Upd8 - Blog Posts

Thanks!

Some related thoughts and speculation

Doc Scratch:

Doc Scratch does indeed make pranks on rare occasion. I’m not sure it’d be something quite so elaborate and involving blatant lies, though. But it’ll be interesting to see if/when he does play another prank.

Calliope and the Third Scratch:

The “doomed” God Tier Calliope likely dominated because perhaps Vriska raised the Cherubs instead of Gamzee. Paralleling Caliborn, Calliope dominated prematurely and forcibly by having Caliborn’s dream self killed. It's likely this Calliope embodies the current Paradox Space.

Post-Scratch Calliope, the one who plays, is one who dominates naturally rather than prematurely. She will fully integrate/absorb Caliborn into her being, as opposed to expelling him, thus eventually becoming Calmasis.

Post-Scratch, the Cherubs are raised by Davesprite.

The third Scratch will not only reset the Cherub’s universe, but it might reset all of Paradox Space, as well. If so, Calmasis might be the one to embody the rebooted version, which is probably the new reality the heroes must escape to.

Vriska and the Green Sun:

Like how Roxy tagged along with John when he retconned the Game Over timeline, Vriska might end up tagging along if/when John retcons the current timeline. If so, she'll be a part of the true Alpha Timeline while her original iteration, punk!Vriska, remains dead in the dream bubbles.

Alternatively, Vriska dies in this timeline, and somehow SHE obtains the Ring of Life, thus reviving. (I don’t think punk!Vriska will be the one to do that.)

In either case, the Vriska of the current timeline will be the one to steal the Green Sun’s light.

Re: Vriska's Return and the Alpha Timeline's Fate

A few things–

Doc Scratch doesn’t lie, but he does tell pranks – foreshadowing which has never been fulfilled up to this point. Even if he’s not there to give a “Hee Hee,” the Egbertpunch – placed at a critical moment in Scratch’s elaborate narrative – fulfills the requirements of a prank.

If Jade’s Calliope is from a void timeline, then what’s the point of a Third Scra… actually, hm. What if this supposedly “doomed” Calliope – the one with no friends and no frame of reference for understanding human emotions – becomes this reality, the cruel and harsh Paradox Space we’re familiar with, while pre-retcon Callie… actually, no, that still leaves another Scratch out of the picture. Sorry, just thinking aloud here.

It seems like this (retconned) Vriska is going to be the one who steals the Green Sun’s light. That can’t just not happen… maybe that will be what causes John to try to retcon his retcon, but it’s too cosmically important to undo?

Not saying this theory is wrong, I actually really like it.

Remember when John said 'are you trying to fix your romance problems' while following Terezi's list maybe starting a blackrom with him is what was meant by that.

Heheheh, yep. I had the same thought.

In fact, if my double retcon theory holds any water, and eventually John lets Vriska die, it could be an interesting way to “fix” Terezi’s relationship problems with Gamzee (without Vriska being there). Her caliginous feelings could shift focus from Gamzee to John instead, thus not leaving her a total wreck by the end of the meteor trip.

John <3< Terezi?

Well, it sounds like John might have a black crush on Terezi. But... does she feel the same way? (Or rather, will she at some point?)

Check out Terezi and Karkat’s conversation regarding her kismesissitude with Gamzee:

KARKAT: I'VE GOT TO SAY, I DIDN'T SEE IT COMING. IF YOU TOLD ME SWEEPS AGO YOU AND HE... KARKAT: I WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT. LIKE IF THE WRITING WAS ON THE WALL THERE, I SURE . . . DIDN'T READ IT.

    TEREZI: Y34H, 1T SNUCK UP ON M3 […] TEREZI: R1GHT UND3R MY NOS3 TOO TEREZI: SOM3HOW 1 D1DNT PUT TH3 P13C3S TOG3TH3R 4T TH3 T1M3 4ND L3T H1M G3T 4W4Y W1TH MURD3R

    TEREZI: 4ND GR4DU4LLY 1 ST4RT3D H4V1NG TH3S3 UNCONTROLL4BL3 THOUGHTS 4BOUT H1M TEREZI: D4RK THOUGHTS TEREZI: 4ND WH3N 1 WOULD C4TCH 4 WH1FF OF H1M 1N TH3 CORR1DORS, L1K3 H3 W4S T4UNT1NG M3, TH4T JUST F4NN3D TH3 FL4M3S

    Recall John’s prophecy:

With the scarf shenanigans, did Game Over!Terezi purposely orchestrate the beginnings of a caliginous relationship between John and her past self? Could THIS be the main purpose of those trivial changes to the timeline?

D’awwwww.

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“Mothers and Daughters“

Just noticed something. The platform the characters are on...

Trolls’ platform, too...

Is shaped like a lily pad!

The events of this update are taking place within one of Skaia’s vision clouds:

I bet Alt!Calliope is the one witnessing it!

With all the happiness and fun times happening on the meteor trip, I’d like to point out one thing:

VRISKA: I think I’ve just decided that 8eing surrounded 8y horses might 8e the ultim8 8ad omen. Nothing good can ever follow or precede those circumstances.

Time to reset for the third time this hour.

> Dave: Reset.

This can’t be coincidence.

So, are the kids stuck forever? Or is Cali's statement wrong bc the chest currently in the hands of Meenah or Aradia, or is it impossible to get them out? Please explain, this can woo some people grasp the juju

Well, the way I see it, these are the possibilities:

This is an alternate timeline, either doomed, void, or split Alpha Timeline.

These are decoys of the kids.

Caliborn is wrong; they’re not actually trapped.

Caliborn is wrong; they ARE trapped, but somehow they will be freed.

The kids ARE permanently trapped, but will be “recreated” somehow.

Some other option I haven’t thought of.

I’m inclined to think it’s Option 1, but at this point, there’s really no way to tell which it is.

There’s just no way the Beta Kids will be permanently trapped in the House Juju (Homestuck, heh) in the ALPHA-Alpha Timeline with no hope whatsoever, though.

Gamzee’s words finally make sense now!

TC: I FINALLY GOT MY . . . UNDERSTAND ON TO WHO THE MIRTHFUL MESSIAHS ARE. TC: they were always both me. :o) TC: AND ALSO . . . ME. Do:

He's literally a component of Lord English! I bet the remaining half of him is used similarly with Calliope.

This update explains why it required so many genetic codes to create Doc Scratch:

“t1CK t0ck 8r8k H34DS honk HONK”

Six codes, six genetic components! Lil Cal + Caliborn + Gamzee + Equius + Lil Hal + Magic Cue Ball.

As opposed to Bec, who was made from one code (MEOW) and one genetic component (Halley).

Oh... OH...! OH SNAP!

THE SWEATY MUSCULAR GHOST APPEARS OUT OF NOWHERE.

It’s Arquiusprite! Lil Cal contains the souls of Caliborn, Arquiusprite, and (half of) Gamzee! THIS MAKES SO MUCH SENSE, YOU GUYS!

Hey have you read the upd8? --it seem like there's going to be two alphatimelines. One with retconning and one without and (maybe..?) one with green sun and the other with pink sun, one where all the kids complete reality's time loop and one where they escape

Huh! Interesting! I hadn’t considered it that way. But yeah, I do think there will be two distinct Alpha Timelines. That’s basically what my Vriska’s Return and the Alpha Timeline’s Fate theory suggests. I guess it’s slightly different, though. But, yeah. Hmm…

So, apparently the House Juju contains the souls of the Beta Kids:

THIS WEAPON COULD ONLY BE USED AGAINST FOUR GUYS AT A TIME. BECAUSE ITS SHAPE HAS. LIKE FOUR SLOTS OR SOMETHING. SO I CHOOSE MY TARGETS CAREFULLY.

THEIR SOULS WERE TRAPPED IN MY JUJU. FOREVER.

Flash back to John sticking his arm in the Juju:

It’s in Rose’s square.

I dunno, I feel like this is significant somehow. What it means, though, I have no idea.

FOR REFRANCE

Terezi is NOT going to have Vriska’s death retconned

Yes, Terezi regrets killing her, but more significantly, she realizes she was cornered into that choice and wonders, had she been thinking clearly and known all the facts, had any thoughts or circumstances changed, would there have been more options? Would killing Vriska be the only way to stop her?

GC: 1 K33P WOND3R1NG 1F TH3R3 W4S 4NOTH3R W4Y GC: SOM3TH1NG OTH3R TH4N L3TT1NG H3R GO, OR K1LL1NG H3R

GC: WH3N 1 CONFRONT3D H3R, 4ND 1T W4S T1M3 TO M4K3 UP MY M1ND GC: 1 THOUGHT 1 H4D 1T 4LL F1GUR3D OUT, L1K3 TH1S W4S WH4T 1 H4D TO DO. NOT JUST TO S4V3 3V3RYBODY, BUT 4S SOM3 STUP1D R1T3 OF P4SS4G3 OR SOM3TH1NG? GC: TH3N 1T C4M3 T1M3 TO DO 1T, 4ND 1T W4S 4LL H4PP3N1NG SO F4ST... GC: 4ND 1 FORC3D MY OWN H4ND. 1 COULD 31TH3R L3T 3V3RYON3 D13 1N ON3 R34L1TY, OR K1LL 4 FR13ND 1N 4NOTH3R GC: 4ND 1 T3LL MYS3LF THOS3 W3R3 TH3 ONLY TWO VORT1C3S 1 S4W... GC: BUT TH3N, 1 W4S TH3 ON3 WHO M4D3 TH3 S3R13S OF D3C1S1ONS WH1CH L3D UP TO TH4T CHO1C3, 4ND COMPL3T3LY P41NT3D TH3 OPT1ONS 1NTO TH4T CORN3R

TEREZI: 4ND NOW 1T F33LS L1K3 TH3 ONLY "H3RO1C" TH1NG 1 3V3R D1D W1TH THOS3 POW3RS TEREZI: W4S US3 TH3M TO JUST1FY K1LL1NG MY FR13ND [...] TEREZI: 4ND WH4TS WORS3 1S TEREZI: TO TH1S D4Y, 1M ST1LL NOT 3V3N TOT4LLY SUR3 1F 1T W4S N3C3SS4RY [...] KARKAT: WELL, YEAH. OF COURSE IT WAS NECESSARY. KARKAT: EVEN IF IT WASN'T THE MORALLY RIGHT CHOICE OR WHATEVER, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT HAD TO HAPPEN. [...] KARKAT: IT'S SIMPLE. IF YOU HADN'T KILLED HER, YOU WOULD HAVE WITHERED AWAY IN A DOOMED TIMELINE.

Maybe, in the end, these retcons reinforce to Terezi that indeed, killing Vriska is the only viable option, and she makes that decision with a clear mind and of her own accord—not one limited by Rage. By knowing Vriska is responsible for Tavros' death and not all the others, as well as no longer viewing their confrontation as a JUST1C3 role-playing game of sorts, Terezi will no longer have lingering doubts and regrets, and instead embrace her role as a Seer of Mind.

If the retcons are geared toward this intent, they wouldn't so much undo events as undo Terezi's outlook and attitude—her depression,  self-hatred, and rejection of her role. Really, only events post-Cascade and events revolving around Terezi would change. And there weren't even that many of those during the meteor trip.

But here's the main reason nothing significant will change pre-Cascade: Doc Scratch's narration.

The Seer of Mind had challenged the Thief of Light to a simple game of chance. If the result was the undamaged side, the Thief would agree to stay. If not, she would "go." [...] The actual result was trivial; it was a constant across all timelines. [...] The Thief used her abilities to steal the fortune of her opponent, and forced the flip to yield what she regarded as the most favorable outcome. The Seer anticipated this move, correctly.

I've never much enjoyed navigating the vortices of alternative possibility. The path which alone has my absolute mastery is the alpha timeline, a continuum I define as that which boasts exclusive rights both to my birth and to my death, two circumstantially simultaneous events. Any divergence from this path to my knowing will taper into blackness like rotting roots.

(Bold emphasis mine.)

Why is this information significant? The Alpha Timeline seems to have already taken John's retcons into consideration. So far, all events as known from Caliborn's perspective, like John dying in an explosion and his "ghost" returning periodically to haunt him, seem to be accurate post-retcon information. (Of course, this is also assuming the Jade and Jane hanging out with Calliope are from the same and Alpha timeline.)

If retcons don't change or contradict Caliborn's knowledge, I would think this concept would extend to Doc Scratch, as well, considering his omniscience and influence. Undoing Vriska's death would dramatically change his story.

Not to mention, it would change this:

But it is the desecration of a priceless timepiece where I must draw the line. I'm afraid I must now insist that you take your beating quite personally.

Events that directly affect and influence Doc Scratch, Spades Slick, and the destruction of the universe leading to the creation of the Green Sun.

The one way events could change is if Doc Scratch is playing a rare prank. If that is the case, Terezi doesn't need to kill Vriska, but someone else does in order for the god tier clock-related events to occur. An escaped Gamzee would be the likely culprit.

Regardless, Vriska still has to die Justly, or too many crucial events change.

homestuck upd8 and calliope??

tbh i expected more for 413 but💔💔 i guess that seemed like?? sort of important? or something???

callies a cuteeieie though💚

perfect thing

my crumbs💔

also is this a safe place to say that candy jade is one of my favourite homestuck characters ever

spoilers

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TH🔥ANKS🔥 F 🔥 A🔥G🔥

[S] 8r8k spoilers!!

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wait??? did vriska just kill jane????? im so confused

pls pls pls no no pls no

SPOILERS FOR [S] 8R8K!!!

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NO ONE TALK TO BE IM LITERALLY CRYING AND THROWING UP AND SCREAMING ANSVABABANABABAVAVVABABABSNBAABA

THIS PART LITERALLY MADE ME CRY I CANTTT AND THE REFRENCES???? ALSO THE DAVE THING😭😭😭WHATTT😭 AND IG JADES NOT DEAD???? OK?? AND VRISKA!!!!!!!!! AAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! IM FREAKIVV OUTTRRR

I still find it funny that Dirk, who was shown as fairly strong throughout the comic, was easily killed two times in [S] Collide (exclude decapitation) while Dave and Terezi never even died. 

I highly believe he died so many times in that fight and everytime Dave and Terezi had to go in and use their fraymotif to save his ass.

[S] COLLIDE: FRAYMOTIFS

homestuck

i dunno why but i laugh at the daves expression here like

yoooo ok ok we got ya bro

davepeta u little shit

And that’s the rest of it! :D The background cracks in the Flash were done by rah-bop, and that’s why they arent’ included here! It really was a blast drawing this, and I’m glad ya’ll enjoyed the update as much as I did! ^u^

I’ll probably put a bonus section later for some drafts that weren’t accepted hehe! :)

Thank you for all your support!

isn’t this is the first time the dream self and real self were treated as separate individuals? 

Is it because of Terezi’s mind/seer power? Or was it always like this from the start? this bothers me so much

The new upd8 was hella nice, but this slide in particular bothered me a lot when I stopped to think about it

Like, we always knew that people in doomed timelines went to the dreambubbles, right? But these ones are not doomed selves, these are versions of characters who didn’t die in that moment: that John is the one who ascended, those Rose and Roxy were the one who revived when their dreamself were kissed, and so on. 

This means that these people died even though an exact “clone” of them, of their personality and memories until that point, lived on somewhere else - the John that was stabbed on his questbed didn’t survive through ascension, he died and a copy of him went on.

This is some creepy The Prestige level shit, these people got robbed of their existence and their copies are not even aware of it

Daaaaaaaaaamn 

B33 <i was expecting this for the upd8

B33<but i guess this is close enough