i haven’t posted in a while so hello again friends ^^ hope you’ve all been well
thanks as always to @realjonahofficial for the help with the alt text, please go check out their art it’s awesome!!! they know so much about accessibility and i always appreciate the help!!!!
Some of my angsty hcs about what happened during and after Operation Blackout
(cw: trauma mention)
Gary still has physical scars from Herbert’s attack, specifically claw scars.
Gary mentioned how he felt more nervous and unstable after being frozen, and assumed it was because the freezing affected his brain, but it wasnt just that, he also developed post-trauma after the attack, and avoided hugs and not letting anyone touch his arms for a while (due to how Herbert grabbed and manhandled him in the trailer)
For some evidence to why i headcanon Gary developed ptsd after Operation Blackout, was because his comments about feeling more nervous and strange happened whenever he speaks as a mascot during his in-game appearance, because a lot of people must have been hugging, crowding, and grabbing his arm to get his attention, accidentally triggering him
Jet Pack Guy became more and more irrational and snappish as more of his friends were captured, but Rookie getting captured was the tipping point and made him try to attack Herbert by himself without a plan, leading to his capture (I pictured Jet Pack as more collected and composed, and would always have a plan)
JPG gave away his jet pack fuel to light more generators and stoves for the civillians, to explain why he wasnt able to escape the crabs
Dot designed the Klutzy and Herbert costume, and even designed the catalog requested by Herbert in hopes of him sparing the rest of the penguins
Dot in the Herbert/Klutzy disguise nearly shut down the sun laser by herself before getting captured, to explain how the EPF was able to obtain the map and layout of Herbert’s hideout
Rookie tried to give as much emotional support to epf agents and keep their spirits up after operation blackout since their base got destroyed
Partially the reason to why Rookie was kidnapped before JPG, because not only did Herbert knew that Rookie was easier to capture, but he planned to also lure out JPG, since Rookie and JPG are really close (yes I ship Jetkie)
HAPPY 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO OPERATION BLACKOUT LOL
Club penguin was a huge part of my childhood in general but Operation Blackout was such a massive event to my 10 year old self lol, I’d come home from school and rush to the computer in a frenzy to see what Herbert did next. The game went from a chill goofy social site to “the whole island is being taken over and your friends are being frozen so only you can stop it” and it was so fucking fun. You had to be there to get it. I remember the teaser with Gary’s glasses was a huge deal to me and those who I knew that played.
I’m sure this has been said before (considering that it’s been 10 years since Operation: Blackout), but I still think back and find it so genius that they picked Aunt Arctic as the EPF’s director.
Whether they planned it out or not, it still seems to make so much sense. It absolutely blows my mind that they managed to pull that off despite the Director always being a shadowy authority figure that we were never sure they’d actually reveal. It’s the first time I think I actually saw a twist hero reveal that made me go “motherf-” as opposed to just accepting it.
Her daylight job of being a newspaper editor? She gets to put her knowledge of the island to use, gather intel, and also connect on a deeper level with the civilians of the island she’s protecting?
(also if you rolled over her portrait she would wear sunglasses. you. you know. like the)
The first PSA mission seeming to have no association with the agency itself, or the plot about the doings of Herbert? Her just in general being one of the oldest mascots of the island?
The director’s signature being on the same spot where you’d loop the alphabet around to A again, forming AA?
And various other shenanigans? (taken from the Club Penguin Wiki)
Gary: haha! Oh you know! It was such a good ask I had to awnser!
Mai: oh btw I need to borrow your lab for a few days
Gary: oh of course! What for?
Mai: got some ice cores I need to study!
Gary: oh? I thought you were a biologist?
Mai: oh I am! I have other science hobbies/professions too ya know!
Gary: you are a penguin of many talents!
Mai: gadzooks, I'm flattered!
Gary: that's my phrase!
Mai: mine now!
Gary: noo!
Anna: you two gonna kiss or what?
Mai: yOUNG LADY--
Gary: MAI SHES JOKING! right???
Anna getting caught up in the conversation of two scientists and immediately being like "oh now would be a funny time to drop this line :)" is probably the most on brand thing tbh XD poor Gary is embarrassed and Mai immediately entered mom mode
Suddenly! Oh no-
Mai: Gary? I got some food for--
Mai: uh...this mess... doesn't look like it was caused by an explosion.
Mai walked into the lab with some food so the two could snack while doing their respective science things, only for Mai to realize the lab looks like it's been destroyed. Which it has.
And the finale!
Mai: Gary!?
Gary: shh...!
Mai: GA- Gary...? What's wrong?
Gary: so- we're not the only one in here, Herbert broke in...!