I'm Kaelyn (you can call me K for short, if you'd like), and welcome to my writing blog!
Fandoms I Write For:
Super Mario
The Legend of Zelda
Pokemon
Tekken
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Hellsing Ultimate
Boots
The Amazing Digital Circus
Request Status
Taking Requests? - Yes! Here are some things to keep in mind before sending one in:
I do write...
SFW alphabets, headcanons, & oneshots
NSFW alphabets & headcanons
Character x reader
Character x character
Poly relationships
Drabbles (both SFW & NSFW)
Just anything fluffy that you can think of!
I don't write...
NSFW oneshots (not confident enough in my writing skills to write full-blown smut yet)
NSFW for Super Mario and Pokemon; those two will be SFW only
That being said, most SSBU characters are also off-limits for NSFW content
Character x oc (not confident enough to do this just yet)
Anything containing racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.
Anything immoral that would warrant extreme concern
Dead dove-style works
Currently Working On - Link headcanons
My Art Blog
You can find my art blog here -> @k-does-art-stuff
I also have an Instagram account under k-does-art-stuff if you'd like to check that out as well (everything that gets posted on my art blog gets posted on there, too).
Character - Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong series; Super Smash Bros Ultimate)
Fic Type - Headcanons
Content - General headcanons about Donkey Kong within the SSBU universe
Note - Took me long enough to get this one posted
- Over the years, Donkey Kong has gotten better at controlling his strength, but every now and then, he'll still accidentally send someone through a wall.
- DK lost his bongos somewhere and can't remember where he put them. Diddy Kong is currently making him some new ones for his birthday.
- He usually volunteers to go out to the gardens and pick the ripe fruits and veggies. Peach will accompany him to make sure that he doesn't end up eating whatever he picks (the bananas always look far too tempting).
- Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong have always been close, but their time in Smash together has made them inseparable. Whether they're training for battles, helping out around the mansion, or just goofing around, they always do it together. That being said, Donkey Kong is protective over Diddy Kong and is always putting his safety over his own. If an occasion arises where he can't look after Diddy Kong, he trusts Mario, Luigi, or Peach to take his place.
- He has a giant wooden pole in his room that he uses as a punching bag, which has a drawing of K. Rool's face taped onto it. He used to have a regular punching bag, but it got replaced so many times that the other fighters decided it'd be better for him to have something less destructible instead.
- DK and Diddy Kong may not be able to speak English fully, but they do understand it. They also understand a very limited amount of Japanese.
- That being said, both DK and Diddy Kong have been able to pick up a few words in different languages from other fighters. Sometimes, if the two show interest, whoever's around will teach them a few words and help them pronounce things. Most of the fighters usually teach them English, but sometimes they'll learn Italian from Mario and Luigi, or Japanese from Ryu and Cloud. If Wario's around, he might introduce them to a new swear word or two, as long as no one else is there to witness him do it.
- He loves going to the beach and running around along the shore! The other fighters have to be careful around him though; if anyone gets near him, they will get splashed. He'll happily enter a splashing match with anyone and everyone.
- Everyone is familiar with Donkey Kong's goofy and lovable nature, but if anyone dares threaten the lives of his loved ones (especially Diddy Kong), he becomes aggressive and feral. The veteran fighters have only seen him like that once, and it was terrifying.
- No morning is complete for him without a nice run through the forest surrounding the mansion. Nothing gets his day started like a few minutes of climbing and swinging through trees!
- Towards the end of the day, DK and Diddy Kong like to unwind by watching TV. They're not picky; they'll watch anything, usually plopping themselves beside whoever's already using the TV. They'll watch fights with Ryu and Ken, cartoons with Ness and Lucas, and even soap operas with Peach and Bayonetta. As long as there's good company and something interesting to stare at, they're sure to enjoy themselves.
- DK is super intrigued by other fighters' technology, to the point where it gets him in trouble sometimes. One time, he got ahold of Samus' Plasma Whip and nearly cost the roster half a million in property damage.
- If his beloved tie gets destroyed, whether on the field of battle or by accidentally getting too close to the garbage disposal, Isabelle will gladly sew him a new one.
- He loves climbing the tall buildings that appear in some of the stages. He enjoys using them to gain high ground during matches.
- Sometimes, he and Diddy Kong wake up hungry at night, so they sneak into the kitchen to get some food. Unfortunately for them, DK grunts and stomps super loud without even realizing it. Diddy Kong tries so hard to keep him quiet during their midnight snack runs, but more often than not, they wake everybody up.
- DK still has a piece of moon rock that he got from punching the moon a while ago. He kinda wants to do it again just to see if he can. Bayonetta frowns upon this.
- When it comes to communicating to anyone who isn't his nephew, DK makes sure to use big gestures and, if applicable, words he's learned to help him get his point across.
- Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, and Villager make for a pretty chaotic trio. The Kongs love it when Villager lends them their rocket or their balloon hat to mess around with.
- He's grown incredibly loyal to Mario and the rest of the gang through their time in Smash. He especially loves Princess Peach and is always super excited when she's around, like a pet when they see their owner.
- Sometimes, he and Diddy Kong will accompany Mario to New Donk City. Since they're so used to living in the jungle, they're curious about everything the big city has to offer. They can often be a little too curious, though, which usually lands them into trouble.
- Donkey Kong is notorious for leaving trails of banana peels and being partially responsible for people receiving injuries due to slipping on them.
- DK taught half the roster how to tie a tie. Some were impressed and grateful for the lesson, while others were embarrassed that a gorilla taught them, of all things.
- He's strictly an herbivore, so anything that gets served in the mansion has to have a vegetarian option for him and his fellow plant-eaters. Mario has a special "meatball" recipe made just for him, which consists of a mixture of bananas, strawberries, and various kinds of seeds.
- He and Diddy Kong send letters to Cranky Kong to check in, say hi, and let him know they're doing okay.
- He's friendly rivals with Mario and Captain Falcon, always willing to have healthy competition with them.
- Meanwhile, he and Bowser are not-so-friendly rivals. On the surface, it seems like DK doesn't like him very much, but in reality, he has a lot of mixed feelings towards the Koopa King. He knows he's a villain and that he's done bad things, but he feels that there is some good inside Bowser that just needs to be brought out a little more. DK wants to try being a little friendlier towards him, but Bowser's insistence on being one of the bad guys makes it really difficult.
- DK will set up obstacle courses and games outside, playing with and competing against anyone who wants to join in. With Donkey Kong involved, even a simple game of cornhole can become an intense battle. Mario, Captain Falcon, and the Pokemon fighters are their most frequent players/competitors. Sometimes, even K. Rool will try to get in on the fun just to attempt beating DK at something (he never does). Bowser and his kids often join in for the similar reason of trying to beat Mario at something, but that usually fails too.
- Every Christmas, DK enjoys dressing up as Santa Claus for the younger fighters. They know that it's just Donkey Kong under the beard, but they play along because they know it makes him happy.
- He has broken into the item storage room and gotten caught for playing with things he shouldn't have. As one could guess, Diddy Kong was also there, and Villager may or may not have had a hand in it too.
- Ever since King K. Rool joined the roster, Donkey Kong has had to keep his banana stash in a safe so that it doesn't get stolen.
- He loves carrying people around on his back! Whether they want a piggyback ride through the jungle or just need a stepstool to get the pickle jar, Donkey Kong is happy to provide.
- Donkey Kong is currently trying to convince Master Hand to let him build a treehouse within the forest. Master Hand sees it as a pointless waste of wood, as the fighters already have their own rooms within the mansion. He may not like the idea now, but DK believes that one day his dream will become a reality.
- That being said, he did get permission to build barrel cannons around the grounds as a means of quick transport. Master Hand may or may not have regretted this idea afterward.
- If he's feeling extra goofy, he'll run around the mansion pretending to "shoot" others with a banana. One time, he aimed it at Peach and accidentally squeezed it too hard, causing the fruit to shoot out of the peel and onto her face. Mario was pretty upset at him for that one.
- He's gotten quite good at identifying different types of berries in the Light Realm and determining whether or not they're safe to eat. Poor Kirby had to get food poisoning a few times to get to that point, but hey, it could've been worse.
- Donkey Kong and Little Mac want to have another boxing match, but once again, Master Hand does not think that it's a good idea.
- When the Smash Bros first began living at the mansion, it took DK a long time to adjust. He used to be incredibly clumsy, constantly bumping into people and knocking stuff over. In battle and outside, he knew how to carry his body, but living indoors in such a pristine building was a whole different story. He's improved a lot since, but he still needs reminders to be careful every now and then.
No request this time. I just wanted to say thanks for the Nabooru fic, I really enjoyed it! If I have any more ideas I'll be sure to send them your way and see if your interesting in writing something for them.
Thanks and I hope you have a good one!
Of course! I'm glad you enjoyed it, and feel free to send over requests anytime!
This isn't a character that has much written for her. Would you be interested in writing for Nabooru from OOT with a Male S/O who keeps sneaking into the fortress to see her, bring her food and gifts, or something like that? I think it'd be a funny idea for her S/O to have to sneak past guards, and they don't know why this guy keeps trying to break in. There's a few different directions you can take it in, so any ideas you have, I would be interested in.
Thank you, and I hope you have a good one!
Stealth and Spirit
Character - Nabooru (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
Fic Type - Oneshot (Nabooru x Male!Reader)
Synopsis - When your lover is a highly respected Gerudo thief, going to visit her for the first time becomes a trial you did not expect. But it's a trial you're more than willing to go through.
Content - Reader tries to be stealthy and fails a few times; reader is determined and refuses to give up!
Note - This was really fun to write and I'm sorry this took forever!
Gif by @triforce-princess
Sneaking into a den of thieves was never exactly on your bingo card before you met Nabooru.
Now here you were, standing in front of what was arguably the most intimidating and dangerous fortress in Hyrule. Under any other circumstance, you probably would have been anxious, especially since the only thing you were armed with was a basket of your lover's favorite snacks, but knowing she was in there and that there was a chance you'd get to see her was enough to send all of that caution down the drain.
Or, most of it, anyway. You knew Gerudo didn't typically take kindly to men, or "voe" as they would say.
In past conversations, Nabooru gave you hints about what to expect when going there. She joked around with you about sneaking in, but she never actually expected you to try. Coming to visit would be a big surprise, and you couldn't wait to see the look on her face when you made it in.
Your first attempt did not go very well at all. You knew going up the staircase would be a bad idea, so you decided to climb up the rock face beside it instead. You tied the basket to your waist and began climbing. When you reached the top, you laid on the ground, exhausted. Unfortunately, you didn't have much time to catch your breath before you were surrounded by a bunch of guards on patrol. They did not care who you were or why you were there; you weren't one of them and therefore weren't allowed. Luckily for you, they decided not to make you their prisoner, instead merely kicking you off the property. You figured you wouldn't receive a very warm welcome anyway, so you weren't exactly surprised by the treatment you received.
It didn't matter though. They weren't going to deter you from seeing the love of your life.
The second attempt didn't go much better. You scaled the same rock face you did before, but this time you wasted no time getting to a hiding spot (which took the form of a conveniently placed box). You laid low, carefully listening and watching out for nearby Gerudo. You peered around the corners of the box and analyzed your surroundings. You had a rough idea of where Nabooru would be, based on what she's mentioned to you before. Now, you just had to figure out how to get there without getting caught.
Once the coast was clear, you attempted to sneak around the box and hide behind another, but someone from above spotted you and alerted the guards that were on your level. Once again, you were thrown off of the property.
Believing the third time was the charm, you repeated all of the steps you did before, this time making sure to check above as well. When you got to the second box, you noticed that it had a lid. An empty crate! It was as if Hylia herself sent you a gift to help you out. You carefully flipped it upside down and hid inside. You could somewhat see outside through the gaps between the wood. Perfect. With this, there was a chance you could actually get inside!
The plan was simple: move when no one was looking and stay still when there were people around. As long as you stayed along the wall of the fortress, it shouldn't have been too obvious that some random crate was magically moving on its own, right?
Or so you thought. Apparently the Gerudo were really keen when it came to how many boxes they had in certain spots. You had almost made it to one of the doors when you suddenly heard, "Hey, who put this extra box here?"
Not even two seconds later, the box was lifted, revealing you on all fours underneath. Once again, you'd been caught. "You again?!" exclaimed the guard. She and another grabbed you, pinned your arms behind your back, and hoisted you off the ground. They walked you toward the entrance, their grips constricted tightly around your wrists and biceps. "Listen carefully, voe. We're giving you one more chance. Leave and never come back. You don't appear to be any sort of threat, but if you dare try to enter one more time, you will receive no mercy. We've been more than generous towards you so far, but you'd be a fool to believe we'd be gracious if we find you again."
So it turned out the third time was not the charm. Not only that, but you've tried to enter three times and not once have you actually made it inside. Stealth might not be your strong suit. That's okay, though. Maybe you just needed a different approach...
You went back home and donned your amazing Gerudo disguise.
You never thought that you were going to need this. This was something you merely joked about with Nabooru, something that was only put together to make her laugh and nothing else.
Until now. Now, it could be your only ticket inside the fortress.
You stuffed a bit more sand into the chest area, hoping it looked convincing enough, and ventured out once more into the desert. Before long, you were approaching the fortress for what would hopefully be the final time today. You stopped in front of the staircase and took a deep breath. With as much confidence as you can muster, you walked up the stairs, entering the jaw of a beast that has chewed you up and mercifully spat you out several times. This time, however, would not be so forgiving---one wrong move and it would swallow you whole.
As you neared the top, two Gerudo guards came into view. Upon seeing you, they turned to you and gave you a friendly nod. "Greetings, traveler," said the one on the left. "Are you lost?"
It was expected, but the change in demeanor still gave you whiplash. They were nowhere near as hostile as they were before.
You cleared your throat and replied in the most convincing voice you could muster. "Actually, I came to visit a friend of mine. You see, I'm a wandering poet and we met during one of my many journeys to the desert."
"A poet, you say?" asked the guard on the right, her face stern. "Would you mind reciting a poem for us?"
You started sweating, and it wasn't because of the valley's scorching heat. "Oh, um, I'm not that great when put on the spot---"
"That's quite all right, she's just messing with you," said the left guard, giving her comrade a firm elbow. "I have a sister who is the same way, so I understand where you're coming from. Anyway, you mentioned that a friend of yours was here?"
"Yes."
"And what is her name?"
"Nabooru."
The left guard's eyes widened. "You know Nabooru?"
"Yes, I do," you said, blinking perhaps a bit more than you should've.
"Interesting. I've never heard her mention a poet before. That's nice."
The right guard crossed her arms, her eyes falling to the basket. "What's in there?"
"Oh, just some snacks that she likes. I was in the area, and I figured she could use a pick-me-up," you said, your grip tightening on the handle. "Being second-in-command for the Gerudo must really work up an appetite, I'd imagine. Being a guard alone seems like incredibly difficult work."
The left guard smiled and chuckled. "It sure is."
"It has its ups-and-downs," said the right guard, who didn't take her eyes off of the basket. "You know, that looks awfully familiar."
You decided to play dumb. "What do you mean?"
"The basket," she replied bluntly.
The left guard's smile dropped. "Hmm, now that you mention it, it does."
"Oh, I'm sure that's just pure coincidence. I haven't been to this part of the valley in quite a while. Honestly, I would have missed the fortress if not for the fact that it was so huge."
"Right." The right guard's gaze locked onto yours. "What did you say you say your name was?"
"Oh, um, I don't think I gave it to you. It's, um---"
"You know, we had a few run-ins with a voe attempting to sneak into the fortress, carrying a basket just like this one." The right guard took a few steps toward you. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
"No, of course not!" you exclaimed, causing a few others to look over. Your eyes darted around. "Um, I mean, I haven't seen anyone around here. And the baskets, well, maybe he just got one from the same shop I went to?"
"A basket shop?" asked the left guard. "I didn't know there were any basket shops around here."
"Well, it's not just a basket shop, they have other things too---"
"And all of these baskets just so happen to be adorned with the same pretty ribbons?" asked the right guard.
"Yes," you responded quickly. "They're all quite lovely."
"Okay," she said. "Now what about all of those scrapes on your body? How do you explain those?"
"Well, I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I'm... a bit clumsy," you said, your eyes moving shyly to the side. "Especially with all of the wind and the shifting sand. I lose my footing very easily."
She was silent, her narrowed eyes searching your wide ones. Your whole body froze, confidence fading rapidly with each passing second. It might take a miracle for you to get past these front steps.
Finally, she spoke. "Lower your mask."
Oh no.
"Okay..." You lifted your hand to pull down the mask, but before you could, her hand swiped across your face and ripped it off for you. Everyone witnessing it audibly gasped. "Um... hi again," you said awkwardly.
"A-ha!" the left guard pointed at you. "I knew there was something up with you!"
The right guard rolled her eyes. "Oh sure, like you weren't trying to act all buddy-buddy before."
In sync, they lifted up their weapons. The guard that spoke to you previously approached, her scimitars drawn. "What part of that final warning did you not understand?! You voe are so dense!"
You threw your hands up in defense. "Wait, please, I'm not an enemy! Just hear me out!"
"Save it! Prepare to face your doom!"
The chaos was broken by sharp laughter. Laughter you've heard many times before.
The Gerudo turned to see Nabooru, their respected superior, standing behind them, throwing her head back and laughing. When she finished, she used a finger to wipe her eyes. "Oh my, that's hilarious. I've seen many things throughout my time as a thief, but this! This is by far the most entertaining thing I've ever witnessed."
"Nabooru..." you trailed off.
She gave you a warm smile and walked towards you, the crowd parting to make way for her. She stood by your side and faced her comrades, putting one hand on her hip and the other on your shoulder. "Fall back, everyone. He's with me."
The entrance guards were in disbelief. "What?! You actually know this man?!"
"Yes, I do. And from now on, he is granted access to the entire fortress."
"Even the training grounds?" asked one of the guards.
"Yes, even the training grounds."
Everyone groaned in unison. Nabooru turned to one of the Gerudo, who you assumed was one of the fortress leaders. "I promise I'll explain everything later. For now, just have everyone return to their positions."
"Understood. Everyone, get back to work!"
Nabooru turned to you. "Come with me."
The two of you went to Nabooru's quarters, where you gave her the basket. "Aw, how sweet," she said warmly. "You know, you really caught me by surprise. I know I've made many jokes about this, but I never thought you would take any of them seriously."
"Yeah, I've actually been trying to get in all day. The first three times, I tried to be stealthy, but---"
Nabooru's eyes widened. "Three times?!"
"Yep. And I was quite literally thrown out every single time."
"What number attempt did I find you on?"
"The fourth?"
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Huh, I'm surprised they didn't just throw you into a prison cell."
You smiled. "Me too, honestly. But I guess none of them saw me as much of a threat, so they probably didn't think it was worth it. Still, I would think you would've gotten some sort of report about it, no?"
She shook her head. "Nothing. In fact, the only reason I even found you was because I heard the commotion coming from the staircase. I suppose as a respected thief, I should've kept my composure a little better, but you caught me so off-guard with that ridiculous disguise that I just couldn't help myself." Nabooru chuckled softly.
"Well, regardless, I'm happy that you came when you did. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't be here."
Nabooru's eyes became remorseful. "I'm really sorry about that, and I'm sorry I didn't find out sooner. I should have, but I didn't."
"That's okay, I was hoping for it to be a surprise anyway. Don't be too hard on yourself."
"Well, it certainly worked." She stood up and gave you a hug. "Thank you, truly. You went through so much just for me, and I'm more grateful than I can properly express." Nabooru pulled away and took your hands into hers. "But next time, for your sake, perhaps tell me? Hylia may have smiled upon you today, but that doesn't mean she'll do that all the time."
"I will, I promise. Though, next time shouldn't be too much of a problem since I have free reign of the fortress now, right?"
"That may be the case, but things have been... interesting around here lately. The Gerudo have been more hostile than ever toward voe like you, with Ganondorf being the only exception. I'd feel much better to be by your side if you choose to come here again."
You could tell there was a lot more to the story, but you knew now was not the time and certainly not the place to press further. You nodded your head. "Got it."
"Thank you," said Nabooru, giving you a kiss on your forehead. "Now, I bet you must be hungry from 'sneaking' around so much. Let's have a few snacks, shall we?"
A colored pencil drawing of Mario's render from Super Smash Bros Melee! Between the college spring semester and some much-needed spring cleaning, it took forever to get back around to this, but I'm really happy that it's finally finished!
Hallo !! This may be random but all I hope is that ur doing well!
Hello! I'm doing wonderful! I just got done with a whole bunch of spring cleaning, which wasn't fun but was absolutely necessary lol. With all that out of the way, I'm happy to get back to writing again.
i lovd you sm omg i was rhe same anon that asked for the cody fic and oh my goddd you literally healed me phhh my god tysm
if u dont mind please do a mreader w slovacek on a bar fight
Rum & Raging Fists
Character - Nicholas Slovacek (Boots)
Fic Type - Oneshot (paired w/ male!reader)
Synopsis - A guys' night out gets heated real quick---and not in a good way.
Content - Drinking; swearing; Slovacek has feelings for you but doesn't know how to deal with them properly; some angsty bits mixed with some fluffy ones; Nick makes a suggestive comment towards the end, but it's nothing blatantly NSFW
Note - That's great, anon! I'm so happy to hear that! Also, I'm incredibly sorry that this took me forever to get to. I hope you enjoy it!
Gif by @sleazymermaid
Music blared, people downed shots like water, and conversations faded into a great sea of noise around Nick. The bar was usually packed on Friday nights, but tonight was far more chaotic than usual. Not that it mattered, though. Nothing was loud at all for him. Compared to the sound of his pounding heart, everything else seemed quiet.
You and him had just gone for a regular guys' night out. That was all. The two of you were just buddies. It couldn't have been you that sent uncomfortable, blazing heat rushing throughout his body. It couldn't have been you that made him feel like he was about to blow chunks even before the alcohol entered his system. And it certainly couldn't have been you that was making his heart drum against his sternum so incessantly.
Or... could it have been?
No, that wasn't possible. Even if it was, he'd never admit that to himself, let alone admit that to you.
His leg bounced up so high that it hit the bottom of the counter with an audible thud. You jerked your head in Nick's direction. "Dude, are you good?"
His jaw clenched, and he let out a small grunt. "Yeah." Calm the fuck down, he told himself, grabbing the shot glass in front of him and downing it in half a second. Nick set it down and waved the bartender over. "Yo, can I get a couple more of these?"
Once the bartender came back with more shots, you leaned towards Nick, eyes filled with concern. "Hey, man, are you sure you're all right? You've had a lot of those already. Honestly, I'm surprised you haven't fallen off the stool yet."
He glanced at you, and a new wave of jitters hit him like a freight train. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Nick downed another shot before forcing himself to face you. "Yeah, man, I'm good. More than good. Great actually." He gave you his signature goofy grin and raised his other shot. "I ain't lookin' for nothin' but a good time, my friend." God, he hated how heavy those last two words felt on his tongue.
You chuckled a bit and raised your glass to clink against his. You were used to him and his antics, and on nights like these, it wasn't uncommon for Nick to want to get fucked up. Something still felt a bit off, but you decided to just brush it off for now.
The two of you talked and joked around for a while before Nick had to use the bathroom. "Be right back," he said to you, patting your shoulder before stumbling onto his feet. You watched keenly as he made his way toward the restroom across the bar, ready to spring out of your seat in case he fell.
After Nick washed his hands, he gripped the sides of the sink and leaned forward, staring through the rusty drain. His mind swirled with so many thoughts of you it made him dizzy. This isn't good. This isn't working the way he was hoping. Sure, he wasn't nervous anymore, but now too many of his walls were starting to come down. Fine, he likes you. He likes you way more than he should. Hell, he might have even started to love you at some point. You were perfect in every sense of the word, how could he not? Honestly, he couldn't even believe that he was allowed to cross paths with you, let alone get close to you. Did he deserve it? No. Does he feel selfish sometimes? Maybe, but fuck all of that---he wanted to get closer. He wanted more than friendship. He wanted your love, your time, your adoration. He wanted your heart to bleed for him as much as his did for you.
He wanted you. All of you.
His fingers curled tighter around the edge of the sink. Nick will finally admit all of that to himself, but he sure as shit wasn't going to tell you. Nope. Not a chance. When he walks out of that door and takes his seat next to you, he'll stuff everything down again and keep it there. He'll make sure of it. It doesn't matter that your smile alone is enough to send him spiraling---his hidden feelings were going to stay hidden.
He took a few labored breaths, steadying himself against the sink. After a few minutes, he straightened up and left the bathroom. He probably should've stayed for a little longer, but he figured this was as composed as he was gonna get, given the circumstances.
As soon as he walked out, Nick's eyes immediately fell on you... and the woman taking up what was originally his seat. She was talking up a storm, touching your arm and leaning towards you. Nick had no idea what she was saying, but from the looks of it, she seemed to be into you. He should've been happy for you, but he couldn't keep his chest from caving inward. Suddenly, he felt wobbly all over again. He was about to turn heel and walk straight back into the restroom, but your eyes caught his before that could happen. While the woman looked like she was having a great time, you, on the other hand, were not. You seemed more tense than anything else, your eyes darting between Nick and the woman as if pleading for a way out.
Nick sighed, the load in his chest lightening. He made his way over, only getting about halfway there before someone else decided to join you. Some random dude, lean but with well-defined muscles, aggressively grabs your shoulder.
"Yo, dude, that's my girl! Back the fuck off!" he yelled, loud enough for the entire bar to hear him.
Your eyes widened. "Listen, man, I---"
Nick raced over, pushing the guy's hand off of you. "Hey, what's your fuckin' problem?!"
The guy scoffed. "My problem is this asshole's flirting with my girl!"
You put your hands up in defense. "Dude, I wasn't trying to do anything! She came up to me and just started talking to me." Your eyes darted between Nick and the angry guy. The woman just sat still, in shock.
"That's bullshit!" the guy screamed. His burning gaze landed on the woman. "Right?!" She didn't respond. She was frozen still, too stunned to speak, watching him with frightened eyes.
"Listen, man," Nick said, his nostrils flaring, "I hate to break it to ya, but it's not his fault that your girl invited herself over." He looked at you. "Did you even want her here?"
You shook your head. "No, I just-"
"You piece of shit, you're lying!" The guy grabbed your shoulder again, harder this time, with his other hand clenching into a fist.
Nick shoved him off of you. "Get your fuckin' hands off him, you bastard!" You could clearly see the look on Nick's face. The darkened eyes, the flared nostrils, the clenched jaw---you've seen this expression before, and it usually meant that whatever was about to happen next would be terrifying.
The guy's attention shifted, his sights now trained entirely on Nick. "Yo, why do you care so much, huh? You want a piece of her too?" He got up in Nick's face, their noses nearly touching. Between the two of them, the scent of alcohol on their breaths was overwhelming. He grinned slyly. "Or is it because he's your little boyfriend?" he mocked.
Nick grunted and shoved him again, harder this time, and sent a right hook straight to the guy's jaw. The guy staggered and tried to punch back, but Nick swooped down, grabbed his legs, and tackled him straight to the floor. He straddled him and raised his fist up behind him, ready to send that punch and many more flying towards the guy's face. Before he could make contact, you leaped out of your seat to try and hold him back. You and a few other patrons grabbed Nick and yanked him off of the stranger, while another group of customers dragged the other guy away. The two of them struggled against those holding them back, their eyes locked onto each other as they writhed to get free.
You were calling Nick's name, trying to get him to calm down and focus on you, but he didn't hear you. Everything was muffled except for the sound of his own grunts. All he saw was the stranger, now on the other side of the bar, who dared to insult not only him, but you. He had his hands on you. Nick wanted to make him pay. He wanted to make him bleed for what he did.
Everything that followed was a blur. Shouting voices fell deaf on his ears as you and a bunch of others dragged him out of the bar. Suddenly, he was outside, seated on the curb. Even amongst all of the chaos, he could easily pick out your voice. He could vaguely make out you thanking everyone who helped you carry him out. You talked to them for a little while longer, bidding them a good night before making your way over to Nick. "Hey man, are you alright?" you asked, kneeling down next to him. He nodded, but he was clearly upset. "We should probably head back." He grunted in response, stood up, and followed you to grab a taxi.
The ride back was silent, but Nick's head was screaming with thoughts. Rage. Regret. Confusion. It was all so much to take at once, especially with you sitting next to him, glancing at him once in a while to check up on him.
When the two of you got back to your place, you suggested that Nick stay the night, as he was far too drunk to drive home. Begrudgingly, he agreed. He should've been happy, since you'd get to spend more time together, but right now, he wasn't sure if he could handle being under the same roof as you. Everything inside felt messy, churning violently like water during a thunderstorm. in this state, Nick could barely look at you out of fear that everything he'd bottled up would just come pouring out. He just stared blankly at the floor, back against the wall, arms crossed not only to protect himself, but also to protect you from how he felt.
It didn't even register that you were talking to him. "Hello? Earth to Nick?"
"Huh?"
"Dude, are you sure you're all right? You've been acting real weird since we left."
His jaw shifted slightly, his eyes still fixated on the floor. "Yeah."
"Liar. You haven't said anything for the past hour. If you're not talking, there's a problem," you said, taking a couple steps towards him. "What's up?"
No response.
"Is this about earlier?"
Still nothing.
"Forget about it, man. It's all good. According to some of the people there, he starts fights over nothing all the time. That woman wasn't even his girlfriend. The guy sounds like a lunatic, but based on what they were saying, I don't think he's gonna press charges, if that's what you're worried about."
Again, more silence.
"Are you worried about me? I'm not hurt or anything."
"Good," Nick muttered.
"Are you hurt?"
For the first time since the fight, he locked eyes with you. Suddenly, it felt ten times harder to breathe. Your face had concern written all over it. God, he was really hoping that he could've avoided this. If he didn't say something quick, then you were only gonna press further. The sooner Nick could clear this up, the sooner this would be over. He wouldn't have to sit and stare you in the eyes for the rest of the night. That would be long enough for him to get his shit together. If he could just say something, if he could just make it through this one moment without fucking everything up, then it'll all be okay. It'll all be over soon. Just tell him you're fine. That's all you have to do.
You took a step closer. "I mean, from where I was sitting, it seemed like you smoked the guy. I didn't think you had a scratch on you, but..."
Nick's mouth hung open slightly, but nothing came out.
Then another step. "Was it something he said?"
Do it. Tell him you're good.
Then another. "What was it?"
Say something, goddammit.
Then two more. "Please, Nick, can you just say something already?"
He would have loved to, but his throat felt like it had closed up. It slammed shut so tight that words couldn't escape. Not a single sound could wriggle through. Nick felt like he was suffocating, choking back so many truths that he couldn't cough up a single, small lie. It didn't help that you were now much closer. Now able to see the minute details of your handsome face, he had so much more to get distracted by. So much more to tempt him to tell the truth. So much more to break down the walls he'd worked tirelessly to build. You looked so perfect...
"Whatever's going on, you know you can tell me, right? I know you're not big on heart-to-hearts, but sometimes it feels good to get stuff off your chest. I'm not gonna judge you or anything, I promise." Nick scoffed and shook his head. Easy for you to say. You had no idea. "I'm serious, Nick," you said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You can tell me."
Your gaze pierced through his, and Nick felt himself slowly coming undone. While your grip remained firm and steady on his shoulder, his grip on himself was slipping. He had tried so hard to hold on, but looking into your eyes, it was clear that letting go was inevitable. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and within yours, he could see so much care, so much concern. He could only imagine what you saw in his. Fear, maybe? Or was it obvious that he had feelings for you? Could you already tell without him having to say a single word? Would you be shocked? Horrified? Or maybe, just maybe, have you already accepted it? Accepted him?
Was this tension that hung so heavily between the two of you normal for a friendship? Or was it indicative of something deeper? Friends are supposed to care, but you seemed to care... a lot. Maybe even too much. Is this just what friendship is supposed to feel like? Or did Nick actually have a chance in hell with you?
"Fuck it," Nick muttered. "Do you mind if I show you instead? You know I'm not much of a word guy."
Without waiting for a response, he pulls you in for a steamy, sloppy kiss. His lips collide quickly with yours, hungrily devouring them with all of the passion he's forced himself to hold back for so long. His mind, his heart, his entire soul spilled out of him and into the kiss. It felt good, but it also scared him to death. He expected you to recoil, to berate him and look upon him with disgust. But instead, you melted into it, reciprocating with a ferocity that hinted at this being something you've been waiting for, too. Nick's feelings flowed into yours, and your feelings flowed into his.
When your lips parted, your gazes fell on each other once again. The taste of you lingered so sweetly on Nick's lips. He couldn't believe it, and judging by the look on your face, you couldn't either. Your eyes, rather than being filled with disdain, were glistening with excitement and tenderness. Nick couldn't recall a time when someone's looked at him like that. Hell, not even his own mother had ever looked at him with that much love.
Once again, Nick was at a loss for words, but this time, it was because everything he had to say had just been laid out for you.
Eventually, he was able to get something out. "So, uh... you're not upset or nothin'?"
"Well, that depends. Are you being serious about this or are you just trying to mess with me?" you asked.
"I'm dead serious."
"You're not just doing this because you're drunk?"
Nick shook his head. "No."
"Then of course I'm not upset. In fact, this is probably the happiest I've felt in a while," you said, kissing him a second time.
When you pulled back, Nick smirked. "So... does this mean I get to share the bed with you?"
"Nope."
"Oh, come on, I'll make it worth your while." The usual sparkle in Nick's eyes had finally come back again, now far brighter than you'd ever seen it before.
You chuckled. "As tempting as that sounds, I'll have to pass. I'd rather wait until you're sober and able to stand on your own."
"Pffft, what are you talkin' about? I can stand on my---" As soon as Nick stepped away from the wall, one of his knees wobbled and gave out, causing him to stumble into you.
"Yeah, right," you said, dumping him onto the couch. You put a pillow under his head, gave him a blanket to use, then shut off the light. "Good night."
Nick chuckled. "G'night to you too, asshole."
"Sweet dreams and all that," you said, disappearing into the hallway.
Sweet dreams. He was gonna have plenty of those now, thanks to you.
This is going to be a Pt 2 of sorts to this post. Before I answer your question with my personal thoughts, I would like to offer a reanalysis of my original theory! My prediction regarding the nature of Caine’s final line popped off in a way I was not expecting! I will say that Caine’s VA has clarified that his character work for that dialogue was, in fact, done with the intention that Caine was aware of the deletion command.
Why Mr Rochon why
However. I still believe that there is a hidden villain active behind the scenes in episode 8 (and the series at large) that accelerated Caine’s character arc to such a startling degree. There are just too many hints pointing to something else pulling the strings, the most apparent of which I pointed out in my prior post. Although it’s certain that Caine’s feelings of anguish, insecurity, and frustration stem from his own self, and his egotism / refusal to admit to his own shortcomings are what ultimately lead to the loss of his sanity, the rapid-fire pacing of his face-heel turn to a genuinely malicious antagonist just feels too implausible. It leaves the audience with a profound sense of whiplash. It feels half-baked. A concept that the show is not oblivious to, clearly.
Additionally, it has been confirmed that episode 9, the grand finale, will be one hour long, the most generous amount of time given to an episode so far. If Caine was the ultimate bad guy for our heroes to defeat, and all that is left is for them to pick up the pieces that remain of the Circus and figure out their futures, then wouldn’t it make much more sense pacing-wise to borrow half an hour of the finale, splitting Caine’s villain arc + the troupe’s final showdown against him into two episodes? Why is the longest runtime allotted to an episode that lacks the character literally tying the fabric of the Amazing Digital Circus together?
I have two main predictions for this episode. The first, as I’ve already emphasized, is that a new antagonist is going to be revealed. This villain’s threats against the cast will be the final catalyst in completing their character arcs. My second prediction—to answer your ask, @roohoo—is that Caine is going to return.
Now. When making any theory in regards to Caine, the most obvious source of info outside of the show itself is the voice actor and king 👑 himself Alex Rochon. I honestly think it’s so cool how they found a VA that can empathize with and give humanity to Caine, both in the performance of his lines, and his own perceptions and interpretations of the character. Every post by mr rochon honestly feels like he’s cradling this character that is so often reduced to its worst parts. (I make this visual in reference to a fanart I saw before LOL)
And if I’m going to base Caine’s continued existence on the tone of mr rochon’s recent posts alone, then…
Bee boy is dead 💀 those are some lamenting words for a character that just got deleted at the end of the last episode. But you have to take any implication made by a VA of the show with a grain of salt because, well, what is one thing they absolutely do not want to do to the fans, especially fans of a show that is loved and cherished because of its genuine unpredictability? They don’t want to spoil anything. If Caine is dead as of right now, then that is how his VA is going to treat his character.
I think it goes without saying that there are plenty of ways that Caine can be revived as a character that didn’t experience actual animal death. There are so many loopholes to find, because “deleted data” is never actually deleted in the world of computer technology. Many ways exist to retrieve a trashed program. I won’t get into this; just know that there is a wealth of evidence if you look into it. Caine’s return is well within the bounds of possibility. The only thing standing between Caine and his return to the Circus is its plausibility to the show at large. Would it serve the message that Gooseworx is trying to send, or would it only be serving the fans who love him and want him back no matter what?
In the very end, I believe we are going to see the cast of TADC, Caine included, receive a happy, if bittersweet ending. Because this is a show of two sides. There is horror, and then there is the flip side of that. The true core of this story,
Is one that is unapologetically humane. Empathy is the heart of the show. That is emphasized time and time again, most notably through the wisdom and efforts of Kinger and Pomni. There is only one character left who has yet to receive any from either of them.
He got no love in return. Caine was deleted, literally reduced to nothing. But hope is not lost for the character. After all, wasn’t it the main protagonist herself that once said,
“I don’t want anyone to feel like that.”
Caine has experienced his horror. I believe the flip side is coming for him soon.
When Caine spoke his final line, he did NOT realize that he was about to be deleted. He said it because his agency was returned the second it was no longer being used by something else.
Aka a tadc theory for the heap :] With evidence!
One thing TADC does really well is play on the assumptions of the audience. That’s what makes the show nearly impossible to predict. It fills the episodes with all sorts of crazy plot twists that leave the fans collectively saying WTF at the end of every episode.
But of all the episodes that have been released so far, I believe episode 8 is the one with absolutely THE MOST red herrings. I really believe this episode—which works so hard to hammer the audience over the head with the supposed True Nature of “who’s running the show”—is actually the one that does the most heavy lifting in the exact OPPOSITE direction. It feeds the audience members a somewhat ingratiating version of the Amazing Digital Circus’ reality: that Caine (from the very start the obvious suspect for the role of the true antagonist) is all that we suspected and worse.
I believe it’s a lie. Although Caine is certainly an antagonist and nowhere near being innocent or even really benevolent, he’s not the true monster of this story. Because it’s someone else pulling the strings—which is stated quite literally through this scene’s visual language ⬇️
Caine, after his crash out, is laying on the floor before being lifted into the air like some hapless creature scruffed by the neck. The way his shoulders lift off before the rest of him—heck, even the sound design of the scene suggests this visual. Caine is in the clutches of something else. But this isn’t even the scene that first hints at the greater monster.
This is.
At first Caine and Bubble’s dynamic is normal enough. Caine is using Bubble as his sounding board and Bubble, even with his weirdness, is ultimately responding with positive affirmations. “Surely they don’t want to actually leave me…right?” “No way, Jose! No way, no how!”
But then suddenly, the dynamic abruptly shifts. Bubble’s supportive affirmations become antagonistic insults. Seemingly out of nowhere, but the change is actually marked by one specific split-second frame, when something else takes control and asserts its influence over Bubble. Who is very much a puppet to the whims of more advanced AI.
It preys upon Caine during his greatest moment of insecurity and weakness. And just as it did to Bubble, it latches onto the vulnerable areas of Caine’s coding to overwhelm him with its own influence. All to the same outward symptoms:
Glitching. After this, Caine’s emotions and impulses are being controlled by the unknown entity. Whoever it is, they have likely been using Bubble as their vehicle of influence for a while now. And they use Bubble during Caine’s own villain song, as though to wink in the direction of who’s really running the show. He hovers ominously around the ringmaster during these specific lyrics:
“To which degree who answers to who.”
Caine was unwittingly answering to someone else ever since the crash out scene in his office. He didn’t even realize that he wasn’t in control until the exact moment that his deletion was confirmed by the unknown entity’s tampering of Kinger’s computer. That was the moment that the entity no longer required control of Caine. The moment when all of its efforts paid off, and the madness that it induced in Caine drove the humans to get rid of the AI that stood in its way. And when it finally released its grip on Caine, he immediately recoils from hurting the cast. He makes this expression.
It’s not actually the fear of his deletion. It’s the face he makes when the entity’s claws retract from his code and he regains his own self agency. In that split second, he sees in vivid colors the torture that he has put the cast through, too horrendous for even his own flawed attempts at entertainment. Probably, this moment of clarity is the entity’s very last act of revenge against Caine. As Caine’s VA himself revealed, Caine is thinking,
“What have I done?”
And then he is gone. Leaving something else room to take the stage….
