#Though this one was a bit tougher to work with because of the nature of the lighting

[letters-to-gene-roe]

Hi! I am so excited for y'all to meet Corrie Brewster, my Band of Brothers OC, and entry in this year's @blind-dates-fest 🩷

Snip, snip, snip.

Corrie closed her eyes and let Momma cut her hair, bit by bit, into a soldier's close crop, not wanting to watch the long hanks of shiny brown hair float to the kitchen floor. She had to do this, sure, her plan would never work without it, but it still hurt her heart to see years of memories hit the ground, destined for the trash. Instead, she forced herself to listen - to her mother's shallow breathing and the wind chimes faintly ringing on the back porch, to the dog snoring in the other room and the kettle bubbling just behind her, to Johnny Mack and Russ whispering upstairs and to her own heartbeat, thumping away behind her ribs.

Snip, snip, snip.

“I used to despair over those broad shoulders of yours, but now it seems they will be your saving grace. Nothing to do about that jawline of yours, though. It's positively girlish.”

“If you're trying to discourage me, it's not working. I'm sure there will be other privates with equally ‘girlish’ jawlines, as you say.”

Snip, snip, snip.

“Yes, but none of them are named Corina Judee Brewster, are they?”

Corrie stayed silent at that, and her mother did not speak again. Eventually, she finished her daughter's hair, and while she swept, Corrie reached into the cabinet and grabbed the tin of loose tea, measuring out enough for two cups (they may live in Texas, but Elsa Brewster is a born and bred Michigander, and as such, took her tea hot with milk and sugar).

“Are you going to say goodbye to your brothers?”

She wasn't planning on it. “You know I can't do that.” Please don't make this harder on me, she thought.

“It wasn't a question.” Momma was suddenly so much heavier, her blonde hair greyer, her furrows deeper. It hit Corrie, in a lightning strike sort of way, that she did this - made her mother so old before she should have been. She's only forty-three, but tonight has put ten years on her face in a way that losing two husbands and the Depression didn't. “When we're done here, you're going to go upstairs and tell them goodbye. You're gonna get up there and tell them exactly where you're going, too.”

“Can't I-”

“No, you can't just tell them you're off with the WAC. You can lie to everyone else, lie to the government, I don't care - but you can't lie to me and you can't lie to your brothers. Especially not Johnny Mack.”

Corrie smiled. “He'd see right through me anyway.”

“Always could.” Momma did not smile, but her lips lifted a little, and her crow's feet tightened up around her grey eyes. “When you're done with them, I've got something for you.” She patted the table and got up, signaling to Corrie that it was time to get going, now that the tea was drunk. Corrie lingered in her chair, though, dreading all the possibilities of what might happen after she opened that bedroom door.

Russ will almost certainly cry. He was gentle like that, and she was glad he was too young to fight this war, at least for the moment. His eyes - grey, like their mother’s, but wide and still full of boyish wonder - will well up with hot, salty tears, and he won't fight the urge to let them flow freely like an older, tougher boy might. Johnny Mack, though, will act mad. His face, already naturally rosy in the cheeks, will flush a dark red. He'll demand she give up, and when that doesn't work (because it won't work, not in a million years), he'll demand to come with. But that's just it - it's an act. He knows there's nothing he can do about this and he hates it. He'll act mad when all he is is hurt.

After one last sip, Corrie stood. The steps creaked in a familiar cadence that almost stopped her in her tracks, but she pushed forward anyway, stopping to gather her thoughts just a moment before she, inevitably, tore their relationships apart.

She opened the door. They were both stifling laughter as she came in, but when they saw her serious expression, their faces fell. Breathe, she told herself, just… breathe. Closing the door behind her, Corrie's feet felt like lead weights, and she stayed where she was as she delivered the news before it could choke her. Between sobs, Russ begged to know why. Every answer she gave set off a new rush of tears, and so she stopped trying to explain and pulled him into her side, like they were kids again and this was all just a bad dream she could soothe away.

“Johnny Mack?” She looked over to her oddly silent brother. This was not what she had expected at all.

“I can't ask you to be safe, but I can ask you not to be stupid. Don't forget to write, Judee.” There is not a single ounce of anger in his voice, not even a drop of hurt or a dash of surprise, but there is a glint in his eye that says he - somehow! - knew she was going to do this. You can't lie to Johnny Mack, her mother had said. He'd see right through me. “Gonna tell momma?”

“She cut my hair.” Johnny Mack nodded and in an act of brotherly affection, ruffled her hair, the short, slightly damp strands going every which way. It got Russ’ attention and made him chuckle wetly.

“Yeah,” her youngest brother said, “I wanna hear all about it.”

When she leaves the room, she's calm, calmer than she was before she told her mother, even. Now, everyone who needs to know - everyone who matters - knows. Corrie feels a bit boneless now; she kind of doesn't want to go back downstairs to where her mother has settled in the living room. She's spilled herself out to her family, and it's left her feeling like a wrung-out towel left hanging on the clothesline. That's just how it goes, sometimes, she thinks. The man she needs to be cannot exist alongside the woman she already is, and so Corina must be poured out to make way for Private Brewster.

Momma was sitting in her chair, eyes fixed on a point far in the distance when Corrie made her way back to the living room. She stirred as Corrie settled on the couch. “I was thinking,” she began, “when the war's over, and when you've come back-’

“If-”

“When.” Momma’s voice was firm, final. “When you've come home, will you come back to me as my daughter or… or would you like to be my son from now on?”

Corrie thinks on it for a moment. It's a hard question to give a simple yes or no to, even if the possibility had crossed her mind before, which it hadn't. “I think- I think you'll have to ask me again when the time comes.” She can't quite make herself say when I come home.

Her mother nods. “And what name should I call you in the meantime, darlin’?”

“James. James Conrad Brewster.”

“Well, then. Goodnight.” Corrie can hear the creaks of her mother's bones as she stands to kiss her on the forehead, her shaking hands caressing gently her now-dry hair. “Goodnight, Jamie. Write soon.”

—☆—

Louella insisted on walking with her down to the station. Despite the early hour, she was dressed up in her second best set of clothes - stockings, makeup, and all. The streets were busy, but not bustling, and Lou had her arm threaded through Corrie's as they slowly made their way from Lou's family home to the train station.

“You didn't have to get all dolled up just for me, ‘specially since I know you'll have to go right back home to change for work.”

“It was worth it to give you a good and proper send off,” Lou purred.

“Know what would make it even better?”

“What?”

A giddy grin tugged at Corrie's mouth. “A kiissss,” she sing-songed, and dove for Lou's lips. Pink Champagne, her mind supplied. She had bought the tube while they were out running errands together, and Corrie had a matching one in Red Raspberry. Bet most GIs don't have that in their bedside drawers, Corrie thought.

“Oh!” She ducked, putting a hand on Corrie's chest to keep her away. “You are not getting on a troop train covered in my makeup!”

“Aww, why not? It'll make all the other fellas jealous.” She still said no, but compromised on letting Corrie kiss her on the cheek. Her face powder was sweetly bitter on her lips, and she savored the uniquely ‘Lou’ scent of garden dirt, cooking oil, and a spritz of rosy perfume - not an ideal smell, but a human one, and it made Corrie feel stronger at heart. She lingered there, not letting a single second be wasted. “Can I expect a letter or two?”

“Of course not.” Corrie pauses, her heart in her throat. “You can expect a great many letters, every week if I can manage it. Can't let you forget me in favor of some Georgia peach, can I?”

“Good God, woman, don't scare me like that!”

The station clock ticked nearer to her departure time. Neither of them wanted this to become a tearful goodbye, but they were beginning to feel their remaining time together slip away. Her heart raced as she pulled out of Lou's embrace, half-inch by half-inch. She wants - needs! - to impress every detail into her mind before she goes, but it seems they have wasted their chance, they've only got a minute or so, no time at all. “Goodb-”

“This is not goodbye. I will not tolerate such finality.” There was not a single tear escaping her eyes, but her voice was thick with the strain of keeping it that way.

Corrie shook her head. “Please, let me say it. For myself.”

“Go ahead, then.”

“Goodbye, Lou.”

Lou's soft blonde curls trembled as she replied, “Goodbye, Corrie,” and yanked her down onto her lips. “Goodbye.”

Toccoa, Georgia - here she comes.

[reveluving]

i can be the one that takes you there ; commander taylor x reader

summary: it's just you and the commander tonight.

warnings: mentions of s~mut (minors DNI!), loads of kisses & a bit of fluff!

a/n: listening to virgo's groove got me imagining a fic with a certain commander because of have you seen that man? yes. please enjoy & don’t forget to leave some sugar! ᐠ( ᐛ )ᐟ

» curious about my writing? come & check out my main m.list!

'And though his heart soared over your darling token of appreciation, you could tell he also sought for more.' ;

You love Skye, Leah, and Sam like your very own, which is why you and Nathaniel took advantage of the house when they decided to stay over at the Shannons’ for the night—a well-needed adult time without the risk of scarring young minds. There was a mischievous twinkle in his sharp blue eyes before he carried you effortlessly to the bedroom, his rare, hearty laugh drowning out your whiny protests.

Imagine the Commander’s house being a mix of the command base and the Shannons’ house. His house would have an upper level, where your shared bedroom is, almost resembling the circular hut of the command base but would obviously be closed off and built with the usual, tougher reinforcements rather than just wood. A perfect combo of cream, red mahogany and the warm sunset hue that naturally sets the mood. Or dimming the lights when the both of you are feeling extra kinky, and tonight was no exception.

Sleep slips are his absolute kryptonite. Terra Nova has just the right amount of cool, especially in the night. You could be wearing anything and Nathaniel would still be getting ideas that could make a celibate run for their life. His other favourite look on you for nights like these would have to be a black bra and briefs combo, plus an untied robe just hanging over your shoulder. Whichever it may be, it would leave nothing to the imagination. 

He's taken off most of his clothes, sitting on the edge of the bed before pulling you to him to straddle his lap. He's a big man, and his thighs were no exception. Encompassing them would mean your legs would practically spread for his convenience.

Staring into each other’s eyes. You love it when he brushes his thumb across the plush of your lips the same way he adores the way you cradle his face. Rough and calloused, yet, careful as he felt you up. Your touches, on the other hand, were naturally soft, and so was your gaze. Though he had the upper hand, chuckling deeply as you look away out of shyness, he was a sucker for your hands. The passion was palpable, thick, begging for one of you to take the leap.

In fact, you did; by kissing his knuckles. The man is not so much into PDA for obvious reasons, but that doesn’t mean the colony don’t know that he is in fact, an absolute gentleman. There is not a single resident who has never seen him kiss the back of your hand or press his lips to your temple before breaking the embrace to kickstart the day. The only ones brave enough to tease him of his chivalrous side are the group of elderly ladies working at the market. Despite the glare he always has on his face, he takes it with stride, for you yourself have a soft spot for the ladies.

So, what better to repay him for unabashedly showing his love than by doing the same for him?

And though his heart soared over your darling token of appreciation, you could tell he also sought for more.

So, you wrapped your arms around his neck, pressing your chest against his face. His scruffy beard tickled and almost prickled your soft skin as he playfully rocked his head between the valley of your breasts. One arm encircled your waist while the other slid up your body before pinching your nipples through the fabric, only to slip under them to roll the buds between his fingers.

He returned the favour by trailing kisses along your neck and shoulders. His guttural groan sent shivers down your spine as he licked a stripe up your throat, his facial hair only added to the sensation. You felt his smirk against your skin as he heard your breathy moan. His groans dissolved into a growl as you massaged your nails across his scalp. He put his whole emotions into rubbing his hands, up and down your sides, prompting you to stare up at the ceiling, silently cursing the stars.

Then, in the heat of the moment, the two of you would either kiss like there was no tomorrow or press your lips against one another in the softest way possible. One of his hands moved up the nape of your neck before settling his palm on the back of your head, deepening the kiss as his tongue slid against yours. 

Your eyes were just as lidded as his, drunk and dazed, though you had a small smile, contrasting his parted lips as his chest heaved a little. His nose barely brushed against yours as your breaths mingled.

You slowly pushed him by his chest so he'd lay on his back, bending over with him. The mere feeling of your forefinger nail on his torso is enough for him to adhere to your wants without question. 

Straddling him, you splayed your fingers on his chest, dragging your nails down his chiselled body. You take good care of your hands; skin as smooth as silk and nails that could rile him up. Nails that almost seemed like they were perfectly manicured at a salon. Not too long, given your position at the laboratory, but enough to always have Nathaniel imagining them digging into his back as he’d bounce you on his lap or force you on your back to savour your warm, tight pussy at an angle that would make you scream, gasp, all the noises that would get him going.

His thoughts would linger on how in the midst of reaching your high, he’d purposely thrust into that one spot, hoping to feel your nails nearly break the skin of his back—envisioning his wants, no, needs as if he doesn’t fuck you often.

Kissing his scars and dragging your tongue across his old wounds while maintaining eye contact and feeling him buck his hips against your tummy. Ugh. You swelled with pride at the sight of his muscles flexing as it took everything in him not to grip your hair and drag you back up so your face would be mere inches away from his.

You pushed his boxers down just far enough that you could see fine hair that trailed from his navel. You savoured the way he twitched, breath hitching as you lightly ran your fingers over his happy trail before sitting up to do a little ‘show’ for him. 

He was seconds away from turning you over, to hold your head against the mattress when you offered him everything of you. He didn’t know whether to focus on the blissful smile or when your hands travelled up and down your body. Throwing your head back with a flourish and a blissful smile on your face. Displaying your goddess of a body for him and him alone. His beautiful goddess was bestowed upon him, in this new world, the new age in Terra Nova. 

Your giggles were one of many sounds he wanted to hear as he gripped your thighs, rolling himself against yours before dragging you back down, chest to chest for another heated kiss. 

“My turn.” He whispered against your lips.

Sensation after sensation and you weren’t in the best part yet.

˚ · . f i n . · ˚

» I get my SLang fix off of @underratedcharactersimagines; THIS IS FOR YOU, KHAT (been a fan for years now! but babe, your search bar is broken broken lol. isly tho, your writing is just 🤌🏼) ;; gorgeous red rose divider by @firefly-graphics ❤️

[amethystfairy1]

Heya! This may be a bit of a long ramble, so take as much time as you need for this! (Or just don't read it, I think I just need this off my chest)

I absolutely love TTSBC, and I've heard about OC's in the world, and I kinda went wild with my personal Minecraft OC.

However, before we get into them, I do not believe that Allay hybrids have ever been mentioned in TTSBC? I, a self-proclaimed allay lover, kinda thought of some ideas?

I guess I'm mainly sending this to you for inspiration(?), or to see if it all checks out in the world. That, or I just like rambling, I don't know.

But allays! In Minecraft, they're small, carry around your things, reproduce using amethyst (hehe) and music, and they're all around very cute! They're often found trapped by pillagers, stuck in cages most likely. They flit about like little fairies (oh my goodness)

Soooo, how would Allays fit into TTSBC? Well, I think that, as a species, they'd remain in the under city. With their blue skin, pure white eyes, and wings that don't fold into one's back properly (more in the next section) it'd be hard to glamour over. Also, I kind of headcanon allay hybrids with tails, long with a frayed/hooked end, which would also be somewhat hard to hide.

Their wings sort of stick out of their backs. They don't have actual muscles in the wings like avians, they are mainly controlled using one muscle connecting it to the back. They flit from exuding straight from the back, to the side, laying more flat against the back instead of each other, but they don't fold into themselves, if that makes sense.

Still, allay hybrids don't necessarily have the best time, especially in lower levels! See, while Allays in Minecraft don't give off light, they are still super luminous! You'll see them a mile away! They're also sky blue, the closest thing to the sky down there, which is an incredibly dangerous combo (not as dangerous as golden glowing things, but that's besides the point.) I don't know where else to put this, but they're also smaller than average, maybe 4'10", 5' at the highest?

They also heal very quickly, (2 hearts a second!) so that could also play a role in how they're used. With their relative strength (they can pick up whatever you give them), it could be that, especially in lower levels, they'd often be forced to work in hard conditions with very little consequence on the people employing them. They are passive mobs, so I think of them as glass cannons, somewhat. Strong, but easy to overwhelm. I also like to think their blood has healing properties (more about that later...), so that could be something interesting...

In higher levels, if they're more respected, they'd probably work with health facilities. I think they'd mainly flit about rooms, working as caretakers. Though, I think that any kind of job that requires moving a lot of stuff easily or anywhere they'd flit about is probably a good place for them to work. Restocking shelves, providing organization, etc.

However, because Allays reproduce/replicate (asexual reproduction?) using amethyst shards, I like to think that they naturally reside in rocky amethyst geodes in Minecraft, but were taken by pillagers. Similarly, Allays prefer darker, rockier, moister environments. For some, maybe a few glowberries would be best for them. Maybe the redstone lights of the higher levels is not the best for the allays, preferring the dark. Due to their luminosity, they may even be able to see in the dark, which the lights may overstimulate. Also, because of the amethyst shards, I think their makeup is more similar to a crystal than anything like regular flesh.

Rather, I think injuries tend to "chip" away, or, should the flesh be squishy, be tougher and more similar to the glowy, liquid filled balls that you could probably find in the dollar section of a Target, or similar to nanotape. Because crystals need to be heated and then cooled to be solid, they likely run very warm. However, should they need to, they can focus a little bit of glamour into their environment to cool themselves or warm themselves up if need be. If they bleed, often times, the blood with crystalize once being oxygenated, the outside world being cooler than their body, and would likely heal the wound bleeding easily. Should anyone need any healing from Allay blood, they would either need fresh Allay blood, or blood that has been warmed to prevent it from crystalizing immediately. A bit of a play on "healing crystals". Do you think that Scar'd purchase one if he ever went under?

I think if they got their arm chopped off, the wound would immediately close. Using limited glamour and a LOT of time, perhaps they could cool their environment slightly enough to move blood more outward from their wound to slowly build their arm back.

Let's talk about mating rituals now! I think gift giving is a big one, especially since they love collecting stuff. Gems or cool rocks would probably be the main one. Spending quality time with their mate with some music also probably sounds nice, too. Because of their crystaline biology, I like to think that their vocalizations sound like windchimes.

I don't know if these work completely, considered how fast I came up with this, so do let me know how you'd change things up if you want.

This is a long one, but I hoped you enjoyed? If you did bring up Allays, then WHOOPS, this is a whole lotta nothing, so please ignore if you'd like.

Still, drink water, eat and sleep well, and remember to take breaks!

I LOVE THE RAMBLES

GIVE THEM TO ME

Ok first of all they sound so pretty? Like SO pretty? I love the idea of them using gemstones in their courting rituals because that is such a lovely concept? Just so beautiful to imagine? And that they're all little fairy-like people, such cuties! And you totally built in the darkness of the under-city considering how folks like that would be used for their specific abilities, especially their fragility combined with their strength being above average. And the glamor heat regulation! That's such a nice detail! I wonder if they would be able to share that sort of regulation with others? And if thats their glamor ability or maybe they're like voidwalkers wherein they use glamor for survival necessity but have a glamor ability on top of that?

I love long thoughts like this! Please send them my way, it always makes me so very happy to see people getting creative and feeling inspired by my AU! Thank you for sharing! 💖💖💖

[hats--eldritch-tv]

Mary & Cigs

A rant of feelings I had to type out

By HATS

My relationship with cigarettes is that of an ex, I stare at her wanting to talk but know I shouldn't, not that it ended on bad terms, in fact ending on complete understanding and respect. Yet I yearn for her.

And while my girl now, her names Mary, she's fun and all, but she can only visit me so often, bc of our busy lives. It's not quite what me and cigs had, heh, that was her nickname. Cigs was more present and available, y'know more connected and stable, it wasn't always just fun times with cigs, there were also just nothing days where we saw the wind just blow through the trees, sunlight on our face.

But she wasn't right for me, we both knew it, and we agreed to split. We only see each other at work, or at our friends places, but we don't ever speak, because that's what we agreed on.

Mary is wonderfull, don't let me confuse you, while it is tougher to seer her we make the most of it. While we do get away with seeing each other at work, it has to be discreet. After work though, it's always a blast to be with her. Playing video games, writing stories, watching YouTube, dragonball. I'm grateful to have her.

But cigs and I have come to a possible agreement. Just 1 more time, just a hookup, Mary knows and is cool with it, cigs is cool with it, but I'm not quite sure. I don't know the answer to it. I would love to, but we'd remember our love for each other. That late fall becoming winter, I met soon after my twenty-first birthday. Those winter nights where we would enjoy the cold and resting on the porch, gazing at the stars. Those summer day rays beaming down on us, as a strong breeze rustled every bit of nature, creating tranquility.

Those days and nights don't quite feel the same anymore, without Cigs or Mary with me, I notice a strange feeling of longing. When the breeze hits me and the cold seeps into my bones, I feel a melancholic solitude grow within my body, although, it's not displeasurable. It gives me a moment to reminisce and be grateful for the time I've spent with both of them.

And because of that it's quite dangerous to take up her offer, our restraint would be tested to the extreme. Could I really do it just one final time and never look back. And even so, what if I couldn't keep myself from her, it's my decision to make, what if I wanted Cigs to be with Mary and me again. Does that make me a weak individual, to divulge in our love again.

I still have to make the choice however. It's up to me to decide. I gave her up, because it would be better for me, for potentially my future.

I still have to decide, and I don't know if I'll ever share my answer, yet I have nothing to share.

What do I decide?

[aardvark-123]

~Fallout 4 Companions React to a Pair of Hunter™ Original Red Wellington Boots~

Ada would be delighted to have some high-quality rubber to cut up and use in various projects. A marksman's stock, stealth lining for armour, a generator and some power pylons... Oh, the possibilities!

Cait would be mildly amused. "Well, aren't those cute?" she'd chuckle, and then go and do something else.

Codsworth would be quite chuffed. "By George, is that a genuine pair of Wellingtons, made by the Hunter Boot Company of Edinburgh?!" he'd exclaim. "How splendid to see genuine British craftsmanship still thriving in this day and age! Why, it was nearly impossible to acquire Hunter footwear in the years before the war, thanks to the Chinese government shutting down all their factories..."

"Ah, tres bon! It is most important to 'ave ze protective footwear if zere is contaminated water around," Curie would remark. If she was in her Miss Nanny form, that would be all. In her synth form, on the other hand, she'd ignore them because she's already wearing protective shoes. (Yes, those combat boots included with her Flannel Shirt and Jeans™ are actually chemical-resistant, heat-resistant, suitable for agriculture, industrial work, laboratories, bird-watching and professional kitchens.)

Paladin Danse wouldn't care about the boots at all. Not one bit. However, he'd be very concerned about the Commonwealth gaining access to Vulcanised Rubber. The thought of raiders or civilians learning to heat up naturally-occurring latex until it becomes a firmer, tougher material would keep him awake at night.

Deacon would smile mysteriously and tuck the boots away in his bag. "One step closer to my Wonder Woman costume," he'd declare, already thinking of where to find gold paint and a craft knife.

Dogmeat would use the £135.99 pair of wellies as chew toys unless you stopped him.

Porter Gage would laugh at the wellies. "Looks like something one of the Pack would wear!" he'd guffaw. This belies the fact that Gage would absolutely wear them if they were yellow.

"Look at those stupid things! You wouldn't catch me in anything that garish," Glory would laugh. "But let me know if you find a pair of Chore™ Adjustable Tall Boots by the Original Muck Boot Company, okay? Black or camo, not pink."

Hancock would be mildly amused. "Well, aren't those cute?" he'd chuckle, and then go and do something else.

MacCready would be reminded briefly of the mole costumes they used to have in Little Lamplight, and how, after two hundred years of wear on generations' worth of feet, the boots always leaked. Then his mind would start racing, thinking of all the historians and eccentric collectors he knew, and who would pay the most for a genuine, mint condition pair of pre-war wellingtons. Sydney and Emaline, maybe? Or Sierra? They're red, so he could probably convince her they were Nuka-Cola boots...

Nick would be kinda ticked. "Well, aren't those fancy?" he'd chuckle, and then mosey along to his other business.

Old Longfellow would be quite underwhelmed. "Too short," he'd sigh. "They're better than nothing, but they won't keep the waves out for long."

Piper would be absolutely delighted. "Look at them! They go so well with my coat!" she'd laugh, dancing around with the wellies on her feet. "Nat's going to be so jealous... Wait, but what if this encourages her to wear shiny red boots in a reckless manner?! I-I can't be a bad influence on my little sister! Should I give them to Ellie instead, or...?"

Preston wouldn't really know what to make of the boots. "Er, those are quite nice," he'd say noncommittally. "Not really my colour, though. Er, is there any reason you're showing me these? It's so random... Oh, yes! Speaking of things that are red, we've had reports of a Yao Guai stalking around near Oberland Station..."

"Ah... Thin red buckets!" Strong would declare. "Too fancy compared to normal buckets. Strong can't carry much Milk of Human Kindness in these," he'd add before tossing the boots over his shoulder. They'd land in some unseen location with a crash of breaking glass and the anguished screech of a cat.

Z6-88 wouldn't react. He wouldn't betray the slightest thought or emotion regarding the wellingtons. If, on the other hand, you were wearing them, he'd peer down at your red rubber-clad feet for just long enough to unnerve you, and then speak. "You are aware that the Institute makes its own rubber boots," he'd declare. "Far superior to those antiques. Unless, of course, you enjoy blisters and chafed calves."

[colorfuldonutrunaway]

Here's another Character sheet, this time for the alternate universe counterpart of Ray/Rei Watanabe. (the fox) This time, I decided that I'm going to explain why some of the metrics are the way they are.

(also I said fuck it and used a headshot from a previous art rather than make a new one)

*Name: Fang is the personal name given by the scientists who created him. They wanted something tough sounding since he's a creature that's made to be used as a soldier.

*Nicknames: In his human form, he takes on the name 'Ryan Feng'. His designation in the laboratory is Project 22, since he's the 22nd successful animal creation of the genetics lab.

*Species/Race: I forgot to add that Fang is technically Japanese like Ray, because the human contribution to his genetic makeup was from a Japanese woman who offered herself as a test subject. She didn't survive to meet her very strange progeny.

*Age: 21 as of 2024, so he was created in 2003.

*Gender: Male, biologically and identifies as such.

*Alignment: His alignment is a result of being a creature made for war and survival. His morals are entirely based around himself and his own survival. Even the friends he's made along the way are almost only kept around for how useful they can be. Fang is not above stealing, killing, and extorting from the innocent if necessary.

*Class/Job: When he and his partner Bone (coming soon) arrived in the nuclear remains of Pittsburg, now dubbed Anarchy City by the residents, the then current mayor was a gang leader who had very little control over his own city, as it was taken over by rival gangs. He entrusts the strange animal duo who recently arrived in town to assassinate each gang leader and their members to free the city. In return...the mayor retires and hands over the city to people who are more capable than he is.

*Perception and Communication: For a fox hybrid, his senses aren't that great. His selfish nature means that his communication skills are quite stunted, as he has no patience for other opinions and feelings outside of his own.

*Persuasion: He's alright when it comes to making good points in an argument. However, he prefers that people see things his way, always, and isn't above threatening people to do that.

*Mediation: He's a terrible mediator. He'll force to arguing people to sit down and shut up with a gun to their faces rather than hear anyone out.

*Literacy and Creativity: Not as well read as Ray, and more willing to use the fastest solution to a problem rather than a creative one, but it's still there somewhat. He can quote Shakespeare and solve complex problems, but he doesn't apply it much in real life.

*Cooking: No knowledge of it aside from the fact that burning something = safer to eat.

*Tech Savvy: Not as savvy as Ray, but can still fix machines and understand a bit about their inner workings so he can get things running when necessary.

*Combat: Oh goodness, the combat. Fang's literally engineered as a living weapon, and trained extensively in the compound he was created in for all 21 years of his life. Hand to hand combat is an instant GG for anyone against him, and his aim with guns is impeccable. Don't piss him off. Seriously though, don't piss him off. When sufficiently angry, he can go into a Berserker state where despite his small size, he can effectively crush skulls and tear off limbs. Woe to anyone who happens to look at him wrong when he's in this state.

*Survival: Ah, this. Fang was also trained to survive well in the post-apocalyptic Earth he was born into. Aside from wilderness and technology skills that have been drilled into his mind from birth, he's been modified to have a strong gut, tougher skin to resist radiation, and a resistance to his body heat increasing or decreasing.

*Stealth: Small size allows him to sneak around and reduce sound emitted by his footsteps. Fang will resort to using blades over guns if the situation demands it.

*Street Smarts: His extensive training in the compound and his selfish attitude make him extremely ready for the chaotic streets of Anarchy City, and the post apocalyptic United States in general.

*Seduction: Being a genetic hybrid who may or may not be aro-ace, his sexual sense is completely fucked. He doesn't see anything as "sexy", he can't reproduce, and doesn't like being touched.

*Luck: Not sure how to explain this one, he has been known to get lucky in different situations, despite his karma probably being in the toilet for all the bad stuff he may have done.

*Handling Animals: His fox appearance gets him attacked or ignored by most animals, and most animals are significantly more savage after the apocalypse of 1983.

*Pacifying Children: "Holy shit, can you stop FUCKIN CRYING FOR ONE MINUTE!? FUCK!"

*Strength: Very high on account of his Berserker Mode.

Height: '5 "02.

*Dexterity: In retrospect this should be higher since he's good with guns and hand to hand combat, so he's gotta be decent.

*Health: Strong for his species and size, but he's been trained to be an efficient dodger since he can only take so many hits.

*Energy: Very energetic.

*Beauty: Not sure what to say here, he's an anthropomorphic fox, whose sense of fashion is basically a tattered biker jacket.

*Style: That being said, the glasses and jacket combo are kinda fire.

*Hygiene: Because he cares so little about the opinions of others, he only practices this when it's for the sake of his health. Otherwise, he doesn't care how much he smells like wet dog.

*Intelligence: While his brain was modified to retain high amounts of information just like Ray, he tends to rely more on impulsive instincts, so it's going to be a bit lower.

*Happiness: With Fang knowing that his only purpose was to be a weapon, he isn't fully sure about his existence and place in the grand scheme of things. His paranoia about potential enemies around the corner and the constant background anxiety of everyone living in a post-apocalyptic world also really add up over time.

*Spirituality: He was raised without religion.

*Confidence: He KNOWS that he's a good fighter, and enjoys being an unempathetic bastard. This has raised his confidence/ego to surprisingly high levels.

*Humor: Was raised around super serious scientists who were only concerned with his daily stats. That tends to leave one feeling very alien when it comes to comedy. Unless if you count laughing at your enemies struggle. Then he does have a sense of humor.

*Anxiety: Again, in hindsight this should've been higher. It doesn't openly bother him, but he keeps it bottled up inside.

*Patience: NONE. Absolutely nothing. Fang will tell people to shut up and get to the point, he'll ignore sob stories, and as demonstrated earlier, he hates the sound of children.

*Passion: If he wants something badly, he'll get it. Though he can lose interest if it's too difficult in getting.

*Charisma: Fang gets his way through violence, threats, and insults. Nothing charismatic about him.

*Empathy: As a result of his genetic makeup and training, he cares almost non-existent amounts for the welfare of others. Except maybe Bone.

*Generosity: He keeps an iron grip on anything valuable, but to be fair that's most people in the fucked world he lives in.

*Wealth: The very little monetary value that exists in Anarchy City is controlled by the duo.

*Aggression: As mentioned before, his personality gets him far in this dog-eat-dog deathworld, so it's pretty damn high.

*Libido: Once again, being an infertile hybrid and possibly being an aro ace (not saying that aro ace ppl don't have libidos, I'm saying that nothing can actually get him interested), he has no drive.

I'll explain more a bit later, post is getting long and I'm getting paranoid that I'll lose progress, so I'll cut it here. Feel free to ask questions.

[vellaphoria]

Hi! For the writer's ask game: 25, 27, and 29 :) Also, I reread Midnight Elegy recently and it's even better then I remembered!

Hello!! :D as;lkdjfa;skldjls I'm glad you enjoyed it enough to reread it! I had such a good time writing that one. Thank you for the incredibly kind words! <3

Answers below the cut:

25. What fic do you wish you got more of a response on? Gethsemane in Winter, probably For context, at one point I wrote a DickTim Earth-3 series because there was a very specific interpretation of the concept that I desperately wanted to read but that didn't exist. So I set out to write it myself, knowing that it probably wouldn't get too much attention, given the number of (accurate) warning tags I slapped on it. I worked hard on it and am proud of the result, but there's still a bit of wistfulness about it because of the nature of incredibly niche things.

Though if anyone is curious enough to look at the part of the map labeled here be dragons, then the series is A Fact or a Weapon, which comes from a wonderfully haunting (and apt, for the fic) line from the poem "We are Hard" by Margaret Atwood:

A truth should exist, it should not be used like this. If I love you

is that a fact or a weapon?

27. What is your most and least favorite part of writing?

My most favorite part is writing descriptions! I tend to be a visual thinker, so I spend a fair amount of time thinking about where things are in a scene, how they would look, and how to describe things in a way that builds the sort of atmosphere I'm going for.

My least favorite part is writing transitions between scenes. I tend to over-write them and draw things out that aren't important to the plot (one reason why everything I write spirals out of control lol). Sometimes it's hard for me to know when it's best to put a scene break in vs. when to do an actual transition via text.

29. What’s your revision or editing process like?

I tend to go chapter by chapter for multi-chapter fics. My first goal is to get the thing written, so I try not to commit to serious revisions unless there's some sort of overarching problem with what I've got.

Revisions start once I have a mostly finished rough draft of a chapter. At that point, I read through it to make sure that I'm not missing anything and then send it to my beta reader so that they can give me a general vibe check (i.e. does it make sense, does it flow right, is the tone consistent/does it work for the fic, spelling and grammar, etc.). They also do a lot of cheerleading which really gets me through a lot of the tougher parts of writing <3 After I have the beta-approved version, I do another pass through for spelling and grammar and probably tweak some things. If it's a chapter, then it probably sits for a bit while I work on other parts of the fic. If it's a oneshot, then I format it for Ao3 and finalize the title and tags that I'm using before posting.

There's also a secret step where sometimes I don't like what I have, so I tear it up and recycle the parts into other things lol (questions are from this list)

[sonicasura]

Land Of The Rising Sun

Jet knew he was stating the obvious by saying this but....

Rockin' Rockbombs is the Circle Of Temper harsh!!!

Jet really just had to say it because between the heat, magma columms rising up, the heat, rocks that like to fly off the mountain, the heat, the lack of flora which meant very little grass and trees.

Did Jet mention the heat?

Jet now understood why Monsters called the denizens of this Circle, those tempered by temper, because only Monsters that lived here had grown accustomed to the sweltering heat, the rough lands, and overall harsh nature that this Circle was known for.

Though now the Monsters that lived in the Circle Of Temper were now forced to move, all because of that Bastard Aamon. When the resources for the Circles were taken away and the Circle Of Temper Lower Echelon mining mandate was put into action. It crippled the denizens and made living here all the more tougher. The denizens couldn't thrive under these conditions and soon so much work had gone to waste.

This eventually led to Dragglenook future being made into one of uncertainty.

Jet: BAWK, Enough of these downer thoughts, I got a mission and it's to find The Big Boss Man himself.

Jet along with the rest of the Ace Aviators were told the covert mission they were to accomplish, to find Psaro or any leads on his location. A special job for the Aviators given to only the Aviators, because of there mobility and speed being the best of Diabolic Halls Forces.

Another 2 hours passed before Jet took a break at Dragglenook. Though when Jet got there he saw everyone gathered in the Town square. Curious to see what was going Jet walked up too the Mayor Of Dragglenook to get the details.

Jet: CAW, excuse me, Mayor Gnorbert what's everyone gathered here for?

Gnorbert: Hmm, a Hawk Man? Oh Jet! Sorry there lad minds been a all over the place lately.

Jet: It's fine Gnorbert, CAW! Didn't mean to throw you for a loop. I'm just curious as to what all the Hub-Bub is about?

Gnorbert: Well you see...

One conversation later

Jet: Wow there Gnorbert, planin' on traveling to whole new place with the Village! CAW! Quite the game plan you got there.

Gnorbert: Yup, it was tough decision too leave our home, but we just can't get back to our previous glory. Don't get me wrong lad, we all appreaciate what the Generals are doing, but the Circle Of Temper just can't seem to recover, we all came to the conculsion that a fresh start is best.

Jet: CAW, Ya I understand, no one will fault you or the townspeople for moving away from Temper. It will be sad for Dragglenook to not be here anymore, but keep in mind no matter where you go. The Generals of Diabolic Hall will be there to help and protect you.

Gnorbert: Thanks lad, actually were about to start you want to stay and see the new lands.

Jet was about to say no, when something hit him.

Could this new land they were travelin' too have any hints for there Master Psaro's location? The small chance that it did, was too big to just pass up, so he agreed to the offer. Jet watched the ritual take place, Gnorbert put the Charcoal Travelite, that Dr. Helix Helix kindly made for them, in the center of the Village. Enacting the power of the Travelite, the Village began to shake a bit for a couple minutes, before finally stopping. The denizens all stood there confused for awhile before someone spoke up.

Bomboulder: Did it work? Are we at our new home?

Hammerhood: We should go look outside and see, come on guys!

Everyone rushed to the entrance, too see there knew home. The sight that greeted them was lush forest in a mountainess area.

Heedee Voodoo: It worked!!! IT REALLY WORKED!!!

Choppy Hopper: This place looks fantastic!!! C'mon everyone, let's go explore the new wilds!!!

Everyone dashed off to explore the area that they would be living in.

Jet: Well this seems like a nice new home. While I would like to explore, I have a mission.

Jet took off to the skies to start exploring the area for any clues that could give them a hint to there Master wereabouts

It definitely take a bit for New Dragglenook to be fully established but the area they ended up is good for many reasons. One is that Psaro made a barrier of sorts around the whole area to keep any dangerous kaiju away. The only ones the monsters are most likely to find are the smaller harmless variety. (It took a while for them to realize this was Psaro's magic.)

Second reason is the various resources nearby from vegetation to even a large lake so stockpiling on food will be quite easy. (Crops do take a bit of time to grow after all.) Finally it's a good distance away from human civilization. Kafka's house is the only thing nearby as he wanted to make sure Psaro didn't have to worry about people spotting him if he decides to play in monster form.

Galdandy's Squadron will not only map the area but also bring back interesting schematics, information or stuff they find in this new world that could help improve the living qualities. A big cultural boon is about to unfold for sure. Quite the important one too as it will help keep the Lower Echelons afloat until their key issues can be solved.

[pbandjesse]

Today was a really productive day and I actually slept pretty well last night. So I am still very tired but it's not as overwhelming.

I woke up this morning as James was leaving for work. I would stay in bed a bit longer.

I got up and got dress pretty quick. I was excited to wear this silly t-shirt. And my hair has dried really nice and I just feel cute and good.

I left here at 8. I had to run back in to get my sunglasses. But then I was off. And it was a really easy drive. I had My Chemical Romance going. It was a beautiful day.

I got to hunt valley at 830. One of the boys came over right away and asked if it was okay to eat in the car and I'm like. Do you see how dirty this car is?? I would eat some of my breakfast sandwich but I was mostly just happy to wait.

Once we had everyone in the car we were off. A quick ride over to camp. And when we got there Heather was just getting there too.

I would finish my breakfast and check in with Heather about who was doing what. There was a lot of painting to do. Callie would take charge of the latrine painting. I was wrong and it was actually the girls latrine and not the boys. I think the boys latrine is creepier but she disagreed. She would still take charge though and after we stopped at the art building for supplies they were off.

I took the rest of the crew down to nature. They were painting the new outdoor chalkboards and creating hopscotch. It would take a bit of cleaning before they could paint but they would all do a great job.

While they were doing that I would work on the nature building. Checking on the animals and setting up a new tank. Possibly to bring Crabcake to camp. Possibly just for some toads. Unsure. But it was a nice focused project.

I would go to the eyrie and collect supplies. Walk down to homestead to check in with Aaron. I truly hope he can handle being specialty staff because while I think he's going to do great with the animal care aspect. I am worried about the classes and teaching and that part. Because he just keeps bringing up lessons?? I wrote them? Just use mine. Especially if you think that there's so much to do and you don't have time to write lessons. I already wrote them! Just expand on what I've given you. That was the whole plan. And now I'm frustrated because I'm worried that the office might completely change their minds because of choices and behaviors that we are seeing (suggesting we shoot the fox with a bow and arrow?) but I am also just hoping he proves everyone wrong and does an amazing job. All I want is for every one to do an amazing job. And thus everyone have an amazing summer.

I would get so many steps in today just walking back and forth from the office to art to woodlands to homestead and around. At one point while I was at the chickee I saw the new kitchen staff walking down and I ran over to chat with them. I told them about the menu I created and they were really excited to hear about it and when I brought it to them later on they were so nice about it and said it would be really helpful. Plus they have one chef who is gluten free and another who is vegan so I truly hope that this summer is a lot better food wise.

I would have my little lunch at the office. The soup James packed was really good. And I got to start reading the graphic novel I just got in the mail.

This is a retelling of interview with a vampire from Claudia's perspective. And I don't know if you know this about me but I love the whole interview with a vampire universe. But I absolutely hate Anne Rice. I had had an ongoing feud with her and stopped consuming her work. But she's dead now so I can go back to enjoying the stories again. Another win for the lentzwiler household.

I would also chat with Callie and she told me she's picking up Daisy from the airport tonight. So I was wrong yesterday, I actually met Josephine! I would meet her again today. She seems really nice. I hope Daisy is also very nice!

The afternoon was a little tougher on me. I was both overwhelmed by stuff to do and lacking motivation to do any stuff. I would do some organizing at the chickee. I started building supply boxes and lists for the hands on programs. I would take a few breaks. Hanging in my hammock. Talking to the people who were still organizing string outside the art building. It was fun and nice. It was a very good day.

I would make one more stop at the office to talk to Heather. Tony was half sleeping with his head on my desk. We were all very tired. It wasn't to hot out but it's going to be. 90s here in out. Horrible. Today was so beautiful. But the sun was getting to me and I was ready to go home. I had a little upset stomach but mostly I was fine and working hard to stay hydrated.

I had an okay drive home. There was a bit of traffic. Which was annoying but it was fine. I got home at 5 and got a good parking space and was just happy to be home.

I was super excited to see James. They were listening to music and didn't know I was home and we were dancing at each other and just so happy to see each other. It was great.

I would bring Crabcake outside to get some sun. The Internet says he's not eating enough because he's cold. I am hoping that the heat from the summer will help. And I want to get a better basking stone for his tank.

James would make us dinner. It is so nice to be outside and I love this swing. It was such a good purchase. And I think the pompoms are such a good touch. They are just held on with pins right now but maybe I'll actually sew them down. Unsure. I might keep them pinned but get other colors and change them out sometimes.

James had a package for me and it had some things I purchased. Art tools. Things for camp. And a very silly teddy bear and a new bumper sticker. I was very excited to get a package.

Now we are just laying out here. Having fun. James is watching sports. Sweetp is watching the world. We just moved Crabcake inside for the evening. I feel very happy.

I'm going to take a shower soon. And perm my eyelashes. New new kit came in the mail today too. And then it is time to sleep.

Tomorrow I am hoping to get a lot of stuff done. I hope it is a good day. I hope you all have a good day. I love you all. Goodnight!!

[halorocks1214]

one detail that has stuck with me since the beginning of splatoon 3 was the explanation my friend gave me as to WHY mr. grizz was suddenly mr. "nice boss around the block" instead of the raging asshole (affectionate) he was in 2

apparently the translation team had decided to go for a more direct translation, and in the japanese version of the game, mr. grizz is genuinely a much nicer fellow than his american counterpart: but why was that the case? my friend told me why, but i did some research to confirm his findings

in the japanese language, there are two words that play into the country's work culture: "Seizensetsu (性善説)" and "Kenson (謙遜)"

Seizensetsu (性善説): A belief that human nature is good and people are naturally inclined toward virtue. Conversely, the negative elements of society tend to corrupt people. To prevent this from happening, people need to work relentlessly and do their best to maintain their virtue.

Kenson (謙遜): The act of demonstrating your self-sacrifice and accepting your lower status, even when you believe you should be praised highly by others for your achievements. This is something you must never voice or draw attention to. This torture-like modesty is considered a virtue, especially among the elite classes. They are the ones expected to be role models within Japanese society.

to summarize an already overly long post (sorry), the general idea is that bosses worry that if they give their workers praise, it could lead them to become complacent and to do less of a good job at their work, which is why "tougher" bosses are seen as good examples (and to an extent, "nice" bosses are seen as hiding something). another side is that their workers are so used to not getting praise that when they DO get it, they don't know how to respond and it makes everything awkward, so why not avoid it altogether?

so that's why there's such a character shift between 2!grizz and 3!grizz: in 2, the translators worked to make him more of a "bad boss" by american standards while in 3 they figured going for the one-to-one translation would be better. something something "back in my day mr. grizz would tell me to kill myself if i only brought in 100 eggs" something (no personal opinion on this one way or the other, it is what it is etc.)

i'm rambling a bit much here, but i wanted to explain my thought process about this splatfest. my friends and i genuinely picked big man because of the theme, but the second choice was always going to be frye. we all thought shiver would be the worst "leader" because they held grudges easily and tended to be rude and full of themself, just look at how they treated their shark in the story mode!

(i still love them a lot don't get me wrong but yeah, not exactly a shining example of a "good" leader)

going into splatfest though, i thought about mr. grizz. i thought about how a "makes sure to point out all your flaws" characteristic was seen as valuable and respectable in workplaces. i thought about how a few splatfests had already been swayed by the japanese playerbase (it is a japanese-based game, after all) and-

yeah, i thought it would be skewed, but i will admit i was completely shocked at just HOW skewed it ended up being

now, could i be reading too much into this? most likely yeah. this IS a kid's game, and i highly doubt a lot of kids are worried about proper workplace culture, but i got to share cool mr. grizz lore, so i consider this a good post anyway <3

[ryker-writes]

I saw your match-up event, and congratulations on 2.1K!!! You deserve the love, and I'm thrilled to see you're getting it! I'm sorry that I couldn't send this ask as @it-happened-one-fic, but Tumblr wouldn't let me.

I've never actually done a match-up before, though I have taken some match-up quizzes. I hope I did this right and gave you enough information!

I'm introverted by nature and can be rather shy (it's probably mild social anxiety, but that's okay). If it helps, my Myer-Briggs is INFP. I tend to say whatever is on my mind, which can lead to some odd comments (i.e. random fun facts) and a lot of people describe me as random.

Likes: It's hard to decide what to put here... I'm constantly listening to music, and I enjoy cooking, especially baking. I adore terrariums and have several mushroom-themed things (no, it's not because of Jade; I've always adored mushrooms and thought they were cute). I enjoy looking at art and researching random interests such as mythology, folklore, and even history. And finally, I'm  interested in psychology, as evidenced by my chosen major.

Dislikes: I am terrified of snakes, and I genuinely cannot handle olives (it's one of the few foods I can't handle). I don't really care for crowds or loud noises (sensitive hearing). If I had to choose, I'd probably pick cold over hot.

Hobbies: I have quite a few hobbies, actually! (At least I do when college allows.) I embroider, do flower arrangements, play piano, write stuff, read (I love reading XD), color, and I do game a little (Genshin and twst are about it though).

Personality/Physical Preferences: I don't actually have very many physical preferences. I mean, their being attractive would be nice, but their personality is more important, so in terms of physical preferences, all I can really say is that I would like someone healthy. Personality-wise, I have stronger opinons XD. I would like someone who would make a good father. I would like to find someone who is reliable so that I don't have to handle everything. They don't have to do anything by any means either, but I do want some I can rely on in difficult moments. I would also like it if they were a little more on the perceptive side. I tend not to talk about my feelings very often, so someone who could notice when I'm down without me having to spell it out would be quite nice. Finally, and perhaps most condemningly, it is important that I find someone who is fairly tough. I can be incredibly blunt sometimes, and though I do not intend to hurt feelings, it can happen. Especially when there is something that needs to be pointed out to someone for their own good. As such, it would be for the best if I found someone who is on the tougher side and will realize that even though I may be harsh at times, I typically say such things out of love.

My Love Language(s): (I had to ask my mom and sister about this one because I honestly wasn't sure XD.)  In terms of the love language I use (I guess my giving love language??), I'm a very physically affectionate person. I can hug someone for a very long period of time without tiring of it, and I am a cuddlebug. Furthermore, I can be held or do the holding (though I admit I do like a trade-off XD). As for receiving, it's a bit harder to say. However, if I had to make a guess as to what my preferred one is, I would say quality time. I think it's very important to spend time with those we love and care about, and it is only through quality time that you can really get to know a person.

That ended up rather long, but I hope that was enough information, and again, congratulations!!!!!

Ahhhh Happy late birthday again! And thank you so much!

"Welshoot my dear! I'm honored to be your first matchmaker! Not to worry, you gave me plenty to work with! I'm confident in my answer. Of course, I am a little bias since I know you personally, but I like to think that it works beyond my bias.

You may already know, but I'm talking about Jade!"

Listen I know I am biased in this for choosing Jade but he actually works very well with you! Like with your personality likes, preferences, and everything!

he absolutely loves your shy and introverted nature!

not gonna lie, he will probably tease you about it and he hopes that you don't take all his teasing in a negative way because he does it a lot

he also loves your randomness! He's not bothered by it at all (he deals with Floyd) and it's one of the big reasons he loves you

never knowing what you're going to say next is exciting for him!

ahem, TERRARIUM AND MUSHROOM GATHERING DATES

Jade is used to making terrariums and going out to look for mushrooms on his own, so you going with means so much to him

it's some of his favorite things to do with you

I literally cannot express with words how much he loves it

those terrariums he made with you are his favorite ones because it's something the two of you made together

Jade himself finds psychology and human minds fascinating so he'll happily listen to anything you have to say about it and store that information in his brain

he takes note of all your dislikes and take care to avoid them

you will never taste a dish with olives as long as he's around

your hobbies are so cool and pretty! Jade loves them and treasures anything you create

pls play piano for him he loves to hear it

Jade also checks off most of your preferances!

I'm just saying...Jade would be a great father but that's a story for another day

Reliable? Perceptive? Tough? Yup that's Jade

he's very observant especially when it comes to you, so you bet he can tell when you're feeling upset

he may not always directly ask you about it though

he'll probably try doing what he can to make things easier on you or figure out what is wrong on his own before asking

Jade has thick skin and can take whatever you say

as for love languages, Jade himself isn't very physically affectionate

but he's never going to turn your affection down!

he just doesn't initiate it most of the time

but he's got you covered when it comes to quality time

Jade loves to spend time with you and it's another reason why he loves making terrariums and searching for mushrooms so much

he just can't get enough time with you tbh

[justagalwhowrites]

hi bestie!!!!

I thought it was really interesting how you mentioned that iced lavender lattes are the only overlap you and Doc have as she’s not very you-coded! Which made me wonder out of all the characters you’ve written, which one feels the most you / you relate to their character & thought processes the most?

I’ve been getting clowned by my friends when I try to explain Lavender to them because Doc and I are lowkey the same person 😂😂 especially in your character description of the OCs hahaha

and it’s so funny because they don’t have any Pedro / TLOU context so they’ll be like 🤨🤨🤨 and I have to be like “LOOK LISTEN- hear me out 😭” LMAO

Overall very silly goofy but I will defend Joel & Doc until the very end 🫶

I adore your work so much thank you for writing it!! Looking forward to the rest of Yearling! ❤️❤️❤️

OMG Hi Bestie!

This is such an interesting question!

Firstly, I LOVE that you see yourself in Doc. I adore her and I think her and Joel are perfect for each other. Her gentle and caring nature makes her one of my favorite characters, I love her so much.

To answer your question, I both thought about it myself and also shopped out some of the answer lol

The character of mine I see myself most in is the one I’ve posted least about on this site but I’ve spent the most time with - Tenny from my book series. She’s way cooler and hotter and more badass than me but a lot of who she is at her core overlaps with me. Not totally, she’s far from a self insert, but she’s the one who shares the most with me.

All of my FMCs have SOME stuff that comes from me? I feel like Doc’s intense need to be loved and her willingness to put up with A LOT to feel like she matters to someone comes from me. But Doc is a lot softer and kinder than me and a lot more emotionally vulnerable. She’s also very skilled in ways that I could never be!

I’ve got Doll’s independent streak and a lot of her snark. I’m not nearly as strong as she is or as capable, though. I do have a lot of her protective qualities, too. I tried to beat up a boy who was 5 inches taller than me in high school because he talked one of my best friends into losing her virginity to him and then dumped her the next morning. (Got very mad when he wouldn’t hit me back btw)

I say all this fully aware that I don’t see myself very well? So I also asked my TLOU bestie who is the only person on the planet who has read Ace, Lavender and Beskar Doll (God bless him) and my husband, who is currently reading Beskar Doll.

Bestie said that Tenny, from my book series, is the most like me largely because of her general “I’m handling this myself” attitude. He also says I’m a bit bratty like Doll but not to her extent and that Doc is too much of a pacifist to really align with me (direct quote: If someone threatened one of your baby chicks... Doc would hesitate and mull over her hypocratic oath, and when she snaps out of her thoughts she’d see you’d already taken action and fucking tackled the perpetrator.)

The husband says he thinks Doll is somewhat like me but more who I wish I was than who I really am (not sure I agree with this, mostly on the “who I wish I was” point.) But he thinks the independence and her deep dedication to her friends is a lot like me, as is her perfectionist streak. He also says her desire to be a part of something while feeling outside of it is like me. Bonus, I love kids and am great with kids (“yeah doll with Grogu? Exactly like you.”)

As for Bambi? Basically not like me at ALL. She’s way scrappier than me, way tougher, way more of a loner. Her drive to live is also insane, I’d never do what she does to survive, I just would have no desire to. I think the only overlap with her is, if someone tells Bambi she can’t or shouldn’t do something she’s going to do it even harder on principle. She’s been fascinating to write because her headspace is so different from mine!

Anyway, I know this was super long! I hope you found it interesting! Thank you so much for reading and asking and being here. It’s so lovely to me that you see yourself in Doc and like her enough that you talk about her with your friends!

Love you!!

[puppyluver256]

And with Edgar being posted, here's ref and bios for all of Team Persistence! :D Idk if I'll add more members to this team after the Hidden Treasures DLC released like I did for Team Aigis when SwShEX happened, more than likely not given they seem to be direct story continuations, but we'll see.

Rosemary - Meowscarada - Mild

A new student to Uva Academy, Rosemary had been trying to get into the prestigious school for a few years now and only just managed to pass the entrance exam. Truth be told, it’s not really something she specifically wanted, mostly just wanting to please her mother and her high expectations. However, as they’ve been gaining more experience outside of their mother’s supervision, they’ve been coming into their own person. Especially when it comes to her gender identity—she’s recently realized that their gender is much more fluid than she’d been led to believe it could be, and he’s taking every advantage of this new self-discovery!

Rosemary’s journey of self-discovery includes taking on several new hobbies, just to try new things and keep their mind occupied. Her recent interest in illusion and trickery has been quite the diversion and wonderfully useful as well, and he still enjoys playing around with their yo-yo from when she was a Floragato. The tricksy magician vibe really feels natural to her at present, of course. The one thing they can’t stand, however, is outright failure at something. Stumbling blocks are okay as long as he can eventually surmount it, but failing just crushes her.

Napolitana - Dachsbun - Naive

A new student to Uva Academy, Napolitana comes off as a bit of a ditz sometimes but she’s actually quite book-smart and knows how to use stat changes to her team’s advantage. However, she lacks the ability to pick up on certain social cues, making it hard for her to pick up on sarcasm or realize when someone is playing a joke at her expense. Thankfully it’s not too big a deal most of the time, and another team member will usually clue her in if there’s something like that she just doesn’t manage to catch herself.

While it does seem a bit on the nose, Napolitana is nonetheless extremely passionate about baking. Breads, pastries, cakes, you name it and she loves to make it, especially when she can make enough to share with loved ones. Her love of baked goods even makes it into her wardrobe, as it’s not uncommon to see her wearing some small accessory that resembles some variety of bread or sweet. Her favorite is her pretzel pin, partly because of some additional sentimental attachment as it was a gift from her late grandmother.

Brighid - Ceruledge - Calm

A woman with a fiery passion for the blade, despite her fairly cool personality. Brighid’s almost constantly practicing with her twin swords, something she had been training to do ever since she was young, long before she’d actually received them. Even though the swords have been given the nickname of “bitter blades” due to the perceived resentment of spirits lost in battle that are claimed to reside within the flaming aura that surrounds them, it is a heaviness that Brighid is willing to shoulder, even if it is just superstition.

Due to her stubborn determination when it comes to putting together and carrying out battle strategies, and how they almost always seem to work out somehow even when it seems that a giant miscalculation has been made, the rest of the team has taken to calling Brighid the “Crown Jewel of Persistence”. Her usually having control of the team’s Terastal Orb certainly doesn’t hurt the nickname.

Salina - Garganacl - Timid

A shy woman from Mesagoza, more often than not in her own mind than interacting with others. She is often assumed to be tougher on the inside than she really is, seemingly incredibly stoic and sturdy when in fact she’s more likely daydreaming and just happens to look physically imposing. Frankly she’s probably more likely to shrink away from serious threats than take them head-on unless she has no other choice. This tendency to avoid conflict also includes emotional conflict, unfortunately.

When Salina is comfortable around people, she’s actually very affectionate with them. Most everyone on the team has experienced one of Salina’s near spine-crushing hugs at one point or other, aside from Brighid, who has specifically stated she’s not terribly fond of hugs and of course Salina has respected that. Maybe someday she’ll be allowed to hug Brighid, but only on her terms.

Faraday - Kilowattrel - Naive

A girl from Levincia who’s a bit of a goofball, Faraday is often running around without a care in the world, or who she may run right into. She claims to run around so much with the intention of building up her latent static electricity, but most don’t really believe her and think she just wanted a more legitimate-sounding excuse to run around like a silly person. Despite her silly shenanigans, she is quite the battler, and has a track record of ending battles within mere minutes barring an encounter with certain weaknesses.

Faraday and Edgar have a little bit of a joking rivalry going on in that whenever he’s cooking, she’s always trying to swipe a bit of what he’s making as soon as his back is turned. Never enough to make it so there’s not enough for everyone else, of course, just enough to be a playful nuisance. Edgar has tried to counter this, and so far the only thing that seems to work is slipping something very bitter into a separate piece and hoping she goes for that by mistake. This strategy has mixed results.

Edgar - Paldean Tauros (Aqua Breed) - Calm

A rancher living in the outskirts between Artazon and Levincia. Edgar is very good-natured and easy going, somewhat surprising for someone with a Tauros title. It’s very hard to get him worked up about much of anything in an aggressive manner, as he seems to be able to let most issues wash over him without much bother. However, on the occasion where he does get genuinely angry, watch out—he can and will put the hurt on anyone that pushes him to that point, no matter who they might be. Thankfully these moments are few and far between, both for his sake and the sake of those around him.

Edgar is a pretty decent cook, and with his practice in outdoor cooking (or at least in using a miniature grill) has actually managed to get the team partially away from a reliance on picnic sandwiches. At the very least, he’s able to get some of those sandwich ingredients warmed up on the road to make them more flavorful. He does have some issues with Faraday often trying to “sample” before his cooking is done...and sometimes he can’t help himself and also “samples” his work as well. Faraday, of course, always calls him out on this when she catches him.

Meowscarada, Dachsbum, Ceruledge, Garganacl, Kilowattrel, Tauros (any variant), and other Pokemon concepts �� Nintendo/GameFreak Rosemary Flores, Napolitana Pantoja, Brighid Guerrero, Salina Morton, Micaela Faraday, Edgar Rivera, and artwork © PuppyLuver Studios

[weekendviking]

Back in '07, at the base of this hill, I found a workshop

I'd been finding beautifully made chert blades and broken spear points throughout the region, and, as per procedure, noting location and not disturbing them. But I had been wondering where the chert was coming from, whether it was local, or whether it was carried long distance.

I was mapping the area out because I suspected (rightly) that the joint venture partners had salted their holes and tweaked their map to make it look like a better kimberlite target than it was, so was re mapping the area to my own satisfaction (what they were calling 2.5 billion year old metamorphosed and ferruginised kimberlite breccia dykes were actually 15-20 million year old miocene scree deposits of leached and recemented banded iron formation debris...) So one does a lot of walking and mapping and sampling. As I started up this hill, I came around a spur, down there in the middle foreground, and there it was.

A meter thick band of perfect dark blue grey chert, two and a half billion years old, overlying, and succeeded by deformed and fine ly laminated mudstones and thin banded iron deposits, polished and shiny with desert varnish. Cut into and fractured in an 8-10 meter wide scallopin into the band was an excavation scar, with blue grey and white fresh chert exposed, but still with visible desert varnish and polish, but also with hammerstone marks, fallen blocks, blocks partly worked, and debitage fans showing where someone had sat, maybe 500 years ago, maybe 50 thousand years ago, maybe more, making blades and spear heads and scrapers. A few part finished broken tools discarded in the debitage when a blow went awry or a flaw deflected the path of a flake too much. It felt as though they were just away for the moment, but could come back and continue their work in a few minute. It also felt like a cathedral or hall, or a quiet grave.

So I recorded location, wrote a description, and later passed that to the relevant local people and the regional archaeology group.

And then I walked a bit further on, to where the hillside was undisturbed a hundred metres or so along, but that gorgeous chert band still outcropped, and found a naturally fractured block that had come loose, and sat, and spent a while knapping some dart points and blades. I've seldom worked with a nicer material. Much tougher than the obsidian and less brittle than the flint I've usually worked in, so difficult for my middling skill, but it felt really nice to work, and it's a beautiful stone with misty colour transitions.

I got to hold a 500,000 year old hand axe at the museum today.

It's right-handed

I am right-handed

There are grooves for the thumb and knuckle to grip that fit my hand perfectly

I have calluses there from holding my stylus and pencils and the gardening tools.

There are sharper and blunter parts of the edge, for different types of cutting, as well as a point for piercing.

I know exactly how to use this to butcher a carcass.

A homo erectus made it

Some ancestor of mine, three species ago, made a tool that fits my hand perfectly, and that I still know how to use.

Who were you

A man? A woman? Did you even use those words?

Did you craft alone or were you with friends? Did you sing while you worked?

Did you find this stone yourself, or did you trade for it? Was it a gift?

Did you make it for yourself, or someone else, or does the distinction of personal property not really apply here?

Who were you?

What would you think today, seeing your descendant hold your tool and sob because it fits her hands as well?

What about your other descendant, the docent and caretaker of your tool, holding her hands under it the way you hold your hands under your baby's head when a stranger holds them.

Is it bizarre to you, that your most utilitarian object is now revered as holy?

Or has it always been divine?

Or is the divine in how I am watching videos on how to knap stone made by your other descendants, learning by example the way you did?

Tomorrow morning I am going to the local riverbed in search of the appropriate stones, and I will follow your example.

The first blood spilled on it will almost certainly be my own, as I learn the textures and rhythm of how it's done.

Did you have cuss words back then? Gods to blaspheme when the rock slips and you almost take your thumbnail off instead? Or did you just scream?

I'm not religious.

But if spilling my own blood to connect with a stranger who shared it isn't partaking in the divine

I don't know what is.

[gerudospiriit]

[I was thinking about this while working out earlier, and now I'm going to make the post. It's basically which sage from OoT would be besties with which companion from BG3 because the brain rot controls my brain and I can't help it.

Zelda: Gale. Easy. They would bond over books, learning, and magic and they would both give each other a space to YAP as I think they both need and deserve (as in, I imagine Zelda was silenced A LOT growing up, as we see with her dad no believing her about her dreams; I'm sure that was pretty regular because of her age and maybe even her sex/gender).

Rauru: This one is tougher. I ended up doing him last which left me with Wyll and Minthara. I'm leaning on Wyll, but maybe in a sort of mentor/hero sort of relationship? I don't know if you can call that besties, but that's the dynamic I think they would have. Maybe lowkey a father-like figure for Wyll since...well if you know, you know (this is def my worst one and I feel bad because I love Wyllll). EDIT: Jaheira??? Maybe??? There just isn't a lot about Rauru to go on but they're both leader types and um...old?

Saria: Also easy: Halsin. They both have a connection to nature and Halsin is great with kids (I know she's probably older but the Kokiri still act like kids no matter their age it seems with some variations in maturity). I think it would be similar to Halsin's relationship with Thaniel in some ways. They could protect the forest and the Kokiri together.

Darunia: Karlach. They have a very similar energy and I think they would bond well with their more optimistic, carefree(ish), and go-with-the-flow vibes they have. Plus they both seem to like to dance and like...laughter in general. They're both joyous people despite their circumstances and I think that works well for them.

Ruto: I want to say Wyll here. I really do. But that would likely be more of a crush on Ruto's part since she seems into the heroic types, and I'm not sure Wyll would get on with her SUPER well. I also thought about Astarion for the Brat Energy, but I'm not sure they would get along that well either. Tbh I think the best option for her would be Shadowheart. They both have that "princess" energy (which might clash to some degree lmao) and both can be pretty bratty while actually being good people that want to do the right thing behind it all. And Ruto can teach her how to swim! (Honorable mention of Wyll for real though because it would be pretty adorable and he might fit with her better than Rauru lmao).

Impa: Lae'zel. I'm sure people would argue for Shadowheart here because of Sage of Shadow and Shadowheart's at least initial connection to darkness and shadow through Shar. But I don't think they would mesh that well. Lae'zel and Impa are both very duty-driven people as well as warriors, even if it is different styles. They are both devoted to their causes and what they believe it, and I think that works well for them.

Nabooru: I was between Lae'zel and Astarion for her, but Nabooru has a more playful energy that I think meshes better with Astarion than Lae'zel, who is a lot more no nonsense than Nabooru is in a lot of cases. Astarion and Nabooru are both a little bit chaotic with more questionable morality that aligns in different aspects than some of the others that aren't so squeaky clean with their morality (Nabooru leans a little more toward "good" than Astarion, but). They would very much enable each other (for better or worse) but just generally have fun. I think they would also bond over having spells in their lives where they weren't in control of their actions and whatnot and be able to talk about that. Plus the vampire thing would absolutely just not bother her, even when she understands what it is.

You know what? I'm putting Link in here to give Wyll a better bestie than Rauru 🤣. Both are heroes, they could practice swordplay together/teach each other new techniques, and discuss their adventures AND go on adventures together. It would also be interesting to see how they discuss their different baptisms into being heroes with Link having the title more thrust upon him while Wyll more or less got to choose that life.

To give Minthara some attention, it would probably be Ganondorf...in a very unhealthy way. I know he's not a sage but sh. Honorable mention to be complete.]

[biteobliss]

The Art of Staying Productive as a Student and Video Creator

Fajri's photo on Mount MerbabuOctober 23, 2023

How Fajri's Interest in Drones Began

Balancing the need of hobby and responsibility as a college student, Muhammad Nur Fajri is now in the senior year of his college life. He’s majoring in forestry department in INSTIPER Yogyakarta, where that is obvious would demand a great passion and skills. While doing his thesis, Fajri tends to spend his free time enjoying piloting by drone, capturing the beauty of nature and producing artwork to spread to many people to enjoy. 

Mount Prau Shot by Fajri Juli 1, 2023

Fajri’s passion for drone artwork began in 2021, when he entered college in Yogyakarta. “Firstly, it began with my interest in travelling through nature, I was seeking a different angle of view from common cameras, so I tried to do a drone,” he recalled. Even though it felt unfamiliar and fidgety, he kept trying until he successfully mastered flying a drone with high concentration. 

And eventually, his artwork not only for personal collection, but also to earn additional income. Fajri has been working on several projects, from the small one to a big one. This ranges from tourism documentation to cooperation with TV stations such as the ‘Si Bolang’ program. One moment he cherished the most is the one when he documented the revitalization of Surakarta city for Mr. Gibran's project. 

The challenges that Fajri feels

There is a challenge for him. As a senior year student, he stated himself that having a hobby as a side job while getting busier with the thesis a bit made him a little overwhelmed. “Sometimes thesis consultation schedules clash with drone jobs,” said Fajri. To overcome that, He was not reluctant to ask for help from fellow drone pilots to back up his unavailability to take over his job. He has a high responsibility to finish his studies.

With that, Fajri still very much enjoys every process of these experiences. He admits that this hobby of his brings many benefits, from improving skills to providing job opportunities. “ Nowadays, big companies need drones for work efficiency, so I believe this job is relevant for the long-run investment.” he asserts. Indeed, the application of this artwork is very wide, including the fields of forestry major, such as land mapping, area surveys, and project documentation of environmental projects. 

Gunung Api Purba in Yogyakarta Fajri's Favorite Drone Photo

One of the aspects that sets Fajri apart from other drone creators is his unique perspective. He shared with us his favorite drone photo, which was taken at Gunung Api Purba in Yogyakarta. “This photo means a lot to me because I had to climb a hill to get the perfect shot. The moment was so rare, and the view was stunning. It really captures the beauty of nature,” he explained. Fajri’s dedication to capturing breathtaking landscapes, often after physical effort, demonstrates his commitment to delivering high-quality work.

When it comes to competition, Fajri acknowledges the growing number of drone pilots, but he remains optimistic. “The competition has definitely gotten tougher. There are more drone pilots now, but I see that as motivation to continue improving my work. I need to keep up with trends and refine my skills to stand out,” he said. This proactive approach to competition helps him continue to evolve in an industry that is becoming increasingly crowded.

Despite the challenges, Fajri stays positive and determined. “There’s no such thing as a smooth ride. I’ve received criticism before, like people saying my videos were too short or needed improvement. But I take all feedback constructively. Every critique helps me grow and become better,” he shared with a smile.

When it comes to his future long-term plan, Fajri humbly responds to us. For him, he now only thinks of drones as his pure, enjoyable hobby which by happenstance yields extra cash. But still, he is committed to improving his passion in this field and hopefully for all of his artworks bringing benefits to many people. 

In the end, Fajri’s journey shows how passion can be harnessed into something impactful. His ability to balance his studies with a growing drone photography career, while continuing to inspire others, makes him a role model for young people everywhere. Fajri’s story is a reminder that with the right attitude and dedication, any hobby can become a meaningful part of one’s future.

Mount Merapi Shot by Fajri February 13, 2024

Note for Readers

For the readers who desire to be a video creator, especially using drones, Fajri advised not to give up easily and to always be consistent. “ To have a tough mentality is essential, Moreover, there are drone flight rules that must be followed, if possible, have a drone pilot certificate to make it safer.” His advice.

There’s a specific rule for piloting a drone in Indonesia regulated in Article 2 of PM No. 90/2015, which is 150 meters above ground level. This height is set to prevent interference to aircraft flying in low airways, such as helicopters.