#that would solve a lot of problems

[sugarandice3]

*side eyeing politics* I don't really know what's going on over there, but I sure don't like it.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

In the world of heavy metals, love is denser than hate!

[videogamelover99]

Uhh I'm sure this is a hot hot take in this fandom, but I personally don't find the whole moon!Varian theory/idea very interesting in terms of narrative or character.

Varian's always worked best as this scrappy kid who used his intellect to solve problems but whose emotions got in the way of that. He's so desperate to impress Raps and the gang that he neglects his giant boiling water tank and almost blows up the village. His emotions towards Cass are what get him running around helping her until the last minute, making his science presentation a disaster. His need to please his father and later his hurt/distrust towards him is what leads him to recklessly experiment with the rocks behind Quirin's back.

This is also probably why he's drastically more competent as a villain, up until the end. He puts aside his emotions in favor of cold, ruthless tactics, and it's only when his emotions once again get the best of him that he's defeated. Varian's intellect has always been his strength, but his emotional immaturity and volatility is what got him to fail.

So then you give a character like that magic power that has all to do with emotions, it doesn't work. There's no reason to show off his intelligence or persevearance, because the rocks are a physical manifestation of power. And while he goes on this journey of growing up and gaining emotional maturity in season 3, he's never in a struggle with his emotions, if anything, he lets them have control more often than not.

Now compare that to Cass, who a) solves problems physically, so the rocks are a perfect extension of that power and b) fucking sucks at emotions. While Varian acts on his emotions constantly, she stuffs them in a box and relies on her anger instead.

Moon!Cass works because the power set it gives her works for her character. It doesn't work for every character, and especially not Varian.

[serpentface]

What does the yotici life cycle look like now?

Fairly similar, here's a generalized idea

I Did kind of drop the sessile+asexual polyp mobile+sexual fish alternating generations because it doesn't Really change anything besides sounding vaguely interesting. Fish reproduction is wild enough as-is.

Their eggs are laid in a stringy mass that requires a root to the sea floor (coral, tough kelps, rocks, sticks, etc) and light currents to keep them oxygenated. These egg masses are strong and can bend and sway fairly significantly without coming apart, but will be broken by strong currents and require a sheltered environment to survive. This is the basis of a Garden, an engineered ecosystem designed to protect the eggs, provide substantial and consistent nourishment for the young and resting places and shelter for adults, and additionally function as cultural and social centers.

Larvae are tiny and born with a yolk sac attached to sustain them. They metamorphose into a 'predatory' phase in which they feed on zooplankton and organic debris. These phases are tiny and poor swimmers, wholly reliant on the sheltered environment of the garden for safety and consistent food sources. Those swept out have very little chance of longterm survival. The VAST majority of yotici that hatch at all die in their larval stages.

Most of their anatomy is fully developed as a 'yotling', in which they are much stronger swimmers, school together, and are primarily predatory. Yotlings feed on plankton and other small animals, but their most important food source is their own species' eggs. This is a natural behavior for yotici, and much of the function of the garden is to provide this dependable, clustered food source for their young. The survival benefits of most of their reproductive output being sacrificed to these viable young with a fairly strong chance of survival vastly outweigh the loss, given the vast majority of yotici larvae who hatch to begin with die without ever reaching this phase. Yotlings have much lower mortality rates than the larvae, but a majority will die to predation. They're also frequent bycatch in fisheries and are widely eaten by landdwelling peoples. During the yotling phase, they're about 4-8 inches long.

Their beak starts to develop in the juvenile stage, during which they are 'weaned' out of predatory behavior and start consuming algae and marine plants. They instinctively school around adult yotici and follow them to food sources, usually eating algae that grows around the tougher foods the adults can handle. This tends to be the point in which active parental protection begins, but few yotici cultures conceptualize these juveniles as full people or develop personalized bonds with them, as their mortality rate is still fairly high. During the juvenile phase, they're about 8-14 inches long.

A yotici 'child' has all its base adult anatomy developed, including its tentacles, and looks like a miniature adult. They can eat tougher foods and join the adults in consuming seagrass. This is the point in which they are semi-equivalent to a human infant, rapidly learning and picking up on language and beginning to communicate. Fully active parental care and bonding will occur during this period (the Exact cultural marker of when this starts can vary) and they are conceptualized as people. Diminishingly few yotici actually survive to this phase, but those who do have a very good chance of lasting to adulthood. The child phase starts at about 1-2 ft in length.

At this point they grow steadily until sexual maturity, and will continue to grow (much, much more slowly) throughout the rest of their lives. Sexual maturity takes a VERY long time, usually about 20 years from hatching. An adult yotici generally ranges in size from 12-18 ft, with outstanding or very long lived individuals passing 25 (the World Record would be in the mid 30 ft range). A yotici who survives to reproductive adulthood has excellent chances at a long life, and yotici are by far the longest living sophonts. A lucky individual can crest 200 years.

[kyurochurro]

another John study bec I love painting him and I love this frame from strawberry fields forever:D

[leslieiswriting]

vampires? Pirates? Vampirates!

*Queer* vampirates!!!

Coming to shores near you in a *month* !!!

Add it on Goodreads!

[watchthisqqq]

Notes about the Secret Relationships Manhwa

The plot is very different after a certain point so it becomes difficult to summarize unless I retell the whole story. Let me know if you have questions. I made note of some questions that were answered by the Manhwa and difference between the show and comic.

Drunk Kiss

Initially Seong does not kiss a wasted Daon and even berates himself for having the thought. But then Doan gives consent and they make out. But Daon is still super drunk and thinks it's jaemin and says jaemin's name. Seong asks him if he has a habit of kissing people and then says he regrets it. Seong is pissed about it.

Suhyung-Daon Kiss

The scene before Suhyung and Daon kiss in the show is even more intense in manhwa. Seong is aware of how scared Daon is and refuses to leave. Seong ends up grabbing Daon wrist and hurting him. Suhyung and Daon end up having sex. Next day Daon tells Seong that he might sleep with suhyung again and if Seong can't deal with it they need to stop their romantic relationship. Seong responds by crying.

The Reason for the Relationship pact

Daon tells Suhyung that he likes Jaemin early in their friendship. Later Daon expressed interest in Suhyung and Suhyung responded by sleeping with him. No threats in their initial hook up but Daon was slightly drunk. They were acting like a couple even though neither said they liked either other. They kissed in the library scene and Jaemin is aware this is happening and that Daon likes Suhyung now. Jaemin then tells Daon he likes Suhyung and Daon starts avoiding Suhyung. Jaemin suggests the relationship pact to Suhyung. Suhyung is upfront with Suhyung about manipulating Daon into avoiding him. Suhyung is literally “wtf are you stupid just date him instead of doing this weird pact” and initially rejects the idea.

Suhyung becomes violent when Daon continues to avoid him. Daon states he regrets being with him and Suhyung threatens to kill Jaemin. Daon begs him not say anything to Jaemin about their relationship and states he just wants to stay by Jaemin's side. All this leads Suhyung to agreeing to the pact.

@soypim @nabi-unveiled In the manhwa Daon and Suhyung did make out when Jaemin and Suhyung were "together".

Self-Harm Scene

Jaemin shows up bruised and tells Daon Suhyung did it because Jaemin told Suhyung that he liked Daon. Daon moved in with Jaemin to protect him from Suhyung. Daon says he will find his own apartment and Jaemin very calmly stabs himself in the hand repeatedly. This is after Jaemin had confessed his feeling for Daon. He only stops because Daon makes him stop. Jaemin asks Daon to quit his job. Daon continues to live with him to take care of him and promises to quit his job.

Kidnapping

The storyline changes a lot but to summarize: Daon goes with Jaemin willingly to his vacation home and Jaemin confesses that he was lying about suhyung, dating him, everything etc. Jaemin confesses his feelings again and then confronts Daon about his relationship with Suhyung (that they hooked up in the past). Daon cries and they have sex. Daon tells Jaemin he doesn’t love him and leaves. Daon calls Seong to come get him and they hook up. Daon moves in with from then on and they start their relationship. The End.

Suhyung Redemption

In Suhyung’s own words: “I’m not sorry and I don’t regret anything”

“Don’t forgive me. Just erase me from you memory”

Seong

We get a lot of Seong's perspective so you understand him and his motivations better. He really does not have any idea what is going when he initially pursues Seong. He is pushy and corners him at work so same vibe as in the show. Seong has no idea what's going on but tells suhyung to back off even though he believes Daon likes him. Daon likes him back early on but pushes him away because of his situation. Seong confesses and Daon is clear that he still likes Jaemin even if those feeling aren't returned. Seong does the same thing in manhwa where he asks for consent and doesn't wait for an answer. Seong notices that Jaemin is being manipulative. Seong, as does Suhyung, recognizes Jaemin likes Daon.

Suhyung

"Would you stop crying? I don't know how to comfort you."

Suhyung is constantly threatening Daon with getting back together with Jaemin to make Daon do things. Daon give into Suhyung's demands initially to stop him from getting close to Jaemin again. Daon also barters with Suhyung to stop him from doing certain things very early on. Daon initiates kissing as exchange to stop suhyung from telling Jaemin about them. They hook up a lot. After he returns to Korea is violent early on (choking Daon after he spent the night at seong's) , stalking and is constantly calling. Suhyung’s mom's is religious.

Daon liked the guy that tries to sexually assault him. Jaemin did not set anything up other than inviting the guy and then the guy tries to very publicly assault Daon. Suhyung almost murders the guy. Other than being scared that Suhyung almost killed someone Daon does not feel negatively towards Suhyung for this. Suhyung was actually very nice to Daon before going abroad unlike in the show but he just kind of leaves and doesn’t call him.

Jaemin

"You like anyone that's kind to you"

"i know him better than he knows himself"

Jaemin rejects Daon very harshly and then gaslight him about it. He is way calmer in manhwa. No kidnapping and doesn’t pay anyone to take naked picture of Daon. Jaemin told Suhyung’s parents about him liking Daon. Jaemin told Daon to cut his family off for Daon's benefit. Jaemin told Daon’s dad where he lives.

Daon

"That's when i remember. I'm the worst person here."

“I guess everyone who stands by your side will become unhappy.”

Daon's nosebleeds are from stress. He used to get them all the time because he was always working multiple jobs and going to school. Daon's sister gets manipulated by jaemin and scolds Daon for not being nice to him.

In the Manhwa it's a lot clearer how much Jaemin has messed with Daon's head. Daon questions himself constantly about Jaemin and is so confused. Manhwa better shows how Daon is impacted by Jaemin's manipulations, always apologizing and insecure after meeting with Jaemin. Daon continuously blames himself for Jaemina and Suhyung’s behavior. Thorough the manhwa pattern of Daon saying No and then others getting him to say yes. Jaemin, Seong, Suhyung all take actions to make Daon feel indebted to them. Daseul asked Daon if their parents can move in with him not herself in the manhwa.

Daon believes Suhyung is cheating on Jaemin with other people while they were dating. "You don't want me to fool around with other people? Then you should go out with me" Suhyung to Doan. Daon finds out of Jaemin and Suhyung dating by seeing them kiss.

[rozesmiana]

He’s just mad that murder is actually morally wrong in Piltover

[nilefreemans]

as someone from the Midwest, they did not give Bobby Nash enough Midwesternisms

[toskarin]

miss Toskarin you’re not convincing me that Skyrim was the ruin of all western rpgs. In fact you’re convincing me that the issues began with oblivion.

I'd better be careful or else I might convince you of my less loudly-held beliefs

[tokyo-daaaamn-ji-gang]

Ok but was anyone else watching this bit like

[gooodomens]

I would just like there to be a quiet moment of introspection for Aziraphale where he acknowledges the fact that it must be tiring for Crowley to always be the one making the first move - to keep them safe, to keep them them. And for Crowley, in turn, to think on how his constant running away from problems only to be pulled into the fray again and again might have less to do with his need to save Aziraphale and their relationship, and more about wanting to do the right thing despite claiming to not care.

[nenoname]

honestly??? i still dont know what to do with the idea that there might be a bunch of clone fords out there???? it honestly makes me so unhinged??????

[highlyincorrect]

I’ve heard a lot of people chatting abt what sort of career Five would have if not what we got in s4 and I wanted to weigh in

Personally, with the way I thought s4 was gonna go, i figured he’d jump back to his assassin routes and maybe become a gun for hire (like he was in the comics). Even if he wanted to be on the straight and narrow path, I still don’t think the CIA would be a good fit for him (bros not a fed, ACAB🗣️)

I had a long lovely discussion with someone from ao3 on this very topic and I think they might have had smth with their response- investigative journalist

That way he can still live a very adventurous life, help people and fuck over corruption and criminals without being a part of the bureaucratic thing he doesn’t like anymore (like in the commission)

Idk tho. What do y’all think

[moscovium291]

y'know i just think it'd be cool if websites and services and apps had slightly better ui's so that i am not constantly being jumpscared by being one twitch of the finger away from sending massive sweaty fatfur ass to all of my friends and loved ones

[fangsandfeels]

It just occurred to me...

...that nothing was really stopping Cazador from Ascending aside from his lack of brain cells.

If the chamberlain guy was afraid that he'd become a replacement in the ritual to the point he tried to fake his suicide (and overdid it), it probably was technically possible.

The kidnapped victims weren't connected with their kidnappers through blood - none of the Cazador's spawns bit them. Cazador did. Cazador easily became a replacement for Astarion in the Ascension ritual - which meant there were no specific requirements for the sacrificial lamb aside from the runes on their skin.

So, technically, Cazador didn't need to catch Astarion to continue the ritual. He could have easily Turned any other person into a spawn, carved the runes, and proceeded with his plan. Only one piece of the contract was missing and it was rather easy to replace.

But he just had to be a little bitch about it. He just couldn't let it go even for a moment. He had to show who's The Boss. He had to Make a Point.

He spent tendays, months coping and seething over his bruised ego, refusing to proceed with the Ritual before Astarion came back -- and in his self-obsessed mind Astarion had no choice to come back because the opposite would be an insult to his Vampire Lord status.

The Ascension was literally at his fingertips. He could have Ascended, walked out into the sunlight, and used all that newly gained power to find Astarion himself.

But did he do that? Noo.

He chose to stomp off to his bitching corner and make an Astarion-shaped salt mine in his diary.