Sibling Talk
Added 2020-07-28 00:40:59 +0000 UTCstormy ur not being a very good role model rn
Drug use (and abuse) is very, very common in the flight industry. Not so much in the Wonderbolts, who perform routine drug testing on their members, but very much the case among the Washouts.....in fact, it's the reason a good number of them "washed out". The Washouts tend to be pretty sour about this, because the higher-ranking Wonderbolts, for all their prestige, cover up a lot of drinking, party drugs, and doping amidst their fellows, the stuck-up little hypocrites.
To improve his focus and fuel his high adrenaline lifestyle, Stormy starts taking a stimulant recommended by the other Washouts. (It's about a pony equivalent of a humany drug that rhymes with 'dadderdall') It turns out to be far more helpful than he expected. Suddenly, the daydreamy fog in his brain clears away, and he can focus. He can train and he can plan, he can listen and remember, and he doesn't even need as much sleep as before! He was a good flier before, but now he's the best. Better than the Washouts, better than Zipperflash....better than his mother? ......Maybe- no, definitely.
Dependency develops quickly, and Stormy needs to increase the dosage for it to work as effectively. That's frustrating. Have things always been this frustrating? Has everyone around him always been this annoying? He doesn't get it. Sure, he doesn't have as much of an appetite these days, maybe he's not sleeping, maybe he has trouble coming down from the high, maybe he's a little paranoid sometimes. Testy. Aggressive. But he wouldn't be if everyone would just get off his damned back. Where was this phony concern when he was a little kid that just wanted to watch the clouds, not get shoved into racing the Junior Speedsters Grand Prix? Why must his family bother him now, now that he's finally learned to enjoy the competition? Why now, when he has Chakra and booze and parties and girls and drugs, drugs to take him up and drugs to bring him down, the smell of stunt fire burning his feathers, and he doesn't even need sleep? He's awake now. Alive.
Why can't they leave him alone?
Comments
me, seeing cloudy content: !!!!!!! me, seeing that she's worried over her bro: D: !!!!!! honey!!!!! (I'm fascinated by this mini development arc though, not gonna lie)
Colbyr
2020-07-31 05:56:37 +0000 UTCCloudy has her breakdowns in private. Between her older siblings demanding so much attention from their parents, and her guilt over “being a burden” with her medical issues, Cloudy’s personality evolved to be as chill and low-maintenance as possible, so as not to trouble others. But she does have feelings underneath that calm facade- right here in this drawing, she’s much more worried and anxious than she’s letting on, but she’s afraid if she presses the issue Stormy may push her away. It IS exhausting being the family therapist, and she’s often overlooked even in her own family. Someday her siblings will be much better at returning Cloudy’s concern and listening skills, but not now.
Lopoddity
2020-07-30 12:08:18 +0000 UTCAlways wondered how Cloudburst felt growing up and seeing her older siblings go through so much emotional turmoil. Like does her calm persona ever break and she freaks out? She hasn't always been the family therapist who was she before.
Cam
2020-07-30 10:16:55 +0000 UTCThe DARE program, upon study, has been proven to no time only be ineffective at discouraging kids away from drugs, but hasn’t actually been found to be effective at demystifying drugs to children and accidentally encouraging drug use among youth. Research has been done on the topic, and I can say anecdotally that the DARE program failed entirely to scare my peers and myself away from drugs. What Stormy needs now is rehab and support, not a cartoon mascot telling him drugs make you go to hell before you die
Lopoddity
2020-07-28 14:28:56 +0000 UTCawwww, stormy :( makes me sad because, well, as a fellow adhd-er, i totally understand the feeling that stimulants give you--they're super helpful for me and i can see how someone could get hooked quickly. i hope he's able to take meds in a prescribed and healthy manner in the future if he needs it
cactus bastrop
2020-07-28 13:11:22 +0000 UTCIt's possible. :) Though I'm sure most of the thrill of reporting these things is the scandal, the exposing of secrets, the humiliation of the "exposed" target. Stormy however would at that point in his life be 100% willing to talk about his past struggles with addiction, which would take the wind out of the reporters' sails and possibly endear him to the public. An attempt to make a big scandal out of his past would likely backfire.
Lopoddity
2020-07-28 02:27:38 +0000 UTCStormy is dyslexic, which went undiagnosed for a long time and crippled him academically. He dropped out of school to attend the Wonderbolt Academy (and later left the Wonderbolts when he accidentally hurt Zipperflash). Stormy isn't stupid, but he's never felt especially book smart, so he often feels the only thing he has to fall back on is his flying ability. He's painfully sensitive about his drop-out status and feels like a dummy almost all the time. Someday, Bruce and Rosemary will help him complete his schooling.
Lopoddity
2020-07-28 01:24:29 +0000 UTCYes, yes he does. Rainbow Dash has it as well. This is how I imagine it was relatively easy for him to get his hands on stimulants, in the beginning.
Lopoddity
2020-07-28 01:20:31 +0000 UTCSHARE. THE. NOTES.
Lopoddity
2020-07-28 01:19:12 +0000 UTCI suppose Aerostorm's good ol' "Dash Mode" pops up a lot during this period of his life.
2020-07-28 01:13:22 +0000 UTCStormy needs to go to DARE 😂
Vicky H
2020-07-28 01:04:25 +0000 UTCQuick question! Does Stormy have ADHD? I actually take the aforementioned drug for mine!
Gray
2020-07-28 01:01:59 +0000 UTCAnd Stormy's emotions and thoughts during this time to justify his actions are pretty interesting too. Very fascinating
Heather
2020-07-28 00:57:52 +0000 UTC*fingers twich* Good LORD why you gib me such good Stormy angst content that makes me want to write out a fic of my old headcanon break down he had with Bruce after running into Chakra when my sister has ZERO INTERNET AND I CANT SAVE SHIT?? The ANGST. The sickening SHAME. Stormy's past mistakes and regrets flaring up in a horrible malstorm of emotions! Damn you. Imma jot down some notes anyways >0
Heather
2020-07-28 00:53:56 +0000 UTCM'really into that hairstyle he's rocking,,,
Nimbose
2020-07-28 00:52:00 +0000 UTCThis is really painting Stormy in a new light, one that is certainly heartbreaking. It makes me wonder, when he eventually gets help and is with Bruce and takes flying again, will this come back up again? Not necessarily taking drugs again but reporters love to dig into peoples ( ponies? ) pasts. It’d certainly be a scandal to find out he was taking performance enhancing drugs in his early years
Angsty Ram
2020-07-28 00:48:35 +0000 UTCOh Stormy, what have you gotten yourself into. For real, I love how you write your characters. Even the big assholes have a side that people can understand or relate to and even the nice and good character have gone through lots of growth and learning to be where they are.
feathermaws
2020-07-28 00:47:34 +0000 UTC
