#So...with this mini-project concluded

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Dungeon Meshi: The RPG

[fast-burn]

aliens with any pairing but maybe... max/GP and max is an alien?! or vice versa?

this makes me sooooo so happy, xeno stuff is my happy place 🥰🥰🥰 science fiction + erotica my beloved

in fact this made me so happy that it's 4.4k long, so you can read the fic here if you prefer it on ao3 😵‍💫

kink list here

XXX

Mx.V.33-1 was their longest-lasting subject at RB Research Labs Milton Keynes. He had large, wide set eyes and a plush mouth, a neat row of pointy teeth, webbed fingers tipped with tiny talons, and gills along the side of his neck. He had grayish skin that was blue in the right light; it was soft to the touch. When extremely inebriated, GP could be pressed into admitting that he found Mx.V.33-1 somewhat cute, though it was certainly his bias as the lead scientist on the project. He called Mx.V.33-1 Max, for short, and it had stuck with everyone else in the lab.

Because he was extremely sapient—had mastered four languages and was working on Latin, was good at chess, even better at FIFA, loathed coursework but put up with it for the sake of science—Max had free reign of the RB compound. It wasn't safe to let him wander far alone, but he could spend hours out of his deep, salt-water tank. He liked wearing white t-shirts and jeans. He liked going for rides around the countryside in GP's Mini, and more often than not got his way when he asked to get behind the wheel and turn donuts in farmers' fields. He liked dogs and cats equally. He liked raw beef, and chocolate, and tomato soup. For the most part, he liked the research team.

GP was fully aware that his reciprocal fondness for Max was far from professional, but it didn't stop him from feeling that way. In his heart, Max was his ward, not an experiment. That's why he was at the lab on a Saturday, happily covering for a junior assistant who wanted to go visit her mum in hospital.

He'd brought a whole tray of Kinder Eggs for Max, hoping they could while away some of the day by combining the toy parts to make some new mechanical monstrosity. Max's creativity was endlessly fascinating. GP could put the results in the daily report, but mostly he just wanted to watch Max have some fun, and make chocolate disappear faster than GP could unwrap the foil.

The lights were already on when GP beeped past the locked double-doors, set on a timer to mimic the sunrise and set outside. Max was nowhere to be seen from this side of the tank.

"You are not supposed to be here," Max's voice crackled through the lab speakers—a clever bit of engineering that could parse speech through the water. "You don't come on weekends."

"Well spotted, Max," GP said, rolling his eyes as he took off his sodden coat. It was raining to beat the band out there, but that was England for you.

"Why are you here?"

GP shuffled the computer mouse to wake up the screen, and started typing in his epic-length password. "Don't you want to see the present I've brought you?"

Max swam out of his privacy enclosure and up to the front of the tank. "Yes please," he said.

Something was very wrong.

"You're pink," GP remarked. Mostly pink, but in some places purple, and in others a coral-orange. He glanced at Max's basic vitals on the computer screen. His dual heartbeat was elevated, though nothing beyond standard range. "Do you feel alright?"

"Fine," Max said, except he shrank back from GP a fraction, body curling in on itself. "Don't worry."

If Max was just another alien plant or sponge or fungus in the lab, GP would be merely curious, or maybe downright intrigued, but Max meant so much more than that. Of course GP was worried. "I'll need to take a fluid sample."

Max grimaced. "Ugh, no. It's okay, this is normal."

"You have an established normal. It doesn't include pink."

"It's just...my time," Max said, cheeks blooming spotty shades of purple. He was embarrassed. Several things clicked for GP at once.

"You're in estrus," GP concluded, and Max retreated from the front of the tank entirely in a flurry of bubbles.

They hadn't done much experimentation into Max's reproductive system. Obviously Max had one, but all his gonads were internal and seemed somewhat inert, and so they didn't poke at it much. They were far more interested in Max's DNA and its ability to adapt, crucial data being generated in stem cell research. And there was, of course, the opportunity to observe a humanoid member of an alien species learn to communicate, and thrive.

Max always glommed on to the profane and inappropriate first in any language he learned, and was a delightfully naughty encyclopedia for dirty jokes—something that especially pleased the linguists in the lab. Other than that, Max hadn't displayed much in the way of reproductive attributes. He didn't even use his computer login to look at pornography, just watched a lot of late night Twitch streams. They each had their theories about it: lack of an appropriate partner, or impracticality of breeding in capture, or complex and ephemeral alien sexuality. It hadn’t really been relevant, and now GP was floundering.

"You're not supposed to be here," Max whined again, voice just as clear from wherever he'd hidden himself.

"Well, I am," GP replied. "Let's just get you sorted out. What can I do to make you comfortable?"

"Nothing," said Max, but he was a bad liar, tone going suspiciously flat. "You can go home."

"I'd appreciate it if you came out to the auxiliary tank and I could give you a check-up. After that, if you want me to leave, I will." GP sat down at the desk and loaded up the daily report. He typed the date. Mx.V.33-1 showing signs of he started, but then paused. He minimized the window.

When Max had been brought to RB, nearly a decade ago, Dr. Marko had rolled him into the lab in a tangled fishing net, with several hunks of debris trapped alongside him. Max was frightened, skin flaking and eyes darting about. Where there's one, there's a pair, Marko had said, and Horner next to him had actually rubbed his hands together with glee.

Maybe it was better if GP consulted his team on Monday, in person. He opened the software for the lab's cameras, and changed the settings to encrypt the day's recording to his thumbprint.

Max was a beautiful creature. This was far too private for the likes of the RB upper brass. 

GP heard the telltale thumping as Max swam into the smaller side tank. It was wide enough to hold four Maxes, but only as deep as a bathtub, designed to be comfortable for both subject and scientist. He grabbed the med kit and a laptop from the storage trolley, and rolled his chair over.

"I am only putting up with this so you'll leave," Max said, arms folded on the edge of the tub, his hair slicked back from his forehead and sticking up at all angles. His voice was softer in the open air, rather than the tinny recreation of the speaker. He smelled different than usual, too. More musky, but also more sweet, like burnt sugar. "Go ahead and run your experiments, if you must."

"Fuck the experiments," GP said with more feeling than he intended, and the expletive made Max quirk a smile.

Max unfolded one of his arms, and GP started attaching sensors. He was a dusty-rose colour all over, slippery because of the salt and the protective film Max's body started generating if he hadn't been out of the tank for a couple days. GP had to use special wipes so that the sensors would actually hold. Usually, Max was a very good sport and held perfectly still. Now when GP touched him, he jolted, just slightly.

"Tell me about what you're feeling," GP asked as the data started rolling in on the laptop.

Max's gills finally sealed shut and he started breathing through his nose. "Restless. Irritated. Sensitive, also."

GP looked up at Max, blushing purple again. "Sensitive where?"

"You know," Max said as he squirmed. GP had no idea where. He could make an educated guess, but that only went as far as extrapolating from human experience. Unless, of course, he touch Max and find out that way.

He changed tactics. "Is this the first you've had your—your time?"

Max snorted. "I have of course been alive for many years. This is my fourth," he said, "but I have not had one for a while."

"When was the last time?"

"Right before I was," Max looked down, and then at the wall. "Before I came here."

Ah. That told GP a lot. Max ordinarily went into an estrus phase more frequently than every eight years, and it made him very vulnerable, especially as he was recovering. He should be in his sexual prime, but something about being at the lab prevented that. And, just as notably, something recently had pushed him back into his regular hormonal cycle. GP didn't know how far in the data he had to review, but he made a mental note to look back three months, at least.

He broke a fresh tab out of its package and held the receptive end up to Max. "Lick, please," he said, and Max's tongue flashed out dutifully to wet it with his saliva. GP placed it into the scanner which whirred to life as it started calculating hormone levels. "Do you usually spend your time with a group, or a partner, or alone?"

Max scowled, and his heart rate ticked up on the laptop screen. "Are you asking if I have wild orgies or if I just jerk off by myself?"

"Something like that," GP said. He knew Max preferred him to be straight-forward with his questions, but it didn't stop Max from giving rude answers. "If you like, you can just tell me the standard. I don't have to know your personal sexual history."

"My personal—" Max balked and sank deeper into the water. "It is supposed to be with a partner."

"Sorry I can't help with that," GP said, thinking of how little interest Max had shown to anyone else in the lab, at least in that sense. It would be an incredible breach in decorum to ask anyone to help Max through estrus, but he knew any of them would still be happy to help.

Max's plum flush spread to the seashell curves of his ears. "I did not expect you to."

GP changed the subject. "Can we go back to the sensitivity?"

"I'd rather you just guess."

"Well," GP went on, "for example with the human species, we tend to feel—"

"Yes, I know all about it," Max snapped, popping back up with a soft splash. "It is the same for me, but slightly different. Go on and write it in the report. That's all you need to say."

"I'm not making a report," GP said slowly.

Max looked at the laptop screen for the first time. "You're not? But you're asking me questions like you are."

"That's because I want to help you. Max," he said, holding back the urge to make him look GP in the eyes, "fuck the experiments."

Finally, Max seemed to relax. He tugged at his ear, rubbed his thumb across his lips, the beauty mark there. "Okay, well if it's just you who wants to know, maybe it is better if I show you."

Max tugged on the zippered front of his navy wetsuit—clothing he insisted upon more for cultural adaptation than any real modesty. The base of his throat was pinker than his arms, legs, and face. His chest was a little swollen. And then Max tugged the zip over a bulge on his abdomen.

It was convex, like a wide bowl, or...like a baby bump, such a pale pink that it was almost white, the skin stretched taut over Max's distended stomach. GP refrained from reaching out; they had assured Max that he was welcome to scratch up anyone who didn't get permission to touch. But he wanted to , so desperately. He wanted to palpate it and soothe the ache, or maybe make it worse. The desire was so sudden and unexpected that GP was nauseous.

He sat with his fists curled on his knees, lips pressed together, and watched as Max leaned back and kept unzipping his suit.

The slit between Max's legs was gently parted and swollen, the tip of something bright pink peeking out from inside. That had to be Max's penis, or some kind of clitoral tissue. Maybe an ovipositor. It was hard to tell with the distortion of the water.

"This is where I am most sensitive," Max said, hands going to frame his slit, and spreading—

A blip came from the laptop, and GP turned his head instinctively to see the hormonal report load on screen. They had it set to display the standards along with new results so that they could see the differences, and a gradient map to show extremes. Several bars were deep red.

"GP."

He looked back at Max.

"You're not paying attention," he complained. "This is very intimate, and you are looking at the computer."

"Intimate?" GP choked.

Max grasped GP's wrist and dragged him forward. "Here," he said as GP's fingers splayed over Max's belly. "Feel how full. Push down on it."

The skin was coolish compared to the tight grip of Max's hand. GP pushed gently, and Max groaned, an uninhibited sound bouncing off every surface in the room. There was a shift in Max's abdomen, and something squirted out of Max's slit. "Max—"

"Oh, yes," Max sighed, eyes fluttering. "Yes, thank you, GP."

GP looked down and pushed again, and watched a bright orange object shoot out of Max. It was slightly bigger than a marble.

"Is that an egg?" he asked, tongue buzzing in his mouth.

Max nodded and let go of GP. "I have more than usual. It is supposed to be less than twelve. You can't even see them from the outside, normally, but it has been so long."

The two eggs that Max had released rested on the bottom of the tub. "So you're a...carrier, then?"

"I can do both," Max said. "When I have my time, I produce the eggs of course, but I can be the other half whenever. It is very lucky, for us. Not everyone can be two in one."

Max was special; GP could have told anyone that. "That's wonderful. Well done," he said, and Max practically glowed with the compliment.

"Will you help me lay them?"

GP's fingers twitched on Max's stomach. "I can keep pushing."

"No," Max said. "There's a better way."

Desire stirred in GP, making his cock swell in his pants. He licked his lips, mouth suddenly dry. "What do you mean?"

Max pulled off his suit and tossed it on the edge of the tub with a wet slap. "I want you to fuck me."

GP swallowed. He'd never—he wouldn't. Max was his responsibility to care for. There were whole documents on ensuring that Max wasn't ever abused in his capture, and it all came down to what Max wanted. If what Max felt like doing all day was to play video games, that's exactly what happened. If Max stayed in his privacy enclosure for a week, they didn't drag him out.

Palpating Max's abdomen to induce spawning was one thing, but fucking him was—

Max pushed up against the edge of the tub and pressed his mouth to GP’s.

"What," GP started to say against Max's lips, but Max just kissed him harder. He was firm, and his nose dug into GP’s cheekbone.

"That's how humans start when they want to fuck, right?" Max said when he released him a moment later. "I saw two of them doing it in the corner over there when they thought no one was looking."

Part of GP wanted to ask which two because he had about a hundred quid on various office romance pools. "That's similar to what we do, for sure."

Max groaned, fisting his talons in GP's lab coat. "Then show me how."

GP tilted his head and kissed Max properly. Max's mouth was salty, of course, but also slick and soft. He learned quickly, like he did everything else, lapping at GP's tongue and then sucking on it. He nibbled on GP's lower lip with his triangular teeth, little blades that he was so, so careful with.

"That is weird," Max proclaimed when he pulled away, "but nice. Can we fuck now? You are wearing too many clothes."

"This isn't the most precious place for it," GP admitted. He couldn't easily take Max to bed, though the thought of having Max under him at his flat was deliciously tempting. Max, home with GP on the weekends, raiding his fridge and demanding sex at all hours of the day. Insatiable, bratty, gorgeous Max.

"It doesn't matter," said Max, climbing out of the tub. "Just get naked."

"Don't the eggs have to be in water?"

Max rolled his eyes and started tugging on GP's clothes, clearly annoyed at how GP wasn't dropping trou fast enough. "They are of course not fertilized. I just want them out."

GP's lab coat was a lost cause, huge holes shredded through the fabric already, so he took over for his sweater before Max could attack that too. Max sat back against the lip of the tub, apparently pleased to watch now. It was just after Christmas and GP wasn't too thrilled with his physique after gobbling down a whole roast he'd bought just for himself, but he did alright at the company gym. Max's body was sleek and chubby in places, like a seal, to keep warm in the water.

As soon as GP shucked his trousers to his ankles, Max was in his lap. The chair squeaked dangerously beneath them.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Max asked. That was another part of the care-and-keeping of Max: he had a right to his own internal life. If Max wanted to tell any of them a secret, it would stay between just those two.

"Of course you can," GP replied.

Max rocked in his lap, leaving a puddle of tank water and protective fluid. "I was thinking about you," he said, grinding his wet slit against GP's briefs and his erection. "Like this. I wanted to have you just like this. That's why all the eggs came." He leaned forward and spoke right in GP's ear, a soft murmur that none of the microphones around the lab would catch, "You knocked me up."

GP groaned, dizzy from the rush of blood down south. He clutched Max's hips without asking, but Max just pressed himself deeper into GP's lap. His pregnant little belly pressed against GP's stomach and a fresh splurt of wetness soaked them both.

He wrestled his dick out, hand already slippery from whatever secretion Max's slit was producing. "Put it where you want it," GP said, because he didn't know where Max's vaginal entrance was mapped compared to a human's.

Max wrapped his hot, webbed hand around GP's length and guided it until the tip was in the right place. Then he sank down on it, a perfect slick slide. The muscles he had inside rippled around GP's cock. "Fuck, fuck, that feels so good," Max said, swiveling his hips, getting used to the space. "Oh, GP, you're so big, you're so warm. And hard."

"What do you—" GP started to say, and Max took GP's hand to guide it to the front of his slit.

"Here, feel," he said, making GP press against the pink flushed member that GP had only glimpsed in the tub. It was slim, maybe five or six centimeters long, tapered at the end, coated in fluid. "Be gentle with me."

"Alright," GP agreed, stroking up and down the length with two fingers.

Max shuddered, his passage clenching around GP. "See? Very different. I'll tell you another secret: it's small."

"It's just the right size."

Max shook his head. He braced his hands against GP's shoulders, talons pricking slightly. "I am just stating the comparison. I don't have the standard length. But that is fine, because this is what I want," he said, pushing up and sliding down, riding GP's cock.

GP turned his head and kissed Max's neck, over the seal of his gills. He could feel the slight difference in texture, like a stretchmark or an old scar. Max whimpered and his passage clenched. He leaked more slick. GP rocked up into him, unable to help himself.

"Do humans kiss everywhere?" Max asked.

"Yes," GP admitted, lips moving across Max's gills again, making him pulse. "Everywhere."

Max got impossibly wetter. "Would you kiss my pussy?"

GP's mouth dropped open, shocked dumb enough that only an ugly grunt came out of him, and Max laughed.

"I am of course just messing with you. I know all about cunnilingus and oral sex," Max leaned back and smiled with his sharp teeth. "We can try it another time. Right now I need you to fuck me as hard as you can, or the eggs won't come out."

"You're really giving me a rough time, teasing me like that," GP said, and snapped his hips up.

Max moaned, liquid around him for a moment before he squeezed. "Is it working?"

GP thrust in again, using his hands on Max's hips to bring their bodies together.

"Harder than that, come on," said Max, and GP did. "Harder. Really hard, I won't break. Can't you feel how wet I am for you?"

It was a challenge in the rolling chair, but GP spread his knees for leverage and really thrust—a pace that he would have considered brutal otherwise, but Max just gasped and grinned. So GP kept going, a mindless, animalistic fuck, surely bruising. Max moaned like a pornstar, high and whining.

"Feel so good," GP said.

"Tell me," gasped Max. "I want it. Tell me a secret, tell me, tell me."

"Wet, slutty little cunt," he grunted, dragging up the nastiest parts of himself as he fucked into Max. "Gonna make you heat all the time. Look at you, you're so desperate. Can't do anything 'cause you just want my cock so deep in you, making you take it."

Max's belly tensed, his walls fluttering rhythmically around GP's cock. "Yes, I want that," he said. "Always."

"Tiny baby dick because you just want to be bred, don't you? That's all you're good for?"

"Please," Max whimpered. "So close. Harder, GP, please."

"Any harder and I'll fuck right through you." GP's legs were burning, back aching, but he kept going, driving himself closer to the edge. He rubbed Max's slim, short cock between his fingers. Max cried out, urgent. "That's it, go on. Come for me."

"I will, I will," Max chanted, his head tilting back and the base of his throat fuchsia, trembling with the rest of him. Suddenly, GP's cock slipped out of him on a thrust, and Max burst, eggs squirting out of him and splattering the floor as he screamed. GP pressed on Max's belly, helping it along, and felt it decompress under his palm, everything squeezing out in an orgasmic rush.

When it was done, Max's entrance drooled as he gasped, perched over GP's lap as he caught his breath. There must have been a hundred eggs on the floor, most of them orange, but a few more yellowish or more red. They were wet, and a couple rolled away, leaving shiny snail trails in their wake.

"Wow," GP said, which was an understatement. He pushed again on Max's stomach, but it was empty now, and Max just whimpered.

"If we were going to have a baby," Max panted, "you would have to come on the eggs."

GP's cock bounced, the crown smearing against Max's used hole. "I don't think it will work."

"Too bad." Max spread his slit open with his hands, just like he had earlier in the tub. "I guess you'll just have to do it on me instead."

It was only a matter of a dozen or so strokes, everything still so lubricated, absolutely sopping, and then GP aimed himself right at the soft, secret core of Max and climaxed, painting the folds with pearly release.

Max was a welcome weight in GP's lap afterward, and there was no scientific way to explain how they just rested and snuggled for the better part of ten minutes. It wasn't unusual for Max to be affectionate, but he was selective about it, and rarely did he want to endure it for long.

It was when GP's knees started shaking that Max finally got up. "I knew you would be good at that," Max said, smiling like GP was the experiment, gone perfectly to plan. "I might make eggs again, soon. This was so many at once, so I think next time will be a little different. But you will help me again." There was no room in his tone for GP to argue, but he wouldn't dream of it.

"I'm glad it won't be so messy next time." GP surveyed the general disaster zone around the chair and was already dreading the cleanup.

Max slipped back into the tub, and dove down for a moment before popping back up with the two eggs that he'd released in the water. He put one of them in his mouth and bit down, the squelch in his mouth like a cherry tomato.

GP must have given Max some sort of look, because he offered the second egg in his open palm. "Want one?"

"Absolutely not."

"They are an excellent source of nutrients. A waste if you don't eat them unfertilized, but I am not picking them up off the floor," he said. When GP still didn't take the offered egg, he shrugged and popped it in his mouth too.

GP felt his gut roll uncomfortably. "You don’t have to eat those. I brought you Kinder Eggs."

"What!" Max exclaimed. "GP, you did not say! How many? Can I have them now?"

"If you help me with mopping," he said, and Max hummed, considering.

"Just give me a minute," Max replied. "I can still feel your come on me. I should clean that first. And I want to see how it tastes."

GP sat down hard in the chair, and when it skidded backwards on the slick floor, another handful of eggs went racing jauntily away across the lab.

[zelda-the-sacred-realm]

Patreon Opening! As I announced, I have been working on this project which is really important to me and I finally want to officially present it to you!

As promised, this is not an early access, I want to say that the comic will remain public for everyone and at the same time, I know it was one of your biggest concerns so I want to let you know ☺️

Rather it's a Patreon dedicated to the work and behind the scenes of the comic, such as Character concept art, settings, and reference sheets! There are also many other things such as mini tutorials, exclusive sketches etc.. so check out the subscription description! (also we do this to make Grumpy man happy, he loves rupees and would buy a lot of Lon Lon Milk with them🤣)

Click Here to view my Patreon ( or you can find it in the pinned post)

I've been working on my au since 2017 and this is a big step for me and the beginning of a new adventure, consider my Patreon as a big Artbook on ZTSR that will take shape thanks to your support!

Furthermore, your support may lead over time to the creation of Characters backstory, which as I had already announced, will only be briefly introduced in the main story (Like Time's life as a soldier and his Death, Twilight's arrival in the twilight realm and his marriage with Midna, the Story of the Two Brothers Gods etc.)

I conclude by saying that there is already the first free post for all members and that you can already see! The first official post of the subscribers will arrive in 2 days so I'll wait for you!

Thanks again for all your support!💖

[vgperson]

What Did I Do In 2023?

Whatever I wanted, mostly.

----

As I mentioned last year, my site now has an RSS feed with basically everything I've done back to 2020, so this will mainly be going over the same stuff from that, just with added context.

In January, I finally sat down and properly realized an idea for a short story I'd had sitting around for a while: From the Sidelines, about a fantasy RPG expedition going sideways. I remain very proud of it in both concept and execution, and hope people read it.

In February, Your Turn To Die was released on Steam Early Access, receiving character profiles and some bonus mini-episodes, adding two more later in the year.

After finishing From the Sidelines, I carried that momentum to revisit my Ut0p1a story series about funny computer animals. I'd always meant to continue it - and conclude it - but hadn't been satisfied with the ideas I had for it until totally rethinking them this year. In March, I posted the remaining stories one after another: Right to Code and Left to Code. I'm very proud of these as well. Also in March, Kenshi Yonezu released LADY. (Video, interview)

In April, Uri released the Data Book of the Strange Men Series, a big collection of the writing she's done on the games in the series, with a lot of new parts as well, all translated by me.

Then in May... uh, well, let's see. In April, Capcom released the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection. I always adored the Battle Network games, and was initially excited that they finally did the thing... but by the time it came out, I was pretty disappointed by how, while you certainly couldn't call them low-effort ports, the effort didn't extend everywhere I thought it should, with the biggest offenders being the total absence of any "convenience features" except Buster Max Mode, the bad font, and the almost entirely untouched translations.

So, I ended up deciding I might as well just replay the originals, and that was a fun time (aside from the parts that were bad). Doing this, I couldn't help but notice how... turbulent the translations were, even if I'd always known they were less than ideal. I mean, the first two games just used periods for ellipses despite the tight character limits, then in BN3 they had an ellipsis character... but it's center-aligned, Japanese-style? Aside from the intro, which has normal ones? Gosh, somebody should fix that - it's simple enough to find and edit in YY-CHR. "JapanMan" is silly, too - I wonder if anybody made a patch for that? Wait, what do you mean there's just a tool to extract and insert text in all the Battle Network games including the Legacy Collection???

Thus began a journey that sort of occupied the rest of my year. First I did the BN3 Translation Revision, trying not to worry too much about cross-referencing the Japanese text unless something seemed wrong, so that I didn't spend too long on the project. Then I began to consider BN2, with its unfortunate "foreigner" text that would need some more significant reworking. I established more convenient tools for comparing with the Japanese script, and thus did a much more thorough job with it, releasing the BN2 Translation Revision in June (AKA Princess Pride Month).

Finally, after giving myself time to recover and actually finish replaying the series, I knew what I had to do to close things out. With the BN4 Translation Revision, you can finally play Battle Network 4 with a translation that isn't such a mess. Whether you'd want to is for you to decide, though if you can get over the structure, I don't think it's the worst game in the series by any means. (Oh, and in December I also updated the BN3 Revision to 1.1, doing a thorough pass with the methods I'd honed. But I think I'm pretty much good on MMBN translations now.)

Anyway, backtracking to other things that happened during my Battle Network haze... June had Kenshi Yonezu's Moongazing (video, interview), and July had Globe (video, interview, interview).

Last but not least, released in November, I translated Refind Self: The Personality Test Game, a short game from Lizardry (creator of 7 Days to End with You) with a fun concept.

----

Obviously I was right to have said "no promises" last year. But really, Your Turn To Die should get its final part on Steam sometime next year, maybe even early-ish in it. That's certainly the goal.

I'm also hoping to buckle down and finish one of my own games, but as usual, who knows how that'll pan out. Letting my whims carry me this year let me finally finish From the Sidelines and Ut0p1a, which was great, and it also led me down a Battle Network rabbit hole, which was... fine, but definitely for a narrower audience. I'd always like to get back to more free game translations and the like, too, but it takes effort to find things I'd want to translate. For now, I think my increasing desire to be able to let loose some of these original games I've been planning, and the stories in them, might come out on top.

[antidotesprout]

🖤🤍Mini Plush Set Giveaway🤍🖤

GIVEAWAY HAS BEEN CONCLUDED

I'll be giving the pictured submas mini plush set away! Entry period will last from the time of this posting until 9/2/2023 at 10 PM US CST (that's GMT-6)! The winner will be announced the following day, 9/3 👍

Giveaway Rules:

To enter, leave a reply/comment on this post

Everyone is limited to one entry

Winner will be chosen via a random number generator (I'll be putting everyone who enters on a numbered list to assign numbers)

Must be over 18

Keep messaging open at least around the time of the drawing so I can let you know if you've won!

My intention with this project was to give fans the opportunity to have plushes of our lil guys even if they can't sew or afford $500 a pair from scalpers on ebay, so this give away is world wide (barring any restrictions shipping from the us).

Share with your fellow fans to spread the love! 🖤🤍

If you don't want to take a chance and would rather purchase them straight away I will be posting sets up for sale. Follow me if you want updates regarding when those are made available! (Likely next week at some point)

[cloudsandcrescents]

☁️ New Updates ☁️

With us hopefully having reached the end of this rather dark coaster I’ve been on, we’re exuding good vibes and coming back with more updates. Didn’t have the energy to update after the funeral yesterday so I took the night to get some rest. Thus, we move on. I’ve got three updates today and possibly the fourth one later today or tomorrow since I reread it this morning and decided to make some changes. Here they are!

Leather Black - This is the one that I will be working on to get the rest of the chapters out as soon as possible. We’re practically at the end so I’m expecting maybe another two or three but it’s extremely overdue so this story takes priority. This chapter is a bit on the longer side to compensate for the delay.

When We Serve - This was one I started a while back and have been really eager to get to. This will be a part of my dual update plan along with HoN to start alternating updates once Leather Black has concluded.

Ours Was A Love Built in Autumn - This will be a short mini series with little quick chapters. I’m planning on this being similar (in formatting) to how Empty Rooms was done. This is a lighter fic that I got the idea to write during my hiatus while I was grieving and in preparation for my favorite season. I wanted to write something soft and hopeful and, as such, this little series was born. Much like Empty Rooms, it’ll be suitable for more audiences.

More updates to come regularly. Thanks for sticking with me and continue to send good thoughts my way. They mean a lot, now more than ever.

Your Friend,

Cloud ☁️🩵

[akookminsupporter]

Hey Rosie! Hope you’re doing well. Now that it has been revealed that J Hope is releasing a mini album for hope on the street - Do you think we will be seeing albums from any of the other members while in enlistment? I thought that Jimin and RM would definitely release projects but Hobi has (very pleasantly) surprised me! I’m sure Jin will release music/album later this year. Have a good day and take care of yourself x

Hi, anon! How are you? I do believe it's possible. I couldn't find the tweet where I read it, but I remember in a year-end report, it was mentioned that 2-3 members of the group would release an album or music this year. Initially, many thought it would be Jimin, Joon, and Jin, but with the news of Hobi releasing an album, I now think Jin's album might come out next year? If he has intentions to release one, of course. Unless he left several things prepared before enlisting, preparing an album takes some time, doesn't it? And I don't think Jin would want to release something just for the sake of it. So, it would make sense for him to drop something next year.

Joon definitely prepared something for this year and has been hinting at it for a while, and Jimin worked with several producers who were not part of FACE, so many of us concluded that he also left things prepared. We still don't even know what he went to do in Budapest, for example.

Needless to say, those reports aren't 100% certain, so there might be more than 3 albums/singles. Jungkook also mentioned a surprise for mid-year, and Tae also talked about leaving things prepared, so I think it's safe to say we'll see more things from other members related to music this year.

[alianoralacanta]

hiii alianora! i was thinking about your essay regarding ferrari PR 2022, and as a new fan i was wondering about the events that took after. did charles really threaten to leave ferrari and did ferrari hire vasseur for him (charles probably isn't the only reason but is it safe to say he played into the decision), charles denies he played a part in binotto's exit but then again he wouldn't expose team internal politics. a journalist leo turrini mentioned "Leclerc's fractured relationship with Binotto" as one of the reasons why his position was at risk when the rumors first came out, but i don't know how credible he is.

i also read that elkann had been looking into fred being a replacement a year before 2022 (if that Italian press report is to be believed), and that the former ferrari CEO actually wanted to bring fred into the team in like 2018 (?) because binotto was never meant to be TP, instead he would have been in the technical department if the CEO had his way.

i am most curious about if it is true that charles really did threaten to leave the team and if this was the final push for ferrari to hire vasseur. of course charles denies all this, ferrari denies all this, and i'm not so sure which reports to believe haha

Warning! Long post alert!

Firstly, I promise that I do not share my Tumblr account password with anyone and only I can read the messages in my inbox prior to posting the responses.

This disclaimer is because this is the second time in three Ferrari posts that my thought process has been interrupted by Charles Leclerc answering part of the question for me. In this case, he was in the press conference and it was mentioned that Mattia Binotto was going to Monza. Charles' face fell so fast (video) that it could only have been caused by hearing about Mattia's weekend plans. (I've heard that Nico Hulkenberg reckoned Mattia might not be Audi team boss yet, but am not yet sure what to conclude about this or Charles' reactions to this).

He never said one word against Mattia, did Charles. However, those who have followed my mini-series answering OP's Ferrari questions will understand by now that this makes things worse, not better. The silence indicates less liking and respect for Mattia, not more.

That is not someone who wants Mattia to be anywhere near him. This is one of those rare relationships within F1 where "fractured" might be the right word - and I don't think Charles has healed as much from it as he thought prior to the conference.

I don't think Charles had to say that he was threatening to leave Ferrari. Just say that he had to believe in the projects within which he worked. We can connect the dots, even if Charles was never going to leave in 2022 and that this qualifies as another "lie to defend his chosen team".

Rather like in 2023, where Charles didn't have to say he was considering Red Bull (even though he totally was), only hint that he was willing to respond to Red Bull's entreaties with more than a polite rebuff this time around. Plausible deniability through elision.

Verbum sapienti. The Ferrari board can take a hint ;)

The biggest factor, I think, in Mattia Binotto losing his place at Ferrari was that Mattia didn't truly know what to do with a plan that had progressed ahead of schedule. However, the board also knew that it couldn't long-range plan around Carlos Sainz the way it could around Charles Leclerc. Carlos may have understood the conventional part of Ferrari but could never have grasped the mythic element. (That won't be a problem for him at Williams, whose mythic element leaned heavily towards pragmatism and is more a light dusting rather than a major factor these days). I think Fred Vasseur has been interested in the Ferrari position for a long time, but I don't think Ferrari was ready for him until Mattia Binotto left. That was more to do with "vacancy and interest finally matched up" rather than anything Charles Leclerc-specific. Especially since Fred Vasseur had also previously worked with Carlos Sainz. I don't recall Fred even being in the conversation in 2018. There were two factions within Ferrari in 2018 for what should be done about its F1 team following Sergio Marchionne's death. There were those who supported Sergio's expressed preferences, including promoting Leclerc, and those who preferred to go a different direction, including keeping Kimi Raikkonen. I do not recall either side being confirmed as having a preference about the new Ferrari team boss, but I would not be surprised to discover each side had a different preference and that at least one of them had been disappointed on that front. Mattia Binotto had already been in a senior position on the technical side when all of this began, so he'd probably have been head of the engine or chassis department, or a technical director of both, had someone else been made the team principal.

[the-littlest-raindrop]

BG3 Holiday Fluffle 2023 Drabble One- Twinkling Lights, featuring Dammon!

Presenting the first of my offerings for the fluffle. Link to AO3 above, or if you prefer, find the whole thing below! Suitable for all audiences <3

As the days grow shorter, and the winds grow cooler, you’ve found that your house feels… dark. There’s an almost empty feeling to it, me that not even a roaring fire seems to fix.

At least it’s not a hardship you have to live through alone; not with Dammon by your side.

That man could brighten up the most dingy of hovels with his smile, or break through a gloom with those beautiful eyes of his. Living with him, after all the hardships you’ve been through, is the happy ending you never thought you’d get. It’s everything, and it means that even your dark house feels like the grandest of homes.

However, that doesn’t mean you’re not going to do anything about the state of your home. That’s why you’ve been out today to buy up as many candles as you can, planning to fight off the gloom with them. You’ve bought your new light sources not a moment too soon, either; the sun had set long before your shopping trip concluded.

So, with your pack laden with waxen goodies, you let yourself into your shared abode, your eyes slow to adjust to the darkness. ‘Dammon?’ The chances of him being home when the fire hasn’t even been lit are slim, but that doesn’t stop you from hoping; after a busy day out in the cold, you long for his warm embrace.

A soft voice calls out to you, coming from your balcony. ‘Up here, love.’ One advantage of your fame- and the wealth you’d accrued through your journey- is that you’d been able to buy a house in one of the nicer parts of the city, which has served not only the purpose of getting Dammon better paying clients, but also granted you the closest thing to a garden anyone can hope for in the city; a balcony, large enough to set a small table and chair upon.

Yet as you make your way upstairs, and dump your belongings onto your bed, you notice that said furniture is now inside the house, rather than outside. No sooner have you processed this do you see your lover sitting alone on the balcony, a checkered blanket layed down upon the hard floor.

As you slide open the door, Dammon looks up at you, his teeth gleaming slightly in the dim light of evening. ‘There you are, love. I was worried about you. Come and sit with me a while. I made us dinner.’ He gestures to a wicker basket behind him as you take a seat next to him, looking above the balcony’s bannister and into the night sky. Even in the city, the stars still shine, like precious jewels sewn into the fabric of the night itself.

Looking down at your dinner, you can see Dammon has been busy. Sandwiches, cakes, mini pies… he’s really gone all out tonight. You aren’t quite sure why though, since there is no anniversary to be observed tonight, unless he’s decided that there’s an occasion worthy of celebration.

Dammon finishes laying out your food, only to produce a few candles from the bag, carefully placing them around your blanket before lighting them with a match. ‘Not that I don’t appreciate the surprise, but what gives? You’ve never done anything like this before.’ Not that he isn’t a romantic- far from it. You’ve just never come home to a sight like this before. Some days, you’re lucky if he finishes up at his forge in time for dinner.

The tips of Dammon’s ears grow darker, though you’re not sure if that’s from embarrassment or cold. ‘I just wanted to surprise you, that’s all. Besides, I think spending an evening with the woman I love is occasion enough. We just need the wine-‘ He looks behind him then, only to look back at you with a frown. ‘That I left in the kitchen. Shit…’ You notice he’s not in his work apron, a rare sight indeed. Still, you’d be lying if you said it was a bad surprise; you love the way his tunic clings to his well-honed muscles, a delightful benefit to him having such a demanding craft.

You wave off his concerns, picking up a pie. ‘We don’t need it. I’m starving, and these look delightful.’ Taking a bite of your food, you try not to wince, the taste not at all what you were expecting. For all of his talents, it seems your lover isn’t a particularly skilled baker…

Dammon doesn’t notice your discomfort, helping himself to a sandwich. ‘Even still, I wanted this evening to be perfect. Romantic. A quiet moment, just for the two of us. I know there have been precious few of those lately, and I’m sorry. I’m just trying my hardest to establish myself here, for both our sakes.’ He seems preoccupied with something, his eyes slightly unfocused as he shoves his food into his mouth.

Putting your pie down, you reach out to him, his hand still warm despite the cold air. ‘You’re doing amazing, my love, but don’t feel like you need to push yourself. I fell in love with you when all you had to your name were the clothes on your back and the hammer in your hand. You’re everything to me.’ You give him a reassuring squeeze, trying to let him know everything is okay.

Instead of looking at you, Dammon looks to the sky, a smile tugging at the edges of his lips. ‘I’ve always loved how the sky looks this time of year. The darkness always makes the stars shine brighter. When Elturel fell, I feared I’d never see them again. Now, I get to share them with you.’ The candles around you flicker as the wind picks up, threatening to extinguish them.

You lean into Dammon, kissing his cheek. ‘I suppose it is the best time of year to really appreciate them. Maybe one day we could go to an astrologer, and find out what they mean?’ That could be a fun date idea, if he’s up for it. You’re certain there will be someone in Baldur’s Gate that could teach you both.

Dammon chuckles, shaking his head. ‘If it’s all the same to you, I think I’d like to come up with my own meanings. We could make the stars tell any story we wish, if you think about it.’ That’s… you’ve never really thought about it that way, but he’s right. Who’s to say that the constellations have to be followed. You should be free to connect the stars as you see fit.

Taking Dammon’s words to heart, you trace over a few of them, trying to make a heart shape. ‘I think I can see my love for you in them. What do you see?’ Knowing Dammon, he’ll probably say the day you met, or the time you were reunited, citing you as a flicker of light against the shadow curse.

Your lover doesn’t reach towards the sky, slipping his hand into his pocket instead. ‘I see the night you agreed to marry me, under the watchful gaze of the stars.’ Your eyes snap towards him just in time to see him pull a ring from his trousers, presenting it to you with a nervous smile on his face.

You don’t hesitate for a moment, wrapping your arms around your lover. ‘I accept, though it will be hard to see the stars through my tears of joy.’ Already you feel them welling in your eyes, threatening to spill over.

Dammon sighs in relief. ‘Then forget them for now, and just let me hold you.’ You’re happy to agree to that, all but crawling into his lap. The idea of spending the rest of your life with the man you love is enough to make your very soul sing with joy, your heart soaring as your mind is filled with one single certainty;

Your future with Dammon will shine brighter than any star ever could.

[lazeecomet]

The manorah saga concludes

I have spent the better part of 3 weeks trying to get an electric manorah working for my cousin. I don't believe he can have candles where he's living so my mom got this electric manorah 2nd hand for basically free. All it needed was a power supply.

This should have tipped me off as to what kind of thing I was getting roped into.

The manorah had a plug on the end of its cable. Not a socket. The plug end. They don't make generic power supplies that have the socket side. So either this used a very specific power supply or it was meant to plug into something else as part of a larger set.

But it still was a standard barrel jack connector so I bought a 12v supply and some barrel jack gender changers. I had a 5v supply but I wasn't sure if it would be powerful enough to run all 9 lights

I plugged in the 5v and it powered it up immediately with 9 lovely flickering electronic flames. It seemed a bit dim so I tried the 12v. It was not any brighter and suddenly the lights went a weird shade of orange and I unplugged it immediately. I recognized that color shift. That's an LED being driven too hard

I plugged in the 5v again and.....

I burnt one out

Now this project has gone from bad to worse. I need to find replacement bulbs. A task which takes several hours of searching online and I find and buy some

Aside from the frosting they look identical. Except they don't work. They are Christmas candles lights and they are rated for 50v AC or something equally silly. They don't work on my 5 or 12v dc supply

After many more searches I eventually find what I'm looking for. Bespoke channuakah electric menorah 5v flame shaped LED mini lights with an E10 base. I buy them

They don't work

At this point I tell my mom that she should just buy a new menorah at this point. It would cost the same as all the parts I've thrown at this one and be guaranteed to work. It's not worth the hassle of trying to find whatever magic light bulbs this thing uses and go with a manorah that uses E12 bulbs which there's an abundance of.

Turns out she has a E12 electric menorah. It's missing a bulb too.

In one last ditch halemarry attempt, I decide to reverse the polarity on the plug. They are LEDs after all. Maybe they expect a power supply with center negative rather than center positive. I Frankenstein my own barrel jack gender and polarity changed and plug it in

We have light!

So I opened up the menorah and swapped the leads around on the inside so I could use the professional barrel adapter instead of my fire hazard of a bodge. These new bulbs don't flicker but they all work. And there is 1 spare. Weirdly enough, the old flickering bulbs don't work anymore. It makes sense because I reversed the polarity on the LEDs but when you stop to think WHY that worked you end up with a lot of questions

Which bulb is wired correctly? What power supply did this originally use? Where the fuck do you find the ACTUAL bulbs for this thing. But none of that matters now.

It works. The wiring crimes are hidden under heat shrink tubing and that is hidden inside the base. We have a spare bulb. It will ship and arrive in time for channuakah

Happy holidays

[wrongcaitlyn]

not fic related but i know you are an editor (i follo you on insta!!) but i wanted to ask you how did you start editing and most importantly how did you learn? i’ve always wanted to start editing bc i just have sooo many ideas but i can never figure out where to start and what programs to use. what would you recommend?

ahh omg yes!!! AN EDITING QUESTION god i havent talked about editing in so long even tho im trying to get back into itskldjf

(for those who don't know, i do have an editing insta and tt acc (though i'm not active on tt)!!! @/thae.rchxr on insta and thaerchxr on tt)

i started editing in 2020 during quarantine, and on capcut! i think that it's a pretty good starting spot, especially because it's free and it allows you to understand what you really want to make with your edits/what kinds of edits you want to make - velocities, lyric edits, transition ones, etc

i have to say i wouldn't recommend templates and i'm really not a fan of them. that's my only neg abt capcut now, even though i don't use it... yea i've seen too much of these template apps literally stealing the hard work of editors and it sucks

but anyway!! i currently use after effects, and have used it since early 2022, however it's a computer program, and - though you can pirate it and there are lots of videos online on how to do that - it also costs money if you don't wanna pirate (i got it as a christmas gift so i have the paid version but there's really no difference)

no matter what program you use, TUTORIALS!! youtube is your best friend. i have a youtube channel actually but i mainly post transition inspo instead of tutorials, however if you want some recs (for ae, i unfortunately don't know a lot of tutorial channels for other apps), i learned so much from klqvsluv, ae.chambb, and clewxdre on youtube! and, of course, lauren. she's kind of a mini celebrity in the editing communitysdklf - and there are so many more as well

if it's transition edits you're specifically trying to get into, def try and master the basics - zoom in's, out's, slide left/right, shakes and turbs if that's the kind of edit you wanna make. but honestly, the entire thing is just practice practice practice!! even though i only started editing on ae 2 years ago, i used to make edits, like, every day. i was obsessed. i would wake up and spend hours on edits, trying new transitions and new plugins and effects, and i think it really paid off :)

another thing you can do is attempt to remake edits! most editors will be completely alright with it (as long as you don't steal, ofc) and many even put out project files (i do have a few on my payhip- linked in my insta lmfaodjsf shameless self promo) that you can look at to see how they did certain transitions. remakes are good because it takes out the factor of having to figure out what transitions you want to make and lets you focus entirely on the technical aspect - which will then make it easier for you to pull off the transitions you think of yourself!

so, to conclude this ramble bc i can never shut up - i think i would definitely recommend ae if you have a computer/laptop. but i also think that other editing apps (the ones i see most often are videostar, alight motion, and capcut - all of which are mobile apps) can make absolutely incredible edits. i have friends who use each of these different editing apps and i know they can make some of the most mindblowing edits, even though i personally have no idea how to use vs or am lmaodsjf

so it's up to you! look at some tutorials, don't feel too intimidated, and go with the layout that makes the most sense to you. then just don't be afraid of making a "bad" edit bc let's be real the first edits are alwaysss shitty. i cringe when looking back at the edits all the way to last summer. but that's the beauty of it, because you can see your editing style and skill grow over time, and then you can eventually make edits that you'll be really proud of <3 i wish you the best of luck on your editing journey!! it's honestly so fun once you get into the swing of it :)

[littlemisssquiggles]

LittleMissSquiggles’ Summary of Art 2023

Honestly folks, I don't got much to say about this year. This might just be my shortest art summary to date since I don't have much to comment on this year's events.

2023 was a general mix of highs and lows but overall, not a bad year. You could say that this was the year I was more work-oriented.

I focused more on work especially during the early half of this year, between January and July and therefore didn't spend much time on personal projects; specifically 3D. That being said, I did end up getting back up to my art. Since I've been more focused on 3D for the past two years, I chose this year to get back into my 2D art doing illustrative work since I missed it.

More than that, I took this year to spend some well needed time improving my drawing skills, using tools and techniques from my 3D workflow in an attempt to improve my illustrative work and needless to say, I think it worked out great, even if the end results wasn't much.

---

Some squiggly good accomplishments I achieved in 2023:

Started the year employed and while I had to juggle two job opportunities which had its fair share of ups and downs in more ways than one, at least it allowed me the chance to earn the funds I needed to obtain my new workstation: a Lenovo Ideacentre 5 Gaming PC.

Learned about the almighty power of networking and remote desktops thanks to my contract job which allowed to me to transform my current setup into one that fully connects and maximizes the full use of all the devises in my arsenal. Basically I figured out how to connect my previous laptop to my new PC so now I work with a setup where my laptop acts as a third monitor for my PC while I'm able to access all my files from my laptop from my PC. Ontop of that, I also learnt how to connect my PC to my Ipad Mini, not just for transferring files for art but for also using it as a proxy computer device to remote into my main PC workstation. This may not seem like a big deal to most but for someone who didn't know a thing about most of this stuff up until this year, it makes a huge difference to this squiggle meister.

Gained a new four-legged member to the squiggle meister family household. A playfully mischievous yet adorable Husky-mix pup fittingly named Alaska or the "Wee Las" as I like to call her.

Experimented a lot with my art this year and while I may not have shared all of the fruits of my labour to social media, I have been making quite a few strides. ---- I spent the last couple of years pushing my social media presence and while I have benefitted from it from time to time, I missed out on just taking some time to myself; getting back to indulging in other activities that brought me joy; particularly the ones that involve truly honing my craft.

I hope to maintain this type of vibe moving forward towards the new year.

Even if my social media activity won't be as frequent as previous years, I do hope that those who have been following and supporting me and my work over years still continue to do so, even if it's to simply just check in from time to time.

To conclude my post, as always, I'm wishing everyone all the very, very best in their respective lives and daily endevours for the upcoming new year.

Let see what we got in store for 2024! Happy New Year folks!

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♦  PREVIOUS ART SUMMARIES  ♦

2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022

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LittleMissSquiggles (2023)

[mjohnso]

Periodic Rookie Groups Report No. 22

Periodic Rookie Group Reports are a series of biannual reports that seek to put a number to how many rookie groups debut and make comebacks in a given year. For Report No. 22, I cover the activity of '22 rookie groups between July and December 2023 and the total number of rookie groups that debuted in 2023.

2022 Rookies In the previous Rookie Report, I covered five groups that had debuted in 2022, only to disband less than a year after their debut. I have two additional groups to add to that list. They are as follows: 

WSG Wannabe: A project girl group (July ‘22) created for MBC’s Hangout With Yoo, the group concluded their activities following the show’s August 6th, 2022 episode.

X4: The project co-ed group (July ‘22) was formed to promote Busan’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. Following voting on November 28, 2023, Busan ultimately lost its bid to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Consequently, it is safe to assume that the group disbanded.

This brings the number of disbanded groups to seven—two boy groups, four girl groups, and one co-ed group. Factoring these seven groups brings the number of groups that debuted in 2022 and were still active in 2023 to 69 groups—20 boy groups, 37 girl groups, and two co-ed groups. Of these 69 groups, 52% or 36 groups released new music at least once in 2023. 34% or 24 groups did so between January and June, while 17% or 12 groups did so between July and December. 30% or 21 groups released new music in the first and second half of 2023.

Korean Releases from ‘22 Rookie Groups: July - December 2023

Note: Releases marked with an asterisk (*) indicate an additional release from a group following their initial release

July 06 FIFTY FIFTY - “Barbie Dreams feat. Kaliii” (Single)* 06 Kep1er - “RESCUE TAYO” (Single)* 06 LE SSERAFIM - “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife (English Ver.)” (Single)* 06 Queenz Eye – “UN-NORMAL” (Single) 10 ARTBEAT v – “DUBI DUBI” (Single)* 11 NMIXX – A Midsummer NMIXX’s Dream (Mini Album)* 14 LE SSERAFIM - “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife feat. UPSAHL” (Single)* 21 NewJeans - Get Up (Mini Album)* 21 Pattern - “Miro” (Single) 25 ILY:1 - New Chapter (Mini Album)* 26 Liberty - “One Summer” (Single) 28 LE SSERAFIM - “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife feat. Rina Sawayama” (Single)*

August 01 XEED – Blue (Mini Album) 02 The Wind - “We Go” (Single) 03 ABLUE – “MAD” (Single) 03 Nine.i – NEW MIND (Mini Album) 04 LE SSERAFIM - “Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s Wife feat. Demi Lovato” (Single) 11 TAN - TAN MADE [ I ] (Mini Album)* 30 H1-KEY - Seoul Dreaming (Mini Album)*

September 06 Trendz - “My Way” (Single)* 14 mimiirose - “Flirting” (Single) 20 Tempest – “Vroom Vroom” (Single)* 25 Kep1er - Magic Hour (Mini Album)* 27 XG - NEW DNA (Mini Album)*

October 02 Girls World - “Fly High (Thumbelina)” (Single) 04 NewJeans – “GODS” (Single)* 10 The Fix – “CITY” (Single) 10 The Fix – “Time” (Single)* 15 Queenz Eye – “THIS IS LOVE” (Single)* 17 YOUNITE - 빛 : Bit Part.2 (Mini Album)* 18 Superkind - Profiles of the Future (Λ): 70% (Mini Album)* 20 weNU – “My Everything” (Single) 24 ILY:1 - “To My Boyfriend” (Single)* 24 UNI – “Blue Night” (Single) 27 LE SSERAFIM - “Perfect Night” (Single)* 30 LE SSERAFIM - “Perfect Night (Sped. Up Ver.)” (Single)*

November 02 Nine.i – “Neverland” (Single)* 02 VIVIZ – VERSUS (Mini Album)* 23 LE SSERAFIM – “Perfect Night (Holiday Remix)” (Single)* 26 CSR - “HBD To You (Midnight Ver.)” (Single)* 27 ATBO – “Must Have Love” (Single)*

December 04 NMIXX – “Soñar (Breaker)” (Single)* 08 XG – “WINTER WITHOUT YOU” (Single)* 17 CSR - “HBD To You” (Single)* 19 NewJeans – NJWMX (Mini Album)* 20 CLASS:y – “Winter Bloom” (Single)* 21 ABLUE – “Snowman” (Single)* 21 NINE.I – “Back to Christmas” (Single)*

2023 Rookies In 2023, 95 groups—44 boy groups, 46 girl groups, four co-ed groups, and one queer group—debuted. Compared to last year this marks a 25% increase in the number of new groups debuting. Similarly, boy groups, whose numbers had been declining since 2020, made an about-face, with a 100% increase in the number of new debuts versus last year. Meanwhile, girl groups, who posted a record-setting number last year, saw a small decline slipping 10%. For their part, co-ed groups saw a modest increase from three groups last year to four groups this year, a 33% change.

Yet even with girl group numbers taking a dip, these are some of the best year-end numbers for rookie groups the industry has seen in years. Certainly, the numbers have not been this good since the beginning of the pandemic. So, what changed?

As always with rookie group numbers, context matters. Technically, rookie group numbers did rebound because agencies began to debut more groups, but what is meant by groups has expanded. That is, while once the dominant image of an idol group was a group assembled by an agency created from trainees who had been under and remained with a company for years striving for stardom, that has now changed. As I have written about at length, Rainbow E&M intends for their Future Idol Asia groups to be temporary stops for members rather than their permanent groups. Meanwhile, university k-pop departments, like Howon University in Gunsan, have been debuting their groups. Similarly, television shows have also served as an unconventional conduit for minting new, often temporary, groups. And this is all to say nothing about the recent influx of virtual and "AI" groups that have become part of the industry.

To give this a number, around 40% of the groups that debuted in 2023 qualify as idol groups under this broader definition. Looking to the next year, I expect to see a similar number or more, given that survival shows, Future Idol Asia project and virtual idols are not going anywhere in 2024. Beyond that only time will tell if this is the product of convergence of multiple trends or a fundamental shift in the industry.

Miscellaneous stats:

January saw the most amount of debuts with the debut of 13 new groups: five boy groups and eight girl groups.

Once again, December saw the least amount of debuts with the debut of only three new groups.

For the fourth consecutive year, more girl groups debuted than boy groups.

Methodology: https://blog.mjohnso.com/methodology

[crayonsfunkyartcorner]

PORTCON HAUL

Part 2!! Part 1 has just been posted :)

shirt

And the most exciting thing I found.

Day ONE of the con at the garage sale, I found…

An authentic Ninjago Movie backpack. For TWO DOLLARS. This was such a good find guys you have NO IDEA 😭❤️

Also, I painted a mini! it’s not loading properly for SOME REASON??? I didn’t paint it very well because I was sooo tired at around 9pm so it was more of a calming activity than a big project. Fun tho!!

That concludes my con haul! I’m looking forward to future cons so I can get more stuff and cosplay more often. This was so much fun.

[alicealcremiedelight]

I wrote up a User Guide for my Prototype Pokédex. I think I made it a little long, but hopefully nothing is confusing.

//This is pretty long, so read at your peril.

Hello! And welcome to your new Pokédex!

This manual is for the Rotom version of Prototype Pokédex engineered by Alice.

1. Getting Started

Included in the Rotom version is:

1x USB A to USB C cable

1x AC charger

1x International Outlet Adapter

1x Rotom Adaptable mini-Camera Drone

1x Prototype Pokédex

1× Hard plastic cover case

1x Faux Leather Carry bag

2. Know Your Pokédex

This Prototype is modeled after the original Kanto Pokédex, the same model that legendary trainer Red used during their peak! As such, it is a notebook-style Personal Digital Assistant, but with an added slide out keyboard and stylus. However, instead of red, it's a stylish black.

It features a 8 inch touchscreen OLED screen with included glass screen protector.

The Prototype has two outward switches and one volume wheel.

The power switch is located at the right edge, with power on marked with ○ and power off marked with — . The second is at the top edge. This sliding switch has three modes, marked as (T), (R), and (E). These stand for Trainer, Researcher, and Emergency. The volume wheel controls the volume for the included speakers, but not for the emergency speakers.

At the bottom edge is a USB C port at the center. The left of that port is the stylus holder and the right is the AC charging port.

3. First Start Up

When being powered on for the first time, you will be greeted with a selection of themes ranging from Nostalgic 8-bit to Caterpie Green to Cherrum Pink or even Koffing Purple. The theme, along with other personalizations, can be changed later in the Personalization tab within the Settings.

After selecting a theme, you will be prompted to select a system language. After selecting a language, you will be asked to enter a first name, any chosen pronouns or titles and an emergency contact. The Prototype Pokédex can contact the inputed number along with emergency services in the case of an emergency with a pre-written or personalized message from the user. (Note: The entering of an emergency contact is not necessary for the function of the Pokédex but emergency calls will instead only be directed to emergency services. The given name and pronouns will be used when attributing data gathered by you in published research.)

After inputting a name and contact, you will be asked if you would like to list any Pokémon companions manually or have them added automatically when syncing at Pokémon Center PC. This is only for your current companions. This would conclude the start up and the Prototype will enter the default Trainer mode.

4. Operating Modes

The sliding switch at the top of the Prototype switches the Pokédex from 3 separate modes. The default setting upon first start up is Trainer mode. After entering personalizations, you will be at the home screen. The home screen defaults to the list of indexed Pokémon. This can be changed within the Settings.

A. Trainer Mode

Within Trainer mode, you can access virtually the same type of information as you could on a standard Pokédex. This includes:

- List and number of Pokémon caught

- List and number of Pokémon seen

- Summary information of current battle party

- Quick Access to PC boxes

- Fun facts about Indexed Pokémon

- EV/ IV projections

- Pokémon Habitats

- And much more!

An added bonus to our pool of information from multiple regions allows you to compare data on a particular Pokémon from the perspective of different regions. You, too, can add to this research by contributing your own findings!

When viewing a Pokémon's information page, you will see a ➕️ at the bottom of the screen. Selecting this will allow you to add an entry yourself. First, you will be asked if the provided information will be about an observed wild Pokémon, a befriended wild Pokémon, a Pokémon in someone else's care, or a Pokémon in your own care. You may want to use the stylus or the slide out keyboard to write your findings. You may also use the onscreen keyboard.

Do not be afraid to note down anything of interest. Even something as simple as favorite foods can make a big impact on our research.

Once you have written your entry, you will be asked if you would like to provide any audio, video, or images as supplemental evidence. You may use the USB C port to add files from external devices or use any files recorded using the onboard microphone or the Rotom Adaptable mini-Drone's camera and microphone. When an entry is submitted, you can tag it to a specific name. This is useful should you be observing the same Pokémon for a long period of time or if writing about your or a friend's Pokémon.

B. Researcher Mode

When switching to Researcher mode from within the home screen, you will be taken to a list of Researcher functions. These are:

- Up to date, full research notes for each Indexed Pokémon

- Pokémon Cry Recognition and Imitation

- List of Common Egg patterns per species

- Curated Care instructions per species

- Up to date Pokémon Habitat breakdowns

An additional feature of Researcher Mode is found in Trainer mode. When viewing a Pokémon's fun fact, you can switch to Researcher mode and read an expanded version. For example:

Trainer mode:

Hatterene, the Silent Pokémon

If you're too loud around it, you risk being torn apart by the claw on its tentacle. This Pokémon is also known as the Forest Witch.

Researcher mode:

Hatterene, the Silent Pokémon

If you're too loud around it, you risk being torn apart by the claw on its tentacle. This is a common hunting behavior of wild Hatterene within the Lake of Outrage. While omnivorous, they tend to avoid prey they hunted themselves and instead focus on the stores of food of their prey. It is currently theorized that this hunting pattern developed as a result of wild Hatterenes searching for fights between other Pokémon and stalking the losing Pokémon back to a store of food, wherein the Hatterene pounces and makes off with its prey's food.

This Pokémon is also known as the Forest Witch. This epithet is attributed to an old folk tale that is lost to time. One hypothesis suggests that Hatterene also inhabited the Glimwood Tangle and other parts of the Wild Area before human settlements became large enough to clear out its home forests. The epithet is still widely used as even to this day, newly evolved Hatterene can sometimes be seen migrating out of forests that are home Hatennas and Hattrems on foggy nights.

- Dr. Sonia Magnolia

University of Hammerlocke

2020

Researcher mode is also the mode necessary for proper syncing at a PC.

C. Emergency Mode

Emergency Mode is a mode that restricts the functions of the Prototype to only the following:

- Calling Emergency contact and Services

- Pokémon Cry Recognition and Imitation

- Trainer Survival Guide

Activating Emergency Mode also activates the Prototype's Battery Saver, which can sustain minimal use for about 5 days from a full charge.

Using Emergency mode to call for help also sends a message to the emergency contact if one was provided.

During emergency use of the Pokémon Cry Recognition and Imitation software, the emergency speakers are used instead. These speakers are louder and are capable of producing sounds only Pokémon can hear to scare away potential threats. If during normal operation, the software detects a hostile or angry cry from a Pokémon who's hostility could prove dangerous to you, the Prototype may prompt you to switch to Emergency mode. Emergency mode also allows you to imitate the cries of known predators or competitor Pokémon of any Pokémon recognized as a threat.

The included survival guide has basic first aid information, a list of edible berries and herbs, explanations of common hazards, camping instructions for various terrains and climates, and navigation techniques.

The Emergency uses of the Prototype are not a replacement for proper preparedness and research. Please be sure to pack any and all necessary items for any hikes or outdoor travel, and to notify others where you're headed and how long you expect to it to take.

Please stay safe while traveling.

5. Syncing to Alice's PC

In order to receive up to date research and to upload any new data, you can use any Pokémon Center PC to sync. Simply set the Prototype to Researcher mode and plug in the USB A to USB C from the PC to the Prototype. You will be prompted to enter Sync mode. Depending on update sizes, this may take a few seconds to a few minutes.

On most PCs, the USB ports will be on a side panel either on the right side of the monitor box or on the right edge of the keyboard.

Once the sync is complete, the Prototype will prompt you to remove the cable when it is safe to do so.

6. Enjoy your new Pokédex Experience!

Thank you for participating in this cutting-edge research initiative. We value your input and can't wait to see what you can find.

Please be aware that the software is still in active development and can recieve new features through Sync mode.

Enjoy your Pokédex!

[sarcasticsciencefictionwriter]

Hi!

I don't know how much acceptable to do like this so I apologize if it's not but I'd like to show you the idea that's been stuck in my head. The plot idea for a Sanctuary fic. Something like a prompt but prompts usually are not so long or detailed, right? May be you like it enough to write this (in your own style, of course). Who knows?

So the plot is here.

Established Teslen. Along with the rest of Sanctuary team Tesla must be involved in the launch of some important thing (something for security?), he has the key role due to his abilities. But Tesla disappears a few days before. And since he just said Helen that he had his own private project to finish on the same days Helen concludes that he went away to his project. She is very angry with him.

The Day X comes, Tesla does not appear. They try to make it without him but as processing as they realize that they still don't have enough power for it. However at the last moment Nikola rushes in and saves the day: he takes his position and does what he must do.

The mission is accomplished, everyone is relieved but Helen is very angry with Nikola for his running off to do his own thing. She yells at him (or even slaps him). He leaves silently.

Tonight he comes to the bedroom; Helen already cooled down and apologizes. They make peace. Nicola begins to undress, undoing his cuffs and Helen sees bad bruises/welts/cuts from handcuffs on his wrist. She grabs his hand and realizes that earlier he was not finished his own project but was in captivity. Nikola says that he was captured by mini-Cabal of surviving low-ranking agents who decided to revive the organization. They've been experimenting on him these days, injecting him some agent to temporary stop his fast-healing ability until he managed to broke out. Helen feels her guilt because her accusations at him — now she just forgave him for disappearing to work on his project, accepting that he managed to make it right in the end, and never thought about some like this. Nikola is too exhausted, too weak and in the pain after his experience, he feels shame and guilt for being taken off guard and being caught. He allows Helen to treat his injuries and care about him, and melting on her arms.

Hi! It sounds like a really solid story outline and plot, and a very interesting idea!

I'm not sure I'm equipped to write this myself at the moment, but I love this!!!

This is really cool and I'm not sure how to respond to this properly, but thank you for sharing it with me! :)

I'm answering this here because your inbox is closed, so I can't do it privately. But if you don't want anyone else to see it, let me know and I'll make it private.

(Tagging you so you can reblog it to your own even if you want it private. @petergirl10 )