#1/31/2024

[xaviergalatis]

[witchquests]

Daily Quest: Enchant a bath tub of water, imbue it with orange peels, roses, and vanilla sticks and make a Bath of Beauty+1

Rewards: 50xp, 30gp, +1 to status condition Beauty of the Gods

[did-sage-reblog-cad-comics-today]

No.

[puddledreams]

I dreamt a lot last night but what I remember the most was getting shot.

In my dream I sat in the passenger seat of my car, parked somewhere near the mall I used to frequent in my teens. I was cold and my windows were a bit frosted, my breath coming out in fluffy white billows in front of my face. I could see some sort of commotion with the police happening a few feet away from the mall entrance, but a news truck was obscuring my vision. No one seemed particularly panicked so I wasn’t either, lookie-loos moseying around and people returning to their cars after a day of casual shopping. Right by my hood a group of 3 boys leered and stood on their tippy toes, trying to get a peak as they shoved at each other playfully.

I rolled my eyes, though admittedly I was curious too, before rummaging in my purse looking for my keys. I was positioned a bit awkwardly in my seat as my door had been frozen shut by the cold and I had to squeeze in my way from the back, something that had happened in real life a few weeks ago when a storm hit Oregon. Just as I found them, the metal crisp in my hand, I heard one of the boys scream something.

“Shooter!! Someone’s shooting!!”

It happened quickly, half a cognitive thought- an echo of a ‘what?’-as I processed what was said, a kid knocking his hip into my car as he ran past with others in a panic. I suddenly heard a noise, like when you pop open a bag of chips with too much air, as a bullet whizzed right through the metal of my door and hit me directly in my side; right through my arm and presumably into my chest. I don’t know much about the body, but I knew a chest hit had to be fatal.

It was terrifying and I instantly knew I was shot, though I could feel no pain, just a horrible radiating numbness. I could no long move, slumped to my side and heavy like a doll, hearing people scream in fear and seeing their foggy outlines run by. I wanted to yell out for someone or better yet, hide somewhere where I couldn’t be struck by a bullet again, but all I could do was sink further into the numbness, my body lame and useless and my mind in a terrible panic. I was alone and dying in the cold, wishing I had even the strength to tilt my head to the side to see how much blood had leaked out. My last thought before I woke was that even a cop holding me might’ve been nice, and dying so afraid and alone couldn’t possibly be fair.

SOMETHING SOMETHING GUN CULTURE IN AMERICA?

[f1archives]

Alex Albon speaking to journalists on media day - Brazil, 2024 (📷 Kym Illman)

[pastadoughie]

WE WISH U AND LITTLE GUYS A HAPPI HALLOWEEN

tism candy

....

........

[joshuamj]

Linktober Day 1: Mirror

Prompt list I'll be trying a few days from!

[shallowseeker]

I have two questions for you, really. Just as proof of the point. But first:

[silver-horse]

bioware really said "let's release it on halloween... it's so terrible... it's gonna scare the shit out of everyone...the perfect halloween"

[justformula1]

The starting grid for the Grand Prix of Italy

[xaviergalatis]

[artnerd1123]

Artfight attack dump 4!

And this marks 31 attacks/revenges for the year!!! I’ve officially hit my goal :]

[skyleclerc]

First one to blink loses 👀

Charles vs Esteban

[blametheeditor]

Voretober Day 1 | Space

Voretober Prompt List

Next

If given the opportunity, would you take the chance to go to space and travel the stars? What if the person offering to take you was someone you trusted more than anyone else?

What if that person is no longer entirely human?

MENTIONS OF SOFT VORE

Content Warnings: Soft, non-sexual vore (only mentions for now). Mentions of body horror. Mentions of experimenting on people. Mentions of death and murder, violence. Being trapped against one's will. Dehumanization. Abductions. Cursing. Darker themes/tone

I blame Vincent

___________________________________

Vincent hasn’t seen Earth in a long time. 

He almost didn’t recognize it when his stolen ship was finally close enough to let him see enough details to discern if it was the right planet or not. It was the clouds that tripped him up, the white swirls having managed to completely cover the continent he was facing. At a single glance, he assumed he found yet another completely submerged planet. 

Good thing he was never someone to quit, or else he would’ve turned right around and missed his only chance ever finding his home. 

He did turn around, but only to circle the semi-familiar sphere, out of the range of certain satellites the ship warned him might cause disruptions for if he got too close. And after keeping a respectful distance between himself and the moon, he was finally able to see a brown and green patch so achingly familiar. 

His patch of land, surrounded by the blue of incomprehensibly vast oceans.

Vincent will admit, he shouldn’t have given into the temptation of landing. Not when it’s been so long, so many years since he’s set foot on this particular planet. The geography might be exactly how he remembered, but he knew for a fact Earth’s residents would’ve changed drastically. 

He changed. Can’t even be classified as human anymore. 

But he did it anyway. Scanned for anything that could detect a ship coming into the atmosphere, let the highly advanced technology take control to land without a single person or entity noticing, stepped out of the spacecraft to breathe in the forest that had long since faded away from his dreams and memories. 

It all came flooding back with the smell of pine and rain. It led him out of the trees and onto a cracked and uneven sidewalk. It had him walking right up to a two story house that’s a lighter grey than he remembers, but it still has the same elegant walkway leading up to a towering gate that was almost always locked. 

Except it’s open tonight, under a bright full moon, with a man sitting on the steps. 

A man who looks virtually unchanged from when Vincent last saw him. A little bit taller, definitely not a teenager anymore, but there’s no mistaking who exactly is staring across the few feet that might as well be miles between them. 

“Vincent?” 

Scott’s shock is apparent as he slowly stands up, as if afraid the person in question will run away if he moves too quickly. But when Vincent doesn’t so much as blink, not willing to miss a single second, it’s almost like a flip is switched, and his best friend sprints straight toward him. 

He doesn’t think twice before catching Scott in a hug. Pulls the still shorter man into a tight embrace that someone will have to forcibly rip him away from to end it. At least the feeling seems to be mutual as he’s clung to just as desperately. 

“Is it really you?” is said in such a soft whisper he nearly misses it. 

But he hears it. As well as the painful warble of tears threatening to spill. 

“It’s me, Scotty,” Vincent murmurs. “It’s me.” 

They stand there for a few moments. And when Scott finally begins to break away, it’s only so he can finally take in Vincent, hazel eyes scanning him up and down critically. 

Finally, his best friend gives a look. Specifically one of exasperation. “You’ve been gone for 6 years, and you come back on Halloween wearing a costume of all things.” 

Vincent blinks, confused for a moment. Sends a glance toward the Cawthon house to spot the sparse decorations he originally missed. The sports jersey Scott is wearing is supposed to be a very simple costume that most likely needed to be approved. 

Of course he finally came home tonight of all nights. On one hand, it most likely softened the blow of how drastically his appearance has changed. On the other, it’s going to be a little bit harder trying to explain where he’s been all this time. 

Though maybe that’s a good thing. 

Vincent offers a lopsided smile. “I thought you appreciated my incredible timing, Scotty.” 

“And your need for a dramatic entrance, apparently,” Scott grouses. It’s clear he’s not truly upset, however. A bit bewildered, yes, but his best friend is relieved more than anything. Joyful to finally see a face he most likely thought was never coming back. “Come sit with me.” 

Vincent knows it’s a demand rather than a request. Knows that even though Scott isn’t asking for an explanation of where he’s been all these years now, he’ll be expecting one at some point. And know that if he tries to leave his best friend’s sight for even a second, he will be told that isn’t an option. 

That isn’t why he obediently follows Scott back to his spot on the steps. No, he does it for completely selfish reasons. To pretend that, just for a moment, he’ll be allowed to stay forever. 

So he sits next to his best friend for the first time in 6 years, glad Scott kept count for him. Gestures toward the dark lights above the front door and the bin of ‘king size’ candy sitting beside them. “I take it they still don’t celebrate.” 

“No,” Scott sighs. “Tried to stop me from passing out candy, but I didn’t let them. Though I had to pull the ‘it’s the only thing I have left of my best friend’ card after my dad turned on the sprinklers one year.” 

Vincent snorts, expertly ignoring the merciless feeling of something piercing him through the heart. “I thought I taught you how to reschedule the timer.” 

“He did it while I was at school. Thankfully no one’s costume but mine got ruined, but kids stopped wanting to come up after that.” 

“So you bribed them with better candy.” 

Scott fights to hide a smile. “Like that’s not something you wouldn’t have thought of.” 

“Oh no, definitely. But I’m not the goody two shoes, so that makes it even more impressive,” Vincent grins. 

“Shut up.” 

He does, but only because two kids are racing up the walkway. One who looks like a toothless witch, the other a skeleton. And they’re both staring openly at him. 

He should’ve known this was coming. With Scott making a comment of assuming he dressed himself up for Halloween, with the fact he’s not even wearing clothes from Earth, someone was bound to question him in some way. It’s not everyday you meet someone who’s purple from head to toe, including his long hair. 

It’s been a bit too long since he’s had a normal conversation, however. And talking to Scott doesn’t count. 

“What are you?” the witch demands. 

“Are you a monster?” the skeleton chimes in. “Those need a tail!” 

Before he can so much as process the words being spoken, Scott gives a smirk. “Not unless they’re the monster under your bed. Those don’t need tails.” 

Coming from the kid who was afraid of his own shadow and almost refused to speak unless his parents were around to give him permission to, Vincent can’t help feeling proud of Scott’s rebuttal. How reflexive such a response was instead of automatically waiting for others to continue speaking even though he wanted to say something. 

And yet...there’s also a sense of sadness. Because it sounds like something he would’ve said, a sentence taken almost directly from his mouth. And he wasn’t here to continue teaching such things. Meaning only the ghost of someone who promised to be by Scott’s side through thick and thin was left to help him rather than the actual person who said those words. 

Vincent knew coming back to Earth one last time would be bitter sweet. He just didn’t realize how much it would hurt. 

“Tails are still better!” 

“Yeah!” 

“Agreed,” Scott concedes to an argument he completely missed, ending it by offering a variety of candy bars for the two kids to choose. “Pick your prize.” 

Apparently, he was staring at the candy just a bit too intently, because one’s suddenly being offered to him. When he looks up, Scott’s giving him a sad smile. Not a pitiful one, his best friend knows better than that, but one that says he can read Vincent’s thoughts. The ones about how long it’s been since he’s had a chocolate bar, when was the last time he thought about Halloween, if it’s even possible for him to eat one now. 

“I know it’s poor excuse for a birthday present, but I can make it up to you tomorrow.” 

...when was the last time he thought about something like his own birthday. 

Vincent takes the offered candy. Can’t help a soft huff at not only holding something deemed as a ‘Milky Way’ bar, but at the wrapping being brown like the chocolate it holds rather than the magnificent colors of the Milky Way galaxy when seen from space. 

“What have you been up to, Scotty?” 

His best friend gives a concerned look at the sudden turn of conversation, shrugs as he leans back on his hands. “I finally managed to get a job when I turned 18, but my parents made me quit after the summer ended so I could go to college full time. Right now I’m only a year away from my master’s degree for computer engineering, doing everything they always wanted me to do.” 

“And your minor?” 

That earns a small smile from Scott. “In comic art and graphic novels.” 

A small weight lifts off Vincent’s chest. Scott didn’t surrender himself to his parents, not entirely. He managed to wrestle at least a little bit of his own passions into the plan they drafted for him despite never having once asked what he wanted. 

At least he didn’t completely fail as a friend. 

Scott then nudges his shoe, one that looks unmistakenly alien if you look closely. “Where have you been, Vince?” 

It’s said so softly, so hesitantly, almost like it’s thought to be the one question that will have him disappear again. And Scott is right to be afraid, because he can’t stay. He knew that when he first started to look for his home planet, and he knew it when he gave into the temptation to land. 

He should lie. Come up with a fantastical story that’s just as unbelievable as the truth. Call it a night and say he’ll talk to Scott tomorrow. 

Leave again without saying goodbye, just like he had years ago. The only difference this time it wouldn’t be done against his will. 

Vincent tilts his heads back. Stares up at the night sky. Where billions of stars wait, but only a handful can be seen due to the light surrounding them. “I was in space.” 

He waits. For laughter thinking he was trying to make a joke. For anger at saying such a ridiculous thing to such a serious question. For disgust at not wanting to tell him of all people the truth. 

“Space?” Scott asks tentatively. Leans forward to show he’s paying attention, that he wants Vincent to continue explaining, he just needs clarification. “Like on Mars?” 

“Further,” Vincent whispers. “So far it’s impossible to see this galaxy’s star. So far, nothing knows something like humans exist.” 

There’s a long moment of silence. When he finally gains the courage to meet Scott’s gaze, his best friend isn’t watching him, he’s staring up. At the moon’s blinding light, and Jupiter barely visible beside it. 

“...except for the thing that took you.” 

“Acquired,” Vincent corrects with a smirk, though it’s a bit halfhearted. “He acquired me to help with his studies.” 

Scott finally looks at him. Looks at the shirt that can easily be mistaken as a button down. Except the buttons are sensors to keep track of when everything needs to expand, or contract. Instead of cotton fabric sewn together with thread, there are instances when it seems to shimmer in the light, exposing the fact it’s made from highly advanced technology nearly impossible to understand. 

“What did they do to you?” Scott breathes, horrified. Not of him, for him. 

Vincent hums. “Let’s just say the purple isn’t part of a costume.” 

Scott suddenly becomes panicked. “Are they coming back for you? Did you get away, or did they let you go? Are they coming here, can they track you?” 

“Breathe, Scotty, it’s okay,” he soothes. Offers a soft smile because of course Scott would be worried what took him away before will be back to do it again. That’s why he took a risk to see his best friend one last time. “He doesn’t know where I am, and he can’t track me. But I can’t stay.” 

There. He said it. Now he can give a proper goodbye. 

Scott’s relief from the promise he won’t be taken away turns into terror as hand latches onto his arm. “What? What do you mean you can’t stay?” 

“I mean,” Vincent begins, delicately, holding Scott’s gaze as tears begin to form in his eyes. “I can’t stay, or something else will find Earth.” 

There’s a moment of Scott moving as if to give a retort, only to hesitate. “Something else? Not whatever took you before?” 

“He knows I wouldn’t risk staying here. Not where he found me, that’d almost be like handing myself right back to him,” Vincent smiles. Feels it fall when there’s no reaction. Just the silent plea this conversation ends with him never leaving again. “Scotty, even if he wasn’t looking for me, ships don’t come this far out. This sector is restricted, and if anyone saw me coming this way, they would’ve followed.” 

He has enough time to stay for a few hours. An entire day might be pushing it. But visiting Earth, landing on the planet to enjoy it one last time, he’s allowed to have that without putting the entire human race in jeopardy. 

But he needs to leave, less they follow he’s trail directly here. To a planet where the residents are the highest commodity over anything else. Where Scott would be snatched away and sold on the black market as an exotic pet. 

“Then I’m coming with you.” 

Scott glares at him, daring to be told otherwise. The hand tightening on his arm promises a fight if he tries to say no. 

“Scotty-” 

“No, don’t Scotty me,” Scott snaps, his anger turning to fury. All Vincent can think about is how such a display will only ever be seen as cute by the rest of the galaxy rather than respecting it for the devastating power it holds. “I lost you, Vince. I looked everywhere for you. I never stopped looking. And it killed me knowing you were somewhere I could never find you. Now that you’re here, you’re staying with me. I don’t care where we go, but I am not loosing you. Not again.” 

Vincent believes it. That his best friend knew he’d come back no matter where he went. That Scott won’t be letting him go. 

“Scott, you don’t know what you’re asking.” 

“I’m not asking, Vincent.” 

They stare at each other, Scott’s resolve unwavering despite knowing the person before him isn’t entirely human anymore while Vincent’s want to be selfish and keep the one person in the entire universe who would never leave him by his side begins to win. 

...but Scott doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into. 

“Scotty,” manages to not elicit ire. Allows him to gently pry the hand off his arm to hold it inside his own grasp. “If you leave with me, you can never come back. Everything you know will be gone, and in its place a universe made for those who see you as nothing more than a mindless pet to keep.” 

“And if I don’t go,” Scott whispers. “You’ll have to face that alone.��� 

Vincent gives a genuine smile. “It wouldn’t be my first time. And I’m capable of towering over them the same way they tower over you.” 

Confusion appears for only a second before Scott’s shaking his head. “Then that means I can trust you to keep me safe.” 

That is what finally puts everything into perspective. The fact that if Vincent gives in, if he allows himself be selfish, he will be the only person who can keep Scott safe while they travel through the stars. If he fails his best friend up there instead of down here, it could be a fate worse than his own. 

Instead of making his heart flutter with panic at the thought, it floods him with anger at the thought of ever letting such a thing happen. 

Vincent sends a glance up at the moon, something he thought could never leave his sky for as long as he lives. “We’ll have to get a bigger ship.” 

“Sounds like a plan to make on the road.” Scott then stands up, pulling Vincent to his feet, leading him down the walkway with determined footsteps. No, not determined, excited. “No more stalling, take me to your leader.” 

Vincent snorts. “I’m not a Martian, Scotty.” 

“Close enough.” 

They make it to the street. Scott sends an expectant look that’s met with raised eyebrows. With an eyeroll, the shorter gestures toward the sidewalk, clearly wanting to be led the way where the ship waits. 

“You know I’m not human anymore,” Vincent says as he turns them toward the right direction. 

“The purple kind of gave it away, Vince.” 

“We’re going to have to install a translator in your head.” 

“Can’t scare me.” 

“You’re not scared of heights, right?” 

“Stop being cryptic and get us into space already.” 

Vincent can’t help a sneer. “I can’t wait to see your face when I pocket you.” 

Scott stumbles. “When you what?��

[f1archives]

Kimi, Minttu & Robin Raikkonen in the paddock on Saturday - Monza, 2024

[blumin-onion]

Blisstober Day 1-Scarecrow

| Blisstober 2024 | Day 2 ->

Please check out this awesome October drawing challenge put out by @twelve05studios