#and support me and provide input as i draw !

[alfheimr]

you feel real to me.

[autistichalsin]

I know a lot of people find it boring how much Halsin talks about nature, and I do get it- it is repetitive. However, I also find that if you break some of his statements down into what he's implying, you end up with something a lot more interesting. (ESPECIALLY because a lot of these support the "Halsin is autistic" interpretation.)

Take, for example, Halsin talking about his place in the world, specifically relating to relationships:

Halsin: I still have hot blood in my veins. Nature gifted us our desires, and the means to act on them. But we muddied its beautiful simplicity with rules, social strictures... clothes. So, I am not bound to nature. I am unbound in nature.

Halsin: Relationship? Such terms belong to civilisation - a little unfamiliar to my lips. You know what we share is more fluid, more founded in the principles of nature.

Implications: Halsin finds society too complicated. He enjoys nature because its rules are simpler and more sensical; rather than social rules and structures that are beyond him (especially when you take into account the autistic Halsin interpretation), he feels comforted by nature, which is complex in a way that he understands.

There's also Halsin's friendship with Thaniel.

Halsin: I had a friend when I was young, long ago. He played with me in the forests where I grew up... but eventually, I realised no one else had heard of him. It was Thaniel, of course. Nature was my very first friend. I get older, but he hasn't changed a day. I knew then that I had to be more than a companion to him. I had to be a protector.

Implications: Nature, by being Halsin's first friend, has always been what Halsin is comforted by. It has been a steady and comforting presence for him, something he can rely in, in contrast to other people who are unpredictable. Nature is consistent and comforting for him.

Halsin, infamously, is not happy in the city of Baldur's Gate.

Halsin: Too much noise, too many lanterns kept burning... nature's rhythm is ignored here.

Implications: Halsin is overstimulated easily by excessive noise and other sensory inputs. Nature provides him somewhere quiet.

Halsin: I wish... I wish there was a better way. I wish everyone could see the sun, have a full belly, and know nature as a friend. There is a balance that is yet to be found.

Implications: Again, Halsin sees nature- not just Thaniel, but all of nature- as a friend. A source of comfort and companionship.

Halsin: I think on [politics and high art] also. But nothing matches the splendour of an ancient tree.

Implications: Halsin loves the beauty of the natural world as much as anything else. Rather than art or music (which he can appreciate), what he prefers is something that grew rather than being made.

Halsin: I am... less anxious to find myself in a city. So removed from nature's power - I do not know how I will fare.

Implications: Not only does Halsin prefer not to be in the city, but he is actually, to some extent, frightened of it (likely due to how overstimulating it is for him), in contrast with his feeling of being right at home in nature.

There's other things to note as well. If a Dark Urge player embraces Bhaal and then tells Halsin to bow, Halsin has this to say:

Halsin: Nature bows to none. It will fight on and survive, no matter what madness your god has inspired you to undertake.

Implications: Halsin views nature as strength, and admires that very much. He draws a lot of his tougher qualities from this aspect of the natural world.

Or a line where Wyll gently points out that he talks about nature a lot:

Halsin: When you care about something deeply enough, it consumes every thought and word.

Implications: Halsin isn't thinking of little else besides nature because he's "boring"; it's because it's important to him. (A special interest, one might say.) And when something is deeply important to a person, they think of everything else in relation to that thing; think of a sports fan who constantly uses sports metaphors to understand the world around them.

There's another party banter with Wyll that is telling when combined with what he has to say about the city, too.

Halsin: It is most unfair to pour such scorn on rats - they have their place in nature, same as you or I. 

Halsin: I thought cities were supposed to welcome folk of all walks of life. Clearly I was mistaken.

Implications: Halsin feels everyone has a place in the natural world, yet that the city shuns those it deems different. As someone who has struggled greatly with fitting in/finding a place he "belongs", Halsin feels more sympathetic to nature, where all living things belong, than anywhere else.

I think that when you break up Halsin's love of nature into all the little things it implies, it paints a much more interesting picture of him, personally. It also supports the "Halsin is autistic" interpretation, which makes him even MORE interesting.

[roaenexists]

Pick-A-Pairing Tarot and Oracle readings for the collective.

From left to right we have Pairing One: Leather. Pairing Two: Starburst. Pairing Three: Cerebral.

Pairing One: Leather.

You have been getting a little too big for your britches, as my grandma would say. You have been communicating and behaving in a way that has showed those around you a haughtier side of yourself than I know you'd prefer. In other words, you've been coming off as a bit of a bitch and we both know you're capable of better than that. You need to do some inner child work and tap back in to a learner's mindset. You don't have to fundamentally change who you are, just walk it back a bit. Did you ever love learning? Did you ever used to value the input of those around you? Tap back into that energy and you'll be surprised at how naturally it comes. Past You is here to support Present You. Stop trying to rush to your future self because right now you're missing the mark. Open yourself up to the lessons your friends and mentors and colleagues have for you, and embrace the youthful spirit you've been neglecting. Come home to yourself.

Pairing Two: Starburst

Recently you've ended something and then immediately begun something new that, quite frankly, you are ill-equipped to handle. I'm inclined to think it's a relationship, though for some of you it's a new job, or a personal project. But y'all all got one thing in common: You are going about this all wrong. You had your head in the clouds about what was going to be required of you, and how quickly you were capable of providing it, but the reality of the situation is that you have all the wrong tools, most of the wrong perspective, and none of the energy. You aren't seeing the situation clearly, most likely because you haven't been doing the necessary work on yourself to make sure you were ready for this new journey. If it's too late now to walk it back, don't panic. Set aside some time to really refill your emotional, spiritual, and physical cups. Make your own health and well-being the priority, at least for long enough to recenter and reassess. You cannot expect a battery to work when empty, and you cannot care for others without first tending to your own needs.

Pairing Three: Cerebral

Shit sucks right now. You're in a situation where you are powerless and/or unhappy, with the caveat being that there's no fucking reason you shouldn't be seeing and, more importantly, feeling progress already. You feel you've learned all you can from where you are, you've made all the moves, and all that's left is to move on. The good news is that it's only a matter of time. If you can bear down and get through time then you will be able to pursue your own idealistic future, which includes physically moving location in some way, and probably also mental health support services. Will you actually make it there is up to you, but overall this draw is giving big Trevor Project, "It gets better," vibes. It's corny but it is literally in the cards. You are moving forward. Time and space are not separate, so the longer you press on, the farther you are from where you want to leave. Things are changing. This is inevitable. If you can ride the tumultuous waters, they will eventually calm down, and you will be able to take control of your vessel in the way you know you need to. You know you are meant for different; you just need to believe it until your experienced reality is reflecting that truth back to you. Take this energetic hug from me and Spirit and know that your future is full of potential. If you need to vent you can DM me. Just keep going.

[oiblackestsheep]

Would it be totally outlandish for me to put my big six here and for you to guess my MBTI from it? I’m Sagittarius Sun, Aquarius Moon, Virgo Rising, Sagittarius Mercury, Capricorn Venus, Mars Pisces. I know I’m an intuitive thinker but that’s it.

Astrology x MBTI Prediction

Oh HELL yeah, thanks for reaching out, I'd love to do this for you!

Sagittarius: Sun, Mercury

Naturally fierce, optimistic, and philisophical, you'll have an innate love for learning new things that challenge you to expand your mind. More of an iNtuitive astrological sign for sure, but I think that it can be either Ne or Ni, depending on the other placements. Your mercury being in Sagittarius is going to influence you to communicate in very Sag ways, one of the more notable traits being a fast talker who could be more likely to run through a lot of topics really fast. If given the choice between Ne or Ni, I'd lean more towards Ne. Philisophy tends to be a very introspective way of drawing conclusions about the world or how to be, so either of the introverted judging functions (Fi or Ti) could be present here, too.

Possible types: xNxP, xxTP / xxFP

Aquarius: Moon

OOO Air moons always keep me on my toes just a little bit lmao. Aquarius being such a detached sign will already give you points toward being a thinker over a feeler, but it being your moon placement (the luminary that rules your deepest and most personal emotions) will give you an even greater degree of detachment and/or an analytical attitude towards the feelings and opinions you form. This could indicate having an inferior feeling function. However, Aquarius is known as the humanitarian of the Zodiac, which I think tends to exhibit the traits of the objective judging functions, especially Fe.

Possible types: IxTP, ExTJ

Virgo: AC

Same rising sign as my partner - I am very familiar with the traits of Virgo risings lmao. Always on the move, always taking care of the next task, staying on top of your to-do list, striving for pure, unadultered perfection. This is something you aim to become and embody, something to be known for because you place value in these things. Virgo is a very high Si-coded kind of sign because it loves structure and wants to preserve it, but is constantly adding new items to the structure, forever prolonging the journey to perfection. Overall, Virgo is more Si-Ne than Ne-Si, BUT with it being your rising sign with no other placements, and other placements exhibiting an Ne-Si axis, I can see how this could support the Ne-Si axis, too; this is because the rising sign is often times what you ASPIRE to be, and it would make sense to admire functions lower in your function stack that don't come as naturally to you. Still, I'll give the point to Si-Ne first because that is the simpler answer.

Possible types: xSxJ, xNxP

Capricorn: Venus

You may tend to find Capricorn traits attractive in a potential partner. This could be somebody who keeps you grounded and tethered to reality, tells you the cold hard facts (good or bad) when you need to hear them, or you might find long-term determination and goal-oriented people who are wise beyond their years because they put in the hard work to be attractive. OR you might choose to express your own affection to other people in those kinds of ways. These are very high Te and high Ni-coded traits. This could either give you points towards being an xNTJ, or simply just being attracted to xNTJ traits. In addition, it might be that you tend to be attractive to xNTJs, too, so... watchout xNTJs, you might get SMIT lmao 👀 In all seriousness, I'll give you points towards being an xNTJ, and whether you do or do not have any kind of attraction with xNTJs is not a reflection of preference for people similar or different from you without, well, your input to provide context lmao.

Possible types: xNTJ, xSTJ

Pisces: Mars

You've got the planet of action and aggression in one of the least action-oriented or aggressive signs of the Zodiac. The first thing that comes to mind here is discomfort with confrontation and a preference for going with the flow instead. This CAN, but doesn't always, manifest itself as having passive-aggressive tendenies as a way of letting out the negative feelings in a way that feels safe. Fear of confrontation, especially fear of upsetting other people, resembles high Fe traits. You might view self-sacrifice as a comendable outlet for resolving conflict, another Fe trait. You could have a lot of motivation to direct towards other Piscean pursuits like abstract creative expression which can be either Ne or Ni - the operative word here is that Pisces energy is very abstract and nebulous.

Possible types: xNFJ, xNTP

Additional Notes

The majority of the placements you gave me to work with are below your horizon line, indicating that you might keep more aspects of your life private rather than open, so I'd say you might have a preference for introversion. You've got an equal number of fire/water and earth/air placements, so I would say it's possible that the roles that your thinking and feeling functions play in your life and/or your cognition have similar importance to each other, compared to other people of your type, or other types in general. Ie, thinking and feeling functions being your auxiliary and tertiary functions instead of dominant and inferior functions.

Conclusions

Okay, so, let's do the top 5!

INTP

ENTP

INFP

INTJ

ENTJ

I think the most frequently appearing function axis I noticed was Ne-Si which would narrow it down to xNxPs. There were also a lot of Fe traits, some high, some low, but coupled with strong Ne would narrow the list down to xNTP pretty quick. I included INFP because they are the only other introvert with high Ne. The xNTJs got honorable mentions at the bottom because of the Venus in Cap traits that brought in some Te energy.

Tried to be as objective and thorough in my analysis as I possibly could! Hopefully this doesn't age horribly and make me look like I only see my own type in other people lmao.

[all-risejd]

Chapter 23: The first Meeting (A Poly Judgement Day Fic)

San Diego May 10th, 2023 Wednesday

Nessa wakes up and rolls over snuggling back into Dominik's chest, what he told her last night coming back to the forefront of her thoughts. She rests her hand on his chest and smiles. He wants nothing more than to have that future he envisions for them. She draws shapes on his chest with her finger. She remembers the first time she met him in her Emergency room and how far they have come.

_____________________________________________________________________

Sometime in October of 2018

Nessa’s curly red hair is tied back in a messy bun, her stethoscope slung around her neck. The black scrubs she is wearing that day washing out her complexion making her look even more pale than usual. She looks up from her charting when she sees a young man, tall hair cut short with glasses and a hoodie with a wrestler she recognizes as Rey Mysterio on it. He is calling out for help as he is carrying someone, supporting their weight, practically dragging them in, blood pouring down the other guy's face, his eyes unable to focus.

“You gotta help me, we had an accident in training.” The boy in the hoodie asks, panicking, his own breaths shallow. 

Nessa springs into action, snapping on a pair of gloves as she runs over two other nurses joining her. Together they set the man in a wheelchair, one of the other nurses holding the wound on his head to stem the bleeding while Nessa uses her penlight to assess the pupillary response. “His pupils are sluggish, take him to CT and page Neuro while I get information from his friend here,” Nessa orders the others who immediately do as told. Nessa takes off her gloves and turns to the young man who she can’t help but eye up and down, appreciating the chubbiness in his cheeks and finding him adorable even in his panicked state. “Hey your friend will be fine, our doctors and nurses are the best in the state, now I need you to breathe.” She takes a deep breath to demonstrate and continues once he takes a few deep breaths with her. “Good, now tell me what happened and his name so I can start his chart instead of calling him John Doe.” Nessa gives him her best calming smile.

“Andrew, his name is Andrew Watkins, we were training, we are training to be wrestlers and he botched a move and hit his head on the steps.” He explains near hyperventilation again.

“Sir I need you to breathe with me again” She instructs, taking an exaggerated deep breath, the young man copying her. “Ok, now what is your name sir,” She asked as he blinked back tears.

“Dom, Dominik.” He answers, his voice shaky. 

Nessa nods and pats his knee. “Ok, Dominik, is there any family we can contact for Mr Watkins?” Nessa asks, writing down information in her little notepad to put in the chart when she is at her computer.

“Yuh… yeah, his brother” Dominik gives her his information and she quickly writes it down.

“Unfortunately Dominik I can’t give you any updates on him because you are not next of kin, I am going to call his brother and when he gets here we will give him the update and what he does with that information is up to him.” Nessa holds up her hand to stop him from arguing, “I’m sorry but it’s the law, he is alive and that is all I can tell you ok.” Nessa assures him before getting up and going back to the computer at the intake desk. She inputs the information into his chart and calls the number Dominik provided, then going back to triaging patients coming in and calling people back. 

Dominik keeps his gaze flickering between the door and to Nessa. Grateful at how nice she was and he can’t help but admire the strands of hair that have made their way out of her bun that frame her face and is floored at how she handles those coming in with such compassion yet being stern and firm when needed. Before too long Andrews' brother Alex comes running in and goes straight for Dominik. 

Nessa gets up from behind the desk and begins to go over to the two men, but gets stopped by someone stumbling in covered in blood that is still pouring from his neck and chest, over his hand where he has his thumb stuck in a gaping hole in his neck. Nessa immediately jumps into action, going over to the man and guiding towards the trauma room, only for someone to step in front of them. She looks up to the two men seeing Dominik, and the man that must be Andrew's brother Alex.

“I need you to move please.” Nessa asks firmly trying to guide the gentleman around them but Alex steps in front of her again. “Sir this man is bleeding out as we speak, I need to get him into the trauma room. A doctor will be out soon to update you on your brother now get the fuck out of the way before I mow you down.” Nessa orders losing her temper, her concern is the man bleeding out onto her scrubs. Dominik sees how serious the situation is and how serious the young woman is. He fears for Alex’s life so he pulls him out the way and she drags this full grown man, probably twice her weight and a good foot taller than her. He stares in awe at how strong she is, physically and mentally to be able to do this job. 

Alex scoffs and crosses his arms, “I am going to go get her manager, she can't speak to us that way.” He complains. 

Dominik rolls his eyes and smacks Alex on the back of his head. “Hey stupid, the guy was literally bleeding out and she is just trying to do her job. Andrew is alive, she told me that much. You totally deserved that and more. That guy could die because you blocked her way, look at the trail of blood on the ground.” Dominik gestures, both of their eyes going toward the trail that leads to the room a bunch of people are running in and out of, Dominik smiling to himself when he sees the petite redhead exit the room, a look of relief on her face before she disappears down a hallway.

____________________________________________________________________________

A few days later

Dominik enters the lobby of the Emergency room, his eyes searching for the kind red headed nurse, intent to apologize for Alex’s behavior and maybe… His eyes light up seeing her behind the counter. He pops his neck and shakes out his hands before heading over to her. He gets to the counter and clears his throat to get her attention, unable to form words because of how nervous he is. She looks up and smiles kindly at him.

“Dominik right? What brings you in today, is everything alright, was there another training accident?” She gets out of her seat and walks around the counter to assess him. 

He looks down at her and blushes, shaking his head. “Well then what do you need? This is an emergency room and we need to care for our patients.” Nessa crosses her arms and cocks her  head, confused as to why this man is in her ER with no injury or emergency.

“I uh…” Dominik clears his throat and starts again, “I wanted to apologize for my friend's behavior and for getting in the way the other day. You were just trying to do your job and here…” He flings his hand out towards her with a gift card to Dunkin Donuts. Nessa only raises her eyebrows, not uncrossing her arms. “You work long hours and know you must live off of coffee like my mom did and you deal with idiots like Alex and me all day so I thought you might appreciate it. The amount is written on the back of the card…” Dominik explains and Nessa slowly uncrosses her arms and takes the card, sliding it into her pocket without looking at the back.

“Thank you, that is very sweet. I Don't mean to sound rude but I have to get back to work and you don’t have an emergency to tend to so I have to ask you to leave.” Nessa steps to the side for him to leave but he stays in his spot, his hands in his pockets, his shoulders raised near his ears, clearly wanting to say something else. “Go on, say what you need to hun.” Nessa prompts and Dominik exhales sharply.

“I was wondering if I could take you out for coffee sometime as well?” His eyes widened, anxious for her answer, pulling his arms closer to his body, hands still in his pockets. Nessa sighs and looks at him sadly,

“I’m sorry sir, I’m not looking for a relationship right now and well I just don’t have the time.” She shoots him down, forcing herself to keep her arms at her side instead of wrapping them around herself for some comfort. 

Dominik looks dejected and his shoulders drop. “Oh that's fine, I just want to do something nice to make up for the other day. No expectations of anything else, please?” Dominik offers just wanting to get the opportunity to know her. 

Nessa shakes her head in the negative. “No to that either. As I said I just don’t have the time, and while you seem like a very nice man, very cute, I just can’t. Now please go so I can get back to work.” Nessa gestures towards the doors. Dominik nods his head before hanging it down, shuffling out the door clearly dejected. 

Once he is out the doors another nurse behind the counter snickers. “Oh he is sweet on you and seems like a sweet kid. You need someone like that after…” She starts teasing but gets serious. 

Nessa waves her off dismissively. “I don’t need or want a relationship right now, especially after what happened. It's only been a few months, thank god he is back in the UK. I need to learn how to be by myself for a while.” Nessa plops down in her seat and takes a sip from her water bottle.

The older nurse responds, “I know it's not just that, you are afraid and that's ok, but you know what I say about courage. It is being afraid and doing the thing anyway.” Nessa pauses in her typing, the woman's words hitting home.

“Sarah, I… I know… It's just… It’s just too soon.” Nessa answers.

Sarah gives her a sad smile. “Well that's fine then… sooooo… how much was that Dunkin card because coffee is on you tomorrow.” Sarah asks, changing the subject, and trying to get free coffee. Nessa rolls her eyes and scoffs, pulling the card out of her pocket. She flips it over and her eyes widen and she just stares at it. “What? How much is it like 50? Or something.” Sarah asks, rolling her chair over and looking at the back of the card. “Holy fuck!” Sarah almost yells seeing the $300 written on the back of the card. 

Nessa slowly lowers it and puts it back in her pocket. “We are not using this, if he comes back I am giving it back to him because that is ridiculous.” Nessa shakes her head.

Sarah pouts, “But come on, you deserve it and if he wants to just give you 300 bucks let him. He probably has a rich dad or something and doesn’t know how to properly apologize so that's how they do it.” Sarah theorizes, already back on her charting, muttering about rich boys under her breath.

“Who hurt you?” Nessa mutters as she taps her fingers on the desk. Sarah was content to ignore her in favor of charting, so shaking her head, Nessa continued on, “No Sarah, that is too much money. He will be back to ask me out again that I know. I'll give it back to him then, end of discussion” Nessa gets up and walks away not wanting to be badgered about the man.

____________________________________________________________________________

Almost a week passes by and Nessa is about to walk in the doors of the hospital, the gift card sitting unused in her wallet. Nessa enters and sees a different nurse, one she is very fond of, long light brown hair braided neatly, hung over her shoulder. The nurse looks up and smirks deviously at Nessa who groans, walking over and plopping down in her chair. “Don't you start Olivia, we may be best friends but you don’t get the card either, that is going back to him when he inevitably comes back.” Nessa shakes her head, swinging the chair side to side, eying the empty emergency room. 

Olivia giggles before responding, “Oh he has already been back, twice while you were gone with some fake ass injuries or minor bruising from his training. Apparently, he is training to be a wrestler like his dad.” Olivia teases and Nessa looks at her confused. Olivia continues on explaining, “Oh he came in asking for you and explained to me what happened that first time. And how he is so floored by how nice you are and how fierce you are.” Nessa gives Olivia a look that screams you better not have given him any information and Olivia clocks that right away. “Don’t worry I didn’t tell him anything important, Just that you are fresh out of a bad relationship and not ready for anything and to not get his hopes up.” 

Nessa sighs in relief, that sigh turns into a groan when she sees that Olivia is still smirking, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Whaaaaattttt” Nessa groans, not really wanting to know but unable to not know at this point.

“Do you want to know who his dad is?” Olivia asks.

Nessa shakes her head, signing in to the computer to try to do some busy work. “No, I don’t really care. I don’t plan to really see him again or get to know him so I don’t need to know.” Nessa answers even though the question is nagging at her but she ignores it. Olivia snorts but keeps the answer to herself, getting up to go intake the patient that just walked in.

___________________________________________________________________________

It is nearing 8pm and the end of Nessa’s shift which was thankfully uneventful. She looks up from her computer when she hears the sliding doors of the ER. She can’t help but roll her eyes to see Dominik again. Olivia hides her mouth behind her hand and giggles. “Men are so predictable.” Nessa mumbles under her breath as he approaches the counter, his hands in his pockets, his shoulders slumped over trying to look smaller, a sheepish smile adorning his cute chubby face. Nessa shakes her head to clear that thought.

“I had another accident in training, this time legit. I hit my head and things are a little fuzzy, my trainer drove me.” He gestures to the door and rubs the back of his head and he winces at the pressure. 

Nessa goes into business mode, guiding him back into the exam room to get his vitals and information. Olivia wiggling her eyebrows at them, Nessa flipping her off before pulling the curtain closed for some privacy. “So I've been told you have been a frequent flier here for the last week.” Nessa starts the conversation while taking his blood pressure.

“Yeah well I felt I offended you by asking you out twice after you said no the first time then giving you the card with so much money on it. I’m not that kind of guy, no is a complete sentence and I know better. And I am not trying to flash money to get you to date me. I just wanted to do something nice, no strings attached.” He explains, wincing when she gently prods his head, lightly humming as she does.

“And what is prompting this oddly specific apology. I can assure you that I was not offended in the slightest.” She asks, typing information into her tablet to start his chart.

“Ah, uh.” Dominik stutters and rubs the back of his neck, “A good family friend, she, uh, pointed out how it looked and I never want to be seen like that. Uh it is also just dawning on me that the frequent unnecessary visits are also potentially troubling, I’m sorry I just needed to apologize in person and the other nurses wouldn’t tell me when you would be here which is understandable, the one out there told me you like coffee specifically a cold brew from Dunkin. And that you frequent the one around the corner...” He stares at the ground unable to make eye contact. 

Nessa sighs and digs out her wallet from her scrub pants pocket and takes out the Dunkin card. She steps over and holds it out to where it is in Dominiks line of vision. He looks up and meets her gaze. Nessa is looking at him softly, without any hint of malice or anger, just a resigned sadness that makes his own chest tighten.

“No I’m not taking that back, it is for you to use how you see fit. Buy the entire hospital coffee if you want but that is for you. If you try to give it back to me I will just give it back to you another way.” He tells her resolutely, gently pushing the hand holding the gift card back towards her. She reluctantly puts the card back in her wallet.

“Well fine then, Mr Gutierrez, your vitals are good, I need you to wait in the waiting room until we call you back for the doctor since this is a non critical head injury.” She instructs him, back to being all business but failing at hiding the genuine smile he brought to her face. He walks out of the exam room his head held a little higher and nessa shaking hers, the smile still on her face not going unnoticed by Olivia.

_________________________________________________________________________

Sometime in November 2018

Nessa walks into the ER lobby for her shift holding a carrier with three coffees. She gets to the registration desk and hands one each to Sarah and Olivia who beat her there. “Did I mention you are my favorite and I am glad we always have shifts together.” Olivia moans as she takes a sip of her coffee, Sarah hums in agreement. 

Nessa smiles and takes her seat sipping her coffee. “Well we still have a few more weeks worth of money on that card from Dominik so enjoy it while it lasts.” Nessa warns them, signing in to the computer not noticing the look Sarah and Olivia were sharing.

“You know we haven't seen your little cutie for a few weeks, and maybe since coffee funds are running low he can fill… it back up.” Sarah teases, sticking out her tongue when Nessa flips her off.

“You know, he has made you smile and we haven't seen that in a long time. You aren't on edge around him which is weird because you barely know him.” Olivia points out.

Nessa pauses, she hadn’t realized she isn’t afraid around him. She feels safe near him even though he is training to be in the same industry as her ex. “I know nothing about him, he isn’t mine and we are probably just the nearest hospital to his training gym…” Nessa rationalizes, not commenting on the observations of herself and her mental state regarding Dominik.

“Oh just give it time.” Olivia waves her off, the earful Nessa gave her about telling Dominik where she frequents for coffee worth the interference. If she has her way Nessa would be happy with the young man.

“Really Liv, can you not be such a matchmaker, I need to be by myself for a while just leave it be please.” Nessa asks, her annoyance lacing her voice. Olivia's reply is cut off by the sound of the sliding door opening. In walks Dominik with a bloody nose, holding a towel to it. Sarah snickers and Nessa lets her head drop to the desk, “Of course he would come in…” She mutters to herself and Olivia waves him over, opening his file and starting this visit. 

In between answering her questions he glances at Nessa, whose head is still on the desk but she is looking at him, catching his gaze and blushing. After a few minutes of this she picks up her head and pops her neck, collecting herself. “Either you are getting hurt on purpose, or you have no business training to be a wrestler, orrr your training partner really hates you.” Sarah comments.

Nessa narrowing her eyes at the implication. “Uh a little of column A, a little of B, and we are both inexperienced. But my dad and Jay Lethal are training me and they aren't easy neither is Andrew who gave me the bloody nose today.” He answers, his response slightly muffled through the towel he is still holding to his face.

“Hey, you have every business training to do what you want. I wanted to be a nurse now look at me, I graduated with my BA in nursing at 20 and have been doing this for two years. I want to help people so I am the best way I know how and from what little you have told me you have family in the industry you are training for so you have an in, and natural talent or I’m assuming they wouldn’t train you.” Nessa praises, not wanting him to be down on himself. She may not know him well but she can see he has confidence issues. He blushes at her praise and inwardly preens that she has given him even the smallest morsel of personal information.

Nessa covertly kicks Olivia under the desk for wiggling her eyebrows. “Go back to your normal bed Dominik, I’ll be in in a moment to take your vitals and do the initial exam.” Nessa orders, gesturing vaguely behind her knowing he knows the way. Once he is out of earshot she swivels her chair to face the other two who are smirking victoriously. “Don’t you two start, you are just as bad as Ma and my cousins.” Nessa warns, standing up and disappearing from their view as they giggle.

The next few weeks go similarly, Dominik coming in with minor injuries that Nessa treats, the two of them getting to know each other in these interactions. Both of them drag out the visits to be longer than they should, Nessa not ready to see him outside of the four walls of the hospital and Dominik not wanting to make her uncomfortable, able to tell there is something she is trying to heal from and he doesn’t want to press the subject. He is just happy with whatever she is willing to give him.

__________________________________________________________________________

Dominik enters his parents house for their weekly dinner since his dad is home. He is shocked to see Vickie and Lita sitting on the couch with his mom, all of their heads close together clearly scheming something. “Aunt Vickie, Aunt Amy, what are you guys doing here?” He asks, hanging up his keys on the hook on the wall.

“Your mom called us over for dinner to discuss how you are struggling to get your soulmate on a date.” Vickie bluntly states, mischief alight in her eyes.

“Oh come on…” Dominik whines, his arms falling limply to his side, averting his eyes at the look his mom is giving him.

“It's ok Dom, we will help you out,” Lita informs him, a calming tone to her voice.

“Mijo, go set the table, dinner is almost ready, we will be joining you in a few minutes.” Angie instructs, Dominik doesn’t fight or argue and just goes to do as he is told, knowing he can’t stop them from meddling, he just fears they will make it worse.

“Amy, Vickie, that is Kevin's daughter and she hasn’t had an easy time of it, and from what Dominik has told me she is skittish which begs the question what else has she gone through.” 

“Well that might be obvious and I hope we are wrong. However I have a plan, Here is what we are going to do…” Vickie explains her plan to the two women, their scheming getting interrupted by Rey who clears his throat.

“The table is set and food is dished out, lets go I’m wasting away…” Rey whines and the women roll their eyes but get up and go to the dining room, taking their seats.

“Ok Dom spill, how did you meet and what do you know?” Lita prompts, wanting to hear it from him. 

He groans and slumps in his seat, knowing there is no use in delaying the inevitable so he explains and throws in his own theories, which are limited because as much as he would like Nessa to share anything with him the most he’s gotten from her is generalizations.

“Well sweetheart that is one of our theories as well so you need to tread carefully, but her friend told you where she goes for coffee and she knows you know so I think enough time has passed to where you can just “bump” into her. Amy has volunteered to go with you… tomorrow. You've been racking up medical bills just to go talk to her and frankly that is both sad and adorable… and stupid” Vickie explains, pointing her fork at Dominik who looks down embarrassed and mumbling something the others can’t hear.

“What was that baby, speak up.” Angie orders, a stern look on her face which melts with his answer,

“I don’t want to seem creepy, it seems like her ex really did a number on her. I’d be happy just being her friend.” Dominik speaks up, his blush going from his neck up to his cheeks and ears, the women cooing at him.

“And have you gotten this young lady's number yet?” Rey asks and Dominik shakes his head as his answer. “Then you are already being creepy and running up ridiculous bills for the ER visits, we may be well off but Mijo this is excessive for someone who hasn’t even given you her number. Nothing against her at all but is she worth it?” Rey asks, his opinion on the matter crystal clear to the room.

“Look, you have the day off of training tomorrow so we are doing it. What time is she normally there?” Lita asks, sipping her glass of wine, giving Rey the side eye.

“Uh… yeah… She works from noon to midnight so she is there around 11 to relax before her shift. And according to Olivia she works tomorrow, so yeah we know she will be there.” He answers , setting down his fork because he lost his appetite, nerves setting in for the next day.

Rey’s words chip away at what little confidence Lita and Vickie might have given him. 

__________________________________________________________________________

Nessa grabs her order from the counter and goes to sit down at a nearby table, intent on enjoying the last 30 or so minutes before she has to go to work. She sips on her coffee, scrolling on her favorite fanfiction site, clicking on the Loki fanfiction, getting lost in the romance between Lauren and Loki, immersed in the world the author created, ignoring everything around her. She sips her coffee, unaware of a certain redhead that just sat opposite her in the booth. 

Lita glances at Dominik, giving him a reassuring smile before clearing her throat. Nessa looks up from her phone which clatters on the table when she recognizes just who is sitting across from her. “You… You’re Lita, holy shit I loved you so much as a kid.” Nessa blushes, the admission just flying out of her mouth. 

Lita smiles warmly at the young woman in front of her. “Yes I am, You don’t mind if I join you right?” Lita asks and Nessa can do nothing but nod her head and stare. Lita chuckles before complimenting Nessa and getting straight to the point, “You are very pretty you know, I think you would be good with my godson.” Lita leans forward and taps her fingers on the table, a familiar smirk on her face. 

Nessa’s smile falters slightly and she fiddles with the straw of her drink. “While that is sweet, I’m not looking for a relationship right now Lita,..” 

Lita cuts her off. “Call me Amy, dear.” 

Nessa pauses momentarily before trying again, “Amy, I’m not looking for a relationship. And if it is your godson as you say he is probably in the industry and I am personally trying to stay away from dating anymore wrestlers or professional fighters. My last relationship didn’t exactly go well.” Nessa groans realizing she gave too much information to her childhood idol.

“Oh he is training in the industry but he is the sweetest boy, cute too and knows how to cook and wouldn’t hurt a fly but I respect the wanting to be alone. At least let me give you his number and when you feel you are ready give it a shot. Between me and you he is entirely too shy so that’s why I am trying to play matchmaker.” Lita reaches over and squeezes Nessa’s hand. 

Nessa sighs in defeat, having a feeling that this mysterious godson is Dominik, it is too convenient that she comes to the coffee shop Nessa frequents and sits down and immediately starts to play matchmaker. “Fine, I guess I can agree with that. I make no promises to call or text him though.” Nessa hands over her phone, Lita snorts and types in Dominiks number but putting the contact name as Lita’s godson. Nessa grabs the phone back after Lita slid it across the table. Nessa checks the contacts and snorts, “What you won’t even tell me his name?” Nessa cocks her head.

Lita laughs. “I think you have an idea who it is. Look before I go lets take a selfie, you can make it my contact photo since I put my own number in in case you need me to come kick his ass.” Lita offers, while informing of the extra contact information. 

Nessa can't hide the blush, her childhood crush offering to take a selfie with her. Lita, used to the fangirling, gets up and moves over to sit next to Nessa, wrapping her arms around the young girls shoulders and grabbing her phone. Lita angles the phone and snaps the picture then kissing the top of Nessa’s head. Lita gets up saying her goodbyes and walking out the door, Dominik slinking out behind her unable to look at Nessa from the embarrassment. 

Nessa snorts into her drink and turns her attention back to her phone and the selfie that is still on the screen. She laughs to herself again seeing Dominik awkwardly staring at the ground in the background of the picture. She saves it as Lita’s contact photo suggested but never plans on having to contact her.

____________________________________________________________________________

A few days later Nessa is sitting at the counter at the nurses station, her phone in her hand staring at the contact screen of her phone, her finger hovering over the name Dom. She hears Olivia’s steps coming up behind her and greets the other woman, her eyes never leaving her phone screen. “You have been staring at your phone for like 3 days now. What's so interesting, are you finally talking to Dominik?’ Olivia asks, taking the seat next to Nessa.

“Uh no but… it's his number, his godmother kinda cornered me at Dunkin and gave me his number trying to play matchmaker.” Nessa huffed out. 

“Ohh so he got his Auntie involved that takes some guts, or some serious lack thereof. Either way it is cute.” Olivia giggles, sipping the coffee Nessa brought in for her. 

“You don’t think it's too creepy, or like a red flag?” Nessa asks, glancing over at the woman who quickly became her best friend.

“If it was any other circumstance I would say yes, but I am normally a very good judge of character and I never liked… your ex from the word go. But Dominik.. He… he has for lack of a better word a good aura about him. I think he would be very good for you and you for him.” Olivia gives her honest opinion, pausing before adding on, “I think you should message him and go out for one date, if only to get another Dunkin card for us to last through Thanksgiving and Christmas because girl we will need it.” Olivia jokes, but Nessa knows she is halfway serious about the Dunkin card; they would mainline it if they could for the holiday season. 

“I wouldn’t even know where to start and I don’t think I am ready. And you’ve heard about the stories coming out about the men in wrestling. What if..” Nessa starts rambling, spiraling.

Olivia cuts her off, quickly, “Don’t spend your life thinking about what ifs, we take life as it comes or we don't really live. You won’t know how it turns out unless you try. I’m not asking you to marry the man, just text him. Get to know him and put yourself out there. And if you fall, if it goes south i will be there like last time to get you out.” Olivia promises, her voice thick with said promise that settles the unease in Nessa’s stomach.

“Fine” Nessa mumbles to herself and clicks on the contact information and opens the messaging app.

To: Dom -> Hey… It's Nessa from the hospital. Uh Lita gave me your number, and I kinda thought it was adorable that either you asked for her help or she just stepped in and took charge. My money is on that she just stepped in and took charge. Long story short, I’m off at midnight tonight and if you are still up you can take me to waffle house or something, that way she gets off your back and the girls here get off of mine.

Nessa hesitates before pressing send and tossing her phone on the counter and begins chewing on her thumbnail, Olivia snickering in the background. A patient comes in and Nessa does the intake, missing the silent notification coming from her phone. Half an hour later Nessa returns to the counter having finished with the patient, letting out a huff as she plops into her seat.

“Your phone has gone off a few times while you were with that patient.” Olivia points out excitedly tapping her fingers on the counter, bouncing up and down. Nessa rolls her eyes, her stomach going in knots afraid of what awaits her in her phone. Unsure what she wants the answer to be. On one hand she wants him to reject her which she knows is unlikely, on the other hand she wants him to say yes, and wants to give him a chance. She takes a deep breath and grabs her phone, unlocking it, seeing 3 messages.

From: Dom -> YES!

Nessa snorts seeing the excitable answer in the first message, she ignores Olivia’s annoyed huff and reads the next two messages.

From: Dom -> Sorry, I mean I would love to take you out to Waffle House when you get off work. Do you want me to pick you up or do you want to meet me there that way you have a way to leave if you want to?

From: Dom -> And yeah, Aunt Amy is my god mother and she just wants me happy. Mom, her and Aunt Vickie were plotting how to interfere when Aunt Amy came up with the plan. I look forward to seeing you tonight, just let me know what the plan is!

Nessa narrows her eyes at the last message gears turning in her head. She used to watch wrestling back when it was the WWF and him saying Aunt Vickie triggered something in her head. “What, what is it?” Olivia asks, the excitement gone from her voice, in its place was a worried tone.

“Uh he said yes rather excitedly but, uh he said Aunt Vickie, Amy who is Lita and his mom were plotting to get us together.” Nessa explains and Olivia hums thoughtfully.

“Well, I don’t know anything about wrestling like at all but I can look it up, what do you know?” Olivia asks, pulling up google on her phone.

“Uh that his dad is a wrestler, and is being trained by, uh, Jay Lethal and his dad who he hasn’t given the name of. But Dominik’s last name is Gutierrez and he has an Aunt Vickie….” Nessa trails off, her eyes widened. Olivia stops typing when she sees Nessa’s face. “What is it Nes?” Olivia asks, worry heavy in her tone. 

Nessa clears her throat, “Uh, back in the day when I was young like 8 there was a custody battle that now seems so obviously fake but it was between Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero, could his Aunt Vickie be Vickie Guerrero?!” Nessa quietly exclaims, everything starting to make sense. Olivia starts researching on her phone letting out a soft gasp. Nessa narrows her eyes, “What did you find Liv?”

“Uh yeah it’s Rey Mysterio’s son. Rey's real last name is Gutierrez and his son is Dominik and here is Dominik’s instagram with a picture of him and his dad.” Olivia turns her phone towards Nessa who sits back biting her lip, spinning back and forth in the chair. “And does that change anything?” Olivia asks, annoyance flavoring her tone, her friend of course gets a handsome rich boy with a bright future ahead of him fawning over her and she is too scared. Though she can’t blame her.

“...No” Nessa starts, chewing her lip before continuing. “It doesn’t, it just complicates things a little… It does explain why throwing $500 away on a nurse he doesn’t know and the constant ER visits for no reason.” Nessa snickers, feeling a little less uneasy knowing more information about him. Her attention turns to her phone which vibrates again. She checks the message seeing yet another from Dominik and her stomach knots, the constant texts being reminiscent of her ex and she hasn’t even gone on a date with him yet. Nausea builds up until she reads the message.

Olivia watches Nessa’s face contort, showing a progression of emotions Olivia recognizes immediately, having seen them many times before when nessa was still with her ex. Olivia curses his name under her breath for breaking her best friend. She only hopes Dominik will help her pick up the pieces. 

From: Dom -> Hey sweetheart, it's Amy on Dom’s phone, he will meet you at the waffle house nearest the hospital you work at. You probably figured out who he is and he is freaking out that you don’t want to see him now. I am calming him down and he will be ready for you to be there or not, don’t worry about responding or feel pressured to respond or show up.

“Nes, are you ok what did he say?” Olivia asks softly, scooting her chair closer to Nessa who swallows thickly.

“Uh it was Amy, also known as Lita. She is with him right now and took his phone. He apparently started freaking out when he sent his last text message thinking, correctly, that I guessed who he was and worried I don't want to meet up with him. She said he will be at the waffle house near here and I can either show or not show no pressure.” Nessa scoffs, already well aware that Lita is trying to be a matchmaker. “She would get along well with Ma.” Nessa muses, rubbing her chest in an attempt to rub away the anxiety that flared up and to calm her racing heart. 

Olivia notices this, “Go take your break and take your medicine, I’ll text you if I need you.” Olivia orders. Nessa nods silently agreeing and goes to do as she is told. Mentally trying to get ready for her date that night.

[witchthewriter]

@therococobean.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐓

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒍! Peaceful, atmospheric, slow, and caring - Galadriel would make you feel at complete peace. She soothes you to the core. But it's not just her that makes your life better; you do the same for her. Like a hidden treasure, she thinks you are invaluable.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

・Since Galadriel loves the natural world, expect your home to reflect that. Growing plants, flowers, herbs etc., is just the tip of the iceburg with Galadriel

・Get ready for immense respect and loyalty. Galadriel's strength provides a sense of security and commitment in your relationship.

・She absolutely LOVES your creativity. Whatever you create, she wants to know about it. If it's drawing/painting/sculpting - then she wants it all around the house. She is PROUD of having you as her partner.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

I'm Kissing You by Des'Ree

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

Home Is Wherever You Are

Will follow each other to the end of the earth

The Moon (You) and Her Star (Galadriel)

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Intertwined Destinies

𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐀

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑬𝒅𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝑷𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒆! King of Narnia, Edmund the Just, and a cracking good bloke. He would care about you so goddamn much. And that is just from afar - when he actually gets to know you, and you're in a relationship, then he is scared every day of losing you. You become the highlight of his life, the light in the darkness.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

・The home you share together is completely nurturing and supportive. Negativity is left at the door and everyone is heard. It's just how it is when you're married to a man called The Just.

・Time together is never boring. Edmund is so witty and has a huge playful side. This humor brings lightness and joy to the relationship, making everyday moments enjoyable.

・As a King of Narnia, Edmund faces leadership challenges. Balancing personal and royal duties would sometimes create tension, requiring understanding and support from you. Yet I think you would be invited into the politics because Ed never wants to leave you out, but he also thinks you have a brilliant mind. He wants your input!

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

For the Dancing and the Dreaming by Erutan

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔 

The Gomez & Morticia Adams (loving and devoted, you top)

Looks Like A Jerk But Has A Heart Of Gold (Ed) x Looks Like A Cinnamon Roll But Is Also A Badass (You)

 “Shut Up” x “Make Me”

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Bickering and Banter

𝐌𝐂𝐔

𝑫𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏

𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑴'𝑩𝒂𝒌𝒖! You might be wondering how each of these characters could possibly match with you. But they do! Each character shares things in common; they are just, fair, equal. They do not like the darkness, they at least balance it with the light or are completely on the 'right' side - rather than be an antihero or villian. They are seen as they good guys.

And that's why M'Baku would be a great partner for you. He's strong, noble and has unwavering determination.

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒄𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒔

・M'Baku’s connection to the Jabari tribe means that your life together would be steeped in rich traditions, rituals. M'Baku would keep your life exciting without even having to try.

・In this partnership, there would be a blend of strength, adventure, cultural richness, and deep emotional connection.

・M'Baku encourages those around him to grow and thrive. In your partnership, this would translate to a supportive environment where both partners uplift each other.

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

The Tour by James Newton Howard

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔 

Snarky Power Couple That Can, And Probably Will, Destroy You

Thinks They're In Charge (M'Baku) x Is Actually In Charge (You)

Fake Relationship Which Turns Into True Love

𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Timeless Love

[shoppncart]

Shopping Cart's Best Games of 2024

as in games i played during 2024 not just games that came out in 2024. Given that I've started logging a lot more of my media experiences this year, games primarily, I thought it'd be fun to rank those which I enjoyed the most and give a little more thoughts and recommendations on them. I prioritized games I first played this year, or ones I played for the first time in a while. I skipped over some great games because of this, like Portal 2 and Kirby Super Star Ultra, but those still are really good too! So, if you want some gaming rec's based on what I played this year, give a read.

10 - Little Nightmares

Little Nightmares was easily able to wriggle its way into my favorites thanks to its style alone, with solid, simple 3D Platformer-feeling mechanics to support it to boot. Though the game is extremely linear and quite short, each part of it is very well designed and fleshed out with various props and hidden details. It was fun getting to use each part of the limited moveset together, as well as comb little side areas for secrets. In all honesty it could probably be ranked higher but I played it so late and haven't even gotten to the side story yet so that doesn't feel quite fair.

9 - Kirby's Adventure

Kirby is always one to provide a very solid, enjoyable experience, but special credit has to be given to his NES outing, which is so good that it’s likely the best game on the console. Kirby’s Adventure is such a colorful, varied and well-composed treat, featuring quite of a bit of content between its long level list, plethora of Copy Abilities to play with, and numerous level secrets. It’s really impressive comparing it to its nearest relative, Super Mario Bros. 3, which in my opinion it blows out of the water. It’s rife with charm and personality too, with all of its little animations and bonuses, special example going to the iconic Drawing Song seen every time on boot-up.

Kirby’s Adventure ain’t perfect granted, it’s doing so much on the NES that it is prone to slowdown quite a bit, and has a tendency to drop inputs, and has the older Kirby quirk of knocking your Ability out of Kirby every time he gets hit, especially irritating in levels where you need to carry an ability to solve a puzzle late in the stage. The 3DS Classics revision fixes a lot of the technical issues at least, so that’s one of the preferred ways to play it. Not sure if the SP version on Switch Online does that too but, I know it exists.

8 - Pokemon Crystal Legacy

I’ve always had a soft spot for the second generation of Pokemon, I think it’s got a really charming style and has a ton of impressive features for a dinky little Gameboy RPG, but always had a hard time coming back to it due to how limited or poorly planned out some things in it felt. I mean, half the new Pokemon either aren’t available for a majority of the game or are just plain unusable, and that makes the whole appeal of Pokemon (at least in my opinion), using a varied team and trying out new ‘mons on repeat playthroughs, a real struggle.

Crystal Legacy, meanwhile, is an excellent Quality of Life romhack that does a whole laundry list of things to improve the experience. It overhauls a bunch of encounter tables, adding Pokemon where they previously didn’t appear or adjusting percentages so rare encounters weren’t hair-pullingly uncommon. It adjusts a bunch of Base Stat Totals and movepools, making underpowered Pokemon more evenly capable. It even readjusted several of the enemy trainers to provide more of a steady challenge and throw a curveball for veterans like myself, surprising me and making me face roadblocks with a little more thought than before.

I was really impressed by everything Crystal Legacy changed with the base game, and would highly recommend it as the definitive way to replay Gen 2 Pokemon if you’re ever interested in going back to it.

7 - Half-Life

Clear to see why this one's a classic and a big landmark for First-Person Shooters, the first half of the game leaves an extremely strong impression and even today all of its little events and cinematics are entertaining and impressive to see. As someone not super savvy with FPS games it probably had even more of an impact, and felt pretty welcoming with how the difficulty and scale of enemies gently rose throughout the game. Stuff like the introduction of the soldiers with their squad tactics was quite the challenge early one while also being a big surprise compared to the usual alien mooks of the super-early game.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy myself as much as the game progressed, with the later game levels (Surface Tension being a prime example in my mind) lacking that sort of entertaining factor the early segments had and primarily focusing on empty areas with little NPC interaction and frequent sources of damage. Being followed and barraged by a helicopter was not the best experience in this game. Surprisingly I didn't hate Xen as much as its reputation would imply, I kinda liked getting to use the Long Jump ability in low-grav environments. The Nihilanth was a dreadful final boss though I'll agree on that.

Overall it was pretty solid though and I can easily see why it's as highly regarded as it is. Eager to get to Half-Life 2 one day.

6 - Pizza Tower: The Noise Update

Pizza Tower was already a phenomenal game with incredibly creative gameplay, visuals, and music, and the Noise Update just goes ahead and adds a whole extra layer of wacky goodness on top of it. The Noise’s controls and mechanics are just similar enough to Peppino to not feel unwelcome while still offering a bunch of new ideas and possibilities to make things feel fresh, it’s really absurd what you can end up doing with the Noise sometimes and the speed you can accrue in parts where Peppino had to take it slower.

Not even to mention all the various little aesthetic differences where the Noise differs from Peppino, such as the various transformations (many of which have slightly different properties with the Noise compared to the base game), the new escape and handful of level music, and even a couple changes to some boss fights. It overall might not be as comprehensive of a new character campaign as something like Shovel Knight had, but it’s still a plethora of welcome changes that make the best game of 2023 even better.

5 - Team Fortress 2

I’ve always been a big fan of TF2, but haven’t really played it that frequently in recent years, not helped by the rampant bot crisis that had been afflicting the game in years prior. However, this year, Valve finally stepped up, wiped away almost all of the bots, and allowed TF2 to finally flourish as a chaotic and fun team shooter once again. It’s definitely my most played game of the year, and ate up a lot of my time in October during its annual Scream Fortress event. Valve didn’t even push a major content update or anything, but getting to experience the game without cheaters and with friends again really helped breathe life into it, and now I can’t help myself from coming back every couple days and continuing to fight in its many maps, and trying out new tricks and ideas I keep coming up with.

Solider and Engineer are my classic go-to’s, but I found myself having a lot of fun with Demoman and Scout this year, and really feeling my aim starting to improve, if still in small increments. I’m finally getting a concept of how to airblast and hit flare guns properly with Pyro, have found out that Heavy’s pretty fun to fall back on if the team’s got other roles filled, and pick up the role of team Medic quite a bit. There’s just so much to the game that it still hasn’t felt like it’s gotten stale, even after about six straight months of consistent playing this year.

4 - Psychopomp GOLD

This one came out of nowhere but I was really happy to get to experience it. Psychopomp GOLD reminds me of various other PS1-styled horror games like Lost in Vivo, and comes with a thick layer of character too. Some environments may be the typical dark, grungy hallways you’d expect, but others are colorfully lit and intricately designed in really appealing ways, not to mention the various weird creatures and monsters you meet that just have pleasant rambling conversations with you. It helps to paint a better picture of the main character when you realize this is the type of thing she’s dealing with and still treats without much surprise.

Exploring each of these environments and the weird things in them makes up most of the game’s charm, as well as making it further into this broken, twisted world and putting together the clues of what other horrible things might happen. It’s even got a few effective actual scares at points, despite mostly focusing its horror on tension throughout.

The game’s pretty light on story on the surface though, and its authentically-classic PS1 movement (ie. grid-based tank controls), both of which are sure to turn some people off. I’d say it’s still worth giving a shot, and the free original version of the game is still available, featuring the game’s first three, more grounded and realistically-styled levels. GOLD is quite the treat and comes with a bunch more bonus content to really flesh out the setting, so I do recommend it.

3 - Anthology of the Killer

Anthology of the Killer was a game I didn’t expect to like nearly as much as I did, but I was had a really good time with it and enjoyed nearly everything it put me through. For what’s effectively just a walking simulator-visual novel sort of combo, Anthology of the Killer provides a large handful of entertaining comedic-horror stories with a very charming style, referring to both its writing and visuals. The writing leans pretty heavily on the comedy half most of the time, but never quite loses its horror half, with its absurd aesthetics, low-lit environments, and strange sound design never letting the unease fully dissipate.

It really felt like going through some weird funhouse attraction and I enjoyed seeing every character go through their little plots and escapades. It was a very fun ride and I’d highly recommend at least trying out some of the individual episodes, available for free on GameJolt. The Anthology has its own pluses and it’s great experiencing them all back-to-back, I think.

2 - The Big Catch: Tacklebox

An incredibly impressive experience for what is basically a free demo for an upcoming project. There’s so much to do, and its open-ended format is really cool and helps add to the length by not funneling you through linear levels. Everything presentation-wise is superb, with fantastic sixth console generation visuals and excellent music. The basic controls and gameplay are especially tight and fluid too. I gotta give special mention to the propeller flowers that you can grapple onto and launch yourself in their direction, then immediately grapple back onto and rubber band yourself in the opposite direction with even more force. Several of the game’s challenges focusing on these more slick element were where the game shone its strongest.

There are some moments where the game wants you to be more precise that don’t work quite as well as it feels like it should (the massive temple area that you spend a long time climbing to the top of felt pretty unforgiving at times, though had frequent shortcuts to make up for it at least). The controls were a little strange to get used to as well, such as the specific ways to use the fishing rod or mechanics like wall running-to-jump combo, but most of the game was forgiving enough that it never got too irritating.

If you’re a 3D Platformer fan or nut for slick movement-focused platformers I highly recommend at least trying it out for a couple hours, and keeping and eye out for the full game’s release sometime in 2025.

1 - Corn Kidz 64

This one was such a pleasant surprise to me. I had heard a few scattered words of praise for Corn Kidz, but once I finally got to playing it myself I found a game that combined so many elements that appealed to me personally that I didn’t even think someone else would ever make a game like this. If only it had a grungy aquatic level then it would be truly perfect…

Corn Kidz 64 is a 3D Platformer taking clear cues from fifth gen consoles in both visual and gameplay styles, with its major inspirations seeming to draw from Banjo-Kazooie and Spyro the Dragon. It also has a delightful late 90s-early 2000s gothic-Hot Topic aesthetic that warms my heart even more. I didn’t even know I wanted a Banjo-Kazooie spiritual successor to look like Invader Zim fanart but Corn Kidz delivered alright. The music is super on-point too, not sounding like Kirkhope’s stuff but other synthy and grungy tunes of the era. The character animations are pretty fluid and appealing as well, using what looks like a lot of vertex-based stuff you'd see in Spyro or Crash Bandicoot.

The gameplay itself follows the usual collectathon form, with a couple densely packed levels to explore for goodies and secrets, with an agile moveset focused on climbing and wall-jumping to really boost that feeling to scouring over every surface to find collectibles. Granted, the actual gameplay is where I’ve seen Corn Kidz fall apart for some people, and I can see why, there’s no double-jump or mid-air recovery tool, which is pretty unheard of for 3D platformers (the air dash you are provided is very situational and sometimes required for platforming challenges, so isn’t usable as a recovery tool). There’s no Totals page to keep track of all your collectibles, irritating for potential completionists, and there are a few moments in the level design that can lead to repeated backtracking (the church and graveyard segments of Wolloh’s Hollow is a large example that even caught me up in my first playthrough).

While these flaws can be pretty irksome, I was able to look past them by how appealing the game was in every other aspect, and was able to find a comfortable understanding of the gameplay not long after starting. The final challenges of the game are pretty brutal, especially the long and checkpoint-free bonus level, but using everything the game had taught me in a tightly packed back-to-back gauntlet had its charms. Even better, Corn Kidz 64 emulated the weird and mysterious vibes of Banjo-Kazooie’s most hidden secrets with its Void Screw collectibles. These are bonus collectibles hidden in extremely obscure spots used to unlock totally hidden rewards tucked away in what feels like an unused area of the game, complete with access to (what is presumably) the game's Dev Test Room. It so well captures the feeling that chasing Stop n Swop secrets had back and in the day and I was so happy to see a developer accurately recapture that feeling, with the bonus that there were secrets even beyond that that took months for anybody online to even find.

Corn Kidz 64 is the best game I played this year, almost entirely for biased, nostalgia-pandering reasons. I’m fully aware of the flaws it’s got (which can really turn off some people, I understand), and am always going to be just a smidgen disappointed with it (it’s only got TWO major areas…), but goddamn. It sure as hell does what it’s aiming to do really well. It’s a grungy gothic late 90s 3D platformer successor and that’s a really easy way to get into my heart.

[ashleyfableblack]

"Honeybug, I've been thinking…"

Twilight ran a hoof along her wife's barrel, listening to the soft cricket-like purring buzz through the chitinous plates of her slumbering body.

Chrysalis stirred, giving her alicorn partner a squeeze. "Mnnhmm. You do that, fairly often. It's one of the things I love about you." She accented the statement with a sleepy kiss to the tip of Twilight's horn and a flicker of her serpentine tongue. She adjusted herself to better clasp the much smaller mare to her body and gave a small yawn. "And what mystery are you pondering that demands you wake your poor, overworked wife from her well-deserved slumber?"

Twilight only purred in response. The crest of floof across her barrel fluffed up as her eyes took a mischefious glow.

She trailed a hoof delicately along the chitinous plates of Chrysalis' abdomen. "Your anatomy, specifically your reproductive structures."

"You have my attention."

She chuckled, brushing the satin of her wife's camisole aside to massage the bands of her wasp-like abdomen. "Weeeeell' evolutionary science teaches us that even in an enhanced environment of thaumaturgic conductivity such as Equus, the structures of a body exist to serve a purpose beneficial to the survival of the creature or the species as a whole. All organs have a purpose. Hearts pump blood. Brains process and store data. Bones, or in your case, a chitinous exoskeleton provide support and protection to vital regions and so on."

Her hoof trailed along the band of her wife's camishorts, drawing a playfully inquisitive chirp from the changeling queen. "Reproduction is generally a matter of processes best adapted to the climate, necessities of diet and thaumaturgic resonance. Most biological species consist of a standard binary of partners, one providing their essence to merge with the other and form offspring. The structures drastically vary from species to species but most fit into this broadly categorized system."

Twilight paused, tapping her hoof on her wife's flank. "Which brings us to you…"

Chrysalis chuffed through her fangs and smiled broadly.

"Your species is different than any other sentient species we know of. There are no sexes in the same sense as other creatures. There are only you, the queen and the rest, drones, effectively all female clones of you. Your body converts collected emotional energy into biological essence which becomes fertilized eggs. The process is asexual in nature requiring no input from a male…"

Chrysalis purred. "Yes. A clearly superior species."

Twilight smirked as she continued, massaging her wife's rump. "This parthenogenesis explains your prehensile ovipositor and a few of your internal structures, producing and laying the eggs."

Twilight's wingtip glided up the inside of Chrysalis's Thigh, exploring like fingertips. "But everything else around this neighborhood here is a bit of a mystery." She tugged at the satin bow of her camishorts with a raised eyebrow. "You have a butt. Which makes sense from a structural-" her voice lowered, taking a noticeable edge "-and pleasingly aesthetic perspective." Chrysalis wriggled with a sinister chuckle humming through her barrel.

"You possess the standard orifices one would find on a cisgender female pony. With the exception of the armored plating of your lebia majora the structures below the belt they're nearly identical. However, they seem to serve no clear purpose. Between your species' diet and the efficiency of your nutrition processing, your body has no waste to process and remove. Your ovipositor covers all external aspects of egg-laying so the reproductive aspects of your marehood and any internal components are non-existent."

Twilight looked up to meet her wife's heavy-lidded gaze. Chrysalis' snake-like tongue flickered at her inquisitively. Her slitted eyes betrayed nothing of her thoughts but her smile was born of wicked mischief.

"Which leaves us with the question. Why? You did promise me to never change your form during our times of intimacy, a promise which you have kept. This would indicate that this IS your standard structural configuration. Then again, I could also imagine you assuming these structures full-time prior to our relationship becoming official, perhaps as a preemptive means of making your body more familiar to me…"

Chrysalis leered back to her. Her look could light charcoal.

"What do you think?"

"I think… You like to be mysterious." Her wings' feathery fingertips slowly unlaced the bow of Chrysalis' camisole with a growing smile. "And you would do just about anything to make me happy."

The changeling queen gave a wicked chuckle worthy of a super-villain and draped her hooves over Twilight's withers.

"Right on both counts, beloved."

[nomsfaultau]

I have had this question for a long time.. but I'm not quite sure if I actually want to know the answer because the only theories that come to my mind aren't very.. pleasant and would probably cause me to look at all honey with suspicion afterwards.

How does Fault!Tubbo make honey? How does it even work? Do they theoretically have a lot of tiny wax combs inside that get filled with honey like in a normal beehive? Are they just one big wax comb? If so, does that mean that their legs are basically full of honey? I am very confused and concerned.

You are correct introducing that they are made of a bunch of tiny honeycomb cells. They each have wax caps that contain it much like real honey comb. The flesh is also partly made of honey, obviously congealed and crystallized, bee wax, and well skin probably. It is somewhat melted and inconsistent, with holes that appear at time so that bees have exits. Honey is made in the same way that normal honeybees do, plus also the conversion of human food they ‘eat’ being made into honey. They can subsist on human levels of food input or less DEPENDING on the availability of flowers and how large a hive population there is. Before the Foundation the population was in the million range, and Tubbo spends most of Fault with varying levels below their typical population. This general decreases the amount of food they need, but makes moving the body tiring especially when they can’t rely on walking, since the lower parts of the body support the upper ones weight.

A diagram of the skin and how it transitions to comb. This is lovely diagram provided by Dr. Blake in Excerpts from the SCP Foundation, a short collection of lab reports, contracts, security transcripts, and character POV. The dermis is 1-4 mm and the cells 4-8 mm or so. There are holes in the dermis where cell intrudes, allowing outward passage.

Tubbo is in fact hollow inside when not filled with bees. They can feel and inhabit separate pieces of themselves, and move them as all their motion is done via bees inside moving sheets of comb. It is not fully connected honey comb since then their joints wouldn’t work. This photo is from Casefiles: as edited by Tommy and Tubbo wherein they find and ahm correct the files the Foundation has created, plus some admittedly old drawings of them (since Tommy can only do stick figures)

And as for your last question, honey does not collect in Tubbos’ legs because they don’t have any!

(Actually it’s the wax capping but when the joke opportunity presents itself..)

[hypergamiss]

Why do you think it is narcissistic mothers are so invasive, and love to argue?? I live at home because I unfortunately cannot afford to be on my own because I don’t make enough…she is constantly wanting to argue with me and when I try to defuse it and say she’s right or say “okay” she wants to argue and escalate it more to where I am so upset and yelling…then she goes “why’re you yelling…” as if she didn’t lead it to come to that point even after I said I didn’t want to argue and that she was right?! Oh and she pretends she wasn’t yelling at all prior…it’s just getting awful and don’t understand how someone can have it in them to argue all the time….. She was cleaning my room to and found pregnancy tests …wanted to know all about it saying “it’s gross” kept asking invasive questions as to who I have been with and all that…i said to her “really you think that’s appropriate to ask me about, then proceed to want to know about it make comments and think I owe you information??” And honestly, I’m not sure she is a narcissist? but she makes me feel awful and like I can never be too close to her or tell her anything because I feel with her it’s “all or nothing”….any input?

Living with a parent who exhibits invasive and argumentative tendencies can be incredibly challenging, especially when coupled with financial constraints that prevent independent living. This becomes even more complex when the parent figure is a mother, as societal expectations often paint mothers as nurturing and supportive figures. So, why do some mothers behave in such a contrary manner?

While it's important to avoid self-diagnosing or labeling others, certain behaviors might align with narcissistic personality traits. Narcissism is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, and a need for admiration and control.

Invasive Behavior:

Lack of Boundaries: Narcissists often struggle with respecting boundaries, as they see others as extensions of themselves. Prying into personal matters, offering unsolicited advice, and making decisions on behalf of others are common manifestations of this trait.

Need for Control: Information is power, and for a narcissist, knowing intimate details about your life can be a tool for exerting control. It allows them to manipulate situations, offer "help" that serves their own agenda, and maintain a sense of superiority.

Argumentative Tendencies:

Inability to Accept Criticism: Narcissists often see disagreements as personal attacks, leading to defensive and argumentative behavior. This is fueled by their fragile sense of self-worth, which requires constant validation.

Gaslighting: Narcissists may twist narratives, deny their own actions, and make you question your own perceptions. This can leave you feeling confused, frustrated, and even doubting your sanity.

Need for Attention: Arguments can be a way for narcissists to draw attention to themselves, even if it's negative. The emotional turmoil they create ensures that they remain the center of focus.

"All or Nothing" Dynamic:

Narcissists often struggle with maintaining healthy relationships due to their black-and-white thinking. You're either idealized or devalued, there's no in-between. This can lead to feelings of insecurity and a reluctance to share personal information, as you fear being judged or exploited.

What Can You Do? What is my input?

Set Boundaries: Clearly communicate your boundaries and consistently enforce them, even if it leads to conflict.

Limit Personal Information: Share only what you're comfortable with, and don't feel obligated to divulge details that feel invasive.

Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family members, or a therapist about your experiences. This can provide emotional validation and help you develop coping strategies.

Prioritize Self-Care: Engage in activities that nourish your mind, body, and spirit. This will help you build resilience and maintain your well-being.

Make some Plans: Depending on your situation, you might want to make plans to put yourself in a better financial position to live independently. If you have exhausted your efforts and decide that you really need to leave, start by researching areas with lower cost of living as possibilities to move to. Calculate what your monthly living expenses would be in potential areas. Seek better job opportunities, side hustles, and any opportunities that will make you extra income. You never know what will end up working out for you and its better to have explored options than be stuck. At the very least, have some emergency money saved up. Manifest a new reality for yourself.

Remember, you are not responsible for your mother's behavior, but you are responsible for taking care of yourself. Focus on setting boundaries, creating backup plans, seeking support, and prioritizing your own mental health.

[alchemicaldesignquery]

Overwatch 6v6: Roles or "How each part makes a damn good whole"

(This is part of an on-going series around a recent Dev. blogpost about testing 6v6 as a format in Overwatch 2.

First Post: Prelude is here

Second Post: Game-modes is here

Dev Blogpost part 1 is here)

This is going to be an expansion from a more truncated thread I did on another site:

This section of the 6v6 blogpost that the Game Director put up, is particularly interesting to me because it earmarks one of the more abstract qualities about the format that, despite it's chaos, was integral to it's function - The Role Triad.

When looking at an MMO as the Role Triad standard, there is, often, a lot going on with different 'puddles' on the ground providing various effects/mechanics; individuals (both friends and foes) in different locations and positions; the predictable, if overwhelming at times, hordes of enemies and their own personal effects-

-but all of this can be effectively streamlined when the Roles each individual player is operating in, are well-defined. Or, more accurately-

Roles help players define what the player should, can, and will pay attention to during the chaos of a match, because each Role has specific tasks they are attempting to accomplish

If each Role is abiding their respective tasks and all the responsibilities that entails (and the designs reflect those tasks, without a heavy overcompensation on mechanics i.e bloat) it helps to pave a crucial path through all the chaos of 12 separate heroes activating dozens of mechanics, and all the resultant sound/visual clutter that goes along with them.

You could find rewards and learning moments in the chaos, based on how effectively you were accomplishing the tasks of your chosen Role.

By contrast, your Teammates also gained valuable ease and approach to each of their Tasks by you accomplishing yours effectively.

The Overwatch community knew this fairly reflexively (if not entirely accurately) within the terms of Main/Off Tanks, Flex/Main Supports, etc.

Having a road to walk while playing your Role, provided the necessary structure for players to not only play a match, but learn at a pace that was suited to their preferred Role(s).

This promoted stylistic choices in how they played, easier hero selection (a strong requirement for a game that allows you to switch heroes mid-match), and also gave player's a firm sense of identity where their interests were, even when playing off Role.

If a Player could reasonably find enjoyment with positioning and strategic angles, across a multitude of heroes, there were individuals in each Role that could satisfy that enjoyment, drawing connective experience between a Reinhardt, a Brigitte, or a Torbjorn to a modest degree.

This concept, however, would largely begin to suffer when the game shifted into 5v5 and, ultimately, deteriorate to incomprehensible as the years ticked by.

Downsizing creates more work, for less people

Each Role was meant to have 2 members per team.

3 members to a Role presented big issues when GOATs (3 Tanks + 3 Supports) was a dominant team composition in the game.

The inflated healing numbers that could be easily inputted into 3 separate health pools well above the 200 health threshold made Support Ultimates happen in the span of seconds-

-while 3 Tanks provided health pools that required multiple clips of ammo, multiple cooldowns, and maybe some ultimates (and even then, a big maybe) just to burn through.

All while ensuring no other composition was possible and that players were forced to play just to compete.

All that to say-

3 members of any one Role can spread enough of the responsibilities for that Role's tasks between them, that enemies did not have any reasonable windows of opportunity to retaliate

On the other end of that spectrum, 1 member of a Role on a team, leaves too many responsibilities for that lone individual to cover.

As is the case with Tank in the 5v5 format.

Picturing a singular Role Individual trying to keep track of 4 other team members, would be not unlike a lone cashier trying to operate the till, help customers find what they're looking for in the aisles, and keep the store clean.

Is it possible? Maybe.

Is it functional? Let alone enjoyable?

Absolutely not.

Expecting a Tank (or even a DPS) to be the sole provider for their Role's tasks is to play a game of triage, with those tasks -- you will inevitably have to make every decision and use of a CD cover for a least 2-3 responsibilities in your Role, just to keep up with what the enemy is leveraging against you.

And for those responsibilities you miss (and you will miss them, b/c the cognitive demand to always multi-task will eventually break down), there will be a long term effect that sees those responsibilities disappear from the Role's playstyle.

Peel, Objective Security, and Sightline Pressure have all taken significant hits in Tank Objectives with the advent of 5v5.

Resulting in increased workloads for responsibilities that the other Roles were never designed to accomplish by themselves.

Peel is better served by heroes who have the Health Pools and Damage Mitigation that is foundational to Tanks, as is triggering Overtime, or pressuring Snipers.

But when your Role demands you maintain the front line at all times, or worse, dump into the enemy backline because it is the most efficient use of your abilities, the crux of the Tank Role as both a Defender and Space Maker for your team, becomes...confused.

Nevermind the poor "squishies" in said backline who suddenly have to figure out how to deal with a 700 health monstrosity barreling at them with both CC and Damage Reduction that they can't reasonably be expected to do anything about.

On Role Passives...ugh

A quick note to highlight-

Role Passives are each designed not as supportive and versatile elements that improve the quality of the Role's gameplay. Instead-

Role Passives are each selectively designed to make other Roles worse at their tasks.

The DPS passive punishes healers/supports by reducing their effectiveness at a flat value.

The Tank Passive(s) reduce CC impact, Ult charge reward, and Headshots from both DPS and Supports (not even your own Healers can get the full Ult charge gain for healing their Tanks).

While the Support Passive demands the other two Roles find the fastest ways to secure an elimination, which often revolves around heavy burst, damage amplification, and/or broad AoE effects.

Passives both narrow the gameplay options and create artificial frustration for the other Roles, all while providing "value" at an uneven distribution.

There will always be certain heroes that benefit more than others from a Role Passive.

In a 6v6 environment, Role Passives would be irrelevant, and impressively obvious in their irrelevance given the broad coverage each Role Pairing could provide across all responsibilities.

6v6 provided significantly more clarity for each of the Role's, allowing them all to be defined within their necessary tasks. This ensured Players were not overwhelmed with excessive cognitive demand and, instead, could focus on the most immediately important elements of the game to their respective Role.

It was a defining trait of the 6v6 format, that allowed those who were looking to "Just Heal/Defend" to perform that function adequately without the expectation to pop off, get kills, and peel to any excessive degree-

-and in a format like 5v5, these additional qualifiers become almost mandatory for success to be measured.

The bleed over between Roles has muddied the pool of options to the point that the overt chaos of what makes Overwatch into the game that it is, feels less and less navigable by feel, and more by a requirement for memorized numbers and strategies that are not intuitive to the design.

And considering those numbers and strategies can't even be found inside the game? That you have to search them out on different websites and from youtube videos?

That says something we should be paying attention too.

[candied-cae]

Support For Palestine - No $$$ Needed!

Firstly, I highly recommend This Site, That Will Donate With One Click! (Seriously, no signing up, no inputing information, no costs, just press the button, I used it myself and you can revisit it every 24 hrs! So try to bookmark it or keep the tab open!)

And secondly, I recommend contacting your representatives in government and advocating for the millions of innocents currently facing danger in the Gaza Strip.

Joseph Biden, in a recent address, acknowledged that the "overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas". I believe this time, right now, is our chance to try and break through our decades long, wrongfully given, support of the Ethnic Cleansing of the Gaza Strip. So I urge you, anyone with even just the time to spare, to try. Plead. Demand. At the worst, you tried and lost a little bit of time. At the best... maybe some people don't die.

So, I wrote a twt thread with instructions/advice for American Residents to reach out to their local representatives as simply, easily, and quickly as possible, and I wanted to share that same info here. I promise I only wants a few minutes of your time.

You can use this White House Contact Page to send one message to Biden and another to Harris. Just fill in your info and you can either write your own message, or feel free to copy and paste mine (it'll be at the bottom of this post)! The focus is first demanding that the US withdraws its support of the Israeli State.

Next, you can use this Common Cause page and instantly get all the information to reach out to your local representatives, it even tells you which committees they sit on! Just put in your address and it'll use that to find which jurisdictions you're in and provide links to all their contact pages. Again, fill in your info, some of mine also required a Topic, so I selected either "Foreign Relations/Affairs" or "Civil Rights and Humanities" and put in my message.

I clicked through all of mine, sent in my messages, used the exact same ones for all of them, only adding an additional note for my most direct representative as I grew up in the same town and wanted to express that to hopefully assist in drawing on his humanity, and it only took me about 30 minutes to get through.

Personally, I wanted to scream and rage and throw my whole beating angry heart at them and their gross, racist bigotry that allowed them to not only neglect the issue of the Israeli Occupation, but fund it. The US has been aiding Israel in their ceaselessly cruel genocide against the Palestinian people, and I'm sure it lights a white-hot fury in many of us. But, I wrote this plea with as much restraint and grace as I could bring myself to allow, if only for the sake of them possibly listening instead of tuning it out.

My statement -

Subject : We Cannot Support a Genocidal Ethnic Cleansing

To the Office of  _________ - 

I am pleading with the governing powers in place to help the people of Palestine. The government in Israel has said not only with their actions, by committing multitudes of War Crimes and breaking the Geneva Convention repeatedly, but even in their own words that they intend to entirely decimate and wipe out the citizens of Gaza. They have already killed and injured thousands in only these last few days - to say nothing of the past 7 decades they have spent doing the very same - and this devastation is a human rights violation like something we have never seen to this degree being supported and under-reported. Especially by the American Government, which has always held its citizens to the belief that they are a good and just organization that stands for humanity wherever it can. 

We have already lost so many innocents in Palestine, but there are still so many that can be spared and saved if our government can withdraw its support of the Israeli Occupation. If they can inform their citizens of the truth that has been happening for so, so very long.

The U.S. has been wrong in its history of supporting and ignoring the cruelty that has been taking place for so long. But only by righting ourselves, by admitting and accepting that the financial aid we've sent has, at this point, become a sunken investment without the extermination of the Palestinian people. It hurts to lose so much money, it hurts to admit we've been on the wrong side of history, but the only way to stop the damage from growing exponentially worse, is to address it honestly now. 

This is not about Judaism. This is not about Jewish people by ethnicity or religious affiliation. This is not about Nazism or Antisemitism.

This is about the colonizing power of the IDF that has been ignored and allowed for almost a century.

Please. Try to save some of them before it's too late.

This comes from a concerned citizen who is feeling extremely devastated by the state of things currently. 

As a human being, who I hope cares for the lives of fellow human beings, we cannot allow this to happen. Least of all with our seal of approval. 

-[Your Name and any Salutations]

[daughterofwoe]

some 3am mental health ramblings

as usual, your regularly scheduled dose of arcane, guide and hypnokink posting lie just past the fourth isle, so keep on scrolling if you aren't particularly interested in listening to a depressed trans girl ramble about her conceptualization of existence.

I've always felt somewhat wrong, or out of place with the world. Now sure, a lot of that can be attributed to me being autistic, dealing with culture shock, being trans, etc. But, dig deep enough and I begin running into stuff I just can't explain. Longings, for places that upon further inspection are mere abstractions of a larger mental state, anxieties that I can trace right back up to trauma that I never experienced, feelings, like no matter how much HRT is helping on some fundamental level the girl who looks back at me in the mirror isnt who I am. Even random people who my brain will pick out as just a little out of step with the world in a way that almost makes me think they'd understand what dealing with this is like. Then they move, shift their weight, disappear into the crowd, and the feeling vanishes, as it always does, off to strike again randomly when I expect it least.

And if that was all it was, passing feelings, the occasional anxiety attack over stuff that never was, yeah I'd probably just write it off as some product of my fractured mind, or a result of some trauma I never quite pieced together. But it's not. It plagues every waking moment of my life and a good few of my dreams too, providing no comfort but a constant, aching feeling that somehow, in some way I am not made for this world and so I do not dance to its tune. Sometimes it is better, I go weeks, or even months without feeling its touch upon my life, but others, it feels like every fiber of my body is out of sync with the rest of existence. Ever experienced your mind refusing to believe anything is real because you should be able to draw sensory input from every point in every space in a certain radius around you? well I have. Or, on the topic of senses, had it try to draw upon senses that don't exist? or shuffle your sensory inputs in such a way to reduce how much cold you feel upon your skin. Or perhaps I am not alone in having felt as if I should be able to unmake all that I am and weave it into something new with a simple thought? that my body can be made mere abstract concept through the application of will? Or perhaps, as said before, it is simply the unknowable ramblings of a shattered mind.

My mind longs to be, longs to do things that are not possible, things that do not exist yet I can picture so perfectly in my mind. My stories are my only escape, my only chance to carve out a world in which, at least there, I can be someone who feels at peace with the world. But they are not real. And so I stand, my vigil holding as I try my damnedest to carve out a place in this world where maybe, just maybe, one day I can feel at peace with the world. I have more thoughts on this topic, and the way it's influenced my life and how I see the world, but frankly I have too much other shit going on in my head right now to properly separate the rest out so we'll leave it here for now. Thank you to all the wonderful people who have supported me as I continue to work my way through life and its challenges.

Yours faithfully in Root and Crown,

- Askosia

[madlificent]

Hello! I'm Maddie!

I am a transgal who makes digital illustrations, often focusing on characters from my husband and I's creative passion project, Crystal Heart! I tend to represent myself via one of my oldest OCs, Sorochi! I've been drawing for as long as I can remember, tbh. In college, I started to shift my drawing pursuits into character and comic artwork, working to develop my style for an eventual graphic novel project. This is where Crystal Heart was born, but it wouldn't really get far before college burned me out. I took a five year break from making artwork and instead turned to miniature painting, which I have since set on the back burner as I dive full force back into drawing and creative writing.

The main content I post is for Crystal Heart, a sci-fi mixed writing and graphic novel project that my husband and I have been working on with more focus in the past year. It began in college, but at the time I lacked the dedicated creative input of my husband (who is stellar at macro-level concepts and themes) and enough life experience to really know where I wanted to take the project. Fast-forward five years and now I am a proud autistic transwoman who has a lot to say on her own personal journey and the world at large in her late twenties. My husband, a transman, has tossed his own personal struggles into the pot to create what will be a very queer story of finding one's place in the world and building up communities under the boot of authoritarian capitalism. Crystal Heart's first Act has been fully roughed out and is currently under review by our peers!

My Tags: #maddieart - all of my artwork will be tagged with this. Best way to just see what I make. #crystal heart - all art pertaining to Crystal Heart, be it memes, character designs, writing, etc. #maddiewrites - this will hold any writing posts I end up slapping in here

And finally, a bit shameless plugging! I opened a Ko-fi account earlier this year and have recently started to put a focus on dropping behind-the-scenes content into it. My main passion is illustration and developing Crystal Heart and my autism makes it very difficult for me to hold onto conventional jobs, as they often lose their hold as I learn all that I can and fall into repetition. So, if you like the art you find here on my blog and want to support what I do, I would very much appreciate even just sharing this post and/or the Ko-fi link below. I really want to make art my primary focus and every little bit helps that goal! I also have provided my linktree if you would like to follow me on any of my other accounts. This and my Ko-fi are by far my most active sites these days, but I do still post on the others from time to time! Support me on Ko-fi!

Linktree

[songbirdseung]

can you see me here? / sim jaeyun ft. heeseung

Office Allure

The sun cast a warm, golden glow-y sunrise across the city of Seoul as Y/N hurried through the streets, trying not to be late for work. Her destination was the same as it had been for the past three years – a sleek, high-rise building that housed Kim & Associates, one of the city's most prestigious law firms. Y/N was a rising star in the firm, known for her unwavering dedication and sharp legal mind.

But there was another star at Kim & Associates, one who had captured Y/N's heart from the moment she had laid eyes on him – Lee Heeseung. Tall, with a disarming smile and a keen intellect to match, Heeseung was a formidable presence in the office. He had a knack for turning heads wherever he went, including Y/N's.

Every morning, Y/N would steal glances at Heeseung as he strode confidently through the office, his charisma drawing everyone's attention. She admired him not just for his professional accomplishments but also for the kindness he showed to his colleagues. But there was one problem – Heeseung didn't seem to notice Y/N beyond their professional interactions.

Right on time, she enters the building and clocks in. She strides along through the building. The elevator brings her to her floor and Y/N does all the necessary greetings and heads to her cubicle. Y/N loves her cubicle, there is enough room, and it is decorated in all her favorite knick knacks, a picture frame with a photo of her and her family is placed near the desktop. The best part was how Heeseung was the in the cubicle next to hers. She tries every day to start small talk, ask about the weather, his day, whatever. But she always chickened out.

A Furtive Heart

Y/N's one-sided affection for Heeseung was a closely guarded secret. She had never been good at expressing her feelings, especially when it came to matters of the heart. Instead, she channeled her emotions into her work, striving to be the best attorney she could be.

As for Sim Jaeyun, a fellow lawyer at the firm, he harbored a quiet affection for Y/N. Jaeyun had admired her dedication and intelligence for years, often finding excuses to be near her, offering his help on cases, and engaging in friendly banter. But Y/N was oblivious to his feelings, her heart held captive by Heeseung's allure.

One day, as Y/N was engrossed in a complex case, Heeseung appeared at her desk, his warm smile directed at her. "Y/N, I need your help with some research on the Smith case. You're the best at this," he said, his voice carrying a hint of admiration.

Her heart fluttered at the compliment, but she nodded, trying to maintain her composure. As Heeseung leaned over her desk to discuss the case, Y/N couldn't help but be aware of the proximity of the man she secretly adored. Her pulse quickened, and she offered her full attention, eager to prove herself to him.

Jaeyun watched from a distance, his heart heavy with the knowledge that Y/N's affections were firmly fixed on Heeseung. He had never mustered the courage to confess his feelings, fearing the inevitable rejection. Instead, he continued to support Y/N, silently providing assistance when she needed it and offering a friendly shoulder to lean on.

One evening, as Y/N was working late in the office, Jaeyun approached her desk, a cup of coffee in hand. "You've been working so hard, Y/N. I thought you might need some caffeine to keep you going," he said, his smile warm and genuine.

Y/N looked up from her work, her eyes reflecting gratitude. "Thank you, Jaeyun. You're always so thoughtful," she replied, accepting the coffee.

Their conversation flowed naturally as they discussed work, hobbies, and dreams. Jaeyun listened intently, cherishing every moment he spent with her. But as the evening wore on, the office door swung open, and Heeseung entered, looking for Y/N.

"Y/N, I need your input on the Johnson case. Can we talk?" Heeseung asked, his captivating smile directed at her once again.

Y/N nodded and glanced back at Jaeyun, who had quietly retreated to his own desk, his heart heavy with the knowledge that, once again, he was invisible in the presence of Y/N's one-sided love.

Unspoken Confessions

Months turned into years, and Y/N's feelings for Heeseung remained unspoken, a silent ache in her heart. She watched as Heeseung continued to rise within the firm, his star shining brighter with each success. Y/N was content to be by his side, even if it was only as a colleague and a friend.

One fateful day, as Y/N was poring over a particularly challenging case, Heeseung approached her desk, his expression serious. "Y/N, there's something I need to tell you," he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Her heart raced as she looked up at him, her eyes wide with anticipation. Could it be that he felt the same way?

"I've been offered a position at a prestigious law firm in New York," Heeseung continued, his gaze fixed on her. "It's a fantastic opportunity, but it means leaving Seoul and Kim & Associates."

Y/N's heart sank as she absorbed his words. Her feelings for Heeseung had never wavered, and the thought of him leaving was almost unbearable. But she managed to put on a brave smile. "Congratulations, Heeseung. That's an amazing opportunity, and you should definitely go for it."

Heeseung nodded, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I'll miss everyone here, especially you, Y/N. You've been a great colleague and friend."

Friend. The word hung in the air like an unspoken confession, and Y/N's heart ached. She wanted to tell him how she felt, to let him know that her affection for him went beyond friendship. But the words remained trapped, unsaid, and the moment passed.

The Unfinished Story

In the weeks that followed, preparations for Heeseung's departure were in full swing. Y/N threw herself into her work, using it as a shield to protect her fragile heart. Jaeyun, ever the supportive friend, was there to lend a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on.

As the day of Heeseung's departure drew near, the office organized a farewell party in his honor. Y/N watched from a distance as her colleagues raised their glasses and toasted to his future success. Her heart ached with a mixture of happiness for him and sorrow for herself.

Late that evening, after the party had ended, Y/N found herself alone in the office, gazing out at the city lights. Jaeyun, who had stayed back to keep her company, stood beside her.

"Heeseung is leaving tomorrow," Jaeyun said softly, breaking the silence.

Y/N nodded, her eyes welling up with tears she had been holding back for too long. "I wish him all the best," she whispered.

Jaeyun turned to her, his gaze filled with warmth and sincerity. "Y/N, there's something I've wanted to tell you for a long time."

Her heart skipped a beat as she looked into his eyes, finally realizing the depth of his feelings. "Jaeyun…"

Before she could say another word, Jaeyun leaned in and kissed her, his lips soft and tender. It was a kiss filled with all the unspoken words and emotions that had lingered between them for years.

As they pulled away, Y/N's eyes filled with tears, but this time they were tears of gratitude and love. She had discovered that sometimes, the person who had been there all along, silently supporting her, was the one who truly held her heart.

Heeseung's departure the next day marked the end of an era, but for Y/N and Jaeyun, it was the beginning of a love story that had long been waiting to be written.

[acourtofmishapandmistakes]

Do you support AI art?

That's a very complicated question, and one that I don't want to avoid answering given that it's a very real and present debate right now.

In short, no, I don't personally support AI-generated art as it currently stands.

While I'm open to the idea of using AI as a tool to enhance learning and creativity and generally believe that the increasing use of AI can create a more accessible world, I feel that AI art, in its present form, operates with too few restrictions. I’ll be the first to admit that I haven't done extensive research into all the nuances of the debate. However, as fast as AI is advancing, I believe we need to have open conversations about it and be willing to learn. Based solely on what I've seen and read—particularly from artists who have spoken out on this issue—I believe AI-generated art, at this point, can be harmful. AI often relies on existing artworks as input, producing works that utilize techniques or styles of actual creators without giving proper credit or compensation to the source material. This strikes me as deeply unethical and is something I'm growing increasingly concerned about.

I also want to acknowledge upfront that I'm likely guilty of sharing AI-generated art unintentionally in the past. I’ve been making an effort to be more mindful and seek out sources for the art that I share, so I can directly support the artists rather than contributing to algorithms that can exploit them.

I understand that AI has made it much easier for people to bring their fantasies and dreams to life, which is fantastic. The ability to visualize complex and imaginative ideas more easily than ever is a significant advantage, especially for those who may not have the financial means to commission an artist directly. However, this often comes at the expense of creators, whose work is being used without permission or compensation to fuel these AI visions. This raises serious ethical concerns about the origins of these works and the impact it has on the creative community. I see it as a double-edged sword—imagination becomes more accessible, but at the cost of the artist. Personally, I avoid using AI art altogether, choosing to support artists over the instant gratification that AI might provide. That said, I’m not one to judge or blacklist someone who uses AI, as long as they’re not reposting and claiming the art as their own.

I also recognize that AI can be a useful tool for artists, particularly when it comes to generating reference images for body proportions, poses, or movements—things that can be difficult to find through a simple Google search. I know a few artists who have used AI art generators for this specific purpose as they continue to learn and grow. I don't feel it’s my place to decide whether this is right or wrong. For many growing artists, AI can serve as a valuable resource in developing their skills. As AI technology evolves, I can see it becoming a powerful teaching aid, potentially helping artists refine their craft in ways that weren’t possible before. However, at this point, I believe AI art is doing more harm than good.

I’ve definitely seen AI art that has left me in awe of its composition and detail. However, I remind myself that this art was created by drawing upon the work of someone real, living, and working—often without their permission. This makes the issue feel morally complex and, frankly, a bit uncomfortable.

Ultimately, this is a complicated issue and a moral dilemma that we all need to grapple with. I don't denounce those who use or appreciate AI-generated art, but given my very limited understanding of the full scope of the debate, I feel it isn’t my place to make definitive judgments. As I continue to learn more, I hope to develop a more nuanced perspective and back up my views with solid research. For now, these are my messy, complicated feelings.

If you're interested in exploring this topic further, here are some articles discussing the ethical implications of AI that I've read in the past: