the endless void

First, at the Space Station, there's this emphasis on Kafka rather than the Express Crew which I think makes a lot of sense.

I think a lot of what they think of Kafka now comes to the point that she abandoned them. They really haven't had the chance to spend time with her like they have with the other Stellaron Hunters. Their relationship is very much defined by their separation, and the space station in where it took place. I also think it's intentional that the only Express members with their faces visible are Himeko and March, both of them are more outgoing and would have been the ones TB got to know first.

For Belobog it's about what you'd expect. Bronya and Wildfire left the most impact on them.

I think it does make sense to exclude the Landaus, since although the Express worked with Serval for a decent chunk of the mission, their conflict was more personal than related to saving Belobog. Clara and Svarog being there is surprising but looking back on it, trying to get Svarog's help took up a pretty considerable portion of the Trailblaze mission. And also, I can understand why they'd want to remember how Clara and Svarog did their best to protect each other compared to Serval and Gepard ending up fighting over their different ideals, if they were much more affected by the idea of a family that always stays together since, again, their first memory is of being abandoned.

And then, half the reason I made this post, the fact that they remember the Luofu as Just Dan Heng is slightly hilarious.

Don't get me wrong, it makes sense- Dan Heng was basically their only personal stake on the Luofu, and it was quite the shock for the whole Express Crew. They didn't gain any close allies like on the other planets. Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan were both there for the climax, but TB's relationship with them isn't anything their relationship with Bronya and Seele; they don't really feel like comrades. But I think this also signifues TB becoming well and truly close with the Express Crew, that they put so much weight on what Dan Heng experienced.

Then, on Penacony, Sunday, Firefly and Acheron.

It seems like a small cast, but makes sense when you look at the discrepancies between what the player experiences and what TB experiences. Black Swan was present a lot, but also pretty mysterious, often working alone. Sparkle also worked alone quite often and wasn't directly involved in the story. They didn't get any of the Aventurine backstory that we got, so their relationship with him is probably a transactional one. Robin was presumed dead for most of the mission and they barely met Boothill or Jade. Meanwhile, Firefly was involved in a lot of the emotional stakes; TB remembers both the pain of seeing her die and the shock of finding out her identity, and by Planarcadia they also remember that she was their family. It's cute that they remember her as Firefly, not SAM, as well. They remember the time they spent with her moreso than the fact she hid her identity. Sunday was likewise present for a lot of the mission, literally being the final boss, and he's now also been with the Express for a while, so they think of him when they think of Penacony. Finally, Acheron. Her interactions with TB were fewer, but I think she left quite an impact on them even so. It's after dreaming of her that they wake up crying, even though they don't know why. There's also the black hole behind her, so I wonder if they're remembering in particular what she said and the edge of the Nihility or maybe at dreamflux reef.

Amphoreus is the only memory to show every main character, though Phainon and Cyrene are emphasised- no surprise, since they were the Chrysos Heirs who TB seemed closest with and the ones who did the most to change Amphoreus' fate.

𝔇𝔦𝔤𝔦𝔱𝔞𝔩 𝔉𝔦𝔰𝔥 𓆟

That's the damn joke, that Asat Pramad was indeed the only father Himeko Murata ever knew. The joke is that Asat thought his daughter was dead and it was the final giant nail in Planarcadia's well deserved coffin. The joke is that even after the lie is revealed the thing Himeko is most mad about is that even after all this time her dad still isn't actually listening to her. The joke is that, after everything is said and done, the one thing Asat regrets is that Himeko won't call him "father" anymore.

The joke is that they genuinely loved each other. The joke is they directed so much fury and regret and sorrow at each other that the only thing you can possibly ever call them...is family.

earlier this week Twitter user ppuccin0 tweeted about a fashion article that advised against tops with large floral patterns, saying the wearer was in danger of looking like a "ロマンティックおばさん," or a "romantic auntie." the tweet went viral with many agreeing that a "romantic auntie" sounded like a very nice thing to aspire to be, and some even posted illustrations or photos tagged with the trend

illustration by Toyota Yuu (author of Cherry Magic)

illustration by 141shkw/Sora Midori (author of Beautiful Curse)

photos by Takinami Yukari (author of Motokare Mania and Watashi-tachi wa Mutsuu Ren'ai ga Shitai or "We Want A Painless Romance")

illustration by m:m (mangaka of Matataki no End Roll)

illustration by ooinuai (mangaka of Onikui Kitan)

illustration by ma2 (mangaka of The Reason We Fall In Love)

BONUS:

A rough post-finale Pomni and Caine comic.

When you’re an urban explorer making videos of abandoned buildings that you expect no one will watch— but then it turns out one of the buildings is inhabited by the Creature and that building has actually been his desperate lifetime hyperfixation & acted as his stand-in for the Entire World. Also: the weird dynamic you have with the freak who liked your 3am flop post.