#thank you again for this ask

[cloudsofbespin]

Hello! I really enjoy your DM-posts! Could I ask you how you feel about DM in the show going forward? Because, honestly I’m a bit worried. Would love to hear your thoughts on it!

So what unsettles me a bit about it is the fact that they already turned Daniel into a vampire, especially in combination with the decision to never(!) show the turning. I’m a huge fan of this interpretation of Daniel and Armand thus far, but them turning Daniel already has made me a bit worried about where they are going with it - and if it’s a focus at all. Cause most of the stuff from the DM chapter is kinda un-adoptable now. There won’t be a human-vampire relationship, no Daniel teaching Armand about the human world and no fights about immortality. Even their intense power imbalance, which is an essential part of the chase, is kinda gone now, even though obviously Armand is still a lot stronger. I’m actually fine with most of this, bit sad about the loss of a human-vampire romance ngl. The only thing is I wonder how they are actually going to do the romance? Cause I gotta be real, I would hate a cliche hate-love relationship where’s it’s all about sexual tension. It’s just very shallow. I also don’t want Daniel to be reduced to being an “emotional-service-vampire” to Armand by chasing after him and being fascinated by him. Obviously it’s very romantic for Armand to have someone be obsessed with him for a change, and I’m not totally against such a scenario - but I just really don’t want the complexity of Daniel’s character be reduced to serve such a plot. Daniel definitely hates Armand at the end of the series, understandably so given the literal torture and the psychological trauma he went through. I felt annoyed that this was so quickly put aside in s2e5 and especially s2e6 and it just makes me worry it will be even less of a thing next season. Or it will be used in a shallow way to have Daniel express hatred of Armand to serve a shallow hate-attraction dynamic. There should be some actual romance, no? I can get behind an enemies-to-lovers thing, but it needs to be well-developed and have depth. I’m just not sure we will get that? Hopefully I’m being too pessimistic. I just feel a bit like Daniel’s character was at times reduced as to make him almost one-dimensional to serve the greater plot last series (in the aforementioned instance in particular). Daniel is a secondary character, so not being a main focus is understandable but reductive character writing is always painful to see. However, it all comes down to how he’s written next series. So hopefully I’ll be proven wrong here.

Rolin’s comments making it sounds as Armand turning Daniel it’s “the” DM thing, no matter the context - and that we’ve already “had two seasons of DM”, really made me sad and annoyed. Cause he can’t be serious! We haven’t gotten anything(!) yet. Even most of the looks between Armand and Daniel can simply be interpreted as Armand looking at Daniel with disdain as he tries to stop him from revealing the truth, and Daniel’s looks can easily be interpreted as a motivated journalist being intrigued by a mystery. I understand why people read their interactions as attraction, I’m not saying that’s wrong - my point is just that we haven’t even gotten anything real and substantial or any actual crumbs yet. Which is fine, if we get something real at some point but Rolin’s comments just worries me in this regard. Please tell me I’m overly worried? Also the mere fact that Armand turns Daniel is not DM, and since it was offscreen we actually didn’t even get that. Also what does this mean in how invested the writers are in this dynamic? I think that is what worries me the most. I understand skipping it in s2, but it’s been stated that we’ll never see it.

I just have lost a lot of faith in the writers here, even though I loved a lot of other stuff in the series. Could I ask you how you think DM is going to develop in series3 and/or 4? And separately, what is some stuff you would like to see? Sorry for the somewhat downer ask, I just really like your blog and reading your thoughts - so I wqs curious about your take on the situation. Thank you!

hi!!! first thank you for your lovely words and an absolutely wonderful ask. it actually made me ponder things and confront my own hopes/wishes/expectations

as of now i have somehow learned to differentiate between book!dm and show!dm and as a result of that i am basically ready for anything. it feels like this great weight has been lifted off my shoulders ever since i stopped agonizing over whether past!dm happened or not. because honestly? i am convinced that they can and will hit some of the major emotional book beats even without their past romantic relationship

as for rolin's "seasons and seasons of devil's minion" comment my interpretation has always been that all of that -- all of their interactions -- are a part of the bigger picture and will lead to something. do you remember rolin's sdcc 2022 answer to a fan who asked about armand and daniel's relationship? he said: if that relationship is important to you, don't worry. and tbh i have always loved that choice of words. yes it is important. and i'm sure they are all aware. it's not the main romantic relationship of the series and we have to remember that the show is above all louis's story. but yeah. the dm relationship is important to armand, it is important to daniel, and it is important to us as fans.

i think you're incredibly valid to be upset about the lack of human/immortal dynamic if we don't get past!dm but as i've mentioned the story can hit some of the other equally important beats. mainly acceptance. because armand and daniel above all simply fit together. they are freak4freak. they are equally matched. they see each other for who they are. and if the show plays their cards right their romance can be pretty epic. i think that's actually what is most important to me. i really need for them to find in each other someone & something they can't find in anyone else. love and acceptance

[maivalkov]

I apologize beforehand if this comes out as vulgar, but is Abel's "special package" the way it is only in Zoute Drop or is it an overall in your fanfics?

Anon, dearest anon. I need you to know that this is one of, if not the greatest fic-related ask I have ever received. Great subject, very polite - I can't ask for much more than that.

To answer your question: yes, it's consistent.

What sets it apart in ZD, however, is the fact that our poor, ever-suffering protagonist hasn't had the best luck while 'shopping', shall we say. As such, when faced with a decent human being who also happens to come with good assets, João can't resist pointing it out. In fact he does this several times in one chapter alone.

Legends also claim that the author became so engrossed in the telling of smut that she forgot just how many times she praised Abel's package. One can only wonder if this is true. It is.

[llynwen]

hi you're European right? I'm curious to know your thoughts about how the American south is portrayed in true detective bc I've been there and yes it's exactly like that but even moreso. Haunted ass beautiful country

Thank You So Much for such an interesting ask!

In the case of many europeans who were born before the Internet was such a big thing, we mostly learned about the us from films and shows. my childhood experience was watching reruns of spaghetti westerns and early 2000s rom coms, family comedies and kids movies, and feeling that the technicolor reality of america was somehow so much better than the Gray of eastern europe. the discrepancy isn't as noticeable now as it used to be when i was a kid, but you could Smell the post-sovietness some days. the life i saw in the movies was anything But the bleak, overwhelming reality of the early 2000s in my country that just made you feel nauseous and gave you a migraine. like i remember being Shocked at the technology of CDs and MP3 players. it was 2007.

the consensus was always that america was somewhere where everything was better. bigger. brighter. america was where you went to be happy. where you could breathe.

then, as i grew up, i obviously realized that this was a load of bullshit. i don't remember when the shift took place, but sometime in my teenage years, i suppose. by that time, my english has gotten good enough to actually participate in social media (that are predominantly american, like tumblr for example. i've been here for a decade) and actually engage in discourse. to learn about the Real america and what life looked like for the average person. and it wasn't great. guns, systemic oppression, privatized healthcare, the capitalist rot. none of that was present in the movies of my childhood.

now, in true detective, the south reminds me so much of how eastern europe felt in my childhood. it's nowhere near similar to it visually, the nature and architecture and people are all different, but it is Stifling, Suffocating, like the sky is gonna come down on your head. the ash and aluminum line actually describes it so good. what i was most surprised by, though, was the people. starting from marty (let's not focus on rusty here as we can all agree he doesn't really belong with the rest of the characters), he is a perfect example of the average family man. i love his character Because he's a shit and a cringeass loser, but in the scenes of him interacting with his daughters in '02, the feeling that he evokes in me is Disgust. and i feel like that's a common archetype of the father-provider that thinks his role in the house ends with making money. he sits in his chair, makes everybody miserable with his very presence, and expects the food to be brought to him. that man has never scrubbed a toilet in his life. i know men like him. i've met them, talked to them. i'm related to them. they're everywhere. that disgust feels intimate. now, the other characters that surprised me were the side characters, the people rust and marty go to question. tyrone's mother, the prostitutes, dora's friend at the scrap yard - they remind me of my people. now, i really don't want to come off as classist or some shit like that - but in both the show And my reality, the divide between the working class and the educated crowd is Stark. that is not to say that one is better than the other (i firmly believe that a lack of education can make you happier, if you think about it. content with a simple life, happy to work in a mine your whole life, live in a wielka płyta apartment and go to the sea once a year. if that. this is very specific to my region, sorry). the way those side characters talk, behave, even look - that is Nothing like the movies. they're not the flashy main characters, they're imperfect in every sense - they Look like people, have flaws, crooked teeth, they don't dress like supermodels, they can be stupid, they drink and smoke and cheat and lie. they're Human, not movie protagonists. and i love that reality in the show. makes it feel that much more authentic.

i don't know how specific that is to the south; are the people like that in other places? are the fishermen in luisiana the same as in minessota? is the suffocating feeling specific to the iberia parish, or is that just how it is in small town america? i dont know. the problem is, i wanna find out.

see, i never lost that childhood wonder. call me naive, but i still wanna Go. i still want to see the american dream with my own two eyes, even if it means i'm gonna watch it shatter in real time. i graduate college in a little over a year with a masters degree, and for right now my plan is to find a way to go work at a ranch in montana or wyoming. that's all i want. my favorite thing about america is not the culture, not the people, not the Possibility, but the Space. ironically, the stolen land is what compels me most. i want to experience that open space, to Breathe, and for the first time in my life feel my lungs filling up fully. i will be disappointed, full stop, but i want to have that experience.

the american south is a fascinating place to me, always has. the specific mix of cultures, the tradition and lack of it, even the bigotry and hate, it's all endlessly interesting. as you said, haunted but oh so beautiful. it scares the shit out of me. i need to go and feel it bite me.

[m34gs]

Saw AU ask time!

There has to be a time, right? Everyone is stuck in the planning stage of a trap when suddenly their phone rings. It's Yuu. They sound a little worn down and before they can ask what's wrong they say, "Can I come over? I need to talk to someone." Naturally, they freeze and before they can come up with some excuse everyone finds themselves agreeing to having Yuu come over.

Please tell me:

What were they in the middle of planning?

How do they hide/cover it up? How much chaos erupts?

How long does it take Yuu to come over?

Hello friend! Thank you for this ask, I am definitely looking forward to answering!!! I love adding to our Saw AU. I will be grouping the answers by dorm for ease.

There's nothing really gory or gruesome in the responses, but I'm putting it under a cut because of length!

Heartlslaybul:

What were they in the middle of planning? They were working on some mechanical aspect of the trap; probably a prototype for something like restraining a trap victim or a new type of locking mechanism or something. Deuce is doing most of the mechanical work (I love how he's good with working with his hands) while Riddle supervises; Cater is on supplies run and Ace is watching from the couch as he eats some new dessert Trey made or something...lol. There's screws, nuts, bolts, and all manner of metal scraps all over the floor, and a large box of tools. Blueprints are spread on the table and Riddle also has web pages pulled up for trouble-shooting.

How do they hide/cover it up? How much chaos erupts? The instant Riddle agrees for Yuu to come over, he turns around and orders Ace and Deuce to help clean up. Unfortunately, knowing those two, at least one of them knocks something over (probably the toolbox) and all the little pieces go flying everywhere. This adds at least twenty minutes to their clean up time as they scramble to find every last piece. They don't have much time, so everything is grabbed and - much to Riddle's inner dismay - shoved in a closet. Let's be real, as much as Riddle tries to pretend otherwise, Heartslaybul is Chaos Central. (it's definitely because of Ace and Deuce)

How long does it take Yuu to come over? I think, in an attempt to buy time, Riddle would ask Cater or Trey to pick Yuu up. This doubles their time for cleaning, since they will have to travel twice the distance, but Yuu is still there in less than an hour.

Savanaclaw:

What were they in the middle of planning? They were in the middle of designing and drawing up ideas for the trap. There's scattered pages of notes and quickly sketched diagrams all over the table and about half of the floor. A manilla folder has photos of the target spilling out of it. John gave them a couple three-dimensional models of different tools/trap items they could use, and those are all scattered about the place.

How do they hide/cover it up? How much chaos erupts? Ruggie answers the phone, but Leona probably takes it over. Just grabs it right out of Ruggie's hands. He agrees to his herbivore coming over, and Ruggie immediately starts scrambling to cover shit up. Jack is helping him. Leona is still on the phone and every few seconds he chucks a model or crumpled up note at Ruggie to dispose of/hide. Moderately Severe level of chaos.

How long does it take Yuu to come over? Leona wants Yuu over as soon as possible. They arrive in about twenty minutes. Ruggie is huffing and out of breath, so he mutters some excuse about having just tried going for a run with Jack and drags Jack upstairs to "shower".

Octavinelle:

What were they in the middle of planning? Azul is also in the planning and gathering info stages. He has an entire journal filled with notes on the target. There are different blueprints for various traps scattered in front of him, as he hasn't decided what would be most relevant to the individual yet. He has up photos pinned on the walls of the different possible locations they could use. He has a list of criteria from John regarding the trap and victim. Jade and Floyd were tailing the target and they come back with a folder full of more notes and photos. The computer has up several different webpages for various mechanical parts Azul may need to purchase (using a fake identity and a bank account set up specifically for this purpose). He's also checking their supply of cleaning supplies (he's set it up like an inventory list because that's how his brain works).

How do they hide/cover it up? How much chaos erupts? The instant Floyd hears Shrimpy is coming over, he is ecstatic. He throws the folder in the air in celebration, and all the carefully sorted notes and photos Jade and he took are now scattered and floating to the ground. There's definitely a scuffle as Floyd tries to run out to see his Shrimpy right away, and Jade is NOT about to let that fly, so he grabs him by the collar to drag him back to work. Azul is shouting. Pages are still raining down from the air. Floyd would like to just shove everything together and dump it in a closet. Jade wants to organize it so they don't have even more work later. Azul is shouting at them to PICK A METHOD AND JUST DO IT THEY ARE GOING TO BE HERE RIGHT AWAY. Floyd-level chaos.

How long does it take Yuu to come over? Yuu's there within an hour. (if it took any longer, Floyd would probably run out to get them himself) Azul has managed to get all his things for planning scooped up and into a private office room in their home, where he can quickly sort things while the twins distract Yuu. Jade is making food, probably some sort of mushroom dish, so that he can ask Yuu's opinion and keep them distracted from looking to say hello to Azul until everything is sorted and cleanly put away. Floyd sees a few slips of paper that escaped and landed under the couch. He just kicks them further under the couch.

Scarabia:

What were they in the middle of planning? Jamil is in the middle of persuading John over the phone that he and Kalim should have access to a specific abandoned warehouse, rather than Azul. He's very persuasive. Kalim is the one who takes Yuu's call and immediately agrees to Yuu coming over.

How do they hide/cover it up? How much chaos erupts? Not much to cover up this time! Jamil finishes the conversation and jots a quick note about the location and details in a planner, which gets tucked away in a drawer. He knows Yuu would never snoop. Kalim is busy arranging the place to receive guests (he has taken on more of that role since Jamil's overblot and he likes helping). No chaos at all!

How long does it take Yuu to come over? Yuu is over within half an hour, and Jamil is already working away on some delicious food to eat together. Kalim keeps Yuu's attention entirely for the duration of the cooking, and Yuu is none the wiser.

Pomefiore:

What were they in the middle of planning? Vil was in the middle of putting together a potion. An old recipe tome for poisons sits on the table, with notes scrawled in the margin. Ingredients, both dry and wet, are scattered about the table, and he is in full protective equipment for brewing potions.

How do they hide/cover it up? How much chaos erupts? The instant Vil's phone rings, he would consider not answering; after all it would not exactly follow lab safety. But, when he sees Yuu's name on the screen, he can't resist. He answers with a "Hello, Yuu", with slight emphasis on their name. That's what triggers Rook to spring into action. Before Vil even starts the next sentence, his vice Housewarden is clearing the table and putting away all the ingredients. Epel can only watch in awe (and a little bit of fear). Chaos is minimal for this power couple.

How long does it take Yuu to come over? Yuu is over within the hour. They don't suspect a single thing. There may be an herb or two that fell from the table as Rook was cleaning, but since Vil is so big on skin care and health, it wouldn't be surprising to Yuu if he was experimenting with some ingredients to create a new product to add to his collection.

Ignihyde:

What were they in the middle of planning? Idia and Ortho are cyberstalking their target when Yuu calls. Social Security Number, all their social media, tracking their typing/writing patterns to different anonymous forums online, hacking their emails and work computer/cell phone; if it's online, they've got it. Ortho answers before Idia can, and of course he agrees for Yuu to come over.

How do they hide/cover it up? How much chaos erupts? Idia luckily can download and/or screenshot the information he needs and then shut all the internet pages relatively quickly. You would think this means "no chaos", but the chaos comes less from hiding their efforts, and more from rushing to try and make their home tidy enough to host a guest. Idia also has to send Ortho on a food run because all he has are snacks and energy drinks. Ortho is pleased to have a chance to buy vegetables for Idia. Moderate level of chaos.

How long does it take Yuu to come over? I think Ortho would take into account the time they'd need to prepare, and would suggest Yuu come over in about an hour for supper. Yuu is right on time.

Diasomnia:

What were they in the middle of planning? Malleus had the trap drawn up and planned out, now they were assigning roles and testing different mechanical parts before putting it all together. I imagine it can be quite the discussion. As we've established, Fae are able to beat the traps more easily than humans...usually by breaking the trap. So, Silver has to do a lot of the work and testing things out to make sure they work - within reason; Malleus would never ask him to hurt himself. Even so, there's probably still a bit of risk involved. I imagine it makes Lilia's paternal instincts go a little haywire, so he is probably hiding up in his room until this part is over. Sebek also doesn't like that Silver has to take on so much danger, though he's more likely to frame it as "I'm stronger so why should the weak human do this?" I imagine this makes their testing and setting up stages take far longer than other groups (though overall they are still fast because the Fae powers let them speed through the other stages).

How do they hide/cover it up? How much chaos erupts? So, how they cover up is determined by what exactly they are assigning and testing out. The thing is, Malleus wants Yuu over asap. So, it they're just testing out the mechanics of different trap parts, he snaps his fingers and teleports it all to the room he knows Yuu wouldn't end up in; Lilia's room. Minimal chaos for Malleus, Maximum chaos for Lilia as all the notes, blueprints, and trap parts are suddenly crashing down in his bedroom with no explanation.

How long does it take Yuu to come over? Malleus teleports to get them and escort them over. They arrive instantly.

There you go! I hope you enjoyed these answers; I had so much fun answering the questions! Let me know what you think!!! 💜💜💜

[effen-draws]

your fix is makign me flop around like a fish and making noises i didn't even know i was capable of makign. swap kim is so vile in a sexy way and i mentally cheer for him when he passes his checks like i did when playing de💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 dear lord. he should be placed in the glue trap

PFFT-- god. I finally have time now to respond to fic stuff. So I open up my inbox and I’m floored again by this ask. I laughed just as much as I did the first time I read it a few days ago. You’re a true poet. Your wit amazes me. I’m so glad that the fic activated fish mode in you and that you’re enjoying my interpretation of swap Kim:-D 

So go on, put him in the glue trap, anon</3

[theuwuafterhours]

I hope you find the genuine people you need

Thank youuu~<3 Luckily I do have some genuine people in my life especially since my friend circle is quite smol, it’s more so people that do want to connect with me, specifically from tumblr which I worry about.

[chloesimaginationthings]

Vanny finally meets FNAF tape girl in person...

[hellsitegenetics]

HEY CONGRATS??? ON BEATING ONE-TIME-I-DREAMT??? YOU DID IT???

i was asleep when this went down so you cannot imagine my surprise when i looked and found that we won by a margin of less than 1%

[noodles-and-tea]

You’ve just got this real magic, capturing the sunshine summer of childhood in the tiny Pines twins. Like I am fully convinced I could show the overcast sky one of your pictures of Stanley and the sky would be like. Pack it up clouds, time to get back to the sun.

Ohh thank you :(((((

[cherryfennec]

Summer Times

Hi! I'm finally back from my two week abroad trip!

[orbbo]

Hey for fannon swap could we please get warden Grian? :D

Poor guy has to get custom sweaters.

((Thank you all for the request!! I wasn't expecting to get so many but I tried to do my best to do them all justice. I'm no longer taking fannon swap requests now. I'd love to do more general hermitcraft/life smp requests in the future. ))

[tsukinoshinjiu]

May I request alttp Zelink? If you don’t want to, just ignore this ask

He just saw the most beautiful girl and his brain stopped working (HE'S JUST LIKE ME FRR 😭) some extras below 👇👇👇

i liked the sketch better lowkey but the render came out nice too, just struggled a lot

[stealingpotatoes]

Hello you had a dc era? I need more of your Batfamily they’re so delicious! Also happy birthday

i'm always in my dc era deep down, but my absolute Peak batfam/dc phase was when batgirl of burnside and grayson were running so in honour of tweenage me, Them:

(commission info // tip jar!)

[canisalbus]

i was testing some new clip studio pens and i drew ur doggy

.

[boringwomanwithabook]

Omg! I will never get over the bodysuit!

You will my friend, everything fades someday

[emry-stars-art]

Can I be cheeky and ask for some more tiny jellyfish Neil? I love him so much. In my pocket.

In your pocket!