The Difference Between Timelines And Alternate Universes
The Difference between Timelines and Alternate Universes
I’ve been hearing these words timelines and AUs being thrown around and use interchangeably as if they are one and the same when that’s anything further from the truth. Which is why my pretentious ass is gonna try to explain the difference a timeline and an Alternate Universe as well as how to tell the difference.
First off, we have to mention that Undertale clearly possesses a multiverse -an Underverse if you will- in which every Universe resides in and within each universe is a timeline. Unlike the multiverse though, which can contain an infinite number of alternate universes, a universe may only have one timeline active at a once. The only way for a new timeline to become active is through reloading or resetting back to a previous point in time. Meanwhile, a new universe is always created due to the actions of transdimensional beings who reside outside of the Under-verse (aka: us). It is impossible for anyone that resides within the Under-verse to create a new universe by themselves without the help of a transdimensional being. At best, they can create new timelines, but that’s it.
So since we establish the basics, let’s get down to the key difference. Timelines are essentially the variables of a universe. They can be radically different from one another, but so long as they are a possibility within a universe, they can exist. For example: Chara never falling into the underground, Asriel and Chara both surviving, or the war never occurring in the first place. While the results may sometimes be radically different from another, they are all possible.
As for alternate universes, they are essentially the non-possibilities of a universe, no matter what, it is physically impossible for them to exist as a timeline in Undertale. Generally, Anything that operates under different mechanics and universal laws then Undertale or radically alters or swaps the souls of characters counts as an AU. Note: just because characters have a different personality than in canon, that does not always mean their soul: IE, their subconscious, inner self, or whatever, has been altered as well.
For example, let’s say Alphys decides to build a body for Napstablook alongside Mettaton as well. This event will effect and alter their personalities from that point forth, but who they are inside remains the same, plus that action is a possibility so it would count as being an alternate timeline.
If it was something like Sans always had the personality of Papyrus, vice-verse, or whatever. So long as they possess zero or barely any similarities to their Undertale self, then they exist within an alternate universe. Like if Monster Kid now acts exactly like Joseph Stalin or if Toriel acts like a crazy Florida lady that hates children, then that change would count it as an AU.
Now I mentioned before how only one timeline can be active in a universe at a timeline. Which may have some of you thinking “Doesn’t that mean all the different fanworks of Undertale are alternate Universes then even if the change is rather minor?”
Just because only one timeline can be running at once, it doesn’t mean that other timelines can’t exist alongside it just in a sort of limbo mode. Take for example a race between twelve different horses. The people within the active timeline perceive horse #3 as the winner, while we can perceive any of the horses winning or none at all, we just have to choose the outcome we want to see and we’ll see it.
So no, not every fanwork is an alternate universe. Some are AUs and others timelines, which are which, you decide because I honestly don’t have the time to go through every single one because there are literally thousands. I’m just doing this because I find it fun applying logic and rules to a world with spaghetti loving Skeletons and Metrosexual ghost-bot David Bowie.
By the way, do you want a theory/view on souls or determination next?
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I keep seeing others talk about how if they were in Curly's shoes that they'll totally stand up to Jimmy and defend Anya, but would you? Unless you've actually been in a similar situation and call out your friend for being a piece of shit, than you don't have any grounds to stand on. We'd all, myself included, would like to believe would do the right thing but would we? If your friend assaulted our co-worker, would you hold him accountable? Would you have the strength to do the right thing? There's a difference between believing and doing the right thing. I think we all have or had a Jimmy in our life. Someone who mistreated us and those around us yet we continue to defend them because they're a friend. "Oh, I know he's kind of an asshole, but he's a good person deep down. He just had a hard life." How many of us keep friends who are harmful towards us and those we care about simply because we've known them for a long time. Not excusing Curly's actions. He should of been stronger and stood up to Jimmy for Anya. Plus, he's the one who got him hired in the first place. Just pointing how Curly represents who want to believe that they'd do the right thing yet lack the strength to actually do it. And honestly, I think that's even more uncomfortable for many of us to accept. That despite everything we say and believe in, we don't have the strength to be a good person.
When looking at Jimmy's rape of Anya and Curly's failure to address it, I think it's important to recognize Pony Express's own role in it. Like with other workplaces, Pony Express's policies not only enables but encourages and protects Rapists. Within the opening scene, when Jimmy steers the ship towards the asteroid, the entire crew has their pay docked despite being completely unaware of what Jimmy is doing. Just like the crash, Pony Express's policies forces the entire crew to bare the consequences of Jimmy's actions. Rather than discourage Jimmy's actions, all it does is punish the rest of the crew as well. Anya was afraid to speak up about Jimmy raping her not only because the power he held over her as Co-Captain and him being Curly's best friend, but also the fear that if she speaks than she and the rest of her crewmates would be punished as well. She, along with everyone else except Daisuke and maybe Curly, were all struggling financially as well. If Anya's rape was reported to Pony Express, then the crew's entire pay would be docked. They would punish Anya and the rest of the crew for her pregnancy. So instead, she remains quiet and is forced to endure Jimmy's abuse and sexual harassment until her pregnancy puts her in a place where she can longer hide it. Furthermore, asides from Curly's own enabling of Jimmy's horrid actions and his own misplaced empathy, Pony Express policies discouraged Jimmy from taking action. Yet unlike Anya, Curly's ignorant to just how awful Pony Express is. While we don't know exactly how long Curly's been working for Pony Express, like his friendship with Jimmy, we can assume it's been for a while. And like his friendship with Jimmy, Curly is not only ignorant towards, but also downplays and excuses Pony Express's harmful behavior.
Anya: "Why do you think Pony Express puts a lock on the medical room doors but not the sleeping quarters?" Curly: "I suppose for the same reason they put a lock on the cockpit. Safety." Rather than recognize the lack of privacy for his crewmates as a problem, he instead tries to excuse and rationalize Pony Express's actions. Similar to how he tries to rationalize Jimmy's awful character. Curly's employment with Pony Express mirrors his friendship with Jimmy where his passivity enables their abusive behavior and hurts those around him as well. Not only does Curly refuse to speak up or do anything about Anya's rape or the lack of locks, but he also: 1) Fails to object when they're forced to take in an intern despite only having enough resources and cryopods for 4 people. 2) Doesn't say anything about the unsafe working environment for both Swansea and Daisuke. 3) How Anya's not only the nurse but also women on the ship while everyone. Like with Jimmy, Curly's blind loyalty and passivity towards Pony Express, enables their awful abuse. Instead of doing the right thing and accept the consequences that come with it, he instead chooses to remain blind and takes the easy way out. Now none of this excuses either Jimmy's or Curly's actions or lack thereof. Jimmy's still responsible for raping Anya, trying to kill everyone in a suicide crash and forcing everyone to suffer. Meanwhile, Curly's the one who decided to hire Jimmy as Co-Captain despite being aware that he's an Ex-con, not Pony Express. Yes, they allowed it when they shouldn't of, but it was ultimately Curly's decision to hire him. And Curly still holds the blame for placing his friendship with Jimmy over Anya's safety and the rest of his crew. However, Pony Express's policies and workplace culture created an environment where Anya is forced to remain silent, Jimmy's sexual abuse of her is enabled, and the only person able to help her, Curly, is too submissive towards them both for him to be of any of help.
People who deserve to die
People who puts pineapple on pizza
People unwilling to admit that dr. Pepper is better than both coke and pepsi
People who think Boston pizza, chiptole, and Denny's can be considered food.
People who wear crocs.
People who say their favourite colour is grey. Grey is a shade not a colour.
People who have posted on tumblr
People who share dumb Facebook memes.
People who think the accordion is a dumb instrument
People who think becoming a SoundCloud rapper is a good career choice
People who make terrible dance/electronic remixes for songs where it doesn't make sense.
People who put soya sauce on tacos
People who say they can see why kids love the taste of cinnamon toast crunch because I know you're lying.
People who are unwillingly to admit that Daddy Daycare is the greatest film of all time
Endgame Spoilers
Steve chose Sam over Bucky because he has the better ass.
the cult of celebrities.
MJ didn’t just groom these kids, he groomed an entire culture. We’re taught to believe that our idols and heroes can do no wrong and anyone who accuse them of anything regardless of the evidence are both evil and liars. Celebrities might as well be cult leaders with how their fans seem to worship. If we want to stop another MJ or R Kelly, we need to change as a culture and destroy this cult of personality we have on celebrities. Want to know why celebrities can get away with abusing others for so long? Because we the fans allow it, we’re willing to attack innocent victims so that powerful monsters won’t get hurt. Stop treating celebrities like gods and start treating them like people.
Holy shit, Loki just made every other marvel film and TV canon to the now Marvel Cinematic Multiverse. We can have the Fox X-Men show up In the MCU and have it be canon without having to retcon either timeline.
Undertale AU ideas
So we already got like Underfell, underwap, outerswap and PTAtale. Might as well add to the pile Slamtale: if you smell what the great papyrus is cooking Jamtale: get dunked on *slams Chara's head into the basket* Underweed: like, do you want to have a bad time I guess Jerrytale: everyone is Jerry
Those are the Avengers
Guardianes de la galaxia perruna
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thundernator7 reblogged this · 8 years ago
here my stupid ass talk and complain about stupid ass shit. I'm probably gonna piss a few, a lot, most, everyone with the shit that spews out of my mouth.
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