Stories by Xero

I'm not a circus fan to begin with. I don't know the term for fans of it, and I don't care, cuz I'm not one. I've passively kept up from the start, seen every episode, I have a ragatha plush because I think the character design is cute, but I've not been as "into" it as I was with other things. I didn't go out of my way to see the finale in theaters despite some not-so-subtly pressuring me to do so, because I hate the theater experience in general. But it's nice that the theater run was a success.

But so, experienced in a comfortable environment. With an open mind. It was fine. I don't get everything, but it made me feel things.

The "raised by devout mormons" line is sticking with me. Fuck that's sticking with me. I wasn't even raised by devout mormons, but I've seen the current depressing situations of some friends who were. If christ's love and the holy spirit is compelling you to justify tossing out or closeting your family for being anything but straight and conforming, then you don't need to ask why anyone would rather hail satan. Speaking of satan and god-

Redeeming Caine is the one thing that's muddying up my feels. On the one hand I'd wanna tear the demiurge quite a few new ones for subjecting everyone to this torment nexus called life, but on the other hand it's so deliciously heretical to depict a creator god actually growing a conscience and regret for their behavior. Imagine that, a narrow-minded asshole actually getting out of their own head.

That wasn't supposed to be a transition to talking about jax, but here we are. Edit to add that subtext is just text with Goose confirming, and I'm fine with the text. Besides that, jax is a self-destructive, self sabotaging, tragic character. I don't know what anyone wants me to feel about that. The most I can feel is pity. Maybe a bit of sympathy for the idea of someone having a shit old man just leave.

Goose, I ain't responsible for any of it, but I'm sorry that the chronically online, the bot comments, and the content farming slop made it such a rocky road to express the ideas you wanted to express. There's no real helping when something gets popular, and you've handled it better than the worst. You've left a nice mark on the world. It truly was an amazing digital circus.

...

Betty as a cognito hazard mind virus. Basically the queen in yellow. A buried depression era toon when rediscovered starts captivating the minds of readers and writers alike as people share her stories and write new ones. Eventually she starts appearing outside the page and screen to a select few who believe themselves to be chosen, when really they're just the most vulnerable to her spell.

It had to be the original image with the right audience and means of exposure. The reason she didn't take over sooner is her original form got buried before furries were more of a thing, then the fake revised Betty got popular, but didn't carry the magic of the original. Once people start making video essays and short form wtf reaction content her image spreads like mad and takes root.

Betty merch (effigies) are made and distributed by fans, people affected only eat Betty branded food or food in her likeness, and the unaffected start to be ostracized as Betty fans climb the rungs of societal influence.

People looking for a partner start dressing and behaving as Betty to try and get those on the higher rungs to take them in. Go full practical effect with this, don't skimp on the makeup.

It's a bad ending story, there is no destroying her, all they can do is round up the unaffected and take off somewhere with enough resources to support a population that'll shrink as the generations go on and fewer are born with resistance.

"Assuming I'm the only spacefarer in this dynamic, so to say they may be at most industrialized or even digital, I'd offer them trinkets that do menial tasks. Proprietary, of course, but cheap and available. Then once adoption of the trinkets hits market saturation, I rugpull or run a repair racket. Their menial skillsets will be so far out of date they'll bend to my wishes if they want convenience. They could live without my services and trinkets, but it wouldn't be as flashy a life."

"You read marketing?"