#timber maniacs

[angelosearch]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Final Fantasy VIII Characters: Laguna Loire, Kiros Seagill, Ward Zabac Summary:

Laguna’s drafts for Timber Maniacs are interesting, to say the least. And this time, he, Kiros, and Ward are in Dollet.

For Laguna’s birthday and @ffviiicharacterweek! I used the bonus prompt: Timber Maniacs. 

[tastytofusoup]

Final Fantasy VIII (1999) ↠ Timber Maniacs

[fryingpan1234567]

listen I knowwww Roach should be British. he was on a British task force. he’s got the flag on his uniforms. but when @fixfoxnox said southerner Roach I just couldn’t not love him okay leave me alone

anyways. southerner Roach shenanigans

(I guess you could call this a Something in the Orange fanfic since he’s besties with Jackson in this scenario as well as dating Ghost and Soap……… but it’s general enough it’s probably fine ANYWAYS)

Roach’s accent, while it normally only lightly flavors a few of his words, gets considerably thicker when he’s visiting home

I mean like he does the thing southerners do where they somehow mash entire sentences into one word and the others are just like “……….what” but Jackson is nodding like he understood

Like. They’re all at dinner together somewhere. Somebody brings up the rodeo at the state fair. The Europeans have no idea what they’re talking about. Roach just goes “y’ain’tneverheardadat??” and Soap nearly has a stroke trying to figure out what he meant but Jackson continues to eat soundly like he didn’t hear anything wrong

COWBOY👏 HAT👏 RULE👏

HELP

No no no they go to some random dive bar for one of their birthdays. It doesn’t matter whose. Jackson and Roach both have cowboy hats because OBVIOUSLY and like. They exchange this look that the others can’t figure out whenever one of their boyfriends steals their hat via flirting

(They tell them later and then can’t stop laughing while Soap and Ghost and Gaz are just sitting there like uh oh)

After that the hat stealing is very much purposeful

Square dancing to fucking Timber by Kesha and Pitbull in said dive bar because that’s just required idk what to tell you

Soap and Ghost seeing Roach ride a horse for the first time and visibly bluescreen

Roach recognizing people from high school in his hometown even tho he hasn’t seen them in like 20 years

He likes Taylor Swift but only her old country-adjacent stuff

Ghost and Soap couldn’t figure out his aversion to any kind of substitute milk until he took them home and they found out it’s because he grew up drinking milk that literally came from the cows he has in his backyard. They own two cows. And a few chickens. Very resourceful

Jackson and Roach dragging the 141 to Roach’s family’s Super Bowl party one year because in the southern states it’s a huge fucking deal

The Europeans being like “………this is quite possibly one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen in my life” but their boys are having fun so it’s okay

God help the rest of them. Jackson and Roach are rooting for opposite teams.

There’s screaming, there’s wrestling on the living room floor, there’s spilling food and beer everywhere. The amount of rubbing it in after a touchdown lands is fucking crazy, and they’ve shouted about stabbing each other every single time

Eventually, maybe with a bit of googling, the others get into it. Soap hasn’t stopped shoving Mrs. Roach’s buffalo chicken dip in his face since he’d discovered it when they’d arrived, and Ghost was letting the kids use his tattoo like a coloring page while he chatted with Roach’s dad and brothers. Gaz kept getting elbowed in the ribs whenever Roach and Jackson tousled on the couch, and a couple times he was asked to hold Jackson’s beer so “I can kick some sense into this dipshit,” usually followed by Roach’s maniacal cackling. Price was banging around in the kitchen with Mrs. Roach. Nobody knew how he’d gotten dragged into that, but he seemed to be enjoying himself

On the topic of bringing the boys home to the fam oh my GODS thanksgiving

Ghost is not a dessert person. He’s never been a dessert person. But he had four slices of Mr. Roach’s apple pie, so,,,,,,,,, apparently he is actually a dessert person

Obvi Roach is good with all guns, but he was hunting with his dad and brothers by the time he was like six. He knows how to work a shotgun like he breathes

(Ahem being southern is why he’s so fucking stubborn btw if anyone was wondering)

Roach and Jackson both are religious Dolly Parton listeners

“DID U GUYS KNOW SHE WROTE JOLENE AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU ON THE SAME DAY—“

Ghost and Soap wake up one night because there’s a weird noise outside. They poke Roach awake like “???? what was that??” and he was just like “oh yeah the woods make noises sometimes. don’t worry about it. if something actually wanted to kill you, you wouldn’t hear it coming” and promptly passed back out

“Yea I’ve seen a skinwalker before” “FYM YOU’VE S E E N O N E ? “ “It was in my backyard?? Relax it just wanted the coyote that always tries to kill our chickens. I didn’t really mind”

Gaz suggests investigating a weird figure he saw in the woods. Roach laughs out loud and Jackson smacks him in the back of the head like “that’s how you fucking die you idiot”

“Y’all’re lucky we’re here to stop you from doing somethin’ stupid. Fuckin’ city slickers” “What did you just call me”

The deafening sounds of crickets and locusts puts Roach to sleep almost instantly every night. Ghost barely sleeps every time they visit.

”IT IS SO FUCKING LOUD IF ONE MORE BLOODY CRICKET—“ “Simon not everyone needs literal dead silence to sleep—“

No matter how many pillows he stacks on top of his head he can’t escape it

Oh. Oh. The Europeans CANNOT do southern heat. They’re passed out on the porch while Jackson and Roach and Roach’s brothers play football in the front yard

Roach makes killer lemonade and iced tea nobody talk to me

He has a rusty blue ancient pickup that he says is his baby. One of the wheels is misshapen and the bed squeaks dangerously every time they hit a pothole, but he won’t get rid of it EVER

Roach introduces Soap and Ghost to catching fireflies in jars with his nieces and nephews. They are. So in love with the concept.

It gets turned into a competition, because of course it does, and it looked like Ghost was going to win— but then the youngest of the participating children silently held up a jar that was too bright to look at and audibly buzzing from the amount of bugs inside of it. They cut their losses and embrace the fact that they’ll never be That Good

Southern👏 sunsets👏 there ain’t nothing like it

Soap has a sketchbook dedicated entirely to doodling Roach doing farm things

Roach had a horse he took care of in high school. Her name was Peaches and he literally cried when he found pictures of her in his room

Ghost LOVES the sweet old border collie Roach’s parents have. That dog has seen many a stampede, and he’s herded just as many. What a man. Ghost does not leave him alone Ever

gods fuck me bro I could literally talk about southern Roach F O R E V E R (idk if you can tell from the long ass post Jesus Christ)

good morning/ night/ 4am lmk if you want more of this

[ffviiicharacterweek]

Selphie Tilmitt: July 16th - July 23rd

It's time for our bubbly Messenger Girl/Pilot/Explosive Expert: Selphie Tilmitt!

The prompt list

Transfer Student

Dream Band

Garden festival

First Guardian Force

Trabia

Sir Laguna

Bonus

Special Magic

Garden Website

Timber Maniacs Collector

Free Choice!

Submissions

Submissions can be posted in the AO3 collection (you can find it here) and on Tumblr starting July 16th; please fill in this form, because from now on only the fanworks submitted through the form will be reblogged. You can also tag @ffviiicharacterweek and/or use the hashtag #ffviiicharacterweek.

And remember: HAVE FUN, AND SHARE THE LOVE!

[the-kr8tor]

Hehehehehehe..... Daily Hobie HC! Sometimes kesha songs just hit the spot Both Hobie and you have decided to crash one of his universe's government meetings. Unfortunately, you two are way too giggly with each other to do anything successfully. Of course, you both can be serious (when sober), but why? Why be serious when the entire time he's trying to spy on the window from the other side it just looks like a cat. Once you manage to sneak in, he quickly follows behind, not trying to stay quiet. Despite this, somehow you both still aren't caught. The mission isn't entirely to kill, but just to give a shock. As he grabs a spare rag as a wick, shoving it inside an alcohol bottle as a makeshift molotov, Hobie fumbles for his lighter, which ends up dropping with you making a snort of laughter. This alerts the government officials, to which they immediately engage into combat, holding guns right up at the two of you. While you kept them occupied with leaping around and laughter that could come across as maniacal, Hobie manages to light up the molotov and dive out the window, signaling for you to follow quickly. Crashing out of the window ungracefully, you stumble into the ground at his feet, with Hobie laughing and pulling you along, the both of you sprinting as far as possible, still hearing the sound of the explosion from the molotov. Quickly seeking refuge in a lone alleyway, Hobie still holding you against him for support as the two of you catch your breaths. After settling down, Hobie unfurls the map he had stuffed into his back pocket of all the government meetings he planned to sabotage. Puncturing a hole in the map marking place that you both just exploded, there were at least 3 other meetings needing to be sabotaged. Hobie turned to you, a smirk evident underneath his mask. The moment he asks if you're ready for another adventure, your own wide grin graces your lips underneath your mask, the two of you rushing off. Hobie lead the way, swinging towards another meeting. This one, was underground, so the two of you would have to be extra sneaky to try and weave into it. After quite literally glaring at each other the entire time as a reminder to shut up, both you and Hobie managed to slink to the board meeting room. The main weapon for these shocks were half drank alcohol bottles, spare rags and Hobie's lighter. Throwing another molotov out, the two of you immediately burst through the doors, not caring to make his or your presence known. After all, it was more fun to see what the news will say. This time, you grabbed onto Hobie's hand, swinging off with him as he flipped the people watching off, the sound of the explosion cornily reminding you of the ignition of love between the two of you. Hobie dropped the two of you on top of a building, crossing off another location with a puncture. The night continued on like this, with it having been 2am when you both returned to the boathouse, bordering 3am. Lazily, you both pulled out of your spidersuits and crashed into bed, Hobie pulling you closer and tiredly humming in satisfaction. You cling closer to him, passing out immediately as his warmth crashed over you like a wave, paired up with his scent as you nuzzled your face into the crook of his neck. The next day, you woke up to an empty bed, and sounds coming from the lounge room. Groggily, you step out, dragging your feet out into the main area and crashing onto the couch next to Hobie, not yet seeing why he seemed so happy. He rubbed a hand affectionately over your back, coaxing you to sit up and lean into him as he pointed out the news going into panic about the attacks. Hobie mercilessly smothered you in kisses that morning as a thank you gift for joining him in being a menace, but you'd do it all over again for him. -🐦‍⬛

Wdym hehehe 🤨

Daily Hobie HC ‼️‼️‼️

Timber was my jam

OWNSJAJSNWS THIS WAS GIVING BLACK CAT R X SPIDERMAN VIBES!!!!

I love that they're so giddy and mischievous like they're just pranking their friends and not committing arson 😂

I imagined this in my head like a marvel short where the art style is in arcane style and there's no dialogue I love my brain sometimes

Also I imagined r poking the map with their claw!! So hot of them tbh

Awww they have a bit of a cuddle after committing crimes!!! Literally the couple of the decade (soulmates meant to be together in every life)

Their love language is anarchy your honour

[starbornsoulrider]

how the ending to that quest went in my head-

spoilers for new story quest

It all happens in a blink. One minute, Halo was staring at the face of the man who took their beloved mentor from them. The face they'd hoped to never see again. They weren't even able to do anything- the shock had overcome their body long before they were able to shout, scream, attack, do anything. That can't be him. This has to be a dream. A nightmare. Please let it be a nightmare.

The next, there's a flash, and the ground beneath Buddy disappears. The Dark Riders, Mr. Sands, Darko, Devil's Gap, are all swallowed by white. Halo can't even realize where they've been transported to before the visions start. They don't feel themself fall sideways off Buddy's back and hit the rocky ground with a thump as shadows begin to consume their vision in place of the blinding light from before.

Everything plays out again, like a movie running in their mind. Their friends, the Dark Riders, Mr. Sands- Elissa wreaking complete havoc as Garnok's thousands of arms burst forth from the earth, shredding Jorvik apart like paper. Maniacal laughing ringing in their ear as everything they'd fought tooth and nail to protect crumbles like dust.

Darko has a hand around their throat, dangling them over the edge of a cliff, over the roaring ocean below. There's crystal shards scattered at his feet, and among them, Halo can make out the petrified faces of their friends and soul horse. Their horror-struck faces, captured in pink stone.

He lets go, and Halo plummets through the screeching air and plunges into the unforgiving cold. A tentacle wraps around their torso, dragging them back into the forsaken, empty darkness and trapping them for eternity.

"Halo! HALO!"

The sound of their horse's voice crying out to them slowly draws them out of the terror flashing before their eyes, and back to reality.

"Halo! Halo, you need to breathe!"

They can make out their horse's blue eyes through the haze. Following his instructions, they squeeze their eyes shut, and slowly but surely the horrific visions begin to dwindle. Buddy's voice talking them through it acts as a lifeline, keeping them from being dragged back down.

After what feels like hours, everything finally clears, and falls quiet. Their bleary eyes blink back open, greeted by the sight of the clouded night sky and the red particles left as residue from that teleportation spell. They suddenly register the weight on their chest, where Timber lay to try and calm them down. As they come back to their senses, their hand reaches up to rest on the Mistfox's soft fur.

A few more breaths later, and they make an attempt to sit up. Timber shifts into their lap, inky eyes never leaving his owner as he lets out a worried whimper.

Buddy's ears droop back in concern, but he gives his rider space, head hovering a safe distance away. Thick silence holds in the air as Halo gazes out blankly to the lapping shores of Cape Sorrow.

"...Halo?" he speaks up cautiously.

The young Soul Rider's mouth hangs open for a moment more. Halo's stare never leaves the towering cliffs of South Hoof in the distance as faint, raspy words finally part from their lips.

"My visions of Garnok..." they breathe out shakily, trembling hands squeezing Timber closer. "...they're coming true."

[fates-theysband]

the day you came, the sun ran out of light

idk what it is about this game that's making me pound out writing in a fevered haze but. another outer wilds self ship fic. here there be emotional conversations. maybe also some smooching. who's to say. also i think this is the first time i've had multiple of my s/is in one fic.

words: 2.2k

--

It was inaccurate to say Dark Bramble was ever quiet. It had…significantly less sound than somewhere like, say Giant’s Deep, that was for certain, but it was never quiet. Feldspar was part of the reason, of course, since their harmonica was usually the loudest thing in earshot. But even when they weren’t playing, they could hear other things. The distant screeches of anglerfish fighting for territory, the crackling of the fire, and, sometimes, if they listened just closely enough, the distant sparking of their ship’s remains. 

One thing they never expected to hear in their corner of Dark Bramble, though, was thrusters. Especially thrusters without the follow-up of an anglerfish immediately giving chase. It’d certainly happened to them enough times during the trip that stranded them here. They set their harmonica aside and squinted at the fog, searching for any sign that the ship was close to their camp…only for a BANG to resound from the back of the skeleton, followed by…voices?

“Stars above, are you trying to get us both killed!?”

“It was just the landing gear, I can bend it back into shape in three seconds!”

“We won’t have three seconds if every anglerfish in this…abomination against nature is after us!”

“The frequency–”

“Shut up about the frequency! You don’t think that landing was louder?” 

“It’s not about how loud it is, it’s about how unpleasant it is, first of all. Second–”

Feldspar was loath to move out of range of the gravity crystal, but they couldn’t lie that they were intrigued. The arguing voices were unmistakably familiar, and as they crept to the very edge of their camp, they could see two figures in spacesuits, floating toward the camp from a ship wedged between the skeleton’s tailbones. They were about the same height and build as each other, although one of them wore a noticeably shabbier spacesuit–Feldspar recognized it as the training spacesuit from the zero-g cave. That thing was barely spaceworthy, it didn’t even have proper boosters on the jetpack, and they already admired anyone who’d be willing to fly all the way out to Dark Bramble wearing it.

The figure in the training suit was reading their companion the riot act as the two of them floated closer. “–and you just start banging on my door, rambling about how ‘there’s no time to explain, just put this on’ and drag me out in that deathtrap Slate calls a ship–and you know how much I hate that you even climbed into that hunk of junk–but you beg me to trust you, and I do because you’re my sibling and at least if I’m with you I know what you’re getting up to, and to reward my trust you bring me to Dark Bramble of all places, the entire time flying like an absolute maniac and only by some sort of completely insane luck not ending up down some anglerfish’s gullet!”

Oh, now that voice was a sound for sore ears. Feldspar could scarcely believe it–they almost didn’t until the other figure cut in with, “Zirc, you’re blowing it out of proportion.” Stars above, Tourmaline had gotten big. They’d barely been old enough to operate a signalscope last time Feldspar had seen them, and now they were blasting off all by themself. Well, almost by themself. Seems they’d brought Zircon along for the ride. Good. There was a lot of lost time to make up with everyone on Timber Hearth, of course, but Zircon…

The pair came within range of the gravity crystal, and Feldspar stepped back a bit so it wasn’t too obvious they’d been eavesdropping. Zircon seemed to be wrapping up their rant. “I just wish you’d be a little more careful; if not for your sake, then for mine. I know you’re not deliberately reckless, but when you get like this you’re worse than–” They stopped in their tracks, seeming to notice just who they and their younger sibling were standing in front of. “Feldspar?” They froze in their tracks, their tone shifting from frustration to a combination of relief and disbelief in just that one word, before turning back toward Tourmaline. “Why didn’t you..?”

Tourmaline shrugged. “Didn’t think you’d believe me. Thought maybe you’d accuse me of playing with your feelings or something. Also, I kinda wanted it to be a surprise. But yeah. Feldspar’s still kickin’ around.”

“Kickin’ more than that,” Feldspar interjected, walking backward toward the campfire and motioning for Zircon and Tourmaline to follow. “Pull up a marshmallow stick, you two, I’ll tell you the whole story.”

“Sorry, I can’t stick around that long,” Tourmaline quickly replied, turning to leave. “I, uh, heard something really weird on my ship’s signalscope while I was navigating here and I wanna go check it out. Zirc, you wanna hang out here while I investigate? I won’t be long.”

“Tourmaline, what are you–” Zircon turned to grab their sibling’s shoulder, but Tourmaline put up a hand to stop them.

“Trust me, you’re a lot safer in this guy’s jaws,” they motioned to the roof of the anglerfish skeleton’s mouth, “than anywhere else in Dark Bramble.”

“The hatchling’s right,” Feldspar added. “No beasties will bother us here…and I’d love to catch up with you.” They winked. It wasn’t visible through the helmet, of course, but judging from the way Zircon tensed up at that last part, the message came through loud and clear.

“Fine,” Zircon relented, arms dropping to their sides. “Just…don’t do anything that’ll get you killed, please? For me?”

“If getting here didn’t kill me, nothing else will,” Tourmaline reassured, before gently motioning their head toward the campfire. “Go take a load off. I’ll be back.” They dashed off before Zircon could respond, and Feldspar heard the sound of thrusters again, fading away this time.

“Still just as subtle as they were back then, huh?” Feldspar said, settling back down to where they’d been sitting before the ship arrived, patting the ground next to them and looking at Zircon expectantly. “Crazy that they’re all grown up now.”

Zircon didn’t move. They stood where Tourmaline left them, staring at Feldspar, as if frozen in place. It put Feldspar in mind of someone watching the Quantum Moon–as if Zircon thought that, if they moved or blinked or did anything to break their focus, they’d be left standing alone in an abandoned campsite. Finally, after what felt like forever, they spoke, their voice wavering. “Everyone thought you were dead.”

“What, me? Not a chance.”

“Nobody else in the village would ever admit that, of course. Hearthian optimism at its finest. They’d say you were missing, or that you never came back, or that you’d disappeared, or they’d just awkwardly trail off after they said your name. But I thought–I knew–that you were dead.”

Feldspar stood up, approaching their old friend. “Zircon…” they murmured, unsure how to react.

“I cried, you know? When Hornfels told me they’d lost your signal? And for so long after that. It was so long before I could be alone for even an hour without thinking about you and breaking down. And having everyone else pretend that there was a chance you’d come back, that someone would find you, that one day someone would turn on their signalscope and hear you again–it just felt like they were dragging it out longer. Like instead of just letting me pull off the bandage in one go, they were making me gradually peel it away, so I felt every single cell of my skin individually separating from the adhesive, and it was agonizing.” Their voice trembled even more. “There’s so much I want to say to you that I thought I’d never get to say, and now…” they trailed off.

“Guess that makes two of us,” Feldspar responded with an awkward chuckle, attempting to lighten the mood. “Come on,” they extended a hand, “come sit by the fire and you can–”

Zircon cut them off, gripping their shoulders, and Feldspar could feel their glare through the helmet. “Some part of me wants to throttle you for being so reckless again, just like you always are, you always worried me so sick doing all those stupid dangerous stunts…the few times I thought about you and didn’t cry I was fuming, I was so angry that you’d done the one thing I always hoped you wouldn’t do and gotten yourself killed on one of your daring adventures…ugh.” They softened their grip. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t want the first thing I did when I saw you again to be berating you. I know that whatever you did to end up here wasn’t something you did on purpose. You’re too reckless for your own good, but you aren’t foolish.”

Feldspar pulled them into a hug, unable to stop themself from smiling. “All these years and you’re still such a worrywart,” they said fondly. “Can’t imagine how you’d have reacted if I’d made it back home. You’d try to have me grounded, wouldn’t you? ‘Feldspar’s not fit to fly, they went to Dark Bramble willingly! Nobody in their right mind would do that!’”

“Nobody in their right mind would come here,” Zircon replied, returning the hug and squeezing even tighter. “But I’m glad I had that particular lapse in judgment. Sorry for dumping on you like that. I’m really happy you’re okay.”

“Stars above, I missed you,” Feldspar responded. “Glad you didn’t worry yourself to death over me before I could see you again.”

“I don’t like seeing you in danger,” Zircon protested. “I know it bothers you because you have this reputation as a thrill-seeking daredevil whose last words are going to be ‘watch this’, but I only get that way because I…”

“Because you what?” Feldspar teased, pulling away from the hug but holding onto Zircon’s arms, cocking their head to the side. “Because you love me?” There was a bit of hope behind the joke. Not much hope; their half-joking flirtations had never landed back then, at least not as anything more than jokes. Still, they hoped this one would make Zircon smile, if nothing else.

It didn’t work. Zircon clenched their fists so hard their hands shook, and if they hadn’t been crying before the sound of their voice told Feldspar they definitely were now. “Because I don’t want to lose you that way. Because I don’t want you to die pointlessly just for a stupid adrenaline rush. And you know what? Yeah. Because I love you. I’ve learned that it definitely hurt so much more to know you were dead and I could never tell you how I felt, so I’m going to tell you while I still have the chance. I love you. I’m in love with you. You don’t have to love me back, but now you know. Are you happy now?”

Oh. That…was not the response Feldspar had been expecting, and they didn’t know how to react. They let go of Zircon’s arms and stepped back. “…wow. I feel like a real jerk now. You never seemed like you were actually into me back home, I…thought that would make you laugh like all my other lines did. I’m real sorry. Let’s…let’s get closer to the fire, there’s more air over there. Don’t wanna get tears all over your visor.” They reached out their hand again, and this time Zircon took it.

Neither of them spoke until they were both settled next to each other by the fire, helmets off and resting on the log behind them. Despite the tension in the air mingling with the campfire smoke, Feldspar couldn’t deny that Zircon still looked just as good as they had years ago. They’d have commented on it, but…that probably wouldn’t go well right now. Zircon finally broke the silence, calmer this time. “That was another thing I was meaning to ask you. Your ‘lines’...did you really mean those?”

It would have been easy to just say “yes” or “of course I did” or “you’re the only one I ever joked with that way, so I guess either way I was trying to tell you I liked you” or anything along those lines. That was the safe option. But…well, Feldspar was an incorrigible risk-taker with a habit of acting first and then thinking about it later. So instead, they leaned over and kissed Zircon square on the lips. When they pulled away, they did so with a cockeyed grin and a “That answer your question?”

Zircon froze again, blinking as though they were registering what had just happened. Then, once they’d processed everything, they were gripping Feldspar’s scarf like a lifeline, kissing them back so hard the two of them almost fell completely over from how far they were leaning. It was long and intense, so consuming that it was hard to hear anything else–not the fire, not the anglerfish, not anything.

Especially not jetpack thrusters or footsteps. When Zircon finally released Feldspar (who would swear they hadn’t been that dizzy since their first zero-g training), the two of them were finally able to notice the flickering shadow cast over them both. Tourmaline was back, and seemed amused by what they’d just seen. “You owe me an apology for lying to me when I was little, Zirc. You are too sweet on Feldspar.”

Feldspar couldn’t help but laugh at that. “They’ve got you there,” they told Zircon, gazing at them with a woozy smile.

For the first time since they’d shown up, Zircon finally smiled, a huffed laugh escaping their lips. “Don’t push your luck.”

[pb-dot]

Film Friday: Nope

With Halloween now over and thoroughly booped, it's time for me to write my final spooktober Film Friday. I want to use this opportunity to right a wrong, and write some words on one of the greatest horror filmmakers of our generation, Jordan Peele, and specifically his 2022 opus Nope.

Nope is the story of OJ and Emerald, Em, Haywood. The two siblings raise and rear horses for use in movies, a business they inhereted from their recently deceased father. The tight monetary situation and occasional Sibling Issues already makes things tense, but the tension takes on a whole other timber once OJ discovers that... something big and airborne is abducting horses in the area, and that whatever it is, it'd be real lucrative to catch on film.

Thus begins a tense but heartwarming creature feature, as OJ and Em learn more about this horse rustler of the skies, and gears up to meet it on the open field to catch the shot of a lifetime. Along for the ride is also a tech store clerk with ambition and a raspy-voiced camera virtuoso who I am willing to bet good money is based on some Film Guy Peele has met at some point.

Now, I am keeping the synopsis vague here because what exactly is going on in Nope is a really fun twist that I feel people deserve to discover for themselves. Even calling it a twist feels a bit misleading, tbh, as the central mystery as to what exactly is going on out in Nope Country develops at a steady pace. Still, there are details as to what exactly goes on that perhaps is misdirected by the plot, admittedly by characters who think they know what's going on.

With that in mind, let's talk a bout Jupe for a spell. The former child star turned theme park owner experiences his plot somewhat in parallel with the Haywood siblings, and for the first while I considered his plot to be kind of apropos of nothing, until I realized his plot was essential to the whole thing. Not from a "plot points and corkboard timelines" perspective, but from a more thematic angle. Jupe has considerable trauma in his past after an animal handling accident on set, which by the way probably is the scariest flashback ever put on film, and it looks like he has extracted exactly the wrong lesson from the sad and terrifying proceedings. It's very hard to talk about how this works so well without getting into spoilers, but suffice to say it climaxes in one of the most viscerally unpleasant scenes I've ever seen as Jupe comes closer than face to face with the exact thing he misinterpreted.

Now, one of my favorite things in this movie is the acting. David Kaluuya does an incredible job as OJ, infusing the man both with a very relatable awkwardness that makes one wonder if he might be neurodivergent, as well as some good common sense in tense situations that is instantly endearing. Keke Palmer does great job as Emerald, playing a bit of a maniacally cheery, if bragadocious, multitalent to compensate for OJs low-key anxiety. In private, of course, it softens up a little, Emerald relaxes a touch and OJ becomes more present in conversation. Things are softer, but there's lasting pain over their upbringing and sudden death of their father Otis Haywood that makes their interactions on occasion stiff. The "sibling vibes" here are excellent, OJ and Emerald are deeply familiar with each other and still feel the need to come up with excuses to hang out, like they can't be caught showing genuine affection for each other. When talking about acting, I should also bring up Stephen Yeun, who does a great acting turn with his "I'm fine, in fact I'm better than fine" (he is very much not fine) persona, and the small and large ways his trauma bubbles to the surface.

When all is said and done, Nope decidedly feels like less of a horror experience than Peele's earlier works. It feels a bit closer to Jaws in tone, turning a Situation into an Adventure by the way of pluck and perhaps oversized determination. The movie never loses track of the elements of horror, the situation is still a dangerous one, but after showing us the messy culmination of Jupe's story and a particularly effective Night Of Horror as the thing that is Going On pulls out all the stops, it reads more as a action/adventure risk than a horror movie one. Still, this third act feels very earned, and boy is it fun and cathartic.

The main problem with this movie is that there's so much stuff to talk about. I haven't even gotten into my favorite reference, or the finer points of Jupe's tragic journey of fucking it all up, or the soundtrack, or anything like that. Before I sign off, though, I want to talk about how this movie shoots day-for-night. You see this in horror movies a lot. Shooting scenes set at night is expensive because people don't like doing all-nighters, so what does the thrifty producer do? Shoot at daytime and then messing with the color balance and light level until it looks like night... kinda. It never looks quite right, and it doesn't take much than an errant piece of the sky in shot to make the trick painfully obvious. New to this movie, courtesy of Peele and his Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, is a whole new way of shooting Day-For-Night, using both a regular camera and an infrared one and combining the input from these to create nighttime shots that look like properly lit night shoots without having to actually shoot at night. While it doesn't 100% read as realistic night to me, it does present itself as a very valid "real enough" cinematic take on the concept as well as offering a good balance of visibility and realism.

So that's Nope. Fun, occasionally terrifying, good head on it's shoulders and good heart in it's body. If you think you know what it's actually about (without being spoiled,) you're probably wrong. Watch it one of these days won't ya?

[soapy-soartp]

Day 12 of @whumperless-whump-event (late entry)

Day: 12 - IT'S GOING DOWN I'M YELLING TIMBER)

Prompt: Building collapse / Trapped under rubble / "I can't move my legs."

Fandom: Bungo Stray Dogs

Characters: Chuuya Nakahara x Dazai Osamu

His heart beat just focus on his heart beat, yeah, don't think about- don't think about /his/ death- the blood- the- the- stop. It’s only been a few minutes- he can survive a little longer!… Can he though?

Fuck stop. Just focus.

Focus on what the markarelel is trying to say through his stupidly ingenious heartbeat trick. He’s trying to direct him. They can’t speak, Dazai can’t yell out to him and annoy him because then that’d risk the rest of the buildings collapsing and burying the suicidal maniac even more.

He can’t risk panicking because he can’t show that he cares (that'll only lead to hurt), and he can't afford to lose the precise control he has on his powers because he doesn't know where Dazai is exactly and he again risks crushing the idiot.

So just focus on his heart beat, it’ll lead him to that dumbass mummy whose as dumb as he is smart. As long as his heart is beating he's alive, as long as his heart beats he’d never truly leave chuuya.

But then suddenly the steady heartbeat he was listening to begins to grow erratic. His powers grow erratic too, giant chunks of the collapsed buildings glowing red and hovering- he starts being more reckless, more desperate in his search. 

That dumb ex-partner of his cannot die here. 

Not on some mission that they’d thought would be easy. Not due to some dumb ability that made it so Chuuya couldn’t find him. Not due to some wannabe crime organization wanting to act threatening toward the Port Mafia.

Then- an actual message comes through,

Shrimp. -Taking so long?

“Shut up, I’m fuckin trying.”

can’t get tiny brain to work? Told you, hat was eating away at it!

“I swear when I find you, Osamu- your-“

alright though! Can wait!

“Yes please wait, I’m almost there, I can find you.”

Then a lapse of silence, it goes on a kind of cycle, Dazai’s usual annoying remarks then silence. Well not exactly silence, the heart beat still pumps through it just no real message was actually put there. But then, the silence lapses for longer.

Chuuya…

It was shaky, Dazai doesn’t do shaky, not like that!

I- Can't move legs…

Chuuya sucks in a breathe and doubles his efforts.

Hurts. Chuu… 

“I FUCKIN bet and whose fault is that?!”

Didn’t. -beat-  Want -beat- Go. -beat- Like. -beat- This. -beat-

Each word was punctuated with a trembling beat, then the messages stop again but this time that usually strong stead heart falters.

Then finally after what seems like forever Chuuya finally find his stupid ex partner. When the ruble lifted to reveal him, he was in horrible shape. Bloodied everywhere, his legs mangled, yet he still looks up and teasingly smiles at Chuuya before his head lolls and… 

Chuuya can’t hear the heartbeat anymore.

That's when it all exploded, suddenly everything is surrounded by for a tainted’s red aura and Chuuya is lifting Dazai’s too limp and bloodied form with him as he breaks through the rest of the ruined building.

He lands suddenly in front of the detective agency’s doctor and trusts out Dazai’s form.

“FIX HIM!”

The doctor, Yasono or something, gasps and so do the other agency members around them. Then he's told to lay Dazai down on a spare mat so she can hopefully use her ability to revive him. He doesn't want to let his partner go but he needs to. 

So he does as told yet allows a piece of hair from Dazai’s head to be affected by for the tainted sorrows while the doctor uses her ability to attempt a damn miracle.

After a few agonizing moments he waits and stares at Osamu’s unmoving chest and still blood covered form. Then for the tainted’s effect wears off and Osamu’s chest begins to rise and fall, shallowly yes, but rise and fall nonetheless. Then finally the frustration and worry boils over and tears slip out of his eyes.

“You- you fucking asshole, Osamu,” he says shakily. “You better recover REALLY damn fast, you owe me big time.”

[tothepointofinsanity]

Personal Log VI

Being raised under the wings of conservative religious parents and in two households of traditional Chinese relatives has taught me nothing but how to be a sponge for guilt. Everyone within my childhood has always made an effort to correct my "oddness" and open sensitivity. My sister pointed out to me only recently that she always thought I was a bit "off" when she was younger; an innate oddity I possessed on my persons attributed not only to the custom of dressing, but a highly reclusive nature that was perceived rebellious.

I don't think anyone in my family truly understands me. I say this not out of ill faith, but in the belief that no one has attempted to be sympathetic to my cause. They're not obligated to, certainly, and I have stopped trying altogether because I hate my father. My sister and I became close only a few years ago. On the phone, a distinct conversation I remember was when she told me the school counselor used play and art therapy in the room with her. And of these collection of toys, a striking posse of goldfish plush. She said that looking at these toys reminded her of myself. That seems to be all the hots of impressions about me these days by peers as well.

Rest in peace to everyone else in my psychology course for having me as their local madman. I'll never apologize for terrorising the class with my absurd fashion sense and blatant advocacy for homosexuality rights. (← Actually, I should do that more discreetly in the club instead because I might get arrested by the government!) I'm not over the fact that the schedule fucked me over and separated me from my two (2) friends in the entire course so I have to make new friends for the next semester. Thinking about socialising makes me sweat buckets, and I'm talking Johnny the Homicidal Maniac levels of neurosis here. Makes my teeth chatter a bit. Shiver me timbers. What's a man supposed to do if he hates how suffocating people can be? Something something Edgar Allan Poe was right. Sorry if it sounds like I'm "bouncing" here and there in my writing. I can never think straight and there's a lot of conversation generated in my brain right now. This sudden spike of jubilation (hypomania moment) was certainly unexpected, so I'll take advantage of it as much as I can to speak nonsense and garbage until I eventually sober up later.

[tobiasdrake]

Outer Wilds is a game that can never be experienced again after it's been played. It's a once-in-a-lifetime journey, which is why the OW community is so protective of spoilers.

Because I've completed the greatest video game ever made and can never truly play it again, I often find myself going back to it in the form of Let's Plays. Let's Plays allow me to re-experience the joy of discovery through the eyes of other people.

As a connoisseur of Outer Wilds Let's Plays, here's some of my favorite things. Spoilers ahead.

How did you die for the first time? You'd be surprised how many people don't even make it off of Timber Hearth and discover the secret "YOU DIED" ending before the game even takes off. They either jump in the geyser or decide to Fuck Around and Find Out with the ghost matter tutorial.

It's also fun to see how long it takes people to discover the supernova. Some people go through multiple supernovas before they ever understand what's happening. One LPer honestly believed the Interloper was homing in on whatever planet he was on like a seeker missile and that's what was killing him. Another figured it out before even leaving the museum; They read the supernova info and announced, "I am very alarmed that the game is giving me a tutorial about this."

You can tell a lot about how observant a player is going to be based on how long it takes them to a) notice the Orbital Probe Cannon directly in front of them when they wake up, and b) notice that it fires in a different direction with each loop.

There are two rites of passage for becoming an Outer Wilds interstellar traveler: "Solar Baptism" ie. first time falling into the sun and first time stepping out of your ship without a suit on.

One LPer once said, in belligerent confusion at Slate's shabby ship design, "You CANNOT go to space in a barrel full of lawn chair." Barrel full of lawn chair is now my favorite way of describing the ship.

Every player has one or two gameplay features they never discover and have to make do without. Signalscope zoom function and Scout Launcher Photo Mode are the most common. My favorite was a player that never discovered that the ship can launch a scout. She entered the Quantum Moon by accelerating to collision course, standing up from the cockpit, manually taking a photo with her handheld Scout Launcher, and then riding the ship down and crashing unbuckled like a fucking maniac. XD

The Quantum Moon is an absolute troll that likes to pop up and mock people when they don't know what it is, or when they're trying to figure out how to reach it.

There is nothing worse than accidentally falling ass-backwards into the Ash Twin Project core. I saw a player once discover the Ash Twin Project by complete accident within the first hour or so of play, because they were in a panic and just happened to do the right thing and the right time.

Watching the gears turn in people's heads is great. One of my absolute favorite moments for any player: "I did it! I made it to the Probe Tracking Module! And I got the coordinates! HOLY SHIT, I HAVE THE COORDINATES TO THE EYE OF THE UNIVERSE!!! ...I have absolutely no idea what I'm supposed to do with this."

Another favorite moment: "What do you MEAN, the Sun Station doesn't work!? It has to be what's blowing up the sun. ...what else could it be...?"

And let's not forget: "...oh god. Oh shit. ...I know where to get the Advanced Warp Core for the Vessel."

[descendantsverse-official]

Descendantsverse Guide

Ships

Heroes (Equestria)

*"+" indicates that a couple is no longer together

Queen Celestia x King Sombra

- Soleil Rouge

Princess Luna x Consort Fluttershy

- River Styx

- Elara Nightsong

Princess Luna + The Storm King (One night stand)

- Whispering Brambles

Empress Cadence (Deceased) x Emperor Shining Armour (Deceased)

- Flurry Heart (Deceased)

- Apollo's Gift

Princess Twilight Sparkle x Consort Tempest Shadow x Consort Rainbow Dash

- Astral Twister

- Aquila Nocte

- Thundering Abyss

Pinkie Pie

- Boston Creme Pie (Adopted)

- Osiris Torte (Adopted)

- Rocky Road (Adopted)

Rarity Belle x Thunderlane

- Kyanite Cumulus

Applejack x Coloratura

- Honeybee Rome

Starlight Glimmer x Sunset Shimmer

- Eventide Reverie

- Orion Rise

Sweetie Belle x Star Tracker x Tender Taps

- Violet Serenade

Moondancer x Flash Sentry x Sunburst

- Nessarose Eridanus (Adopted)

Capper Dapperpaws + Cosmos (One night stand)

- Zenith Zeal

Discord + Cheese Sandwich (Fling)

- Dionysus Rumcake

Zecora + Tirek (...It’s complicated)

- Maangamizi Malaika

Soarin x Gloriosa Daisy

- Baby's Breath

Villains (Isle of the Lost)

*"+" indicates that a couple is no longer together

Chrysalis + Storm King

- Malignant Meimuna

Abacus Cinch + Neighsay

- Elegant Virtue

Tirek + Discord

- Tyrannical Vesper

Maniac + Lightning Dust

- Sonic Spark

Adagio Dazzle + Flim/Flam

- Andante Ripple

Captain Celaeno x Dr Cabellaron

- Percy Perch

Sonata Dusk x Wallflower Blush

- Rainflower Muse

- Cordelia Forte

- Hazelblossom Crescendo

Svengallop x Gladmane

- Jar of Hearts

- Casino Night

Silver Spoon x Cozy Glow

- Lucy Bee

Silver Spoon x Diamond Tiara (affair)

- Green Tea

Ahuizotl +(?) Timber Spruce

- Tlaloc

Ahuizotl + The Storm King (Fling)

- Derecho Storm

Grogar + REDACTED

- Andromeda Visage

[cocoabubbelle]

Watching “Scooby Doo, Where Are You?” (1969-1970 CBS) + Thoughts

Episode 17: That’s Snow Ghost

Here we are, folks! The final episode of this first season! Will I be able to hear the iconic phrase? Let’s watch and see!

I like the animation for the snow! The design for the “monster,” however…

Animation Goof: weird shadowy effect behind the Scooby Gang in the van. Was there some lint or something behind their cel models???

Mr. Greenway, the innkeeper, is suspicious to me because (unless there is a shorty in charge of the monster like there was in the Miner episode) he has the build for the Monster we saw earlier. Doesn’t help that his laugh is off putting. To be fair, my suspicions are mostly because my inner child vaguely recalls a face that looks like his as one of the unmasked culprits in the series. I could be wrong though 🤷‍♂️

Peter Lorre, is that you????

I giggled when Scooby joined in Mr. Leach’s (Lorre-lookalike) odd laugh even though he was doing it admittedly out of nervousness.

Nothing says gracious host that laughing maniacally after warning your guests that a ghost might get you if you don’t take the right precautions.

Were the backgrounds for the snow banks painted with oil or acrylics? The brush strokes look very nice! 😊

Cue Let’s-pull-up-the-blinds-and-not-register-the-monster-looking-in-as-we-check-the-window-is-secure-before-pulling-the-blinds-back-down-but-then-realizing-what-we-saw gag.

Scooby stacked on top of Fred on top of Shaggy on top of Velma running like a headless chicken before they all grab a dumbfounded Daphne as they escape out the door. 😅 Also, Velma confirmed to be the strongest of the Scooby Gang?

Mini Shaphne because it is Shaggy’s green sleeved arm that grabbed Daphne as they escape(?). I rewound this part several times to make sure; It could be an animation goof since the placement of the arm would indicate that this is supposed to be Fred, but the size of the sleeve in the wrist area is closer to the ones belonging to Shaggy’s coat than it is to the ones belonging to Fred’s.

Wee! Snow Mobiles!

Somehow, Fred and Daphne are able to hide inside their clothes before their clothes hide down with them. Shaggy and Velma hide normally as Velma helps Scoob hide correctly.

Random, but you’d think the animators would bother to add some gloves to the Scooby Gang’s winter outfits even if it’s just coloring the hands a different color. I keep wincing every time I see their bare hands doing anything outside in the snow.

Scooby’s hammerspace summons a hospital cart so he doesn’t have to go ahead to find the monster. It doesn’t work.

Velma complaining about Scooby’s method of stealth as if she could do better.

Shaggy assumes the East Asian stuff they find in what is presumably the Snow Ghost’s cave is from Chinatown. Velma clarifies they are from Tibet.

It’s not the Snow Ghost’s cave; it’s Fu Lan Chi’s (yes, that’s his name.)

The yeti in the flashback looks cooler than the current Snow Ghost.

Friendly White Timber Wolf? Not so friendly if you swiped his bone without asking [Scooby.]

Goofing off leads Velma getting kidnapped and Shaggy falling down a trap door.

Whoever is the Snow Ghost is homicidal and crazy because WHO CHAINS A TEENAGE GIRL TO A LOG TO BE SAWED IN HALF?! He even tried to stop Scooby from freeing Velma!!

Scooby has beaver blood somewhere in his family tree 🦫

Snow Whackjob can’t take a loss and sends dynamite after the two.

Shaggy is mistaken as a ghost because of white paint. How come the Monster let him be (besides apparently covering him in white paint) while trying to outright murder Velma?

Just when we think Danger Prone Daphne strikes again, we see that she had found a hollow log to hid in while Fred and Velma hid behind normal logs.

Extended chase scene involving Ghost, Shaggy and Scooby.

Shaggy and Scooby get harmlessly frozen into human/dog-sicles instead of dying.

Freddy’s trap to catch the ghost fails before it can begin.

Snow Ghost tries to toss Scooby off a ledge, but discovers that Scooby also has Koala and Monkey blood by how he refuses to let go and fall to his death.

Shaggy to the rescue!

Aha! It was Mr. Greenway! Also, Mr. Leach is an accomplice.

Sheriff/Deputy looks handsome.

Funny Squirrel and Scooby moment.

Day 17 of no “And I would have gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for you meddling kids.” AAAAARRRRRGH!!!!

[ffviiicharacterweek]

Laguna Loire Week: January 3rd-January 10th

Welcome to Laguna Loire week, the first character-themed week of the challenge!

January 3rd is the birthday of our adorable dork Galbadian soldier, so let's show him some love!

You can unleash your creativity in art, music, writing, videos, anything really! We have some limits, though:

no bashing: the purpose of this challenge is to show love, not hatred!

avoid crossovers: let's concentrate on this fandom please!

tag everything properly: not everything is everyone's cup of tea, so let's respect that by tagging properly your works :)

be respectful: feedback is encouraged, but not mandatory. If you decide to comment, though, please don't be rude. We all love this game!

You can start writing/drawing/creating now, but please wait for January 3rd to publish your work.

Prompt list

Wrong map, again

Manliness scale

The pianist

La Résistance

Ops moment

The Big Jam Incident

Hello fairies, my old friend

Bonus

The (dork) Sorceress Knight

Timber Maniacs

Tall, Dark and Frickin' Unlucky

Submissions

Submissions can be posted in the AO3 collection (you can find it here) and on tumblr, by tagging @ffviiicharacterweek and/or using the hashtag #ffviiicharacterweek, or sending your link through ask/messages, so we can reblog and spread your work!

And remember: HAVE FUN!

[jprandamonium]

Magic the Gathering Deck

What can you make out of these cards?

Murder Shamble Back Boggart Brute [Mark] Sigiled Starfish (x4) Murder Investigation Mindmelter Tears of Valakut Rolling Waters Boulder Salvo Isolation Zone Scion Summoner Spectral Shepherd Campaign of Vengeance Rancid Rats Fiery Temper Thornhide Wolves Vessel of Volatility Ghoulcaller's Accomplice Ghostly Wings Stitched Mangler Militant Inquisitor Evolving Winds (x2) Negate (x3) Tower Geist (x5) Island (x28) Plains (x22) Ooze [x2] Yoked Ox Celestial Flare (x2) Uncaged Fury Ravaging Blaze Altered Ego Veteran's Sidearm Rabid Bloodsucker Goblin Auramancer Subterranean Scout Dauntless Cathar Sword of the Animist Suppression Bonds Enshrouding Mist Might of the Masses Angel's Tomb Hitchclaw Recluse Screeching Skaab Healing Hands (x3) Aven Battle Priest (x2) Bounding Krasis Ringwarden Owl Charging Griffin (x4) Reave Soul Prickleboar Totem-Guide Hartebeest (x4) Thunderclap Wyvern (x4) Nearheath Chaplain Netcaster Spider Elemental Swamp Mina and Denn, Wildborn Ancient Crab (x2) Expedite Searing Light Nivix Barrier (x5) Ethereal Guidance Hydrolash (x5) Kozilek's Pathfinder Kozilek's Shrieker Alms of the Vein Saddleback Lagac [Mark] Heavy Infantry Turn to Frog (x3) Nagging Thoughts Rabid Bite Spiteful Motives Farbog Revenant Reduce to Ashes Mountain Cobblebrute [Mark] Weirded Vampire Faithbearer Paladin Bone Saw Forest Possessed Skaab Acolyte of the Inferno Swift Reckoning Might Beyond Reason Tormenting Voice [Mark] Pale Rider of Trostad Act of Treason Guardian of Meletis Wicker Witch Dragon Fodder Enthralling Victor Despoiler of Souls Macabre Waltz Claustrophobia (x4) Stratus Walk (x2) Nahiri's Machinations Drownyard Explorer Devil's Playground Thraben Gargoyle / Stonewing Antagonizer Stitchwing Skaab Sleep Paralysis (x3) Thornbow Archer Vastwood Gorger Puncturing Light Faerie Miscreant (x6) Strange Augmentation Emissary of the Sleepless Olivia's Bloodsworn (x2) Wild-Field Scarecrow Might Beyond Reason Pulse of Murasa Wastes Scion Summoner Suppression Bonds Reclaim Watercourser (x4) Separatist Voidmage Alhammarret, High Arbiter (x2) Bedlam Reveler Vexing Scuttler Lone Rider / It That Rides As One Woodland Patrol Rush of Adrenaline Intrepid Provisioner Invasive Surgery Stensia Banquet Enlightened Maniac Press for Answers Rottenheart Ghoul Clip Wings (x2) Crop Sigil Forest Cyclone Sire Hound of the Farbogs (x2) Reflector Mage Deepfathom Skulker Stromkirk mentor Foreboding Ruins Timber Shredder / Hinterland Logger Spirit (x2) Brute Strength Alfa Protector Unnatural Endurance Send to Sleep Yoked Ox (x4) Lamplighter of Selhoff Gravity Negator Eldrazi Scion Kazuul's Toll Collector Insect Relic Seeker Spawnbinder Mage Nantuko Husk Deep-Sea Terror Zombie Loam Dryad Broken Concentration Suppression Bonds (x3) Gatstaf Arsonists Leaf Glider (x2) Reaper of Flight Moonsilver Silverstrike Soulblade Djinn (x2) Sigil of Valor Deadbridge Shaman Stoic Builder Sylvan Messenger Weight of the Underworld Infectious Bloodlust Managorger Hydra Dreadwaters Galvanic Bombardment Wretched Gryff Rattlechains Silent Observer Inquisitor's Ox Citadel Castellan Unimpeded Trespasser / Uninvited Geist Rhox Maulers Tropan Freeblade Accursed Witch [Clue] Runaway Carriage Vessel of Nascency Dissension in the Ranks Vessel of Malignity Obsessed Skinner Touch of Moonglove

[only-by-the-stars]

okay no I have more to say about FF8

the Master Fisherman's quest in Fisherman's Horizon is so charming and a really good example of what I think is a great sidequest. you get a couple rare items, yes, but you also get to speak with lively, fun NPCs and learn about the history of the town you're in, further developing the world and getting some characterization in for Squall (the protagonist) too. that's what it's all about!!! I love sidequests that flesh out worlds/characters like that.

FH itself is bursting with charm, I love the story behind the town and the worn/rusty look of it and the music is so chill and you get a sense of a nice little community there. really well-done location.

I really like the magazines you can collect throughout the game, particularly Timber Maniacs and Occult Fan. even the ones that are just for unlocking weapons and Rinoa's Limit Breaks add flavor! but I especially like TM and OF because the former is connected to the main storyline, and the second one is related to a sidequest but also feels like a real magazine about Weird Shit. idk, it's just... one of the little gameplay things that adds life to the world.

people used to be really awful about certain characters, and I resent it. I remember people saying Squall was whiny and that his character development was static until an event on disc 3 where he did a 180. but... that's just not the case at all? this guy is a traumatized teenager yanked into things way bigger than he ever thought he'd be, and pushed into positions of responsibility he's unprepared for, and also his development starts way before then? if you pay close attention to him you can see it unfolding early on.

Rinoa got a lot of hate too, but a ton of that was just old-fashioned misogyny. :| she is flawed, yes, but in interesting ways that she grows out of, and is also a teenager. these people responsible for saving the world are all teenagers. please cut them some slack.

that said, while I am naturally inclined to prefer female characters, some of them... test me. Quistis is one of them. the way she treats Squall at the start of the game, saying what she thinks he's going to say and then giggling when he does say it, irritates the hell out of me, because I've had people do similar things to me and it's so rude. the way she hits on him is also uncomfortable. she's only a year older, but she starts off the game as his instructor and waits to tell him she's been demoted from that position until after being weird towards him. nope. don't like it. she gets better later, but man.

people used to make fun of Selphie and her silly little train song too, but I love her? she's very smart and mature and probably one of the most level-headed ones in the group and also she wants to blow up the bad guys, which. rock on, girl. I got your back, let's go do crimes.

Balamb and Dollet are so unfairly gorgeous. let me live there, please.

oh yeah, speaking of crime, I forgot to mention in my other post that we also kinda hijacked a train? and this one soldier chased after it trying to get us to stop and it didn't end well for him and I laughed so hard. this game can be really funny!

I like seeing people in wheelchairs in the game! it's just been NPCs, which isn't the *best* rep, but they're THERE. even in a MILITARY ACADEMY. in a game from 1999! and one of the ones in town talks, along with his sister, about how he's really good at scuba diving and taught her how to do it too, or something. it's a little thing, but it's nice, and it's sad that it isn't more common in fantasy settings even today.