#there’s the concept of many-in-one but oof VERY different

[the-fyre-flie]

A Dad!Batman and Shazam au oneshot for this one commenter in particular and also me because I love this concept, hehe! Also I physically cannot keed writing this on tumblr so like if this does well I'll move it to AO3 and write some more Batfam&Shazam...

@spiritdancer9000

This is INCREDIBLY long btw...

-

Bruce didn't know when it started. He couldn't pinpoint the exact moment in time he started treating Shazam differently than the other heros, but at one point or another, he began treating the young man like... one of his own kids. Billy was just a kid himself, but it wasn't like he was inexperienced or powerless. The boy didn't need Bruce's parenting. Yet, the big bad Batman had a soft spot for him.

Bruce adjusted his cowl slightly as he stood from the rubble, grunting in pain as he pushed a large chunk of fallen building out of the way. This fight against a hypnotized Superman was going very poorly. His kryptonite had been sent into the bay, and he was still waiting on one of his various robins or ex robins to answer his distress call and show up with backup. Until that happened, he had to call in Shazam to help contain the alien. Their similar powers meant that while the rest of the Justice League was busy with off planet matters, Billy was the best option to take down Clark. Or at least keep him from causing more destruction. With how many times Clark gets hypnotized or brainwashed, this situation wasn't new or important enough to call back anyone from their missions. They just had to make do and figure out how to break the hypnosis.

"Shazam, can you redirect Superman to the west side of the city? Nightwing will be coming from that direction." For a man heavily bruised, stressed, and in the middle of grappling up to get as close as he could to the dueling supers, Bruce's voice was surprisingly gentle when he spoke to Billy. He almost never raised his voice at the magic infused boy, even in the middle of fights. Tho, once again, Bruce felt like he had to parent Billy. The kid was taking a beating, and he needed a level-headed adult to trust and rely on. Bruce had to be that figure, lest Billy panic, and begin letting Clark cause more damage than necessary.

"I can! I just gotta-!" Billy let out an 'oof' as he was interrupted by Superman landing a sharp hit on his jaw, sending him flying back. The sound was brutal, a loud crack followed by an even louder thud as concrete crumbled around Shazam, the hero leaving a Shazam-shaped crater in the exterior of a building. He groaned as he regained his bearings, floating to Batmans side as Superman prepared a second attack. "Okay, maybe I need a little help..."

Bruce would have chastised the boy for getting distracted for letting Superman get in a blow. That answering was less important than just doing in a moment like that. Instead, he just... let it go. Which is so very unlike him. With any other hero, including his own brood of bats and birds, he would have chewed them out for not reacting properly. With Billy, he didn't even blink, instead focusing on what to do next.

"Grab his cape and get him as close to the outskirts of the west side as possible. I'll keep him distracted."

Shazam flew into action, not one to question Batmans plans. Grabbing onto the cap, Superman immediately shifted to try and grab at the young hero. Only for Batman to begin... threatening Superman? Billy wasn't exactly sure why Batman decided that was the best way to keep the Kyrptonian distracted, but it was working somehow. The more Batman spoke about Lois and Jonathan and all the horrible ways he could take out Clark's family, the more scared rather than aggressive Clark became. For a man of steel, Superman bent easily. Within half a minute, they were touching down in the city limits, Superman not even fighting back anymore, seemingly spiraling, head in hands.

"Why did you say all that stuff to him, mister Batman?" Shazam asked, letting go of the man's cape and joining Bruce's side. As they spoke, Nightwing pulled up, his bike screeching as he came to a sudden stop. He was waving a small thermos looking thing back and forth before tossing it to Batman, disappearing again before he could even be questioned.

"Superman, at his core, is a gentle giant and family man. Threatening or insulting his family makes him depressed. As any father would become if someone like me threatened his son the way I did. I'll apologize to him when he's back in his right mind." Bruce stated gruffly as he unsealed the thermos and waved it under Clark's nose like smelling salts. Usually, he would have been far less gentle with Clark. The alien man could take it. But he couldn't bring himself to he overly violent in front of Shazam.

As the kryptonite was held in front of Clark, he finally snapped out of hypnosis, groggily looking up at Bruce. He squinted a bit, groaned, and stood. Of course, he apologized and offered to help with whatever damage he caused, but Bruce simply dismissed him, telling him to go rest and recover properly.

Sat in a local diner, Bruce watched as Billy stuffed his face with food. They both changed out of their hero persona's, and Billy had been ready to go do whatever orphaned kids do in this day and age, but Bruce had insisted on treating him to food. Bruce watched as the boy rambled and ate, talking about some show he had seen recently. Every time Billy opened his mouth, Bruce was reminded of just how young he was. Just how innocent and alone in the world he was. Bruce nodded and sipped his coffee, Billy almost flinging his waffles as he spoke, the enthusiasm almost contagious. Almost.

"Do you need a place to stay?

Bruce had blurted it out before he even had time to think about the implications. He, Bruce Wayne, THE Batman, had blurted something out. In front of him, Billy was staring, wide-eyed, fork of waffles held up mid bite. It was a long moment of silence before Billy spoke.

"...yes?"

The Wayne manor was quiet. A vast empty building, the echos of their footsteps loud as they made their way through the halls. Billy had to jog to keep up with Bruce's long strides, his sneakers squeaking against the perfectly polished wood floors. As Bruce turned a corner, Billy skidded after him, nearly bumping into a large, scarred man.

"B, why is there a new kid? I thought we all agreed you reached your adoption limit." His voice was almost as gruffs as Bruce's, the scars along his jaw and brow shifting when he spoke. Bruce sighed and placed a hand on Billy's shoulder.

"Jason, this is Billy. He's a... coworker. Billy needs a place to stay. I'm not adopting him." Bruce replied, the man named Jason crouching to match Billy's eye height. He offered a hand, Billy carefully accepting it. They shook before Jason stood, smiling as he walked off.

"You'll probably eat your words by the end of the day. Welcome to the family, Billy."

"What does he mean?" Billy questioned as he continued following after Bruce, brow furrowed as he struggled to match Bruce's pace. Gosh... how did a man so big move so fast?

"Jaylad is just joking around. Don't worry about it." Bruce shook his head as he led Billy down a hall, the sounds of a few boys yelling and video game sound effects getting louder. When they came to a door, Bruce pushed it open, revealing a large game room/theater. A huge TV, a pool table, shelves full of books and board games, and a trio of boys sat on the couch in front of the screen, two of them holding controllers while the third did his best to get in the way.

"Move, Grayson! I need to win and show Thomas that he can never defeat me!" The smallest boy shouted, trying to push the young man out of the way.

"Keep distracting him, Dick! I'm almost there!" The other boy grinned madly as he leaned around Dicks side to get a better view of the screen, his character seemingly ahead of the others in whatever racing game they were playing. After a few more moments of shouting, the race ended, and the boys became a loud tangle of limbs and arguments. Accusations of cheating were thrown around, followed by claims of it being fair game, only to suddenly stop when they noticed Bruce and Billy.

"This is Damian, Dick, and Duke. my youngest, oldest, and most recent." Bruce spoke, and Billy offered a small wave. Why did Bruce have so many kids? HOW did Bruce have so many kids? Why is Damian the only one who looks like him? Is this what Jason meant by Bruce adopting him?

"Another one? Duke hasn't even had time to bask in his newness. He's still got New Adoptee Smell." Dick laughed a bit as he returned Billy's wave, Duke rolling his eyes from beside him.

"Billy isn't being adopted. He just needs a place to stay, and the manor has rooms." Bruce once again corrected. But as Bruce talked with Dick and Duke, Billy couldn't help by shiver at the feeling of someone glaring at him. Damian hasn't taken his eyes off Billy, his stare cold and hard and very judgmental. Yup... that one was %100 Bruce's kids.

"Billy? Let's go." Bruce's voice pulled the boys from the staring contest, Billy quickly following after the man as he left to show him more rooms. When they came to a new door, Bruce gestured for Billy to enter. Inside was a large room, a bed, a wardrobe, a desk, pretty much what you'd expect from a rich family with extra rooms.

"You can stay here as long as you'd like. We have plenty of space, food, etc. With your powers, you can be from here to Faucet in under 2 minutes, so any travel should be fine." Bruce was trying very hard to see like he didn't care too much, that this was all kindness done for a coworker, and not because he desperately felt responsible for the child stood in front of him. Billy was so young, about the same age as Damian, and the kid had nothing. Of course, Bruce had to step up.

"Thanks, Mr Wayne. I... are you certain?"

"Just Bruce is fine. And yes."

[age-of-moonknight]

“The Moon Warrior,” Marvel 85th Anniversary Special (Vol. 1/2024), #1.

Writer and artist: Yuji Kaku; Special thanks to Ken Kunito

[yanderes-galore]

Can I ask for a romantic concept of a Stormtrooper with a Darling that is a higher rank than them and so commands them as their leader?

Sure! This isn't Clone Troopers btw, this is just your typical Stormtrooper (Anyone can be those.)

Yandere! Stormtrooper with Higher Rank! Darling

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Stalking, Overprotective behavior, Jealousy, Violence, Murder, Manipulation, Delusional behavior, Dubious/Forced relationship.

Stormtroopers are often used as enforcers in the galaxy during the reign of the Imperial Empire.

There's many different types and by this point, anyone can be recruited to be a Trooper.

After all, this is different from Clone Troopers.

The idea of you just trying to do your job while a Trooper under you acts all smitten is... amusing.

I don't imagine it's too intimidating but... anything can happen.

You're a squad leader loyal to the Empire.

You're often sent to put down rebellion with a squad of your own to lead.

For the most part... everyone under you does their job and acts fine.

Yet there's one Trooper under your command that tries a little too hard to please.

Most of your Troopers have some independence to them.

They listen to orders without much fight, yes, but they are aware you are just their squad leader.

This one Stormtrooper you have doesn't.

They follow you around like a lost puppy, even when not deployed on a mission.

They do anything to win your favor.

You could give them any command... They'd follow it.

In fact, if you were ever promoted, they'd ask to be promoted alongside you due to how loyal they are.

Your other Troopers think they're just doing this to move up the social ladder.

They're simply getting on your good side so they can have power....

Although, the real reason they're doing it may be... worse for you?

They don't care about power, they just care about you.

The only reason they want to be promoted is so they can stay by you.

The last thing they want is you leaving the squad for a better opportunity.

But it's not like the others will understand...

Maybe they're in it for the power, hm?

You never thought you'd see it... but they're quite the clingy Stormtrooper.

They'd take a bullet for you, in fact, they'd probably die for you.

The Empire? No... They'd rather give themselves to you.

A Stormtrooper yandere would be a devoted yandere, one dedicated to their obsession exclusively.

They'd kill for you, die for you...

You don't even have to love them back.

They'll love you regardless, they might not even force you.

They probably know that you won't accept them.

... which is why they feel they need to prove themselves to you.

Proving they deserve your love is a reason they're so determined to climb the ladder with you.

You may even be oblivious to their feelings, simply praising them for being such a loyal Trooper.

Oof... Your praise does wonders for them.

They're, for the most part, a very submissive yandere.

Your word is law in their eyes.

They'll behave and not force anything as they may get in trouble.

They follow you around, though....

I can also see them killing others to keep their position.

Someone else getting too close to you?

They're strangely gone.

Someone else is being promoted to your second in command?

Gone.

They often daydream about you.

They spy on you so much they know what you look like out of your armor.

Even if you don't know what they look like.

To you, they're nearly nobody.

However... They view you as something divine.

Your Stormtrooper is willing to wait until something sparks between you.

But... if you find someone else... or they think you have...

They may just cage you in a room... on break or during a mission....

Then they start shooting off delusional questions, baffling you.

They tell you they feel betrayed, they ask you why you won't love them?

They wonder why you won't accept them... are they not good enough?

You may need to reassign them somewhere else once they snap.

That alone gives you a clue why certain Troopers keep going missing.

However... Separation won't prevent them from adoring you.

They'll find a way to keep you to themselves....

They'll follow you anywhere, they'll kill whoever took their place...

Eventually, you too may just go missing.

However, you won't be dead...

No, instead, they'll take you somewhere no one can find you...

Then you two can finally be together...

Maybe now they can prove their worth to you in other ways than duty?

[musicalmoritz]

I saw your post about giving tbhk characters songs and I noticed a bunch of them were musical theater and they fit so fucking well??

Like waving through a window for Sousuke and dead mom for Kou?? Unlikely lovers?? Music of the night??? Your mind omg.

I was wondering if you had more musical theater to tbhk characters stuff because id definitely like to hear them lol. It's totally fine if you don't have more, in case not, you could give more non musical stuff.

I’ve been behind on my asks so I’m trying to get caught up and this seems like the best one to start with, musicals have been rotting my brain since the eighth grade. I’m gonna be honest, I don’t remember every song I listed in the original post so I apologize if some of these are repeats!!

TW: Brief mention of suicide ideation for one of the songs/characters

• Idk how much you’d count this one as a musical song but Once Upon A Dream from Sleeping Beauty makes me think of Mitsukou/Soukou (especially in the context of the new timeline)

• I have to apply Dentist! from Little Shop Of Horrors to every sadist character so it’s going to Teru, maybe he can do that if he ever smartens up and quits exorcism (I would give it to Kou but Teru is like. wayyyy more upfront abt his sadism lol)

• Tango: Maureen from Rent except every character in TBHK besides Mitsuba and Mei is lowkey bisexual so there are so many ways it could go. Hanako and Aoi about Nene. Teru and Aoi about Akane. Mitsuba and Nene about Kou. The possibilities are endless

• Popular from Wicked with Aoi and Nene…because yk we always see Aoi giving Nene popular girl advice. I am aware her character goes deeper than that I’m just being silly

• Love Me For What I Am from In Trousers with Nene but just for the “I met a man in a can” line. She did, in fact, meet her boyfriend in a bathroom

• Helpless from Hamilton with AoiAoi and then Satisfied with Terukane. I think I’ve seen an animatic for this but there are a lot of Hamilton animatics for different fandoms so I could be mistaken

• Alyssa Greene from The Prom with Aoi

• And on that note, The Lady’s Improving with Yako or Sumire (Sumire bcuz you can add in Hakubo for the romantic context). Quite honestly I love The Prom sm, it’s very overhated imo bcuz the songs are all bangers

• Portrait Of A Girl from Bare: A Pop Opera with Aoi and Akane before their development

• More with Bare because I love queer musicals, Role Of A Lifetime with Mitsuba in the context of Mitsukou. They can’t be together forever and Mitsuba knows that so he’s confused on what Kou wants…see the vision

• Seventeen from Heathers with HanaNene but bonus points if it’s Picture Perfect Amanene when they tried to run away together

• There’s A Fine, Fine Line from Avenue Q with Nene…possibly after Nakahara rejected her

• I feel like the concept of She Used To Be Mine from Waitress could be applicable to so many female characters because context aside, it has major theme of going from girlhood to womanhood + overcoming a lot of trauma, so it’s hard for me to nail down just one. Perhaps yorishiro Sumire? Could also apply to Nene

• You Gotta Die Sometime from Falsettos with Mei (my sister and I quote the opening line to each other every time one of us is sick…but also oof this song hurts me)

• This one is a bit nonsensical but I like to imagine The Worst Pies In London with Teru and Akane since yk Teru is terrible at cooking. Or with Ghost Hotel Kou and Nene (not in a ship way tho)

• The Ballad Of Jane Doe from Ride the Cyclone loosely makes me think of Katakuri bcuz of the whole deal with the kannagi losing their memories

• In the Same Boat from the Lightning Thief demo with any of the trios tbh, mainly the Broadcasting Crew because Sakuhiko fit the Percabeth dynamic so well and Tsukasa as Grover is just yes (in the context of this song specifically lol). For the others tho it would be Terukane as Percabeth and Aoi as Grover, then HanaKou as Percabeth and Nene as Grover…or HanaNene as Percabeth and Kou as Grover. Another one with lots of options

• Red And Black from Les Misérables with Teru and Akane bcuz of the whole Enjolras caring abt war and Marius being all head-in-the-clouds about Cosette…very Akane coded in general

• Meet the Plastics from Mean Girls with Teru as Regina, Akane as Gretchen, and Aoi as Karen

• On that same note, WORLD BURN WITH TERU. HEAR ME OUT.

• I want to bring up Spring Awakening just to bring up Spring Awakening tbh so Don’t Do Sadness/Blue Wind with Aoi and Akane (?) or Teru maybe. Tbh I’m struggling on who could do Ilse’s part but Aoi fits Moritz (my boyyyyy) very well with how she wants to “go somewhere far away” aka take her own life due to the pressure she’s under. Could also be with Mitsuba or Amane as Moritz but NOT Kou because we all know Kou isn’t actively suicidal right?? We’re all on the same page abt that?? Good

• I could also picture Those You’ve Known with Kou and his dead ghost friends at the end of the manga. Specifically Hanako as Moritz and Nene as Wendla but you could substitute either of them for Mitsuba if you want

• I feel like Wait For It from Hamilton could fit Tsuchigomori

• No Me Diga from In the Heights makes me think of Aoi and Nene and their rumors. Bonus points if Akane is the one Nene teases Aoi about with the “just wanted to see what you’d say” part

• Mister Cellophane from Chicago with Mitsuba

• Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from Phantom Of The Opera with Teru mourning his mom…we don’t really get to see him talk abt her in canon so it’s a cool concept

• More with Teru, I’m Not That Girl from Wicked. I’m thinking within the context of TeruAoi but feel free to apply it to Terukane

• When He Sees Me from Waitress with AoiAoi or Mitsukou…Aoi and Mitsuba singing ofc

• I’m Breaking Down with Aoi during the Confession Tree chapter when Akane started dating Lemon

Okay I’m capping myself off there, hope you liked this!! And thank you for the ask :)

[serendertothesquad]

Favorite OS fanfics? If you read them

Oooooh well do I got some for you, anon! Shame a lot of my favorites are restricted to Google Docs and aren't publicly published anywhere, but I'll give some a shoutout anyway.

Ships Ahoy!: An absolute classic. Lilac's entire slate OS-wise, really, but Ships Ahoy will always be a favorite. Beautifully crafted with great character dynamics, big old lore, and lots of gut punches that make me go "oof" and then sob eternally. There is also...

Full Circle: An unofficial sequel to Ships Ahoy that focuses on Olive and Oscar's relationship, with Otto, Otis, Oona, Oprah and Olympia all playing matchmaker to try and get them back together. Holy shit is it one of the funniest Odd Squad fics I've read, especially as far as Otis not knowing what shipping is and Olympia and Oona's shipping war is concerned. The A/N at the end is also something that resonates with me a lot, and as someone who writes OS fanfic, I like to look back on it every once in a while because it's very true.

Forever and a Mile: This one is a bittersweet and adorable one-shot that focuses on Octavia in the time she was tube-blocked by O'Brian and was confined to Precinct 13579's HQ, as well as Opie, the mysterious ballpit agent. I love this one because it gives a lot of depth to the ballpit and shows off some of the levels within it, while also making me feel sympathy for Octavia for all that she's going through.

OSMU: Fanfiction Friction: I'm putting this one here mainly because it's one of the few OSMU fics I've seen. It follows the Mobile Unit as they realize that, well, there are no fics written about them, and they do all this wild and crazy stuff in an effort to get a story out of it. There are an absolute fuckton of jabs to various things -- Elon Musk, ABBA, the comic book industry, and even the author himself, among others. There's even a bit where the author makes a jab at someone who was a bit of a pervert who liked to make up stories about agents naked and/or in bathing suits (key word is "was"; they got banned from Deviantart twice and AFAIK they are not around anymore), but you might not know that without context. If you're uncomfortable with that, though, the rest of the story is just as enjoyable if you skip it.

Viva La Vida: Villain Olive is a popular concept in the fandom. This is one of the earlier instances of it! The winner of a trivia contest held by Lilac, the idea for this one was conceived by Joshua Kilimnik and the story was written by Lilac. It features Olive slowly turning to the odd side due to a rapidly declining sanity with Odd Todd giving her all the pushes she needs. I like Olive's internal struggle throughout the story, as well as the (bad) ending which caps things off perfectly. (There's also a good ending, added for those who don't like to see Olly-child suffer. Just as beautiful!)

Icing: Fuck your two-sentence horror stories. All my homies hate two-sentence horror stories. Have a 91-word horror story that's one hell of a flashfic and puts a terrifying spin on what was already a pretty terrifying line in-series.

Through Frostbitten Stone: There is another fic I read a long time ago where Olympia manages to get hypothermia while trying to save Otis. (That's the gist of it. The full context would derail this bit.) This fic takes a bit of a different turn from that, with Otis getting hypothermia instead of Olympia, and is also one of the longest Odd Squad fics I've ever seen (and that is barring my own, thank you). It's a hefty read at nearly 30k words, but it's a beautiful read that showcases the Otis-Olympia partner dynamic perfectly.

...Okay fine. FINE. Two more and then that's it. God there are way too many good ones.

Star Agents: This was one that was Google-Docs-exclusive and has now been published onto AO3. And thank God, because it is incredibly good for an AU story where Otto and Todd are partners while Olive is on the villains' side. There are more chapters that are buried in Google Docs currently, but I recommend keeping an eye on this one for updates.

From The Desk of Doctor O: I like the format of this one. Dr. O trying to reform Odd Todd through court-mandated therapy sessions is also a really neat concept. Mainly because, if Odd Squad's judicial system were more realistic, I can 100% see court-mandated therapy being a thing. Definitely looking forward to seeing where this goes.

---------------------

This isn't an exhaustive list by any means, but there ya go, my list of favorites. I do like how the fic scene is still going strong with this fandom 10 years later lol.

Of course, I'm also nominating my own stories: my FiMFic catalog of crossover stories, and my AO3 collection of stories. Enjoy!

[laurasimonsdaughter]

One off idea for a werewolf specific disability: Shifters Disfunction

A type of disorder where a werewolf suffers from partial, incomplete transformations. So when they wolf out they may have random human body parts just hanging around. Like human hands instead of paws, their teeth remains as flat molars rather then sharp fangs, only their head and arms transforming leaving the human lower body, etc… . Every werewolf with this condition expresses differently, and due to the mismatched parts can often be uncomfortable to downright painful, making it difficult to function in lupine form.

Oof! That gets a bit too close to body horror for my personal taste. (When it comes to incomplete transformations I usually take the softer route of only making their teeth, eyes, hair and maybe ears more wolfish while they still look human.) But that's a really cool different take, anon, and it's a very interesting concept to play with in general!

I really like using complex transformations when I write werewolves. There's so many interesting variations available, for example:

Werewolves who start out being compelled by the full moon to transform and can learn to resist the moon and transform at will instead, but for some this is a great struggle.

If lycanthropy isn't a curse but something in a bloodline, someone who is "half werewolf" might have particularly volatile transformations.

If lycanthropy is a curse, it might be partially warded off or not take hold completely, leaving a person who is not a werewolf, but who is either permanently or occasionally physically changed in far subtler ways.

Strong emotions being directly linked to the wolf transformation, causing werewolves to (partially) transform whenever they get carried away with by their feelings. (Bonus if this includes strong positive feelings!)

Man I love werewolves

[sitp-recs]

Fandom creators self rec game! Choose five favourites from your own creations (and tell me why, if you like!), then pass on to at least five other people. I'd love to hear what you're proudest of.

Hello beloved! It’s always a privilege to see you in my inbox, thank you so much for this lovely ask and apologies for taking two centuries to reply lol this was a quite emotional trip down memory lane for me - I couldn’t decide whether to go with rec lists or single recs (oof I haven’t written one in so long 🥲) because they’re both so different and special in their own way. In the end I’m gonna do lists because I think they’re generally more helpful and popular! I’ve been going through a creative / fandom slump for a while now, so this was great encouragement as it made me look back at my own recs with joy and kindness. Thank you babes 💜

1. I actually still love the Drarry for Beginners series! Fun story, I wasn’t very confident about it at first - I was getting many requests for a classics rec list back then but I don’t really vibe with the “MUST read these or you’re not a valid fandom member” mentality so I tried to come up with a different format that felt more like an invitation than a lecture. I think I found a good balance of well known fics and hidden gems, so I’m very proud of that. Also, the banners looked really good! Especially the redemption arc and the Muggle!Draco AU ones if I do say so myself.

2. The Hidden Gems series is also one of my most precious babies - it took me a long time to plan it out, read all fics and prepare the small blurbs for each one and I really love how it came across, the authors I chose to highlight, and the fact that I was able to mix Drarry and rare pairs. I remember getting an ask back in the day that accused me of only reccing my friends (anon really overestimated my network size 🤣), they could have at least checked the hidden gem series before going for public embarrassment lol there’s so much to explore there, and I really wanna come back to it one day to finalize the second edition that I started posting in 2022. Hopefully this year!

3. 35 Romantic Shorts: my heart is so very soft for this one, not only because the ever generous @bluebutter-art has let me use her stunning art for the banner, but I’m also such a passionate champion of short form and I feel like this list really embraced the concept and delivered great recs. I’m not a fluff gal by any standards so this was a nice exercise finding the softest, most romantic and soothing reads that made my heart beat faster. It would be lovely to go back and maybe add a couple more lists with new shorts, or alternatively make new lists for medium-length and long fics. So many ideas, so little time!

4. It feels like a lifetime ago but I’m still very fond of my “smutty recs week” that I made to celebrate one of my first followers milestone. Ahh the nostalgia! All lists can be found here and include a wide variety of themes and kinks like voyeurism, dirty talk, gang bang and others. Those banners are some of my favourites too, they turned out very sassy and clever if I do say so myself. I had so much fun with them! I gotta find the time to sit down and update some of those lists with newer treats!

5. Now highlighting something more recent (from Feb 2023… LOL) I’m super proud of my Rare Pair Romance list for Valentine’s Day. It was a great chance to compile (most of) my favorite rare pair fics in one place and include different ships and tropes. I’m always looking for an excuse to rec het pairings which I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, so this was the perfect way to do it.

[cuprohastes]

Dave The Human vs. Religion

The question of religion had come up, as it does.

Dave The Human, female Tsin muttered something at a high pitch at her tablet and Dave the human, formerly Dave the Atrix, formerly also Dave the Human performed some epic side-eye.

Gondy was filling in for the Atrix member of the group, still slightly scarred from having her helmet smacked hard enough to split during the recent disintegration of the station due to Von Neumann's Space squid.

Raxy, her Little Guy was stuffing his face in a way that you don't normally see on an Atrix that size. This suggested to the Daves that the Little Guy was shortly going to be upskilling, getting certified and getting referred to as female...

Given Atrix really just looked at the whole gender thing and opted out, and the whole male/female thing was labelling for other people's benefit, the Daves formed an unspoken and instant agreement that helping Raxy bulk up was their new hobby.

For two people from radically different biologies and cultures, the Daves were staggeringly similar as though some cosmic author had created them with the same voice.

Tsin Dave waggled the tablet. "Homeworld want to make sure everyone's complying with off-world best practices. They want to ensure that we're... ugh: 'Maintaining tradition in line with oof-world guidance'" she grumped.

"First I'm a heretic and a sky-demon and now they want to make sure I'm the right sort and not making you lot think less of us with my wicked deviant ways."

Gondy paused, as did Rax.

"graaaaak?" Rax said, around one of the mysterious and never explained purple bread rolls.

Meta-note about the purple bread rolls: They're actually Ube potato bread rolls. They're steamed in the Caffeteria. The food services are very aware that everyone who encounters them assumes they're a food from some other species culture. It's the little things that make the day to day fun.

"You never heard about that?" Dave The human said. "Oh well hum..."

Dave the Human gave his buddy full points on her mastery of colloquialism and settled in.

"So there's this legend that many years ago the People - 's us - had an idyllic land, and the concept of evil was unknown. Then one day, Sky Demons, jealous of our ways and our purity of soul absolutely pounded the knekp out of the place and only those of us in the Great Underground Halls, who were devout enough survived. And since that day, to leave the ground is to attract the attention of the Sky Demons."

Gondy raised a claw.

"Boats are OK. Water is theologically still ground."

Gondy put her claw down.

Dave the human said, "That sounds like..."

Dave The Human answered, "Nope, it was Orbital Bombardment. Nation-on nation. The shelters were built because it was a strong possibility that things would get all... ker-blammy."

"Yeesh!"

"Yeah. And the religious angle kind of got shuffled in as this agreement that when everyone got out, nobody wanted to be dancing around pointing claws at other countries and trying to blame them, while it was everyone's fault. Can't really blame them but for a thousand odd years that was the official line."

Gondy said "Wow! I never knew that!"

Dave The Human nodded. "Yeah yeah, it's been pretty common knowledge for a century or so, but still, when we got back into space after the Wallandernoooks showed up to trade, it was a major, major problem and uh well, leaving the Homeworld means you're a Heretic and in league with the Sky Demons according to the Dogma soooo..."

"Huh. And that means...?"

"Not much. Kind of lightly excommunicated. Not really welcome back home where things are a little more traditional. But y'know. No biggie. We're all colonists out here anyway, and we still get Homeworld support. It's just we also have to get audited that we're not giving Homeworld a bad name." She paused and took a long drink of mekp. "Aaaaand this time they want to know if we have a shrine to show you filthy heathens that we're still the number one proper pious type heretical sky demons. F.M.L."

Gondy, Rax and Dave pondered this.

"Gondy... what do Atrix believe in?" Asked Dave the Human.

"Graaak."

"Yeah, Rax, I guess 'some places are lucky' covers it. You know.... good moss, cool rocks, just got a good vibe. The sort of place you can drop a bunch of... what do you call them? Possums."

Dave the Human choked on his water. "Possums?!"

"Grak." Commented Rax and Gondy pulled her tablet out and poked. "Yeah... human smalls." She said, holding up a picture of a possum mis-labelled as an infant human.

"Huh. You guys are adorable when you're young" cooed Dave The Human, who Dave previously rated as about as maternal as a meat grinder.

Dave let it go for now, suspecting this would yield hilarious dividends at some future time, and turned back to Dave the Tsin.

"Ok, this is shaping up to be another wacky hi-jink. What's the gig?

"Gotta build a shrine."

"Any shrine?"

"Pretty much. It's got to be location appropriate. Y'know. The god of the place. To show we're uh... friendly to the local divinities? On theological good terms?"

"OK but... we're all godless atheists, apart form the ones who aren't. Who are you going to build a shrine to?

"Yeah that's kind of it. I mean I don't want to be the grit under anyone's scales..."

"Ohhhh," said Gondy, "Oh oh! Rax, call Garf! I have an idea..."

Several weeks later, the Tsin named Walks-between-Waves arrived as part of the Tsin welfare and general ambassadorial circuit.

O'Patel and Big Ma performed the proper greetings and paperwork, and Dave presented herself.

Walks-Between-Waves ("Just call me Waves") walked up and declaimed, "Heretic, and blasphemer. You bones will never lie with the ancestors, and your meat will rot. You and the demons you dwell with are denied! Cast out as the foul beasts you are. How are you doing? Well I hope?"

Dave bowed, small hands together, big ones outstretched.

"Oh yeah. They're all very nice here." She said. "Did they change the words of the castigation?"

"Oh, no, but some of it needed translating for human language a little," Waves said and added, "such a fun language! Quite the fad back home. And since you're hmm, officially human, I couldn't resist. Now, I believe you have something to show?"

O'Patel looked bemused and said sotto voce to Big Ma, "I think this is going to go well!"

Dave led Waves to the common area where, true enough, there was a shrine. It was made of old pieces of the station recovered from it's partial disassembly. 3D printed and painted panels along the sides showed Tsin, Atrix and Humans, helping each other climb up the sides, to the top of the shrine where someone had creatively frosted some glass and lit it with shifting lights to suggest something exciting and pleasant waited. The thing dripped with moss and a small water feature played down from the back into a shallow bowl of stones.

"Ah!" Said Waves. "Very impressive. Going for extra credit?"

"No..." said Dave. "It's a group effort. Once we started, everyone wanted to help. Especially after we found a small god for the Station that everyone liked... Their name is Arepo."

[trickstarbrave]

WIP Whenever

hiiiii i got tagged by @boethiahspillowbook

this is what i got so far on the azura and nerevar piece. not much further bc im still trying to figure out shading and how i want it to be. oof. also unsure abt azura's halo fsr it just looks.... off on her. and i think i wanna make some of the blood a brighter red to tie in together with all the rest of the red. lots of things im considering...

also for written wips. uh.

unfortunately i only have the. fucking cursed omegaverse nerevoryn im working on. once again never consider anything as like a joke or ironically that is the devil talking and you will start doing things for real.

in my defense though omegaverse is such a wild concept that trying to go "okay but seriously how would this work in a society and why would it be this way" is actually entertaining. very fun to go "yes, and...." over and over. oh, fated mates exist? what if they weren't just a cheesy soulmates thing but had a logical explanation. how would these dynamics effect various social classes? how would different cultures be effected? i have world builder's disease clearly

ALSO i tag anyone who hasnt been tagged yet and wants to :> i cant keep up with which of my mutuals have been tagged or not.... let me see ur ideas pls

--

“... In all honesty,” The healer began, sounding exacerbated, “I have never seen a case like this in all my years. But there is only one answer I can come to based on everything else.”

“Go on.” Nerevar tried to keep his voice level rather than annoyed. Azura knows how terrified most people got when he was angry. 

The healer pinched the bridge of her nose. 

“How familiar are you with fated mates?” At her question, Nerevar froze, stunned, before he gave a loud bark of laughter. The healer, however, did not laugh or smile back, and instead only looked more resolute. 

“... Be serious with me.” 

“I am being serious, Lord Nerevar.” 

“Are you--are you seriously trying to say Voryn is my--”

“I understand how strange it sounds at first.” The healer cut him off. “Typically when someone meets their fated mate they determine it quickly. It only takes a few heat or rut cycles before the draw is undeniable.” She sighed once again. “I can only assume because you knew Lord Dagoth before either of you presented, the draw was less noticeable.” 

It kind of made sense, to a degree. When people wrote about fated mates it was usually that they had a scent that was undeniable. Even passing by them on the street, you couldn’t get the scent out of your head for days on end, trying to find it again and again. Even those who tried to deny it couldn’t refuse the pull forever; heats and ruts were unbearable, the longing overwhelming the pair. No one had ever recorded an account of a fated pair who knew each other prior to presenting though; fated mates were absurdly rare, after all. They were more common in fiction than real life, and only the most hopeless of romantics ever went out actually looking for one. Most people just found a mate they liked rather than chase after some destined person, and why fated mates even existed was a mystery. Did everyone have one but distance kept them from finding one? That didn’t seem likely; the most common belief was that some people were born with them--not many members of the population, anyways--and even fewer actually found their ‘other half’. Someone meeting a fated mate before presenting, when you were children not off exploring the wider world yet, was even more unlikely. How would you react if you could constantly smell and see them before either of you presented?

Dumac told him the dwemer scholars believed it had something to do with ‘reproductive compatibility’. Not that it was a mystical, god given connection like some believed, but rather those with a fated partner were less compatible with most of the population, so when they did find someone they could produce children with easily, the desire to mate was enhanced strongly. Nerevar didn’t know if he liked that explanation either though. He found the ideas the gods made destined partners to love each other forever as too romantic of an idea for reality yes, but presuming there must be something wrong with them wasn’t much better. 

It didn’t seem likely that he and Voryn could just ignore the draw for decades though, right? Surely that wouldn’t be possible. The draw was supposed to be strong, impossible to deny past a certain point.

Sure, when he was younger and Voryn was in a rut he always came by to check on him before he was shooed away, but that was just boredom. And when he was in heat Voryn would pass him notes under the door from time to time that he’d bury in the nests he made, but that was just because being in heat made him feel sensitive and sappy. Nothing more. And shouldn’t there be something more if they were a fated pair?

“Your other symptoms make me more certain of it.” The healer continued, pulling him from his thoughts.

“How so?” Nerevar raised an eyebrow. 

“It isn’t healthy for an unmated omega to be around an alpha in rut.” She replied, a fact that always made Nerevar roll his eyes. “It causes excess stress, even if it doesn’t trigger a heat. Unless you are drawn to the alpha in question as a potential partner, usually a rut is off putting, distressing, or nauseating for an unmated omega.”

“They’ve never bothered me to that extent.” Nerevar snarked.

“Precisely.” She locked eyes with him. “You handle it more akin to an omega who’s already been mated, despite not having the scent of one.” Nerevar tensed at that. He hadn’t thought of it like that in the slightest; why would he? He wasn’t mated. Anyone could smell on him that he wasn’t. “Those who have met a fated partner experience mated behaviors before the bond is even set. Rejecting other suitors, unbothered by others in a heat or rut,” She sighed. “Lord Vivec even explained you are giving off the same scent as a bonded omega whose mate is absent.” Nerevar’s cheeks flushed at that. 

“That’s--” Nerevar tensed slightly, “I wouldn’t go that far.” Surely Nerevar wasn’t. He wasn’t fucking bonded, why would he be throwing out the same scent as an omega who went into heat, begging for their mate to come tend to them? 

“You are.” She asserted, though she did have some sympathy in her gaze at least. “Unfortunately, the best I can do is, if you truly don’t want the bond, I can give you suppressants. They won’t actively stop it given you already went into heat, but they should calm some of the worst side effects.” Nerevar already knew what she was going to say next though. “But your next one will be much of the same. The side effects will continue to worsen.” Short of running away to the other side of the continent and burning anything he owned that Voryn had ever so much as touched, he would be able to smell Voryn faintly, after all. In the palace, on his belongings, anywhere Voryn had been might trigger the worst of the symptoms all over again now that he had a heat triggered by his rut no doubt. 

“At the very least, Lord Dagoth is in control of his emotions.” Voryn’s eyebrow twitched at that, his arms tightening. “You can spent ruts and heats together without actually mating, until you come to a decision on how to proceed. It should alleviate both of your struggles.” 

Shit, Nerevar hadn’t even considered what Voryn must be going through. Was his irritation and lack of eating because he subconsciously knew Nerevar was supposed to be his but wasn’t there by his side? When he was younger was that out of character, violent rage because he knew, right there in the stronghold, his mate was being kept from him? No doubt the next rut Voryn would be uncontrollable; before he could hold back because he wasn’t consciously aware of what he wanted, but now that he knew it was Nerevar… 

[zhongxia246]

Instant Reactions to EPIC: The Thunder Saga⚡

I’m excited to delve into everyone’s thoughts and reactions concerning this album! Here are some of my instant thoughts after listening and don't forget to listen to the official concept album versions now so the cast can get their royalties!

Suffering

Ok, so was anyone else thinking of that boat scene from Anastasia when you heard this song lol?

After the last song in The Underworld Saga, this was kind of a whiplash for me because it ends so seriously in the last song then it feels kind of beachy here? 😂

That quickly changes in the next song

I wonder what those clacks in the background are and if they represent anything?

At the end, I definitely imagine Odysseus beckoning the siren pretending to be Penelope onto the ship then turning against her. I can’t wait to see if there are any animations that represent this or whether they had a different visual scene playing out 

Different Beast

It’s interesting how this could be a villain song and sounds like one, especially when the sirens begin begging to be spared and we get a description of what Odysseus does to them

YIKES TO WHAT HE DOES TO THEM

It’s a dark kind of irony that he gives out orders to make sure they drown like they do to sailors

I think the sound mixing for the sirens once they start getting killed is really good because it’s horrifying, but it’s not too much. The sirens also sound very highly-pitched and unearthly 

It’s ironic to me that what allows Odysseus to get out with all his men safely in that situation with Circe is mercy but the trip to the underworld kind of made him forget that? Understandably because there have been so many situations where being merciful was not a great choice (the Polyphemus one I think haunts Odysseus the most because it wasn’t just Polyphemus killing his crew, but also Poseidon later on)

Scylla

This was the song I was most excited for and I love how this also begins as this kind of siren song where Scylla sounds so lovely then she starts killing and reveals her true form

“Bleed till you’ve run out of years” is probably my favorite line in this song

Scylla singing directly to Odysseus at the end is a haunting acknowledgement between two monsters

Mutiny

Eurylochus dies because of hunger, something he brought concerns about to Odysseus in the very first saga (“We’ve run out of supplies to eat”), but there’s such futility in it because he feels damned if he does by offending Helios and damned if he doesn’t since they’ll starve anyways

The combo of melodies (no idea if this is the right term 😂) from Luck Runs Out and Polyphemus is a fantastic way to bring Eurylochus full circle and also to warn us of the danger ahead (I bet that Polyphemus reminder added to the feeling of dread as the song progresses)

Odysseus screaming, “I can’t” in response to Eurylochus demanding to know if he knew Scylla would kill his men is such a good way to test how fleshed out the characters are and what we think their motivations are. From Odysseus’s perspective, I don’t think he can say anything because there is no justification he could give for paying that toll and from Eurylochus’s perspective, this is another instant of Odysseus turning away from all the loss and not even apologizing for it

That little “I’m just a man” at the end of Eurylochus’s part oof

The callback to Full Speed Ahead is also chef’s kiss

Thunder Bringer

I love the beginning of this song so much. The cheers in particular in the background or whatever that backing vocal track is is my favorite part because of course the god of thunder, Zeus, would have people cheering/backing him up when he sings

I’m super curious to go back to Zeus in The Horse and the Infant to see if there was anything carried over from that (I do remember the sound of thunder being used to introduce Zeus in that song that’s also in Thunder Bringer)

As people were pointing out when clips of Thunder Bringer were first uploaded, the choice to have Zeus use this euphemism of saving a “damsel” and “undressing her” feels accurate to the original stories of his treatment of women

Once again, Odysseus is caught between a rock and a hard place with Zeus and begs the god, “Please don’t make me do this.” Like in The Horse and the Infant, Zeus makes him choose. This whole terrible road trip has been nothing but Odysseus making hard choices and having to live with them, but Odysseus still had his crew and the hope that he would return to his family the same as he was. Now he loses his crew and has also accepted that he’s not coming home as the man that left 

The combo of Suffering and Just a Man is interesting as two songs that sort of demonstrate Odysseus’s (understandable) selfishness. Suffering is Penelope comforting Odysseus, and the line that repeats here is her singing that she can take all of his pain away. That, combined with Odysseus admitting in Just a Man that he would trade the world for his family

[literallyjusttoa]

its the artemis au anon and YEAHHHH i love mortal!artemis so much. so so much. what would she be called i wonder... leslie? thats what i shall call her from now on

also YES! it is a 'artemis goes down to earth too'!!! im so sad that there arent (m)any fics abt that :((( its Such a prime concept, especially as artemis stole all the braincells in the womb so it's fun to wonder how it'd play out. also artemis would get tired of meeting so many of apollo's exes so so quickly.

(i am however, planning on making her suffer in it. with an orion-related thing. we know artemis is the older one BUT when i say i live for apollo storming into a fiery rage when she gets hurt)

random AA (artemis apollo.. get it... im so funny) headcanon: apollo calls her artie whenever he can get away with it (not very often)

thank u for ur gorgeous art :) glad to see some toa appreciation!

Ok, I actually really love Leslie, but I want to propose my own idea bc I love names. I know Artemis having an L name is popular bc then they match, but I actually think it would be funnier if they didn't match, since that's just another thing that's different now that they're mortal. ALSO, even though she's getting punished, Artemis is Zeus' favored kid out of her and Apollo, so he'll probably be nicer when giving her a name. I have decided on the name Reagan. It's of similar origin to Lester (Lester is English, Reagan is Irish) and it literally means King's child, bc if Zeus had full reign of naming his kids I'm sure he'd name them all "child of the king" "child of the ruler of Olympus" "child of the supreme ruler of the universe".

ANYWAYS NAME RAMBLE ASIDE. I agree Artemis going to earth is such a great concept with a whole bunch of potential. Bc like, I feel like they both have so much growing they need to do but in entirely different directions oof. And absolutely protective sibling rage is so fun to write. Also oooooh??? New mortal Artemis fic????? Yes pls??????

ToA appreciation is my bread and butter, I am glad you enjoy it lol!

[arlecchinoprojectharbringerask]

In-depth dive into... The Mad-Hatter

Most if not all has been taken from my chat with bunnybird.

For Berial as Arclecchino-- His inky/shadowy wings catch on fire and his form shifts to be something between himself and Pirin. A kind of 50/50. Ditches the gloves/cuffs and his jester bit -''remnant of self'' shows in the form of clown face-paint. Mildly toying with the Harley Quinn concept.

This could be his face- White with this type of paint, the rest of his body staying as inky/shadowy/ash-made.

But his outfit changes to Pirin's-- A red tailcoat, his tophat staying on like his tail and wings.

And to stay-in line with the fancy asymmetry (God Reinier would hate him even more now. Like before that midget was a mess but now he's just an atrocity. ...And then get clapped back hard. And being stone-faced, cold and just efficient. No playful, gleeful and flashy 'comedic' stuff and prancing.)

Maybe the ink turns...bit red.

Or flickers back and forth in his glitches.

I imagine Berial finally getting the concepts us mortals have after being fused with Pirin. Since they're literally one/merged into one thing. The battle-lines could be with him holding his weapon and has his wings on fire/made of fire, starring his foe in the eye directly. I guess we can jokingly call Arlecchino Berial "Mad Hatter"?

As a nickname.

===Merlinverse lore for the Knave====

"I wonder how Malak will feel about Arlecchino!Berial. How he'd react to him/...Now let's take the same premise of fusing Berial and Pirin into Arle with same result... But take Og Berial." -Finch (me) Malak is how Pirin refers to Sena.

"Oh, the way that would piss Sena off to no extent. Like as far as Sena is concerned that's the most unforgivable thing Berial has ever done.

Literally going to do everything in his power to separate the two into their own being again and is straight up grieving when he realizes he can't.

But then Arle has these weird little moments where they act so much like Pirin that it throws Sena for a complete loop. Like him getting these weird conflicting feelings as he processes his parental love for Pirin and his hatred towards the jester. Trying to figure out how he feels about this new being that is an amalgamation of the two." -Bunnybird

"Except the Knave just tells him, in that clinically dead tone but mildly annoyed (Like a tired, underpaid doctor/surgeon who's just so done w everyone's constant bs) : "I didn't ask for it." In ref to the experiment. It's hard to tell who's speaking maybe both as one really. Unlike how Ale has moments where Pirin or Berial very clearly shines through.

And "You'll kill us. Stop." -Finch

"And the fact that Sena would be aware that it's not Berials fault too, but still feel the need to blame him. Cause Sena already wiped out the people who were actually at fault, and it did nothing to help his boy. So now the options are blame Berial or himself and he's choosing the jester first. When that doesn't pan out, oof. "What kind of god can't even protect their own herald?" and it's so ironic coming from Sena because he's the only god who actually tried." -Bunnybird

Here we go into the relationship Alrecchino could/would have with Sena.

"I think after that, Sena's relationship with Arle depends entirely on how they behave around him. Like do they even want to be around him?"

"Knave: "......" (Just this complex silence that feels cold/emotionless. But is full of so many emotions -some conflicting since Berial would've been gleeful but w his whole being merged with Pirin.. hm) Still fulfills his duties as Malak's familiar and herald/sentinel though." -Finch

"Oof, then yeah. Sena is still going to be protective over the Knave then, but it's going to be... Complicated? Like Sena is grieving the person Pirin used to be while getting to know this new version that exists in his place. So much like the old Pirin yet completely different. And even though he hates Berial, he cannot hate something that's part Pirin."

" "You gods aren't different than mortals, in Fate's hands." -Kinda backhanded way of saying 'it's not your fault'/'you couldn't have prevented it.' " -Finch

Cue small tangent back to potential ways this chimera/amalgam can and would act + "in-game'" design. That's how the lore in the first post you see resulted.

"Like the fire shadows could be Berial kiiinda peeking through (it's in line with his shadow summons) but the Knave's attitude remains this clinical calm and mercilessness/strict efficiency. And sometime the summons are moths or more like birds -Pirin shining through more." -Finch

Overall it was really fun, this experiment and character fusion concept and playing with how different characters can be...twisted into a fusion that is both themselves, and not so at the same time. I suppose it's a way of character study. Along with honing in on certain aspects of Pirin's character/'kit'. (See my Paragon lore post on main blog.) And how his calm can differ for each character he's fused with.

Arlecchino - War/combat & Emotionless/Truth The Balladeer - Dance & Folklore The Damoiseau - Song/Loss? The Marionet - Luck/Death/ dance & folklore are very mild -not the main aspects.

----------------

More ideas/scenarios--

"That's why I can see Arlecchino specifically be a point of tension. And if Berial prior to his fusion wouldn't care at all and not regret anything....After his fusion with the bat he just changed. The fusion with this other being is literally the only thing to make him change. He didn't do it/choose so on his own volitions.

And Arle isn't an idiot. He knows all the shit and sin and evils he's done. Knows who & what he was, how this fusion affected him. So it seems Pirin is mostly dominant here.... enough to keep Og Berial from doing more hellish atrocities"- Finch

"Ooh. And it's kinda like 'punishment' for the jester. Being forced to 'reform/be redeemed' against his own will. Because Pirin's goodness will always overwhelm his own negativity. That everyone will only ever love the part of the Knave that's Pirin and either ignore or tolerate the Berial in him."- Mika

"yup

And now that he cares thanks to that fusion allowing him to feel both the positive and negatives in all their nuance, along with have hopes/yearnings like a mortal (Pirin).... It HURTS. Being ignored, despised and left behind all the time. And he used to THRIVE on those things!

Arlecchino, to Berial, is hell, an endless nighmare besides a punishment. A cage constricting he CAN'T ever escape. A prison and shackles. He can't do anything about it at all. Like how a person put on the guillotine can't do anything about it, or their impending execution. And makes him hate it all! So I can see the jester snapping (moments where the Knave is heavily unstable and violatile. "Has fits of strong hysteria/madness") and breaking down and lashing out.

But his movements are stuttered/stuttering, stiff. Almost paralyzed and like having a leash/collar yanked back like how an owner would hold back an aggressive dog. And all Berial can do... Is scream and rant, until he's completely exhaused/drained himself of everything.

And he can't even do that! (If there's someone nearby.) Because his words are garbled beyond incomprehensible gibberish, voice thinning out and also stuttering like glitching- has lapses into silence/ silent screams like in mimes and soundless movies/acting. Or an audio clipping out to quiet.

His expressions are forced to go back to subdued, clinical and neutral or emotionless. Glitching and stiff, all of which drives Berial up the wall/"mental" sooo much more.

He literally can't do anything at all. And in those moments Arle is 100% paralyzed with resting face on, like someone put him on pause. Deathly silent, staring "blankly" at nothing in particular. With glitches and static. His eyes, are the only clue on what's happening-- So many emotions flashing/clashing in them. A literal internal war going on in full hellish rage swing.

The Hypogean having a meltdown/fit and being at his worst/most hellish/insane and trying to tear something/everything apart And Mather trying to reign him in back in-line. Get him subdued, under control... like a puppetter wrestling with an unruly wildly thrashing puppet and being insane.

If Arle was a fusion in Steven universe, he would've poofed to separate beings looong ago. But he's not. And separation isn't possible. He's permanently stuck like this, with this. All of it."- Finch

"And that is pure poetic justice right there! Berial who's always loved treating others like puppets is now being treated like one himself. Being forced to experience something similar to what he's put countless mortals through."- Mika

"The irony under different circumstances would've made him holer with laughter."- Finch

"Also, that affinity line about him throwing starving people a loaf of bread to watch them fight for the scraps? Imagine Berial now desperately scrambling for every drop of approval or affection he can get that isn't just aimed at the 'Pirin' in him." -Mika

"And hate it being rubbed in his face- how desperate he is.

Or how he's reached a point/low of being like a Pavlov's dog./conditioning experiment. He's all about attention... and approval/love seems the ONLY ways to get attention at all.

Love how disturbing it would be for Berial to become a good person because he was essentially psychologically tortured and manipulated into it.

But that's the thing about Arle, isn't it?

Pirin won't let others witness these unstable moments. Or see HOW Berial became a good person. But it's still clear the clown has been tortured and manipulated to reach this point.

And how the jester is sure always be on top A game best behavior, and be good, and protect others not because he cares. Or wants to like Pirin. But out of desperation to keep his source of attention. (Approval, validation, love, admiration, so on.) I can see this unsettling the other Hypogeans, how he's a smiling marionet on strings. And also possibly the Celestials because they've known this clown as this disasturous force of nature.... be rendered to this.

"Nope~! That Berial died, haha! Out with the old clown, in with the new jester!" (Please look at me, please just look at me-) "I'm perfectly fine~! Heh? What's that look for?" "I'm good-See? See? No wait! Don't turn away-Wait-"

And how does Malak feel/react to witnessing this? Along with Arle's unstable moments? Since he can see the outside and inside of this cryptid."- Finch

"Yo. Sena giving Arle headpats and says, "Good job you two." as a joke once and the Knave just freezes. Like no change in emotion or reaction, but you can TELL something is up.

And if we're feeding into Sena embracing the darker parts of his character with the cryptids around, I can picture him feeding into Berials desperation, anything to keep him in line so that Malak can still have his herald around. Like occasionally giving Berial tiny bits of approval and affection and compliments, and it's the most luke warm responses, but he knows Berial is DESPERATE for them.

Straight up helping 'Pirin' manipulate and recondition him by alternating between giving the jester the hope of being cared for and the fear of rejection. On days where Berial is behaving and is actually cooperating with Pirin, it's "It's good to see you two getting along. You're surprisingly well behaved today Berial" with a warm, encouraging smile. But on days where they're conflicted and Berial wants chaos, "You seem a little unstable today, Arle. Is Berial acting up again?" with the coldest, most disappointed look in his eyes.

Like it must be HELL for Berial, especially if he inherited Pirin's link to Malak as their patron. Like straight up desperatation as he essentially begs for their god to look at him with anything other than neutrality at best and contempt at worst."- Mika

"And this got me thinking back to the Berial x Pirin thing. But with this? Og Berial being so damn dismantled, shattered. Starved and tortured so much... That when Pirin offers him an ounce of compassion so iconic for him; a lick of love and affection---Berial just jumps on it. Latches on and cradles it like Sméagol does his Precious ring. So desperate, he just MELTS in his enemy's hands.

"You got me alright!? Fine! You BROKE me! You WIN! Is this what you wanted!?! --Tear me to SHREDS?! Well congrats! You got me on my knees!" -Berial in his fit to Pirin, hysterical and sobbing. "......I'll be your slave, I'll be your pet, ANYTHING you want! Just... please... I don't want to be voiceless..." A cold hand gently cups his face, lifts it up. Pearls meet pale purple pits with love, compassion, like how they'd gaze at everyone else.

"What do you want, Berial..?" In that moment the clown looses it, final nail in the coffin. Knows this is manipulation, that he's being torn apart psychologically yet again but with new different methods. Doesn't care it's a trap. He just melts.

"Drown." He knows he's being strangled, suffocated and poisoned oh so agonizingly slowly in the sweetest ways... And loves it all. Wants more of this. Allows those cold hands to glide over his wings, tail, toy with his hair. Lets those freezing lips press, pepper his inky skin--Forehead, temples, shoulders, wherever.

And purrs like a cat, leans into all the touches, offers himself up. All his-All Pirin's. Doesn't dare ask for more than he's given for fear of loosing all of this in a blink. Does exactly as told by him. No deals, tricks. Eagerly accepts all kinds of affection/love from 'Rin. Lets him take control- of him and their fusion." -Finch

...Yup. My brain just thought throwing Pirin into a ship with that midget nuisance is a good idea instead of Val/Pirin/Sinbad standard. It's a dumpster-fire disaster and so full of Dead dove and angst. And toxic as all hell- Giving Hodgkin/Bonnie a run for their money.

"YES! Like in any other situation or universe, Berial would be the one doing the manipulation, breaking down Pirin and playing him like a puppet.

But in this one? The roles are reversed. Pirin and the others straight up starve Berial of positive regard, making him work for even the slightest hint of approval. Like how a starving rat will eat poisoned food out of desperation." -Mika

"And an example for all the other Hypogeans.

I honestly think seeing all this would actually unnerve Phraesto. Reinier would be laughing at first then suddenly get chills.

And Harak simply.. disturbed."- Finch

"Oh, heck yeah. If having a god around wasn't deterrent enough, they now have to deal with that gods herald being an amalgamation of Pirin and one of their own, fully knowing that the jester inside has been completely broken down into a passive, obedient shadow of his former self and that the bat is in full control now. Plus, it's starting to seem like the gods benevolent nature has started to wane a bit since losing his dear herald. Atleast to those he views as enemies..."- Mika

"Dionel and Talene are rattled. Scarlita's like "Hold up"-

Dulingr is something between this expression and this

And getting sidetracked with other stuff/what-if's. ".....Oh no. You know the True lab Undertale route w the amalgams?"- Finch

"Yeah? 👀"- Mika

"Well, Project Harbringer... And the nephylims."- Finch

"OH SHIT! (Also, wait, does that make us Ghaster?? 😂)"- Mika

.....It sounds really juicy on paper...but no. Just no. The cryptids are already one hell of a mess/level of disaster. Add in the nephylims? It will be horrendous carnage. Like Arle + Athe? = Unstable fiery and rebellious vigilante Knave + having Athe's issues. THE most aggressive/hostile of the lot. Balladeer + Iliya? = More stoic Kuker but also will sound/look like dying (...Nephylms got some major health problems like heart and lungs can't settle on a tempo, yo-yoing between vamp & human.) Make him angry and there will be trice as much hell to suffer. Damoiseau + Mari? = HP Lovecraft horror meets cinnamon roll but has fierce temper. And also very excitable. All over the place. Marionet + Amene? = Shriveling up on the inside & a weeping mess. Ame is/was a kindhearted girlie who wouldn't approve of others being mean. And having to witness, coldly render judgement? Disaster.

[marithlizard]

Helluva Boss s1e8: first impressions

The visual style for this episode looks really different from usual, based on the teaser images.  I don't mind it, but I do wonder why. 

-  Loona's phone image for Blitzo makes him look like a squashed frog.  :) - Loona's so nervous, I feel for her.  (Did she have anyone to help her pick out that very nice dress? Probably not.) - Oh, I think I get it.  The look is so different because it's the Envy ring. Yellow sky tinting everything, on top of the architecture and whole general vibe.    Greed, Lust, Wrath and Sloth had their own styles too but none of them made me instantly go "oh wow we are NOT in Pride" the way this does. - (Will this make the people who complain about "too much red" any happier? Don't be silly.) - Loona's tension is shown so well. Her posture, the way she's clutching her arm and clenching her fist, the way her smile doesn't just drop as soon as Tex is out of sight but turns to active unhappiness.  She doesn't even sound glad at the prospect of a drink, when we know she drinks frequently on the job. - Oof. How many times has she tried to fit in to hound social groups before, that the Mean Girl finds her so memorable? - Ooh, yeah, living with Blitzo does not exactly give one a reliable sense of acceptable language, does it.  - Oh I SEE,  "Bitch" in hound circles is one of those weaponized “selectively problematic” terms.  Can’t imagine why the writers would have that concept in mind.

- Is that a major demon sigil? Sure looks like it. So we may get to see the ruler of this Ring.

- Right, it's Gluttony, thus the food theme. - Loona’s totally unreceptive to the song and actually looks betrayed to see Tex so into it. She’s hunching into herself defensively as though she expects to be attacked.  Does she know this singer? - I thought the singer was a hellhound at first, but she has to be a sinner. Hounds don’t have extra arms.  (Do I even want to know what she means by "making honey"?)

 - Can anyone make out what Loona is mouthing at 4:41?  She is REALLY not happy with this song, and I have to agree the force-feeding is a bit disturbing, and has me wondering if the treats are drugged.

- Okay, Loona, I'm on your side in general here, but you don’t have moral high ground to be disgusted by crude remarks. Your moral ground is practically underwater. - Bee does seem friendly, and not intentionally patronizing. In fact she seems like everything I would have thought Loona wants to be - confident, glamorous, popular, decadent.  But instead of fangirling, Loona’s defensive and borderline hostile. - Bee sure does like to name-drop.  She must be a pop star like Verosika if she’s able to hobnob with Belphegor and Satan.  - SHE’S Tex’s girlfriend?   Ooooh.  Dating one pop star and bodyguarding another. Maybe I'm beginning to guess how some of these people know Blitzo. - Does Loona maybe realize that she has a problem with alcohol, and that’s part of why she’s so unhappy and convinced she can’t stay despite the welcoming vibe from Tex and Bee?

- Ah, Blitzo. Finished his cry, changed his shirt, got himself some ice cream and settling in to sulk all night on the couch. A very relatable post-date strategy.

- He doesn’t hesitate an instant when he sees Loona needs him. Nothing but concern when he greets her either, not even a hint of annoyance or guilt-tripping at the inconvenience.   Good dad.

- Interesting, this guy seems to like and admire Blitzo.  We're so used to thinking of him as a fuckup.  

- That was a lightning-fast 180 from "oh god please get me out of here" to "canwestaycanwestay", Loona. The power of hormones. Also she clearly feels much safer at the party with her dad’s support. - Blitzo does not look at all impressed or intimidated by Bee.  And he's so obviously happy to be in his element, doing something he knows he's good at, even if it's a gross something like binge drinking. - AWWWWW Loona being publicly proud of her dad!  He looks so happy! So dorky! So drunk.  Oh, Stolas, if you had only realized what he needed in that critical moment, flipped Asmodeus off and announced to the club that you love this imp and Verosika dear he’s clearly just not that into you because with ME he’s an insatiable stallion... if you’d done that, you could’ve had your beloved looking at you like this:

The face of romance, truly. - Bee and Tex suddenly look worried. I wonder why.  Are they actually concerned for his health,  or that he's upstaging her in her own club, or ? - Aww, they are concerned. They're both pretty decent people in their way.

- Whoa, she's got power. Is Bee something like an Overlord? - And Loona's ready to throw down with her - it's the sight of Tex looking unhappy that makes her reconsider. 

- pfft.  Okay, favorite line of the episode.  "I'm not fucking a Dennis tonight. I need a Monica or Alejandro in here, stat!"

- Loona being protective and caring. And really quite patient, considering. But she’s not going to sit around and listen to his woes and he doesn’t expect her to. -”Fizz was right, I’m gonna die alone..”  AUGH.  Blitzo’s mumbling confession of loneliness and despair. :(  It’s not just that he includes Stolas in his list. It’s that  M&M, Loona and Stolas are the only names in his list.   He doesn’t have anyone else left in his life, after the mess he’s made of his previous relationships. That was satisfying, with all the wholesome father-daughter moments I could’ve hoped for.  Good stuff. Catchy credits song, too...But no Hazbin cameo, so what was the reason for the delay?

.... Wait.  “Queen Bee”.  As in BEELZEBUB? Tex is dating a SIN?  Voiced by KESHA??? I literally did not figure any of this out until the end credits, and am sitting here flabbergasted.  If Stolas needs moral and social support for dating an imp,  he’s now got two high-profile examples of loving relationships across an even bigger class gap. This isn’t just thematic, I have a feeling it might be part of the plot before all is said and done.   The Goetia may be rigid snobs, but the Sins clearly aren’t.

[twilightarc-gm]

For the recent writing ask game, I'd love to know your thoughts about 10, 12, 13, 23, 30, 49! Or if that's too many feel free to just pick a couple, I'm not sure if there's supposed to be a limit per ask!

Hello my dear mutual and fellow Jiang Cheng enjoyer! 💜💜💜

Okay but seriously how funny would that be to get an ask and they're like "1-50 pls" on a lark? 😂

Thank you so much for playing, btw, very exciting! 🤗

10. How do you decide what to write?

As in, how do I decide what's going to be a WIP and what just stays a daydream: The more niche it is the more likely I will end up writing it because I write stories for me. So, Top Priority of getting me fed is to write the stories I want to see. I check the relevant tags on Ao3, see there's like... nothing for my idea, despair, then open LibreOffice.

As in how do I decide which WIP to work on? Literally I use the carl-bot /choose function on any Discord server that has it. 😂😂 As long as I am writing something, that's good enough.

12. Are there any tropes you used to dislike but have grown on you?

🤔 Hmm based on the fanlore.org site I think a trope I once was meh about that I have come to like is Genderbend. But then I tried writing a bit of it and decided I liked some things about it after all. 😅

13. Are there any tropes you used to like but don’t anymore?

😓 Oof yeah, you know, I used to be cool with hatesex/enemyslash tropes but somewhere along the line I got real boring, and decided I have way more fun if the characters actually like each other on an emotional level, even if they're hard pressed to admit it. Now it just squicks me out to see it, or any pairing where I can't conceive of a canon-verse way for it to happen that wouldn't just be hatesex/enemyslash.

23. What’s a trope, AU, or concept you’ve never written, but would like to?

One day I will write a casefic! I don't even have a WIP for it but ONE DAY it will happen and it will be SHORT and FUN and I WILL NOT spend 40k+ on it. 😤😤😤

30. Have you ever written something that was out of your comfort zone? If so, what was it, and how did it affect your approach to writing fic thereafter?

🙃 Haaaaa... well... my comfort zone is long format fic heavy in description, action, plot, world building. Outside of that is... snappy dialogue, humor, short fic. I think the closest I came to outside my comfort zone is my chengxuan fic at 9.2k words but the dialogue isn't that interesting. I also have my recently scrapped WIP "Cringe Fic" (referenced in question 12) that was me working through writing a bunch of tags/tropes I otherwise can't read, to see if I can write it in a way I would like to read.

Writing the chengxuan one-shot didn't really do anything for me besides get me started publishing for the MDZS fandom. It was a fluke, in my opinion.

Cringe Fic had the bonus of expanding the base of ideas I am willing to try and write for, e.g. genderbend.

49. What are you currently working on? Share a few lines if you’re up for it!

🙄 Okay so don't laugh (you can laugh), but as it turns out, I am writing a genderbend that I actually intend to publish when it's done. I noticed that there are only 24 works for Female Mò Xuányǔ tag, 19 of which are wang/xian. None of which are chengxian. I always wanted to explore canon Wei Wuxian actually experiencing dysphoria in his new body and making Mo Xuanyu female I feel will heighten that further. I'm thinking I want him to ping-pong between feeling everything is too different but also finding joy in what he has now and settle somewhere in the genderfluid realm of dealing with his 2nd life.

And of course I want it to be chengxian because 🤤 oh wow the drama there...

It's still in the very rough draft stages but here's a part that's interesting to me.

Wèi Wúxiàn traces the trail of brighter crimson to his arms. One sleeve is a clean bright vermilion, the other is soaked nearly black. “Not good,” he croaks with a voice that isn’t his. It’s a higher pitch, even for how ragged and torn it sounds. “Fuck.” Immediately, his good hand comes up to his throat that’s not his throat, where his questing fingertips fail to catch the presence of a knot that should bob as he swallows air. The same hand he trails down slowly, dreadfully, between his collarbones to his sternum, where a narrow, soft, valley goes undisguised by the vermilion robes wrapped around him. He looks down to his chest. Not his chest. His foggy mind catches up and grades the new look. Modest but present. Then his thoughts race ahead and the pins and needles of sensation wash away in the heat of panic. Wèi Wúxiàn spreads his knees and his hand drops down, but he knows.

🧡🙌 This has been fun! See you on my Dash!🙏🧡

...Or even... in my DMs 😉

[tanetime]

Can we know more about Winslow? :0

Sure! I was actually supposed to be working on a reference sheet for him for Art Fight, but I’ve been being lazy about it!!! I don’t have many illustrations so I’ll have to just subject you to WORDS WORDS WORDS.

You can have his final concept art though!

Winslow (his first name is Tony, but he won’t tell you that) is a police detective-turned-private investigator. He is a prodigy with a particular eye for detail and reading people that is supernaturally accurate, with the caveat being that he is completely unhinged. He has a knack for taking information, conjuring theories that make no sense, and managing to glean the truth from it somehow.

Despite being good at analysing people, he is atrocious socially and very few people can stand him. He’s intrusive and arrogant and just kind of smugly acts like he’s the smartest person in the room. 90% of the time he has the same stupid grin on his face. Nobody is sure whether or not he is secretly pretending to be stupid so that people let their guard down around him.

He is haunted by the guilt of a mistake he made during his career. Perhaps more literally than he’s aware of.

I have a lot more to say about his backstory and gameplay, but it is A LOT, so I’ll put it behind a readmore!

TW for some mild cartoony eye/body-horror.

Backstory infodumping

Prior to coming to the Constant, he worked alongside his identical twin brother, Tobin Winslow (first name basis encouraged), who was both 1. less intelligent 2. more normal than Winslow, and thus cursed with the Sisyphean punishment of dealing with his eccentricities whilst also being overshadowed by him. The two worked for the police, until Winslow became fascinated with a string of mysterious fires and disappearances that were happening. He decided to investigate them, and began by looking into the affairs of some people who really didn’t like that.

Tobin told him to stop, got ignored, and shortly afterwards went missing one night and was never seen again. In a rare display of wisdom, Winslow declared “well, fuck. big oof” and fled the state before whoever tried to kidnap him realised they got the wrong guy.

In the years since he has developed an irrational fear of the dark and a healthy paranoia that someone wants him dead. Due to reasons that could be summed up with ‘ACAB’ he started working alone as a PI dealing with missing person cases. The guilt surrounding his inability/failure to even attempt to figure out what happened to Tobin ate him up for a very long time until he attracted the attention of A Certain Someone.

That certain someone offered to help him find out who was responsible for Tobin’s disappearance, but, perhaps a little rashly, Winslow declared that he’d rather never know who was to blame – so long as the person responsible was haunted forever by what they had done.

Unfortunately, Tobin had a different idea as to who was ‘responsible’ for his death.

Aaaand here is Tobin! Or rather "what became of Tobin" or "what is left of Tobin after The Incident".

This art is pretty scruffy and unrefined since I wasn't used to drawing him - sorry!

The gist of what happened is that Maxwell atempted to weasel-word his way into taking both brothers into the Constant via the wording of Winslow's deal, except Winslow failed to mention the estranged brother he longed to reunite with was probably dead. So, Tobin ended up getting turned into a ghost and clumsily stapled to Winslow's body as a second, living shadow.

He is decidedly not happy about this, but this ain't about him.

Gameplay infodumping

‘Winslow’ as a playable character is actually both brothers together as a unit, and you swap between them.

Winslow himself is a very basic character with few perks. In a perfect world he’d have weird abilities like seeing enemy hp or not triggering traps.

Being haunted by his brother increases the damage he takes from shadow-sources and makes his sanity drain very quickly in the dark.

He starts with three items:

the Lamping Light, a torch that doubles as a weak weapon that does electric damage, so long as it has fuel.

the Thinking Cap, which reverses negative sanity auras for Winslow, but only keeps other survivors warm.

the Sleuthhound’s Slicker, a coat which protects you from wetness and allows you to move much faster if it is raining.

Winslow can swap to Tobin (and vice versa) via an ability similar to Wortox's Soul Hop, which makes you vanish as one character and reappear as the other.

Tobin is much frailer, but can do some weird things due to being a ghost. He is stronger in the dark and weakened by the light.

His ghost basically takes the form of his shoddily reanimated corpse, which was hacked up and dumped in some lake or river somewhere. As a result of this he’s a sopping wet beast and is always passively gaining wetness.

Winslow’s Thinking Cap and Sleuthhound Slicker actually change appearance and name when Tobin is holding them, and do different things, like stopping the wetness gain or allowing Tobin to function at full strength in the daytime.

I hate characters with items that render their penalties moot, but I like the idea of a character sacrificing armour in a fight to reach their full potential.

Infodumping Infodumping Infodumping

They are kind of the antithesis of Wendy and Abigail hahaha, although that wasn’t intentional.

Winslow being the more headstrong and confident twin, while Tobin was more reserved and cautious.

Tobin is now essentially soul-bound to Winslow the same way Abigail is bound to her flower, so he manifests through him and can’t leave. Due to the wording of the deal that brought Tobin back, Winslow’s incapable of realising Tobin is even there, so he kind of walks around with a second disjointed shadow leering at him ominously that he can’t see. (He gets asked about it pretty much every time he meets a new person, and thus has concluded that everyone in the Constant must be insane.)

Tobin has something of a vendetta against Winslow, but is a surprisingly normal and reasonable guy who doesn’t want to bother the other Survivors. He doesn’t cause much trouble - Winslow himself regularly gets up to worse! Most people do avoid him though, due to him being a weird dripping dribbly ghost with a weeping hole in his head.

He's still pretty cute though.

It’s different in their mod, but in-universe, Winslow tends to inadvertently swap places with Tobin whenever he is startled or faced with danger. So Tobin tends to take a bullet for him more often than not. It’s fine; he’s taken a bullet for him before!

I'm sorry this turned into more about Winslow and his brother and not just Winslow, but it's hard to talk about one without the other!

By the by, if it wasn't already opressively obvious by the gigantic wall of text: I love talking about my characters, so feel free to poke me about them - even if it's something minor.

[danggirlronpa]

Oh! Well I can solve the mystery for you. My first mom and my second mom were married before my second mom came out as a transwoman! They are both my biological parents. They got divorced before she came out, not because she came out or anything. They were very much already divorced when my second mom came out. I call her "second mom" because she's younger than my first mom.

Also, yeah, I totally agree that the fandom at large only headcanoning the Murder characters as nd is. Really bad, actually! I do forgive it more for Danganronpa specifically since. Most of the cast are murderers, lol, but when in fandoms with a ton of morally upright characters in it, only the villains are headcanoned as nd is just. Oof. I would love to see more characters like Izuku Midoriya being headcanoned to have bipolar, because (imo) I can definitely See it for him. Another character I headcanon as bipolar from Danganronpa is actually Kaede Akamatsu! She's great. I didn't mention her though since I tend to see V3 as taking place in a different universe unless it's a AU, tbh. But you're definitely right that it's an issue in fandom spaces. Funnily enough, my therapist specifically told me to headcanon more characters and/or create ocs with bipolar, so that's what I've been doing. She said it was good to see myself in characters.

But yeah!!! Sato & Mikan murder4murder nd couple who messily makes out!!! Tbh I think a lot of people forget that Sato and Mikan were Friends!!! I want to see more content out there exploring their dynamic. They are both So Normal about love (read: they both get extremely attached to people who show them even An Ounce Of Kindness. relatable tbh)

A FOURTH second mom option!! We Love To See It. (& you absolutely should headcanon characters as bipolar!! The reason I was specifically like "this isn't directed at you" was because it's important & wonderful to see people looking at characters like themelves - I just wanted a General Disclaimer, since DR is so. Gestures To DR. I'd LOVE to hear more about bipolar Kaede, what a great concept!!)

One of my (many) (sorry DR3 fans) gripes with DR3's choice to make Chiaki a Real Girl TM and setting Sato into the Reserve Course instead of making Sato the 16th student in Chiaki's place is that there's no indication of the group friendship we see in Twilight Murder Syndrome in the anime. (Especially when the game specifically hinted at Sato's ultimate talent! She mentions archery club! For no reason!! Except to establish the "ultimate sportsperson as class' first blackened" parallel to Leon!!) And there's a lot of other reasons that happened, too, including the anime relegating what was an ensemble cast into a couple mains and a series of background characters, and the overarching story choices that restricted their timeline.

But it's always SUCH a bummer to me to watch "Ibuki, Mikan, Hiyoko, Mahiru, and Sato had a complex group dynamic, the breaking of which ultimately led to the ruination of all their lives and the lives of several others" into "Mahiru had a girlfriend and it made her sad for a few minutes, and then everyone moved on." Like. There wasn't ANY other way to establish Hajime's character arc?? I have to stop or I'm just going to work myself up about DR3. But it bums me out. And I LOVE seeing representations of the dynamics that could've been. Sato and Mikan is a top tier of them for SURE.