Are you still going to write..? I'm worried about everyone leaving these characters because of Zeal
for now, I'm going to take a break from writing for pressure. What happened to ren has permanently stained what I use to love about this game, and it saddens me deeply, as this game has been a huge part of my life.
but I don't think we should leave these characters intangled in this mess just because of the actions of their creators, these characters aren't souly them- and honestly I've sorta always considered painter an oc due to how much I've adapted him so.. keep enjoying the characters. Zeal ISNT pressure, he just happened to create it.
if you support zeal, or any of the devs involved in this horrendous situation please block me and do not interact with my page.
I am sickened, truly sickened, that such disgusting behaviour could take place and be brushed under the rug by developers who swear they love what they create.
Stand with ren. Stand with survivors.
What Zeal Did to Me at RDC 2025 Written and compiled by the person to whom this happened. Edited with the help and support of my friends.
Hi! You don’t have to but can I request an enemies to friends to lovers with painter, or enemies to lovers? I just think it’d be neat :3
𝙄 𝙇𝙄𝙆𝙀 𝙔𝙊𝙐!! 𝙊𝙍.. 𝙎𝙊𝙈𝙀𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙉𝙂?
𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺: painter believes the unknown feelings within him come from hatred.. yet, what if its something else?
𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴: gn!reader, mention of injuries, fluff, angst if you squint..??
𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴: first req award goes to you- enjoy!
Hate was one way to put the distate that wafted through the already suffocating room painter resided in-
you,
you were different.
There was a certain admirability you obtained without comprehension in contrast to the utterly distanined expendables through out the facility. The way you'd stroll through the blacksite as if the lurking horrors didn't bother yourself, a smirk plastered upon your lips as you waved playfully at the beaming red lazers before you-
you obtained a sort of invincibility painter couldn't seem to grasp.
Falling for his schemes was merely a concept in your eyes, and while an ounce of remorse resided within painter for those in a situation like yours- he was determined to wipe that smug expression off your oddly captivating face.
If other expendables couldn't recognise the good people lurking behind a falsely labelled door, why could you? It wasn't just an ounce of self assurance falling out of reach, it was something incomprehensible the computer could only describe as distaste, in which he was intent to rid of.
-
A construction curated with the intent of failure, each technology the ai happened to hijack was intensified in order to dispose of unknown feelings he withheld within himself- and as your ever so confident figure found itself in a room laced with turrets, a huff of amusement was shared.
Squinting upwards, your line of sight found itself gazing at what intended to be, red- turrets? Confusion etched upon your features as before you was no bright lazer you had grown to know, rather, there was no beam of fatality at all.
Shrugging, you stepped foot in the open area with a presumption of ease- however, you were met with the considerablely 'broken' turrets locking onto your figure as a yelp left your stunned ego-
Blood trickled down your aching forearm as a huff of now shattered fragility found its way throughout the next room bestowed to yourself.
...
The same agonising strategies came atop your mere quest of escapism, a never ending maze of scard vanity due to the entity that inhabited in a wall you tended to avoid, but with a fresh wound resting upon your lower abdomen because of the incoherent good people, you could say you had it.
Painter however, never suppressed the ache he presumed would make do after all torturous strategies- he may have damaged the facade you withheld, yet, the wounds that laced your figure made him feel almost.. bad?
why did he feel that way for an individual like yourself?
no time to ponder, as the computer perked up at the sound of footsteps finding itself into the room he made due within-
You,
with nothing more than an agitated expression withheld upon your features.
"what is it you dislike about me?" You began, not daring to pick up the purple keycard occupying the desk beside yourself- staring directly at the unreadable computer.
"Your still alive.." painter muttered, his facial expressions shifting to one of sorrow before something deceitful as he let out something you presumed to be a snicker-
"your also incredibly gullible"
You swear your eye just twitched. Approaching the wire that enclosed himself, you scoffed, placing your hand onto your face-
"What is wrong with you?" It was said with dull intent, nevertheless, you couldn't help but laugh along with the exceedingly annoying yet inticing ai bestowed to you. As your laugh echoed through out the small room, painter perked up-
"why are you.. laughing?" He would say, his tone wrapped in confusion as you continued your mock enthusiasm- your forhead and and left arm laced in white cotton from the actions of himself.. why were you laughing? He literally tried to extinguish the light that shone throughout yourself and YOUR laughing?
"Why didn't you just talk to me!" You announced eagerly, taking hold of that once forgotten keycard as it found itself discarded after that all familiar scan rung out-
"Thats what this was about wasn't it?" You covered your mouth with your hand, trying not to share the grin you displayed as you sat upon the awfully little desk painter happened to occupy, an utter baffled expression etched atop his screen.
"So, what's your name?"
-
With all honesty the artist could find within himself, perhaps such bloodshed was a subconscious attempt of conversion. That once bright flame he had hoped to remove instead grew into something he couldn't quite swallow. An expendable willing to befriend someone like him was an entirely new concept- but you? You with your soft melodies of infatuation towards his newely crafted pieces of art or your tender replies to his times of sorrow, it was all too much and so little at the same time. A medolic sort of individual that left the starry-eyed computer a muddle of feelings he wasn't programmed to percieve, despite your once irritating presence lighting a fire that wasn't quelled to stop.
So when you found yourself in the now familiar comfort of painters space, eyebrows furrowing as no response came from the other end, you peered through that all knowing fence as your eyes widened in suprise
Painter was drawing you.
Why did that make you express some form of idioticy within? Why did such an action make a grin fumble into a softened smile?
It was over for yourself then, nevertheless, it wouldn't stop the prolonged teasing from your end.
If it wasn't the turrets he persisted were 'broken' or the small messages imprinted on the doors, debating this sort of ideology would be with annoyance- but it wasn't. Rather, it was nothing but easy.
Therefore, when you found yourself standing above the computer that somehow made your string of words a lost concept; you quickly spewed-
"I like you!! Or.. something?"
yeah, it seems you took his words aswell as your own.
What once began as hatred created on an idea of pure confusion became something unfathomable, a warm embrace of two individuals with two collective goals, intertwined to craft a shyness yet explosion of careful words and expressions all in order to make a heart grow fond
p.AI.nter selfshipper here and OH GOD THAT WAS CUTE AS FUCK THANK YOUUU (you probably already saw my yap in your tags.... If you know who I am then shush no you don't (joke))
AWH THANK YOU!! thats super sweet im glad my writing could be a source for your selfship! ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)
𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺: hc's about post!escape painter with an expendable
𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴: gn!reader, established relationship, heavy fluff.. this fandom needs it
𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴: this is a few months old(?) either way- enjoy!
- After you escape painter was very.. different. Perhaps a little on edge, adjusting to the word he barely got to walk upon.
- You'd try your best to help the guy, telling him all about what you like to do in the freeing space, what you both can do together as partners that you never got to experience in the blacksite, and of course, what he could do in the real world.
- You had shared with him an extreme amount of times back in that confined room where he resided about the wonders of art outside of digital media, lord knows, the boy was practically gleaming.
- So when he finally got himself his very first canvas and paints, specially delivered by yourself- you'd do it all again to see the pure joy etched onto his face.
- Taking walks outside wasn't always easy for him. Initially, he'd suggest that individuals would perhaps get a glance at himself, even tho you settled somewhere off the coast- extremely far from suspecting people.
- He'd hold your hand the whole time. everywhere. Considering his past and the trauma he endured, moving places wasn't something that put his mind at ease.
- Although, when he started to get use to this almost exposure therapy of 'the outside world is different than the blacksite' he loved it.
- Nature was full of things to sketch and paint until his hearts content- which he absolutely did.
___
Morning walks upon different trails your feet had subconsciously stepped upon was suprisingly one of your favourite repeatative activities you shared with your partner everyday.
His metallic hand grasped yours rather loosely as a long silence filled with warmth wafted through the air- it was settling, a comfort that spoke more words than you both ever had too.
As you were enthralled in a thought that seemingly spiraled, you jumped when painter suddenly let go of your hand, bucking it for the small pond that lay not too far from the path ahead.
"Painte-" the call echoed, a long, yet amused sigh leaving you.
Finally catching up with the stupidly annoying computer infront of you, the scene was simply one not to be taken for granted.
He sat right next to the glistening pond in which small ducks floated about, going ahead with their lives just like yourselves- yet, it seemed as if time stopped for the fascinated computer. Below, was a scene of sketches painter began as he was so captivated due to the little animals infront of him that he was completely unaware of your presence.
You sat next to him, speaking- "you've never seen ducks?" It was a stupidly profound question that lingered in the air as painter took in your presence.
"No.. I guess I havent" he replied causing a bittersweet smile to come upon your features- so many things he hasn't seen, so many things he will- this future, was truly one to hold with grace.
You subconsciously put your head on his shoulder, the cold metallic a contrast to the warmth outside. You smiled up at him, taking in everything for a moment before you spoke
"You know you can feed them right?"
"you- you CAN?"
Here we go.
___
- As you can tell, this lil guy loves his walks. Especially nature. He can finally grow outside of painting landscapes, finding other muses to captivate him.
- Speaking of muses, you always were his. Whenever he was unsure of what to paint, you'd always catch his eye. It had been like this ever since you stepped foot into the hadal blacksite, and seemingly would never change.
- This is a little silly but I know he secretly fucks with Halloween. I can't explain this one just take it how you will. He'd probably suggest he hates the concept at first but eventually you both are absolutely into it. PLEASE-
𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺: hc's about painter falling for an expendable
𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴: nothing!
𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴: first fic on here !! thought I'd feed all 3 starving painter fans
- at first, you were like any expandable to painter. A simple prisoner in the way of him and his companion sebastians chance of escape.
- since being connected to the blacksites mainframe, he used various mechanics to try stop expandables such as yourself from progressing to the crystal.
- however, after venturing further into the blacksite, you came upon him. Grasping the purple keycard that lay on a vacant desk to enter the fenced room he was held in.
- seeing the computer drawing oblivious to your presence, you gave his artwork a simple compliment.
It all started there.
- most expandables wouldn't bat an eye at his work, let alone compliment it. Considering in the past urbanshade purposely overclocked painters systems resulting in what he would consider lower quality art, it really was quite the shock.
- Despite such instances, painter wouldn't let one mere compliment get to him, right?
Oh how wrong was he.
- at first he attempted to brush it off. I mean it was just a simple compliment. Still, the more you came by, spoke highly of his artwork, even just spending more time in his presence than any expandable would ever dream of, you grew quite fond to the computer.
- and after you, yourself, spent more time with painter on your runs, you began to find solace in his presence.
Painter would show this in the small things
- such as trying to playfully warn you on which of the good people doors you should not venture through.
"Open the door on the left, it's breathing"
- if you happend to not comprehend painters sarcastic warnings and walked right through the good people door, he'd be consumed with guilt.
"No wait! I'm sorry! I really didn't mean for you to walk through it.."
- its safe to say if you happened to make it to his room on that run, a lot of sorrowful words would be expressed from the computer.
- if you were into art like painter was, he'd let you stay in his room for extended periods of time to draw with him.
- this would either playout in a comfortable silence or a very fulfilling yap session.
"You'll never guess what I did earlier this week" painter beamed, a devious expression appearing on his screen.
You looked up from the sketchbook you were currently sketching in and furrowed your brows with a lazy smile plastered on your lips.
"What?"
"According to sebastian, a group of expandables walked right past his shop- so I sent pandemonium after them" painter snickered as he reaccounted earlier events, the mischievous smile never faltering from his screen.
- speaking of the tricks he would frequently pull on expandables, it wouldn't go without saying he did feel quite guilty if one of them happend to reach their death.
- you'd have to reassure him alot, which you did! Your selfless actions towards the computer was making him dig his hole of unsorted emotions deeper and deeper.
- and as life went on in the hellhole that is the blacksite, sebastian became aware.
- painters conversations with Sebastian would vary, yet when the time was right, would center around you. Whether it was what you got upto during your time with him, your kindness towards him, or just you. Sebastian being the big brother figure he is would listen intently, not without teasing of course.
- and that sketchbook you carried around with you? If it wasn't for painters persistent rambling about how 'you need something more efficient to draw on' to Sebastian, he wouldn't have went out and scavenged for it.
- it was safe to say painter was in deep, deeper than he'd like to admit. As for you? You loved the computer just as much.
