Hell Yeah Tugs

A little obessed with Tugs. Call me Max or Maximus or Dork. Here I yell into the void about Tugs. Writing requests: open

[maximus-tugs]

Hi Tugs fandom. After a while of lurking I finally decided to actually exist in this fandom. I like to write fics and make AUs and stuff. I'm still not 100% sure about how tumblr works, I have a lot of anxiety I'm trying to overcome, I'm trying my best here. Choosing a favorite character is hard, But I really like Warrior and Hercules. But I also like Zorran and Lillie too. It's hard to choose a number one favorite. Feel free to message or send asks. This fandom is small but mighty, much like tugs.

[maximus-tugs]

The constant urge to nuke my blog and old posts is there but I have been advised not to on multiple occasions and I am...conflicted as I realize people are actually looking at this.

[maximus-tugs]

So considering my love of 1920s America it's probably not a surprise that my favorite musical is Chicago. But something I was thinking of was writing a Zed Stack version of Cell Block Tango. Just gotta think of their different verses.

[maximus-tugs]

So a little bit ago I mentioned in my Scuttlebutt Pete post that he knows something that no one else does and no one believes him. Well I figured it might be interesting to disclose what he knows. However this does go into slightly dark territory, so read the tags and decide if you wanna go further.

About ten years before the start of my main AU, around 1911 or so, a string of murders happened in the city, mostly by the waterfront. The authorities couldn't figure it out. The victims were murdered mostly in alleyways, valuables taken and bodies hacked away to bits. Many people near the waterfront became fearful that they'd join the list of victims. Scuttlebutt Pete was the only one to witness who did it. He didn't witness the murder, but he saw two men dragging a body into an alley. And he knew exactly who they were. Burke and Blair, the scrap dealers. He tried to tell other port workers but many dismissed it as one of his stories. And the word of a drunk with a questionable grip on reality didn't hold up in court either. To this day port workers occasionally spread the old story and talk about the rumor, usually with a level of doubt. But Scuttlebutt Pete knows what he saw.

[maximus-tugs]

(A little thing I felt like making: an excerpt from The Bigg City Times!)

Naval Tramper Explodes in Munitions Accident; Bigg City Port Ablaze

This evening, the Bigg City port experienced a disaster as naval ship was loaded. It's unknown how the fire began, dockworkers blame naval officer in charge. Death toll numbers in the dozens. Bigg City Fire Department thanks tug workers for help in containing fire.

[maximus-tugs]

I'm realizing that I have yet to write my dumb little minific about 'The Zeds go to the movies'. This somehow feels like a crime. Maybe I need to do that.

[maximus-tugs]

A very random post, but Max suddenly thought about Scuttlebutt Pete and here we are.

Scuttlebutt Pete has been haunted by ghosts for a long time. Pretty much as long as he can remember. Except no one else seems to see one. No one seems to be able to comprehend the seemingly fantastical stories he shares. They all shrug his stories off or even tell him to his face that he's crazy, even though he tries to warn them or give them advice.

The truth is, Scuttlebutt Pete has some undiagnosed issues, on top of a number of traumatic memories and a dependence on alcohol (there seems to be a pattern in my AU, if you haven't noticed). He has ghosts from his past as well as ghosts in his mind. It doesn't help that he's often alone, his stories and rumors tend to drive others away. However, there is one story of his that's true, even if no one believes him. He's the only one who definitively knows Burke and Blair's darkest secret. But no one believed the old drunk who rambles about ghost fleets...

[firecooking]

Made these for some various art pieces/use cases in my au a while back

feel free to use with credit!

[crowskulls-art-and-fandoms]

Crow? Doing traditional art? More likely than you think.

[maximus-tugs]

I think it looks great!

[maximus-tugs]

Every day I see detailed humanized tugs scenes in my head and despair because I can't draw them. The struggles of an author with no drawing talent but an active imagination.

[firecooking]

Where are you sitting?

[maximus-tugs]

Tough choice but I'm gonna go with 2 and hope Billy Shoepack didn't get any of his beloved dynamite through security.

[maximus-tugs]

Headcanon time! Top Hat has a lot of books. He reads quite a bit when he has a moment to do so. Unfortunately he's also something of a snob about them, because, well, he is Top Hat. He'll definitely judge your taste in literature, or judge you if you don't have a big book collection.

[maximus-tugs]

So a quick note. I am not dead. I realize it's been awhile but a lot has happened in my life, new jobs, losing jobs, new writing and interests, etc. I came back to Tugs because I love it and it always gives me comfort. Plus, I could never just abandon it. I love my 1920s lads too much. But I have a question for all y'all patient enough to stick around: what would you like to see? Feel free to send me an ask or message saying what you'd like to see. It can be headcanons, writings, what-if scenarios, etc. I'm up for most anything.

[maximus-tugs]

Happy 2/2!

(I understand that I'm a tad late for some timezones, but it's still 2/2 here. Minor historical context, after the Great War/World War I, there was a recession in the United States. This is not to be confused with the far worse recession of 1929, the Great Depression. With that out of the way, have a little piece about Big Mac):

It was officially another recession, the papers informed Big Mac as he looked over today's issue of the Bigg City Times. It was far from the first time he had seen or heard it thrown around recently. It had been the reason he had been dismissed from his job with hardly a warning, but now that the papers had said it, people would begin to fret. "Should we be worried?" his younger brother suddenly asked, as though he could read his brother's thoughts. Big Mac turned to see that Warrior was reading over his shoulder.

"Ah wouldn't." Big Mac said.

"Why not? Isn't recession bad?" Warrior asked.

"That's what they say. But we've been through them before. The only thing that's happened is Ah need to look for work."

"Oh." Warrior accepted this answer, but continued to have a puzzled look on his face as usual.

Big Mac flipped through the paper, looking for job listings. He was not particularly selective, most anything that paid would be acceptable, as long as they would accept a Scotsman. "What about that one?" Warrior spoke up again from behind him, pointing to a listing near the bottom.

'WANTED- Strong man for tug work. Maritime experience preferred but not required. Decent wages promised. Apply to Captain Star, Star Tug & Marine'.

"I think you could do it. You're strong." Warrior said. "And you've done dock work."

"Not a bad idea." Big Mac muttered. It certainly stood out among the other listings. He rested his head on his chin, weighing his options.

"Are you gonna apply?" Warrior asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"Ah think Ah will."

[maximus-tugs]

Hey there, I just wanna apologize for being inactive for a while. I had a lot going on in the real world and my focus with fandoms was briefly elsewhere, but I'm back and I'm so excited to see what's been going on in the fandom lately! I do love this little fandom and I love writing for Tugs!

[maximus-tugs]

So I neglected to talk about some very important concepts for my Tugs Humanized AU: the Captains. I can't believe it took me this long to think about them, but I'll start with Captain Zero and then the next post will be about Captain Star.

Captain Zero is a bit of a mysterious figure. He tends to stick to the shadows these days. However, it's best not to take this for weakness. He's quite capable and quite dangerous, even his age hasn't dulled that. He's been known for his outbursts of rage and rather harsh punishments. He's been big in the criminal world for quite some time, anyone who knows anything about Bigg City criminals know about Captain Zero and his Zed Stacks. He has quite the long list of crimes he's committed, however, he's focused his efforts on Prohibition related crimes due to the ludicrous amount of money involved. However, he also places emphasis on the importance of legitimate business done through Zero Marine Bigg City.

Captain Zero often recruits by force. Only Zak is with him by choice. Zak has idolized the criminal lifestyle for a lot of his life and decided to find Captain Zero to work for 'the best of the best' in Bigg City's criminal world. For a long time, he was even Zero's right hand man. Zero found his penchant for violence useful, but his lack of calculation somewhat of a drawback.

Zorran was recruited by Captain Zero after he attempted to steal from him. Zorran at the time was young and desperate and in his desperation was careless in his efforts at stealing from the Captain. Captain Zero chased him down and beat him before giving him the choice of working for him, or being thrown into the harbor. Zorran of course chose to work for him, but he managed to surprise Zero with how quickly he learned and how cunning he really was. He even managed to replace Zak. Captain Zero is ultimately pleased with most of Zorran's work, but finds his disrespectful attitude to be obnoxious and frustrating.

Zebedee made deals with Captain Zero, doing small jobs in the hopes of benefitting his family, but not getting too heavily involved in the criminal world. Of course, it quickly became obvious to him that one doesn't get to walk away from Captain Zero so easily. And once Zebedee's family was dead, there was no need to resist Captain Zero's demands. He no longer cared enough to stop himself from falling into a life of crime. He's useful to Captain Zero as he has no will or courage to stand up to or disobey the Captain.

Zip and Zug were a couple of half-wit two bit grifters who were unfortunately cocky enough to think they could con someone clever as Captain Zero. However, once they were confronted, they did not hesitate to come work for him. Sure, they're small time criminals and are definitely the weakest links of the Zeds, but they're useful as fodder and they're cowardly enough to follow orders.

Zinnia is not entirely a member of the Zeds, however, she was hired by Captain Zero as she is somewhat notorious among criminals for being able to wring information out of just about anyone. He finds himself annoyed by her attitude and her methods, but he'd rather have her with him rather than with anyone else, especially with how much she knows now. But he's starting to tire of her and is contemplating removing her from his payroll.

Captain Zero has spent decades shaping the Bigg City criminal world. It's quite the responsibility. However, he's taken a step back in recent years. Others in the underworld of Bigg City question if his caution is a sign of experience and wisdom or if his actions are the result of his advanced age and cowardice.

[jayjay667]

Hey there I've been a bit shy to interact, but as a Tugs fan, I love the stuff you bring to this little fandom! It looks amazing!

-Maximus Tugs