#this is also my first time actually painting any instruments in my art so

[sootnuki]

SBEMAIL!!!

[milgram-tournament]

MILGRAM Best Song Tournament, Round 1, Match 7 BACKDRAFT vs. IT'S NOT MY FAULT

Propaganda for both options under the cut!

Propaganda for BACKDRAFT:

"Backdraft may be a minute shorter than Bring It On, but it’s still over three minutes long, and it makes up for the lost minute with a complex form. The “Pressure! Pressure!” might be the only part that truly repeats.

At the beginning, Fuuta is showing off, acting cool. Then the music slows down as he ponders his verdict. Then the music picks up the pace again and gets more and more frantic as the consequences of his actions catch up to him.

See that structure in the three distinct verses that sound nothing like anything else in the song: cool, contemplative, and “oh no, what have I done”.

The “chorus” (burn burn!) never stays the same. You’ve got the “cool” first chorus. Then you have the muted second chorus as it sinks in that Fuuta’s victim was a middle-school girl, which leads into the tense final chorus (which is twice as long as the first) as the victim and Fuuta both burn.

The instrumental and the spoken-word from the beginning combine in the end, changing the mood of the stanza from confident and showy to panicked and desperate.

And the words… You can hear the wordplay in the last stanza, even if you don’t understand it.

Appreciate this chaotic masterpiece of a song."

---

- Fuuta being very cocky at first before realizing how fucked he is (it is kinda funny) - The use of spray cans and overall graffiti symbolism, it’s so good - The multiple eyes and people off camera showing how paranoid Fuuta has become, it’s really well done without being obvious - The name backdraft meaning when a fire deprived of oxygen gets a sudden influx of it. A kind of metaphor for what Fuuta did. Then it being shown through a spray can explosion, aaaa it’s really cool! - Fuuta’s overall look changing, being more realistic on how he actually looks contrasting Bring It On’s idealistic version of himself - Es at the end!! The only time Es shows up in a prisoner’s MV!!! And they looks so damn cool - Also the entire eye thing referencing the audience, he perceives us lmfao

---

"Back draft is incredible because it not only has great visual symbolism with the use of the spray cans but its visual symbolism shows a progression from ‘Bring it on’. In ‘Bring it on’ the channelling is glorious , fuuta is surrounded by people and fuuta idealised himself (taller , better teeth , better posture ect) , the people he cancelled were portrayed as these powerful rpg monsters but now in back now the channelling is portrayed as vandalism a crime as destructive , the ally is empty we only ever see others as hands or his victim fuuta is alone and fuuta is no longer idealising his appearance and his mind is now portraying his victim as a harmless cutesy drawing. This shows a change in how fuuta views his crime between T1 and T2. It wasn’t glorious, it wasn't justified , he was at fault. The fire being recontextsied as something out of control , all consuming and out of control which is the opposite of how it was portrayed in ‘Bring it on’ we really see how the vote has changed fuuta."

"There are so many things in the song that show a progression "

-“ deliciously scorched till your mouth waters” > “I don’t want any more”

-fuuta spray paints the camera hen as the end es spray paints him/the camera

-the pressure graffiti changing

"There’s so many interesting details like the applause towards the start of the song , the personality in the subtitles like them going from “Burn , burn!” To “burn , burn?” But the pressure’s punctuation mark stayed the same:   “pressure , pressure!” , the way FIRE is the only word in full caps till LIES. The thumbs down fuuta does during “the fights up here! Come up to the ring and face me!” Part which is like his T1 art , the way the lighting changes from green towards the start and becomes red by the end (stop go colours) , The way fuuta is constantly interacting with the camera , spray painting it twice and kicking it."

"Backdraft actually makes amazing use of the camera , things are often shown from the (camera)audience’s perspective rather than us seeing the events removed. We are there like we are the ones doing it/looking through the eyes of the person doing it. When fuuta/the others spray paint the graffiti of his victim and the ice gorilla it's from the audience’s perspective , we don’t see them do it, we see it like we are doing it. When the spraypaint can explodes it's like it’s exploding in our face and then when es spray paints fuuta at the end they are spray painting the camera(audience). "

"Backdraft makes the most references to the voting system and uses it well to make the audience re-examine if they really are any different. Aren’t we using little information and inferences to hold people accountable for crimes we have no stake in? Aren’t we causing unintended harm? Aren’t we judging them from the safety of our screens? "

"And on a more silly level"

-ARTHUR CONANT GOES SO HARD IN THE VOCALS!!!! COME ON LISTEN TO BURN BURN AND TELL ME THIS MAN ISN’T GIVING IT HIS ALL!

-cat mouth fuuta :3 how can you not love cat mouth fuuta?

-lowpolydog designed amazing graffiti 

Propaganda for IT'S NOT MY FAULT:

"It's Not My Fault is a beautiful song with a REALLY good song texture. Arisa Kori/Muu's voice is literally so amazing here, fitting perfectly with that confident and snarky appearance that Muu seems to want to give off. And just everything about it????? Muu did everything wrong free my girl- I love her bug design here, the pure drama of it and how she showcases Rei as a human in the bug world is so cool."

---

inmf!! have you heard the instrumental?! its just so good!!

the way rei turns the hourglass at the beginning!!! and it switches to when muu was at the top of the hierarchy!!!! that was such a cool detail!!!

BUG MUU IS LITERALLY SO CUTE. her smile at 1:19 🥺🥺

The way her voice drops at 1:30 and her 'KAWAISO NANO!!' at 1:51!!!

shes having so much fun while singing this weeeeeee

she's always pitiful!! shes always the drama queen 🥺🥺

please her getting the worst ratio while singing the 'im not guilty' song should alone be the reason she wins

---

"INMF is what got me into Milgram in the first place so of course I have to shill for it. I think its one of my favorite MVs Visually as the scenes set in the bug-web location are so visually striking. Muu and the rest of the bugs dark-purple skin and Muu's and neon pink hair stand out so much against it and it's so Pretty and Vibrant.

Storytelling wise INMF is amazing, it's a complete 180 of how Muu is seen in After Pain but not to the point where it feels like Muu is a totally different character. Muu is both a genuine victim and (in my opinion) a failgirl queen. She's trying her best to keep the image up but she is...NOT good at being a manipulative mastermind. And like After Pain before it, you can figure that out just through the visual and lyrical storytelling, that to some extent this is Still Also a Role Muu is Playing.

It's good! It's really good stuff! Muu is a character of cycles and After Pain and INMF work really well as a cyclical story about bullying. I think Muu should Win on having Good Storytelling and Fantastic Visuals and Being a Worst Girl. You should do it for all the girls in the world who are the Worst."

[neversetyoufree]

Ok gang, so while I've talked a lot on here about VnC's recurring Vanitas painting allusion, I don't think I've ever actually talked in detail about my favorite example of that reference, so it's time to do the thing.

I am obsessed with the cover of the first volume, and I think you should be too. It's the perfect introduction of Vanitas as a man doomed to death, executed entirely through symbolism.

To start off, for those of you unfamiliar, a brief introduction to the concept of Vanitas art: Vanitas paintings are artistic reminders of the inevitability of death and the futility of all earthly pleasures. A Vanitas can technically be any form of art, but still life paintings are the most common variant by far.

Vanitas still life paintings were most commonly done in 16th and 17th century Europe. They use specific symbolism to evoke the images of death, the ever-ticking clock of time, and the transience/inevitable decay of the fine things in life. They often place images of the decadent and luxurious next to the rotten and dead in order to remind the viewer that death is always there waiting, no matter what pleasures you may have. This was, of course, a deeply Christian art movement. 16th and 17th century protestants were very invested in reminding themselves and others that pleasure (and even life itself) was futile and transient in the eyes of death and god.

I promise I'm going to relate this art history lesson back to Vnc soon.

The most common symbols in Vanitas paintings include, among others, books, maps, and instruments (symbols of worldly knowledge); jewelry and gold (symbols of wealth and power); bones, especially skulls (symbols of death); fruits and flowers (luxuries subject to quick decay); and clocks, hourglasses, and burning candles (symbols of the passage of time).

Fun fact: Mochijun once did a Gangan Joker cover featuring Vanitas and Jeanne hooking up in front of a Vanitas still life.

If you think about it, the presence of the still life there kind of turns this cover into a Vanitas painting in its own right, but that's a deep dive for another day. In the meantime, let's look again at the volume 1 cover:

The frame that Vanitas is sitting in here is covered in images from Vanitas paintings. In particular, it very heavily features bones and flowers, which are two of the most common Vanitas symbols. Bones are the very direct reminders of death, especially skulls, and flowers are something beautiful and pleasant that decays quickly.

The frame also includes a crown (luxury and wealth made meaningless by the presence of death),

butterflies (living things that are beautiful but incredibly fragile and brief),

and what I'm fairly sure are pomegranates (fruit as another example of luxury subject to decay).

Plus, though you can't see it on the front cover itself, the exact same frame is replicated for volume 1's inner cover illustration, and guess what's on the bottom under Vanitas's leg.

It's an hourglass! The symbol of time's eternal running out, and one that is very deeply tied to Vanitas as a character.

Beyond the fact that these images are commonly found in Vanitas paintings, almost all of them have further significance and meaning. The traditional uses of the flowers featured are very relevant, pomegranates have the Persephone myth, butterflies have their own established symbolism in vnc, and the way that crown is bolted onto the center skull is also important. However, each of those could be a meta post in their own right, and this post is already long enough, so for now I'm going to focus on the simple fact that these are Vanitas images.

Because the thing is, the inclusion of Vanitas painting imagery in this cover is really just what sets the groundwork for my favorite part of it. By introducing the idea of Vanitas paintings via these images, then putting Vanitas the character inside a picture frame, Mochijun suggests that Vani himself *is* a piece of Vanitas art.

Every volume cover features a version of this frame motif, but volume 1 is the only one in which the featured character is within the frame in this way. Vanitas is perched on it and almost entirely contained, as though he's coming from within it, and the background suggests much the same thing. With the stark white of everything outside of the frame, it doesn't look like an empty frame that you can see through to the other side of (the way Noé looks on the volume 3 cover). It looks like volume 1's Vani has climbed out of a painting.

Thus, with the symbols decorating the frame putting Vanitas paintings in our minds and Vani himself held within the frame, he becomes a piece of Vanitas art, and that fits the story perfectly. Vanitas the man is a walking, talking Vanitas. A human reminder of death. And that's why he's called that.

I've talked before about how I suspect other vampires called Luna "Vanitas" because they served as a living, breathing reminder of futility and death for crimson vamps, and Vanitas took his name from them. So on an in-universe level, it makes sense for Vanitas to be called that because he has taken on the role of "death symbol to crimson vamps." But even more interestingly than that, on a more metal level, his whole life is eventually going to become a reminder of death and futility for those close to him.

The story of Vnc is the story of Noé and Vanitas's relationship. It's Noé's memoir of their time together and his case study of Vanitas as a man. They've only grown closer and more important to each other as the story has progressed, and I doubt that's going to change. Vanitas is a great source of joy and color in Noé's life.

Vanitas is also going to die at the end of the story. From the very first chapter, we have known that Vanitas's end is coming and that all of that joy and closeness is going to do nothing to stop his demise. And that is the futility of Earthly passion in the face of the inevitable creep of death. That is the reminder that no amount of joy or pleasure can avert the end of all things. That is the setup for a powerful reminder for Noé and the others at the end of the story. Death comes for us all and will render your pleasures moot, and there's nothing you can do about it.

Furthermore, Vani's inevitable end won't just serve as a Vanitas, a reminder of death, for the characters of Vnc. It also serves the same function for the audience. In fact, I'd argue that since Vnc is the case study of Vanitas (the character), and the character is a living (for now) Vanitas, Vnc itself functions as a piece of Vanitas art. It's Vanitases all the way down.

Vani's oncoming death at the end of the story carries the exact same lesson for the audience that it does the other characters he meets, and that's what makes Vnc a piece of Vanitas art. As a story, it's exciting and it's sexy. The art is a feast for the eyes, the settings lush and almost every character beautiful. And yet, the cold, painful reality of death waits inescapably at the end. What is that if not the manga equivalent of a painting of stunning finery with a skeletal hand lurking in the background?

And of course, it's not like Mochijun is a 17th century protestant. I don't think she's trying to teach her readers a lesson about the meaninglessness and vanity of earthly pursuits so that we'll devote ourselves to god. However, I've always read Vnc as a tragedy, and futility is a fundamental mechanic of many tragedies. All the pleasures Vani has experienced will be inevitably erased by death. All his relationships will be forever marked by one-sidedness and grief. And that's because his story is tragic, and no matter how much he heals from his traumas, he cannot take himself off the path toward death.

But it's not like every character in Vnc is sitting within the frames on their covers. And though Noé and the others will be marked by tragedy in the sense that they will suffer Vanitas's death, not every individual character arc in Vnc must necessarily be tragic.

This is the case study of one instance that encapsulates the ideas of a Vanitas. It is the story of Noé experiencing Vani the man and reacting to his death. It doesn't mean that futility and death are the only lessons that Noé learns through that experience. And though the central theme is bleak and heavy, the manga itself is about the beauty and pleasure experienced on the way to death as much as it is about the death itself.

The love and joy and sensuality is all tangled up with the death in Vnc, and neither can be extracted from the other. It is beautiful and fun and it is a piece of Vanitas art, and none of that is contradictory. You cannot have one without the other, and that means that death can never be escaped.

So on the cover of volume 1, Vanitas the man becomes a living piece of Vanitas art, sitting within a frame that is covered in Vanitas art, within a manga that is in itself a piece of Vanitas art. And that's why it's my favorite illustration from this series.

[leadpoisioning]

Heartstrings

This is a little different from my other works, that being said it is actually two unrelated mini-fics that stemmed from the same request :)

The first fic is a SFW Guitarist!Rowan x Reader, and then the second one will be a NSFW Rowan x Guitarist!Reader, there will be a warning beforehand if you don’t want to read that one, thanks!

SFW Guitarist!Rowan x Reader

550 words

You stumbled upon Rowan’s other talent on complete accident. Late one night, you felt restless and unable to sleep in your dorm. You knew Rowan and Xavier would always welcome you into their room, so you got ready and quickly made your way to the other dorm without being seen. Outside of the door, you stopped. There was music coming from the inside- but not any that you’d ever heard. It sounded like metal and rock. A tune unique to you, it was an original piece. Was Xavier a guitarist? He was good with his art so you didn’t see any reason why he wouldn’t also be musically inclined. You knock on the door and wait to be let in.

From inside of the dorm, Rowan panics. He desperately hoped it wasn’t Weems coming to reprimand him for his loud music. He wasn’t playing that loud, was he? He quickly puts his guitar back into the case and slides it under his bed along with the small amp. He makes sure the room is presentable, silently thanking Xavier for cleaning his side before heading to his shed for the night. When Rowan opens the door, he’s surprised to see you.

“Hi (Y/N).” He steps aside to let you in, noticing you looking around.

“Is Xavier not here?” His mouth draws into a thin line. Of course you wanted to see him.

“No, he left for his shed about an hour ago.” Your face changes to look amused.

“So the music was yours?”

“Uhm, yes.” You watch as he nervously shifts on his feet, eyes flickering towards his bed.

“Can I hear you play?” Rowan’s eyes widen and he shrugs, moving to get his guitar. Now, your eyes widen when you see the dark electric instrument.

You and Rowan sit side by side on his bed as he gently strums the strings. He opted against the amp, seeing how fatigued you seemed at the moment. Your eyes watch as he deftly moves his fingers across the strings, playing a softer tune than he was previously. He stiffened when your head rested against his shoulder. An idea drifts it’s way into his mind as you drift off into sleep at the gently lullaby Rowan was kind enough to give you.

“Do you want to sleep here tonight?” He murmurs, playing softer. Your eyes trail up to his, creasing as you smile.

“I’d like that.” You yawn. Rowan nods and sets his guitar aside, allowing room for you to lay back. He gets up to properly put away his guitar and moves towards Xavier’s bed. “What are you doing?” You yawn again. “If Xavier comes back he’s going to want his bed.”

“Well- I just thought-“ His words stop when he sees you scoot over to make room for him behind you.

“Come on, it’s getting cold.” You hum. Rowan swallows thickly and steps over towards the bed, sliding under the covers. “Don’t be shy Ro… you can hold me.” Rowan blushes hard as he wraps his arms around you. “When did you start?” You ask quietly.

“About a year and a half ago. My father got it for me as an apology.”

“You’re really good. Can I hear you play for real sometime?”

“Yeah, of course.” He smiles into you.

NSFW BELOW

NSFW Rowan x Guitarist!Reader

674 words

“Rowan!” You shout bursting into he and Xavier’s shared dorm. Xavier grunts, having messed up a stroke on his painting. You let out a quick apology before diving onto Rowan’s bed, screaming of joy into the pillows. Rowan emerges from the bathroom with a questioning look, drying his hair with a towel. You get up and quickly hug him. He chuckles at your excitement and grips his towel tighter, hugging you with his other arm.

“What’s up with you?”

“We got the gig!” You grin.

“Where and what time? Nightshades’ll be there.” Xavier nods, putting away his things.

“Crackstone’s crypt at seven, everyone’s gonna be there!” He nods and leaves the dorm to go round up the others. You kiss Rowan hard and pull away. “Okay. Okay I’m gonna go get ready.” He nods, kissing you again before you run out into the hallway to go get your band mates ready.

It was your bands first real gig after forming a few weeks back, and it was going great. Your skilled fingers worked the guitar strings well as your band followed along with the rock tune. Adrenaline took control of your arms until they hurt, coming up towards the end of the show. Everyone cheered hard, which was slightly unusual for the Jericho normies, but they were tipsy so their judgement was thankfully impaired. You put your guitar away and hand it to your drummer to put in the canoe. Rowan strolls up to you on the shore.

“You we’re amazing.” He compliments as you half way collapse into his arms.

“Thank you but I’m so tired, Ro.” You groan.

“So you don’t want my celebration gift when we get back to my dorm?” Your head lifts, questioning your boyfriend.

“Well now I do, let’s go.” You pull him along to your canoe. Thankfully, he takes the oars from you and makes the journey himself.

Rowan thanks Xavier for his willingness to spend the night in his shed to leave you two be and leads you to the room.

“Go make yourself comfortable.” He kisses your head. You fall back onto his mattress and kick off your shoes, legs dangling off the edge. He sets your guitar gently on his desk and stalks over to you.

“So what’s the surprise?” You murmur, grinning up at him as he stands between your legs. He doesn’t say anything, and instead kneels. You bite your lip and sit up on sore arms, watching as he tugs your pants down. You lift your hips to help him out and immediately his mouth is on your covered heat.

You gasp and wrap your aching legs around his head. His hand squeezes your thigh and you spread them, letting his head lift up.

“I have to get these off of you before you do that, sweetheart.” He smirks, stretching the fabric and releasing it, smacking against your drenched cunt. You moan and let him slide the underwear down your legs. His lips reconnect with your cunt, his tongue sliding in between your folds. You moan out as you feel his tongue breach your cunt, dipping into your hole. His nose bumps your clit repeatedly as he devours you, sinful sounds of him kissing your pussy filling the room. Your soft moans spur him on to go faster, and your hand moves to his hair. Despite the soreness from the amount you played, they strongly grip his brown hair while you rut against his face. Now, your legs wrap around his head as you near your needed orgasm. The heaviness in you grows and snaps on a particularly hard suck from Rowan. You tiredly cry out as you cum in his mouth, hips bucking into his face while he licks you clean.

He moves you up on the bed, your head hitting the soft pillow. Rowan lays beside you, pulling you in for a kiss before you drift off.

“I think you’re my biggest fan.” You quietly chuckle, eyes closed.

“Absolutely.” He agrees, holding you close.

[torveiglyart]

The more I think about my hobbies and achievements (or lack thereof), the weirder I realize my life is. I had never really thought about some of these things until as of recent, specifically when someone introduced to another as "cool". Like what.

First things first that I've talked about on here is I'm an oboe player. Which is already a kind of "different" instrument to play. And, actually, I've been third chair in the All-District wind ensemble for grades 11-12. So there's that.

Another thing I tend to tell people /if prompted/ is I'm a nationally recognized Scottish Highland dancer. I placed third in the southeast regionals and qualified to perform in Las Vegas along with everyone else who qualified across the country. This one is kinda like my "fun fact" during ice breakers 'cause it's something I know won't be repeated.

I'm a digital artist, as you all know, but I also do traditional art often. A few of my paintings in my portfolio helped me score a spot in NCSU's ID program. Maybe one day I'll scan them and post here.

I'm a singer. This one goes multiple ways as in: HS choir, church choir, musical theatre, and bands. I just like singing and got blessed with a nice voice... I think.

I can bake and decorate very well. As in won a cookie decorating contest at the NC State Fair well. That was a good year for me :). But it's also the perfect ganache every time kind of good. I guess the same can be said about cooking given no meal I've made has gone wrong or tasted bad. I seriously hope it stays that way.

This next one only partially counts because while I'm not /fluent/ by any means, I can somewhat comfortably hold a conversation in a few languages. French, Spanish, Japanese, and, strangely enough, Swahili, are languages I've worked on since uhhhh... I don't know at this point. And I've since added Scottish Gaelic to that list to work on. Languages just fascinate me and I plan to travel A LOT when I get the money to do so.

I do archery in my free time. Often enough I have my own bow and arrows. It’s fun. And last time I went to an actual range I never missed a target which I’m totally bragging here but it’s also just a fun activity to get anger out, you know?

Back to the musical theatre thing, I actually was called back for an audition to enroll at UNCSA, but did not make it. And back in freshman year, I did this whole Society Performers multi-class thing, but cut it short to work on my studies. So while I probably could have gone into theatrics, I don't think that would have been the best choice for me.

An going further back to the instruments, I can also play piano, ukulele, and clarinet, but lessons are those were far fewer than oboe.

Time for the weirder stuff.

I definitely have ADHD, and so does my dad, but we're both undiagnosed so let's just not go there.

I can't whistle or roll my tongue. People always seem really surprised by this one but it's not like I'm in a tiny percentage with that one.

I'm nearsighted in one eye and far sighted in the other, and I also only require one contact lense/prescription. Actually let's call this the whacky section.

I'm allergic to celery. Yes, celery. And only that. Not pollen, not pets, not dust, not even ragweed, but celery. And only when it's raw. Cooked in a dish? Fine. Raw in a salad? Cotton-mouthed and itchy. Not terribly sad about it though.

I can't ride a bike. Like, I know how to in theory, but I just never had a bike growing up. My older sister's always had a flat tire, and by the time my younger brother got one, I was too big to ride it. So I scooter instead :).

I have perfect pitch, as in I hear a pitch, and can tell you the note it is, and can tell you what key a song is originally in and sing it. I would get in trouble a lot as a kid for "picking a fight" with my siblings by telling them, "it actually goes like this," and then changing the key they were singing in. While many find this cool or helpful, unless you're a music student or something, it's actually annoying. The car radio is always a few microtones sharp and there's nothing I can do to make it in tune. My choir teacher would also have me sing the starting pitch for songs, no tuner, which was nerve-wracking.

WOW this was just me ranting (bragging) lol, sorry about that, but hey! Now you know more about me!

If you have any questions or comments, don't be afraid to ask! Or, y'know, do the whole asks thing. I think I changed the icon for that but I'm not sure.

[tamavonpineapple]

Leosagi culture shocks I wanna see (based on my personal hcs)

Medicine/hygiene: as excited as Leo is to finally have Usagi visiting New York, you can't tell me that one of the first things Leo does isn't throwing his edo period boyfriend in the shower and chucking his clothes in the washing machine. Since they live in a sewer, Splinter made extra sure to drill good hygiene and cleanliness into his tots. As such Usagi's first two visits are spent learning about soap/shampoo (special kind for fur from Hidden City), toothbrushing, toilets, etc. I feel like he'd be amazed and shocked at how much cleanliness actually matters when it comes to health. He'd also be dragged to Donnie's lab frequently for vaccines. Even after bacteria and viruses are explained to him, Usagi would still be kind of scared and Leo is just holding his boyfriend's hand the whole time. Considering Leo is the resident medic, Usagi would be very interested in hearing Leo info dump on how surgeries and major wound stitches are done along with disinfection.

Modern tech: this one's obvious, he's from the Edo period and Leo is from the 21st century. Usagi is mesmerized by how advanced everything is and is shocked that none of it is magic. Donnie takes immense pleasure in educating Usagi in the ways of modern technology and how it all functions.

Culture: as a traveller, Usagi probably has quite the open mind for his time and generally appreciates the new cultures he comes across. I think he'd be so amazed at how big and how diverse the world is. Especially when it settles in how Japan (what was previously his whole world) is such a small part for an enormous planet. Considering that New York is an immigrant city, Usagi would probably adore how much of a cultural melting pot it is. Leo gets them some cloaking broaches and the two have several dates just exploring the cultural hubs of New York. Be it the traditional preserved cultures or the new ones created from the mesh.

Self expression: another thing I feel Usagi would appreciate is how freely people can express themselves. Be it gender or culturally, people just wear what they want. Especially people as nonchalant as the turtles. The four have been having fashion nights with April since forever and no way they didn't absolutely slay in dresses and skirts. No way they also didn't drag Usagi into their fashion shenanigans.

Art: it's canonically confirmed that Usagi is a lover of art in all its forms. He'd absolutely loose his mind at how many styles of everything there are. I can see him bonding with Mikey in this aspect, with the young turtle showing Usagi all the best drawing/painting techniques there are. Music is another big thing: he's that one dude who's spotify is just a mix of everything (different genres, languages, instruments, etc). Electro music is something he'd take longer to warm up too, but I think he'd end up enjoying vocaloid. Mostly because of how diverse in themes vocaloid is (depression, love, violence, redemption, etc) and because it's his first exposure to modern music that he can actually understand (since it's japanese).

Reading: I don't think Usagi would've been an avid reader before Leo. Mostly cause there wasn't much to read. Now that he can visit New York, he just gobbles up whatever literature he can find. He reads a mix of Japanese and English (helped him learn the language faster). Usagi really likes mythology, history, and poetry books. He also has a taste for the occasional novel and manga that Leo recommends him. As a samurai, Usagi's all about self improvement. So I feel like he'd read a lot therapy-esque books regarding things like healthy relationship and adjusting to new perspectives. He'd also work on any biases or assumptions he has from living in Edo Japan (like towards disabilities).

Media: like with any other tech, Usagi is shocked by how easy it is to learn anything curtesy of the internet. I also feel like he'd have a deep appreciation for the art of cinema considering its like theater but so much more. Especially with animation since its story told through moving art. Hell I bet he and Mikey have their own little animation stop motion drawing pads.

Relationships: here's where the biggest shocks are mostly cause how different things are from how Usagi was raised. First comes his relationship with Leo and how they each express love. Even nowadays PDA is frowned upon in Japan and Japanese don't tend to explicitly outright say they love each other. Usagi, who's probably very reserved with his affection and likely a little touch starved, is just floored with how openly affectionate both physically and verbally Leo is. I feel like he'd be a little embarrassed at first and slowly ease into being more open with how he loves Leo in more physical ways. Then there's the general Hamato dynamic. Even now, japanese culture has emphasis on respecting elders and the heavy expectations children have to succeed in the eyes of said parents. Combined with general edo period extreme formalities between parents and their children plus how Usagi's father barely raised him yet still put pressure on him to become a great samurai. Then we have Splinter: a rat man who's doing his absolute best to be involved in his kids lives and make up for the time they lost due to his trauma (mother's death, kidnapping, battle nexus, turning into a rat, etc), never pressures his kids, lets them grow as individuals and enjoy their own interests, very involved in their shenanigans, works hard to support his kids, and (most importantly) freely shows unconditional love. Just seeing a parent as involved and affectionate as Splinter is would be a big shock to Usagi. Especially a male parent cause traditional gender roles and since Usagi is from an era where fathers freely send their sons to die for honor while Splinter would blow up the Earth before even thinking of knowingly putting his sons at risk. Plus the brothers constant talk back and disobey their father. Then we go to the sibling dynamics. Like with parent-child relationships, edo period sibling dynamics were draped in formality and seriousness: affection is very reserved and any threats are literal plus the hierarchy placed by seniority. The Hamato siblings are probably Usagi's first exposure to a normal healthy sibling dynamic. Which would probably be confusing in itself since sibling relationships are a weird mesh of superficial hate but genuine love. Like Donnie wouldn't hesitate to take a bullet for Leo but no way in hell is he touching his new boots. Any of the brothers could be arguing as if they're about to kill each other and be cuddling on the couch not 15 minutes later. The constant back and forth would be a whiplash for Usagi and it would take some time to fully decipher how they communicate. Then there's their relationship with April. Splinter doesn't see her as his daughter but she is undeniably the Hamato's big sister. If you add in Cass and Sunita, then you have Usagi reveling in finally having strong independent female friends who aren't potential love interests. Throw in Casey Jr and the typical TMNT adventures and you've got Usagi collapsing exhausted from the sheer craziness of this friend group. Usagi would be civil and respectful with Draxum.

Okay i completely forgot about this, I saw it during vacations and then proceeded to forget about it. Sorry Okay, ejem, there are thing that I want to adress.

1. During that (and previous) period, japan already had toothbrushes, shampoo and soap, they already new about hygiene. We tend to imagine that this topics are modern and, let's be honest, came from Europe. No, for GODS' SAKE TOILET PAPER WAS INVENTED IN CHINA DURING THE 6th CENTURY!! And let's bw honest, Usagi lives in a world of furries, of course they already specialize soap/shampoo. I had nothing to add to the vaccines, i had a couple of scenes already planned regarding that topic. However, Usagi has been stabbed a couple times, and was perfectly fine with Chizu drugging him so he could get a rest, I can't really picture this man being a childman who needs to hold someone's hand to get vaccinated. (tho it'll be ironic, ngl)

Culture: Usagi himself has stated some levelnof discomfort regarding immigrants in Japan, because is japan, I wont go deep here, cuz theres a bunch of articles and videos about japan being an isolated country. It is certainly easier to imagine an initial rejection and a LONG adaptation process that will culminate with him accepting that the world is much more diverse than he imagined, but he would not stop being himself.

Art: usagi and Mikey bonding through art It's another plot that I had envisioned for rabbit stew, Usagi's fascinated by markets, color pencils, and all that, but usagi will also showed him the traditional techniques from his father homeland, cuz you know, sumi-e and ukiyo-e, since they're not inferior to modern of different techniques. (Btw have you ever heard of that band that plays with modern and traditional instruments?)

As for the rest of it, I mostly agree with the other points you've made. Except for one small detail that is bothering me and that is that it only seems to focus on how New York is going to change Usagi... I'll be real with you all, if we are just going to make Usagi a white dude and erase what being a 16th century samurai is... Well, I don't see the appeal anymore.

There are also things to rescue from there that the modern society lacks, despite of how murky the society in which he was raised may be. But here it seems like we're focusing on how cool New York is over Japan.

And let me tell you, food, environment, manners, global warming? These are some of the many things that Usagi will have a strong opinion on... That's if it survives the rot that is being fed microplastics to actually learn about it.

[batz-surveys]

14.

1. Do you think it’s cute when you’re going down the road and see a dog with its head hanging out the window? Yes, of course. I will always be excited to see a dog riding in a car, because it's adorable. But also, because I know how excited my dog gets when we take her for a ride.

2. Do you know what a capo is? I didn't, but I looked it up, and now I do. To save those reading the time, here's the definition: a device that is attached to the frets of a string instrument to raise the pitch of each string.

3. When was the last time you wrote down a schedule? I haven't had to do this for a very long time. My schedule for work is always the same, and since I'm a routine kind of person, my at home schedule is just burned into my brain anyway. I do have to write down To Do Lists though.

4. What does your favorite hair tie/accessory look like? I love my black velvet scrunchies. They make me feel a little luxurious for some reason.

5. When was the last time you used a touch screen monitor? At work on Wednesday - the laptops we use to do lesson plans for the kids are touch screen.

6. Do you have a favorite kind of milk? 2%, whole, etc? I've used almond or soy milk for almost the entirety of my life at this point. I cannot stand the smell of cow's milk. I'll eat things made of cow's milk, like cheese or ice cream, but I will practically gag at a glass of plain cow's milk.

7. Have you ever tried Parmalat milk? Nah, I've seen it in stores though.

8. Are there any buttons on your keyboard that you don’t know what they’re for/never used? Haha, yeah. The laptop I'm using is still relatively new to me, even though I bought it back in June. It's a gaming laptop, and I've never owned one before.

9. Have you ever had to take prenatal vitamins? I didn't HAVE to, but I wanted to take them to see if they would help my hair grow. They did, but I stopped because I really believe they were making my periods incredibly heavy. A month or two after I stopped taking them, my periods became normal again (well, what I'm used to anyway).

10. Do you have anything unusual tacked onto your walls? Haha, yes. Our gallery wall is all art that both my husband and I painted, as well as some features from our moms. The art is weird and not traditional at all. I also have a giant neon colored bat sign from Target's Halloween collection this year, and I won't be taking it down just because Halloween is over. Like, I love it so much, I would actually get a version of it tattooed on me because I love the colors and I love bats.

11. Do you have a favorite drummer? My husband! But besides him, definitely Aron Mellergård and Branden Steineckert.

12. Do you like to earn your own money or do you prefer that your parents/family buy you things? I do like to earn my own money, but I won't lie and say being spoiled by my husband sometimes isn't fun for me, haha.

13. Have you ever heard of the man with rubber skin? No, that sounds kind of scary.

14. Does anyone in your family play in a band? What band? No, not anymore. My husband was the frontman for a local metal/prog-rock band a long while ago.

15. Why do you think a lot of girls claim to hate the color pink? Literally every woman I know loves pink, except me. I don't hate it, but with the exception of the Kirby merchandise I own, I don't have many pink things because it's just not a color I gravitate towards.

16. Are there any symbols that have personal meaning to you? i.e: dice, a necklace, etc. What are they? The first gift my husband ever gave me. It was this cheap, little red gem shaped like a heart, on a chain that's tarnished now. He gave it to me on our first real date (we knew each other a while before as we were friends first) since it was Valentine's Day and he didn't want to show up empty handed (not that I would've cared). I still have it in my jewelry box after all this time and I'll never get rid of it.

17. What’s the biggest spider you’ve come across? Omg. I don't know what kind of spider it was, but it was the hugest spider I've ever seen in my life. I'm pretty sure it was a wolf spider now, because I googled if those spiders live in the state I live, and they do. I remember the night I saw it in full. I say "full" because we had this small, medium-ish sized hole in the wall of our laundry room, and sometimes I would see legs sticking out of it, and this had to be that spider. I was like fifteen or sixteen, and I used to roleplay online (the dorky kind), and I just happened to look up and it was in the corner of the dining room (where our family computer was). I literally stayed up all night, just to watch it and make sure it wasn't going to end up in my bedroom. Like every time I posted a paragraph, I'd look to make sure it was still there. I waited until my dad's alarm went off at 5am, and when he came out his room, I said, "DAD. There's a huge spider, please, please get rid of it." And like it was nothing at all, my dad got the broom, put it up to the spider and somehow got the spider on the broom, and then he threw it outside over the balcony (we were in an upstairs apartment). I swear the thing was the size of my hand.

18. Have you ever been bitten by anything poisonous? No, thank goodness... *knocks on wood*

19. What brand is your remote? RCA - etc. I think it's just a generic one modeled after the one that goes to our LG tv. The other is the Fire TV stick remote.

20. Do you know anyone who has been knighted? No.

21. Have you ever heard of the band Goatwhore? Haha, no, but now I have to check it out because with a name like that, it's gotta be metal. -forty seconds later- Yep, I was right. I gotta show my husband this band after he's done getting dressed, I'm sure he'll like 'em. Update: He knew about them already, because of course he did.

22. Have you ever met someone who thinks they are a rockstar because they can play Guitar Hero? Haha! Yes. I had a friend Alex a long time ago, and when we would all get together and play it, he would take it so seriously. I remember my old best friend James played that one Dragonforce song basically perfect, and Alex got so pissed that James did better than him because he had been practicing it so long - way longer than James had.

23. Which Mario game would you say is your favorite? That is, if you even like Mario? Definitely Mario Kart. But as far as the screen scroller Marios, I would say Super Mario World for Super Nintendo. The game is just so pleasing to the eye to look at, plus you get Yoshi!

23. Do you have one of those creepy family members that no one really talks to? Nah, not really. If anything, that's probably me because I'm pretty anti-social at big family gatherings.

24. Do you have a DeviantART account? No.

25. How many quarters would you say you had on you right now? None, I don't own any change.

26. Have you ever seen any Bruce Lee movies? Yes! Haha, I remember watching some of Fist of Fury at a fucking Halloween party one year when I was younger. I thought it was so strange that that's the movie that was on the television, and not a horror film.

27. Ever started watching a movie, then forget why you watched it in the first place? I honestly will watch movies based on the summary, but I will also stop watching the movie if I think it's terrible. Like recently, I watched this movie on Netflix called Tarot...and I only had 30 minutes to go, but I had to shut it off because it was so bad and I was losing interest.

28. When was the last time you used a hot glue gun? I've never used a hot glue gun.

29. Do you have a junk drawer? Of course, doesn't everybody?

30. Have you ever gotten wasted off cough/cold medicine? No.

31. Did you know that if your baby’s gums are hurting you can rub whiskey into them to numb them? I've heard that before, but I don't think I would every recommend giving a baby alcohol.

32. What’s your opinion on thoroughbred racing? The thought of all that the horses probably go through just to be "the best" really breaks my heart. And the fact that if they're no longer able to race, or they break something, that they're more than likely going to get put down is even sadder.

33. Ever watched Jerry Springer just to remind yourself that your life isn’t as messed up as theirs? Hahaha, jeez, not for that reason. I used to think it was just entertaining to see, and question how people could act like that in front of millions of viewers and a live audience.

34. Have you ever had acne? If not, you’re so lucky. Had? Listen, I'm a 36-year-old woman and I still get acne if I eat too much sugar or it's the week before my period. They didn't tell us anything about that in sex ed. I figured when my acne cleared up as a teenager, that was it. Nope, I got surprised when I turned 27 and got adult acne and although my face is usually clear, too much junk food and my hormones will definitely humble me month to month.

35. Have you ever been spelunking? No, and as cool as it sounds, I'll probably never do it.

36. Ever walked into a facility of the opposite gender - like restrooms? Yeah, I've used the men's room several times at concerts or even busy restaurants. Sometimes you just can't wait, and I'll be damned if I'm going to wet myself because of the body parts I have.

37. Ever lost your car in the parking lot? If so, did you use your car alarm to find it again? I don't have my own car, but I'm sure my husband has done something to this effect after leaving a concert or something while I was with him.

38. If you’ve ever ridden a roller coaster, which one was your favorite? I have before, I can't remember the name of it. It was at Carowinds though.

39. Has there ever been a Christmas where you had to do without gifts-wise? I don't think so. My parents always made it work, even though that's not the kind of kids my brother and I were. We didn't care about Xmas too much, because we honestly got things throughout the year based on our behavior and our grades. But one that sticks out is the Xmas of 2006. We had recently moved into my parents' current house after they bought it, so money was really tight. It was just me living there with my parents at the time, and my dad bought me two CDs after asking around what someone who likes my kind of music would like in the music section of Walmart. I nearly cried, because it was really just the thought that was so sweet - and he actually did a great job because it was Incubus' Light Grenades and Hawthorne Height's If Only You Were Lonely. Both bands I liked, and I remember opening them and my dad seemed sad that that's all he got for me, but I was so appreciative.

40. Do you type with capital letters and proper punctuation? I try.

41. What’s so cool about Sweden? It produced Dirty Loops, so I mean, it's gotta be a cool place.

42. What’s your favorite piece of your silverware and why? I don't really have one? What an odd question.

43. If you’ve ever had a crush, what is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you around him/her? Haha, I don't embarrass easily around my husband anymore, but in the beginning of our relationship when we started getting intimate, one time in the middle of it, I farted. That honestly wasn't even that embarrassing to me but trying to hold in my laugh was. And he didn't even say anything and just kept going, which made me want to laugh even more. So not long after, he finished, and I just busted out laughing because if I'm anything, I'm very immature about farts. We look back on it and laugh now, but man, he thought I was laughing at him.

44. Have you ever pet a tarantula? Actually, I have. I didn't have a phobia of spiders until I was in the eighth grade (so like 12, 13) when I was walking home from the bus stop with my dad, and I walked right into a banana spider's web. I mean, I had spider-on-face contact...and from that moment on, I was and continue to be scared of all spiders (except for the cute little jumping ones we sometimes get).

45. Have you ever been to the Olympic Games? No.

46. Have you conquered any fears recently? No.

47. If you’re in school, and have a bookbag, what does it look like? I’m not in school, but I use a bookbag for work. It's a Loungefly X-men (in chibi style) patterned one, with a light blue background. The kids at my work get a kick out of it, and I love X-men. I've been using this since I received it as a gift from my MIL for Xmas years ago.

48. Have you ever shopped for clothes at a thrift store? If not, why is that? I used to mostly buy my clothes at thrift stores as a teenager. We had a Goodwill basically across the street from our high school, and my friends and I almost always went there, and then to Subway for a $5, after school. From what I hear, now Goodwill prices are basically like new clothes prices. Now, my closet is full and sometimes I'll just shop secondhand online like from Poshmark or Mercari if there's something specific that I need, that I can't find in the stores.

49. Let’s say you win a trip to Australia (if you already live there, then you’ll go to Russia.), at any city of your choice. What would you like to see first and why? Probably Sydney, because it's the first one that popped into my head, and because they have the Sydney Opera House and I've always wanted to see that in person. The architecture on the outside is crazy, I can only imagine how it looks inside.

50. Have you ever written your own Bucket List? If you haven’t seen the movie, it’s a list of goals to accomplish before you die. Sort of. As a teenager, I used to write Summer Bucket Lists with friends, and we'd try to attempt to complete everything on it. The last year I did that was when I turned nineteen, I believe. Man, this survey had me reminiscing so many things!

[telomeke]

get to know me ask game

Thanks for tagging me @colourme-feral!

RULES: bold the ones that are true & tag 10 people to do it.

APPEARANCE

blonde hair // I prefer loose clothing to tight clothing // I have one or more piercings // I have at least one tattoo // I have dyed or highlighted my hair // I have gotten plastic surgery // I have or had braces // I sunburn easily // I have freckles // I paint my nails // I typically wear makeup // I don’t often smile // I am pleased with how I look // I prefer Nike to Adidas // I wear baseball hats backwards

I started graying early (in my teens) so the hair dye is for when I want to change things up a bit. Braces are a rite of passage for so many, including me. I don't often smile, so people think I'm more serious than I actually am (also because of RBF). I'm satisfied with how I look because you've always got to love yourself first, and understand that nobody is perfect (so you shouldn't expect that of yourself either, whether in looks or any other department).

HOBBIES & TALENTS

I play a sport // I can play an instrument // I am artistic // I know more than one language // I have won a trophy in some sort of competition // I can cook or bake without a recipe // I know how to swim // I enjoy writing // I can do origami // I prefer movies to tv shows // I can execute a perfect somersault // I enjoy singing // I could survive in the wild on my own // I have read a new book series this year // I enjoy spending time with friends // I travel during work or school breaks // I can do a handstand

Can play piano but not well. I like art but don't indulge in it too much (except maybe writing). Grew up in a multilingual environment and that's made me love languages and linguistics. Trophies were mostly school stuff, nothing to write home about. I cook a lot, bake a bit less, but it's to get around food intolerances. Used to swim a lot. Writing is my first love. Origami and papercraft are fun. Prefer singing to piano (always have, and the background in music theory means I can appreciate some forms though I much prefer pop and R&B to classical). I used to travel a lot more, but do it less after the pandemic; traveling is less fun for me now and I prefer to voyage on the Internet instead.

RELATIONSHIP

I am in a relationship // I have been single for over a year // I have a crush // I have a best friend who I’ve known for ten years // my parents are together// I have dated my best friend // I am adopted // my crush has confessed to me // I have a long distance relationship // I am an only child // I give advice to my friends // I have made an online friend // I met up with someone I have met online

Spouse and I have been together a long, long time. Old friends are to be treasured. Crush confessions are so awkward when they're not reciprocal. I give advice (comes naturally as the eldest child) but it's not always welcome and I've had to learn to hold back. My online friends are those I've met through Tumblr, mostly around a shared love for Bad Buddy.

AESTHETICS

I have heard the ocean in a conch shell // I have watched the sun rise // I enjoy rainy days // I have slept under the stars // I meditate outside // the sound of chirping calms me // I enjoy the smell of the beach // I know what snow tastes like // I listen to music to fall asleep // I enjoy thunderstorms // I enjoy cloud watching // I have attended a bonfire // I pay close attention to colors // I find mystery in the ocean // I enjoy hiking on nature paths // autumn is my favorite season

Hasn't every child put a seashell to their ear? I did this so many times as a kid. Watched the sun rise at the seaside and in the mountains; most spectacular was at Gunung Bromo but marred by the sulfurous fumes biting the lungs. The quieter sounds of nature are generally calming so chirping counts. I love everything about the beach because we used to holiday there all the time in my childhood. Snow tastes of nothing; I remember sticking my tongue out to catch snowflakes in Iceland. A good thunderstorm is the perfect setting for a hot coffee, pastry and a good book by the window. There was always a bonfire at teen gatherings. I'm very visually-oriented and can't help noticing colors, but have learnt to focus the attention beam and not get distracted so sometimes I ignore them. Love everything about the sea and ocean, including their unknowns. Enjoy hikes and have done country/forest walks in different places but nothing too strenuous please, and I think the comfort meal after the walk is even better. What's not to love about autumn? The colors are gorgeous, lots of late summer fruit are amazing (mirabelle plums my favorite) and the whiff of smoke in the cooler evening air is so evocative of coziness.

MISCELLANEOUS

I can fall asleep in a moving vehicle // I am the mom friend // I live by a certain quote // I like the smell of sharpies // I am involved in extracurricular activities // I enjoy Mexican food // I can drive a stick shift // I believe in true love // I make up scenarios to fall asleep // I sing in the shower // I wish I lived in a video game // I have a canopy above my bed // I am multiracial // I am a redhead // I own at least 3 dogs

Memories of falling asleep on long bus rides to faraway destinations. Quote I live by: no regrets (it's pointless to stress out about a past you can't change; just learn from it and move forward). Mexican cuisine is not my all-time favorite but I like anything with chilli, so there are always dishes to enjoy, especially if there's cheese and avocado. I learnt to drive on a stick shift so that's not an issue but hardly drive nowadays (don't own a car and don't need one). I believe in true love, because I've found mine. I sing in the shower (and in the kitchen, in the living-room, everywhere I can at home).

Tagging (and I'm not gonna stop at 10):

@crzshaly437 @dimplesandfierceeyes @dudeyuri @ranchthoughts @teaofdesaster @miscellar @dribs-and-drabbles @recentadultburnout @bengiyo @waitmyturtles @twig-tea @airenyah @lurkingshan @22grt23 @faillen @pandasmagorica @anotherlovr @orchdxtea @badinthelatin @rythyme @lurkingteapot @vegasandhishedgehog

Also anyone and everyone who reads this (forgive me if I didn't tag you personally, didn't mean to forget anyone). Do play along and remember to tag me so I can get to know you better too! But no pressure if you don't wish to play either. 💖

[chtoblin]

Uh, yeah, I went crazy again and made another Detroit AU.

School AU. Yup, I wanted to do my own rendition of that too. :3

All the androids here are human!

Brothers-rk where:

MARKUS — is an older brother, fifteen years old, in ninth grade. The leader of the class with his company (North, Simon, and Josh, who studies with him; of course, they're all friends (and some of them are even more than just a friend?? It's your choice!) ). Markus is a calm person for the most part, but he has a heightened sense of justice. If one of the students or teachers does something bad to someone, Markus is right there with his friends... He also likes to rebel if there's no pudding in the cafeteria, lol.

Teacher: you need to get into pairs to do this homework.

(Sometime during recess after this lesson...)

North: I'll be the one doing the assignment with Markus!

Simon: no, me! (The two of them get into an argument).

Markus, crossing his arms over his chest and squinting his eyes, watching their argument: ....

Josh: guys, answer me this honestly... you just don't want to do this job with me? :(

Markus, leaning over to Josh, whispering: don't worry, I'll do this project with you and leave these two to pair up.

Josh: :)

Markus loves music lessons, of course!! He participates in the school concert, plays the piano in performances (as musical support for other instruments or solo).

Markus also takes extra art classes in his spare time. There is only one group, which consists of people of all ages, from first graders to twenty-somethings. Carl Manfred, a well-known artist, leads the classes at his home. He is helped by his son Leo, who is a couple of years older than Markus (he is seventeen and is home-schooled with tutors and teachers who visit him at home). Leo doesn't really understand anything about art, and almost always grumbles when he's forgiven to do this or that, but he actually enjoys helping his father, especially given artist's disability. All the more so since he gets pocket money for it.

Markus excelled at drawing very quickly. This has led to the fact that when he comes to class, he only paints a picture at first, further on he helps Carl and Leo in running the lesson. He carries paints and brushes, water, helps the other people in the group with the drawings (giving advice, etc., as he understands a lot about this creative activity). He has become very close to Carl because of this, and the artist, as a grateful, does not charge Markus for attending classes (although the schoolboy tries to pay every time at the end of the month together with everyone else).

Markus' relationship with Leo was not very good at first, because the son of an artist was unconsciously afraid that Carl might develop warm feelings for the ninth grader more than for his own child. But in the end, the two find common ground because they realize that Carl adores the two of them equally!!

CONNOR and SIXTY — are the middle children in the family, twins, in seventh grade, thirteen years old. Their lessons are extremely common, and their interests are almost indistinguishable. The only difference between the two is that Connor is more inattentive and positive. Sixty, on the other hand, usually has that look in his eyes, like he's ready to drop you on the floor and shoot you on the spot. This is especially true if you've done something to offend Connor. In that case, all you have to do is run for your life.

The friends of the twins are Luther, Kara (their classmates), Ralph and Jerry (they are from the tenth grade and are sixteen years old). Outside of school hours, Alice (fifth grade, eleven years old), the younger sister of Kara and Ralph, is still usually with them. The two of them take care of their sister, since their father, Todd, is obviously failing in his duties (in this AU, he's still a bad father, but not as horrible as in the game; at the very least, he definitely wouldn't raise his hand to the kids under any circumstances; their mother hasn't run away from the family, she's just tragically gone).

In addition to their friends, the brothers have good acquaintances in class: Rupert and the two Traci's (two girls from different families, but with the same names and sympathy for each other).

Connor and Sixty are also taking extra classes in magic tricks (which Markus used to take too, albeit not for too long). They really like the subject of tricks and juggling, which is also included there! The two of them are best at coin tricks.

They also have a friend in the class, Cole, an eleven year old boy who is homeschooled. His father, Hank Anderson (who is much younger in this AU), is a Lieutenant in the local police department.

Cole often spends time with the twins outside of trick-or-treating classes. This usually involves the rest of the brothers' friends as well. The closest relationship Cole has is with Alice!

NINES — is the youngest brother, the youngest child in the family (eleven years old), studying in the fifth grade. But despite this, he is the most serious and quiet of all the brothers.

Markus and the twins study well, but Nines is better than all of them put together, almost an excellent student. He does best in math and physical education (he is the fastest and strongest in his class). "Mom's Gold."

Because Nines is serious beyond his years, he thinks the behavior of his peers is too childish (although they behave as they should, according to their age). But he still has a few friends from his classmates: Alice, Elijah, and Chloe. He forgives his friends for their frivolous behavior and gives them preferential treatment.

In his spare time, Nines usually stays at home, self-developing through books or the Internet, reading about topics of interest (which are clearly not quite appropriate for his eleven years of age; how did a child even come to quantum physics so early?!). He likes to study the school program ahead of time. But Nines also spends a lot of time with Alice and Cole, whom he met through her (they go on these outings with just the three of them, without the rest of their friends/relatives, but there are occasional exceptions). With Elijah and Chloe, he usually only talks to them at school or by texting/phone, they rarely go out together since those two live far away.

Elijah has a half-brother the same age, Gavin. Inexplicably, Gavin and Nines have started a feud... well, that's what Reed thinks. Nines thinks it's just childish and views their relationship as "not very good" but is willing to stick with the "enemy" image. When Gavin starts any argument or insults against him, Nines responds calmly and calmly, not taking his provocations (unless Reed moves on to family, for then Nines allows himself to show all his anger). Indifference irritates Gavin even more.

Gavin is only friends with Tina, their mutual classmate. Few other people besides her and Elijah can put up with that kind of temper. Well, Chloe can too, but she doesn't have much desire to socialize with Gavin too closely.

AMANDA — is a single mother of four brothers. Markus was born to her first husband, who soon died, and the other three to her second husband, who then left the family, cheating with another woman when Nines was born.

It's not just the former breadwinner's alimony that the family lives on. Amanda, after the loss of her second husband, realized that on the salary of a professor of artificial intelligence, they will be difficult to live, and got a job as an engineer in the same field in the company Cyberlife. The company makes advanced robot vacuum cleaners, robots for factories, and so on. Generally speaking, they have no money problems. A woman, having failed twice in her relationships with men, focused entirely on her career. In this endeavor she excelled and quickly made a name for herself.

In the role of mother Amanda behaves, to put it mildly, mediocre. Markus' pregnancy was spontaneous and accidental, the newlyweds were not ready for a child. Amanda had no skills of motherhood, and to get them through books or the Internet, she had no desire to do everything blindly (and on their mistakes in the future little learned). After his father's death, the son was mostly on his own, even being so young while his mother was in mourning.

Markus didn't like his stepfather from the start. The new "breadwinner" hardly ever worked, took Red Ice and forced his wife onto it (Amanda still sins on drugs when she gets really sick). Even as a small child, the eldest son understood everything. When the man betrayed their family by getting involved with another woman, Markus was not particularly surprised. The main thing in his life was (and is now) to take care of his younger brothers, to be a support for them, the person from whom you can expect support, help or advice. He didn't have such a person himself, and he didn't want his brothers to be deprived of that.

At the moment Amanda is rather cold and indifferent to the children, speaking to them rarely and usually in a condescending manner, so they are used to rely on themselves and each other's help. Yes, they have a roof over their heads, food in the fridge, their big (though not too cozy) house is warm in any weather and always clean thanks to a couple of servants. But they have always lacked a mother's love. Every time one of her sons tried to get attention (whether it was a drawing made, an offer to go for a walk together, a request to explain some blueprint), Amanda just waved it off, gave her cash (without even looking at how much she was giving) and asked her not to interfere with her work. Connor is most saddened by this: Markus is used to it, Sixty is resigned to it, and Nines realized from the very first failure that there was nothing to try for. Nevertheless, this has allowed a strong bond to build between the brothers. Each other they stand a mountain for, either way.

ADDITIONAL REPORTS:

1. Markus has heterochromia, which he had most of the time in the game. No one dares make fun of him for it, because they're aware of his Justice Gang...

2. Simon has a twin brother, Daniel, who is in the same class with him. His temperament is more closed, and he mainly socializes with his friends. Daniel can sometimes hang out with Simon's company, but this is quite rare.

Everyone confuses Simon and Daniel, but not Markus. He can tell exactly who is who, even if the twins dress the same.

3. Kara goes to extra private lessons with a family friend, Rose. She always takes Alice and Ralph with her if he happens to be home at that moment. Rose teaches Kara and Ralph (if he's available) how to cook (for which she doesn't charge, by the way), while Alice plays with Adam. A woman's son is the same age as Alice, and they would be classmates if Adam wasn't homeschooled.

4. Even though Tina is Gavin's friend, she treats Nines neutrally, like a good acquaintance. And it's mutual. She just doesn't see the point in the boys' "feud" that started from nothing. When Gavin starts another argument, she rolls her eyes and tries to pull him away by his sleeve. And this whole process, which is repeated from day to day, Elijah likes to shoot on his phone, as a souvenir. :D Chloe at such moments just stands helplessly and watches, praying that the argument did not come to a fight (yes, it happened too).

5. Chloe and Tina hang out together on weekends because they go to extra dance classes together. On breaks from practice, they gossip and discuss their friends, looking for ways to best help them bond. At school, they don't socialize as much.

6. Ralph is not Kara and Alice's own brother. He is a distant relative of theirs. A couple years ago, his stepmother (an only parent) died in a fire at his house and he was left alone (he was saddened by this, but not really; they weren't close with his stepmother, he was mostly on his own). The authorities found out that Todd was the only relative, and he took the (at the time) fifteen years old boy into his custody.

At first, Ralph and Kara interacted rather little due to awkwardness (especially since the boy has a shy and slightly geeky personality that sometimes prevents him from socializing). Alice next to Ralph was generally silent and looked at him from afar, avoiding every time he awkwardly tried to speak.

Ralph realized that, due to his temperament, he wouldn't be able to gain trust with words, so he decided to show his good intentions with actions. He always volunteered to help when Kara was cleaning or cooking; he helped Alice get things off the top shelves, even if she wanted to ask her sister; when he was able to get a part-time job at the comic book store (where Jerry also worked) at the mall and got his first paycheck, he bought the girls a candy bar (and many other things after that).

Yes, he was able to skillfully touch the hearts of the girls very, very quickly.

Ralph wears closed clothing in all weathers, even the hottest, because he is very embarrassed by the scars the fire left him. He is especially embarrassed about the scars on the left side of his face, which he hides under a blue cloth tied around his head. And he has a lifetime exemption from physical education at school.

Jerry (with whom they are better friends) is the only one besides his family who has seen Ralph's scars, and he assures him every time that it's nothing to be ashamed of. Ralph is working on it.

7. Sometimes it happens that some random students start making fun of Ralph for his shy and quiet nature and closed clothing items. Jerry always stands up for his friend. But one day it happened that Ralph was all alone. It was a labor lesson on the street, students were sweeping the paths, Ralph went too far and was hidden from the eyes of the teacher and the others, after which he was approached by a company of older guys. The offending boys, feeling their power, allowed themselves, besides the usual jeers, to be physically abused.

Kara and the others, having learned about what had happened, told Connor and Sixty. The twins, in turn, relayed the information to Markus...

... Those abusers felt very, VERY bad when the authorities at the school found out about their deed. :³

8. Everyone turns to the Justice Gang for help, but no one knows exactly how Markus and his friends work. It's very hard to get through to the teachers and even more so to the principal, especially without hard evidence about the injustice that has happened. But this quartet always manages to get both proof and reach the very top of the school. They have their own ways, which they don't talk about...

9. One day, Hank needed to pick up Cole from his extra lesson time, but he himself was running very late due to work. He arrived as soon as he could and found his son on the playground that was built next to the building where the class was held. But the boy was not alone, he was playing catch-up with two twins, who were obviously older than him. That's how Hank found out about Connor and Sixty. That afternoon he decided to invite the two of them over for a cup of tea to get to know his son's friends better.

The first thing Connor did upon entering the Anderson house was to turn his attention to Sumo. Together with Cole, he ran up to the dog, after which the two of them began to play with the dog. Connor literally flooded Hank with questions about their pet. Sixty, seeing the expression on the man's face, took it for embarrassment, hidden behind an awkward smile, and because of that he signaled his brother to stop the endless flow of inquisitiveness. But, in fact, the Lieutenant was hiding a pleasant surprise, not expecting such an enthusiastic reaction to the dog. This gave the brothers a plus point or two on their way to winning the man's heart.

Sixty soon sat down beside Sumo as well and petted him, but much more modestly than his brother.

In fact, the twins had always wanted to get a dog, but for some reason Amanda kept saying no. Their family had enough money, and the brothers didn't understand what the problem was. So every time Connor and Sixty come to visit the Andersons, they don't miss the opportunity to pet Sumo. Sometimes they even volunteer to walk the dog with Cole.

10. While the twin brothers dreamed of a dog, Nines was more fond of cats. But he did not feed himself with false hopes, just kept the desire to have a pet deep inside, as he realized that his mother would not allow an animal even to her "golden kid" (the woman liked to occasionally elevate her youngest son above all the others, which Nines was always sincerely NOT happy about; good, the other brothers themselves understood that the youngest would never allow himself arrogance in their direction).

At school, when the lessons became boring (which happened often, because Nines studied much of the future program on his own at home), he drew on blank sheets that he tore out of his notebooks. Almost always they were airplanes, cars, incomplete and unfinished drawings of some invented mechanism. But sometimes Nines gave in to temptation and drew cats (which he did best, because it was cats that Markus had taught him to draw).

One day he saw a picture of Elijah's pet nibelung cat on his phone. Until then, he didn't know his friend had a pet.

Nines drew two small drawings of this cat in a boring literature class. One he'd given to Elijah and the other he'd tossed folded in a pencil case to Gavin while he wasn't looking. Nines found no logical explanation for his action, and his friends sometimes teased him about it.

Gavin was surprised to find a pretty good drawing of his pet cat in the pencil case and thought at first of his half-brother. But Elijah doesn't do much painting, he's more of a man of science, so Gavin was left in confused ignorance. (Tina, seeing the drawing, immediately realized who it was from, but remained silent).

11. Markus, in the middle of some explanation: and since we all understand where babies come from-

Connor: do we? I don't understand.

Markus: ... oh.

Sixty: are you serious?

Connor: you know??

Nines, defiantly clearing his throat: everyone knows but you.

Connor: EVEN YOU?

Yeah, Connor is an innocent flower.

12. Usually the friends who argue at every turn are Josh and North, but when it comes to Markus... Simon shows up and things take a whole new turn.

These arguments are always won by Josh, who stands quietly and watches the conflict along with Markus.

Markus: I'm doing this project with Josh, period. You two will be paired together.

North and Simon, who have been arguing for about three minutes over which one Markus will be paired with: ._.

Josh: :D

13. Connor once noticed that Kara and Alice always hold hands when they walk together, and now does the same with Sixty. The twin called his idea silly, grumbling unhappily every time Connor took his palm in his own, but has never once tried to release his hand yet. Markus thinks this little ritual is cute. Actually, a lot of people think it's cute, it's just that big brother is the only one who can admit it out loud and not get someone's murderous stare...

My dear mental health, where have you gone...

I VERY strongly hope I didn't mix up anything in my own fanon. And if I did, I'll just go on a bender. (´。＿。｀)

I made a chart showing all the relationships between the characters, thinking it would help me. But in the end I got even more confused and I'm not even sure if I've put everything in the right place. But anyway, I decided to leave it for you too, maybe it will help you. The quality was terrible and I fixed what I could, sorry about that. :_/

Maybe if I accumulate another compilation of some more situations/fanon on the characters, I'll put it in a new post. Who knows how this medal will turn out.

[nickeverdeen]

Hi!! I've been a long time follower and i saw you opened up matchups 😼!! I was wondering if I could get a spiderverse Male match up please.

i'm 5'7, she/her, and pan asexual! I don't like loud noises or the sound of people eating. I do enjoy eating, cooking, sunsets, cold weather, and music, i listen to pretty much anything but i like punk music coupled with mitski and hozier!!

I'm loyal and very kind and considerate, however i can be blunt. I try my best to communicate clearly and i try to set my own and learn the boundaries of others. I am very anxious, i overthink the smallest details and often ask whether people are mad at me or just for reassurance in general. I work hard but too many tasks make me overwhelmed easily and then i don't do anything lol. I'm a tune to people's emotions and can tell when something is off.

my hobbies include, kickboxing, art (in almost any form), listening to music and singing, rollerblading, and napping!

PS: Can I just say that you’re seriously cool, awesome and badass? Like damn let me be your friend. No, but like seriously you sound amazing as hell!!!

—————

Your SATSV match is…

Peter B. Parker

Peter B. Parker shares your eclectic taste in music, enjoying everything from punk rock to artists like Mitski and Hozier

He finds solace in music and actually makes scenarios in his head while listening from time to time

Makes fun of your height a bit

You and Peter bond over cooking sessions

He may not be the best chef, but he loves experimenting in the kitchen when you’re present and trying new recipes with you, even if they occasionally turn out disastrous

Peter enjoys watching sunsets with you, finding peace in those moments of quiet beauty

He loves how the colors change and the sky transforms, mirroring the fleeting nature of life

And also how gorgerous you look in the light

Both of you prefer cold weather, relishing in the crisp air and the excuse to snuggle up together under warm blankets or during long walks in the chill

Peter appreciates your bluntness because it contrasts with his tendency to be more sarcastic and indirect

He admires your ability to communicate clearly and learn boundaries, something he’s working on himself

He’s patient and understanding when you overthink or seek reassurance

Peter deals with his own anxieties, especially balancing his superhero life with personal struggles, so he empathizes with your challenges

Peter values your loyalty and kindness deeply

He admires how considerate you are toward others and how you strive to treat everyone with respect and compassion

While he’s not as skilled as you in kickboxing, Peter enjoys sparring with you

It’s a great stress-reliever for both of you and a way to stay in shape amidst hectic lives

Peter loves your passion for art in all forms

He may not be the best artist, but he enjoys doodling and creating alongside you, whether it’s painting, sculpting, or any other medium

You often have impromptu music jam sessions together, whether it’s singing along to your favorite songs or attempting to play instruments

It’s a fun way to unwind and enjoy each other’s company

Peter joins you on rollerblading adventures, though he may be a bit clumsy at first

He appreciates the thrill and freedom it gives, skating alongside you in the cool evening air

Both of you love napping, and often find yourselves dozing off together after a long day of crime-fighting or creative pursuits

Peter cherishes these quiet moments of relaxation with you

Peter encourages your pursuits and understands how overwhelming tasks can be for you

He’s there to provide gentle reminders and support, whether it’s helping you focus or taking a break when needed

He’s tuned into your emotions, able to tell when something is bothering you even if you don’t say it outright

Peter respects your feelings and encourages open communication between you both

In your relationship, you both share responsibilities equally

Peter understands the importance of teamwork and compromise, making sure to contribute his fair share to the partnership

Despite the challenges you face, Peter admires your adventurous spirit and willingness to try new things

He loves how you bring excitement into his life, pushing him out of his comfort zone in the best ways

Ultimately, Peter sees a future with you, filled with shared adventures, creative pursuits, and unwavering support for each other

He values your presence in his life and cherishes every moment you spend together

[piipaw]

4, 6, and 26 for the Tav Questions! Give us more Gum!!

4. What hobbies does your Tav have? How did they acquire these interests

Pre game crèche life gave for no hobbies, minus just reading in the library after his change to being a healer. During the game I don't think he'd have time outside of surviving to pick up a hobby, minus reading (now in a group!)

Post game I think he'd want to try everything, but also be hesitant because of a small fear of failure.

Gale takes him on a museum date to look at art, gets Gum some paints and pastels afterwards to see if he likes that stuff (it's very abstract, gum is one of those can't visualize what he wants to draw types)

I'd imagine they'd sometimes cook/bake together but it's mostly Gum helping cut/mix things and not actually realizing there's a method to it and not just gale knowing what to do by gut instinct. (Gum is the 'I tried your recipe but I swapped all the eggs for apple sauce and I took the carrots out for onions and now it tastes bad' only he's not a dick he doesn't know enough about things not-meat that he doesn't know any better)

He does learn a few instruments and is.... okay!!! But nothing he really sticks with long, mostly just playing a few notes on the piano in Gale's tower or his flue/lute when idle. (Gale crying and clapping at alfira's music school concert and gum knocks hot cross buns outta the park)

6. What is your Tav’s favourite childhood memory?

LOADED QUESTION I don't even know if there are any fond memories Gum has of his crèche. Coming from such a military environment I guess at one point he would have answered like "I remember the first time I held my sword/the first time I took down one of my peers" but that's not a happy thing for him now. He looks back at a lot of his upbringing with sadness, feeling robbed of life's many experiences and also sad that the others he knew wouldn't see things the same as him and is almost jealous that they're content to be so.... simple.

26. Does your Tav have a treasured item with them? If yes, what is it and why is it special? If no, how do they feel about item sentimentality in general?

Pre-game he has no treasured item, mostly bc of reasons from above ask. But mid game I equip Gum with the Blood of Lathander and I think for him it would be really meaningful and symbolic. But I wouldn't go so far to say treasured.

Additionally postgame, I think he'd still carry it, but he'd try to not look at it as something so important bc it's a weapon, and they'd probably also have to keep it locked up when not in use since they wouldn't want it to hurt astarion.

Post game tho one of his treasures 100% would be his wedding band. Both the metals used to craft it would be really symbolic and meaningful for him, but like a little physical object he can hold and squeeze to remind him no matter how bad things were he made it this far and has people who love him unconditionally would be important to him.

[themichaelvan]

tagged by @changingcore / 15 questions for 15 mutuals (oh fuck do i even have that many)

are you named after anyone? - birth name, nope. does it count if i got my chosen name from a fictional character??

when was the last time you cried? - this morning!! nothing 2 be concerned about i got woken up by the fire alarm (also nothing to be concerned about it just needs the battery replaced) and was so tired & upset i started crying, which happens. more often than i would like. hm. maybe i named myself after the wrong afton kid

do you have kids? - nope!! i do like interacting with them though but only like 3 max at a time JFJRJFNG

do you use sarcasm a lot? - irl yes, online only sparingly. & i make it very exaggerated not usually deadpanned or anything so people can Tell (which of course nobody needs except for Me but i digress)

what sports do you play/have played? - did soccer when i was a little kid (Hated It), was on a swim team for a while, and did marching band for the longest (which is my favorite and yes it counts as a sport and you cannot say it doesn't until you've been in marching band. cunt)

what's the first thing you notice about other people? - typically clothes and then hair! i have a relatively mild (but still pretty bad compared to ppl without it) case of face-blindness, and i CANNOT tell people apart by their faces at all unless they have smth like a bunch of facial piercings or a scar or smth Noticable so i tend to look at other things first.

eye colour? - ??? hazel-brown ??? no idea tbh but at least partially brown

scary movies or happy endings? - HAPPY ENDINGS. i am soso scared of scary movies i will gladly watch the little prince for the 60th time. Alternate Universe - Everybody Lives / Nobody Dies is one of my favorite tags on ao3.

any special talents? - ? What does this mean. i guess proofreading/editing?? i have always LOVED doing it and i just. naturally keep track of all the Language Rules and enjoy using them. the autism kicking in i suppose. and yes it does count as a special talent actually you would not BELIEVE how many candies i got in 5th grade from ppl bribing me to read over their essays.

where were you born? - arizona/usa. same town as my mom actually (despite her moving like 7 times in between her birth and mine)

what are your hobbies? - listen to music and pace around my room until i pass out. and painting, writing, drawing, various other arts n crafts, guitar, percussion when i have the chance (rn i only have a practice pad :|), and mobile games of heavily varying quality.

do you have any pets? - not atm but i used to have two cats (both still alive just in different household) that i still consider my little kitties :] i have 150+ pictures of them on my phone if you ever need cats i Got you

how tall are you? - 5'11" now!!! was hovering around 5'7"-8" for the longest time but i recently had a growth spurt and now im only the SECOND shortest in my family (out of six)

favourite subject in school? - by the material probably math! it is sometimes difficult for me to get a concept but once i do it's Easy. i also do have an advantage (parent has math degree and is good at explaining) but i try and make up for it by helping everyone else as much as i can jfjdndjf. by the Class def band/music class if that counts. both of my music teachers have been both very scary yet very nice to me and i loved their classes so so much and i extremely enjoy playing instruments with other people (when they behave)

dream job? - sorting pokemon cards in a comfortable chair as a day job with a 4 day workweek, being a freelance renowned fiction editor on my own time, with occasional music-related gigs (tutoring, repairing stuff, playing in concerts, etc). i give you no shit if i could do that for the rest of my life and get paid well enough to live on my own or with roommates i like, have a cat, and have enough time and energy to homecook a meal 3-4 nights a week i would be so happy. that's all i want in life. "oh you would get bored doing the same thing day in day out" no i wouldn't "how" autism.

tags: @irradiatedblood @schmope-is-dead @sapphireclaw @bmo-2143 @pokette @soldiertransgender @astral--horrorshow @catnerdenby @unrestrainedbalderdash @buggiboo @lunar-anomaly @altruisticmystik @syntacticerrortxt @catlokis-blog @rosesareredjaybirdsareblue . okay. okay i think that's 15. im pretty sure. jegus.

[shatterthefragments]

✨ End of Year Questions ✨

Tagged by @ongreenergrasses 💖

I also didn’t think I created much this year, and. To be completely honest, I didn’t really make much new art, and what I did I didn’t really post here. Most of what I’ve done this year is really continue writing snippets of lyrics/verses/poetry in my notes. Hoping to make more time for a lot of things this year!

What is the favourite thing you created?

A sailboat reduction print (lino style but on a literal disposable plate)

Which work are you most proud of?

Honestly, either that same sailboat print or some of the poetry/lyric snippets I’ve written this year. Or the leather medicine pouch (also created for my class final project)

Is there anything you’re proud that you achieved this year?

I’m proud that I created anything at all outside of class requirements (I took one art centred course at the beginning of the year, which my sailboat print was created in)

Did you explore anything new this year?

Not so much for creating, but I did get stickers made of some of my previous work to sell at fairs and whatnot.

Wait no the leather medicine pouch - I haven’t done much leatherwork yet though I really want to create super long lasting functional pieces and textiles is very new to me and is a way of connecting to my grandmothers’ past. And I also joined a sewing/quilting club at school (which doesn’t seem to be running this year but I have no time anyway this semester so that’s fine) (I have not finished the sewing supply bag project we started)

Which work gave you the most difficulty?

Anything finished haha. I am still striving to fully finish and edit and refine some of my lyrics into songs (eventually to try to record and produce with whatever free and/or cheap software I can find).

Also some of the more unusual custom cake requests at work were difficult to do but they worked out.

And textiles can be. Frustrating.

What was your biggest creative challenge this year?

Finding time to create. I definitely took this as a year to go and do things that I. Had to go to. And while I probably could’ve brought a mini sketchbook with me, I didn’t usually.

Which work brought you the most joy?

A birthday card I did for a friend. It’s a pen sketch of their favourite beach (at least the view I got when I took a quick visit and picture of it)

Which of your works do you think people should check out?

…from 2023 nothing is posted unless you’re on my personal instagram or something. (Unless I did post my year of the water rabbit watercolour paintings? In which case - those.)

Otherwise my Creating Awl Together story/series (once I make time to create more for it 😅)

Do you have creative plans for the new year? Is there anything exciting that you’re working on?

Oh always 🥺💖✨

I accidentally made a new years resolution to record one of the songs I’ve written,, but also I want it to be. Better than the literal middle school vent lyrics I’ve written.. so we are. Trying to write some new stuff and upgrade to… mid twenties vent lyrics… (and some like!?! Joyful lyrics too?!?!) (I’m actually excited and terrified and don’t really play any instruments right now and what I played on flute isn’t really necessarily the vibe for what’s in my head?? But it could have a place so I’ll probably play again and if need be I could probably rent a tenor sax for a day or so.) so. Next up is learning (or throwing together) a bit of music production (I am currently gathering royalty free free samples from anywhere I find them more or less)

I really want to draw a lot more this year!!

And paint more again!!

And of some of these drawings I want to transfer them to be lino cut or dry point and do them as prints!!!

I have several quilts I want to make!! I’m going to start really small though to. Learn how to sew them haha 😅 But I hope my first quilt is a lovely sea turtle themed quilt for one of my best friends’ cat. Or a lap quilt for mum. I. Realistically I don’t think I’ll get to this before the end of the year.

I want to paint more ceramic pieces at the paint your own ceramics place (I have. Several pieces that I just need to finish painting)

More cards that I drew on~ I have a bit more energy than last year despite everything it seems right now so I am hoping I can continue to draw on cards for my friends 💖

This shall be the year I finish my dogs out doodle (barefoot ship life!!!)

Lastly, any words of wisdom or advice to share?

To myself: just try. Just try. Just do. It can be whatever. Just create something. Just create anything. Joy, catharsis, one single line. Anything you can.

Given how late I filled this out I’m not tagging anyone 😬

[ciaossu-imagines]

Romantic KHR Match-Up for Nix

In my opinion, your ideal KHR romantic partner is SHOICHI IRIE! You mention in your description that you much prefer a relationship to progress very naturally and slowly, moving from a friendship and then moving into something deeper and that works out well because Shoichi really has that same approach to dating. While he's had crushes and found people attractive, much like yourself, he's not felt rushed to date or get into situationships (which he doesn't get anyway and doesn't really like the notion of) and I can see both of you being fairly romantically inexperienced. It's not really something that bothers either of you, especially since you guys were mostly friends first. You met through university, maybe even late high school, either through a class or watching a live band at a local dive, and the two of you, while both kind of shy, actually hit it off pretty well. He felt, from the first, like someone you'd known for a while and you felt the same to him, and the conversation flowed pretty well for two introverts. You guys kept in touch, made time to see each other, and your friendship deepened. However, I don't see it moving any further than friendship for at least the first year or two.

I think that, even when one or the both of you realize you do have feelings for each other that have gone beyond friendship, things do progress slowly. Both of you are a little shy when it comes to expressing your emotions and there's always the worries of 'is it worth putting the friendship at risk' and 'do they even like me back?'. I think Shoichi is the one to work up the courage to confess first, blurting it out randomly during a night at your place, supposedly for a study session that had become both of you just talking, showing each other new music you really like, him encouraging you to maybe play one of the many instruments you can for him (though he never pressures you too much to do so because he gets what it feels like to be nervous to perform for people - it's why so many of the songs he writes never see the light of day and remain just in his journals…though he might grow confident enough to share one or two that he really loves and is proud of with you over the years). I do think, once the two of you decide to be together, things do just kind of fall pretty easily into place for the two of you, almost like it was always kind of meant to be.

Shoichi isn't just a scholar…he's extremely intelligent, yes, and good at his classes and studies. It's part of why the two of you get along so well - you both possess sharp minds, loves of learning, and are constantly teaching each other new things or exploring new topics together through research or taking classes together (I don't know why, I have this picture of the two of you taking a survivalist crash course together, just because Shoichi got interested in the topic, and while you both learned a lot, Shoichi swears to never, EVER do anything like that again). But yes - he's not just a sharp mind. Shoichi really enjoys the arts and has a very creative mind, and it's something he finds truly beautiful about your own mind. He's always interested in reading what you write, trying painting classes with you, and, as stated, music is a huge thing in your life together. Shoichi is definitely the type to periodically make and send you mixes of songs that remind him of you, songs that speak to your relationship together, or just songs he knows you'll love, usually when the two of you haven't been getting to spend much time together.

Much like yourself, Shoichi doesn't have a huge social circle. He's not unfriendly, that's not it…and truth be told, because of his affiliation with the Mafia, he knows a lot of people who like him well enough. It's just that, honestly, Shoichi is a person with a low social battery and also someone who doesn't always easily form close bonds with people. The people he can count as real true friends, ones he sees regularly and would do anything for, he can count on one hand and he likes the fact that you and he share that introverted nature and, when either of you do form friendships, they're highly-valued and important ones. Because you guys connect with people in similar ways and do place the same importance on bonds with people, it makes you both feel safer and happier in your bonds with each other. Being both introverts, there's never much tension or pressure to get out and about. Shoichi prefers being at home or in places he feels comfortable, like your house, the lab, the university campus. He's not a partier and he appreciates the fact that you aren't either.

Your desire for a low-maintenance relationship is also something shared between you and Shoichi. You have a busy schedule, interests of your own, and things you need to do and he does too. It's nothing for the two of you to just not have the time to get together for a couple of days and to only send sporadic messages during that time, but the time you do spend together is always meaningful and valued. He doesn't need a partner who is going to need his complete attention one hundred percent of the time, because he really just can't do that. He likes that you don't get too upset when he takes his time to do his own thing and he will never be upset at you for the same.

Runners Up: Spanner, Byakuran, Yamamoto, Fon

[nintendont2502]

My homestuck brainrot is genuinely so intense I'm convinced I could connect any song to it at this point

So uh. Gonna try that with my almost 30 hour playlist and see how long it takes before I can't I think

Song #1 - Teenage Dirtbag

Okay wow I. Do Not remember adding this to my playlist but okay

Dave Strider. Definitely. Specifically his perception of himself as this tough, cool kid yk? That's literally all I have to say about it, it just fits the vibes

Song #2 - Discord

This actually works genuinely well for Rose wtf (specifically around the time she goes Grimdark after talking to Doc Scratch - the mention of "someone else [is] pulling at the strings" and how she "can't sit idly, no [she] can't move at all")

Song #3 - Alligator

Hmm. I'm thinking either John (either around the time of God tiering or maybe using his retcon powers?) Or maybe Terezi + a little sprinkling of Vrisrezi. Unsure but it works

Song #4 - Try

Again why is this in my playlist wtf

God I guess Jane + Roxy having crushes on Dirk and all the stupid relationship drama the Alpha kids had? Idk I don't want to listen to any more of this song it's so boring

Song #5 - Lemon Boy

Okay this feels like cheating - this is obviously Davekat

Song #6 - Brave As A Noun

Oo okay we're back to the good shit. Okay this is definitely Davesprite (specifically the way he tends to push away his friends/the fact that he's seen as the "depressed bird Dave")

Like. Come on just look at this shit - "But I've got an angry heart/filled with cancers and poppy tarts/if this is how you folks make art/it's fucking depressing" and "I'm afraid to leave the house/I'm as timid as a mouse/I'm afraid if I go out I'll outwear my welcome"

Song #7 - Chase That Feeling

God okay this was the first one I genuinely struggled with. I *guess* the fact that the song is about doing something you're passionate about despite people trying to stop you, and the kids/trolls are passionate about?? Living?? Not having the universe being destroyed by LE?? Also it has all the beta kids instruments there we go. It's incredibly weak but it's *something*

Song #8 - Bad Apple

Do you know how many Homestuck animations I've seen to this? *Everything* goes with Bad Apple

Song #9 - Redesign Your Logo

Doc Scratch? Yeah Doc Scratch I think. His manipulation of Alternia/Earth to ensure tje creation of Lord English ("DNA is crucial/we must understand it/in the human genome/we will find your logo" - the codes that created Doc Scratch + by extension Lord English?) Especially "We are here to help you/everythings connected/time is of the essence/we live in the future"

Also like. "Here we have a circle/smooth and inoffensive/this will be the basis/for your revolution" like come on

Song #10 - Rapunzel

Double digits let's goo 🎉

Anyway I struggled a bit with this at first but I think Davekat (specifically pitch Davekat).

"Couldn't leave her had to meet her/greet the girl of my dreams with a kiss on the hand/What up!" < Dave 100%

Song #11 - Warriors

The troll ancestors. This is way too obvious but do i care? No

Song #12 - Body

Trying so hard to think of something that isn't just that one really good troll animation but god does it work so well. Anyway the obvious stuff:

- eyes (terezi), face (gamzee), arms and legs (vriska + tavros), hands (nepeta), heart (feferi) etc

Song #13 - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High

Unlucky 13? Maybe! All I can think of is Cronus is being desperate which. Does work

"Now its three in the mornin/and im tryin to change your mind/left you multiple missed calls/and to my message you replied"

Song #14 - God Forgot

God for a second I was terrified id have two Cronus songs in a row but thank God I remembered sollux exists 💀 specifically AraSol

"Before you came along it was God who already forgot me/cut off both my hands, changed the locks again, that's alright/a fuckin angel caught me/she pays all my rent, paints the walls and then sings all night"

Song #15 - God Is Dead

God do you know how long I've been waiting for a Smith Street Band song. Anyway as much as I hate the epilogues this is Ult!Dirk *and* also [S] Collide

God is dead and reality is fake - Lord English destroying dream bubbles/cracking Paradox Space

It's a hivemind nightmare of a dying race - the kids and the trolls are literally a dying race and this shit is definitely a nightmare

And there is no luck and there is no fate - Vriska leading the ghost army methinks

"And nobody cares about you and your pain/but that becomes freedom if you look at it that way" - I'm gonna be real I don't have anything for this part BUT

"I've always been more distressing than cool/I'm a blood nose on the first day of school/my own quiet life at the bottom of the pool/tragedy is comedy if you can get through it" Dirk or dave probably

"Come a long way from a neck in a noose/look me in the eye and call that an excuse/wasnt sure what to make tight or keep loose/was never a boy scout, so I fell straight through it" - Dirk going ultimate

Song #16 - The Sea Is Rising

Would it be cheating to say the Batterwitch flooding Earth B

Uh god idk "I don't want them to look back when the future is written/and know we killed ourselves with nuclear visions and stupid decisions/shit I'd rather an asteroid doomed for collision/than know the planet got fucked by the human condition/sing this tune with conviction" yk what fuck it this is about Alpha Dave now. (Also fun sburb reference with the meteor there ya go)

Song #17 - Masterpiece Theatre III

This would actually work really well for a Five Giants style animation for Homestuck as a whole (focusing on the trolls, the beta kids, the alpha kids and the Cherubs or just showing major events)

Might actually look more into this later because listening to it rn god there's so much potential here

Song #18 - As The World Caves In

Dad Egbert + Mom Lalonde on the Battlefield. That's it that's the post

Song #19 - Bang Bang

Hmm DaveJade I think. Don't ship them personally but it works pretty well

"She was walkin around with a loaded shotgun/ready to fire me a hot one/it went bang bang bang straight through my heart/though I couldve walked away/just stood my ground and let her spray"

Song #20 - Le Seine

How the *fuck* is this at 20 songs already I thought I'd stop at like. 10

Anyway uh. Callieroxy. Don't know why but the vibes are so strong

Song #21 - Children of God

Fuck me I guess I'm still going

Anyway this just has tje vibes of playing Sburb. Like it fucking sucks, it's weird as hell and theres that underlying sense of anger at a universe that Does Not care about you yk

Song #22 - Basics in Behaviour

Please god there's no way I can make this Homestuck am I finally free

God fucking damn it nevermind

"This is how we live our lives searching for the answers inside of every page/and im here wondering if one day we'll finally be free from this cage/is it okay to have this feeling that maybe there is more to this game/however now, no time to question, so just behave" < that's just. That's just sburb. Specifically the way rose is trying to basically tear it apart for answers (and maybe doc scratch coming in for that last line)

Song #22 - Line Without A Hook

Sigh. Do I even need to say anything? Vrisrezi. AraSol. Line Without A Hook works for any fandom and I will *never* be free

Song #23 - Betterman

Epilogues Roxygen? "Cause you taught me so many things about myself and you know this is true/but now we are apart and it's all my fault cause you know I need to be alone/don't know myself, so how can I share me with you girl, or anyone?"

Could also add a sprinkling of June in there if you're feeling particularly trans

Song #24 - Make It Bun Dem

God I was convinced I was free.

"Killin the flows we're sicker than most/defating the foes we weather the most/never yet falter, never yet flop/never yet halt and never yet stop/keep up with God and never yet drop" < peak 2011 amv material (specifically pre-scratch, when the beta kids alcjemise all the cool shit and just kick ass on their planets yk)

Also maybe a rap dave would make I don't fjcking know anymore kts almost 2 am I started doing this *an hour* ago

Song #25 - Let Me Down Easy

God it's just. It's just Davesprite again. Specifically Davesprite after/while dating Jade on the battleship.

"You want someone who wants you for who you are/I want someone to try and let me down easy, easy tonight/easy, easy tonight/honey it's no secret that with matters of the heart/I'm reserved, I'm irrational, and rarely ever start/since the world's dark and often I humane"

Song #26 - Eleanor Rigby

John god tiering and/or retcon powers. Something big and flashy (maybe retcon powers to fit the "all the lonely people" line since him, Davesprite + Roxy are the only people from the preretcon timeline)

Song #27 - Still Alive

Lil Hal leaning into the robot thing as an ironic bit to piss off Dirk? Yeah probably - especially "I'm not even angry/I'm being so sincere right now/even though you broke my heart and killed me"

Song #28 - Tightrope

At this point I'm excited everytime I see an aussie rap song I get excited because it might mean this is finally ending, and everytime I'm disappointed by the depths of my brainrot

Anyway this is also Davejade "i play my demos one by one/smile if she likes it laugh if it sucks" - also the mention of "it's like I'm running with a blindfold" because haha get it she wears a blindfold in her entry god I'm so tired

Song #29 - Float On

This is just John I think. Like it ties into his aspect and how it provides freedom/independence which usually helps solve these major issues hes facing? So he can just "float on"

Song #30 - Rockefeller Street

Jesus fucking christ song 30?? Anyway this whole song is just Trickster Mode. "Everything is more than surreal" fuck dude it sure is

Song #31 - How To Save A Life

Epilogues Dirk + Dave. Specifically that part in Meat (?) After Dirk goes Ultimate and Dave talks about how he should have tried to talk to him or do anything to help him

"Lay down a list of what is wrong/the things you've told him all along/pray to God he hears you"

Song #32 - Little Talks

Hm AraJade or JadeRose I think. "I don't like walking around this old and empty house/so hold my hand I'll walk with you my dear"

Song #33 - Clown Prince

Thank God,,, thank fuckign God ***FINALLY***

There's literally no way I can make this Homestuck it's just fucking and drinking and honestly. Thank God.

It's 2 am. I started this an hour and a half ago as a funny haha. I didn't think I'd get further than 5 songs, but my commitment to tje bit won out over literally everything else

Thank you hilltop hoods

[tharizdun-03]

Arcane Watchthrough

Episode 1: Welcome to the Playground

EP 1 was very good! It's not an unusual premise, but it's the execution that really stands out here. Aesthetically, it's wonderful, very stylized, strong artwork, and lots of small character acting. I see it setting up plenty thematics and character stuff too. Impressed.

I'll say tho, it's a fair criticism towards Powder. I'm all about making people feel included and realizing their full potential, but if she screws things up every time during your missions, maybe don't bring her with you? Or at least give her a lesser role, like keeping watch.

Probably my favourite little moment from the episode tbh, got a laugh out of me. Very expressive. I like Vi.

Episode 2: Some Mysteries Are Better Left Unsolved

Arcane keeps up the solid work with EP 2!

Episode 3: The Base Violence Necessary for Change

That was SO GOOD.

Episode 4: Happy Progress Day!

Ooh, timeskip. Jinx, huh. Wow, her guilt of having accidentally killed everyone, and the trauma from Vi "betraying" her, has messed her up so much, and Silco makes her actually feel important, as her little inventions finally succeed, for example.

It makes sense, basically, that she's the way she is now. The janky flashbacks are great, with Jinx's demonification of her past and the people in it, being literally represented in the visuals, painting over her memories, to cope with the past.

Just also taking the opportunity to gush about how good the show looks. Background art, for example, beautiful.

Episode 5: Everybody Wants to Be My Enemy

What stood out to me about Arcane's 5th episode the most was the directing! The overall storyboarding, imagery, and editing, were all significantly better in this episode (and it was already fantastic). Wonder if there's a specific reason in staff for this. Best episode so far.

I think you really notice the storyboarding right from the get-go, I thought this perspective was really cool, for example.

I like her voice a lot.

Silco got the drip.

Cool transition.

Look at that. 

As this is the same place she used to practice, this is probably a reference to that shooting practice? I'm thinking beyond the point of the scene just showing how different she is now. Would've been cool if the practice targets were like fake tree birds or something. 

Just top-notch editing for this scene, and the fact that Jinx still can't beat Vi's score, one she did years ago, when she was her age, just feeds into Jinx's insecurities even further.

Sick transition (also love the 2D effects work).

First of all, very cool with the horn built into the violin, but just a fantastic scene overall. The violin is my favourite instrument, you know, so any scene is elevated with violin music. Also, sick stage work, I'd attend that.

Very abstract presentation for the sex scene, keeping it tasteful and also allowing them to tie it into Victor fainting in some visually interesting ways.

Another sick transition from the previous scene.

I wasn't sure if Jinx and Silco's relationship was paternal or romantic, and I think it was intentionally ambiguous but to what purpose other than to keep us guessing I don't know, but I know now that it's paternal. Baptism-like scene here, to get rid of "Powder."

I think these are the band members for Imagine Dragons? If so, that is very cool. Also, playing the opening in an episode is always awesome.

Look at how the camera turns 90 degrees here as she throws Vi to the ground, that's so cool.

Lots of character and story goodies too, it's just fairly straight-forward so I don't have too much to comment on that, but it's all fantastic, and it's a bummer I only really have time for the series on Sundays (as I'm watching with my Dad) cause I'm loving it.

Episode 6: When These Walls Come Tumbling Down

Oh God, I'm gonna cry.

Episode 7: The Boy Savior

Holy shit

Episode 8: Oil and Water

This show is so good. I'm consistently impressed by how every single character is given relevance and focus, always contributing to the bigger picture. EP 8 managed to do so much for all of them.

Vi and Caitlyn goodness, Viktor finally outrunning the boat, some continuingly appreciated Medarda characterization, haunting hallucination scene with Jinx, Jayce having to make increasingly more difficult choices, Heimerdinger still being active, etc.

The fight scene had me giddy as fuck, and for some reason made me tear up a bit (cause it's just that awesome I guess lol), and it ofc being intentionally set up as really fucking cool so they could bring us right back down to face the actual real life consequences too.

Episode 9: The Monster You Created

Wow. What a finale. The whole dinner set-piece was such a brilliant idea for the climax that when I first realized it was happening I cursed myself for not realizing how perfect this would be. Honestly tho, this episode did the most for Silco imo.

“Don’t cry. You’re perfect.” 

There's so much to unpack here. Of course, on an obvious level, Silco chose his daughter over his dream. He is the only one that completely sees Jinx, all of her, and loves her unconditionally, and accepts her for everything.

Vi, of course, loves Powder too, but it's not "open and unconditional" in the same way as it is with Silco. She screams at Jinx to remember her past, in order to force Powder to reawaken, but that just makes her paranoia and hallucinations worse.

Silco shoots at Vi, not just so Powder won't awaken and he can get what he wants, but also because he knows that this hurts Jinx and genuinely empathizes with her, with that pain, and realizes Vi is hurting her, by doing this, and by being at all, and he intends to protect her.

Silco accepts Jinx, mental issues and all, doesn't even blame her for killing him, and tells her that she doesn't need to change, which seals Jinx's decision to stay as Jinx. After all, she's already perfect.

The best part tho, is that Silco's love isn't just open and unconditional, it's still rooted in selfishness as well. He genuinely loves her as a daughter, and empathizes with her, as he sees himself in her, but she also embodies what he loves about the undercity.

Silco chose both Zaun AND Jinx. He doesn't want a Zaun that has to deal with Piltover, he knows that won't work out. He loves the chaos in the undercity, that brings out the monsters within the people, I mean, under his rule, the undercity got worse, and intentionally so.

By choosing Jinx, he not only chooses his daughter (and still allows her to choose who she should be), but he chooses the idea of Zaun that he wants to preserve, that chaos, that city that forces people to rise and grow powerful through conflict, which Jinx embodies and fulfills.

This really ties into why Silco chose to take Jinx in which should seem a bit out of character but in combination with empathizing with her being betrayed as he once was, he also sees Zaun as he envisions it within her and how she embodies that idea more than anyone else.

It just, it would've been so easy to fall into the trap of making him get attached to this child for no real strong reason, but Jinx explicitly ties into his fundamental principles of being, so his actions stay totally in character and only richen him further.

Of course, I'm not trying to glorify Jinx's and Silco's relationship at all. It may have been open and loving, but that isn't enough to properly raise a child. 

Man, that you're perfect scene tho, I've rewatched it multiple times, and I tear up every time lol. Of course, this episode did wonders for the other characters as well, with that wonderful callback as Jayce stops Viktor from suicide this time, for example. Just fantastic all around. Very excited to see what season 2 has in store.

Overall Thoughts:

Arcane was so good I genuinely can't come up with a single flaw or anything I would've changed lol. Wonderfully written story just elevated tenfold by some of the best presentation ever. Silco is an all-time favourite antagonist but top-notch cast overall. Unmatched insert songs.