#Abnormal Hivemind [Hivemind]

[fennel-tea-and-nightshade]

Some shipping names for Eli ships ✨️💕

Poisonous obsession - ONE sided Eli x Norman

I think poisonous obsession always described more of the crush that Eli had on him, rather than the actual shipping itself. This shipping name obviously makes akot of sense, given that this crush started with Eli trying to POISON him and all that. Also we stole this name from the RWBY fandom, I think.

Normal Poison - Mutual Eli x Norman

Obviously just a play on normal human and Elis Poison association. I don't think anyone ships this anymore but if you do, who I am to judge. Go! Be free!

Abnormal Poison- Abnorman x Eli

No because I still remember this shipping name, and I think it's funny ok? It may be just another flavor of Eli x Moros but different enough to differentiate.

Healthy toxin - Eli x Lucas

This was a suggestion from V and it does make sense. It's mainly a play on the fact that Eli and Lucas are rather healthy but the fundamentals of their relationship is the most toxic shit.

Cordeceyps - Cordeceyps!Eli x Moros

Ah yes. That's the shipping name V said was a spoiler....for a good danm god reason. Naming them "Cordeceyps" now would be......ummm...*cough* Buuut I think it's still a good shipping name for an AU. "Cordeceyps" as a shipping name will always have special place in my heart

Morel - Eli x Moros

This.... might be the fucking FUNNIEST shipping name in any Hivemind settling YET. Morel is the type of mushroom Moros gave Eli to escpae the town. Morel ALSO is a Mix of the names Eli and Moros. Also Morel sounds like "moral" which is just....it's too glorious omfg

[No name yet] - Lucas x Eli x Moros

*inhale*

I NEED A SHIPPING NAME FOR THEM SO BADLY OMG. Also when I mean this, I maintain mean Eli dating Moros and Lucas, but in my headcanon Lucas and Moros definitely have something (mainly sexual lol) going on so.... you could see this ad "Elis harem" but also "The throuple" idccc..but I needs a nameeeeeeee

[kiefbowl]

I cannot impress on young women enough, regardless of anything else about politics, having the ability to vote codified (and regular elections to vote in!!) is historically bananas abnormal, and only exists because of lots of hard work by lots of regular people. I'm not saying you have to like your lot or have some sort of jingoistic hard on while you skip to the ballot box, but like full on distrust ppl that want you to think voting is some loser sport only the hivemind do. the other option is, you know, like, serfdom. or other horrible shit lol. and you know fuck it, if you don't wanna vote, whatever not my business. but don't believe for a second that voting is the enshrined old school unquestioned institution that it isn't. like it super duper isn't. that doesn't mean it can't be improved, of course! but it's not the way a good chunk of powerful people would actually choose for us if they could decide. bezos already runs his amazon warehouses like a 13th century fief lord as far as he can he would love to do more of that actually. he's not restraining himself where he can out of the goodness of his heart like. he would reinvent the company store tomorrow. he would pay in Amazon bucks to buy Amazon goods yesterday. He would install an Amazon Tribunal head by Amazon Pope to resolve all conflicts and they would all resolve with King Bezos having divine power by virtue of the fact that he has power and you would just be fucked and bezos would love that actually. as an example.

[acowardinmordor]

The bedtime angst idea that showed up on my way home after yet another appallingly long day. Heads up, this one is dark. like. Major character death, unhappy ending, horror, maybe, and not in a fixable way. DD:DNE in the original meaning. I'm not kidding about those warnings.

Platonic Stobin, Robin&Eddie, Steddie

---

It didn't happen until November of 1986.

At first it was just the proximity of government quarantine for the five of them that went through the gate. Then the shared annoyance of recovering from bat bites. Then the joys of physical therapy. They got close. Closer, for those that were already close. Eddie got to know Nancy and Robin beyond vague concepts in the hallways. He got to meet Steve properly, and then really get to know him. And then, for some reason Eddie still couldn't fathom, he and Steve got to really know each other.

They hadn't said it yet, but Eddie loved his boyfriend, and he'd known from the moment he woke up in quarantine wrapped up in the same bandages as Steve, that Robin was part of the set. Loving Steve meant loving Robin. Not in some kind of weird 'accepting their failings' way. The two of them weren't kidding about being platonic soulmates. They shared a brain, shared jokes, could talk silently.

Of course Eddie loved Robin too. He may not have known her in all the ways he knew Steve, but just shy. A lot of jokes were made about how he bought a boyfriend and got a lesbian for free.

He knew them both. So well. Too well.

Back in the start of their quarantine, after they'd all gotten rabies vaccines, Robin's most pressing fear was that the Hive Mind was inside them, that Vecna could get into them, control them. Terrifying, yes, but the million tests by doctors convinced them all it was fine. Eddie knew it was impossible, trusted the doctors as much as he could. He was still a storyteller though. If Vecna or Henry, the Mind flayer of the hivemind itself wanted a host, then the guy who died and came back to life in that place was the victim.

It was a bleak thought, but there was a comfort to it. Better him than one of the others.

All through the summer after they were released from quarantine, g-men requested blood samples weekly. Dustin was the only one of the five who appreciated the scientific merits of it all. They couldn't get an explanation of what they were checking, but fine, okay. The government gave them each five million dollars; they could have some blood in exchange.

None of them were healthy, but no one was turning into a demo-whatever. Eddie made sure he paid attention and kept track. The headaches Steve got were debilitating, but those weren't new, just worse. Robin had an occasional tremor in her hand because of some nerve damage from the vines. Eddie had vicious scars. Dustin had a limp from what he'd done to his hip. Nancy had some hearing loss. They all had properly diagnosed PTSD.

For a few weeks, it seemed like Steve and Eddie were trading off nightmares. Back and forth, one or the other would get stuck in something horrifying that left them shaking and sick when they woke. Eddie could never quite remember what it was he saw. All that was left when he woke was the fear.

Then came November. The government doctors suddenly asked to take blood samples more often. Twice a week. They'd mentioned, casually, that they might ask for daily samples if tests showed something abnormal. That was more than enough to put the Party on high alert. It was enough to make Eddie sick to his stomach. He considered pulling back, but knew that was more dangerous for himself and the rest of the town.

Nancy was off at college, but always a phone call away. She demanded that all of the older kids keep weapons on them until they knew what was going on. She would be home in a few more days for Thanksgiving break, and they'd start to build a plan.

It happened two days before she arrived.

Eddie had heard the full story of the last few years from Dustin. It was never really over. It came back every year. Nancy was right to worry, and prepare for the next round. Eddie was right to trust his gut about something wrong lingering out of sight. It's just that he wasn't quite right either.

But this time, the Upside Down didn't start by picking at the edges. It didn't start softly, subtly. There was no wondering if they were imagining things.

One minute Eddie was on Steve's couch, waiting for Steve to come back with pizza from the oven, so Robin could restart the movie. The kids were around a fire on the patio, studying. If it weren't for the weapons sitting nearby all of them, or in holsters within reach - Nancy gave them each lessons, lists, and gifts after all - it would have looked like a boring midwest evening.

Steve came back and froze in front of them. Just a moment as his eyes rolled and his head dropped back, just long enough for both Eddie and Robin to notice. A sound, some tortured thing stretching to fill the gap between a chitter and a scream dragged out of Steve's body. Robin was already on her feet when Steve lurched towards Eddie. His eyes were still rolled back, but his face came forward, unseeing. His hands raised and cracked, like the bones were lengthening. His nails distorted.

Pinned against the wall before he knew it was happening, Eddie couldn't fight back, struck stupid and useless by it all. It was Steve and it wasn't. It was human and it wasn't. His jaw was open, a silent shriek that, at first glance, seemed to have too many teeth. Another glance and it was blunt human teeth. Another and his face seemed to split, craning forward above the hand that had Eddie by the throat. Teeth and pain, and breath that reeked of that place and trailed motes of fetid dust over Eddie's face.

He only noticed the sound of Robin's frantic yelling, that had started the moment Steve's body attacked, after the gunshot clapped.

After she killed Steve.

After the gun cut off her voice.

Eddie collapsed, unable, at first, to look away from Steve. Steve again, the monstrous thing he was a moment before gone, save for the way his blood leaked into a thick black pool. It wasn't real yet. It wouldn't be real for days and months.

Loving Steve meant loving Robin. Knowing Steve meant knowing Robin.

Nothing he felt, nothing he knew, got close to how they were about each other. Steve didn't have to speak for Robin to know he was upset. But they also talked for hours. Big topics and small. Bickering about burger toppings and the moral quandry of being proudly queer and firmly closeted.

Robin knew Steve better than anyone.

Everyone who knew him knew that Steve would never forgive himself if he truly hurt his friends. If he killed one of them, there would be nothing left.

Eddie loved Steve enough to let himself die.

Robin loved Steve enough to kill him.

Eddie looked away from the body as the patio door slammed open. He looked at Robin. Looked, and saw and knew her.

Knew what her only choice would be now.

Eddie knew Steve enough to know what to do.

Robin's hand still tremored sometimes, even months later. As she was turning the gun, Eddie reached her, stole the gun and her choice away, and clung as hard as he could, trying to keep her from shattering. He didn't try to stop her screaming.

Behind them, the kids were radioing Hopper, calling Nancy, cursing and yelling that this wasn't real, this wasn't Steve, that the black blood proved it, that they needed to find him, that they needed to same him.

Robin and Eddie didn't move beyond gasped breaths to continue their keening screams.

It was Steve that entered the room, and it was something else a moment later. They loved him, so they knew him. It was him, right until it wasn't. Not something else, not a replacement, not an exchange. Something that was no more. He was no more.

They loved him. Robin loved him. So she saved him from his worst fear.

Eddie couldn't have done it. Wouldn't have.

But he could do this, and hold Robin together, the way that Steve never would again.

--

I'm not coming back here, but you can do with this what you will.

[kmesons]

one of the first instances in which we hear the inevitable leitmotif in the guy who didn't like musicals is during the scene where emma and paul are walking through the audience, commenting on how it is an "alleyway lined with tons of shrubs." but why is it playing here? emma and paul have a number of previous scenes together, including the beanies "think about the implications" scene, which would seem like a more fitting place to put it, at first glance.

to me, this is foreshadowing. the characters' ignorance of the audience is played for laughs in this scene, and it's evident that the audience isn't a part of the story at this point. emma and paul don't know about the audience, and this isn't anything abnormal; they're characters. they aren't supposed to know. but what happens when inevitable, the song, actually plays at the end of the show? emma becomes aware of the audience. she knows she's on a stage, being watched by people who will not and cannot help her. paul, too, is now aware of this previously imperceptible audience. he's part of the hive. he's performing for them. the inevitable motif plays as emma and paul walk through the audience in this scene, seemingly unable to perceive them, because the hive, or pokey, is emphasising the ironic nature of this scene.

and when you think further about it, this theme of the inevitable leitmotif's usage follows throughout the entirety of the guy who didn't like musicals. another scene in which it plays is when emma warns paul before he leaves: "if those things get you, they're gonna make you sing, and dance .... so don't you let 'em."—"emma? there comes a time in every man's life when he has to draw a line in the sand. and I? will never. be in a musical," (not exact quote). the inevitable leitmotif plays softly in the background as emma says her line because it is tragically ironic. emma is giving paul an ultimatum: don't die. don't give in. of course, this is the exact opposite of what happens. apotheosis is paul's inescapable fate. emma's words are accompanied by the inevitable leitmotif here as a way of the universe (pokey, maybe) laughing at her.

(it's important to note that inevitable cuts off as soon as paul says "never" in his line during this exchange. this is because, well, his line isn't ironic. he will never be in a musical. at this, this form of him won't.)

the inevitable leitmotif plays in the final moments of the exchange between paul and general john macnamara, beginning right after macnamara asks paul if he likes coffee and ending right after paul answers "no, sir," to macnamara's question about whether he likes musicals. in this scene, paul's most recognisable traits are exhibited. he likes coffee and doesn't like musicals, the irony here being that these very traits are what made him susceptible to the hive in the first place. his penchant for coffee is what led him to meet emma, and wanting her was what led to his end. he doesn't like musicals, but is afraid that he could like them, a fear the hive easily preys on.

it sneakily plays while emma says "if we get through this, I would love to just see a nice—SILENT—movie with you. but in case we don't... kiss me?" the mordancy of using inevitable here is evident.

the inevitable motif is utilised not only as a signal of inevitability and futility, but also to convey irony—comedic irony, for pokey/the hivemind—in the guy who didn't like musicals. it's a genius device of foreshadowing for paul and emma's eventual fate, because the audience doesn't know that it's used as such until the story is re-told (i.e., we watch tgwdlm again), which is what is implied could be occurring in-universe.

[womenaremypriority]

I don’t care about any theory about homosexuality and bisexuality that do not posit it as a natural phenomenon equal to heterosexuality, just less common. That is what they factually are.

That doesn’t mean that the culture we have created, as persecuted minorities, is shameful or doesn’t matter. Plenty of it is great, and both the bad and good parts of our history deserve to be shared. We are not straight and that is not something to be ran from. But it does mean that there is nothing else inherently connected to our reality, and that we owe nothing our support and allegiance based off it.

If you want to argue that we should support something because of a shared history, or because gay and bisexual people could be affected somehow, that’s fine. But if you want to argue that we have to support something simply because it has a shared history with us, because we are both considered abnormal, or say that we are somehow traitors because we have whatever opinion- fuck off forever. We are people and we will have our own opinions. We are not a hivemind, we are not your props to use to defend yourself. We do not owe you anything on the basis of being born same-sex attracted.

I don’t care if that alienates me both from the left and the right. I will not let anyone tell me what I am.

[spop-romanticizes-abuse]

Hello, it is I, back again to be abnormal about writing and worldbuilding.

So one of the things that's important in creating fictional cultures is basically a cultural/character wide "same-face syndrome" where all the cultures seem similar or all the characters of the culture seem too similar to feel like unique characters.

Like... what's the cultural difference between The Horde and Glimmer's home kingodm, really?

There barely seems to be one. This is one of the more random writing problems I'm pointing out.

I'd be kinda embarrassed if my writing lead to there not really being a difference between different cultural groups.

And you can't even say Horde Prime's weird ass cult/hivemind thing has any cultural differences, either! Once the clones are liberated, they act just like all the other characters! How do you mess up your worldbuilding this badly!!

yep. there's no culture in etheria, there's just different places that are divided into kingdoms. any of the characters could be switched and it wouldn't make much of a difference. the only real difference i've seen is the way horde soldiers were brought up versus the way the princesses were raised. that's still more of a class thing and even then, it's not given the importance it needs.

[cosmica-galaxy]

Could we get any info on hybrids of different mimic types? 👀

Well, depending on the hybrid, they would have a combination of powers! TV Mimic x Speaker Mimic Hybrids: From a previous example, if a TV mimic breeds with a Speaker mimic, their offspring would have THX powers. An offspring of the TV variety would be a larger docile version of the TV mimic and would carry over traits from their parents into one form. The TV variety would be kinder and less cruel than typical TV mimics and would even be willing to add more to their pack that's not their own. They will even care for young or orphans that aren't the same species as them. They will also have a sound frill and will be immune to blasts of sounds. An offspring of the speaker variety can be a speaker mimic that has unusual aggression and very dark colors, they would also have the ability to manipulate prey with their music. Similar to how sirens will lure people to their deaths. However, they lack the mental manipulation that their pure blooded TV mimics have. Which means a prey item has to HEAR in order to be manipulated. TV Mimic x Camera Mimic Hybrids: While abnormal, as a camera mimic and a TV mimic getting along enough to rear young is almost unheard of. But if a pair do manage to push past their differences, they would have pretty powerful young. An offspring hybrid camera type would have darker colors and much more stealth than a normal camera mimic, with added invisibility powers to boot. As well as the ability to manipulate the minds of their victims. A hybrid can hunt alone, but make their prey feel like they're being hunted by DOZENS. They also have added aggression and a large appetite for meat. So they tend to take down bigger prey, rather than smaller prey. They could be considered the "lone wolves" of the mimic world. An offspring that's a TV type would have the bonding capabilities of a camera mimic and will bond together to make mega-packs. With their mental abilities, they would be able to make a hivemind with their pack members and give orders immediately. So they would function as a large organism made of multiple units. They also have parts that extend similar to the camera mimic kill method, be it claws or jaws. Camera Mimic x Speaker Mimic Hybrids: A relationship with these two are more likely than a TV mimic, but it would still be really uncommon. If one does manage to breed a pair, they would carry the attributes of both parents. An offspring that is speaker oriented will have a stronger pack-bonding sense and would value a hierarchy. Some will even become alphas! They gain antenna-like ear pieces and they can even speak fluently and normally. They can also gain superior vision, which makes them better hunters. Their voices are just as strong as speaker mimics, but it sounds like a grueling howl when they do so. An offspring that is camera oriented will have the more gentle and docile nature of the speaker parent. They will also be as tall as an alpha camera mimic naturally, which means if they wanted to grow into an alpha, they would become even bigger. They are far more nurturing and are centered around teamwork more than hierarchies. They care for their pack members diligently and will even have a frill similar to the speaker parent and will become immune to sound-based blasts. They also roar too, but it comes out more like a shrieking yowl.

[quasi-normalcy]

I don't care about spoilers - what is the Borg Semen Hypothesis?

Alrighty, so, in the latest season of Star Trek: Picard, it turns out that Jean-Luc and Beverly have an adult son named Jack. Jack has something going on with him that they've been teasing for the last six episodes; something that makes him see weird, viscera-looking things and mysterious red doors, that causes his irises to light up red, that gives him improbable combat abilities and the ability to telepathically assume control of other people's bodies.

We know that what's going on with Jack is in some way related to Picard--in particular, to the brain abnormality that he had in "All Good Things," which it turns out, may not have been Irrumodic Syndrome after all, but which is also present in Jack's brain.

So the Borg Semen Hypothesis, in its most general form, goes something like this: the syndrome in Picard's brain is actually related to something that the Borg did to him when he was Locutus. This either altered him on a subtle genetic level or it left some residual Borg nanotech in his system that was passed onto his son. In some versions of the hypothesis, they speculate that the Borg, or even Locutus "himself*", might somehow be behind the Rogue Changelings, who are the main enemies this season.

The evidence for it, such as it is:

When Jack sees the viscera for the first time, he's looking at Seven of Nine (an ex-Borg)

Improbable combat abilities and glowing red eyes (after a fashion) have been exhibited by Borg drones

The ability to infiltrate other people's brains and take control of their bodies is basically what the Borg do (albeit cybernetically, rather than telepathically)

When Jack surrendered to the villain Vadic in episode 8, he said "There's no point resisting" (which is, of course, just a paraphrase of "Resistance is Futile")

When Vadic is about to tell him what he is, she says that it's appropriate that Seven should be on-hand for the big reveal

He notes having felt lonely for his entire life, which is generally how Borg get when they're severed from the Collective

Vadic asks him if he can hear "so many voices," which is of course another Borg thing

Everyone has been talking about Locutus all season long

The evidence against it:

It seems kinda dumb?

The Borg have never operated organically or telepathically before

The "Borg are behind the whole thing!" variant runs into the problem that the Borg really aren't well-known for their subtle planning or lateral thinking abillity

They introduced a whole, separate Borg Collective in the previous season that's allied with the Federation and they haven't mentioned it this year, so it seems kind of ridiculous to not involve them if they're bringing back the OG Borg (although not any more ridiculous than some of the other plotting decisions that this series has made)

So yeah: Borg Semen Hypothesis.

__________________________________________

*I really dislike this part of the theory, because the whole point of Locutus is that "he" isn't a person, he's a subroutine of the Borg hivemind

[yuridovewing]

Yeah, as a nonbinary person who could get pregnant but never wants to, I find the way fans treat trans cats having litters really weird. Like as long as you depict it with respect because trans parents deserve it, it's not hurting anyone. Plus it's unfair to trans fans who want to have biokids. I saw a Warriors Roleplay outright ban trans cats from having children that werent adopted with the excuse of 'listening to trans voices'. Ok, well not every trans person is uncomfortable with the idea of having children and its unfair to act like thats the case. YOU can be uncomfortable with having kids and thats fine, but just because something makes you dysphoric doesnt mean nobody is allowed to do it.

ABSOLUTELY! Ohhh I have thoughts about that RP... "you can NEVER portray trans characters having bio kids, they HAVE to adopt because trans people having bio kids is wrong!! We're doing this because we love trans people and we know that not a single one has had or wants children! This is helpful!! We're helping!!"

This stuff does have an effect on the real world, too (maybe not our silly little cat headcanons, but the general discussion around this topic in a wider range) When you insist that you can't portray trans people having kids, to the point you ban it in an rp or lash out at trans creators who do so, how do you think that reflects onto trans people who not only want bio kids, but have already had bio kids? That people like them are so uncomfortable, it is an insult to other trans people to acknowledge they exist? That they are an Other, something abnormal, something the trans community should never accept?

I get it. There are a lot of trans people irl who don't want bio kids because of dysphoria, among several other factors. Anon and I are two of them! And there WERE some people genuinely being reductive about the topic and just making a single trans character in a gay ship trans for bio kids. But what trans people are you helping by banning the discussion altogether? We aren't a hivemind. We're all individuals with different needs and preferences. If your dysphoria is SO bad that you can't look at other trans people who haven't met your standard for whatever reason and you demand that they stay quiet and not exist for your comfort... it's time to work on yourself. And if you're not trans and you're saying this, please shut up, holy shit stop telling trans people how to write our own characters or how we should headcanon things.

And to be honest, I've grown kinda sick of being policed around what kind of trans characters we're allowed to write. This attitude extends to stuff like dysphoria, whether a character has taken steps to medically transition (and you'll get snapped at no matter what!), portraying GNC trans people, and more. It's not as prevalent in the warriors fandom, I think, but it's become so nitpicked that I'm exhausted.

[blackjackkent]

Stopped for a long rest and got a chat with Gale:

He's humming to himself and examining his own "reflection" in a magically created replica. Rakha stands there for quite a while before he notices she's there.

"Be with you in a moment!"

"What are you doing?" Rakha asks, blunt and questioning as ever.

"Indulging in a spot of vanity," he answers cheerfully. "Handsome devil, aren't I?"

Rakha says nothing. She isn't sure if he's serious. She isn't sure she would notice if he was handsome. People are all a bit strange to her in general at present, and he is one of the stranger ones. And she is certainly not adept enough at conversation yet to offer an inane pleasantry in response.

So she waits in silence, and eventually he clears his throat awkwardly and dismisses the illusion. "Be that as it may..."

He turns to face her. "Ceremorphosis," he says, matching her usual matter-of-fact declarative tone. "What does it make you think of?"

That word again. By far the most elaborate of those she's managed to accumulate so far. It represents death. Failure. Consumption by the illithid hivemind.

"Until recently," she says, in a deadpan with the solidity of titanium, "nothing at all."

It is, astonishingly enough, a joke. Until recently, nothing meant anything at all; the world could have begun two days ago for all she knows. He squints at her for a moment before smiling ruefully.

"Ah yes. The good old days." He lounges back on his heels and begins to tick items off on his fingers. "Day one - fever and memory loss. Day two - hallucinations and greying skin. Day three - hair loss and blood leaking from all orifices. Need I go on?"

(A/N: This is honestly one of the things that I fucking love about liveblogging games like this, and specifically what I'm finding/remembering I love about doing so with the same game multiple times, which I haven't done since Dragon Age Inquisition. It can be really fun to listen even to lines like this, which are the same on any given playthrough, and interpret them through a completely different lens based on the particular OC in question.

With Hector, this line was comedic - fuck no, he did not want Gale to go on. He did not want to know the horrific and gruesome details of the transformation; he was having a hard enough time as it was!

But with Rakha this reads completely differently. This is how I've already established Rakha herself talks - short clipped sentences. Accumulation of facts. Bringing together of details into a picture. And Gale already knows that she wants as many of those details as she can possibly accumulate (and even, potentially, that the reason he is not dead is because he can provide them). This is him offering her exactly what she wants in the way she is best equipped to process it.

And she is all over it. She wants him to go on, absolutely.)

Nod.

"Day four - excruciating pain as the skeleton and organs reform and reposition. Day five - the host's personality has disappeared. Fingers toes and limbs elongate. I take it you get the picture?"

"I do. But you might as well finish the picture."

"Day six - the flesh around the mouth splits to make way for tentacles. Day seven - a mind flayer is born," he finishes with some dramatic relish. Spreading his hands as if to say, you see?, he watches, waiting for her interpretation.

Her eyebrows knit together thoughtfully. It's been two days, as of this evening's rest. She thinks back through what he has just told her. "We should be having a fever by now," she says curtly. "Greying skin even."

He smiles. It's an expression she can't quite interpret, but almost looks impressed, or proud, like a teacher with his student who has solved a difficult problem - and to her surprise, she feels oddly gratified to have answered correctly. "Exactly," he says, pointing a finger at her chest. "Our orifices remain blissfully unbloodied, our heads remain clear, and our blood temperature normal. Any expert will agree - this is abnormal."

She squints at him intently. "Can you explain why the symptoms aren't showing?" she demands.

His smile fades and he shakes his head. "That, alas, is where my knowledge fails me," he admits. "A rogue might call it luck, a priest might call it fate. As for myself, I'm a pragmatic; I see the silence before the storm."

She considers this in silence. Luck, fate... perhaps. Perhaps there is comfort at the idea that this is simply random, or the act of some unseen god.

But she doubts it. She sees neither luck nor fate nor storm. Her companions have all said that the worm is likely not the cause of her memory loss; therefore there was some other player involved, something that put her on that ship with no memory of herself. Something that has seen to it that the worm in her head is shackled, and that the beast has free reign.

That is not fate. That is orchestration. And there is yet someone out there who must pay.

Gale watches her thoughtfully, clearly trying to read what is going on behind her eyes. What conclusion he comes to is equally hidden, though; he just smiles again, unreadably this time. "Something to sleep on," he says. "We should get some rest."

She nods, turns away, trudges towards her bedroll. But she has little expectation of sleep. Not after last night. Not after the sea of nightmares and the litany in her head.

Blood... blood... blood... blood... blood.

[bubble-popping]

Thinking of my god au with god!Dream and his Blob hivemind. Thinking of his constant appreciation and adoration of Techno bleeding into the bodies of his Blobs like a highly infectious disease. He'll talk about the Blood God to anyone that will listen and that includes his Blobs. His blossoming feelings become their obsession. The mere mention of Techno can drive them wild. They bounce in place and chirp and fall over themselves to be the first to see him, touch him, feel his warmth.

The happiness spreads like wildfire when Techno's around and it can be very overwhelming for Dream. All of them being so full of joy and eagerness at seeing their favorite person means Dream's absolutely overcome with a tidal wave of emotion. I can just imagine as Techno and Dream's relationship develops and Dream's trying to be subtle about his advances but the Blobs keep drowning him out with their excitement. His face is practically glowing with the blush of ichor as he stammers to demand his Blobs 'settle down already, you're embarrassing me!'

To be fair, he's not the only one. Techno's Chat is also crazy over Dream. They too grow loud and adamant at the mention of Dream and when he's around they're abnormally quiet to hear every word he says. Most of all, they constantly beg Techno to ask Dream to sing even though that means he'll fall asleep and 'you won't get to see him you nerds, you absolute buffoons.' He's also the only one to calm them down when they get overwhelming. Sometimes they purposely start mental riots just to make him see Dream.

When they are together, Chat is blissfully quiet and also completely lovesick, laughing at Dream's terrible jokes and fawning over his pretty face, while the Blobs will wiggle into any little nook and cranny they can to be next to Techno.

[fennel-tea-and-nightshade]

It's so weird knowing that Abnorman/Moros genuinely returns Elis feelings and yet this whole thing won't get resolved that easily...

[tempest-toss]

SCP-998 "Genuine Rabbits!"

Item #: SCP-998

Object Class: Keter*

Special Containment Procedures: Instances of SCP-998 are to be kept in pens fitting a standard living room. Should rapid reproduction ensue, pens must be spread across the site to not allow more than nine instances to be within close proximity. Instances should be fed three times daily, with an altering meal of carrots and lettuce. Should one begin to look sickly, immediately reach out to [DATA EXPUNGED]

Description: SCP-998 are what appears to be ordinary Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus, also known as the common bunny rabbit. Instances tend to encompass multiple species variations, but often appear as a cross between the Giant Rabbit and the American Fuzzy Lop Rabbit; the only outstanding difference is the extra long ears it sports. Physical characteristics such as length and weight remain the same.

SCP-998 was discovered on a rural farm after a report came in of the farmer's sudden passing. Agent Carlson tagged along with the locals to the scene, where they found the farmer with his throat torn open, the instances bounding along as if nothing was wrong. As Agent Carlson investigated, the townsfolk gathered the instances together, and were in turn brutalized by them. Agent Carlson successfully got into her car, followed by an instance and drove away. As she got far enough, the instance stopped attacking. Agent Carlson returned to find the instances had ceased their aggression. Agent Carlson was treated for injuries and the instances were sent to Site- ██

The instances of SCP-998 have a multitude of anomalous properties, listed below.

Abnormal Walking: While the instances can move like ordinary rabbits, SCP-998 prefers to roll onto its head and use its ears as legs. An x-ray showed that instances have a new bone structure in its ears to do this. Sleep Induction: Referred colloquially as "Reverse Parakeeting" by Lead Researcher Donna Sue, whenever an instance is placed on the head of any human or humanoid, they will forcibly fall asleep Regeneration: In a testing log, an instance fell and broke its leg. Moments passed and the instance's bones snapped back into place. Instance showed no pain during this endeavor. Hivemind: Once ten or more instances are placed within close proximity, a hivemind network is established. Instances will turn aggressive and begin seeking out humans to kill. During this tie frame they have a noticeably increased intelligence, methodically seeking out their prey. Should their number drop to nine or fewer under any circumstances they will return to a docile state. This can be done in a pacifistic manner. Increased Strength: In one breach it was shown that the instances could chew through metal and cables to force a door open. This has partially been replicated in docile testing with certain fruits and common items. High Velocity: While only occurring once, one instance flung itself into Researcher Amos with speeds of that of SCP-504, The Critical Tomatoes. Researcher Amos survived with over a third of his ribs fractured and one lung punctured, among other injuries. Self-Replication: Even if one instance is alone, it can reproduce itself, at a rate of instance every three months. It is theoretically possible for them to overpopulated, but their reproduction slows the more instances are in close proximity to them.

Should at any point SCP-998 breaches, contact [REDACTED]. If the situation is severe, emergency contact with O5-4 must be made after ensuring all personnel are safely off the grounds of the site.

[tache-noire]

Billie starks poll really confirming my belief that tumblr users are Abnormal About Women, but shrouded in hollow, low-effort attempts at empowerment.

You have two young people, Nick Wayne and Billie Starks. Only a year apart. 18 and 19.

Nick Wayne is voted "Pass", with most people's reasoning being that he's too young. This pattern emerged quite early, too.

Billie Starks, so far, is being voted "Smash."

Almost every woman has been voted "Smash."

In the A/B/O polls, almost every woman was voted "Alpha."

Meanwhile, men are all over the board. It's okay to think a man is unfuckable or submissive, but it's the absolute greatest sin to believe it about women.

Women are still being reduced to a hivemind, but in a Good And Empowering Way.

You're still not normal about women!

[chaineddeath]

starter for @stolencrownsofplenty

   Being a disciple was meant to be an honor, to be one of the trusted few to serve a god. If he were in any other situation, Narinder would have agreed with the statement. Yet, as he stood near the temple and stared out beyond the confines of the cult, he knew it to be a chain. It wasn’t the type that kept him locked in one place- he wasn’t dangerous enough to warrant that type of confinement anymore. No, it was more akin to a leash, simply a way to keep track of him. Why else would he have been given the dubious honor?

   Despite his immense distaste for being part of a damned hivemind, he could see the usefulness in it. A perfect way to keep track of your inner circle- to always ensure loyalty and devotion, to root out dissenters before there was even the mere chance of them speaking out. Nonetheless, he hated it. His own passing thoughts weren’t only his anymore- and even worse, he caught numerous passing thoughts from the rest of the Lamb’s inner circle. It had been insufferably loud in the beginning but it became manageable over time.

   It added another layer of complexity to his current situation. Escape felt nigh impossible due to the hivemind. No disciple would hesitate to rat him out. Yet, Narinder knows the power of patience. Time has always been one of his greatest allies. Complacency in mortals was to be expected, and it only grew as more time passed. All he needed was a moment when the majority of the hivemind was busy and assurance the Lamb wasn’t actively listening to their beloved mortals. 

   Once he was far within the forests of the Old Faith… No. He would not think of his research. He would not think of his family destroying his work. He would not think of what he has forgotten over the past eon. He thought about how the day went. He had picked quite a few pumpkins that day, some were big enough that he had to roll them on their sides to properly transport them. The rain in the early afternoon had been a bit refreshing, but bothersome since it came not long after the plants had finished being watered. If only it had rolled in two hours earlier. Focus on the repetitive work and what made it less mind numbing. 

   And as the sun began its descent, there was a flurry of whispers through the hivemind; the buzz to figure out what had to be done before night truly fell upon them. The quietness from the Lamb themself; they weren’t actively listening, or at the very least, Narinder knew well enough to assume this. 

   (It had taken him a while to realize that the Lamb was able to tune out the static completely and it had taken even longer to figure out any patterns to this)

   Now.

  Do not ponder or worry. Merely move. Only action matters. 

  Narinder kept out of sight as he walked, already knowing which paths and buildings to walk between. It wasn’t abnormal behavior for him to avoid others. It merely needed to be perceived as his normal routine. 

  He allowed himself to become more present as he approached the treeline. There were guards that patrolled the grounds, to ensure no heretics attacked while their god was away on a crusade. But the guards could easily turn around and stop escapees.

  He briefly listened, his gaze searching. Again, he couldn’t ponder this decision; Narinder needed to act. Allow his actions to speak for him rather than the whispers he was broadcasting into the static. 

  Once he made it past the treeline, Narinder kept close to the trees around him and kept his steps silent. He needed to get as far as possible before his absence was noticed or any of the guards realized there was a runaway.

[lasplaga]

♡ don’t think i sent one yet but 🤨🤨

●●●●● | ATTRACTION

○○○○○ | AFFECTION

●●●●● | INTEREST

○○○○○ | LOYALTY

○○○○○ | TRUST

「𝔖」 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃-𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄:

Osmund's attraction in Albert Wesker is purely based upon the fact that he would make a marvelous supper presentation ritually sacrificed upon a stone altar. Nothing more & nothing less. Granted Lord Saddler worships disease, Albert appears disgustingly perfect to the point of being uncanny / abnormal & this personally disturbs him. Progenitor in his belief system / personal experience causes biological stagnation & this is a principle of nature he utterly abhors.

There is absolutely no friendliness / affection to be found between the either of them at this point in time. I would have given a single point if he was aware about Jake's existence in 2004, as Osmund is a father himself & would delight in speaking with others ( more-so masculine figures ) about singlehandedly raising a child. However, that isn't to say this category cannot change with plotting / developments!

Lord Saddler's interest is sky-high due to the fact they are biological adversaries & predatory bioweapons. Las Plagas has canonical history in Kijuju & flourished alongside Sonnentrepp millions upon billions of years ago, even causing the inevitable collapse of The Ndipayan Kingdom. Whether or not Albert delved into the history of native Kijujians remains to be seen, but Los Iluminados has MANY religious artworks / motifs depicting Stairway of The Sun, even in Osmund's own church! Interest in him is purely from an antagonistic / scientific perspective.

Loyalty is nada for obvious reason. Albert is considered a heretic of the highest regard, so a super-villain team-up is more than likely out of the question!

Trust for similar reasons as above. Albert desires ( at least in 5 ) to engineer a new race of superhumans --- this goes against Los Iluminados philosophy & diminishes their existence as a Hivemind species. Parasites cannot survive for long if their selection / gene pool is extremely limited or able to thwart potential infection.