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perhaps-in-anotherdream · 1 year

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[CN] Victor’s Webbed Heart Date (Eng Translation)

⌚Warning⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 心网之约, that is yet to be released in the global server! ♡

[Translation Under The Cut]

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[Tidbits]: The lore for the date and Victor and MC’s character are inspired by Qu Yuan’s “山鬼 (The Mountain Spirit),” one of The Nine Songs. It’s actually a Chinese literature gold. It was really fun digging deep into the ancient culture haha~ I have included the crucial references in the date, and analysis at the end for those interested~ 💖

[Fun fact]: There’s like a real language barrier here LOL. Victor talks in old language (ofc), and MC at first finds it hard to comprehend as a modern day person HAHA. I debated going full old English for Victor’s parts at first but then just chose to roll along the middle ground LMAO 🫣

—

✧ [Chapter 1] ✧

The night fog accumulates increasingly densely in the mountains as the twilight closes in, slowly obscuring the distant mountain view from our horizon.

As we keep walking, the outline of an antiquated residence gradually becomes clear. I size it up for a moment and turn my head in high spirits.

MC: This is amazing! It fits the bill perfectly for the location of a supernatural movie!

Friend: Indeed. With this kind of shooting environment, we have a much greater chance of grasping victory within the palm of our hands.

For novice directors, the annual self-made filmmaking competitions organized by some media outlets are an excellent opportunity to showcase. It’s for this reason that we’ve come to the mountains to film the scenes.

Amid our excited conversation, the house with a courtyard is already right in front of our eyes. I take the lead and push open the broken door panel.

A dull noise pierces the quietude. The dark mansion appears gloomy beneath the illumination of the torch. My friend rubs the nape of their neck and speaks in a low voice.

Friend: Why do I feel like it’s too eerie in here...

MC: Don’t scare yourself. We’ll get out of here as soon as we are done with filming!

I retort obstinately, beckoning my companions to set up the camera. But the moment I turn around, I seem to see a glimmer of light flickering in the corner.

MC: Click!

Friend: How about this one?

I shake my head exasperatedly. Despite wearing bizarre makeup and costumes, we appear inharmonious with the house in the camera shots every time.

Seeing how exhausted everyone looks, I hurriedly get up from behind the video camera.

MC: Let’s give it a rest for now. We’ll start over later!

I brief the crowd and walk out into the courtyard myself. Inadvertently, I see that glimmer of light in the corner again.

They shimmer with a strange luster, intermittently visible in the night fog. It’s as though they are enticing me forward.

As I draw nearer, I finally realize they are a few strands of silk threads with a peculiar texture, the end of which extends deeper into the house.

MC: What’s this?

Observing cautiously, I tentatively fiddle with them for a little while. Shivering though the delicate threads are, they are surprisingly pliable and tough.

By some curious coincidence, my interest bubbles forth immensely. I set out and head deeper into the house.

The threads grow increasingly concentrated the deeper I walk. Passing through the dilapidated hall, they finally converge on the single-leafed door of the courtyard.

I gently push it open, holding my breath involuntarily.

Numerous threads dangle from the deserted pavilion, intertwining into a vast web of yarns. Slightly, it quivers as if there were a life within it.

Allured, I move forward, and just as I’m about to touch the silk mesh, I hear a faint sound of footsteps.

A slender figure walks out of the depths of the mist. His chilly gaze falls on me, carrying with it a bit of scrutiny.

?? (Victor): ...human?

?? (Victor): How did you get in here?

Why is this man talking a bit strangely?

Puzzled, I scan his dark gold patterned robe and strange accessories with my gaze. The moment I see his face clearly, my heartbeat suddenly accelerates a little.

This man’s temperament blends in perfectly with the antiquated mansion... could he be a professional cosplayer? Are there other casts and crews around?

I survey the surroundings curiously, but no filming equipment is in sight.

The frown on the man in front of me deepens more and more. I hastily withdraw my gaze.

MC: I came here to shoot a film with my companions. Are... you too?

The receiving end says nothing and just looks at me coldly.

Such an attitude of rejecting people and keeping them a thousand miles away makes me think of the character I need to portray in the film, causing me to speak up subconsciously.

MC: May I ask you to make a guest appearance? We won’t take up much of your time!

?? (Victor): Leave at once. You guys should not have come to this place.

He interrupts me mercilessly, turning to walk deeper into the silk screen. I freeze for a moment, then propose, unwilling to resign myself.

MC: Your appearance is perfectly photogenic! We will pay the remuneration, even above the market price, if needs be!

I step forward as I say this, touching his skin unwittingly. The unusual coolness causes a shiver to run through me. Stunned, I look up and meet the man’s eyes, finding myself unable to decipher the expression in his eyes.

The next second, the silk yarns that were static till now, suddenly rush from all around, wrapping themselves around me violently.

MC: …what’s happening!

I struggle subconsciously, but the seemingly fragile silk threads are incredibly tenacious. I’m tied up tightly in mid-air, akin to a prey that has fallen into a web.

My eyes widen in alarm, but my mouth is swathed with silk yarns, and I’m unable to make any sound.

My brain turns blank in a split second, and I shudder instinctively. A faint voice travels to my ears while I’m on the verge of suffocation.

?? (Victor): You really followed the path to your own doom.

The force tugging at me tightens in response to this voice, and a burning sensation comes from my wrist amid my befuddled state. Gradually, the only thing remaining in my field of vision is blackness.

—

[Tidbits]: Though it will be explained later, just to not leave any blank spots — the force tugging MC’s wrist here is controlled by the demon house (foggy gray rope). Victor’s are the red (silk) threads btw !ofc (the ones in the CG)~ ❤️

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [Chapter 2] ✧

??: MC? Can you hear me?

An anxious call rings in my ear. I slowly open my eyes.

The sight that greets my eyes is the warm lighting of the homestay. I turn my head, heaving a sigh of relief as I see my friend. It’s as though I’ve had a weight off my mind.

Friend: You scared me to death! We flipped everything upside down in that old mansion, only to find you passed out in the backyard. Are you too tired, or is your blood sugar low?

I clutch my forehead in dizziness, recollecting the last scene I’ve seen.

MC: I-I bumped into a strange man in the backyard, and then a lot of silk threads appeared…

MC: And then they suddenly tied me up, getting tighter and tighter, like they were going to strangle me––!

Fragments of images appear before my eyes at this moment, and I break out in a cold sweat in lingering fear.

Friend: …you are not in a daze, are you?

??: Young lady, you might have run into the evil spirit.

A gruff voice suddenly comes from the doorway. I tilt my head and see the guest house owner walking in with hot water.

Guest House Owner: There have been long-standing rumors about this mountain. It’s said that all that exists on this mountain can transform themselves into demonic spirits. And the one with the strongest demon power among them, The Mountain Spirit, can transform into a human form.

Guest House Owner: Legend has it that he will prey on lives according to his wishes, and he once roamed about the earth under the name “Victor.” You should be afraid if you’ve accidentally agitated him.

Demonic spirit? The Mountain Spirit?

The inconceivable words cause my dizzy head to hum even more, and I stiffly tug at the corners of my lips.

MC: …why would The Mountain Spirit have a human name? …Victor? The legend is quite rich in detail.

The boss, however, doesn’t mean to joke in the slightest. The shadowy lights shine on his face, inexplicably adding more touches of treachery.

My heart stutters, and I straighten up.

MC: So this rumored Mountain Spirit… are there any distinctive features?

Guest House Owner: It seems like he is a dark-haired young man who lives in a house in the depths, and he also bears the patterns of a demon spirit on his body.

Guest House Owner: In the early years, there were still pictures of demon spirits in the booklets. But over the years, the villages in the mountains have been deserted, and the contents have gradually been scattered.

Young man, old residence in the mountains, sorcery… how come every one of these adds up perfectly!?

A slight chill runs down my back, and my friend has already opened their mouth in bewilderment.

Friend: This place is really strange. MC, let’s leave tomorrow early in the morning!

I nod in residual fear. I look at my wrist as I watch everyone leave in twos and threes.

The tactile sensation of being entangled haunts me, and I can almost see those cold, stern eyes when I close my eyes a little.

MC: That was too close. I had almost handed over my life…

My line of sight inadvertently lands on the camera. When I think of the reason for coming here, I can’t help mumbling to myself.

MC: Can’t let this getting scared go in vain. I’ll change the film’s subject to a pseudo-documentary when we go back and recreate the experience.

The words have barely had the time to leave my mouth, and my wrist feels as if it’s being violently tugged by invisible threads.

—

The lights before my eyes flicker at a fast speed. After a moment’s spiral of my surroundings, I feel a pain in my back, seemingly having landed on solid ground.

At my wit’s end, I raise my head, only to find that I can’t help but stare blankly.

The moonlight streams down the dilapidated window frames, illuminating the dusty beams and drapes… this is clearly that strange, antiquated mansion!

Why am I suddenly back here!?

I hear a faint rustling noise drifting from behind the curtain. Heart in my throat, I hide behind a pillar and peer out, spotting that man again.

He is sitting in the corner of the study, his eyes hanging low on a piece of moon-white silk cloth embroidered with patterns of silk mesh.

His long fingers, wrapped in a black glove, continue to stroke the wine cup intermittently. It seems as though he is contemplating something.

And those pliable threads are lying dormant around him in all directions, displaying a bit of viscous iciness.

I try desperately to breathe lightly and see that his body, which was concealed by the jacket earlier, is densely covered with bizarre interwoven black and gold patterns.

...I really did bump into the rumored Mountain Spirit.

The suffocating feeling of near-death experience resurfaces in my mind. My heart thumps wildly and uncontrollably, my eyes looking for an exit while I’m in a state of panic.

Suddenly, my ankles tighten, and I’m pulled down to the floor. A few threads drag me irresistibly across the slab, as if they are about to cut through my flesh at any time.

To my horror, I see a pair of black boots unhurriedly entering my field of view and open my mouth with fear and trepidation.

MC: Vi-- Lord Victor, thank you for sparing my life just earlier...

The footsteps before me pauses.

Victor: You again?

Victor: And you know my name?

MC: I- I heard your legend from down the mountains... I swear, I had no intention of agitating you!

MC: I don’t know what happened. It’s like I was being pulled by something, and I was already here when I snapped out of it... I- I’ll leave immediately!

Stuttering, I look up and see Victor’s brows knitted into a frown. He seems to have thought of something and moves his fingertips.

The next second, a foggy gray rope suddenly appears on my wrist, the end of which disappears into the depths of the house.

The voice in my ear suddenly becomes a few degrees heavier.

Victor: What did you do before you were transferred here?

MC: I didn’t do anything! I was simply being grateful for your generosity...

As if in answer to my voice, the foggy rope around my wrist tightens, and even yanks me deeper into the house again.

Victor: ...

Victor’s throat stirs as if holding back something. He lifts his hand a little, and the gray rope bound to my wrist suddenly weakens considerably.

I move my wrist in astonishment and hear him speak.

Victor: The house is aiming for your earthbound spirit. Get out of this city right now while the restraint on you is still not too heavy.

Victor: Also, don’t think about anything related to this place again; its restraint will flare up when it perceives what you’re thinking.

Victor: The next time you break into my residence, you won’t have the luck to leave.

–

Accompanying these words, the silk threads bind my body and wrap me into a ball, neatly pulling me out of the antiquated mansion.

The mountain breeze blows on my face in a splattering motion. In the blink of an eye, I’m jolted around and thrown to the foot of the mountain.

Still unable to believe it, I gasp in fright, watching as the silk yarns shed themselves off my body and dissipate into the mountain at lightning speed.

I draw a half step back in a daze. Soon after, I whirl around and run towards the bus stop without looking back, not even giving myself the time to rejoice.

Earthbound spirit, restraint... these various words I’ve heard just now are long beyond my comprehension. The only thought that repeatedly echoes in my mind is: “hurry up, hurry up a bit more.”

It seems as if I were to hesitate even a little, I would be caught and be brought back to that eerie antiquated house at any time.

Soon, I board the latest night bus. The vehicle speeds down the road, and the passengers beside me are fast asleep one after another.

Wearing a tense expression on my face as I watch the outline of the small town gradually recede in the distance, I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Having traveled such a distance, I should be able to break out of the control range of the demon house.

It’s only now do I send a text message to my friend, informing them that I’m setting off first. Thinking of the wild “run for life” I’ve just made, I lean against the seat, exhausted.

MC: What a haunting luck! I almost had to stay in that mansion and couldn’t get out... thanks to that Mountain Spirit for still having a little bit of human warmth––

Even before the words are out of my mouth, the cold and solid touch of the seat behind me suddenly disappears. Accompanied by an ache in my wrist, the sight before me lapses to darkness again.

–

My heart turns cold. Before I can mull over what’s happening, I feel as if I’ve sunken into a soft fabric, and something is blocking my view.

Gathering my courage, I pull off what is before my eyes, only to realize that it seems to be a bed curtain.

Could it be possible that right now I’m...

My heart thuds, and I lift my head in hindsight.

What greets my eyes is a chest that is rising and falling slightly with each breath, and the crisscrossed demon patterns that fade along the depths of the clothing’s tight ravines. As my gaze moves further up, I’m met with a side profile that is patiently holding back anger.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [Chapter 3] ✧

The swaying shadows of the trees filter through the bed curtain and are reflected in my widened eyes.

Probably because he’s been bothered in his sleep, there’s still a faint weariness cresting between Victor’s brows. My heart skips half a beat, remembering what he told me earlier.

The mansion must have sensed my thoughts and captured me back here... but how can it have such a wide control range?!

A few strands of silk threads climb up my neck and tighten mercilessly.

Victor: Did you think I was joking with you?

In a split second, my breathing is restrained, and my head is lifted beyond my control. I don’t have time to part my attention and be shocked as I proceed to explain with difficulty.

MC: When I saw the bus was already far away... it was only then that I thought about you...

My gaze struggles to fall on my wrist. The fog that originally thinned out has become a little denser again. Something suddenly dawns on me, and I gasp for breath as I open my mouth.

MC: I didn’t mean to disregard your words... both times, I was pulled by the wrist by something and brought back by force.

MC: The problem, the problem should be this ring of fog... it’s the restraint you spoke of, right?

MC: I’ve heard that you have the strongest demon power, then it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to resolve this completely. So can you––

Victor casually crosses his arms as if he’s heard an absurd remark, tugging at his thin lips.

Victor: Why should I seek trouble for myself?

Victor: For demon spirits, “take what you give” is the supreme law. It’s an even higher law than “the weak are prey to the strong.”

Victor: If you want to get something, you must offer the corresponding bargaining chip first, not to mention unlocking the restraints set by the other demon spirits on their prey.

Victor: And as far as I’m concerned, you don’t have the value to make the bid.

My lips part in a helpless manner. But when I think of being trapped here forever, I find no other choice but to speak up, panicked.

MC: But if I become an earthbound spirit, I’ll roam about your house every day… y-you wouldn’t wish for that either, am I right?

My frenetic voice is interrupted by a cold one.

Victor: That will indeed be aggravating, but it won’t last a long time.

Victor: Transforming into an earthbound spirit is merely the first step. Eventually, your soul will dissipate here. When that time comes, I will naturally be able to return to peace and quiet.

Victor: Since you didn’t capture the opportunity to escape, you can only wait to turn into nourishment for the house.

Victor lifts a corner of the bed curtain as he speaks, seemingly about to leave.

The survival instinct overrules fear for the moment. I subconsciously fling myself on top of Victor and brace myself on his shoulders with one hand, making a futile attempt to curb his motion of getting up.

Victor: …

His slightly cool body temperature presses against me closely through the fabric, and from the tautness of his body I can feel that he seems to be forbearing something. Victor’s eyes narrow slightly, a hint of incredulity flashing through them.

Before he can say anything, I open my mouth impatiently.

MC: Isn’t it about “take what you give”? I can give you my entire fortune!

Victor: The Mountain Spirit is unable to leave the place of their birth, and the condition you propose is meaningless to me.

How can this person be so immune to both coaxing and coercion! As I keep pondering anxiously, suddenly something comes to my mind.

MC: You can’t get out of this place, so you should have very little contact with the outside world, right?

MC: I… still have a certain amount of freedom of movement now. I can be at your disposal and bring you back anything you want!

Victor: …there’s no need. I’m not interested in the world beyond the mountains.

Perhaps it’s my illusion, but Victor’s voice sinks a little imperceptibly. Soon after, a few strands of silk threads pull me away.

Sensing an opening, my voice takes on a few hints of pleading.

MC: But it’s a bit boring to constantly encounter the same things all the time, isn’t it?

MC: How about just giving it a chance? See what kind of freshness I can bring to your life.

MC: if you aren’t satisfied, it won’t be too late to ignore me!

The room lapses into silence, and I can even hear the indistinct buzzing of insects outside the window. After a moment, the silk threads wrapped around my body slowly shed off me.

I release a breath in exhaustion, then hear Victor speak.

Victor: The condition you proposed is only worth letting me defer the erosion of the house upon you.

Victor: If you want me to undo the restraint, you will have to think of a higher bargaining chip.

—

Using the excuse of collecting material, I inform my friend that I will be staying here for a while. Even though I’ve bought myself time, I seem to have been caught in a puzzle.

In order to find the bargaining chip that can touch Victor, I must grasp his preference; but he is indifferent to everything.

He doesn’t like hunting as he is rumored to be, and he is also weary of the other coming and going demon spirits. After observing him for a long time, I notice that his countenance seems to soften a little when he eats dessert.

Thereupon, I try to bring back desserts every now and then. Victor ignores them at first— until one day, I find that the mung bean cake I’ve brought back is missing a piece.

MC: …?

Staring at Victor’s nonchalant side profile, I can’t help but lift the corners of my lips. With the tacit acquiescence of being welcomed, this little solicitous attention of mine becomes all the more confident and rightful.

—

Autumn is gradually approaching. One day, I’m walking towards the antiquated mansion carrying desserts in my arms when I see Victor sitting on the hillside. I hand him the pudding and speak expectantly.

MC: Today’s pudding has vanilla seeds in it. What do you think of the taste?

Victor: It’s quite good.

Victor’s voice is still unperturbed, but his eyes reveal a bit of softness. I breathe a calming sigh and sit relaxed on the grass.

The sky is crystal clear, and the frolicking silhouettes of the demon spirits flash across the distant mountain and fields. Looking down the hillside, one can just see the path leading to the antiquated mansion.

My eyes descend on the dense gray fog circling my wrist and land back on Victor’s side profile again. Perplexed, I heave a sigh.

The restraint of the ancient house on me has indeed eased as agreed upon. But even so, the range of my movement is still lessening with each passing day.

To the extent that if I take even one step out of the town, I will be instantly pulled back to the house.

I’ve already entered the countdown to becoming an earthbound spirit… but what exactly is the bargaining chip that can move him?

Seemingly not noticing that I’m beside myself, Victor takes a bite of the pudding. His distinct and handsome side profile blends with the beautiful lake and mountain landscape, and he seems to be encased in a soft light.

I subconsciously reach for my phone. The moment I adjust the focus, though, I see Victor faintly looking at me through the camera.

MC: …haha, it’s an occupational disease. Sorry.

I put down the phone in embarrassment, only to hear him speak.

Victor: You seem to really like filming.

Victor: When we first met, you bent over backwards to drag me into making an appearance in a guest character.

Victor’s tone is laid-back, like having a casual, friendly chat. Perhaps because we’ve been together for a long time, I’m a little more frank too.

MC: You can record different stories through the camera lens.

MC: Even if you are in a corner of the earth, you can still discover the world in a million different ways and witness diverse lives through the screen.

MC: Which is why I planned to use the camera to record the places wherever I go.

MC: So that no matter when I look back, I can return to that scenery…

I keep talking in an unceasing torrent. But the moment I lock eyes with Victor, my voice suddenly lurches to a stop.

He once told me that Mountain Spirits can’t leave the place of their birth.

No matter how the years have changed, it’s always been the landscape of the mountain that he has seen. It should be such a regret for him…

I sigh slightly and suddenly think of something, proposing tentatively.

MC: I’ve actually saved a lot of videos documenting the scenery from various places. Would you like to watch them together?

I set down my phone in the gap between us as I speak. The distance that was initially a palm’s width bridges quietly, our shoulders gently touching each other.

Victor freezes almost imperceptibly, but he doesn’t keep away from me.

Various settings flow through the lens one after another. Amidst the clamorous backdrop, I furtively turn my head and stare at Victor.

The breeze softly caresses the black fringes over his forehead, the dark-colored pupils of his eyes reflecting the shifting colors of the scenes.

I know very clearly that he has a power thousands of times greater than mine. Simply with a single thought, he can control my freedom and even my life or death at any time;

But at this moment, staring at his serene side profile, I feel a certain part of my heart vaguely aching.

I purse my lips, then open my mouth to speak by some curious coincidence.

MC: Victor, when we have solved the problem at hand, let’s go to these places together.

The light in Victor’s eyes dims slightly. After keeping quiet for a while, he turns his head to look at me.

Victor: There will be no such opportunity.

Victor: My life is bound to this mountain and fields. The second I step out of this place, my body and soul will dissipate together.

Victor: Perhaps the day I’m weary of this life, I will consider taking that step.

MC: But what we know now necessarily may not be the entire picture. Before I met you, I didn’t believe there were demon spirits in this world either!

MC: There are always methods that have not yet been discovered, and they will be able to get you out of here in one piece.

MC: I’ll help with it too. We will look for it together.

As if to testify my trustworthiness, I curl my pinky finger at Victor.

The breeze from the valley blows toward us, and the grass sparkles like waves, reflecting the luster of the autumn sun.

There seem to be some emotions churning in Victor’s eyes, and he turns his head away after a while.

I deflate my mouth and withdraw my hand helplessly, only to hear him speak.

Victor: I’ll undo the restraint for you.

Victor: In exchange, bring me a sachet of vanilla seeds.

I almost dare not believe my ears when I hear the bargaining chip that I’ve been painstakingly mulling over, turns out to be so simple.

MC: …that’s it?

Victor: Do you want me to add a few more conditions?

MC: Of course not! Wait for me. I’m going down the mountain right now!

Victor smiles softly and averts his gaze, looking towards the twilight sinking in the distant mountain.

I scramble to get up from the grass. As I walk to the end of the path, I can’t resist stealthily looking back.

His figure has become a tiny ball, and I can’t tell whether he is looking at me or not. The autumn breeze picks up again, seeming to melt into the mountainous landscape.

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

[CRUCIAL TIDBITS TIME]:

SOMEONE PLS HOLD MY HEART FIRST ༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ

The Representation of “Vanilla Seed”:

It’s directly taken from Qu Yuan’s “Nine Songs: The Mountain Spirit”. In the poem, it represents the “protagonist gentleman (i.e. the spirit)”, and basically embodies all things that’s beautiful and pure. Here, it represents Victor.

The meaning of asking for vanilla seed as “bargaining chip”:

Vanilla is the lover’s knot, the Sorceress’ prayer to the God. In one of Qu Yuan’s Nine Song’s, there is a description of widespread ancient Chinese folk culture – couples who had to live away or travel far from their spouses, they would use vanilla and sacred woods to tie concentric knots and pray for their lovers to return to them. It also, naturally, used to be used for crafts and spells during marriage ceremony.

Coming back to the date, Victor is using the ancient method to confess his feelings. But since MC is from modern times, she naturally doesn’t understand what it stands for (and you’ll see it couple more times later too). By asking her to bring him a sachet of vanilla seeds, he is telling her to leave him a part of her heart, which is why he says this is equal enough an exchange. The warmth, love she has given him and made him feel is enough for what comes next—— ༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ

—

•─────⋅◍♡◍⋅─────•

—

✧ [Chapter 4] ✧

The lanterns are gradually lit as the early evening hangs low, and the town’s night market is bustling with activity.

I pick up the vanilla seeds from the flowers and plants merchant. Thinking of the restraint that can be lifted immediately, my pace quickens a few notches.

??: Hey, you haven’t left this town yet?

A familiar voice rings out behind me. I turn around and see the owner of the homestay.

MC: …yes. The legends here are very interesting, so I wanted to collect materials for a while longer.

I beat around the bush perfunctorily. But fortunately, the other party doesn’t detect anything peculiar.

Guest House Owner: When you have time, come again and have a chat with me then! I heard a lot more tales the other day.

My heart stirs, and I open my mouth as I try to sound out.

MC: Then, have you heard any other rumors about the Mountain Spirit? For instance, methods of getting out of the birthplace?

Guest House Owner: I didn’t pay attention to this. I’ll have to search for it again. As for the other things… I’ve heard that the house he lives in is a bit evil too.

My breathing accelerates a few beats.

MC: “A bit evil” means––

Guest House Owner: I heard that the house generates a demonic nature which will trap those who enter by mistake!

MC: And how did those who entered before escape?

Guest House Owner: It’s not that easy! Demon spirits made of wood and stones are brain-dead. When they aim at their prey, they will not give up, unless they can find someone else as a substitute.

Guest House Owner: But where can one find such a squanderer! Legend has it that the souls of two or three of them have scattered in the mountains…

Several urgings drift from a distance, and the guest house owner bids goodbye to me. I lower my gaze, looking at the vanilla seeds in my hands, dazed.

“Take what you give”... substitution… could it be that Victor’s method of undoing the restraint is to become the prey of the antiquated mansion on my behalf?

But he knows what that means even better than I do, so probably not…

I retort to myself while my mind is in chaos, but my palms clench unconsciously.

As if sensing my violent emotions, a sharp pain suddenly travels from my wrist. Immediately afterward, that familiar sky-spinning and earth-revolving feeling strikes.

—

When I open my eyes, I find that I’ve been pulled back into the ancient house, and the fog on my wrist has become incredibly dense.

I struggle instinctively. But to my horror, I feel my strength being consumed little by little.

The loss of control over my body has never been so apparent… could it be that the antiquated mansion is in a great rush to turn me into a part of it?!

The fog drags me deeper into the house like a soul-seeking hook, and I resist in vain. Just at this moment, a few sharp flashes of brilliant light streak across my field of vision, tearing through the fog in an instant.

The heaviness on my wrist suddenly becomes lighter, and I look up blankly. When I see that figure in the distance, my heart, which has been crammed with fear, relaxes instantaneously.

Victor sighs very softly, his tone of voice carrying within it a hint of helplessness.

Victor: Sparked such a violent erosion… what did you think about this time?

MC: I…

I open my lips, but the mist suddenly condenses in front of him as though giving a warning of something. Remaining unmoved, Victor steps forward, the silk threads wrapping me up irresistibly.

As if receiving a sort of provocation, the fog thickens instantly, enveloping the entire courtyard and the sky overhead like a confrontation. The sense of oppression is almost impossible to endure.

With difficulty, I gasp for breaths, and my heart clenches violently as I see the silk threads becoming frail out of the corners of my eyes. It’s as though they have been eroded by the fog.

Before I can say anything, I see Victor’s footsteps. In the next second, countless sharp silk threads spread from Victor’s palm and interweave into a perilous web––

–– akin to a barrier, standing shield between me and the fog, extinguishing all danger.

As though sensing a threat, the gloomy mist stagnates for a moment. Just as I breathe a sigh of relief, I feel the burning heat on my wrist grow increasingly pronounced like a vent of resentment.

My consciousness gradually becomes blurred. In a haze, I’m drawn in by the silk threads, and I’ve fallen into Victor’s arms. I clutch Victor’s sleeve, muttering:

MC: Victor… I’m really not going to turn into an earthbound spirit, am I?

MC: If I had known earlier that it’d be the last time I’d go down the mountain… I shouldn’t have returned with only vanilla seeds…

The hand around my waist pauses, and a helpless sigh resounds in my ear.

Victor: [sighs LONG and HARD] Truly a dummy.

Like an answer to his voice, countless threads spring up and envelop us completely in a blanket.

—

I seem to have sunken into a dream of heavy colors.

A tidal wave of gray fog surges overhead, reflecting the outline of light.

Transfixed, I reach out for the spec of light, but my body feels as heavy as if I’ve fallen into a mire.

Until a slender arm comes up and firmly clasps my fingers. I seem to have been asked for something, and by doing so, I break free.

My body becomes lighter, reminiscent of a bird that has broken free from its cage. The spec of light in the distance gradually magnifies and occupies my entire field of vision––

I gasp as I wake up from this strange dream, and what greets my eyes is the somewhat familiar canopy roof. I size it up for a moment before I remember that it seems to be the bed curtain I once entered by mistake.

…why am I in Victor’s room?

I lift my hand to knead my dizzy head, only to feel a tug of something. Puzzled, I lower my gaze and see countless red silk threads covering my body.

With a slight movement, they all fall in a flurry, landing silently, one after another, on the bed. And the thick gray fog on my wrist has disappeared without any trace whatsoever.

The last picture I’ve seen flashes before my eyes at this moment, and I open my mouth in bewilderment.

MC: Victor? Are you here?

A faint response drifts from outside the bed curtain. I lift open the curtain of the bed, but can’t help but be rendered speechless.

Victor is leaning against the bed head, and countless silk threads drape over him as if caging him in a soft web.

For what seems like an instant, I seem to see a little bit of fatigue between his eyebrows. But the next second, he stands up as if nothing has happened and looks at me.

Victor: The restraint has been lifted.

Victor: You can leave now. Nothing will block your way anymore.

He takes the lead towards the door as he speaks. The silk threads climb up our wrist and pull me along to follow behind him, not gently but not firmly either.

I look down, only to see that their original vibrant red color has taken on a hint of faint darkness, as if they have lost their vitality.

My anxiety surfaces more and more clearly. Thinking back to that bizarre dream, I hesitantly open my mouth.

MC: …isn’t “take what you give” the principle among demon spirits? What’s the price for swapping me out?

Victor’s pace seems to slow down a few notches. While I’m wondering if it’s an illusion, he raises his hand and pushes open the door to the room, and the valley full of autumn light suddenly floods into the courtyard.

Victor leans against the door, his voice taking on a little more hint of alienation.

Victor: The person who is about to leave doesn’t need to know so much.

The silk threads quietly converge behind me, gently pushing me into the refreshing colors of autumn. Soon after, they swirl back to Victor’s feet, never crossing the border.

At this moment, the low door threshold in front of my eyes seems like an insurmountable barrier.

The question that has been heavily weighing down my heart is now vaguely answered. My nose is a little sore, and I force myself to avert my gaze.

The freedom I’ve been waiting for a long time is close at hand. So long as I turn around, I can leave this antiquated mansion behind forever.

But… I don’t want to leave like this.

I exhale deeply and walk over to Victor. He opens his slender eyes, looking at me with an expression that I’m unable to read.

Victor: What are you still dawdling about?

I open my lips, and only now do I notice a hint of hoarseness in my voice as I begin to speak.

MC: I have heard the intact rumor that the restraint on earthbound spirits can only be transferred. It can’t be lifted.

MC: You have become the prey on my behalf to make it stop devouring me, haven’t you?

The trailing notes of my quivering voice dissipate into the air. After a long time, Victor speaks in an indifferent tone.

Victor: You ask too many questions. You should know, I’m not always soft-hearted.

A few strands of silk threads wrap around my neck in response to his voice. I purse my lips.

MC: …I don’t buy that you’ll actually do it.

He seems to release a soft sigh as the silk threads swirl and tighten threateningly soon after.

MC: It’s not fair to trade a sachet of vanilla seeds for my freedom in the future.

MC: There is no way I can just pretend that nothing has happened and leave.

Almost subconsciously, numerous fragments of images appear before my eyes;

The look of discard I saw on the person before my eyes when I tripped over the silk threads, the way his brows smoothed out slightly when he ate dessert, and that face when he gazed into the distance.

My vision gradually becomes blurred. Amid the haze, I hear a very soft sigh.

Victor: …I had already become familiar with these mountains and woods to the stage of being a little worn out.

Victor: Before you came along, I seldom walked out of this house. Even though staying here is simply a return to the old life.

Victor: So, you don’t need to think so much. Our transaction is sufficiently equal.

The silk threads that bind me drop silently. I sniffle and stare fixedly at Victor.

MC: You don’t need to think too nobly about human beings either.

MC: I- I simply don’t want to think of you remorsefully every time I see a mountain view in the future.

MC: Instead of that, I’d rather stay here and be more at peace.

Victor’s gaze lands on my bloodshot eyes, his voice soft.

Victor: Don’t you still want to capture a lot of scenery with your lens?

Victor: After staying here for so long, I’m afraid there’s nothing left in these mountains worth for you to continue recording.

MC: …that’s not my only wish. I’ve told you this before too. I want to leave this place together with you.

MC: I’ve heard from people down the mountain that there are quite a few legends scattered around the area. Maybe it won’t be long before we find clues.

The profound, warm autumn light filters in from outside the door, looking as if it’s melting into the light of Victor’s eyes. I speak in a quiet voice.

MC: And when together with a special someone, we can always find novelty even if the days are endlessly long.

MC: I can bring more to your life than just dim sums and vanilla seeds.

The rustling of the trees echoes through the courtyard, causing my entire being to shiver. A brief while later, the silk threads hanging over my shoulders suddenly descend lower and tug at my waist.

I stumble and am led into the arms in front of me. A tender, cold breath pours itself into my own. Soon after, I see a slender hand extending before me.

Victor lowers his gaze, curling his pinky finger at me slightly.

Victor: Since you don’t want to leave, stay here then. The courtyard is very empty, and I need someone to accompany me in sowing the seeds.

Victor: By this time next year, perhaps we will be able to harvest the taste of surprise.

—

Pretty long rambling, so please feel free to ignore if you wish haha~

I found this beautiful translation of the poem, so for those interested~

—

#it was really so hard not to add translation notes and just ramblings after each sentence akshxxsdgnf #so i went for documenting them instead LOL 😭 repeating myself for the millionth time––#—— BLESS VICTOR’S WRITERS😭❤️#mlqc victor #mlqc li zeyan #mlqc #mr love victor #mr love queen's choice #恋与制作人 #李泽言 #love and producer #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc translations

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thepariahcontinuum · 1 year

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Worm power where you can temporarily duplicate inanimate objects and have full control over said copies (including telekinesis and a slight Thinker power giving them info on how it works as long as the copy exists)? The duration of the duplicate’s existence would depend on the size, complexity, and the cape’s familiarity with the original object. It’s not an extremely destructive power on its own but there’s lots of creative directions for it, plus the possibility of copying Tinker devices (albeit not for very long)…

Possible applications: copying a telephone box on the street and hurling it at an opponent, copying a rifle and instinctively knowing how to use it even with no prior training, etc. Very large or complex things would last under twenty seconds, but that’s still enough time to cause a bit of chaos or get the cape out of a jam.

Now the "Duplicate small items" part was actually an ability of one of my RWBY OCs, Grapeshot. he just used to turn every shot from his weapon into a full on salvo.

The telekinetic control makes it a lot more interesting however.... Now you said copying things like Tinker-tech but honestly I was thinking in the vein of mixing Shatterbird and Kitchen Sink (Still one of the best Cape names).

This is a Villain, someone of Mid-Tier in one of the major cities where Shakers run the show because the power is effectively a mid/high Blaster rating with Master and Shaker subcategories due to the control and potential scale, as well as a potential Tinker rating.... Although I personally like the idea of them not being able to actually use the Tinker-tech they copy.

Despite the power they're throwing around they still have the overall demeanor and vibe of a lovable rogue or one of the goofy golden age villains. This is a villain that quite a few people consider themselves fans of and has an air of being harmless because they copy things that turn their power into a practical joke.

After all, if you turn the containment foam angle back on the Heroes and PRT by creating literal rivers and tidal waves of lumpy porridge or tapioca pudding to bury them whilst robbing a bank it's funny.....the understanding that you could just have easily have dropped a tusnami of nails and shrapnel on someone and guided it telekinetically through the streets to react that Machine attack from the second Matrix film is just an implied threat.

This is also a villain who's smart enough to use that popularity and parlay into branding and marketing and merch in ways that Uber and Leet need to step up to....a popular trick is to make some genuine t-shirts and hoodies with their logo on and then copy them, throw them into the avalanche of copied stuff and let people grab em. Anyone who still has merch when the copies vanish wins and gets a Twitter shout-out.

Costume wise I'm thinking something in dark grey with bright green and some orange highlights and details.... Something asymmetrical with different textures involved that really shows off the chaotic vibe and is right on the edge of "What you can pull off without looking like a twat"

Cape name: Clutter

#wormblr #worm web serial #Parahumans #wildbow #worm oc #Anon

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cantsayidont · 6 months

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July and August 1979. The unusual transatlantic production schedule of the original Marvel STAR WARS comic, which for a time was published in the U.S. in 36-page monthly color comics and in eight-page weekly installments in the B&W UK series, led for a while to the use of two different inkers for regular penciller Carmine Infantino: Bob Wiacek, who did the cover of issue #25, and Canadian artist Gene Day. Generally, Wiacek and Day inked the stories in alternating issues of the color series, although Wiacek's inks might appear on several consecutive covers. They each gave Infantino's pencils a distinctly different look. Here's a page from issue #25, inked by Day:

If I had to choose just one word to characterize the work of Gene Day, who died suddenly in 1982 at the age of 31, it would be "intricate." Whether doing inks/finishes or both pencils and inks, his art was characterized by an abundance of textures and small details, many of them seemingly rendered with a pen. Note for example in the second panel above the shading on Baron Tagge's face and the linework of the structure behind him, and the grille structure of the ceiling in the third panel.

A side note worth mentioning here, not related to the inking, is the use of color. Original colorist Ben Sean uses the two-color treatment of the hyperspace shot to segue into three panels with a minimal color palette, which I think is supposed to represent the limitations of Tagge's cyber-vision (without which, as the final panel indicates, he is blind). The digital recoloring has mostly followed Sean's original colors, but they're brighter and more saturated than they appeared on newsprint paper, and for some reason, the recolored version of the second panel has substituted a solid orange fill for the original yellow-orange gradient, as seen below:

The following is a page from the subsequent issue, #26, this time inked by Bob Wiacek:

Note that the line weight of Wiacek's inks is different than Day's, and more of the inking appears to have been done with a brush than a pen. There's still some pen shading (note for example the bottoms of Tagge's boots in the final panel), but much less than in Day's pages, and minor details, especially in the backgrounds, feel a bit sketchier. Consequently, Wiacek's figures have a greater sense of solidity than Day's, but their environments are often less sharply defined. (This isn't necessarily bad — from a storytelling standpoint, it may be better not to get lost in the weeds with extraneous background detail — but it does look different.) Note also the Zipatone texture fill in the second panel. Day uses Zipatone as well, but more sparingly and often in smaller areas, where it's often overshadowed by the detail of his line work.

With the release of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK in 1980, the UK series was relaunched as a monthly, simplifying production logistics. Infantino did not pencil the film adaptation, but he did the first four post-ESB issues, each with a different inker (Day and Chic Stone, then Tom Palmer, then Day, and finally Carlos Garzón), which led to even more dramatic differences in the look of the finished art. Infantino, who by his own account had no particular enthusiasm for the series, then departed. Gene Day, meanwhile, was doing some extraordinary work on Marvel's MASTER OF KUNG FU series, initially finishing Mike Zeck's pencils and then doing both pencils and inks, which really showed off his enthusiasm for intricate design.

Prior to his death, Day did layouts for two complete issues of STAR WARS, which appeared in #68 and #69 after his death, finished by Tom Palmer. Although they don't have the complex linework of the work Day finished himself, they have a really striking sense of design that make them arguably the most interesting-looking issues in the original Marvel series.

Incidentally, Dan Day and David Day, who did (inter alia) the Renegade Press CASES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES series, are Gene Day's brothers.

#comics #star wars #marvel star wars #archie goodwin #carmine infantino #gene day #bob wiacek #tom palmer #baron orman tagge #house of tagge

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kalechipslives · 7 months

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sorekara setting design

Here are some notes on the development of SOREKARA's style and presentation. If you couldn't already tell, SK takes a lot of inspiration from 70's/80's anime, Nobody's Boy Remi being the reference point for much of it. I've always respected Dezaki for his monumental work so I've always wanted to pay tribute to it (especially the early stuff). I don't think I was as successful as I'd like to have been, but alas! There is still more to come! So without further ado!

I was just talking about Dezaki , but now I shall talk about something completely different. To set the tone, I created the cat and the trolley setting first. The Girl's design should be plenty obvious (lol). But the background here I paid special attention to... I find the paints of Night on the Galactic Railroad to be very unique. They have a line less, airbrushed quality to them that blends in surprisingly well with the characters. I did some research and studied 児玉喬夫 Takao Kodama's work, as they were credited with setting design for this film as well as Genji Monogatari. Actually, if you look at Genji Monogatari's backgrounds, they have the exact same airbrushed quality! I had never done a background like this before (I am certainly not an environmental artist) but I think I did a fairly good job of it.

...I immediately switched gears and without thinking, went back to Dezaki works. I can't say I was very faithful at all. The night sky is easy to paint, with it's notable color spray and paint blots, but I diverged quite a bit with the watercolor textures. Shichiro Kobayashi is the artist I looked to the most, and this project made me appreciate him more than ever before. Just looking at his paints gets me emotional... The vibrant colors, the dramatic angles, you can just feel his reverence for life overflowing from the work. There really isn't anyone better. I need to study more if I'm to capture even a fraction of his skill. That being said, I did make sure to animate the backgrounds slightly with the sparkles on the water-- The reflection of light on water is my favorite to draw! Also, flowers are a very important motif (for various reasons, ohohoho). Kobayashi seemed to love drawing flowers, the paint around the edges give is a delicate look. Actually, if you look at the textbox...

Instead of full-color CGs, I opted to use "postcard memories". This was a technique Dezaki used where he would show a detailed, scratchy-lined illustration to highlight important moments instead of fully animating them. It creates a really memorable image that draws out all of your emotions! I tried to emulate them (the more single-toned ones, that is) for the game. It was 1/3 Dezaki worship, 1/3 time-saving technique, and 1/3 excuse to draw lots of scratchy lines. I love scratchy lines. This way, I could make a lot of memorable shots that were visually interesting without overworking myself.

As another note, I looked to Akio Sugino's character art when drawing. The characters don't really look like Sugino characters, but I was emulating his shading technique with (once-again) the scratchy lines. Ah, I was in heaven. Looking at his older work, the linework is hardly ever clean-- but the rough, hand-drawn edge gives everything a tactile quality and the strong anatomy makes everyone so gorgeous. It's like an engraving come to life.

Finally, the anime effects! On the left you can see soothat before his values are adjusted (very dark, isn't he?) and on the right you can see he is in-game, values adjusted with a more appropriate "anime" look. This is because anime cells are put onto a CRT screen, so they end up looking very different. I created an auto action in CSP to adjust the color grating and line quality of every asset before popping them into the game for the chromatic aberration to take effect. The lines are slightly crunched a blurrier compared to the original. It gives it a more "physical" look. The colors are fixed up-- you'll see there is no pure black. If you look at a physical anime cell, you'll see they more often than not do not include pure black. There is usually a tint of green or red in there.

The chromatic aberration filter... I don't know how noticeable it is to the average player, but the game actually has a built-in filter that creates a slight "chroma" effect to emulate the look of frames through a crt/light. This means the red + blue + green values of the entire screen are split up and adjusted to layer slightly off from each other, giving it a little visual interest. It was AN EXTREME doozy to put in, with my poor programmer coding it and re-coding it until the end. It seemed simple at first, but there are parts where the game zooms in which totally broke the filter! It made out eyes bleed! But it was repaired in the end, so blessing upon you, Sandy. You saved my life.

The reason why I looked to Ie Naki Ko/Nobody's Boy Remi specifically is because that's where I feel the most "pure" energy from. It is a show that leans incredibly hard on it's techniques to get by but because of that it really embodies what I love about old anime-- It has a selfless reverence for its subject that drives you to watch and surrender your heart. Dezaki's powerful directing, Sugino's gorgeous drawings and Kobayashi's majestic paintings come together to make a work that shines. The setting is truly at the forefront with the characters getting lost in the grandeur. That's the attitude I had with SOREKARA: "There are things much greater than us, so isn't it wonderful that we are able to see them side-by-side?" There are many animation techniques that are cost-effective while still being utterly beautiful, I would love to copy them someday but I wasn't able to go that far yet. At least not in the demo. There's still time, I suppose... Studying limited animation from old anime is actually extremely useful when creating visual novels. Understanding the placement of cells and their layering/movement has given me even more ideas for stories!

I ended up going on a rant about anime again ^^" But it's so beautiful, you must now understand my heart going into the work. I always think of my characters and their journey, of course, but before that I think of the setting. I want the player to experience beautiful and mysterious things alongside their traveling companions. There is still so much more to make. I hope to incorporate more Dezaki-style techniques in this and future works. Please remember the true message of my works.... Not that love finds a way, or that your connections can transform your world...it's that....anime is very, very cool.

Thank you for reading 🙇🏽‍♂️

#game dev #sorekara end of a journey #visual novel #vn dev #indie dev #dev diary #osamu dezaki

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my-fortnite-blog · 11 months

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Fortnite x Yoshitaka Amano, a collaboration that nobody talks about.

Fortnite x Yoshitaka Amano, una colaboración de la que nadie habla.

Opinión

It’s very probably that if you are a big fan of Final Fantasy saga, the name of Yoshitaka Amano sounds familiar to you, but if you don't know him, let me tell you a little about this great artist, of whom I consider myself a great fan.

Yoshitaka Amano (天野喜孝) is a Japanese visual artist, character designer, illustrator, a scenic designer for theatre and film, and a costume designer, throughout his career we can highlight the following works: Final Fantasy, Vampire Hunter D, Speed Racer, Gatchaman, Casshan, Guin Saga, which are the most important and recognized of his entire career.

Es muy probable que si eres un gran fan de saga Final Fantasy el nombre de Yoshitaka Amano te suene familiar, pero si no lo conoces, déjame hablarte un poco de este gran artista, del cual me considero una gran fan.

Yoshitaka Amano ( 天野嘉孝) es un artista, diseñador de personajes, de vestuario y teatro; ilustrador y escenografo japonés. A lo largo de su trayectoria podemos destacar a la saga Final Fantasy, Vampire Hunter D, Speed Racer, Gatchaman, Casshan, Guin Saga, entre otros; los cuales, son algunos de sus trabajos más importantes y reconocidos.

The art of Yoshitaka Amano is very special to me in many ways, it goes beyond having given life to many of my favorite characters from the Final Fantasy saga, such as Cecil or Terra.

When I was a little younger I began to be interested in the art that went behind a video game, in one way or another as a fan of Final fantasy I ended up encountering the art of Yoshitaka Amano, more than love at first sight I made an immediate connection with his art for only one reason…his art looks like my dreams, yes, the dreams I have when I sleep, all those colors, textures and level of detail in his works, it was as if he had entered my mind and said “I have I have seen your dreams and I have painted them” that is why his art is important to me.

El arte se Yoshitaka Amano es muy especial para mi de muchas maneras, va más allá de haberle dado vida a muchos de mis personajes favoritos de la saga Final Fantasy como lo son Cecil o Terra.

Cuando yo era un poco más joven comencé a interesarme por el arte que iba detrás de un videojuego, de alguna u otra forma como Fan de Final fantasy termine encontrándome con el arte de Yoshitaka Amano, más que amor a primeras vista hice una conexión inmediata con su arte por una sola razón…su arte se ve como mis sueños, sí, los sueños que tengo cuando duermo, todos esos colores, texturas y nivel de detalle en sus obras, era como si el hubiera entrado en mi mente y dijera “he visto tus sueños y los he pintado” es por ello que su arte para mi es importante.

Art by Yoshitaka Amano to Final Fantasy VI

His style is unmistakable, when I saw the leaks that morning, and saw the loading screen, I immediately said "This is the work of Mr. Yoshitaka Amano, it couldn't have been done by someone else" and I just went to investigate to check that he was correct.

They might say that every what's in-game loading screen made by an artist is some kind of collaboration between the artist and Fortnite, and that's right, but as I have said, for me Yoshitaka Amano is special in addition to his great career and his importance in the artistic field, such as cinema, painting, theater and video games.

Going back to the collaboration with Fortnite, It not only presented us with a sublime loading screen but also with gorgeous skin that has all the vibe of Yoshitaka's style, which definitely stands out from the rest with her unique design, and that vibrant red that contrasts with the pale skin of the character, also look at that face, I love it!

Su estilo es inconfundible, cuando vi las filtraciones esa mañana, y vi la pantalla de carga inmediatamente dije “Esto es obra del señor Yoshitaka Amano, no pudo haberlo hecho alguien más” y solo me metí a investigar para comprobar que estaba en lo correcto.

Puede que digan que cada pantalla de carga qué hay en el juego hecha por un artista es una especie de colaboración entre el artista y Fortnite, y eso es correcto pero como he dicho para mi Yoshitaka Amano es especial además de su gran trayectoria e importancia en el apartado artístico como lo es el cine, el teatro, la pintura y del gamining.

Regresando a la colaboración con Fortnite, no solo nos trajo una sublime pantalla de carga si no que también con una skin preciosa que tiene todo el vibe del estilo de Yoshitaka, que definitivamente resalta del resto con su diseño único, y ese rojo vibrante que contrasta con la piel pálida del personaje, además miren ese rostro, ¡me encanta!.

At some point I came to imagine what a collaboration between Fortnite & Yoshitaka Amano would look like? considering how many iconic characters that man has created, but I didn't think I'd get to see him and I'm really grateful for this collaboration. I think no one is as happy as me for this.

En algún punto llegue a imaginar ¿Cómo se vería una colaboración entre Fortnite con Yoshitaka Amano? tomando en cuenta la cantidad de personajes icónicos que ese hombre ha creado, pero no creí llegar a verlo y estoy realmente muy agradecida por esta colaboración. Creo nadie esta tan feliz como yo por esto.

My opinion of the adaptation

The skin is so beautiful, I love it and absolutely she has all the vibe of a Yoshitaka Amano´s design, but, if we make a comparison between the design that we see on the loading screen and the adaptation that was made as a Fortnite skin, I have a couple of observations:

►The first: The length of the hair does not seem to be correct, it also has a kind of reddish reflections that could easily be taken advantage of and used to make reactive skin

►Second: the sleeve that you can see in the design does not match the final result, it seems to have a kind of red lace that the Fortnite guys decide to omit, also on his hand he seems to have a ring that was completely omitted.

Third: the long socks, this one probably doesn't count at all since it could be the interpretation of the reflection of the clothes in the light but it may not and that the color really is white. So this wouldn't be so much of a problem but I still wanted to mention it.

Mi opinión sobre la adaptación:

La skin es hermosa y tiene todo el vibe de un diseño de Yoshitaka Amano, pero, si hacemos una comparación entre diseño que vemos en la pantalla de carga y adaptación que se hizo como skin de Fortnite tengo un par de observaciones:

La primera: El largo del cabello no parece ser el correcto, además tiene una especie de reflejos rojizos que fácilmente pudieron aprovecharse y usarse para hacer reactiva a la skin

Segundo: la manga se que puede ver en el diseño no coincide con la del resultado final, parece tener una especie de encaje rojo que los de Fortnite decidieron omitir. Además en la mano parece llevar un anillo que se omitió por completo.

Tercero: los calcetines largos: este es probable que no cuente del todo ya que podría ser la interpretación del reflejo de la ropa en la luz pero puede que no y que realmente el color realmente sea blanco. Así que este no seria tanto un problema pero de igual forma quería mencionarlo.

Do not take this last as hate, you know that I am super observant and it is only a comparison.

This last is just my personal opinion: I think that if I designed a skin for Fortnite, I would just like them to respect even the smallest detail. And as a fan I would have liked to see that reflected here. But it’s ok, with the collaboration is more than enough to make me happy.

Conclusion It's a collaboration that surely no one expected, especially because I follow Yoshitaka Amano on his social media and he never mention anything about it, but it made me very happy that it came, also I think that not many people will know that this is a collaboration, so I hope this post has served as a small introduction to this wonderful and talented artist.

Until the next post.

No se tomen esto ultimo como hate, saben que soy super observadora y solo es una comparativa.

Esto ultimo es solo mi opinión personal: creo que si yo diseñara una skin para Fortnite, a mi me gustaría que respetaran hasta el mas mínimo detalle. Y como fan me hubiese gustado ver eso reflejado aquí. Pero esta bien, con la colaboración es más que suficiente para hacerme feliz.

Conclusión

Es una colaboración que seguramente nadie esperaba, en especial porque sigo a Yoshitaka Amano en sus redes sociales y nunca menciono nada al respecto, pero me hizo muy feliz que llegara, además creo que no muchas personas van a saber que esta es una colaboración, así que espero que este post les haya servido como una pequeña introducción a este maravilloso y talentoso artista.

hasta el próximo post.

THANK YOU FOR READING ME!! The English isn't my native language, if I write something wrong, please leave me a comment, that would help me a lot because I'm still learning. Thanks for your help.

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lackablazeical · 1 year

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Hello!

A. Why does Cuddle's teeth get bigger every time I see her

B. Her eyes also are getting bigger I think

C. Will we ever get a cuddles and raph fusion and the other duo? I think it would be fun for cuddles and raph's fusion to be a complete plush toy body with plush spikes yet the scars are like hard and burnt fabric that has similar texture to Raph's skin, like how some plushes have pure hard thread for details like noses and small scars!

D. I understand your stance on proship is a full no, and I respect that 100%, proshippers can die in a pit. But I'm curious, why do you depict minors in such abusive relationships? I mean, I understand that this is your au and creative liberties know no bounds however concept wise I am fascinated! These are late teens, 15 - 17 last I saw on the ref sheets, yet they are put into extremely gorey and torturous situations and abusive to others, including family. My question is what inspired you to make such a dark ass au? The concept and designs are beautiful, but what inspired you to make it go so dark for minor aged characters? Logically speaking I don't think I could ever see these characters behave this way before seeing your au, and I don't mean to sound rude at all! I do adore your au and characters and writing style, I'm just so curious how you decided to put these young characters in such terrible life positions. It's similar to the torture extent of Like Father Like Son, putting child/teenaged characters into situations that you would see in someone's deepest fears or in a rated R film. Why did you choose to do that? And again, I'm genuinely asking, because even as a horror fanatic, I can't see anyone putting characters to such harmful extremes. /genq

Hi!

A/B: I am inconsistent and don't put effort into drawing her cus I Do Not Like Drawing Her 💃💃💃💃 (I have a design for her the works that I like a lot more that hopefully WILL be more consistent lol, I am so sorry to any miss cuddles enjoyers)

C. Yes!!!! There are gonna be Donnida and Rizu (Raph+Chizu) fusions, then after that I was hopefully planning to do some other combos!!! But omg YES that would be so cute IWHIWJF Raph with little button eyes, ill take 10 please

D. Yes, absolutely completely against proship, I fucking hate proshippers, they all need to choke on forks, yes.

As for your actual question, a few different reasons.

One, I just. Didn't really care to change their ages very much from actual canon. I'm a minor as well (16) so I tend to have characters that are around my age LOL. It's just never crossed my mind that. The minor characters being involved in dark things would like. Add to the horror, I guess? Maybe cus I'm one of said minors IAHWIEBF I have no idea.

Two, I just. Like dark topics LOL. Always have. My interests involve bondage, taxidermy, body horror, etc etc. I just put a lot of that into my work, I love drawing gore and making art w/ dark themes (even bigger bonus if it means I also get to contrast it w/ bright visuals) addams family as a concept is honestly quite dark when you look closer at some of the jokes and situations, I'm just not very good at comedy so that kinda got lost which is a 'my bad' moment

Three, i didn't want to make light of specific topics so I keep and present them dark (for example, Leo stalking Usagi. I'm not gonna make light of stalking and abuse to keep a more lighthearted tone. I'm just not. So. Yeah). I think it's in bad taste to present certain things like that more comically, and I'll take the L of diverting from the source material a lot for it.

I wouldn't compare it to LFLS really! Lfls is a wonderful fanfic made by a wonderful person, but I think. What we try to achieve and the points/ideas we present are very very different, ya know? Hers is angst with a point, I'm just here to get groovy/j

I like the dark topics and I like presenting them as such, ISHDIFBFJ. Maybe it's just my low-empathy talking, but I like what I've done and I'm gonna keep improving it! I just. Idk, I enjoy it. About as simple as that!

I did at least try to go for some difference then other 'dark turtle' AUs I've seen! No hate to any of them, they get all the hearts and flowers from me, I just wanted something different and hopefully. Achieved that! Yay! :D

#blaze's answers

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spheresr4cubes · 1 year

Text

Thoughts on the Mario movie

THE PROS

--Stunning animation! I mean, Jesus Mohammad Christ, the lighting?! The facial expressions?! The textures?! The weight of things falling and hitting and cracking?! The translation of 2D side-scroller to 3D world?! J'adore!!

--Genuinely horrific intro to the Darklands. Like, I was actually terrified for Luigi, especially the last shot with the Shy Guys in the castle.

--The world designs! If there's anything Illumination excels at, it's funky little societies, and the Mushroom Kingdom is no exception.

--The Battle with Francis the Dog, not only for the fantastic facial expressions of Francis himself, but for showing off how Mario and Luigi interact when faced with a problem (Luigi holding up a mirror as a shield mirrors [ha] how he protects Mario at the end of the movie). Also, the placement of the opera music over the madness happening when the plumbing goes haywire was *chef's kiss*.

--Hair flippies <3

--"Peaches"

--The voice acting: Charlie Day strikes a very interesting balance between Luigi's game voice and a real person, which makes him feel familiar at the same time as adding depth. And of course, Jack Black sounds like he had a lot of fun as Bowser, and I got chills twice during his lines.

--Existential luma

--Mario and Luigi apparently dress the way they do as a way to brand the look for their new business, and I love that. They feel out-of-place in their world somehow and fit better into the Mushroom Kingdom (which may just be the fact that their designs were meant for that world, but ce la vie, that's how it felt).

--THE HUG. I did not want to see this movie at all until I started hearing people talk about the relationship between Mario and Luigi as actual brothers. I haven't played any of the games with story, so I don't know how the film's take compares, but I do have a little sibling whom I love dearly and would absolutely learn the physics-bending rules and fight the same battles as Mario does if it meant getting my sister back. Does it feel a little fanficky? Sure. But it works.

--Actually, the whole Mario family's dynamics work, and there were so many little details and interactions I caught just on the first watch that build so much character with only a few scenes of dialogue. Mario being athletic before the events of the movie, never knowing when to quit, being defensive about his career choices and how they affect Luigi, who would follow him anywhere; Luigi being the most supportive person, even singing Mario's praises in the face of a big scary monster, never losing hope even when things are looking dire; their parents being more concerned than outright disappointed in their choices, trying to be supportive but missing the mark.

--Speaking of Mario never knowing when to quit and Luigi being a supportive person, no one in this movie really learns anything... and that's okay! The feelings that everyone has about how things should be end up being what keeps them going until the world(s) agree with them. Peach, for example, cares tremendously about the Toads and will do anything to keep them safe, which she does!

--Bowser is actually terrifying! Sure, he has his silly moments, but the badassery absolutely outweighs them. I had no doubt that he would actually commit mass murder, especially toward the end of the movie when the anger from being turned-down really comes out.

--Peach running the obstacle course in heels and a full gown (I have done something similar in a full skirt and bodice, and it was fun to watch on screen).

--FUCKIN TEAMWORK, YA'LL

THE CONS

--How many times do they have to title-drop? After seven, I was really getting tired of it. Like, yes, we know it's the Super Mario Brothers, we are aware.

--Illumination has a brand of comedy, and it is not absent from the movie.

--I'm not too familiar with the lore of anything, much less Donkey Kong, but... he never struck me as the fratboy type?? Like, sure, the dynamic kind of works when he interacts with others, but it felt... off.

--The voice acting. I saw this one coming, honestly, and I think I blame the studios more than the actors (I can't help but have sympathy). Seth Rogan as Donkey Kong felt wrong to me. Same with Cranky Kong, as if something in the voice did not match the character somehow. I'm not sure how to describe it. There were times where the same issue arose with Peach, Mario, and the main Toad as well, like there's a disconnect.

--Lots of very bright colors in both Brooklyn and the Mushroom Kingdom, which softens the blow of actually arriving in another world. I get that this is more of a children's movie, and children love bright colors, but do you know the feeling you got when first seeing Dorothy step out of the sepia-tone house into the technicolor Land of Oz? That feeling was missing here.

--Someone used a lot of the budget on copyrighted songs, and it gets distracting. ("Mr. Blue Sky" is already intrinsically linked with a complete other fandom in my mind, so its addition really threw me out of the story).

OVERALL

The Mario movie was good! I enjoyed it, even with its faults, and I would buy the DVD if only to admire the artistry that went into the animation and screenplay. There were still times I absolutely would have screamed "HELL YEAAAHHH!" had I not been in a public theater.

10/10 visuals

10/10 foley

6/10 voice acting

7/10 plot execution

8/10 characterization

Judgement: Would recommend, even if you don't know lore!

#mario bros #Mario movie #mario #luigi #peach #bowser #animation #2023

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insane-mane · 2 years

Text

Lightyear Was Ok

I’ve loved Toy story since I was old enough to walk, and Buzz Lightyear was my first favorite character, so hearing he was getting a standalone movie for the big screen made my inner child perk up at the idea, but my cynical older half had a lot of reservations with how Disney would handle it, which sadly I was correct for having. These are some of my thoughts.

*SPOILERS*

Pros:

-Great visual effects you’d expected from Pixar. Very nice lighting/texturing as per usual.

-As odd as it is to not hear Tim Allen as Buzz, Chris Evans’ take grew on me with time, getting certain mannerisms and inflections that still feel like the character. Not as jarring as I expected, thankfully.

-Sox was still enjoyable despite my reservations for side characters such as this that are typically conceptualized mainly for merchandising/marketing.

-Giving Buzz added depth of not only trusting others by not always making himself the lone hero, but admitting fault helps him feel real and humble to counteract the larger-than-life space hero we’ve known him as. In a movie meant to humanize the toy, that’s what you’d want them to aim for. Seeing Buzz both in and out of his element, showcasing his strengths and weaknesses feels familiar but new in some of the right ways.

-VERY good attention to minor details and subtle nods to the toy Buzz and the loose lore he’d rattle off. Seeing things like “Terilium Carbonic Alloy” and of course crystallic fusion referenced is so neat. Certain lines pulled from the first Toy Story doesn’t feel nearly as forced as they could’ve been, and thankfully are spaced out enough. It’s also interesting to see them pull influence from Buzz’s initial concept art from the first movie that make their way into separate suit designs.

-The film does a good job at making Zurg a visually imposing villain. While his design overhaul is jarring, the physicality and added tech is a treat.

Cons:

-The film feels a tad too muted, lacking the vibrancy and stylization of the retro future/atomic age the toy and even the show has as an aesthetic. It might make sense to make the film feel closer to something akin to Star Wars, but it takes away what could be a more interesting visually-appealing movie.

-The pacing is a bit too quick during pertinent, emotional moments between characters primarily during the middle of the movie.

-Certain side characters and generally a bit of the humor felt a bit too dull.

-While Zurg’s presence is done well, his big reveal/motivation is more confusing than it is surprising. By trying to subvert expectations of the obvious Darth Vader reference made in TS2, they’ve instead made it where two Buzz’s exist and it’s not as compelling. Buzz 2 then miraculously stumbles upon a random alien ship with a menacing mech suit at his disposal. The time alone makes sense for him to be more selfish/jaded than the Buzz we follow, but nothing necessarily fits the power-hungry “Evil Emperor” title for Zurg.

It could have been much more interesting had they played into the “Buzz’s Father” idea, going about in different ways like:

•Buzz’s Father was an Ex-Star Command captain fueled by the (what he assumes to be) loss of his son after the initial test flight and blaming Star Command for its failure, setting off to find him in space. The mech suit could’ve been used to to keep him alive to catch up with Buzz during dilations and the robots made to help search for Buzz.

•Buzz’s father was once one of the greatest Space Rangers that vanished in deep space during a mission, but presumed to be killed by alien robots from his last transmission. Thought to be long-since dead, Buzz discovers his Father was assimilated by a tech-based hive mind akin to the Borg from Star Trek, warping his mind and making him vengeful towards Star Command for never rescuing him.

These ideas might sideline the Hawthorne character and/or the “marooned on an alien planet“ plot line, but it’d at least give credence to the lore the toys themselves referenced instead of leaving it as a (now nonsensical) Star Wars reference. Feels like loose lore they disregarded in favor of doing the weird “Big Twist” Disney movies have a compulsive urge to put in their movies now. Your audience being able to pick up your reveal before you make it doesn’t always signify bad writing, if anything it’s properly constructed and in this case just answering questions the Toy Story movies posed.

-The ending felt very rushed. There’s no repercussions to Buzz’s actions unlike his alternate-self, and is instead randomly gifted the chance to create a new faction of the Space Rangers to fight evil in the universe, when the really the only example of that was Zurg. It feels like they were more-so banking on the fact they’ll have more opportunities to expand and improve upon on this in a sequel rather than make their initial movie good, which is disappointing.

Conclusion:

All in all for a spin-off origin story expanding upon loose lore somewhat parodying and heavily influenced by Star Wars and the like, it makes for a fun romp and is nice to see this character on the big screen again in a new context. I did find myself grinning in childlike wonderment at certain parts, but I do feel as though it could’ve been better since the crew did seem very passionate about making the film.

Once they make the inevitable sequel, my only hope is they’d improve upon this and learn what worked and what didn’t. I really just want the best for a character that meant a lot to me growing up.

#lightyear #spoilers #lightyear spoilers #buzz lightyear #Opinions no one asked for

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bridgertonbabe · 1 year

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I have to say that the Umbrella Academy AU sounds so interesting. But as usual my Benophie loving ass had a thought...

You noted that Sophie struggles maintaining her neutral state...what if it is only when she is with Benedict that this settles. (Whether that be due to their emotions or Benedict's superpower). It could link in with the whole Benophie 'let me be your anchor' idea, and the fact that Benedict is the one who truly sees Sophie.

Bonus. Benedict drawing/painting her in every state because he finds her beautiful even when she has a different eye colour etc.

Sorry, read your post and got inspired, can't wait to hear more!

Oh I mean naturally Benophie's story in the Umbrella Academy AU is the one I've thought through the most! 😜

And you've absolutely read my mind in that Sophie's appearance only settles when she's with Benedict because his soul anchors hers and perceptively sees her better than anyone else.

For full perspective, Sophie has never truly known what her true appearance is meant to look like. Throughout her tumultuous childhood her looks never settled, her hair wildly changing colour length and texture and her facial features contorting her from one identity to another. When she joined the academy and was shown some basic care and love as well as stability, she gained better control of her shape-shifting, though during her neutrality her appearance would still gradually fade (for example, if she sat down to watch a film with the other academy members she would appear as a brand new person by the time it had finished). Once she had mastered her power she could simply maintain the appearance of someone whose looks she admired or wished to appear as (and for fun she regularly cloned herself as her fellow academy members and mimicked them), but every night she would sit at her dressing table, staring hopelessly at her own reflection, willing herself to present her authentic self just so she could know what she might look like. She had photos of her parents, to get some idea of what she was likely to look like, but still she could never seem to nail her actual appearance down no matter how much she wished for it.

While some of the other academy members could navigate their way through the outside world during their downtime without any issue, Sophie was practically reclusive because of her appearance. She was too scared to make friends because of her inability to possess her true neutral physicality and even when she put effort into maintaining another person's appearance she hated herself - she was so sick of being everyone else but herself and she simply didn't have the strength to quite literally keep up appearances when she wasn't fighting crime.

For a long time there was a loneliness Sophie endured all to herself even in spite of the love and support she received from Lady Danbury and the rest of the academy - but then one night everything changed.

As she drifted off into sleep she dreamt she was out on a terrace overlooking the countryside - and she wasn't alone. Keeping her company was a handsome man with chestnut hair, blue eyes, and a lopsided grin. She was instantly smitten and in the dream they talked and laughed and even shared in a dance. She was downhearted upon waking though she was quite surprised by just how vividly she remembered the dream in such great detail. Then, when she went to bed that night, there he was again in her dream. He asked her a question - a question which followed up on something she had mentioned in her dream the previous night - which left her bemused. The dream played out much like the previous night's one did, almost as if they were on a date, but this time her date revealed his name; Ben. And then he kissed her and somehow it felt as though she really was kissing him - but then much to her chagrin she woke up again.

Fortunately Ben was there again the next night, and the night after that, and the night after that; in fact every time she closed her eyes at night and rested her head on her pillow, there he was smiling brightly at her. They spent their dream dates chatting non-stop, laughing, and kissing, and each night they were in a new setting; one night he was sweeping her across a magnificent ballroom, another they were cuddled together looking up at the stars, and then a romantic date in Paris, a long walk on a tropical beach, admiring the Northern lights. Every single dream of hers was enchanted, with Benedict being the most enchanting factor of all. They shared secrets together, telling each other their innermost thoughts; and Sophie even told him of her identity of being Umbrella Number Three and her deep-seated frustration of never knowing what she truly looked like. This confession surprised Ben - because she had only ever had a singular appearance every time they met in her dream. She was so startled by his observation that she woke herself up and began wondering if the fantasy of Ben was becoming a worrying obsession of her own imagination, one that she knew would destroy her if she stopped dreaming him up. That night when she entered her dream she found herself in a cottage looking out on a picturesque countryside - and of course, there was Ben. He asked her to sit before an easel he had set up and informed her he was going to draw her in order to show her what she looked like. She was apprehensive and began pondering aloud; what if she had subconciously made herself in the image of what Ben's dream girl looked like, who was she kidding that all of this - Ben included - was nothing more than a grandiose figment of her own imagination, how had her ability to lucid dream brought her more happiness than she ever thought possible? Her babbling screeched to a halt when Ben presented his portrait of her and she stared in stunned silence. In an instant she knew that was her true authentic appearance; she shared the same facial features as the photo of her mother but had her father's blond hair and green eyes. She teared up, knowing that upon awaking she wouldn't have the appearance, knowing her dreams were nothing more than that.

But then Ben told her that this wasn't her dream; this was their shared dream and stunned her by telling her he was just like her and that he had a superpower too. He tells her he has the ability to infiltrate other people's sleeping consciences and to manipulate their dreams, that he's part of a surveillance agency where his power is employed - at which point Sophie freaks out, accusing him of exploiting her in her sleep for his own agenda. He confesses he was initially tasked with slipping into the sleeping consciences of the Umbrella Academy to see if they posed any sort of harmful threat to the world but after passing through the rest of the team's consciences (and mentioning that with all due respect her teammate's dreamscapes were just plain weird and of no beneficial insight whatsoever), he entered hers and the second he saw her forgot all about his mission. In fact when he awoke from that first dream he lied to his team and told them that the Umbrella Academy's minds were impenetrable, that they must have some sort of mind force preventing anyone from getting into their brains. Ben tells her that though they've ever only met and been united in their dreams, what they share and what they have between them is real. He professes his love for her, that he spends every waking moment waiting to go to sleep to be reunited with her, that he's been disregarding assignments and claiming his powers are waning just so he can spend every second of dreaming being with her. He swears on his mother's life that he's not manipulating her, that she can trust him, that he'll quit his job and leave everything behind just so he can be with her in real life. Sophie is taken aback by everything she's just been told - and then much to her frustration she wakes up.

As she begins to mull over it all, weighing up the truth and the reality of it all (and very much considering if her mental health has taken a turn for the worse), Phillip calls her for a chat. Just like Luther in the series, Phillip is situated on Mars (as opposed to the moon) collecting samples and seeing if the planet is hospitable to growing plant-life. Sophie is his regular point of contact and they video-call all the time. Phillip wants to share something with Sophie that he's observed, something which he's kept track of for awhile now, wanting to gather enough evidence before he got her hopes up. She's confused until he tells her that several times he's video-called her only for her laptop to automatically answer without Sophie accepting it. When her camera's answered, Sophie has been sleeping but Phillip wouldn't hang up, leaving the call on so he could have some company even though Sophie wasn't conscious. It was after several hours when he realised that Sophie's sleeping appearance hadn't altered in the slightest and over the course of the next couple of months whenever he video-called her and found her sleeping, not only did her appearance not change but it was the exact same face every single time. He wasn't sure what it meant - he had seen Sophie sleeping before over the years but her appearance would gradually change through the night - but he wondered if perhaps she was slowly adapting to her authentic form. He then sent screenshots of what she looked like in her sleep and Sophie was blown away - her appearance was that of the portrait Ben had drawn of her in her dream.

That night as soon as she met Ben in her dream she told him she believed him, that she trusted him, that she loved him back. She informed him of what Phillip had told and shown her, telling Ben that whatever connection they had was special, that what they had ran deeper than their shared dreams, that they were bonded on some sort of spiritual and mental level enough that her shape-shifting had finally settled whenever she was with him. Ben offered up the idea that they were soulmates and Sophie truly knew in her heart that this was true. She then asked if they could finally meet in real life, wanting to be able to physically touch him and kiss him, to be her truest self with him. He leapt at her proposal, and told her once they had met that they could start a life together, away from the rest of the world and live a quiet life in the country, an aspirational dream they had both shared together for what they wanted in life.

They arranged to meet at a party held at some big country house called Aubrey Hall with Benedict telling her she'd recognise the terrace with a knowing grin. On the day of the party Sophie had gotten all dressed up, giddy with anticipation to finally meet Ben in the flesh, for her happy ever after to begin, and she eagerly revealed all to Number Four ahead of her departure, unable to keep her excitement to herself.

And yet in spite of all that, Sophie never went to the party. She never even left the house. She did a u-turn at the front door and went back up to her bedroom before resting into a dreamless sleep. Months later when Phillip returned he asked Sophie if she had any luck with settling her appearance like she had done in her sleep but she had no idea what he was on about. He had also observed just how dulled her mood had become, considering for a while during their video calls she had never sounded brighter and more optimistic - but again, Sophie hadn't a clue what he was referring to. He thought it additionally peculiar when he asked her how her dreams were going, as she had mentioned in passing how vivid hers had become to the point where she was sure she was lucid-dreaming, but Sophie dismissed the question altogether; she had always had dreamless sleeps after all.

Fast forward to the Bridgertons reaping havoc with their newly upgraded and wildly omnipotent superpowers, Gareth and Sophie team up when a new sibling is located. Gareth teleports them to the countryside where a Bridgerton sibling seems to have the power of conjuring up dreamscapes and just about anything imagined from his mind. Their surroundings are completely distorted and other-worldly but once they get around the obstacles, they manage to find one of the troubled Bridgertons in some sort of palace projected from within his own mind. The Bridgerton - Benedict - spins around when they call out to him and he stares in wild disbelief at Sophie. Gareth tries to explain why they're there but is instantly yeeted out of the realm they've entered by the simple flick of Benedict's finger (Gareth teleports back, gets yeeted again, and teleports once more before taking the hint after Benedict expels him for a third time). Benedict approaches Sophie, his eyes wide as if trying to comprehend her very existence, much to her confusion. She carefully addresses him by his name, hoping to talk him down, but he asks her to refer to him by his shortened name. She obliges and calls him Ben - and then out of nowhere he's kissing her passionately. Sophie shoves him off her and slaps him without thinking. There's a beat of silence and she worries how explosively he'll react, expecting to be yeeted away with even more force than he had done with Gareth; but instead Benedict tears up, asking her what he did to make her stop loving him.

Sophie is flabbergasted, telling him she's only just met him, before suggesting that maybe her current appearance just so happens to be of the woman he loves and tries to explain to him she's a shape-shifter. He cuts her off, telling her he's well aware; he knows everything about her. Then much to her shock and horror he begins listing off things she's never told anyone else, things she's only ever internally thought to herself, but she argues back, accusing him of manipulating her mind. Furiously Benedict tells her that her mind is the one he can't manipulate because he can't access it. She doesn't understand what he's talking about before he fills in the blanks and tells her all about the dreams they shared, the connection they had, and everything else in between. He tells her how he waited for her to show at the party but she never came and when he tried to reach her in her dreams he no longer could no matter how much he tried. He thought then his powers simply weren't strong enough to break through whatever mental block she had shrouded her conscience in, and after the lightning strike with his abilities heightened and more powerful than ever before he thought he could finally reunite with her; but still he couldn't reach her. Sophie is floored by what he's revealed and believes he's simply having some sort of mental breakdown with all the might of his powers affecting him, making him believe the most elaborate and intricate of delusions. She informs him that she's only ever had a dreamless sleep and that she's never been able to keep a neutral appearance, never knowing what she actually looks like in spite of what he's trying to tell her.

Frustrated, Benedict conjures up a mirror and shoves it in her face; and there Sophie sees herself for what she believes is the very first time and somehow deep down inside she knows that is what she's meant to look like. Benedict doesn't even give her a chance to respond before their surroundings are engulfed with copious screens displaying the dreams they shared together. In each and every one Sophie sees herself looking exactly as she does in the mirror and the more of these memories she sees, the more something within her is burning, something akin to familiarity and yet she can't quite reach it. It all looks so vivid, almost like she can reach out and touch the memories, but something keeps blocking her in her mind and it feels as though a grip is tightening around her. She starts to panic as she begins to get pains in her chest and as a searing ache tears through her head, almost making her feel as though she's about to explode. Benedict grabs a hold of her, begging her to remember him, to remember them, imploring her to fight against whatever manipulation has permeated her mind so that she can remember that he's her soulmate. The physical and mental pain becomes too overwhelming and Sophie ends up passing out from the sheer anguish of it all.

Holding her close to him, Benedict returns his surroundings to what they once were before he distorted them, wanting to get Sophie help as quickly as he can - except Gareth is waiting for him and he's brought company, and Phillip incapacitates Benedict before he can do anything.

When Sophie comes to she finds herself back at the academy recuperating and is congratulated by Lady Danbury for successfully retrieving another Bridgerton, who they now have under observation. Suddenly they hear Benedict screaming from the other side of the building - and he's screaming for Sophie. Immediately Sophie jumps up and runs in the direction of his voice as the walls around her begin to distort as a direct result of Benedict's raw emotion. She hurtles in to where Benedict has been confined and instinctively pulls him into her arms, comforting him in an instant and the distortion that had begun to affect the building simultaneously stops. As Sophie cards a hand through his hair, quietly assuring him that she's not going anywhere, the Umbrella Academy and the other Bridgertons that have been retrieved enter the room and quizzically observe how close the pair are.

Lady Danbury gently asks what power Sophie seems to have over him, but Phillip talks over her, pointing out to Sophie that her current appearance is the one she used to possess in her sleep a few years previously. Before Sophie can respond, Benedict beats her to it, snapping that this is how she's always looked to him, how she's supposed to look. Sophie begins to elaborate for the rest of the room's stunned benefit but Benedict ends up taking over, clutching her close as he explains how he and Sophie know each other better than anyone else, how they dreamt together and how a mental block has been put over Sophie's mind to prevent her from remembering him and what they had.

As he's talking something suddenly strikes Sophie as she realises there's someone who would have had the power to make her forget all about Benedict and close her mind off to him. Slowly she pans her gaze around the room and across the faces of her teammates until she lands on the only one who can control others' minds.

"Why?" she croaks, her eyes welling with tears, bringing Benedict to a halt in his speech before he follows her train of sight. "Why would you do that to me, Penelope?"

#asks #gonna leave it on a lil cliff hanger coz i cba to write anymore lmao #the umbrella academy au #benophie #sophie beckett #benedict bridgerton #benedict x sophie

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