#the my name is darla project

[el015a]

MNID IS IN PRODUCTION!

The My name is Darla Project is now in production!

A series exploring the marine world of a girl name Darla C. Carcharias as she explores her father���s old lab. Although, this animation is the prologue that is in production.

Through your support, you can help me to afford the programs I animate on! This includes the Adobe programs! You can tip me on Ko-fi! (Link Down below) or you can commission me for something in return! Information also in my Ko-Fi

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By getting a subscription on Ko-Fi, you can receive a lot of exclusive perks, sneak peaks, and requests!

[reanimatestar]

go white girl go <3

[image description: pencil drawings of the artist's original character, darla goodwin. she is a white woman with wavy mid length hair.

the first image is a page of drawings. the first is a fullbody of her in a simple style. she is smiling, and wears a crop top with a high neck, loose jeans, and mary janes. she is carrying a tote bag over her right shoulder. the rest of the page is filled with busts of various expressions, such as her looking irritated, scowling, and smiling. there are also two other simple drawings of her sitting down and wearing large sunglasses respectively.

the second image is a bust of her in profile. she is looking at the viewer and smiling slightly. she is wearing a chiton instead of her usual outfit. /end description]

[darkbluekies]

I know Silas prefers Y/N to be delicate and dependent on him, but does he cultivate and encourage cruelty and ruthlessness in his daughters/heirs? They are going to take over his Mafia, so he should have at least 1 who is like him. Would he encourage a daughter who liked to carve her name into Silas's victims as a fun art project? Would he actually make a daughter his heir?

The only thing I've written about his Heir (Emelie) is a little thing in my notebook, so I haven't been able to explore her too much and what she would think about it. I see her as very righteous and don't like injustice (somewhat like her father, he doesnt punish innocent). I'm not sure if she would WANT to take over.

But that doesn't mean none of her younger sisters wouldn't. I ll have to explore Sierra and Darla too but they're so young so it's hard to say what they will be like

[kogetaikid]

A False Awakening is a phenomenon where one thinks they've just woken up when they're clearly still dreaming

Sup guys, gals and nonbinary pals! Feel free to call me KogetaiKid, Kogetai or Kiddo!!!

ALT/OC BLOG (Not in use at the moment.)

MY DEVIANTART MY YOUTUBE MY BLUESKY

I'm currently NOT taking any art requests at the moment.

-she/her; 🩷💛🩵pansexual🩵💛🩷

-Time Zone: PST/PDT

-minor.

-Only child (and I fucking HATE IT)

-Part-time conspiracy theorist

-I like Anxiety from Inside out two and Perseverance soul form Undertale :)

-Diagnosed Neurodivergent (Got that autism ✨D R I P ✨)

-Interacial

-Nihilist

-Psychology nerd

-Cross Country Athlete

-Very cynical

-No DNI, but will block anyone who makes me feel uncomfortable.

-I post both fanart and original art

-Self taught artist/writer (currently working (and possibly failing) on multiple projects)

SOME OC REFERENCES

(Not like anyone will care, but good to have them anyways)

D!0X!D3: TR!0X!D3 and X3’3N (Prologue-Chapter 3) Web Hell: Enera (Modern Utopia) IMLS Chronicles: Darla My Snowy Orphanage: Main Cast

WEBCOMIC STAND

D!0X!D3 HAS OFFICIALLY MOVED TO DEVIANTART

D!0X!D3: Prologue 1 D!0X!D3: Prologue 2 D!0X!D3: Prologue 3 D!0X!D3: Prolouge 4 D!0X!D3: Prologue 5 D!0X!D3: Abandonment; Part 1 D!0X!D3: Abandonment; Part 2 ILMS: Just Like Mel; Part 1 ILMS: Just Like Mel; Part 2 ILMS: Just Like Mel; Part 3

Epiccc Storiez!!

ILMS Chronicles: Yahaira's story ILMS Chronicles: 4/22/** ILMS Chronicles: Out In Nature ILMS Chronicles: Watching the Sunset

WRITING (Also EPICCC!!!!)

Sunrise Heights An Insect Before Its Death Contemplation Compilation Accidental ILMS Lore

epicness gaLORE!

Epicland Studies #1: Universal Ketakomian Beliefs

TUMBLR OC MAKING CHALLENGES!!!

(My greatest success of getting something that was my own idea popular!)

LUNA

*Y don’t ‘cha see what ur gonna see in the future? (READ PROJECT DESC)*

EPIC CLUB (Main Project)

(TLDR: Some alien lore shit that involves goofy ahh aliens, goofy ahh adventures and trying to avoid nihilism)

No one knows how they've got here, but they have. In the middle of the universe in the andromeda galaxy, in a planet called Epicland. exist the color spirits to fight evil and bring colors to the world. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, purple and gray. (Andris, Lorgzee, Kedmile, Yodion, Imimika, Sotti, Zaxregea, and Enieu) One day, the red spirit wanted to become human-like. What happens next

…

Gray skin, red eyes, what the hell am I...?

Andris, now a nine year old girl named Melody Cohen, nothing much to say about her. Unless she was able to meet up again with someone, who might ve been, a secret true sister...

DIOX!D3 (On hiatus; pronounced "Dioxide”):

D!0X!D3 (pronounced “Dioxide”): ANARCHY AGAINST CONTROL. On an alien planet called Epicland, and abandoned child called Melanie gets adopted into an anarchist society called Syr-Ko’s Children Anarchist Society! (SKCAS for short). No adults allowed, you get kicked out when you’re 30. In this society, children run the game, with a plan to eliminate the ones who control us and make their world r0b0t!c. You’d wonder to yourself:

WH0’S THAT L!TTL3 R0B0T FR3!ND 0F Y0URS, K!DS?!

I Love My Sister Chronicles (Secondary Project)

(It's honestly more like a saga, but it wasn't until a few days ago that I remembered that word...)

Dreams are weird, especially when two simple hours could sometimes feel like an entire lifetime. April 22, 20**: A girl named Yahaira falls victim to this unfortunate phenomenon, thus creating me, us, everyone. In my early years, I always wanted a sister, but the never happened. My mom always says she wanted two girls. I tell her she ended up with me instead; an amalgamate of what could've been her two girls.

As I entered my teenage years I noticed something very off about the world, so very unreal, and I start to become lucid in this dream world.

I remember that I'm someone's little sister. Melody's little sister, Yahaira. I'm now piecing together the complicated puzzle of who I was, who Melody was, and what happened before I entered this dream. The first and most important thing I keep in mind:

I LOVE MY SISTER

(Coming "Soon")

VQ895

Welcome to LABORATORY! Here, many fusions of multiple organisms for all over galaxies called hybrids live. To these hybrids, Laboratory is the entire world for them, but to a hybrid named Vertā Quantin (half Artificially Made Human, half Wolfcat) unveils this lie. But it could it be…

SHE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE?!

WEB HELL (TW: Dark humor)

8/5/2255 - The World Covered in Screens.

“WELCOME TO MODERN UTOPIA! THE MOST GYATT OHIO MEGATRONIC THEY/THEM UWU PLACE IN DA WORLD!!!!!!!! MY NAME IS FINLEY (they/them, if u m!$g3ñd3r u a h8 cr!mer)”

“T0DAY, HERE ARE [[10!]] REASONS Y U LOVE MORDEN UTOPIA!!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)(( “

…

In this world, you only have an illusion of humanity. You only have an illusion of decision, an illusion of freedom, an illusion of bargaining, an illusion of friends, an illusion of creativity, diluted by algorithm. You can’t escape, there’s no need to escape. YOU LOVE IT HERE…

One-off projects (coming soon):

My Snowy Orphanage: A VHS horror about a group of cartoon kids teaching children to kill.

A Very Necessary Story On A Very Lonely Kid: Born 4/23/1999. A young boy named Brayden Mendez. No friends, no sibling, Brayden hasn’t meet anyone besides his parents until kindergarten. Isolated from humanity, he’s left to rot in his loneliness until he finally breaks.

And even his afterlife doesn’t spark a friend.

The Last Feeling Child: In present day time, a young teenage girl named Esme Adler, mourns over the past she’s never experienced. A past before phones, IPads and immorality.

There are a few more in the making, but that’s all for now :)

[whirligig-girl]

Etheria’s moons to dubious scale. The second from the right, the blue & purple one, is about the same size compared to Etheria as the Moon is compared to the Earth.

Probably the first thing I noticed when I watched She-Ra and the Princesses of Power was all the damn moons. I’d seen screenshots and clips of the show taking place on a space ship, so I figured “Brightmoon” was literally the name of a moon. But nope--the Starship Darla wouldn’t make her appearance until much later. Anyway. Despite the unrealistic appearance of the moons in the show, I resolved to Figure Out How They Work Eventually. Here’s some thoughts so far.

I’m unwilling to trust most of these sizes because of perspective effects and because it’s a cartoon. I think probably they’re all smaller than it seems. Obviously the “real” spacing is completely different than in the drawing.

If this image is taken with a telescope, or even a telephoto lens from sufficiently far away, then the original image scale could correspond to the scale of the actual planets.

we only have actual depth information for ONE moon--the blue and purple one in front of Etheria, which means its actual scale relative to Etheria is probably smaller than in the image.

each other moon could be either very large and distant or very small and near to the camera, but the way it looks in some scenes moving towards Etheria suggest that the moons are depicted not much farther or closer from the camera than Etheria itself, so I think taking these as roughly to-scale can serve as a starting point for figuring the rest out.

My progress so far in figuring out how to fit 11 large moons into orbit around one Earthlike planet:

this is only five. Four ceres in a near 1:2:4:8 resonance (such that triple conjunctions are possible, but rare), with that pink moon represented as a Mars-mass world, orbiting about once per month. If I move the Mars out much more, it might not be stable accounting for solar tides. (Etheria does have a sun? right? it’s not entirely clear to me. Does it have a different sun in Despondos than in the Universe? like, Despondos has Just One Sun? Is Despondos’ cosmic background lighting up half the sky? Or did the Etherian Sun come along for the ride through the portals, off-screen? I’m making the assumption that even if there is no real Sun in Despondos, the moon system pre-dated Etheria’s stranding, so it’s still constrained by solar tides.

anyway. the five there. I think I can add more. the Mars can support subsatellites, which I think should be allowed, and I think I can fit in some smaller asteroid-sized moons in low orbits in between the resonant friend quad.

I’m not even close to understanding their geology, yet. I need to have a grasp on their basic physical properties first. But I’m guessing magic and technology are both relevant. One of the three moons of enchantment clearly had cloud banding, not impact craters. it could be terraformed--even if the first one’s tech that terraformed it is gone, perhaps it could still carry an atmosphere for the ~thousand years or so the first ones have been gone?

I wonder if the moons were early test beds for first ones to test magic/tech integration on a planetary scale. (which leads to the dark question of “was there a Heart of the Moon Project?”)

Certainly if the first ones were spacefarers they would have had some infrastructure on the moons.

[moistvonlipwig]

also speaking of AUs and since you were curious about it earlier when i didn't have my computadora @all-seeing-ifer here's a basic outline of how my ats s4 cordelia-is-the-beast idea would go. there's more stuff with the other characters but this writeup is focused on the main beats of the cordelia & jasmine plot. amazingly enough this is indeed the short version!

a key aspect of this concept, and imo of any good ats s4 rewrite, is giving cordelia a voice. in this rewrite we are alerted to cordelia's possession at the end of "apocalypse nowish" (more on that in next bullet point). from then on we get to see scenes inside cordelia's head where she is interacting with jasmine (who isn't named jasmine yet obviously but for efficiency's sake let us call her that) and commenting on the goings-on around her.

one element that isn't strictly necessary for this idea to work is that connor is not romantically in love with either real cordelia or jasmine-possessed "cordelia"; instead, jasmine positions herself as a mother figure to connor & tells him how cordelia took care of him as a baby. i admit to finding the pseudo-incest aspect of s4 kind of utterly fascinating but while it's interesting to explore in fanfic i ultimately don't really think ats had anything especially interesting to say on the subject & frankly i think the story kind of coheres better if jasmine is a maternal figure instead. you can still have angel be jealous of their bond -- they were supposed to be a family together & now they're excluding him?? :[ < angel's sad face (w/ fangs because he is a vampire) -- and you can also deal more directly with connor's parental issues. plus it makes the jasmine/darla scene in "inside out" even more poignant.

so with this in mind, the cliffhanger at the end of "apocalypse nowish" is that "cordelia" is watching the rain of fire while connor sleeps and we see her slowly smile and then we zoom into her mind and see jasmine, still wearing cordelia's face, gloating to the real cordelia (who is like. tied up or something. in her mind. idk.) that none of her friends suspect a thing.

so basically: we know cordelia learned how to do basic astral projection in "birthday". we also are never shown what her demon half looks like. the idea is that, while cordelia herself is trapped in her own mind, she is able to astral-project her demon half to carry out various attempted interventions in jasmine's plans.

due to reasons [i can explain the reasons but it requires a lot of context lol], the beast cannot communicate using language, speech, writing, anything like that. it can gesture and give Significant Looks and that's it. so cordelia cannot convey to angel investigations anything that's going on, even though she sometimes tries.

prior to "calvary", it would seem to both the audience and the fang gang that the beast is evil and working for jasmine, as it always shows up at scenes of massacres (the eye of fire, wolfram & hart, the svear house). at these massacres, it often kneels by the dying people and appears to drain some kind of energy from them; in actuality this is cordelia taking the pain of the dying person which we know she can do qv "benediction". the beast also performs the ritual to blot out the sun which we later learn is because jasmine needs the sun to be shining in order to be born.

neither jasmine nor the beast manipulate the fang gang into removing angel's soul, they misinterpret things and do that all on their own. in this version though angel does not remember the beast at all. however, jasmine needs angel souled for her plan to work [again, due to reasons lol], so after the svear massacre, which cordelia begged jasmine not to go through with, cordelia in her beast form steals angel's soul. jasmine does not know it is cordelia controlling the beast but she knows the beast is trying to stop her, so she lets angel out of his cage so as to try to force the beast's hand to return angel's soul. she still kills lilah and this is how the audience learns the beast does not work for her -- the beast arrives at the hotel just a little too late to save lilah and the cliffhanger of "calvary" is jasmine taunting it that at this rate it'll never stop her.

jasmine maybe also absorbs lilah into the mindspace with her and cordelia as well? so as to prevent her from showing up as a wolfram & hart ghost and spilling the beans.

jasmine's pregnancy is just a virgin birth situation which impresses connor and he plans to be the best big brother ever. maybe it's even a metaphorical pregnancy?

previous 2 bullet points i still need to work on. anyway, wesley gets faith etc., they're not able to defeat angel or find his soul though.

angel lures cordelia's parents to her old apartment and kills them. then he calls up spike and inquires after xander. at this point, feeling both grief and guilt as well as hopelessness from jasmine insisting that her plan will be able to move forward with a soulless angel, just at a delayed pace, cordelia gives in and the beast shows up and returns angel's soul to him.

the beast takes angel on a little excursion to various places in their history which angel does not understand and at first he thinks the purpose is to make him feel bad because well it's angel what do you expect him to think. then the beast takes him to point dume and leads him into the water and has a little splash fight with him and angel relaxes and realizes the beast wanted to communicate that he was being forgiven for something. But What? he wonders.

at this point harmony shows up to talk to cordelia [she's also in the earlier part of the season but that's a story for the long version...] and she notices something is amiss. also around this time the fang gang have uncovered information that leads jasmine to realize that cordelia is the beast although she does not vocalize this. harmony realizes cordelia is possessed because her outfit is ugly, and when jasmine tries to stake her, the beast bursts in and spirits harmony away. jasmine gives a dramatic speech to the air where she reveals she knows the beast is cordelia. this is the cliffhanger ending of "orpheus" and also the point where the audience is let in on the truth about the beast as well.

jasmine leads the fang gang through a ritual to force the beast permanently back to its source body which would trap cordelia entirely under her control. the ritual works and jasmine leaves only for harmony to show up [after a battle with jasmine's servants] and be like hey guys cordelia is possessed.

after this s4 plays out more or less like the show does except that the demon species that the beast is part of is the same species that jasmine once ruled over and can pronounce her true name. so in order to defeat jasmine cordelia has to wake up and say her name out loud. darla comes to visit her in her sleep and tells her this. but if she does so then it would drain the rest of her energy and leave her in a coma potentially forever. she's like so wake me up already. she shows up at the hotel and says jasmine's name and falls back into a coma but this time it was on her own terms.

again this is the short version ._. if you can believe it...

[an-epic-complex-deep-existence]

You've existed today. Congrats.

Sup guys, gals and nonbinary pals! Feel free to call me KogetaiKid, Kogetai or Kiddo!!!

MAIN BLOG

MY DEVIANTART MY YOUTUBE

-she/her; possibly a celibate pansexual

-Time Zone: PST/PDT

-minor.

-Diagnosed Neurodivergent (Got that autism ✨D R I P ✨)

-Interacial

-Nihilist

-Psychology nerd

-Very cynical

-No DNI, but will block anyone who makes me feel uncomfortable.

-I post exclusively original art

-Self taught artist/writer (currently working (and possibly failing) on multiple projects)

SOME OC REFERENCES

(Not like anyone will care, but good to have them anyways)

D!0X!D3: TR!0X!D3 and X3’3N (Prologue-Chapter 3) Web Hell: Enera (Modern Utopia) IMLS Chronicles: Darla My Snowy Orphanage: Main Characters

WEBCOMIC STAND

D!0X!D3: Prologue 1 D!0X!D3: Prologue 2 D!0X!D3: Prologue 3 D!0X!D3: Prolouge 4 D!0X!D3: Prologue 5 D!0X!D3: Abandonment; Part 1 D!0X!D3: Abandonment; Part 2 ILMS: Just Like Mel; Part 1 ILMS: Just Like Mel; Part 2

Epiccc Storiez!!

ILMS Chronicles: Yahaira's story ILMS Chronicles: 4/22/** ILMS Chronicles: Out In Nature Accidental ILMS Lore ILMS Chronicles: Watching the Sunset

WRITING (Also EPICCC!!!!)

Sunrise Heights An Insect Before Its Death Contemplation Compilation

epicness gaLORE

Epicland Studies #1: Universal Ketakomian Beliefs

*Y don’t ‘cha see what ur gonna see in the future? (READ PROJECT DESC)*

EPIC CLUB (Main Project)

(TLDR: Some alien lore shit that involves goofy ahh aliens, goofy ahh adventures and trying to avoid nihilism)

No one knows how they've got here, but they have. In the middle of the universe in the andromeda galaxy, in a planet called Epicland. exist the color spirits to fight evil and bring colors to the world. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, purple and gray. (Andris, Lorgzee, Kedmile, Yodion, Imimika, Sotti, Zaxregea, and Enieu) One day, the red spirit wanted to become human-like. What happens next

…

Gray skin, red eyes, what the hell am I...?

Andris, now a nine year old girl named Melody Conway, nothing much to say about her. Unless she was able to meet up again with someone, who might've been, a secret true sister...

DIOX!D3 (On hiatus; pronounced "Dioxide”):

D!0X!D3 (pronounced “Dioxide”): ANARCHY AGAINST CONTROL. On an alien planet called Epicland, and abandoned child called Melanie gets adopted into an anarchist society called Syr-Ko’s Children Anarchist Society! (SKCAS for short). No adults allowed, you get kicked out when you’re 30. In this society, children run the game, with a plan to eliminate the ones who control us and make their world r0b0t!c. You’d wonder to yourself:

WH0’S THAT L!TTL3 R0B0T FR3!ND 0F Y0URS, K!DS?!

I Love My Sister Chronicles (Secondary Project)

(This is honestly more like a saga...)

Dreams are weird, especially when two simple hours could sometimes feel like an entire lifetime. April 22, 20**: A girl named Yahaira falls victim to this unfortunate phenomenon, thus creating me, us, everyone. In my early years, I always wanted a sister, but the never happened. My mom always says she wanted two girls. I tell her she ended up with me instead; an amalgamate of what could've been her two girls.

As I entered my teenage years I noticed something very off about the world, so very unreal, and I start to become lucid in this dream world.

I remember that I'm someone's little sister. Melody's little sister, Yahaira. I'm now piecing together the complicated puzzle of who I was, who Melody was, and what happened before I entered this dream. The first and most important thing I keep in mind:

I LOVE MY SISTER

(Coming "Soon")

WEB HELL (TW: Dark humor)

8/5/2255 - The World Covered in Screens.

“WELCOME TO MODERN UTOPIA! THE MOST GYATT OHIO MEGATRONIC THEY/THEM UWU PLACE IN DA WORLD!!!!!!!! MY NAME IS FINLEY (they/them, if u m!$g3ñd3r u a h8 cr!mer)”

“T0DAY, HERE ARE [[10!]] REASONS Y U LOVE MORDEN UTOPIA!!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)(( “

…

In this world, you only have an illusion of humanity. You only have an illusion of decision, an illusion of freedom, an illusion of bargaining, an illusion of friends, an illusion of creativity, diluted by algorithm. You can’t escape, there’s no need to escape. YOU LOVE IT HERE…

VQ895

Welcome to LABORATORY! Here, many fusions of multiple organisms for all over galaxies called hybrids live. To these hybrids, Laboratory is the entire world for them, but to a hybrid named Vertā Quantin (half Artificially Made Human, half Wolfcat) unveils this lie. But it could it be…

SHE WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE?!

One-off projects (coming soon):

My Snowy Orphanage: A VHS horror about a group of cartoon kids teaching children to kill.

A Very Necessary Story On A Very Lonely Kid: Born 4/23/1999. A young boy named Brayden Mendez. No friends, no sibling, Brayden hasn’t meet anyone besides his parents until kindergarten. Isolated from humanity, he’s left to rot in his loneliness until he finally breaks.

And even his afterlife doesn’t spark a friend.

The Last Feeling Child: In present day time, a young teenage girl named Esme Adler, mourns over the past she’s never experienced. A past before phones, IPads and immorality.

There's a few more in the making, but this is how far I'll take you for now...

[popculturebuffet]

Sam and Max: Bad Day on the Moon Review (Comic and Cartoon, Comissioned by WeirdKev27)

Hello all you happy freelance police. 54 years today a bunch of brave explorers took one small step for man one giant leap for mankind. And sometime in the 90's a dog and a lagomorph decided to take another step and also do some bloodshed on the side. Today we honor these brave men and whatever max is with a look at Bad Day on the Moon. Yes folks it's time for the moment i've been waiting for since this project began: a look at the comics that spawned the games and tv show. Sam and Max started as a comics trip Purcell did in high school and then college. Years later when a friend needed a second title for his comics imprint, he asked Steve for help and thus sam and max lept to the page, eventaully leaping to screen as Purcell started working at LucasArts. He made a total of four issues which were collected in "Surfin the Highway", a 90's collection that now goes for around 150 dollars.. as does the reprint from 2008 which Kev has, but unlike other times he's sent me stuff to review, he had.. shall we say ENTIRLEY VALID reasons for not sending me this. Why Skunkape hasn't tried to do a reprint yet I do'nt know, but i'm hoping they do and i'll be first in line. Thankfully the internet exists, so I could still get my greasy mits on these stories.

As for why this story in paticular out of all the comiic stories there's a few reasons: the first is later today (or tommorow if all dosen't go well) we'll be looking at "Bright side of the Moon" the duo's second trip to the moon, and it only felt right to do the first. The second is that it's the ONLY story out of the four (All of which I intend to cover at some point, don't fret), that got adapted for the cartoon. Yeah weirdly despite being an adaptation they only did this one story. Are the others too inapproriate or did they just have too much fun making up their own stories? did they just not fit?

Having only read this story I can't answer that. What I can tell you is that i'll also be looking at the adaptation, hence the comic and cartoon in the title. Since the plots are near identical with simply a few little tweaks in presentation here and there i'll primarly be following the comics version, for the nifty and easily accesiable visuals, while pointing out what the cartoon changes or how it presents certain scenes. Finally this story is notable for being the only one from any other medium refrenced in the telltale games, so to hearld the end of the first of that trilogy , it only felt right to get the story behind that picture in the office. Though honestly continuity wise.. I just consider all three versions in the same canon. There's nothing really contradicting it other than this adaptation and since bad day goes about the same way, we can just say the comic happened and the animation is just a pared down version of the actual events.

And yes Darla's absent, but she likely jsut went to college, is doing some goverment work or got tired of her adopted fathers weird shenanigans and while still sending them a postcard and a father's day card now and again, moved to michigan to work in peace. Maybe something for me to pick up on someday. For now let's see why this day's so bad and maybe if we laugh at it it'll go away.

The opening of BDOTM is the biggest change between mediums. In the cartoon it's a pretty simple but fun cold open: Sam and Max are chasing a perp, the perp turn out to be a rat named Sticky who stole a popsicle and this being sam and max they naturally come at him with a tank.

The Comics version is a tad more complicated, with them taking Sticky back to the ice cream man they stole some. Tragically it's not clint howard so when the rats show up instead of ending up in ice cream treats and woefully outclassed, the guy is HEAVILY implied t be dead. OUr heroes decide to nope out of this by threatning the rats with horrible experiments. The experiment gag is a little chuckle, but I really loved their pitch black interactions with the ice cream man afterwords.

I will NEVER get tired of these two bloodthirsty weirdos. NEVER. Point and click gameplay yes, this no. I can see why the intro was cut down as it's just not as funny without the corpse, much like Weekend and Bernies: The Animated Series, and honestly.. I prefer the shorter version. The Ice Cream Man jokes are funny.. but their only two panels. The protection racket rats, while neatly wearing various garbage (and my faviorite wearing a whole tomato), as their disguises , are just kinda there. And as much as the cartoon got away with including gay marriage, tones of pretty horrifying subtext and max really being just as deranged as ever, a dead body is asking a LOT. And the tank gag is simply punchier, quicker and acomplishes the same stuff. A nice extra the comic does have though is Flint Paper, the duo's neo noir roomate. It's essentially if Dirty Harry had an office next to IMP.. which given how he lived his life is not only probable but entirely canon now in my head. We get our ususual phone call shenanigans with Sam just.. standing on max this time, hilaroiusly, and we also get my second faviorite gag of the comics version

It's simple. Flint Paper also casually stabs a mailman. Geee I can't imagine why he never showed up in the cartoon.

From here the plot and MOST of the jokes become the same for both versions: Sam and max gather some junk food and assorted doodads, then take the desoto to the moon somehow.

And on the moon their protected by some really fun looking penny concious moon gear

Though eventually Max, being max just takes his off, Sam ends up following suit, and they can just breathe on the moon, likely because Purcell either didn't want to draw the penny concious moon gear the whole comic.. or he just thought it'd be hilarious to set up them needing it.. only for max to just take the bag off and be fine

We also get Max's brilliant theory as to WHY no one found this out sooner

Our heroes soon get picked up by a lunar lander driven by two mysterious greasers wearing a gorilla mask and a zebra mask

They appricate the lift but not so much the two punks holdling up a convience store.. said hold up does reveal something of vital importance

My sentiments exactly fellas. As you can see just from what bits i'm showing, the humor here is every bit as good, and it honestly surprises me: mostly indy comics take a second or two to really become what the franchise is known for, and while I can't vouch for the first story, this one still seems pretty early on yet is just as fully formed as the cartoon or telltale series. It's telling that the only changes needed to make this an episode.. were simply toning it down slightly. It's also my biggest guess as to why they didn't do more: it's not tha thtey couldn't it was just more fun to do weird shit that fit into the cartoons structure better than reuse the comics and have to deal with all the rigamorle needed to compress it into 11 minutes.

There's a minor joke change here or there, but like I said the plot is mostly the same. Since our heroes succesfuly foiled the robery, the shopkeep figures they might be able to help them and takes these two strange spacemen to their leader. We also get what is EASILY not only the best joke of both versions of this story, but one of my personal faviorites across all three versions of sam and max

It's a nice simple visual gag, puncuated perfectly by Max not letting go of it expsite it not affecting him in any way, that helps move the exposion along.. and honestly ends up overshadowing it. I also love how both versions have a great take on it. Here max never lets up about it but ti's done more casually till the explosion. In the cartoon the gag is longer, but every bit as good as they go through some beauitful moon vistas in the city this time including a people mover.. while max asks every few mintues for him to put his arms down. The ending is also diffrent in both versions: in contrast to the above the cartoon has max's shouting back the guy into a fountain.. where he Still dosen't put them down. I honestly prefer the cartoons version for it's pacing and ending, but the comic's is still plenty funny.

So as it turns out rat people have gone missing, so their big floating head in charge tasks our heroes with solving this crisis, but to do so they'll have to head to the DARK SIDE OF THE MOON!

With that our heroes head to the dark side.. and find something truly horrifying

Yeah i'm not fond of roaches on a good day. I will give the comic credit though for making them both bigger and more realistic and thus more horrifying. As for what their doing...

Again the cartoon tones it down.. it also left out the horrifying mouse bran muffin. Me I think the horror adds to the black humor of them just, lik ea human, casually using these poor beings, while still keeping the horror aspect. Naturally max gets them chased, but our heroes manage to escape.. oh wait no for once only SAM does, max gets vaporized but someone managed to latch his soul onto sam who makes him into a nifty handpuppet.

Yeah that's the trouble with reviewing sam and max.. sometimes all ic an say is that's funny or in this case

One of the only diffrences left between the two narratives is that the big head comes to pick sam up in a limo in the cartoon and they simply go back to the castle he's at in the original. The rats are able to reconstitute max, who we find out is also considred more of a mineral, and Sam already has a solutoin to the roach problem.

So cut to... the roaches being celebrated with a parade on earth as they'll help with earth's garbage, in echange for leaving those rats behind, still getting their creature comforts. We also find out it wawasn't flint who stabbed the mailman but a roach who didn't want them going to the moon because he's a xenophobic little shit. Our heroes thwart him, Sam sings a horrible tune and max either joins in or merficully ends our suffering depending on the medium. Happy day. Bad Day on the Moon is a pretty good sam and max tale. The only real place it lacks polish is the ending which just kinda.. happens and in the comic loops the roach in because. It has probablyt he thinest plot of any of these. What makes it work so well though is the barrage of great jokes. THe plots one of the weaker sam and max plots i've seen but jokewise this comic has so many bangers i'ts hard to keep track and easy to forgive the weak third act when you have greatness like "You can put your hands down now". All in all a solid recommendation Next Time on Sam and Max: I'll be wrapping up save the world as our heroes have ot head back to the moon, alice, to save the world from Hugh Bliss and his space cult. Stay tuned and thanks for reading

[yourfellowhuman07]

Where Do We Go Now?

A She-ra: Princess of Power 2018 fanfiction

The war is finally over. Prime is dead, the hive mind is broken, and everyone is reunited with their loved ones. However, there are some questions left unanswered. What will be the fate of Catra and Hordak? What are these new memories Wrong Hordak has? What is Etheria's place in the wider universe? Where do we go now?

___________________

Chapter 20. Where Prime's hoarder tendencies kinda backfire on him.

___________________

Chapter 20: Nothing Important

Entrapta had spent the last hour surfing through file after file and she had already learned so much. Information about countless galaxies and worlds. Information about stars systems, black matter, and solar winds. If she were not so averse to it, she would’ve cried.

Then a file caught her eye: Project Orion.

“Hordak, what’s Project Orion?”

Hordak rushed over to Entrapta and quickly clicked off of the file.

“Nothing important, I assure you.”

“Hordak?”

“I will… explain later. Just not right here,” he took her hand and placed his forehead on hers. “Please.”

“What are you two talking about?”

“Nothing sky-shattering. Now, come with me so we can get the parts for the portal.” The two men left the room leaving Entrapta to her own devices. When they got far enough away Entrapta quickly downloaded the file onto her datapad.

______________________________________________

“UUUUUUUUUUUUGH, what do we have to be here? There are no clones left up here! What was the point of coming?”

“It’s just a precaution, darling. You never know if someone was left behind. Also, Entrapta and Hordak need parts for the portal they need.” 

“Don’t even mention his name.”

“Mermista, I know Hordak had done terrible things to your kingdom, but hating him won’t help anyone.”

“Well, it helps me! I need a break.”

“I agree, this is draining my positivity. Let’s go sit in that room.”

The trio entered one of the many storage rooms Prime had for the plethora of things he owned. Sea Hawk hopped up on what looked like a box covered in fabric but fell through it onto something cushiony.

“What in the?”

Mermista lifted the fabric to find what looked like a baby’s crib. Like most of the furniture, it was white but with constellations etched into the sides. Perfuma tried to approach Mermista but turned over a box in the process. Out spilled various white and black baby onesies.

The three of them looked at each other; confusion written all over their faces.

“Now why on Etheria would Prime need all this stuff?”

__________________________________________

After a whole five hours, the entire ship had been searched, and the only clones that had been found were in their pods and had already died. All files had been downloaded for individual review and all the parts they needed were collected and already on the ship. The group had all gathered outside Darla. Then Frosta came up to Hordak with a plethora of expensive items in her hands.

“Can you help me with this?” Hordak took a large vase he recognized from Prime’s bedroom.

“What are these for?”

“I’m gonna sell them for pocket money. My guardians say I’m not financially responsible enough to access the royal fund.”

“Are you not the absolute monarch of your kingdom? Would you not supersede the power of your guardians.”

“Not how my kingdom operates. I have to be 18 to be queen and have those powers, so until then I’m only a princess with limited influence. The stupid part is that I still perform the duties of the queen without any of the benefits, and there is nothing I can do to change it.”

“You could always stage a coup.”

“Ha ha ha. You're not as bad as Mermista says you are.”

“What has she said about me?”

“Eh, you don’t want to know.” She paused to think. “Are you and Entrapta dating?”

“We have yet to label our relationship.”

“But you both love each other, right?”

“Of course, I would give up every star in the universe for her.”

“So you are dating?”

“We have never been on a date.”

“Then why don’t you take her on one?”

“What does a date entail?”

“Well… it is when someone brings another person to a place for a romantic evening both of the partners would enjoy. You should know her best so you decide what she would like.”

“I suppose I could come up with something.”

“Hey, Hordak!”

Hordak rolled his eyes into the back of his head.

“Yes, Mermista?”

“Why does Prime have a crib and a bunch of baby clothes?”

Hordak shattered the vase in his hands; the sharp edges cutting his hands before they were compressed into dust beneath his grip. His eyes were wide and his breath was short.

Why did they have to find that?

___________________

Public Announcement! Please Read!

First off, thank you to the people who have kept up with this fic. I really appreciate you.

I would like to announce that where do we go now will be going on a temporary hiatus for the following reasons:

I need some time to write some more chapters and figure out where the story will go.

I need a break from this fic in order to not get burnt out on it. I hate burnout with a passion and I try to avoid it as best as I can.

I'm currently trying to get my hands on an AO3 account and need some time to figure it out and post this fic on there.

I have this other unnamed fanfiction in the works and want to spend some time on that. Once I figure out a name for it I'll start posting it on here and on AO3.

This hiatus shouldn't last more than a week I just need some time to iron a couple of things out. Sorry if this upsets, but if it does thank you for liking this so much. Love you.

[superbatson]

i saw fotg today and bc i'm still not of sound mind to write a proper review (for here or letterboxd), i'm gonna just do a dump of all my spoilery thoughts featuring stuff i loved about the movie:

the new theme is incredible and epic i love you mr. christophe beck i'm gonna make you one of my top spotify artists this year for sure. (for reference: the previous score composer made my top 5 artists back in 2019 bc of how often i streamed the first movie's score.)

FREDDY AND ANTHEA WERE SO CUTE! obviously i'm ride or die for freebat but like freddy has two hands so he can date anthea too. honestly i'm team anthea/freddy/billy/courtney polycule. make it canon!

DARLA AND THE KITTIES! SHE NAMED ONE OF THEM TAWNY!!! so basically cat tawny, as my freebat server invented, is now movie canon. boom. (no really i screamed, i hope somehow that kitten becomes actual tawny in the movies. we really need to see tawny someday)

freddy calling billy "captain everything jr" was so fucking funny to me. like ofc freddy would act all cocky as a hero and the boys would still argue over who's the sidekick. i love it so much

GAY PEDRO REAL! WE DID IT Y'ALL!!! that scene got such a good laugh in my theater, it made me so happy. and i love that jovan got to be the one to say it too rather than dj. 'cause i know internet gays go all gaga for dj but coming out can be such a sweet, pure thing sometimes so jovan really deserved to have that moment and i'm glad he did. (and now seeing the movie, i have more respect for the tie-in comics, since pedro's was all about him being into baseball. i get why now hehe)

also i know i'm jumping ahead here but AY WE GOT AN ELVIS REFERENCE! sure, it was just the end credit song, but hey, i'll take it. it's something. and it was the junkie xl edit of the song too, so naturally, i loved it even more.

speaking of, the movie had a decent amount of bvs parallels! well, more than one, at least. everyone's harped on the final battle with billy basically sacrificing himself just like clark did in bvs (i hope to see those parallel gifsets in the future!), but i also noticed some bvs nods during billy's fight with hespera. when she dragged him by the cape and lifted him over her head to slam him onto the ground... i swear that was just like the bathroom fight with bruce and clark. at least the cape drag. i'd have to go back and watch both movies to see exactly what shots are parallel to each other, but, yeah. sandberg's movies still feel like love letters to zack's and i adore that.

WAS ANYONE GONNA WARN ME THAT IT'S ASHER'S FACE WE SEE WHEN BILLY DIES???? i mean, i didn't want the spoiler anyway but oh my god, i was not emotionally prepared. oh god. i'm still thinking about it. and freddy's sobbing. god. speaking of bvs parallels--

that scene is gonna haunt me for the rest of my days. i'm gonna write and read so many fics about it. ahhhhhhhh

yeah the movie did have a good amount of freebat bless you sandberg & gayden (and now jack and asher are adults so i can justifiably enjoy the freebat-ness of jack & zach scenes here too. suck it, antis!)

but also the movie did have a severe lack of asher and that made me kinda sad. there's a shot from the tv spots he's in that i do Not recall seeing in the movie at all. (though i did run to the bathroom just before the final battle so maybe i missed it somehow? but i doubt it bc his outfit was from an earlier part of the film) but also i kinda wish it was asher who came out of the grave instead of zach. like in the context of the movie, i understand why it was zach, bc diana gave him his powers back, but they buried regular billy so i wish he was the one to emerge from the grave. but whatever, i'm just picky.

asher did kinda out-act zach in all his scenes, though. this boy needs to get more work PRONTO! (he only has one other project coming out this year, i think. some small true story movie. put him in more blockbusters! disney, get him for your tangled remake! just something, please!!!)

the diana cameo was actually amazing and anyone saying bad things about it needs to shut the fuck up. it was great and yeah billy had a crush on her but he's established to be crushing on her in the first film too, it's literally nothing new.

"taste the rainbow, motherfu--!" one of the best lines in the movie, hands down. skittles has the only valid in-movie marketing. i know the line kinda got spoiled in tv spots but it was still so funny in context.

also darla sorting out all the yellow skittles for hespera was so cute and i was kinda thinking autie vibes before she explained her reasoning for it. the whole shazamily is neurodivergent and i will die on that hill.

yeah that's all i can think of for now i really loved the movie, i also kinda wanted more from it but probably bc i felt like we didn't see enough of the family together. but that can be resolved in a third film, of course. (if we ever get one. i know the opening box office is disappointing but maybe the film can still turn a profit. the budget's basically the same as the first film so it only has to make like $300 mil again for wb to make their money back. and it could blow up on streaming afterwards. you never know. i just hope wb is patient and takes their time before deciding on the future of shazam, if this cast is truly out for the reboot.)

[el015a]

Meet the main characters of The My name is Darla Project!

To further support this new series please check out my kofi!

[robertlaskarzewski]

Seventeenth Week

Hi, my name is Robert Laskarzewski, and I am currently a sophomore at the Darla Moore School of Business studying International Business and Marketing. I’m a part of the International Business Responsible International Leadership (RIL) program and will spend the Spring and Fall semesters at the ESSEC Cergy campus. I was born and raised in California, about an hour away from San Francisco. I chose to attend the University of South Carolina specifically because of the RIL program and the amount of time abroad that was offered. Once I was accepted, it was an easy choice to pursue my studies there.

And just like that, the first semester is officially over. It’s hard to believe that time has moved so quickly, it feels like only yesterday that I was landing at CDG.

I haven’t been doing much this week besides slowly preparing (both physically and mentally) for my departure from Cergy to Toulon for my volunteering experience. On my way to Toulon, I’ll stop in the city of Valence for a couple of nights, just to see some place new. Additionally, I did bits and pieces of work for any remaining final projects for my classes. This included an oral presentation for my French history class and a case scenario for my “People & Organizations” class.

On Tuesday, I had my final for marketing which I felt went well. It was held in a large auditorium of ESSEC called le Dôme – creatively named after its dome-like structure. Inside, four different sections of students took the final for responsible marketing, including my own (section J). I hadn’t experienced anything like this, even during standardized testing that I had gone through during high school.

After taking my final, I went to Paris to stop by the Musée des Arts et Metiers, literally translated as the Museum of Arts and Crafts. Inside, there were hundreds if not thousands of displays showing the evolution of technology, most notably during the Industrial Revolution. The museum itself seemed to be placed inside an old factory of some sort that was connected to an adjacent church of some sort (that had been converted to house old planes and early automobiles).

On Friday, I went with some friends to Kodawari Ramen, a Michelin-star ramen restaurant with two locations in Paris. After an excruciatingly long wait (over an hour and a half), our party of 10 was finally granted entrance into the fish market-themed restaurant. After being led through the themed ground floor, we were led upstairs into a separate room, reminiscent of a dojo where the Japanese elite may have dined – this illusion was slightly lowered due to the 80s-themed decorations which included an old TV, posters on the wall, and other small bits and pieces. After quick restaurant service, I received one of the best ramen I had ever had – well worth the wait (although the atmosphere itself was worth the wait).

[short-stories1111]

Two Months and Thirteen Days

Two Months and Thirteen Days

Five years and forty days: Darla

–

The day was greeted with a headache, pains striking her head as she tried to get herself up and head to the cafe. She walked on sharp needles as fatigue spread through her body and refused to let herself look forward to anything. Lately, sleep hadn’t been coming easy for her, and this lack of sleep in turn had led to her going to the doctor’s office. It was there when she had been diagnosed with insomnia. It was that godforsaken disease that made sure her constantly aching muscles wouldn’t let her function as well as she could before. 

Darla forced herself to move, eventually making her way towards the bathroom, her body torn between the urge to lie down and the remembrance of her job. While she so desperately wanted to lie down and slip into a coma, she also wanted to keep her house and necessities. 

In the end, she managed to get herself up and ready, or at least the best she could in the state that she was in. Her hair was tied up in a disheveled ponytail and she managed to slip her shoes on without too much of an issue to her relief. 

As she made her way out the door and trudged to the cafe, flashes of pain infiltrated her thoughts and led her train of thoughts astray. 

‘I need to get out more,’ she thought as she entered the brightly colored shop and took her place behind the counter. On the bright side, the insomnia pills she’d been taking may have been working, but clearly, the dreary life she led had begun to make an impact on how she slept, almost as if it were telling her to have some fun and think about something other than her paycheck.

‘Not in this economy.’

She began prepping the workshop behind the counter as her coworkers started arriving, each one looking as tired as she felt. She greeted them all with a strained grin, trying her best to seem friendly and welcoming. Despite having four or five other workers, she always had the take the first couple of customers before continuing her duties as a barista. 

Cons of being the youngest.

Darla was snapped out of her trance when the bell rang, indicating that the day's first customer had arrived.

“Hi! Welcome to The Daily Grind! What can I get you today?” Darla immediately chanted for the first of what would be hundreds of times. She watched as the man took his time to read the menu, using far too much time than necessary to choose what to order.

After what seemed like five minutes, he finally ordered.

A black coffee.

‘What kind of person drinks straight black coffee as soon as they wake up?’ Darla thought as she sent the order to her coworker.

–Willson

He walked into the coffee shop– The Daily Grind. Interesting name. He tuned the lady at the register out and read the menu, scanning over each option, his mind running through every scenario that could come out of ordering what.

‘A donut would be a nice change of pace but I did just go to the dentist yesterday, is that really a good choice? And a sweet tea seems like it would wake me up, but what if it’s too sweet and I need water afterward? I don’t have spare change for that. What about hot chocolate? No, you hate hot chocolate, why was that even an option? What if you get a bagel? But I might spill crumbs on my laptop and that would irritate me very much.’

“I’ll take a black coffee,” Willson said matter-of-factly, straightening his shirt and brushing the hair out of his face. The cashier seemed to be snapped out of a daze when he spoke, her blunt eyes coming back to life once he spoke. Her face showed a look of confusion mixed with annoyance as he ordered his safest option. 

Willson paid no mind to the lady as he took a seat by the window, opening his laptop and ready to face his draft head-on. His publisher had called him the night before, warning him that if he didn’t have his revisions for her by the next week, she’d ditch his project, saying she had piles of authors waiting for her. 

He scoffed at the thought as the girl from the cash register came to his table with a cup in her hand, “Black coffee for Wilson?”

With a nod, he took the cup and thanked her, “Not to come off as nosy or anything, but don’t you usually call the name of the order?”

She gave him a tired smile, “We’ve been calling you for a couple minutes, sir.” Willson hung his head in shame, realizing he’d zoned out yet again.

“My apologies…” He mumbled with a nod and took the coffee. As she walked off, Willson’s face was still burning in embarrassment, his mind not letting him off the hook as easily as she had.

‘You’ve done it again, Willson. She probably thinks you’re a snob who can’t get up for himself.’

As he began to drink, the bitter taste brightened his mood, sweeping the thoughts of shame away and instead turning the gears in his brain. 

‘What to write…’ 

He was currently stuck on the advice of  “adding more emotion.” What did that even mean? More emotion. His writing had plenty of emotion. The characters had developed, they had love interests, and they reacted according to the situations they were put in. What more emotion could there be? 

Willson stared at his screen, fiddling with his hat and his mind empty as he continued sipping his coffee, trying to rack his brain for what more he could add to his writing to make it more “emotional.”

‘Perhaps…’ He began, ‘I should work on the other revisions. I will just blow her away with my writing from other aspects.’

Pleased with this solution, Willson began typing, editing parts of his story, and adding more descriptive helpers to create the vivid scenes he aspired to communicate. As he continued writing, the story seemed to write itself, ideas flowing from his mind to the page so naturally it was as if there was no effort required.

After a good five pages, he read his work, nodding in satisfaction, convinced the work would allow for some leeway from his editor. Of course, there was more to write, but she had given him a week. 

Willson checked the clock and widened his eyes, baffled by how fast time had passed. He had sworn it was still nine in the morning, how could it already be two? He couldn’t possibly have spent four hours writing a measly five pages.

“Sir, are you done with that cup?” a voice asked, pulling him from his daze. He looked up and saw the same tired barista pointing at his cup. “Sorry to bother you, but you’ve been with it for a long time.”

“A-AH!” He exclaimed, promptly standing up and handing her the cup, “Yes…My apologies…Again,” Stammers escaped his mouth as she let out a small chuckle, only adding to his tension.

What an embarrassing day.

–Darla

‘What a tiring day,’ she thought as she flopped herself on the bed after taking her medication. The cafe had been quite busy, and it didn’t help that multiple people yelled at her as if she was the one in charge of making their drinks. Yes, she was a barista, but that didn’t mean she made every. Single. Person’s drinks. Oh, how customer service pained her indeed. If only she could afford to be like the man who had ordered a single black coffee and sat at a table typing away on his laptop.

She recalled the interactions she had with him and giggled, the awkwardness not necessarily unwelcome, as it entertained her through hard shifts. 

How she longed to live like that man, carelessly writing whatever it was he was writing, being able to lose track of time without consequence, stumble on words, and not be reprimanded.

She truly wished to live like that.

–Five years and thirty-nine days: Darla

Yet again, another troubled night of slipping in and out of consciousness resulting in a very rocky rest. Darla stumbled to the mirror and examined her eye bags that had now become eye purses. She scrunched her nose at the ghastly sight and reached over to her counter to wear her glasses to hide at least a bit of the tiredness bleeding through. 

‘Another day, another nest of a hairstyle,’ she thought as she stared at her messy curls littering her reflection. Her stomach grumbled as she rushed out the door, scolding her for skipping breakfast again and threatening to hurl until she fed it something. With pursed lips and a tight look, Darla managed to snag a bagel from her pantry, calming her appetite at least for the time being, allowing her to make it to the cafe without having to focus much on her hunger.

She went through her usual routine, setting up the cafe and greeting her coworkers with the same forced smile she’d been delivering since she began working. 

“Morning, Darla,” Jamie started with a grin, which then turned into a frown, “did you not sleep well last night either?”

Darla let out a shaky laugh and scratched the back of her head, trying to tame her curls and look more put together as she lied, “It wasn’t too bad.”

Jamie’s frown only dropped more, indicating that she didn’t believe her, but she shrugged and took a place next to Darla, organizing the creamers and sugars as Darla got ready to take the first customer.

“Hi! Welcome to The Daily Grind! What can I get you?” She chirped, trying to look as welcoming as she could. When she opened her eyes, she saw the man from yesterday studying the menu and muttering to himself, deep in thought as if he were debating within himself on what to get.

‘Not this again…’ She thought as she leaned on her hand, elbow on the counter and soft sighs leaving her lips. She waited for his order and let her mind run astray, hoping to fill the five minutes he would take to order with mind rambles. 

Did she think this guy was incredibly extra?

Yes

Did she think he was extra in a dorky way?

Also yes.

“I would like…A black coffee,” he stated proudly, straightening his shirt just as he had done the day before.

“Congrats,” she mumbled, trying to hide a smile.

“I’m sorry?” He asked, confused as she waved him off, telling him she’d call him when his order was ready.

“Make sure to listen this time, don’t want me to walk over to you again, do you?” She teased in a playful tone. His face flushed red from clear embarrassment as he walked away. Exactly the reaction she was hoping for. She almost felt bad for shattering his pride, but not enough to apologize because of the entertaining reaction she received in response.

“What’s up with him?” Jamie asked as Darla headed to the back to give her the order, “He takes all that time to order and ends up with a black coffee.”

Darla just glanced at him again, watching as he sat in the same seat and attempted to hide his face. He kept looking over at her, and when he saw he gaze he quickly looked away, as if trying to convince them both he hadn’t just seen her.

‘What an odd guy.’

–Willson

He’d done it again.

Willson had gotten lost in his thoughts and the girl at the counter had to deal with it again. He couldn’t help how his mind ran off the tracks that were built, that was just how it was. Unfortunately, it caused inconveniences for others which led to rather awkward situations, just as it had the day before and the morning.

As he caught another glance from her, he shook his head and exhaled sharply, determined to progress more in his writing instead of wasting time thinking about his interactions with the girl like he had yesterday. He couldn’t allow small things like this to dictate his work ethic. 

He refused.

Willson locked in on his laptop and began writing, allowing the words to flow onto the page with little thought. His story would be a success. It had to be. Especially since he had invested so much time and effort that could not be disregarded and thrown away. 

After an hour or two of writing, he took a small screen break, allowing his eyes to roam at the sights that surrounded him. Now that he really looked around, he realized how busy the cafe truly was, with people of all kinds filling the tables. As he continued watching the room, the barista from earlier caught his eye. Her hair was messed up and held back in a simple clip to make sure hair didn’t fall in any orders. Her glasses shielded large eyebags that belonged to that of a fifty-year-old woman instead of a girl who seemed to be in her twenties. Her green apron was stained with coffee powder and from what he could see, she was focused on the foam of a latte. Perhaps the art.

Suddenly, her eyes met his and he turned away with a start, his heart beating fast and his mind racing.

‘She thinks I’m a creep. She must think I’m a creep with nothing better to do than sit in cafes and stare at baristas whose time I take up. She definitely hates me now. Next time I come she will give me a look of disgust and refuse to offer her services and if I try to apologize for my stumbles she is going to cackle at me and whisper to her friends about how bad of a customer I am. I must apologize.’

Willson’s mind raced as she made her way over to his table after placing the latte on the table it belonged to. He quickly stood up once she stopped at his seat, watching as she scribbled something on a pad and ripped the paper off. She handed it to him with a huff. 

“If you wanted my number you could have asked,” she said before returning to her barista duties.

Willson stared at the paper, clutching it tightly as his face turned a new shade of red. He attempted to hide his flushed face by pulling his hat down, hunching his shoulders and trying to make himself as small as he could and stay out of the girl’s way.

This was unexpected.

–Darla

She waited on her bed, staring at her phone in anticipation.

Had she read the signs wrong?

Was he not into her?

Was he really just a socially awkward guy who– 

Her thoughts were interrupted by a notification. Darla scrambled to get her phone, relieved to see it was an unknown number.

She clicked on the message and sighed in relief as she read it: Hey, is this the girl from the coffee shop?

Darla erupted into giggles as she replied: Yeah, hey

Sorry about today and yesterday, I probably looked rly awkward

Darla tilted her head, her mind filled with images of the boy’s flushed face: Nah, ur chill, I probably wasn’t very welcoming either. Mornings are kinda hard so it’s also kind of my fault for projecting

I’m Willson, btw

Darla, nice to meet u

Likewise

If u come tomorrow, make sure u strike up a conversation with me, I didn’t give u my number for nothing

Gotcha, lol

“Who says ‘gotcha’,” she mumbled as they said good night.

Willson. Interesting. 

–Five years and thirsty-eight days: Willson

Willson took a deep breath as he entered the cafe at the same time he had the previous two days, facing the gir– Darla.

He slowly walked up to the register, his hand automatically moving up to his hat and clumsily pulling it down. He reached the register and felt her waiting eyes on him as if they were asking him when he’d say something.

“Hi,” she said with a smug grin, “Welcome to The Daily Grind, what can I getcha, Willson?” His name in her voice sent shivers down his spine, goosebumps covering his body as he studied the menu as if he hadn’t been going through this routine.

“I’d like…” He started to order, attempting to order a black coffee, but instead the words, “Caffee latte,” escaped.

Darla raised her eyebrows in surprise as she quickly wrote his order down, “anything else?” Willson took a deep breath and looked down at her, her face harboring an expecting look.

“Could I also get…what time your shift ends?”

–Darla

Darla didn’t expect him to do it. She closed the shop and locked the door behind her, then grabbed the two plates of pastries and went over to where Willson sat. When she asked him to strike up a conversation with her, she meant small talk, not a small coffee shop date.

“So,” she started, putting the plates down and pulling up a chair, “Hey.”

Willson gave her a goofy smile and darted his eyes around the room, “Hey.” They sat in silence for a good five minutes before Darla couldn’t take it anymore.

“Well if you’re not gonna say anything-”

“Wait,” Willson blurted out, grabbing her hand as she started to get up, “Um..Let’s…play a game…”

Darla gave him a look of confusion, “A game?”

“Yeah…”

“I’ll bite. What game.”

“Twenty questions.” Darla stared at him for a second, expecting him to crack a joke and say he didn’t mean it, but after a while, she realized he was dead serious. 

“No way,” she finally said in a string of laughs, “Did you really just say that?”

“What’s wrong with twenty questions?” He asked with a teasing smile creeping onto his lips.

“Nothing, it’s just so…random I guess,” she said, unable to push her amused look down.

“So you wanna play?”

“Why not.”

–One year and two months: Willson

Over time, meaningless chatter turned into conversations with purpose, and as they continued speaking, they realized they could not quite keep away from one another. Now, when he went up to her in the mornings, they brightly said hello and made small chit-chat as he was usually the first customer with no rush. Darla had convinced him to start trying different items off the menu, each one being sweeter than the last, and while it wasn’t his routine, Willson figured it would be okay to break one thing off each day. He wasn’t quite sure how it happened, but somehow they had managed to blossom from friendly acquaintances to best friends. They now met up whenever they could and not just after shifts. The highlight of Willson’s day, however, always remained the time they spent together at the end when Darla would close the shop and the two would remain, goofing off and being themselves in the safe presence of one another.

Today, he had something different in mind.

–Darla

Darla walked into work, pains sprouting across her body, sometimes going as far as grabbing support for walking. She could no longer function without taking multiple types of pills and sleeping was now scarce, though not completely gone. A recent visit to the doctor had somehow made every piece fall into place while simultaneously shattering the puzzle. As she put her apron on and unlocked the doors, Willson was there, holding a flower and fidgeting his feet. No matter how long they had known each other, his awkward nature never went away.

“Hey, Willson,” she said, eyeing the flower curiously, “Whatcha got there.”

He nervously handed her the flower with a toothy grin, “Thanks for being my friend.”

Darla felt her face heating up as she took the flower, trying to suppress the wide smile climbing her face, “Thanks for talking to me.”

“Meet me here at the end of your shift, I wanna show you something.”

With a nod, Willson took off, racing away as Darla watched with a raised eyebrow. She looked at the flower, then at him. 

‘Thanks for being my friend.’

A sad feeling weighed her heart down as she replayed the conversations between her and the doctor. She had to let him know, it would be unfair to him if she kept him in the dark. 

–Willson

Willson rushed back to the cafe, hoping he wouldn’t be too late to see her. He arrived in a burst, panting and leaning over his knees as he caught his breath from running across the city.

“Are you okay?” Darla cackled, hunching over and helping him up, “Don’t stretch a muscle.”

“I’m…Fine…” Willson tried between breathes, taking gulps of air before recollecting his composure, “Follow me.”

As he led her through and outside the city, Willson stopped at a hill, where a blanket had been laid with a stereo next to it. They were outside the city now, not too much of course, but still far enough to be considered secluded.

“It’s…a blanket…” Darla whispered, obviously trying to hide the disappointment in her voice but failing. Willson shot a knowing look as he sat on the blanket and gestured for her to sit next to him.

“Do you know what today is?” He asked, gazing at the sky. Darla shook her head, looking up at where he was looking. “It’s July twenty-first, there’s a predicted meteor shower and I wanted you to have the best view.” Willson studied her face, hoping she wouldn’t think he was coming on too strong. He was truly grateful for the friendship they had developed and he didn’t want her to take it in a way that would make her drift away. 

“This is amazing,” Darla breathed out, to his relief, “I’m so glad we met.”

As soon as she spoke those words, almost like magic, bright streaks littered the night sky. It was as if stardust was being thrown onto a blank canvas, and each streak was a fiery kiss from the sun itself. The sky was lit up and the land seemed like a scene straight out of a movie, but amid all the beauty in the world, his eyes only saw one thing.

Darla’s eyes were wide with awe and her wild hair was dancing to the tune of the wind as it blew almost to accompany the stars on their journey through the night. Her mouth was curved up wistfully and her expression was something Willson couldn’t quite understand.

“Willson…” Darla began, taking a deep breath, “I…I need to tell you something because it wouldn’t be fair if I waited any longer to tell you.” Her eyebrows were furrowed and her lips were pursed. She was twirling her hair, which was something she did when she was nervous.

Something was wrong.

“Darla…What is it?”

–Darla

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes before allowing herself to open her mouth. She knew the words that would be spoken would break their world and never allow it to be repaired. “I have Familial Insomnia,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she tried her best to stay strong, “I’m going to be transferred to the hospital soon because it’s an incurable disease and it’s only going to get worse.” She choked out the last part, unable to look Willson in the eye. His face was distraught and his breaths were getting sharp and quick while he combed his hand back through his hair. 

“How long…you known?” A look of disbelief and pain was etched on his face as he forced the words out his throat, barely a whisper.

“For a week, I wasn’t sure how to tell you,” she gasped out, now fully crying, her efforts to hold back being rendered useless. Willson said nothing but grabbed her arms and wrapped her in a large hug as if trying to shield her from the pool of sorrow that would eventually drown them. He held her like never before as if he believed that if he held her tight enough, the words would be powerless.

“I’m going to die, Willson,” she sobbed, her voice breaking with despair. “I’m so scared.” Foreign sounds escaped her lips, mixing with the heartbreak that stained her eyes. “I’m not ready to leave you yet,” she whispered with tears streaming down her cheeks, “I don’t know how to say goodbye.”

“No…” His voice cracked, choked with anguish at the weight of her words, “No no no you can’t say goodbye.” His eyes were squeezed shut as a means of refuge from the burdening pain and silence. Willson suddenly straightened up and wiped his tears. As he continued wrestling with the idea of death, he began speaking, his voice quivering with raw emotion. “Darla Lee Jackson, from this point onward, you will never see a speck of sadness. When you die, you will have lived a life of beauty and growth, and when you leave, you will do so with no regrets.”

–One Year: Willson

Willson entered the doors of the hospital with a muffin from the cafe, eager to see Darla and have another magical conversation with her. For the past few days, they’d been checking things off her bucket list, going as far as sky-diving and traveling across the world. Her more active wishes were being done first before she lost her energy and couldn’t leave the hospital. As of right now, she was able to roam with approval from her doctor, but it was only a matter of time before she wouldn’t be allowed out for her own safety. 

As he entered her room, he saw her sitting on the hospital bed. There were no wires attached to her and she sat as if she simply came for a visit. Part of him still couldn’t get used to seeing Darla with the white background, each day he visited only a reminder of what was to come.

“Hey, you,” she said,  her previously dark eyes brightening when she saw him, “How’s it going?”

Willson let out a puff of air in exasperation, “I should be asking you that.”

“We talked about this, Willson, we don’t talk about my disease until it’s time, got it?” Her voice was grounded and void of any fear she had shown the first day she’d told him. Darla had come to terms with her condition, and it was time for Willson to as well. He was proud of her, facing her future so strongly and not letting it hold her back. “How’s your new book going?” She questioned, hopping off the bed and taking her place next to him, “You promised to let me read it.” He let her wrap her arms around his as they strolled on the sidewalk.

“I would if my editor could be less vague about her edits,” he grumbled thinking back to their conversation. She had said everything was great except the style of writing in some parts of the book, and that if he didn’t change it and continue writing as is, she’d withdraw his series. Apparently, his first book didn’t have enough emotion, and this one was no different.

“I’m sure you’ll pull through.”

–Ten Months and Twenty-Four Days: Darla 

So far, a sixth of her bucket list had been completed, with days between activities being spent in small shops she’d wanted to visit but never had the time to before. They spent days exploring the city and going to places they hadn’t seen before, often spending hours on mindless conversations and visiting bookshops. She usually didn’t have the energy to do things that required a lot of movement, but they had done all the extreme things before it got to this point so feelings of regret were nonexistent.

Today, Willson had called her almost as soon as she woke, grabbing her hand tightly and rambling excitedly about a surprise he had planned for her. He’d spent the day with her, bouncing around various cat cafes and pet shelters, all eventually leading her to where she was now, following Willson with a blindfold as he guided the way. The sun had started reliving itself of its duties, bidding its final farewells as the moon took over. He sat her down on what seemed like a bench in the middle of a field before taking the blindfold off.

As the world became unveiled, she opened her eyes in anticipation, waiting eagerly for something to follow, which to her disappointment, nothing did. Before her was a green meadow under the cover of night, not even flowers to stare at in awe. 

“This seems to be a trend with us,” she remarked dryly, recalling the night that she had told him news of her insomnia.

“Just wait,” Willson said with a wink before running through the field, and as he did, something magical happened. Each step he took illuminated behind him, a flurry of fireflies rising behind him as he weaved his way through he field. Willson’s laugh echoed through the night, more and more fireflies revealing themselves the more he ran.

Overtaken by excitement, she let out a trail of giggles as she followed him through the meadow, navigating the best she could through the grass. Fireflies followed her footsteps as Willson beckoned for her to come closer to him, extending his arm for her to take. She grabbed it, intertwining their fingers like two parts of a whole. 

Their bodies moved in perfect harmony as they swayed to the rhythm of the music, closing their eyes and getting lost in the movement. He held her close, wrapping his arms around her waist, holding it as if he never wanted to let go. She rested her head against his chest, listening to the beating of his heart beneath her ear.

The world seemed to stand still just for a moment, and worries about the future escaped their thoughts, leaving the two in a timeless embrace.

This moment was truly infinite.

–Two Months and Thirteen Days: Willson

Darla was now bedridden, unable to leave the hospital due to her lack of energy and ability to move as swiftly as she once could. Every time he saw her, her cheeks looked more sunken and her eyebags only grew. Her body which was once filled with color was now shriveled and frail, looking as if even a gust of wind would blow her over. Darla’s appetite had been decreasing steadily, though she was still eating, and her sleep quality had been forming gaps instead of fractures. 

“How are you feeling?” 

Darla squinted at him, as if unable to recognize who he was, she then widened her guilt-ridden eyes, “Same as I’ve been feeling, Will…l.”

“Willson.”

“Sorry…Willson.” He let out a sigh as a realization started settling in, the fact that the time would come when she would no longer be able to remember him. Whether this would come before her time of leave, was left unanswered, but he hoped it never came to that.

“Please don’t go…”

–One Month and Ten Days: Wilson

He watched her with careful eyes, noticing subtle changes that were happening each day and tearing him bit by bit. Her voice was hitched with a slight tremor in her hands as he reached to her face, stroking it in an attempt to comfort her. 

How could one be comforted when the prospect of death was ahead?

That he did not know.

“Please, Willson,” Darla croaked as he got up, “Won’t you stay with me tonight?” He inhaled sharply, trying to press down the tears that formed from hearing her broken voice call his name.

“Of course, Darla,” he whispered back, gripping her hand and holding it to his forehead, weeping for both of them as she could no longer cry as sorrowfully as she once had.

–Three Weeks and Five Days: Willson

Darla hadn’t gotten up for a week now, her eyes cloudy and lifeless as the world seemed to move on while the two of them simply couldn’t move. Dread overtook any sense he had left as Darla’s final moments drew nearer and nearer each day. Simple tasks had become warzones as her limbs betrayed her in swift jerks and trembles. Sometimes, Willson would catch a small spark in her eye when they spoke, filling him with a false hope that would almost immediately be extinguished when the thought returned. 

Darla’s voice failed her, trying to call out to her lover but unable to, her only means of communication being her movements and eyes, both of which had also begun to leave her stranded on an island of misery.

–Two Weeks: Willson

Nights were the worst.

Willson would lie beside Darla, trying to ease her soul as she tossed and turned, begging to find a futile semblance of peace amidst the suffering she had to go through. He wished he could shield her from the grasp of Familial Insomnia. He wished to hide her from her future. He wished to take her pain and suffering and shoulder instead of her being the one of corruption.

Silent nights were broken by desperate whispers leaving both their lips, words of torture coming out of Darla’s as she wailed about the throbbing in her chest. Longing cries of relief went unanswered as nights became the foulest part of their day.

He watched her breath become more labored, knowing that Darla’s end was near. Her body withered and twisted in fear and pain, and Willson could simply watch it take place with nothing to offer but empty words of reassurance.

“It will be ok.”

–Three Days: Willson

The weight of the world pressed on his heart as Darla refused to eat or drink. She wept, saying her body felt as if she were being stoned and her mind was no longer her own. Between shaky breaths she would express her fear for the creatures that would trap her at night, each one coming closer and closer despite Willson’s body lying near hers. 

After a point, Darla began pleading with him to end her pain. To end her suffering. To end her life. He watched helplessly, hanging his head in shame as he watched her wither up after every outburst, the words escaping her lips and striking him every time they were spoken. 

Darla shut her eyes tight, her teeth clenched as chunks of her hair had fallen from her intense emotions, not letting her live her last days in peace. Willson never let go of her hand, holding it close to his mouth and planting small kisses on it as a feeble endeavor to make her forget what she was going through, even for a moment.

“Please kill me, Willson. Please end this suffering. It’s too much for me. It’s too much.” Her words were strained as last resort and her face held an expression of defeat and plea.

“I’m sorry, Darla.”

–One Day: Wilson

Her body had stopped moving entirely and her breathing was fast and shallow. Her sunken cheeks left pits on her face, and her eye bags filled the holes. Death had begun to overtake her soul and Willson knew that; No doubt she did too.

It was four-thirty in the morning.

Willson woke to the haunting melody of silence.

There were no shallow breaths. There were no twitches and turns. There was only silence.

Unyielding tears rolled down her still face as he cradled her in his arms, not letting go. He held her head tightly to his chest, as if holding on would defy death’s cold, cruel grip. 

She mustered up the energy to send a serene smile, “It doesn't hurt anymore, Willson.” 

Her body went limp, succumbing to the illness that had taken a toll on her for a year now. Her chest rose for the last time, leaving nothing but a shell as her spirit departed, finally easing herself of the pain she had been put through for so long.

His voice cracked as he whispered, “Yes, Darla, it doesn’t.” His heartache echoed in his words as a profound reminder of the loss that filled his world.

[sarah-dipitous]

Hellsite Nostalgia Tour 2023 Day 357

The Star Beast

“The Star Beast”

Plot Description: the Doctor lands in London to find an old friend, a new enemy, and aliens wreaking havoc

I’M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

I get we have to do this recap opening for new comers or whatever, but DID WE HAVE TO???

God, they miss each other so much. And it’s nice to have these three episodes of (potential) closure for them after seeing two other companions get closure from their Doctors last time

Am I mad FOR Ncuti that the Doctor didn’t go from Jodie to him? Yes. But man…….it’s hard to be mad to see David as the Doctor again

Of course the first person he runs into and tries to help IS Donna…and then tries to back out of helping because what if she remembers him?

Of COURSE Donna is continuing her streak of missing big alien happenings in London 💀

The nostalgia!!! The first of likely more than a few Allons-y’s!!! ❤️❤️

Donna’s daughter Rose also got Donna’s last name. I’m a Donna Noble fan til I die. She gave away nearly ALL her lottery winnings??!

Ohhhh Donna’s mom vehemently denying the existence of spaceships (…one’s not made here) to protect Donna 😭

Fuck yes!! Donna being a trans ally for her daughter l, being the kind of loving, affirming parent she deserves. Donna’s mom is imperfect but trying

YOU LOST YOUR BEST FRIENNNNNND, DONNA!! That’s what you lie awake at night thinking should be there in your life

I know the meep is supposedly super dangerous but it’s SO SO SO SO CUTE

SINCE WHEN CAN THE SONIC SCREWDRIVER MAKE PROJECTIONS

He CALLED DONNA HIS BEST FRIEND AND ACTUALLY SAID HE LOVES HER!!! You know what that is? Growth

All these seasons and I think this is the first time I’ve seen a young but still adult actor in a wheelchair. Good that it’s happened, took too long…and took too long for me to realize that

Meep talks like Gollum but us still so cute

Oh no oh no oh no oh no…I can’t believe I’m about to say “poor Sylvia Noble,” but poor Sylvia!! She’s got too many crises to handle that are really just one, and she’s NOT DOING IT WELL AT ALL

How many alien races are looking for this meep?!?!

Nooooooooo because watching this ON BERNARD CRIBBINS’S BIRTHDAY KNOWING HE IS NOW DEAD but I swear to all that is good, if this is another “great big outer space dumbo” moment. Donna just said Wilf “isn’t with us anymore,” and the Doctor’s gonna go waxing poetic…he just doesn’t live with the family anymore, right? He’s in a retirement home or something??

I was right. And both Donna and Sylvia called him an idiot for it 💀

Not to say poor Sylvia again, but like…their home is now being attacked and invaded by two different sets of aliens (well, one is humans being possessed by something alien), and she just wants to keep her daughter alive!!! But she keeps saying all this doesn’t exist. There’s no way to deny it now

Look, I’ll overlook the slightly hamfisted “did you assume the meep’s pronouns?” But I cannot abide by the sonic screwdriver 3D printing a barrier to protect the group from all the blasts happening in this house

You know the movie Cats Don’t Dance? The meep just took a turn more drastically evil than Darla

I mean…if you’ve never heard of the meep, you would one hundred percent fall for its cuteness

Donna’s heart is so good. She gave away her lottery money because it was a way she could help people living in danger, pain, and fear

Excuse me?? Did you just say “sounds like the kind of thing you would do”?? Like she’s starting to remember the Doctor? Maybe???

I kind of wish the meep had kept its cute docile demeanor while still being super evil. That would have been a little more interesting, but I recognize this is not a creature of my creation

SHE CALLED HIM THE DOCTOR

I love that he thinks telling Donna she can’t get involved actually means anything, actually means she won’t. You traveled with her before. She cannot be told no

Omgggg Donna’s “okay” when the Doctor told her that they could save London together but it would mean she would die. Like, on one hand, believable that Donna would be okay with dying to save her daughter, but imagine the pain of the lengths Sylvia has gone to for 15 years to keep HER daughter safe and alive.

He’s waking her like a sleeper agent?? Like the Winter Soldier??

Pffffffffffft, she’s so mad at himmmmmmm for being the inspiration for giving away all her lottery moneyyyyyy I’m dead

Fuck, Donna is so cool. Earlier sh said if anyone gave her daughter trouble she would DESCEND. And as she ruins the meep’s plans to destroy London she just yells “DONNA NOBLE IS DESCENDING,” explosions behind her and everything

Oh! Hello Rose!!

Wait…wait…wait…are they trying to say that the metacrisis of the Doctor Donna would eventually make her daughter transgender???? The implication does seem to be there (I can’t wait to unblock the Doctor Who tag)

She also passed down some of her memories of the Doctor and part of what made her Doctor Donna onto Rose…that part does kind of seem very wibbly wobbly biology

And they’re just able to let go of the metacrisis energy or whatever?? I mean, they had to get around it somehow to be able to do two more episodes and I’m glad Donna and Rose did it and not the Doctor…but I can’t help but feel like there could have been a more interesting way. I dunno…

Donna’s husband is so chill. I’m glad she found him

Ok I was gonna be a party pooper about the all white interior for the TARDIS but it’s got color changing lights which is cool

What a heartfelt conversation cut short by Donna spilling coffee in the control center of the TARDIS, making it go haywire, taking them WHO EVEN KNOWS WHERE

Ok Disney+…just because I watch ONE show with a man with some magical powers and artifacts with the title Doctor also starring a character who is a strongwillled red haired woman does not mean I want to watch Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness

[thisisfebran]

Project A

Introduction:

Although I called it Project A, this isn't my first. I remember starting to write this text under the premise of two detectives investigating each other. Then one of them turned into a lawyer, before finally reaching what it is today.

I hope it is intriguing enough. I want to hear your opinions and assumptions about the potential story!

【Word Count: 576】

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𝓐𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓵 𝓑𝓸𝔂𝓼

She sat at the edge of her seat, taping on her glass of wine in impatience. The door’s shopkeeper's bell suddenly rang. From the reflection of the glass, Darla took notice of her ol’ friend. “May I offer you a sip of fine red?” Her fangs showed as she smirked.

“I don’t drink during work hours.” He sat beside her, sighing in exhaustion. Darla tried to hide her chuckle. Hilbert’s correct ways are something she both admired and mocked.

“I hope you brought a tip for the workers. At least.”

“How nice to see you again.” He said, with obvious sarcasm.

They locked eyes for a moment before Darla smiled to herself. She tapped on the cocktail table. The place was not too crowded, which made their voices resonate even more. Perhaps that is what they needed.

“Your drinks are on me,” Hilbert said.

“Sure they are, love.”

He cleared his throat at her answer. Everything went silent, as it seemed they were lost in thought. They both knew what the other was there for after all. Darla waited for him to speak, and Hilbert looked for the words.

Deep inside, she hoped he simply called to see her. But that was pure fantasy, as he was there for business.

Tragedy. About two months ago, a sequence of young boys between 7 and 13 had started disappearing around the City of Montréal. No race in specific, no height in specific, no social status in specific. Just boys. Kids. People soon began theorizing there was some kind of kidnapper or serial killer out in the wild. Darla knew they couldn’t be closer to the truth.

“Have you heard of the Angel Boys?” Hilbert finally spoke up. His voice wasn’t as firm as it was before.

"He blinked in surprise. He had forgotten how bold she could be.

“Very well.” He leaned in towards her.

“I thought we had an agreement.”

“We did. Until it became a burden.”

“I need you to try more.”

She slowly shook her head in disagreement, taking a few sips of her aging wine. “That is not how it works.”

“Make it work.”

“I have reasons to believe you want me killed…”

“Like those kids?” Hilbert leaned closer to her, and his following words were whispered. “Don’t make me take it on you, Ambrosia.”

She clenched her jaw at the sound of her name.

Her eyes widened before baring her teeth. Darla raised her hand to grab his neck, stroking it with her nails. Darla’s eyebrows furrowed as she stared into him. Their heartbeats increased as they felt each other’s heavy gaze.

“You are getting too comfortable.”

She dug her long nails into his skin to make her point clear. In response, the man held her wrist.

Darla was aware of their dynamic. As much as she hated it, they were dependent on each other. The affection might be gone, but their lives were still connected. She needed him, he needed her. There was no room for conflict.

Hilbert took advantage of this moment of introspection to gently remove her tightening grip. His eyes twitched, stopping the whining once he felt his neck free.

Hilbert did not waste time. He quickly stood up, leaving a few dollars behind on the counter. Darla stayed quiet, shaking slightly. The bell rang once again. Although, this time, she couldn’t help but turn to watch him go.

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Here is a song I relate to this story!

[localfandomenthusiast]

Dk if you're still looking for recs but allow me! Most of these are insanely popular so you probs alr know them lol. I do ramble some of my probably spoiler-free opinions/summaries but you can skip them!

Ongoing BUT my current fav and go-to fic!!! I've re-read this a bunch of times alr and each chapter keeps getting better!!!

Basically, Bernard goes back in time to his HS-self, gets stuck in a time-loop on the day Darla dies and now he has to figure out how to keep his best friend alive; stop the loop, and go back to the future(present?). HEADS UP, HS Tim is still with Steph but there are a bunch of cute Timbern moments; this fic emphasize the most on the relationship between the Louis E. Grieve trio. Please mind the tags!

Ah yes, possession, what more can you say to that? Real fluffy ending though, 10/10 WILL read again

You know the trope where a masked person is heavily injured and seeks out their lover's place? Switch it up, now it's the masked person's also masked family member! There are 3 fics rn for this series, I recommend reading all of them!

Tim reallyyy wants to propose to his boyfriend, but alas the universe seems to always throw a wrench into his plans. Misunderstandings involved (on both parts but the seriousness between them are wayy different LOL)

It's not actually as serious as I described it lol, it's real fluffy and Tim's a total lovesick fool (emphasis on fool). Also, Bernard's studying greek myths yay!

What if they were just ordinary boys like in our world; and the whole vigilante-batman shabang was just as known to them as to us, in comics? But one day, one of them fell into a hole and ended up on the other side as... Bernard Dowd? Wait, that's not his last name! And is this Gotham City?!

ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAV, PLEASE PLEASE READ THIS ONE. OH THE FEELS, oh the heartaches...; hope you will enjoy Bernard's journey finding his way back home like I did!

I am once again, BEGGING you to read this, on god, my all-time's fav. Also got fanart from one of my fav artists!! AHHHHH

Basic sypnosis, snippets of their relationship's growth, from their (kinda?) 2nd date to Tim's lowkey sugar daddy arc; they're flirtingggggg and ooo the anxieties of keeping secrets from your partner. Once again, 10/10, have re-read so often it's ingrained in my memories

HAHA, what can I say about this fic? Well, good luck with all the things this fic's gonna hit you with

You should check out the author's other works! They have written a lot of my fav Timbern fics!

Man will do anything but be direct, even treating a PHONE CALL like a chess game.

Very fluffy, very cute,

These bitches gay as hell, good for them, good for them

I actually don't even know how to describe this LOL,

Claw machine.

Duck Tim.

Enjoy!

People should recommend timbern fics for me to read btw!