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i'm defrosting
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Halfbody Illustration Commissions open! 6 slots available, $100 each. They will be drawn live on stream this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 drawings per day. Each day starting around 1 p.m, GMT + 01:00. Claim a slot via this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSA1H3kiWTfCafEu6eta9Oo0NJWH2pWLGqTTWw2N6xAQ14_Q/viewform?usp=dialog
stream starting soon piczel.tv/watch/beidak
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37q
this is what friendship looks like
generalhuxisgay
this is the greatest thing I’ve ever seen
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just wanted to share the National Down Syndrome Society’s message for this year’s World Down Syndrome Day (21st March) 💛💙
Powerful message that lovingly includes multiple disabilities, united. I love this.
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The Empty House - part 3
"I moved my head to look at the cabinet behind me. When I turned again Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling at me across my study table. I rose to my feet, stared at him for some seconds in utter amazement, and then it appears that I must have fainted for the first and the last time in my life. Certainly a grey mist swirled before my eyes, and when it cleared I found my collar-ends undone and the tingling after-taste of brandy upon my lips. Holmes was bending over my chair, his flask in his hand. “My dear Watson,” said the well-remembered voice, “I owe you a thousand apologies."
also - shoutout to @haedraulics for doing a sketch of mid-hiatus Holmes with long hair that captivated my heart so much I needed to include that idea!
there's some kind of a capella happening in my mentions
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Some Thoughts on the Cyclum...
This is a Wilson/Maxwell ship post, aiming to compile some character and relationship analyses I’ve written on Weibo. Well... Most of it is based on in-game lore and quotes, so I’ll probably organize and post it all here gradually!
First, let’s talk about the dynamic shift in their power balance. When I first got into the fandom and was randomly scrolling through posts, I stumbled upon a blogger’s comparison between another ship I’d previously liked and Wilson/Maxwell (okay that's kylux in SW ). They mentioned that while the former pair went from equals to an unequal relationship, whereas Wilson/Maxwell features two inherently unequal individuals whom Wilson single-handedly dragged into equality. This "equality" wasn’t achieved through Wilson rising to Maxwell’s level in Adventure Mode, but rather through the fact that when Maxwell returned to the Constant as a mortal, Wilson—who already had a camp and resources at that point—could have chosen to become the dominant party, yet deliberately didn’t. Instead, he placed Maxwell on equal footing with himself.
Most relationships like this end up with a reversal of roles—the former superior becomes the inferior, and vice versa, cycling endlessly. Even Maxwell himself, upon entering Wilson’s camp, initially assumed a submissive position, almost resigning himself to Wilson’s whims (after all, he’d just been pinned down and beaten up. By the time Wilson finished adding fuel to the fire and turned around, Maxwell was still standing there. Normally, even animals would flee after being hit once, let alone when facing someone you’ve deeply wronged. Logically, Maxwell could’ve expected further beatings—or even being killed—after the fire was stoked. Yet when Wilson turned back, Maxwell just stood there, accepting whatever action Wilson might take against him).
Later, when the two of them sat silently facing each other by the campfire, Maxwell kept shrinking into himself with his head bowed. It was Wilson who broke the ice first—passing him a meat skewer and starting the conversation—otherwise Maxwell would have remained completely still and silent.
Objectively speaking, Maxwell was just a weak destitute old drifter at this point, while all the camp's supplies—food, drink, everything—belonged to Wilson. By all rights, Wilson had every justification to treat Maxwell however he pleased. Yet he chose not to seek revenge or relegate him to an inferior position, instead consciously treating him as an equal. That’s truly remarkable… To put it simply: "After defeating you, I could have chosen to dominate you—but instead, I chose to pull you up to stand beside me as an equal." That’s why Maxwell could afford to be so unrestrained around Wilson. (Compare this to Charlie, who openly resents and blames him—around her, Maxwell is visibly guilty, ashamed, and even submissive to the point of resignation… Though, of course, Charlie is also exceptionally special to him.)
Maxwell has always been the type to gauge people’s moods and adapt accordingly. Around Charlie, his vulnerability and passivity are laid bare. Around the other survivors—who have mostly accepted him but still regard him with some wariness and distrust (and who never saw his throne-side persona)—he instinctively slips back into acting like his Adventure Mode self or the "big bad villain" they expect him to be. This distinction is quite obvious: some of his in-game quotes clearly sound like performative, exaggerated versions of his old "evil mastermind" persona (the kind he’d put on when others are around), while others carry a deeply depressive, self-loathing tone (likely muttered to himself when alone).
That said, he does make an effort to be more polite and measured around the group. He tolerates teasing without snapping back (which, given his ego, is downright pitiful) and grumbles through chores but does them anyway. But with Wilson—who has witnessed both his most vicious, terrifying side and his most pitiful, vulnerable moments, yet chooses to let bygones be bygones, indulges him, and keeps roughhousing with him as usual—well… "Let Wilson do it." Spoiled Maxwell to the max. It's the epitome of a cat becoming utterly comfortable after being thoroughly domesticated. You could say Maxwell's ability to banter with Wilson, tease him, even complain about him—it's all Wilson's doing, a product of his pampering. But precisely because of this, Maxwell can interact with him without any reservations.
(There's another particularly adorable detail—Wilson and Webber are the only two who never actually bring up Maxwell's past misdeeds. That's also worth analyzing, maybe in the next post?!)
Second, although the Cyclum is primarily explored from Maxwell's perspective, Wilson's reactions also reveal a lot about his attitude toward [seeing Maxwell alive again after believing him dead].
First, there’s the way he throws aside his axe and resorts to fists—almost like, "I may still resent you, but I won’t kill you. A beating will suffice." Then there’s the infamous moment (though it’s been analyzed to death, it’s just too good to ignore) where Wilson eats a plain carrot while giving Maxwell the meat skewer. Here’s this man, rationing himself to basic veggies, yet offering real sustenance to the very person who ruined his life—now a ragged, starving shadow of his former self. It's his way of silently communicating: "I'm willing to take you in for now, and I'll provide for you too." No words needed, yet the message couldn't be clearer.
And then there’s Wilson’s choice of conversation starter to break the awkward silence: the fact that he thought Maxwell was dead.
Honestly, Wilson’s choice of topic is profoundly telling. What exactly was Maxwell to him at this point?
The liar who tricked him into this wilderness. The enemy who killed him repeatedly, only to reappear and mock him. The demon who rendered all his struggles and attempts futile. The man who taunted him with visions of gruesome deaths and throne-bound despair—yet now stood before him, alive again.
And yet, Wilson’s first words carried no accusations. No recriminations for how Maxwell had deceived or tormented him. Instead, he opened with a meat skewer—a silent peace offering—and then chose to say: "I thought you were dead."
This topic is truly ingenious—perhaps even the only one that wouldn't make Maxwell feel awkward or guilty, while still prompting him to voluntarily speak up and explain himself, thereby breaking their stalemate. Especially for someone like Wilson—a logically-minded individual prone to getting lost in his own thoughts—to have come up with this particular subject is nothing short of remarkably considerate, emotionally intelligent, and even awe-inspiring in his mental fortitude to set aside their past grievances so quickly and consider things from the other's perspective… Upon closer reflection, this is exquisitely satisfying—Wilson is truly exceptional, genuinely making earnest efforts to guide Maxwell toward opening up and interacting with him naturally. And if we take another perspective—considering how Maxwell's horrific, ash-scattering death must have deeply impacted Wilson—it's equally delicious… More than anything else, what matters is your death. I have so many questions I want to demand answers for, so many explanations I need from you—but you were dead. From that moment on, this became the first thing I wanted to ask."
At this point I want to discuss how Maxwell's death on the throne affected Wilson. First, Wilson's emotions when finally reaching the throne room must have been incredibly complex… Players can easily empathize with Wilson's perspective - after dying countless times, suffering repeated failures, and struggling desperately to push forward, all driven by the need for some kind of resolution. Whether it was finding a way home or beating up the old man responsible, he needed closure. But when he finally faced Maxwell, all he saw was a ragged, emaciated old man chained and tortured. No way home, no possibility of beating up this pitiful old man - for this version of Maxwell, even death would be a release.
No matter what bizarre method Wilson tried to kill Maxwell, it would fail. Maxwell would say it's useless, he's tried them all - he'd attempted every possible strange method to die, that's how desperately he wanted it. And at this point Wilson finally realizes they're both just pawns being played with, both victims… But for Wilson who had persevered with such conviction, this outcome was truly unacceptable.
I think Maxwell probably didn't know what would happen when Wilson inserted the detector - otherwise he wouldn't have initially smiled upon being freed before looking in horror as his body disintegrated… For Maxwell, death was probably just an instant thing, a form of release. And since he returned to the Constant afterward, he likely didn't dwell much on his own death.
But for Wilson who witnessed Maxwell die before his eyes, it was completely different. Before choosing compassion, he must have wrestled with it internally. But the moment he inserted the detector, Maxwell disintegrated before him, dying in that horrifying manner… Single-player gamers will understand the profoundly lonely, desolate atmosphere of the Don't Starve. Before this, even though Maxwell was the one who'd trapped him in this situation, he was still the only person Wilson could talk to in this world. And now this sole person he could communicate with had died because of his compassion. In his shock, thoughts like "does this mean I killed him?" might have flashed through Wilson's mind - only to be pulled onto the throne himself the next second… It's truly despair-inducing. Even after returning to the Constant, that scene would keep replaying in his mind. So when he eventually encountered Maxwell again - discovering he wasn't dead after all, but instead hiding pathetically in the bushes spying on his camp - while annoyed and exasperated, he must have also felt some relief... Well, nothing to do but beat him up and then give him a meat skewer, I guess. (But much later, when seeing Maxwell near death again, that image of him turning to ash would inevitably resurface, which must have been quite traumatic for Wilson.)
Yet the immediate consequence of Wilson's momentary indulgence was this cat immediately getting bold enough to snatch Wilson's blueprints to look at (I can't even - gonna save this for the next post lol).
Alright, but finally I still want to marvel at how Wilson could pin Maxwell to the ground with one hand while still turning back to tend the fire - Maxwell is just so physically weak, completely incapable of resisting! The Cyclum similarly shows Maxwell's survival skills in his own created world exist only in theory… In practice he just ends up fleeing in disgrace, with his natural sanity restoration still nearly getting him killed by shadow creatures while Wilson had already built a small base by then.
When Wilson and Maxwell play together online, it's kinda like the server's top player (the guy who first cleared Adventure Mode empty-handed) carrying the game's designer who doesn't actually play games… just look at Wilson's situation when he first entered the Constant! Alone with no help or rescue, struggling to survive in the wilderness where everything had to be learned through personal experience, each lesson paid for with multiple deaths. Meanwhile Maxwell immediately meets Wilson upon arrival - gets taken in, receives food, shelter, company, someone to bicker with and teach him how to survive. It's like being a newbie who gets carried by a pro from the start, avoiding so much suffering (.) Can't be helped since Maxwell is the type of creature who'd cut his hand picking up a flint - can't really expect him to actually survive. Viewing their relationship as a human keeping a cat explains everything perfectly.
Finally, I want to say—the equality between Wilson and Maxwell is the best kind. And usually, it's Wilson who drags the high-and-mighty old man down, then turns around and offers him respect and compassion, achieving a mutual ease and lack of restraint between them... Wilson has his overly rational side, his cruel side, his indifferent side, his empathy-deficient side. Yet when facing Maxwell—his defeated rival, the mastermind behind it all—he chose compassion twice, treating him with his most human side. At the very least, to Maxwell, Wilson is a true gentleman.
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More art where maxwell is smiling? Hehe, no problem
Stupid ugly magician
Yeah, something sappy (I really like Wilson on this sketch)
Aaaand, we talk about Maxwell smiling, but what about william? Look at him, pathetic dorky boy I need him
Aaaand, I am not a shadowbanned anymore, yay. Special thanks for @starving-mimi for help, I really appreciate it.
Reblogged sanguinarysanguinity
‘Must I put on silk stockings?’ ‘Certainly you must put on silk stockings. And do show a leg, my dear chap: we shall be late, without you spread a little more canvas.’ ‘You are always in such a hurry,’ said Stephen peevishly, groping among his possessions. A Montpellier snake glided out with a dry rustling sound and traversed the room in a series of extraordinarily elegant curves, its head held up some eighteen inches above the ground. ‘Oh, oh, oh,’ cried Jack, leaping on to a chair. ‘A snake!’ ‘Will these do?’ asked Stephen. ‘They have a hole in them.’ ‘Is it poisonous?’ ‘Extremely so. I dare say it will attack you, directly. I have very little doubt of it. Was I to put the silk stockings over my worsted stockings, sure the hole would not show: but then, I should stifle with heat. Do not you find it uncommonly hot?’ ‘Oh, it must be two fathoms long. Tell me, is it really poisonous? On your oath now?’ ‘If you thrust your hand down its throat as far as its back teeth you may meet a little venom; but not otherwise. Malpolon monspessulanus is a very innocent serpent. I think of carrying a dozen aboard, for the rats – ah, if only I had more time, and if it were not for this foolish, illiberal persecution of reptiles … What a pitiful figure you do cut upon that chair, to be sure.
Barney, Barney, buck or doe, Has kept me out of Channel Row,’ he sang to the serpent; and, deaf as an adder though it was, it looked happily into his face while he carried it away.
--Master and Commander, Patrick O'Brian
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Show us some moves, Stan!