#this isnt a fully formed thought but i hope you see the vision

[bare1ythere]

I watched a video recently on stupid products with AI incorporated into them, like BBQs, baby monitors, mirrors, etc. and it got me thinking about how Severance is a really good metaphor for the overuse of AI in all aspects of life. Using AI to generate an image instead of learning to draw, or to translate your homework instead of learning a language, or to plan your essay instead of thinking critically yourself... severance has the potential to removal all complicated, boring, or unpleasant parts of mundane life, but in doing so leaves little left for your "outie" (in Gemma's case especially). You never have to learn or challenge difficult tasks because you can leave it entirely up to something (someone) else.

[cynettic]

hi, i hope i'm not bothering you, but i can order a Scaramouche × Kitsune reader, the two met before the vision hunt (and before he was a fatui if you want) the reader was always in the same place, sometimes having a conversation , the good old routine, but with the hunting of visions the reader disappeared not wanting to give up his own vision, and years later a reunion, SFW or NSFW is by your will, thank you, I really admire your work

Summary - Scaramouche met you as a child, growing up with the constant assurance that you would be right there, sitting at your spot where he could meet you with every visit. He isn't happy when you suddenly disappear.

Pairing - Kitsune!Reader x Yan!Scaramouche

Warning - Slight Yandere warnings?

Penpal - Ahhh- hope this is what you were looking for. I couldn't find a spot to put much nsfw unless I considered writing more for the series ( I could, just put a request in if thats what you’re looking for ). But I hope you liked it!! You're not bothering me at all and I'm glad you like my work!

A/N - Alright- so considering that with the 2.1 update with Scaramouche coming in, I just wanna state beforehand that I wrote this prior so I dont know if we learn about his backstory or anything!!

Link for Part 2

Stay With Me

Scaramouche was used to the routine he’d found himself going along with every visit to Inazuma. As a child he’d pass through the wild fields that stretched just beside his hometown, adventurous and curious with all the tenacity of a child.

And of course you, a kitsune that sat perched on the ground awaiting the Kitsune Saiguu, was bound to notice him. Unlike the other earth kitsune statues, you hadnt turned to stone during your wait. Instead, staying in the same place did you interact with travellers and the locals, which included Scaramouche.

“Fox person!” The little boy chanted, pulling at the hems of your clothing. Bright blue eyes bore into your own, and you slowly shifted your head to pay attention to the boy who was on the verge of bouncing on you.

Humming in reply to his excitement, the little boy paused, both of his small hands still tightly clasping the fabric of your clothes. Soft matted hair brushed past his face in a messy manner, calling out the boy for his boundless running and rebellious urge to keep his hair messy despite his parents wishes.

“Play with me!”

Staring at the boy only a moment longer, you simply chuckled at his antics. “I’m afraid I cannot move from the spot in which I dwell~ Perhaps I’ll be able to entertain you if you bring cards?”

But the young boy had made up his mind at the statement to which you couldn't move. A pitiful frown enfluged his face as he cast you the nastiest glare a five year old could muster. “Boring!” He shouted into the distance of the fields, dramatically turning on his heels and bouncing up into a sprint away. You watched his small figure fade away into the background, absentmindedly sighing and returning to your mindless thoughts.

As a child, Scaramouche would pass by you fairly often. Frequent when he asked you to play with him, and storming away with the same expression when you denied him. Nothing out of the ordinary, you’d lived for an exceptional amount of time, and even though grumpy children were not your specialty, you’d grown accustomed to their behaviour.

Growing up, Scaramouche got no better. You soon noticed his violent tendencies before they became an issue, the way the children shied away from him when playing Temari. Hiding in front of a tough exterior, he scared them away and laughed, approaching you later with tearful sob.

“Will you play with me?” He asked again, trying to hide the fact that he still wept when the other children pushed him away.

But your answer stayed the same, helping him wipe his tears and coaxing him into your arms. Not the first time you’d made contact with a human, but the first time you held them in such an affectionate manner.

It was clear Scaramouche was beginning to see you as some sort of pillar of reassurance when he began running away from home to simply ask to be held. You always welcomed him with open arms, urging him to head back to his household and sort things out. There was no harm in simply providing love and comfort for a child who received none was there?

“Now now, hurry back home little one. Your parents must be growing awfully worried if you’re out by this time at night.”

“My parents dont care about me!”

Darkness slowly pooled into the fields, an obscure shade covering the two of you from the tree you were under. Biting back form your normal emotionless statements, you pondered for something to soothe and convince the boy. Misunderstandings and hardships were normal from what youd seen with children, and you could only offer your hand on his shoulder, a promise. “Go back, I promise to stay here if anything further happens. But you shold give them another chance dont you think?”

And so he’d sprint back to his hometown, and you wouldnt hear from him again till he ran up right up to you a few days later. Begging you to play a game with him. The normal you supposed, and with a grin that seemed to stretch wider with every day, you told him the same thing you told him every single time.

“You cant move?!” Scaramouche nearly yelled one time, tiny fists curling at his side. “Thats… thats stupid!”

“It is isnt it?” You only smiled in response.

Unsatisfied with your response, he clawed your arm, pulling you with all his might. Strong, you realized with surprise that he was much stronger than most children his age. Easy enough to tug away from, but strong enough to take you off guard.

Snapping your hand back to your side, you narrowed your eyes. You weren't angry… no, you hadnt felt strong feelings like that after the disappearance of the Kitsune Saiguu. “Do not attempt to move me,” was your curt response, said in the most stern voice you’d used with the boy.

He’d looked at you only a few seconds longer before bursting into tears, turning away and running. You didn't feel regretful for defending yourself, only turning once more with a tired sigh to stare at the distance.

But just as you stayed ageless, Scaramouche grew older. Still, crossing each others pass was inevitable when you sat in the plains, just alongside the path that lead to his hometown.

With a permanent scowl that seemed to stain his face, he still seemed to have mature a tad bit. Maybe hadnt improved in the social department, because he now scared children and adults and alike, but more mature…

“Hm? Whats this?”

Once again, sitting criss cross under the large tree that provided the perfect shade on sunny days, you stared at the boy expectantly. His hands hesitated at your question, but he resumed shuffling. “Cards,” he simply said in response.

A small featherlike feeling flitted across your chest, making you feel lighter and… almost ticklish. A small smile crossed your face, and you recognized the emotion to be one of adoration. For him to have remembered words you’d spoken years ago, it gave you a warmth you’d sorely missed. A warmth akin to watching him and the other children grow up.

“Ew, dont smile like that, its creepy.”

Swatting at his head, he frowned further when you laughed. “You’re more mature,” you pointed out, lazily leaning back. “You need to work on your people skills though, as someone who hasnt moved in years, thats pitiful that I know more than you.”

“Shut it!”

But as he grew up, you hardly got to see much of him. He’d reached your height and then fully disappeared, leaving no goodbye. And much as you hated to admit it, you hardly noticed, not when days passed in a flurry. You were used to being by yourself, entertaining the kids and greeting the people that passed by.

Sometimes, there’d be the reminder of the warmth he’d given you. But it was quickly overshadowed by your duty to remain seated in wait for the Kitsune Saiguu. A dedication kept in its earnest, but beginning to dwindle.

Inazuma was beginning to change.

“The vision decree…” you repeated, staring at the traveller who’d mentioned it to you. “Care to elaborate?”

The new archon threatenening to take away visions from every inhabitant of Inazuma. It was preposterous, so much that you didnt move. Your vision meant the world to you, but so did the Kitsune Saiguu. You werent sure just how you weighed the two till you saw civilians passing by you, ones you recognized, ones that didnt recognize themselves.

It was snowing, cold snowflakes melting into your skin while your hair soaked in the water. Unflinching, you hummed to a little tune, awaiting someone to pass you so that you could attempt to strike a conversation of somesort. The unnatural weather distanced all who entered the field though, and you simply waited. For the Kitsune Saiguu, for someone, or for some form of entertainment, you didnt know. You Slowly closing your eyes, you decided not to care.

“Im gone for five years and you’re still sitting here like a dumbass.”

Eyes snapping open, you find yourself face to face with a complete stranger. Dark purple hair with dark blue eyes, piercing and dangerous in a way you dont recognize at all. Fancy clothing that you cant identify or put a name on.

The boy took a step towards you, crouching down to stare at you directly. His eyes scanned over your figure briefly, and he brushed the snow out of your hair and ears with one flick of his hand. In the next, he was offering a coat to you. “Take it, you’re probably getting cold.”

You leaned forward, ignoring the coat he offered you. Gently, you raised your hand to brush the hair from his eyes, centred on the way his pupils widened. Offering a small moment of surprise and one glimpse into the small childlike blue eyed wonder he was. “Kiddo,” you breathed, pulling your hand back and scanning him once again. “You’ve grown.”

“And you havent.”

Snickering at his comment, you took the coat. You didnt need it, but he looked like he didnt either. He was already wearing clothing that kept him warm, and with careful observation and an untouched coat, you settled on the fact that he’d brought it here. Brought the coat here for you.

“Still havent improved with those social skills of yours have you?”

He scoffed, letting himself fall back till he was sitting fully. “I dont want to hear it from someone who refuses to move an inch for years. Lazy ass.”

You open your mouth to retort, but instead laugh at his comment, shaking your head. “Gained some humour on your journeys have you? Bad words too it seems. Anyways...” He had sat down, which meant that he meant fully well to sit, chat, and catch up. That familiar warmth filled your chest, a contrast between the cold snow. “Welcome back.”

It wasnt often that Scaramouche visited Inazuma, but when he did, he was sure to visit you. The two of you would sit down for hours, talking about the most trivial topics. He never mentioned what he did in his time away, and you never asked.

But things began to go downhill when news of the vision decree finally took action.

“Its no joke anymore! The Raiden Shogun has taken custody of almost a hundred visions!”

In that moment you made your decision, weighing your vision over the Kitsune Saiguu. Awfully selfish you knew, but you’d spent decades sitting there in wait.

And for the first time you sat up from your position on the ground, clumsily stumbling upright but gaining balance. It takes a few steps until you’re back to normal, and you begin your journey in order to escape the Raiden Shogun’s vision hunt decree.

_-_-_-_

You didnt expect to see him again.

Long grass tickled at the skin of your legs, making you adjust your footing to no avail. Sun slowly descending past the mountains to mark the start of an evening and the soon approaching night. A normal day of exploring the mountains and islands of Inazuma, observing the constant changing situation, and running away from the vision decree like a favourite past-time.

With the exception of a firm grip on your wrist.

Dark purple like hair, same hate brimmed eyes and lavish clothing. You recognized Scaramouche the moment he had appeared, looking just as surprised as you were. That being before he snatched your wrist and snarled, “You.”

You wouldve considered it pure luck to find him, an unexpected reunion with someone you actually remembered. But no, his tone had some predatorial edge to it that had you cringing. Hard. “Yes, its me.” You answered back with a frown, trying to loosen his hold. “Nice to see you too, is something the matter?”

He only seemed confused at your words, pulling you closer.

“Something the matter?” He asked as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Well, to start, you’re not sitting at your damn spot.”

Taken aback for a moment, you wondered if that sole fact was what drove the boy to such lengths. Surely he couldn't be so troubled over the fact that you moved… “The vision hunt decree, I'm sure I mentioned that I was sticking around in wait for the Kitsune Saiguu. I decided to wander around and avoid the conflict until I could settle back.”

“You could’ve waited for me,” he stated almost instantly. “I could have protected you.”

You felt your brows furrow quizzically. “Wait for you? Why in the world would I-”

“Why wouldn't I?” He pushed you closer till he could fully grab both wrists, taking a step closer as if his words would resonate clearer in your head. “You took care of me as a child, it would only be fair for me to repay the favour.” But he only seemed to be looking for excuses. “And besides, you can't just up and leave… I didn't know.”

Before you could interject with the obvious answer that he didn't need to know, you stopped. You’d lived decades, nearly centuries if you’d kept count, and you had learned to read people's expressions even when you’d stayed away from them for so long. He didn't know. It hit you in the most unpleasant way that he wasn't aware that it was none of his concern. To him, you were just another thing he needed to keep track of, something he had control over. His face basically screamed, ‘I depended on you to stay in that place.’

Deep breath in and out. You’d lived long, longer than him, you could deal with a child throwing a tantrum.

“Don't worry,” you gestured to the vision ta your side. “I'm strong enough to protect myself, I appreciate your concern, but I’ll be back when the vision decree ends.”

Unconvinced, he pulled you closer, just until your faces were mere inches away from each other. “No,” he said in a stern voice. “I’d rather you by my side, where I can protect you. I hate to question what you’re capable of, but you’ve been sitting down for as long as I’ve known you for.”

“I’ve lived decades more than you,” a simple reply, hopefully enough to get by him. You snatched your hands back with ease, ears flinching slightly when a cold breeze swept past you. But you stayed firm, not wanting to look vulnerable against the imposing air he had around him.

Still unconvinced. “You’re coming with me.”

“No I’m not.”

You’d known him as a kid, watched him grow up along with all the other small ones in his hometown. And maybe you admit you cared a smudge bit about the warmth he gave you when settling down to play cards, but he was different. He had changed in the worst way and you weren't about to deal with it.

“So you’re not coming with me voluntarily?” He asked softly, taking a small step to which you responded by stepping back. He had his hands up, as if telling you he wouldn't hurt you. But the way he said voluntarily sent shivers up your spine.

“No.” Hand on your vision, you held your own hand up threateningly.

He took his time when tilting his head, taking a deep breath in, and then appearing in front of you in just a short stride. Too quick to react, you hesitated before you could attack him. You didn't want to hurt him, he was still a child in your eyes, and you paid the consequences for that. He slid his hand just along your neck, and a jolt of electricity seemed to thrum inside you just as you collapsed in his arms.

Scaramouche was quick to catch you, hoisting you up into his arms dearly. “I do hope you’ll come to understand,” he said softly, cradling your unconscious form in his arms. Making sure not to crush your tail when carrying your legs, he looked past the mountains, sigh resting on his lips.

Because Scaramouche liked to have control of the things he held dear. Like keeping all your valuables neat and tidy in a closet, he was happy knowing you were safe and stable in that spot you always sat on.

And he couldn't have you moving could he?

[seancekitsch]

Courtesy, Sympathy, Taste: Klaus Hargreeves x Reader Kinktober fic, part of the Prize Buck Series

warnings: drug use, slight daddy kink, klaus being a cocky little shit, accidental stimulation, mutual masturbation, this ones a shorty folx

Klaus is a fucking tease, even when he isnt trying to be. Its like everything he does is fucking erotic. It's the weight he carries and how he carries it, always sure to take the utmost pleasure in his actions. The way he absolutely lounges across the couch, the way he leans into every conversation to get his fill out of it, the way he lets himself enjoy the fabric of a soft shirt with a low hum of pleasure. It's even the way he smokes the blunt passing between the two of you. You'd rolled it carefully, tight and pretty in the little pink papers you'd found at the bodega. He lays on the mattress, thrown lazily on the ground pushed up against the wall next to you, fully enjoying his share of it.

He inhales deeply, slowly taking the smoke into his lungs, letting the marijuana soak every little capillary and corner of his chest cavity. He pauses, eyes meeting your own, bloodshot mixing with green, before a slow exhale, moaning as he uses his plump upper lip to push the smoke back up as he exhales. The classic french way. Disgusting if anyone else did it, but to see him twice exhale, it's beautiful. Mesmerizing, even. Am I staring? You wonder.

“You want the next hit?” Klaus points the mouth end of the blunt at you expectantly. Fuck. you were staring. You nod, then shift to reach and grab the blunt, thighs rubbing together at just the right angle as you sit up, jean shorts rubbing against your cunt. Don’t moan, don’t moan, don’t moan, you think. When your fingertips come to grip around the damp end, you immediately slump back into your position lounging opposite him on the mattress.

“Are you turned on right now?” Klaus asks, incredulous, watching you as you cough and splutter and almost choke on the smoke. He could tell. How could he tell?  Sure you'd fucked a week ago but how could he possibly already notice your tells? To notice what little signs would give away that you were aroused.

“Christ- did that, did I make your horny?” you only offer what you hope looks like a hostile stare back at him, but all Klaus can see is you splayed out on your back, elbows propping you up as you stare like a deer in the headlights with a dwindling joint between your lips. Lips he’d like to kiss, to push his fingers between. You look like he ravaged you instead of just handing a blunt to you.

“N-no,” you manage to gasp as you finally get a good and steady exhale of the smoke. He leans up, tank top bunching up as he sits to pull the blunt from the corner of your mouth, gently brushing his knuckles against your lips as he does so, the slight contact sending a jolt down your core. He's doing it on purpose now, it wasn't before, but it is now.

“You like how daddy smokes? Notice daddy showing off for you?”

You have to grimace. Klaus didn't seem like the daddy type, but then again, maybe it was the daddy issues.

“I wasn't even trying to put on a show for you, but now I will.” Those words are a threat as much as they are a promise. You watch his chest rise, inhaling smoke to the full capacity of his lungs as the little cherry at the tip of the blunt burns angry holes into your vision. You have another one in the little tin next to you, and you think of sparking it up. If you're too high to move, you can't further embarrass yourself in front of your roommate. Before you've fully thought it through, the next one is in your mouth, matching inhales as he stares you down, like hes ripping you apart with his eyes alone, then he exhales, that same sultry obscene french exhale letting the smoke drift back into his nostrils. Twice exhaled and spent by the time he's done.

“Why don't you touch yourself while you catch that one up to mine?” he watches carefully, to make sure he’s not overstepping a boundary. He knows what your boundaries look like. Shut down and sleep. But your hands move of their own accord, unbuttoning and unzipping the shorts as left hand snakes below the fabric, moving along a rhythm steady as the tide. Fuck, youre absolutely gorgeous like this. He's wanted to get to know you since you first arrived in his life, and now he wants all of you. He’ll always want more of you, Klaus figures. More as he finds himself cutting the next exhale short as his hand finds its way down his own loose trousers, firmly gripping the base of his cock to stifle a moan as he watches your mouth fall open as your fingers finally sink into yourself.

“Is- is this what daddy wants to see?” you ask, so unsure, but indulging in the nickname your roommate gave himself. He only nods as he begins to stroke, taking shorter drags of the blunt as his breathing starts to become heavier, not to strain himself or cough. You continue to thrust your fingers in yourself, wishing they were Klaus in any capacity, pulling the smoke from the blunt with your other hand, almost as if it's a race, never breaking eye contact with your roommate across the mattress. A particularly harsh thrust of your hand has the heel of your palm brush your clit, earning an equally harsh noise from your lips, part cough part gasp and part squeak. You see him shudder in reaction and speed up not only the jerking motion of his hand but his finishing of the blunt. In a few quick puffs, it's no more than a used roach, empty and ready for trash.

“Wait, wait this was hot, but can I finish you off?” his voice is needy, almost whining as his hand slides from the trousers. You barely finish a nod before the roach is discarded in the ashtray and he’s pouncing on your form.

[thegreatimpersonator]

well since y’all asked

everything will be below the cut so people can just ignore this lol

the wild thing is like... everything everyone was saying from both sides makes sense. the good and the bad. i’ll start off with a pro and cons and then do a short track by track

pros:

i agree with what people are saying about how well this style suits her voice, it perfect. it’s smooth and calming but also doesnt stick her in a box and will allow her to kinda move with it and change things up as she sings, which i know she loves to do.

the production is exactly her too. it’s r&b beats with classic strings... liek that’s completely ariana grande. it’s so interesting and it weirdly works well? 

i feel like you can tell she was just in her element making these songs. i feel like she tapped into something that can be so endless for her and new ideas will be constant.

idk if it’s just me adjusting to hearing her sing but her pronunciation is getting a lot better

every song has at least one good and attractive part to it... there are no songs that i am so completely confused as to why it’s on the album.

it’s for sure my favorite era for her in terms of style

also her best album cover (but sweeter is close second) 

cons:

okay... there is a pattern with this album. every song had a really solid start. so many times i was in love with the verses and the melodies she was singing but... my god are the choruses weak. it’s just one line... repeated... like 4 times... then we move on... and i was sitting here like ‘oh that’s what we were building up to?’ and it happened with every song. so i completely agree about it kind of falling flat most of the time.

it’s so repetitive. besides the choruses mostly all being weak, the themes are all the same. like the 14 songs on the album are all about two things: her being horny or her being in love. that’s it. why did we need 14 songs to tell us two things.

another point: why were there 14 songs? so many filler tracks that just add nothing to the album for me. she could’ve honestly made a solid 10 track album and it would’ve been a good clean piece of work. 

the lyrics... oh my god the lyrics. the one thing i saw people saying, both fans of the album and not, was that the lyrics were really bad... liek they had to prepare people. and my god. there were some points that straight up sounded like 14 year old stan accounts arguing on twitter... ‘you sound dumb... shut up’ SHE USED THAT LYRIC AS A HOOK... she thought it was so good it deserved to be the hook like? and also there’s a lyric that just straight up says ‘read a fucking book’ lol. the good or tolerable lyrics are basically ones she already used before on other songs? like how many time's has this woman sung about fucking while watching movies... 

she needs to stop putting out albums so frequently. a lot of the complaints i see people having is just that it doesnt feel finished or polished enough to be an album. like she should have waiting a few months and refined things. it feels like a stepping stone rather than a destination. she doesnt have a clear vision, narrative or purpose driving the album at all. 

track by track

shut up: this was the first taste of bad lyrics like this is the song about being dumb and i fully was like omfg this is the whole song isnt it. i dig the production though.. this might have the best production of the whole album for me. 

34+35: i felt like i was listening to a horny 13 year old boy during the chorus lol. it just felt really immature at some points... like the giggling every time she alluded to 69 wasnt necessary. also the end where she says ‘mean i wanna 69 with ya’..... sweetie you didnt have to tell us we know we can add. i did like the melody of the pre-chorus. the ‘i’ve been drinkin coffee, i’ve been eatin healthy’ is really catchy and good

motive: god i had such high hopes for this. it first started and i loved the production and the prechorus worked really well... but again that chorus weakness really fucked it. and doja’s part doesnt really fit the song for me? it feels out of place and like she should’ve been put on a more upbeat song

just like magic: first song i actually liked and added to my library! i finally heard a good chorus that didnt feel like it completely slowed down the momentum of the song and helped move it along. and the lyrics are cute. i think for me she needs to improve on the difference between a cute lyric and a cringy lyric... like cute: ‘middle finger to my thumb and then I snap it’ and cringy: the rest of the album. also one thing there’s a lyric about her listening to music she wrote and like girl you had 34 writers on this album... what are you listening to two words? every time she brags about writing it’s kinda embarrassing like.... at no point am i impressed

off the table: this production would have been so good.... if it actually did anything else or went anywhere. it stayed the same the entire time.... for 4 minutes. also stop letting men on women’s music because it seriously never works. her vocals are really pretty though.

six thirty: i really like her vocal delivery in this... like kinda dropping off at the end and just starting to talk? it’s interesting. also the chorus really had potential because it actually got bigger and more layered and interesting but again with the one lyric ‘are you down’ repeated like 3 times then the chorus is just over it’s like... oh okay

safety net: again amazing verse delivery and melody... IF SHE TOOK IT ANYWHERE it would have been great. and again with the male features... not necessary. the bridge is cool with them both singing but other than that it feel flat for me. 

my hair: that smooth electric guitar intro is everything. and this sound of this song is so good.... but.... am i the only person who kinda feels weird about ariana, a white girl, being like ‘you can run your hands through me hair... dont be scared’ like?? why would they be scared... your hair is straight lol. it just toys with the whole idea of ‘don’t touch a black women’s hair’ for me. idk it could totally be a me overanalyzing thing. but god is she sang about anything else this would be my favorite song. second song i added to my library.  

nasty: if i had to pick one song that was my exact expectations for this album before listening to it it would be this one. the electronic hip-hop beat with the harmonies and vocals, all paired together for a song about her being horny (again), like yeah this all fits. it feels lost in some places though. like some points i feel like i have no idea what part for the song we’re on or what’s happening and we’re just treading water. and another weak chorus with 1 lyric repeated over and over again. (also random side not that intro of her talking reminded me of when she gave that billboard interview and people were mad at her bc she starting talking with an accent even though shes white... like thats what i thought of i was like ma’am you are a rich white theater kid form florida you do not speak like that)

west side: the production in the beginning is so cool? where is sounds like a tape rewinding kinda? love that. but other than that like... no point to this song being included on the album... it’s 2 minutes and it falls flat pretty early on.

love language: this was the one i saw most people agreeing was the best one/most hyped. i expected to be a ballad but it’s one of the more upbeat ones and honestly thank god. a chorus that actually has structure and goes somewhere? wild. good and creative lyrics? WILD. anyway the production is great and reintroduces that kinda 70s vibe from motive but in a refreshing way. really good tie in. third song added to the library. 

positions: i honestly didn’t even listen to this when it came out so i really had no idea what to expect. again the strings and orchestral pairs so well together... one of my favorite instrumentals on the whole album. i 100% see why this was the lead single and i agree with it completely. the most catchy chorus and it moves the song forward WHAT A CONCEPT. also very good placement on the tracklist because it was really refreshing. at this point it kinda started to drag on a little but this picked it right up. it also kinda threw me completely off balance because i was so familiar with the pattern of good verse weak chorus good verse weak chorus, but this is the opposite? weak verses but amazing chorus. forth song added to library.  also i am genuinely curious why it’s the album title? it doesnt really fit the theme of the album but then again one of my complaints is that it doesnt really have a theme to begin with so... 

obvious: the imagery i got when the music came in was like a dark 80′s lounge with dark wood furniture and i loved it lol. the same thing with positions, a surprising and refreshing combo of weak verse but good chorus which was nice. i can see it easily getting me stuck in my head, especially that hook. fifth song added to my library. 

pov: this is the other song off the album i heard everyone generally loved. i would say this has the best theme and story of the entire album. it has an interesting concept that isnt overly used and the whole song is pretty good decent verse and decent chorus. i love the end where she gets powerful and has more grit in her voice and we get more emotion out of her... wish she didnt wait until the last 30 seconds of the whole album to finally deliver with that but sure. sixth song to be added to the library. 

overall i was pretty surprised at how much i enjoyed it? i really expected not to the way everyone was talking about it. i think it is a good album with just some clear flaws, that could have been easily fixed if she didnt rush the album out so quickly. better lyrics and better judgement/deliberation of which songs deserve to be on the album and it would have been so solid. i would give it an overall rating of 6/10. 

here’s my current ranking:

[nightmaretyrantvantas]

Sleep well, I’ll be here as you rest- a lil pokemon au fic

soooo i sent a headcanon last night that I cannot stop thinking about for @sugarglider9603 ‘s pokemon au and i decided to try writing a fic for it!

(im sorry in advance if anyone is out of character this is my first time writing thomas and the boys)

The afternoon was sunny and breezy as Thomas stretched his arms in the air, smiling happily as he watched his pokemon play together in the Alamos gardens. If he glanced to the side he could easily see the relaxed form of Darkrai observing them all from the shade as he had been doing for a few days now. The thought of it made Thomas smile, and he waved a little to the Legendary while keeping an eye on the playing eeveelutions. He trusted them but he’d had a few too many run in with Team Rocket for the man’s comfort, and so he sat close to his team and watched over them, smiling as Remus dragged over something metal from the trashcan. 

       “ Oh? Is this for me? Thanks Remus, its great.” He reached down and scratched behind the beaming Leafeon’s ear and chuckled as he bounded off in Roman’s direction, Deceit trotting after him. He looked down and picked up his present, what appeared to be a broken bicycle bell and set it in his bag. For a few moments as he sat back up he felt a little dizzy but Thomas simply brushed it off and rolled his shoulders, suddenly too cold despite the warm sun beating his back. 

‘ Maybe it was just the breeze...cant worry too much about it now’ There wasnt enough time. After all once they were done enjoying the gardens he had to get something for them for dinner and start getting things ready for the contest coming up in a couple days. He smiled watching Remus pounce on Roman and the two brothers roll around play fighting while Logan and Patton wandered around the flowerbeds, picking flowers and enjoying the sunshine while Virgil napped beside Darkrai in the shade. Everything was nice and peaceful, so peaceful Thomas could ignore his slowly growing headache or how much heavier his body felt. 

After awhile and one deep breath Thomas gave a small whistle, noticing the sun going down much sooner than he thought, hitting 6:30 already. 

        “ Hey guys! C’mon its getting late and I bet you’re all hungry! Let’s go get dinner!” He winced at the raspy edge to his voice smiled seeing them all perk their ears and trot over to him chirring and chattering with each other. Thomas beamed and with more difficulty than he expected he heaved himself off the bench and to his feet. Instantly all the icky feelings he had amplified, as if he got dunked into ice water. He shivered and swayed, rubbing a hand over his face “ ugh...that’s not a good feelin....g...” He barely got his sentence out as his vision blurred, feeling his body lurching forward. The last thing he could remember where panicked cries of alarm and rapid footfalls along with the feeling of arms around him before his consciousness fully faded...

For a few moments there was nothing but panic.

       “ Thomas?!” “ Oh god is he dead??” Oh no oh no oh no” “ Thomas wake up!!” “what happened???”

‘ Everyone take a deep breath. Youre human is very much alive’ 

They all quieted and looked up at the deeper, calm voice of the older pokemon, their beloved trainer now cradled unconscious in his shadowy arms.

‘ He is merely sleeping, and he will live.’  Most of them were able to calm down, but Virgil was restless and fidgeting, pawing at the dirt with his ears pressed against his head. Roman leaned against him and licked between his ears to try to soothe the smaller pokemon. It worked a little, easing the worst of his fidgeting.

       “ We need to get him to the pokemon center. The nurse will know how to help him.” Logan hopped up on the bench and licked Thomas’s finger, noticing his skin felt too hot. With a plan and a destination Logan decided to lead the way back to the pokemon center, trying to avoid running into to many people as they ran. 

When they burst through the doors Patton was the one who rushed towards the desk crying and hopping up to get Nurse Joy’s attention. He startled her but one glance behind him and the older woman was around her desk though she was pale and nervous.

     “ Oh no, is this boy your trainer?” At the nods she called for her chansey and carefully approached, though she stopped a few feet away when Remus and Deceit growled protectively. They only stopped when Virgil squirmed inbetween them and bapped their noses, wanting their attention and reassurance(which he immediately recieved). The nurse looked at Darkrai and bowed her head a little respectfully, clearly nervous to be confronting the legendary.

     “ Darkrai...may I please take him to make sure hes ok? I promise it wont take long.” He considered her silently and very gently placed Thomas into her arms, warning her to take good care of him. Then he sat on the floor with the worrying eeveelutions and watched over them, his deep voice gently assuring them their human would be fine as the woman and her chansey hurried into an examination room with Thomas.

    “ He’s right in here boys. He’s asleep so dont rough house too much ok? Your trainer seems to have come down with a cold and had a pretty high fever, but its expected to break during the night.” She leaned down and set out food for all of them and gently patted the heads of who would let her smiling as she told them Thomas would be awake and better by morning, though he’d have to stay in bed a couple days to fully recover. As soon as the door shut they all tried to jump onto the bed and huddle around their trainer.

      “ I hope he wakes up before morning...” Virgil whimpered as he paced up and down the bed. He only stopped when Logan rubbed against him comfortingly.

      “ I feel the same, but he also needs as much sleep as he can get. Thomas will be fine Virgil, lets try to relax.” He tried, the espeon really tried but within a few minutes he was pacing again. This time he felt a cold hand on his head and looked up at Darkrai, his body relaxing when he felt the Legendary’s clawed hands gently scratch his fur.

‘ I will be here to watch over him little one, he will be safe. You all will.’ He nodded and curled up against Thomas’s neck and head, purring when Roman hopped up and laid as much against him as he could on Thomas’s shoulder. Slowly each of the others hopped onto the bed. Remus curled up against Thomas’s hip using said hip as a headrest, Deceit stretching our next to him along Thomas’s right side. Patton curled up on Thomas’s chest nuzzling him worriedly as Logan laid on his stomach beside the Sylveon, nuzzling him and smiling a little as they fell asleep together. And as they all fell asleep Darkrai sat beside the bed vigilantly, making a content noise at the sweet sight of the pokemon sleeping on their human, making sure nothing happened as the night passed calmly.

      “ Nnngh...” Soft morning light filtered through the bedroom window as Thomas pried his eyes open, already feeling better though he was having some trouble breathing. But he knew the weight on his chest and smiled as he rubbed his eyes yawning. The moment he moved he saw them all stir and wake up.

     “ H-hey guys....morning--ack ack!” He yelped and couldnt help but giggle as they all tried to swarm him frantically, burying him in fur and fluff and licks and kisses from worry. He held them all tightly smoothing each of their furs and trying to nuzzle them back.

     “ hehe I love you guys too! Im sorry i worried you...its ok im fine now!” Even so they did everything they could to keep him in bed for the next couple days, all while the shadowy legendary come back every day to check up on them and watched over them every single night.

The end

aaaaaaa I hope you guys like this! Its been a few months since I’ve been able to write so I hope it isnt too bad! Maybe I’ll be able to write more now! 

Enjoy!

[zallafic]

What a Change

Fandom: Underfell

Trigger warning: Fat Shaming, Body Imagine

It was always a competition between the two. And the gym just made it much worse, between the labeled weights and the machines that told you just how far or how fast or how strong you were pushing against them. Undye and Papyrus just shouted each new milestone at each other, to the point the gym staff had to threaten them with either being kicked out or to shut up. Thankfully they resorted to texting any more insults at each other.

You knew that if this wasnt the only gym in the area that let monsters have memberships then they would be long gone. Hell you might have left a long time ago when they were at their rowdiest, but with the membership so cheap you didnt want to pass up such a deal.

And really? You knew that if you cancelled this one you werent going to a different one. You barely dragged yourself here each and everytime. You were young enough that it wasnt affecting your health yet, or at least you thought so. But after finally being labeled obese by a doctor your body imagine of yourself tanked. It was an awful, painful feeling of being disgusted with yourself.

And thats why you were here, but every mirror in the gym seemed to highlight each giggle and fat bounce your body did as you worked out. Well after stopping a few work out early you figured out being fully clothed stopped that. It make you look bigger and more desprate, and you overheated faster. But no pain no gain?

Just bring more bottles for water and tough it out. You told yourself, maybe one day you could do one of those big reveals to your family and friends of shedding all these extra clothing layers revealing a skinnier and sexier version of yourself. The thought helped you push a little harder each time even if you started getting dizy.

Looking back it was fun to watch these two monsters fight over who could go faster, lift more, push harder. It also distracted you from watching yourself in the mirror, which was always welcome. You also quickly learned their names, Papyrus and Undye. And how they never stopped bickering, but even with headphones in you found yourself hearing a lot of what they were yelling about.

Until they were forced to text each other. Now that didnt stop the yelling, sometimes they would just yell each others name or curse each other but it wasnt enough to get them kicked out. Because well... They kept bring in new memberships. You were pretty sure the whole "Guard" had one now. And whatever human memberships were lost they would make up in monster ones.

As interesting as it all way you didnt want to be noticed, take the furthest machine from all of them and just keep your head down. You werent here to be social, you just wanted to like yourself again. And pushing yourself even harder worked great as a distraction. Even feeling like passing out or too dizy to read the screen on the machine helped calm you. It made you feel like you really were getting somewhere. That you really could push yourself to do this. That reveal you would do felt even better in your head as your finally slowed down to a stop.

It was kind of euphoric to be this exhausted and leaning back to chug water you could hear the monster group talking.

"REALLY NOW? IVE DEAD LIFTED EVERYTHING IN THIS GYM THAT ISNT TIED DOWN ALREADY."

"Yeah well what about that one over there?"

You could feel one of the guard and the skeleton look over to you. But just ingored them as you tried to regain your vision from being so dizy. You still had another round to go before heading out for the day. Looking at your empty water bottle you had a feeling if you moved towards the water fountain you might just leave. So without bothering to just desided to do your last round without any. You could easily get caught up on your water at home.

"Hey are you really talking about that human?" Undye asked as she stopped her last rep for the moment. The guard turned to her and spoke up.

"yeah Cap doesnt want to try and lift the fat human."

"I NEVER SAID THAT, I JUST DONT SEE THE POINT."

Undye looked over papyrus and the guard then over to the human. They had always minded their own business so she got the same feeling as paps with there being no point in bothering them.

"man cap, undye can lift her fat girlfriend and you cant even lift some human?" The guardsman was given dirty looks by both the skeleton and the fish lady. Undye realizing they were just trying to start some competition again between the two.

"Hey paps lets just-"

"FINE. WHO WOULDNT WANT TO BE SWEPT OFF THEIR FEET BY THE GREAT PAPYRUS?"

The fish lady tried reaching out but the skeleton marched right over to you. You turned to focus on working out and hoped that the headphones blasting in your ears would deter the skeleton from talking to you.

But he grabbed you by the arm and you looked up to see his giant form next to you.

"LARGE HUMAN, LET ME GRACE YOU WITH MY STRENGHT BY LIFTING YOU FOR ALL THESE FOOLS TO SEE!"

Stunned you just stared at him in shock, you didnt even pull away.

"CRAZY I KNOW BUT DO NOT WORRY YOUR FATNESS WILL NOT DETER ME AND I SHALL-"

With your free hand you smacked him as hard as you could across the face.

The fish lady grabbed the skeleton from behind and pulled him off of you. But you could already feel tears running down your brighting red, sweaty checks. You just left your machine on and emtpy water bottles and left. Not caring how you could hear out the fish was giving the skeleton an earful about how you cant say this or that. It didnt matter anyway, you were fat and thats how they saw you.

Continue?

Reply below or give it a like if interested. The reader is going to have to return to the gym and face the group at some point.

[superemeralds]

my take on forces

this is gonna be a long and complicated read but bare with me.

I tried to make this as accessible as possible, using images for visualization and very generous spacing between topic paragraphs.

The question I ask is...

Who is this mysterious villain that people call “Infinity” or “Infinite”? What are their powers? What are those cubes? What may have caused Forces to have happened? What will happen in Forces?

I’m going to present multiple theories that I have come up with in the last few hours since the trailer was aired.

Check TLDR at the end of the post if you are unable to keep up with my thought jumping or the way I type. This theory is about 10 or 11 pages long on word.

Going off physical resemblance this villain looks a lot like proto-blaze (as shown with this redraw of the original prototype art)

(the picture shows the villain in comparison to proto-blaze and current blaze)

They have the exact same eyecolor when color-picked, they have resembling hairstyles, they both have a gem located on their chest. The markins on the tail resemble blaze to an extend, but the tail of the villain is broader. Moreover is Blaze not confirmed for forces yet, maybe that would be the big plot twist?

Why would Blaze suddenly be a main villain? Does this even have to be the real Blaze? I mean. The weird hair/quill thing on the head is white, and the mask has bat ears. White fur, bat ears? That is rouge. But it can’t be rouge because of the missing wings and the fluffy tail.

wait. Big ears. Fluffy Tail.

(picture of a fennec fox)

It might be a new character, perhaps a fennec? Huge ears. Typical canine tail. The face shape fits almost too well.....

oh shit guys I’m. I’m onto something here.

Set was a god associated with chaos, storms and the desert. Originally, he served as a powerful protector deity of Upper Egypt. [...] When Egypt was unified and the worship of Horus became dominant, Set was increasingly villainized, particularly after Egypt was invaded by a people who identified him with their own chief god. The most famous story about him is his killing of his brother Osiris for the throne of Egypt and his contests with Horus over it.

Animal Motifs: [...] Possibly a Fennec fox, otherwise it's just called the 'Set animal'

Adaptational Villainy: Originally a protective deity, he was demonized into a God of Evil [...].

(source: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/EgyptianMythology )

But wait.... Gods? Chaos??? The sonic world is made up of Chaos Energy! And who else is a God? Solaris and Mephiles!

Hold on guys.... Please hear me out on this one, because I might’ve figured this out to an extend.

When i first saw them I immediately got a Mephiles and Solaris vibe. Why? Because of that red eye and the what seems to be green iris. Another hint to Mephiles and Solaris in general is the shape of the quills/hair or this character which looks a lot like a popular perception of the sun vriewed frontal.

and (thanks to @sh4dzi for the hint) who do we know is the sun? Solaris the sun god. Mephiles is one half of solaris. And he said it himself!

He is the sun. He is a being that stands above time. A bridge to other worlds? Mephiles is probably very similar to dark matter. We can’t grasp it, its beyond our capabilities to comprehend because it probably exists within another dimension. As time itself is “the forth dimension” we live in. We can notice the effects that dark matter has on our universe by space time disortions like curved spaces. And as we know, Mephiles is capagle of time travel! Just like that. No chaos needed.

Those cubes that the villain is holding up remind me a lot of the shadow of a four dimensional cube: The Tesseract, also called Hypercube.

(image of the shadow of a tesseract)

(image of the cubes the villain is controlling)

You can clearly see that there is a cube within those cubes, but it is reflected on each side. The confusing part is, that even though we see 3D reflections on each side, we dont see the rest of that 3D object beyond the face of the cube they are reflected on. This is a way to symbolize the fact that there is another dimension within this three dimensional object.

But wait! Didn’t I say it was called a tesseract? Have you heard that somewhere before? I bet you did!

(image of the MCU tesseract)

In the MCU there is an artifact called the Tesseract! What is the tesseract? Simple! It holds the infinity stone of space!

This cube is pure energy, which a mortal cannot hold without crumbling to ashes by the sheer amount of force this relic possesses. This cube controls space itself. It can be used to warp to another place. It can also be used to defend oneself off of enemies energetic attacks. Moreover can it be used to achieve visions from the past, present and future.

How is this possible? Time itself is not a physical dimension, but a dimension of itself. It flows in only one direction and it is ever present. The past present and future exist all at the same time! Does this sound familiar? I hope it does!

(part of the script of the final story in 06, summary below)

Silver wants to destroy Solaris, a creature existing in the past, present and future, a creature standing above time itself. A creature that sees more dimensions than we can comprehend, a creature that sees the multiverse unfolding before themselves. (Hence it wanting to destroy “all existing timelines” ! )

Yes, the multiverse! There is one theory that says that every possible timeline in the universe is possible. every second another alternate universe, and alternate timeline is split from the one you are currently in. Each and everyone of us exists infinite times, in infinite different scenarios, no matter how small the differences!

(the infinity symbol as shown in the trailer)

Infinity. the symbol shown in the trailer. isnt that the name people give our mysterious new villain?

Our villain has access to the multiverse. Their powers reselble the tesseract, they surpass the power of chaos control. This villain has Solaris’ power. to warp and bend space time at their whim. To access the infinite different universes.

This is how they were able to summon all the death egg robots into the city, despite eggman only ever having made one of them!

The time eater only had the power to travel through time, much like Mephiles. I theorize Mephiles to be the god of time itself, and the time eater may perhaps be a part of him. An alternate form? His shadow? We just don’t know. All I know is that Iblis must be the god of space, for iblis and mephiles to fuse and create solaris: The God of Space-Time.

HOLD YOUR HORESE I JUST REMEMBERED SOMETHING

(jet holding the cubic key of babylon garden)

Look at what Jet is holding. The symbolic of the tesseract has been in the games before! The babylonians were an ancient civilization with immense advanced technologies. perhaps they had the key to unleashing the manipulation of space-time? As we can see in riders the babilonians managed to create an infinate space in a castle.

In zero gravity, we see that the Babylonians had the power to defy gravity. We get to know that they had built an engine (the ARKs of Cosmos) that was rendering their Babylonian Garden afloat. (We would know more if Jet had not told wave to shut up)

The ARKs or Cosmos have enormous powers, which the ancestors of our rouges possessed. These powers are: Direct convertion of Mass-energy into other forms of energy and the control over gravity itself.

Together they induce a black hole. Black holes are immense amounts of mass converted into minimal space, making a force so strong that it destroys time itself...... It Destroys space time by compressing everything into a single point in space, into a single point in time. Basically stopping time.

So to think....

Space-Time is the very fabric of our observable universe. If you control space time, you control every possible time line, every possible outcome, every possible universe. Everything.

( “I will be able to control everything and rule the world.”-Eggman)

and

( ”Capture mephiles, you must bring him to me” - Eggman )

This is why Eggman wanted both, iblis and mephiles, in order to complete his machine in 06. To be able to fully control space-time.

He can’t use chaos control himself, and chaos control would never be able to aid him in the massive way he wants things to go down. No. He needs the power of a god.

It is very clear that Eggman has a liking for mythlogy and ancient creatures, possessive of immense powers. (just like his grandfather.. huh)

Eggman is trying to find a way to control space and time. He’s been doing so ever since the beginning of the franchise.

Ever since Sonic 2 he was eager to get the chaos emeralds. In sonic 3 he first learned about Chaos itself and just how much energy it possessed. In sonic CD he already wanted to conquer time and space, hoping that the time stones would aid him.

in every big title that follows, eggman is always out to gain access to mythical power in order to fulfil his wish. Perfect chaos, chaos energy, solaris, dark gaia, wisps, the zeti (or in the end just life force itself). The ARKs of the cosmos from te babylon rouges......

But he always needs someone or something else to control that power for him, because he is unable to himself, being a mere human being.

Hold on. He needs someone else to control the power. He can create the means to control, but he lacks the certain something. Thats what the villain is for....

Did Eggman straight up create them? Did he follow into Geralds footsteps and created his own ultimate life form? Or did he manipulate another being?

I just got a message reminding of those “clues” the sonic social media posted and was reminded of the myth of icarus (thanks @auranon )

(image of crypic message )

The secret lies in the Empire; the Eggman Empire. Which is now the world. Its real. Eggman is the emperor of the world.

We can get it back; the world. The world will be freed from eggman.

The son of Daedalus is Icarus. The Man that used Wings made of wax and featers to escape prison. He was so blinded by his euphoria that he tried to reach the sun. His wings burned away and he fell to his death.

What id this is what happened to our villain? What if this is the point this game is leading to. They are blinded by the power eggman (the father in this analogy) gave them (or improved), trying to either unleash solaris’ full potential, or reach solaris’ level of power.

Even if Solaris was not involved, the Sun symbolic (their head being shaped like the sun) makes sense, because of the analogy to Icarus.

I dont remember the numbers the sonic social media is referring to but if you can find that please add on to this post!!!

You might think: hold on! What does this all have to do with sonic forces?? How does this all make sense? How does this all add up?

Alright my unknowing children i’m gonna present you a summary and a conclusion here.

TLDR; only related to what this all has to do with forces.

I’m strongly going off symbolism here. The villain resebles a fennec fox a whole lot and that mgiht be the key to understanding them and the story, also leading us to the clues as to who that might be, or who they might’ve been inspired by.

Them being a fennec fox might be very well symbolic for their evil being, as Set was later seen as god of Chaos and Evil. Maybe this is foreshadowing what will happen.

Eggman is onthe throne, he rules the world, and that villain is his pawn. He was somehow able to convince this creature to work for him, perhaps by granting, or improving, the incredible power to control the multiverse, and aid him with his goals.

Assuming they derive their power from solaris, or any other ancient relic that would be able to grant this immense power of maybe advanced/enhanced chaos control, they can warp space-time and access the multiverse to retrieve multiple items, such as death egg robots and villains that are not meant to exist anymore, not in the way they are presented in the trailer.

But if we go by the symbolism of Set and Icarus, then the villain will throw Eggman from his throne and claim it for themselves, blinded by power, essentially having used Eggman for their means by obeying him just long enough to reach their goal.

But following the myth of Icarus, something will go wrong. Something is going to go terribly wrong. How? Maybe it’ll end in a black hole, like it did in zero gravity; maybe there will be a space-time rift like in 06. We don’t know yet.

What we know is that we can look forward to this story, if my theory turns out to be even just somewhat true.

Wow that was a lot. Thank you so much for reading! I’ll gladly appreciate to have everyone engage in a discussion by now. I’ll be very happy to answer any questions you might have concerning my totally all over the place theory.

Sources: (in case you want to read up/check the facts or just understand what im saying and where im coming from  better)

(some sources are in german im sorry but you should be able to change the language of wikipedia articles)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dprxYd_16Ck (the trailer itself)

http://de.marvel-filme.wikia.com/wiki/Tesserakt

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/EgyptianMythology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywn2Lz5zmYg

http://www.sonic-cult.org/dispart.php?catid=3&gameid=18&subid=1&artid=4

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikarus

[askgametheory]

Hey I would like to ask you a couple of short questions for an essay I'm writing Thanks 1. What do you considere as art? 2. Do video games deserve the title of art? Why? 3. Are there video games that could be called art pieces? If so, which? 4. Do you think that video games are just a way of trivial entertainment? 5. Had the opinions of the general public over video games? 6. Do you think that video games artistic level than movies? 7. Do you think that Beyond: two souls or Darksouls are art?

(What a way to bring back this Blog :P)

Okay, so this is more “Game Philosophy” then “Game Design”, but nontheless it is also a very interesting question, so i took some time to think about this:Disclaimer: All of this falls into the realm of Philosophy. As such what i am saying here is my personal view/opinion. If you interpret these things differently, then that doesnt mean you are wrong and i am right, it simply means that we have differing views.

1) What do you consider as Art?This question is incredibly hard to answer while staying to the point, but i think the most important attribute of art is, that it lies in the eye of the beholder. A piece or art is simply something, that is it’s own entity or individual, it is completely removed from the artist and their vision.You could make a piece of art and try to make people who experience it sad, but end up making some few happy. Heck, a lot of art is made with the distinct purpose to make you think about it, yet you might just end up finding it pretty. A piece of art will always tell it’s own story and it will tell it differently depending on who it is talking to.

2) Do Videogames deserve the title of “Art”?Absolutely. Almost every game ever made can be viewed as it’s own entity, the developers can never fully anticipate or control the expierence each individual player gets. Some players might play Call of Duty and find the depiction of violence revolting and boring and scoff their nose. But others might see an interesting depiction of todays developers views on gaming. They might see an “uninteresting” side character and it will make them think about the industry. Others might just enjoy the fun of getting to shoot bad Guys. What matters in the end is that the Medium stands on its own and engages us to think about it.

3) Are there Videogames that could be called pieces of Art?As mentioned, i believe every videogame ever made can be considered a piece of art. No matter how bad or simplistic, the mere fact that they exist makes us think about the implications of the mere fact that they exist.

4) Do you think Videogames are just trivial entertainment?This is very subjective. Some might see Videogames like that and it’s a valid way to see them. If you just want to play a Videogame for fun, then that’s just your way of interpreting and experiencing the piece of art.Personnaly i think Videogames are a way to explore other worlds and thoughts. In a Videogame we can shed all expectations and stigmas and explore a world like or unlike our own.

5)Comments/Thoughts on the general public’s opinion on videogames? (Sorry if this isnt what you had in mind, your question was a little hard to understand)This is again a very tough question to answer, but i think that the general public simply hasn’t experienced videogames in an unbiased way. They hear no the news that videogames are ruining our kids and that they are nothing but dumb violence and forget, that movies and even books used to have the exact same stigma. I will say though, that this view has changed drastically over time and really doesn’t apply too the broad public anymore. Sure, some people will still think like that, but i think a majority no longer sees Videogames as something inherently bad and lots of adults are now from the generation that grew up with them. The view will keep changing until we reach a place like movies today.So while i think everyone should explore videogames as a medium and artform i am happy to see the general publics view shift.

6)Do you think that Videogames are on the same artistic level as movies?I don’t think we can put specific types of art on levels, since the “artisticness” of a piece of art is entirely in the eye of the beholder.If i had to give an answer i would say that all forms of art are exactly even because of this.

7)Do you believe that Beyond:Two Souls and Dark Souls are Art?Again, as mentioned, i believe all videogames can be seen as pieces of art.

Hope that helped o/ Good luck with your Essay!

[apollo-writes-random-shit]

Escaping

Read on AO3 here!

Chapter 2

Summary:

In beauty lay danger and that's what The Inbetween was. An uncertainty shrouded in sheets of elegance, beckoning to him like a siren, yearning to have him within its clutch. As much as he desired to unwind, to allow his muscles to untense and obey the wishes of the land encompassing him, he couldn't.

Karl needed to escape and needed to escape fast.

(Spoilers for the latest Inbetween episode! It also mentions some of the characters from past videos.

Note: The reason Quackity is not mentioned and only Sapnap is referred to as Karl's fiancé is because Quackity isn't comfortable with fanfiction involving him being shipped and I want to respect his wishes.)

The moment he woke up, Karl could recognise something was off. Granted, something always seemed off in The Inbetween but ever since he had discovered that secondary set of books, everything had gotten worse. Colours had seemed slightly off, the other Karls' movements seemed almost robotic, the manner enhanced whenever he toured the white complicated pathways.

In beauty lay danger and that's what The Inbetween was. An uncertainty shrouded in sheets of elegance, beckoning to him like a siren, yearning to have him within its clutch. As much as he desired to unwind, to allow his muscles to untense and obey the wishes of the land encompassing him, he couldn't. Not while the memories from former visits were playing through his subconscious. What was the ' it'  the books had been speaking of? Was it even  safe  to uncover the enigma that was its identity?

Sighing, he forced the thoughts to the side as he reached down for the latest book, already feeling trepidation at the thought of what had been inked onto the pages.

The first page was the same as always. A simple greeting, along with a note that there was still more he had yet to learn about himself. Still, something made Karl feel unnerved and he knew whatever the second page held wouldn't be as friendly as it seemed.

I'm so glad to finally see you again! :]

I see you have accidentally strayed from the path recently and I must remind you, don't stray from the path! :]

Unable to help himself, a shudder ran down the young time traveller's spine. That smile. It seemed innocent yet it screamed danger. The path...The one which as far as his failing memory could inform him, had never been fully set out. What  was  the path? Was it just following the halls? Was it avoiding the hidden books?  Why did that smile remind him of something? No. Not something. Some one . But who?

Carefully, he set the book down, wishing not to upset the author by damaging their book. They were watching him. They were  always  watching. Every move in the castle was watched. Karl was sure of it. Surely someone  had  to be. Surely one of the authors was lurking in the background, watching where his feet took him.

Karl just wasn't sure if whoever was watching him had the best wishes for him. All he could tell was that eyes were on him. He was nothing but prey to whatever controlled this beautiful land.

With a sigh, he left the courtyard behind him, wandering instead to a tree which had once possessed a warning. The warning of the threats the palace he walked so often held. The warning of a pair of eyes. A plea to ignore the angelic atmosphere and find a way to a prohibited room.

A plea to stray from the path.

The water looked so inviting as he approached, though the flicker of a darker copy of the area made him take pause, a feeling of paranoia briefly chaining itself around his heart. It was nothing but his imagination. Surely that was all it was.

Making up his mind to disregard the event, he allowed water to engulf him. Allowed it to pull him down gently until he rested in front of a door one that lead to a place where he could gather his thoughts without being watched.

Well, in the past that's what it used to be. The instant he stepped through that door, he was filled with the urge to escape the darkened room. To find a way out of The Inbetween forever. Yet, he was attracted to the book resting before him, water pooling at his feet. All he had to do was read...So why was he shaking? Why were his eyes shooting around, scanning for threats?  What was that smell coming from above him? Surely it wasn't what he thought it was...

Swallowing, he promptly reached out, scooping up the text before he could stop himself for if he didn't, he wouldn't pick it up at all.

Go up the ladder, it has a surprise waiting for you.

:]

Eleven words and a wink yet that was enough to cause Karl's body to tense up, blood turning to ice as the smell wafting down from the small room above him seemed to almost become stronger, slowly wrapping around him, almost like a hug. A cruel yet gentle hug.

He couldn't discern when his body started moving again. He couldn't feel the creaking timber under his shivering fingers, unseeing to the wall drifting gently past his eyes.

It was only when he heard a cry that he was jarred back into his body, mouth slamming shut as wavering sight snapped back to focus. He hadn't even noticed he had collapsed to his knees, the sight of blood splattered everywhere overwhelming him.

Stick to the path :]

How'd The Inbetween expect him to trust it now when it did...Whatever this was?

Quickly, the time traveller stumbled back to the ladder, doing his best to overlook the sensation of half-dried blood sticking to his shoes. At least some of it washed off as he desperately clawed his way out of the water, almost slamming into the white tiles as he launched himself off the tree.

He wanted to throw up yet found himself unable. No. Instead, he just found himself walking to yet another book, a familiar rose placed lovingly nearby. A wither rose, petals dark as the monster who almost always seemed to drop them.

Noticed you strayed from the path a bit there! Your mind seems to be playing tricks on you :]

Let's not let that happen again!

Go to the room where this all began

How had he strayed from the path though? Had it been by allowing his instincts to lead him below the tree? Judging by the sights that the hidden rooms bore, The Inbetween had  wanted  him to go down there. Was it speaking of the sudden change of atmosphere that had lasted a few seconds as he approached the water?

The book held no answers. Just more instructions.

Instructions that he knew he had to follow. How bad could it be right? He just had to go to the large empty room and see what it wanted. He could just pretend the whole blood thing never happened! Ignorance is bliss or whatever...Did the same go for  pretending  to be ignorant?

With a sigh, Karl slowly started walking, ignoring the small water pools forming under him. He was always dry when he woke up back home so why stress about it now? The sooner he read the book, the quicker he could leave. The quicker he could get home...The quicker he could get back to Sapnap. God, he missed him.

Coming to a halt, Karl picked up the room's novel, catching sight of another just beyond the stairs. Whatever that book held, would most likely set off a chain reaction. He could just feel it. But that book would have to wait a moment.

This is where you first joined us in The Inbetween :]

What a joyous time it has been!

I feel you have learned so much about yourself and abilities you possess.

There is still so much to discover here in the inbetween, but I can see you are starting to doubt yourself!

How silly! :]

Karl paused. Silly? How was it silly that he had started to doubt himself? He was losing his memories each time he unwillingly jumped through the timeline. Of course, he'd doubt himself and this place. Who wouldn't?

I can tell you aren't yourself as much lately... Must be having some crazy terrible and skewed imagination! I assure you, this is not a place to provoke harm, but a place to feel at ease.

"That's a honking load of crap..." Slight fear struck through him when he found his voice echoing through the room. Would he be punished for speaking  against  The Inbetween? It had started to appear more and more like a living being over each trip.

Don't trust the illusions, they are only your mind deteriorating.

Don't trust anything except for the path.

Just stick to the path, and read the books :]

Carefully setting the book down, he walked towards the stairs, steps light yet oh so loud in the empty room. Read the books huh? Well, it didn't outright  say  the only books he was permitted to read were the ones accompanied with a wither rose.

Quickly, he snatched the second book up, leaning against the wall before he opened it, almost hiding in the corner in hopes of whatever the hell was watching him couldn't read the inked words.

PLEASE JUST GET TO THE PORTAL.

THE INBETWEEN ISNT WHAT YOU THINK IT IS.

Before he could even close the book, he found himself back in the spacious room he had just retreated from, heaving for air as he lay prone on the floor. Tear glazed eyes watched as a book carelessly slipped off its podium, just begging to be picked up and examined.

Stop straying from the path, Karl.

I know you more than you do.

I know what is right for you.

These visions should not dictate your opinion on The Inbetween. It is safe here.

How was a place that threw him around carelessly like a toy safe? How could he feel protected if reading a mere tome could have him launched into another room?

The urge to escape just grew stronger as each threatening word engraved itself into his terrified mind. Quickly, he stumbled out of the room, all but throwing the book back into its hiding place. Reading that book had caused him to be thrown through space.

The only thing that calmed his racing heart was the portraits hanging on the wall. Each time he returned, a new one would be there, showing a scene of the area he had just visited, with the people he had made connections with...Images holding all of Sapnap's reincarnations, both past and future.

Like always, Karl paused in front of the one holding his Sapnap. He couldn't help but let a small smile grace his features as he looked up at the face of his fiancé. "I'm so gonna cuddle the honk out of you when I get home."

Taking a step back, he mentally slapped himself. Right. He had to find a way out of this place. Sighing he turned on his heel and walked away. He'd be back home soon and the real thing was always better than a still image. Gods, he could practically  feel  the other's arms wrapped around him.

Movement caught his eye and he paused. Odd. Normally the other Karl's never paid attention to him and instead just walked around by themselves...One had never just... Stared  at him before. They never responded to his presence yet here one was. Opening his mouth to voice his confusion, he was stopped by a silent almost unnoticeable tilt of a head before the other walked off.

Obeying the silent order, Karl followed, only to be hit with nausea yet again. The hallway felt like it had tilted as the lighting changed. Where  was  he? Surely this couldn't be The Inbetween...Or was he just seeing its  true  form?

The other had paused again, staring before disappearing altogether, a small leaf of paper floating to the ground in his wake.

Immediately, Karl darted forward, wanting to read the other's words before it too was snatched away.

The swings. Do not believe in this place. Do what we could not. Hurry. Please.

Nodding slightly to himself, Karl took off, sprinting down the remainder of the hall, doing his best to remain steady as the floor shook beneath him. The Inbetween was no doubt angry at the brief communication and he silently prayed for the safety of his copy's soul.

Ever so innocently, another book rest tucked against the tree. Darting around the ones roaming the area, Karl grabbed it, almost crashing into the tree as he did so...He had a feeling the time traveller he had just seen had written it or at the very least, knew of its existence yet for some reason, was unable to read it himself.

These versions of yourself have lost themselves.

They have stayed in The Inbetween for far too long and have lost who they are, doomed to traverse this castle forever.

These are not just visions, this is reality.

Go to the portal.

The portal...That's what he needed. That was his ticket  out . It had to be.

Of course, getting there wouldn't be simple for The Inbetween was still enraged. The second the book closed, Karl felt himself pulled in multiple directions. One second he was facing the portal he needed, yet before he could reach for it, he found himself in a corridor, walls speeding past.

The scream ripping through his throat only came to a stop once he was in yet another dark room, faced with a book that he had no choice but to open.

Don't go to the portal.

How could he not? He wanted freedom from this hell. He wasn't safe here. He was safe at home.

I will see to it that you will regret it if you do so.

At this point, he was regretting everything. Things were clicking into place. The hidden books, the reason why no matter what he did, another Karl had never interacted with him until now...It even explained the portraits. The Inbetween wanted to  keep  him here. Wanted to trap him. Wanted to bring despair to those who loved him, never knowing if he'd ever one day return to them.

This is not even a warning.

We will come and make sure you don't stray from the path

:]

"We?" Nervously looking around, Karl couldn't help but whimper. He couldn't see into the darkness. He was exposed here. Vulnerable. The slip of paper seemed to weigh down his pocket. He had to run. No...There was no  choice  but to run.

Spinning on his heel, he carelessly dropped the book behind him, flinching at a whisper in his ear.

Follow the torches.

The voice was familiar yet that of a stranger. Was it from himself? Another version of himself? A loved one? Now wasn't the time to focus on that.

Instead, he ran, ignoring the way his still damp shoes squeaked on the tiles. He had to get away. The water under the courtyard's tree looked oh so inviting like always but he forced himself to look away.

He couldn't afford to allow himself to be distracted anymore. He needed to get out.

It can't follow you through the portal.

The whisper almost made him take pause. The voice had changed. It was younger...Sweeter. That of a small boy. Tubbo? No...Not him. Tubbo's voice seemed to always hold a mischievous undertone. Yet. It did sound like him in some way. It was connected to him somehow and that's when it hit Karl. Robin. The two times orphaned boy convicted for a murder he had never committed. A boy condemned to burn, the ending of his life controlled by the adults in his life, twisted with paranoia. They had wanted someone to blame and who better than a child with nothing more to lose? A child with no more fight left in his soul?

The thoughts of the past distracted him from the glitching landscape. Distracted him from the way his hands shook as he scaled yet another ladder, almost losing his grip.

You'll be home soon.

Another voice, no longer belonging to Robin but another face of the past. A voice he hadn't heard other than a handful of times, the voice soft yet nervous. It reminded him of eyes moving nervously around under a mask, short sentences always cut off in fear of punishment for going over the few words the speaker had been so 'graciously' allowed. Despite being the one to strike him down. To coldly tell him to return to the egg's home, Karl did not blame the Butler for he had no say. Held under both the cursed Egg's influence and the orders of his master, Sir Billiam III, he had no choice but to obey and leave Karl bleeding on a cold stone floor. He had been able to see regret in the young man's eyes as he plunged the sword into him.

Forcing himself out of a memory soaked in pain and blood, Karl kept running, almost slipping as he clambered to make it to the top of a short staircase. He was so close, he knew it. He was close to escaping.

Keep going! Hurry!

It wasn't hard for Karl to figure out who the soft yet eerie voices belonged to. After all, Zachary and Ash were the only ones he had met that spoke like that. The two had creeped Karl out somewhat over his participation in Schlatt's games. The way they spoke, the way they crept around everywhere, hiding in the background before appearing right next to you.

Two twins clothed in mystery. No one seemed to know much about them, despite Connor saying they were friends. Who was Karl to judge though? The SMP was full of strange characters, after all, some weirder than the twins themselves.

Why did he feel like they were somewhat connected to this place?

For your friends.

John John, the bartender working at a way too young age, forced to deal with bandits day in and day out, unable to make much of a living for himself. What could the bandits have taken anyway? They all knew the small town was struggling. Even Karl knew that the second he had emerged from the mines. There was only a handful of people living there yet the trio expected poor John to have money for the taking.

He had felt close to the poor boy, wanting to protect him. The teen was one of the main reasons Karl proposed a duel in the first place, one he had quickly regretted as the young man was gunned down, eyes once full of hope dimming as he crashed into the wood below him. As much as it had hurt him to shoot Mason, yet another timeline's Sapnap, he knew he had to avenge the soft-spoken bar owner. He had been able to breathe easier again once the sight of Ranboo walking around appeared.

Another room concealed in darkness in which housed small pockets of light greeted him. Pockets of safety for that's what the torches represented.

Protect your stories.

Karl always knew there was something different about Connor. There had always been something slightly off and it was only when he had travelled back to the age of cowboys and gunfights that he had realized why. Connor wasn't meant to be there and judging by the look in the other's eyes when he entered the bar, he knew it as well. They had both learnt each other's major secret in a split second.

The confrontation back at the SMP had been awkward, hushed whispers full of questions and admittances, interwoven with comforts. The two had walked away with promises and locations. Promises of pure secrecy and locations of hidden rooms, each full of their own narratives.

The dark welcomed the terrified young man as he darted past torches and out into the rain that did not register in his mind. It was only when he spotted the portal that he realized he had been soaked yet again.

The Inbetween may have attempted to slow him with the possibility of injury that came with sprinting through rainfall but Karl Jacobs was nothing but stubborn to get out and was not going to let a downpour stop him.

What did make him stop was yet another book, resting oh so innocently in front of the portal, a dark rose swaying side to side, beckoning him closer.

It was the last book he'd ever analyse in here yet he knew it would be the loudest.

You may never remember your friends again if you go into this portal.

Those simple words had his body overrun with fear. Was it a threat? A promise? A warning? All three? Karl couldn't tell but the voices in his head of those he had met were instructing him to keep calm.

Don't be silly, The Inbetween is here to keep you warm, comfortable, and most importantly, it is suppose to keep you in tune with the powers you possess.

"I never asked for these powers though!" A smothered sob escaped him as he collapsed to his knees. "I never requested for any of this..."

All he desired to do was go home. He just craved to be held by his fiancé as he murmured words of comfort, helping him to remember whatever had escaped his mind.

Karl had comprehended that Sapnap was curious and would eventually discover what he was. The other man held a sharp mind so it was only a matter of time before he had discovered the secret library. Sure, it had put a bit of a strain on their relationship for a while. Sapnap inquired why he had never told him and Karl had revealed why he couldn't. Why it had frightened him so much when he had realised that his love had gone through all of his tales. Why he disappeared and why he had clung to him oh so desperately one day, wailing as he reassured himself that he wasn't hallucinating. That his love wasn't dead.

But once the two had calmed down, they had started to work together, building up the trust that had been lost, making it greater than before. It also gave Karl another person to confide in when everything became too overwhelming.

Do not let these visions get to you.

This will not end well.

You will lose everything.

Lose what? He had a book full of reminders back home, waiting to remind him of everything he may have forgotten. He had a friend who knew the hardships that came with writing stories before leaving new friends behind him. He had a fiancé that understood the reasons behind his strange behaviour and poor memory.

Sapnap knew why he'd wake up wailing for a man long dead, for a man who he had once cherished even if he only knew him for a day. He understood the way he'd cry and apologize for killing him.

Don't be silly :]

If being 'silly' was what would get him out of here...Then Karl was ready to gamble. He didn't want to be yet another lost soul, straying the halls of a beautiful hell for the rest of all eternity.

The whispers of friends and enemies, past, present and those yet to come all whispered to him. Urged him to go through the portal. To protect himself from a place in a way so many had failed to do so.

Footsteps echoed behind him, striking fear into him, hand grasping for a weapon that didn't exist.

A well-known face regarded him with a perfect stranger's eyes.

"None of us can accompany you but go. Escape. It is the only way you can remain alive. You're our last hope."

"I.."

"You're the only one with a future. Everyone else has failed. Please. Hurry and modify your timeline. Save them all."

"I will." Looking away from his copy, Karl stepped into the portal, enabling its swirling matter to coil around him. The humming of the gateway grew more powerful, stifling the voices ricocheting within his head.

[my-depth-inner-chaos]

I love and I care so, so much. That's how I kill. My plants and relationships. People often say that I should be tougher, should not be kind to everyone, not too kind. And I agree with them, I should. Maybe.

But I can't and I wont.

Kind people are a rarity and I refuse to let this species die. I refuse to close my heart and my eyes to the suffering that's all around us all over. I refuse to choose the easy way out. I refuse to be weak.

I admit it's annoying, it's hurtful, it's disappointing and I can't tell you how many times I wantes to give up and fuck everyone and everything. Sometimes I slipped, and I still regret it. But Im only human, as the song goes.

I love so easily, I see kindness and my heart just feels warmed like flowers feeling the spring sun after a cold winter. I'm pretty sure I could love anyone or at least find some good things about them. I love that about me but people often comment on that telling me to stop doing it or if they are softer, to take care. I see their point but people need love and acceptance and no one seems to do it. It's been hard for me but I'm trying to learn that not all people deserve that but it seems so wrong to me to think that. Logically yes, if someone did something outrageous society decides they are not deserving of care and kindness anymore. And I think that about some people too but isnt that hypocritical of me? I am aware of it, my mind registers the contradiction but thinking about the victims just makes me want to punish the criminal even if I know it's not the correct thing to do. I can't say if I'd really do it but there's a chance I might not stop someone if they were to do it.

That's probably why ghosts of my past still haunt me even if their living counterparts couldn't care less. But I love so hard, so much, some will say it's too much or that they can't fathom where all that kindness is coming from. My love is the strongest thing in me, one of the strongest things in this universe. And my love doesn't work logically or precisely. It hopes, it dreams, encourages and does it's thing. The bad part is that even if the person in the receiving end is not worthy of it, my love won't care, it won't stop.

"I still love the people I love even if I cross the street to avoid them. " I do. Like I used to dream and discuss and prepare with the person I wanted to marry. But now he's a stranger and I would give anything to erase his presence in me. There was as much hate as it was love and digging deeper there might still be some hate. You see, I feel everything so fully, so fiercely. Being loved by me is an adventure, twists and turns, ups and downs, sweet candies, soft touches, steady arms to hold, echoes of encouragements and love confessions. To be loved by me, is being pampered by angels, it's living in Heaven while on Earth, it's more than you wanted with so many things you didn't know you needed. But being loved by me is being loved by a tornado of words and thoughts and feelings exceeding the capacity your mind could imagine. It's all or nothing, it's everything or absence. You will feel the extremes and most won't be able to handle it. It's tough for me to handle myself, I can only imagine what it's like for someone else. So if I have to stop loving you after you've lived with the end of the world, it will cause natural disasters, in my heart and soul. And it will spill into the world and it will cry with me, it will erupt and tremble with anger. And you will feel my wrath, unconsciously maybe but it will reach you.

I'd like to kill the ghost, to let the air escape from the memories, to poison the questions that keep popping up after every new update from your life, I want to burn the scenarios where you came back and you know what you lost. I want to rid myself of everything that was once you, I want to put in all in a box and put it away safely in a basement. I want to forget about it and when I'm old I want to burn it. Up in flames you'll go and I'll be purified.

Disasters are named after women and I'm the end of the world that keeps happening. Being loved by me is Heaven and Hell, with no survivors in the aftermath.

I still don't know what loving me is like. For know I only know that loving me makes my smile so bright, I beam and sparkle and I evolve. Loving me is a mystery you'll never solve. Loving me is knowing the only constant thing is change - in life and with me. Loving me will enable me to bring your vision of Paradise on Earth. Loving me is constant hard work. Loving me is what I'm learning now.

I always write about love in all its forms and phases. Love is part of me, my essence, my core.

Love is everywhere and I am the Love-Whisperer.