#1 Year In A Toybox 4

[boredgabe2000]

My thoughts on Pikmin

I think after a while of replaying these games and getting to know them, I feel like I can that this is a really fun and unique series, but it isn’t necessarily a perfect series and has its large amount of flaws.

This is a series I hold very close and dear to my heart as it has so many unique environments, characters, creatures, and ideas that its crazy this is from Nintendo of all people. It can genuinely be so fun just talking about the series with friends and such just discussing the weird characters and enemies and how all the games play.

Even though I love this series and how its been able to get a second chance with 4, I do think the series is flawed, but thats not really me trying to say its a bad series (if it was this thread would be completely different,)) I’m just saying this as to really love a certain thing, you have to at some point acknowledge the flaws and issues present throughout the whole experience.

In general I think each game has its series of flaws that while annoying or strange, kind of add to the whole game and its experience for me.

Pikmin 1 is generally fun, but short and somewhat janky and sluggish game to really go back to after playing games like 3 & 4. The general gameplay of needing to have a Pikmin be right by you to throw consistently is inherently somewhat annoying, and having to constantly babysit them to make sure they don’t fall off a bridge or do something you don’t want them to do is very obviously a little irritable. Some of these issues were made somewhat worse in the Wii version with the screwy SFX and that infamous crushing glitch, but seem to have been alleviated to an extent in the Switch ports. All that aside though the game still is fun and short, and it makes for a really good afternoon type game to play when you have nothing to do.

Pikmin 2 is a good improvement over 1 in a lot of areas, particularly with the gameplay and Pikmin AI being slightly improved for things like bridges or throwing, and in general I feel like its a much stronger looking game in terms of visuals compared to Pikmin 1 (few more years of development does that for a series.)) But the general gameplay of the caves can get a little repetitive after how much time you have to dedicate spending in them compared to the overworlds in the game. I do find caves fun despite that! There are aspects that are cool and I do like with how it feels like entering a creature’s den or a really strange and dreamlike areas with the toybox or metallic floors. But the amount of time you have to spend in them is what kills it for me, it can be a bit tiring having to do multiple back to back. I should also mention the difficulty is really not well maintained for things like Purple Pikmin, Bitter Sprays, and numerous other little things that kind of play into it. I still like the game regardless though, and I think how unreasonably mean the game is to you is kind of funny to an extent, and honestly it kind of adds to everything lol.

Pikmin 3 is a really nice step into the HD era for this series, as it works really well for these games and I really think 3 and 4 especially benefit for that realism and cartoonish look for the environments and enemies. Gameplay has taken a real good step up with the throwing feeling much nicer and AI just feeling a little more reliable (although I’ve still had numerous stupid Pikmin moments in 3 so I guess it just runs in the series lol.)) The new captains are also pretty fun and unique, I feel like a lot of people do gloss over them which is fair since it doesn’t really feel like the game really highlights too many aspects about them (and it sucked that the Piklopedia wasn’t originally present in 3 for Wii U, really a shame since that couldn’t really highlight their character as much as DX did.)) Also I just feel the game is pretty fun to play, I like just booting it up and messing around. The juice system is a little bit too lenient for what it wanted to do for the day system in Pikmin 1. The idea is really cool as its basically a time extender based on how well you can play on obtain fruit, but its an incredibly forgiving system as you can very easily grind out fruit and juice, and by basically all my playthroughs I’ve had 30+ juice rations, so its a little bit half baked honestly. Enemies have also taken a bit of a hit in terms of player leniency, as they feel way more frail compared to Pikmin 1 or even 2. Makes new enemies feel a bit underwhelming with how easily Pikmin can rip through their health and how the combat is significantly easier. The bosses are also pretty cool too! I think trying out the more traditional boss fight as opposed to what previous games did is a unique idea, but I feel like they reaaaallly tried to draw them out a bit much, as bosses in 3 have caps to how much damage you can do to them at a time, which can be more annoying than anything since bosses are unfortunately also much more frail and can sort of feel like trying to make them feel “tough” or “imposing” when in reality it just makes me want to finish them since time still progresses when they’re just standing around and winding up for an attack. Even if a lot of aspects of this game can feel a bit too scaled back or oddly designed, I still think its a quality experience, and it really is just a delight to walk through and play.

Pikmin 4 is just bizarre to even think about since it felt like a mystery for the longest time, but it’s finally here! The game is honestly just so fun to cruise around in and fiddle around with since the Piklodpedia from 2 finally returns in its original form, but the game is much more lenient with just doing things in your own order rather than being a much more linear adventure compared to 3. It also has Oatchi (bless his heart)) which is a really cool extension of the Pikmin franchise as instead of just adding another captain (which if thats what they did for 4 then I would’ve been a little let down honestly)) they added a character who can jump and act like an independent Pikmin. Honestly a really fun idea and it’s cool just multitasking and getting stuff done with Oatchi that would normally need the help of the Pikmin. Plus the little intervals with Dandori Battles and Challenges are fun as they’re just a cute little distraction from doing the usual cave and above ground exploration like in 2 or 3. 4 is also just one of the biggest games of the bunch, which is cool since its nice having a game to sink your teeth into after the wait from 3 to 4. The environments are super pretty and stunning for the Switch, the enemies are pretty cool, and overall a lot of aspects of this game are just really cool, but it obviously isn’t perfect (unfortunately 😔.)) Oatchi, while being a really good addition, can really be a bit much in terms of the whole combat stuff of 4. Oatchi can really make fights and such much easier with how stupidly strong he gets by the end of the game, which is unfortunate with how this seemingly was made a bit worse from 3 since enemies can still prove to be somewhat frail. I don’t really feel like I have to dwell on the auto-lock aiming as it’s been an incredibly odd choice to make for this game. I think the game really could’ve benefited from just not including this or having it as an option, but it really feels like it sort of bogged down an otherwise great game for a lot of people. I still got around it and really didn’t mind it too much, but it’s still somewhat disappointing that this is a mandatory thing and not optional. Caves are actually pretty neat as the forgo the random generation aspects in favor for the more naturally designed areas which I think was a cool choice, I do think they could’ve stretched the concepts of them further as I do think aspects were lost in translation from 2-4, but I still think they did a decent job with caves being absent for 20 odd years. Overall, 4 is a really cool but somewhat flawed game, and I really like it for that despite these issues.

To really answer why I made this thread, it was to really get a lot of thoughts about these games out of my head.

This series is not perfect by any means, and sometimes I think these flaws can be really apparent and make the experience feel a bit too much at times or like they tried too hard to do this thing in comparison to that thing. But I don’t think that deters me from not liking this series as much as I do.

This is a genuinely great series and I think each game is really deserving of a playthrough despite how different and somewhat estranged each one can be from one another. I’m just glad that this series has gotten a second chance after how it basically was just in limbo for a long while. I made this as a thread to essentially show that you can still love something even if it has a large amount of issues in each entry, and it can be ok to like something flawed.

I hope you enjoyed this read, this wasn’t meant to be some critical look at the games, but more of a fun look back at what I think about them now.

Have a good day, stay safe around ants since you never know if they’ll start attacking you

[fantomcomics]

What's Out This Week? 10/18

Y'all coming to our Furry Nite event this weekend??

Beneath The Trees Where Nobody Sees #1 - Patrick Horvath

Don’t. Murder. The locals.

This is small-town serial killer, upstanding citizen, and adorable brown bear Samantha Strong’s cardinal rule. After all, there’s a sea of perfectly ripe potential victims in the big city just beyond the forest, and when you’ve worked as hard as Sam to build a cozy life and a thriving business in a community surrounded by friendly fellow animal folk, warm décor, and the aroma of cedar trees and freshly baked apple pie…the last thing you want is to disturb the peace.

So you can imagine her indignation when one of Woodbrook’s own meets a grisly, mysterious demise—and you wouldn’t blame her for doing anything it takes to hunt down her rival before the town self-destructs and Sheriff Patterson starts (literally) barking up the wrong tree.

Cyberpunk 2077: XOXO #1 - Bartosz Sztybor & Jakub Rebelka

Beneath the skin, flesh, and cyberware lies a beating heart--and only two things can stop a heart from beating: love and death. It's gang on gang violence as the Maelstroms target the Moxes for an ambush. Is a bloodbath underway or could this be love at first sight?

BRZRKR #1: Pen & Ink - Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt & Ron Garney

For those that couldn't get enough of Keanu Reeves' record-obliterating jump into the comics world, BRZRKR returns in a new format while fans eagerly await the Netflix feature film, the Netflix anime series, the novel, and more comic books!In addition to enjoying the brutality in the refreshingly bleak black and white of BOOM! Studios' Pen & Ink line, series artist Ron Garney brings some method to the mayhem with brand new exclusive commentary!

Crypt Of Shadows #1 - Rebecca Roanhorse & Karen Darboe

The heroes of the Marvel Universe spend most of their time in the bright sun, flying high above it all…but every once in a while, they venture into the darkness that lurks in the hidden corners of the world. There lurk the creatures, the monsters, the vampires…the ones who prey on innocence and goodness. Join us, and some of your favorite heroes, for tales of fangs, claws and silent, stalking swamp creatures to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve!

Fear The Funhouse: Toybox Of Terror One-Shot - Timmy Heague, Danielle Paige, Michael Northrop, Ryan Caskey, Ryan Jampole, Tango & Sweeney Boo

In Riverdale, even the toys are terrifying in this anthology one-shot set in the universe of last year's successful Fear the Funhouse comic. Three tales of dolls, robots, and puppets gone awry all thanks to the work of a shadowy toymaker and a young girl intent on revenge, in the vein of the widely successful M3GAN movie and Child's Play franchise.

Gargoyles Halloween Special One-Shot - Greg Weisman, Bonesso Diego & Matteo Lolli

It's young Gnash's first Halloween in Manhattan, and you're invited to come along as he heads out to find friends on the one night of the year when Gargoyles can roam the city unbothered! Unfortunately, he's about to run afoul of the masked Quarrymen, who are out to hunt down any Gargoyle foolish enough to brave the streets on All Hallow's Eve. That means Brooklyn, Katana, Lexington, Broadway, Angela, and even Goliath are in real danger! Will they survive this cruel trick, or become a treat for the marauding Quarrymen? Find out in October with this all-new 40-page special featuring a 28-page main story written by Gargoyles creator GREG WEISMAN!

Hack/Slash: Back To School #1 (of 4) - Zoe Thorogood

Slasher hunter Cassie Hack is only just getting used to her man-monster partner, Vlad, when she's drawn into a new case involving a murderous bunny mascot, dead kids, and an entire squad of maladjusted teenage serial-killer hunters!

A completely new chapter in the beloved, long-running series that's perfect for new readers and old fans alike, just in time for Halloween.

Headless Horseman Halloween Annual #1 - David Dastmalchian, Valeria Burzo, Phillip Sevy & Lukas Ketner

Boils, ghouls, vampires, monsters, and creatures of all kinds, welcome. Take a seat, go on, fill the aisles, relax your fangs, and sit with us for a while. Join us in a macabre and magical journey through all the haunts and spooks that keep you up at night for here we revel in the darkness and present to you a chilling, nay petrifying experience as the Headless Horseman presents a collection of five terrifying tales to warm up your cold soul. Hurry up now, you won't want to keep them waiting...

My Little Pony: Black, White & Blue One-Shot - Tee Franklin & Agnes Garbowska

Sorry, everypony, it seems our printer ran out of pink, purple, yellow, green, red-uh, well, all the colors except black, white, and blue! What to do with all this blue? Hmm... OH! Drumroll please...In Misty's first comic appearance, everypony's favorite blue pony is in Maretime Bay for a sleepover with the Mane 5! But when everypony wakes up...all the color is gone! It kinda looks like Violette and Skye's favorite old TV show, Betwitched-at least the years it was in black and white-but everypony can still see blue for some reason. Determined to make the best of a gloomy situation, Vi and Skye put together a plan to spread cheer. Meanwhile, Izzy helps the distraught Misty see the beauty in messy situations using the power of unicycling! Join us for a magical one-shot of color calamity before returning to your regularly scheduled programs.

Sensational She-Hulk #1 - Rainbow Rowell, Jessica Gao, Genolet, Andres, & Jen Bartel

THE SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK IS BACK! Jen Walters is dusting off her adjective and kicking off a new era! The best hero slash lawyer in the Marvel Universe is going to remind you why she's so SENSATIONAL, going up against her deadliest challenge yet! PLUS: MARVEL STUDIOS SHE-HULK series writer JESSICA GAO makes hers Marvel in a short story with the Jade Giant!

Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #1 - Saladin Ahmed, Juan Ferreyra & Rod Reis

Terror continues for the Web-Slinger! After a fight with SPIDER-CIDE, Spider-Man gets taken on the most terrifying ride of his life. If you think you've already read the scariest Spider-Man story ever, you may stand corrected after this one!

Subgenre #1 - Matt Kindt & Wilfredo Torres

A man is living two lives. He is a private detective in a dystopian cyberpunk future trying to solve a triple murder. But when he falls asleep... he wakes up as a wandering adventurer in a barbaric fantasy world where magic exists. Is he two separate people? Or is he a third person that has undergone a psychotic split? He jumps back and forth from sword-wielding barbarian to jaded private eye trying to solve the brutal crime. But the bigger question is, can he merge these realities without losing himself?

A Splatter Western One-Shot #1 (of 4) - J M Brandt, Tom Napolitano & Garry Brown

A chance encounter between a sideshow owner and a man with his fair share of secrets unleashes an unholy terror on the folk of Randall's Oasis and Professor Morris' Pageant of Curiosities. A grisly murder brings the attention of fastidious Sheriff Jacob Dillon. What will he discover in the desert, and how will he stop it? Read the darkly comedic Splatter Western Swallower of Shades to find out those shocking answers!

TMNT: The Best Of Bebop & Rocksteady - James Biggie

Elegant. Mild-mannered. Graceful. Two upstanding gentlemen eager to help their neighbors. Just Kidding! Bebop and Rocksteady are wild, angry degenerates with muscles the size of sedans. And they're charging toward your local comic shop to relive their greatest hits! Try not to miss the party, will ya?

Whatcha snagging this week, Fantom Fam?

[sparkmender]

I posted 2,990 times in 2022

1,764 posts created (59%)

1,226 posts reblogged (41%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@sparkmender

@a-life-revised

@sauntervaguelydown

@etignisira-archive

@gowithplana

I tagged 1,645 of my posts in 2022

Only 45% of my posts had no tags

#ooc|moon above - 479 posts

#!|rungposting - 290 posts

#!|dash chatter - 206 posts

#?|prompt - 109 posts

#v|hive means home - 36 posts

#*|error - 31 posts

#!|art - 31 posts

#ooc|toybox - 29 posts

#knitting things - 22 posts

#!|surveillance - 20 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#wasprantulas shotgun wedding. tigatron airazor tiktok yoga. megatron's pet serial killer. everything to do with dinobot's semester abroad

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I am in misery—

REESE’S PUFFS REESE’S PUFFS

EAT ‘EM UP EAT ‘EM UP EAT ‘EM UP

131 notes - Posted January 31, 2022

#4

See the full post

155 notes - Posted July 18, 2022

#3

The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66, Act 1 “The Spell”: No. 6, Waltz

195 notes - Posted March 31, 2022

#2

STAY STRONG, MY DECEPTICON WARRIORS! HAPPY MEGATRON MONDAY!

this drawing of Megatron Jack Lawrence drew has been my absolute favorite for years, I think the commissioner is on tumblr but I don’t remember their url ; C ;

302 notes - Posted February 28, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

prowl leading the wreckers

1,098 notes - Posted May 22, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[dailymusemaniac]

I posted 8,299 times in 2022

That's 7,375 more posts than 2021!

391 posts created (5%)

7,908 posts reblogged (95%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@redskullspage

@70s-pop-80s

@nuclearbummer

@the-haunted-toybox

@voorhees1138

I tagged 379 of my posts in 2022

#flower power - 46 posts

#homedecor - 45 posts

#peaceofmind - 40 posts

#beach theme - 35 posts

#abstract expressionism - 35 posts

#meditation - 32 posts

#sunset beach - 29 posts

#meditative - 28 posts

#homestyling - 28 posts

#homedesign - 28 posts

Longest Tag: 35 characters

#teenage mutant ninja turtles donnie

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

we are living in a cyber universe 

5 notes - Posted June 8, 2022

#4

See the full post

8 notes - Posted October 21, 2022

#3

Cyber skull

12 notes - Posted May 16, 2022

#2

rik mayall is my spirit animal

12 notes - Posted November 26, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Something i made on artbreeder    www.redbubble.com/people/Inspire76

16 notes - Posted September 13, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[hisokas-toybox]

PSA (and a poll!)

For anyone interested, below the cut is an update on my current hxh fics as well as possible future plans for this blog going forward.

Friends, it's happened.

After almost 4 years of Hunter x Hunter being my number 1 reigning champion of an obsession, my hype for it has subsided and a new anime hyperfixation is beginning to emerge in its place. Whilst not a new show, my husband and I decided to start watching Bleach together and it's... sinking it's teeth into me. I'm a LONG way off finishing the series, but so far there are hot characters I wanna smash, cute pairings I ship, a HUGE cast of (mostly) interesting and lovable characters that I just enjoy as they are, some interesting plots and enough nonsense in between to fill me with all kinds of inspiration and excitement to start writing a whole new load of Bleach fanfics...

But hisokas-toybox! What about your existing unfinished fics??? And the Greed Island server you literally just joined and all the exciting hxh fandom activity and friends you love so much? How can you just abandon us so easily for pretty men with fancy swords???

Unfortunately, I do not control the hyperfixations. Or the thirsting over pretty anime boys...

I do however, still love all of my hxh fandom friends and the hxh community, so whilst I will be stepping back from creating new hxh works for a little while, I will still keep reading and appreciating all the fic/headcanons/drabbles/memes/theorys/art that you guys make and I'm of course still reading the latest manga chapters as they come out. As for my existing fanfics and creative endeavours, here's the rough breakdown of where I'm at with them

Turning Point - Extended Hiatus.

Ohhh this fic.... I both want and fully intend to finish it.

Someday.

The problem is I have literally no ending planned for it... When I started writing Turning Point there were several key scenes which I was desperate to write. I (stupidly) assumed that once I got those ideas down, and had my OC's character kind of fleshed out that the rest of the story would magically reveal itself to me...

It did not.

Currently, I do not know where this story is going or what the 'end' is going to be... I love what I have so far, but my inexperience in writing and failure to plan ahead has really got me stuck.

I will come back to this story at some point and hopefully, with fresh eyes be able to make something out of it.

Hopes and Fears - In progress/mini hiatus

Unlike Turning Point, I have this story fully planned out. I just need to write it.

Because of my waning interest in hxh as a series, and just because of life in general being a bit busy lately, I haven't had the time/motivation to sit down and add to the story.

I do very much plan to finish it though and I deeply appreciate all the love and kind comments its got so far. I genuinely didn't expect anyone to read it, let alone stick with it and enjoy it. I swear I will give you all an ending to it (One I hope you all love and that's worth waiting for)!

Greed Island Server Challenge - Ehhh *Shrugs*

It's fun. Everyone on the server is lovely and there is some MAD talent happening over there which I admire. Unfortunately, short deadlines for creative projects is HARD and NOT my strong-suit. I'll come back to it, but I'm a little burnt out art-wise after the Poor Man's Rose event and with my hxh interest lower than it was before, I'm struggling for the inspiration needed for new artwork.

This here sideblog - Hisokas-toybox is not going anywhere

This blog still exists and I'll always be lurking around. However there may be less activity than when it started up.

I am currently considering branching it out a little and sharing some Bleach content on here (especially if I do start writing/creating art for it) alongside the hxh content but that depends on what you want to see....

Which brings me to the aforementioned poll...

[planet-never-ever]

Notable Children of Never-Ever

1. Hazel Darington

Arrival Time: Late 1800s

Background: Hazel was the daughter of a strict aristocratic family in Victorian England. Her parents, concerned with propriety and appearances, stifled her adventurous spirit, constantly controlling her every action. A bright and curious girl, Hazel longed for the freedom to explore the world on her own terms.

Impact on Never-Ever: After running away from her controlling household, Hazel was whisked away to Planet Never-Ever by Faun and Bebe. She quickly became a leader among the children, organizing expeditions to the Game Fields and Musical Mountain. Hazel also loved performing in the Make-Believe Theater, using her boundless creativity to stage daring tales of adventure.

Legacy: Hazel is remembered as one of the first "explorers" of Planet Never-Ever, mapping its many lands and discovering new locations, including the secretive Lost 'n Found Cave. Her adventurous spirit still inspires new arrivals to this day.

2. Tommy "Tick" Callahan

Arrival Time: 1950s

Background: Tommy grew up during the golden age of American suburbia, but life at home was far from perfect. His father, a stern military man, demanded discipline and order, while Tommy only wanted to play, explore, and tinker with his gadgets.

Impact on Never-Ever: Upon his arrival, Tommy became fascinated with the mechanical wonders of Arcade-ia and the Toy Factory in Toybox Town. Using his natural talent for inventing, he helped improve the machines that made toys and even designed new types of games. His favorite creation was a mechanical pet robot called Buzz, which became a popular companion for the other children.

Legacy: Tommy, nicknamed "Tick" for his love of clocks and gadgets, became the unofficial inventor of Never-Ever. His quirky machines can still be found throughout the planet, from fun contraptions in Carnival City to hidden robots that assist children in need.

3. Lila "Lolly" Jenkins

Arrival Time: 1920s

Background: Lila, nicknamed "Lolly" for her love of sweets, grew up in a small rural town. Her family was poor, and though they loved each other deeply, they struggled to get by. Lila always dreamed of a magical place filled with endless candy, where no one ever went hungry.

Impact on Never-Ever: Upon arriving in the Land of Sweets, Lila immediately bonded with the Queen of Sweets. Her enthusiasm for candy-making led her to become an apprentice of sorts, learning the magical art of crafting sweets. Lila's creativity resulted in some of the most delicious and whimsical confections ever created, like floating bubblegum balloons and marshmallow trampolines.

Legacy: Lila is revered in the Land of Sweets, where a statue of her holding a gigantic lollipop stands in the town square. Every year, the children of Never-Ever celebrate "Lolly Day," where they feast on her candy creations.

4. Sammy "Sky" Jefferson

Arrival Time: 1980s

Background: Sammy, or "Sky" as his friends called him, was always fascinated with space and flight. Growing up in a small town, he felt confined by the limitations of life on Earth and dreamed of exploring the stars. But life at home was difficult, with his parents constantly at odds, leading him to seek solace in his dreams of adventure.

Impact on Never-Ever: Sky found his place in the Amazing Soaring Circus, becoming one of its most talented acrobats. His agility and bravery made him the star of the high-flying trapeze acts. He was known for performing death-defying stunts, all while smiling and waving at the audience below.

Legacy: Sammy is still a legend in the circus, where his stunts have never been matched. The Ringmaster King often tells stories of Sky’s bravery, and young children dream of flying through the air like he once did.

5. Jenny "Jinx" Thompson

Arrival Time: 2000s

Background: Jenny, or "Jinx," was an imaginative child with a love for mischief. Growing up in a big city, she often found herself getting into trouble, especially at school, where teachers were constantly telling her to behave. She felt like no one understood her wild spirit.

Impact on Never-Ever: Jinx quickly found her place among the pranksters of Carnival City. She became known for pulling elaborate tricks and jokes, which left the other children in fits of laughter. Jinx also spent much of her time in Paintsville, where her vivid imagination brought the blank landscape to life in bold, colorful designs.

Legacy: Jinx's playful antics and artistic flair left a lasting mark on Carnival City and Paintsville. Some say that if you listen carefully, you can still hear her giggling as new children continue her tradition of harmless pranks and creative expression.

6. Finn "Fish" O'Malley

Arrival Time: 1970s

Background: Finn was a quiet boy who loved swimming more than anything else. His home life was turbulent, and he often retreated to the local river to escape his troubles. He dreamed of finding a peaceful place where he could swim without fear or worry.

Impact on Never-Ever: When Finn arrived on the Isle of the Merfolk, he found exactly what he was looking for. He became an honorary member of the merfolk community, spending his days diving deep into the oceans around the island. The merfolk taught him their ways, and he became known for his ability to communicate with the sea creatures.

Legacy: Finn's love for the ocean earned him the nickname "Fish," and he is remembered fondly by the merfolk, who tell stories of his deep dives and friendships with the sea creatures. The island’s children still look up to him as a symbol of peace and harmony with nature.

7. Maria "Mimi" Sanchez

Arrival Time: Present Day

Background: Maria, known as Mimi, was an artistically gifted child who felt like she never fit in. At school, she was bullied, and at home, her artistic talents went unappreciated. She longed for a place where she could be herself and express her creativity without judgment.

Impact on Never-Ever: Upon her arrival, Mimi fell in love with Paintsville and Make-Believe Theater, where her creative vision was finally unleashed. She became known for her vibrant, abstract paintings and her imaginative storytelling in the theater. Children would gather to watch her lead them in epic adventures on the ever-changing stage.

Legacy: Mimi's influence can still be seen all over Paintsville, where the vivid colors she splashed across the landscape continue to inspire other children. Her stories are still acted out in the theater, and she's seen as a modern-day legend among new arrivals.

[florasearlethirdyear]

FMP: Pollocks Toy Museum. LO1 & LO3.

Week 3

Their History:

One of the oldest toy museums in the UK 

The name comes from Benjamin Pollock, a publisher of Victorian toy theatres, the museum’s speciality

The museum has been saved from closure multiple times since its opening

‘Benjamin Pollock’s Toyshop is a separate enterprise from the toy museum

In 1955 Marguerite Fawdry started the museum to complement the shop 

The majority of exhibits have been given by the public

in January 2023 the museum was forced to close after 53 years in Fitzrovia

Currently run by Marguerite’s great-grandson Jack Fawdry Tatham (https://www.instagram.com/p/CSJgGDqI0uF/?hl=en-gb&img_index=1) and his partner Emily Baker (https://www.instagram.com/emilyfairliebaker/?hl=en-gb&img_index=1)

Pollocks Toy Museum. (n.d.) Our History. [online]. Available from: https://www.pollockstoymuseum.co.uk/our-history [Accessed 14/02/2024]

Their Current Work to Save the Museum:

Two pop ups have been placed in London and Croydon

Online toy shop is open

Posting blogs on Tales from the Toybox

A donation page is up on their site

They've been making regular posts on Instagram

They are seeking out volunteers for their pop ups

Pollocks Toy Museum. (n.d.) Latest News. [online]. Available from: https://www.pollockstoymuseum.co.uk/latest-news [Accessed 14/02/2024]

How to tackle this:

Promotion:

First step: Get into contact with the current owners

-Create questions to ask them

2. Second Step: Create a Visual Identity:

-Logo, colour palette and type

3. Third Step: Highlight the Current Efforts in Print:

-Promotion of volunteering in poster form

-Promotion of pop up shops-including signage and poster

4. Fourth Step: Boost Online Presence:

-Improve website aesthetically, ensure a donation page with a milestone graphic and volunteering page with testimonials, workshops

-Promote on Instagram pop ups, volunteering, donations and featured products, workshops

Experiences & Community Involvement:

Interactive Workshops:

-Promote workshops for theatre play set building

Additional:

2. Cultural and Educational Value:

-Promote partnerships with local museums and schools

3. Collaborate with Influencers:

-Design graphics that influencers can share, emphasising the historical importance of the museum.

I have tried to summarise the plan here:

Thinking ahead, I will most likely do detailed illustrations which will take potentially a week each to complete. So, it may look like I haven't set myself up for a lot of work, but it will be enough when considering the artistic approach. I am hoping this is the right way to campaign for the museum, but I will await feedback next week from my tutors. I am also hoping to talk to someone in the museum next week, and see if I can get into contact with the owners. As of now, I will respond to the research points made in the tutorial and start adjusting my portfolio, so by the end of the project it is ready to be put in.

Here I have contacted the museum:

[plantedandgrowing]

Day 3 of Attempting My Daily Routine:

· Waking up at 7:45am - didn't get to sleep till about 2am, and it wasn't great sleep.

· Brushed teeth, rinsed face.

· 8:13am - just finished yoga for sore muscles. Moisturized since I seem incapable of doing it at nighttime.

· Straightened up the kitchen (threw trash away from roommates, put dishes in the sink), and we had breakfast. Lyla had pureed pears and baby oatmeal. I had a toasted sandwich w/ chicken, ham, and cheese; we're out of eggs.

· 9:12am - Lyla was acting very sleepy so now I'm nursing her.

· She wokeup at about 10am. We fed and watered the chickens. I cleaned out my roommates' 4-year-old's toybox (it was full of trash, some dirty dishes, and literal dirt and bark from trees because her parents used to use that tote for their fireplace wood and it suddenly became her toybox when she started throwing her toys in it - it was a whole mess).

· 11:30am - Nursing Lyla again (she napped till nearly 1pm)

· 1:02pm - I made a checklist thing for the household so we'll all know if the chickens have been fed by someone.

And went back into the kitchen to find more trash on the counters, more dirty dishes strewn around although I picked everything up this morning. I cleared the counters again while holding Lyla - she's being extra clingy today. It's always a bit of a struggle to get things done, but today it's gonna be even more of a battle.

· 2:17pm - Washed all the dishes.

· 2:30pm - Instead of doing day 2 of my 30 day exercise challenge, I've been exercising while playing with Lyla. She likes to jump so I lift her up and down. I put her on my shins/knees and lifted my legs up and down, then did sort-of crunches. She smiles and giggles, it's adorable and great motivation.

· 5:30pm - I've continued watching The Queen's Gambit. Went on a ride to town with my roommate. Ate some Cajun pasta - too much of it, actually. And now I'm nursing my daughter while she naps on me.

I'm feeling very low-energy today.

· 10:38pm - I just got Lyla to sleep. It has been a rough night. To explain what has happened since 5pm, I played with Lyla, tried to do schoolwork during one of her naps but she immediately wokeup upset, I soothed her and we went downstairs. I talked to my roommates. We ate some biscuits and gravy - Lyla had a few tiny bites, too. Blew bubbles so Lyla could see them for the first time, she was mesmerized. I managed to do a little schoolwork while Lyla crawled around and played with toys, but it was short-lived. We eventually went upstairs because she seemed tired, I planned on doing schoolwork while nursing her, but she proceeded to put up a huge fight. I was becoming extremely irritated and worn out but I decided to try reading to her. I read Gertie and Gus (another book I got from that public library sale when I was pregnant - it's the first book I started reading to her when she was a newborn, about 3-5 weeks old; I've read it a lot), and then I read Coraline. She fell asleep while I was reading, with her paci... Which is extremely rare! She's sleeping on me right now, I'm not ready to move her and risk another baby meltdown.

· 11:05pm - I managed to brush my teeth and floss.

I'm exhausted, mentally and physically. My muscles hurt, it's a literal pain to go up and down the stairs. I'm not sure if Lyla has been more difficult than usual today or if I'm just not in a great mood, or both. I think it's both. Normally I can easily handle her moods but tonight everything really got to me and I cried out of frustration. I then decided to try reading to her... Luckily she allowed it, despite a little protest at first.

Not sure if I'll be following the routine on weekends, might need a little break from all the constant cleaning and everything, it wears on me and sometimes makes me feel negative because no one else picks up after themselves, it's never-ending.

I may at least sleep in a bit. If I don't clean at all, there will just be an exessive mess for me on Monday... But I might mostly use my "free-time" this weekend to play with my baby, do schoolwork, and relax.

[curiousskelekitty]

Hey, I'm sleep deprived and blasted on weed, let's see the reasons why I think I'm autistic

I'm awakemd super from a super high nap. And it's by the smoke and smell of incenst and can't get back to sleep until incest was out and fan on

Eye contact? Either really focused on making it and not listening or focused on conversation and eyes Drifting away

Say exact same way of hello at job

And other things

Sensitive to wet and cold so much that made it part of her image

Staying awake to make this list

Even though I'm supe r high and running on 3 hors sleep, latte, and pizza and 4 hb eggs

Adhd 

Special interest in pokemon most of 26 year life

Creative

And loves child things like video game sand toys, special plush toys

And weird sex too

Like even when child me MASTURBAGED WITHOUT KNOW WHAT IT WAS

sorry tmi 

Holy ahky I discovered something abot me that I didn't know

Wow

Anyways

Loves reading

And loud music during loud lunch during hs

Sensitive to loud noises like toilet as child

An dlole sonic

Oh shit

It late

Waited blanket for win! Special as adult

Fighting slep to write this once again

Super shy

Talked in labg with sister when 

Adhd

Goes to speech therapy 

Because I don't talk

Or maybe lisp

Idk

Imaginary friends until second grade

First friend grade younger 

No friends in my grade until MIDLE SCHOOL

I think

Sorry no remember 

This list loooooong

Writing still very clean

Nose so dry

Oh shkt Don her 

He didn't say anything about me being up

I'm supposed to be asleep

Sh

lol

Argue with my self 

Like all the time

I even fight with my ocs

lol

Autism brain go

Special cartoon likeys 

Just explained idea for video for YouTube to boo and we might collaborate

My mouth so drunk 

Suuuuuper sensitive to socks on feet at night! Even in winter

But can't walk out iputaide without shoes 

Can feel EVERYTHKNG 

Loves swimming

BUT NOT RAIN

RAIN MAKE USBWEY

sinuses dry as hell  I can feel the air coming in my nose and down my throat

Hereditary 

Also likes anime and furries

Has phases of certain likes or Dislikes

Like love reading but then don't love reading

Hating spicy for most of life

But finding a love from some as long as there's flavors 

Mexico is so pretty

Making list like this

All the time

Will hypet focus on certain things for maybe a week

And it goes in curses 

Ow though hurt for typing 

Do stretches kids

Never admitted to watching porn whe her life insists of romances 

Daydreamer

Ever since litter

First lover

Cucumber Larry

When he gets suck on by giat alien ad hero

That turned me on

AS A KID IN CHURCH

not even four years old

wft

This might be really revealing about me and my life

…

Okay

This Is where I add more to the title of this video

To warn me of the dangers

Of whatever the fuck I'm on

Could probably make this list over 200 points 

Listn3s to music at night 

Might be slightly dyslexic 

Swimming

Vocal Stimson

When found out about stimming

Showed more stimming

So mad

Just took like 1 min to fix stimmong to swimming 

Make little songs whole life

Wow hide in DC bathroom. And sing sad songs to my self

Don't really to that anymore

Ah shit it's late

I need to pee

Sleeps with toys still

Like stuffed animals

Once could not fall sleep until Carla into toybox

Only woke up because got hot

BISEXUAL AD FUCK

when I was little I was looking g in the mirror and ask if I was more otm boy or girly Gil and decided I was in the middle

If that not nonbinary as FUCK than what is

Thinking g about if the video went famous and FIL saw and reacted

Whole family know

Please be warned 

Really sensitive about certain flavores in certain tempt

Those might go on Tumblr though

Incous make a lookout of people laugh 

And no one would know

Damn thos list loomg

STRETCH TIME

often godb what if whole world kno

I could go on and on

But I think I will conclude here 

Thank you everyone for reading

Good night

LoL

You wish

I'm very empathic

I forget words all the time

Especially with age

Always had bad memory

Selective hearing

Forms who they are around eho they with

But my baby let me be me❤️

Sinsirve tk sounds

I'm probably going to talk to my therapist about this list next week

Realized made horrible ablist joke in my head and realized it and was like tf why

Intrusive thoughts

Holly fuck

I can do this

And this

And

This 

So easily 

I love animals 

Dep3ndent and independent at the same time

Anxiety 

Depression 

I'm still making the list dumbadd

My bad

Too much of a topical thing like lotion makes me feel icky 

Hated mosquitoe spray because of sticky residue and smell

Hayes perfume

Sensitive to some smells, like perfume

Body pray okay tho

And candles

Loves sweets

LOVES TO READ

Can't focus on reading

Super aware of body

Hates being touched unexpected or by stranger

Said loved all colors and didn't have official favorite color until like first grade because didn't want to hurt other colors favorite

Still doesn't have least favorite color

"Lazy"

But I'm not suppsoes to coll me that

Realistic

Made day dreams befo3e bed every night

Had one going on for about a month

Googles everything 

Okay I'll go to 200

Then I'll go to sleep

Lover of computers when little

Still love them

Have several unwritten stories to tell, including like three books and three or more wannabe books

Wrote toriko slitty fanfiction church

Drew a the time

Sonic the hedged hog fan

Loves pun so much

Made up "Copper later" for funny goodbye

Lives all her sisters

And all bet peanut

Hates pumpkin guts and still hate the feeling of them

Picky eater

May13b first 2023

Special interest in music

Went into band for school ad a trumpet and played for most of life until high school graduates but was never good at it.

That sucks

I could've learned how to song better

Now that I realize my voice is good and can be better

Hates needles 

Squeamish 

Spiritual 

Loves crystals Spiritually

Believes in a carefree, unknowing god

Two more to go

AUTISM BLAST

Weird obsession with sex since really little

Oh shkt

Just remembered something

That I never told anyone! Fucm 

I won't tell you guys

Never

Okay 

Good night

I love you

[theoncomingdoo-dah]

SPOTIFY WRAPPED

Oh boy here we go

Ah yes I pay for premium I want to use what I pay for obvs

YES SPOTIFY ADDED VOCALOID AS A GENRE! Happy for them ^^

Ah yes. The song I listen to while imagining the first part of a Timepetals post Journeys End p2 fix fic called "All That Could Ever Be" that im never gonna write. Called out. :<

So we got

1. ship song

2. fan song

3. ship song

4. fan song

5. ship song (specifically elevenrose)

nice

STUUUUUUU

I love their music so much!! I'm so happy that they were my top artist!!! Rest Employed is a damn jam but I feel like if it was released earlier this year Pizza The Action would've been pretty far up my list.

Some more of their songs on my top 100 were

1. Vending Machine of Love

2. Ad Infinitum

3. Can't Teach This

4. These Hallowed Wings

5. Fragments

6. The Data Stream

7. The Toybox

aw yes

autism core

This is nice but I would've loved time traveler too :< But I guess adventurer fits!

[kieuecaprie]

KieueCaprie's 2022 Completed Games List #7 (31-37)

#31: Super Mario Land 2 (Game Boy)

Started 🚩: 13/9/22 Finished 🏁: 13/9/22

This game is yet another game from my childhood that I kept playing and playing and playing and playing, so it was nice to find out that someone made a rom hack for this game that, well, adds color! Really breathed some new life into my umpteenth playthrough of Mario's Land.

Sure, it has some flaws to it, like the game being a bit on the very easy side, even without Easy Mode, but I really enjoyed the charm and, hey, we got Wario out of the deal, even if Nintendo barely acknowledges this series as of late.

#32: Metal: Hellsinger (PC, Game Pass)

Started 🚩: 16/9/22 Finished 🏁: 20/9/22

I gotta say, this game has quite the rocking soundtrack, which is great for a rhythm-based shooter. I don't really know what to say about this game besides the fact that I loved the story, loved the locales, loved what little voice acting there was. Everything is pretty good, albeit short. The game can be challenging at times, especially when it asks you to survive a bullet hell WHILE maintaining a perfect beat but I did manage to complete everything on normal difficulty in under three hours so, go me, I guess?

#33: Elite Beat Agents (DS, September%)

Started 🚩: 21/9/22 Finished 🏁: 22/9/22

Okay, okay, this shouldn't be a real entry but come on, I'm legally obligated to play this game every 21st night of September to play the level that has September on it. This time, I had to speed through it because I was starting fresh meaning that I couldn't summon the power of Earth, Wind & Fire fast enough. Forgive me... I'll try next year, I swear!

#34: BONELAB (PCVR, Steam)

Started 🚩: 29/9/22 Finished 🏁: 1/10/22

I played this game almost immediately on launch and boy, it was not a good time getting it to start up. Initially, I had it on an external SSD but the load times were borked to hell and back, so I moved it over to an internal NVME SSD and it started working.

Did I enjoy my time playing BONELAB? Well, it's definitely a step up from BONEWORKS in a few ways, the gunplay and some parkour aspects have been souped up a little and melee seems to hit a little harder than BONEWORKS's foam sword (and not the literal foam sword you could get). Buuuuuuut the pacing and the design of some levels just... weren't getting me. You get stopped almost immediately after finishing the tutorial and dropped into the hub world where you have to painstakingly load up one of each mode and then play a tedious crane game in order to progress, and it's not even spelled out for you right at the beginning! No hints, no nudges, no glowing neon signs.

Also, warning in advance: Unlocking avatar swap WILL require you to progress further into the game before you actually can use the feature that's been advertised. I get that it's to ease you in but the poor pacing between the start and actually getting it makes me feel like I'm just doing chores in the hopes that I can have a slice of chocolate cake.

BUT after getting past all of that? BONELABS is probably a fun sandbox experience, with actual mod support right out of the gate. I've explored Wuhu Island, I've driven around Mario Circuit as Waluigi, and even robbed a bank as Niko from OneShot, and I've even played through the game again as Shrek! It's another one of those "make your own fun" VR titles with a subpar story slapped on top and guns, however Stress Level Zero are VERY good at making physics-based sandboxes at this point, I just wish they could do better with the level design and pacing.

#35: Cosmonious High (PCVR, Steam)

Started 🚩: 4/10/22 Finished 🏁: 7/10/22

I am a simple person, I see Owlchemy Labs put out a new VR game, game goes into my shopping cart and winds up in my Steam Library. It's another VR toybox game with a little bit of free-roaming mixed in based in a high school set in SPACE.

And it has a story WITH progression, much like how Vacation Sim had a story, but the story kind of takes more of a front seat in this one where you have to go to classes and get new powers and solve puzzles to unlock more classes, standard fare. But it's not without its charm.

I absolutely loved the cast of characters I had to interact with and am in love with the little blob critters called Blebs, two of which are pictured above, they're the cutest things ever and you can give them a little smooch! That right there is why this game is a good addition to one's VR library.

What more can I really say about this one? It's cute, it's funny, it's charming, it's an Owlchemy Labs game that, for some reason, has crossover promo with Among Us (pictured above). Yes, I nearly screamed when I found it. No, I won't tell you where to find it, find it yourself, trust me.

#36: Jazz Jackrabbit 2 (Base Game Levels)

Started 🚩: 6/11/22 Finished 🏁: 6/11/22

So, it's no secret that I'm a fake gamer, which is why I keep extolling the virtues of Jazz Jackrabbit 2 and how good it is despite only having played the shareware demo and never actually completing it.

So I fixed that by playing it.

It's great to play, especially on the Steam Deck, although you kind of have to fiddle with the resolution in order to get the game to where you want without the sprites looking ultra small on our modern screens.

Difficulty was, well, it wasn't very hard outside of the boss fights and I didn't have too much trouble with the final boss thanks to a certain cheese tactic I found by mistake. But I still loved my time with the game, warts and all.

Also, I think about the wonderland levels a lot. Funny caterpiller smonk.

#37: Pokémon Emerald Rogue (Romhack, Expanded Version)

Started 🚩: 9/11/22 Finished 🏁: 10/11/22

A couple of friends were playing this a while back and I thought I'd give it a try for a bit, could be interesting. Didn't expect a roguelite Pokémon romhack to grab and pull me in. The difficulty is, well, it's about on par with the Battle Frontier in the older generation games and I absolutely appreciate the fact that they went through the trouble to include ALL the mons up to Gen 8 AND the mechanics from Gens 6-8 too. Talk about dedication.

I'd show my Hall of Fame record but for some reason, it corrupted itself... But I do remember having a Choice Scarf Strong Jaw Dracovish that I got halfway through the run that I stomped every non-Water Pokemon into the ground with.

[coreys-toybox]

1 Year In A Toybox 4, 365_365 - Cloak and Dagger

[lavendershowcase]

Up-and-Coming Works By Queer Authors

I’ll keep the intro short. These are original works-in-progress by queer authors on Tumblr! Each writer has included their WIP intro posts and some have included character intros. Check out what these writers are working on!

All WIPs are under the cut (I did not include everything from the WIP intro posts so be sure to check out the links for author comments, ratings, and more!)

@talesofsorrowandofruin​​: The Power and the Glory, fantasy, science fiction, steampunk, young adult, attempts at comedy, maybe some hints of horror

Summary: There’s a necromancer in the kingdom. No one knows who they are. No one knows what they want. Everyone knows they’re a threat. (Or: why you should always read the fine print before raising the dead.) 

Status: Books 1-4 are finished (posted on Wattpad, FictionPress, Royal Road and AO3). Book 5 will be a future NaNo projects.

Talesofsorrowandofruin wrote this for her April 2020 Camp NaNo project. The full WIP intro can be found here. And the character intro tag can be found here.

@gailynovelry​: Mindhive, queer dystopian fiction

Summary: Dead-broke and dead-set on paying off his student loans before he’s forty, Nathaniel Emersin signed up as a paid test subject for ReGene, a genetics company with a mysterious new invention that they promise will change the world; the Worker Bee Implant.

But Nathaniel has one little secret that didn’t make it onto paper … He’s also been hired by a rival company to sabotage the trial and steal the mysterious new technology that ReGene’s been working on.

(link to WIP intro below)

@gailynovelry​: Toybox, psychological horror

Summary: Eight upcoming episodes of queer psychological horror time loop tragicomedy. Say that five times fast! Or if you want a shorter genre category, it’s a weird fiction visual novel.

A mysterious feyrie figure ushers you into a “play” for their own amusement … and all-too-quickly, you learn that not only is the cast trapped in a timeloop, but the “win” condition for the fey’s “play” involve a fair amount of murder in order for each loop to reset.

Can you help the cast escape their story, or is the playwright always destined to win in the end?

You can read all of the WIP intros here. 

@calicojackofficial: The Babysitter’s Here, an adult romance novella.

Summary: Will Moore comes back to his home town four years after running away from home as a teen. He reunites with his siblings and his best friend. But to his surprise his ex-boyfriend Nicky is there to welcome him back too - accompanied by his almost four year old son Seong-Min.

Will is looking for a job back home, thinking about getting his G.E.D., regretting his choices, et cetera. Nicky’s wife offers him a babysitting gig, and despite his better judgement Will takes the job. Seong-Min is just too cute to resist. And there’s a lot of unfinished business between Will and Nicky that Will would like to put to rest, if they can.

Status: 6k words of a goal of 25k, draft #2.

You can see his WIP intro and read an excerpt here. You can sign up for the taglist here.

@calicojackofficial​​: Curse the Messenger, book one of The Stranger trilogy, a series of adult urban fantasy horror inspired by crime noir.

Summary: The main character and 3rd-person narrator of the first book is Eddie Alfaro, a 23 year old Mexican-American lesbian. She is a Seer, which is a type of clairvoyant who has night terror premonitions. Eddie is tormented in her sleep with visions of strangers’ last moments. She has mundane nightmares and sleep paralysis as well, so sometimes it’s difficult to tell what is a premonition and what is just her own subconscious torturing her for the wrongs of her past.

Eddie and her sibling, Fred (27, agender, Scryer), run a small scale private investigation service for other witches - one of the only ways that clairvoyants, who are pariahs in witch society, can make a relatively safe living. They mostly find missing items or curate profiles on people, the same kinds of things that secular P.I.s do but with the added benefit of their powers and the intrigue of their clients’ and targets’.

Then the mysterious Jessica (31, trans lesbian, secular) brings them a murder case. Her ex-girlfriend, Maddie (30, pansexual, Emenant), was brutally murdered. Jessica knows this for certain, she even claims to have seen the crime scene herself before it was cleaned up and there’s no way anyone could survive that kind of carnage. But the secular police are insisting that Maddie is missing, and that they don’t even suspect foul play and aren’t going to look into it.

Despite Fred’s numerous reservations, Eddie makes the executive decision for the both of them to take Jessica’s case and find out what happened to Maddie - and why the police are so sure she’s completely fine despite the gore left in the alleyway she disappeared from.

You can see the WIP Intro here. You can see the character intro for Eddie here. And the character intro for Fred here.

@touchingmadness​​: Touched, contemporary fantasy

Summary:  The Touched are dangerous.

Or at least, that’s what Eris was always taught. It’s not their fault – violence and apathy is simply their nature, and only through rigorous training and careful outside control can they overcome these instincts. Eris was one of the lucky ones, found and whisked away by the Registry at a young age, taught to expel her pent up rage and aggression to defend humanity from her own kind, a perfectly controlled killing machine.

Growing up, all she ever wanted was to be better, to be human and normal. And it’s right there, right around the corner in the form of a nemesis left to die, a job training Touched youth, and an engagement to the Registry Head’s daughter. Her dream is finally within reach… So why does she feel more trapped and alone than ever?

Everything Eris thought she knew about herself, her world, and her desires is falling apart at the seams. And the only one who seems willing to listen is a strangely familiar man who she exchanges numbers with at a Registry party.

Maybe she’s giving in to the darkness, just like they always said she would.

Or maybe she’s just growing up.

Status: Second draft

You can read the full WIP intro and join the taglist here.

@astrophysiciann​​ Mothwing, webcomic

Summary: After a brush with Death (who gives her the mothwing cloak), Mothwing journeys through the land of the Fae in search of the Silver Door, a place that is said to cure all ails and heal all wounds. At its core, Mothwing is about healing from familial trauma, recovering a sense of identity, and learning how to forgive yourself.

Status: As of September 2022, Mothwing is fully outlined and partially scripted, and has undergone some visual development.

You can view the WIP intro here. You can view updates under the tag #mothwing on the artist’s blog.

@open-notebook​​: Nobody Ends Up Dead in a Bathtub, Everyone Keeps Their Organs, revenge romantic-comedy

Summary: Alex is a secretary who gets pranked by his co-workers. They set him up on a blind “date” with an escort and sex worker, Damián, thinking it’ll be totally humiliating.

But Damián is nice and needs extra cash to get his brother into grad school. So, he and Alex plot revenge in the form of a fake dating scheme. If they wanted Alex to be embarrassed by going on a date with a sex worker, well, Alex will proudly show off his new boyfriend at the upcoming office party. “Thanks for setting me up with Damián, guys! He’s so smart and kind, and he’s an entrepreneur, as you know.”

And because this is a half-romance story, they end up falling for each other for real. Until shit starts going down, and Alex panics and feels immeasurable guilt over dragging Damián through petty revenge when he’s just trying to do his job.

Status: There is one very rough draft of chapter one posted here. 

You can view the WIP Intro and join the taglist here.

@preliminarynori​​: First Dates and Second Scandals, romance

Summary: Izzy was once known as the Pop Princess of LA, but a public breakup and harassment over social media from defensive fans of her ex pushed her into semi-retirement.

Enter Kai, the leader of the internationally beloved boy group NXT. Slowly, he draws her out of her shell and reveals the ugly underbelly of the pop industry in his home country, Cadapor. They start to develop feelings, but a romantic relationship is frowned upon by Kai’s management and Izzy is afraid of facing the same death threats and suicide bait she received years before all because of a summer fling. 

First Dates is a somewhat K-pop-inspired romance novel. Rather than really being based on any one idol or group, it’s really inspired by the phenomenon of K-pop—the international adoration and the darker sides of it including toxic fanbases and abusive contracts

Status: This project was part of preliminaroynori’s July 2022 Camp NaNo project. The complete novel can be found on Wattpad and Tapas hopefully by January 2023.

The WIP intro can be found here. And character intros can be found here.

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed their WIP to this post! This blog literally cannot run without authors supporting it and each other. It’s such a big favor to ask people to share their writing projects, but all these lovely people did it! That’s awesome! 

Please try to give these authors some love

And if you’re a queer writer who’s interested in being included in the next up-and-coming post, keep an eye on the #call for submissions tag. If this is a moderately successful thing, I will try to do these posts on a regular basis (maybe once every month, two months, or three months).

The Lavender Showcase is a blog dedicated to sharing and cataloging works by queer authors. Check out the blog to find more works or learn how you can be included in the catalog. 

[anemodaycare]

Vocaloid Age Regression Headcanons:

(Do I do too many? Who knows! More under the cut :) )

Hatsune Miku:

Flip! 100%

When she's regressed, she's usually somewhere around 4-6

Usually, Luka takes care of her

On other days, MEIKO and KAITO will take on the role

Respectively, each caregiver has different names

Luka usually gets more sibling orientated ones, while MEIKO will get the maternal ones

Very big on playing!

Big or little, she'll play happily with the other regressors

She's able to sit still for almost concerningly long

"Miku, do you want to watch a movie?"

*proceeds to sit still for the entirety of it and the credits*

She doesn't mind naptime

As long as she has her blanket

Her hair annoys her while she's regressing, so one of her CGs will put it up for her

She loves having her hair played with in general

So when others (*cough*the Kagamines*cough*) are regressing, she'll keep it down for them

When she takes care of littles, it's usually the Kagamines

(though they are. so good at bringing her into littlespace as well)

She has nicknames for both of them!

Rin usually gets sunshine, while Len will get gremlin

Kagamine Rin:

Her age range is. So wide

She goes anywhere from 2-8

When she's regressed, her teasing Len just gets 10x worse

Especially in her older range

She gets her bangs tied up by Miku so she can go wild

So hyperactive

She cannot sit still whatsoever

So getting her calm enough for nap time isn't. the easiest

It's been discovered that she will only nap if Len is going to

It doesn't matter if Len is regressed or not. If he doesn't nap, she's not napping

Rin is constantly stimming

Rocking on her feet, flapping her hands, doing little dances- all of it!

In her younger range, she usually has to wear mittens because of some more harmful stims

Not that she minds too much, the fabric provides a better alternative

Big on toys

Her and Len have a massive toybox

They're all lucky that she likes to share

Her volume control goes down the drain

But it's okay! If she's told she'll try and fix it

Spoiler alert, it only goes so far before she gets loud again

Kagamine Len:

His age range is also. incredibly wide

He has a matching range to Rin, though he tends to go on the younger range more than her

Compared to Rin, he's a lot more mellow

Still a very active kid

Loves pranks.

They're not very good pranks, but he can still be a nuisance

He got into the thumbtacks once and put one on KAITO's seat.

Oh, he got time out for that

He's entertained by Cocomelon

MEIKO puts it on for him and he'll sit still with the biggest eyes

Sometimes, Len will get to go on playdates!

It's usually with the Meme Squad (Do we still call them that?)

Also a little who exclusively wears pajamas

Onesies? He loves them

He probably has one of those "Eat Sleep Game Repeat" shirts for his older range

He stims as well!

He prefers visual stims, though he's also a big verbal stimmer

If he hears a phrase he likes, he'll be repeating that all day

In his younger range, he'll walk around going "Uh-oh!"

Not because he's done anything, just because it's a fun word

KAITO:

Flip! :)

He is convinced that no one knows he regresses (MEIKO, Luka, and Gakupo are well aware)

It's mostly involuntary when he regresses

His range is 1-3

His golden years, as he likes to call them

When he cares for others, he has an incredibly weak resolve

Such a dad

Him and MEIKO make up a wonderful "good cop/bad cop"

He's usually the one to tie Miku's hair up and do Rin's bangs for her

In return, they put little pigtails in his hair and tiny berets

"So cute! Thank you, girls!"

When he regresses, he's incredibly quiet

That fear of failure really helps!

For a while, MEIKO thought that he was just giving her a quiet treatment

He wasn't, he was just nonverbal

He gets so much more clingy

Refuses to leave his room as well. He feels like he shouldn't be seen like that

He's afraid of the rejection, even if his "caregivers" try to convince him otherwise

He'll refer to MEIKO and Luka in a maternal sense and Gakupo in a paternal sense

He's a lot more emotional and tends to. cry a lot more

Either way, KAITO takes care of everyone and gets taken care of <33

MEIKO:

Everyone's mom <3

She appreciates feeling wanted

And mother's day gifts are an added perk

"Oh, thank you little one! I'll hang this up."

She keeps them in her room, in case visitors come or the little isn't. open about it

They're on her wall, over her vanity so she can see all of them clearly

Each little has different nicknames, but it usually comes down to "Hey, you!"

She has a child leash for the twins

Especially Rin

She keeps a lot of gear in her room

"Why don't we just have a playroom, yet?"

"Isn't that just the twins' room?"

"Touché."

She has stuffed animals, blankets, pillows, pacifiers, bottles- really anything that they need to "hide"

She can't pick up many of the littles, but that's what hand holding is for!

Or. her lap

If the one(s) she's caring for is going down for a nap, so is she

She will pull them close, throw a blanket over them, and fall asleep

She can sing them lullabies but bed time stories are. out of the picture for her

She'll team up with the other caregivers for playdate plans

Or big old movie nights

It gives everyone a break and it gives everyone a chance to catch up :)

Luka:

Another CG!

She is Miku's primary CG, but she can stand in for the Kagamines

She's stern, but in the sense of how a mom would be

Much more of an Aunt-like figure over anything

Her hair is free range for Miku to play with

Make up is off limits, mostly because she's worried that her little could consume a little too much of the powder or lip gloss

And that wouldn't be very good, would it?

She tries to help the littles try new foods, but that hasn't been going too well

She tends to cave in when she's asked for an alternative

She can't blame them! Not everyone likes big food

She will happily ignore the glare that MEIKO shoots to her

One of the few people who can tame the Kagamines

When she reads stories for Miku, they usually find their way over to her

If the other CGs don't know, mass panic will spread

The twins could get into anything

But it's okay, Luka has them peacefully playing pretend upstairs

She'll occasionally care for Gumi as well

Cue the chaotic playdate for Miku and Gumi

She'll take the littles out while they're regressed

To the yard or even sometimes. to a store

"Oh, it looks like Mei's out today.. Hm. Babies, looks like we're going out."

Even a trip to the grocery store is a big trip for them

But if they behave! They can get a toy or two and it makes it all worth it

Luka has many nicknames for her littles, mostly just variations of their names (Meeks, Mimi, etc.)

[curiousb]

The Elton Family Album: Volume III

Back with the couple that think they’re Family Sims, when they’re really not. We drop in on them on a very busy afternoon.

The older kids are outside playing in the summer sun with their school chums,...

...while indoors, Ellen is giving birth to the latest addition to the family. They welcome another boy, Marmaduke Elton! The Nanny is delighted: all the more work - and Simoleans - for her!

And at the same time, Olivia is growing up!

Olivia’s child stats:

~ Scorpio 4 / 5 / 7 / 5 / 1

~ Ambitious / Vehicle Enthusiast / Handy

~ OTH: Tinkering

~ Favourite Colour(s): Burgundy

But life is moving a little too fast for eldest daughter Selina. She seems to be experiencing some anxiety about her impending teenage years, and finds a surprisingly sympathetic listener in her dad.

Don’t mind me! You two lovebirds just carry on making those babies for me to look after (i.e. ignore)!

Creepy Nanny, relaxing on the bed while Ellen sleeps. Don’t you have kids to look after, or something? O.o

Marmaduke growing up should keep her a bit more occupied.

Marmaduke’s toddler stats:

~ Gemini 4 / 7 / 9 / 1 / 3

~ Genius / No Sense of Humour

Rise and shine for a sunny, summer weekend!

Time for a bit of outdoor fun in the sun.

Selina’s hoping to snag some treasure! (Wrong game, Selina -that’s Stardew Valley.)

Hmm, not what she was after.

That’s more like it!

Ellen does everything in heels.

It’s also Selina’s birthday, so they celebrate in the evening with some sparkling bass, caught by the birthday girl herself.

Selina’s teen stats:

~ Gemini 6 / 8 / 5 / 3 / 2

~ Brave / Sailor / Supernatural Fan / Angler

~ OTH: Sport

~ Favourite Colour(s): Aqua / Orange

~ Aspiration: Fortune / Pleasure

~ Turn-ons / -off: +Adventurous / +Athletic / -Unique

Selina celebrates this new phase of her life in her own particular way, by noogieing everyone within reach.

Ambrose also has a curious way of making friends - electrocuting anyone who comes too close!

And finally, we have another birthday, although Marmaduke seems a little subdued about it.

But he soon starts to feel better, once his hair grows a bit and he discovers the toybox.

Marmaduke’s child stats:

~ Gemini 4 / 7 / 9 / 1 / 3

~ Genius / No Sense of Humour / Dog Person

~ OTH: Sport

~ Favourite Colour(s): Primaries

[beeefy]

so today there was a group of 4-5 year old girls playing with the dolls and 1 truck and i asked what they were playing and they told me that the truck was one of the dolls friends who was cursed to be a truck because she hated horses and i went 'oh no thats not good can she turn back?' and the known horse girl of the group said 'yes but she will die' and then she pointed to another doll who was still in the toybox and she said 'like the one before her' and then she looked up at me and asked if i liked horses and i said yes