, but they won’t even consider until they realize that we as a fandom are one formidable, united force.

7. Focus on Netflix.

> At the moment, all efforts must focus on convincing Netflix to reverse their decision. Netflix does not like to give up the rights to its shows, and unless they do, other platforms can’t step in to save our show instead. Other platforms will notice anyway if we make enough noise, but focus specifically on Netflix!

Starting soon, we will be having dedicated watch parties and daily hashtag parties. We will give you more information on what 3rd hashtag to use and when.

Be vocal. Keep using our main two hashtags #SaveShadowAndBone and #SixOfCrowsSpinoff

Thank you all so much for your efforts, and keep it up!

[the-names-nine]

I'm jumping on your post, deal with it.

I notice that while Impact is also behind 20% in his poll, he has been slowly narrowing that gap since the first big boom of votes.

He would need 73 straight votes to wipe the smirk off Ebony's face.

I call upon all shrimp enjoyers...

Honestly I’m just happy that I at least have close to 40 percent of the votes in the sonic OC showdown.

We might make a comeback idk we’ll see.

[killianmesmalls]

I actually like the current trajectory regarding touch when it comes to Kaz and Inej in the show vs the books. To be fair, I saw the show first before diving into the books, but a main reason comes to mind:

The image of Kaz picking Inej up and carrying her to the boat would not have as big of an impact emotionally if we had not seen those struggles from no touch in season 1 (what was described as a prequel for the SOC characters), tentative/armored touch in season 2, then him seeing her in distress and carrying her fully in his arms, struggling against the rising nausea, and fretting over her before realizing how deeply he truly feels.