#THE STAR ANGLERFISH LIGHT

[meadow-brook]

Fish in space is one of my favorite aesthetics

[solxamber]

Hiii!! first time requesting and I absolutely love your white rabbit and angel one, but what about a jellyfish mc with the octavinelle trio and diasomnia group? Where their head empty an airhead but is actually really smart but gets distracted easily.

Octavinelle + Diasomnia with Airhead! Jellyfish! Reader

Azul Ashengrotto

Azul was prepared for almost anything—except you. At first, your airheaded nature confounded him. You’d stare blankly into space during conversations, occasionally blurting out unrelated thoughts like, “Do you think stars get lonely?” or “What’s the difference between squid ink and octopus ink?”

To Azul, you seemed like an easy mark. Someone too scattered to notice loopholes in contracts or the fine print. But the first time he tried to rope you into a deal, you stared at the contract for an uncomfortably long time, then pointed out five contradictory clauses and suggested a more efficient way to write it.

Azul had never been so humiliated yet so intrigued. How could someone so spacey also be so sharp? He began inviting you to the Mostro Lounge under the guise of needing “assistance,” but it was just an excuse to pick your brain.

He’d grumble when you got distracted mid-conversation to follow a particularly shiny object, but he found himself watching you with a mix of exasperation and fondness. Your unconventional intelligence challenged him, and your whimsical nature softened the edges of his ambition.

Jade Leech

Jade found your airheadedness endlessly entertaining. At first, he mistook it for naivety, but when you casually corrected one of his mushroom classifications while admiring a random shell, he realized there was much more to you.

You fascinated him. The way your attention flitted from one thing to another like a butterfly, yet you still managed to come up with solutions to problems no one else could. Jade often tested your intelligence by subtly steering conversations into complex topics, only for you to surprise him with insightful answers delivered in the most absentminded tone.

“Jade, did you know the anglerfish has a symbiotic relationship with bacteria for its light?” you’d say, staring off into the distance. And just like that, Jade’s carefully laid plan to throw you off would unravel.

He enjoyed the unpredictability you brought into his life. Your head-empty demeanor paired with startling intelligence kept him on his toes, and he wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Floyd Leech

“Oh, Shrimpy’s got no brain cells, huh?” That was Floyd’s first impression of you, and for a while, he treated you like his personal amusement. He’d throw random questions your way just to see what absurd answer you’d come up with.

But the day you absentmindedly explained the physics behind the Mostro Lounge’s faulty pipe system and how to fix it? Floyd was floored. His mouth hung open for a good five seconds before he burst out laughing. “You’re a sneaky little jellyfish, aren’t ya?”

From then on, Floyd decided you were his favorite. He’d sling an arm around your shoulders and drag you around, showing you off like his prize catch. “Shrimpy’s dumb-smart,” he’d declare to anyone who’d listen, grinning ear to ear.

He loved how unpredictable you were, never knowing if you’d say something brilliant or completely off-the-wall. Floyd thrived on chaos, and you were the perfect mix of calm airhead and hidden genius to keep him entertained. He might tease you endlessly, but deep down, he adored you for being unapologetically yourself.

Malleus Draconia

When Malleus first met you, he found your airheaded nature oddly calming. Unlike others, you didn’t seem intimidated by his presence. Instead, you’d blink at him in wide-eyed wonder before blurting out random thoughts like, “If dragons hoard treasure, do they also have snack stashes?”

At first, Malleus assumed your absentmindedness was due to a lack of understanding. But during one of your meandering conversations, you casually corrected his misconceptions about a historical event—one even he hadn't noticed. He realized you weren’t just carefree; you were deeply knowledgeable in your own peculiar way.

Your ability to switch between whimsical musings and sharp observations fascinated him. He found himself seeking you out for your unique perspective, even if you occasionally got distracted by a passing butterfly mid-discussion.

“Child of Man, you are quite… unique,” he’d say with a soft smile, finding solace in your unorthodox approach to life.

Lilia Vanrouge

Lilia thought you were adorable. Your head-empty demeanor reminded him of the carefree youths he’d seen in his centuries of life. He’d often pop out of nowhere to startle you, laughing when you gasped and then immediately got distracted by a question like, “Why is it called a jump scare if I didn’t jump?”

But it didn’t take long for Lilia to notice the flashes of brilliance hidden behind your seemingly aimless chatter. You’d drop profound insights into conversations as if they were afterthoughts, leaving him pleasantly surprised.

“Oh-ho! You’re sharper than you let on, aren’t you?” he’d tease, ruffling your hair affectionately.

He loved how unpredictable you were, and he often encouraged your tangents just to see where your mind would wander. To Lilia, you were a delightful enigma—one that made his long life all the more entertaining.

Silver

Silver appreciates your calm presence, even if he sometimes struggled to keep up with your wandering thoughts. He’d sit quietly as you mused about the stars or wondered if birds dream, finding your voice soothing no matter how odd the topic.

He initially thought you were simply a kind but scatterbrained individual. However, when you offhandedly helped him improve his sword stance with an unexpectedly insightful comment, he realized there was more to you than met the eye.

“You notice things most people overlook,” he said, his tone soft with admiration. From then on, he started paying closer attention to your words, knowing they often carried hidden wisdom.

Silver respected your unique way of thinking and found comfort in your presence, even when you got distracted mid-sentence. To him, you were a gentle yet brilliant soul, someone who brought unexpected light into his life.

Sebek Zigvolt

Sebek was baffled by you. At first, he couldn’t fathom how someone so easily distracted could survive at Night Raven College, much less so many Overblots. He’d often lecture you, only for you to nod absentmindedly and then ask something completely unrelated, like, “Do crocodiles ever get lonely?”

It drove him up the wall. He thought you lacked focus, which was unacceptable to him. But then, during a heated argument about magical theory, you calmly pointed out a flaw in his reasoning that left him speechless.

Sebek stared at you, wide-eyed, before clearing his throat and crossing his arms. “Hmph! I see you’re not as oblivious as you appear,” he muttered, trying to mask his begrudging respect.

Despite his initial frustrations, Sebek grew to admire your hidden intelligence. He’d still scold you for your airheaded tendencies, but deep down, he appreciated your unique perspective and the unexpected wisdom you brought to the table.

Masterlist

[sparrowlucero]

So what do we think Beebe's fish were then? I heard tell that the sailfin might have been a squid and that the angelfish was probably a comb jelly, but what about the giant dragonfish or the rainbow gar?

For those not in the know, in the 1930s, biologist William Beebe (who you (read: I) might know as the guy who predicted microraptor) and engineer Otis Barton (hollywood actor?? and designer of fucked up submarines and "jungle spaceships", ok otis) got into a fucked up submarine and went to the bottom of the ocean off the coast of bermuda (in what, iirc, was the first study of deep sea fish in their natural habitat), where he described several fish unknown to science. None of these fish have been identified since. (Side Note: to continue off of "audubon was unfamiliar with the bald eagle" in my last post, this one also has a theory I find a bit silly in "perhaps they just hallucinated fake fish from oxygen deprivation" despite both witnessing the same fish and a lot of his scary book about the dive that you can read here including many lucid observations of known species. It wasn't like he got down there and only saw weird fish and nothing else) The fish in order: Three-starred anglerfish, Abyssal Rainbow Gar, Pallid sailfin, Five-lined Constellation Fish

and yeah I do see why people think these might have been invertebrates mistakenly identified as fish. In his book, Beebe holds off on describing unfamiliar fish if he didn't see them well, but, you know, those little gars really do look like squid. I personally think the most likely one to be a real fish is the angler, since he saw it closely and was able to note several physiological differences in jaw structure that distinguished it from other angler fish.

The most notable one is the "Untouchable Bathysphere Fish", a giant 6 foot long dragonfish (largest known dragonfish is about 2 feet long):

Several minutes later, at 2100 feet, I had the most exciting experience of the whole dive. Two fish went very slowly by, not more than six or eight feet away, each of which was at least six feet in length. They were of the general shape of large barracudas, but with shorter jaws which were kept wide open all the time I watched them. A single line of strong lights, pale bluish, was strung down the body. The usual second line was quite absent. The eyes were very large, even for the great length of the fish. The undershot jaw was armed with numerous fangs which were illumined either by mucus or indirect internal lights. Vertical fins well back were one of the characters which placed it among the sea-dragons, Melanostomiatids, and were clearly seen when the fish passed through the beam. There were two long tentacles, hanging down from the body, each tipped with a pair of separate, luminous bodies, the upper reddish, the lower one blue. These twitched and jerked along beneath the fish, one undoubtedly arising from the chin, and the other far back near the tail. I could see neither the stem of the tentacles nor any paired fins, although both were certainly present. This is the fish I subsequently named Bathysphera intacta, the Untouchable Bathysphere Fish.

I believe this solely because it's really cool Though I want posit a theory I've never heard before: it's almost never remarked upon that he discovered these weird fish over a live (now lost media that no one is searching for, get on that) NBC radio broadcast. Maybe he just made up some cool sea monsters with a big climactic sea serpent for said broadcast, both because I would totally do that if it were me and also so he had a good excuse to sign off and get the fuck out of this situation:

[pretzel-box]

—Scenario: You are currently filming a movie called Pressure with your co-star, Sebastian.

words: 1,3k

tags: gn!reader

You were running for your life, your breath hitching as your heart raced. Panic clouded your mind as you forced your legs to move faster. The lights started to flicker above you, a clear sign of impending danger. And before you knew it, the ear-piercing scream echoed down the hallway. You spotted a locker shining under the dim light near the door, sprinting toward it with everything you had.

And then you slipped and fell.

“CUT!” the director yelled, his voice slicing through the tension like a knife. The film crew immediately broke into chatter, some chuckling softly at the unexpected turn of events. Your co-star, Sebastian, walked over, half-dressed in his elaborate costume. His anglerfish lure was still tucked away, and the prosthetic tail was nowhere to be seen.

“You okay?” he asked, amusement dancing in his eyes as he offered you a hand. 

“Yeah, the special effects crew really went overboard with all the water,” you replied with a grin, taking his hand and allowing him to help you up. Your costume was drenched, the fake blood and grime smearing as you wiped at it.

Sebastian guided you to your seats at the edge of the set, handing you a bottle of water and a towel. “Shouldn't you be getting ready for your own scene, Mr. Solace?” you teased, glancing at him from the side as you tried to dry off your costume.

He shrugged, a lazy smile spreading across his face. “I still have a bit of time before they need me in full monster mode,” he said, referring to the process of getting into his character's tail and the other intricate parts of his costume. “Besides, I wanted to make sure you were okay after that dive you took.”

You laughed, dabbing at the fake grime on your face with the towel. “Well, that’s what I get for trying to sprint across a slick floor. I thought we had safety protocols in place for this sort of thing.”

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, his gaze flicking to the crew as they reset the scene. “We do, but I guess even those can’t account for everything. At least you didn’t faceplant—could’ve been a lot worse.”

You rolled your eyes, though a smile tugged at your lips. “Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll try to keep my feet under me next time.”

“Good plan,” he chuckled. “Though if you fall again, I’ll be sure to swoop in and save you. Just like the hero I am.”

“Hero, huh? You’re supposed to be the terrifying sea monster, remember?” you quipped, giving him a playful nudge.

He grinned, showing off his sharp, prosthetic teeth. “Maybe I’m a misunderstood sea monster. One with a heart of gold, who just happens to shoot people every now and then.”

“Every now and then?” you echoed, raising an eyebrow. “That’s quite the statement.”

“Well, they keep telling me it’s all about balance,” he said, feigning seriousness before breaking into a laugh.

You shook your head, enjoying the banter as the two of you watched the crew work. The set was a marvel in itself, a meticulously constructed underwater facility complete with flickering lights, ominous shadows, and that eerie sense of something lurking just out of sight. It was hard to believe that only moments ago, you had been completely immersed in the horror of the scene, your mind fully in character as you ran for your life. Now, though, it was just another day at work, surrounded by talented people who were just as dedicated to bringing this fictional world to life as you were.

“Alright, places everyone!” the director called out, snapping you both back to the task at hand. “Let’s try that again, from the top. And can we get the floor dried up a bit more this time?”

Sebastian sighed dramatically, getting to his feet and rolling his shoulders. “Looks like it’s showtime. I’ll see you on the other side.”

You gave him a mock salute, grinning as he headed off to the makeup and effects team. “Break a leg, sea monster.”

He turned back with a smirk. “I’d say the same, but I think you already beat me to it.”

“Seriously,” he said, his voice low so only you could hear, “you’re killing it out there. Keep it up.”

You met his gaze, and the sincerity in his eyes made your heart skip a beat. “Thanks, Sebastian. I will.”

He gave you a warm smile before heading off to the makeup and effects team to finish getting into character. As you watched him go, you couldn’t help but feel a renewed sense of determination. His support meant the world to you, and you were ready to give the next take everything you had.

With that, he was gone, leaving you to take your place on the set once more. As you stood there, waiting for the cameras to roll, you couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. Sure, the scene was intense, and the stakes were high, but this was what you loved—bringing a story to life, even if it meant slipping and falling every now and then.

“Action!” the director called, and just like that, you were back in character, running for your life as the lights flickered ominously overhead.

This time, you managed to avoid the slick spot on the floor, skidding to a stop just in time to dive into the locker. Your heart pounded in your chest as you pulled the door closed behind you, the sound of your breathing echoing in the tiny, cramped space. The flickering lights outside the locker cast eerie shadows through the slats, and you could almost feel the presence of something dangerous just beyond the door.

A loud crash resounded from somewhere in the distance, the sound reverberating through the metal walls of the locker. You held your breath, waiting for the next cue, the next scare that would push your character to the brink of terror.

Finally, the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the take.

“Cut!” the director called, and the tension in the air dissipated.

As you emerged from the locker, Sebastian was already waiting for you, now fully transformed into his terrifying character. But the moment his eyes met yours, the fearsome facade melted away, replaced with a proud grin.

“That was perfect,” he said, his voice slightly muffled by the prosthetics but still full of warmth. “You nailed it.”

You felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over you, Sebastian’s words making all the hard work worth it. “Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

He shrugged, his grin widening. “We make a good team.”

As the crew began resetting the scene once more, you and Sebastian stood off to the side, sharing a quiet moment amidst the chaos of the set. His presence was comforting, a reminder that no matter how intense the scenes got, you were in this together.

“You ready to do it all over again?” he asked, his playful tone back.

“Always,” you replied with a smile, feeling that familiar rush of excitement as you prepared to step back into character.

And as the lights dimmed once more, the cameras rolling, you couldn’t help but think how lucky you were to be working alongside someone who not only respected your craft but also went out of his way to support you. No matter how many times you ran down that hallway, no matter how many takes you had to do, you knew you’d do it all again in a heartbeat—because at the end of the day, it was moments like these, with co-stars like Sebastian, that made it all worth it.

[barbwritesstuff]

There's still time. You could open a book with a bit about anglerfish

The Unquiet Dark by Barbara Truelove

Chapter One

Captain Howl stood on the observation deck and studied the blackness outside. They were in the great dark between galaxies. No stars. No light. Nothing but space. The vast unfathomable darkness made her think of death, of the yawning nothingness between her own atoms, of—

"Anglerfish."

She turned. "What?"

"Anglerfish," First Officer De Silva said again with a knowing smile. "You know, those deep sea things? They look like nightmares but they're actually super chill. I mean, maybe, I've never talked to one. You know scientists used to think they were sexless, on account of only ever finding females. Except, that turned out not to be true. There are male Anglerfish, tiny little freaky suckers. Really, they're just testicles on fins. They're born and the first and only thing they do is spear themselves onto a female. Anywhere will do. Then, the dude fish, he melts away, his job in life complete, leaving just his gonads behind. Some female Anglerfish, the sexy ones obviously, have been found with dozens of nuts, just hanging from her skin. You gotta wonder, is it a sign of status among Anglerfish gals? Do they compare balls?"

"That's ridiculous."

"Yes. No. You're right. Totally. It'd be too dark to see down at the bottom of the sea."

[puppetmaster13u]

It's the last day of Mermay...

So have my most common headcanons on who would be which (or take inspiration from such) for if they were merfolk <3 Yes, this is DCxDP but can be used for either separately if you want.

Bruce- Ray

Alfred- Remora

Kate- Angel Shark

Dick - Guppy

Cass- Cuttlefish

Jason- Thresher Shark

Tim- Bichir

Steph- Spanish Shawl Sea Slug

Duke- Anglerfish

Harper- Cichlid

Cullen- Rasbora

Damian- Stingray

Carrie- Dusky Batfish

Jarro- Starfish

Terry- Devilfish

Matt- Koi

Barbara- Jellyfish

Gordon- Squirrelfish

Ghostmaker- Moray Eel

Harvey- Tiger Shark

Selina- Catfish

Harley- Clownfish

Poison Ivy- Leafy Seadragon

Riddler- Corydoras

Joker- Piranha

Bane- Pufferfish

Mr. Freeze- Leopard Seal

Scarecrow- Anglerfish

Waylon- Saltwater Crocodile

Solomon Grundy- Coelacanth 

Penguin- Longfin Icedevil

Ras Al Ghul- Sturgeon

Talia- Pike

Dusan- Pike 

Deathstroke- Tiger Barb

Clark- Sea Lion

Connor- Fur Seal

Jon- Fur Seal

Kara- Sea Lion

Martha Kent- Ribbon Seal

Jonathan Kent- Manatee

Lex Luthor- Cardinalfish

Barry Allen- Marlin

Wally West- Swordfish

Bart- Marlin

Iris- Trout

Thawne- Wahoo

Captain Cold- Beluga Whale

Heatwave- Guppy

Captain Boomerang- Discus Fish

Mirror Master- Mahi Mahi

Green Arrow- Goby

Arsenal- Arapaima

Artemis- Grouper

Black Canary- Orca

Diana- Lionfish

Cassie- Lionfish

Cheetah- Spotted Snapper

Vandal Savage- Dunkleosteus 

Marvel- Whale Shark 

Billy- Wrasse

Mary- Wrasse

Freddy- Killifish

Eugene- Loach

Pedro- Danio

Darla- Goby

Black Adam- Gar Fish

Dr. Sivana- Dolphin

Mister Mind- Bristle Worm

Martian Manhunter- Octopus

M’gann- Octopus

Aquaman- Hammerhead Shark

Kaldur- Blue Tang

Oceanmaster- Ray

Plasticman- Oarfish

Booster Gold- Goldfish

Blue Beetle- Blue Shrimp

John Stewart- Sailfish

Hal Jordan- Neon Tetra

Red Tornado- Mantis Shrimp

Zatanna- Swordtail

Constantine- Fighting Fish

Doctor Fate- Wrasse

Deadman- Glass Fish

Klarion- Platy

Cyborg- Mola

Raven- Squid

Beast Boy- Triggerfish

Starfire- Koi Fish

Beast Boy- Fluffy Sculpin

Lobo- Wolf Fish

Deadshot- Ruby Barb

Killer Frost- White Koi

King Shark- Great White Shark

Doctor Light- Dolphin

Catman- Tigerfish

Angel Breaker- Redtail Black Shark

Trigon- Giant Squid 

Martha Wayne- Mako Shark

Thomas Wayne- Devil Ray

Lucious Fox- King Mackeral 

Jack Drake- Freshwater Angelfish

Janet Drake- Comet Goldfish

================================================

Danny- Betta Fish (Or Giant Phantom Jelly)

Dan- Lancetfish

Ellie- Betta Fish

Jazz- Oarfish

Sam- Lamprey

Tucker- Devil's Hole Pupfish

Valerie- Cherry Shrimp

Vlad Masters- Vampire Squid

Maddie Fenton- Lion's Mane Jelly

Jack Fenton- Whale

Ida Manson- Gulper Eel

Mr. Lancer- Hatchetfish

Spike- Gourami

Wes Weston- Carp

Kyle Weston- Perch

Paulina- Dragonfish

Star- Cichlid

Dash Baxter- Short Beaked Dolphin

Kwan- Goldfish

Box Ghost- Boxfish

Lunch Lady- Killifish

Skulker- Sea Turtle

Ghostwriter- Lyretail

Sidney Poindexter- Shubunkin

Jonny 13- Corydora

Kitty- Loach

Ember- Basslet

Desiree- Seahorse

Spectra- Eel

Walker- Frogfish

Nocturn- Lanternfish

Overgrowth- Sea Pig

Fright Knight- Swordtail

Pariah Dark- Skate

Princess Dora- Dragon Goby

Pandora- Leaf Scorpionfish

Frostbite- Crabeater Seal

Clockwork- Colossal Squid (or Congor Eel)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you want pics of any of the fish/creatures I am happy to put them out, I just can't put that many links on one post lol. (Also apologies if I missed anyone)

[labete-du-gevaudan]

The three-starred anglerfish was one of the many mysterious creatures that had been seen by William Beebe off the coast of Bermuda. The fish was seen on August 11th, 1934, at a depth of 2,470 feet. Beebe described the creature as being around 6 inches in length and resembling a typical anglerfish. However, this particular one had three bioluminescent lures that glowed a pale yellow. This illustration was drawn by Else Bostelmann to recreate what Beebe had seen.

In his 1934 book, Half Mile Down, Beebe described the three-starred anglerfish in detail:

"A tie rope had to be cut and in this brief interval of suspension, extended by my hurried order, a new anglerfish came out of all the ocean and hesitated long enough close to my window for me to make out its dominant characters. I am calling it the Three-starred Anglerfish, Bathyceratias trilynchnus. It was close in many respects to the well-known genera Ceratias and Cryptosparas, but the flattened angle of the mouth and the short, even teeth were quite different. It was six inches long, typically oval in outline, black, and with small eye. The fin rays were usual except that it had three tall tentacles or illicia, each tipped with a strong, pale yellow light organ. The light was clearly reflected on the upper side of the fish. In front of the dorsal fin were two pear-shaped organs exactly like those of the common Cryptosparas. The paired fins escaped me. No pioneer, peering at a Martian landscape, could ever have a greater thrill than did I at such an opportunity."

[meeravandaseera]

Sebastian Solace Folklore and Mythology Similarities to Waterfolk

Attempted sketch of Sebastian imitating Scylla by me

One of my favorite waterfolk characters from fiction tbh, thus I wanted to check out some folkloric waterperson similarities. When I first swam upon Sebastian, the form of the tail really seemed familiar. I'm alluding to Shandzii's animatic using the song "Scylla" from Epic: The Musical. Sebastian's tail actually looks very much like the tail of some of Scylla's depictions as seen. It's almost as long probably and even has the ventral scales aka. the underside of a snake's tail.

1st: Scylla, Terracotta plaque, Melos, 460-450 BC, found on Aegina in the collection of the British Museum and 2nd Scylla side-detail on a Boetian red-figure bell-crater from 450-425 BC, Collection of the Louvre Museum. Both photographed by Jastrow, released as Public Domain on Wikimedia Commons.

Sebastian's anglerfish light is reminiscent of some Spanish freshwaterfolk. There existed two kinds of freshwater-maidens who were described to have stars shining from their foreheads according to Grimorio de Bestias on Blogspot. Both of these freshwater-maidens lived in bodies of freshwater only. The mozas del agua from Cantabria each possessed a star of the color of the sunset clouds on their forehead. The dones d'aigua from Catalonia possessed a star with a reddish shine on their forehead. Of course, this could apply to any fictional waterperson with the light of an anglerfish as seen in so many depictions, for example those that artists would draw during MerMay. Here are also two paintings by Georg Janny (1864-1935) that could depict the mozas del agua or dones d'aigua in some way:

"Nymphen und Irrlicht" upper right detail from 1922.

"Nymphen am Wasserfall im Wald" from 1920.

Sebastian also has a third eye and not only two. This can be found on the Japanese prophetic sea-maid yokai called Hitokai (人貝 and ひとかい) who is depicted or described with a third eye according to yokai dot com. Hitokai looks like a snake with the head of a woman residing in a conch shell. Sebastian's glowing eyes may be attributed to the espumerus or espumeros from Asturian or Cantabrian folklore alongside of whom some had glowing eyes according to "L´espumeru, mitología asturiana" on Sobre Leyendas and other sources. Those are small water-people who surf on the waves and primarily live in caves at the seashore from which they never venture too far away, ironically due to a fear of sea currents. They are said to be the literal interpretation of the seafoam of the breakers and waves, even the trails of seafoam behind boats or the foam that can be seen in rivers in the eve of a rainy day as said in the aforementioned source.

Hitokai is a pretty recently recorded waterperson in folklore and is more based on a sighting. The espumerus or espumeros were also said to be more of a recent legend or possibly an "innovation" and not being part of popular imagination as, according to Grimorio de Bestia's entry on the espumeros, the Asturian follklorist Aurelio del Llano had never heard of them despite having begun his life by the sea.

Edit: Forgot to add this regarding his backstory. Mortals being transformed into waterfolk is a very substantial motif in the folklore of waterfolk around the entire world. Look at some tales like the rusalki or Ne Hwas.

Thanks for diving into this :>

[ziploc849]

My thoughts/theories after episode 80 (I’ve watched up to 82 by now, but started writing this right after finishing 80)

I’m still on the track of phobias. I told a friend who’s also into this show about it and they point blank asked if I had been spoiled for anything (nothing more specific than that though) so I have a feeling I’m on the right track lol.

And then the concept of The Entities is revealed. Even though we weren’t specifically told about their deals I think I can make some assumptions. Welcome to another wall of text

First off, The Eye or Beholder. 2 names that have the same vibe but to me gives more context than just one or the other. Something that watches, yeah, but also takes in and learns. To behold something is to do more than just look at it, it’s to process it and commit it to memory. A fear of being watched is common, and we see is episodes like The Observer Affect, and I know characters have mentioned feeling watched, and from episode 82 I assume there’s also a sort of “burdened with knowledge” effect to it cause wtf Elias. I have other thoughts but I’ll put those with my thoughts from the actual episodes

Second off, The Distortion, or The Spiral. This is definitely the entity we have a name for thus far that we’ve seen the most of. Michael is a creepy little fucker and he’s bad at pretending to be a human. I’m assuming the fear it’s related to is maybe a fear of going insane, loosing your mental faculties. Strange, disturbing hallucinations, doors leading to endless hallways that don’t make sense, l hell Michael himself physically looks normal, but appears strange and horribly wrong if you look at it from the right angle. There could be something else there, but,

The Vast. Mentioned first from where I can see in Literary Heights (maybe sooner but I can’t remember). Michael Crew mentioned it when he was in that sort of standoff with the lightning monster. The Vast and some of Michael’s stuff feels like it’s similar in terms on endlessness, but I think The Vast is also related to the fear of heights we’ve seen a lot of. Obviously what happened in Freefall, but also the woodcut of the endless sky with the lightning in Pageturner, everything that happened in A Long Way Down. Not just vast in endlessness, but in the specific fear of drops and heights and the feeling you get looking at the stars and realizing many of them are already dead by the time the light reaches your eyes.

The End is another we’ve heard mentioned, with Mary Keay saying she got her skin book from it, or that that’s where it came from, what it’s tied to. Considering the book has to do with killing and the name itself is wager this is related to a fear of death and dying, which could relate to episodes like The Piper, Cheating Death, and Burial Rites. Specifically these all seem to have themes of people who should be dead, but clearly aren’t somehow. I don’t have much more idea about this, other than the fact that it’s probably a monkeys paw kind of situation. “You’re so afraid of death you don’t want to die? Okay, you won’t die then. See how you like it.”

The Stranger has been mentioned a couple of times, Leitner mentioned the files Elias stole were on The Stranger, and it seems to be related to whatever the Unknowing is. I still can’t quite tell if that’s another entity, or an event/end goal some of the entities are trying to cause/reach. Anyways, I’m not entirely sure what the stranger could be since we haven’t seen much of them explicitly, but from what I’d have to guess by the name alone it’s the sort of uncanny valley effect. The Not-Them completely taking a persons place in reality, leaving only one person to know that it is nothing like the person it killed. Students with far too specific and strange questions about the body, shaping their bones and adjusting their organs to match the real ones. Hell even in Anglerfish all the way back to episode one, a man who simply asks for a cigarette in the same, monotonous tone, never moving to take it, simply waiting for their prey to come. Body horror and people a bit (or pretty far) to the left.

Then there’s other phobias we’ve seen that I don’t know if we have a name for. The Hive might be to do with a fear of bugs, but there’s also been so much discussion of spiders and disease that they could be lumped into one, or simply have a lot of overlap. If they are separate then disease is for sure one of them. Claustrophobia is another we’ve seen a lot of, but I’m wondering if that could be related to The Vast in a sort of equals and opposites way? Things that are so large and ongoing they’re unknowable and spaces that are so small they bend reality and threaten to suffocate.

There are still some things that don’t seem to fit these for me, but I’m sure as time goes on there will be more entities or at least more explanation of the things we’ve already seen in the context of them. The coffin in Do Not Open, everything with the video in Binary. Dreamer is one I’m thinking about, I feel like it could be related to the eye simply in terms of knowing that people are going to die, and especially with the strange veins wrapped around Gertrude, but also could be related to The End cause. Yknow. Death.

I’m also not entirely sure about the fire stuff and the meat stuff, that’s still throwing me for a loop. I know trying to fit everything into nice neat boxes probably won’t help, these are eldritch beings after all, but I am curious to see what all fits into the “caused by an entity” column and what falls into the “caused by a cult *related* to the entity” column and what falls into the “secret third thing” column lol. I’m also curious if everything is related to specific phobias or just. Causing fear? And phobias are a very, very good way to do that, cause that would also help to fit a few more things into “caused by entities” column. Like wasn’t there a fucking werewolf at one point???? Anyways.

[hellishgayliath]

Astral anglerfish was too cool of a concept to pass up on. I really like anglerfish I think they’re neat and spooky.

Don’t think I’ll get as detailed as you @moonstruckdraws like you did with your space animals but here goes.

This is creature is called Lophiiformes Pōwehi and unlike their earthly counterparts, these beings are enormous. Mainly the females while the males are tiny in comparison just like actual anglerfish. Their bodies are also aligned with constellations and stars.

The bob bait that they have is actually a dwarf star to lure in other prey with its bright luminous glow, and a black hole on the inside of their mouth so that any prey that gets too close gets pulled towards the fish and has no chance of escaping.

So it would be highly suggested to avoid coming into contact with these beasts lest you want to see the light of day :D

[misanthropologymajor]

to boldly go...

this is so based on my current tng watch and crippling addiction to cod fanfic of all things

Science Officer!f! Reader x Bridge Crew! 141

Star Trek: TNG AU (pt. 1?)

Human! Price- Captain of the Enterprise 

Human!Gaz- helmsman/operations officer (liutenant)

Klingon!Ghost- security-officer-turned-first-officer (lieutenant commander)

Betazoid!Soap- new security officer (lieutenant)

Half Vulcan!Reader- sciences officer (lieutenant junior-grade), [giving them various nicknames because (y/n) feels clunky]

wc: 4k

warnings: rearrangement of rank (Starfleet doesn't have enlisted officers & the equivalent ranks would not be bridge officers), reader is the youngest but the other ages aren't mentioned, abduction, Ghost was raised by humans in a Worf-analogue-situation, (Ghost's parents were killed in a Romulan attack), slowburn, no smut, written before i started playing mwii

Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before!

As the turbo-lift doors opened, the familiar sounds of the Bridge Crew's squabbles filled the ears of the newest Chief Science Officer.

"Cap', 're you sure that MacTavish can actually read the Ferengi from this distance? I wouldn't put it past 'im to just wanna stir sumthin' up."

"Ghost, ye know damn well I wouldn' lie abou' somethin' like that."

Quietly walking to her station behind the caption's chair, the half-Vulcan began scanning the readings of the Ferengi ship. The Ferengi ship was peculiarly small and old-fashioned- at least a century old.

"Gaz, can you take us closer? One third Impulse, please." At Gaz's affirmation, Captain Price stood from his chair and walked towards the monitor at the front of the bridge. "Junior-grade, how many life signs can you read."

She startled, looking up from the inlaid monitor. "Only two, sir. It's a small ship, though there should be room for around thirty crew." Her gaze followed Price's to the front monitor, where she saw the short loop of Ferengi video broadcast. Both Ferengi men's large ears and prominent brow ridges glistened with sweat.

Gaz looked up from his controls. "Captain, the broadcast isn't coming from this ship."

"The distress beacon is, though. And the ship is definitely Ferengi." Ghost looked over Soap's shoulder to the security console.

"Price, be careful. We're getting close to the neutral zone." Gaz indicated to his monitor.

Price returned to the captain's seat, centered in the bridge. "Soap, keep scanning for other vessels. Ghost, hail the Ferengi ship."

"Price, they aren't receiving our hailing frequencies."

"Is anyone else thinking of Earthen anglerfish right about now?" the half-Vulcan mumbled. Then, louder- "They're down to just one life sign, Captain Price."

"They don' have shields up, Cap'n," Soap called from the security station. "I don't feel anything from the ship, either."

“Ghost, prepare an away team and get some protective gear. We’ll keep track and be ready to beam you back, but we need to know what’s happenin’ with that ship.”

“Gaz an’ the kid with me. Go get a compact medikit in case there’re any survivors, an' Gaz can tell us why it may 'ave stopped.”

As Gaz stood from his chair, the science officer rushed towards the turbo-lift, heading briskly down to the medbay. Swiftly getting the required supplies, she headed towards the transporter room, meeting with Gaz and Ghost.

"Three to beam to the co-ords Soap sent down." Ghost led the trio to the transporter bay, phaser in hand.

As they faded into shimmering white light, all three prepared themselves for the unknown of a seemingly empty Ferengi shuttle on the border of the Neutral Zone.

Following the briefest moment, they came back into awareness. Ghost was the first to reach full cognizance, the other two shortly following. The most immediately apparent thing was that the ship had not been abandoned by normal means. The cockpit was in disarray, and a trail of a mixture of unknown substances ended abruptly in the doorway.

At Ghost's indication of safety, the Vulcan activated the scientific tricorder to scan the trail. As the analysis loaded, she noted from the corner of their eye that both Gaz and Ghost tensed. Ghost's mask made the sudden lack of motion vividly unsettling. The tricorder loaded with a small chirp, indicating the presence of Ferengi and Romulan DNA. Abruptly, the shuttle lit up.

The ship began moving closer to the Neutral Zone. Soap's voice echoed from their communicators, "Wha' the hell are ye doin'? The Neutral Zone is right fuckin' there!"

"We're not trying to, Soap. I'm looking at the controls now." Gaz rushed to the lit-up console.

"Ghost, there's evidence Romulans here. We should get out of here, sir."

As the First Officer acknowledged the Science Officer, more words echoed from their communicator badges.

"Transport to away team, we've lost your location. There's some sort of interference." Tensions became palpable as the situation quickly devolved. Gaz frantically tried to turn the ship back towards the Enterprise. Ghost and the scientist worked on figuring out what left a Ferengi shuttle lost at the edge of the Neutral Zone.

Price's voice echoed through the ship, "Hold on, Away Team, reeling you in with our tractor beam." The ship jolted with the connection of the tractor beam, easing back towards Federation Territory.

Gaz began hitting the console, clearly frustrated by the lack of response from the equipment. "Ghost an' Cap, this shuttle isn't bein' controlled by this panel. This has gotta be a trap."

As two Humans, a Betazoid, a Klingon, and a half-Vulcan attempted to return the away team to the Enterprise, they were faced with a Romulan Warbird removing its cloaking device directly next to the Ferengi shuttle.

The Ferengi Shuttle was swiftly drawn in by the Warbird's tractor beam, half the distance from and twice the size of the Enterprise.

The science officer tapped the communicator on: "Sirs, this is not standard Romulan battle practices. Deception, yes, but blatant disregard for the Algeron Treaty? In just about two hundred years of conflict, they've never done anything like this."

"When did you become an expert on Romulan politics, Junior-grade?"

"Not the time, Garrick," Ghost aimed his phaser at the door between the away team and the interior of the Romulan ship. The other two quickly followed suit.

As the interior of the Ferengi ship dimmed, the shuttle bay door of the Romulan Warbird opened up. The ship slowed into the bay, and the environmental system hissed. Gaz was the first to feel it, and Ghost was the last.

As Ghost fought to keep his eyes open, he heard the half-Vulcan mutter about "anesthizine."

Gaz woke in a cell, his phaser and communicator on the manned desk beyond the forcefields. A few cells across the circular brig, he could see the Ferengi from the broadcast in a shared cell, and to their right was Ghost. "Ghost, can you hear me? Are you able to see any way out?"

"Damn Romulans cuffed me an' took my fuckin' mask. The door out of the cells is to your left, the kid's to your right."

"I can hear you, Ghost," she frowned. "They have our comms and phasers, and there's no way they've kept us in Federation Territory. Cap's gonna need to get approval from Admiral Laswell to follow us."

"Soap won't like that," Gaz said, standing from the cot to get a better view of the space. "Junior-grade, you said this wasn't normal for Romulans. Do you think we're working with an extremist group?"

"Definitely. I was awake when they were cuffing Ghost. They weren't in standard issue Romulan Star Empire Uniforms, and there's some wacky mods to this Warbird."

Ghost cut in, "At least they wan' us alive. We'd be long gone if they didn't think we could do sumthin' for 'em."

"'Specially with their views on Klingons and Vulcans. Nasty blokes."

"Thanks for reminding us, Gaz." She pressed her hand to the force field, searching for the weak point she knew wasn't there. As they searched, the brig doors opened with a hiss.

Three Romulans walked in, bearing phaser rifles. The centered one spoke: "I had hoped the Federation would be stupid enough to send a ship into our territory. Imagine my delight when that little ship sends me some a Klivan, a Hevam, and a Yyiyao wrapped in a nice little bow." (Romulan derogatory terms for Klingon, Human, Vulcan)

"Oh, what a shock: the Rihansu is racist. Where the hell are we?" (Vulcan [and Romulan] for Romulan)

"Hold your tongue, Yyiyao. I haven't killed you yet, but my mercy has limits. You don't even know why you're here yet!"

"Who the hell are you?" Ghost stood up abruptly, startling the non-speaking Romulans.

"Now, the Klivan is asking the right question! Who am I? And why would I capture two Feh'rengsu, a Kilvan, a Hevam, and a Yyiyao?

They call me Commander Makarov, and I will free my people from the barriers of the Neutral Zone and the Federation altogether."

"And you think that will happen by kidnapping a First Officer, Flight Control Officer, and a Science Officer?" Gaz sat on the cot in the corner.

"I'm not that foolish. You're nothing more than bait, tempting your precious Federation into breaking its own rules."

"You can't seriously think our Captain is stupid enough to follow us withou' givin' proper notice?" Ghost questioned.

"Oh, Klivan. He's already following us," Makarov grinned.

"I still don't get why you're tellin' us this." Gaz laid further into the cot.

"Either he's gloating or he's trying to get something out of us, be that intel or our charming personalities." The half-Vulcan wrung her hands, silently pleading for the Enterprise to be careful and give the correct notice.

The Ferengi began tittering with each other, briefly pulling the attention from the Starfleet officers.

"You three were victims of circumstance. But these two-" Makarov sneered. "These two will not try to swindle the sword of the Romulan Empire again."

Makarov's men turned off the barrier to the Ferengi cell. Each grabbed one Ferengi man and dragged them out of the brig. Makarov left the brig, questions hanging in the air.

"What a total dick."

"Thought you were supposed to be too logical for needless profanity."

"My Vulcan father lost the debate that determined what planet I was raised on. Before the Acadamy, I went to an Earthen public school, Gaz."

"Fuckin' hell you two, not the time," Ghost chastised. "Gotta work out what that bastard wants from us."

"Could be they want to kickstart a war against the Federation, relations have been easing in the past few-" Gaz cut himself off as the doors opened.

Makarov stepped through into the brig. "How lucky was I to have Captain Jonathan Price's crew, led by the Ghost, stumble on the ship I hadn't gotten around to destroying yet."

"What've the Captain or I got to do with you?"

"Don't tell me you don't remember us, Klivan! Not after our grand impact on your childhood."

Ghost closed his eyes and took a deep breath, setting his jaw.

"Now you remember me. I'll fill your underlings in. I was just an Uhlan, aboard the Perseus. A Klingon traitor sent us the codes to Khitomer's security system. Your Ghost was the only survivor."

Ghost's history was not frequently discussed on the ship, but his presence as a Klingon in Starfleet command made it clear that his life was full of unusual circumstances.

"And on top of that, your Captain is the one who convinced my previous Commander, that ryakna, to abandon the honor of our great Empire."

"The Cap's peace negotiations under Laswell? Not letting another Federation ship blow you all up for your secret base in the Neutral Zone? That's what this is about?" Gaz looked incredulous.

"He should have defended the great Romulan Empire! Why should we listen to rules set by your Federation." Makarov sneered. "The might of our great fleet could have destroyed all the Federation sent after us."

As Makarov continued on about the power of the Romulan Empire, the science officer tuned out. She focused instead on attempting to work out a method for contacting Captain Price from what was likely at least an astronomical unit away. She'd already ruled out the possibility of accessing their communicator unit, cobbling a communicator out of their tricorder, and breaching access on the communicator of the Warbird.

"But what sweet revenge, taking the sole Klivan survivor and two other crew from that peacenik, your Captain Price. How poetic that you will start the empirical expansion my people have been deprived of. I will return for you when your Federation breaks their own rules."

As Makarov left the brig, a quiet tension fell over the officers.

Gaz was the first to break the silence. "Do you think the Cap would be mad enough to follow after without getting Laswell up to speed?"

"Will the Romulan contacts deem this an acceptable reaction from Price in the case that he is this mad?" They buried their face in their hands.

"It doesn't matter what Price does, so long as we get the fuck off this damn ship."

"Ghost, what he said about your parents-"

"Doesn't matter."

"I know it doesn't, but I just want you to know you're allowed to be angry about this even if you don't remember it."

"Interesting take, coming from the Vulcan," Gaz interrupted.

"Half Vulcan. Born and raised on Earth."

"Neither of you are helpin'. Migh' as well just wait for Price 'f you're gonna keep gettin' distracted." Ghost pressed his hands against the force field of his cell. As each officer sought out their cells' unlikely flaws, they listened for any sounds around them.

After what could have been anywhere between ten minutes and an hour of searching, a set of footsteps approached them.

"Your Captain has demanded proof of life from us. Your scientist is coming with me." A Romulan with a jagged scar running down his face entered the brig. He approached the center cell and bound their hands, escorting them out of the brig.

The half-Vulcan yanked her arm from the Romulan's hold. "I can walk myself." She then ignored Gaz's protests, hoping that they were unnecessary.

Following a long walk, she was escorted onto a dark bridge. The Enterprise Bridge was displayed on the large monitor in front of the room. Price was in his Captain's chair, Soap above and behind him at the security panel. Both sets of eyes gently lightened at their Junior-grade, visibly unharmed and still slightly fighting their escort.

"See, Captain, unharmed. The other two are in the same condition, but I couldn't just release all of them, you see." Makarov brushed his hand across her face, earning three sets of glares.

"Lieutenant, are you, Gaz, and Ghost okay?" Price ignored Makarov's assurance.

Before she could begin her sentence, Makarov grasped her by her chin. As she wrenched herself from his hands, he spoke. "You've seen she's alive. My patience wears thin."

Even with the distance, she could see Soap's knuckles grip his console. "We're not followin' ye into the fuckin' Neutral Zone without word from her. S'bad enough ye didn' let our First Officer up."

"When I got grabbed to come up, Gaz and Ghost were okay. I wouldn't trust-" Makarov's hand clamped over her mouth, cutting her off. She had to fight the urge to bite the bastard.

"I didn't bring her up here to give away all of my surprises. Return her to the brig." Makarov looked over his shoulder to the scarred Romulan, who had brought her up.

She fought damn near the entire way back down, leading to another Romulan joining her escort. While she knew it would be fruitless, doing nothing felt more wrong. She felt like she'd wasted any opportunity to formulate a plan with the Captain, and hadn't fought against their captor enough to be respectable. Would Soap judge her, or, worse, would Price?

She shook the thought from her mind just as she returned to the brig. They moved her to the cell previously occupied by the Ferengi, where she was now unable to see Ghost and considerably farther from Gaz. They left her hands bound, and one sat at the guard station.

Unwilling to risk giving intel to the guard, all three sat in relative silence once she confirmed that Price had been in contact.

Gaz was humming an old Earthen song she couldn't quite place. Every so often, she would sigh dramatically. Ghost was the only one to remain entirely silent.

After about an hour, the guard received three trays at the door and delivered one to each occupied cell. Each tray contained an unappetizing green biscuit and a small cup of a grey drink. She and Gaz each took a half-hearted bite; Ghost refused to even look at the tray.

The half-Vulcan stood from the tray without taking a second bite. Instead, she chose to lay in the cot and nap—what was the worst that could happen?

It seemed that the worst that could happen was the ship going into a red alert, their guard leaving them trapped as he went to a battle station. The emergency lights flashed, and she could understand almost every other word of a Romulan emergency alert.

The alert seemed to indicate that they were under attack not by the Federation but by another Romulan vessel. She rubbed her bleary eyes and stood up.

"Just our luck— someone's attacking, and it's not Price." She smacked at the force field holding her in the cell. She could hear Ghost attacking his barrier as well and could see Gaz beginning to do the same.

"How do you know it's not Cap?" Gaz paused his attack.

"The emergency alert specified something about a T'liss, a bird-of-prey. They'd have said ih'calear if they'd translated the Enterprise's class."

"Since when do you know Romulan?" Ghost's voice echoed from the cell to her right.

"It's really not too far of a leap from Vuhlkansu, Commander. I took a couple classes in it at the Academy."

The alarm continued to go off, and the half-Vulcan did her best not to fret. From the size difference alone, a bird-of-prey against a warbird shouldn't have even been a blip in the radar. She strained to hear about a d'deridex, another warbird, but the alert kept repeating that the combat was against a T'liss class vessel.

What would a separate Romulan general do if one found them in this brig? Would they seek to continue the relative peace with the Federation by releasing them back to the Enterprise, or would they decide that the three weren't worth their lives and kill them, or worse, send them to a Romulan prison?

"Junior-grade, I can feel you worrying through the damn wall. Price or Laswell'll come, stop your fuckin' panickin'." She snapped out of her anxious spiral, mumbling a bit of gratitude to her commanding officer.

It took nearly an hour before the alert stopped its loop. It took a further forty minutes for anyone to check the brig. None of them expected the familiar Romulan to be the one to walk through the door, followed by their previous guard.

"Nikolai, you were the bird-of-prey?" Gaz beamed. The negotiations between Nikolai, Price, and Laswell predated the half-Vulcan's time as a bridge officer, but she had seen him on the screen, briefly, as she'd taken some data from the bridge.

"Best ship I could get with little notice from Laswell. Heard my old sublieutenant was causing issues."

"Thought you'd finally gotten out of military work, Nik. How'd you get even a lil' thing like that?"

"I have friends everywhere, Ghost."

The scarred guard reluctantly opened each cell door and unbound the wrists of the Klingon and the half-Vulcan. Ghost didn't respond, but she rubbed her wrists before introducing herself to Nikolai. Ghost grabbed all of the confiscated equipment, taking it for his crew.

"Good to meet you. Let's get you all back to the Enterprise, where you belong." He escorted the trio to the vehicle bay, where a bird-of-prey waited. Nikolai took control of the ship and navigated it towards the Federation edge of the Neutral Zone.

"Why would Makarov release us to you?" The half-Vulcan couldn't keep from questioning.

"The daeus would never have approved of Makarov's methods. The only way his plan worked was if it flew under the radar that he had blatantly disregarded the treaty in a way that was so obvious to the Federation." Ghost cut in for Nikolai.

"Basically. Definitely helped that after I retired from military, I started working for a Senator who wants peace with your Federation."

The return to the border of the Neutral Zone felt much shorter despite taking nearly twice the time. They flew with easy conversations with Nikolai, who admonished any crew who even thought about engaging in distasteful behavior towards their guests.

As they neared the Enterprise, Gaz couldn't convince Nikolai to come aboard and visit with Price. While Ghost stayed out of the enticement, the science officer leaned on and encouraged Gaz.

"We've done enough stretching of Algeron Treaty. Your Enterprise nearly got a light-year in to the Neutral Zone before getting the sense to contact me."

The trio gave Nikolai their fond farewells, and Soap came over their communicators to organize their transport onto the Enterprise. After they shimmered onto the transporter pad, Soap and Price ushered all three to the medical bay.

After being medically cleared and cleaning up, the bridge crew sat down for dinner in the Captain's quarters. Price had yet to emerge with his contribution to the otherwise replicated meal.

"How did you know to get Nikolai involved?" Gaz sat across from Soap.

"Mate, d'you ken that Vulcans are telepathically inclined? Our scientist thought so loudly abou' Makarov's plan that I could hear it from the Enterprise. Turned our ass around and Laswell got in contact with Nik." Soap leaned to his left and ruffled her hair.

Pointed ears warming, she pushed Soap's hand away. "MacTavish, maybe you've just got massive range on your crazy Betazoid telepathy."

Soap persisted, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Hen, I'd have heard the Lt. or Gaz if it was just that. You were loud an' clear from a light year away."

Price's door opened to the Captain, holding three bottles of wine. "I thought we all deserved somethin' a little stronger than synthehol after the shit we dealt with."

Ghost nodded from his position across from the half-Vulcan as Price took his seat between them at the head of the table. Price opened the wines, handing them out to each officer to fill their cup with their selected beverage.

The bridge crew ate with light chatter, deliberately avoiding the topic of the overly-Empirical Commander. There would be plenty of time to discuss the ambitious Romulan in the coming days.

The half-Vulcan struggled to ignore the touchy nature of the Betazoid to her left and the Captain's comforting touches on her hand. She focused on her meal and the First Officer across from her, not wanting the Betazoid to sense her flushed discomfort.

Ghost had never fully removed his mask in front of her before. She tried not to think about how ruggedly attractive he was, letting loose with his friends and her. Was she a friend now? Her line of thinking left her confused and slightly flustered, though she hoped it indicated that he at least thought of her as a friend. "Junior-grade, you've picked your drink up and sat it back down without taking a sip three times now. You can relax, luvvie."

Never in a million years would she have anticipated the First Officer using a pet name for her. She could have sworn her pointed ears were so warm that they were steaming, a flush spreading across her entire head. She choked on the sip she took to hide her embarrassment.

Soap patted her back to help her cough as Gaz gently admonished Ghost. "Our girl doesn't need that shit from you, Ghost." Ghost just laughed, seemingly in on the joke.

A stern "Boys!" from Price seemed to end the joke that the half-Vulcan was trapped outside of. The other three sat up straighter for the briefest of moments, playing into a joke.

After a more collective evening of conversation, the bridge crew each returned to their quarters. The half-Vulcan donned her sleep clothes and lay in bed, questioning the day's events. Her thoughts drifted between her Romulan abduction, the unaccounted-for Ferengi, and the dinner—what had Price meant when he called her "their girl?"

As the day drifted out, she imagined what strange new worlds they may encounter the next day.

Star Trek Guide (probably a little inaccurate, there's so much star trek in the world):

Klingons: humanoid warrior species with pronounced forehead ridges that go to about the coronal suture of the human skull. they often have long dark hair and distinctive facial hair- in essentially perpetual conflict with Romulans for the majority of the 23rd and 24th centuries

Betazoids: humanoid species with no physical differences from humans except for pure black irises. they have telepathy in both concrete thoughts and emotions

Vulcans: humanoid species that pride themselves on logic above all else. Many are capable of a form of telepathy known as a mind meld, which is part of the intimate life of Vulcans. They are closely related to Romulans. Both Vulcans and Romulans have upturned eyebrows and pointed ears. prior to 370 AD, Vulcans were very warlike. A philosopher at the time led the transformation of society from violence to logic (Spock is a notable half-human-half-Vulcan)

Romulans: humanoid species that prioritizes conquest, in conflict with the Federation and Klingons. as Vulcan evolved from violence to peace, some dissented and left the planet to settle on the other two planets in that star system. Romulans were born from the dissenting Vulcans and indigenous populations of the settled planets. Some Romulans also have brow ridges in a "V" on their foreheads, although others are indistinguishable from Vulcans.

Ferengi: humanoid species that prioritizes profit above all else, and are notorious for their misogyny.. typically hairless, with large skulls, disproportionately large ears and brow ridges, orange skin, blue fingernails, and sharp teeth. (yk what no matter how accurately you describe the Ferengi, it's difficult to picture them without a picture)

[picklerocket]

Happy 3rd Anniversary Little Nightmares 2!!

I have not finished my pointillism piece for the celebration, so it will have to be belated. Instead, I will share a disjointed rant about how I think Thin Man and the Signal Tower function!

In my mind, the Signal Tower from Little Nightmares 2 (pictured on the right) is a Lovecraftian Shoggoth (pictured on the left), and it crashed to the earth thousands- perhaps even millions of years before we see the game take place. This is a theory I have personally had since the game came out, but I know there is a theory video floating around somewhere about this same theory, and a few of my fellow fans also share it.

(If you have not played/watched LN played or listened to the podcast, and do not want it spoiled, be warned! Spoilers ahoy!)

I will attempt to explain how I see Thin Man and the Signal Tower having a sort of symbiotic relationship, and what exactly Thin Man is and where Mono comes from.

In "The Sound of Nightmares", we learn that children almost always get to the Nowhere in their sleep, with a few possibly having been born there (i.e. the Pretender). However, Mono seems different, and not just from Six. His abilities of walking through tv screens, and whatever other powers he possesses as he grows into Thin Man, seem to be completely natural to him- to the point that he must cover his face with a bag to keep them at bay.

I am going to take this a step further and say that Mono was not only born in the Little Nightmares universe, but he wasn't even born on their version of the earth!

This is where my theories begin to seem a bit far-fetched, so stay with me.

I have decided to call what Mono/Thin Man is, a "Broadcaster" (a name which was assigned to Thin Man by fans when he first appeared in the secret ending of the Residence DLC), and has been a populr name for him in fanfiction, as well as fanart and comics as well.

Well, now I want to take a closer look at Thin Man's powers- and how they are comprised of electromagnetic fields and frequencies of light. So why can Thin Man manipulate these things in his environment to the point where he can pretty much control reality?

Because he is part of a species- a "Broadcaster". An alien. He has these superhuman abilities because he isn't a human at all!

You may have noticed that I said "a" Broadcaster. Implying there are more- which I believe there are, somewhere, out in the universe. I personally think that they are ageless beings similar in life cycle to the fabled pheonix; Growing old and being reborn again new each time.

But where do these Broadcasters come from?

The way I think, the only way any being could manipulate the laws of matter and light could be to have it composing their bodies as well. Yes, I am indeed implying that Thin Man is a solid projection of light (yes, like a gem from Steven Universe lol). All this to say, I believe they are born amongst stars forming in nebulas. They are made of/powered by stars! Made of light!

I mean, think about it! Whenever he's seen in-game, he looks black and white and staticy just like he's on tv! Like he's made of fizzling and flickering light. But what about Mono? Mono is solid, and he can even die!

Well, we can explain Mono being more physical and vulnerable as him being a tiny baby of course! I don't think he's just trapped in a time loop by the Signal Tower- I believe the Broadcaster life cycle for Thin Man starts over when we see Mono wake up in front of the TV in the forest at the beginning of the game.

"But why is Mono 'born' as a 10/11 year old?"

That, my friend, is because the Shoggoth that composes this particular Signal Tower is garbage at approximating human anatomy! It's never seen a human baby, and therefore can only replicate what it has seen- children.

"But Pickle, what do you mean the Tower made him look human?? What???"

Well, if you were a giant behemoth that consumes entire populations, you'd need something to lure them in. Like an anglerfish! And what did I pose is made of light? Broadcasters. That's what I think so far. The Shoggoth rips through nebulas searching for a Broadcaster, and once it traps one it its body, it takes it to a planet and uses the Broadcaster's abilities to consume the populace. Make him look like them and plaster him all over their communications and entertainment.

So there you have it! My current Thin Man/Mono theories and headcanons. I may elaborate on this further, and draw up some broadcaster life cycle examples. Let me know what you think! 👁️✨

Again, Happy Anniversary Little Nightmares 2!! 🎉🎊🎁

[high-fantasy-sw]

How does food work out on Kamino? How do they grow it? How do they make it? Is seafood a heavy portion, or are they given a more balanced meal?

In 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Captain Nemo sources his food entirely from the ocean from various organisms, both plant and animal (I can send you pictures of those parts if you like). Is it similar?

And do the clones end up disliking freshwater creatures if their diet is mostly seafood? Or do any, if not all, grow sick of seafood?

What of ration bars? Are you declaring them obsolete, or do they have an in-world equivalent?

Here I am, answering three questions in one post. Look at me go.

Kaminoan Dietary Habits and Gastronomy: A Presentation

So, yes, there is a lot of fish consumption, but. Like. Not normal fish. Not the kind of fish that the citizens of the Archipelago eat. Kamino's like, deep into the twilight zone of the ocean. There's barely any light at all. Our boys are chowing down on hatchetfish and deep-sea squid. Throw some blobfish and bioluminescent jellyfish in there and I call that a balanced meal.

An important thing to note is that, being as dark as it is in the mesopelagic zone (by the way have i mentioned that the ocean is freakin' cool and i love it and i WILL be a nerd about it in my worldbuilding), there isn't enough light for adequate photosynthesis. Now, the Fortress still does have gardens and plants from when it was above the sea, but as it is, this provides for a very limited selection of flora, as most of the plants the Kaminoans grew and grow are herbs and other alchemical ingredients. Therefore, much of the "plant" material is actually harvested from plankton, which are either caught wild or, more often, grown in the Fortress itself and made into the ration-bars. (Ahsoka loves to poke fun at Rex and his algae biscuits whenever she catches him eating them.)

Surface food is an interesting experience. See, people can only go so long eating essentially raw anglerfish and plankton-cakes before they start to realize. Hey. What are we doing. So a lot of Clones are super enthusiastic about new foods and practically jump to try anything novel. That being said, there is a non-negligible group who are so used to a Kaminoan diet that they are hesitant to even be open to the possibility of any new tastes. And then there are a few guys in the middle, who are neutral on the whole deal.

Citrus fruits are a particularly divisive subject. There is nothing like fresh fruit in the Fortress, so Clones either love it or hate it. But regardless, it's a necessity on the High Seas, and a staple of their diet above the waters. There have been innovations for those who can't stomach it (dried, juiced, baked goods in particularly bad cases, et cetera), but it does eventually boil down to the fact that some people (cough cough echo) have to be tied to the mast and have someone else (cough cough kix) try to coax the kriffing things down their throats.

Chocolate does, in fact, exist, and also, in fact, may be the only unifying taste among the GAR. Also, most Clones to continue to be partial to seafood, because it's the most like home. Caf still exists and is very popular with everyone, except for those who would prefer tea. (Chocolate and coffee have been around for a very long time so I think I'm good adding them here.) Baked goods and confections are also extant, though their availability and type is dependent upon whatever island a person is on- for example, Coruscant or Naboo or Alderaan will have much more elaborate and higher-quality sweets than, say, Tatooine or Ryloth or Shili.

And yes, there are both real-world and Star-Wars specific food and drink and plants, just like there are in the animal world.

I hope this was interesting, and made sense :D

[cbenvs3000f24]

Unit 09 blog post

Hi all,

One of the most amazing things I know about nature, in my opinion, is the ocean. The ocean covers more than 70% of our world and holds within it such vast mysteries that we hardly ever actually get to understand it. It is a completely different world of extremes-conditions and housing thousands of complex creatures. Take, for example, the anglerfish that lives deep beneath the sea. Its needle teeth and the luminescent light which dangles in front of its mouth are good tools for life spent in complete darkness a couple of thousand feet below the surface. This is just one of many bioluminescent adaptations developed by creatures of the ocean to make life possible with crushing pressure and no light.

The ocean is home to multiple other truly remarkable creatures. Take the leafy sea dragon, for example. With fronds that look just like bits of floating seaweed, it blends perfectly into its surroundings, hiding in plain sight from predators and giving it an almost mythical look. Then there is the world's largest animal, the blue whale. The blue whale can communicate with other whales over great distances thanks to its loud, resonant cries, which can reach for miles. To me, this is fascinating as they can use clicks, whistles and pulsed calls, like songs to communicate. These creatures give us a look at the ocean’s mystery.

Arguably, though, the most amazing thing about nature is not the strange or the beautiful creatures that live in the ocean, but that it is something that can be accessed at all times by all of us. Whether you are standing on some remote cliffside, watching waves crash against the rocks, or taking a moment to look up at the night sky from your backyard, nature finds ways to get to us. You do not have to be an adventurer or scientist to sense its power. We are connected to something greater even just by going outside and experiencing the warmth of the sun on our skin or listening to the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze. The balance that exists in nature serves as a reminder that we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves, something that existed before us and will undoubtedly outlive us. It reminds me of how my mind was racing with deadlines and worries one day while I was walking through the arboretum. For around five minutes, I sat on one of the benches and continued to notice small details in my surroundings. First, it was the sound of the mosquitoes around me, which I was not happy about, but then I saw squirrels playing with one another and then noticed how the sun was warming up my ears, and the rest of my face. It is these little moments that remind us how beauty in nature is not something that is rare; it's everywhere, waiting to be noticed. 

This is a picture I took of the stars around a year ago, in the arboretum! Looking up at the stars and it being so quiet outside was such a peaceful moment for me.

So, while the ocean's mysteries are complex and impressive, the true beauty and amazing thing about nature is how it is all around us, at all times. Nature is there for everyone, a source of happiness, calmness, and connection that reminds us we're all part of the same world. 

Thanks for reading!

[echoes-lighthouse]

Cecil and Echo: The Full Story

Previously: Toga / Tate

I did a poll for how I should share my selfship stories, and ‘text post with illustrations’ won the poll, so I’m doing a full post for each of my f/os! They’re written to be as understandable as possible for people unfamiliar with the source, but I'm.... not sure how Welcome To Night Vale will be for people who haven't listened to the podcast lol

This selfship is a bit of a hard dynamic to impart because this self-insert is very much not a person but I hope I got it across!

Chapter One: Backstories 

Cecil was born in Night Vale, a timeless and unknowable town. He was born in the 80s, although which century is uncertain, and was a teenager in the early 90s. When Cecil was five, it was prophesied that he would become the Voice of Night Vale, and his father left their family soon afterwards. His mother resented the prophecy and the role it had in the disintegration of their family, while the town began to treat Cecil differently with the knowledge of his future role. When Cecil was fourteen, his mother also left: Cecil’s older sister was forced to drop out of college to work for a place for them to live. 

Far above Night Vale is a star, not part of any recognized constellation, but burning brightly enough for Night Vale residents to see it in the darkened skies of evening. 

Chapter Two: First Meeting

At sixteen, Cecil started as an intern at Night Vale’s Community Radio station. Sharply aware of his sister’s resentment at having to work for both of them, and the pressure of the prophecy as the Voice on his shoulders, Cecil’s anxiety was reaching critical levels. 

One night, sitting outside in an old ritual circle, Cecil looked up at the sky and made a wish that he wouldn’t be lonely forever. His eyes settled on one of the stars as he whispered, a secret from a boy at his limit. 

And the star fell: out of the sky, out of its original form, and into Cecil’s hands. For a moment, formless light filled his palms. Then Echo took form, and Cecil was filled with the knowledge that Echo would always be with him, and his wish was granted: he would never be lonely. 

Chapter Three: Getting Together Growing Up 

Echo is with Cecil for his last two years of high school: inseparable, always sitting on his shoulder or hiding in his pocket. Cecil survives his first year at the radio station and the two of them celebrate by running away for a night in the forest, sometimes dancing and sometimes singing and sometimes lying still, looking up at the other stars above them. 

When Cecil graduates, his sister is set free: the radio station starts to pay Cecil enough for a little Night Vale apartment, and Echo fluctuates in size to help carry the furniture and boxes, always shrinking back to their familiar size at the end of the night, to curl up on Cecil’s pillow and burrow into his hair. 

Night Vale goes through a fluctuation and when the fluctuation finishes, Cecil is the host of the radio station, and has always been the host: his prior teacher is forgotten by all but Cecil himself. With the new money and position, Cecil takes some time off and goes to Europe. 

Echo is with him for the wild days of exploration: a new Cecil for every town, a new world at every train stop, the decades falling at their heels, Night Vale a glowing beacon behind them, waiting to guide them home again. In most of the towns, Echo remains an unobtrusive glow on Cecil’s shoulder, but occasionally it walks with him and dances with the strangers in the bars, bringing them back to Cecil for approval, the shining lure of an anglerfish. 

Eventually, Cecil is tired of Europe: tired of being a stranger, and tired of the endless re-invention. He brings them back to Night Vale, and it’s never felt more comfortable in the little town. 

Chapter Four: Where We’re At 

Adulthood is new to Cecil, the flush of Europe still fading from his cheeks. Night Vale itself is new again when they return from the trip: a new bowling alley, a new pizza place, half the residents new but settled for generations. Still, they greet Cecil as their radio host, and express their interest in his European travels. 

Echo and Cecil settle into their routines: days at the radio station, evenings wandering the town, and nights in their quiet apartment, listening to the hum of government helicopters overhead and the singing of the stars beyond that. 

Cecil is an endless well of energy and enthusiasm, rediscovering their home again: the residents, the shops, the gossip. Echo loves to sit on his desk, just under the microphone that broadcasts his voice to the rest of the town, and let his voice wash over it. It shares Cecil’s love for Night Vale, a faithful reflection of his emotions and priorities, and sees the town as an extension of Cecil in many ways. 

And one day in the future, a newcomer will arrive, and Cecil will fall in love. But for now, he is still finding himself, and the true story is yet to begin.

[illarian-rambling]

Is there anything from your WIP that you want to talk about/give a more detailed explanation of but haven't had an opportunity to?

Probably the whole "in the beginning" sequence if I'm being honest. The base worldbuilding. So let's do it!

Before there was anything, there was nothing. There was darkness, silence, and the endless void. It couldn't have been called happy, this void, but perhaps it was content.

Then, a spark came into the universe. Now, we had something. There was light, sound, and chaos. There were stars and young planets and baby galaxies just beginning to glow.

In eons hence, these two forces would be called many names, but for simplicity's sake, we can call them End and Beginning. Each was a collection of minds, a colonial organism on a massive scale. For a while, there was balance between the two. The minds of Beginning resided in the stars and churned out planets, some of which harbored early, microbial life. The minds of End resided in the dark inbetween, and made sure Beginning didn't overstep its bounds. However, in time, End grew bitter. It didn't like this bright, noisy, chaotic universe. It wanted things to go back to how they were before.

And so it began to exterminate Beginning.

Stars bled out and died as the universe was plunged into war. Beginning tried to fight back, but it was a creative force, not a destructive one, and it was no match for End's gluttonous march. Billions upon billions of galaxies were destroyed, consumed by the nothing that was there first, until finally, there was only one lonely mind of Beginning left.

We can call this mind the Creator. While its brethren were being devoured, this single mind in its yellow star set to work creating sentient life. It split off two aspects of itself to do this; one to create the body, the other to forge the soul. The Illarians call these aspects Tsa and Ayu. The dwarves call them the Prime Twins. But either way, humans and dwarves were not the first people they created. First came the Araunians.

As End closed in above, chewing through the nearby stars and the more distant planets in the solar wheel, the Araunians split and morphed into the varied peoples that crowd Illaros today. Humans and goblins, sirens and selkies, and only one race of elves so far. All of these disparate people had one thing in common though; they had gods.

Through the power of their souls, divine sparks given to them by the Creator itself, the gods these peoples imagined sprang into reality. The Illarian, the Aderenon, the Nabafyrian ancestors, the Great Anglerfish, and many more. These were the children of mortality, grandchildren to the last mind of Beginning left living. This mind, the Creator, had only one message for the powerful new gods: "Get out there and fight that fucking thing!!"

The gods are not bound by the rules of creation and destruction, but instead can levy both equally. They rushed to fight End, to push it back from where it had besieged them and their makers, and they have been fighting for every moment since then. Through their efforts, the mortals of Illaros have been able to grow, develop, and evolve. The Creator has survived as the last of its kind. And though the universe is so terribly empty, it will never be nothing again, so long as the gods of Illaros defend all of something.

Without any true stars besides the sun though, what do the people of Illaros see in the night sky, you might ask? Well, they see what they think are stars---bright, white, untwinkling lights. In truth, these are the eyes of End, everwatching and everwaiting to devour the last bastion of life in all of the universe.

Thanks for the ask! I figured I'd brought End up enough that yall were owed a bit of an explanation. Hope this is interesting!

(As another side note: the words Illaros (the planet everyone lives on) and Illarian (the human gods) are so similar because they're both human words that stem from the same root. 'Illa' means horizon in Janazi (human language) and is an important concept to the seafaring people. A person from Illaros would be called Illari, though no such word exists on Illaros today, because they don't know about other planets yet, so why would they specify)

(Again, thanks for listening to me rant about worldbuilding)

(Have a bitchin day <3)

(Whoops here's my tag list @amandacanwrite @elsie-writes @riveriafalll @kosmic-kore @kaylinalexanderbooks @bard-coded @carrotsinnovember @patternwelded-quill @somethingclevermahogony @whatwewrotepodcast @goldxdarkness @the-angriest-author @mk-writes-stuff)