#and that i NEED to be reliable so you can fucking PLAY VIDEO GAMES on the couch

[glacierruler]

How absolutely fucking dare I not get milk when we have a pantry full of food. It's just an absolute travesty that I can't muster up the fucking energy to get some milk, when I'm a full time college student who hates driving. I'm practically a failure at taking care of things.

[vaguely-concerned]

so sad that we didn't get a follow up game for andromeda if for no other reason then because I never got to play out the full arc of my ryder looking hauntedly at himself in the mirror realizing he very much is his father's son in more ways than he's strictly comfortable with

(by default sara always seems to me to be the twin who's the most obviously like alec -- with small variances based on how you play her if she's the PC twin, she's always presented as more driven, competetive and academically minded than scott, who's framed in the family dynamic more as the underachiever/slacker fuckup twin. as an example, see: the conversation you have with alec about the sibling who's in coma at the beginning of the game. when you're scott they bond over joking that sara would be so pissed to be out of commission because she's been planning to be the first to scale every mountain, and when you're sara it's that scott never liked to get up in the morning anyway, how typical of him. (even in jest I feel like this indicates a slightly unpleasant dynamic where one of the few reliable tactics that work for sara to get connection with her dad is for both of them to turn on scott to mock him. which like. very real type of interpersonal dynamic that exists, and one of the character aspects I like the most in andromeda for all that it's uncomfortable, it feels quite subtle and well observed.) you can make sara a bit more neurotic/nervous and awkward and/or charmingly dorky when playing as her and you can make scott a bit more serious, but these aspects of the characters hold true no matter what. which for the record I absolutely love! it's the thing the hawke family also provides in da2, being able to see the dynamics that lead to your character being the way they are alllll the way back and building on it.

hOWEVER with my scott. this apparent disconnect between himself and his dad in terms of character traits (and the lack of communication in that relationship that stood in the way of letting him see that his father was a lot of other things behind the fragile hard outer shell of him than he wanted to show) means that as time goes on scott is fucking blindsided by all the common traits that start popping up under pressure. which you can actually start to introduce in the game itself, too -- if you choose mostly the logical and casual options, it's almost freaky how much ryder starts to sound like a younger and more irreverent version of their dad. (the most interesting version of liam's loyalty quest for me is actually the one where you go full professional and chew him out afterwards, and as liam storms off you can practically SEE ryder arrive at the thought 'oh my god I have become my father' in real time fhdsakj. in general some of the most interesting moments in me:a to me happen when you manage to break away from video game people pleaser mode.)

especially the things alec was willing to do to not lose his wife, to not be alone, he'd rather she be alive and pissed with him than gone forever because that's how desperately he needed her to exist... I think one day scott will look up and go '...oh fuck' at realizing the lengths he would go for someone he loves, and that he has the means to do it too and would make his father's (very bad to be clear) choice all over again if push came to shove. keeping horrible secrets is just the family tradition what does it matter if the weight of them grows heavier and heavier to bear over the years these are family heirlooms you know. I mean, my guy romanced reyes, so you already know he's got something deeply deeply wrong with him lol but this horrors of love side of him only adds to it. scott ryder got his fundamental lack of inner peace from his father and his social skills and abysmal taste in men from his mother

[elissaalva]

september 4th

Since 2012, I have allowed myself to be muted for the sake of peace and what i perceived to support the safety of the future for my son and I. Its where the sparkle began to die. I know it. I can remember the moment and it still haunts me. I knew no one was going to save us or support us. I went into quiet mode or mute. Once known to be bold and outspoken, I shut the fuck up. I shut the fuck up in fear that my words would be used against me. My actions and choices would be used against me in family law court and as I was seeking employment within the field of Criminal Justice. I told myself I was not going to give anyone any reason to use against me in court or during the hiring process. I deleted videos of me participating in travel during the tours with Wekfest, I only accepted shifts serving during lunch hours even though the customers were more rude and far from generous (ugh, the many stories to share life as a restaurant server is insane), I asked Marvin to delete videos of my birthday parties and any adventures that would look irresponsible in the slightest, I deactivated my first blog I built on wordpress, I remember even avoiding speeding or going into a carpool lane during heavy bay area traffic, because I wanted to be seen as responsible, reliable, honest, and law abiding. I slowed down with accepting modeling opportunities, I stopped sharing, I started hiding. After 12 years, its safe to say that majority of that did matter. However, how rigid and focused I became is misaligned with my core essence. Even when i hit my bench marks of what success meant to me, i didn’t appreciate it because i would tell myself “what took you so long to get here? This is overdue and nothing to celebrate. Keep going.” I have been so un happy and bitter. I killed the fun, curious, and playful parts of me. In these years, I lived in fear and shame. I let the decisions of others make me feel and believe I was a bad person for not being chosen in some way(s). Now that I look back, why would they? My energy probably came off weird or confusing. I was trying to be what they wanted me to be all while keeping my walls up to keep us all safe. Present day, the idea of forcing myself to fit in places I am not seen or recognized is just crazy to me. Ugh! I wish i could just hug and squeeze my younger versions of myself. 2024 in numerology is the year of karma…and I have been seeing it getting served up on gold platters to those who did wrong to me in some way. I will save this for another post though. The topic of Karma is a big one to unpack. 2024 is also the year of the Dragon in the Chinese Zodiac. Its my year. It occurs every 12 years and I see each return to be highly transformative. At 11-12 years old I learned I was on my own in this world I was gonna need to be my own parent, 23-24 years old I decided to play by the rules to the extreme to obtain what my son and I needed to thrive, and now at 35 (soon to be 36) I am choosing to embrace and approach these next 12 years unapologetically. Being around this long I carry with my quiet a bit of varying experiences and knowing. I learned the rules and now I am ready to play the game. side note: I am competitive as fuck, so this game and experience of life is about to get a lot more interesting and fun!

[not-sure-what-im-feeling]

Sanders Sides as things I've said/heard

all of these are sourced from me. feel free to use them yourself for other characters and such, but i ask that you tag me in it. sorry for how long this is

Remus: continuously poking Roman

Roman: OH MY GOD STOP TOUCHING ME

Logan: Oh! did you know that—from a microscopic level—you can’t actually touch someone? Atoms don’t touch.

Patton: But they aren’t named Adam? That’s Roman and Remus!

Logan: scientific fuming

<<•>>

Janus: about something that has nothing to do with Christianity Read the fucking Bible!

<<•>>

Logan: While we’re reading this book, what are your impressions about this character?

Patton: I think he was in jail or involved in something illegal.

Logan: Good, now, why something illegal?

Patton: Well, most people in jail are involved in something illegal

<<•>>

Virgil: I need help? Yeah, when I’m dead. When they’re putting my body in… the carcass box…

<<•>>

Virgil: No questions, but I’m not sure how long I can keep it together before the demons get to me.

<<•>>

Remus: playing cards with the others I will peel your face off with a wire cutter!

<<•>>

Remus: making Nanaimo bars with patton Should we use the beating machine for the cream part?

<•>>

The sides are going through old junk and find a paper doll with Roman’s name on it (it looks nothing like any of them)

Virgil: Aw, it looks just like you, Roman!

Roman: That’s my choir boy you bitch!

<<•>>

Roman: probably to Logan Do you want a tumbleweed? Cause you’re really boring.

<<•>>

Playing some game like tag idk

Roman: Hey! No fair, I hurt my leg!

Virgil: Death won’t give a fuck when he reaps your soul

<<•>>

Virgil: This tastes drugged…

Remus: You already are drugged!

<<•>>

after Roman said something

Virgil (or Janus): I lost… so many brain cells

<<•>>

Logan: Why did you say smash to an arachnid?

Remus: You underestimate how amazing spiders can be

<<•>>

Remus: leans against table Wanna have gay sex?

<<•>>

They all did a “What fanfic trope are you” quiz

Virgil: I got found family?

Roman: Oh so they called you depressed and gay

<<•>>

Remus: Here’s a coin! It’s kinda soggy though…

Virgil: This is… a cucumber slice

Remus: Yeah! (:

<<•>>

Remus: Ugh, people have common sense and it’s annoying

<<•>>

Remus: Say goodbye to your toes!

<<•>>

Remus: Who wants to be reliable when you can be [jazz hands] inconsistent!

<<•>>

Roman: What’s your aesthetic?

Patton: Cartoons!

Virgil: Purple

Remus: Actually, rock

<<•>>

Virgil: I want to die holding a spider

<<•>>

Roman: You punch me a lot…

Virgil: Only when you anger me!

Roman: What about when we played slapjack and you lost?

Virgil: That angered me!

<<•>>

Remus: Mother and father issues? You’ve gotta be kidding!

Virgil: Wow, okay, don’t just call me out

<<•>>

watches a video about a baby race

Janus: It’s all just a metaphor for society…

[wizardofvamp]

Helloooo it's me again!! Could I please have 4, 10, 17, 19, 20 for the vtm player asks?

Hiyahiya glad to see you again!! Apologies in advance for the wall of text ;-; 4. What's your favourite clan? Why?

There are several clans close to my heart-- Malks, Tremere and Gangrel leap to mind. But the Tzimisce will always be my favorite. I could go on for ages as to why, but to keep it short and simple: they occupy a niche genre sweet spot for me. Vampires and body horror are my primary jams, and the clan marries classic gothic vamps and 90s splatterpunk in a way I adore. Also I'm trans, and come from a family with a few ministers floating around in it. So genderfuck pack priests are appealing to me! 10. What's been your favourite interaction throughout your VtM experiences? Can be in game, playing video games.. anything.

Def pulling from Marcel's catalog here, but this time gonna reference something more grounded. Early in the campaign, like year one when Marcel was still a brand new fledgling, SI firebombed his sire's haven (long story but yes it was Marcel's fault). Marcel was bonded, to the point of it overcoming Rötschreck to try storming up smoke-choked flights of stairs to try to rescue him. It was a lost cause, he had to be dragged out of the burning building by his coterie-mates. There were still hunters around, and they needed to be neutralized. Marcel went "fuck that" and tried hiding in one of the vans the Hunters had rolled up in. In it, he met Lily. She was the teenage daughter of one of the leaders of this Leopold-esque hunter cult that was tearing through the area, insanely high true faith and had been kept around as a human shield/potential sacrifice. The two of them sat in the back of this van, both having been recently, violently liberated from the men who had been shuffling them both around like disposable cards, and after a surprising heart-to-heart they decided to go "fuck it, we're leaving, we've had enough for tonight" and zip away from the clusterfuck with the van. Coterie mates were upset about being ditched but once they met Lily chilled out considerably. She was more or less adopted by the eldest vamp of the coterie (a Banu who helped her become the Buffy she is today, one who would die tragically two years later) and she and Marcel remain close like a big brother/little sister dynamic. Though their relationship is more strained these nights with how Marcel has started picking up the habits of the old bastards that they were fighting to begin with.

17. You suddenly switch places with one of your characters, which one would you prefer to be?

Definitely not Marcel, since I'm pretty sure he's IOU'd his soul to like three different Horrible Entities for powerboosts and I don't think I can handle that kind of existential stress. Wouldn't want to be Bell for similar reasons, though at least his pacts are uncertain end-times cashouts whereas Marcel's are due *checks watch* now. I'd be tempted to say one of the Ghouls (Eliza or Canary, wouldn't want to live Roman's life if you paid me the entire planet's income) since they have the least amount of Deadly Stakes and could potentially find a way out of all the scary stuff. But both of them are pretty damn enmeshed, so that seems unlikely... I guess Ana? Because out of everyone he 1) Has a really nice house (just don't look in the basement) and a healthy bank account 2) multiple, unlife-long contacts that are reliable af 3) has relatively more freedom than any of my other guys. Does all that stability come with a stupidly high and arguably unhinged personal, Mihal-shaped cost? Yes, but better the evil you know, right?

19. Which character is least spoken about? Speak about them now!

Probably Bell and Canary (yes they are a unit much like Ana and Roman so I speak of them both)! They're a wandering Malk/ghoul pair who make music out of the back of a station wagon (def in part inspired by Ghost's band in Lost Souls). They're an excellent addition to the blunt rotation on the short term but it's recommended that you handle Bell with care--he's like a large cat. Even when he's playful he can be dangerous because he's lost grip on how hard he can hit. Sometimes a "fun" conversation can veer so off track the neonate Bell was toying with is a shattered husk by sunrise. Canary seems to be the only one with the mental fortitude to handle Bell's crueler fits, and because of this they tend not to stay in one place for too long.

Canary's a younger ghoul--he's been travelling with Bell for around a decade and a half. His family got... got by the fae. How did he end up being the sole survivor? He doesn't like to talk about it. He was picked up by Bell while hitch hiking, and they've been inseparable since. They aren't bonded, mostly because Bell knows his vitae can be destabilizing enough and he likes Canary! So as sturdy as he believes his dear ghoul to be that's not something he wants to mess with. As far as Bell, he's equally closed-lipped about his history. He's old, of elder blood that's for certain. How elder he doesn't even know anymore--he actively avoids memorium out of fear that he would never return from it, or return as someone different. So if the sands of time tuck something away he does as a mortal would and makes his peace with it. One of the few facts Canary does know is that Bell was a pack priest before finding him, a fellow sole survivor with no interest in outlining the how or why. Wrote a play around these two a year-ish ago, around a big winter reunion Bell decided to throw for some old friends--I want to adapt it into prose for the ole writing blog, though when I'll get around to that is an outstanding question. 20. Is there something specific that influences you for your character creations?

Hmmm. Like specific influences for my characters? Or a pattern/habit of mine regarding character creation? A small answer for both questions! Marcel - Winslow Leach, Griffith (the thesis was 'nerd griffith who isn't hot but still has the manipulative rizz with the Toreador Baseball player of the coterie being Fancier Guts) Ana - People keep accusing him of being Evil Carlisle Cullen and I can't even come close to beating those allegations

As far as general influences when making characters-- it's hard to say? I tend to gravitate toward particular lore/skill and then tease a character out from there. Marcel was made because I was interested in v20's Thaumaturgy, Ana was made both because I'd been chomping at the bit to play a tzim for years and Obertus Rev lore lives rent free in my brain. I really dig messing around with Rev families in general, something that'll likely become clear when I post more writing about Kliment.

[angrelysimpping]

oki, the logan nsfw abc sans peeness v_v

Him picrew(s):

A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

He….needs the aftercare. Please. Please give him aftercare. Needs a lil juice pouch and to be cleaned up a bit. Wouldn’t want his partner to leave, though. 

B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

He likes…shoulders….and forearms. He doesn't think he's very attractive but, if he had to pick a body part, he thinks his legs are kinda nice

C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

He can no longer cum without anal stimulation, lol

D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Likes the idea of cross dressing in public and he pulls it off so well but by fucking God is he on the verge of panicking the while time. 

E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

God no. Inexperienced as hell. (Unless he's with his official boyfriend, 💜 @inkyquince 💜‘s Callum. Then, he has a body count of….three lol)

F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)

In general, probably missionary? Good old reliable.  With Cal? As long as he can see Cal, p much anything is on the table (tho he'd also prefer being able to hold Callum's hand, too :3)

G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

The man is too nervous to be goofy, please. 

H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

Doesn't grow a lot of hair naturally. Trims but, well, probably wouldn't have to.  Logan showers everyday and uses special shampoo and conditioner to help his hair dye last longer. Likes having his hair shoulder length and keeps it tied back. Okay with it going down mid back but any further and he gets itchy.  Can’t really grow facial hair, doesn’t have to shave his face. 

I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

The man will clam up. He's a nervous wreck at all times. Blushy and squeaky and big eyed. The most romantic thing he does is probably the fact he doodles in his notebook and that he doodles his boyfriend so often that it's the only doodle that looks like it's subject. 

J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Not too often because he hates the clean up. He'd need after care from jerking it and who is gonna do that aftercare? Him? God, please don't do that to him

K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Into praise, objectification, and pup play :3

L = Location (favorite places to do the do)

He prefers his own bed though he's gotten used to Cal's bunk in the tour bus. 

M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

Being wanted. 

N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Vomit, scat, age play, cbt, anything that would really hurt him or his partner

O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

He doesn't think he's that good at giving so prefers to receive because be can't screw that up, can he?

P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

Slow and timid, if he's setting the pace. He rarely is. 

Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Is fine with quickies but doesn't prefer them. 

R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

If he really likes you, he's willing to try most things once. But, I mean, he has to really like you. The only person he's actually, in his cannon, willing to experiment with is Callum. 

S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

He….prefers going one round. He's gone for a lot longer though…..

T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

He has one toy. One, singular cock sleeve that one of Callum's bandmates chucked at his head as a joke. He has used it exactly once, to send a video to Callum.  Callum on the other hand will buy toys and use them on Logan and he's more than up for that. 

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

If this man teases anyone it is purely by accident and he doesn't know he's doing it. Also, please don't tease him, he might cry tbh. 

V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

Something something, where's that post about subby autistic boys who go nonverbal during sex? He tries to speak and Callum has gotten good about discerning the strangled noises he makes. Whines and whimpers. 

W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Once set the money of one of Callum's bandmates on fire bc they kept insinuating they'd pay Logan for sex as a way of testing him. Logan did it because he thought of it as an insult to Callum and not himself. It's a reoccurring pattern for Logan, doing something on the behalf of someone he loves rather than for himself

X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

I think the final verdict was 4.6 soft and 4.9 hard lol. Has freckles the further down his body you go. Has, in fact, dyed his pubes blue on more than one occasion. Wear briefs. 💚 @undead-merman 💚 drew him peepness for me! It's actually my icon in the moist corner lol 5’1. Scrawny. Probably can't do a single pushup or pull up, lol. Fast as fuck tho, he's a fucking runner

Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

A bit higher than average but he usually ignores it  

Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

Please, if he could go right to sleep after sex, he would. Usually clings to Callum like a koala. 

Bonus: BDSM Test

[mdhwrites]

Why Do I Keep Trying Gacha Games?

I'm mostly looking for something ongoing to be invested in. My disability causes my days to be LONG and having something that even takes up fifteen minutes of them is nice. It's something I've appreciated about Star Rail during a time when my brain won't let me stay invested in ANY video games it feels like. It's something reliable that I can be excited for, can discuss and be passionate about.

It's not that it needs to be gacha even. I've tried Marvel Rivals, wasn't for me, not at the moment I feel, but gacha is kind of the BIG name right now in such titles for genres I like. I'm not someone who does shooters after all but a potentially Spider-Man influenced game like Ananta? Yeah, no, that is way more up my alley. I haven't seen Madoka but it has a turn based game coming out next year supposedly with mechanics like Star Rail's and I LOVE turn based stuff so yeah, I'll almost certainly check it out.

Of course, all of this is easier said than done. Genshin's combat turned me away from it four years ago. Zenless Zone Zero has combat I ADORE but writing that is INFURIATING. Just to linger for a second: The best way I can describe my core problem with ZZZ's writing is that they are making correct choices for what they're going for but that they're correct, not good or compelling. Speaking of not compelling: Hello Girls Frontline 2. I played a few hours of it on launch and found it to be fine. Like the definition of fine. Still better than the proper noun salad that was Ash Echoes before finding out that my character belongs to a corporation that doesn't care about having displaced thousands of people from their homes, even if not technically by their fault, which is YIKES. And Infinity Nikke has the core problem of I am function over fashion in most games. A dress up gacha just isn't for me and its writing in its opening is... Well, very functional. Not even bad, just extremely bland and lacking much in the way of character so it could get across its concepts clearly.

So yeah, I will keep looking but I also still argue that part of why HSR is dominating a market that by all means should have been hard to win over, turn based gacha is nothing new, is because it's a game that is good that happens to be a gacha. In fact, not just good but FUCKING GREAT. Like I recently finally finished base Persona 5 and had to go "Oooooh. So Hoyo looked at this final boss, went "What if we tried this theme but not dog shit?" and then made Penacony. Cool." Its combat and team building is way more engaging to me than most turn based RPGs, to the point where I have an old blog gushing about what makes it break the mold compared to your Personas, Pokemons and Dragon Quests. Like I imagine the way I talk about Star Rail sounds akin to how FF 14 people talk about that game where the money spent each month keeping up with the game is more than worth it because it's just blowing everything around it out of the water.

And, well, for my hopes, that's a pretty rough place to start but hey, maybe I'll manage to find something eventually. Also, I would ask for recommendations but I refuse to try things like Arknights because knowing I've missed five years of content, goodies, etc. like that makes my brain scream in terrible ways. sigh I hope you all are taking care of yourselves though and see you next tale. I just wanted to share a ramble.

[servin-up-surveys]

survey #232

Do people tell you you have cold hands? YUP!!!!!!!!! This happens a lot.

Do you feel that the shape of the pasta alters the taste? Not the taste. Just texture.

How often do you listen to rock music? If I'm listening to music, odds are incredibly high it's either metal or rock.

In games, do you like to roleplay as good or bad? During first playthroughs, good. I play the game how I feel I would actually do it.

What was your favourite colour when you were 10? Probably pink, lol.

When were you last in a hospital? Earlier this year because I had an asthma attack.

Is there an instrument you don't like the sound of? I'm sure there is if I actually took time to think about it.

Have you ever sponsored an animal? No. This is something I would do if I actually had money, though.

Would you rather be a kangaroo or a sea turtle? Kangaroo. I like social animals and being a sea turtle sounds so dangerous, no thanks to humans...

Do you like to get ready in the bathroom or the bedroom? I get dressed in my bedroom.

What's your favourite Coldplay song? "Paradise." I want it played at my funeral.

Do you have a favourite insect? Butterflies, moths, orchid mantises. I like giant millipedes, too.

Have you ever worn coloured contacts for Halloween? No.

Do you own a scooter? Not since I was a kid.

Which pastel colour is the nicest? Pink.

When did you last play a Mario game? It's been years, I was never big on Mario.

Ever owned an actual piggy bank? I believe so, as a child.

When did you last swing on a swing-set? It's been years. I'd be afraid to sit on a swing, weighing almost 300 pounds...

Do you study any subjects in your free time? German, but I could be more serious about it. I HAVE gotten more dedicated, but I could still be even better. I also like to learn about reptile husbandry (ball pythons especially to improve my own), and I will always read about meerkats if I come across an article from a source that seems reliable. I also like watching advice videos by successful photographers on YouTube, if that counts as "studying." I enjoy learning about their techniques and stuff.

Would you rather become fluent in 3 European languages or 3 Asian languages? Three European.

Are your bedroom curtains long or short? They're shutters, actually.

Have you ever been zip-lining? No, but it seems fun.

Did you carve a pumpkin this past year? No. :/ I say EVERY year I wanna do it, and then I don't. I need to fix that shit.

Have you volunteered in the past 6 months? No.

French fries or onion rings? French fries, easy. I'm picky with onion rings and can't eat a lot.

Why do you take surveys? I'm bored often, they kill time, and I like answering questions. Most importantly but most rarely, they also make me think and help me become more familiar with myself. I've even been made aware through them of things I need to fix.

Do you suffer from anxiety? Generalized and social, yes. Generalized has been very bad this past month or so.

Did you ever take a swimming class? No.

Favorite healthy snack? Does popcorn count?

Favorite Disney movie? The Lion King. I might like the second as much as the first, but I go back and forth.

Do you consider yourself an artist? Yes.

How well can you bake a cake? I've never tried.

Have you ever tasted banana milk? No, I doubt I'd like it.

How many pairs of skinny jeans do you think you own? I own zero jeans.

Do you own a pair of Converse sneakers? Yes, a couple.

If you see a bee in your house... are you going to kill it? I'm going to try to get it outside while possibly being very scared lol, a hornet or wasp would have me fucked up.

I’m ordering Chinese food; what do you want? My treat! Pork fried rice, eggroll if you can.

Do you have a cat? I do, name's Roman!

Ever been in love? Twice. I once thought three, but no, I just loved her. It was never like Jason and Girt with her.

Any piercings that you want? Nostril repierced, more on my ears, and collarbone microdermals if my collarbones are ever prominent again.

OTP? Richard and Paul shut up let me ship my old men

Favorite quote? I have a lot, but I'll highlight one I recently discovered that REALLY resonated with me, said by the character Karlach from Baldur's Gate 3: "There's no courage in fearlessness. There's courage in being fucking terrified, but still going forward. Still being grateful. Still trying."

Favorite singer? Freddie Mercury, of all time. I also like Patrick Stump from FOB.

How long does it take you to shower? 10-ish minutes.

The reason I joined Tumblr? I think originally it was for the Rhett & Link/GMM fandom.

Baked macaroni and cheese or regular? Regular, I hate baked.

What’s the first thing you learned how to draw? Idk.

Who wrote the last book you read? Erin Hunter.

What’s the middle name of your best friend? He doesn't have one.

How far away do you live from the closest aquarium? I don't know, honestly.

Who in your family has a birthday in January? Uh... no one that I know of. I was DUE in January.

What’s your favorite country song? Probably "When The Stars Go Blue" by Tim McGraw.

Pizza rolls or bagel bites? Pizza rolls. I was never big on bagel bites.

What’s the last show you really got into that you have to wait for the next season of? Extraordinary Attorney Woo.

When’s the last time you saw fireworks? I could see some fireworks from outside my window on the 4th.

Have you ever witnessed a car accident? Yes.

Do you own a pair of fuzzy socks? Yes.

Have you ever been skinny dipping? No.

Sprinkles or frosting? Frosting, I hate sprinkles.

Do you like mushrooms? Visually I love them, they're so diverse and look cool, but as food, no.

Have you ever worked in a grocery store? I worked at a dollar store.

What’s your Subway order? Italian bread, turkey, bacon, American cheese, banana peppers, pickles, Chipotle sauce. Next time I need to try warming it.

Do you know how to roller skate? I can rollerblade. The only time I used proper skates (two wheels on each side), I broke my wrist lmao

Can you read sheet music? I used to be able to. I could point out a few notes, I think.

What’s one food your family has at Thanksgiving? I hate nearly every single thing I've ever had at Thanksgiving, so I don't pay attention. I literally like honey ham (but not the way my sister's MIL prepares it) and the rolls. That's it.

Do you like painting? Actually no, it stresses me out. I took a class in college and I hated that erasing isn't a thing (yes, you can dry and paint over, I don't care, that's not an immediate fix), and it stressed me out that we weren't supposed to sketch, either.

Do you have to sleep with a fan on? Most of the year, yes. If I'm too cold in the winter, it's off.

Name one thing you put on a salad: I like bacon bits.

What’s the last thing you ordered from a Mexican restaurant? Literally hot wings and fries, I'm not kidding lmfao. It was an appetizer option I just made into a meal.

Do you carry a purse or a backpack? Purse.

What kind of soda is your favorite? Mountain Dew Voltage.

Do you like your in-laws? I cannot fucking stand my sister's husband's family. I'm not married yet, but I love my boyfriend's family.

Toe socks or ankle socks? Ugh neither, both are sensory nightmares for me.

Nachos or chips and salsa? Chips and salsa.

What’s the name of your pets? Roman, Venus, Cookie.

What’s your Chick-fil-A order? I only really eat there if it inconveniences those around me if I don't (like, so they don't have to go to two places), and in that case, I just get the normal sandwich and fries. I try not to support Bigot Bird.

Regular or pink lemonade? Pink.

Chinese or Japanese cuisine? Chinese, I guess, by default. Any Japanese I've tried, I didn't like.

Do you own a pair of Crocs? No, they're absolutely hideous and I've also slipped on Mom's just to step outside for whatever reason and I find them extremely uncomfortable.

Does anyone in your family have a birthday in February? Me, my niece.

What’s your Taco Bell order? Steak and cheese quesadillas with fiesta potatoes, normal Mountain Dew.

Have you ever lived in a trailer/doublewide? No.

Pizza or nacho lunchables? Nachos, the pizza Lunchable is appalling.

Have you ever been to a strip club? No.

Did you ever participate in any pageants when you were younger? Hell no.

What kind of cheese is your favorite? Just yellow American.

Make the perfect taco salad: I don't like taco salad.

Name a character from your favorite TV show: Mozart was my favorite in Meerkat Manor.

Do you like going to arcades? Yes.

What kind of meat do you like the most? Ham, probably.

Snakes or spiders? Snakes in general, but I probably like tarantulas specifically more than snakes.

Have you ever had your nails done professionally? Yes, but only because I tagged along with others.

Is anyone in your family in law enforcement? No.

What’s a fruit you dislike? Mango, as a fruit itself. Texture nightmare. I love mango-flavored stuff. Oh, I absolutely hate cherries and don't really like cherry-flavored stuff, either.

Make the perfect omelet: Just bacon, ham, and cheese, honestly... and salt and pepper, if you wanna count stuff like that I guess.

[joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Another Sonic twitter thread thing I saw but it's random questions this time

There's nothing I love more than talking about Sonic the Hedgehog after all.

I got into Sonic because when I was too young to even remember anything in any detail my family had a Mega Drive with Sonic 1-3, and I mean I played them a lot. I don't think I could tell you my thoughts on it then though because I was like pre-toddler age lol. Probably thought it was the coolest shit ever. As opposed to today where I still think that but like I'm way more autistic about it.

Quotes and themes are different things and I also don't know if by theme they mean music or like thematic shit so uhhh. Uncertainty of intention means I'll relegate myself to just quote, which is hard - in a series with so many iconic lines how do you pick just one? But I do think "what you see is what you get - just a guy that loves adventure!" as well as "do I need a reason to want to help out a friend?" are both very good lines that portray Sonic himself very very nicely. I'll go with those. Not strictly a final answer and I could probably make a whole post on just this question, but we'll leave it on the two mentioned.

Out-of-game I think Yuji Uekawa's adventure era artwork is my favourite, I think for in-game art styles I'm between Unleashed, Colours, and Mania.

I'll keep it simple just make him and Mario have a fucking platformer crossover or even like an RPG or something, anything that's not the Olympics.

You know my answer was very easily Live and Learn until Sonic Frontiers came out lol. Now it's Find Your Flame quite handily. Shit fucks harder than god.

A couple different pieces of Sonic media have entertained the idea of Silver attaining some sort of like heightened state of power, like ESP Silver from Runners and I think he's in Speed Simulator too - I'm curious about how far along he goes with that. A much younger Josh who cared marginally more about power scaling was interested in the idea of Silver becoming the strongest character in the series even. I think there was an animation in the Lythero Silver Campaign video (I've been meaning to watch this but that's neither here nor there) showing base Silver fighting Super Sonic. I'm kind of interested in that. How far does base Silver go if he's that aforementioned ESP Silver or whatever. Can he thoroughly whoop the likes of Knuckles or Blaze eventually? Perhaps even Shadow or Sonic? We're going with roughly that.

Of the 4 listed here I'd certainly say the OVA, it's just by far my favourite. SatAM has some props for its fandom significance but I find it boring, X has some props for being the most game-faithful but it's kind of crap, OVA is just dope. Even extending it to what's come out since I'd still stick with the OVA.

I used to be able to reliably name a decent amount of Sonic fanartists but unfortunately my mind has consistently blanked on that front recently. Official as a qualification lets me get away with saying Yuji Uekawa though so we'll stick to that. Jack Lawrence's IDW art is also really nice, particularly in Scrapnik Island.

I don't like blue shoes Tails at all lol. Like I think the argument amongst people that do like it is it makes him and Sonic compliment each other better but Sonic lacks orange on his colour palette so I just don't agree at all. Giving them the shared red is a lot more effective.

For least favourite I could point to various points in Archie's history as well as Prime pretty confidently, and stretching it the likes of Chronicles and Underground and stuff but I'd need to play more of them. Favourite I've got the very simple storybook games and Unleashed answer, we've seen it all before, although Frontiers has a pretty great Sonic too.

I don't want to skip any out of principal but also just so particularly don't care for Sonic ships that I've kinda got nothing here. I guess gun to my head I like Sonic and Knuckles' dynamic a lot but I don't need that to go romantic or anything so like, you know?

I just want multiple playable characters from the get-go and all of them to be as fleshed out as Sonic is, really.

There's definitely a lot of little things I can say but definitely the main one for me is less busywork tasks around the island. Pressing switches or parrying items or running in a hamster wheel, a lot of that stuff doesn't really play to the strengths of the gameplay, and I'd like them to work to correct and improve upon that I suppose.

Like the entire Mania and SA2 and 06 and Unleashed soundtracks. We'll go Crisis City specifically.

I have a lot of opinions on the Sonic series and its representation in Smash and that could also be a post of its own honestly, but just taking the question by itself I want Eggman a ton.

"Limited to teams" is such a leading-question type approach to this, L. Anyway yeah no variety is good. I understand the desire to stick to the teams we know, and certainly I think it's important to get those core things down before making a game where Sonic, Charmy and Omega are a team - but yk the cast is so expansive that letting them bounce off of the more unique faces is fun.

They cooked.

"Mainline" is quite the distinction here - I'd love to see more spinoffs handed to other studios even just to have spinoffs coming out, but I think for mainline I like seeing how Sonic Team evolves and where they're taking the series. I can imagine other studios making good Sonic games certainly, but that mainline clarification leaves me wanting to say nah honestly.

I have a somewhat decent amount but I mean that doesn't lend itself well to this type of post. I still like my Sonic has some old shack on Christmas Island where he keeps random sentimental junk from his adventures though.

Unleashed so easily it's not even funny.

Comics and just external media in general being included actually widens the net a lot because Archie and IDW both have a ton of good stories (haven't sonic the comic'd yet sorry lol) and I adore the OVA too but once again I'd point to your storybook games, Unleashed in particular, as well as Adventure 2. The Sonic 2 into 3&K overarching narrative is also very effective despite how simple it is.

Not an artist rip. Idk though the muzzle or something feels good to draw and harder to fuck up than the quills or something.

Honestly I could think about this one for a while too, but I think the one that always comes to mind - and this isn't even so much a cherished memory as just a sort of unforgettable one that I always go back to and think is kind of cool - one day when I was a kid, my brother and I walked to our school that was less than 2 minutes away, at the door were told the school was closed that day because a thunderstorm the previous night had done some fuckery or whatever, and then we went home and had the day off. And the particular thing we did is play Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity for most of the day. We'd owned it for a while at that point but the Riders games are pretty complicated for children even when they're as streamlined as ZG was, so we never really knew how to play it and frequently came dead last against the CPUs. It was this day off school where we really grinded the fuck out of it and just, got good at the game. Won a ton of rings and bought new extreme gear with them and shit, it was just a really memorable day for whatever reason. It's maybe not the most special, but it's what comes to mind when I think of cool Sonic memories I have.

Anyway that's all lol.

[lunapwrites]

when you get this ask you have to you could perhaps maybe bless us with 5 of ur fav songs (currently or of all time), and then send this ask to 5 of your moots who you think have good taste!

Hi hello yes this is one of my FAVORITE games to play. But please be prepared for some slight genre whiplash haha.

At heart, I am an angsty bitch. This song MOVES me like nothing else in this world, and is one I will absolutely belt out in the car if I'm by myself. But also - this is one of a small handful of songs I have always wanted to animate something for because it gives Remus-post-81 vibes but alas, my brain and hands continue to be on non-speaking terms.

Fun fact about me: I decoded the entire alphabet they'd used in the album art for this, and used to write notes to my ex in them so that teachers couldn't tell what I was writing. (S and R were also the same symbol, reversed, which is really funny in hindsight, even if at the time it fucked with my ADHD lol.) I have also done this with dwarven runes from LoTR, and also the entire Al Bhed language from FFX. Anyway this album saw a lot of play during my sophomore and junior years of high school, specifically, but this song has always been one of my favorites.

Tori my beloved!!!! This song goes so goddamn hard, and I have very strong memories of coming home from school and turning on "we have MTV at home" (which was in fact actually better than MTV bc they were JUST music videos, no fluff), and watching this woman marching barefoot through the woods, blindfolded and bound, and just !!!!! Choirgirl Hotel was one of the first CDs I ever purchased for myself for a reason.

This song has the distinction of inspiring the tone and tenor of my first ever poem when I was 12, which I had to submit as a school assignment, and which my teacher felt compelled to pull me aside and ask if I was okay about. Having to explain to said teacher that I was not in fact being imprisoned in my own home and that the poem was about our new puppy crying in his kennel was... an interesting experience lol. What can I say, angst is in my blood lmfao. Anyway, this is another one I like to sing along to a lot, and holds the distinction of containing both the lowest and highest notes I can reliably hit. (I know that Chris is a Baritone with a roughly 4 octave range, but as for what notes he's hitting in this song in particular? Fuck if I know.)

This song. Has such a GORGEOUS buildup - there's a hypnotic rhythm to it also that is fairly common with Tool songs, but just... really really shines in this one. Also it's a song about his mother dying, and about his complicated relationship with faith (and hers.) Like... my god. I know everyone likes Vicarious and The Pot, and they're great songs, but like....

COME ON.

Anyway, honorable mentions go out to "Orion" by Metallica and "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" by Pearl Jam and the combination of "Reset" and "Homecoming" by Misery Signals off of their absolutely stunning and literally flawless album Controller, and yes they do need to be in there together. I did also have "5 Dollars" by Christine and the Queens on here originally, but while that song is the epitome of queer joy to me, the impact of it largely comes from the video (being my enby awakening.)

Thanks for the ask! This was really hard to narrow down hahahaha.

[nknoxe-n]

Hellooo

I've always wanted to do a matchup but I always end up late lol

I'm a sagittarius and my MBTI is INFP.

Hobbies: They're all over the place, I like doing any artsy stuff I can get my hands on (My main is drawing with graphite tho), going to the mall and just doing (and buying...) whatever I find interesting there. I play video games but it's like 1-4 games that I get heavily invested in and then off to the next if I get bored or lose interest in one of them. I love going to museums and historical places (especially anscestral houses) only when it isn't SUPER crowded and noisey (makes it hard to appreciate them), chilling in pools or on the beach (and pick up rocks and shells there),

Style(??): My clothing style is whatever I feel like wearing that day lol, it's usually black since that's the most in my closet, I love baggy sweaters or tees but I'd occasionally wear fitted stuff, pants always loose tho (no dresses or skirts unless needed).

Personality: I am incredibly socially awkward even on the internet (I am typing right now questioning if I'm doing it right :'D) I can INTERACT with people and stuff but like, small talk and stuff I cannot. I just can't. I only yap when I'm with friends. Mentally I am unwell bc deep rooted issues but eh. I have like, perpetually tired looking eyes (I saw video of me while my friends sang happy birthday but I looked like I didn't care??? I actually happy during it. I asked if that's genuinely how I looked normally) I overthink a lot (overthinking rn, overthinking about him *lipbite*) cringe ahh but fr I overthink everything. I think I'm an ambivert but leaning introvert. I just kinda go with whatever I feel.

Random notes: I love sanrio especially Kuromi (ik basic but she's one of my favorites that has the most merch). I love jellyfish (too tired to list out the reasons why), my phonecase have them, my lockscreen has them, room has them, heck even my hair is a jellyfish cut. I have a lot of plushies and always have the urge to buy more when I walk pass them. I have seperate playlists for whatever vibe/fit I'm in.

I like someone whose taller than me (ain't that hard I'm fucking 4'11 💀) I like someone whose not too energetic but not too stiff/sluggish either. Honestly not overly affectionate- (I am on the aromantic spectrum, kinda feel meh to romance most of the time) like someone who I love and loves me, but is fine with not doing 'romantic' stuff. I just want someone who I can float through life with.

I think this is pretty long, it's my first time :')

That's all thank youzz

Your Blue Lock Matchup: Rin Itoshi

Let’s get straight to it—Rin Itoshi is the perfect partner for you. Why? Because this guy’s whole vibe aligns with everything you’re looking for in someone to float through life with. He’s calm without being sluggish, reserved but not distant, and he doesn’t push for over-the-top romance or grand gestures. Rin respects boundaries while still being steady and reliable, which is exactly the balance you need.

Rin’s a quiet guy who won’t overwhelm you with constant chatter or demands. He’s not about small talk either, so you won’t have to deal with those awkward interactions that leave you overthinking later. With him, the silence is comfortable, not stifling. When you do open up, he listens—not just to respond, but to really understand what’s on your mind.

Your introverted-leaning ambivert tendencies are something Rin gets, because he’s much the same. He’s perfectly fine spending time alone or with just you, and he wouldn’t push you into overly social or crowded situations. That quiet appreciation for just “being” together is one of Rin’s strengths. Whether you’re chilling on the beach collecting shells or wandering through a museum during the off-hours, he’ll share those moments with you without making it feel like a performance.

Your artistic side is something Rin deeply admires. He may not understand every detail of what you create, but he’ll respect and support it in his own way. He’d probably sneak a look at your drawings and get quietly impressed by your talent, though he might not say much beyond a simple but meaningful compliment. He’s not overly expressive, but the way he looks at your art—or the little moments he makes time for your passions—will show you how much he values your creativity.

You want someone who won’t pressure you for traditional romance but will still be there to share the journey. Rin’s perfect for this. He’s not big on PDA or overtly “romantic” gestures, but he has a quiet way of making you feel like you matter. It could be as simple as sitting next to you while you both do your own thing—him reviewing game footage while you sketch or organize playlists. It’s the kind of effortless companionship that feels natural, not forced.

You lean toward black, baggy clothes, and your style is about comfort and self-expression. Rin wouldn’t just respect that—he’d probably match your vibe without even trying. His own understated fashion sense complements your laid-back style. Plus, your love for plushies and jellyfish? He’d find it endearing, even if he doesn’t fully get it. Rin’s the type who might surprise you with a jellyfish-themed keychain or casually grab a plushie you’ve been eyeing, all without making a big deal about it.

Rin’s reserved nature might make it tough to connect deeply at first. He’s not the type to share his emotions easily, and that could clash with your tendency to overthink. But with time, as he becomes more comfortable around you, he’ll let you in more. You’ll both learn to navigate those quieter moments of emotional intimacy in a way that feels right for both of you.

Rin is steady where you’re scattered, calm where you’re anxious, and thoughtful where you’re unsure. He’s the kind of person who gives you the space to just be, while still standing firmly beside you. Together, you’ll create a bond that doesn’t rely on the typical romantic clichés, but instead builds on understanding, mutual respect, and a shared sense of peace. With Rin, life isn’t about chasing fireworks—it’s about the quiet, lasting glow of something real.

[blueskittlesart]

ok clearing up a few things:

Several people have exressed confusion about how to download code from github. (EDIT: old method required you to compile the code yourself lol. this one can be done with no prior knowledge as long as the links stay active) right now both github links have links to archived release pages where you can download the most recent builds of each emulator, just scroll down and click 'downloads.' hopefully they'll stay up

for those of you who don't know, the leadup to the screenshotted statement was a lawsuit between nintendo and yuzu in which yuzu was forced to settle, and has now folded due to the settlement. (obligatory reminder that yuzu settling does not necessarily mean that they would have lost the lawsuit/they did something morally wrong. what it DOES mean is that nintendo is a multibillion dollar company with corporate lawyers targeting a much smaller organization with much less budget, because both yuzu and citra were completely free up until very recently.)

given the way this statement from yuzu is worded, i think it's extremely likely that this was a part of the settlement agreement. no one who is even on the outer edges of emulation communities would ever organically use the words "nintendo's technological protection measures." this bootlicking ass wording indicates that yuzu has been bullied into renouncing everything they once stood for. being forced to put out a statement like this which legitimizes nintendo's predatory security measures and obsession with piracy vs "legitimate purchasers" is a punishment more than anything else, and i think it's likely also an intimidation tactic aimed at other emulators. for the love of god, do not take anything in this statement at face value.

emulators are not exclusively vessels for piracy. I can't believe i have to say this on tumblr of all sites, but the reason most open-source emulators are allowed to exist right now is often because they claim status as archival tools. there are countless games that are unplayable without emulators, whether that be because their initial console is no longer widely available, because they only exist in ROM format, etc. Destroying emulators is an easy way to ensure that media will become unplayable and be lost. Citra was one of the only reliable PC 3ds emulators out there. We're lucky that we still have android emulators and console hacks that can play 3ds ROMS, because otherwise literally thousands of games that were a part of one of the most fondly-remembered eras of nintendo gaming could have been completely lost. that shitty $4 eshop game you bought with points in 2011 that sucked but you played for 200 hours because you were eight and you loved it? fucking scorched earth unless there's software that can play it, because it wasn't commercially successful enough to warrant a $60 switch remake or a $50 virtual console adaptation. Emulation keeps those kinds of games alive. If you care about video games or art preservation, you NEED to care about emulation. this is how we archive and maintain access to games that would otherwise be completely lost to time.

dumping a cartridge does not mean throwing it away. please do not throw out your cartridges. this is the exact opposite of what i'm advocating for here. please. to "dump a cartridge" means to copy the playable game files from the cartridge to an external drive of some kind so that it can be copied and distributed without passing on the actual cartridge. this is one of the standard ways roms are made. if you have a hacked 3ds and a bunch of old game cartridges that you don't want to lose, i highly recommend dumping them via gm9. this ensures that even if you lose the cartridge you'll always have a backup of the actual game files.

I cannot stress enough that i am not going to be the cause of a mass emulator takedown for making a tumblr post with one thousand notes. I know that you people have good intentions by warning people not to spread this too far, but 1. i promise you nintendo already knows about all the emulators that i've listed. they're popular. this isn't a big secret thing. Emulators are currently kind of dubiously legal and nintendo HATES THAT which is why it resorted to this lawsuit to take yuzu down (which, again, they didn't win. yuzu settled because nintendo is a gigantic corporation) but it's not like they're not targeting the other emulators because they don't know about them. There are emulators on the google play store. Yuzu has a fucking twitter account for god's sake. this isnt the dark web. and 2. the point of emulation is accessibility. I want people to see this. I want people to know what nintendo is doing to an archival tool in the name of profit. I want everyone with a 3ds to hack it and dump all their cartridges and send the roms to other people to install and play. I want people to download these code repositories and keep them and use them and distribute them because while it's easy to take down a company distributing an emulator, it's much harder to take down code being passed between multiple unaffiliated internet users. don't let them take it from us.

if you bootlick in my comments to any degree i am blocking you. thank you and have a good night

i hope everyone in nintendo’s management department dies and goes to hell no matter what and i’m not kidding

[kii-chan-reloaded]

I'm frustrated that I am so incapable at critical thinking that after 12+ years of playing Magic, a 16 minute video about fucking Goblin Grenade made me finally realize the exact reason why I both love playing Magic in concept and hate playing Magic in any sort of organized setting.

And now I need to get the words out of my head before I go insane. As an act of benevolence, I'll put all my pointless ramblings beneath a read more. You're welcome.

The video poses the simple question "What is your favorite Magic card?" I waffled on it for a minute, going over some candidates in my head, but the clear winner for me was Progenitus.

It's everything a Timmy like me wants - a big, stompy creature that is instantly a threat that is both hard to get rid of and to shut down. But, coming off probably a month straight of my main source of entertainment being video essays, I was essentially tricked into breaking it down further and expressing my reasoning why:

Progenitus is a challenge.

It's the game designers putting a seemingly impossible-to-cast creature in your hands and taunting you to even try to cast it. Casting Progenitus, even in EDH where play is typically slower than any 60-card variant and has the benefit of almost the entire pool of Magic cards to pull from, isn't a reliable or easy thing to do. It essentially turns the game into a puzzle - How can you cut corners to cast this obvious threat before your opponents can do anything to stop you?

And that "puzzle" aspect is where I draw my fun from in Magic. I don't approach Magic as a competition. I don't have fun restricting or controlling my opponents. My fun comes from solving puzzles - from finding creative ways to circumvent expectations (i.e. pulling off difficult alternate win conditions like Maze's end or Hellkite Tyrant), and from giving my opponents difficult puzzles to solve (i.e. Progenitus and/or Ulamog, affecting the board state in insane ways with chaos group hug, etc)

Clearly, this is in contention with how the majority of people who play Magic at organized events approach the game. They want to win. They want to come out on top of their opponent and walk away with the rewards, social or material. They're not interested in setting up puzzles, they want to get the game over as quickly as possible and to make sure they always have the upper hand.

I always just assumed that I was just a "casual" Magic player, someone who is "bad at Magic". But it turns out, I have just been playing a different game than what 90% of my opponents were.

This also feeds into my recent inclination to try to become a judge. By distancing myself from the emotional aspect of the game, the only thing remaining is the bare mechanics of Magic, an intricate and dense web of rules... A puzzle to be navigated and solved.

I have yet to decide if this invalidates my desire to judge or if it reinforces my place as a judge. Because that would require critical thinking, which I am incapable of unless someone makes a fun and engaging video showing me how to first.

Anyway, rant over.

[tenpintsof-sundrop]

this is so random, but I am probably going to be looking at getting a new laptop some time in the new year (because mine is such a pos and I can barely stand it anymore) - and I am curious to know what models/brands you guys recommend based on my needs

I am currently using the chromebook, and me and Jaycen were talking about the fact that it is basically a glorified smartphone. it was okay when I first got it a few years ago, but it only uses apps and every single time it updates, it gets slower and grosser, and it can't even load 1080p youtube videos anymore. (if you are considering getting one, run far, far away.)

I absolutely refuse to use a touchscreen laptop or some kind of tablet with a keyboard attachment - I need a mouse and a cursor. I don't make gifs, I don't play games, I don't do anything that requires a lot of hardcore power. literally all I do on my laptop is write fics and go on tumblr, and pinterest. and I don't use an installed program to make my fanfic covers - they are always just screenshots of pictures I have arranged in google docs.

I just want something reliable and not fucking laggy. the main thing is, I love to splitscreen youtube and other websites (like tumblr), and right now the chromebook is so fucking slow that if I have a youtube video in the presence of a gif or something like that when tumblr is open, it will lag and buffer for ten seconds at a time, and it just makes my eyes gloss over.

I feel like we got past this era of technology in 2010. like please. we should have. this computer can't even run spotify in the background anymore because it sounds like an old scratched CD when I am scrolling down my dashboard and the shit is buffering.

so - any recommendations for a laptop that isn't app based and basically a glorified smartphone, but wouldn't cost a million dollars because it's meant for heavier things like gif making or gaming??

[childofaura]

I am bored and overloaded on fodder from arena tickets and pity breaks, so any suggestions for other projects while I get grails for baby Azura?

<3

I'm probably gonna be super biased towards some units, just because they're my favorites, lol.

Big one I can think of is Python. If you have a spare Summer Elincia lying around, her bow works really well for Python, and since he's a cavalry bow, he has good reach. Mine has a bit of an outdated build, but I run him with Whitecap Bow, Swift Sparrow, Desperation (it has saved my ass and I can't wait for Desperation 4), and Threaten Def (which you can just substitute for some other C-skill). Plus Deadeye.

Luthier is a good green mage unit if you need someone with speed and attack power. Not a whole lot of 4 star green mages are super fast that I know of, but he's a good one. I've considered foddering Tailtiu's Teacake Tower on him, but we'll see if he gets a Refine soon. Holding off until then.

M!Morgan is a big one for me, I have him dual-function as an offensive and supportive unit with Inf. Null Follow 3 (so he can support his mom Robin and dad Priam in the Arena). His weapon with the refine is really good and it makes him a pretty hardcore demote Red Tome.

Benny's a fantastic Far Save unit for me, most people run him near save but that satisfactory Res stat makes him optimal for far save. Only thing is that I run him with Arcane Qiang which is hard to get, so go for it if you have one on hand, but hold off if not. Not a lot of lance weapons that help boost the Res stat. My Benny is run with Distant Stance, Mystic Boost 4, A/R far save, and Def/Res Ideal S seal. I'm considering nabbing an extra Armored Beacon fodder, but the Armored Beacon/Armored Floe fodder I have right now is being saved for if Miklan gets added to the game. So yeah, Benny's a sweetheart of a defender if you run a Far Save on him. I love Henriette but I've never pulled more than one copy of her, and Benny works best.

This one is weird, but Azama is also an interesting staff unit; he's not flawless, but I have him in Aether Raids and he tends to fuck up people who ignore him in favor of taking out other units first. Serpentine Staff deals less damage than Pain does (7 HP as opposed to Pain's 10), but it also has built in Deep Wounds. So I run him with Fort. Def/Res 3, Renewal 3 (which probably should be replaced with Poison Strike, or Poetic Justice if you need him to attack better), and two counts of Savage Blow 3. Problem is you gotta invest a LOT of Dragon Flowers into him. But to me, he's still worth the build. If you have a Holy Panic, slap that on him. His Attack stat is absolutely abysmal, but he's more of the "Death by a Thousand Papercuts" type of unit.

This one is only a suggestion if you have an Arcane Downfall, but Mustafa definitely is a solid axe unit. He virtually has Ganglot's kit (Distant Stance and Quick Riposte 4) plus Def/Res Menace and Fort. Def/Res 2 as an S seal. If you have good support units behind him, he's a monster. The unit showcase video I did of him has him taking down Ninja Camilla, though I'm like... 95% sure it was unmerged (or only had one or two merges), but STILL. He's an enemy phase slaughterhouse.

This one goes without saying, but one of my most utilized units is Silas. The only thing that sucks is the constant influx of sword units that are starting to outclass him (LOOKING AT YOU, B!SELIPH), but if you play to his weapon refine, he's incredibly reliable. Just needs a Far Save unit to cover him, lmao. I run him as an enemy phase unit: Sturdy Stance (prevents cooldown charge in most cases, very useful to prevent him from getting wiped out by a Special), Quick Riposte 4, Atk/Def Menace (which I may replace someday if we get a better Atk/Def C-skill), and Atk/Def Form 3. His refine weapon, Sworn lance, requires a support partner, but it prevents most units from making follow up attacks; which means sometimes he can tank hits from dragon units (but not all the time) because he prevents their follow up attack. So most of the time in combat, he's getting at least 20+ Atk and Def. And his support partner is OG Kinshi Hinoka (since I paired them in my Fates game), so with her Atk/Spd Oath 4, she can usually get around to where he is if she's close enough to him or another unit. He's not as destructive as Geralt or Petrine, but he's my buddy and that's all that counts.

Sorry for the long list, I started going down my barracks and realized I have a lot of units that I just have fun using, lmao. There's a couple I left out but I didn't wanna drag out the list.

[3liza]

someone replied to this and correctly pointed out that being "a little dim" as I phrased it is actually a symptom of (large definition) Autism In General and they're right. Low IQ is actually a symptom. for the sake of this post we have to shelve the "IQ is a racist and classist measurement of an amorphous concept like 'intelligence' and unlikely to be clinically useful when related groups are tested against each other" discussion for a minute because it's out of scope (but is relevant).

dsm-5 removed the Asperger's diagnostic option, I think for valid reasons which I'm not aware of but assume were political (Asperger himself was a Nazi), but what this did linguistically was erase the difference between high- and low-functioning autism (HFA/LFA). this has been not good for both groups in my opinion because the actual clinical manifestation of capital A Autism in these two groups is so different that grouping them is absurd, and this is especially the case in the measurement of ability we refer to as "IQ", which is typically high in HFA and typically low, often very low, in LFA. it is equally as absurd as grouping people with and without Down syndrome in measures of reading comprehension.

the premise of my OP assumes (possibly incorrectly) that the guy commenting on this YouTube video about The Giver is HFA: using a computer, using YouTube, writing full sentences, probably plays a lot of videos games, can hold a job but is a bit weird, maybe likes trains a lot, etc. Tumblr autism, in other words, not the type of autism where someone never learns to read, cannot be expected to interpret or use their home language, needs large amounts of care, is nonverbal due to a lack of language and not due to social or processing-related speaking difficulties. severe cognitive and physical disability, in other words. I don't think that group of patients is clinically useful to group in with our/my group of patients, who manifest totally differently, test differently especially on IQ measures, exhibit different or opposite symptoms, and subjectively are experiencing totally distinct realities.

I'm starting to run into clinical acknowledgement of this issue in papers that tested "autistic" patients generally and got useless data because they had the nonverbal, 100% homecare or facility care autistics as well as the Tumblr type. I'm starting to see some paragraphs in some autism research that say "we tested both high and low functioning patients and their scores were completely different". well no shit. why did you do that

there's another reblog on this post that correctly points out that "integrated" autistics as you could call us, and ADHD kids, probably don't test well on literary comprehension because they don't test well on anything because they're bad at taking tests, and the ones who are adequate test takers don't get diagnosed with ADHD and autism. this is also true.

something has to be done about this and Asperger's syndrome was what was done about it until the dsm-5 came out. it is bad for both patient groups to be lumped in with the others. HFA vs LFA hasn't caught on culturally or linguistically, the shorthand of "Asperger's" was useful diagnostically and socially because we know the difference between Abed Community and the guys who need lifelong daycare and can't easily read, function, or communicate. this allowed non-autistic people to immediately grasp that the person being referred to was the "a little weird at social functions" autistic and not "lifelong constant nursing" autistic.

a lot of the clinical data right now is fucked because "autism" as a diagnosis isn't being reliably separated into function groups. it also causes problems when HFA function is assumed to apply to LFA patients and vice-versa, which reduces quality of life for both groups. so I've always wondered why the dsm-5 didn't seem to acknowledge this or deal with it by providing a replacement for the Asperger's designation, or if it did intend to replace it with "High Functioning Autism", why that designation seems to have totally dissolved instead of being actually utilized.

one of the consequences of this is a lot of HFA people assuming/being told their own levels of function are comparable to LFA patients, which simply isn't true and causes massive learned helplessness and severe subjective reduction in quality of life as a result. if you don't think you can learn anything why would you even try. and this is a massive problem I'm seeing more and more as we get farther away from meaningful separation between the two patient groups.

really not liking this trend im seeing of ignorance and lack of effort being attributed to a natural consequence of "autism". sorry you cant understand simple storytelling my dude but media illiteracy is not actually a symptom of autism, maybe you're just a little dim???