#and maybe look into upgrading storage

[marinecorvid]

sorry venting

the joy of having fun little knickknacks and thingamajigs related to what you love VS. the desire to not become overwhelmed by material items + the agony overwhelming that comes with being keenly surrounded by stuff: FIGHT

[glacierruler]

Okay, I know how I'm gonna start posting the comic when it comes out.

First it'll go up for kofi members 1 month early as a blog post that way I have more room to give an image ID. Then it'll go up on my neocities website, and that'll be a dedicated space for the comic. Then it'll go up on tumblr and bsky 1 week after it's gone up on the website. (The website is completely free to navigate. I just don't think I'd have the spoons to put it here until 1 week later)

[d-z20]

Rivals part 2 (NSFW)

Pairing: Rio Vidal x Reader

Summary: After getting fucked in a supply closet you can't get Rio out of your head so when you discover she's staying at the same hotel as you an Agatha you know it's impossible to try and ignore her.

-OR-

You upgrade from a stoage closet to a meeting room

Warnings: 18+ MDNI, smut, top Rio, fingering (R recv), kinda semi-public sex, orgasm denial

Words: 3k

A/N: One is a centuries-old witch and the other's age is just yes in canon so it makes just as much sense that I've put them as the same age in this AU 😂😂

AO3 | Part 1 | Masterlist

You step into the hotel lobby, the cool air of the evening clinging to your skin as you adjust the collar of your coat. Tonight, you’re checking both yourself and Agatha in—just another part of the job you’ve come to accept, the silent, invisible support that keeps her world in motion. Agatha’s already at the bar, as usual, casting an air of aloofness and superiority as she takes her seat, eyes scanning the crowd with a disinterested air. You can almost feel the weight of her gaze, even from here.

The receptionist is an older man with an unremarkable face, his fingers tapping the keys on his computer in slow, deliberate movements. You hand over your ID with the same practiced, neutral expression you’ve worn countless times as he enters your information into the system. The sound of the keys clicks like a metronome, each tap reminding you of the odd stillness before everything changes.

Your gaze flickers to the lobby, noticing the soft hum of the busy space, the flow of people moving in and out of the hotel, and the quiet buzz of an upcoming event. And then, like a sudden jolt, you catch a glimpse of her.

Rio.

She stands in front of the elevator, looking as effortlessly stunning as ever, dressed in a navy suit that hugs her frame just right. The moment your eyes meet, she grins—a slow, knowing curve of her lips that sends a sharp pulse through your chest. She doesn’t even need to speak to make the connection clear. And then, just as the doors begin to close, she winks at you.

Crap . She must be staying here too.

A wave of heat sweeps over you, flushing your skin. Your mind drifts back to the storage closet, to the feel of her hands and the intensity of her touch. You swallow hard, trying to push the thoughts aside, but the memory lingers, tantalising. The butterflies in your stomach are different now, sharper—less from nerves, more from a dark, hungry anticipation.

You catch yourself before you get too lost in the memory, forcing your focus back to the present, back to the receptionist. He’s handing you the keys—two of them. One for you, one for Agatha’s room. You mumble your thanks, feeling the weight of the cards in your hand, and force yourself to walk toward the bar where Agatha is seated.

—

A little while later, you’re in Agatha’s suite preparing her materials for tomorrow as she sits at the table, papers spread out in front of her, her sharp pen gliding across them with practiced precision. Her presence is cold, controlled—exactly how she likes it.

You’ve been through this routine countless times: taking care of the small tasks, getting everything in order, making sure she’s ready for whatever’s coming next. It’s the usual drill, only tonight it feels heavier somehow. Maybe it’s because of Rio. The thought of her, so close, almost makes your skin itch.

“Is everything ready?” Agatha’s voice cuts through the silence, her tone low and sharp.

“Yeah,” you reply, setting the keys on the desk in front of her. “I—uh, I think I saw Rio in the hotel. She must be staying here too.”

At that, Agatha’s gaze snaps to yours. Her eyes narrow, her lip curling in distaste. “Of all the places she could’ve chosen..." Her voice is low, but the venom behind it is unmistakable. You know better than to push her when she’s like this, but you’re curious about why Rio makes Agatha so... angry.

You take a breath, trying to sound casual. “You two... you’ve had history, right? Why do you hate her so much?”

For a moment, Agatha doesn’t speak. Her gaze shifts somewhere distant, her mind clearly working through something you can’t see. Then, with a sharp exhale, she leans back in her chair, her voice low, almost bitter.

“Rio Vidal…” Agatha’s tone is heavy with disdain. “We were inseparable back in school. Best friends. But it was always a competition—always. Top of the class, Model UN, class president races. We were always neck and neck. She was brilliant, you know. Almost annoyingly so. I liked it at first. But the closer we got, the more I realised we weren’t just competing for grades. We were competing for each other's attention.”

She leans forward now, eyes burning with the intensity of the memory. “We started dating when we were seniors in high school. I thought it would be perfect. Both of us at the top, together. But the moment we graduated, everything fell apart. She got the job I wanted. The one that had my name written all over it. I even tried to dig up dirt on her during the hiring process—anything to tilt the scales. But she came out spotless, like she always does.” Agatha’s hands tighten around her pen, her knuckles white. “She didn’t even want it, not really. She just applied for the experience. But she got it. And I…”

She stops, biting down on her lip, and when she speaks again, it’s through gritted teeth. “She sabotaged me; I don’t know how but she did. So, I did what anyone would do in that situation. I pushed her away. And we both took turns throwing everything away, hurting each other over and over again. It was a mess. We were constantly fighting; but god, the hate sex was phenomenal.”

A long breath. “Then, after that year, we both went our separate ways. Until the world of politics brought us back together. I will never forgive her. She’s always there. Just waiting for me to fall. And if I have to break a few rules to make sure she’s the one who stumbles, so be it. It’s survival.”

You watch her, her eyes burning with the intensity of old wounds. There’s no mistaking it: Agatha Harkness and Rio Vidal share a history that’s anything but simple.

“So,” Agatha finishes with a dry laugh, her voice colder than ice, “I’m not about to let her win. Ever.”

You can feel the weight of her words settle in the room, thick and heavy. And for a moment, you almost feel sorry for her. Almost.

But you know better than to feel sympathy. You’ve seen firsthand what happens when something gets in the way of what Agatha wants.

And getting fucked by your boss’ long-term rival and ex-girlfriend has definitely put you in the way.

—

Later that night, the soft hum of the air conditioner is the only sound in your room as you scroll aimlessly through your phone, trying to unwind after the day’s whirlwind. The room is quiet, a stark contrast to the chaotic thoughts swirling in your head. Agatha’s background with Rio has you reeling, the weight of their shared history settling heavily in your mind.

A sharp knock at the door pulls you from your thoughts. You groan, already anticipating the next round of demands. It’s late, but Agatha isn’t one for respecting boundaries, especially when she thinks something “needs” to be done.

“Coming,” you mutter, dragging yourself to the door. You yank it open, ready to fire off some excuse about needing sleep—but the words catch in your throat when you see who’s standing there.

Rio.

She leans casually against the doorframe, her devilish grin firmly in place. Her hair falls perfectly around her face, and the faint smell of her perfume wafts toward you, heady and intoxicating. She’s dressed down now—black jeans and a fitted shirt that still manage to look like they belong in a magazine spread.

“Miss me?” she asks, her voice low, playful.

Your pulse quickens, and your grip tightens on the door handle. “What are you doing here?”

“Relax,” she says, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “I just thought you might like a drink. You know, since we’re practically neighbours." She gestures down the hall. “I’m just a few doors down. Figured it’d be rude not to say hi.”

Your heart skips a beat. Agatha would absolutely lose it if she knew Rio was staying so close. The thought alone is enough to make you hesitate. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

Rio tilts her head, her smirk widening. “Come on, don’t be shy. It’s just a drink. I promise to behave.” The way her eyes linger on yours suggests otherwise, but before you can overthink it, you find yourself nodding.

“Fine,” you say, stepping into the hallway. “But just one drink.”

—

Her room is nearly identical to yours—same generic hotel furniture, same muted colour scheme. Yet somehow, it feels different. Maybe it’s the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air or the way she moves through the space, effortlessly commanding it.

“Make yourself comfortable,” she says, gesturing to the small seating area by the window. She picks up the room service menu, scanning it quickly before glancing at you. “What’s your poison?”

You hesitate, torn between wanting to play it safe and giving in to the pull of her presence. “Surprise me.”

Rio raises an eyebrow, clearly pleased with your answer. She picks up the phone and orders a bottle of wine and a few small plates—cheese, fruit, nothing too heavy. As she hangs up, she turns back to you, her expression casual but her eyes sharp.

“So,” she says, sitting across from you, “how’s life working for Agatha Harkness? She still a miserable old witch?.”

You laugh, a dry, nervous sound. “That’s one way to put it.”

She studies you for a moment, her smile softening. “Must be exhausting, though. Always running around, making sure everything’s perfect for her.”

You shrug, trying to downplay it. “It’s a job.”

“Need me to treat you right again?” She hums, leaning back in her chair.

Before you can respond, there’s a knock at the door. Rio gets up to answer it, returning with the wine and food. She pours two glasses, handing one to you before settling back into her seat. The wine is rich and smooth, warming you from the inside out.

The conversation flows easily, the tension between you both ebbing and flowing like a tide. You talk about everything and nothing—her travels, your work, the absurdities of life in politics. But every now and then, her hand brushes against yours, her eyes lingering just a moment too long.

By the time you finish your second glass, the room feels warmer, and the air is charged with something electric. You know you should leave; staying here could lead to more trouble if Agatha ever finds out. But when Rio leans forward, her voice dropping to a whisper, you forget all the reasons you shouldn’t be here.

“Can I tell you something?” She asks, her breath warm against your skin.

You nod, your voice caught in your throat.

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” she admits, her lips curving into a sly smile.

Your heart pounds in your chest, and before you can second-guess yourself, she closes the distance between you. Her lips are soft but insistent, her hands sliding up your arms as she pulls you closer. The kiss is a slow burn at first, but it quickly intensifies, her hunger igniting something deep within you.

She stands, pulling you with her toward the bed. Her hands move with practiced ease, unbuttoning your shirt and sliding it off your shoulders. You reciprocate, your fingers fumbling slightly as you work to undress her, the heat of her skin beneath your fingertips making it hard to think straight.

You let yourself get lost in her for a while���the press of her lips, the warmth of her hands, the way her body moves against yours. But as her hand trails lower, sliding beneath the waistband of your underwear, a flash of Agatha’s searing glare cuts through your haze of desire.

“Wait,” you blurt out, your hand catching hers before she can go any further.

Rio pauses, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What’s wrong?”

You swallow hard, your heart pounding for an entirely different reason now. You gently extricate yourself from her hold, slipping off the bed and gathering your clothes. Rio watches you, her expression unreadable.

“I’m sorry,” you say quietly, avoiding her gaze.

She doesn’t stop you; she only tilts her head as you open the door and practically sprint out of the room.

When you finally make it back to your room, the tension in your chest eases slightly, but your mind is still racing. You don’t know where this path will lead, but one thing is clear: you’re already in way too deep.

—

The morning dawns bright and early, but you’re already awake—the events of the night before playing on a loop in your mind. Every time you close your eyes, you feel Rio’s lips on yours, her hands on your skin. It’s thrilling, and yet you can’t shake the unease settling in your chest.

You push the thoughts aside as you straighten your outfit in the mirror, steeling yourself for the day ahead. Agatha’s schedule is packed, and you don’t have time to let personal distractions cloud your mind.

By the time you join Agatha in the conference room, she’s already mid-rant about the inefficiency of the staff. You nod along, jotting down notes, doing your best to stay focused. But then, out of the corner of your eye, you spot Rio.

She’s standing across the room, deep in conversation with a group of attendees. Her presence is magnetic, and it feels impossible not to look. She catches your gaze and smirks, her eyes glinting with mischief.

You quickly turn back to your notepad, heat rising to your cheeks.

The day continues in a blur of meetings and logistical tasks, but Rio is everywhere—at the coffee station, in the hallway, even lingering near the stage. Every time your paths cross, she gives you that same knowing smirk, and it’s starting to feel less like coincidence and more like intention.

You try to push Rio from your mind, but it’s impossible. Every time you see her, and your heart races. Agatha would never forgive you if she found out, but there’s a part of you that can’t stop wanting Rio. You’re already tangled in her web, and you don’t know how to escape.

—

By the time lunch rolls around, you’re jittery with nerves and something else you don’t want to name. You excuse yourself, slipping out of the crowded room to catch your breath.

But as soon as you step into the quiet hallway, Rio is there.

“Funny seeing you here,” she says, her voice teasing.

You narrow your eyes at her, crossing your arms. “You’re following me.”

She grins, unapologetic. “Maybe. Or maybe it’s fate.”

You roll your eyes, but the small smile tugging at your lips betrays you.

“Come on,” she says, leaning in closer. “Let’s find somewhere a little more private.”

Before you can protest, she’s taking your hand and pulling you down the hallway. You glance around nervously, hoping no one sees you as she leads you into an empty meeting room.

The door clicks shut behind you, and the air between you shifts instantly. Rio steps closer, her hands finding your waist as she presses you against the wall.

“I’ve been thinking about last night,” she murmurs, her lips brushing against your ear. “About how good you felt.”

Your breath catches and before you can respond, her mouth is on yours. The kiss is hungry, desperate, and it sets your skin alight.

Her hands roam over your body, tugging at your clothes as she deepens the kiss. You melt into her, your own hands tangling in her hair as a moan escapes your lips. 

Her hand dips and she cups your heat through your underwear making you gasp, your hips instinctively rolling against her palm. The arousal from last night springs back to the forefront, hitting you like a wave, and it doesn’t take long before you’re keening into her touch, your body responding to her every movement.

“Fuck, you’re so needy for me,” Rio whispers against your neck, her fingers slipping beneath the fabric to find you slick and wanting.

She teases you at first, circling in maddeningly slow strokes. Your knees go weak, and you clutch at her shoulders for support as a soft whimper escapes your lips.

“Do you want me to stop?” She murmurs, her tone dripping with mock innocence.

You shake your head frantically, unable to form words. She chuckles, pressing a kiss to your collarbone before thrusting her fingers inside you.

Your moan is loud and unrestrained, echoing in the empty room. Her movements are confident and precise, driving you closer and closer to the edge with every thrust and curl of her fingers.

The tension coils tighter in your stomach, your body arching into her as you chase that blinding release. But just as you’re about to tip over, the door bursts open.

“What the hell is going on here?”

Your stomach drops as Agatha storms into the room, her face a mask of fury.

“Get your hands off her!” she snaps, striding over and grabbing you by the ear. You yelp in surprise as she pulls you away from Rio, who just withdraws her hand and leans against the wall, utterly unbothered.

“Ms Harkness, I—” you start, but she cuts you off with a glare that could freeze fire.

“I don’t want to hear it,” she says sharply. She turns her attention to Rio, her voice dripping with venom. “You just can’t help yourself, can you? Always sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

Rio shrugs, her smirk widening. “What can I say? Old habits die hard.”

You glance back at her, your face burning with embarrassment and frustration. She meets your gaze, her eyes glinting with amusement as she slowly lifts her fingers to her mouth. She licks them clean, her tongue curling around them provocatively, and your breath catches.

Agatha doesn’t miss the exchange. “We’re leaving. Now.” Agatha’s fingers tighten around your wrist as she pulls you into the hallway. She’s angry, but there’s something more beneath that rage. She doesn’t want to lose you.

You try to pull away from Agatha's grip, your heart pounding in your chest, but the heat of the kiss is still fresh in your mind. Guilt claws at you, but there's something else, something dangerous, urging you to give in to the chaos.

-----

idk how I feel about this, I had all the ideas and then I lost them all trying to tie up the ending 😭

-----

taglist: @aceday @danveration @alwaysharmony @idkwhatever580 @lostbutlovely33 @sunshine-makes-flowers-grow @dont-blame-me-she-made-me-crazy @seaoflittlefires @sapphic-murder

[incorrectbatfam]

Duke and damian headcanons

Please?

Dick: Hey, Duke, sorry to spring this up last minute, but Wally really needs me in Keystone City. Could you look after Damian for the day?

Duke: Yeah, sure, no problem.

Dick: Sweet, thanks. He's still trying to get a hang of being a normal kid, so maybe you could do some stuff together to show him how.

Duke: Normal kid stuff.

Dick: Exactly. Thanks, I owe you one.

[later that evening]

Bruce: So what did everyone do today?

Cass: Arson.

Jason: Murder.

Tim: Blackmail.

Stephanie: Blackmail but better.

Dick: Chasing Weather Wizard across Kansas.

Bruce: Duke, Damian, how about you? You guys had the day off.

Dick: Oh yeah. Dami, did Duke take you to do some fun kid stuff?

Duke, laughing nervously: I guess you can say that—

Damian: We bought an ATV off Facebook Marketplace and went mud riding.

Bruce: Well, that's not so—

Damian: Then we went to the planetarium and used Father's credit card to rent out the theater for an hour-long stargazing show.

Damian: After that, we made spaghetti tacos for lunch and ate them while swinging around in our civilian attire.

Damian: Then I met Thomas's friends and they introduced me to live-action roleplaying—

Duke: It's just called LARPing.

Damian: —Yes, whatever. Except their costumes and weapons felt lackluster, so we brought them to the Batcave for a much-needed upgrade. After all, why duel with cardboard battle axes when the real thing is so much better? Plus, Thomas found a use for the yellow kryptonite in the storage.

Bruce: Duke, is this true—

Damian: Oh, and we mustn't forget the mountain goat. It got tired so it's resting in Father's bed.

Dick: Sounds... interesting.

Damian: I didn't even get to Mount Crime Alley.

Bruce:

Dick:

Duke: ...Excuse me, please.

Duke: *sprints upstairs and locks himself in his room*

Alfred: Looks like he will fit right in.

[yanderes-galore]

yandere zane ninjago x nindroid darling who also has (unspecified) elemental powers if you can ofc!!!

I'll see what I can come up with, sure! Pardon me if I get Zane lore wrong, I never finished the show so this is a 'what if' Scenario :(

Yandere! Zane with Nindroid! Darling

Pairing: Platonic/Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Overprotective behavior, Manipulation, Slight jealousy, Isolation, Dubious companionship/relationship.

The one idea that comes to mind would be you and Zane being built together.

You and Zane were meant to be a pair.

It was like you were supposed to be companions to each other.

Unfortunately, somehow you two were separated.

You're both old model Nindroids but Zane barely has any memory of you.

You were probably deactivated and put into storage...

Only to be found later in a newer era.

That's the general idea I have when it comes to how Zane and you knew each other.

You were meant to be a way to keep Zane from being lonely.

Whether as a sibling or a partner is completely up to you.

You were quite literally built alongside him and for him.

This may also explain why you're capable of elemental power.

Since you and Zane are very similar.

Imagine if the ninja kept finding blueprints of another Nindroid but you were nowhere in sight.

Zane vaguely thinks the pictures are familiar, yet can't pin point anything.

It isn't until you're found and reactivated safely that anything really develops.

Zane suddenly feels a connection to you when you activate.

You're familiar and by looking at your blueprints and memories...

You two used to be close.

Zane feels bad his memories didn't click until now.

You were his first companion and he hasn't remembered you until now.

Despite that... He also feels like he's known you forever.

This scenario gives Zane a reason to obsess over a Nindroid other than just meeting you and developing a fascination.

Zane would feel even more of a connection as you're capable of elements too.

You didn't specify one so you can either choose one or be able to swap them out through some technological means.

Zane would probably try to have you upgraded like him.

After all, by the time they find you, your tech may be outdated.

Zane would feel protective since you're technically the closest person to him.

He'd be curious to know more about you just to properly fill his memory bank.

There's just a certain connection with you that no one else has.

Which makes sense as you two were built with a bond.

Meant to be bonded.

That built in connection would cause his obsession, perhaps after being corrupted.

How was it corrupted?

Maybe when he was helping upgrade you, some code went where it wasn't supposed to...

Which tosses you both into trouble.

Or maybe the reason you were separated was because he was always like this towards you.

Zane would try to justify his obsession.

He watches over you, carefully watches and analyzes how you interact with the other ninja, all with this oddly fond yet unnerving stare...

When others bring it up, or even you, Zane simply doesn't think it's creepy.

This should be normal between you!

Don't you trust him?

You can't know anyone else like he does with you!

It's simply improbable due to the connection you two have.

I imagine this would make it hard to leave him.

Zane, due to your bond, is under the impression you two are meant to be.

Doesn't matter how.

He just feels you can't leave one another.

He'd be desperate to convince you or keep that connection.

To the point he comes off as protective or even possessive at times.

Zane is unintentionally isolating.

He's so focused on the idea of you two being meant to be that he often doesn't consider how you feel at times.

You may want to interact with the other ninja, yet Zane is suffocating.

He doesn't comprehend the idea of you being or wanting to be away from him.

After all, don't you feel it too?

You're two halves of one whole.

Which draws him to you.

Zane isn't really violent, in fact he's oblivious to how wrong his obsession is.

He always wants to be around, always wants to spend time with you...

Zane wants to be as important to you as you are to him.

It wouldn't make sense if you went to any other.

While he doesn't kill out of jealousy, he may be violent if you were threatened or someone suggested something was wrong.

He doesn't understand, nothing's wrong?

Him wanting to be around you all the time can't be wrong.

Why would it be?

Isolation? That's not what this is!

The others just don't understand... and you're just confused.

What he's doing isn't wrong...

You two are meant to be... literally built for one another.

Is wanting to be by your side forever, inseparable, all that bad if you're meant to be?

[tinyowlthoughts]

Been rewatching The Amazing Digital Circus and began to wonder, who helps Caine with all the assets and metadata? Well, wonder no longer! It's Biblia!

Small, loud, and possibly narcoleptic, this tiny owl is charge of the TADC Asset Library. It's her job to keep track of all the files Caine uses in his adventures, and to find them when needed. Of course, she and Caine have very different ideas of how the files should be organized...

No matter! She's the librarian, she'll just put it all back together after Caine messes it up again. No worries. It's not like she has a million other things to do, like upgrading and updating the files while they're dormant to make sure they're not degrading in storage. Speaking of, she pulled this one crocodile - alligator? - NPC for the fast food adventure, and something is a bit off with his code...

No need to worry. It's not like he can abstract, or spontaneously gain sentience and sapience, being an NPC, right? She'll just tuck him back in the card catalog and hopefully nothing will ever come of this little quirk! Besides, she has to make sure Jax hasn't made off with all the centipedes again...

Despite being a resident of the circus, Biblia wouldn't consider herself a 'friend' of the players. She's happy to assist them and speak with them when they come to her library (barring Jax, who has a permanent ban he ignores), but is far happier in her own company, or at her weekly tea with Bubble. As a program, she doesn't feel the same need for socializing the players do. (She's terribly fond of them, but refuses to admit getting attached. It just makes the abstractions harder...)

After first being created, she did question Caine about his choice of form - she is neither a toy nor a circus act. He waxed poetic about the long history in Western culture of owls being associate with wisdom, libraries and learning institutions. That made sense (in an odd-ball, Caine-like way). When asked about the size, Caine shrugged and called her travel-sized.

She didn't speak to him for a week.

Despite having access to her own metadata, thus the ability to change her form, Biblia has learned to be happy with her size, as it lets her be quick, quiet, and sneaky - all necessary things for the TADC Asset Librarian. Besides, Caine would be sad if she changed. And there are much more...educational things she can do with the metadata. Things that remind Jax why he needs to stay out of her library.

Maybe one day they'll get along, but I'm not holding my breath.

(My first time drawing the TADC cast - so much fun, and such a challenge! Loved figuring out Zooble for her picture.)

For my Master's in Library Science, in one class we had to create a classification for a specific collection (I did horror novels), as well as figure out parts of the metadata that would be used in an ILS (Integrated Library System). It was my favorite project, along with my metadata classes, so when I was thinking of what a TDAC OC would look like, the asset librarian came to mind! I hope you like her - or at least think her and Jax torturing each other is a little funny.

Cheers!

[istandonsnowpiles]

My Photography in 2024 by the numbers

📸 Total photos taken

In 2024, I took 18,277 photos, that's about 50 photos a day!

In 2023, I took 23,721 photos. So I took 5,444 fewer photos this year than last year.

Photos taken this year make up 27% of my photography archive, which is 65,814 photos total.

💽 Raw Photo Storage

Photos taken this year take up 677GB.

That's about $9.30 of storage at current hard drive prices (per diskprices.com, $13.75/TB)

In 2023, photos took up 914GB of storage, so we're down 237GB from last year.

Photos taken this year make up 25% of my archive storage, 2.64TB.

💾 Keepers

In 2024, I exported and posted 1,129 photos, about 4.25 photos a day.

In 2023, I exported and posted 1,600 photos, about 4.4 photos a day. So, while I exported 471 fewer photos (about 30% fewer), I maintained my usual posting rate.

Exported photos from 2024 take up about 11GB on top of the 677GB above. JPEGs are far smaller than raws!

🪩 Klout

Flickr

My photos received about 616,000 views, 18,500 likes, and were featured on Flickr's Explore page 19 times. That's up 130,000 views and 4,800 likes from 2023. My most popular photo was The Sears Tower

Tumblr

All but one of my top 10 posts of the year were photos, with I think we need to put more lines up there topping the list at about 1,800 notes.

My top photography post is still my 8 minute long exposure from Lake Placid from 2022, which topped 115,000 notes this year. None of my posts from this year broke into the top 10 posts of this blog by notes.

Electric Phallus Friday remains a thing every week. No, I do not run the daily blog for it. Tho, I bet I know who does. Thank you.

Google Maps

If you're looking at places around DC, or places I have travelled, on Google Maps you might spot some of my photos. My photos have 10.8 million views on Google Maps, with Kenilworth Park and Pudgie's Pizza in Corning NY both breaking a million views each.

IRL

My photo Alone at the Reflecting Pool was a winner in the 2024 Exposed DC photography contest and will be featured in The DC Public Library's People's Archive soon.

⚙️ Gear

Cameras

In 2024, I used at least 10 cameras*:

Fujifilm X-T2 (248 edited photos)

Fujifilm X-E1 - Full Spectrum Converted (99 edited photos)

Fujifilm X-H1 (56 edited photos)

Fujifilm X-T5 & Full Spectrum Converted X-T5 (1,478 edited photos)

Film Cameras, mostly Nikon F3 (83 photos)

Panasonic LX100II (2 edited photos)

Panasonic S5 II (60 edited photos)

Panasonic GX85 - 590nm Infrared Converted (145 edited photos)

Sigma DP2 Quattro (45 edited photos)

Sony RX100 VII (35 edited photos)

This year I upgraded by trusty Fujifilm X-T2 to an X-T5. I had gotten the Fujifilm X-H1, which has the same sensor as the X-T2 (which I love), but with IBIS. An X-T2 with IBIS would be my ideal camera if it existed, but it doesn't, and the X-H1 handling is so different that I didn't enjoy it. I ended up selling the X-H1 and handing down the X-T2 to @dykedotexe.

This year I rented the Panasonic S5 II and Sony RX100 VII, both of which are fine cameras that I probably wouldn't rent again. I would love a high resolution Panasonic S5 body, maybe at CES?

Lenses

For full data, see the Read More

Top used lenses:

Fujifilm 33mm f/1.4

Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8

Fujifilm 56mm f/1.2

Viltrox 27mm f/1.2

Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4

The only surprising entry here is the 16-55mm. It's a standard zoom and the lens I've had for the longest. So, it's certainly my Old Faithful lens. However, I don't think I realized how much I was using it.

My most common lens combos are:

Fujifilm 18 & 33 - I travel with this setup frequently. They're both nearly perfect lenses I feel very comfortable using. Plus, they're fairly small.

Viltrox 27 & Fujifilm 56 - I tend to like longer lenses more than wider, and these two lenses are probably my favorite. So, you'll catch me with this a lot. Tho, it's a heavy setup.

Fujifilm 16-55mm - if I'm gonna be on a tripod or unsure of what to bring, this is the lens. It's big, heavy, and slow compared to all my primes, but I know it'll work. Fujifilm recently released a version 2 of this lens that I might need to pick up based on these numbers!

*in this section, edited photo counts are taken from Lightroom, a difference source than the Keepers section above. The numbers in the two sections are not comparable. Edited photos may not have been exported and posted.

🙄 To Improve in 2025

In 2024, my projects in Lightroom rarely got cleaned up. I still have imports from March that I need to curate and edit. 7,400 photos (40% of what I shot this year) sit in my Lightroom unedited.

This year, I'd like to curate my photos before editing them, separating out the keepers & removing photos I don't want to edit. Of course, they'll all be in the archive still. But, I think this would help wrap up projects rather than letting them sit around forever.

Thanks for all your support in 2024. I'm working on improving all kinds of things in 2025. I'm currently working on my posting system, which should bring some cool things when I wrap up.

Lens usage data

Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 (23 edited photos)

Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8 (313 edited photos)

Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 (41 edited photos)

Fujifilm 18mm f/1.4 (167 edited photos)

@dykedotexe's Fujifilm 23mm f/2 (17 edited photos)

Panasonic G 25mm f/1.7 (145 edited photos)

Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 (179 edited photos)

Sigma DP2 Quattro - 30mm f/2.8 (45 edited photos)

Fujifilm 33mm f/1.4 (556 edited photos)

Sigma 50mm f/2 - L Mount (60 edited photos)

Zeiss Planar T* 50mm f/1.4 - F Mount (83 photos)

Fujifilm 50mm f/2 (35 edited photos)

Fujifilm 56mm f/1.2 (194 edited photos)

Fujifilm 50-140mm f/2.8 (28 edited photos)

Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 (61 edited photos)

Fujifilm 70-300mm f/4-5.6 (157 edited photos)

[the-legendaryboi]

People In Kon's life That Should Meet Up (because it would be cool)

Pa Kent & Guardian: They will maximize their Concerned Dad energy to pester Kon to have better life decisions

Ma Kent & Martha Jr. (and Lophi): Lophi allowed Kon to name their kid after Ma Kent, Martha, even though she did not know about that woman! Let them meet up!! Ma would get so emotional holding a child named after her specifically! She would be smitten that Kon did what she did for him when he was younger and Clark when was a baby. He helped a stranger and raised a kid because they needed help, safety, and protection. Imagine her bragging rights after their meet up and talking with her husband- Yeah, Clark and Lois named their son after you, but Kon named his adopted daughter after me so...we are both winning :D

Aura (Lindsay) and Kong Kenan: They would become fast friends after one session of shit-talking the Chinese Gov't. Aura got hunted down by gov't enforcers with the help of her own father and Kenan had been given the startling realization his mother would choose her gov't loyalty over the kid she had.

Kaliber and Kong Kenan: All three of them (Kaliber, Kenan, and Kon) can maximize their Superman fanboy energy and become an unstoppable force of glee over a hero they look up to!

Natasha Irons & Hero Cruz: First off: Black Lesbian-Gay solidarity representation!! Also I think they would be an amazing people to be around in parties and just in general. They would make great friends to me and each other. Hero bringing his calm and chill vibes (and his boyfriend, Leander) and Natasha decides to make...certain upgrades the liqueur storage. Hero won't stop her but will enable every wild invention idea she has!

Natasha Irons & Aura: First off, the combine energy of badass tactically minded and inventive women! Aura has the ability to control every piece of metal near her. She is so good at it she can form armor from metal scraps with a single thought! Natasha is a brilliant inventor who could build anything if she put her focus into it! Also, they just bring a lot of fun and personal joy in everything they do. They don't forget to be themselves no matter how hard their current situation is- and that shared feeling is starting point for a friendship and maybe something more!

Hillary & Robert and Lolina: I just wanted to include Lolina in this list. Anyway! I can see them making light-hearted jokes on Kon's expense and maybe Under The Sea adventures! Perhaps, Hillary and Robert are interested to get to know Lolina as a person and first merfolk they have ever seen and be more knowledgeable about the sea! Lolina can have other to show off her herd of Sharks!

Jimmy Tilton & Match: Okay! This is another 'I want to see them again' inclusion I made because I've been obsessed with Match since September 2024 and I've loved that comic issue of Jimmy and Kon! Anyway, they were both screwed over by researchers and scientists with dubious morals. They have been dehumanized a lot by the adults and supposed caretakers in their life and seen more as a product than a person. I don't know how their friendship would go- Maybe Jimmy teaches Match to be more like a person that could form their own wants and needs and act on those ambitions and passions. Maybe Match comforts Jimmy with the strangeness of his existence and maybe even find a method or something that could help with Jimmy's condition (Don't remind me that Jimmy T. is dead, let me be at peace in Delululand)

[ms-demeanor]

Hey! I appreciate your perspective on computer-based things. I think I need to get a laptop and would love your opinion on decent brands. If you don't have an opinion or want to answer please disregard the q.

Context: I'm often on the move and really want something small, light, and that will last a long time. I'm bad about buying new things or taking things to be fixed so ideally it's not something that dies quickly or needs frequent repairs. For a while I used an iPad for this but I need more of a keyboard than tablets have and the shelf life of an iPad is shorter than it should be for the cost. Mine is 7 years old and only works while plugged in... I liked my Macbook Pro I got for college but it's almost 15 years old and given I haven't needed a new one since I don't think spending all that on a Mac makes sense either. I use a gaming PC mostly but I'm going to need to travel a lot more in the upcoming year. I'm ok to spend up a bit since I want it to last.

I think you're going to have to adjust your expectations about the average functional lifespan of electronics. Seven years is a lot to get out of any tablet and fifteen years is way way way above average for a computer.

At work we estimate that the functional lifespan of a laptop will be around five years and the functional life of a desktop will be around seven years; we include upgrades in that lifespan, like adding RAM and storage.

It is not *unusual* to get more than five years out of a laptop or seven years out of a desktop, but if you are a heavy user of anything other than a browser and a word processor, that's about the time when you'll find that the computer feels slow enough to be frustrating. This isn't a hard limit, and it's not something that everyone experiences because people use computers differently, but if you're an artist and you use a drawing program that program will start to feel slow after a while because as updates and patches and drivers have been tweaked for newer devices they've slowly left your device in the dust.

This isn't planned obsolescence, by the way. Computer manufacturers try to "future proof" their devices to a certain extent, but you just can't anticipate certain kinds of changes. Maybe your laptop was manufactured before there were consumer SSDs available so its operating system doesn't take the advantages and limitations of SSDs into account. Maybe your desktop was built for DDR3 RAM and we're now on DDR5 and people aren't writing programs to the standard of the old technology, they're taking advantage of the standards of the new technology.

Since you were able to use your devices comfortably for such a long time, it sounds like you're not a very heavy user and don't need to worry too much about beefing up your specs. However it does sound like you want to keep your computer and use it as long as possible while paying a reasonable price for it (which is good! I think we should all try to extend the lives of our electronic devices as much as possible!).

I actually think you sound like a good match for a Framework laptop.

Framework is a company that makes laptops that are a lot more modular than what's on the market these days. They're mean to be easy to open up for upgrades and sturdy for heavy use. Most of the parts of the laptop are easily replaceable - including the screen - so you can use them for a long time and easily make upgrades that will help the computer feel fresher.

They're a bit more expensive than comparable PCs but much easier to repair if you aren't comfortable opening up your own computer (framework is intentionally built to be easy for people who are non-technical to work on their computers), and they are a LOT less expensive than comparable macs.

I still think you're probably looking at around 7 years of regular use out of a Framework and it won't *break* at that point, it will just. Probably be a bit slow and frustrating. You might not be able to get parts for it after a certain point. You eventually won't be able to upgrade the OS. But that's true of all computers.

I've still got my 2005 macbook. It still turns on, I can still use garage band on it. But it doesn't connect to the internet and uses such an old USB standard that it is extremely slow to transfer data on or off of and it cries and freezes if i try to use photoshop. It's not broken, it's just no longer useful as a daily computer.

What I'm defining as functional here is "Is able to run multiple programs (including at least one browser with 50+ tabs open and two office suites) at the same time for 8-10 hours a day without crashing, freezing, or losing data and restarting is not a major inconvenience."

In those terms, it does sound like you're probably in need of an upgrade (I can't imagine that your current machine is particularly quick) and I think that a framework laptop would suit your needs well.

If you're looking for something somewhat less expensive, you can generally find a decent thinkbook with a 12th or 13th gen i5 processor, 16GB RAM, and a 500GB SSD for around $700-ish, which is the low end of what I think you're going to pay for a decent laptop. I'm reccing lenovo here because I personally like them and have found them to be very easy to crack open for repairs and upgrades. Stick to the thinkbook over the thinkpad because that's the business line and is a bit sturdier and they are designed to be easier to upgrade over time.

Actually, here's a thinkbook with a 12th gen i5, 40GB RAM, and a 1tb SSD for under $700. That's a shockingly good price for that laptop; the reseller OEMGenuine is one I've purchased from many times before for work and I've found them to be reliable, though the reason those specs are so good is because they've added aftermarket parts, so your RAM and SSD won't be under warranty from Lenovo.

For Framework you're looking at at least $1000, but it's easy to plug and play with upgrades so you can start out with lower specs (except processor, don't cheap out on the processor) and upgrade later. The framework is a bit smaller and easier to travel with, but I have a laptop quite similar to the lenovo and it's not a huge pain to move around - it's very light but the 15" screen might be bigger than you're looking for.

If you're willing to spend a little bit more and you're very uninterested in doing your own upgrades and would prefer the most computer you can get for your money right out of the gate, this is a 12th gen i7 thinkpad with 40GB RAM and a 2TB SSD for $1150. (I've not ordered from this reseller before, so maybe check over their terms if you're considering purchasing from them.)

[britt-kageryuu]

Donnie was in the middle of playing a Game Shop owner simulator game. Their model is dressed in an purple polo shirt, a gold colored apron with the shop name 'Softshell Cards' on it, along with a gold trimmed purple visor over his bandana.

The shop was pretty expanded, the layout and stock were already optimized, not to mention aesthetically pleasing and Donnie was looking over the numbers the determine what to do next.

"So, we have the choice of buying a new product, but so many have dropped in market price that it doesn't look like a good option." Donnie says while bringing up a spreadsheet of the market price fluctuations.

They look over at the NPCs roaming about with their slightly wonky pathing, the employees restocking, and running the register.

"If it were not for the fact that I haven't fully unlocked every possible SKU, and shop expansion, you would think there was nothing left to do. Bored Sigh." Donnie leans back in their chair, still going over the data that was collected.

Donnie slightly minimizes the game, and brings up a video of Leo playing the same game, though he seems to be loosing his mind over the NPCs not buying things.

[Leo: I know I can't actually talk these guys into buying anything, but why do they keep saying these are to expensive?!

He goes to look at the price tag.

Leo with a confused look: When did the price plummet so far? It was like $5-7 higher two days ago!]

Donnie sits watching their twin play the game very differently to they are.

"Inquisitive Hum. Maybe I should change up my strategy. Make a new file, and have Shelldon decide how I go about it." They then do just that.

Exiting to the main menu, making a new save file, and bringing Shelldon into play.

Shelldon leads Donnie to play a bit more chaotically, buying items Donnie wouldn't, selling items that Shelldon though were cool and not caring about pricing.

"Whoa Dude. We can get that shop upgrade! Storage Room acquired!" Shelldon celebrates while having Donnie move back stock racks into their new 'Storage Room', and order more items.

"Don't forget the rent Dude! Then get the license for that new figure!"

Donnie enjoys this even if it's not quite how They wanted to play.

The audience enjoy watching the Father and AI Son gaming together.

---------------------

Masterpost

This is short because I keep getting conflicted on how to write out playing this game, because different people I watched played so differently.

Was going to compare Leo and Donnies ways of playing, but I couldn't really get it into my mind what they would do.

And I kept being like 'well if I played this I'd play like this!'

Yeah the game is TCG Card Shop Simulator

[afloofwithmultipleinterests]

🔆 Opposite Day! ☽

A Security Breach tickle fic, featuring the Daycare Attendant(s) Sun, and Moon! (Both boys get equal amounts of Wrecking or your money back-)

As a result of a crappy visit to parts and services, Sun finds Moon has a new sunny accessory around his faceplate and the daytime counterpart is far from satisfactory. However, when Moon goes to do repairs, those new ray sensors decide to make themselves known, and not in the way that was expected.

Thank you @coy-lee and @laughterfixs for helping me edit this fic! 😁 I appreciated the help, and as much as I would deny, the high pitched screeching that came out of our editing method 🤣

Anyone that comes across this fic should like, totally check out their shit. They make some MMMMMMMMMM!!! GOOD SHIIT!! Anyway, with that said enjoy!☺️

Sun's rays were gone. No joke, the now bald animatronic looked like a McDonald's egg patty. The other day, the Daycare Attendant(s) took a trip to parts and service for a tiny upgrade to their sensory system, and a little adjustment to their mobility settings. Everything seemed spick and span coming back from parts and services the day before- so, how come he isn't now? Oh how he and Moon HATED to go to parts and services... They seemed to do more damage than help.

Sun huffed, hooking the lunar-wire to his back to pull themselves up to their room. Typical matentience staff. He entered the room inward from the balcony, a close up view of trash cluttering the floor, and children's drawings painting the walls. They were going to have to solve this problem on their own, like always. Crawling into the dark depths of Moon's room. The daytime bot shifted control to the naptime animatronic. Moon had fixed them before using other bots, so maybe he could find a way to reactivate his-

Oh. ...

There they were.

His vision froze on the mirror in his half of the storage room, possibly more confused than Sun in the moment. Moon tried moving the rays, much to his shock that he could move each individually, or all together if he wanted to. This was to his brother's annoyance, as the security bot began to play with them by making himself look like a cat, or axolotl, even a pokemon by stretching the top two rays out as far as they could go!

"Well that is... peculiar..." he stated in a nonchalant fashion.

Peculiar? Those were HIS RAYS! This was more than just peculiar, this was DISTURBING!

"Oh don't be so dramatic Sunny... it's not THAT bad~ I think I like this new look."

Moon posed like a geek in the mirror, flaunting his new rays in various positions like a model. He looked absolutely ridiculous! Sun's rays didn't even match him.

Moon chuckled at Sun's party-pooper mindset, deciding to give one last pose in the mirror by imitating Sun's side of their statue.

'Haha... really funny Moon.'

"Hehehah... I'm glad you think so! I think it's hilarious~"

After his obnoxious laughter stopped, Moon decided to focus on the task at hand:

Fixing this.

Moon jingled his way over to a lone, deactivated security bot to pry it open and steal away some lone wires, connectors, sensory chips, even a couple of servos. Taking the new repair supplies with him, Moon kicked open a loose plank among the closet floor to reveal stolen parts and service equipment.

Sun really doesn't like knowing this stolen staff equipment was here, but... this was really their only resolution. Moon has since cut off their hidden security camera from seeing the surplus of tools, otherwise they would have probably visited the shock conditioning chamber again.

"Don't be nervous," the lunar bot soothed, "I'm not going to hurt us. This is a minor fix. First I need to examine how exactly this happened."

Moon's fingers lightly excavated the rays. Even though he could move them, he for some reason couldn't feel them... how odd. Involuntary movement arose from the tiny triangles as he lightly measured the edges of them from bottom to top inbetween his index finger and thumb.

Sun gasped inside of his head at the foreign sensation, doing all he could to try and retract his rays, but they wouldn't budge.

"Is something wrong Sunny? It doesn't hurt, does it?"

Moon wanted to be extra careful with his opposites rays. They were the equivalent to hair with nerve-endings, or a less gross example being the inside of a human ear.

'N-no! It doesn't... just- be-Ee Carefuhul…'

His brother's thumb had feathered over the center of his sunrays... It was terribly ticklish- but, he had to stay quiet. Moon didn't know he was sensitive in THAT way on this area... If he did, he wouldn't hear the end of it.

Moon warily accepted the warbled answer, his finger now venturing to the back of their faceplate. Everything felt in order back there... Dangit! If only he had a mirror.

'Actually-'

Moon froze at the sound of Sun's thoughts overlapping his own.

Surely if Sun had a physical body, he would be fidgeting with his fingers.

'I have a mirror. It's just… hidden.'

Moon cocked his head with confusion at the response.

"Where?"

The two then played a little game of 'hot-cold' until Moon came across a tiny, dirty carpet.

'hot HOT! BURNING!!! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!'

Moon burst into giggly hiccups, raspy and Disney villain sounding. Their antics truly made his smile grow wider, even on the cloudiest of days. The lunar animatronic lifted the carpet to find a rather gruesome looking hole, wood splintered all around it in the shape of a foot.

'There was a... happy little accident that happened a while back when I was dancing. So much so, I kiiiinda decided to use it to keep things in like you do with that plank!'

Sun, the rule follower, the rule stickler, the anxious little Golden retriever that stuck to his programming... he STOLE things??

... Moon was so proud!

Sun was finally growing a backbone to scavenge!

What mainly decorated the hidden section were supplies intended for childcare purposes... also a purse.

"Seems you're more of a thief than I am!" Moon chuckled, rummaging through the compartment, placing his hands on the handheld mirror inside.

'I wouldn't go that far.. I merely like to have supplies management refuses to give us.'

"Oh, you mean like some parent's purse you stole? They still have their wallet in here!"

'.... I'm done talking now.'

"PFFFT-"

Moon snickered over his friend's grumpy nature, covering the hole back up with the rug and skittering back to the mirror in his room.

He held the mirror behind his faceplate before flipping one specific nerve ending switch ontop of their head.

"There. Our faceplate and your sun rays have the pain receptors turned off... Let's see..."

Moon took the back hatch off of their faceplate to see where the error was.

Aha, the orange and blue wires.

The orange wires intended for sun's rays were plugged into the activation port for his hat hatch... speaking of which- he realized he wasn't WEARING his hat at all... did that mean Sun-?

Nope. Sun didn't have his hat today... He guessed that maybe maintenance didn't properly plug the hat turning system after the upgrades, nor pushed in the stability settings for transitioning. While reaching for the plug, the long ribbon around Moon's wrist SLOWLY feathered across three of Sun's rays. It took him by surprise, so he couldn't stop his reaction.

'OHOHOMY GOODNEHESS-'

The animatronic stopped in his tracks, a bewildered look replacing the neutral one from before. Now that was straaaaange..

'N-No it wasn't! You just need to get back to the task at HaahahnnhnnhnhnnNHNND!? EEEEK!!'

Moon's hands had since traveled from the back of their faceplate to feel over two of Sun's rays.

"Such a peculiar reaction Sunny... I'm certain something may be wrong with your rays... Seems I might need to Investigate further."

Investigate? Uh oh...

'You really don't need to do this, it's probAHAHABLY NYAHAHA!!'

Moon drew a continuous spiral on one of them, while scratching at the other like a lottery card.

"You seem very happy brother~ Whatever could be soooooo funny, hm?" The lunar animatronic teased as the rays attempted to cha-cha away from his fluttering digits.

'OHOHO- NoOhohothing! NOHoTHing at ahall!!"

Moons fingers stopped for a moment to trace the edges of each ray starting from the bottom.

"Oh? It doesn't sound like nothing little star... my my my... you couldn't be-"

Moon got to the top two rays, and began to skitter his fingers quickly behind them.

"Tickle-tickle, tiiiicklish here? Could you?"

'SQUEAAAAHH!! Yohou MEheahHeaANIE! yohuhuu jeherrkyJEHERKjeEeherk!!'

"JerkyJerkjerk? Oh goodness, Sunny. I'm Offended. Maybe I should teach you a lesson... hehe..."

Moon smirked in the mirror as he began to spin Sun's rays in a circle.

'Wh... whahat are you doing!?'

The animatronic wiggled his fingers, continuously staring in the mirror so sun could see his demise. The moving digits moved closer until-

🎶"The rays on the sun went round' and round'~" 🎶

He began to sing the tune to wheels on the bus while tickling the life out of Sun's ultra sensitive rays.

'MYAHAHAYAAAA!! QUHIHIT IT!!'

🎶"Round' and round', "🎶

Ontop of his rays.. Skitter skitter, itch itch, wiggle wiggle~

🎶"Round' and round'!"🎶

'AHAHAAHA IHIHIT TIHICKLES TOO MUHUCH!!'

🎶"The Rays on the Sun went round and round'~"🎶

Behind his rays.. Skitter, scritch, skitter skitter, wiggle-

'EHEHEEEEHAHAHAAAA!! YOUHO BUTT!!' 

"🎶All through the day~!🎶 Ooh- more name calling? That means another verse is in order!"

'NohHOuuHuHUhu!!! MOHOHOONIE NOHO!!'

The lunar attendant changed things up a bit by making the rays retract, and eject while spinning.

🎶 "the rays on the sun went in and out~" 🎶

Moon used all of his fingers, targeting specific rays that had retracted, waiting for them to pop out in order to tickle them again.

Pop! Wiggle-wiggle wiggle~

Pop! Skitter-skitter skit~

Pop! Tickle-tickle  tickle~ 

'AHAHAHAAAA!! IHIM WAHARNING YOUOHO!! Yohou BEHETTER STAHAP!!'

Moon could sense that Sun was actually having a lot of fun through their thin, invisible mental wall, so he decided to crank it up a little.

 "🎶In and out~ in and out!~🎶 or what, give me a headache? You can't touch me~!"

Gitchygitchygitchy, itchy itchy, tingly tickles spread everywhere after Sun's threat, and the teasy song didn't help

' MWAHAHAAAA!! WEHE'LL SEEEHEHEEE!! EhAhahAaa!!'

🎶"The rays on the sun went in and out~ all through the day!"🎶

It was instantaneous when the power seemingly went out in Moon's arms. Great, another problem that he now physically couldn't fix.. maybe he would have to go down to-

As soon as Moon looked down, he immediately noticed a change in his arms...

"Yellow?" He asked aloud, extremely confused… that is until he realized.

They weren't HIS arms anymore...they were-

Sun's.

The yellow hands cracked their fingers and knuckles as a huffing, wheezing Sun voice inside of Moon's head starting to laugh without mirth.

'Heheheaha... ihi... I warned you~'

It turned out Sun's theory was correct earlier about the light sensors being breachable due to plug inactivity.. now to get some MUCH needed revenge.

The yellow limbs began to lightly trace over Moon's torso, making him squeak and sputter.

"Wahait!! I- We can tahalk about this Sunny!"

'Talk? You mean like how you tickled me to speechlessness? Sure, we can do that!~'

Moon let out a squeal as the digits dusted over his ribs, fluttered under his arms into his wires, feathered over his neck, traced over the edge of the moon crescent of his fa-

"SQUEAA!!" Moon screeched as Sun traced over the lower section of the crescent that would be considered his 'jaw'. Sun stilled at the reaction, baffled at the energy that erupted from seemingly nowhere. Moon felt Sun's sinister intentions bubble inside of their processor. The previous attacker grew nervous at the silence and the lack of movement from Sun's arms

"I-I uh-" Before Moon could say anything, Sun attacked. One hand flew to Moon's sensitive little tummy as the other danced over his jawline, drawing spirals in the moon crescent's craters like Moon did on Sun's rays earlier.

"SQUEAAAAAHEAHEAAAA!! EHEHEHEHE! -HIC-! ahahAhahahahAHAH!!" The sensation was overbearing!

Sun was used to tickling. Sun got to play with the kids all the time... however, since Moon was naptime duty on main, he hasn't built up quite the sensor tolerance Sun has, nor the fan speed.

Sun's left hand rapidly scrunched against the middle of Moon's tummy, barely touching his dent... OH how ticklish it felt- he never thought his tummy could feel so tingly.

"IHIHIT- EHEHEHEEEE! SUHUHUNNY- PLEHEHAhahaAh!!"

'Please? You're gonna have to specify! Did you mean please go faster? Do these tickles make you happy moon? Do they? Do they? Awww of coooourse they do!~ Why else would you be so giddy?'

With that, Sun sped the tickling up on the poor little tummy and ticklish little craters.

"OHOHOHO NOHOHO!! NAUGHAHAUGHYTY THIHING!! NauAHAHAUAHTY- NAUGAHATYHEHE! NYAHAHAAHAAA!!"

'Gitchygitchygitch! Oho tickle tickle little Moonshine~'

Sun's voice echoed in sickeningly sweet baby talk.

'Is the tiny, little astronaut that ticklish to you? Hm?? Them walking allll over your tummy, and face? Over your cute little craters?'

The left yellow hand began to mimic walking motions, wiggling each 'foot' into his moon plate with each step, circling and tickling in each tiny crater he could find.

"EHEHAKAKA!!" The lightswitch- he NEEDED to get to the light switch.

Sun inwardly gasped, beginning to tickle more skillfully instead of playful skitters as Moon's plan echoed through their mind. Not only did the solar animatronic have a lot of tolerance, but he also had a lot of experience giving tickles out, especially to adults as per his playful and teasy nature.

The nighttime animatronic sputtered and spat chortle to cackle as the hands began to travel. His ribs, his hips, even seeing the sensitivity of the little buttons on his chest, his neck.

And. It. Tickled. HORRIBLY.

Moon could barely keep himself up in these circumstances. His legs felt like jello, yet somehow, some way, Moon managed to make it over to the lightswitch.

'Ah ah ah! Not so fast~'

Moon was forced downward, sun's arms somehow pulling the rest of his body away from the lightswitch and to his ankles. Upon this the devilish yellow fingers inched around his ankles, and heels, tracing eights and infinity signs all over to throw him off. Moon screeched as his 'Achilles heel-s' were discovered. The animatronic couldn't move an inch from this terribly ticklish situation as both hands held his ankles captive. It was when the hands forced his foot up did he lose balance. The naptime attendant fell on his butt, his shoed feet at the very mercy of his brother.

'Let's seee~ what's behind curtain number one?!'

The first shoe came off, revealing the foot underneath. Moon's feet were much like his hands, accept it had sensory cushioning on the bottoms to prevent finger crushing. The yellow digits lightly traced the sensory pad, and under moon's toes before coming back to the top of his foot.

"KEEEEHEHEHAHAHA- NAHAT THE FEET SUHUHUN- NOHO-"

'Not the feet? Not the feet? Is it possible they're terrrribly sensitive to kitchies? Hmmmm?'

KITCHIES!?

Sun lightly scrunched over the top of the revealed foot before pulling the other slipper off.

Moon wiggled his toes as his brother traced lines all around the tops of his feet, paying attention to the tippy top of the little beans.

Snorting, Moon quickly tried to think of a plan through his laughter and Sun's teasing... AHA!

He wouldn't think what the plan was but he was going to do it.

'Do it if you dare~ I'll get at the bottoms of your feet if you try anything funny moon…'

Funny? Why would he try anything funny? He was the least funny person he kn-

Suddenly, Moon's hat projectile launched from the top of ther faceplate and upward at the lightswitch, leaving Sun to gasp internally.

‘You sneaky little rules twister- that's it!’

Just as Sun began to mercilessly skitter everywhere on the bottom of Moon's feet, the light switch had been flipped, turning the lights on.

His arms are now on the outside of Sun's body...

Oh... this was going to be fun~

"I uh-"

Before Sun could even come up with something to say, Moon's fingers flicked and fluttered vigorously around Sun's Tummy and ribs, even under his arms at one point.

"OHOHO MY STAAAHAHAHAAARS!! NYAHAHAAHAAA- MOOOHOHOOOON!"

'Paybaaaack~'

"Paybahahack!? YOUHOU'RE THEHE ONE WHOHO STAHAHRTED-"

bam the wires.

"AAAAAHAHAHAA- OHOHOKAY! OKAHAHAY! MEHEHERCY!! I PLEHEHEAD THE FIHIHITH!!"

As soon as the words left Sun's mouth, Moon stopped.

The conjoined animatronic twins turned on their internal fans, cooling their shared system as they lay on the floor.

Sun airily laughed the rest of his giggles out, eventually calming down.

"Hehe..aha.."

'Did you have fun?' Moon asked as their system returned back to its normal heating stats.

"... Maybe."

'Hehehe~ thought so!'

After a moment, Sun wobbled to his feet regaining his balance to step to the lightswitch again. Moon gave his brother the ability to swap their limbs again, so when they turned the lights off again, he would be able to fix them.

The lights turned off with a swift flick, changing Moon back into himself again, as bald and shiny headed as king Neptune without his crown. His hat was laying on the floor, but he'd pick that up later.

Without hesitation, he traversed back to the mirror again to fix the wires.

… were they that tangled before?

Perhaps Moon and Sun's ticklish scuffle tangled the wires up more than they were… their back faceplate cover was off during it.

"... well this will be difficult."

'HEY- uh… actually… what if we just… didn't fix it?'

Moon smirked at that, his attention fully on his brother now, that of which Sun felt. A bit nervous, he continued.

'I mean- if I'm able to swap your limbs out for mine… w-we can just… I don't know… keep that feature?'

That sounded like a fun little quirk… especially if they wanted to do something like this again.

"You know… that's not a bad idea. Who would really notice anyway?"

And from then on… nobody really did. Well- not except for when laughter could be heard coming from the fazbear theatre.. but Sun and Moon publically chocked it up to daycare antics rather than any insinuated malfunction if an employee were to ask.

Yet another secret well hidden by the mystery(ies) that was(ere) the Daycare Attendant(s).

[sirfrogsworth]

Wishlist Haul

All I asked for were pants, and those are coming Saturday. But you all came through in a big way with my wishlist and helped me solve some problems that have really been bugging me lately.

One of my biggest current issues is my decision to use my M1 MacBook Air as my main computer until I can move my PC upstairs at some distant time in the future. Which means I need to ask a lot more of it. And it is capable, as these Apple Silicon devices are amazing and very zippy, but I only got 256 GB of storage because I thought this would just be a secondary computer while I was taking care of my dad.

So I need storage. And if you do photography and use Lightroom, you know you need *fast* storage. In the days of spinny disc drives, going back and forth between images was maddeningly slow. I already hate the process of culling photos and picking the best ones. And sometimes you'd need to find 5 winners out of a few hundred. And when it took 3 seconds to switch between every photo, I wanted to die. And honestly, it could still be better.

But one of the best solutions is a super fast SSD. Which I had. I bought it right before my parents got especially ill and was planning to install it in my PC. But my priorities changed and I just never found the energy.

The problem is that was an internal NVME SSD. I needed it to be external.

Which is where this little thingie comes in.

This is an NVME enclosure, and if you are looking for cheap, fast external storage, this is so much better than those external SSDs they overcharge for. For $200 they give you a 2TB drive that can read about 2000 MB per second. Or you can get a 2TB NVME and this enclosure for the same price and get 3000 MB per second. Not only that, but it is upgradeable. In a year when 4TB is $100, you can plop that in. And the Mac's Thunderbolt 4 has a max speed of around 5000 MB/s, so there is room to improve there as well. Though sometimes advertised speeds are not reality speeds.

The only thing you need to be aware of is these drives run hot. You're going to think there is something wrong with them. Like, they top out at 90C. Which is nearly 200 degrees in freedom units.

I wanted a convenient way to mount my drive, but I didn't want 200 degrees on the back of my screen, so... MAGNETS!

And I can stack a few more if that section starts feeling too hot.

So, I have that problem solved. I can now use this as my main computer and work on my photography.

Next up... fashion!

I'm going out more and I want to look a little more presentable. I thought these two tone shirts looked a little more fashionable. And they are very comfortable too. I have a red one that I think I'm going to wear on my trip. I know you can't see the two tone well in the picture, so here is the product photo of the red one.

Next problem?

Well, it's maybe not a problem so much as something cool I wanted. A black light!

My mom had all of this uranium glass and I had no idea my salt shaker was marginally radioactive all these years. I really wanted to take a proper photo of some of the glass before it all gets sold at auction. So this should be a fun experiment.

I will say, if you don't have uranium glass, don't get a black light. You will want to burn your house down. It does not matter how clean you think you got something... you didn't clean it enough. And I have all of this dry flaky skin on my feet. It doesn't hurt. It doesn't bother me. You can't even really see it unless you look really close. But when I shined the light on my feet they looked like they had some undocumented disease. I will not be sharing a photo of that.

But the depression glass, that's super neat.

Some proper photos coming soon I hope. Maybe after my trip.

Next problem!

My key fob. This thing is a piece of shit.

Even if it looks cool under a black light, it is THE WORST.

It's cheap plastic, it takes a stupid watch battery, the symbols on the buttons all wore off. And all of that I could handle, but for some reason this fob has an effective range of about 2 feet. I literally have to be standing next to the door before it will work.

I had a black fob that worked much better, only the plastic casing was falling apart. But I taped it up as best I could and hoped it would not fall apart. Then I went to get my tires changed and they needed the fob to do some special reset of the pressure sensors and the battery died before they could. I went home to try and change the battery, and the entire thing basically disintegrated on me.

The inside looks like this.

The battery retention contact is held on by a tiny dab of solder. And if you pull the battery up even a little, it snaps off. And that's what happened. And to make matters worse, the rubber buttons were falling apart and the unlock button just... fell off.

So I was either stuck with the 2 foot range green one or I needed a new fob. Thankfully, they are only 20 bucks for 2 on Amazon. Unfortunately you need a dealer or an auto locksmith to program them. The lowest quote was $100 for about 5 minutes of work. The dealer actually wanted to sell me the fob as well, which they quoted as $150 for ONE. Same cheap plastic piece of shit and everything.

So, I got all of the parts from the broken fob and I hot glued that battery contact back into place and I transplanted that into a shiny new casing.

Works just like new. The buttons feel much better, I can actually see the symbols, and it has a range of at least 100 feet. And that hot glue isn't going anywhere. Changing the battery might be an issue, but these lasted several years.

Next problem!

An intervalometer is a fancy shutter button for a camera that allows very long exposures. It is detached from the camera so you don't shake anything and it needs a backlit screen because if you are using it, you are most likely in the dark.

My intervalometer is about 12 years old and uses another dreaded watch battery. And the backlight on the screen seems to be dead. So it is pretty much useless.

But look at this!

The light even works in the... well, light! And it takes normal batteries. Seriously, watch batteries need to stay in watches.

I don't know if I will get to take a long exposure in Florida, but I want to have this with me in case I do.

Next problem!

This one I actually solved on my own. But I found these stainless iron (yes, iron!) shims and I covered them with black tape and now all of my most used kitchen items never take up counter space.

Yes, I use magnets and hot glue to solve most of my problems.

Next problem!

My garage door is not very smart. And the remote control for it is huge and does not fit in my man purse.

So I downsized the remote.

But I wanted to fix the non-smart thing as well. A while back my brother got into my garage without me knowing. He must have taken a remote of his own. And I really don't feel like figuring out how to change the frequency, so I now have a sensor that lets me know when the door is open with a phone notification. Beyond that, I can open or close the door from my smartphone from anywhere. And I can give access to anyone with a smartphone in case of an emergency.

I will say, this company is really paranoid about people being crushed by garage doors. The instructions tell you to put up this sign in your garage...

And if you use the app to close the door, you get a light show with annoying beeping...

And I know that these accidents happen in real life. But whenever I think about how that could actually happen, all I can imagine is that scene in Austin Powers...

In any case, I am really glad I have this now. And I also like that if I forget to close the garage door, I can check the app and not have to get up to do it.

OH! I almost forgot. If I want, I can have Amazon place packages inside my garage.

Next problem!

What in the heck do I need galvanized steel plates for?

In product photography you need a diffusion panel called a scrim. If you try to buy one of these already made, they are hundreds of dollars. They are mostly made for movie productions, and those items always have inflated costs.

So most product photographers make their own out of tracing paper or a special plastic called Translum. It's $80 per roll, but lasts forever. I used to hang my scrims from the ceiling. But you can't really angle or move them, so you have to move the object you are photographing instead. Which is just a backwards way to work. So I invented my own scrims with two strips of very thin wood, metal chip clips, these little plastic feet that held up plexiglass barriers during COVID. And to weigh everything down... steel plates.

This is version 1.0 where I glued the plastic rather than affixing it with the chip clips.

The clips work much better and allow me to put different weights of plastic on, or even double plastic, for more or less diffusion. And I ended up not needing that board at the bottom which allows me to curve it as well.

And these scrims let me take this photo...

It's called graduated lighting and it makes things look neat.

I also got a backpack for my trip and shorts, but I am going to forego an explanation of those.

To all that helped, thank you so much. I hope you can see I am putting everything to good use.

[transmutationisms]

maybe it’s because I’m a newish follower but I haven’t seen your posts on zotero…. say more pls… how do u make use of it… what are your methods/systems to maintaining it or coming back to it? I’ve only heard of it mentioned once by a professor I admire (I asked how do u keep track of all the articles and texts lol) but then completely forgot to actually look into it.

>:) zotero is a free* and open-source citation manager, meaning it's designed to help you keep track of books, articles, podcasts, archival material, &c &c that you may be wading through for whatever reason. the basic structure is just a library of metadata: authors, publication info, and so forth. you can organise this into however many folders and subfolders as you might want, and (assuming you make sure the metadata are accurate) zotero also allows you to generate a bibliography from any of these folders with 1 click. also, it gives you a convenient notes function so that your notes are all attached to the material they correspond to (& are text-searchable), and when you use it as an app downloaded onto your computer (which you should), it automatically syncs with the web library, meaning your work is basically cloud-backed or whatever. you should also download the zotero web connector extension onto your browser; then, when you're looking at an article, book, or webpage online, you just click the extension and it'll let you put all of the metadata into your zotero library. i have no idea how people do large amounts of reading on any topic without a citation manager tbh. zotero.org to change your life forever

*u get a limited amount of storage for free, but the paid storage plans are at p reasonable rates (comes to 10 USD/month for unlimited, and if you upgrade in the middle of a yearly pay cycle they pro-rate it)

[star-vessel1237]

Hollow (Armor!Yuu)

Summary: What if Yuu was a hollow suit of armor?

(A/N: This is probably one of the last AUs I write before I go back to writing for my Digimon x Twst AU. I don’t know why but the idea just came to my head after watching “Night at the Museum”. Anyway, here we go.)

Armor!Yuu is a sentient armor that made their home in a museum where they would wander around at night

Armor!Yuu of course can’t talk, but that doesn’t really matter to them as they didn’t see the need to

As for how they got to Twisted Wonderland, unlike how it usually goes with getting hit by a carriage they ended up messing around in one of the storage rooms

Armor!Yuu stumbled on a peculiar looking mirror before it suddenly glowed a bright light that absorbed them, leaving the storage empty

To say Crowley and Grim were confused when Armor!Yuu was wearing a full suit of armor was an understatement

Crowley also tried to insist on them "taking off" the armor but to no avil

In fact, it wasn't until Grim started setting things on fire that Armor!Yuu's true nature was revealed

What basically happened was that Armor!Yuu grabbed Grim and stuffed him inside themselves

Riddle yelled at them for getting in the way when they’ve needlessly put themselves in danger while Azul is just questioning why they just stuffed Grim inside their armor

Grim jumped out of Armor!Yuu, knocking off their helmet and revealing that they had no body underneath

Needless to say, that was probably the most rememberable entrance ceremony in all of NRC history

After which, Armor!Yuu finds out they can’t go home, they’re given a pen and notebook to communicate, and are allowed to stay at Ramschakle and work as their janitor

Of course things didn’t exactly go well on their first day

Ace: It’s fricking hillarious, your an empty suit of magicless armor that still got summoned by the mirror and you, a monster, weren’t called but still tresspassed.

Ace: Man, it took everything I had to not- Ow! What the hell did you throw at me? *Opens paper airplane*

Paper: Maybe if you weren’t such a stuck up jerk you would have friends you can actually have fun with. But no, you decided to boost your ego at the less fortunate, and you call us the losers when you're literally wasting time here instead of an education to help you in life. Go off and waste your time with someone else.

Ace: The hell. You seriously wrote this?

Armor!Yuu: . . . >:(

Ace: Don’t stare at me like that. Besides, your still just an empty bucket-head and a cat.

Grim: I’m not a cat!

Armor!Yuu then watched Grim and Ace duke out, only getting involved to block the fire that would’ve scorched the statue of the Queen of Hearts

Armor!Yuu needless to say is done with Ace’s (and others) sh!t in this AU, they’ve dealt with teenagers just like them in the museum, like hell their dealing with another one when they couldn’t do anything about it back home

They’re a gentle giant, but they won’t hesitate to tear you a new one if you disrespect them or their new friends

Now for some miscellaneous details:

Armor!Yuu took off their own “head” after Riddle used his unique magic on Ace, Deuce, and Grim just to mess with him

They wear a cape in the school’s colors along with a matching plume as to make up for not wearing the proper uniform

They try to avoid rain as to make sure they don’t rust

They’re very good with swords and often train with Silver

After Chapter 6 they got a “little” broken up, but Idia helped by upgrading their armor to a more advanced one that kinda resembles the Charon robots(?) [Gonna be honest, still confused if they're robots or people in high tech armor, or both]

That’s all for now, hope you enjoyed!

[seam-queen]

Upgrades, People, Upgrades!

(( A flavor post ft. Open RP starter at the end. ))

Seams had been looking for so long, yet at last she had everything she needed. She had money, so much more money she knew than what to do with. Rent was free, so she didn't worry about that. The evidence she collected truly paid the bills in its own way.

Cecily Holcomb had been created, a dropout college student who lived... somewhere in Gotham. The running story was Cecily being an orphan who left Star City after the death of her parents in a house fire-- that sadly, so sadly, burnt every identification document, but who else would need to know that? Not the bank, of course. Holding the proof of embezzlement and money laundering by the bank surely helped. So Seams had the money, the name, and the bank account to finally get what she needed.

A brand new computer was ordered, plus an additional laptop -- nothing too big, but equipped well enough if she needed it. She'd have three monitors this time. Locked storage for all her physical data too. Even a new chair and desk. While the current one worked, it didn't feel the best on her back. She spent too much time there for it to hurt. All those sleepless nights had to be comfortable, at least.

Something about Seams was the fact she was always up at night. Her naps were taken during the day if she slept at all. The night was when everything happened in Gotham. Maybe it was her lack of an internal clock or the nurses who used to wake her up all hours of the night for medication, but she felt no need to sleep at night.

She never remembered having to sleep at night.

If she did sleep at night, all she was left with were nightmares.

Seams clicked on her shopping cart, ordering all the items. She fell back in her chair oh so dramatically now that she'd completed her feat, and proceeded to dip a bit too far back. Her back thumped against the hardwood floor as the chair slid under and clattered against the ground.

"Oww... fucking chair."

-+-

The items shipped over a week. The furniture building had been an... interesting experience. Yet she now had a proper desk and chair. Storage for her hard drives under lock and key, passcodes even. And the computer hummed so quietly she could barely hear. The spare laptop was tucked away to the side, charging. The brand new keyboard screamed at Seams to be used.

The best part might've been the metal leg she practiced walking with around her apartment. Her window was propped open with half of a broomstick as always, as she paced back and forth from her desk to the window during an evening of little activity. While Seams paced, she gnawed at her index nail. She had so many questions with nowhere to ask.

[scribbling-dragon]

Watcher’s Nest Café

Chapter 1

summary:

“I want you to know that I hate everything about this.”

Scott hums into his drink, sipping at it before throwing the whole thing back like it’s a shot. The bitter taste is enough to wake him up at least a little more. “You're here on time, at least.”

Jimmy’s staring at him when he looks up, apron held in his hands as he squints. Scott stares back at him. “How much espresso was in that?” He asks. Scott doesn't actually know, he measured it more with his heart than his eyes.

*

Or: I’ve finally cracked and written a coffee shop au.

(ao3 link)

(masterpost)

(3,262 words)

+ reblogs are super duper appreciated ;)

Jimmy is late. Again.

Scott has to remind himself that Jimmy being late is not the end of the world, as much as he currently feels like it is. The man is near consistently late, and he should really be factoring that into his mornings and the schedules at this point, when it’s such an inevitability. Whether it be because his alarm failed to go off even though he checked it five times the night before (and on one memorable occasion even sent a screenshot of the alarm to their groupchat, though he had still been late the next day), or because his bus was late and/or cancelled entirely. Or maybe some other disaster has sprung up and halted Jimmy before he can make it to work this morning.

So, Scott is on his own. He is on his own and facing down a long queue of caffeine-addicted customers that are beginning to grumble at the slowness of the line and its progress. Seriously, though, who has the energy to be up this early in the morning? Admittedly, most of his current customers are overtired uni students that probably wouldn't be able to tell caffeinated coffee from decaffeinated coffee at the moment.

He scowls down at the card machine, punching the numbers into the keypad a little more forcefully than necessary (seriously, would it kill his boss to upgrade their system so the card machines are actually, you know, connected to the tills) before thrusting said machine out towards the next student. They stare at it for several long moments, card gripped in their hand.

They look up, blinking tiredly. “Do you do a student discount?”

“No.” He smiles as pleasantly as he can, mustering the last of his patience and resisting the urge to point at the sign that explicitly states that they do not, in fact, do student discounts. “Sorry about that.” He’s not sorry, not at all, but it seems to appease the student enough because they give in and tap their card to the machine, holding it there until it gives a happy little beep and spits a receipt out.

“Thank you, your drink will be ready in a few minutes.” He smiles at the student until their back is turned, allowing it to drop as soon as they're no longer looking at him, glued to their phone screen instead. He turns to the next customer with a barely restrained sigh, smiling and opening his mouth to begin the spiel that he’s forced to give out to each customer that graces this counter.

“I'm here!” The door to the storage room that also doubles as their break room slams open, bouncing off of the wall behind it and almost slamming straight back into Jimmy’s face. It startles several of the people in the queue out of their half-dozing states, and they blink at him curiously. He watches the canary as well as he struggles to tie his apron properly, hands fumbling over the knots in his speed. “I'm here,” Jimmy repeats, as though they hadn't heard him the first time. “You are not going to believe what happened this morning.”

“The same thing that happens every time you have a morning shift?” He steps back and lets Jimmy slip in front of him and take over the till. Scott sends a small prayer up to whatever deity was watching over him at that moment, feeling his shoulders slump as he gets the opportunity to turn away from the customers and towards the backlog of drinks he hasn't managed to make yet.

“Uhm, no, actually,” Jimmy’s head is turned slightly towards him, but not enough that Scott can actually see his face. “My door - thank you very much, here’s your receipt - locked on me.” Scott allows those words to percolate through his brain, wondering at the same time how Jimmy can seemingly interact with people so effortlessly- go figure, the omen of misfortune is the preferred member of staff at this café.

The milk screams at him as he steams it and he has to try not to flinch back from the sound. The coffee machine rumbles threateningly beside him, letting out a grating wheeze- Scott prays that this moment is not when its last legs collapse beneath it, because that’s really the last thing they need right now.

“Your door locked on you.” He repeats. “Isn't that what it’s supposed to do?”

“Not when I'm trying to get out.” Jimmy squawks, turning away from the customer to look at him. Scott frowns at him until he turns back around, muttering something beneath his breath.

“Did you try using a key?” He asks, helpfully. “I've heard those are rather good at unlocking doors.” He laughs to himself at Jimmy’s grumble of frustration, keeping his back turned as he leans over to grab a few take-away cups.

“Did you try using a key,” Jimmy mimics, in what is possibly one of the worst impressions of a Scottish accent he’s heard so far this month. “Of course I tried using a key- it didn't work!” The card machine buzzes as it spits out another receipt, and Jimmy wordlessly hands the order over to him.

“And yet you're here.” He sets the group of drinks on the counter, calling out for the customer. They perk up, head swivelling around as though someone else might dart forward and take drinks under the exact same name. Only when they realise that he’s actually calling them do they begin to meander their way over. They take the drinks without even a single thanks, the bell above the door ringing as they leave.

“Uh, yeah,” Jimmy turns to face him, leaning back against the counter- and Scott’s surprised to see the lack of a queue, people either sitting down at tables or perching on stools as they wait for their drinks. “Course I'm here. Not about to abandon you to the morning rush, am I?” Jimmy’s face goes a little pink, and his wings ruffle behind him. Scott grins at that, stepping back towards the coffee machine.

“How did you get out of your apartment, Jimmy?” He nudges an elbow against Jimmy’s side as he passes, watches as he gets even pinker with embarrassment. Jimmy avoids his eyes, muttering something beneath his breath.

“What was that?” He asks, cupping a hand behind a fin, leaning slightly closer. Jimmy looks almost as embarrassed as he did after the Sheriff Incident. “I couldn't quite hear you.”

“I said,” Jimmy grits out. “That I had to climb out of the window.”

“You live on the fifth floor.”

“I know that Scott, thank you for pointing it out.” Jimmy turns back around, realises there are still no customers to serve, and turns back again, crossing his arms. “Like I said, not about to abandon you for a morning shift.”

“You're too sweet,” he nudges his hip against Jimmy’s as he passes, two more drinks securely held in his hands. He ignores the small twinge in his leg as he does so, calling out for both customers. Only one of them thanks him as he slides the drinks across the counter and towards them. “Especially as you left your keys behind.”

“I- what? I didn't leave my keys behind.”

“Well they're not in your pockets.”

“I- Scott!” He grins to himself at Jimmy’s protests, “You need to stop doing that, you're going to get in trouble one day for stealing from the wrong person.”

“Haven't been caught since I was nine, Jimmy dear.” He wipes the steam wand down quickly, cleaning the last traces of milk froth from it before turning back to face Jimmy. The last few students that had invaded the café have vanished, taking their drinks with them. “And it’s hardly harming anyone.”

“I think the people you pickpocket might have something to say about that.” Jimmy says.

“Only if you snitch on me, and you're far too nice to do that.”

“Nice enough that you’ll switch me and Pearl for tomorrow morning?”

“Nope!” He grins at Jimmy, ignores the dramatic groan the canary lets out, slumping back onto the counter. He’s going to get feathers in the till again. “I'm not doing a stock check with Pearl.”

Jimmy continues groaning. “Worth a shot.”

“Not really.”

                                                           *

“I want you to know that I hate everything about this.”

Scott hums into his drink, sipping at it before throwing the whole thing back like it’s a shot. The bitter taste is enough to wake him up at least a little more. “You're here on time, at least.”

Jimmy’s staring at him when he looks up, apron held in his hands as he squints. Scott stares back at him. “How much espresso was in that?” He asks. Scott doesn't actually know, he measured it more with his heart than his eyes.

“I don't need to provide an answer to that.”

“This- Scott, I'm not interrogating you. I'm checking I don't have to call an ambulance in the next five minutes for whatever heart attack you've probably given yourself.”

“On the floor.” He points, “I'm going to read something out and you're going to tell me if we have it.”

“I hate this.” Jimmy peers under the counter anyway, staring into the small space as though it’s going to bite him. Scott nudges at him with his foot, pushing him a little further in.

“Get on with hating it then, do we have any earl grey?”

“Three boxes.” There’s the sound of some shuffling, and then a muffled thump. Jimmy groans as he marks the earl grey off the list.

“Mint?”

“One box.”

“Hm,” he marks it off. “Mint’s been quite popular these past few weeks.”

“Then order some more.” Jimmy sits back on his heels, head just reaching the counter. His hair is covered in dust and Scott has to bite his lip to not laugh. “I don't see why we need to store all the teas here, why can't we store it with everything else?”

“Because I like watching you suffer. Green tea?”

Jimmy grumbles, but ducks back under the counter again, shuffling about. The bell rings as someone enters the shop, and he glances up for a moment, sees who it is, and looks back down at his list.

“Four boxes.” He marks it off. “Is Pix here?”

“Yes,” Pixl leans over the counter, something that no other customers would actually get away with, but they're technically not open yet so Scott doesn't shove him back yet. “Having fun down there Jim?”

“You know it.” Pixl grins at Jimmy’s deadpan response, sliding back across the counter. There’s another muffled thump, and Jimmy swears this time, shuffling backwards until he’s clear of the counter, straightening up. “Good morning.”

“Morning, you look like you've walked out of one of the dig sites.”

“Why-” Jimmy runs his hand through his hair. “Scott! You told me you dusted under there!” He rubs his hands through his hair a little more vigorously, both Scott and Pixl watching him with a grin. “Why didn't you tell me!”

“It’s much more funny to watch you find out yourself.” Scott replies, “Besides, you're not five anymore, you can do things yourself now.”

“Well aren't you hilarious.” Jimmy grumbles, running his hand through his hair again. He’s still rather dusty, but he hasn't noticed it yet and Scott isn't about to tell him. He holds a finger to his lips, swearing Pixl to silence as well. “I'm not doing another stock check with you ever again Scott Smajor, you can fire me, I don't care.”

“Scott Smajor,” Pixl parrots, still grinning. “Someone’s in trouble.”

“That’s not even my name,” he scoffs.

“Uh-huh, and where’s the birth certificate to prove it?” Jimmy asks. “Pics or it didn't happen.”

“You're ridiculous.”

“Your hair is ridiculous.”

Scott pauses, halfway through prepping the coffee machine. “I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that.” He says, listening to the silence that follows afterwards. “Usual?”

“Yes, thank you.” He can hear Pixl shuffling behind him. The sound of something heavy being dumped on the bar counter reaches his ears. No doubt Pix’s setting up his stall for the day- next thing he knows it Cleo is going to show up as well and then he won't get a single moment of peace.

                                                          *

Cleo shows up about twenty minutes into the lunch rush.

He ignores her in favour of making sure he doesn't burn his hands on the small oven or the hot food that his boss insists they serve, despite it being the most inconvenient thing to ever happen to Scott. The beeper is annoying and it doesn't shut up until he manages to grab a moment to turn it off- which is never because it’s the lunch rush and they're constantly busy.

Jimmy is banned from touching the oven. The last time he did so he managed to get several third degree burns and Scott had to take him to A&E after shutting the café for the afternoon. Him and Tango managed to have a rather pleasant conversation in the waiting room, at least.

“You look like you're having fun.”

“Thanks, Cleo.” He cleans the steam wands off quickly, readjusting them before he turns and snatches the milk jugs off the counter, before Jimmy can even think about trying to steam the milk. The milk screams at him, though he does his best to grit his teeth and bear the sound until the milk is finished. “Just a few more minutes and the worst should be over.”

“No murder victims yet?”

“Not yet,” he hands the coffee over to a customer with a smile, ignoring the worried look they shoot him at Cleo’s words. “Though you're beginning to look like a rather tempting target.”

“Oh, please. I welcome your attempts. How do you kill something that’s already dead?”

“Spite.”

Pixl laughs. “He’s got you there.”

The next few customers blur together, with Jimmy handing him tickets almost every few seconds. His leg aches something awful and he is seriously looking forward to his break, even if Cleo’s going to make him drink something other than coffee now that she’s here. And she doesn't even do it in a nice way, just invites herself round the counter and pours his coffee down the sink.

He leans against the counter when they have a small lull, resisting the urge to bash his head against said counter until everything goes nice and quiet and dark.

“Has Pearl been by already today?” Cleo asks.

“Yeah, she dropped off a few tubs of brownies and a cheesecake.” He gestures towards where he knows the cake display is, where Cleo is no doubt already looking. “Fancy anything?”

“Not really, just wondered if she was working today.”

“Not today. She had something on last night, just said she wouldn't be in today.”

Cleo hums. “Full moon last night.”

“Yup.” He glances up at the clock, wondering if he can go on break early. He then remembers that he is the manager and can do whatever he wants.

“Strange coincidence.”

“Please stop speculating about Pearl while she’s not here.” He drags himself around the counter, sitting down beside Pixl, careful to not lean on any of his notes or knock any of his pens from the counter. “You’ll summon her.”

“She’s not a demon, Scott.” Jimmy joins in, leaning over the counter to peer at him. “She won't appear if you say her name three times.”

“Don't you have some tables you should be cleaning?” He says, in lieu of a response. His leg continues to ache, even though he’s sat down.

“You're the least fun person I've ever met.” Jimmy complains.

“Good. Get on with it.”

                                                          *

Jimmy had an afternoon lecture, something which one of his classmates - fWhip - reminded him about twenty minutes before it was due to begin.

Scott isn't actually sure how Jimmy has survived this long- wouldn't believe that he had managed to exist before now if he hadn't met him in college. One of the many mysteries of the world is Jimmy’s continued survival. Scientists would study him if they had the chance.

Jimmy’s absence means that Scott is being forced to finish the stock check beneath the counter, ignoring Cleo’s comments about the music currently playing- he doesn't exactly get to choose the music. Jimmy does all of that, and the poor man really needs someone to introduce him to a band that still has all of its members alive.

He winces at a particularly bad note, almost bad enough to cover the chiming of the bell. He sticks his head back above the counter, narrowly missing bumping his head on the underneath of it.

It’s someone he’s never seen before, not one of their regulars, peering about the place with curiosity clear on his face.

He hauls himself to his feet, ignoring the protesting of his leg and knee as he does so. The customer is…annoyingly handsome, in a rather charming way. His eyes glitter with mirth as he approaches, hair flopping over his face despite the headband he wears presumably to avoid exactly that.

“You have a little something in your hair, buddy.” And as with all men, Scott is disappointed as soon as he opens his mouth. Cleo turns away, covering their mouth as they attempt to smother a laugh. He resists the urge to glare at her.

“Thanks.” He brushes a hand through his hair, careful not to pull it from where it’s coiled at the back of his head. “What can I get you?”

“I don't know,” the man leans against the counter, “any recommendations?”

“Tea or coffee?”

“Coffee,” the man pulls a face. “Not a big tea fan.”

“No one ever is.” Pixl mutters, pulling his mug of tea closer to himself. Pixl is the only man Scott respects right now.

“Our latte’s the most popular coffee, do you want that?”

“Sounds lovely,” the man’s eyes meet his own. “Say, you have some rather unique eyes, don't you?”

“You could say that, why, want a closer look?” He leans a little further over the counter, smiling slightly as he watches the man’s eyes widen, no doubt not expecting him to respond- really, if he wants things to go his way he needs to get better at flirting. “Your eyes are rather nice too.” He says, “if I was able to see them.”

The man rests his arms on the counter, wallet clutched loosely in one hand. It’s already open, card halfway pulled free. He looks back up, continuing to smile at the man.

“Shall I make you that latte?” He pulls back, watching as the man takes a moment to regather himself, blinking rapidly.

“Oh, yes please. Thank you.” The man pays, almost appearing to be in a trance with the way he’s blinking, looking around as though he’s not sure of where he is. Scott turns, smirking to himself as he makes the coffee, handing it over in a take-away cup a few moments later.

“Thanks.” The man takes the coffee absently, turning around and walking from the shop, bell ringing merrily in his wake.

“Scott,” Pixl says.

“Pixl,” he mocks. “C’mon, who flirts with a barista?”

“That guy, apparently.” Cleo says, still watching him walk away. “He looked like you blindfolded him and spun him a hundred times before setting him loose again.”

“If he wanted to keep his wallet safe, he shouldn't have gotten distracted by my eyes.” He sticks the five-pound note into the tip jar. “Besides, it’s not like he’ll be back.”