First of all, there is an update coming this Sunday for A Human Condition!! I think you’re all going to enjoy it! It’s been a long time coming and I’m excited to roll it out!
Secondly, though this is not strictly Gravity Falls fanfic news, I recently went to help my mum go through her bookshelf and HOO BOY! Did I learn ALOT!
My mother, gentlefolk, the original fanfic girlie, has totaled out with 425 romance books, 45 of which are exclusively time travel tropes, 34 are thruples, 27 are gay/lesbian and an INCREDIBLY SURPRISING 64 of them are supernatural romance featuring either a vampire, werewolf, sea monster, demon, demigod, or shapeshifter.
She has also informed me these are just “the best ones” the others she donated to the library and gave away at book swaps back in the day.
Pic of said books below for reference:
She’s insane and I love her 🥰. She’s the one who turned me into a reader in the first place and inspires me to write everyday.
This has been a brief mother appreciation post.
See you all on Sunday. Your patience has been appreciated! 🥳
Me this week and in the past. Once again, a big ‘thank you’ to all my lovely artists who continue to inspire and delight me 🥰☺️
@knockknockwhosthereartistism @orpheuswasmine @crypt-idkeeper @ilay-snt @fadedkat @raviolireptile
Some Billcentric fanart for you guys from the lovely @dontjinxit18. It’s all so fun and whimsical perfect for a chapter that was so lighthearted 🥰. Check it out!
This “should” be the last post from this chapter, but there were just too many scenes to choose from. Mabel giving him the sweater actually made me cry, along with him cuddling it to sleep, and then being happy to see Mabel again in the mindscape. This fic consumes too much of my life someone stop me. @sapphosscribe
The end of Act 1 is about to be a super long chapter, I tried to make it shorter but a lot needed to get done to set up for the second half. Prepare yourselves.
An analysis of A Human Condition by @crypt-idkeeper while you wait for the next update!! They’ve done a seriously amazing job with this! Come check it out and enjoy it! 🥰🥰
yet another analysis of a human condition, this time in parts :3
I wanna start off this ranty analysis with the relationship between Bill and Mabel, especially after chapter 28, I think it provides some wonderful examples of their relationship, and for the moment I will probably mostly focus on said chapter due to its relevance and recency.
Within this chapter we see Bill attempt to manipulate Mabel in a way we’ve yet to see, one that more resembles how he would control his Henchmaniacs and even other followers he’s had in the past, one that has no other purpose other than to fuel his fragile ego and remind said followers of their worth to him. This is obviously caused by the recent events regarding said Henchmaniacs, Bill is hurt and he’s feeling weak, so he turns to his usual attempts at power play to hold himself above the only member of the family that seems to respect him, at least in his eyes. This could also be an attempt to distance himself from Mabel emotionally as to allow him to continue to manipulate her. And of course, when this fails, he returns to his old habits, and tries to buddy up with Ford again, something he seems to repeatedly do when he feels emotionally isolated, but this isn’t about Ford.
We as the readers have known Bill has had a soft spot for Mabel since he backed out of hurting her further in her mindscape in an attempt to hold further power over her through fear mongering, some might say his emotional dependency on Mabel started when he saved her life, and while I might agree, I see that event more as him keeping his options open with just a hint of that emotional value, one where he sees her as similar and chooses to help, perhaps in a way that mirrors the guilt he may feel for Euclydia, though I may be pushing it there.
Mabel choosing to help Bill understand what it means to be human, or his condition, if you will, is an obvious extension of her guilt towards her previous actions and her analytical nature, sure she’s not as observant as Ford or her Brother, but she’s more emotionally intact than they are and less stubborn for that matter, after all she forgives pacifica quite quickly in the show, and in this fic this appears to continue, choosing to spend time with her outside of the main plot. She’s not nearly as scared of Bill and because of this she sees him for what he is, what Stan is beginning to see him as, pathetic, and ill informed, like a neglected toddler taking his frustrations out on his daycare attendants, yes, he needs to be supervised, but he needs to be supported even more so, and he needs to be taught.
Mabel however foolish her family thinks it is, has undoubtedly begun to trust Bill, but she seems to know how to handle herself against him, I mean the immediate deflection of his recent manipulations shows how surprisingly capable she is, yes Bills approval seems to be important to her, but she doesn’t need it, she has the support of her family, something Dipper didn’t think he had when Bill gets to him in the show, and something Ford certainly didn’t have prior to the show, Bill prays on the weak, and Mable is far from weak.
The way this chapter ends with this connection between Mabel and Bill going from what it was, cautious and not without independent values goes to one that now surpasses this, one where Bill has found a reason for human relationships, one where we as the readers can feel that perhaps Mabel will be safe around him, that perhaps his ill intent will fade as his understanding of human emotions and connections continue, as he starts to separate love and fear. What I found strange was the authors inclusion of their minds embracing one another, it’s a very intimate action that felt out of place for Bill, but the descriptions reminded me of Euclydia, that perhaps this form of bond mimics how Euclydians would engage in such physical contact, such embrace, something unique to Bill, something that truly shows the evolution of their relationship and how dependant he is on her.
My final topic of interest is how Bill didn’t shy away from Mabel after Dippers rant to him, after Dipper got into his head Bill didn’t attempt to manipulate her, didn’t distance himself for his own emotional gain. To me this says that Bill craves this emotional connection, and even if he believes its fake, or believes it to be temporary he will still put in the effort if he deems it important, if he thinks he needs it, even if he tells himself he doesn’t he holds these people close, Mabels sweater to him, now serves another purpose, the same purpose as his hat, and the atom from his home, it’s a reminder of his connection and relationships, although the atom is probably more a manifestation of guilt and the hat is something that pushes him to seek power, due to the sacrifice of wealth it symbolised for his family. But the sweater, that’s just connection, human connection, a form of unnecessary care, something to fill the void the other two items make.
In writing this I was tempted to make this more of an actual analysis with quotes and facts to provide evidence more than the statements that I have made here, however I still enjoyed it and I feel the other parts will be the same, but perhaps when this fic is complete, I shall honour @sapphosscribe with a proper analysis or five :3
GUYS THERE’S ANOTHER FANART FROM CH. 26 @dontjinxit18 drew Bill leaving Stan and it’s marvelous! Check it out!
@sapphosscribe
I’m so behind 😅 but we’re almost all caught up! Thanks so much to everyone who comments! I love getting to read them 💕
No update this week as I prepare a mid-summer extravaganza for you that may or may not come in two parts 😉. It’ll be worth the wait.
With tomorrow’s chapter update, we’ll have reached the point of the story that I feel like I can share A Human Condition’s theme song without any spoilers.
Listen. Enjoy. Anticipate.
24ish hours until update 😘
I’m being productive today 😮💨😮💨
@orpheuswasmine @knockknockwhosthereartistism @dontjinxit18 @paperbugss @kimpuntoexe @raviolireptile
She/her. (25) A voracious reader and writer. I’m posting updates for my stories on here. Find me on Ao3!https://archiveofourown.org/users/SapphosScribe
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