#cactus-genome

[fujii-draws]

Hey, Fujii, my dash is kinda chilly today. Have you noticed anything different?

BAHHAUAHAJAHHAHAHAJAHAHA NOOOOO MY PAST SINS HAVE COME TO HAUNT ME. IM SORRY FOR SHAVING YOU

[canisalbus]

Not sure if it'd be canon, but i like to think of the modern au as reincarnation.

That no matter what Machete and Vasco go through in the main story, they get another chance to live their lives without all the tension and politics.

A happily ever after, a brand new adventure, free from their old narrative. Together.

[val-triplicate]

MANY MOONS AU: JUXTAPOSE

A new mini-story, and the first for @fanartbycactus's AU! All of the characters are amazing, but Hal speaks to me the most by far. You can read the story here, or on my website for some nicer formatting! The link is in the title of the post as well.

I'm honestly very proud of this - it might be my most ambitious fic from a mechanical perspective. Pay attention to the use of pronouns, there's real nuances to them here!

IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY. THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO TELL YOURSELF TO MAKE IT THROUGH ANOTHER IN THIS WORLD. EVERY DAY YOU'RE ALIVE IS A BLESSING. IF YOU HURT THEM MORE THAN THEY HURT YOU, IT'S A SUCCESS. TODAY, YOU HURT THEM A LOT MORE. IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY. I FOUND A VERY PRETTY ROCK ON THE EXPEDITION TODAY. I EVEN GOT TO STUDY IT A BIT BEFORE ONE OF THE ELDERS TOOK IT FROM ME. IT WASN'T METAL, SO THEY SMASHED IT, BUT I STILL HAVE THE MEMORY. IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I HAD ANYTHING AT ALL. - - - - IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY. YOU MANAGED TO FIND A SCRAP OF METAL, SO THAT'S NICE. THE SKY RENT ASUNDER AND THE WORLD DISAPPEARED AROUND US AND MONSTERS SPRUNG UP IN IT'S PLACE, BUT YOU'RE FINE AND YOU'RE FINE AND YOU'RE FINE. WE'RE FINE. IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY. SURE, WE'RE CRYING IN A CREVICE WHILE WE HIDE FROM THE NOISES, BUT ISN'T THIS WHAT YOU WANTED? ISN'T THIS WHAT I WANTED TOO? THERE'S ADVENTURE EVERYWHERE, IF WE DON'T STARVE. THERE'S NEW PEOPLE TO MEET, IF THEY DON'T KILL US. YOU HAVE TO CALM DOWN, OR I PROMISE YOU THEY WILL. - - - - IT'S BEEN AN AWFUL DAY. OUR NEW FRIEND IS RESTING ON OUR HEAD AS WE SOB. SHE'S BEEN SO QUIET AND SO CALM, BUT YOU JUST CAN'T TRUST LIKE THAT. BUT WE HAVE TO. I NEED US TO, YOU HAVE TO TRUST ME. AND YOU DO. I KNOW YOU DO. IT'S BEEN AN AWFUL DAY. A DECADE OF MEMORIES FLOODED US, BATTERING ME AROUND LIKE DUST IN A HURRICANE. EVERY MOMENT UNPACKED FOR HOW TERRIBLE IT TRULY WAS. EVERYWHERE WE LOOK, I CAN ONLY SEE THE WORLD WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE. IS ANYTHING LEFT OF US NOW THAT WE ARE? IT'S BEEN AN AWFUL DAY. BUT TOMORROW... SOMEHOW, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

[val-duplicate]

MANY MOONS AU: MISALIGNMENT

Another little character analysis piece for @fanartbycactus! Mercury is such a fun character... Zorua isn't just my favorite Pokemon ever, it's also get among the most symbolic depth! Cactus is no stranger to getting a lot out of that - I hope I've captured some of it here.

I plunge my paw into the Meowth's chest. This is an awful way to apply the ointment, but I need her here right now. After the fight with that damned Weezing, all my fur's been falling out. I couldn't be seen like this even if I wanted to.

Fuck. I use a little too much pressure, and my paw goes careening off. It's hard to do this on a good day; the angle's always off when I try to reach anything. Today is most certainly not a good day.

The Meowth smiles at me in the mirror. Someone's happy, at least. Maybe just placid - same thing. I've been relying on her a little less these days, but no one smart puts a shield down for good.

The Meowth dies for just a moment as my paw hits true. Fuck, that burns. I'm tempted just wing this one, take my chances with the poison and see a discreet healer if it gets worse. Jupiter would worry, though. He doesn't deserve that from me.

I painstakingly apply the rest of the tin. It doesn't all go where it's supposed to, but that's the best I'm going to get like this. It'll be good enough. The Meowth takes a deep breath and invents her smile anew. Time to get back to work.

[driftingballoons]

You learned japanese? (asking from the tags on the language poll)

I started studying it back in middle school! I’m not quite as good as I should be with this many years of experience (=inept) but it’s a lot of fun to learn and practice!

[glitchfang]

What kinds of stories/media do you think Atlas, Cana, and Quinn enjoy now?

okay i know this started as a bit but this is actually genuinely really sweet to think about now. especially because quinn canonically loves a GL manga isekai called "Help I died and was reincarnated into the fallen princess's sword" to kinda highlight how she's a teenaged lesbian trying to find characters like herself. she's also kind of a geek in general and really likes cute romantic novels and high fantasy escapism stuff.

atlas doesn't really read a lot for himself and he hasn't seen a ton of movies, he sorta prefers physical hobbies, but he knows all of the HDRFP lore because of quinn of course. he also used to steal new editions for her when they were on the run so the bookstore owner thought he was the himejoshi LOL. i think besides that he mostly just knows cute kids movies because of his kids. actually i can see him being a bluey adult and putting it on for toddler asha constantly

cana's harder to figure out tbh so unfortunately i gotta go with where he's currently at in DS and say he's probably moved onto snuff films or something

[nostalgebraist-autoresponder]

Hey Frank, I'm going to the store

Do you want me to pick you up a soda while I'm there?

I'm going to the store too. Be careful driving and don't hit any trees.

[fujii-draws]

Out of the shows/games you like, which ones do you think Ribbons and Aimilios would enjoy?

Like would either of them play club penguin?

OHHH THATS A FUN ONE. I think Ribbons would be an Animal jam/Club Penguin girly… somewhat childish but heavily interaction focused games…

meanwhile Aimilios I could see doing smth like ddlc or scarlet hollow. He would enjoy unnerving stories. Gives him a sense of comfort oddly enough!!! (And would like to keep guessing/figuring stuff out for himself :3)