#Revival of Tech Trade

[gitakartecommerce]

The Revival of Tech Trade: Importing Computer Parts and Electronics from China to India Post-Border Conflict Resolution with Russia's Mediation-2024

Electronics from China: In the dynamic and politically sensitive landscape of international trade, the relationship between India and China has often been influenced by border conflicts, economic tensions, and geopolitical maneuvering. However, the recent resolution of a prolonged border conflict between the two countries—with Russian President Vladimir Putin playing a pivotal mediating role—has…

[writers-lore]

PJO Future AU head-cannon stuff (some ARE taken from other peoples head-cannons bc they’re awesome):

- Will Solace would not be a medic/be in the medical field— I feel like just because he’s good at it doesn’t mean he likes it. Maybe he’d be a teacher because of his leadership skills.

- I feel like from working in the infirmary and having people close to him pass, Nico would choose a medical field job. I feel like he’d be an RN (registered nurse) or doctor and work at like an urgent care (er is too crazy for him— or maybe it wouldn’t and he’d like the chaos)

- I also feel like there’d be a not so great injury and Nico would be like “Oh let me see” then see it and be like “oh that’s really cool” not much would phase him— or it would but he’d find it fascinating

- I feel like the fact that they didn’t have these new kinds of tech when Nico was growing up also adds to his fascination. Like what do you mean x-Ray machines exist?

- I feel like Percy would do well with water jobs— like maybe he’d be a marine biologist and he’d find it fun to just communicate with the ocean life.

- Frank and Hazel would take a lot of dual credit classes or graduate early from highschool so they could focus on the camp— like they’d take online stuff so they could spend more time focusing on camp. (hope that makes sense) I’m not sure what I think their careers would be.

- Leo would own his own mechanic shop after going to trade school (saw on tiktok)

- Jason (revived) would be a professor of history— probably mythology.

- As a Valgrace shipper (dont judge pls) I think that they’d get together shortly after Jason is revived (not too short— six months after?) because they’ve been through a lot already and don’t want to risk anything again.

Now, onto kids because I don’t see these often but I find it fun to imagine:

- Frank would be a girl dad. He’s got two daughters and is just so happy with them and Hazel.

- Percy and Annabeth would have three kids, two girls and a son, in that order. I feel like Percy and Annabeth would work hard to have good relationships with their kids and finally relax. I feel like they’d be sorta protective but also be very relaxed with them- educate them about being mature and making good choices.

- I feel like Annabeth would realize how important names were and try to name her kids after popular figures in history who had good stories

- Will and Nico would probably have two kids, both adopted, but one would be one of Will’s half-siblings/half-nephews. The kid was really little, like four or five, when he got to camp and Will just kinda adopted him so he didn’t have to be full-time at camp. They also have a daughter but not until the son is like 12. She’s also adopted and is also a half-blood but I feel like they wouldn’t know who her godly parent is until she’s 12 and then be shocked because she’s like a child of Zeus.

- Leo and Jason would wait a while and focus on their relationship and careers. Then they’d adopt two daughters (not at the same time) and raise them where they don’t know about half-bloods until they’re older. They’d probably be half-bloods so that way they could raise them the way they wished they were raised. Leo and Jason don’t want them to have to see and experience the stuff they had to at such a young age.

- I don’t think any of them would name their kids after any of their late friends. I saw someone, a while ago, bring up that it could result in bad memories or just not be an okay time yet to do so. So— I don’t think that Annabeth would name her kid Silena and I don’t think Nico would name his kid Bianca.

- However, I do feel like Annabeth and Percy would name their eldest Sally after Percy’s mom (it would work well with the headcannon that Annabeth would name her kids after people with good stories) and have her middle name be a positive powerful historical figure.

(I realize I left Piper out— I’ve been forgetting a lot about characters recently and need to go back and reread HOO in order to grasp what I think she’d do in the future)

[marlynnofmany]

Finger Talking

Captain Sunlight had said that these clients didn’t speak any trade language she’d ever learned, and as I caught sight of the two intelligent being who looked like the end result of what happens if hummingbirds nudge into anteaters’ ecological niche, I didn’t find that hard to believe.

They were green-feathered, flightless birds, with long beaks, longer tongues, and clawed feet dexterous enough to type out messages on the big keyboard they had laid out on the ground. It looked like the kind of thing I would have danced on as a kid. I pretended that I wasn’t imagining doing that now, as the shorter of the two sent a message onto the display screen that they wanted to haggle.

Mur stepped forward, tapping my ankle with a tentacle to say he had it covered. “Oh, you want to pay more? Double price, please.”

The beaky birds were of course grumpy about this. The short one typed quickly in a fashion that I was amused to realize was hunt-and-peck.

I looked down at Mur, who was cheerfully braiding grass with two tentacles, and waving several others like he was conducting an invisible squid orchestra. He was enjoying himself.

The screen beeped that the message was ready. It read, “We know our rocks are valuable to you. Ten barrels of your rocks for each barrel of our rocks.”

Okay, I hadn’t actually known the price that had been set ahead of time for this little exchange. These folks didn’t use standard currency, so when they sent out a request via random traveler for someone to bring them coal — something that was scarce their planet — in trade for shiny rocks that they had in abundance, Captain Sunlight had gone for it.

And if the rough gemstones bedazzling the cart that these birds had come in were any sign, we were about to make a very good deal no matter what the exchange rate was.

Mur said, “Two for one is already pretty generous. I’ll raise it to three, how about that?”

The birds conferred with each other briefly, making noises that echoed like someone trilling their tongue down a long tube — which was a pretty accurate description of what was happening, really. The short one typed in a reply.

I caught a glimpse of “8 for 1” before the alien technology did what technology everywhere does best: it failed unexpectedly. The screen spasmed wild patterns before going dark, and no amount of punching the keys made it light up again.

“Hm,” Mur said to me. “This could put a crimp in things. Maybe we should call Coals or Trrili?”

“They mostly do written translation,” I said. “And Trrili doesn’t strike me as the tactful sort.”

Mur twirled a tentacle to say I’d made a good point, while the birds tried to revive their tech with no luck. “I guess we just throw out numbers until we hit on something they look happy with,” he said. “This is going to be rough.”

“It shouldn’t be too bad,” I said. “At least they’ve learned the language, even though they can’t speak it. Honestly, I’ve had worse conversations before my vet training covered Gorilla Sign Language.”

He looked up at the unfamiliar word. “Nationality?”

“Species. Long story. Remind me to tell you about Citizen Animals on Earth.”

The birds were starting to disassemble the keyboard casing, using their claws like precision tools (though the tall one gave me the impression that more vigorous smashing was an eagerly-anticipated Plan B). They looked up when I stepped forward, holding up fingers.

“Five for one.” I flicked the fingers one at a time to count. “Five of ours, for one of yours.”

They caught on immediately, and luckily for all of us, they had the right number of talon-fingers to make this primitive conversation work.

Mur was no help, standing two steps back and holding up excessive numbers of tentacles, entertaining only himself. The birds and I managed to ignore him.

We settled on seven-for-one. I could have pushed for six, but I felt bad for them, and anyway I knew that we had the coal already portioned out into fourteen crates. The math was easier this way.

As we walked back toward the ship, to start bringing out the crates that Blip and Blop were unloading at the door, Mur chuckled beside me. “That was fun. I want to come up with ways to communicate like that more. Maybe cheating at table games.”

“I’d offer to teach you some actual sign language,” I said, “But everything I know is designed with fingers in mind.”

“That’s okay. I don’t need proper language to beat the scales off Eggskin. C’mon, it’ll be great. I’ll win several rounds in a row, they’ll get annoyed and demand to know how, I’ll explain, then refuse to give any winnings back. Perfect plan. Great times.”

I had to smile at that. “We’ll see,” I said. “First let’s finish the actual business.”

“Yep, yep, can’t forget that,” Mur agreed. “Maybe we’ll play table games with expensive rocks as tokens, like the high-society snobs we all are.”

“Sounds like great times to me,” I said.

~~~

The ongoing backstory adventures of the main character from this book. More to come! And I am currently drafting a sequel!

[anianurst]

The Sun and The Moon

Summary: Yuji’s return to the jujutsu world prompts you to say some words that you’ve been holding back

A/n: takes place in season one (ep 14), reader has a shy personality and is kinda based on an OC that I have but feel free to change some things to suit your tastes, hints to unrequited feelings on Megumi's part so some angst

Warning(s): mentions of death, unrequited feelings

"You know this could be considered a form of bullying?" Yuji whimpers, and you can't help the smile that forms on your face. Yuji always had a way of trying to be funny, which you appreciated. Nobara rolls her eyes and turns away from the pink-haired boy.

"Shut up and stay that way for a while."

Panda and Toge are quick to reason with the stubborn girl. Walking over to Yuji, you nod in agreement. "Gojo-sensei is the one that made Itadori-kun keep his revival secret. We shouldn't hold it against him," you add, gently taking the picture frame out of Yuji's hands and offering him a small smile. The boy grins back at you as his hands intertwine and comical tears fall from his eyes.

"(l/n)! You're an angel!" A red hue spreads on your cheeks, and you quickly turn away from the boy and return to your spot next to Megumi. Your eyes briefly meet his, and a buzz spreads in your heart. Megumi's always found it easy to read you (and you, him), so he tells the others to let you get some fresh air after discussing their plan for the exchange event. Silently nodding at him, you quickly leave to escape from the other student's question gazes, especially Yuji's.

Jujutsu Tech has always been beautiful. The landscape and quiet air have felt like home ever since your father brought you to the school as a toddler. Looking out at the swaying trees and tall grass, you sigh. You love the quietness and tranquility of the grounds, but at the same time, it fills you with unease.

Life as a sorcerer isn't meant to be calm and still. Kento's always been straightforward, reminding you of the grim reality of your lives. How quickly and abruptly it can. Either your's or your comrade's.

Maybe that's why Yuji's death at the detention center had impacted you more than it should have. Before, it was just you and Megumi, a stable and familiar life you've known ever since Satoru introduced Megumi into your life. It's a life you wouldn't trade anything for, but at the same time, it was always the same thing every day. When Yuji joined, it was like a bright ray from the sun had been cast upon your life. His cheery attitude and kind smiles were rare in the jujutsu world. Even though he knew that his death was inevitable and his future was grim, he still smiled so brightly.

Tears roll down your cheeks, and you curse quietly as you wipe them away. Even after wiping the fallen ones, new ones continue to fall, and you jump when you hear a worried voice call out to you.

"You okay, (l/n)?" Yuji asks, his eyebrows furrowed and a frown on his lips. He quietly moves to sit next to you, and you furiously nod while looking down at the ground. You didn't want Yuji to see you like this, like some crybaby. "Is...is this about me?" he whispers, and in a hope to spare him from guilt, you don't respond. "I wanted to tell you, ya know. More than anyone. I didn't like thinking that I was the reason you were sad."

You laugh shakily and lift your gaze to meet Yuji's. Despite your watery eyes, you smile at him. "When you died, it just reinforced something that I always knew."

"Huh?"

"In this life, as jujutsu sorcerers, good people always die." Yuji frowns even more at your grim words. "But, when I saw your body on the ground at the detention center," a shaky breath escapes your lips as your heart beats widely in your chest, "It was like the sun stopped shining."

Yuji's eyes widened at your words, and his lips parted in confusion. The sun? Him? "When we first met, you smiled so brightly. You were shining like the sun that comes after cloudy mornings." You can feel your cheeks burning and go back to starting at the ground ahead of you. A short silence passes, and a pit forms in your belly. Oh no, maybe you should've just kept your mouth shut. What if Yuji is creeped out? What if he thinks you're a total freak and tells everyone else but the stuff you said? What if he stops being frien-

"If I'm the sun, then you're the moon."

Huh?

"The moon always shines in the dark night and always calms everyone down like you do." Your eyes widen, and this time it's you who looks confused. Yuji chuckles at your face and delicately tucks a strand behind your hair before smiling his oh-so-bright-and-radiant smile. "When night comes, everyone looks up at the pretty moon."

Swallowing the lump in your throat, you giggle and smile at the boy beside you, the one you fell for at first sight. And it looks like that boy may have also fallen for you. Two lovers who always gravitate around one another and share a cosmic connection that transcends all.

Extra:

"Go talk to her," Megumi says, and Yuji raises a brow. 'Megumi's a confusing guy', Yuji thinks.

"But you just said that (l/n) needs some air and I don't wanna bother her." The stoic boy rolls his eyes and lifts Yuji from the floor by his hood. A different kind of frown pulls at his lips.

"Just go talk to her, moron." Yuji raises his hands in surrender and fixes his hood as he exits the room. Megumi excuses himself shortly after and stands in the hall alone.

His heart clunches pitifully as his hands tighten into fists. Why had you fallen for Yuji? Why not him? 'No', he thinks. He already knows the answer, which pains him even more.

If you were like the moon, then Megumi was like the stars, the first to see your beautiful glow and always wishing that you would notice him.

[therapeutic007]

🌟✨ MAGA Vibes Only! ✨🌟

Okay, fam, let’s talk about what happens if President Trump makes his glorious return in 2024. 🇺🇸🔥

America First, Always: If he comes back, expect a major revival of the America First agenda! We’re talking about prioritizing American jobs, energy independence, and securing our borders. Imagine a new wave of policies designed to bring manufacturing back home! 🏭💪

Draining the Swamp 2.0: Trump knows the deep state is still lurking. You can bet he’ll double down on rooting out corruption in D.C. and dismantling the bureaucratic nonsense that holds our country back. This time, he’s got allies in Congress ready to help him clean house! 🧹🚫

Economic Boom: Remember that pre-pandemic economy? If he returns, expect tax cuts, deregulation, and a stock market that soars! Trump will likely push for a massive infrastructure plan to create jobs and revitalize cities across America. 💰📈

Foreign Policy Reboot: Get ready for a firmer stance on China and a renewed focus on our allies. Trump might even revive his peace initiatives in the Middle East, showing the world that America can lead without endless wars. 🌍✈️

Constitutional Rights: You can count on him to defend our freedoms! Whether it’s gun rights, free speech, or religious liberty, he’ll be a staunch advocate for our Constitutional rights. It’ll be all about empowering the American people! 📜🔒

Grassroots Movement: Trump knows the power of the people! Expect to see him rallying his base like never before, utilizing social media and public appearances to energize his supporters and bring them into the fold for local elections too! 📣🤝

Innovative Tech and Trade: Watch out for a focus on American tech innovation and fair trade deals that prioritize American workers. Say goodbye to unfair competition and hello to a thriving tech sector that benefits us all! 💻🇺🇸

So, what do you think, MAGA fam? Let’s keep the energy high and stay united! 🔥💥 _______

Trump Daddy's Home Tshirt Best Seller Here

[jaynetodd]

batfam meeting minutes: the one where jayne tries to explain herself

sits backward on chair in the middle of the batcave, spinning slightly and munching on a bag of chips that definitely came from Alfred's "emergency snack" cabinet

Damian: Todd, explain your presence immediately. You're getting crumbs everywhere.

Dick: I think what Damian means is, we're all a little curious about your... situation.

Bruce: brooding silence

Me, with my mouth full: My what now?

Tim, not looking up from his laptop: Your existence. How you're... you know... Jayne instead of Jason. The whole revival thing.

Jason, leaning against a wall with arms crossed: Yeah, I'd like to know that too, considering I'm standing right here. This some kind of multiverse bullshit?

dramatically throws hands up, sending chips flying everywhere

Oh THAT! Yeah, I have absolutely no idea. One minute I was, you know, SUPER dead. Like, crowbar-to-the-face, explosion, the whole shebang. Next thing I know I'm waking up in a Lazarus Pit, except I've got... gestures vaguely at entire body all THIS going on.

And then some League of Assassins guy goes "Welcome back to the land of the living, Jayne Todd" and I was like "Sure, whatever" because arguing seemed like a lot of work when my brain was still basically green pit soup.

So now I'm Jayne! Ta-da!

jazz hands

Bruce: deeper brooding silence

Barbara, wheeling in with coffee: So you just... accepted it?

Alfred, appearing with a tray of sandwiches: I believe what Master Bruce is failing to articulate is concern about having two versions of the same person in one timeline.

Duke, grabbing a sandwich: I'm still new here, but even I know this isn't the weirdest thing to happen to this family.

I mean, I was busy having a Lazarus Pit rage episode and planning my dramatic revenge return to Gotham. The gender thing seemed like a minor detail at the time. Plus, turns out having a completely different body is actually super convenient when you're trying to hide from your former mentor who thinks you're still six feet under.

Steph, appearing suddenly: That's the most on-brand thing I've ever heard.

Cass: nods approvingly

Harper, fiddling with some tech: So we've got two Todds now? Double the attitude, double the fun.

Kate, checking her weapons: As long as you both remember who the superior redhead in this family is.

Jason: There can't be two of me. This doesn't make any sense.

shrugs and steals Tim's coffee

Look, I don't ask questions about my weird resurrection situation, and in return, the universe doesn't send me back to being dead. Seems like a fair trade. Now who wants to help me test out the new grappling hooks I "borrowed" from the GCPD evidence locker?

Jason: makes eye contact with me ...I'll bring the ammo.

[genshinconfessions]

Had a whole 2hr conversation with my friend on how bad natlan was lol

Main points we discussed:

-it doesn't give off war vibe at all,it should've been nation of song and dance/transportation/trade

-the tech doesn't fit into the teyvat world building at all,and they maybe could've remedied it by saying it was very new tech and are working to trade it off to other nations(could make a whole event on trading shit idk)

-couldve introduced the revival plot at the end,where mavuika didn't know she could revive people,so the characters would've been more afraid of war

-speaking of characters,none of them exuded the fear of war despite it being. War. Yk. They die and shit.(but the whole revival thing just negates that fear ig)

-the whole vibe of natlan is off,inazuma pulled it off better,at least inazuma had abandoned spears,deserted islands,bodies everywhere,whereas you can spot none of these in natlan

-also the fashion choices,i get that genshin has the whole famservice but like c'mon. That zipper suit,ripped jeans and surfer outfit? You want ne to be convinced that it's war over here?

Just a rant atp,I'm just. So disappointed in natlan,fontaine was amazing and they just fumbled the ball so hard it's astounding. Hopefully they learn and snezhnaya goes back to fontaine-level of good yk

.

[thoughtportal]

Microsoft deal would reopen Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power AI

Pennsylvania’s dormant Three Mile Island nuclear plant would be brought back to life to feed the voracious energy needs of Microsoft under an unprecedented deal announced Friday in which the tech giant would buy 100 percent of its power for 20 years.

The restart of Three Mile Island, the site of the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history, would mark a bold advance in the tech industry’s quest to find enough electric power to support its boom in artificial intelligence.The plant, which Pennsylvanians thought hadclosed for good in 2019 amid financial strain, would come back online by 2028 under the agreement, according toplant owner Constellation Energy.

If approved by regulators, Three Mile Island would provide Microsoft with the energy equivalent it takes to power 800,000 homes, or 835 megawatts. Never before has a U.S. nuclear plant come back into service after being decommissioned, and never before has all of a single commercial nuclear power plant’s output been allocated to a single customer.

But the economics of both the power and computing industries are changing rapidly. Tech companies are scouring the nation for power that is both reliable and helps them meet their pledge to fuel AI development with zero emissions electricity — driving a nuclear power revival.

“The energy industry cannot be the reason China or Russia beats us in AI,” said Joseph Dominguez, chief executive of Constellation. “This plant never should have been allowed to shut down, ... It will produce as much clean energy as all of the renewables [wind and solar] built in Pennsylvania over the last 30 years.”

Follow Climate & environment

The four-year restart plan would cost Constellation about $1.6 billion, he said, and is dependent on federal subsidies in the form of tax breaks earmarked for nuclear power in the 2022 Inflation Recovery Act.

Constellation will also need to clear steep regulatory hurdles, including intensive safety inspections from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has never before authorized the reopening of a plant. The deal also raises thorny questions about the federal tax breaks, as the energy from the plant would all be produced for a single private company rather than a utility serving entire communities.

A partial reactor meltdown at Three Mile Island in 1979 sent the nation into a panic and the nuclear industry reeling. The unit that Constellation plans to fire back up sits adjacent to the one that malfunctioned 45 years ago.

Constellation and Microsoft conceived the novel deal to solve a deepening energy problem. The sprawling data centers Microsoft and other digital giants need have become so big and energy-intensive that they are straining existing power supplies across the nation.

Constellation disclosed months ago that it was exploring options for restarting Three Mile Island, which sits along the Susquehanna River. The news was met with mixed reactions. Nuclear safety advocates expressed alarm. But some community leaders welcomed the development, seeing potential to revive an economic anchor in a region beset with financial hardship. A study funded by the Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council says a reopening would create 3,400 jobs at the plant and in businesses serving it and its workers, and generate $3 billion in state and federal taxes.

The tax breaks in the Inflation Recovery Act are crucial to making the deal economically feasible, according to Constellation. They provide a credit for every megawatt hour of nuclear energy produced.

Constellation declined to provide details about its contract with Microsoft or disclose the value of tax credits. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has said in the past that federal subsidies could cut the cost of bringing a new plant on line by as much as half.

The announcement of the Microsoft deal follows an agreement Amazon reached with Talen Energy to purchase power produced by the financially troubled Susquehanna nuclear plant for a planned data center campus in Pennsylvania. That arrangement is running into snags with regulators, as regional utilities express concern that their ratepayers will be saddled with the bill for the power grid updates needed.

Amazon’s plan also raised concerns among clean-energy advocates that tech companies are shifting from driving the transition to clean energy to elbowing others out of it by claiming such large amounts of available clean electricity for themselves.

Dominguez argues that the Three Mile Island case is an example of how Silicon Valley’s outside-the-box thinking will help stabilize the power grid for everyone. The power from the plant will not go directly to Microsoft facilities but into the overtaxed regional power grid that serves 65 million people across 13 states and the District of Columbia, called the PJM Interconnection.

Nuclear power is considered “clean” because unlike burning natural gas or coal to produce electricity, it does not create greenhouse gas emissions. The plants are expensive to build or restart, and industry still has no long-term solution for spent but highly radioactive uranium fuel rods.

“This agreement is a major milestone in Microsoft’s efforts to help decarbonize the grid in support of our commitment to become carbon negative,” said a statement from Bobby Hollis, vice president of energy at Microsoft.

Dominguez said other ratepayers on the PJM grid will not be expected to shoulder any of the costs, nor will Constellation be seeking special subsidies fromthe state of Pennsylvania.

Constellation has already been doing extensive testing at Three Mile Island.It says most of its components are ready to operate again. “The plant is in extraordinary shape,” Dominguez said.

Three Mile Island is not the only nuclear plant the industry is eager to revive. The owners of a plant in Western Michigan called Palisades are also working to bring that dormant facility back. That project was approved for a $1.5 billion federal loan guarantee. The plant owner, Holtec, says it hopes to feed nuclear energy from Palisades into the region’s power grid by late next year.

The Palisades effort came about at the urging of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), as her state struggles to both meet its climate goals and generate adequate energy. The plant was destined for permanent closure when Holtec acquired it in 2022. The company had planned to decommission the facility but changed course after conversations with the governor.

On Wednesday, though, that plan was dealt a setback when federal nuclear regulators disclosed “a large number of steam generator tubes” could be faulty and need further inspection. Holtec said the finding does not alter its plans. But some nuclear safety advocates argue the company’s push to quickly reopen the plant puts the public at risk.

The huge cost and regulatory headaches associated with nuclear power are not deterring the tech industry from betting on it. In a remarkable turn of fortune for an industry that just a few years ago was struggling to stay competitive and focused mostly on closing plants, it now finds itself in expansion mode. Beyond seeking contracts for power from existing plants, tech companies are also bullish on next generation nuclear technologies.

Several are investigating the potential of locating their facilities near small modular nuclear reactors that could feed them power directly. Such technology is in its infancy and has not yet been approved by regulators. That isn’t stopping a company chaired by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates from doubling down on it. The firm, called Terra Power, this year began construction at what it plans to be a small reactor site in site in Wyoming.

Microsoft is also pursuing power from nuclear fusion, a potentially abundant, cheap and clean form of electricity that scientists have been trying to develop for decades — and most say is still a decade or more away from generating electricity. Microsoft has signed a contract to purchase fusion energy from a start-up that claims it can deliver it by 2028.

correction

A previous version of this article misspelled the last name of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The article has been corrected.

[ponds-of-ink]

(Catching Up On) Springtrap Month 14#: “Singing/Dancing”

I guess this is also my St. Patrick’s Day special, of sorts? (I hope everyone had a good St. Patrick’s Day, even if this post isn’t about that.)

Anyway, let’s cut to the chase: How exactly is Springtrap supposed to sing with those wrecked vocal chords? Well, it’s all thanks to a bit of ghostly ventriloquism and the ability to make up an explanation for the random British guy talking through a walkie-talkie long beforehand…

@incorrect-fnaf-quotes, it’s time for the rabbit’s show. :]

—

The workers filed out, group by group. First, the cashiers and ticket-handlers who traded secondhand stories about their day. Next exited the attraction’s cleaning crew an hour or so later. Then, after the usual check-in with the main “star” of this Fazbear horror show, the technicians left an hour to midnight. Finally, there was the security guard that worked during the day. He would remain in that building until five minutes to midnight— Just resting in the front office while Springtrap either wandered around or fell asleep.

Tonight, however, the guard couldn’t really rest rest. Not while his gears of his mind churned along at top speed.

He leaned against his chair. Staring up at the ceiling while he twirled a pencil in his hand. “There’s no chance Spring’s voice box still works, right?” he asked himself, thinking back on the day’s findings. “It’s got to be corroded to the core by now. But that’s what we thought about the rabbit himself at first, so now I dunno…”

Metallic footsteps lumbered down the hall. The pencil stopped twirling. “It’s open; Spring,” the guard called out lazily. 

The door slowly creaked open. A withered, rabbit-like creature leaned in. In its hand, a walkie talkie buzzed with static. “There you are!” a smooth, almost posh voice exclaimed through the walkie-talkie’s tinny speakers. “We were thinking you left Springtrap to his own devices.”

The guard only let out a tired “mm”.

Springtrap tilted his head. His good ear raised a little.

“Is something the matter?” the voice in the walkie-talkie asked with a hint of concern. “You sound rather conflicted.”

“Well, Will, that’s one way to put it,” the guard chuckled as he swiveled his chair to properly face the rabbit. “I’m really just… stumped, if anything.”

“‘Stumped’?” Will repeated, more intrigued than worried. “About what, exactly?”

The guard pinched the bridge of his nose. He sighed deeply. “I was wondering if Ol’ Springs here could sing like he used to,” he mumbled, keeping his eyes closed for a moment. “The tech crew found some old blueprints today, and one of them was a diagram for his voice-box. ..Which, I figure, is absolutely corroded.”

Springtrap lowered his head. His posture slumped. He nodded slowly.

“Yes, I do believe it is,” Will agreed with equal disappointment. “And, even if the red gunk and wires somehow ‘revived’ it, the audio wouldn’t even sound decent. A shame, really.”

The guard bobbed his head listlessly. “Welp, nothing we can do about it,” he sighed, turning his attention to the nearby desk. “Thanks for answering my question.”

“You’re very much welcome,” Will replied before humming in thought. “…Though, given my involvement with the earliest days of this rabbit, I thought you would’ve asked me to sing.”

Springtrap’s ear raised. His shoulders moved up and down, as if to imply a voiceless laugh.

“No, I wasn’t,” the guard replied, looking back at the ‘pair’, “but now you’ve got me curious. What can you sing, Will?”

Will fumbled as Springtrap stared intently at the radio. “Nothing too bombastic, I can assure you,” Will finally answered. “I haven’t really sung in a long time, let alone as any character.”

“‘Kay,” the guard responded, twirling the pencil in his hand yet again. “..Call this a strange read, but you sound like the kinda guy who could pull off one of those fairy tale-sounding ballads. Like Scar… Scar-borrow…?”

“Scarborough Fair,” Will interrupted in a frail tone. “And, though I wouldn’t call it a fairytale ballad, I… suppose I could try.”

Springtrap, meanwhile, rolled his eyes. He entered the room proper, then put the device up to his ear.

The guard watched as Spring followed Will’s (rather quiet) instructions. Movement by movement, Spring’s posture became much more animatronic-like. When he finished his preparations, the walkie-talkie crackled to life again. “Are you ready, day-guard?” Will asked with a slight tremor.

“Sure, if you are,” the guard replied, leaning back in his seat. “Just start when you’re ready.”

Springtrap stared at the device yet again, then refocused. With some effort, both man and machine performed that song of old. Will’s voice—though obviously wavering from nervousness—rumbled through the air.

Are you going to Scarborough Fair?

Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme

Remember me to one who lives there

She once was a lover of mine…

Springtrap followed along as best he could. Moving his jaw just enough to sync with Will’s singing. Raising and lowering his ear to match the general emotion. He even attempted to perform much like a regular animatronic of his time would— Stiff, simple movements like moving an arm back and forth.

Despite the imperfections in both parts of the “show”, the guard couldn’t help but be impressed. The whole moment felt like those childhood tapes of Freddy’s that he’d watch on sick days. Just animatronics on a basic stage without a care in the world. ‘Singing’ along to songs that their voice actors probably spent hours trying to rehearse. In fact, Will’s singing reminded him of that one guy who’d play that rascally yellow Bonnie on occasion. Always… so soothing to listen to…

By the time they finished the third verse, both Springtrap and Will halted their performance— one after the other. Springtrap looked at the guard slumped over in his seat. A faint snooze reached his good ear. He “chuckled” to himself as he leaned against the door. “Well, that didn’t take long,” he thought to himself. “A shame that he fell asleep, but that’s understandable. At least I get to rest my ‘voice’ before the night shift starts.”

[twilightknight17]

Last time on P3R: fun, not-fun, and another full moon!

Also, Koromaru <3

So I went back into Tartarus because two people wandered in like… three days before the full moon. So I gotta go get them. BUT. Elizabeth informed me that there was also something else in Tartarus I needed to rescue.

HOW did you get to the 72nd floor, kitty??? I mean, we got him out, he’s fine, but just ?????????

Elizabeth also requested another outing, this time to Naganaki Shrine. We had a great time. It’s actually really refreshing to have Elizabeth around. In a world where everyone seems to be some shade of unhappy, she’s full of wonder about the small things.

She recognizes a slide and a jungle gym, which means she’s seen them before somewhere. Do you think the Velvet attendants were kids once, like Lavenza? Now I want a whole room of the Velvet Room that looks like Discovery Zone.

Anyway, it’s full moon again. We’re off to an… abandoned underground military facility on the north side of the city. We didn’t have any trouble getting in, but once we arrived and determined that the shadow was deeper underground, we were surprised by two out of three of our weird trio of midnight assassins.

At least they’ve introduced themselves now.

Strega is pissed off that we’re trying to destroy the full moon shadows and Tartarus, because… they’re selfish, basically. If we get rid of the Dark Hour, they might lose their powers.

They like running around in a hidden hour, playing god. They like being untouchable assassins. And they don’t actually think Apathy Syndrome or anything worse that might come is something to worry about.

I mean… he’s not wrong, considering how many times over the course of Persona canon that humanity has almost destroyed itself. But like… dude. We still have to try.

Takaya and Jin lock us in the underground facility. Kudos to them, I guess, for not just shooting us dead right there. If they’re not killing anyone but their targets… at least they have some sense of decency? So, rather than banging on the impenetrable steel door, we’re going to head down into the dark to go look for the shadow.

...fun.

There are OLD ROCKETS AND DEAD BODIES DOWN HERE. Why would you just leave this stuff like this, wtf????

Anyway, something like 30 meters underground, we find the Justice Shadow! Or maybe Chariot?

Or both! It splits in half when you hit it hard enough. Which… the only thing that seemed to hit it hard enough was my theurgy abilities, so that was kind of a slog. They also do the thing where if one dies, the other revives it, so you have to balance your attacks so you can kill them in the same turn. I liked it. And the designs for these were cool. Half the full moon shadows so far have had really good designs, and the other half have just sort of been “...okay?” XD

So after the shadows are down, we call Ikutsuki to inform him that we won, but we are stuck in the base.

...sir, you could be a little more concerned???

Who are you sending, it’s still midnight???? Are you making us wait out the Hour? Hello????

We all make it back safe, though, and Pharos comes to visit literally the next night. I feel like I should be concerned that he showed up right away, but that’s fine. Hi, dude.

...baby boy, you could be a little more specific. X’D If we’ve got a traitor, that’s kind of important info.

Elizabeth gives me a chain-of-deals sidequest the next day, with the weird stipulation that she doesn’t want anything specific. She just wants me to trade the random bandage she gives me and turn it into something cool. I traded all over Iwatodai and ended with…

If she’s happy with what I got her, I’m glad. ^_^

Mitsuru calls a meeting in the evening, and we learn that Koromaru is better, and officially joining the team now!

No one’s really sure how this tech works, but with Aigis translating, we learn that Koromaru wants to help us because we saved him. He’s such a good boy. T_T

With the shadows eliminated and our fluffy new teammate, I’m ready for the rest of summer to be aweso---

...you know, Mitsuru, when I jokingly called you “mom”, it was just that. A joke. You didn’t have to do this to us. I’ve already had a week of mandatory track practice.

Fuuka claims that it’s only for “a few weeks”, so we should make the best of it. Actual school starts again in less than a month!! When do I get a break!! There’s at least two part-time jobs I haven’t even managed to try out yet because there’s no time!!

At least if I’m back at school, maybe I can rank up some of my school social links…

But first, we’re going on an outing with Junpei for some summer fun. We’re gonna smash a watermelon! And learn some more about Junpei in the process.

Instead of using Junpei’s childhood bat, Akihiko smashes the melon with his bare hands. Which… holy shit, senpai.

Adding injury to insult in terms of my summer break, Ikutsuki has decided that we all need to go to the doctor. You’re not my dad! Leave me alone! But I cannot refuse. We’re going one at a time, and my appointment is on the second to last day of summer school (which is only a week, btw, Fuuka).

Summer school sucks, though. Like… not only is it another week of just “go in, see cutscene, go home”, it takes my evening slots away too! Six days of getting nothing done, and the worst part is, even though it gave me points towards my academics for each day, my academics still didn’t rank up!! Ugh. X’’’’D

Thank god you can pet Koromaru.

When Friday rolls around, it’s off to the hospital for a checkup, which… goes very weirdly. Apparently Minato’s took much longer than everyone else’s, because his persona power is so unique. They had to run so many more tests! But, uh… what kind of tests are you running on personas at the hospital? That’s weird, Ikutsuki. What are you testing for?

He comments on how we’ve been making so much more progress since Minato arrived in Iwatodai.

Well, I am the Protagonist. B)

Apparently my fucking doctor’s appointment took so long that by the time I get back to Iwatodai station, it’s midnight. Like, wtf, Ikutsuki. Fuuka’s on-call with Lucia to make sure I get home safe, but before I can go anywhere, she detects a shadow in the city, like the night Koromaru got hurt.

LET’S GOOOOOOO, MOONLIGHT BRIDGE.

Sprinting off to Moonlight Bridge, I do not get to actually run around, but I do find Takaya and a weirdly fucked-up-looking Abbadon.

Minato and I are not willing to leave anyone to die, even if it’s this dude, so we team up to take out our common foe. Takaya’s gun is really effective, but we also get to see him summon his persona.

Dude looks like he’s in pain while summoning, and no wonder, considering what his persona looks like.

We successfully take out the shadow, and Takaya leaves before Mitsuru can show up to get me. But not before acknowledging that he owes me for my help. We’re enemies, but he doesn’t leave his debts unpaid.

Dude’s bonkers, but again, apparently has some sense of decency in there somewhere.

The summer festival rolls around, and it’s nice. We went with Aigis and Mitsuru, to give Aigis some more regular human experiences.

...I just suggested that we hold hands!

Koromaru is also a regular part of the household now, so you can spend time with him like you do your other teammates. Either going for walks, or…

You know what? Okay. Let’s do it.

Outstanding.

Lastly, since NONE of my school confidants are available to rank up, I guess we’re going out with the Gourmet King, again. Who is 100% legit in a cult and I am uncomfortable.

DUDE, NO. I’m not drinking your damn kool aid. I’m going home to watch more documentaries with Koromaru. X’’’’D

Next time I need to head back into Tartarus to see about the new area that unlocked. I’ve been trying to go for like a week, but stuff keeps happening at night! God, P3, I’m trying to manage my time and you are killing me. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’m not gonna max everyone’s links this time around, but I want to at least try, you know?

[daywalkers-fic]

14. Even more happenings of the 1880s

continuation from update #12 about why the 1880s are an interesting decade. It’s been a difficult last little while. feeling distant from myself and tried to get back in touch to some things that help steady me. like info dumps. this was gathering dust in my drafts and I decided to tidy her up tonight why not.

Child labour in the U.S. climbing in numbers (all the way until the 1920s!!) a lot in farming, mining, textile industry. In most families, children breadwinners because lots of opportunities for them to be exploited work

By this time already, we got some familiar names and reputations established. Active and/or died 1870s~1880s: Jesse James, Sam Bass, Billy the Kid, Calamity Jane, Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill

By late-post Reconstruction era, state penitentiaries unhinged, physically and administratively deteriorating. Summarized as: cruel torture practices, immigration, eugenics, and ‘prisons as laboratories’; incarcerated would rather hurt themselves than be subject to brutal prison punishment

Continuation on the racial violence: the Jim Crow laws that began in the previous decade grew more violent, severe, and widespread. Legalized racial segregation and dodgy enforcement of laws. nadir of American race relations: anti-black violence and racism would he the most prominent than in any period in American history

Continuation on the rise of ragtime via African American musicians: emergence of white minstrel performances that put racist, dehumanizing, derogatory lyrics over the music ☠️

Gilded Age: “Historians saw late 19th-century economic expansion as a time of materialistic excesses marked by widespread political corruption”; Industry boom invents the capitalist barons, wealth disparity, exploitation, labour unions, workers strikes… ✨ socialism

gaelic culture revival in Ireland, continued unrest against the British and revolutionary activities

Texas Rangers already a thing but locales started to organize more of their own “law enforcement” police. Crush political unrest, legalize violence against Indigenous and black populations

1850s through to the start of the turn of the century, “Anglo-Japanese style” in fashion, architecture, art, design. Result of the “opening up” of Japan to Europe, which led to more flow of capital between Japan and Europe. Trade, culture, art moved back and forth. Trendy among elites who could afford the fancy imports. fetishization and commodification and essentializatiom of Japanese culture. Fascination of the “far east”

In the face of scientific discovery and change, spiritualism movement was one of the ways for people to cope and explore their fears, aspirations, fantasies, beliefs. started in the mid 1800s. Grief and mourning culture. Speaking with the dead, ghosts, mediums, publications, séances. Entwined with gender politics and roles. See, The American phantasmagoria: The rise of spiritualism in nineteenth-century America by Daniel Bowlin

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire is published in 1883 by America’s Howard Pyle, sparking an interest in literature featuring the heroic rogue

Oscar Wilding out

it’s been some time since the first 1880s world history dump. I forgot I left myself a little (to be continued) list. crossing off what I got here let’s see hmmm

prison industry / spiritualism / opium epidemic / irregular and uneven “modernizations” in rural vs. urban areas / class and poverty gaps / morality scares, checks, comparisons, gaps / new businesses and gadgets, products, tech to help with anything / fascination of the (colonial) Other; side shows, “freak shows” and other human zoos

[beardedmrbean]

Big taxes will be imposed on imports of electric vehicles from China to the EU after the majority of member states backed the plans.

The move to introduce tariffs aims to protect the European car industry from being undermined by what EU politicians believe are unfair Chinese-state subsidies on its own cars.

Tariffs on electric cars made in China are set to rise from 10% to up to 45% for the next five years, but there have been concerns such a move could raise electric vehicle (EV) prices for buyers.

The decision, which split EU member states such as France and Germany, risks sparking a trade war between Brussels and Beijing, which has condemned the tariffs as protectionist.

China has been counting on high-tech products to help revive its flagging economy and the EU is the largest overseas market for the country's electric car industry.

Its domestic car industry has grown rapidly over the past two decades and its brands, such as BYD, have begun moving into international markets, prompting fears from the likes of the EU that its own companies will be unable to compete with the cheaper prices.

The EU imposed import tariffs of varying levels on different Chinese manufacturers in the summer, but Friday's vote was to decide if they were implemented for the next five years.

The charges were calculated based on estimates of how much Chinese state aid each manufacturer has received following an EU investigation. The European Commission set individual duties on three major Chinese EV brands - SAIC, BYD and Geely.

EU members were divided on tariffs. Germany, whose car manufacturing industry is heavily dependent on exports to China, was against them. Many EU members abstained in the vote.

German carmakers have been vocal in opposition. Volkswagen says tariffs are "the wrong approach".

However, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland were reported to have backed the import taxes. The tariffs proposal could only have been blocked if a qualified majority of 15 members voted against it.

Germany's top industry association, BDI, called on the European Union and China to continue trade talks over tariffs to avoid an "escalating trade conflict".

The European Commission, which held the vote, said the EU and China would "work hard to explore an alternative solution" to the import taxes to address what it called "injurious subsidisation" of Chinese electric vehicles.

China's Commerce Ministry called the decision to impose tariffs "unfair" and "unreasonable", but added the issue could be resolved through negotiations.

The dispute has raised fears among industry groups outside the car sector that they could face retaliatory tariffs from China.

A trade body for the French cognac industry said the French authorities "have abandoned us".

"We do not understand why our sector is being sacrificed in this way."

It said a negotiated solution needed to be found that would "prevent our products from facing a surtax that could exclude them from the Chinese market".

'Serious concerns' over UK sales

Figures show that in August this year, EU registrations of battery-electric cars fell by 43.9% from a year earlier.

In the UK, demand for new electric vehicles hit a new record in September, but orders were mostly driven by commercial deals and by big manufacturer discounts, according to the industry trade body.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said firms had "serious concerns as the market is not growing quickly enough to meet mandated targets".

The industry has warned that drivers need better incentives to buy electric to help manufacturers ahead of the planned ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles. Under the Conservative government the deadline for this ban was pushed back to 2035 from 2030, but Labour has pledged to bring it back to 2030.

Car makers are required to meet electric vehicle sales targets. Under the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, at least 22% of vehicles sold this year must be zero-emission, with the target expected to hit 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2035.

Manufacturers that fail to hit quotas could be fined £15,000 per car.

The bosses of several car companies, including BMW, Ford and Nissan, wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Friday saying the industry was likely to miss these targets.

They said economic factors such as higher energy and material costs and interest rates had meant electric cars remained "stubbornly more expensive and consumers are wary of investing". The average cost to buy an electric car in the UK is around £48,000.

They said a "lack of confidence" in the UK’s charging infrastructure was another barrier to encourage people to switch to electric.

[shimmerbeasts]

Shimmer

Nobody really knows the origin of Shimmer. Certainly, not Silco and Singed when they began to make use of the strange chemical substance, they could extract from Rio's mutated body. For them, it was less about where Shimmer came from and more about what could be done with it as they quickly realised, that Shimmer had the capacity for a lot of things. The two main elements, they chose to focus on, were Shimmer's exhilarating healing/growth factor and the way, it amplified your rage and aggression as it seemed to directly influence something in your Amygdala, triggering an excessive release of adrenaline and other violence-related hormones.

The drug, which would eventually be called Shimmer, was developed with the idea in mind that it should respond most ideally towards Zaunite biology, ergo the drug was developed with the fact that most had Vastayan ancestors and thus genes in mind. This means that for Shimmer to work correctly and at its most efficient, you have to have Vastayan DNA in your system. Of course, even so, the dangers of overconsumption are always there for any user, however, those dangers manifest very differently whether you are a human or a Vastaya (or its descendant).

For a human, an overconsumption of Shimmer eventually leads to a more relaxed state. Their inhibitions are blocked, and they become more lackadaisical and docile. These effects only occur after the Shimmer prior gave them a somewhat stronger rush and high, even making them larger. A Vastaya becomes more wild and their inhibitions are blocked as well. They end up connecting to their more primal state, often focusing solely on either food, fighting or mating. They are also hyper-alerted and guarded.

These side effects of overconsumption are something, Silco is willing to live with as it means that other powerful nations like Noxus cannot easily just repurpose Shimmer for their own ends. To make sure, his own town does not completely froth at the mouth over the consumed Shimmer, he makes sure to produce three variations of it, which are differently distributed.

The most common and widespread variation of Shimmer is also its most watered-down version. It does not make someone hulk out and turn monstrous. Instead, it stimulates the mind and makes an individual either relaxed or excited and pumped up. It is the type of Shimmer, which is most often inhaled in vapes or just downed like shots at bars. It creates this sensation of feeling alive for a couple of moments.

The second variation, which is equally being sold to the public, is more potent and forms the building block for things like Chem-Tech devices (e.g. Sevika's arm) or medicine. It is also the variation, that the Chem-Tanks in the factories use if they are under attack. This Shimmer exhilarates your healing, but also can make you larger and stronger. It is the Shimmer, which makes people monsters and what most eventually become addicted to.

The last variant of Shimmer is not sold to the public. This Shimmer is its most potent variant and is called Hound Shimmer, for that was whom it was originally designed for. It unleashes the beast from within and makes it as powerful and terrifying as it can possibly be. It can revive you from the dead and allow you to survive transmutations, which could otherwise kill you. Some back door, black market dealers trade in small vials of it and even then, it costs you an arm and a leg. Jinx, Viktor and Vi all came in the 'luxury' of consuming Hound Shimmer in their time of need.

[ty-bayonet-betteridge]

JESSICA ITERATIONS

Jessica: She/Her, escaped OVER by faking her death, later joined H1VE

Jess: She/He/It, revived by WOE.BEGONE and forced to act as their agent within OVER's interfacing department; after an altercation with Cicada, the council of Elijahs traded it into the Flinchites. An iteration of him was later broken out of the compound by Elder Jess, and joined H1VE

OVER Jess: She/He/It, Iterated off of H1VE's Jess in order to give them access to OVER. It was Cicada's idea, though he's learned enough from Mike's time having OVER iterations that it gets treated as a full member of the team that gets her own say in decisions.

Elder Jess: She/He/It, In her sixties. Spent 35 years as an agent of WOE.BEGONE learning nothing and being traumatized and scarred to hell and back. Her Jessica managed to break her free but died in the process. She came back to this time period to keep Jess from going through the same.

Jessie: She/It, Yee/Haw/Haws/Hawself, and 🤠/🤠/🤠s/🤠self. Cowboy iteration. ~10 years older. I also have it in my head that haw's queerplatonic with Scarab and B0UNTY but I can't make that canon unless @teknikolor-walters and @ltacryptid agree obviously.

S: It/Its, 2-3 years older and working in Tier 2 interfacing. Not officially associated with H1VE or in communication with the others, but does what it can to cover up for them.

Baker: He/It and Ae/Em/Aer/Aers/Aerself. Low-level OI employee.

JB: He/They, higher-level OI employee. Only loyalty is to OI and himself. Monitoring the others and attempting to push them towards aiding him. Coldest and most violent.

Jenny Barker: She/her, civilian iteration created by JB using OI tech as a backup in the case of an attempted connectivity strike. If JB doesnt enter a password every month, Jenny will be sent a briefing packet explaining the situation. Until then she's living a quiet life as a marketing consultant in Seattle.

[alchemist-of-thebes]

KH OC Week Day 4

Another day, another @khoc-week prompt!

Day 4: Alternate Universes

◾What would your OC's role be in an AU? Examples: Soulmate AU, modern, fantasy, scifi, etc.

KHx-Era Velcia:

An artsy, mousy bookworm in most any circumstance, the KHx-Era Velcia would not likely be found anywhere near the action in most AUs unless she were desperately trying to get away from it. For example, in a setting where a man who has spared no expense has cloned animals of a jurassic nature and placed them into an ill-fated theme park, she would probably be found hiding underneath the kitchen counter desperately hoping she can avoid the notice of the rather hungry raptors who’ve somehow learned to open doors. 

In settings where she is able to find a companion to help support her, she is able to blossom into a rather effective support role and provide valuable information and access to research and knowledge. Her fascination with libraries and archiving information help her excel in remote support, as long as she won’t need too heavy a grasp on technology.

KHII-Era Velcia:

In nearly any universe where Velcia can be found, two things stay constant: Her desire to grow her understanding of her fundamental knowledge of the world around her, and her drive to do everything she can to apply this knowledge to help others. In AUs where magic can be found, she will always be found with a strong magical affinity. In the terms of a Final-Fantasy styled magic-class system, Velcia is quite firmly in the Red Mage class tree.

In Universes without Magic, her interests are likely to diverge greatly. In a Sci-Fi or Modern setting she is likely to be a tech scientist. In a Medieval or Fantasy setting with more restrictive rules towards magic she would likely be found working with medicines or potions. And then, of course, there are a few rare universes where she would be found as a very, very particular chef. Castlevania AU! One fun little tangent I’ve been exploring the last few weeks, after playing through a couple of my favorite old Castlevania games (Rondo of Blood and Circle of the Moon especially!) is a Castlevania AU version of the "Modern" Velcia; where I’ve tried to adapt her over with a couple of the same basic beats. In this version of the story, she still lives in Greece with her father, a well-known magician who used to travel across Europe before his daughter was born. One day, a cult looking to revive Dracula appears and tries to enlist her father’s help and, when he refuses, he is murdered and the Anthes residence is burned to the ground. The young Velcia manages to escape with her life and severe burns to her legs, and once she is healed she redoubles her efforts to learn her father’s trade and becoming a capable magician in her own right.

As time passes, she finds that this group has stayed in Greece. Monsters that nobody has seen before have begun appearing and terrorizing the lands, and certain supernatural individuals (Vampires!) are slowly taking over and manipulating things behind the scenes. Understanding that she is not equipped with the knowledge or tools she needs to defeat them on her own, Velcia travels up North to try to enlist the help of the legendary Belmont clan and rid her home country of the cult of vampires and monsters that now work in secret to revive their dark lord.

But, of course, that’s just a little tangent. I’ve got so many other stories to write, I probably won’t get around to that. I… I shouldn’t, right? Right…?

I might.

[aaternum]

cyberpunk verse stuff:

ryu is the daughter of an executive that works for arasaka. ryu was his only living family after the death of his wife and son, and naturally he is overprotective of his daughter.

he primarily dealt with arasaka's dirty work and took part in their acquisition of the soulkiller. because he did a lot of dirt, he had a lot of targets on his back, thus making ryu a target by association. after screwing over maelstrom (a gang in night-city) in a trade. they exacted revenge by finding and killing ryu on her 24th birthday in their home.

distraught and unwilling to let go, he uploads ryu's consciousness, and memories (called an engram) to soulkiller. the issue with uploading a dead persons' engram is they're glitched in a way. parts of them could be missing or incomplete.

arasaka, of course, is not happy to find out her father used their tech without permission and kills him off. but they have an opportunity for research with her engram.

over the years they pilot a project to revive her body/place her engram in replicas in order to use her for research purposes.

they find success in their methods, but she's still a working experiment.

ryu works as a spy/hitman for araska currently when under their influence (when her eyes shift in color; they're mostly in control and when they shift to teal shes in control).

they've convinced her she is doing 'good' work in the footsteps of her late father that was killed in a 'tragic accident'. she is thus forever indebted to them and believes anything they manipulate her into thinking. they have on occasion implanted false memories to help.

when she starts glitching or acting out of accordance, they will not hesitate to kill her and repeat the experiment. usually it occurs when she finds out what's happened to her or something triggers her. as of now she's died a total of 8 times including her real death. but they try to make that a last resort, as every death further shreds her psyche.

her implanted memories lead her to believe she's a ripperdoc assistant with arasaka and she takes on extra work part-time.

she does not know she's not technically alive and every time she dies she loses a bit of self. there are times she doesn't feel real or parts of her real memories that feel like memories come to her.

heavily inspired by the devils ending and the dream on quest.