Failtopia Ship Popularity

The shipping side of the Failtopia fandom has never really been all that popular, considering how small the 'fandom' itself actually is compared to how many people casually watch the series, but what does exist about it is quite interesting. Not necessarily in a good way, but it's fandom shipping, of course it isn't.

What I specifically mean is, both existing seasons of Failtopia have had surprisingly similar formations of ships, and I'd like to break that down, explain why exactly the nonsense happened this way, for no other reason than my own enjoyment, and the five people who will ever read this post.

First off, the Erica ships.

Failica and Eribo are easily the most popular out of the S1 and S2 circles respectively, having far more vocal supporters than any other ship in the runnings. The connecting thread between them is clear to anyone who's watched the series - They both feature everyone's favourite character, Erica. A key difference between them, however, is also very obvious. The former is an F/M ship, and the latter is F/F. This discrepancy exists because, while Erica being a lesbian is possibly the single most popular headcanon in this entire fandom, it didn't become popular until S2. In S1, Erica was seen as a tsundere for not liking her male best friend, but once everyone collectively realised where her affections more likely were, a majority of people jumped ship. (Not necessarily to Eribo, at first, but I'll get to that.) Given her fan-favourite status, partially because of her attractiveness, it was only natural that the centre of the shipping scene would revolve around Erica, but it took until a certain outing to a botanical garden for people to get their acts together on what ship.

Next up, the inconsistently implied secondary ships.

Roseyawn and Marion don't even come close to the Erica ships' popularity, but they're definitely part of the discussion when we're talking about the most popular ships. The peaks of their popularities would probably rank at the third and fourth spots, but it's clear which one has more staying power, given the immediate end of the other. Both ships were heavily implied as a possibility throughout their seasons, with Rose and Pirahnyawn seeming to carry out an actual relationship in S1, and Mar and Orion flirting fairly often in S2, with Mar's romantic feeling being outright canon. However, Orion is a married man, and turns Mar down every time he tries to go further than flirting. On the other hand, when I say that only one Failtopia ship has been de-confirmed as endgame, I do not mean them. I mean Roseyawn, given that Pirahnyawn's daughter was canonically born and raised by him alone. Both ships exist directly because of canon interactions, but the same idea also works to their detriment - Roseyawn more than Marion.

Then, we have Lanchi.

Not two ships this time, but a single one that lasted throughout both seasons, the only one to do so. For good reason, too, even if it isn't obvious on the surface. It originated in S1 for much the same reason Roseyawn did, because of certain implications in their interactions. However, unlike Roseyawn, these interactions actually spelled out a positive image of their relationship. They failed to reach the heights of their fellow ships' popularities, but they were undeniably the third place contender. The very same statement applies to their popularity in S2, a season where Lanc doesn't even feature, but Chi does, and her lore explicitly states that the insane actions she took during the timeskip between seasons, were inspired by Lanc. She takes on his mannerisms throughout the remainder of the season, so even when Lanc himself is not present, the spirit of Lanchi remains prevalent. The other two S1 ships did not have this luxury, so they both died out.

Finally, we have the ones nobody wants to acknowledge.

These ships were only temporary in popularity, and mainly came about because of sheer desperation from the fans, scrounging for some shipping fuel they felt was missing at that point in the series. S1 had D*koboat, a literal pr*ship that likely only got its cult following because it was an alternative to Failica after Erica temporarily left the narrative, even having the same tsundere dynamic if you imagined it. S2 had Friendshrimp and Erichi, two ships that only barely don't count as pr*ship, because of technicalities regarding the ages of Friend and Chi, even though those weren't confirmed during the very short timeframe where these two ships gained their tiny followings. Shrimp, like Erica, was a fan-favourite that people wanted to ship, but they quickly realised that they just didn't have any good options. Erichi was, unfortunately, the original F/F ship for Erica, but because their relationship was made so clear to be nonromantic, it didn't last. They couldn't last, because they weren't made for that purpose.

TLDR: The big three ships of S1 were outdone by the big three ships of S2, and the other ones do not exist in Ba Sing Se.

Drawing time!

My page for @sheikahzine; about Impaz's duty to her village, empty of people and full of memories.

[id in alt text]

Since I did Barnaby, why not do all the rest of the neighbors? (Including home)

All of this started because of one simple and funny thing I did with Barnaby

Almost

what do you mean youre technically a detransitioner cause of terf bullshit?

it's a v long story but i detransitioned for a couple of years when i was 16/17, for multiple reasons but mostly because i fell into the blaire white/kalvin garrah chamber of "you have to be This way to be trans otherwise you're not real".

i was already Deeply insecure about myself and my 'passing' and i was led to believe that i couldn't want to wear makeup or skirts, and i couldn't choose not to have bottom surgery, and i couldn't do anything but bind for 12+ hours a day to the point that my ribcage is still misshapen. basically i thought that if i wasn't suffering enough doing 'feminine' things, i couldn't really be trans, so i should just go back to being a girl and suck it up.

the terf bullshit is because i'd seen a lot of terfs/detransitioners talking about the 'dangers' of testosterone and how it would turn me into a horrible ugly evil monster and how there was nothing worse than wanting to be a man. which combined with 'you need to fully medically transition to be valid at all' creates some very dangerous and upsetting feelings to cope with.

it also came from trying really hard to put myself in a little box before i realised that my sexuality/gender are very fluid and it's FINE for me not to have a label and just do whatever i want. when i was 19 or so i went back to using they/them (and eventually he/him) and changed my name again because even though i like doing 'feminine' things, i don't want to be seen as a woman.

tldr: i was conditioned by transphobic/terf rhetorics to think that i was being trans the 'wrong' way so i couldn't be trans at all, so i believed i must actually be a girl if i still wanted to do 'feminine' things. nowadays i am a transmasc who does feminine things because i don't give two shits about what any transmed prick thinks of me anymore.

Bhaalist Unholy Communion

This post has been living in my brain rent free and then it hit me in just the right headspace to turn into a vent thing and made me write poetry for the first time since eight grade anyway enjoy my ramblings under cut

because isn't it fucked up that Durge has no bodily autonomy? That he's nothing (using he/him because im looking at my Durge specifically) without Bhaal because not even his own body is his own but still a part of Bhaal?

And sure it is an honor to be Bhaal's Chosen, but is it really if you never got the chance to choose yourself? Strike, my Durge, was born a Bhaalspawn and grew up in the cult since he was eight. It's all he's ever known, he's worshiped for being a demi-god, he's powerful and on top, and in the end, literally everything he has is only because his Father lets him have it.

The Communion especially shows that, with Strike being still worshiped, but it hurts him, the Bhaalists rip his body apart, use it, consume it, and he needs to think of it as a blessing because how lucky is he, to be the soul that was loaned piece of a god to guard? He'd think of his own body like that.

And it hurts Bhaalists, too! It works both ways! His blood is poisonous and his flesh aches in their throats, but it's a blessing! God of Murder loves his son and his love hurts, and if you love him back, you must let yourself be hurt and know how lucky you are to be allowed to be hurt by Bhaal or his mortal flesh itself!

I'm just very into the whole 'no bodily autonomy' thing that we have going on with Durge, like his father not only can take control of his body via the Urge, but he has Sceleritas to guide him away from anything that could be not by Bhaal's books, Orin and Saverok to be a (although messed up as hell) family to him so he'll never look for another, and to some degree, Bhaal can control Durge's mind...

No wonder he'd run to Gortash in the end. The first one who sees more than a Bhaalspawn when he looks at Strike, more than Bhaal's scion, he sees a person and ngl it's totally Bhaal's fault that Strike ended up like that

Gym buddy Simon

(Small chubby fem mc)

Gym buddy Simon. Soap set him up for one of those stupid "find me ___ person" sites as a prank, and he never expected Simon to find someone that he LIKED. And yet, there you were. Sending him a sweet little request, trying to work on your self-confidence. Tiny chubby little thing. Simon is immediately smitten. He knows that he's going to be more of a personal trainer than a gym buddy, but he really doesn't mind. Just means he gets to watch you sweat and work for HIM. And oh, he likes that. He loves it when you sweat, when you whine because something is a bit too heavy, or you can't take much more; he loves watching your muscles work and strain under your soft layer of squish. Honestly? Simon loves that squish. He has to focus on his own workout whenever you do jumping-jacks or anything that makes your little bit of chub bounce. If he does happen to see it, he'll become almost entranced, imagining kneeding at the soft flesh and littering it with kisses and bite marks, digging his fingers into the soft flesh of your plush hips and grinding you back against him. Before he realizes it, his mask has a small wet spot from where he was drooling. He's never been so excited to go to the gym. You're such an absent-minded thing, forgetting the most important things sometimes. But, it's ok because Simon always brings his gym bag, which is always loaded with snacks, protein shakes, pre-workout, hair ties, water bottles, and even some extra gym clothes. He's also incredibly accommodating and pays attention to small things. You have better cardio when listening to a certain playlist? He talked to the gym staff about using their speakers. Nervous about people watching you? Well, he's got the perfect little secluded corner for you. Feeling stressed? He's a great listener! On your period? (He figured out your tells pretty easy) he's got Midol and some feminine hygiene products in his bag of tricks, too. Eventually, you run into the rest of the squad at the gym, and he gets possessive! Long story short, this is a need.

[ID in alt]

hi hey hello. you should go check out @u3pxx 's piece for the mea culpa zine I just made a fun and silly continuation of it because im normal about it <3

more fun and silly shenanigans under the cut

[ID in alt]

gnawing on my arm because i think there's something to be said about how stede not only dreams about himself with a beard, but ed with his full beard back too. like, the dream seems to be riddled with imagery that he thinks ed would want.

and i say this especially because of how stede reacted when ed had to shave his beard. he freaked out on his behalf. he shrieked in horror whereas ed was entirely unbothered. he feared he had ruined him, had dragged him down to some despicable level, when in actuality, ed was completely content to shed that part of his persona.

and then there he is dreaming about ed with that part right on back.

so there's very clearly still a part of his mind that's convinced that's what ed wants. because why wouldn't he? everyone else seems to. and why would he want the softness and femininity stede had been bullied for his entire life?

which in turn plays into his own imagery too. bearded, masculine, fiercesome, rugged...

because how could someone love what everyone has hated him for? how could someone want what everyone has tried to quite literally beat out of him?

i hate you subscription services. i hate you streaming. i hate you computers that aren’t made to be able to use dvds or cds. i hate you not being able to have anything as your own. i hate you having to endlessly pay for something you should only have to pay for once.

studies from the finale

Thinking again about the fact that when Eddie and Dustin finally convince Steve to play DnD with the party, all of them, but especially Eddie, quickly become exasperated with Steve who has extremely high charisma, and decides that he can fix almost any situation by flirting with whoever they were in conflict with. Especially the fucking monsters, this man is bound and determined to himself a monster boyfriend and until it happens, he will make every single person they come across fall in love with him. So naturally, this happens a lot:

Steve: I’m going to flirt with them

Eddie, exasperated: Steve, you can’t date this monster, he’s trying to kill you-

Steve: Hot.

Steve: I’ll flirt with them harder then

So yes I have OF COURSE read @naffeclipse new fic Apex Polarity and yes, I AM OBSESSED!

So I decided to make a little comic of how I think their "first encounter" might have looked like from Eclipse's perspective.

I can't help but think about how alien and scary we most look to him (especially if there is a history of fasco hunting polar sirens in the past). With all that gear we look like emotionless beings, just observing and uncaring of this ice world. But then when y/n shows up and probably exudes this joy and wonder for his world + shows respect for the creatures and the environment??? Mmh yeah, I can see Eclipse falling for y/n, especially considering how alone he might be...

So yes, that's what I have for today! If you want to read the fic I'll link it right here. I can't recommend it enough, but as always, read the tags so you know what you're getting into! And lastly I also want to @themeeplord beacuse Eclipse's design is basically their design in my style (god I love their design so much, their character/creature designs are the BEST) so all the credit goes to them! Polar!Y/N is my design thou! ;P

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go read the two latest chapters-

YIPPEE!!!

Blue tries to get someone to join the Star Sanses but fails

Color belongs to SuperYoumna

Blue belongs to PopcornPr1nce

Transcription:

Blue: Thanks for helping me move these vaguely identified packages, Color!

Color: No prob, Bob

Blue: By the way, your strength can be really useful in combat. Oh, I know! What do you think of joining-

Color: No thanks, I’m good

Blue: I… what?

Color: Yeah, no thank. I mean, you guys seem great and all… but I’ve got my own thing going on

Color: Plus, i have to take care of like 6 kids inside of me

Blue: Please rephrase that

Color: But it’s true, no?

Blue: PLEASE