#which slays actually

[tortellinigirl]

ok i know that americans from other states generally seem to have no idea what goes on in montana, which is so fair, bc our ratio of land:people is like right behind alaska, but i was just watching an episode of king of the hill where it’s thanksgiving, and peggy says that in montana it’s 70 degrees and they’re going swimming??????? so do other americans think montana is like. hot in the winter??? do they think we don’t have seasons??? hey. we literally share a border with canada. like i know a fair amount of people have no idea where montana is, but it shares a border with canada, and the rocky mountains run directly down the middle of it. like excuse me peggy hill, but we definitely get far more snow than TEXAS does. we are one of those places where they never fucking cancel school for snow unless it’s physically impossible for the buses to run. and personally i think that sucks asshole and i don’t like it here at all, but it is definitely like. the opposite of florida here. idk i just thought that was a silly little funny moment that made me giggle a little and also be a little surprised, bc i just hadn’t heard that one before.

[dappy-dappernette]

I keep on hearing people go all "The voice of the Smitten is such a creep. All he wants in the princess is someone to control and keep as a pretty object. He'd drop the princess if she wasn't the perfect petite maiden like in the damsel route." and I will not stand for the Smitten slander.

Like- He's been in love with her as a burning corpse ghost lady:

A terrifying ghost woman who wants to bring fear and chaos to the world:

And even a murderous blade monster woman who would kill you and enjoy every second of it:

Like, he ALWAYS loves the princess no matter what she looks like or how she acts, he loves her for being herself no matter what or who she is. That's the point of his character and I'm tired of people slandering my boy.

[welcometogrouchland]

I have a LOTT of sketches I could post rn but these 2 are recent and I'm fond of them <3 Steph costume ideas and Tim/Damian cringe bickering inspired by Batman: Brave and the Bold #18!

[classical-linguist]

it's hailing today and the gloom outside is casting peculiar shadows around my room...

[obsob]

one small step for. kitties

[bunnieswithknives]

The soul of Wicked is randomly inventing extremely elaborate relationships between characters who barely interact at all in canon. Also Fiyero is here.

[wasyago]

i imagine it's quite chilly in the black sea (for the lack of sun and color), so they're wearing slightly warmer clothes now uwu

+ thoughts

[vlindervin7]

realised yesterday just how often hozier actually used to sing about being not quite alive, not feeling like a person, about loving someone in a way that defies death and made him more alive, about suffering death for love. it's like he was constantly being buried underground and unearthed by love, over and over, which, while romantic in a way, is also incredibly sad. but i think it's interesting how his latest album (literally called 'unreal unearth') takes this idea and makes it its central theme. that's what this album is, one man's descent into the underworld. except, crucially, he makes it to the other side, and ends the album saying the darkness will come again, but this time he is "never going back [to hell] again." it feels like such a full-circle moment considering the rest of his discography and i'm so very excited to see what comes after this

[crystaljellie]

Scott and Pearl analysis moment

Because I’m sick and tired of people mischaracterising C!Scott he is not evil!! Pearl does not hate him!! She’s bitter sure but she doesn’t hate him.

Starting with them in last life Pearl and Scott always sticking by each other always being there for each other, I’ve seen so many “Scott was using Pearl” because he wanted a life from her. Like he’s trying to live?? It’s different from Grian stealing a life from Scar and then tormenting him and giving him nothing in return. Scott does his absolute best to protect Pearl protect their house and spend time with her.

He’s a good friend. And he’s absolutely heartbroken when she dies, because Scott knew she was going to but he didn’t want her to go before him. And he definitely keeps his cool because Scott isn’t the kind of guy to go if the rail easily, the way you can tell Scott is angry is by how reckless or determined he gets. In third life he’s distraught by Jimmy’s death and then rushes in and dies quickly because he doesn’t want to be alone. And in last life he kills Ren because he killed Pearl. He’s doing it to avenge her.

He’s glad when he wins but he’s not upset when he dies either. He’s annoyed that he didn’t get to choose his own death but. He celebrates winning because he doesn’t have to lose anybody else.

And so jump to double life and all of a sudden the person he loves so much and has gone out of his way to protect doesn’t even take the time to go looking for him, so you can see why he’s upset. And it’s the biggest miscommunication moment ever because Pearl is expecting to go back and have Scott waiting with open arms for her, and she can’t explain to him and doesn’t understand what she did wrong, which tbh is nothing but that doesn’t make the way Scott feels invalid either.

And then it kind of all goes to shit, Scott’s more snappy and on edge this season because he won the last one and ya know winners trauma. And he honestly doesn’t want to win again so when Cleo suggests tormenting Pearl (I think that’s how it happens I don’t remember it might have been scar with the snow buckets first) he’s all for it!! Because he’s hurting!!

And pearl on the other hand is left alone and has no idea what to do with herself, because sure she can handle being alone but she can’t handle being alone like this, where’s she’s forced into isolation, she’s going crazy because she feels like everyone she loves has left her, she’s mad at Scott and she’s more mad at Cleo because she feels like Cleo has stolen him from her. And so she lashes out because it’s all she knows how to do here, and in a death game what’s a better form of communication than violence?

But she doesn’t want Scott to die not because she wants to live but because she still cares even if she doesn’t want to care. She wants Scott to hurt because she’s hurting, but like Scott in last life she can’t bare to see him die before her.

She’s winning this to prove herself to be someone who doesn’t need Scott. But she still cares so much and she hates it, that’s why she spends the first couple sessions trying to win him back.

And Scott is with Cleo but he feels alone too, because Cleo’s relationship with Martyn isn’t as strained as his is with Pearl. And he knows it’s his fault, he does. That’s why he starts trying to sabotage other relationships, so he doesn’t have to feel as bad.

That’s why he’s careful to stay alive, so he can make it up to Pearl in some way.

He avoids everything he can that might make him face that guilt. But he’s hurt and is stuck with all the blame placed on him. Everyone KNOWS it’s Scott’s fault Pearl is the way she is. But no one but Cleo acknowledges this which makes Scott more bitter, and honestly he’s a little bit scared of Pearl not that he’ll admit that to anyone ever.

But him feeling this guilt is why he kills himself at the end that and because he’s scared of winning again. But he knows he doesn’t deserve getting to where he’s gotten to, and with his self sacrificial nature he’s trying to make it up to her. If she watches him hurt and hurt and die, maybe she’ll feel better.

AND SHE DOES FORGIVE HIM!!! NOT BECAUSE SHE LIKES SEEING HIM HURT!! SHE HATES THAT PART!! SHE FORGIVES HIM BECAUSE SHE CAN SEE HOW MUCH HE CARES! And obviously she’s still a little bit bitter because like who wouldn’t be. But she forgives him and she can see he’s trying that he feels awful about it, so awful that actually kills himself.

And you can see how double life effects both of them moving forward, mainly Scott, he’s scared of hurting anyone the way he hurt pearl, so he goes out of his way to let his friend and allies kill him over and over so he can be of use to them, because he’s realised that his life, lives can be used as currency as friendship as a way to get people not to hate him. He’s putting himself on sale.

He does it in secret life too giving up his lives his hearts his safety, just to be of use. He can’t even bring himself to really care when people betray him, because hey he betrayed Pearl worse right?

Pearl is so much more unhinged after double life too so much more reckless. Because why try and stay hinged when you’re going to loose everything anyways?

And coincidentally all of pearls allies start dying before her, and Everytime it happens she’s just reminded of double life, of that tower, of everything bad that ever happened. And because of that she can’t bring herself to forgive Scott yet. Because she doesn’t feel loved yet.

And then wild life comes, and they team together again, and yes it starts with some bickering and fighting but they needed to get that out they needed to bring it up so they can let it go.

Pearl has her own issues with Gem that season sure, but she gets something close to closure with Scott. Not proper closure, because they’re in a death game, they don’t have enough time they never will. But she gets a real end, and gets a chance at a real friendship with Scott again. She even gives him her hoodie when he turns red. They stick together they’re friends again.

Pearl doesn’t hate him!! He doesn’t belittle her!! I keep seeing “oh Scott didn’t trust Pearl oh he’s treating her badly because he’s keeping her on a leash and not enabling her chaos!!” HES WORRIED ABOUT HER??? HE WANTS HER TO BE SAFE AND KEEP THE TEAM SAFE AND THE ONLY WAY IN SCOTTS BRAIN IS TO CONTROL??? HE DOESNT NOT BELIEVE SHE CAN DO IT HES JUST WORRIED FOR HER FUCK OFF MAN

Anyways, and then Scott dies before Pearl and she doesn’t have the time for a reaction.

It’s not over for them, it’s not close to being over, but it’s getting better. And they’re BOTH getting a chance to heal, not just Pearl, because Pearl wasn’t the only fucking person that got hurt.

Sometimes I wonder if people watch the series with their eyes closed and volume off because how could you ever believe that Pearl truly hates Scott?

[graynide]

Hm..

heheheh

**gives you a V.Smitten, then runs.**

Love is not only limited to loving others

HAH! get self-loved idiot!

I got this ask like after I posted that Cheated plus Broken ask and it feels like there is a line of people slowly waiting their turn to tell me to draw each of these birbs in standalone ask posts what

[everyones-least-favorite-bard]

conviction

[bigidiotenergytm]

I FINISHED IT- 4 HOURS AND 2 AP TESTS LATER I FINISHED IT

(I was too lazy to do the water design on his skirt ignore that)

CANDY IS THAT TOP SURGERY SCARS I SEE IM GOING FERAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hello-universe-lovers]

"Then...we throw it out the window!!"

Posting this separately so I can rant about design under the cut

I have colored a few Voices (Opportunist and Smitten) but Contrarian is my first proper ref sheet. She (yes she is a girl) was a lil hard to think of a design for. Her whole point is to be a contrast to most, if not all, of the things happening around LQ in the construct. I personally interpret her as LQ's desire to break free of the restrictions placed on him by the Narrator and, to a lesser extent, the Princess. Hence why she is such a pop of color. I based the look more on idol and cute girly clothes than straight jester/clown aesthetics (not that there's anything wrong with that).

I tried to make it as bright but not too bright as I do not like over saturation as well as over complicating a design since i wanna be able to draw her again later. This is where the masks come into play. I got inspired by theatre masks and came up with the idea of her changing her mask to fit the mood/atmosphere of the route. It gives her something to subtly express her mood without breaking away from her routine. Plus it's fun to come up with what her mask would look like in routes.

And also, this design is specifically for an AU that I still need to draw, hence why she has humanoid features but is still very much bird like. I tried to strike a balance but..eh, it still works. Like how she turned out and I hope you do too.

[grecoromanyaoi]

again so sorry im still on gladiator 2 but i cant stop thinking abt it (derogatory). it shows exactly the type of surface level "progress" we made in the last 2 decades. literally gladiator but "woke" as conservatives think of it bc that racial diversity n inclusion of lgbt characters is entirely surface level n covers up existing racism, eurocebtrism n homophobia.

they try to show rome as a brutal imperialist force spanning 3 continents for exactly 10 minutes, and then forget about it. no more discussion of imperialism and its consequences on both colonized ppl n colonizers. the message is 'rome is an empire built upon the blood of enslaved n colonized ppl. it could b good tho. it could b a REPUBLIC built upon the blood of enslaved n colonized ppl #progress'.

they were characters who were explicitly mentioned to enjoy n seek out gay sex, but these characters were either not shown or the villains. the brothers were rly effeminate as well to show how theyre morally corrupt, as one does when they try to present men as decadent, corrupt and morally reprehensible.

not to mention the whitewashing of the brothers. he tried to push as many poc into the plot as he could but whitewashed the two emperors that were arab irl. insane. all the main characters of color in the movie, esp the ones played by black actors, were either currently or formerly enslaved. he tried to be as "inclusive" as he could, but failed to imagine a past in europe where the emperor is arab and black ppl r anything but enslaved? even tho that past did exist? what kind of progress is that?

[shaottzang]

mr. token the third needs to know what conditioner is..

photos from adamrossi n x.com

[tiredandoptimistic]

My take on Buffy's arc in each of the seasons (and how the villains highlight her personal journey)

Because I wake up every morning and think about Buffy Summers

Season one: Buffy starts out the show determined to deny her role as a Slayer and willing to skip a prophecy for a date. Even though she genuinely does want to help people, she's also resolved to make time for herself and her teenage whimsy. While the Master is technically the villain of the season, the real threat is the prophecy she hears in the finale: that she will die facing him. Buffy's desire for a normal life is put into direct conflict with her duty as a Slayer, and it's the bonds she built with other students like Willow that makes her realize that she cares more about being a protector than being happy.

Season two: this season systematically strips away everything Buffy had prioritized in season one. She loses her boyfriend, alienates her friends, gets expelled from high school, and kicked out by her mom. While at first she hadn't been able to make herself kill Angel, she had to come to terms with the fact that her moment of mercy led to Jenny's death. All the things necessary for a normal life are lost to her, and she can't afford to care about any of it. Her ability to go to school, her relationship with her mom, the love she has for Angel; none of it matters if the world is at stake. By the end of the season, Buffy proves her self-reliance and that she's willing to make the tough calls and kill somebody she loves if it's part of her Slayer duty.

Season three: at the start of this season, Buffy deals with the fallout of her season two arc by falling into a depression due to her isolation. Complete self-reliance is good in a fight to the death, but deeply unhealthy long-term. Buffy is a Slayer who draws strength from the love of her friends, and in season three she tries to rebuild that trust by throwing herself into all the traditional end of high school festivities. The Mayor represents the adult world they're meant to be graduating into, and he proves that there's something deeply rotten underneath the glossy suburban shell of Sunnydale. Despite the fact that the institutions of the school and the town range from apathetic to malevolent, Buffy is still able to form emotional bonds with the people she meets there. It's the power of her connection with all the other students of Sunnydale High that eventually saves the day, and even if she couldn't win Homecoming Queen she's still their Class Protector.

Season four: this is where we get into that weird phase of young adulthood where nobody has any idea what the fuck they're doing. Buffy is removed from the familiar and forced to find her way in a new environment, and she uses her newfound freedom to make some bad decisions. She and her closest friends drift apart as they all get wrapped up in their different post high school adventures, and without that safety net Buffy ends up placing her trust in the wrong people. The Initiative uses its appearance of security to manipulate young adults into throwing away their independence serving something solid. Adam is the result of this, as a young creature who's confused about his place in the world and gets sick of letting the Initiative decide his purpose for him. The thing that saves Buffy from this whole mess is to reaffirm her bond with her oldest friends, proving that growing up doesn't need to mean growing apart. The support system was always there, they just all needed to actively maintain it.

Season five: the linchpin of this season is Buffy's relationship with Dawn, as the magic weirdness of Sunnydale starts messing with the most intimate parts of her personal life. She's officially not able to keep her two world separate anymore, and has to decide whether or not she'll trust the love she has for her sister once she knows it was all planted by an outside force. Of course she chooses to stand by Dawn, and the two of them support each other through their mom's illness and death. At first Dawn's role as the key makes things very simple, since saving the day lines up perfectly with Buffy's preexisting priority (protect Dawn), but by the end she's put in a situation where she once again has to choose between the world and the person she loves most. Glory is effective as a villain because she's laser focused on hurting people Buffy loves, and is too damn strong for Buffy to actually fulfill her calling as a protector. In the end, the only way for Buffy to keep the people she loves safe is for her to sacrifice her own life for theirs (something she's been doing every day since she was fifteen).

Season six: while season five ends off with Buffy choosing to die for her friends, season six forces her to live for them. She's ripped from heaven and tossed into all the shittiest aspects of the real world, and worse than anything she's completely disconnected from herself and her friends. The main conflict here is her depression, and the contrast between the comfort she gets from Spike and the support she can't accept from her friends. Spike tells her that it's okay to not be okay, but this turns into him actively trying to keep her miserable because he thinks it's the only way she'll be with him. Meanwhile, Dawn and Giles and the rest are trying to help her support herself, which isn't exactly warm and fuzzy. When Willow becomes her dark self at the end, she basically speedruns Buffy's whole arc. She flays Warren alive for some instant gratification that hurts her in the long run, then she decides that the only way to end all suffering is to end all life, and she's eventually talked down by Xander's boundless love and support. Buffy has a similar moment at the same time, as she realizes that she wants to live because she wants to see Dawn grow up. This season shows that there isn't anything wrong with Buffy for feeling pain, but that the way out isn't to indulge her darkest feelings; it's to embrace the love of her friends and family.

Season seven: at this point, Buffy's biggest struggle is her sense of isolation. After so long as the Slayer, she genuinely doesn't think anyone else can understand her anymore (except maybe Spike, because he too has a fascinating cocktail of issues). Her isolation becomes a danger when she faces The First, a threat far too powerful for her to defeat on her own, and through Willow's magic she is able to finally be supported on all sides by people just as strong as she is. Much like graduation, this season ends with something major being destroyed to symbolize the end of a chapter in Buffy's life. She isn't just out of high school, she's officially free from the bounds of Sunnydale. She doesn't need to stay put and sacrifice her own pleasures again and again and again; there are other people willing to share the burden. Buffy can finally rest.