#the characters kind of just exist to me lol. sometimes i have to go 'well theyre hanging out now. which universe is this'

[ochiody]

i just saw a post abt people cross tagging etm content so at least for my stuff: if its something broad or vague enough that it could interchangeably be epic cycle or epic the Musical content (eg random odypen art), i usually mark it as both because im indecisive and it wont seem ooc under either tag

if im posting something thats purely odyssey/iliad or etm i will not add the other fandom. however i cant control reblogs and crosstagging does happen in there sometimes

[gossippool]

what do you recommend for people who are very new to deadpool comics and looking to get into them?

hiii thank u for asking!! this is kind of a complicated question because there's no right answer really. especially with deadpool, there's no actual best starting point because besides the basic origin story that he was experimented on, everything else about him is fair game (he just lies all the time and has false memories about his past) and so all the comics are different and pretty much standalones. but here's a list of a few comics depending on what you want to explore (i have not read every deadpool comic ever so this is not the best list but i will get there):

for shorter and more lighthearted reads:

deadpool (2022)—SO so cute wade has a crush on this non-binary assassin and it's actually adorable how much he likes them lol. in terms of shorter deadpool comics i think this one is quite a standout [update: the ongoing deadpool (2024) is brilliant as well and is a direct more in-depth continuation of this]

deadpool infinity comic (2021)—a short partnership with sue storm. funny and the art style is so cute too

deadpool (2018) #6—the issues in this run are all kinda standalone stories (although they all connect at the end). they're all a fun time but this issue in particular is hilarious. comics usually don't make me actually laugh but this one did

for a more meta read that explores exactly what makes wade unique from other superheroes:

deadpool kills the marvel universe (2011)—in my opinion THE most iconic deadpool run, i'm sure everyone's heard of it lmao. a little darker but hey cameos from every marvel character ever. this was the first deadpool comic i ever read and it was a good time

for a familiar face from deadpool and wolverine (for other specific familiar faces you could just search "deadpool vs [character]" and that comic would probably exist):

honestly just search "deadpool and wolverine" and you'll probably get the whole list but here are some i've read that are lovely:

deadpool & wolverine: wwiii (2024)

deadpool vs. wolverine: slash 'em up infinity comic (2024)

weapon x-traction (2024)

for long in-depth characterisation that explores a lot of deadpool lore:

deadpool (2012)—if you've been following me you might know this is my favourite deadpool comic ever. it's pretty depressing and much grittier than the movie deadpool you might be used to, also REALLY long so it can be daunting but it's very worth it imo. it starts to get really good by the good, the bad, and the ugly issue and there's just SO much in it. for me wade in this run is inseparable from wade as a character to me (this comic is also followed up with deadpool (2015) and despicable deadpool (2017). these aren't necessary to read because 2012 kind of wraps up on its own, but it's definitely bittersweet to get to the end)

deadpool (1997)—another hulk of a comic run. i have not read this yet but i've heard very good things about it, and many people say that joe kelly is the defining deadpool writer so you could give it a go! older comics may be a little harder to read though, from experience

for comics featuring ellie (wade's daughter) that you may want to read in order if you want to fully appreciate her and wade's relationship:

deadpool (2012, 2014, 2015)

deadpool (2018, issues #8, #12, #15)

deadpool (2024)

a lot of comics will sometimes redirect you to other comics that explore a sideplot, and the main comic will just pick up where those left off so you could miss some storyline. despite this it's not necessary to read those other comics, but if you want to avoid multiple instances of this when you first go in, then i would suggest starting with the shorter runs!!

i hope this was helpful lmao sorry this got really long but i think the starting point really is different for everyone depending on what they like

[resident-idiot-simp]

Wolverine getting some of Deadpool's 4th wall awareness because of the matter and antimatter ordeal

Featuring: @existentialgaybirdnerd @steriotypicaloutlaw

(x)

More for @castielsprostate

Bird: Mind to mind communication using the voices even far apart

Ok ok but Logan who can now truly understand Wade and everyone is super confused by it. Also (I am convinced at least Vanessa thinks he's absolutely onto something so this just confirms it for her) But others start thinking Wade may not be completely insane possibly

On the other hand they now think Logan is insane as well which is just as funny.

But all of the small things that would change. Chef's kiss

Bird: They use the voices as a sort of comm link too, Logan can keep up with wade’s style of thinking now and can even finish his thoughts with him

But imagine everyone's reactions to the seamless communication between them. As well as Logan now talking into thin air like Wade does. It definitely gets people thinking

Ethan:

Now I'm just imagining a scenario where they're talking to Colossus or someone else and it's just

W- "Yeah, sometimes we finish each-"

L- other's sentences. It's really not"

W- "that big of a deal... And you were supposed to say sandwiches, we talked about this Peanut." Wolverine rolls his eyes and lovingly shakes his head.

(Bold is them both talking at the same time)

Bird: Logan would chime in with the wrong words sometimes specifically to fuck with Wade, and then when they’re both pissed they speak at the same time and in the same register and it gets creepy

Wade and Logan having conversations that make absolutely NO sense to anyone besides them. The boxes asking things or a conversation about other impossible things that others wouldn't know

Bird: There’s an entire four way conversation and the outsiders are only getting half of it lol

Also something that always gets me about characters being self aware is the implied idea nothing they do matters or it would hurt the others that are unaware. Well maybe more so the latter point. Because it doesn't matter if it's not technically real it's real to them so I just never like that argument. All to say I think Logan really just doesn't give a shit he isn't technically real

Bird: Oh absolutely not, Logan would have his first 4th wall break and just raise an eyebrow and look away and slowly as they happen more and more on purpose he does things to fuck with the audience

Wade talks to the audience to share a joke Logan talks to the audience to insult/mock them. Surprisingly it makes all the difference

Bird: Logan freaks people out by looking into the distance and spitting a kind of joking insult and then walking away

It also somehow convinces people that it's still definitely the same wolverine and he hasn't completely lost his mind

Bird: When people start getting more suspicious of him he’ll insult something and stalk off

Vanessa is elsewhere taking a victory lap. Also Laura is very confused but also falls into the they are onto something club. I feel like Al ABSOLUTELY believes they are onto something

Bird: Laura likes to try to spot what they’re talking to, looking in the vague directions they’re looking at. Al will simply hold out a hand to one of them, go “point me” and flips off whatever audience they’re talking to now

Al is to old and has seen (or not seen) too much and specifically lived with Wade long enough to know

A) He isn't insane

B) He's almost always right

C) he knows things he really shouldn't

Bird: And when Logan starts doing the same stuff and insulting the air instead of just joking with it, she starts asking to flip off who Logan is talking to and he’s all too happy to point her

And once they explain exactly what happens she's just like oh yeah that makes sense. She doesn't need more context

ALSO This makes them both anchor beings but specifically one anchor being. They merged they now have to both be there for it to continue to exist

What if this was the first time it has ever happened in the TVA want to just study them because how did you manage this??

I read a fic that mentioned this also almost seem to increase their powers slightly and I love that idea as well

Bird: Kind of combines them, makes the healing faster and makes them harder to hurt

It's barely noticeable but it's just enough to make them even worse to deal with. They become the bane of everyone's existence because they are now truly unstoppable

Also the X-Men are trying to figure out exactly what happened. It isn't working It can't really be explained well because Wade is just kind of beyond exclamation

Logan is just vibing now while being more immortal than ever and having a whole new world opened up to him. I imagine it gets to the point where he's learning more and more and he just starts pointing randomly at some of the people that come across and saying actor's names and Wade is just beside him nodding enthusiastically and praising him

[thefourthwifeoftengenuzui]

May I please ask for headcanons Aoba Johsai with a manager whose skilled with archery and sharpshooting please

Yes of course! Sorry for the wait I was working on a Rindou piece and my physics exam. It’s like 3Am right now, but I still want to finish this for you boo. Thanks again For requesting Anon, if you like this, don’t forget to like and ask if you have any other ideas. Also, you didn’t specify which you wanted, so this can be interpreted as romantic or platonic. Status: unedited

warnings: crackfic, bad grammar, cursing, violence, oikawa exists, oikawa slander, color coded characters, reader is a whole ass menace, mentions of vaping

🩵🤍Aoba Josai With a Sharpshooter/ Archer Manager🤍🩵

As a Team (platonic)

Oikawa, Iwazumi, Kunimi, Kiyotani, Kindaichi, Matsukawa, you

My first thought when I looked at this post was simple. How many times and we hit oikawa in the head. Everything else kinda spiraled from there. Just imagine being able to do that shit with pinpoint accuracy, and when he turns around to see who did it, be like the gremlin chick from hotel transilivania and be like ,” I didn’t do that”. And then he proceeds to blame Iwa, and pure unrefined chaos erupts from there. *clears throat and sips matcha* good shit

But on a more serious note, these boys are completely ready to take full advantage of your skills. Remember when oikawa sprained his ankle? Guess who had to replicate his serves instead so they could practice receives. That’s right, you. And your aim is a little too good sometimes (Kindiachi has been hit in the face) but they honestly don’t care, they just looking to get practice in, and maybe a few tips here and there for aiming.

But that’s just during their practice. During your archery or other practice. Oh my god. Imagine having like 12 annoying older brothers. Like both Archery and Sharpshooting are pretty quiet sports. But with these mfs at your practice? Oh dear lord. These gon be the most obnoxiously loud humans to walk the planet (3rd only to Fukurodani and Kurasuno). Imagine with me. It’s so silent you can hear a pin drop. You’re trying to concentrate before you’re pulling back your string. You take a deep breath and just as you’re about to let go- “WOOOOOOOO THATS MY LIL SISSSSSS/BROOOO!!!” “SHUT UP SHITTY KAWA!THEY NEED TO FOCAS!” “HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW IWA!?” “YOU WOULD KNOW IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH AN DUMBASS!” “IF YALL DONT SHUT THE FUCK UP ILL SHUT YOU UP MYSELF” yeah they’re THAT kind of sports parents. They got kicked out last time :)

I just know yall have made oikawa put an apple on his head and see if you can hit his head. Ofc you can, but it’s funnier hitting him with the Velcro arrows and watching him rip his hair out, and ruining it for the day (his fangirls hated you for that lol.)

I just KNOW that the other teams got some crazy ass conspiracies about you. They call you the Seijo Assassin, and that you kill the best players of the opposing team, and they never find the bodies. And tbh it was probably oikawa who started it, to get back at you for getting Velcro stuck in his hair. So while you’re just as hot as kiyoko, everyone is terrified of you, and are only referring to you as L/n-sama (even though you’re only a second year.). I swear to fuck hinata pissed himself when tsukki told the team about you.

also yall know the sharpshooter shaving cream balloon prank thingy? I know damn well the whole team is having a competition for who can do it best. Like it’s literally so funny, especially when someone not on the team gets hit. Like I know oikawa has accidentally hit the coach with one of those. Do with this information what you will.

Individuals: Could be romantic or platonic, either way fits (though both are seriously on crack.)

Somehow or someway, Oikawa will convince you to be his bodyguard. And not even like paying you money. Just like a, “ YoU wOnT wALk yOuR pOor dEfEnSLeSS FRiEnD tO cLAss? WhAt iF my FAnGirlS Kidnap MeEEEEE?!” “yep.” “Do you even Love Meeeeeee!?” “Nope.” “…I’ll pay you~” “pay me what?” “Food~” “DONE!” *throws chair out window* yeah y’all’s relationship is pretty much just blitz and stolas in the loo loo land episode. Like when Stolas was just walking while Blitz is pretending to be Batman, lurking in the shadows and pointing a gun at anything with a pulse? Yeah that’s you two walking around the school, except with a nerf gun instead.

oh and you know the team jackets? He bought you yours. But not just any jacket oh no. Yours is special. He payed extra to have it say, “The Seijo Assasin; Oikawa’s bobyguard.” He also might have gotten it in 4xl because he doesn’t know your size, but still wants it to be way to big on you so he can make fun of you. He’s an ass.

Iwazumi is much nicer on the other hand. He (regardless of if it’s platonic or romantic,) is all about helping you carry your stuff. He doesn’t even ask either, he just kinda picks it up and does it. He says it isn’t a big deal, and that you’re carrying enough with your archery equipment anyway, and that he needs the weight training anyway. Def the kinda guy to use your backpack as a dumbbell and use it to lift while y’all in the hall.

I know y'all have a running competition on who can hit oikawa in the head the most. Body shots are one point, head shots are worth 2, and the groin is worth 3, especially if he’s being creepy to someone. The score is currently 34-31, slightly in your favor. Whoever hits him the least by the end of the month has to buy the winner ramen. Oikawa doesn’t approve of this game, and ends up attempting to bump everything back your way. But on the bright side, it’s a good way to scare off his fangirls :).

Kunimi just kinda vibes with you. Like he doesn’t really acknowledge much of what you do, just kinda goes like, “ oh so that’s why you were so good at that. I just thought you hated oikawa. Anyway can I have your Chez-its?” Yeah my boy don’t care enough, but he cute so yeah.

also I just know this mf, plays Fortnite and vapes blue raspberry burst. Do with that what you will. ( to be clear, I wouldn’t ever vape, i just know he does, and honestly had to look up what flavors there are.

The honesty biggest thing you do that impresses him is the whole good aim card slicey thingy. Idk man, he just seems like he would be good at that, and would try to fight you on it.

Despite everything, Kyotani is actually relatively nice to you? Or at least as nice as he can be. His version of nice is avoiding you like the plague, cause he’s scared you’ll be scared of him. He actually really likes you and wants an excuse to talk to you. So what does he do? Asks you to help him aim while spiking, so that he can use his strength more efficiently. He actually is pretty patient with your teaching, and genuinely respects you enough to take your advice. ( tell him to shower pls, I can smell him through the screen, luv him though)

He also uses a whole bottle of axe body spray every time he walks out of the house . Be careful not to get too close to him. Please find someone strong, or stupid enough to bully him out of it, for the sake of the teams lungs🙏

Kindaichi is probably the only person on the team who still calls you Y/n- senpai. He’s way too precious. That being said, he still did give you a twenty if you hit kageyama with a vollyball during warmups. He may be nice, but he mad petty. And $20 is $20 man

Matsukawa is definitely a COD type of guy. He knows a lot about guns. Bond over that (then give me his number pls)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for reading, sorry the last part was rushed, I am just not feeling it rn. If y’all liked this make sure to follow, Like, and request something of your own. I literally have nothing else to do. Love y’all sm, peace

-joden

[thewertsearch]

Anonymous asked: Well, welcome to what's known as Murderstuck! Enjoy your stay, and complimentary Faygo of 12 delicious flavors can be found in the fridge! Anonymous asked: Welcome to the murderstuck arc! @elkian asked: Allow me to be probably the 300th person to welcome you to Murderstuck lol… it's so interesting seeing your theories, because you get REALLY CLOSE sometimes, it's just that these kids don't do things logically [...] Your prediction for 'blood' re: the Trolls was spot-on. Never seen Murderstuck predicted that early. @sanctferum asked: "What a flash, is all I’ll say. This feels like the beginning of a new chapter, with Aradia revived as one of the most powerful Players, and Vriska choosing to do something she’s probably been contemplating for months." Oh, it's a new chapter alright. A chapter called Horrorstuck (or Murderstuck depending on who you ask). Haaaaaaave fun!! [...] @mimescantscream asked: I'm so giddy for you to enter this section of Homestuck. It is so good. :o] Anonymous asked: welcome to karkat vantas's terrible horrible no good very bad day Anonymous asked: this part of the comic is commonly referred to as murderstuck. what do you think of these developments from a narrative point? they've always kind of felt like a wild swing to me. not per se unexpected, but a bit odd

Time for Homestuck to become a slasher movie!

These murders certainly didn't feel out of left field. The comic has been stretching the tension out for a while now, as the clock runs down on a meteor full of violent, stressed-out aliens. I didn't predict an Eridan double homicide, but I sure expected something to pop off.

Murderstuck also serves an important narrative purpose. The trolls have been directionless for a while now, with only Karkat and Kanaya really committed to helping the kids. Vriska, Terezi and Tavros have at least been doing something, but Equius, Nepeta, Feferi, Eridan, Sollux and Gamzee have barely existed for the entire sub-Act.

Homestuck has a lot of characters, and some were bound to end up on the bench. A crisis like this will get everyone off the bench and back into the fray. This, in turn, makes the Veil more dynamic, and sets the stage for interesting character moments - moments which won't happen if everyone is just napping in their rooms, or whatever the B-team have been doing post-Hivebent. Fuck that - it's time for shit to go down.

[katerinaaqu]

Retellings is one thing, there's also this obsession with making the Greek Gods and Heroes as other races beside Greek. Like why the need to reimagined this Gods/Heroes like you? Why they need to have body shape/hairs/colour like you? Don't you know that these are cultural figures from the country it hail from?

Like never in my life I want to see Aphrodite looking like me or my people, I have my OWN mythology! If I want a mythology figure that show my culture and society, I just turn to my folktales. Why did the Greek mythos suddenly bear the burden to represent every single person/nation on earth?

You wanna claim that bc Greek mythology is mainstream? I think there's more nuances to it, bc no one in this world know my culture lore except the people from my own country but it doesn't stop us from appreciating our mythos and figures. And if we want to look at our own representation, we just look at our own culture. It's mind-blowing to me that these people can't do the same, and they feel the need to project their identity on another culture instead of embracing theirs.

☝️☝️☝️THIS! JUST THIS ANON!!! ☝️☝️☝️

Honestly I am not sure how is that even considered "empowering" or "representation" to swap existing characters with known background like this! Honestly if someone race swapped the amazing African Orishas to look like Greeks because "we need representations of Greeks in media" I would be insulted. I would be like "why? Ain't greek mythology important enough to create so that you need to insert my myths to African pantheon?"

And I have been called a racist for saying that! As well as other people who say the same as me too 🙄 like if you claim that "whitewashing" is so evil and erasing culture then how is it okay to do the opposite to Greeks (or even depict them as the other end of the spectrum like as if they are Norse vikings or something lol). And usually they do not use the excuse of "universality" or "mainstream" their favorite excuse is:

"There were black people in Greece and they deserve to be represented"

In other words they claim they are right and that anyone who disagrees is a bigot and a racist (the usual formula that is) and so they indeed hire literally any other kind of actors but Greeks or at least Italian and Balkan descend and they do not even make an effort to cast someone that remotely looks like the part sometimes (for example they casted The Rock to play Heracles in 2015. But at least they made an effort with makeup and the lighting of the film to make him remotely look like the part and the casting didn't appear bad or out of place to the degree it is nowadays)

So for once even if that were true (and so far we do not have plenty of archeological evidence for it) they were still considered foreigners and they were not always mingling with society. Where? Athens? Where foreigners even from other GREEK cities were not allowed to live within the walls? Sparta? That didn't allow anyone in their closed society? And we have no clue what was going on in Mycenaean world. But we know ancient myths were including people that Greeks were familiar with.

But do you still wanna go with your little hypothesis that let's say an Egyptian and a Greek had a kid that is mixed? Go ahead and create an original character with an original story. Why race swap an existing one with known story. I swear once I saw someone race swap Antigone. ANTIGONE! The woman was as inbred as she couldn't be more.

Another excuse they use is the modern day Greeks that are born out of immigrants. Are they less of Greeks than I am because they are of different ethnicity? Absolutely not. They are as Greek as I am nationally. They are born in Greece educated in Greece live in Greece. Are they ethnically Greek? No. There is a difference there. And antiquity especially heroes and characters with known backgrounds being race swapped is the same as me race swapping African Orisha with the excuse that "Greeks existed in Africa" instead of me creating an original character of it

And Greeks existed in Africa. We find cities of Greeks in north Africa all the time. Even Odysseus proves this. Lotus Eaters were probably Tynisian. We have Memnon the king of Ethiopia who has an entire poem dedicated to his people in Epic Cycle called "Aithiopis". Why isn't anyone properly representing those? Why do they feel the need to race swap existing characters to achieve that? And I couldn't have said it better Anon! Suddenly greek mythology becomes responsible to represent every nation on earth...instead of focusing at the amazing nations and their stories or myths.

If again the scream bloody murder on how extremely disrespectful old Hollywood was for not representing cultures properly then why are they doing it now? And if what they do is okay thanks to their excuse then why do they scream bloody murder for old Hollywood?

Which is it?

[sobasluuurp]

Ok. About Tenko.

I understand why so many people are angry that he's dead. I really do. I would've loved for him to live as well. I cried when he died.

However.

Just because he's dead doesn't mean his character has been handled poorly. In fact, all things considered, this ending (even though it makes me real fucking sad) makes the most sense for both his character and his story. Let me explain.

First and foremost, there's the matter of Shigaraki's characterization and arc. It goes without saying, but he's an angry, used, and abused child who grew up into an adult who wants nothing more than for everything to end. His goals have always been destructive to an extreme and honestly, the logical end to "let's destroy it all" is LITERALLY everything, including himself. He's also had absolutely zero agency since the moment his parents even thought of conceiving him, and has been struggling to become his own person since the beginning of his arc. He, against his abuser, who covets immortality and eternity.

What better a way for a person such as himself to assert his agency is there than to go out the way he did? To shift his focus away from the faceless masses and to the (similarly faceless, lol) abuser who caused his pain in the first place? To destroy the control AFO has held over him and prove to him that he was always his own person? To say, this is who you molded me into. And because I am who I am, I will now kill you, and take myself down with you, and be glad for it.

(and in the process, destroy the worldview AFO showed us in the Star and Stripe arc, that the ones who survive are the victors. AFO has completely and eternally lost, but Shigaraki is victorious to his last.)

It's his first moment of complete agency in his life -- acting entirely against anyone else's wishes for himself or his actions. And he uses it to do the one thing he's been itching for his whole life -- to destroy the source of his pain.

It's a negative character arc, in a way. It's not what any of us would've wanted for him. In a perfect world, he would be able to recover and readjust, building a life for himself and his found family in peace. He'd be able to experience life fully for the first time, and see that the world is not so bleak after all.

(I'm choking up just thinking about what's been lost. It's a fucking tragedy.)

But not every character arc gets to end happily. Sometimes people do slip through the cracks. That's always been what Shigaraki's character is about.

....and what every other member of the League's characters have been about.

Because here's the thing. The story of Shigaraki's life and death would be incomplete without his relationship to his found family. He's their leader. Their symbol. Their All Might.

Shigaraki's death is not the grimdark, fuck-the-audience, senseless kind of tragedy. He is a martyr, yes, but the people he stood for will in all likelihood survive. He died for the League. His life -- his existence -- brought them together, gave them purpose, and showed them a bright future. It is my steadfast belief that he will be the only death among the main villains. Because this is a story about saving to win, after all. And given that My Hero doesn't like to kill characters off too often and each one of them still has a path to recovery, I think it's a safe assumption to make. Especially since (especially in Toya's and Toga's cases) each of them had a moment of reconciliation at the end of their fights -- the kind of thing that can help them move forward.

And to be honest, we've known for a very, very long time that BNHA is the kind of anime that likes to turn old cliches on their heads. Kacchan did not become a villain during Kamino. La Brava's literal power of love was not enough to win the battle. Deku fought tirelessly to talk-no-jutsu Shigaraki into redemption, and while he did get through to him, he still couldn't save him after everything that happened. It's nuanced and messy in a way that I've come to expect from BNHA.

So yea, Shigaraki died. But Shigaraki also lived. Despite everything that AFO and Kotoro wanted from him (despite the fact that he was never meant to really be alive in the first place), he lived on his own terms and fought so that the people he cared about would be seen. Because he lived, the old world was destroyed, and from his ashes, a better one can be built. He achieved everything that no one thought he could, and reclaimed his life in the process. What better ending could you ask for a tragic character?

[eliotlime]

November update post thing

Drawing of me watching short-form video content without sound vs one where I am lol

If you use short-form video platforms of any kind and would like to help me with my survey you can do so here! Though I'll probably be closing it sometime next week (2nd November 2024 ish) to collate the data for submission.

I've got a metric tonne of deadlines due next week but you know what it's blog update time!!

This is also not going to be scheduled to post because I usually write these on the 29th but I forgot! So it's getting posted now!!

💀 School..

Yeap as I've said I'm in school so that's still in progress, I have completely no idea what I'm doing everyday and as it turns out no time to worry about it either I got deadlines baby!!!

I mean in theory I understand but it's all a big question mark to me, like i need to be reassured like a nervous dog that I'm doing the right thing and what not

And because of that I'm real sorry about pushing the Abacelsus zine to the back burner, I actually got quite a lot of it done before I had to lock in for school of course.

And though I said I had a lot of sketches I didn't post well they were shittier than I liked them to be so I wanted to make it look nicer. Oh well dems the breaks.

Another screenie of my school work, they didn't really go into depth about how to specifically design stuff so it's basically me frankenstien-ing stuff I've seen existing and just trying my best lol

I mean.. overall it's funnnn... i guess... I do like projects but everyone in my class are adults with established jobs or goals. Even those who are around my age seem to know what they're aiming for too, feels like I'm an unemployed little sucker fumbling in the dark. Can be humiliating I won't lie, why is learning something new so embarrassing?

Aside from that I'm seeing people be so social online while studying too and it's almost mesmerizing, it's definitely survivor bias but those that can balance it are fascinating to me.

📖Anthology Update

Agh enough of that debbie downer bullshit, I'll tell you what I've also got due next week! That's right!! The drafts for my anthology!

Screenie of one of the panels I posted onto my ko-fi discord!

I'm not even half way done and it's due on the 6th of December. I'm beyond FUCKED. Anyway I can get it done by then but the school shit is sucking the life out of me through my ears.

☕ Ko-Fi Page

Deadlines aside I've also randomly launched my Ko-fi Membership page! I haven't quite had the time to properly promote it but it's there and I've been updating it every so often

I've got stuff up there already and comics of things that aren't polished (or sfw) enough for me to post. Especially if you're interested in my characters and would like to support me, here's a good hub to check all of it out!

The Ko-fi Discord updates the most frequently, basically every time I draw anything (Which is quite often!). The actual ko-fi gallery is only being updated every week to prevent spam.

Shout out to my one ko-fi member, wormfriend. Right now it's quite funny to have just the one but I definitely would like more so plz join!!! I promise I draw a lot!!!

🌯 Wrapping it up...

That's all I've got for you this month, real grind-y and uneventful but hey some moths are like that. I talked about opening my commissions again in December and I intend to keep that promise but as of yet the first week is not looking too hot haha. I'll consider it on the 7th but whuff it's real packed right now!

I don't have really anything else to say or add that isn't either

a) incredibly negative and self deprecating

or

b) cussing the shit out of disrespectful transphobic anonymous asks I've been getting

so I'm just going to end this hastily written blog update here and get back to work!

I leave you with this cool down drawing of a honda civic and my attempts at a motorcycle that can also hover in the air.

As always thank you so much for reading and I've been so busy I haven't even had time to work on my annual redraw that's been sitting in my folders gah! If you’d like to support me, here’s my ko-fi page again and my itchi.io & gumroad as well.

If you have any questions or just generally want to talk to me, my DMs and askbox is always open! Any professional enquires can be sent towards my email as well: eliotlime@gmail.com

XOXO, Stay weird!

-Eliot :)

[adragonsfriend]

Okay I'll bite. What are your thoughts on maul's resurrection?

@wildsymposiums too. Sorry this took forever for me to get to lol.

How Maul's Survival Recontextualizes Anakin's Survival. Badly.

Ok so, part of this remains a theory, because I do not have it in me to actually try and track the evolution of sw opinions on social media from pre-2008 to the present day, but,

It is my theory that Maul's 'resurrection' (eg survival of ordinarily fatal injuries) in Clone Wars is largely responsible for the development of the idea that Obi-Wan couldn't bring himself to kill Anakin on Mustafar. It is important to note: this is simply an idea I sometimes see floating around on tumblr and in fics--I have no ability to judge how common of an idea it actually is. It bothers me deeply, regardless, for how it misinterprets Obi-Wan's character.

Obi-Wan does his duty on Mustafar. He kills the Sith. He does it reluctantly, painfully, after giving Anakin every chance to turn back; it tears him up for years before he manages to let go of his attachment to Anakin, and to his guilt. But he does it to try and prevent the massive harm Sith rule will do to the galaxy.

Or rather, he believes he has done it.

Anakin is left presumably in some kind of massive shock from losing multiple limbs, on fire, quite possibly about to slide further in to the lava, with seemingly no help coming for him. By all normal measures, he is already dying. The only thing Obi-Wan 'cannot bring himself to do' is to add a decisive final blow to the fatal wounds already done--he refuses to go down the bank and chop Anakin into little bitty pieces, basically. He says his final goodbye, and walks away from the dying Sith, his dying padawan. Sidious, when he arrives, is surprised and relieved Anakin has survived long enough to receive torture treatment for his injuries, and immediately takes extreme measures installing the extensive life support systems necessary to keep Anakin alive long-term.

In short, with Revenge of the Sith as the only context, Anakin's survival is presented as extraordinary and unexpected.

This is where Maul comes in. Prior to Season 3 of clone wars, Anakin's survival is a unique event, possible mainly due to his unprecedented strength in the Force in combination with drawing on unnatural Sith abilities. With Maul, however, we get an even more extreme case:

Maul is cut in half, losing not merely limbs, but parts of several vital organs. He then falls from a large height, presumably doing even more damage. These injuries are even more directly deadly than Anakin's, and yet Maul survives without medical attention not mere hours or days, but well over a decade.

He is certainly strong, but he is never noted as being in any way as unusual as Anakin. There is no reason for him to be a special case. Now--I don't actually dislike the way Maul is written in Clone Wars when it's taken in isolation. He uses rage and attachment to extend his life, and he spends every second of that life in unadulterated misery due to his inability to let go of anything, just like Anakin will later. That is excellent commentary on the Sith, I love it a lot.

But when added as context for the events of ROTS, Maul's survival paints Anakin's survival as relatively mundane, something any Sith could do.

And worse, in Clone Wars, Obi-Wan knows about Maul's survival. He knows about this apparently common Sith ability to survive fatal injuries.

Watching or rewatching ROTS after witnessing Maul's survival makes it seem as though Obi-Wan could have been aware that he was leaving Anakin is a very survivable state, for a Sith.

But a perusal of the evidence shows that Maul's survival, let alone his exact story, almost certainly didn't exist during the creation of ROTS. While GL had various ideas about bringing back Maul--apparently having considered it a mistake to soo unambiguously kill him off via bisection--it doesn't seem to have been until the development of Savage Oppress' character that Maul's survival became essential (source).

In ROTS precise knowledge that Sith have any ability to stave off fatal injuries and death is shown to be so obscure that Anakin has to be informed of the possibility by Darth Sidious himself. Obi-Wan has no idea why Anakin had sworn himself to Sidious, unable to make the connection between the nature of Anakin's apparent attachments and any power Sidious might offer him. Surely, if both Anakin and Obi-Wan were aware that Sith routinely survive fatal injuries, they would act with some awareness of the fact?

Obi-Wan's decisions in ROTS, therefore, cannot have been influenced by knowledge of Maul's survival, and he cannot have known that Anakin's injuries were survivable, for a Sith. When he leaves Mustafar, and until he discovers Vader, Obi-Wan is fully convinced he has killed Anakin.

And that destroys him, for awhile. But Obi-Wan Kenobi is a Jedi, and by the time of A New Hope--whether via the Kenobi series (i have not watched lol) or otherwise--he has let go of the better part of that damage and doubt, able to face Anakin without flinching from the consequences of his survival.

[everythingisawayoflife]

batfam in random situations part 1 (?): airport

i’m so deep into batfam brainrot its kind of terrifying. so. uh. yeah. here is what i think they’re all like on a vacation that requires flight. for all intents and purposes, this is a commercial airline lets pretend the private jet that bruce so totally owns is out of commission. apologies if these are not accurate to their characters, i’m just having fun lol

for starters i definitely think bruce is that parent who’s super anal about getting to the airport on time

like the flight leaves at 8:30, bruce wants to get up at 2:30 and wake everyone else up with him

he’s got checklists for every kid cause every kid is different

i think this house looks like chaos - like think home alone when the mcallisters’ power goes out and they wake up late except the fam is just like that

i’d like to think duke is the most prepared out of all of them - he’s got his suitcase, his carryon, and the comfiest yet cutest airport clothes (cause you know the hot airport people you’re only ever gonna see once? duke dresses to be one of those people)

duke is getting dragged into the chaos though - one minute he’s sitting watching some avatar: the last airbender, next he’s being bombarded by dick asking if he’s gonna ge arrested for bringing shampoo thats only a little over 8 ounces (its like 8.00001)

“no, damian. you can’t bring alfred with you to france. ESPECIALLY not batcow!”

tim was supposed to pack last night. and he was going to, honest! but then the drug case he’d been tracking picked up some heat again and the time got away from him. so he ropes cass into helping him pack efficiently. she only agrees if he lets her have the window seat.

i feel like out of all of them, jason is not a flying kind of guy? like a part of me is really getting the vibe that jason hates to fly so he’s always gotta have some dramamine on him. that and some noise-canceling headphones.

window seat fans: dick, tim, cass, steph

aisle seaters: bruce, jason, duke, damian

middle seaters (not by choice): tim, and on occasion bruce

tim has never ONCE gotten a window seat when they fly

steph’s carryon is JAMPACKED with everything you could ever need. first aid, secret snacks, etc. she’s surprised it even fit with her.

dick always brings a double headphone adapter, so he forces whatever sibling he’s seated besides (usually tim) to watch his airplane movie of choice: crazy rich asians

unrelated but do you think to keep up appearances, bruce joined the mile high club? i think so but anyway back to our regularly scheduled program

there are more pictures of damian watching a movie on his green-cased tablet with big headphones than he would like there to be. most of these pictures exist on dick’s phone.

it’s a struggle to get tim to sleep at home but on flights? he sleeps like a mf’in baby. especially when it’s a night flight so the cabin is dark and comfortable with those pretty lights. yeah goodnight tim drake.

steph is not afraid to get up in an annoying kid’s face if he’s kicking her seat. she’ll fight.

one thing about duke? he’s gonna fuck up some in-flight snacks. sometimes he won’t even eat them on the flight, he’ll just buy a few bags of the peanuts and collect them as a snack for vacation. they work well for him if they go on walking tours that last all day

more pictures on dick’s phone that said subject wish didn’t exist: photos of jason conked out on bruce’s shoulder and he is most definitely drooling

dick HATES airplane bathrooms. he’d rather piss himself than relieve himself in one of those.

cass’s airplane playlist is fire. she even looks cool listening to it.

damian CANNOT be seated behind tim; thats just a recipe for a no-no. he WILL kick the seat and there WILL be blood. no exceptions.

i skipped ahead to the actual flight and not the airport whoopsies let’s go over that below

dick always gets nervous going through bag check - he’s always FINE but he worries that somehow he’s got something he shouldn’t in his bag (this is something i do i KNOW i don’t have anything i shouldnt but what if 20 kilos of cocaine suddenly just appeared in my suitcase?)

tim has definitely had airport sushi like that snl skit. didn’t end well.

remember how i said duke was one of those hot people you see at the airport that you never see again? cass is also one of those people. they are just a cool duo and the paparazzi pictures are lowkey an aesthetic

bruce does a roll call at least seven times. it’s necessary since they have left a kid at home before (it was tim. he was salty about it for at least a month and guilt tripped everyone into doing what he pleased because of it)

to pass the time before they board, steph and jason play cards. their favorites are war and speed.

jason plays wait for me (reprise) in his headphones everytime he walks on one of those horizontal escalator thingys

dick and steph like to impersonate the flight attendants when they do that safety walkthrough

the kids all race each other down that long hallway before they board

unless he goes with them, alfred’s vacation usually begins when bruce texts him that they’ve landed and are on the way to the hotel (which opens the door for other shenanigans i might do a part 2 after all)

okay i think thats all i have i think other scenarios i’d like to do are these:

batfam at a hotel

batfam going grocery shopping

batfam at a wayne gala

batfam on vacation

there are probably more but who knows. for all i know, i’ll never do another one of these again.

[year2000electronics]

I was thinking about this for a little bit but what would happen if Reverse Mabel (especially post-weirdmageddon) meets Anti-Mabel.

Seeing some call Reverse Mabel "evil" I feel this would be a very intresting interaction, Reverse Mabel may see her as someone she could of easily become.

ahh, the "anti" dimension. i ruminated on the concept a LOT back when lost legends first released! i think theres an amateurish fic i wrote somewhere in my files of anti-mabel getting basically-adopted by a one of us au ford BUT I CANT FIND IT.

excuse the opportunity im taking to rant about the idea of anti mabel as a whole lol, but... [continued under cut!]

her dimension is a little confusing to think about sometimes, because the story she comes from, don't dimension it, i think a lot of us can widely agree was almost too much of a "pivot" in a direction we didnt really need to go? it's focusing on addressing mabel's "selfishness", especially in the wake of that flood of mabel hate that started picking up steam, but i feel like the version of mabel that exists in don't dimension it is just... not very true or accurate to the actual character. it feels like a very extended "sorry we had mabel make a rash decision in the heat of the moment that the characters forgave her for because they understand and love her. we will now proceed to have a dimension of all mabels where theyre portrayed as so self-absorbed that theyre all stuck on that dimension with no hope of returning home." excuse my dramatic wording but i swear to god that's what it feels like! and that's what it READS like!

mabel got "caught up in her own mabelness"? she gets distracted with crafts and cats like a SQUIRREL?? the idea of her neglecting those around her being put directly next to her going "i caused an entire apocalypse just to get one more day of summer?" SHE WAS GOING TO LOSE TOUCH WITH HER BROTHER. SHE WAS GETTING LIED TO AND TRICKED BY A GUY WHO HAS LITERALLY BEEN TRYING TO START THE APOCALYPSE FOR BILLIONS OF YEARS NOW. its really ridiculous and it doesnt play well at ALL. this kind of thing really shows to me how trying to please bad-faith critics will literally only make the end product worse.

"but what does that have to do with anti mabel though?" well, anti-mabel's "evil" kinda gets affected by the moral of this story, don't you think? if they arent getting mabel right, then what is this ultimate "anti-mabel" really going to be? not really a reflection of any mabel i know. that's for sure.

but that aside, looking at everything that we know about anti-mabel, her dimension is kinda... played off as a joke? she feels a lot more like a joke character to me more than anything at this point lol

not that i really needed that much development from a one-off antagonist from a silly gravity falls comic but like. how is anti-mabel literally SUPERVILLAIN-TIER EVIL? what? where is she getting the resources for this?? and then you have the rest of her family who are all just like, chill? and its like WHAT IS EVEN GOING ON ANYMORE.

anyways. back to trying to answer the question i was literally asked. i think post-weirdmageddon mabel would see anti-mabel in a different light, thats for sure. anti-mabel's family is nothing like her! maybe she's just lonely. rev mabel knows you can't just get away with doing evil stuff, at least she's learning that, but i think some part of her would sympathize with her deep down

[kahvilahuhut]

🔍 cynosure status update

i mean. it's also periphery update too though. teehee. feel free to also check out the drawing here!

🤍 New to the story? Check out the (current) wip intros: Cynosure / Periphery

omg it's been a while, hasn't it? haha. i must admit i might have gotten A Bit too deep into some university assignments (+ my thesis). I do sometimes talk about the story on my main, too, but it's nothing that important for the story itself, mostly just some fun facts about the characters, which means that most of the development I've done is in my brain. Or is nonexistent or something. ANYWAY! Here's a status update to tell what has been happening lately! Might actually make this into something I post every now and then.

In this status update I'm going to talk a little about how it's going with the story, overall thoughts, plot/character changes and some things you can expect during next few weeks (hopefully). I'll put it all under the cut to keep this short on the dashboard 🥰

Like always, if you have any questions about the story, feel free to send an ask - I'll always be happy to answer 🤍

overall thoughts

Right now one of my top thoughts is honestly debating whether i want to, like, actually write this somewhere as a nove, or whether I should do it as a graphic novel or something. That said, if I do go with the latter, you can still expect writing bc I like to write things out to plan them. Or vise versa make some kind of sketches for writing. My brain works in a weird way, I know lol

I have been doing some worldbuilding (specifically for the story AND something for the overall story world that I have). Let me know if you'd love to hear some things I have thought about!

I've also been doing some research about *checks notes* Boston, MA. Because that's where most of the story happens :^) Though it happens in 2200's so I still have lots of room to change things around.

Definitely thinking about adding more dark/horror stuff in the world as a whole bc there's been, like, a climate crisis. AND people do interplanetary traveling. Stuff like that ought to lead to some fucked up stuff. Especially when there's megacorporations involved. Cynosure wise there's going to be something, especially in Periphery, happening to one of the main characters. 👀

plot/character updates

(that have happened lately, at least)

One of the pov characters kind of got a name update! Tobias's first name has been changed to Ripley, and it's what most characters will probably referring to it as. That said, some characters (+ itself) will refer to it as Tobias bc that's its preferred name that's somethings its friends and wife call it

Another pov character (Samuel) got an interesting change of backstory, some tweaks in personality, and its plot-revelant actions have changed a little. Sammy's changes has thus made some already existing things I've posted on here non-canon.

Slowly finally putting together what I mah want to have in Klara's chapters and it's sooooo exciting.

Polished some things about the plots, especially the different parts of the acts <3

Got more thoughts about the project itself (or, well, what it should have). That also means I need to look more into pharma research or something. Very interesting...

Overall, lots to think about and lots to research about.

things to expect in next few weeks

(that is, if I won't drown in university assignments or something)

I've had some ideas for little stories that would be happening before the story, to show more information about the characters and the story itself (like what happened in the original project). Or maybe just some fun parts of characters' backstories. So I may post something if I manage to write it!

Some more character introductions + pov character post. Might make a "tag yourself" meme. Or a powerpoint wip intro

Something else, maybe? If you have an idea, let me know!

taglist (interact with this post if you want to be added or removed!)

@ecofear @fashionablyfyrdraaca @shadowfells @volkihar

@antoncrane @kk7-rbs @void-botanist @the-inkwell-variable @artbyeloquent

[bestworstcase]

Always wild to me when people come up with nonsense shipping theories like that because I always consider shipping and canon analysis separate fun things.

Like, I'm a Spicecream aficionado, I enjoy Spicecream like one enjoys airs, but lol @ it being canon at all and if I was doing any major analysis of Cinder or Neo (I have) I wouldn't include or consider that besides via quick infrequent jokes. To me, stuff not being explicitly canon can be part of the fun bc then you can be like "well posit that these feelings do exist, how and where do we go from there", and have fun with scenarios spun off of that and I think it's good to separate that from actual show predictions and theory. I'm not coming up with any conspiracies on how Cinder's future arc will totally involve Neo or anything (though maybe not the perfect comparison bc i think even in the world where they made out on that airship Cinder tossing her into an infinite abyss anyway is perfectly in-character and fine but thats a tangent).

yeah that’s where i’m at, more or less. with the added factor of just not really being a shipper – much as i enjoy the way rwby handles romance and like the canonical pairings the only one i’m #invested in is ozlem (and cinwin if that actually pans out, which would be hysterical), and then non-canon pairings i remotely find interesting i can count on one hand brgdvfkd (<- like… summer/salem, summer/glynda, both conditional on whether the general thrust of my speculation wrt summer being closely on target because it’s the Genuine ideological conviction and commitment to salem’s side that makes both of those interesting; and cinwin which has enough plausibility at this point to have me going “ok but is it really non-canon”)

basically there’s got to be some real thematic meat on the bones for me to care about a ship whatsoever and it has to be a kind of meat that i like, which… is a high bar. so. lmao. it does have the advantage of making it easier to keep shipping separate from analysis when you’re not keen on shipping anyway hrgjgs

but yeah sometimes i look at other theories and go oh man. just write fanfic about it you’ll be so much happier. lol

[frenchiefreyed]

[UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF YAPPING INCOMING!!] TW: child neglect/abuse, postwar/dystopian worlds

Hello! My hyperfixation on Dan vs. is going strong and I have resolved myself to feed that hyperfixation by creating pony OCs that are meant to fit into my personal pony AU that I have been working on for many years. It is kind of funny to be introducing Tyran to Tumblr because of a ponified Dan vs. OC... But here we are.

Dan's "real name" is Impedance, a name given to him by his parents, who were, if it wasn't obvious by the name, very unhappy at his unexpected arrival. Well, his unexpected existence, really. Neither parent had had any idea that Dan's mother was pregnant before she had entered labor. This is equated both to Dan's mother already experiencing "morning sickness" prior to ever being pregnant and to Dan being so tiny that there was no visible sign of pregnancy. Sometime during grade school (likely elementary school or early middle school; not sure on specifics quite yet) Dan either created his own "Dan" nickname ("dan" being present in the word "impedance" and sounding a lot better than "imp", his parents' nickname for him), or somebody else did (maybe Chris, or some other friend of his, since I do plan on Dan having more friends than he is shown to have in Dan vs.). He doesn't mind "Impedance" being on legal documents and IDs, but he generally prefers friends never to know that it is his full name and he especially does not want anybody to actually refer to him that way. Outwardly, he is surprisingly relaxed when called "Impedance" and corrects the mistake with almost off-putting calmness, but he is quick to anger if the "mistake" continues to happen. Chris and Elise both know is 'real name' but Chris has not really picked up on the implications of his parents naming him that (while Elise has). Chris, after learning about the name, mostly just agreed with it, citing the stress that Dan has caused them -- this likely hurt Dan, even if it wasn't intentional. It is likely common for Chris to say mean things about Dan with the expectation that Dan "has no heart" to be hurt (this is mostly based on my feeling in the show that Chris is extremely unaware of why Dan actually is the way that he is and mostly just seems to see Dan as a bother, understandably so but still incorrectly so I think. Still only on season 1 so maybe that changes in episodes i havent seen lol)

In MLP:FiM I don't think it's super clear what age it is most common to receive one's cutie mark, but I am thinking in my AU it would happen, on average, around age 13-14 (and it also isn't clear whether cutie marks go hand-in-hand with the start of puberty, either, but on Tyran they will not be hand-in-hand -- in other words, getting a cutie mark is not tied to puberty in any way other than the spiritual idea of "growing older"/maturing. This makes the most sense to me, since them being tied together directly would imply that a pony who never received a cutie mark would never hit puberty). Dan got his cutie mark when he was 8. His cutie mark is able to change somewhat [cutie marks changing isn't something that is ever, as far as I know, shown in MLP, but it is something I love to mess around with with my own personal AUs and OCs, so this isn't necessarily Dan-specific and, while certainly more rare than the alternative, is not so rare as to be mindblowing or revolutionary]. I'm not sure yet whether I'll have it be that the TV itself can change shape/color/type, but I do know that the screen will be able to change. The most common screens for his cutie mark will be static, SMPTE color bars, or a black screen. I think the screen will always be black when he is sleeping, although it could be interesting if the screen could change to something else when he is dreaming (implying that the screen being "alive" relates directly to Dan's consciousness?). I will definitely be exploring this more in the (probably near) future.

As mentioned before, the world these characters live in is called Tyran. It is a distant-future postwar AU that takes place at least 1000 years after My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ends. A lot has changed since then, including Princess Celestia and Princess Luna (princesses/goddesses ruling over the sun and moon respectively) having been revealed to be frauds -- unable to actually move the sun or moon, instead using illusory magic -- and the entire world being taken over by a ruthless tyrant. Tyrani (the overthrower in question)'s reign lasts several decades and leads to almost complete extinction of all life on the planet, before she is ultimately herself usurped by a rebellion. "Tyran" is the name given to the planet after Celestia and Luna are overthrown, replacing its pre-existing name "Equus". Ultimately this renaming is a bit better since "Equus" is very horse-centric and there are lots of species that live on the planet that aren't horses, but it is also not considered a perfect name to most that live on Tyran because it serves as a constant scar and reminder of Tyrani's past reign and how much damage she caused the planet.

I won't get into the backstory of my main OC/sona Thunderzolt in this particular post (that's a whole other can of worms on its own), but Dan is born roughly at the same time as Zolt, maybe a few months to a year apart. This would place Dan at being generally no older than 21 during most of the story that I have plotted for Zolt thus far, but several different ages will likely be explored since a lot happens throughout these years. The same, of course, goes for Chris and Elise, although Elise might be a few years older than the others. Dan, Chris, and Elise (although Chris and Elise will probably have different names?) all live on the continent of Tyrangue, which is the most repaired region on the planet. It's so repaired, in fact, that its residents can almost feel as though the world itself is "back to normal" even when it is very much not. The closer to the outskirts of Tyrangue you go, the more signs of past war are evident. Since Tyrani's dethroning, there have been hundreds of deities that have been assigned dominion over various different things, from as powerful/broad as time itself to as specific/"miniscule" as toothpicks. The first 27 deities (called "Primary Deities") were members of the rebellion that directly resulted in Tyrani's death, and all of them are exceedingly powerful. Tyrangue is where most of the deities live. The deities are, generally, working pretty tirelessly to try to heal the further regions of Tyran from the nuclear/magical warfare Tyrani had caused. While there are many who do legitimately see deities as frauds/hacks and who absolutely do not trust them (fairly enough, considering Tyran's history), Dan's personal distrust of deities stems more from his overall lack of trust in authority figures rather than any legitimate belief that they are not actually powerful or worthy of respect. However, I am considering the idea that one of his parents might be a deity themselves, which contributes partially to the neglect by them being too busy. If they were a deity, they would probably be one that is heavily respected and outwardly presents as a very charitable individual, while being nasty and horrible towards their own son at home. This could not only explain why Dan is so bitter towards deities in particular but also anyone that outwardly tries to seem nice or friendly or giving in the public eye. It is fairly common for there to be tension/conflict between Dan and Chris because Chris has a lot more overt loyalty/respect for deities and is often irritated at Dan when Dan refers to deities as "hacks", "fraudsters", "idiots", or any slew of other similar insults. Dan not only gains amusement from Chris being so bothered by the insults but also finds himself unable to express his emotions enough to clarify the actual root of his distrust, so he has resigned himself to Chris seeing him as someone who is 'crazy' or 'disloyal'. I think it's likely that Elise will be working for the deities in some way, but I am not sure exactly what she will be doing since the deities are generally pretty open about their actions. Maybe she will bodyguard for important figures/gather intel about potential "bad actors" in society? Regardless, I think Dan wouldn't have any issues with Elise's choice of work even if he himself struggles with distrust of deities. It's likely that Dan would be at least acquainted with Zolt which would, on top of Elise's career path, probably result in him interacting with deities on occasion (usually, probably, by force or circumstance). Elise has probably caught on that Dan has a particular anxiety surrounding deities, and might have suspicions about what that might mean, but it's unlikely that she actually knows exactly what his deal is with that.

Dan tells himself that Chris should know better than to think that he would genuinely be malicious at heart, but knows deep down that it is ultimately his own fault for keeping up such a strong facade for so long. In some ways, Elise understands Dan even better than Chris does, despite not being nearly as close to him. Elise is an excellent judge of character and, although she sees him as a bit of a nuisance at times, she is the only one (between her and Chris, anyway) that has actually picked up on the fact that Dan had a distinctly horrible childhood. Chris knows that it wasn't the best childhood ever, but doesn't think that Dan could possibly have been fully neglected or abused (this ignorance isn't malicious on Chris' part; he just perceives abuse as being something that is so rare that it is unlikely Dan could have experienced it, and perceives sufferers of abuse as being a lot more dysfunctional than Dan. If Chris were to be informed of Dan's actual history, I think he would immediately accept it as reality and feel extremely heartbroken by the revelation. Elise probably tries to uphold Dan's secret, both out of respect for Dan's privacy and for not wanting to break Chris' heart, which I think Dan secretly deeply appreciates).

Dan is capable of expressing care for others but only in specific situations, and usually when conditions are perfect, which is rare. He is, however, emphatically capable of expressing love, adoration, and care for non-sentient animals and creatures, even nuclear mutants. Unlike the Dan we see in the show at the beginning of "Animal Shelter", this Dan would never reach a point where he would remotely conceive of harming animals. This is because he befriended wild animals before he ever befriended any ponies, and he sees animals as only attacking him if they are scared or "can't help it", whereas sentient life will attack you for enjoyment or just because they can. For the first ten-or-so years of his life, animals were the closest things to friends that he had. Nothing sends him into more of an uncontrollable rage than the sight, or even idea of, animals being mistreated or harmed. He sees himself in a lot of animals, especially scraggly, goofy ones, so he is completely unwilling to tolerate any mistreatment of them. He will actively bring harm to those who he sees as harming or abusing animals, even to the point of going way too far. He often needs to be talked down by Chris or Elise when he is in these fits of rage, although they do agree with his anger (so their "holding Dan back" is more out of a sense of not wanting him to get in serious trouble/get hurt rather than disagreeing with Dan's emotions). Animal abuse isn't the only thing that enrages Dan, of course -- it is just the fastest to bring him to that point. Dan is inconvenienced and angered by practically everything and he is notorious for his extreme stubbornness when it comes to upholding principles that he deems important. He fixates on the tiniest wrongs that have been dealt his way and struggles to think about anybody or anything else until he has exacted his revenge. Compared to Dan from the show, I think this Dan is a bit more independently capable and does not rely as much on Chris, especially because he has a wider array of friends and acquaintances that he can ask for help if he needs it (which, admittedly, he often does).

Although Dan manages to control his jealousy and anger when seeing others in romantic relationships, he does experience it, and often around Valentine's Day he becomes extremely reclusive.

Dan is somewhat stuck in a cycle of bad karma being dealt to him and his own feeling justified in "retaliating against the world" for the results of that bad karma. It's undeniable that Dan's upbringing was not his fault and that it has had massive negative impacts on his psyche, but he also receives a lot of cosmic punishment for the negativity he puts out into the world and, from his position, cannot understand that that is what is happening. He sees the horrible things that happen to him as just the universe, or the deities, hating him and holding a grudge against him, when in reality at least some of it is just a result of his own negativity coming back to bite him. This is one of the things that I relate to most about Dan; the tendency a lot of traumatized people have to believe that the world is out to get them without realizing how much our quality of life might be affected by our outlooks. Over time, Dan will grow and develop into a pony who is better able to express himself and heal, but that will take a lot of time and effort...

A lot of this is subject to change, but I like a lot of what I've cooked up so far so there's a good chance a lot of this won't be changing too much.

[doberbutts]

Hello, I’m mixed and I know you’re mixed too so I’m hoping for some advice. My mom is white and my dad is Native American (technically he is indigenous to canada the tribe he is from but I just say Native American because it is easier to explain, ‘native Canadian’ sounds weird 😭) and I’m sure you know things r really bad for indigenous people in Canada even more so than in America so when my dad was young his parents managed to save enough money to move to America many years ago, anyway I guess none of that is important besides the fact that I’m mixed.

Basically, I am involved in a fandom with many mixed-race characters that I love. None that are specifically mixed like I am (well besides one character whose mom is native and dad is white, though his mom was never revealed it’s a popular fan theory so I’ll just go with it) and other notable mixed characters are Arab/white, Chinese/white, etc. Writing this out I kind of realize that all of these mixed characters are mostly half white lol. But, that is also kind of the problem.

I’ve noticed a real… I don’t want to say racist but really discriminatory and hurtful attitude towards these mixed characters that really hurts my feelings as a mixed person myself. Basically people ignoring their mixed heritage and opting to just refer to them as ‘Arab’ and ‘Chinese’ and whatnot. Which is fine on the surface, but then I see people start talking about how disgusting it is that these characters have a white parent and that it would be much better if they were ‘pure’ POC. Which is really… hurtful as someone who is mixed with a white parent. Sorry I’m not ‘pure’ enough for your liking?? I guess? What is the point of them even saying things like that? And I guess I want to know how I can bring it up to these people without them getting angry at me. I got really mad one time and said that trying to erase a mixed characters other parent is trying to erase their identity and you can’t just choose to accept half of someone you have to accept ALL of them or you accept no part of them but they just block me.

I don’t know I feel like they’re trying to be well meaning even if it’s in a really hurtful way, but then when I try to correct them they don’t even care so can I really call it well meaning? They outright ignore the fact that the characters are canonically mixed and choose to just present them as ‘pure POC’ which they act like it’s somehow ‘superior’ to being mixed. I already don’t fit in anywhere I go and I feel like neither side will ever accept me and now I feel like this pervasive fandom attitude just kind of confirms all my fears. Sometimes I wish I was fully one or the other. I liked your other posts about being mixed and how you weren’t ‘half’ of anything you were fully all of them and I’m trying to internalize that but all these people and their hurtful comments make it hard. Like they’re not making these comments about me specifically, but I see what they say about fictional characters that are like me so it’s :/

I guess I just want to know how to convince them that mixed people are worthy of telling stories about too and how we aren’t lesser just because we are mixed? How do I tell these people to get over their discomfort with acknowledging the heritage of mixed characters? I’m not very good at articulating these sorts of things.

And sorry this was so long 😢

This is a bit of an older ask, and I've left it sit in my askbox for a while because I'm honestly not sure if I even have any advice for you.

The biggest things I suppose would be

A: remember that fandoms really aren't known for acknowledging the nuance of, like, literally anything that can be polarized. Unfortunately, that includes race and racial mixing.

B: sometimes you have to be the change you want to see. And I know. I know it sucks when you always have to be that person. But sometimes that is truly the only solution. Exist happily as yourself, be content in your own mixed race identity, talk about it when you feel up to it, and those who see it will be touched by you. Perhaps they may even catch on, and start to spread a healthier way of looking at the mixed race characters within your fandom.

C: stop giving a shit what other people think. Be you. You will find people who love you for you. Fuck all the others who reject you for being yourself, and don't force yourself into an easily digestible box for those who would barely glance your way regardless.

[darlingpoppet]

Fave Fics of 2023!

A list of some of my favorite fics I read in 2023, though note not all of them are from this year. I feel like I didn’t get to do as much reading as I would’ve liked but I guess at least I was still able to put together a decent list! This isn’t a ranking, I listed everything in alphabetical order.

a bit of earth by @elemmacil (patrochilles)

Character study of Hadesgame Achilles & his time in the house of hades, pre-canon. Also, Zagreus takes care of a plant & it’s so wholesome. Lovely, atmospheric, and fueled by vibes, I adore the secret garden inspiration which slots into the hadesgame-verse sooo perfectly. This is great for the sad girlies like me who recently re-watched the movie from the 90s and thought “what if the whole movie was just us watching lord craven being a sad, pining dilf the whole time?” *clicks tongue* noice.

A Reasonable Explanation by stygius (pza)

I already read On The Ropes by red_smear last year so it doesn’t get to be on this list but I did go into 2023 continuing to seek out some of the “old classics” for this ship (yanno how reading fics that were published before joining the fandom sometimes feels like consuming media that existed before you were born? lol) this one is fun for the subversion on the “relaying messages” trope and taking god worshipping to literal (sexyy) extremes… I think if you wanted a good pza introductory fic this would be a good place to start!

Debased by youcouldbeagod (patrochilles)

Found this on a whim one day while clicking through the tags, as it is pretty much the only dedicated Troilus & Cressida Patrochilles fic on AO3 and it is ＢＲＩＬＬＩＡＮＴ！ The story is simply that Thersites stumbles upon Achilles & Patroclus having sex in their tent and he provides his usual witty and scathing commentary throughout. It truly reads like Shakespeare in prose form, I could easily imagine it being staged, it’s like a deleted scene from the play! The ending is also pitch perfect and still lives in my head rent-free. If you’re familiar with Shakespeare’s version of the characters definitely give it a read.

isn’t it romantic by infinitesle (dillydallybutterfly) (pza)

I was going to recommend a patrochilles fic by infinitesle that I love which is you are the currents that are pulling me onward but I’m pretty sure I read it in 2022 so it doesn’t count, sadge. So instead I’ll recommend another lovely morsel, a pza fic set in the jazz age au that a bunch of us in the pza channel of the hades lounge discord collectively came up with. Idk this might be a “you had to be there” kind of story but I think it still paints a pretty picture and if it inspires anyone else to contribute to the AU I wouldn’t complain. I’ll make my own proper contribution eventually, mark my words!

not the desperate type by @baejax-the-great (patrochilles, side hector/patroclus)

Baejax is well-known for their long fics which are all bangers ofc but personally my favorite piece of theirs this year was actually this oneshot in which Patroclus is engaged to Hector and then cheats on him with his ex, Achilles. They get caught in the act and the results are… predictable, lol. I love that it hews close to the tone of the Iliad where it’s no good/bad guys, just flawed humans making flawed choices and the AITA version of this story would totally be given an Everyone Sucks Here verdict, I’m sure. I’m STILL thinking about the ending even months & months later. Oh and of course, the sex is chef’s kiss!

One Night Of Chaos by Luddleston (pza)

This was technically a Dec 2022 read but I’m making an exception for it because I feel like it’s the flavor of pza I had been craving all along when I was reading through some of the older classics for this ship and it was key in helping fuel the inspiration for my own pza fics this year. There’s just something about Zag being invited into Patrochilles’ little world to watch their charming rapport with one another & being disgustingly in love that’s PEAK CONTENT for me and I loved this spin where he gets to meet them while they’re still alive, pre-heartbreak. Basically everything about it is my personal ur-pza text so if you’ve liked any of my own pza I’m sure you would like this one too. The sequel is also fun and was properly a 2023 read for me so I’ll mention it too haha.

Presentation by @sonderlivra (eruri)

Judging by the time stamp of my comment, I started my 2023 off right by reading this fic by one of my all-time favorite eruri authors! This is an omegaverse fic with a twist, it is well-written, hilarious, and had me guessing up until the very end. I would literally recommend anything this author writes (including the asscreed fics she & other beloved friend @zorthania have been writing this year… I don’t go here but these are my blorbo in-laws and I care them uwu)

sacramentum by fresco_k (eruri)

I didn’t take the time to read many other eruri fics this year unfortunately but I did get to beta some fics for this year’s eruri matchmaking event and this was one of them: a gladiator AU set in Ancient Rome and it was so serendipitous that I got to help with something so close to my current hyperfixation! The premise is very intriguing and it’s off to a lovely start… not to mention the author is a sweetie who knows & has a lot of passion for the time period… so check it out!

the slow mending by meikuree (pikuhan)

I finally got to dip my toes into some pikuhan fics this year and luckily my first one was a real banger! This was such a lovely little canon-compliant Hanji character study along with an exploration of their relationship with Pieck representing the two sides coming together and it was so beautifully written. It feels like the perfect introductory fic for the ship just in general because it really highlights everything that’s attractive about it! Love it!

tight fit by naxtique (zagchilles)

naxtique’s fics pretty much all scratch that itch for hadesgame dead dove of the dub/non-con variety, oftentimes laced with angst. Their particular flavor of Zagchilles with slave-to-his-passion, guilt-stricken Achilles is so compelling it always makes me stare at the wall thinking about it. And this is my favorite one, in which Achilles gets sex-pollen’d and ends up in a compromising position with Zagreus. Another one where the ending haunts my dreams (in a good way). Not for everyone obviously but if this sort of thing is up your alley, it’s great.

you’re a walking disaster, and yet— by @johaerys-writes (patrochilles)

Another patrochilles GOAT well-known for their serial longfics, and this year I’ve been enjoying their modern AU Patrochilles where the two of them grow up together in rural Greece. This one has probably my favorite ever synthesis of takes on Achilles’ character I’ve read so far—brilliant, autistic, and gender fluid. It’s definitely an extreme slow burn and gets pretty angsty & messy at times but it’s also devastatingly realistic & relatable and speaks to me a whole lot :> currently ongoing, definitely worth diving into!