Just wanted to say that I've been a long-time fan of yours, since before PoF, and your analyses were some of the most well-thought out, nuanced and well-researched pieces on the site (my favorites are the playlist analyses they're like my comfort ones lmao). Even tho I've drifted away from the fandom, I still check back in here every now and again to see what's going on. Whilst I love ur series, I do think it's sad you've had to give urself that closure, which is one of my biggest hang-ups with this series. This painful, slow decline where SaSi drags on and on, losing all its momentum & fans and ending with a quiet sizzle rather than a bang as it should, is the worst way to end a series that touched so many people, including me. Tbh, if Thomas is going to use his ever-patient SaSi fans to milk views and money for his other series, he owes it to them to at least finish it properly. He owes his fans a lot of things, and a S2 finale is the main one, you can't milk SaSi for views and not create an episode for 2 years, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Don't want to do it anymore? Cut it, end it, so people can finally move on. The decline of SaSi has been one of the saddest things to witness, but I'm glad you're branching out into other things (tbh kudos for making it this long) and I'll stick around anyway even if ur analyses aren't SaSi because I don't read them for the content, but for the captivating way you write :)
Oh no, compliments! My only weakness!
But seriously, it's beautiful to feel so appreciated and I thank you a lot for that. I am glad you enjoy my analyses so much and it makes me very happy to know they have a good use. If they can help someone feel better, then I will keep writing them until the end of time - no, you can't take back your words now, they will come and be stupidly long because I love to ramble about stuff I like :P
Your words about SaSi are perfectly understandable and I agree with everything you say. It's really a shame that this series is slowly declining and it probably won’t end up like a bang, as it deserved.
Sure, Thomas explained a lot of things and it's now a bit clearer why this happened. However, this doesn't take away from the fact that the organization is pitiful and the lack of communication shouldn't have happened at all, not in a competent team. There are definitely issues and I hope Thomas will work on them as soon as possible, because they can affect his future projects too.
I felt we were going in this direction and I was growing frustrated. So, I did what I do every time there is something I don't like: I try to fix it, even if just for myself. And that's what I did with FSS3. I wanted to see these threads close in a satisfying way, I wanted to see the themes I care about being developed as they deserve. I wanted to give these characters a mature development, because I deeply love them and I deeply love the concept and the possibilities of Sanders Sides.
So, I put my ideas down - with the help of all the people who contributed to the survey. And now, I feel much more satisfied. I know FSS3 isn’t canon, but it’s as close to canon as possible - and, hopefully, will keep being like that for some time too. It’s something I wanted and needed and I’m glad people appreciated it and felt it was good for them too.
And now, I will gladly branch into other stuff. I need to do a bit of a makeover on the blog and expand the “not SaSi” section, first. Then I already have three series I want to talk about and one will be very long, so it might take a lot of time. And then Eurovision will come in May and the Book of Bill will come out in June and maybe I will also talk about the books I love in the future? Or about other series I follow and enjoy? I still don’t know, but be sure I won’t run out of things to talk about. I just wish my ramblings will be worthy of your time and I will keep deserving your appreciation, no matter what I’ll talk about <3
" When your breaking point's all that you have, a dream is a soft place to land. "
A collection of plot ideas for Craig's TWST verse (x). If any of these catch your interest, please feel free to hmu! Specifics can be tweaked as we see fit. Will be updated as I come up with more ideas.
1. Craig makes a dress/suit/outfit for your muse. Either commissioning him to create an outfit for your muse, or offering him something else in exchange (if your muse is close with him, he'll probably do it without asking for anything in return). Could be for a specific event your muse wants to attend, or just because. Any excuse for Craig to make pretty clothes for someone.
2. Craig goes to a big fancy ball. Maybe your muse is his date/chaperone, or they just happen to meet at the ball, or your muse is helping him get ready (or vice versa). Give me fancy ball threads you cowards. Bonus points if it's something like a masquerade, bc those are always fun.
3. Craig is performing in some kind of pageant or show, and your muse helps him prepare. Or vice versa!
4. Your muse gives Craig a makeover. "Popular" from Wicked plays in the background. Also "Beautiful" from Heathers. I want both these vibes pls.
5. Overblot Craig. Please, I crave OB threads. I am begging with my whole chest.
6. Craig uses his UM to fuck someone up. More than likely he's doing it either to protect himself or someone else. Unless he's overblotted, in which case he'll fuck up anyone for any reason. See above.
7. This video (tw for blood and gore). Because angst :) Could be someone underestimating their strength (or overestimating Craig's) and hurting him in the process. Alternatively, Craig can end up accidentally using his UM to cause a similar incident. See above.
6. Someone saving Craig from his shitty aunts. Either offering him a place to stay during break so he doesn't have to go home, or busting him out Weasley style. Because when you're in an isolated and abusive situation, sometimes you need to be saved and you're not weak if you can't escape by yourself.
Time To Go [5]: Things Have Gone So Horribly Wrong At This Point
Fandom: Devil May Cry
Rating: M
Characters: Nero, Dante, Vergil, Kyrie, Nico, Trish, Morrison
Tags: Mystery, Humor, Missing Person, First Time, Family Drama, Family Bonding, Post-Canon
Chapter: 5/9
Chapter [1] [2] [3] [4]
Summary: When Kyrie goes missing, Nero goes on a desperate search to find her. Unfortunately, Dante and Vergil go too. Sparda boys shenanigans, fighting demons, a smattering of family drama, and male bonding (otherwise known as Nero’s worst nightmare). Please check it out below, or you can read on FFNet or AO3. Beta read by @copper-wasp.
Now posted! Chapter 5: Things Have Gone So Horribly Wrong At This Point, in which Nero meets a former President, Dante and Vergil race, and Nico’s van gets a makeover.
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The van screeches to a stop in an empty parking lot. One street lamp flickers in the corner; otherwise, it's quiet—there are no lights, no cars, no people. It is the perfect spot for them to regroup and figure out their next move.
Dante opens the side of the van and climbs out as Vergil and Nero do the same. Reaching inside, Dante grabs the demon by the front of his coat, ignoring Trish's protest, and sets him down, the demon's legs dangling over the side of the van. Planting his foot up on the edge, Dante says, "Start talkin'."
The demon looks up, shaking slightly. "I don't—"
"Listen, shit head," Dante sighs. "It's one in the morning, I got this kid up my ass, I've had to look at my brother's ugly mug all night, and a cat stole my pizza. I'm pissed, tired, hungry, and I want to go home. So fucking talk."
"I don't know anything!" the demon cries.
Trish leans her forearm on the side of the door. "I thought you said you were good at this."
"I thought you said he'd know something."
Next to Dante, Vergil huffs. "You might try asking an actual question."
"Okay, everyone back off!" Dante snaps, holding up his hands.
"Move." Nero pushes him out of the way, stepping up in front of the demon. "What's your name?" he asks.
"Abe Lincoln," the demon replies.
Nero nods. "Okay, Abe. There's a girl missing. Her name is Kyrie. One of you demon assholes took her, and I want to know who. If I like what you have to say, you get to live another day. If I don't, you get a bullet in your head, just like your namesake. Understand?"
It is hard to tell what exactly the demon's expression is with his human suit so mangled, but Dante assumes it hits somewhere between annoyance and disgust. "Fucking humans," he says. "What makes you think I know anything? You all look the same to me."
Nero takes out his revolver and pushes it against the demon's head. "You have five seconds."
"He's not kidding," Vergil says. "He shot me earlier."
Dante snorts, but notes how Nero's fingers flex and coil around the grip of the gun. If they aren't careful, he'll blow the informant away before they get any information. "All right, kid," he says. "Let's give him a chance to answer."
"You're crazy!" the demon snaps. "All of you are crazy!" It looks up at Trish hissing, "Why did you bring me here?"
"Just answer their questions," she says tiredly.
"Time's up," Nero says.
The demon puts his hands up. Half the suit falls off and hits the ground, and Dante wrinkles his nose in disgust as it splatters on his boots. "Okay! Okay! What's her name? I don't know, maybe I heard something—"
"Kyrie," Nero replies coolly.
The demon nods. "Okay. I mean, maybe? Lots of demons take humans for food or power or just for fun. I don't know their specific names though."
"She's from Fortuna," Dante offers.
"Fortuna? I don't fuck with Fortuna." The demon gives a weird hissing sound that could be laughter. "Anyone that has any sense stays the hell away from there."
"That's funny, I kill plenty of demons there," Nero says.
The demon looks at him scornfully. "Newbies," it replies.
Dante heaves a sigh. "Listen, Abe, you got something for us or what?"
The demon looks around nervously. "No! I don't know. I ain't heard nothing about taking people from Fortuna, and I ain't heard the name Kyrie. Don't kill me!"
The three men exchange a glance. "He's telling the truth," Trish says. "He wouldn't lie, would you, sweet?"
"No, ma'am," the demon answers.
Dante narrows his eyes at Trish but she offers only a cool smile. "I'd really, really appreciate you not killing this one. It took me a long time to find a worthwhile informant."
Nero makes an angry noise in his throat, but he lowers the gun. "If I find out you lied to me, I'm going to come back here and rip your heart out myself." Then he steps away and walks around the van, climbing into the driver's side and slamming the door shut.
Dante swallows uncomfortably. He looks at Vergil and says, "Got any other ideas?"
Vergil shoots him a look but doesn't answer. Dante nods and says to Trish, "Thanks for trying anyway. I guess we'll head back and figure out our next step."
"No problem." Trish hops out of the van and tugs the demon with her. "Give me a call if you need anything else." She walks away, dragging it behind her, until they disappear into the night.
Dante heaves a huge sigh. "What a damn mess."
"We should go back to Fortuna," Vergil says. "Start looking there. I'm still not convinced she didn't leave on her own."
"Don't push that with the kid," Dante growls. "He's feeling bad enough."
"Let's go." Vergil steps into the back of the van, leaving Dante to kick the tire in frustration.
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They are halfway back to Fortuna and in the middle of nowhere when something inside the van makes a loud popping sound. Smoke starts pouring out from under the hood, and with a series of curses Nero pulls over to the side of the road. The van sputters as it rolls to a stop, and all three men climb out and step around to the front hood.
The only light on the road comes from the van's headlights. There is not a sound, not even animals in the distance, and they had not passed another vehicle for at least an hour. Nero rubs the back of his head as Dante checks his phone, which has no signal bars above the time that reads 2:28 am.
"Now what?" Vergil asks.
"Guess we walk." Dante heads to the van and opens the side door. He climbs in and grabs an empty bag, rummaging around for anything they might need. He finds a flashlight, a smattering of knives, and a candy bar, the rest of it just being Nico's junk that he can't make heads or tails of anyway. He munches as he returns to the others, who are still staring at the smoking van. "You guys coming or what?"
Nero slams his fist on the hood of the van, leaving a small dent. "This is bullshit!" he shouts. "We came all this way, and for nothing! We're no closer to finding Kyrie and now the van—" He lets go a yell and punches it again, and again. His demon arm activates, the blue light looking eerie in the dark, and with a final growl Nero rips off the entire hood and tosses it towards the wooded area off the side of the highway.
It skids across the ground with a metallic, grinding sound until it comes to a stop. Dante swallows the rest of the candy bar as Vergil glances at him. He gives a shrug, and Vergil nods. They stand shoulder to shoulder and watch as Nero continues his tirade for another minute or so, the van left with holes and dents in the metal, and the windshield now sporting a nasty crack that runs diagonally through the glass.
Nero plants his hands on the side of the van, leaning his head down as he takes heaving breaths. His shoulders shake as he tries to get a hold of himself, and Dante clears his throat. "You good now, kid?"
"No, I'm not good," Nero hisses. "What are we gonna do now? She's still gone and…" Metal screeches as his demon hand bends the frame under his grip. "This is just like Fortuna. I was too weak to protect her then, and now she's been taken all over again. I'm supposed to keep her safe but this shit just keeps happening, because of me."
Dante wads up his trash and shoves it in his pocket. "Ah come on, you don't know that—"
Nero whirls on him, the edges of his eyes glowing, the devil inside him kept at bay with the barest threads of sanity. "It's because of me, and you, and him—" Nero points at Vergil, who tenses in response, "—and Sparda—I wish I wasn't a part of this fucking family!"
Dante can feel his own demon powers rallying inside in response, but he tempers it easily even as he sets his jaw. "Fighting me ain't gonna get you anywhere," he warns.
"It'll make me feel a hell of a lot better."
"Nero," Vergil says in a warning tone.
Dante can't help but stiffen a bit. He has no idea what to say at this point, if there is anything that can be said to calm the kid down. But he knows for sure whatever lecture Vergil has planned is going to end with them all bloody, so he sighs and shakes his head, bracing himself for it.
To his surprise, Vergil simply says, "Come on. It's getting late."
Nero blinks in surprise when Vergil turns and starts walking up the road, his strides purposeful. He glances at Dante who gives the kid a smile and a shrug, slinging the bag over his shoulder and following. He smiles at the stunned silence behind him, only broken when Nero shouts, "Where are you going?"
Dante turns and walks backward, squinting at bit at Nero's silhouette illuminated by the headlights. "Gotta be something up the road," he calls back. "Best to keep moving."
He stares at the back of Vergil's head as they continue on, and a half minute later the headlights go out. Dante can hear Nero's footsteps hurrying up behind them, and again he smiles to himself. He picks up the pace a bit, a renewed energy letting him pass Vergil, who makes a noise behind him. "Don't walk in front of me," Vergil mutters. He moves a bit faster to catch up with Dante, making sure to walk just fast enough to stay a half step ahead.
Dante picks up his pace in answer. "Too slow, old man."
Vergil starts walking so quickly he is nearly jogging, and Dante begins trotting along to pull ahead. "What are you doing?" Nero calls behind them, but neither brother answers. Their speed increases incrementally until they are both moving at a quick jog, when Dante gives Vergil a shove.
"Watch it!" he snaps.
"Watch you eat my dust," Dante laughs.
He sprints forward, running as fast as he can. "That doesn't even make sense!" Vergil yells behind him, and a moment later he appears by his side, the two racing down the highway in the dark.
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The little office of the rundown motel is crowded with all three Spardas inside. There is just the front counter in front of a wall with dangling keys, the attendant looking up at them in a surprised half-daze, as they squeeze into the waiting room. Nero looks around at the stained green carpet and the calendar on the wall that is three years late, his skin itching just being in here. "Van broke down about thirty miles back," Dante says. "You got a phone we can use for a tow?"
The attendant leans over to turn the volume down on the little television set on the counter. "Only tow around here is Richie, but he won't answer this late. You'll need to wait until morning."
Nero huffs and pushes his way through the other two. "We're in a hurry."
The guy squints his eyes up at him. "You fellas in the circus or something?"
Dante gives a loud laugh. "Something. Since we gotta wait, you got a room? Three of them."
"Yeah." He pulls out a book and starts to write. "It'll be ninety dollars, plus tax."
Vergil and Dante exchange a look. "All you, brother," Vergil says.
"I ain't got it." He nods to Nero. "You can cover, right?"
"Not after I had to pay that woman and then buy you pizza," Nero mutters. "I only have another thirty on me."
Dante leans on the counter. "What can we get for thirty?"
The attendance swallows. "One room for the three of you. Checkout is at ten."
Nero grumbles under his breath, pushing past Vergil to go outside. After chasing down the two idiots they had spotted the neon Vacancy sign, heading over from the highway. It is nearly three in the morning now, and Nero can feel tiredness in his muscles and joints between the driving, the fight, and then the run. A shower and a couple of hours of sleep actually had sounded good, even in a fleabag place like this, but he still itches to get back to Fortuna and look for more clues.
The room is as bad as he had feared. Two double beds are inside, the mattresses lumpy and the blankets looking unwashed. Dante immediately flops on one, his frame taking up the entire space as he crosses his legs and props his hands behind his head. "Not so bad," he says as Nero and Vergil exchange a glance.
"It's awful," Vergil says.
Nero reluctantly agrees, watching as Vergil steps through the room tentatively. He turns and looks at Nero and says, "I'm not sharing the bed."
"Don't bother," Nero snaps. "I'm not gonna sleep anyway."
He strides through the room to the bathroom. The tile is cracked and dirty and the shower looks like it hasn't ever been cleaned, and he doesn't even want to look as he closes the toilet and sits down on the lid. In the next room he can hear Dante flip the television on as Vergil gripes about the inch of dust on the bedside table. Guilt fills his stomach as he thinks about the way he destroyed the van and railed against them both. Nero heaves a sigh, dropping his head down. Despite his tantrum, they had stayed with him and hadn't given him any grief about the van. That has to mean something.
"Hey kid!" Dante pounds on the door, startling him. "There's a vending machine, you want something?"
The lipstick is rolled to its very tip. Hamlet holds the red-orange thing beside her face to compare the two colours, eyes darting back and forth between them. Lord, how Juliet glows without even trying!
“Heavens, child! Is there anything that doesn’t suit you like a dream?” Deftly, he rolls it back down, caps it, and tosses it into his basket. “We’ll have to make you over hundreds of times to put all of these to good use.”
