#Seriously though folks need to chill

[royalarchivist]

Etoiles: Oh, finally we had a funny moment in Purgatory, let's go. Oh, let's go! One week of wait to have a funny moment.

Roier always knows the best way to diffuse a tense situation.

[sparklefangs]

my library is saving my mental health

I was diagnosed with epilepsy in January and am no longer allowed to drive.

I live in the ass-end of nowhere - my town has about 1600 people in it according to the last census - and all the third spaces in a 45 minute drive radius, every single one, have been shut down by landlords who kept driving the rent up. (Seriously - a gaming cafe that had been there for 11 years and was always packed, a local institution, just closed a couple months ago because they couldn't afford the rent anymore.) I also can't walk anywhere at all because the roads have no shoulders, and locals in unnecessarily massive pickup trucks drive as though coming 3 inches from hitting pedestrians is their favorite sport.

Over the last 7 months I've felt my soul slowly leaking out like a nosebleed. There's so much I can't do. I can't go anywhere. I don't have friends or family to visit. Have you ever had a mental breakdown because you physically couldn't go buy a half gallon of milk? It's not great. I mean, obviously, a fair number of people experience that, but if you haven't, and suddenly that's your reality, it's pretty jarring. Even if you're an introvert, you still have the option available to you. Now imagine you don't anymore, even if you feel like you could. You just legally and by circumstance of location cannot leave the house unless someone takes you.

So, once a week, my partner drives me the half hour to our tiny little library and drops me off. It's not in walking distance of anything, so I sit there for six hours reading. Just chilling out in my favorite chair with a book. It's great.

I'm not the only person who does this. No matter what day of the week I'm there, I see the same people sitting in their favorite spots, doing the same thing I am. It's mostly older people, but also younger folks with various visible disabilities, and I assume others, like me, who probably have less visible disabilities and nowhere else to go.

This is an extremely conservative area but the staff managed to find a corner of the YA section for a tiny little pride-themed book display. I thought it was just for June, but it's mid-July and the display is still there.

I'm so grateful for this library. Even if you buy a lot of books or mainly use audible or kindle, go visit yours from time to time. Check out books, even if you don't get around to reading them. Sign up for events they might have - ours does a monthly "blind book date" thing where you tell them what you like to read, they pick out a couple books for you, and give you a few little themed extras in your box. Show that they're important so they can keep getting funding.

They need to stick around and you might not even realize how important they are until, like me, you have nowhere else to go. I've always valued libraries but now I find myself one of the people who actually really, truly needs it in a very personal and immediate way.

PS - And tell the library staff how much you appreciate what they do. They get yelled at all the time by jackasses who probably don't even use the library but are mad because they heard there are rainbows on some of the books.

[wannabeavocaloidmystery]

As a POC, I gotta at least look out for Toshiro (even if he do kinda suck). Honestly the situation between him and laios is painful for the both of them. Shiro comes from a place and upbringing where being direct and upfront is like not advise or comes across as rude. Which is where aspects of envy towards laios being a direct and upfront person be coming from. Yet still stings for laios when it's someone who he thought he could connect and be friends with who has a different experience of life. Either way, it's a rough mashup for the both of them and falin as well.

As a neurodivergent woc, Laios has f-in point when it comes to the seriousness of taking on the dungeon after being well rested and fed. Toshiro really did put aside his big oofs to get help and head out to the dungeon to save falin, yet he sacrificed his well being for the sake of the situation and getting back to falin, which worked up until a point. It's still important to take care of your body during those kind of situations, cause you can't feed others without having the means to feed yourself.

Whoops, anyway, the mash up between Toshiro and laios was a rough cut for the both of them. I'm glad the fight at least sobered up shiro and gave laios an opportunity to correct and set a proper goal. The hurt still cuts like a b-th though. So like any of y'all folks really hating on shuro, needs to fucking chill and check y'all selves for rascim reasons before expressing your distaste for his actions. Be more like Kabru. And Falin already has marcille so things will turn out (if Falin ever comes back that is) *wink*.

[a-fervent-revision]

A Bio? On my Blog??

It’s more likely than you think!

Seriously though I feel like I’m contractually obligated to make one at this point lol.

In the event I have not made it explicitly clear, this blog is 18+ ONLY. 🔞

If you do not have your age clearly listed in a pinned bio or profile bio, DNI. If you try, it’s a block for you. 🔨 IN ADDITION - You can lurk, if you like, but I've become increasingly uncomfortable with the number of 18/19 year old blogs present that are posting stuff on Tumblr. If you choose to interact with me, please note that this blog is now only accepting DM's and reblogging/liking things from blogs that are At MINIMUM 20-years-old. I don't want to feel like I'm grooming someone just because you want attention. You need peers, not me.

This is also a safe space for all. I won't tolerate hate of any kind any anyone is welcome to be here and interact with me as long as you aren't a shithead.

Name: whatever you like babes 💋 If you need to call me something personal, I go by Jay, but I like pet names and terms of endearment far more.

Age: 28

Pronouns: He/Him

Height: 6’2”

Riddled with ADHD and Anxiety so apologies in advance.

I suppose you'd call me a switch? I dunno, I very much like being dominant but I will absolutely not call myself a Dom because I don't believe I am one.

Definitely not straight, but not sure beyond that, so just.. queer? haha idk In general, I'm into femeninity, so women for sure are lovely, but androgynous folks, trans folks, all the spectrums in between I'm not at all opposed to. If I find you attractive then I find you attractive. I think in general that usually just leaves men out lol.

I love writing and chatting and my DM’s and Asks are absolutely open and I welcome them! Mutuals have preferential treatment in DM's, and I do reserve the right to not answer though. Nothing personal if I don’t get to you I promise; I try to respond to everything I can!

With the above in mind, I’m way down to rp, sext, talk about life, hear you vent, just be a friend, whatever you like in a message. I’m not always the fastest responder but I love chatting and meeting new people.

Second major point. I'm here for a good time not a committed time: I’m not interested in building any sort of romantic relationship here. I’m loads of fun and here for getting to know people and platonic fucking around on this site and making friends, but please respect that boundary. LIKES - Choking, Breeding, spit/cum play, knife play, light blood, rp, oral in general, obsession, somno, exhibitionism, bondage, demons, monster fucking, oviposition, cnc (with the right person), anal, free use, worship, and I'm sure there are more. The dislikes are really the important ones here; I'm into a lot of shit. DISLIKES - rape (don't use the word if you mean cnc, that's not the same), forced penetration with unsafe objects (I'm not going to even pretend to fuck someone with a gun, that shit's dangerous), vomit, scat, racism, mysoginy, sexism, homophobia, any other predjudice that one might think of. Welcome, and enjoy! Feel free to reach out via DM's or ASKs whenever. Or just stalk my blog and be horny. That's chill too!

[lordharmony]

🌈✨CRINGETOBER 2024✨🌈 DAY 9: CHILDHOOD VIDEO GAME

MySims folks, HI!!! I’ve been obsessed with the original MySims lately, so I made an introduction page for my player character!

LOTS of reminiscing under the cut, SORRY Y'ALL.

I recently got a Wii, but I haven't gotten too many games for it yet! EXCEPT for MySims! MySims is one of those foundational game series for me that I just love so much. Kingdom was maybe the most fun I remember having, and then Agents literally changed my brain chemistry. I'm very glad two of the games are getting released on the Switch. I'm going to collect and play all of them in order, and no joke, that's probably going to take a long time, because I take Sims building SOOO seriously. Maybe I'll do introductions for all my protags though, who knows!

ANYWAYS, this is Cala Mint! Cala was NOT my original MySims character as a child, tbh I don't really remember the Sim I made at all. I do know every single one I did make back then was super edgy, super goth. And absolutely no hate for that, I may do that for another character, but I just didn’t feel it for the first MySims game! And an idea struck me while messing in the character creator!

A long time ago, I completed the Not So Berry Challenge for the Sims 4! All ten gens! I wish I still had my screenshots, but unfortunately they all got blasted into the ether when I transferred my files from a different computer. However, I did draw ONE of my characters. My founder, Cala DeBerry!

Her fashion wasn't...GREAT lol, but I LOVED her. She was a mad scientist, her best friend at the lab was Caleb Vatore, she married Eva Capricciosa from Partihaus because they were always at the club together, she was enemies with Vlad. It was just so fun, I loved that entire challenge so much even though it took me FOUR years to do.

Now, Cala lives on in MySims! I imagine she's still a scientist type, but definitely more chill compared to the other scientists in this series. She's absolutely judging the fact that so many people in the town love to decorate with red apples. My first best friend was Vincent Skullfinder, because the museum was so fun to build. It'll probably take me a bit to get to Five Stars and fill in all my lots, BUT, I'm sooo enjoying replaying the game despite how poorly it runs. Seriously, I don't know how they made it run so bad but my Wii is screaming whenever it first loads anything.

I based this sheet on the Relationship book, if I had more time I would definitely have doodled more, but the MySims style is actually really really hard for me for some reason. More studies in the future will be needed for sure.

ANYWAYS, thanks for reading, you're epic and incredible. <3

[blackhakumen]

Mini Fanfic #1216: Small Beach Crush (Sonic X SSBU)

4:42 p.m. at the Smash Local Beach..........

A race has been going on in the bright, sunny day at the Smash Beach, that specializes in Extreme Gears founded and provided by the Babylon Rogue Inc.

The two racers, Sonic The Hedgehog and Jet the Hawk, appear to neck to neck towards the Finish Line, in the last lap.....That is until the final racer swoops in outta nowhere, with more vigorous speed, sweeping both of his competition off their boards and onto the sandy ground, much to their surprise.

The crowd begins to roar in applause the very moment he crossed that Finish Line before sticking a gnarly, perfect landing on the ground. It wasn't long before a Shy Guy announcer runs in to announce the winner helping him holding his own arm up, which just so happens to be...I...

Announcer: The Winner of the 5-Lap Riders Prix.....FUUUUNKY KOOOOOOONG!!!

'Even More Applause'

Sonic: (Groans a Bit While Getting Himself Back on his Feet) Darn...... The folks weren't kidding when they say he's the Best Extreme Gear rider of this part of town.

Jet: (Sighs While Getting Up From the Ground as Well) The guy's a natural born surfer. He can make even the most uncontrollable board a cakewalk to ride on.

Sonic: (Begins to Stretch his Back Forward Befire Stretching his Arm Up Next) Welp! If that's the case, I'm gonna that means I gotta to work a little harder next time. Can't afford to be in 2nd Place forever, you know?

Jet: (Scoffs While Rolling his Eyes) More like 3rd Place...

Sonic: (Turns to Jet With a Raised Eyebrow) Pardon?

Jet: You heard me! 3rd! The place- (Points at Sonic) YOU are currently in!

Sonic: Oh get real. (Starts Butting Heads with Jet) I clearly crossed that line before you could even get close to me!

Jet: Big talk for a guy who's tip of his board Isa millimeter shorter than mines!

Sonic: Oh, so we're measuring boards now?

Jet: If it proves that I'm better than you, why the hell not at this point?

Sonic: (Shrugs) Alright. (Forms a Cocky Smirk on his Face) Still can't beat me in a fist fight though.

Jet: (Angrily Cracking his Knuckles at his Rival) Wanna bet? I been wanting to pulverize that stupid face of your some time now!

Sonic: (Waves Both his Hands Back to Him in a Very Competitive Fashion) Well, bring it then, Birdbrain. I ain't got all-

????: BOYS!

The rivals turns to see the Certified Moms giving both of them their collective Motherly Glares in the mid.

Samus: What the hell did we say about being civil?

Peach: This is a place for fun and relaxation.

Moms: NO. FIGHTING!

Sonic: (Sighs in Defeat Along with Jet) Yes, ma'ams......

Jet: Won't happen again.....(Turns to Sonic) Forgot how scary your moms are..........

Sonic: (Shrugs) They gotta take their jobs seriously somehow....

?????: Hey now!

The duo turns to see the winner of their race, Funky Kong, walk over to them along with the crowd, with a bright, chill smile on his face.

Funky: No need to fuss n' fight now. You both did great out there. Actually had me to workin' up a sweat just to keep up.

Sonic: (Smiles Softly at Funky) Thanks, man. Congratulations on the win.

Jet: Yeah, congrats. But uh...('Clears Throat') Who would you say is the fastest between the two of us here, hm?

Sonic: (Rolls his Eyes at Jet) Could you not waste his time asking that dumb question? The answer's obviously me.

Jet: (Glares at Sonic) Lies! It's me and everyone out here knows it.

Sonic: Yeah, keep telling yourself that you-

Funky: (Breaks Up the Potential Fighting Between Hedgehog and Bird) Hey-Hey-Hey! No more of that now. We're a the fastest here in this wicked beach time. (Holds Both Sonic and Jet's Hands Up) AM I RIGHT, PEOPLE!?

'Uproarious Cheers and Applauses'

Tails: (Watches the Crowd in the Distance With Amy and Coco Sitting Next to Him) Never thought I'd see the day someone would actually out speed Sonic in anything, but...here we are.

Amy: (Sighs Dreamingly at her Man) He may have lost the race, but he'll always be The Fastest, Most Handsomest Thing in my eyes and heart~ (Takes a Look at the Time on her Phone) What is taking Wave so long to get here? (Starts Pouting a Bit) If her boss starts picking fights with Sonic again, there's gonna be heck to pay!

Coco: You know Wave: Have to make extra sure her work is completely done before she could do anything else. (Notices Something) Ooh, speaking of which- (Points Tails and Amy to Their Swallow Friend Walking in the Distance) There she is right now. (Raises an Eyebrow in Confusion) Looking a lot more girlier than usual......

Tails: Girlier?- (Eyes Widened at the Sudden Realization) Wait s second! Is she looking pretty for someone?

Amy: (Happily Clasps her Hands Together as Her Eyes Starts to Sparkle) A secret admirer perhaps?~

Coco: (Casually Shrugs While Forming a Teasing Smirk on her Face) It's the only reason I can think of~

Meanwhile.......

Funky: (Happily Greets Wave) Yooo, Wave, you finally made it!

Wave: Yeah, sorry it took me so long to get here. (Smiles Sheepishly While Rubbing the Back of her Head Back and Forth) You know how I am when it comes getting everything done down in the workplace....B-But I was able to catch some of your racing highlights on stream. (Starts Blushing a Bit) You were.....pretty gnarly out there, I must admit~

Funky: (Chuckles Lightly) Appericate the wicked feedback, little lady. And here I was worried that I ticked you off for outstaging your boss out there.

Wave: (Playfully Scoffs) Please. There's a lot of things that would drive me up the wall. But winning a race against Jet is definitely not one of them.

Funky: Good, good. So, now that you're out and about, what you plan on doing from here on out?

Wave: Well, I-

???: Ohhh Waveee!~

Wave turns around to see Amy giggling softly and Coco and Tails waving at her with teasing grins on each of their faces before letting out an annoyed sigh and turning back to Funky.

Wave: I have a couple of twer-I mean-('Sigh') Friends I gotta to hang out with.

Funky: (Smiles Brightly) Nice! Friends are the one thing that could help build up your character after all, especially in an awesome place like this!

Wave: (Rolls her Eyes a Bit in Annoyance) To an egregious sense maybe.....(Puts on a Small Smile on her Face) Catch you later then?

Funky: (Happily Nodded) Sure thing. Go out and enjoy yourself, Wave! You've earned it after all the work you've done.

Wave: Thanks, Funky. You too. (Walks Away)

Funky: (Watches Wave Leave Before Going Back to the Crowd) Now, which one of you crazy people are up for a game of LIMBO!!?

'Even More Applause'

Wave: (Walks Ovver to the Trio, Already Annoyed) ('Sigh') Alright. Get it all out of your systems already.

Coco: Why hello here, Wave~

Tails: Whatever do you mean exactly?~

Wave: (Glares at her Felliw Tech Friends) Oh don't even try and play the innocent card on me, you little twerps! I can tell by the look in your dumb faces that you're gonna the annoy the hell outta me over this.

Coco: (Chuckles Lightly) Hey, considering all the times you tease us on being a potential couple, it's only fair we find some way to return a flavor~

Tails: All's fair in love and harmless teasings~

Wave: ('Ugh') Whatever. (Turns to an Giddied Up Amy Rose) And what are you smiling about over there?

Amy: Oho nothing too noteworthy!~ Just admiring the fact that a bookworm like you is having yourself a school girl crush~

Wave: (Was About to Ipen her Mou-)

Amy: Don't even try to deny it. (Forms a Bit of a Teasing Smirk of her Own) We seen the way you look and talk to him over there. You're in looove~

Tails and Coco hold onto to each other hands and starts making kissy noises just to get under Wave's skin.

Wave: (Comically Glares at the Duo Again) Will you cut that out!? I'm not crushing over Funky!....At...least not completely!

Amy, Coco, and Tails stares at their blushing swallow friend, unconvinced on everything she's telling them.

Wave: ('Sighs in Defeat') Okay, so maybe I do have a tiny bit of mushy feelings for him these days. We've been working together on a few business projects as of late. Didn't care for him at first glance, but the more days we work, the....(Starts Blushing a Bit) More I started to enjoy his company a bit. He nice, compassionate with his craftsmanship and profession, and a lot more intelligent than I gave him credit for. He's incredible~

Amy: And just your tyyyyype?~

Wave: ('Sigh') I dunno. Maybe? He's a lot more laid back and outgoing, despite him not being a fan of going out on adventures all that much, oddly enough. Meanwhile, I'm as boring as they come, or as Storm would irritatingly put it...."A Killjoy".

Tails: (Gives Wave a More Reassuring Smile Along with Coco) Come on, Wave, you're none of those things.

Coco: Yeah. I mean, you can be a real pain sometimes, but you're still cool be around in our books.

Wave: (Turns to Coco With Genuine Surprised on her Face) Wow. That.....might be the most nicest thing you've ever said about me yet, kid. Thanks.

Coco: No problem. Don't expect this to be a recurring thing though. (Smirks Again) You're still a nagging know-it-all in my eyes.

Wave: (Smirks Back at Coco) ('Hmph') And you're still a half pint brat.

Coco: Better than being bossy.

Wave: Better than being annoying.

Coco: Better than being an eyesore.

Wave: Takes one to know one, brat.

Coco: Hey, I am PLEASANT to be around!

Wave: Could've fooled me.

Coco: Yeah, well....(Continues Arguing with Wave)

Tails: (Sighs While Watching his Two Tech Friends Bickering With One Another Again) It was fine to see two get along while it lasted, albeit a few seconds. (Turns to See Amy Writing Something Down on her Mini Notebook) Whatcha writing over there, Amy?

Amy: A few confessional and romantic ideas. I'm gonna help make Wave's dating dream come to reality and I want you and Coco to help me.

Tails: (Gives Amy an Uncertain Look on his Face) You sure you want our help on this? We're not really that knowledgeable when it comes to anything romance related.

Amy: Yeah, but you guys know Wave way better than I do these days, so you're crucial for this operation. (Gives Tails the Sad Puppy Dog Look) Plus, I really want us to spend more time together these days~ I miss you-

Tails: ('Sigh') Lower those eyes, Ames, we'll help out. Just.....don't expect this operation to go as flawlessly as you hoped.....Also, I missed you too.

Amy happily pulls Tails into a loving hug as they continue to enjoy their time at the beach together.

@albion-93

@ma-lemons

@caleb13frede

@bestpony666

[the-hungdeli-hermit]

This is the first time for me getting so obsessed with my oc it’s almost scary. But hey, I did say I’d make a somewhat of a ref sheet, even if I can hardly consider it one. It’s your choice to get to know my sweet baby or not, though you can read the text below to get some music recommendations at the end.

(and just a lil’ doodle of Roulette wishing to be friends with 808)

Roulette (or just Ru)

Height - 162

Age - 24 

A no-nonsense type of woman at first glance, Roulette is an HR Assistant at Vandelay Tech, starting her job at least 3 months after the the ending of the main game. A walking dichotomy of a person, you can never guess what she is currently thinking or might blurt out, so you might say there’s never a dull moment with her. 

Despite her outwardly cold and standoffish appearance (and sometimes even attitude), Roulette is actually a pretty friendly and deeply caring person, willing to help most folks in need. She usually remains polite with her colleagues, and even jokes around with some of them. Despite “hating” her job (it’s complicated), she tries to take it seriously, and keep a positive attitude in most situations.

Outside of work, Roulette is more… quirky, bordering on being a weirdo even by her friends’s standards. They have to sometimes keep a good eye on her just so that she wouldn’t do anything brash or crazy, especially when bored. Rather candid and open-minded, most people feel at ease with her, and can sense that they won’t face that big of a judgement while discussing what’s troubling their minds. That openness to most things though might be fuelled by her insatiable curiosity.

Even with her rather amiable and upbeat demeanour, she is a introverted individual who almost always seeks to isolate herself from the outside world, escaping into her fantasies where she doesn’t have to worry about her existence and personal problems. Unfortunately for Roulette, her consciousness doesn’t let her off easy, manifesting a sort of tulpa-esque being that only she can see. That is literally herself. 

(might as well call it a shadow now that I think about it)

Some facts and tidbits✨

Can forge signatures pretty well, and picked that skill up from her last job (nothing really illegal; can’t forge super simple signatures, Chai’s included)

Doesn’t really have a specific fashion style. She doesn’t like being restricted in any way when it comes to her choices, so she prefers wearing anything she deems fitting for her

Which is almost everything.

Prefers it when people use her nickname instead of full name, for a reason that might seem a bit surprising. To her, using a nickname helps set some sort of imaginary wall between her and other people, making Ru feel just a bit more comfortable. With that, only people that are close to her can use her full first name without her getting annoyed or angry

But most people can’t even read/pronounce it so-

It’s even worse with her last name

On the topic of names, she likes giving out nicknames to both friends and random people (and it helps since she’s often bad at remembering names)

Likes clever words-play, puns included (loves them because they are funnily stupid)

Has anger issues stemming from her past, but she’s trying to work on that (and is not always successful on that front)

Tries to let off some steam through fighting games and her hobbies (which, apparently there are a good few of them)

Master baker and master bai-

No, literally. Makes bomb banana bread and other treats

Has chromesthesia, but doesn’t even realise it

Picks at her skin/hair/lashes, bites her lips when feeling anxious or frustrated (🫵 coded?)

Her hair bun and locks are constantly inconsistent (and not because I don’t know how to draw them one way, she’s just like that)

A sensitive baby as a whole, though you won’t be able to pick up on that easily

Sometimes knows too much. Take that as you will.

(didn’t know what theme song to give her when she’s all “chill“, but Ladytron’s “Ghosts“ and NIN’s “Discipline“ kinda fit her.

(Though you can probably listen to “With Teeth“ and understand her current mood and feelings better)

(might draw Chai next just to see how he looks under my pen)

[everydayyoulovemeless]

I am in dire need of a lone wanderer & companions reaction to the dunwich building and the krivbeknih.

Fo3 Companions Reactions to the Dunwich Building and the Krivbeknih

➼ Word Count » 0.9k ➼ Warnings » None ➼ Genre » Platonic/Romantic

Charon doesn’t have any real opinion on the book itself other than it makes him feel incredibly uneasy. If it were up to him, he’d have it destroyed. There’s nothing good that could come out of an occult item such as this, and selling it for a profit just doesn’t sit right with him. The Dunwich Building doesn’t make him feel any greater, he’s just happy to be able to drop the book off and leave. Although, when you do place it on the altar, he gets burnt along with the rest of the ghouls in the building. It's not as bad, just a few scorch marks, but it still stings him.

The entire idea of the book being able to control people makes Clover uncomfortable, but as long as it's in your hands, she won't voice her opinions. Surely you know what you're doing, and she puts her full trust in you. If you mention anything about selling it to Obidiah, though, she'll panic a bit and beg you not to. How can you be so sure about this? Maybe you should think it over? On the flip side, however, she doesn't want you to take it to the altar either. I mean, why not just keep it for yourself? Control the swamp folk however you see fit? She would much rather it be in your hands than some old man anyway, and you're not so bad of an owner to her. So why not?

Star Paladin Cross thinks it's an abomination that should be terminated immediately. What kind of person would need something like this anyway? It's despicable, and she expects you to take it to the Dunwich building to have it destroyed instantly. In fact, she feels so strongly about it that if you were to sell it to Obidiah, she'd pull her sledgehammer out and ask you to reconsider. When the two of you finally find time to go down to the altar, she'll feel incredibly relieved. She finds the building itself to be odd, but at the end of the day, she's a realist who tries to explain all the paranormal instances with logical conclusions.

Jericho hated going down into the swamp folks' ritual site just to grab some book and would snatch it out of your hands to go sell it off so that the two of you could make some money out of your troubles. I mean, seriously, why go all the way down in some lousy cave for something you just plan on destroying? No, thank you. He's selling it. He also refuses to go anywhere near the Dunwich building. There have been a lot of stories he's heard from other raiders over the years, but none have ever been as chilling as the ones surrounding that place. He just wants to snag some caps out of it and leave.

Butch will act all jittery the entire time you spend around the Krivbeknih. It's unnatural, and he thinks that the two of you should put it back instead of carrying it around. What if it makes you both a target? Who else wants this book? He doesn't want any kind of threat following you guys around and would beg to just get rid of it. He genuinely couldn't care less about what you do with it as long as you discard it somehow. However, taking him to the Dunwich building to have the book burnt doesn't make him feel much better. He'll have his gun unholstered the entire time and will aim it at anything that moves, even his own shadow. He never wants to look back on this experience and doesn't want to involve himself with any cults for a long time to come.

Fawkes finds the book and religious aspects intriguing and might ask to study them a bit further before either of you do anything. Things like these don't ever lead to anything good, he's aware, but he also finds knowledge to be important when making decisions on such a broad scale. Who knows, maybe what he learns while looking into the book might help the two of you out later on down the line. Of course, at the end of the day, he thinks it's better to destroy it than to sell it off. The idea that someone could have complete control over an entire race of people is sickening to him, and he'd hate for anyone to feel any kind of entrapment. Fawkes isn't afraid of the paranormal, in fact, he finds it dreadfully interesting, and would probably spend way more time than necessary in the Dunwich building.

RL-3 thinks the swamp folk are disgraces to America, and would try to burn the Krivbeknih himself once you both obtain it. Honestly, it's embarrassing to know that such scoundrels are living in the States as we speak. That being said, he would scold you if you went and sold it to Obidiah. Have you not learned anything in your training? These kinds of behaviors are not to be tolerated. Besides, the wasteland could use a little community service, and the Dunwich building needs to be cleared.

Dogmeat's fur stands on end whenever you take it out of your bag. There's a certain aura around it that he can sense and it makes him anxious. He'll growl and bark until you finally put it back into your inventory. The Dunwich building isn't much better. He's much less on edge, but there'll be moments when he seemingly stares at nothing and barks uncontrollably. It's unsettling, to say the least.

[waheelawhisperer]

I was thinking crackships dreamed up for shits and giggles, but like LapTex and Saria x Kirsten are kinda hard to decisively beat unless you get into like Suzuran x Lappland territory. Though on the same topic, what are some relationships you like seeing explored for non-fluffy reasons, whether that's toxicity or more how I like Muelsyse/Saria because they're so different and the barriers that raises are just *interesting* to me.

Let's not get into any territory where children are involved. People sexualizing Amiya in my inbox was bad enough.

Saria + Doctor is really interesting to me because her talk lines and appearance in Dorothy's Vision demonstrate the existence of a lot of trust and professional respect between the two, but Saria's also one of the few characters that actually treats the Doctor as a peer or near-peer (allowing for the restrictions of Rhodes Island's corporate hierarchy) and can stand toe-to-toe with them in pretty much any arena where they specialize. Doc is an accomplished research and medical practitioner? So is Saria. Doctor is a skilled and intelligent leader on the battlefield? So is Saria. Doctor has experience with corporate politicking? So has Saria. They have a ton in common and the rare opportunity to connect with a (rough) intellectual equal. There is really so much to explore with them.

Given that Indra's files say she supposedly embodies the ideals of chivalry better than most of the actual titled knights of Kazimierz, I am desperate to see her and Nearl interact, or would be if I felt more Nearl content was a good thing

I really want to see the Penguin Logistics folks and related characters interact with Rhodes Island, because there are a lot of textual indicators that they work more closely with Rhodes Island on a more frequent basis than we really see in the story (Texas in particular served as the Doctor's bodyguard often enough for it to make a positive impression). I want to see someone explain Rhodes Island's 401(k) matching policy to Lappland.

Honestly, I'd like to know more about the Glasgow Gang in general, but the story chapters they feature in will still be releasing at a rate of one a decade when I die of old age, so I've kind of given up hope on that

I like seeing Bagpipe and Ch'en play off each other. Ch'en needs someone who doesn't take her too seriously.

More Nearl Family content would be great except it wouldn't.

I want to see Schwarz again. It feels like the narrative forgot she existed after the Rainbow Six crossover. Would love to see how she interacts with other characters

I want to see post-Stultifera Navis Laurentina making friends and just chilling or getting into trouble because this shark is a mischievous little brat

All of Gavial's interactions with the Acahualla gang are funny as hell

I want to see more of the funny stuff Logos apparently gets up to in his spare time

[sqarletsworldlesswandering]

SQARLET I HAVE GOTTEN AN IDEA

Are there any specific terms used for specific types of starfolks?

Uhhhhh I might need you to elaborate on that a little, but let me check my notes.

Cuz like... each type of starfolk has a species name, and then there's stuff within that in some cases (e.g. Gladiran within Ophanim n' stuff, Assassins as a subgroup of Trochili)?

I'm gonna assume this is on the starlet topic, so uh... time to make stuff up!

For most starfolk, it's just "starlet" - you have your garden variety roamers and comlaedi and sometimes flares.

However, some have official names for their starlets, and others have little affectionate diminutives they've accrued over time.

Scorpion starlets, for example, are sometimes called "Scorplings."

Starlets of anything vaguely insectoid are sometimes called "Nymptre" - so Starlet Moths, Scorpions, Araneae, Vespae, Apidae, Thytklopendrae, Catrypel, and Weavers.

All elementals have "-ling" diminutives as well. A Starlet Glacillix is a Flakeling, a baby Ventriplex is a Gustling, Ignix is an Emberling, and a Fulmenix is a Sparkling (tf fans SHUSH).

Corospinae, Lotus, Rosa, and Wisteria starlets are sometimes called saplings or buds.

Angel starlets - which already don't happen terribly often, are usually called Mīnħy (a Sqarlet-Squanchification of the Hebrew for "gift).

Paladins and Thytklopendra (and possibly Pythiviqi) definitely have something, cuz those first two come from the same source and share some Lore™. So possibly Ebonlings (more on that eventually). I'm not so sure about Pythiviqi, since they're sort of... counterpart to Thytklopendra, and therefore Lightfolk, so... not the same origin, but they're in some of the same grouping.

Daemonae starlets - also seriously uncommon, and occasionally called "gremlins" or "hellions" jokingly. Affectionately, they're sometimes called Flamelets.

Phoenixes, Trochili, and Amphiptere starlets are occasionally called fledglings or (assuming you're chill with it) chicks.

Starlets of the more humanoid folks (Wanderers, Trochili, Hexabracc, etc.) are sometimes called Sprites or Bloblets, though that's more of a joking, affectionate diminutive.

Also in the joking variety, Crawler and Asfykti Starlets are often called "infant concepts of horror" or "fear-blobs." Because really, they're positively horrifying.

[to-eat-a-grape]

I've been thinking about that billionaire Angela Chao who (apparently) accidentally killed herself by backing her poorly-designed Tesla Model X into her pond near her house, and.. I can't deny that a person detached from the situation could see some darkly humorous aspects to it. But, now her 3 year-old kid doesn't have a mom, you know? And that just sucks.

Most of us tumblr folk (at least the ones who commented on the post about the story in question) made fun of it / made fun of her, which is understandable. "Rich person makes poor choices, dies." And like... seriously, the amount of human suffering required to funnel a billion+ dollars into one person's bank account is absurd. Our society doesn't need—and really aught not to have—billionaires at all, and we all know this.. we feel it in our bones.

The existence and the perpetuation of billionaires is morally wrong. We want to be on Team Morally Right (or, I suspect we do). That doesn't mean it's chill to openly celebrate and mock the deaths of these people though... 'cause that is.. also wrong. And I know we're angry and we're tired and we're not all that interested in being the bigger people after we've been trampled on for decades. But.. if the loved ones of these dead billionaires take a look at what we're saying about their dead friends and family members, they're gonna hate us.. and justifiably so. And the cycle will just keep going on and on until we're all bitter and hard-hearted and dead... I just feel like: if we can find a way to move forward without being mean to others.. that is worth pursuing.

If we can show the other side that we are chock-full of good vibes, maybe some of them will start getting interested in leaving their reprehensible Greed Cult??

[katz-cradle]

‘ ———･❪ ✮ ❫ ･——— ’

‘ ———･❪ ✮ ❫ ･——— ’

These gals r a lil old I just forget 2 post them,, anyways Magical Girls I've been working on!! (I'll post the second group soon ^w^)

Aurelia ; “Aurelia is a shy and awkward person, never really being good with interacting with people; she always comes off as too annoying or too odd. She's always decided to just stay in her own bubble and do her own thing, whenever she does get comfortable with somebody she's very chatty and energetic and friendly.”

Marilyn ; “Marilyn is a very calm person being the most serious person of her group most of the time, she's very protective of those she cares for doing everything to keep them safe and healthy… she doesn't like talking about herself.”

Arashi ; “Arashi is laid-back and chill, being very mellow and doesn't take many things seriously except for her job & magical girl business. She's a bit hot tempered and will get into petty arguments for the fun of it, though she considers most folks her friend in some way.”

Briar ; “Briar is a flamboyant heartthrob, she's a bit bothersome when she meets people and commonly teases and plays with others and can come off as a bit vain, but deep down he's a sweetheart who cares about people deeply but just has expressing it.”

Louella ; “Louella is an optimistic person wanting to be nice towards anybody she comes across, though that causes her issues of putting others before herself and having a hard time standing up for herself. She has a tendency to underthink her accomplishments, making her work harder than she needs to.”

I need 2 figure out a name for their teams/story but I hope y'all enjoy!!

‘ ———･❪ ✮ ❫ ･——— ’

[nickeverdeen]

Hi! Can i please have a matchup for arcane, and ATLA or TLOK? I go by she/her and im a lesbian

My personality: im super sarcastic and my humor mostly revolve around sarcasm and ironically, brainrot. Im generally prtty quiet but if im with people who are close with me i tend to tease them alot or be talkative (not glazing but people call me funny). But hormally im just a chill person who knows wayyy too much contexts (in most cases) and sometimes im pretty mischievous.....heh😈....(i used to cut classes and is a constant trouble maker back then).

My hobbies: i really REALLY like making art, painting, sketching, evrythang! I also did some journalism in the past so i write too (mostly poems), i also love dancing Hiphop and interpretative or folk dance, and lastly i love to read books, just classics though. My fave authors are oscar wilde, nikolai gogol, and jane austen.

About myself: im a pretty academic nerdy type of person, consistent honor student and ive tried a lot of things but never really followed through w it.....im pretty impatient and mostly i dont really care about things so that leads to me just shoving aside VERY important stuff😭😭 i love LOVE cats, i have like 2 of them and 2 kittens. My fashion sense really comes from my hiphop side and i dress mostly in a street wear type of fashion, if not grunge or acubi. I love burgundy or wine red, black, white, and green (yes christmas). Also i hate stupid STUPID people or those who dont care much about their education results, sorry ill actually laugh.

Appearance: i have short black hair (a similar haircut to santa barabara!Ellie) and bangs, with brown eyes and tan skin. Muscles are barely visiblel but its there, and im atleast above 5'9.

Im curious who best fits my personality and hobbies:)

Your Arcane match is…

Caitlyn Kiramman

Caitlyn would adore your sarcastic humor and teasing; she’d be right there to match wits with you, loving the challenge of keeping up with your mischievous side

She would love watching you create art

Whether you’re painting, sketching, or writing, Caitlyn would always be fascinated by your talent, often saying you bring color to her structured world

Both of you would stay up late, her telling you about her work as an Enforcer and you teasing her about being the “city’s golden girl,” which would always make her smile

Caitlyn, being disciplined and highly educated, would respect your academic side

She’d never let you forget the importance of following through with your ambitions and goals

Caitlyn would be eager to read some of your favorite classic literature with you

She’d love your perspective on authors like Wilde and Austen, and she’d enjoy discussing and debating different interpretations

Caitlyn would happily support your love for cats, even bringing them little gifts whenever she could

Seeing you light up around them would make her heart melt

Caitlyn would initially be awkward with dancing, but she’d love watching you dance hip-hop and folk styles

Eventually, she might join in for a few moves (awkward but trying) just to see you smile

Caitlyn would always admire your streetwear and grunge style

She’d often compliment you, especially when you wear burgundy or wine red, noting how it brings out your boldness

She’d take her Enforcer duties seriously, but she’d always check up on you, knowing that you can be a bit of a troublemaker

Caitlyn would find it adorable but would still remind you to be safe

Your ATLA match is

Mai

You and Mai would share a quiet, intense bond, often communicating more with glances and smirks than with words

She’d understand your sarcasm and wouldn’t need you to say much to get what you mean

Mai would secretly love watching you work on your art

She’d admire your creativity and would sometimes give you little insights into her own ideas and aesthetic, subtly inspiring you

Both of you would spend time together in comfortable silence, just chilling without needing to fill the air with conversation

She’d love the way you can both just be together

Your mischievous side would delight Mai, who’s secretly as sneaky as you are

You’d make an unspoken pact to find clever ways to make people laugh (or confuse them) without getting caught

Mai would respect your taste for classic literature

She’d find your collection interesting and would even borrow a book or two, asking about your thoughts on certain passages

Mai would encourage your academic side but would also playfully remind you to slow down and relax sometimes

She’d understand your impatience and would ground you when you need it

Mai would appreciate your grunge and streetwear style, noting how it aligns with her own dark aesthetic

The two of you would have similar tastes, often dressing in sync without even planning it

Mai would love your cats, often offering to look after them while you’re busy or leaving little treats around for them, showing a softer side of her rarely seen by others

While Mai isn’t one to outwardly cheer, she’d always subtly encourage your dancing and writing

She’d stand in the back during your dance practices or sit quietly while you read, fully present and supportive

Mai would meet your sarcasm with her own deadpan humor, creating a unique dynamic where you both could be yourselves without any filter

[downbadspanishlad]

I know I'm most certainly FAR from the last person to say this, and it's likely not much of a hot take anyway, but I feel like folks really need to lay off the people who choose to get tattoos of Astarion's scars.

I completely understand not wanting to get a tattoo like that yourself, but some people really seem to forget:

1. Elves aren't real.

2. Vampires aren't real.

3. Astarion, as lovely as he is, isn't real.

Tattoos are very personal, and the people getting tattoos of his scars likely have their own personal meanings/sentiments behind getting them. I've seen some victims of SA who have gotten tattoos of his scars and explain it as their own sort of medusa tattoo and view his scars as a personal symbol of survival, which is an incredibly beautiful, powerful, and VALID thing. I'm sure there's other people out there with their own equally valid ideas of what Astarion's scars mean to them, too.

It's perfectly okay not to want such a tattoo for yourself. Getting a tattoo of Astarion's scars is just something that might not be for you (it's not really something for me either), but that doesn't mean anyone needs to harass or judge the people who DO like the idea of it for a tattoo.

And to further emphasize the importance of understanding the fact that Astarion isn't a real person, I think it's important for us to remind ourselves that, if he WAS a real person, then it'd be weird for us fans to love him in the way that we do given the fact that he has described himself as someone with a "casual relationship with murder." He's killed so many people that he doesn't even remember everyone he's killed.

Does this mean I'm saying it's bad to like Astarion? Absolutely not. In fact, I'd be a huge hypocrite to even suggest that. No, what I'm really saying is that we can't pick and choose which parts of his story to take seriously.

I appreciate just how lovely and chill the BG3 fandom is, but the issue of harrassment over this is quite ridiculous and incredibly harmful (though harassment is also just awful in general). I've seen a crap ton of harrassment directed towards people who get tattoos of Astarion's scars AND towards the tattoo artists who do those tattoos for those people. It's really lame and toxic behavior, and it really needs to stop.

To the people with tattoos of Astarion's scars (and also the people who like the idea of getting it done for themselves), you guys are valid. Please don't let randos online bully you into feeling bad about it (and I sincerely hope each and every one of you guys are doing well).

To anyone who still finds the idea of getting a tattoo of his scars distasteful or wrong, that's fine. You're entitled to feel however you feel about it, but PLEASE, just leave people alone if you have nothing nice to say to them. Your entitlement to have the feelings you have about it does NOT = entitlement to harass people.

[tenspontaneite]

Assembly (Chapter 3/?)

These long stretches of the superstructure are dull and empty, with nothing of colour or interest to draw the eye. Suns stares around as though for the first time, aware as they have never been how dissatisfying it all is. It is standard for an iterator’s interior, but it is also wrong.

My self should not be like this, they think, and it feels like a revelation.

 (Chapter length: 7.8k. Link to ao3 with workskin)

 Some real gender vibes in this one, folks.

Warnings: none. It’s a shockingly chill and wholesome chapter for the most part.

 ---

[LIVE BROADCAST] PRIVATE Seven Red Suns, No Significant Harassment

SRS: …I may have new protocols to suggest for that AMP User Manual you’ve been putting together.

NSH: Oho. This sounds interesting. What happened?

SRS: My selfling went to Septkai and gained new experiences. What else?

SRS: The re-integration when they returned was more affecting than I expected. I experienced several stalled local processes which caused some minor damage to several clusters of neural tissue in my chamber.

NSH: …Well now, I didn’t expect that. Are you alright?

SRS: Yes, fine. It was unfortunately painful, but the tissue will heal.

SRS: In the future, I recommend that any integrations with returning selflings be performed under a dedicated processing partition. It will delay memory integration relative to the amount of data to process, but it should prevent accidentally causing oneself damage with upsetting or overwhelming qualia.

SRS: Sending my suggested implementation strategy and code now. Apologies for the length of the messages to come, as always.

NSH: We’re both used to having to cope with transmitting programming like this, it’s fine~

NSH: Seriously though, Seven Red Suns. Is everything okay? What happened with your AMP that was that affecting?

SRS: …I’ll tell you about it later, if that’s alright.

SRS: I’m still processing.

 “It’s alright,” Suns soothes the little creature, puppet lingering on the ground to reassure it. “I’m fine. It was just…a momentary slip, that’s all. We’ll be ready next time.”

Their selfling stands nearby, deliberately disconnected. Neither of them had anticipated the response their CMQ exchange would yield, and for all that the data are all fully transmitted already, it seems SRS-01 is still reeling from the experience of the shared pain. Wary to connect again.

“You remember it, yes?” Their messenger signs anxiously, as though concerned that all the memory of the day has been wiped clean. “My name? The talking?”

“Yes, Spearmaster, of course,” they say, the first time their puppet has spoken it. It aches. “Everything we saw and spoke of. Not to worry.”

A little later, when they successfully manage to send Spearmaster off to feed, they both slump in the privacy of the chamber, the puppet wincing and the selfling grimacing as best they can. It wasn’t a lie, to say that their tissue would heal. But…

“Want me to look at that neural wiring?” Their selfling asks, looking painfully resplendent in cleric’s garb. “If it’s still hurting after that.”

“Yes please,” Suns admits, laying their puppet onto the chamber floor with relief. “Only, be gentle. That integration really was unexpectedly painful.”

 [LIVE BROADCAST] PRIVATE Seven Red Suns, No Significant Harassment

NSH: So the way I see it, our priorities at this point should be to increase physical conditioning on the AMPs and test remaining critical systems. Anything else?

SRS: Provisioning.

NSH: What do you mean?

SRS: We may not need food, per se, but we will need supplies. We’ll need to collaborate on deciding what tools to bring with us. For…

NSH: …Yes, I see. We have no idea what state they’ll be in when we get to them. Or what would help.

NSH: Do you think Moon could use some extra neurons? Some more slag keys, even?

SRS: It’s truly hard to say until we can judge the situation in person. But I can’t see how it would hurt. Yes, we should bring neurons and slag keys. Maybe some other gifts, too.

SRS: It must have been so long since they got any new interesting pearls, either of them. Perhaps something entertaining?

NSH: Oh I can definitely do ‘entertaining’.

SRS: I certainly hope you can do ‘tasteful’, too.

NSH: Honestly, Suns. Would I ever choose a gift that wasn’t perfectly tasteful? ~

SRS: No Significant Harassment. I remember what you sent to Five Pebbles that one time.

NSH: …Okay, fair enough.

 Suns turns the question over and over in their mind: what will they bring for Pebbles?

Practical necessities aside, it’s hard to think of anything. The two of them share a good many interests, and always have – it would have been hard to find another iterator who appreciated arts and culture as much as Pebbles, and he’d always been quietly fascinated by what Septkai produced in Suns’ name. But it isn’t as though the People have been producing any new art since they lost contact, is it? There’s nothing new to share. How depressing.

Although…

“You like the pretty hanging things, yes?” Spearmaster asks them, while they’re in the middle of mulling over its own elaborate floor engravings: the first new art in the city in so very long. Their puppet blinks to attention. “In the big house? And the pictures, on the walls.”

“Yes, I always loved the art of Septkai,” Suns agrees, not entirely sure where the little creature is going with this.

“Bring some here?” It suggests, and knocks the gravity out of a nearby hallway in so doing. Suns recovers themself, puppet going still. “Make your place pretty, too! Like you brought the clothes back, to make your selfling pretty.” It peers up at them. Though it doesn’t say anything, it certainly can’t have escaped its attention that Suns’ puppet hasn’t touched the ritual clothes yet.

“The things you say…” They murmur, antennae flicking back with unease. “You have a way of challenging me, don’t you, my friend?” When Spearmaster only blinks at them, politely confused, they sigh. “I have never considered that before. The idea of taking those things from the city…it feels uncomfortably like desecrating a corpse.”

“Took the clothes,” it points out, perplexed.

“Yes, well, all things considered, those feel like they belong to me a little more than the rest does,” they admit, but…yes, it’s a weak separation, isn’t it? Septkai was their city, after all. In the absence of its original inhabitants…who else would it all belong to?

And then a thought occurs to them:

I wonder if there are any readable pearls left in the Houses...

 [LIVE BROADCAST] PRIVATE Seven Red Suns, No Significant Harassment

NSH: So I can confirm that our short-range communications are capable of working over distances of around 300 to 700 stretches, depending on terrain and intervening structures. Not ideal, but could be worse.

NSH: We can boost off of our overseers, though. That helps a lot.

SRS: …

SRS: Please don’t tell me you tested that on the surface?

NSH: Well, where else was I going to test it?

NSH: Might not have been the best idea though, I’ll admit. I nearly got carried off by a vulture.

NSH: You know, people have always given me a lot of grief for creating those, but I never paid them much mind.

NSH: But all of a sudden, I feel like they might’ve had a point.

SRS: I’m going to remind you of this conversation the next time you have a horrifying bioengineering project.

 They ask their messenger what practice it recommends, if one is going to be heading out onto the surface at some point.

“Climbing, running fast, jumping far,” it signs, thinking about it. After a second, it demonstrates a startlingly-graceful backflip. “Special jumps. And throwing! Throwing spears is important!”

“You might be biased on that last item, all things considered, but…you’re not wrong.” They did make it capable of extruding effectively infinite spines for a reason, after all. “I’ll have to see about the flipping. We did engineer a respectable degree of flexibility in, but...I’ll have to try. In the meantime…do you think you could do me a favour?”

In short order, Suns’ selfling is set up in one of the least damageable rooms of their superstructure, exercising like a Person in a gymnasium while Spearmaster goes off to raid Septkai for pearls. It’s more than slightly embarrassing, but, well. There’s probably not a more efficient way to improve their physical conditioning, is there?

They continue thus for several days. A respectable pile of pearls accumulates on the floor of their chamber, hunted down unerringly by their little creation. With nothing better to do, Suns’ puppet spends a good amount of time rifling through the data, looking for anything interesting.

There are a distressing number of bequests and personal qualia, more or less all left to Seven Red Suns. All sorts of personal files, music, records, work data, and so on. There’s also a startlingly large amount of pornography, which they’d been under the impression was discouraged in Septkai. Bizarre, Suns thinks. Even with their more recently-discovered context, it’s all so bizarre. The People’s reproductive drives must have been truly insistent to explain this kind of wide-spread violation of social mores.

In the end, there’s not much of use to be found in a few days of Spearmaster’s scavenging. The music is nice, though; they set that aside along with all of the useful professional data and bequests.

None of it would make even a half-way acceptable gift for Five Pebbles after all this time. But they compile all of the music, particularly the religious hymns, onto a pearl anyway.

 [LIVE BROADCAST] PRIVATE Seven Red Suns, No Significant Harassment

NSH: Starting to think that maybe heading off across the surface on my own isn’t the smartest idea.

SRS: ??? Why would you do that anyway.

NSH: Wasn’t that the plan? Send our selflings to visit each other?

SRS: I was under the impression that Spearmaster and I would go to you. It’s safer that way, don’t you think? To go out with an experienced traveller. And your can is closest to Five Pebbles anyway. It’s just more efficient.

NSH: I suppose……….

NSH: I want to visit your can, though~

SRS: Well then wait until you have another AMP or two to send off to me, so they can protect each other. Or until you’re effective enough at surviving the surface on your own. Surely the practical experience should transfer to new AMPs perfectly well.

NSH: The conditioning won’t, but you have a point. Do you think it would be worth sharing practice data once we’re in transmitting range? Our AMPs are built on very similar principles so far, after all.

SRS: I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Did you make yours the same size as your puppet?

NSH: Well…yes. What else?

SRS: I suppose I never asked…Is your puppet around the average size for iterators of your era?

NSH: Very slightly shorter. Why is that relevant?

SRS: …You know, I think I’ll hold off on answering that. It’ll be more interesting for you to find out in person.

NSH: What??? Oh now you know this is going to bug me the whole time.

SRS: What can I say? Your habits are rubbing off on me.

SRS: I have reason to believe our AMPs might have conflicting practice data, at any rate. We’ll have to calibrate individually.

SRS: Honestly? I like it better that way. Developing my own skills and strengths in a near-organic way…it has a certain something to it.

NSH: Does this mean you don’t want my data on interesting field-applicable uses of the artificial chromatophores?

SRS: …No, I’ll take that, if you please.

 No Significant Harassment’s chromatophore data, for the most part, seems to revolve around useful things to project on one’s chassis.

“Apparently, putting a false vulture mask on the back of my head will deter lizards,” Suns says to their messenger, testing out different patterns on their selfling’s skin.

“Yes, true. If you pick off a vulture mask from the body, most lizards are afraid of it.”

The voice of practical experience, clearly. It’s a little unnerving to contextualise Spearmaster’s sheer skill in terms of how much better at this they are than Suns. “I’ll keep that in mind. And…hm. If you project a pattern like moving, twisting tendrils, you can sometimes fool a vulture into thinking there’s a leviathan around. But only around water.”

Spearmaster considers that, then shrugs. “Don’t know. Can’t do that.”

“Yes, fair enough…do you suppose there are any specific colours that things might be afraid of? I can do more or less any colour.”

“Red.” They don’t even pause to think about it. “Red and black. Like red lizard, like red centipede.”

Suns has seen images of them from overseers and facility cameras. Like most photographs, they think it’s probably very different in person. “Are they that bad?”

“Very! Yes! Horrible awful bad.” Spearmaster slaps their tail on the floor for emphasis.

“Hmm…” Interesting, that. They peer at their cleric’s cloak, already mostly red and near-black, and wonder if it might pose some deterrent even on its own. Maybe it is practical for travel, if it’s technically aposematic colouration? …No, too heavy. But maybe…

Experimentally, they shift their chassis colour entirely to a red so dark it may as well be black, with their standard pale red patterning going bright and bloody. It does seem to provoke an instinctive response; even here within the superstructure, they see Spearmaster flinch back for a moment, a spike reflexively extruding from one of its tail holes.

It pulls the spear free and discards it, seeming a little embarrassed. “…Yes, good. Sudden colour on you like that – might scare things. Not long. But enough to run.”

Suns nods, and passes the data to their greater self so they can begin writing a program. Half a second passes, and they’re already away, designing a module for their skin driver that will shift to this colour scheme when they’re startled, angry, or aggressive. In the meantime:

“Strange,” Spearmaster remarks, pausing their signing to get in close and pat at Suns’ face with its little grabby hands. Whatever the motivation, it seems satisfied after sniffing at them a bit, and recedes back to their lap to say “Colour changing like that, but smell the same. Feel the same, too. Looks interesting. Like the big picture of you, in the big place.”

“…The cathedral,” they correct, signing along to demonstrate the word, and look away. “Yes, I suppose I would look closer to it in this state, wouldn’t I?” A strange thought, to be closest to the image of Septkai’s god, whilst colouring their skin for a threat display. They think of themself thus: startled or angry or protective, skin shifting black-and-red like the avatar of some wrathful deity.

It isn’t what Septkai wanted of them. They wanted a guide, not a fierce protector. But all the same…

They’re tall, aren’t they? Large compared to a slugcat, certainly. Large compared to Sig’s selfling, in all likelihood. Taller than most anything on the surface stands, capable of adopting a colour scheme that modern fauna instinctively fears…

The Houses of Septkai built Suns’ puppet to be tall, that it would tower over them with the appropriate grandeur. On the holy days, they would don the ritual garb and hang around in it for the clerics’ pictures, looking dramatic and grand as the populace apparently wanted.

It never failed to bemuse them. Shouldn’t the size of their superstructure be imposing enough? Building the mere puppet thus…it must have made sense to them, or they’d not have done it, but it’s baffling regardless.

The great height of their puppet has always been as good as meaningless, really. It’s fixed and immovable, locked forever in a chamber where size has little purpose, except to impress the People who would come in occasionally to be divinely loomed over. Now it has no purpose at all. The height of their selfling, though…that could actually mean something.

I could be intimidating, like this, they think, and enjoy the idea more than they expect.

“I think you’d best give me more lessons with those spears of yours, my friend,” they say to it, and watch its ears perk up. “I suspect Sig’s selfling is going to need a lot of protecting, hm? Better to be ready.”

“You will be the most spear-mastering iterator in the world,” Spearmaster declares, and drags them off to the practice area.

 [LIVE BROADCAST] PRIVATE Seven Red Suns, No Significant Harassment

SRS: What are you up to, Nish? You’ve been oddly quiet.

NSH: Nish? That’s an old nickname. Haven’t heard that in a while.

SRS: I’ve been rereading old conversation logs while my selfling trains. Blame it on that.

SRS: Really though. This kind of silence from you always makes me suspicious. Especially right now.

NSH: Hah, you know me too well.

NSH: It’s nothing much, though. I’ve just been trying to work out how biological I can make an AMP design before it needs special modifications to work it with an AOS.

SRS: I thought you were running low on biological resources.

NSH: Oh, I am. This is all just simulations. Very, very comprehensive simulations, but still simulations. Hence my silence.

NSH: It’s quite tricky. Past a certain point, the body is so biological that it will die the second an AOS is taken out of it, so practically speaking you’d need to install the AOS the second you decanted the body. And then you could never uninstall it or the body would die, because the autonomic nervous functions can’t work without a brain. A waste.

NSH: And on top of that, if it’s going to communicate properly with the AOS, I’d need to engineer some sort of attachment to help the AOS genome accept the body’s genome. Or else modify my own genome’s communication protocols to let it accept information from disparate genomes…

NSH: That should be doable, I think. Our superstructures accept and communicate with foreign neuron flies just fine. I should be able to create more exceptions like that, especially when the AOS itself mostly just contains neurons anyway.

SRS: …That sounds excessively complex.

SRS: Why would you even want a body that heavily biological in the first place? Is it really worth the effort?

NSH: You can make more interestingly complex forms with biological engineering than technological. Biological bodies are really just more intriguing. I might be biased since bioengineering is my speciality, but that’s my opinion~

NSH: Besides, it’s more sustainable long term, I think. Biological resources are more easily replenished than mineral, when the metal around is all so hard to recycle.

NSH: Aren’t you curious about what it’s like, too? Moving around on almost entirely organic limbs, using all those complicated internal organs…it’s so fascinating. I want to know what it feels like.

NSH: Organic sensory processing is so bizarre. I’d like to try eating things, some day. I bet it’s an interesting experience.

SRS: Most of the sensory experience for organics is based in their brains. Presumably if you’re substituting the AOS for the body’s brain, you’d lose all of that anyway.

NSH: Yes, which is why I’m trying to see if it’s possible to grow a body with just the brain parts for sensory processing in. Then you’d be able to just attach a program that parses biological data like the People’s quale upload system did, and some drivers to match, and you’d be good to go.

NSH: Provided the AOS can work with the foreign genome in the first place. But I’m working on that.

SRS: I wouldn’t even know where to start with simulating something like this. I suppose you’re the expert bioengineer between us, after all.

SRS: That said, I do have a suggestion. If you’re already keeping part of the brain, then include neural tissue to regulate autonomic nervous function. That way the essential bodily systems will run even without AOS input, so you’d be able to switch out systems if need be.

SRS: You’d still need to intravenously feed it if it was unoccupied for a while, but you wouldn’t necessarily lose the body the second you uninstalled the AOS.

NSH: Oh, good idea. I’ll definitely get on that.

NSH: Don’t mind me if I’m less talkative than usual, alright? These simulations are pretty demanding, and for obvious ethical reasons I want to be sure I’m not creating a body with its own mind. Even a simple animal one. So…being careful about the brain parts.

SRS: …Yes, please do avoid creating a thinking or feeling being that’s designed to be a vessel and can’t even move on its own. That would be beyond horrifying.

NSH: Hence why I’ve been spending so much time with my simulator~

 On the following day, Spearmaster insists they raid Septkai for baubles.

“This is your place,” it says, more bossy and outspoken the longer it goes with its name known. “Your body-place. It is all you. You should put more things you like here. Not leave it all in city you never see.”

“Well, who am I to argue with that?” Suns says with a laugh, and lets their selfling be pulled off on the excursion.

They’re mostly humouring it, at first. But Septkai is strangely less painful on the second visit, and it makes them wonder. It was like lancing a barely-healed wound, the first time; now it feels cleaner. Like something they might even be able to come to terms with, someday. They keep quiet at the thought, pensive, and let Spearmaster lead them around by the hand.

“Take things from the big pretty house, maybe?” It suggests, of the spire of Whispers Softly in the Glittering Light of Ages.

A pang of hurt returns. “It seems a shame to disturb it, when it looks so lovely in there,” they say, reluctant. “It’s one of your favourite places, isn’t it? You’ve etched the floors to make it even nicer. I don’t want to take the ornaments down from there.”

Spearmaster flicks an ear dismissively. “Take from the boring rooms, then. It is a big place. I mostly like the big rooms.”

Suns sighs, but acquiesces. “I suppose he did explicitly leave all his worldly possessions to me,” they muse, and follow Spearmaster up the spear-ladder to the broken window. They make a mental note to see about unsealing the door sometime for easier ingress, then jump in.

By mutual agreement, they leave the most elaborate rooms undisturbed: the dining hall, the lounging area, the meditation room, and the bathing chamber. They’re all too well-decorated and beautiful to look at, and Suns wants no part in ruining it. Instead, they pull decorations down from the narrow halls and stairwells, laying them out carefully in an old storage crate to avoid them tangling.

Banners of rich fabric, gone a little faded and stiff with the passage of time, but still beautiful in their embroidered glory. Strings of carved red beads, from which depending metal ornaments hang, all in various stylised images of the sun. A trail of metallic ornaments in seven parts, to evoke the stars of Septkaion. This and more they fold into their crate, Spearmaster grasping at things it likes as well to add them to the pile.

It is quite insistent on taking some of the beautifully-ornamented wind chimes, and some of the tiny bright-sounding bells. “In your body-home, there are many places where the gravity moves things around,” it says, with notable enthusiasm. “These will go well there. Make good sounds.”

“I suppose it will work in some sectors,” they allow. “So long as this metal doesn’t disturb anything conductive. That should be easy enough to arrange…”

Tapestries and wall hangings, they harvest in plenty. Spearmaster is very much of the opinion that Suns’ walls could use more art.

“It would be prettier to cover it all in pictures,” they say, a little longingly, as they admire the faded colours of the murals painted in the lounge. “Like this. But there are not enough wall things for it.”

“Not in all the city,” Suns agrees. Even if they were to take down every painting, every tapestry, every banner and mosaic and fresco in Septkai – the whole of it would not be enough to fill their superstructure with art. It is simply too vast. For a moment, they entertain a wistful thought otherwise: their sprawling megalithic halls, always so bare and soulless, instead filled with such a quantity of art they become a gallery in and of themself…

Maybe if they’d expressed the idea back when Septkai was alive, the citizens might have made an effort of it. They’d have probably been thrilled, to fill Suns’ saintly interior with their works. But Septkai is dead, and there is no one left living to make art now.

…Except, no. That’s…not true anymore, is it?

Seven Red Suns stares down at their messenger, who has eagerly applied itself to the art of spear-based engraving, and who knows what else. What else might it learn? Is it interested in other media? It certainly seems to like the colours involved in paintings.

Would it like to paint? Would it apply itself to painting on Sun’s own interior, if given the permission?

A swelling of feeling, difficult to identify, proliferates across their neural wiring. What a gift, they think, of having a person who loves them creating art again, at the prospect of someone they love putting art within them. A true sapient being, with a body, with a creative mind, capable of using them as an iterator never could, trapped and constrained as they are…

They stop short, freezing in the middle of folding up a rich red banner.

“Sun?” Spearmaster signs, in its shorthand name-sign for them. “Something wrong?”

But Suns does not answer, because suddenly, all across their mind is the new and all-encompassing realisation of: I am no longer so constrained.

Slower, like the spread of dawn: I can now create art myself.

 [LIVE BROADCAST] PRIVATE Seven Red Suns, No Significant Harassment

NSH: I’m making some progress with the simulations, I think~

NSH: Soon I might even be ready to try starting up growing of a test body. Just to see if it’s viable without an AOS.

SRS: Oh? That’s interesting news. What organic creature are you basing the body on, anyway? You never said.

NSH: Oh, a vulture, of course. I know them so well, after all.

SRS: …Didn’t we just recently have a conversation about how creating your vultures might not have been wise?

NSH: Yes, yes, but this one would only have enough of a brain to have working senses and the ability for its heart to beat on its own, and so on. It’s hardly going to be another new apex predator.

NSH: Which, for the record, absolutely did help the lizard overpopulation we were all struggling with at the time. So there.

SRS: What do you even want a vulture body for? You know you’re going to have to put a part of you inside that, right?

NSH: Fast travel, mostly. Though it would be a good body to hunt with too, which seems like something I should be specifically working towards, what with how much bioengineering I think the future will hold.

NSH: But yes, fast travel. I can only imagine how much delivery of parts and pearls and so on we’ll need to do, just to do something to help our local group. We don’t have vehicles available, so a large flight-capable body is the next best thing.

SRS: Well, you do have a point…

SRS: I can only imagine how slow repairs to anything would be, if we had to carry everything by foot forever.

NSH: Hence the vulture AMP!

SRS: Do you really think a part of yourself would be happy being in a vulture forever, though?

NSH: I don’t know, I feel like flying around biting things with my face has a lot to recommend it.

NSH: Besides, I’m not sure it would be forever. The body is organic enough it should age to destruction eventually.

SRS: That’s a disturbing idea. Would it be part of the Cycle, do you suppose?

NSH: For that matter, do we even know if our AMPs are part of the Cycle or not?

SRS: …

SRS: Neither of our AMPs has been destroyed yet. I don’t know if we can say, until then. But none of the AOS failures came back after I wiped them.

NSH: Memory loss and personality destruction didn’t trigger Cyclical respawn on People, either.

NSH: You never physically destroyed an AOS, did you? Only reset their self and memory.

SRS: …No, I didn’t. So I suppose we don’t know either way.

SRS: Thank you for this new and highly troubling thought.

NSH: You’re very welcome~

 When asked what kinds of material Spearmaster has used to create art in the past, it answers: engravings, with spears, ‘chalk’ drawings with whatever soft mineral it could find, and arrangements of interesting rocks.

When asked, “Would you be interested in learning to paint with the same materials as your favourite murals?” it becomes more excited than Suns thinks they have ever seen it.

First though, they must find the necessary materials.

As expected, everything pre-mixed in the Guild of Great Artisans is irredeemably expired. The acrylic and oil paints are beyond saving, as are the containers of oils and acrylic compounds once used to mix them. The bottles of solvents seem to have survived well enough for the most part, which is something, but…

Suns pokes around the vast storeroom a little longer, and finds…well, a great many things. It is the store of the largest arts guild in Septkai, after all. But most pertinent to the moment are the enormous, carefully sealed tubs of very expensive pigments. There are so many of them.

So much of it, Suns marvels, cracking open the seal on a container half their height, full most of the way to the brim with a dense blue powder. And a good thing, too. Making pigments like this from scratch…it would take materials and labour that simply don’t exist anymore. But with so much in storage, they’d need to do a truly prodigious amount of painting to run out.

“Here, look at this,” they say, beckoning Spearmaster close. “Be careful. This is a very rare thing, and once it’s gone, I don’t know where I’ll find more. But this is a blue pigment. You can mix it with various substances to create different sorts of paint. The ones in these containers can all be mixed with water, or certain oils, or certain acrylic compounds. They would create watercolour, oil, and acrylic paints respectively, ready to use.”

Spearmaster inspects the pigment, interested. “Which kind is on the walls?”

“Most of the murals in Septkai are oil or acrylic. It lasts quite well, under the right conditions,” they reply, but – their eye is caught on something. In the corner, over there. Is that a strongbox…?

Good saints, it is. They replace the lid on the blue pigment tub, then go over to investigate. It’s a miniature vault, old-fashioned in design, like the sort used to store money or extremely valuable items. If they hauled it to their engineering bays, they could cut it open, but…it might be too heavy for that. And it seems to be secured in place, anyway.

Suns frowns, then sits back to send a short range transmission to their superstructure, asking for information. The minutiae of the city’s records are not something they opted to keep in their limited memory storage, so if there exists any reference to this, it is likely to be in their greater self beneath, archived in case of future need.

“What is this?” Spearmaster inquires, following them over.

“A vault, or strongbox. It’s a kind of storage for very prized, very valuable items.” Suns waits, listening, and then- “Ah, yes. Thankfully, one of the city’s ascendants did think to include this in her last testaments. It’s in one of the pearls you found for me the other day, actually. Right then, a combination…”

There are in fact three separate types of combination on the little vault, and unsurprisingly, their controls do not respond very well. Suns has to force some of the parts to turn. But they input all the correct values anyway, and the door creaks open. Inside…

If they’d been organic enough for it, their breath would have caught. Even so, the sight leaves them awash in strange, conflicted emotion.

Within the vault are eight rows of small reinforced vials. Clearly visible within: the liquid gleam of true, sacred gold.

 [LIVE BROADCAST] PRIVATE Seven Red Suns, No Significant Harassment

SRS: All saints drowned, gone, and gilded…

SRS: You will not believe what I just found in Septkai.

NSH: Oh, you’re using the elaborate religious swears. This should be good. What did you find? A lost masterpiece, maybe?

SRS: …No, but that would be nice.

SRS: Void gold. I found void gold.

SRS: Sixty-four vials of it, perfectly preserved, in pristine condition.

NSH: Are you serious? Wasn’t that one of the most valuable substances the People had?

SRS: Moreso even than vacuum-refined void fluid, yes, which I suppose makes sense. It’s a by-product of the successful refinement process, produced in miniscule amounts. Incredibly scarce.

SRS: I can hardly believe my selfling’s eyes. They just transmitted the memory…

SRS: It was in a vault in the foremost artists’ guild in the city. I knew Septkai was wealthy, but…they could’ve sold the Grand Cathedral and the proceeds wouldn’t buy even a third of this cache. I should know. They used it to paint some details in my mural, after all, and some of the other most valued works.

SRS: When did they buy this? Why don’t I have records of it?

NSH: Could it have been illegal smuggling? You have to admit – no one’s city was above that sort of thing, not even yours.

SRS: That makes more sense than anything, at this point. What in the world was my artists’ guild involved in, to have this just sitting around inside a storeroom? I need to have a closer look at the Guildmaster’s pearl.

SRS: …Hah. No, she doesn’t say where she got it. But she apologises to me for ‘shameful greed and misconduct’ and says ‘certain items within my possession have been placed in a vault in the Artisans’ storeroom for safe keeping and preservation, ahead of my departure and ascension’. She never mentions the nature of the items in the vault at all.

NSH: Cagey even on the doorstep of her death, eh.

SRS: Evidently, yes.

SRS: There’s so much of it. I’ve only ever seen a single vial before. I’m still just so shocked.

NSH: Maybe I should start searching my own city, if there’s things like this to be found in there. One more use for a selfling!

SRS: Yes. Probably. I should search more thoroughly as well. I never expected…

NSH: What are you going to do with it?

SRS: What a question.

SRS: This vault would’ve put any one Person among the wealthiest in the world, once. Now…it’s just pretty liquid. Very holy pretty liquid, if you ask the People who made me, but…

NSH: The ‘sacred gold’, ha. I remember back when the wealthiest ministers tried to anoint themselves with droplets of it before they ascended, hoping it would make the void take them better.

SRS: Yes. I remember too. It was a very popular hope among the wealthy. I wonder if there was ever any truth to it?

NSH: Hard to say. It isn’t as though many People could ever afford to use it, and stories of echoes are hard to substantiate even on a good day. No sample size to speak of, no evidence.

NSH: But it does have a certain gravitas to it, doesn’t it? Even just as a concept.

SRS: Yes. Evidently, I’ve picked up more of that cultural conditioning than I thought. I shouldn’t be so moved by a few vials of very expensive refinery by-product, and yet…

NSH: What can it even be used for, other than painting? You must know, this is right up your alley.

SRS: …

NSH: Go on, you know you want to.

SRS: …It’s actually karma-reactive, as a substance. Tiny pellets of it, the size of a grain of sand, were used in the construction of karma gates. The ancient ritual sites above the void sea are thought to have used it, too – to make those fields that would only respond to the enlightened. The method was lost to the cycles, and karma gates are the closest equivalent the People ever managed to make. And that uses void gold.

SRS: It’s also impressively hydrophobic. It repels all sorts of chemicals, liquids, and substances – once it’s set on a surface, more or less the only thing that can remove it is a karma flower, and it doesn’t seem to fade. If you had enough of it to use as a coating, the practical applications would be nearly endless.

SRS: But of course, for our People, it was always too scarce for that. The ancients had some way to produce it in far greater quantities; naturally the method of that is lost to time as well. The evidence is clear, though. The subterranean ruins have entire murals done in nothing but void gold, and a lot of the buildings are probably still gilded to this day.

SRS: It’s a remarkable substance, really. The liquid never dries unless exposed to air for a setting period, but how long it takes to set depends on the karma level of nearby beings.

SRS: It’s how we know that we have something approximating a karma level, actually. Void gold dries fastest in an iterator’s superstructure near the General Systems Bus, the Primary Memory Conflux or equivalent, the Puppet Chamber, and so on. At each of the supposed hearts of our consciousness, there’s something that the void gold responds to.

NSH: You know, I never thought to wonder how they originally found out we had karma. It’s not like you can get our superstructures into a karma gate, after all. But it was void gold all along? I’d have never guessed.

NSH: Thanks for the history lesson, Seven Red Suns~ I can always count on you to know these things. Your databanks must be something else!

SRS: Hah. I’m honestly not much of a historian, compared to some. It’s the religious history I know best – we all have our interests, don’t we? I suspect I’d be impressed by how much simulation and genome data you’ve got in your can.

NSH: Well, you’re very welcome to visit and find out~

SRS: …

NSH: Not interested in my databanks, Suns? I’m shocked!

SRS: No, I…It just occurred to me that we’re going to have the unprecedented opportunity to access each other’s data directly. I could actually take you up on that offer. It’s physically possible.

SRS: Remember all those jokes you used to make? ‘You’re welcome to come to my can and check, if you don’t believe me’. ‘Oh, that’s far too personal to say over a broadcast! I’ll tell you if you come by my can sometime’. You used to drive Five Pebbles up his walls, you know.

NSH: Oh, I know.

SRS: And now, if you make one of those stupid jokes, it is actually technically doable to visit your can and call your bluff.

NSH: Who’s bluffing? ~

 Seven Red Suns transports a single vial of void gold back to their superstructure, and leaves the rest locked up in the vault. They’re not sure why they do it. There’s no point to having such a precious thing within their great body. But something about passing that vial to their puppet, hand to hand, of watching the sacred pigment glisten in the harsh light of their chamber…

It’s strangely affecting.

The odd mood persists into the next day, even as they consider what to bring to mix the paints with.

“A plant based oil, perhaps?” They murmur, mostly to themself, as they check their material vats. “Yes, I can manufacture that…or an acrylic compound, instead? Hmm…”

In the end, based on ease of use and quick drying – as well as suitability for painting their own structure – they elect to manufacture the acrylic. They scoop it into a decanter, oddly pleased at being able to do such a thing without a Person technician, then take Spearmaster back to the artists’ guild and its many pigments. Together, they mix replacements for the various paint sets that have gone hard on the shelves, Suns demonstrating how to mix the acrylic in with the pigment, stirring it carefully with a palette knife until there are no lumps remaining.

“And then we want to get it sealed in the pot quickly, before it starts to dry,” Suns says, capping their pot and setting it aside while they watch Spearmaster. The slugcat is impressively dexterous with the mixing knife, showing their long experience with skilled tool use. Suns passes the lid over when it finishes, and watches that pot receive its cap, twisting decisively into place. “Very good.”

It puffs up with pride, then makes enthusiastic grabby hands at the rest of the pots. Clearly, it wants to mix more.

“Just make sure to rinse off your palette knife so we don’t contaminate the colours – yes, there you go. Let’s mix a purple next, shall we?”

Between them, they mix a fairly comprehensive batch of paints, all quite small pots for now, but that’s plenty to be starting with. They pack them all up in a vaguely-intact carry case, add helpful extras like palette, brushes, and pot, then head back home.

“When try painting?” Spearmaster asks along the way, signs clumsy with their eagerness, and Suns laughs a little shakily.

“Right now, in fact,” they say, and direct the both of them along the regimented halls of their superstructure.

Not all locations will be suitable for this. The acrylic paints won’t interfere with electrical conductivity in their can, but it could confuse more chemical messaging within the more heavily biological areas. Thus they stay clear of any of the larger rooms and systems, keeping to the halls which only exist in the first place as routes for maintenance staff to traverse.

These long stretches of the superstructure are dull and empty, with nothing of colour or interest to draw the eye. Suns stares around as though for the first time, aware as they have never been how dissatisfying it all is. It is standard for an iterator’s interior, but it is also wrong.

My self should not be like this, they think, and it feels like a revelation.

They suppose the People never had the resources nor the wherewithal to think of designing an iterator to be beautiful, as well as functional. Already, their making was the work of generations. To make it artful too…no. It is understandable. Understandable also, that they would assume an iterator would no more gall at the appearance of their halls than a Person would at the interior of their blood vessels. A body part. That’s all it was, surely.

Suns feels differently, now. They suspect they have always felt differently, and it wasn’t until now, actually having the opportunity to amend it, that they realise the breadth of that truth.

“You’re more right than you knew, Spearmaster,” says Suns, lingering there in the empty hall. They will have to disable the artificial gravity for now; they aren’t sure how painting works in normal gravity, let alone this. “My interior does not suit me. Bleak grey metal at every turn…perhaps there is beauty in the rooms where my neuron flies dance and my circuits speak to one another, but in hallways like this…no. You have the right of it. This superstructure is a part of me, and I should make it a more welcoming home for my self.”

Spearmaster tilts their head uncertainly, then looks up and down the empty hall. “Decorate this?” It asks, not quite sure of the point. “Now? With what?”

“Paint, my friend,” Suns says, eyes squinting with a smile as the slugcat startles. “Yes, I brought you here for a reason. Let us both try our hands at painting here, shall we? I’m looking forward to it.”

Its ears rotate backwards. “Don’t know how!” It says, a little panicked. “Don’t want to make your body-home look bad!”

“Spearmaster, that is not even slightly a concern,” they say, shaking their head. “No, don’t worry a moment. You see, I’m coming to accept that I am quite a sentimental person, as Sig has been telling me lately. And what I would consider beautiful – no matter its appearance, or skill – is the first painting by your hands, immortalised here within my walls. Something I can cherish, even when you are long gone.”

The little creature listens, looking increasingly shocked, then buries its face in its hands and trembles. There’s a strain to it, like there often is in times of high emotion – Suns thinks it’s trying to make noise, a reflex expressive gesture, but it lacks the structures to do so. It hurts to notice, especially now, but… “That is very important,” it signs, when it finally raises its head again. “Thank you. Thank you. But I don’t want to do it wrong.”

“If you truly dislike what you paint, you can wait for it to dry and then paint over it,” Suns concedes, out of pity for its anxiety. “I’d rather you didn’t. But it’s a possibility, if you can’t stand the results.”

That calms it considerably, so it must have been a good move. “Oh. Then, yes. I do this. A picture, painted for you.” It hesitates, then pats at the carrying case full of paints. Obligingly, Suns helps it unpack everything. Paints, palette, and so on. They decant a little water into the brush pot and smile at it, unexpectedly thrilled. The closest their puppet has ever come to making art is to misuse their chamber’s projection software to make vague and chaotic patterns of overlapping screens. They have never expected something like this to be within their grasp.

Seven Red Suns has been watching videos of artisans at work since they were a barely-awakened consciousness humming along freshly-grown nervous tissue. Histories and images alike have made their home within their mind, filling every second with wistful dreams of shape and colour and the stroke of skilled hands upon a canvas. Always, they have admired this. Always, they have wondered what it would be like, were it their own hands.

For all the worship, all the adulation…Suns has never found rapture through the faith that built them. But kneeling here, in this meaningless corridor of their greater self, they put brush to bare metal and understand a little of how religion could stir the hearts of the People.

This is worth it all, they think, once and then again, again and again, full to bursting with the joy of creation. They open fully to their greater self, all of Seven Red Suns thinking together, existing together, becoming greater together. Two bodies sit side-by-side and put paint to the wall in quiet companionship, and it is a blessing greater than anything they have ever known.

If nothing else regarding the AMP project ever works out, it will still have been worthy. Just for this. Just for this alone.

The day wears on in glory. Suns finishes painting, and sits back to stare at the result with a strange and blissful sense of wellness pervading every process in their selfling form. It’s as though some bleak shroud, long forgotten and accustomed to, has lifted just enough to let a little light through. Spearmaster finishes somewhat later, while they are still processing, and they sit back to regard the wall together.

Somewhat predictably, they have both painted each other.

“…Thank you, Spearmaster,” they say softly, lowering a hand to put the paint pots aside. All their attention is on the art, now. A smile stretches wide across the artificial skin on their face, utterly beatific. “It’s lovely. I’m so glad to have it. It’s a true gift.”

The slugcat stares up at the image of itself, and trembles. Without a word, it presses itself into Suns’ side, worming under their arm and into their lap. Its chest rumbles warmly with the thin half-purr that is all it can produce.

They hold its little body close and smile. A true gift, they think again to themself, and look up at the work of two disparate beings upon the wall.

Something at the thought niggles at them. They pass it to their greater self to pay attention to later.

A gift…

 ---

X

 SRS: I shall train my selfling and prepare it for the rigors of travel in sensible, safe, controlled ways, like indoor exercise and slugcat tuition. Only when I have sufficient practice will I cautiously venture to the hostile surface world, and even then I will do it with a seasoned warrior accompanying me.

Meanwhile, NSH: lmao time to immediately jump headfirst into danger with no training whatsoever!! I’m sure it’ll be fine

Scroll down on my blog for SRS art in the design I’m picturing for this fic.

In this chapter: local art nerd discovers that doing art improves their mental health! More shocking news to come.

Void gold isn’t actually like, super plot significant or anything. I just wanted to give SRS a chance to enjoy infodumping at a buddy, so I vomited worldbuilding all over the document in their service. NSH for his part enjoys a good Suns brain dump from time to time and will deliberately prompt them when the opportunity strikes.

Canonically, NSH sent something ‘distasteful’ to an iterator using a purposed organism messenger. I headcanon that the unfortunate recipient of this content was Pebbles, which is referenced in one of the chats this chapter.

In Assembly, NSH is the original creator of vultures and king vultures. He may come to regret this.

There was originally an extremely depressing chatlog in this chapter but for tone and pacing reasons that’s probably next chapter instead. So like, look forward to that, I guess! Iterator angst™: coming to a fanfic near you!

Couple more chapters and we might kick at least one of these guys out of their can!

...Is the SRS/NSH flirty enough yet that it's worth putting the ship tag on ao3? 🤔 I'm avoiding tagging ships until they actually happen in the published text of the story, since I don't know how far I'm taking this and I don't want to shipbait people.

Speaking of, it's apparently aromantic visibility day today, so FYI: all of my iterators are aro/ace to some degree or variety. All the ships in this fic will be done in very queer non-amatonormative sort of ways and I'm very into it.

also if I get that far there's gonna be hella sunstone. jsyk

[flockrest]

this one's to the lovely who dropped an entire essay back @ me in the inbox! i've decided to format the post such that i can answer some portions directly so none of us get confused, hope you don't mind! anything indented is what you sent in, the rest is part of my response :) it's another doozy but we love those, don't we? asflkdj here we go!

Hi, hope you're doing well! I'd been the anon giving you asks more on Revali's personality and his behavior around the Flock and the Flock's reaction (mostly Tulin's) towards him. Also, the 1.6k did not overwhelm me- if anything made me very happy and overall more curious ahahaha. If anything- thank you so much for accepting and taking the time to answer these asks. Can relate to the unhinged feelings over the lonely rito- I could be hours and hours thinking. That gif of the guy with a board behind full of clues and trying to connect the dots- that's currently me.

hello, welcome back! thank you, hope you're having a wonderful time too!! ♡ also gotta thank you again for sending these in, i genuinely get so excited to see things like this in my inbox!! your passion is so great to see! i'm glad you enjoy my answers, and that they make you all the more curious and open to sharing with me ♡ what a huge mood though afklsjdg this stupid bird just has So Much to him

I've re-read your post various times and even tried organizing my thoughts in paper. And there is so much I want to ask... What caught a lot my attention- was how you spoke a bit of Rito village during & after the Calamity; ofc we don't really get a clear picture of the before even with AoC's light but we do get the clearest view of the aftermath of it (ofc 100 years skipped). I do feel (Pre-Calamity) Rito Village had a larger flock(?) compared to the village we get exposed during BoTW/ToTK events. In a way feels the loss of their Champion & Calamity's wrath- made them all realize the importance of that sense of unity.

yes, exactly! you get it! it's a natural outcome from suffering any huge loss...and while it comes from a place of tragedy, i just. really appreciate how homely and cosy rito village feels in both botw and totk because of it — you get that sense of nobody is genuinely uncared for, even link! and this isn't to say that the other peoples of hyrule don't care for their own, it just! hits different with the rito. like you get the impression that everybody interacts with each other everyday! you literally can't go from the top of the village to the bottom without seeing almost every single resident; they're all practically neighbours! they're all, on some level, friends!

this significance on sticking together as a community is especially evident in totk. seriously, it makes me so emo seeing the kids step up to fill in spaces the adults did not mean to leave behind nor expect them to fill :') and their efforts don't go unrecognised, as they shouldn't be, but oh my god. on my hands and knees over how cherished the kids are in this damn flock!! nekk ( MY BELOVED ) puts it best: "they're the saviours of this village."

and like! they're going through extremely hard times with supply scarcities but still find the capacity to be so generous?? there are more things than i expected lying about that you can just grab — that they'll consciously let you grab! i'm going to need these folks to stop having such a huge collective heart fr it's making me feel A Lot 😭

( and in reviewing cutscenes from both botw and aoc in this context, i think we can safely say that their residential population was indeed bigger pre-calamity. there's more background npcs just chilling about in the memory "revali's flap" compared to most post-calamity cutscenes, and aoc literally shows that there are enough rito present for brigades! the reduced numbers we see post-calamity could simply be attributed to more rito travelling beyond their home and even hyrule, but then the calamity would probably be a big reason for that too )

Brings me back to ToTK, where I noticed most adults in a way spoke highly & relied (at least to me) a bit on Tulin's ability to use wind magic- after all it's been a long time since they ever witness it. But also appreciated how Harth's dialogues which he praises the boy's ability but is concerned of how Tulin is taking certain approach (how at first he goes alone) and his overworking state. Even Teba & Saki recognize their son's abilities but as parents are concerned- I am pretty sure while they acknowledge him as a rito warrior, they also want him to continue living his childhood. (Link does too btw- sorry I don't mention them often)

OH, FOR SURE. you are right on many points here; for sure, the adults have come to see tulin as a young rito warrior in his own right and do trust him to contribute in a way they wouldn't ask of the other fledglings; harth makes it clear that even before link had come, sending tulin to investigate the cloud surrounding the stormwind ark was an option they weren't as opposed to as our introduction to the kid made it seem ( and it's not just his wind-gust technique they're so in awe of either! god. he really has worked so hard!! and everybody can see it! 😭😭 ).

with the worry, i believe the nature of it really depends! it's all completely warranted given how tulin's initial views on how "he doesn't need anyone else backing him up" has apparently "gotten him into trouble more times than [harth] can count" ( which is definitely concerning but also. it can't be anything worse than getting his bow stolen and being left with just his talons for defence in the face of a monster, right? because tulin. tulin. that could not have been your turnaround if you've been doing shit like flying straight into frost taluses solo or something sflkjd ) anyway, but it seems for teba and harth, it's more in a we're worried you're actively sabotaging yourself with your recklessness way.

saki had hang-ups about tulin losing his innocence too early in botw ( "he is such a sweet boy," she says, and it never fails to make me collapse on my knees because he so is and the best thing is he never loses that aspect of himself!! ), but does appear to have come to accept that her son's growing up in totk? i unfortunately don't have a screenshot of the line that indicates this, nor do i remember it verbatim, but the vibes i'm getting from her are i'm worried because you have not learnt enough to be as grown up as you insist you are ( which leaves you ill-prepared for the situations you're trying to fly into ).

ofc it all connects to a primary worry for his safety and his tendency to do way more than anyone would ask of him, but i do think they understand, on some level, that trying to completely stop him is ultimately futile and will only make things worse — in that he'll start deliberately pushing them away when he's only leaving them behind for now.

he's a tween! still a child but only ever getting older, and with how important it is to their culture, i imagine being a warrior isn't as mutually exclusive from childhood as it'd be for us. like tulin's an outlier because he's a prodigy who excessively worked himself to that title, but i don't doubt that compulsory education for growing fledglings would involve, among other things, learning how to at least hunt and defend yourself in the wild! so i don't think it's that they're scared of him growing up too fast at that point in totk — because while he's definitely matured more than his peers in some parts, he is very much still experiencing being a child no matter what he argues in many others aflskdj — just more like...they want him to grow up well. properly, for a lack of better words. WHICH INCLUDES NOT OVERWORKING. oh my god with the overworking

( also oh boy. very glad you brought up link! no need to be sorry! i can't say much on him because i'm not a link writer, though i do ramble about his dynamic with tulin, including how he potentially sees himself reflected in him, over here if you're interested! )

But this also sends me off to another "path" makes me think- What if Revali didn't have this type of support? And it made me think how similar were Revali's and Tulin's in some aspects but how different the outcome were for both- it's a bit tragic at least for me.

YES. YES!! THIS IS IT, YOU HIT IT ON THE HEAD!! i've said it before and i'll say it again: tulin and revali are essentially one support system removed from being each other! they share notable parallels!

just. the fact that harth notices the injuries on tulin's wings from pushing himself to the limits. we don't get follow-up dialogue on that, but there's such a high chance that Words are exchanged between them when link leaves them be because we've seen their relationship. we know how harth cares for tulin, we know tulin is loved for more than what he can do and looked out for. now juxtapose that with revali, thrown out of his own tornado, alone in that moment where he picks himself up as well — but way less likely to have anyone say anything about his wing injuries or to even let someone think he has them. [spontaneously combusts]

i would say more on this and why the sages of totk in general act well as foils to the champions of botw, particularly regarding themes, but that really does feel like a post for another time sdflkjd and it is tragic! it is very tragic! revali was doomed by the narrative in more ways than one :')

I remember the diary where he speaks how the town began praising him for his achievements- that type of validation can be good but to an extreme and left unchecked, it can spiral someone into depending of it. And yet at the end of that diary... he still spoke how he need to continue perfecting himself. Something that AoC made me think in more depth was how almost everyone was "chosen" by destiny (or have a unique ability) and carried a title. But when I look at Revali he seems somehow an abstract to them. Even though in his diary such things were not something he cared for- he mostly valued folks by their responses and actions. (Note: Found cute how he appreciated the scarf and gave one to his bow... It really meant a lot to him// Also I do think Revali appreciated all the Champions including Zelda & Link).

YEAH. YEP. and the way he at first speaks about it, how he contradicts himself in tone despite trying to sound so self-assured — "as one would expect" VS the "i...could get used to this." that follows in the same entry — that's the attention and glory he's always wanted! now he's gonna affix it to the meaning of loving and being loved. which he's also going to attach to his abilities and what he can offer, which is deeply connected to his perceived self-worth. and he's going to make sure he'll never run out of ( tbf real and well-earned ) confidence in that self-worth by constantly pushing himself to greater, more impossible heights. i'm going to put this bird in a washing machine.

he's literally just a guy!! it's one of my favourite things about him, he's Just Some Guy in the group of people who were born into wealth; powers; blessings; respect. they all had their trials, but he earned his place among them from the comparative nothing he started out with and he's justifiably proud of this!

i do think he's also insecure about it at first, tbh ( which he reacts to by laying on the conceit even thicker ), even though his belief in hard work being a supreme indicator of one's "true strength" isn't actually shaken. he is genuinely like i more than deserve to be here but he's also like. and there's nothing you can do about it. don't you forget it. don't you forget it. don't you ever forget it. i wouldn't say it mellows out, but the more he gets to see the champions in action ( thus confirming that they are on his level — that he's fit to make a constellation amongst these that've already been mapped ), the less inclined he feels to explicitly remind them.

and oh my god. the things i could say about what the blue scarf likely means to him. it was handcrafted by zelda, hyrule's princess, for him specifically. it's part of a matching set with other big powers of hyrule. titles and uniform do nothing for him, he claims, but isn't this like being told you are one of us? that you have much to offer? it's "meaningless pomp", he says.

it's also still a gift.

the cloth he ties to his bow is the same shade of blue. i should really make another study post speaking about this more in depth, but i've always interpreted it to be a memento the same way teba and saki's feathers on tulin's quiver are! in tulin's time, this might mean, "these people are always with me." in revali's time, on the brink of a calamity, i imagine it might mean, "( if i fall, you who finds me, ) i belonged with these people."

And yet when Teba & Tulin show up- there is this subtle change on him(?) I wished the game had dwelled a bit more on Teba and Revali. Seeing their interactions was always interesting and in a way, Teba seemed to understand the rito champion. While I felt Teba was that friend or even family member(?) that Revali needed in a way or I could be just over reading, ahaha sorry. But sincerely, I always felt Teba & Tulin were that family or friends- that in a way Revali needed and it makes me think so hard on the "What ifs" and "What could have been"...

what i wouldn't have given for more content and interactions between these three as well!! it's especially fascinating to think about it from teba's side — there is so much recontextualising he has to do and does do about revali, because the one he's grown up idolising and hearing Songs about is uh. well, he's certainly there in the revali he meets, but i doubt he's really prepared for things like how painfully young he is.

he handles it very well honestly asfklsdjg i would not have taken to the realisation that my champion is a warrior hardened only by constant work and the battles he throws himself into, and kind of a fucking brat because he's like the 18yo who thinks being 18 is a decade away from being 17, and died distressingly young back in my timeline with the same grace he gives when he says — of the entire wild experience that is aoc — "this has been enlightening".

you are not over-reading, do not be sorry fr!! i do think revali found an opportunity for companionship in teba that he couldn't find anywhere else when he's built relationships and dynamics he can't change because he has an image to uphold! teba already comes with a dire respect for revali, the knowledge that his story does not end nicely, AND HE'S AN ACTUAL DAD. that sort of thing can bleed into your behaviour and the way you process things without meaning to asflkdjgs

THE BIGGEST MOOD!! wow i'm so glad writers ( it's me, i'm writers ) can create literally anything they want and so can explore these what ifs and what could have beens and give a resolution to a story cut short. this is what my the champions survive au is all about, i hope to have you stay long enough to see these things come out of it ♡

As for the Flight Range & Saki's dialogue; I've always been emo about the F.Range specially when you walk in and hear his theme playing in this music box style... it's like part of his soul is also there but that flame that burnt passionately has subdued and waits to pass to torch to the next generation. In ToTK it made me cry- specially when Kaneli comments (when you pick the bow,arrows) how they been collecting dust... But on the bright side, made me happy that even with the damages- they still hold dearly to the place and is currently being used as training grounds for flight. Which... is what Revali wanted for his people for them to reach the sky and break the limits (or that how I interpreted it).

AUGH EXACTLY, YOU GET IT!! 😭 he never gave it his name but it'll always be his! it's the most melancholic we ever get to hear his theme, full of the wistful yearning that was definitely present but more muted in its botw version! it's lost potential. an unsaid goodbye. revali's gone. but it's also grounds for hope, a tiptoeing hello: his legacy lives on still! i will always go fucking feral over the music in these games!!

YES!! YEAH!! [HOLDING YOU BY THE SHOULDERS] he calls his journal "the diary of revali, the rito legend" BUT HE DOES NOT. GIVE THE FLIGHT RANGE LITERALLY MADE FOR HIM HIS NAME. because it was never going to be something solely for him. he loves his people, he was never going to stymie their prospects! this loser is so good at making me infuriatingly sad AUGH

Re-reading Saki's dialogue with the context you given me- hit me like a ton of bricks. Because it was a new pov. When I first read her dialogue, I took it more of a "Remembering our Champion- one we couldn't help" rather than "commemoration of what he couldn't do". But I also remembered how contrasting are Teba and Saki; Teba being a warrior with pride, reckless at times - who admired greatly Revali's feats and aspired once to surpass him. Meanwhile Saki is more calm and is concerned with the concept of engaging battle- nervous about the training her son was exposed to. So, when re-reading her dialogue I take it more of a wife and mother concerned of losing her companion/husband and son to a similar fate to Revali's.

i swear we are on the same wavelength. yes, exactly!

another thing about revali's landing that makes me so, so deliriously emo — it's a physical permanency given without request: in the best way they can afford to grant it. the rito notably have very little tangible representations of themselves. they don't have statues or effigies like the zora or gorons ( and why would they, when they have Songs and the Windlines and are also probably restricted by their morphology ), and revali does not have any family to be likened to. link remembers him through seeing the landing, which was there, a part of rito village, before it was ever deemed revali's. it wasn't made for him. but they gave it to him! and i'm!! [BLUBBERING]

Revali's love for his people and Rito Village- it breaks me. I can understand that sentiment of loving someone or something from a far (?) - Even when challenging W.Blight and listening to his lines (both english and spanish for me), one can hear that hidden sadness. It's hearing someone who wants to go back home. "But even so, it will always be my home." - the entirety of those lines really hit me so hard the first time I've heard them.

I KNOW. I KNOW. [head in hands] a century has passed and he can't fathom it. "there's no one left who would even know me." he sounds so struck by it, in both the original jpn and english audio, i want to wrap him up in a blanket and toast him like a marshmallow! how much of that is grief? how much of that is longing? how much of that is some strange solace, in knowing he's alone but there's nothing he could've done about it this time?

Also, it makes me glad seeing a Tulin who can see the good in Revali- even if the champion can have a bit of a thorn like exterior. I've read some of the threads! They been wonderful and brought me a lot of joy. It makes me happy to see Tulin taking flight and moving forward. When you mention your student-disciple, are you referring to Kido? I know there were two names but I've lost the post with the cups. I would love to hear about them all!

thank you!! it heartens me to know that you've dipped into some of my ic writing too! i hope you'll continue to enjoy your stay here!! ♡♡

SLFKJKSDLG SO I'VE CHANGED IT IN THE POST NOW, but i meant master-disciple! apologies for the confusion!! kido is an original character of mine who would actually rather fall into totori lake than be revali's student alfjsdkg but that's how it be when you're a kid with a complex, turned-less-than-pleasant background with the concept of revali. if you're interested and up for it, please do give his dossier and study tag a peek! this is by no means a request that you do; it's totally fine if you leave him be!

There so many questions and facts, I would love to talk about... but as I scrolled up- I noticed this is becoming a long one. I am so sorry. I'd been trying to simplify and cut a bit ;-; Plus, I know this blog is a multiverse but focused on Tulin and I don't want to bother. So once again, thank you so much for taking your time in answering these asks. If anything if you ever do the academic-paper length study on lonely birb, I'll run over to read it X'D !!! But I'd been enjoying everything of the meta- the studies on rito's culture and behaviour. Also been curious on your views on Kass taking the role of a bard... Yeah, looking forward to keep reading. Thank you once again.

please, never be sorry for giving me your thoughts, no matter how long they end up being!! i mean it! i enjoyed reading through every line, it means a lot to me that you'd take the time and energy to send something of this scale to me ♡ you did not bother and will not bother, i promise! any of my muses are up for discussion, and so are their people in general! i have an itch to talk about these birds at all times, lurkers like you give me a great scratch ♡

one more time, thank you for your kind words!! i'm so happy to know that my thoughts are received this well!!

KASS MY BELOVED. i'm not sure if you've seen my study on what Songs, Songkeepers, and Scriptweavers are, but if you have, then here's some paraphrased disco ramblings on my Thoughts on him! with how important a role he played in keeping and invoking memories of the champions in botw's dlc, i'm of the belief that he's rito village's primary Songkeeper! ahaha, on this note ( and this is more of a fun roleplaying easter egg than anything ): my botw verse is named Song of the Reclamation — i keep the headcanon that kass, specifically, writes this Song after the game's events tucked away with other misc. details that inform how i run things here :)

this is already long enough, so i think i'll end it here asfljkd but feel free to bounce your thoughts off me anytime! this has been an absolute pleasure, looking forward to seeing you in the inbox again whenever you drop by! thank you!! ♡