#the question made me very excited

[darkfluffydragon]

More lore on shadow milk cookie and pure vanilla cookie and wind aecher cookie also since pure vanilla cookie rules the vanilla kingdom what will happen to it and how will the republic and the ancient cookies react to the beast... Please give me lore I crave for it

I have a lot of drawings planned for this au, but actually getting to do them is a whole other thing. I keep getting distracted by little side quests, and my motivation jumps from one project to another faster than I can keep up. Though, most of the little comics are seperate scenarios that occur in the au, focused around the trio.

Despite this, I can still share some of the lore through writing form >:D

I’ll start with the question of how exactly Shadow Milk Cookie managed to influence Pure Vanilla’s Souljam so easily. In the original story, Pure Vanilla resists Shadow Milk with White Lily’s help. In the Phantasmagoria AU, Shadow Milk Cookie tries again and succeeds.

There’s one main factor (or two), that contributed to this. Both of which happened long before the Beastyeast episodes. It happened during the Dark Flour War, when Pure Vanilla Cookie used Dark Moon Magic to banish Dark Enchantress and sacrifice himself. Dark Moon Magic taints the soul here, and the spell had a far greater consequence than anyone realised. Those imperfections in the Light of Truth gave Shadow Milk the perfect opening to sneak his way in and achieve victory.

Or perhaps, the true catalyst was the academy. When Pure Vanilla Cookie snuck into the restricted section and discovered knowledge long buried and lost.

Next up, Windy! Shadow Milk Cookie has met Wind Archer in the past. Briefly, at least. As a scholar and seeker of knowledge, he would have tried to find a way to meet Millennial Tree Cookie. Though he would only succeed when he becomes truly desperate to stop the corruption plaguing him and his friends. He would plead for an audience with the god, and upon meeting him, would be told that they could not help him. That the apparently all-knowing god could not help them because they were creations of the witches, who even the gods themselves did not truly understand.

All those nights of scouring ancient texts, all the weeks, months, perhaps even years, of clinging onto that false hope. It would cause Shadow Milk to feel resentment at the unfair situation. They did not ask for this power, they were simply created with it. What had they done to deserve such punishment? Did they not do everything the witches asked them to do? Why were the witches not helping them?’

He would want someone to resent, someone more tangible than the witches that created them. Who else but the god that stood before him? The grudge would remain, even after centuries had passed in the seal. It would remain long enough that when he comes across the guardian once more, he would gleefully take the wind god and break him at the first chance he had. Anything to provoke Millennial Tree Cookie, who had denied him the salvation he begged for all those eons ago.

Does Pure Vanilla Cookie still love White Lily Cookie? The answer to this is, at first, simple: No. He does not love White Lily, not anymore. Shadow Milk Cookie knew that the affection was a variable, one that had ruined his first attempts at gaining control. He would remove it as soon as possible, to cement his control. Pure Vanilla Cookie is quite literally unable to love White Lily anymore. Surprisingly enough, Shadow Milk Cookie didn’t deem the bond he held with the other ancients much of a threat to his manipulations, so he left those relatively untouched.

While Pure Vanilla isn’t able to love White Lily anymore, it doesn’t mean he’s lost any feelings he had for her. They’re still there. Specifically, he’s in love with the memory of her. He remembers how he used to love her, how he had waited so long for her. How he remained stubborn in his choice of love. Pure Vanilla would love those memories, cherish them even if he could no longer understand them. He cannot love the current White Lily Cookie, but he could love the White Lily and Pure Vanilla that once existed.

This lack of feeling wouldn’t go away in the aftermath either. Shadow Milk Cookie is very thorough in his methods, and the lost love wouldn’t just return. Even if his influence is gone. To regain Pure Vanilla’s love, White Lily would have to earn it again. The problem, however, stems from how much they would have changed. White Lily is no longer the White Lily from the academy that young Pure Vanilla fell in love with, and Pure Vanilla is no longer the virtuous hero and king the stories claim he is. They’ve both changed. So much so that one could even question if it was even possible for Pure Vanilla to fall in love with her again.

It’s very strongly a role reversal scenario.

[egophiliac]

Waittt, what did you mean with your last post?? I don't want to spoil myself so I'm waiting for the nightmare before christmas event to arrive on the eng server before diving deep into the wiki. But I HAVE to know; were there hints of Lilia joining in for a rerun or a sequel ??? Your big "OR IS IT???" filled me with way too much hope !! please tell me it wasn't a bit : (

there was a little teaser at the end that implied there'll be a sequel event, though we don't really know anything beyond that! I do think it's likely we'll get the other half of the cast in it, even if it's just wishful thinking on my part. 🤞🤞 NIGHTMARE SUITS FOR EVERYONE!!!!

as far as I know there's been no confirmation on whether it's going to be next year's Halloween event or a separate thing (the snow makes me think it'll be more Christmas-themed, or otherwise more related to the plot of the original movie) so. we're probably going to have to wait quite a while before we find out anything solid. :') they really do love just dropping these things on us and then watching us go absolutely wild with speculation while they watch like

[ruvviks]

The Dobrynin family is a corpo family through and through, rooted in Arasaka and Orbital Air going back by several generations; though their powerful position within the corporate world ends with the children of Nadya and Matvey Dobrynin. With Vitali and Daniil fired from Arasaka and Kang Tao respectively— the former indirectly getting his parents fired, too— and Roksana having refused to set foot within a megacorporation from the start, the family begins crumbling apart at the very seams when clashing interests lead to grudges, betrayal, and pointless acts of revenge. ↳ read the unrevised fic here if you're interested!

taglist (opt in/out)

@shellibisshe, @florbelles, @ncytiri, @roseeway, @stars-of-the-heart;

@lestatlioncunt, @katsigian, @radioactiveshitstorm, @estevnys, @adelaidedrubman;

@celticwoman, @rindemption, @carlosoliveiraa, @noirapocalypto, @dickytwister;

@killerspinal, @euryalex, @ri-a-rose, @velocitic, @thedeadthree;

@kanos, @swordcoasts, @ordinarymaine, @claudiawolf, @strafethesesinners

[muttsandmustelidae]

i regret to inform all of my fellow socially awkward kings that Practicing Talking Good actually helps. u have to make small talk at the grocery store sometimes to get better at speaking to people u don’t know very well. it sucks but if u keep trying it will eventually NOT suck and will in fact be fun and nice

[shepscapades]

Okay I'm a little curious, because to me when making a playlist I make it to be listened to in order. Not just for story but for vibes. Is shuffle a yes or a deal breaker for some playlists? I know for me it can really mess with the vibe

OOOH good question!!! For most of the playlists, it depends what mood I'm in! If I'm looking to listen to understand the character/be immersed in the story/pay attention, listening in order is a must. But there are some of the playlists that are so full of bops/are already in an order that I'm happy with, that I don't really mind what comes on, so I'll put it on shuffle just for vibes/so the transitions and emotional rollercoasters don't get old :)

I've been listening to Xisuma and Doc's playlists nonstop lately on shuffle for vibes bc those playlists are full of bops, but if I ever want to Feel Things about the characters, I'll listen in order hehe (though I usually still feel Plenty when listening on shuffle because I'm hyper aware of the moment, arc, or feeling that song is supposed to represent LOL)

When I'm on long drives, I like to listen to the playlists top to bottom and then see what Spotify puts on afterwards to see if there are any new songs I can fit into any playlists :>

[frogatz]

monthly calypsoworld tag ramble :]

[jisuyayaya]

Fellas i am nervous

[imflyingfish]

Its weird because i dont actually have much of a desire to move to france or use french reguarly in my life but at this point ive deadicated over a year to learning it so i might as well keep going and finish

[ceruleanfuckup]

So I had a fantastic date tonight.

[fubaoub]

How did yu get so good at art. what are your secrets. Also what brushes do you use?

i think the main things I've done that really helped me improve is using websites like Quickpose to study anatomy on a (relatively) consistent basis and studying artists I personally like and their process! :)

Another really good thing that helped me is looking at "bad" art I've made and seeing it as a way to figure out my mistakes and improve instead of seeing it as something demotivating? Hard 2 explain but it helped me tons!! Not the easiest thing to do but working on a good mindset when it comes to your art actually helps so much

AND IM GOING 2 BE HONEST I switch between brushes like a maniac so i can never remember exactly what I use on my drawings but i do have a few sets I really love!!

this ZH set has some really nice pencil textures that I use all the time! I also really love the perfect pencil brush though I haven't used it a whole lot recently :)

ANDD I love the analog brush on this set but it isn't free sadly :'(

[ccaptain]

[rxttenfish]

trying desperately to figure out why zoe's characterization bothers me so much and. is it literally just because shes a fan stand in? so that somehow things feel cheapened when another character does something and she calls it out as a trope?

[nomaishuttle]

on a semi related note there r like 2 specific times i remember expecting one of my safe foods and getting something entirely different and being SO insanely upset abt it even though the thing i got still tasted good

[girl-bateman]

Dont get me wrong, a good vacay literally makes life worth living and im not trying to be ungrateful, but knowing that a trip with my dad is guaranteed to include me having to deal with his alcoholism very much sucks ass. 80% of it will be amazing and fun and all the things a vacay is supposed to be, but that 20% is so so unpleasant that I sometimes wonder if its worth it at all tbh

[itsalwaysdark]

aww its kinda cute finding me complaining abt my dads whole lisa thing from 2017. honestly so overshadowed by everything else and also i was so annoying when i was 12 aw .

[foldingfittedsheets]

When I was working at the sex shop I was pulling poverty wages. I loved my job but I was on food stamps and still barely getting by. When they hired the stores first male employee and he started at my pay rate after I’d been there for three years I quit.

I was initially really nervous when I saw the post for the mattress job. It listed a pay scale that I couldn’t even conceptualize and I appeared qualified. When I got an interview I was over the moon but also petrified. Reactions to my line of work often varied but most people were very embarrassed or skeptical. I worried about how I’d address it in the actual interview.

I lived far to the north of their headquarters and drove almost two hours to get there. When I finally arrived it was in the nicest thrift store clothes I could find, but I shrank inside to see a room full of older white men in nice suits waiting to be interviewed for the same job.

Why did I bother? I was decades younger than anyone else in the room, shabbily dressed, and I suspected I was the only afab person in the entire building. I stewed in my insecurities until I was called in.

The second I met my interviewer I was instantly put at ease. The man had the energy of a therapy dog, he was abound with positive, good natured energy. He was also incredibly beautiful. I grinned back at his welcoming smile as we said our pleasantries. But still. This very beautiful polished man seemed very innocent. How would the sex shop question go?

“I see here you worked at STORE?”

“Yes,” I said hesitantly.

“And that was sales? Or you just rang people up.”

“No, it was sales. I’d help people find products, we were encouraged to upsell, there was sales spiffs, and most importantly we educated customers on products to help them find what they liked best.”

He grinned approvingly and asked, “Can you give me an example of a time you successfully upsold a customer?”

I paused, wringing my hands before I asked, “How vague would you like me to be…?”

“Not at all!�� He assured me. “Go for it!”

“Well. A man came in looking for something to make his fingers vibrate so when he was touching his wife it would enhance that sensation. We had cheap $10 cockrings that I showed him first. But we had a rechargeable waterproof one made of nicer material, and after I showed him a demo he bought that one.”

“How much was that one?”

“$110”

“Wow! You had an upsell of 100% from what he came in looking for! That’s incredible!”

He was so truly genuinely stoked and not at all embarrassed that for the first time I saw a tiny glimmer of a future where I didn’t have ramen and peanut butter tiding me over between paychecks.

He asked me to wait then came back to tell me he liked me so much that he wanted to send me right into another interview, if that was okay. He didn’t want me to have to drive back later, it was terribly considerate and exciting. I beamed and told him it would be lovely.

I then had the second worst interview I’ve ever had. The worst goes to the time I applied to be a store manager for a pet food place years later. The district and store manager interviewing me passed notes and texted while I was speaking. When the district manager called to inform me I didn’t get the job I told him I’d never have accepted anyway because I’d never had such a disrespectful interview.

The new man sitting behind the desk radiated an aura of a brick wall. As someone with anxiety I’m highly keyed into the emotional states of people I’m talking to. To receive no feedback at all was my personal hell. After a perfunctory greeting he asked me with no inflection to sell him a pen.

I gathered the shreds of my courage and attempted the Herculean task he’d set me. Through my whole improvised spiel he resisted all attempts at engaging him, regarding me with a cold apathy as I touted the benefits of my fictitious pen.

Halfway through I broke into a cold sweat. My smile didn’t waver but it grew strained as I projected friendliness and warmth into the black hole of his heart. My thoughts scattered and my sales pitch grew redundant in the face of his nothingness. I finally concluded with a hard close and he simply nodded.

He glanced at my resume and commented, “You didn’t ask me to touch or hold it. Though I suppose I can understand from your previous line of work why you wouldn’t.” I shriveled and died inside knowing that I encouraged people to touch dildos all day long and had been too frazzled to offer him the pen.

He bid me a cool farewell. I made it to my car before I started sobbing. I had never been so rattled. I couldn’t understand what I’d done to make him so unfriendly or if my threadbare clothes were what had made him treat me like dirt. I drove an hour and a half to get home, weeping intermittently.

I was therefore taken by complete surprise to receive a call the next day inviting me on board for their five week training program. The first man who’d interviewed me gushed on the phone about how the second guy had loved me and that I was going to be fantastic.

I was in shock. When I showed up to training the second interviewer was charming my new classmates, beaming and laughing. He was an utterly different person. To my dismay I learned he was the trainer for my district and would be my point of contact if I made it through training.

He joked with me later that his interview facade was just a tactic to see how people held up under pressure and I filed him into a category of my deepest enmity. I never forgave him for how small he made me feel that day, but I never showed him the depths of my fury.

I aced every test and went on to be valedictorian of the eight people who had survived the rigorous training process to earn a sales position. When I got my first paycheck I bought myself new clothes, the first non-thrifted things I’d owned in years.