#the story will make sense soon enough

[keysmashcoward]

I finally finished day 1 of hypno ship week, old friends / getting closer! I don't know if it's the most overt theming, like, it honestly could be read as an established relationship or qpr if you wanted to and I wouldn't argue with you. It's pretty obvious I'm rusty, so go easy on me! /lh

---

Despite the drizzling rain outside the little coffee stand, Hypno found managing drive thru customers far more relaxing than usual. Cars seemed reluctant to clump up into a demanding line and customers seemed to be utilitarian in their orders, requesting simple drinks with little to no special instructions.

"You need anything?" False seemed particularly bored, no walk up customers to chat up or maintenance tasks to busy herself with. Hypno was debating convincing her to take over the drive thru when the employee entrance door opened, cold air and morning rain rushing in.

Jevin also rushed in. His sweatshirt was soaked and his expression looked apologetic. False whipped around from the counter she was cleaning with dedication. A sigh of relief escaped her lungs and she returned to scrubbing sticky vanilla syrup and blue raspberry stains from the surface.

Hypno's curiousity got the better of him, "Did you finally get tired to being perfect at your job?" The joke had a pinch of snark to it, but Jev's chuckle disintegrated any though that he would respond with heat.

"No, I'm just that confident you guys could deal perfectly well without me." Hypno was about to say something about how it was a Monday, and Mondays were always terrible, but Jev got to his argument before him.

"I mean, that line," a roll of the eyes and a gesture out the empty drive thru window, "only a professional like you could achieve the feat of serving the entire morning rush before I had even arrived."

Hypno tried to think of a clever response, but to no evale. A matching eye roll and a huff of exasperation would have to do.

The sound of tires on wet concrete interrupted their conversation. Hypno hurriedly slide open his window, an awkward smile covering for his annoyance towards Jevin.

"Could I get myself a quad shot Americano with oat milk and..." Hypno dropped his customer serving face in favor of a cheeky grin, "for you, maybe enough lenience to ditch work?"

"I feel like you were scouting out a day we wouldn't be so busy." Hypno's fingers easily found xB's tab on the touch screen register and entered his order. Jevin had already taken his place at the espresso machine. Hypno would have liked to think it was to prove himself after coming in late, but logic told him Jev just wasn't to kean on leaving customers waiting.

XB's eyes we're on his phone, determinally searching for something before unbuckling from his seat. His torso strained his car to hold out his phone to Hypno. After a glance, Hypno doubled his grin.

He hurriedly added a lid to xB's nearly finished drink, double cupping and sleeving, as usual, and placed it in xB's free hand.

He grabbed his keys.

---

Hypno thought an hour and a half drive was a great trade for xB's spontaneous compulsion to take him to a new teriyaki place. Him bringing food back to the parked car was even worth an earful from Cubfan about the importance of being a responsible employee.

His usual order to test and measure restaurant quality was chicken teriyaki with fried rice and a side of coleslaw. His meat was tender and juicy, rice was properly seasoned with vegetables cooked to his liking, and the coleslaw was still crisp.

XB had opted for beef with white rice and coleslaw. Hypno eyed his meal, before stabbing his fork through one of his pieces, rice clinging to the sauce. XB gave him a horrified glance and a fake pout. Unfortunately, Hypno determined that the beef was too dry, and therefore, not worth a trade for any of his precious chicken.

"That's theft, you know," xB made a move for Hypno's food, only for a hand to easily reroute his whole arm away from his goal. XB hadn't been trying that hard, but now he was determined. "I'm definitely thinking that saying, 'an eye for an eye,' yeah, that works here."

Another lunge, another redirect, all the while Hypno is quickly and efficiently tucking away the rest of their settlement fee.

"I could take this to court, you know."

"For what?" Hypno plays stupid, "you can't seriously think it's a good idea to prosecute yourself for entitlement to my things. I mean, what are you, a vigilante?"

Hypno's on his second to last piece, the chicken stabbed onto the end of his fork. XB fanes panic and places his meal out of his way, using his hand to brace on the steering wheel and seat.

Hypno eats the piece.

XB uses his leverage to bring his body up and out of his position, leaning into his personal space.

Hypno stabs the final piece and brings it to his mouth.

XB is there before him, fully crowding him against the window and earning his emotional damages settlement when he bites the chicken right off of Hypno's fork.

As he's chewing, he begins to return to his seat. Before he's there, but after he's swallowed, Hypno pulls at the back of his head for a quick, sweet kiss.

---

I might crosspost to AO3 when I've finished all the prompts, but that's also fucking terrifying, so... /hyp

Also, my sincerest apologies for the tags; they are actually deranged a bit.

[dve]

the saint of duty + an iliad's hector of troy

An Iliad, Lisa Peterson & Denis O'Hare, p. 480 / Harrow the Ninth, p. 124, 133, 191, 193, 194, 204, 228, 267 292, 469 / Nona the Ninth, p. 30, 399, 402

[sergle]

I really truly, from the bottom of my heart, hate you bitches so much, because on the tiktok of literally COCK AND BALL jokes w brittany broski, there were a few notes/messages like this:

And I KNOW you don't think anyone's going to check. You had someone go into your askbox and say "hiii brittany broski is shitty about palestine she's really ignorant :/" and you went oh omg I didn't know!! thanks for telling me! So I checked! This is in reference to her talking in her podcast, because people were asking why she hadn't done any big press statements about Palestine, you didn't retweet this or that, you must not care, don't you care, what's your stance, etc etc please say more OKAY COOL. So what's going on there? What did Brittany say on her podcast? Is she a Bad Person? Can I have some transcript, please? ____ "Hey guys, before we get into this week's episode, I want to talk to you about the ongoing and prolonged suffering and loss of life in Gaza, in Israel, and the oppression of Palestinian people widespread. I don't ever want it to be a question that I would ever not be against the oppression of any group of people, that I would ever stand on the side of the oppressor." "There was a lot of fear of misusing my platform." ... "I will admit that I was nervous to talk about it, because I don't want to say the wrong thing. And this is too fucking serious of an issue to misspeak, or to spread misinformation, or to speak over or for someone." ... "So I want to take a moment on my biggest platform- which is this podcast, to say that I stand with the people of Palestine, I stand for the liberation of Palestinian people." ... "Every day, to log on to social media, and be just inundated with graphic, unimaginable violence, and loss, and grief, it's just--There are no words." ... "And I feel helpless. That's part of it too, when you feel helpless, the last thing you want to do is talk to people about it-- but visibility is a resource in and of itself. And I can offer that." ... "The outpouring of rage and passion online, and anger at what's happening, I would argue needs to be dedicated and focused on our elected officials. We live in a democracy- albeit an inherently flawed one- we live in a democracy where we have elected officials who were elected and put in power to represent us, and if we feel misrepresented, if we feel underrepresented in foreign affairs? These officials have public phone numbers and emails. There are scripts available online to express your disdain and your rage, and unfortunately that's one of the only ways we'll see actionable change."   "If you expected more from me, it's a terrible feeling- but I don't want to center myself, this needs to be all eyes on Palestine right now, where the real activism is happening. I would encourage you to follow journalists that are on the ground, people who are in Gaza, we need to be listening to them. I would also hope that we're at a point in this conversation where I can express my desire to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and that NOT meaning or suggesting or condoning anti-Semitism of any kind. There's a rise of anti-Semitism and islamophobia in the United States and it's just-- it's disgusting, and it's scary, so I want that to be said too. I just wanted to share that I am experiencing part of this collective sense of helplessness and hopelessness-- but it DOESN'T HAVE to be hopeless. I'm going to include a phone number in the description of this episode where, if you don't know the name of your senators or your Congressman, it's never too late to learn, and you can reach out to them." _______ Hm. What a bitch!! Yeah, just so ignorant and uncaring. Obviously she's not keeping up with anything. Should've retweeted more shit ig!

[mooifyourecows]

every time that post comes around about fan writers not legally allowed to take comms, i get so fucking anxious lmao

so just so we are all crystal clear... i'm not taking commissions, i'm taking ~donations~ to the brain/motivation fund, and if a chapter magically gets completed, then that's just a perk! 😉👌

don't narc on me to the fandom police i will kill myself

[quorras]

every time i see someone call tron 'cyberpunk', i lose ten years off my lifespan

[mad-hunts]

i like how barton went from being like... a hippie in terms of how he viewed sex in his early twenties, then kind of abstained from it for a few years / became sexually repressed, which... definitely isn't such a good thing. BUT then he became even more of a freak (and i do mean that in the good way this time LOL) around the time he started residency because WOW is that shit stressful. though that was also unfortunately around the time when he really started to spiral as well 😬 but we don't need to talk about that ahahhh

like the way this man learned how to express his sexuality REALLY came full circle in the end considering he was like 'yeah, back in the early days that i was in college, i was a freak. but now i'm not anymore... though do you want to see me do it again anyway?' like 💀 JSJSJ if he weren't so demented, i'd almost be inclined to say good for him, y'all LMAO feeling comfortable with your sexuality and perhaps even having a bit of fun with it (though maybe too much in barton's case, because he literally weaponizes it in order to lure in his victims. BUT once again, we don't need to talk about that right now psshhh. i actually fully intend on talking about that in the tags NGL) is more often than not a good thing after all

[sonknuxadow]

Oooh you want to know what bit of misinformation about Sonic that really upsets me? Nearly everything about Fleetway Super Sonic.

Fleetway Super Sonic isn't its own transformation, it's Fleetway comics take on Sonic's standard Super form and. Fleetway Super Sonic is never even called that in Sonic the Comic and is just called Super Sonic even when Super Sonic became a separate character than actual Sonic. However there is alot of people who say that Fleetway Super Sonic is basically the original Dark Super Sonic and even will have Super Sonic introduce himself as Fleetway is fics when he really shouldn't.

ohhh i was just thinking about this not too long ago . to be honest this is kinda a sonic fandom pet peeve of mine like yeah i understand calling him fleetway super sonic as a way of making it clear which super sonic youre talking about because stc's take on super sonic is very different from any other version of the transformation. but i see so many people talk about him as if fleetway is like. his in universe name ? when fleetway is just the name of the comic company ? ive never even read stc and i knew that. overall its harmless but it still makes me go Okay but thats not correct .

[greenhikingboots]

[burke-juliet]

shadow and bone netflix killing off david before he got to marry genya and be part of the triumvirate is my villain origin story

[so-you-melted-22]

i'm obsessively checking my email in the hope that a fanfic i'm really obsessed with is finally updated and i think i'm slowly going insane

[butididnottried]

20th century had Jodorowsky's “Dune”. 21th century has Scorsese’s “Goncharov”. Truly two most important pieces of media and culture that never got to be.

[todayisafridaynight]

Prior to sending the ask I was just guessing what matrophobia meant based on the root words but I looked it up after and went ohhhh and then you confirmed that extra dimension to it and I went OHHHHH

I think that gets to the heart of what I've been thinking about, that bittersweetness, because despite his best efforts... of course he could never end up anything like Yoko, but he still ended up with an abusive "household." Because in addition to Masato ending up how he did, he has to see those same situations play out, feel that same tension in the air between Jo and Ichi, over and over for almost a decade straight.

Like, in a way, he's forced to put himself in Toshio's shoes when that happens. He can't really get through to Jo, in the same way Toshio can't get through to Yoko, but he can try to step in before lasting damage is done, and he can try to make it bearable for his son. You know. Have a nice talk. Treat him to Peking duck. I'm SO normal about the (drawn-out) parallels of those scenes

So then with Jo... he kind of does become his father, even if he never wanted to (no one wants to), both through his ruinous neglect of Masato at birth and through how he comes to look at discipline and corporal punishment. I'm sure it's not lost on him in Masato's case (owww), but with Ichi, it's not like he has any reason to see him as his son... But How Far Can That Take You.

Because it's like, at the start, he was openly beating Ichi in front of Arakawa and not letting up much when Arakawa intervened. But then you have The Yubitsume Scene and Arakawa walking in on All That and... he looks sorry. Sorry for being caught, probably, but sorry nonetheless. Like... what changed between then and now... have you two had a Heartfelt Conversation... do you know where Arakawa got that scar... are you unable to change your "nature" even then...

Side note bro your SHOE is the size of his TORSO I promise you do not need to kick him with all the strength you've got like what the hell is this 😭😭😭

BUT ALL THAT ASIDE thank you so much for delving into the symbolism! Wonderful read. I don't really have an eye for symbolism, so that makes it all the more enjoyable to revisit the comic and everything with what you've gone into. I think a lot of your experiences resonate with mine, so conversely I'm not sure what others would take away from it, BUT I think there's enough there that's so insightful and evocative that it's effective without personal experience. I don't think there's anything I could add, so. Yeah. For once I am happy to sit back and take it all in... On that note, definitely looking forward to your next comic!

AUUUGH YEAAAH YEAHEYA HYEAH THAT EXACTLY OUUUGH OWIEE OWW.....

that's literally it though. like no extra notes. except The Obligatory Few i dont think it was an accident that arakawa is set up as the beginning of the game's 'protagonist' and planting that 'troubled family' taste first thing in our mind. i remember how i felt when i first saw arakawa walk in on jo and ichi and then arakawa taking ichi out for dinner i was just like🧍‍♂️Girl No The Cycle.... It's Continuing...... //screams// LIKE UGH IT WAS SO GOOD BUT ALSO OWWW STOPPP and then on the REPLAY it just hurts more cause with the added context to jo's character its like Oh No...... You're Your Father's Son....

and youre right: jo doesn't have an implicit reason to see how he treats ichi is wrong, hence he similarly doesnt have any reason to stop- not unless arakawa intervenes of course (and i will stand outside my window thinking of the possibility arakawa ever did try to have A Conversation with jo... arms folded behind my back and all like Man™️....)

oh but yeah, absolutely no problem ! im lowkey of an egotist so i do like to talk bout the stuff i make. More In Depth (though thats obvious considering the fuckin essays in the tags i always leave ☠️☠️) gerjlgaELKjg. so i was happy to explain ♪(´▽｀) !! what i like about symbolism is that it can be intentional or not, and the fun is always finding it just by chance. i cant explain it properly, but i just think its a neat 'seasoning' of sorts to drawings (❁´◡`❁)

[shidoukanae]

also now realizing there's a heavy possibility that the unknown event Daniel references where he asks Lyla "how are you going to find your happiness?" is the same event Helene references when she tells Lyla that Lyla "betrayed" her.

Coincidentally, that's probably the same event that allowed Helene to be manipulated by the Empress into turning against Lyla and might have been the cause of Daniel leaving Lyla (probably to find out how to awaken as a dragon so he could gain the power to take her away from her family faster? maybe even going so far as to try and compete w/ Paris for the throne if it means protecting Lyla?)

There's also a suspicious gap of time from when Helene was poisoned to when she told Lyla to get away from her that has been omitted. And considering baby Lyla cries about Helene not wanting to be with her anymore...and that same baby Lyla is seen hugging Daniel in the unexplored scene...Lyla what the fuck did you do to Helene to embitter her like this?

[astrxealis]

the way i'm so unproductive regarding school on weekends but so productive on monday immediately ..... i should learn to adhere to this more

[dunmesh]

this panel from the world guide of falin being surrounded by other girls while laios is all alone kills me because. that's it. that's the key difference in their journeys.

as laios states himself, he left the village in order to create a home for him and falin elsewhere. a home that won't collapse due to others' hatred and fears like their old home did, a home where they are loved and accepted unconditionally. but as he soon found out, even before earning money, or having walls surrounding him and a roof above his head- what he so earnestly desired was to meet other people who will accept him for who he is as well. instead, he kept being tormented by those around him, shunned and sneered at. his loneliness quickly became all-consuming until he truly had nothing left except for the monsters in the pages of his book, but even that became a target of mockery and destroyed. that's why ever since the day he left the village, he never felt that he truly made the right choice. so he kept running away: unable to resist and unable to accpet.

and an ocean away from him there was his sister, who never managed to fully fit in herself. but unlike him, she met a person who became a home to her and learned what a true friendship was for the first time in her life. and laios clearly realizes that too when he finally sees falin and marcille together, he can tell his sister obtained the greatest treasure there is on her own- the exact thing he never managed to find anywhere himself, thus coming back empty-handed to the sister he left the village for.

but when you read this part of the manga, laios's focus is on falin's loneliness, not his own. he talks about how it hurts thinking about all those moments she had to spend alone because he wasn't there for her, so it almost sounds like he's the one who couldn't bear her suffering and therefore decided to not let her go again. but we do get a glimpse of their first meeting after that almost-decade long separation in the manga, and then we see more of that in the world guide and daydream hour- and it becomes abundantly clear that it was falin who was trying to protect and save him from this pit of loneliness and depression he was in.

so instead of just doing his best to atone for leaving her behind in the village and making sure she is never lonely again, it might also be that laios was desperately clinging to the one person in the world he felt that accepted and loved him unconditionally. those words he used to describe his motivation to stay by falin's side are the exact words she would've used as well; she couldn't bear leaving him behind in this state. in a sense, they were each other's shackles.

but then she did. she died for him and their friends, and ironically enough, it was by leaving him alone like this that he was finally able to stand on his own and put his full trust in others. to have the courage to reveal who he is and give others the opportunity to accept him after such a long time of hiding. it was a long journey, but his hiding finally came to an end when he faced the others after shedding his monster form. and i love that the person who was falin's "home" all those years away from laios, marcille, became just as meaningful to him during their time separated from falin- the first one to find him and show him that he isn't alone anymore. just as he did for her.

so at the end of the story when falin talks about all the places she would like to go, it's not just that she wants to pursue her own dreams- but that she actually feels free to do so and go anywhere she desires. and one of the main reasons for that is that her brother finally found new people he wants to be with; his own home.