#but I am really scratching my head over how to format this and how to make it make sense

[calypso-apologist]

plsss more Antinous x reader smut?? 😼😼 I’m thinking the trope of just relentless flirty Antinous x princess of Ithaca who HATES his guts.

Maybe noncon?? Idm dark content since its him 😛😛

ngl i had fun with this one :3 AND YES I USED A FUCKING DND TERM FOR TENDAY. YOU CAN'T STOP ME.

How a certain princess of Ithaca ended up bedding a certain suitor... ♡

CW: nsfw. choking. dub-con, i think? even i don't fully know how the consent works in this one. whatever the fuck is up with Antinous. experimented a bit with the format.

As much as you wanted that bastard gone, you had to admit he was good with his cock. You wished you could strangle him, kick him and all of your mother's suitors out, but the most you could do was scratch his back and neck as he fucked you stupid in your own bed.

Still, it was a solution. Not a very good one, but a solution. A way to keep him and the suitors at bay, somehow. They all followed him, looked at him like some sort of their own little patron deity. And so, after the fight between him and Telemachus, you had to figure out a plan.

You waited in your bedroom for Antinous to appear after asking a maid to deliver him a message to meet you there. You had a dagger, of course. You weren't stupid, after all. He could try something.

"Princess."

Oh, how you hated that smug voice of his. That smirk on his face as he greeted you with a mockery of a bow, his breath reeking of wine. It was almost a shame, really. Antinous was a handsome man. And a charismatic one, at that. He could be a good man if he wasn't such a piece of shit.

"Antinous."

"You asked for me. And here I am."

He walked over to you, looking way too confident about himself. He must've been convinced that you called for him to have sex. And technically, he was right. No matter how much you absolutely fucking hated it.

The suitors were simple creatures. Little more than dogs who would follow those who currently had the tastiest looking bone. And right now, you were the person with the bone. Or at the very least, you hoped to be. It all depended on how well you could control the leader of the pack.

"Indeed you are. And I would like an explanation."

"And what would you have me explain, princess?"

Gods, you wanted to smack that arrogant smirk off his face. Not to mention how that cocky purr in his voice made you want to tear out his throat with your teeth. Especially after all the bruises he left on Telemachus. Your brother, even with the training he would get, was still... well, to put it nicely, the only fights he could win outside of training were the ones inside he imagined in his head.

You took a big breath, hoping you looked more confident than you actually felt in his presence. You were fully aware that he could easily overpower you, even with the dagger you gripped behind your back.

"I would have you explain why my brother is walking around with a black eye, for one."

"I can only guess he hurt himself somehow, princess. The boy is not exactly careful, is he?"

"Neither are your... companions."

"Is that an accusation I hear, princess?"

The more his grin widened with every word, the more you wanted to throw the nearest vase at him. Still, you had to keep calm. Even if he looked insanely tempting right now. To stab, of course.

Of course, looking up at him now, you still wanted to gouge his eyes out. But your dagger was on the floor and your arms were pinned above your head, the hold he had on your wrists with just one large hand almost bruising. Just like the grip his other hand had on your hip as he forced more and more sounds out of you by moving his hips back and forth, his cock sliding in and out of you with seemingly no issue.

You hated him, you wanted to gouge out the lustful eyes that looked at you, knock out the teeth he oh so eagerly bit into your soft flesh with, break the arms that held you down. But you also didn't want it to stop, even with how selfish he was, focused on chasing his own pleasure through your body, rather than even trying to please you, as well.

And for whatever reason, perhaps that was the best part about the whole thing. This savagery in his movements and gestures, the sadistic spark in his eye as his fingers wrapped around your throat...

"I have no need for accusations. I know it was you."

"Has a trusted servant informed you?"

"Not at all, actually. Your fellow suitors are a rather loud and talkative bunch. I heard them talking, you see. About the punches you landed on my brother, as if he was nothing more than your common scum."

Antinous clicked his tongue, slowly approaching you. Unlike you, he didn't need to fake his confidence. It was all around him, taking up your space just how the suitors took up the space in your father's palace. Except now, it felt even more invasive with how personal it was.

"Such harsh words from such a pretty mouth. You shouldn't speak to a man this way, you know. Would be a shame if something were to happen to such a pretty little thing like yourself."

"You threaten me in my own home?"

"Not at all, little princess. I merely believe you may have... forgotten something. You are in presence of a man."

"A man is an overstatement."

"Such a blatant disregard for the rule of hospitality."

"You want to lecture me on hospitality?! You and your oh so dear friends know nothing of it. We have granted you food and shelter for years, treated as you as most honored guest, and in return you brought nothing but-"

His hand was suddenly gripping your cheeks, silencing you effectively. His smirk was gone, replaced by a neutral look, one you've never seen on his before. It was uncomfortable. Almost scary. The man always had the same mocking grin on his face, sometimes replaced by a scowl when the other suitors annoyed him, but this? He was never this... calm. Almost emotionless.

The moment he raised his brow almost filled you with relief, though when his grin returned, so did your dread. A tiny, scared whimper escaped you as he leaned in closer, his nose almost touching yours.

"Will you drop it on your own, little princess, or shall I help?"

You glared at him as the dagger from your hand hit the floor with a clank. Antinous let out a small, amused scoff when he saw the blade no longer in your hand. You were such a good girl, unlike that irritating little brother of yours...

Oh, right. Your brother. The very reason you summoned him. An irritating little brat, picking fights he had no chance of winning, all because Antinous used wording he didn't like. He wasn't really an issue, of course, maybe a nuisance at most, but a very irritating one.

You annoyed him just as much, of course, but at least you were quite a pleasant sight, so he could just ignore your nagging and focus on your cute face and the way your clothing covered up your body. He would pretend to listen, of course, but in reality, he was imagining tearing your clothes off and shoving his cock inside you to fuck your attitude away.

But now you weren't giving him attitude and he was very, very pleased about it. Perhaps he should intimidate you more often.

"Since you care about your brother so much, how about a little deal, princess?"

"And what deal would that be?"

"A simple one."

If you weren't paralyzed from fear right now, you would've punched him for the mocking kindness in his smile. But instead, you could only let out a tiny gasp when he gripped your chin, tilting your head back to ensure you couldn't look away from him, no matter how much you might've wished to.

And there was something in the way his fingers held your head up, the way his thumb stroked your lower lip almost tenderly... Something that, despite obviously wanting to punch him in the mouth, also made you want to crash your lips against his, to lose yourself in a bruising, passionate kiss with the man, even if you despised absolutely everything about him.

"Why you-"

He merely chuckled at how you smacked his shoulder, as if you could actually cause any pain with your tired little smacks against his shoulders. Even at full strength, you probably wouldn't really do much about him, with how large he was compared to you, but now? With how worn out you were after he spent the night wrecking your sweet, sweet body? A fly landing on his skin would probably make more of an impact than your little slaps.

He looked down at your mouth, now decorated with a tiny red drop of blood trailing down to your chin after he decided to harshly bite down on your lower lip during one of the many heated, passionate kisses you shared that night.

Heated because of your disdain for each other, of course. There was no love, no affection in your bed that night, no. You two were using each other to release your frustrations, with him leaving bruises and bitemarks on you and you scratching him, leaving furious red lines on his skin and even managing to break the skin a little in some spots on his back.

"Aww, princess, is something wrong? You should be glad this is how I make you bleed. Your little brother wasn't so lucky."

Without thinking, you slapped him across the face, your nails marking his cheek. He was visibly stunned for a moment, and only seemed to realize you actually properly hit him when a few drops of blood fell from his cheek to your chest.

Well... he was impressed, in a way. And perhaps, if he was less egotistical, he would congratulate you on proving him wrong - you could actually land a pretty solid hit, even in your current state.

But you were also pretty fucking stupid. Maybe because of how fucked out you were, maybe you suddenly remembered what little pride you had left, even as you laid there, full of his cock. Or maybe, which he considered the most humorous option out of all, you just realized why you were in bed with him in the first place.

"I'll keep my companions, as you so graciously put it, on a leash. I'll even stop messing with your brother. But I want something in return. Something to make it all worth the effort."

"... And what would make it worth all the effort?"

He snorted with laughter, seeing how even now, completely at his mercy, you tried to put on a confident act. He liked it, honestly. He really did. The regal, almost queen-like attempt to mask just how much you were trembling in his arms.

"I'll be generous with you, little princess. Every tenday, I get you for a night. Make you earn the peace, with not a single little peep of resistance."

And he got his deal. You were doing so good despite your obvious hatred for him and everything he stood for. He was even kind enough to not punish you for scratching him, already knowing damn well it would be something he would show off to the other suitors.

But of course, you just had to ruin it, didn't you? And for what, reminding him how easy to beat her brother was? You were both painfully sensitive, picking fights over silly little points of honor.

It was almost funny, really. First Telemachus tried fighting him because he called the queen a tramp, and now you were here, sacrificing your own honor and dignity, just so he wouldn't get rough with your brother again. Such a devoted little family. Almost made him wonder what would happen when he eventually finally got to marry Penelope and finally get to rail her.

It was a great vision, really. One that he would fantasize about rather often. Seeing himself on the throne, with the prince sent away somewhere, leaving him alone with you and your mother. Of course, he'd play the devoted husband role well, fulfilling all of his marital duties. But he couldn't deny himself the pleasure your body offered him, the lovely squeeze of your cunt as it tried to milk his cock, coaxing his seed into you.

"Now, now, princess. Let's not do that."

There it was again. That cold, neutral tone that chilled you to the bone. He even stopped moving his hips as he leaned in closer, pressing your legs against your chest instead of keeping them loosely wrapped around his waist. You let out a small noise of discomfort as he pressed even closer, his entire cock buried inside you as he forced you into a breeding press.

"Let's not forget who's in charge here, yeah, little wench? Because you forget, there's more than one way for me to get the throne. I'm being kind enough to choose the peaceful way, but keep acting out, and I'm not gonna be nice to you for much longer."

He threatened, his voice lowered into a growl to scare you even more as one of his hands pinned your hands above your head and the other squeezed your throat, briefly cutting the air off until he decided you were scared enough for his liking.

"Be good, little princess. Unless you're so eager to bare my children so soon."

"What?!"

He merely chuckled, releasing your throat and pinching your cheek in an almost affectionate gesture, his cock slowly sliding out before he rammed his hips into yours again, burying the whole length inside you in one rough shove, making you cry out just loud enough for anyone who might be passing your room to hear.

"It's obvious, isn't it? Your mother's not getting any younger, and you're much easier to get to. Just look at you now, squirming on my cock like a good little whore..."

He started to move his hips again, each stroke rough and purposeful, forcing out more loud cries and moans out of you.

"Let's get things clear, hm? You can either play nice, and I'll keep our deal about stealing a night every tenday... Or you can act like a little cunt and see just how many tricks I have up my sleeve. And I think we can agree that you want me to be nice to you, hm?"

He squeezed your throat again, letting you struggle for air for a few seconds until you started to nod frantically, gasping and coughing when he loosened his grip.

"Gonna play nice, princess?"

"Y-yes..."

He chuckled at your little stutter. It was impressive you even managed to speak so soon, considering you were still struggling to regain your breath, but hey, at least you looked cute when you struggled.

Antinous leaned down, pressing a kiss on your lips. A soft, gentle, almost loving one. It almost didn't fit him... until you realize that it's not a kiss out of love, it's just a way to prove his power over you, a way to mock how he wasn't forcing you. He wasn't a monster, taking what he wanted by force, no, you agreed to this. You wanted this, just as much as he did, and you knew that.

Once he broke the kiss, he leaned his forehead against you, a hand on your cheek, mocking a lover's affection again yet again, just like he did after you agreed to his "deal". He even had the exact same grin on his face, smaller than the one he usually wore and almost tender, as he whispered the exact same words to you.

"That's my good girl..."

[wirewitchviolet]

How a Computer Works - Part 1 (Components)

I am about to teach you on a real fundamental, connecting up electronic components level, how a computer actually works. Before I get into the meat of this though (you can just skip down below the fold if you don't care), here's the reasons I'm sitting doing so in this format:

Like a decade or two ago, companies Facebook pushed this whole "pivot to video" idea on the whole internet with some completely faked data, convincing everyone that everything had to be a video, and we need to start pushing back against that. Especially for stuff like complex explanations of things or instructions, it's much more efficient to just explain things clearly in text, maybe with some visual aids, so people can easily search, scan, and skip around between sections. It's also a hell of a lot easier to host things long term, and you can even print out a text based explainer and not need a computer to read it, keep it on a desk, highlight it, etc.

People are so clueless about how computers actually work that they start really thinking like it's all magical. Even programmers. Aside from how proper knowledge lets you get more out of them, this leads to people spouting off total nonsense about "teaching sand to think" or "everything is just 1s and 0s" or "this 'AI' a con artist who was trying to sell me NFTs a month ago probably really is an amazing creative thinking machine that can do everything he says!"

We used to have this cultural value going where it was expected that if you owned something and used it day to day, you'd have enough basic knowledge of how it worked that if it stopped working you could open it up, see what was wrong, and maybe fix it on your own, or maybe even put one together again from scratch, and that's obviously worth bringing back.

I'm personally working on a totally bonkers DIY project and I'd like to hype up like-minded people for when it gets farther along.

So all that said, have a standard reminder that I am completely reliant on Patreon donations to survive, keep updating this blog, and ideally start getting some PCBs and chips and a nice oscilloscope to get that mystery project off the ground.

Electricity probably doesn't work like how you were taught (and my explanation shouldn't be trusted too far either).

I remember, growing up, hearing all sorts of things about electricity having this sort of magical ability to always find the shortest possible path to where it needs to get, flowing like water, and a bunch of other things that are kind of useful for explaining how a Faraday cage or a lightning rod works, and not conflicting with how simple electronics will have a battery and then a single line of wire going through like a switch and a light bulb or whatever back to the other end of the battery.

If you had this idea drilled into your head hard enough, you might end up thinking that if we have a wire hooked to the negative end of a battery stretching off to the east, and another wire stretching off to the east from the positive end, and we bridge between the two in several places with an LED or something soldered to both ends, only the westernmost one is going to light up, because hey, the shortest path is the one that turns off as quickly as possible to connect to the other side, right? Well turns out no, all three are going to light up, because that "shortest path" thing is a total misunderstanding.

Here's how it actually works, roughly. If you took basic high school chemistry, you learned about how the periodic table is set up, right? A given atom, normally, has whatever number of protons in the core, and the same number of electrons, whipping all over around it, being attracted to those protons but repelled by each other, and there's particular counts of electrons which are super chill with that arrangement so we put those elements in the same column as each other, and then as you count up from those, you get the elements between those either have some electrons that don't fit all tight packed in the tight orbit and just kinda hang out all wide and lonely and "want to" buddy up with another atom that has more room, up to the half full column that can kinda go either way, then as we approach the next happy number they "want to" have a little more company to get right to that cozy tight packed number, and when you have "extra" electrons and "missing" electrons other atoms kinda cozy up and share so they hit those good noble gas counts.

I'm sure real experts want to scream at me for both that and this, but this is basically how electricity works. You have a big pile of something at the "positive" end that's "missing electrons" (for the above reason or maybe actually ionized so they really aren't there), and a "negative" end that's got spares. Then you make wires out of stuff from those middle of the road elements that have awkward electron counts and don't mind buddying up (and also high melting points and some other handy qualities) and you hook those in there. And the electron clouds on all the atoms in the wire get kinda pulled towards the positive side because there's more room over there, but if they full on leave their nucleus needs more electron pals, so yeah neighbors get pulled over, and the whole wire connected to the positive bit ends up with a positive charge to it, and the whole wire on the negative bit is negatively charged, and so yeah, anywhere you bridge the gap between the two, the electrons are pretty stoked about balancing out these two big awkward compromises and they'll start conga lining over to balance things out, and while they're at it they'll light up lights or shake speakers or spin motors or activate electromagnets or whatever other rad things you've worked out how to make happen with a live electric current.

Insulators, Resistors, Waves, and Capacitors

Oh and we typically surround these wires made of things that are super happy about sharing electrons around with materials that are very much "I'm good, thanks," but this isn't an all or nothing system and there's stuff you can connect between the positive and negative ends of things that still pass the current along, but only so much so fast. We use those to make resistors, and those are handy because sometimes you don't want to put all the juice you have through something because it would damage it, and having a resistor anywhere along a path you're putting current through puts a cap on that flow, and also sometimes you might want a wire connected to positive or negative with a really strong resistor so it'll have SOME sort of default charge, but if we get a free(r) flowing connection attached to that wire somewhere else that opens sometimes, screw that little trickle going one way, we're leaning everyone the other way for now.

The other thing with electricity is is that the flow here isn't a basic yes/no thing. How enthusiastically those electrons are getting pulled depends on the difference in charge at the positive and negative ends, and also if you're running super long wires then even if they conduct real good, having all that space to spread along is going to kinda slow things to a trickle, AND the whole thing is kinda going to have some inherent bounciness to it both because we're dealing with electrons whipping and spinning all over and because, since it's a property that's actually useful for a lot of things we do with electricity, the power coming out of the wall has this intentional wobbly nature because we've actually got this ridiculous spinny thing going on that's constantly flip flopping which prong of the socket is positive and which is negative and point is we get these sine waves of strength by default, and they kinda flop over if we're going really far.

Of course there's also a lot of times when you really want to not have your current flow flickering on and off all the time, but hey fortunately one of the first neat little electronic components we ever worked out are capacitors... and look, I'm going to be straight with you. I don't really get capacitors, but the basic idea is you've got two wires that go to big wide plates, and between those you have something that doesn't conduct the electricity normally, but they're so close the electromagnetic fields are like vibing, and then if you disconnect them from the flow they were almost conducting and/or they get charged to their limit, they just can't deal with being so charged up and they'll bridge their own gap and let it out. So basically you give them electricity to hold onto for a bit then pass along, and various sizes of them are super handy if you want to have a delay between throwing a switch and having things start doing their thing, or keeping stuff going after you break a connection, or you make a little branching path where one branch connects all regular and the other goes through a capacitor, and the electricity which is coming in in little pulses effectively comes out as a relatively steady stream because every time it'd cut out the capacity lets its charge go.

We don't just have switches, we have potentiometers.

OK, so... all of the above is just sort of about having a current and maybe worrying about how strong it is, but other than explaining how you can just kinda have main power rails running all over, and just hook stuff across them all willy-nilly rather than being forced to put everything in one big line, but still, all you can do with that is turn the whole thing on and off by breaking the circuit. Incidentally, switches, buttons, keys, and anything else you use to control the behavior of any electronic device really are just physically touching loose wires together or pulling them apart... well wait no, not all, this is a good bit to know.

None of this is actually pass/fail, really, there's wave amplitudes and how big a difference we have between the all. So when you have like, a volume knob, that's a potentiometer, which is a simple little thing where you've got your wire, it's going through a resistor, and then we have another wire we're scraping back and forth along the resistor, using a knob, usually, and the idea is the current only has to go through X percent of the resistor to get to the wire you're moving, which proportionately reduces the resistance. So you have like a 20 volt current, you've got a resistor that'll drop that down to 5 or so, but then you move this other wire down along and you've got this whole dynamic range and you can fine tune it to 15 or 10 or whatever coming down that wire. And what's nice about this again, what's actually coming down the wire is this wobbily wave of current, it's not really just "on" or "off, and as you add resistance, the wobble stays the same, it's just the peaks and valleys get closer to being just flat. Which is great if you're making, say, a knob to control volume, or brightness, or anything you want variable intensity in really.

Hey hey, it's a relay!

Again, a lot of the earliest stuff people did with electronics was really dependent on that analog wobbly waveform angle. Particularly for reproducing sound, and particularly the signals of a telegraph. Those had to travel down wires for absurd distances, and as previously stated, when you do that the signal is going to eventually decay to nothing. But then someone came up with this really basic idea where every so often along those super long wires, you set something up that takes the old signal and uses it to start a new one. They called them relays, because you know, it's like a relay race.

If you know how an electromagnet works (something about the field generated when you coil a bunch of copper wire around an iron core and run an electric current through it), a relay is super simple. You've got an electromagnet in the first circuit you're running, presumably right by where it's going to hit the big charged endpoint, and that magnetically pulls a tab of metal that's acting as a switch on a new circuit. As long as you've got enough juice left to activate the magnet, you slam that switch and voom you've got all the voltage you can generate on the new line.

Relays don't get used too much in other stuff, being unpopular at the time for not being all analog and wobbily (slamming that switch back and forth IS going to be a very binary on or off sorta thing), and they make this loud clacking noise that's actually just super cool to hear in devices that do use them (pinball machines are one of the main surviving use cases I believe) but could be annoying in some cases. What's also neat is that they're a logical AND gate. That is, if you have current flowing into the magnet, AND you have current flowing into the new wire up to the switch, you have it flowing out through the far side of the switch, but if either of those isn't true, nothing happens. Logic gates, to get ahead of myself a bit, are kinda the whole thing with computers, but we still need the rest of them. So for these purposes, relays re only neat if it's the most power and space efficient AND gate you have access to.

Oh and come to think of it, there's no reason we need to have that magnet closing the circuit when it's doing its thing. We could have it closed by default and yank it open by the magnet. Hey, now we're inverting whatever we're getting on the first wire! Neat!

Relay computers clack too loud! Gimme vacuum tubes!

So... let's take a look at the other main thing people used electricity for before coming up with the whole computer thing, our old friend the light bulb! Now I already touched a bit on the whole wacky alternating current thing, and I think this is actually one of the cases that eventually lead to it being adopted so widely, but the earliest light bulbs tended to just use normal direct current, where again, you've got the positive end and the negative end, and we just take a little filament of whatever we have handy that glows when you run enough of a current through it, and we put that in a big glass bulb and pump out all the air we can, because if we don't, the oxygen in there is probably going to change that from glowing a bit to straight up catching on fire and burning immediately.

But, we have a new weird little problem, because of the physics behind that glowing. Making something hot, on a molecular level, is just kinda adding energy to the system so everything jitters around more violently, and if you get something hot enough that it glows, you're getting it all twitchy enough for tinier particles to just fly the hell off it. Specifically photons, that's the light bit, but also hey, remember, electrons are just kinda free moving and whipping all over looking for their naked proton pals... and hey, inside this big glass bulb, we've got that other end of the wire with the more positive charge to it. Why bother wandering up this whole coily filament when we're in a vacuum and there's nothing to get in the way if we just leap straight over that gap? So... they do that, and they're coming in fast and on elliptical approaches and all, so a bunch of electrons overshoot and smack into the glass on the far side, and now one side of every light bulb is getting all gross and burnt from that and turning all brown and we can't have that.

So again, part of the fix is we switched to alternating current so it's at least splitting those wild jumps up to either side, but before that, someone tried to solve this by just... kinda putting a backboard in there. Stick a big metal plate on the end of another wire in the bulb connected to a positive charge, and now OK, all those maverick electrons smack into here and aren't messing up the glass, but also hey, this is a neat little thing. Those electrons are making that hop because they're all hot and bothered. If we're not heating up the plate they're jumping to, and there's no real reason we'd want to, then if we had a negative signal over on that side... nothing would happen. Electrons aren't getting all antsy and jumping back.

So now we have a diode! The name comes because we have two (di-) electrodes (-ode) we care about in the bulb (we're just kind of ignoring the negative one), and it's a one way street for our circuit. That's useful for a lot of stuff, like not having electricity flow backwards through complex systems and mess things up, converting AC to DC (when it flips, current won't flow through the diode so we lop off the bottom of the wave, and hey, we can do that thing with capacitors to release their current during those cutoffs, and if we're clever we can get a pretty steady high).

More electrodes! More electrodes!

So a bit after someone worked out this whole vacuum tube diode thing, someone went hey, what if it was a triode? So, let's stick another electrode in there, and this one just kinda curves around in the middle, just kinda making a grate or a mesh grid, between our hot always flowing filament and that catch plate we're keeping positively charged when it's doing stuff. Well this works in a neat way. If there's a negative charge on it, it's going to be pushing back on those electrons jumping over, and if there's a positive charge on it, it's going to help pull those electrons over (it's all thin, so they're going to shoot right past it, especially if there's way more of a positive charge over on the plate... and here's the super cool part- This is an analog thing. If we have a relatively big negative charge, it's going to repel everything, if it's a relatively big positive, it's going to pull a ton across, if it's right in the middle, it's like it wasn't even in there, and you can have tiny charges for all the gradients in between.

We don't need a huge charge for any of this though, because we're just helping or hindering the big jump from the high voltage stuff, and huh, weren't we doing this whole weak current controlling a strong current thing before with the relay? We were! And this is doing the same thing! Except now we're doing it all analog style, not slapping switch with a magnet, and we can make those wavy currents peak higher or lower and cool, now we can have phone lines boost over long distances too, and make volume knobs, and all that good stuff.

The relay version of this had that cool trick though where you could flip the output. Can we still flip the output? We sure can, we just need some other toys in the mix. See we keep talking about positive charges and negative charges at the ends of our circuits, but these are relative things. I mentioned way back when how you can use resistors to throttle how much of a current we've got, so you can run two wires to that grid in the triode. One connects to a negative charge and the other positive, with resistors on both those lines, and a switch that can break the connection on the positive end. If the positive is disconnected, we've got a negative charge on the grid, since it's all we've got, but if we connect it, and the resistor to the negative end really limits flow, we're positive in the section the grid's in. And over on the side with the collecting plate, we branch off with another resistor setup so the negative charge on that side is normally the only viable connection for a positive, but when we flip the grid to positive, we're jumping across the gap in the vacuum tube, and that's a big open flow so we'll just take those electrons instead of the ones that have to squeeze through a tight resistor to get there.

That explanation is probably a bit hard to follow because I'm over here trying to explain it based on how the electrons are actually getting pulled around. In the world of electronics everyone decided to just pretend the flow is going the other way because it makes stuff easier to follow. So pretend we have magical positrons that go the other way and if they have nothing better to do they go down the path where we have all the fun stuff further down the circuit lighting lights and all that even though it's a tight squeeze through a resistor, because there's a yucky double negative in the triode and that's worse, but we have the switch rigged up to make that a nice positive go signal to the resistance free promised land with a bonus booster to cut across, so we're just gonna go that way when the grid signal's connected.

Oh and you can make other sorts of logic circuits or double up on them in a single tube if you add more grids and such, which we did for a while, but not really relevant these days.

Cool history lesson but I know there's no relays or vacuum tubes in my computer.

Right, so the above things are how we used to make computers, but they were super bulky, and you'd have to deal with how relays are super loud and kinda slow, and vacuum tubes need a big power draw and get hot. What we use instead of either of those these days are transistors. See after spending a good number of years working out all this circuit flow stuff with vacuum tubes we eventually focused on how the real important thing in all of this is how with the right materials you can make a little juncture where current flows between a positive and negative charge if a third wire going in there is also positively charged, but if it's negatively charged we're pulling over. And turns out there is a WAY more efficient way of doing that if you take a chunk of good ol' middle of the electron road silicon, and just kinda lightly paint the side of it with just the tiniest amount of positive leaning and negative leaning elements on the sides.

Really transistors don't require understanding anything new past the large number of topics already covered here, they're just more compact about it. Positive leaning bit, negative leaning bit, wildcard in the middle, like a vacuum tube. Based on the concepts of pulling electrons around from chemistry, like a circuit in general. The control wire in the middle kinda works in just a pass-fail sort of way, like a relay. They're just really nice compared to the older alternatives because they don't make noise or have moving parts to wear down, you don't have to run enough current through them for metal to start glowing and the whole room to heat up, and you can make them small. Absurdly small. Like... need an electron microscope to see them small.

And of course you can also make an inverter super tiny like that, and a diode (while you're at it you can use special materials or phosphors to make them light emitting, go LEDs!) and resistors can get pretty damn small if you just use less of a more resistant material, capacitors I think have a limit to how tiny you can get, practically, but yeah, you now know enough of the basic fundamentals of how computers work to throw some logic gates together. We've covered how a relay, triode, or transistor function as an AND gate. An OR gate is super easy, you just stick diodes on two wires so you don't have messy backflow then connect them together and lead off there. If you can get your head around wiring up an inverter (AKA NOT), hey, stick one after an AND to get a NAND, or an OR to get a NOR. You can work out XOR and XNOR from there right? Just build 4 NANDs, pass input A into gates 1 and 2, B into 2 and 3, 2's output into 1 and 3, 1 and 3's output into 4 for a XOR, use NORs instead for a XNOR. That's all of them right? So now just build a ton of those and arrange them into a computer. It's all logic and math from there.

Oh right. It's... an absurd amount of logic and math, and I can only fit so many words in a blog post. So we'll have to go all...

CONTINUED IN PART 2!

Meanwhile, again, if you can spare some cash I'd really appreciate it.

[joaofelix70]

69 WITH JOÃO FÉLIX | a concept.

author's note: first of all, thank you for reading this and my first story that was boycotted by his ex's fans, lmao (i know joão's flopping here, actually) 💀

many people are not writing for him anymore and that's why i'm doing justice to him, so you're welcome, lol. please, tell me what you think about this work, polite feedbacks are VERY appreciated. i get inspired in the morning and wrote it kinda quickly. really random, but i need to say how obsessed i am with joão being religious, like this gif shows. the way he's crossing himself, kissing his hand and pointing to the sky 🧎‍♀️🧎‍♀️

I'M CRYING, SOBBING ON MY KNEES AND BEGGING HIM TO HAVE A RELIGIOUS FAMILY WITH ME. also, my requests are open. i'm waiting for you to talk to me there <3

warnings: self-explanatory sex position. +18 content. smut, nsfw without context. plus, he's also fingering you here (our dream 😭).

words: 461.

"holy shit, what a good pussy. i missed it, princesa (princess). i missed you!" his fingerprints wrap in your midst of the hot, overflowing fountain: causing an insatiable thirst, to which no other substance would be able to succumb.

"i always need you so badly, gatinho (handsome). i fucking belong to you!" your whimpers exude despair in the name of pleasure, making joão laugh and his ego to inflate.

"of course you do! all this shit, all this is only mine. fuck, i'm such a lucky guy." your walls tighten and compress his beautiful bones, sending sinful sensations to his area of hardness and dampness. then, you're empty. his tongue curls around his fingers, appetizing you.

"so fucking delicious!" wet kisses are deposited on your neck and boobs: delighting his face on each, vehemently sucking and biting them.

"use my body to show it, joão. i'm yours!" your hands involve around the structure of his cock, lips swallowing the resplendent pre-cum from the head and witnessing it run down your chin. stroking and tasting the testicles, you lift your mouth and enter every inch of it into your throat, scratching his toned tights. your hair is pulled by félix and your head guided to have him deeper, completely.

"yeah! just like that! be the good and grateful girl that you are. i'm so proud of you, princesa." joão's destabilized, moaning in portuguese, echoing your name with his beautiful accent, while eyes are closed. however, he doesn't stop. his saliva spread throughout the shape of your torso, hickeys pigmenting the place below where you're most begging to be touched. his mouth explores your intimacy, painting formats and drawings, like you're his work of art: his nose rubbing your clit and offering continual instigations, the tip of his tongue persistently granting the beg leave in the entrance. so he persists, controlling your greedy movements against his face: firm pressure on your waist.

"let me know when you're close, ok? wanna take care of you!" félix grabs your ass, flattening and reddening your skin. tears are shed over your flushed face, your voice weakened after so many verbal liberations. you hold his dilating dick and slap it on your cheek, teasing it through licks and your light, sensitive touch.

"tell me how much you love me, gatinho. i deserve this for being your good girl who is about to cum on your face." you testify his acts getting intensified: ecstasy, along with sexual spasms, protruding from joão. his head goes back and, at this point, he's worshiping you. you're his religion.

"i fucking love you, y/n. gonna cum in your precious mouth and throat!"

"that's my man who i fucking love! please, come for me and i'll do the same for you!"

[m0r1bund]

I know most artists are probably annoyed to hell and back with art advice questions…

No idea on your stance so I’ll ask

How do you do format your backgrounds?? Like the perspective, the empty space versus detail, what shape to make the canvas, all that stuff, idk.

I can imagine detailed stuff in my head but in practice I flounder to even begin to put it to paper so is there some sort of method to the madness?

Lastly, do you think it’s a good idea to start by drawing over real life images as a way to learn?

That’s all, thank you

Hi, sorry this took a while. No worries about asking, I’ve been there and I think we sometimes underestimate how much people like to feel helpful and to talk about their process. I have an awful memory, so it’s hard for me to retrace my steps sometimes, but I’ll try!

I remember being in a similar place where my mind’s eye was far ahead of my technical skill. This still happens, I don’t think it ever really goes away, I just remember it feeling especially pronounced and frustrating when I was younger.

context: I used to be really frustrated with my inability to finish or even start large, meticulously detailed pieces, especially landscapes and environmental pieces. This changed as my technical skill started to catch up with my mind’s eye, and I could execute things faster and faster, before my brain would arbitrarily decide a piece was “done.” I’ve had this lifelong tension between trying to become a faster artist so that I can strike while the iron is hot, while also accepting that my brain is wired a certain way, I don’t have to make myself suffer by working against my own brain, and it’s OK to make slow art. for all the grief it gives me, the ADHD hyperfocus / state of flow is part of the process and I do genuinely love it.

So with that in mind, here’s some pointers that I’ve personally found useful.

done > perfect, started > not started, always and forever. Lower the bar as much as you need to. I think this can be rough for those who are less motivated by the process and more by communicating something as it exists in their head. Unfortunately I am learning this lesson over and over, that a piece simply will not happen unless I make it feasible for myself. Can it be done faster and shittier? Can you settle for getting one or two things “right” and letting the rest turn out how it may?  

Taking up photography, studying photographers, and yes, tracing / photobashing / painting over photos (with appropriate permission.) Sometimes it’s more intuitive to find the composition than it is to make it from scratch. I’m lucky to live in the place that I draw, so it takes less guess-work to translate it to my art, but I also just think it’s fun to cultivate an eye for composition using the world around you.   I think creating your own references also teaches you things that studying curated art will not. You interacted with the space in-person, so you have valuable insight into how the space feels and the relationship between objects that you can’t glean just from a picture. It’s also got the beauty of the amateur’s eye. Contrast won’t be perfectly balanced, you’ll get to work with weird color combos under weirder lighting, things won’t be massed very intentionally, etc. What’s interesting to you about the subject is ultimately unique to you, and you get to bring that out.   Video game photography is another fun way of studying someone else’s work. Virtual landscapes are intentionally composed, down to the massing/lighting/visual clutter, so in a competently-designed environment it’s easier to find picturesque vistas or neat places to stage your subject. More fun, maybe less frustrating than exploring an environment that isn’t similar to one you want to depict.   I like sandbox games for DIY scene-setting too. Staging stuff in blender, making rough clay models, whatever you need to do to feel out the space.  

Ditto the above for studying other mediums that you enjoy. I feel like it’s glaringly obvious when I want something to be a 10-part animated series or, like, a tapestry, because that’s just where I go to when I’m pulling from my mental library.   Maybe part of why I gravitated to film and animation is because you can see changes in composition, focus, perspective, etc. happening in real time, so it’s easier to notice them, and to reflect on how they change the meaning of the scene.  

Leveraging your limits. Limited palette, limited time, limited scope, whatever. Easier to play with values when you’re working in black and white than when you add color to the mix. And hey, what can you uniquely do when you’re working under certain limits that you can’t do if you had free reign of a blank canvas? Pixel art, polychrome pottery, noir… The limits of a form make it memorable, or however that saying goes.  

Massing detail and polish around the focal point of the piece. I don’t think I’m very intentional about this with my finished work, I usually play with contrast or negative space to bring attention to things. but I often do this with my quick-and-dirty art like Basedt and Threadbare. I polish the bare minimum to communicate what I need to, and then leave the rest to imagination.   like anything else it’s just another tool in your toolbox, not as useful to those with very detailed work that choose to guide the eye in other ways.  

Thinking of the environment as its own character(s). Some of us get into art because we’re having fun drawing our favorite characters or our OCs, so backgrounds are just that--- backgrounds, scene-setting, all secondary to the main event, not as interesting or exciting to draw. I am personally trying to get rid of the mental boundary between subject and environment, because that’s more in line with how I feel about worldbuilding and life in general. They’re inseparable, they feed into one another, and it does me better to think about them holistically.   Corollary to that: Environments can be fun! A lot of people think of them as drudgery, but I don’t think you have to self-flagellate doing a hundred still-life master studies if that’s not the most efficient way for you to learn. We can and should do difficult things, but I don’t know, I think you can trick yourself into getting excited about drawing cars or buildings or rocks. For me, it’s exciting to explore my headworlds through the eyes of the fake people who live in my head. I guess having that touchstone of something that’s familiar alongside something that’s unfamiliar makes it more fun. When the switch finally flipped, it was really rewarding to realize I was scribbling landscapes as the “main event,” and the inclusion of a character was a last-minute thing if it happened at all. It can be fun! It doesn’t have to suck! But it takes time.  

OK, I think that’s all I got right now. As usual, glean what’s useful to you and forget the rest. There are others who can speak more competently about technical stuff than I can, and I’m sure I’m overlooking something obvious. this is just what sticks with me, personally.

[dreamscapesofimagination]

A/n: there is no love here yet for Jiro and i need to fix that bc mans is my top fav. We love a tall, sciencey man w hot girl tummy problems over here.

Formatted weird bc I am on mobile!

TW: Fluff! Jiro is a bit insecure. He is also head over heels. Ending kinda sucks bc i couldn't think of how to end it lol

Synopsis: Jiro thought he knew a lot about you- average blood pressure, enzyme values, how your lungs sounded beneath the stethoscope- turns out you are also a talented artist.

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

The floorboards creaked as Jiro stepped inside, thankful Yuri had been awake this morning to give him his medication before he had to come do this health check.

Without his meds, he knew he would have to scurry away quickly, and his condition would prevent him from sharing a small breakfast with you.

He didn't quite understand his feelings for you- sure, he knew how endorphins rushed through his system around you and triggered the increase of his heart rate.

He knew the scientific reasons behind his attraction- he just didn't know how to react to it. The two of you had been in limbo- not quite together but closer than just friends.

He knew you reacted the same to him- could see it in the way your heart rate would be erratic on the EKG when he would do it (Yuri had banned him from being around when your heart rate or blood pressure were monitered, and today Jiro was just to draw blood and ensure you appeared well) , or the way your cheeks would warm up when his fingers brushed your skin.

His eyes scanned the church, taking in the homey feeling you had created since moving in.

Plants littered some of the pews, and you had cushions placed around for the cats.

He could hear the shower running, and assumed you were in there. While he waited, he wandered across the old room to set his bag on the desk.

He began pulling out his supplies, before sighing when he realized he had forgotten his pen.

Surely you had one in one of the drawers?

He slid the top one open, eyes widening at what he saw.

A drawing.

Of him.

He carefully pulled out the sketchbook, unable to take his eyes from the drawing as his heart hammered in his chest.

He looked focused in the drawing, and he imagined you had drawn him from one of the times he had helped you study.

Flipping to another page, he felt as if he couldn't breath.

Him again, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

You had talent, and you used it to draw him, a chronically ill ghoul who struggled to hold conversations even with people he liked.

"Jiro?" the sound of your voice caused him to whirl around, guilty he had been snooping.

His breath caught at the sight of you standing there, in a tanktop and pair of shorts, toweling off your hair.

"I-uh- I was just waiting for you to finish, Yuri sent me to take some blood samples and make sure you are well,"

He winced internally at his stumbling words, feeling his stomach turn at his increased anxiety.

"I don't mind you looking at them, you're just so pretty and I wanted to draw you," a blush coated your cheeks at your admission.

He opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water, feeling his own cheeks burn.

You thought he was pretty? Half the time his already pale complexion was sickly due to his condition (and lack of sleep), circles that nearly matched his hair rimmed his eyes- not to mention his frequent bouts of nausea.

He jumped when your hand waved infront of his face, so lost in his own thoughts that your closeness had gone unnoticed.

"Ji, you okay? I'm sorry if I weirded you out." your voice was sheepish and oh so sweet, round cheeks burning with embarrassment.

He quickly shook his head, "no, you just surprised me. I've never really had someone be interested in me."

Jiro's voice was matter-of-fact, and clearly he was not searching for sympathy.

He had accepted his differences, and his schedule didn't exactly leave room for romance- nor did Yuri think such frivoloties were necessary. It wasn't until he met you that the consideration that he may be missing out had even entered his thoughts.

Yuri had even noticed, urging Jiro to just ask you out if only to stop distracting him with his 'mournful, pathetic expression and moony-eyed stares.'

Jiro had never really noticed nor cared about the captains absence of bed-side manner, though that comment had made him very aware of it.

"Well, now you do. I know you're very busy, but maybe one of the times you're free you'd like to do something?" you chewed your lip as you asked, n action he had long since learned you did when you were unsure of yourself.

An action that caused all his attention to fall to your lips, wondering what they would feel like.

"I think that would be enjoyable," his words came out softer than he intended, and your bright smile after his words caused his already hammering heart to nearly stop.

He wasn't sure he'd survive a date with you, but he would need to be incapacitated to not accept the offer.

[cosmicheartzone]

X Sonic & Tails along with CHZ Cosmo move north of the Night Carnival, to a more mountainous region close to an ocean, they however are stopped by a roadblock made out of a large pile of rocks standing in their way.

(X) Sonic: Uh oh, what happened here?

(X) Tails: Looks like a landslide has closed this road… we may have to find another way arou-

X Tails is suddenly interrupted by a familiar, and angry voice coming from nearby

(X) Knuckles: You dirty bat! You better help me out of here or I swear I’ll… grumbles

(X) Sonic: Uh oh, looks like Knuckles is in a pickle…

X Sonic runs toward where they find X Knuckles stuck between two rocks, and the teasing giggles of a familiar batgirl with her legs crossed while sitting on a rock nearby

(X) Rouge: If I help you out, will you give me the Master Emerald?

Knuckles’ reply is as swift as Sonic’s top speed

(X) Knuckles: NO!

(X) Rouge: Oh c’mon, that island of yours isn’t even floating any more. Can’t I at least have onnnnnne tiny piece? As a treat?~ I could use a new ring…

(X) Knuckles: NO MEANS NO!

Knuckles grumbles some more while Rouge chuckles at his predicament as Sonic approaches the two

(X) Sonic: Knuckles? Rouge? What’s going on here?

(X) Rouge: Well if it isn't Big Blue, I don’t know what happened to Handsome Red here… wink but it’s pretty funny

Sonic gets closer to Knuckles  grabbing on to a stuck arm and trying to pull Knuckles out himself.

(X) Sonic: No good… Rouge, I know you like teasing Knux here but we really should get him out. Who knows if we may need him for an ongoing situation.

Rouge shrugged

(X) Rouge: Fine, I guess I suppose I’ve already had my fun… Rouge spins herself into a drilling formation as she breaks the rock preventing Knuckles’ movement. Knuckles slowly getting up, half of his body still asleep from not being able to move.

(X) Knuckles: Would have been nice if you did that WITHOUT Sonic asking you to…

Rouge giggled

(X) Rouge: But I don’t get too many opportunities to talk with you while you’re being a hermit on that formerly floating island

X Tails and CHZ Cosmo walk in

(X) Tails: Formerly floating? What exact happ-

(X) Knuckles: GASP TAILS! LOOK OUT!

(X) Tails: Wait wha- AAAAAH!

Knuckles tackles Tails away from CHZ Cosmo’s side

(X) Tails: Knuckles?! What the heck are you doing?!

(X) Knuckles: There was a ghost beside you!

CHZ Cosmo tilted her head

(CHZ) Cosmo: G-ghost? (…Oh right, he’s probably assuming I’m the other me who ‘died’)

X Sonic shook his head

(X) Sonic: Did one of those rocks take some brain cells from you, Knucklehead? Even if she was a ghost why would Tails need to be afraid of Cosmo’s ghost?

(X) Knuckles: You never know! It could be one of King Boom Boo’s minions trying to lure Tails into a trap or something! Didn’t you tell me one of them possessed Amy back on Chris' world? But if that’s not the case… Wait a moment…

Knuckles runs over to CHZ Cosmo’s side and curiously pokes her. Noticing that she’s actually there, and not a spooky trick.

(X) Knuckles: Whuh… how… Tails, did you…?

(X) Tails: It’s a little more complicated than that… but before we explain. Tell me, what happened to Angel Island.

Rouge looked incredulous

(X) Rouge: Your girlfriend’s suddenly back to life, the same one that your grief turned you into even more of a loner then Knuckles here for weeks, if not months… and you’re concerned about Angel Island?! Who are you and where is the real Tails?

Tails scratches the back of his head

(X) Tails: Ahehheh, I get that it looks that way but seriously we’ll explain soon! But for now I can say that in short, she is not the same Cosmo that traveled with us.

(X) Knuckles: So wait, does that make her some kind of clone you created though all that science you do?

CHZ Cosmo giggles

(CHZ) Cosmo: Nah, I’m not a clone. But please Knuckles, listen to Tails and tell us what happened to Angel Island.

(X) Knuckles: To put it simply I don’t even know, the island just stopped floating for some reason. But I am starting to suspect it has something to do with that purple cat girl! The same one who buried me under those rocks in the first place

Rouge mocked a gasp, putting  the back of her hand over her forehead in an overdramatic and joking fashion

(X) Rouge: Knuckles… you’ve been seeing another girl?! Ohhhhh I’m absolutely heartbroken, I thought we had something special!

Knuckles gets even more red in the face, though it’s hard to tell if it's sheer anger, blushed embarrassment, or both at the same time.

Rouge giggles watching him seethe, Sonic chuckles alongside her. Knuckles just and crosses his arms before continuing.

Rouge giggles, Sonic chuckles alongside her. Knuckles grumbling and crosses his arms.

(X) Knuckles: As I was saying, I saw that catgirl with Cream. Something seemed awfully suspicious about her, especially when I thought I saw what could have been a Chaos Emerald!

(X) Tails: Are you absolutely certain she had a Chaos Emerald?

(X) Knuckles: Well I didn’t see the exact shape of what she had in her hand. But what else could it have been?

CHZ Cosmo speaks up

(CHZ) Cosmo: No, I doubt that’s what she had in her hand

Knuckles raises an eyebrow

(X) Knuckles: And how are you so sure? You just came back to life, which by the way still has to be explained to me… and all of a sudden you’re telling us you conveniently know this girl? Was she an alien friend of yours or something?

(X) Tails: Knuckles! We already told you, she’s not the Cosmo that was with us when we fought the Metarex!

(X) Knuckles: Then why is she acting like she knows us?

(CHZ) Cosmo: Because I know another version of you and the others…

Knuckles is given more details of what has happened lately. Though the information seems to overwhelm him.

(X) Knuckles: Ugh, this is too much. Are you sure there isn’t some sort of weird partial memory loss. This alternate dimension stuff… I know Chris’ world was something like it. But why all of a sudden do we have 2 more dimensions involved? Why has our planet of all places seemingly become the centerpoint of space and time. Urgh… I’m so confused, and still ANGRY… I think I need to punch something just to clear my head!

Knuckles walks on over to the rocks blocking the road and starts mercilessly letting his frustrations out on them. The rest of the group just watched him with wide stares and blinking eyes. When Knuckles is done, he’c created a path through which Sonic, Tails and CHZ Cosmo could walk through.

(X) Sonic: Uh… thanks for the path?

Knuckles wasn’t even considering that he was helping out Sonic when hitting those rocks. But decides to act like that was the intention.

(X) Knuckles: You’re welcome, Sonic! Though before you all go, I’d still like to hear a bit more from Cosmo here.

(X) Rouge: Maybe I can help with that… Cosmo, do you… recall anything about me and… Shadow at all…? It might help Knuckles understand whether you are the Cosmo we knew or not, and… also some guilt I’d really like to shake off…

(CHZ) Cosmo: (Guilt? What could Rouge be so guilty about…) Well, the Rouge I know we’re at best casual friends by now. I don’t see the other you that often, but we do get along. Shadow though…

A big smile comes from her face, she puts her hands together as her eyes shine.

(CHZ) Cosmo: He’s… me and my kind’s greatest hero!

Knuckles acts surprised, while Tails face turns serious as he turns his back.

(X) Knuckles: Ok… NOW I am convinced this isn’t the Cosmo that was with us. There’s no way the Cosmo we knew would see Shadow in such a positive light…

CHZ Cosmo looked concerned. Hearing what Knuckles just said, Rouge’s face of guilt, and especially Tails’ suddenly serious face.

(CHZ) Cosmo: …Ok I think it’s finally time for someone to explain what exactly Shadow did to my counterpart…

((More after the break))

Everyone else other than Tails shows grave frowns, not sure how to explain this lightly.

(X) Rouge: Well… um… how do we put this… Shadow…

(X) Tails: …Tried to kill her

X Tails interrupted with a near whisper

(CHZ) Cosmo: Huh? Tails… can… can you repeat that?

Tails turned around, Tails face’ just about baring his fangs as his teeth clenches before he yells

(X) Tails: I SAID SHADOW TRIED TO KILL HER!

CHZ Cosmo puts both hands over her mouth. She could barely fathom why Shadow would do such a thing

(CHZ) Cosmo: He… he had to have been mind-controlled by the Metarex… surely?

(X) Tails: If only that had been the case… but no, he made the conscious decision that our Cosmo should die because he assumed, and without telling what evidence he has, that she was a willing SPY!

(X) Rouge: He didn’t exactly have his memories thou-

(X) Tails: YOU SHUSH! I still haven’t forgotten that you were basically his accomplice! You said she was a plant in more ways than one!

Rouge lowered her head placing her left hand on her right arm

(X) Rouge: Sigh It’s true the more time has passed since her sacrifice, the more guilt-ridden I feel about that day… If our Cosmo is regenerating as this other Cosmo told us, at least I may still get the chance to apologize…

CHZ Cosmo seems nervous to ask given Tails’ mood isn’t in the best place right now. But she turns toward Rouge.

(CHZ) Cosmo: Um, Rouge… by any chance do you know where this universe’s Shadow is?

X Tails about murmurs quietly to himself

(X) Tails: I don’t care where he is… I hope I never see him again…

(X) Rouge: He um… asked to borrow my spaceship, not that I had much use for it with the Metarex gone. And he did so not long after a heated conversation he had with Tails last time he was here. Foxboy here might have legitimately guilt tripped him into leaving this planet indefinitely.

I witnessed their conversation myself if you want to hear about it. I doubt Tails in any mood to retell it himself.

X Tails had his back turned to the group. Practically confirming Rouge’s doubts. CHZ Cosmo frowned, she wonders if she should hear about what happened the last time this universe’s Tails and Shadow last saw each other. But thought it was best to get it all out there, so she understands how to proceed from here.

(CHZ) Cosmo: Go ahead, Rouge… tell me all you remember of this conversation…

Rouge nodded

(X) Rouge: It is thankfully a bit easier to talk about now that we know our Cosmo might be slowly regenerating. But back when we all thought Cosmo was still gone forever… it… was hard to watch…

FLASHBACK START

On a dreary and cloudy day, X Tails had just finished landing the Blue Typhoon, much of it still retaining the damage it sustained in the climactic battle against Final Mova in the bottom of a deep canyon. He seeked a place to put what’s left of the large space ship where he would never see it again. It’s true the ship had good memories associated for him too. But Cosmo’s sacrifice had tainted all of it. 

The last thing he did before leaving the ship was laying controlled explosives around the entire cockpit. He told Sonic he’d do that in case Eggman got the idea of trying to engineer the Blue Typhoon himself to use against them. That now besides the damage it had taken against Final Mova, the entire cockpit would have to be rebuilt too if it was to be used again. But deep down they both knew that Eggman was fully capable of creating his very own ships, he likely wouldn’t use a ship that Sonic and the others know from top to bottom.

It didn’t matter where he was on the Blue Typhoon, wherever he went. The first thing that came to mind was what he and Cosmo did together in each room of the ship. The room where she tried to set up a surprise party by herself before he and the Chaotix stepped in still had some of the decorations left from where they were that day. The hallways with leftover damage from when either Shadow was chasing him and Cosmo or from the final battle, the launching bay where Cosmo had brought him tea while he was fixing up the X Tornado and other ships, and other places where memories of his time with Cosmo that only made him feel worse about what it all led up to. He nearly had another breakdown walking through the halls this last time, but he persevered and flew out of his ship with his namesakes. 

He looked down at the Blue Typhoon  one more time before pulling out a controller with a big red button. It was for the explosives. With a single press, the cockpit of the Blue Typhoon was blown up. Rendering the vessel unusable until the control systems get rebuilt. He thought about destroying the entire ship, but who knows if there would be another adventure that requires them to go to outer space. Tails hopes that if they have to go somewhere far off in space in the future, it’s years from now. Where maybe by then he will have built an entirely new ship, and/or when he had finally gotten over Cosmo’s death, if he ever does.

What Tails didn’t know was that there were two nearby enough to hear the explosion. Rouge’s sensitive bat ears heard it while she was flying. She flew in the direction of the sound and hid behind a wall of rocks. The other one seemed to have had their solitude suddenly broken by the explosion. An irritated look on his face as he ran over to investigate.

He gasped as he ran over to find Tails, looking over the cliff solemnly just like he had just been doing before the explosion rocked the canyon.

(X) Shadow: What are you doing here, Tails?

Tails turns around with an unamused face.

(X) Tails: I should be asking the same thing to you…

Shadow could feel the disdain in Tails’ voice

(X) Shadow: sigh I get it, Tails… Cos-

(X) Tails: LEAVE HER NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, SHADOW! You tried to murder her! And now she IS gone, maybe not by your hand. But are you happy now, you got what you wanted…

Shadow was taken aback, Tails’ raised voice echoing throughout the canyon adding to the tension between the two.

(X) Shadow: Hey, circumstances have changed… I know now she was forced to spy for them but…

(X) Tails: BUT WHAT?! YOU COULDN’T HAVE TALKED IT OVER WITH US FIRST INSTEAD OF NEARLY KILLING HER IN HER SLEEP?!

Shadow looked down

(X) Shadow: I… I had no idea that she had already endeared herself to you and the others. I especially underestimated how much you in particular felt about her. I am sorr-

(X) Tails: DON’T YOU ATTEMPT TO APOLOGIZE TO ME! It was HER you should have apologized to… BUT NOW YOU NEVER WILL! YOU’RE ONLY SAYING SORRY NOW THAT SHE’S GONE! IF SHE LIVED, YOU PROBABLY NEVER WOULD HAVE APOLOGIZED!

Tails stepped closer to Shadow, actually kind of scaring the Ultimate Lifeform. As he backs off slightly.

(X) Tails: In fact… I bet I know why Chaos Regeneration didn’t work… it wasn’t that you and Sonic failed… you probably HELD BACK ON PURPOSE!

(X) Shadow: That’s… that’s not true! I put nearly everything I had in both trying to save her, but also had to reserve some strength from containing the blast. I was very close to dying for good that time.

(X) Tails: Maybe you SHOULD have… Tell me… Why… WHY DO YOU GET TO ‘SACRIFICE’ YOURSELF AND LIVE ON AND COSMO DOES NOT?!

Shadow lowered his head and sighed

(X) Shadow: …I have no answer for that. It’s true, it’s not fair…

Tails turns his back toward Shadow

(X) Tails: Then maybe you can tell me this, Shadow. Even if I know you’re still recovering your memories, let’s say you had a girl you really care about… and someone or some agency like… I don’t know… G.U.N. perhaps, has determined without evidence that she was a spy. And thus she had to die with not even a chance to prove her innocence and/or whether she had been bugged wilfully or not

Something about this didn’t seem right to Shadow, as if Tails was saying something he knew about Shadow that he still doesn’t quite remember fully

(X) Shadow: What… what are you insinuating?!

Tails doesn’t answer, he simply continues his analogy.

(X) Tails: And then think about this… you successfully fend off her attacker. Only for sometime later a situation happens where it’s either her or the entire world is destroyed… and you have to pull the trigger.

It’s either the one person you care about the most, or the untold billions of lives at stake that you don’t even know… and she herself is insisting you shoot no matter how much it tears you up inside…

Tell me, Shadow… what would you do…

If that girl was none other than… Maria…

Shadow gasped

(X) Shadow: (The… same name… Rouge mentioned in the Metarex base…)

As if a psychic blow had been put on him, Shadow grunts as he’s forced to his knees and he places his arms on his head.

(X) Shadow: (Why… why does that name cause me to flinch so much… I don’t understand…)

Tails simply begins to walk off, leaving Shadow there all alone. Rouge, who had been watching the conversation, looked stunned. Once Tails was out of sight, Rouge flew over to Shadow’s side to help him up.

(X) Rouge: I knew that fox was hit hard, but I didn’t think he was going to bring up the M word in front of you…

(X) Shadow: Urgh… Rouge… can I ask you something?

(X) Rouge: Yes?

(X) Shadow: Your spaceship… I’d… I’d like to use it.

Rouge blinked

(X) Rouge: Well, it’s not like I need it anymore with the Metarex dealt with, so I guess you can… but why?

(X) Shadow: This planet isn’t my home, I shouldn’t be hanging around here… especially if others are going to hold me as if I was partly accountable for what happened to Cosmo…

(X) Rouge: Now hold on, that was just Tails. Cosmo was very special to him, not everyone is going to be so hostile to you… and what about Eggman helping you out with your memories.

(X) Shadow: You really don’t think anyone else who was on the Blue Typhoon will hold the day I attacked Cosmo against me after what happened? I doubt it.

As for the Doctor, hmmph, I think by now he’s only used my memories as leverage for me to work for him. Even if he does know my memories, he doesn’t seem like he’s ever going to tell me without any strings attached.

(X) Rouge: Will traveling through space really help you out though? I doubt you’ll find your way to where Chris’ and the ARK is.

(X) Shadow: I don’t think I need the ARK to regain my memories. I just need solitude in space, I think my memories have been slowly returning. But I need to be alone… it’s for the best that I don’t stick around anyway.

Rouge still wasn’t sure, but she figured she didn’t need her ship for now.

(X) Rouge: Alright, do whatever you feel is best, Shadow. I hope you come back though once you’ve cleared your head.

Shadow turns his back

(X) Shadow: …I can’t promise that. This may very well be the last time we ever speak.

Rouge stood silent for a moment

(X) Rouge: If… if that’s the case, I hope you get your memories back. And that you rest easy, however much of the past may haunt you…

Shadow simply solemnly nodded, before running off.

END OF FLASHBACK

There was simply a moment of silence as Rouge told what happened between X Tails and Shadow. CHZ Cosmo frowns and lowers her head.

(CHZ) Cosmo: t-t-Tails… I completely understand your feelings about this universe’s Shadow. I’m not going to tell you that you were wrong to yell at him. Attempted murder is serious! He deserved a stern talking, and you were right to point out that Shadow could have simply talked about it with you, Sonic, and the others before resorting to sneaking into her room without telling anyone his intentions. Even with the caveat that he lost his memory, that was no excuse for him to… almost be just like the G.U.N. soldier that killed Maria. It might have been a bit of a low blow, but mentioning Maria to Shadow… was kind of warranted…

X Tails just quietly nodded

(CHZ) Cosmo: I will still say though now you must know that Shadow did try to make up for it by attempting to help Sonic save her from death, and you know now that it worked! Just more slowly than you and everyone else tho-

(X) Tails: I know what you’re going to say… that once my Cosmo does regenerate, and if Shadow ever does return... I should find it within my heart to forgive him… I just don't know if I can do that.

Even if he does deserve credit for saving her. I can’t simply forget when he was relentlessly chasing us down throughout the entire ship. It was like a real life horror movie. That cold scowl of his as he walked up to our Cosmo who was scared out of her mind… it’ll take more than saying sorry before I ever consider forgiving him. Him being half the reason Cosmo may still regenerate doesn’t make up for the fact he had once threatened her life.

He sighs, and lifts his head up

(X) Tails: …But let’s forget about Shadow for now. We have more important things to take care of.

(X) Knuckles: I guess we can get back to Cosmo explaining what she thinks that catgirl had in her hands.

CHZ Cosmo nodded

(CHZ) Cosmo: Right, as I was going to say… Blaze more than likely had a Sol Emerald. They’re sort of her dimension’s incarnation of the Chaos Emeralds

Knuckles realized something

(X) Knuckles: Perhaps the Sol Emeralds being in this universe has interfered with the Master Emerald’s power and that’s why my island fell!

Rouge grinned mischievously

(X) Rouge: A new set of emeralds you say? Maybe I should find one for myself, might make a good hunt~

(X) Tails: Please don’t even joke about this, Rouge... The Sol Emeralds likely have to go back if we’re going to avoid any collision between our universes. Do you want to cause a time suspension phenomenon or possibly something worse all because of your greed?

Rouge sighs as she’s denied once again

(X) Rouge: Fiiiiiineee… I guess I’ll just go my own way then, I’m sure Big Blue will fix this mess. If we ended an intergalactic war, surely two Eggmen is nothing. If you need my help feel free to go find me, but it may come at a cost…

She looks at Knuckles with half-lidded eyes

(X) Rouge: I’ll offer one more time, handsome… I can be your mercenary for hire if you promise I can make a ring out of a piece of the Master emerald~

Knuckles deadpanned

(X) Knuckles: The answer is still no…

Rouge giggled

(X) Rouge: Can’t blame a girl for trying! But in that case, I’ll wish you luck boys. And same for the other Cosmo here. Can’t wait to hear how this ultimately wraps up

She winks one more time to Knuckles before waving and lifting off. Knuckles just grumbles

(X) Knuckles: That girl drives me batty…

(X) Sonic: Chuckles Well, she IS a bat after all.

(X) Knuckles: And you’re not helping… regardless, I should take my leave as well. I need to give a piece of my mind to that cat that buried me

(CHZ) Cosmo: You know Knuckles, we’re looking for her too. Why don’t you tag along?

(X) Knuckles: I appreciate it, but I gotta decline. 

(X) Tails: If you find her before us, don’t rough her up too much. We may need her..,

(X) Knuckles: No promises, Tails. You know I have to get even with that cat…

Sonic looked over to Tails and CHZ Cosmo with a smug face

(X) Sonic: I guess we’ll be rescuing him from another pile of rocks soon enough…

Knuckles growled

(X) Knuckles: You wanna go?! I’ll take both you and her down one after another!

X Tails and CHZ Cosmo just giggled

(CHZ) Cosmo: Some things never change no matter the universe, huh?

(X) Tails: Sure seems like Sonic and Knuckles are always destined to butt heads no matter what…

X Tails and CHZ Cosmo manage to prevent Sonic and Knuckles from fighting citing that they need to find the next Chaos Emerald. Knuckles flies off on his own path to search for Blaze, and the rest finally move down the road that Knuckles had opened for them.

The three reach the waters, though Cosmo is a bit puzzled to see no fleet of ships

(CHZ) Cosmo: Um… Sonic, Tails, does G.U.N. still exist in this universe?

(X) Sonic: In this universe? On Chris’ planet if that counts, sure. Here though… not really

(X) Tails: Why do you ask, Cosmo?

(CHZ) Cosmo: (Well… that slightly complicates things, when these events happened in my universe Sonic found the next emerald on a fleet of G.U.N. ships but if they’re not here… perhaps…) It was just a quick question I wanted to know. But I think the next emerald could be underwater.

Sonic grimaces

(X) Sonic: Uh… in that case how about the both of you get this one… you know how I am about water…

(X) Tails: I could go back to my lab to give each of us a respirator.

(CHZ) Cosmo: There is no need, Tails. There’s… something you should know about me. Remember when I told you that I breathe out oxygen?

(X) Tails: Yes?

(CHZ) Cosmo: That means when underwater, I can produce bubbles of air that help keep you and Sonic safe from drowning!

Sonic gasped

(X) Sonic: Whoa, really?! Darn, I could have really used that when I was at the Water Palace!

(X) Tails: That’s amazing! I wonder if our Cosmo had that capability... Though she didn’t exactly tell us she could while we were on Planet Hydo. 

(CHZ) Cosmo: Wait, isn’t Hydo supposed to be a dry planet?

(X) Sonic: Well it’s back to being one after we saved its planet egg. But when we were there, it had a LOT of water. TOO much water in fact…

(CHZ) Cosmo: I see… the planet egg thing is still a bit weird to me. But I suppose as long as it means the planet is safe now. Regardless, follow me! I’ll make as many bubbles as necessary to help the both of you breathe underwater as we search for the Chaos Emerald.

X Sonic and Tails both nod as they wade into the ocean together with CHZ Cosmo to search for the 5th Chaos Emerald.

FIRST CHAPTER

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

NEXT CHAPTER

[sundrop-writes]

Please send in Teen Wolf requests!!

I was just going through some of my older fics, and I realized that writing requests for Teen Wolf was some of the most fun I have ever had writing fics all year. So if you have any requests for these characters, please send them in. Lately I have been feeling so lost creatively and I really need something to reset my brain and get me really excited about working on fics again, so even if I only pick one or two requests to work on and it jumpstarts my creativity again, that would be amazing. (Especially because over the past month or so, writing fics for me has felt like banging my head into a wall and I hate it.)

The characters I write for: Stiles Stilinski, Erica Reyes, Allison Argent (I would love to write more for her omg please), Lydia Martin, Isaac Lahey (please send in requests for him, my baby, my love), Derek Hale, (maybe) Scott McCall, and (maybe) Jackson Whittemore. (I would also be open to writing about Peter Hale or Mommy Melissa if the idea is right.)

I would love to have some requests for MLTs, Headcanons, Reactions, and other shorter fics, but I would also love some ideas for longer fics to play off of. Please read my Rules page before requesting - but I am gonna copy/paste some stuff from my Rules page here, because I have a feeling that a lot of people don't actually read it before they send in a request. Ooop.

I do write for GN reader characters (where no gender is described), male reader characters, but I mostly write for fem reader characters - especially if the gender is not specified in the request. I write smut, angst, any dark topics, but I don't write fluff all that often. (I do like writing hurt/comfort - because I love writing angst.)

In case you don't know what MLT means, to clarify:

MLTS - ‘Most Likely To’s aka a short description explaining which character of the group (or two, or three characters) would be ‘most likely’ to do something or enjoy something. This could be exploring their potential enjoyment of a kink or how they would behave on a date, how they would be as a romantic partner. It can be anything you want, get creative. 

Reactions - 'how would they react to…’ aka a short description explaining how the characters (two or three, you can choose) would react to a certain situation. (If you want this format done with the whole group at once, it will likely be much shorter.) 

Headcanons - a collection of bullet points that creates a shorter, quicker, more efficient style of fic by taking the reader through a tour of ideas, the character’s reactions and thoughts in a shorter format. (These are like full fics, but can usually be done faster.) 

(If you need some inspiration, there are examples of prompts on my rules page, linked above.) 

Here is a list of dialogue prompts that I would love to use for longer fics:

“Who did this to you?” 

“You died. You should be dead.” (Bonus: “Well, I’m not.”)

“Can you run that by me again?” 

“You know, if you weren’t so annoying, you might actually be hot.” 

“Could you please just listen to me for once?” 

“Why are you doing this?” 

“Oh, fuck.” 

“Hey, hey. It’s gonna be okay.” 

“Oh. Oh.” 

“Is that blood?” (Bonus: “It’s not mine.”) 

“No, shut up. Stop talking like that. You’re gonna be fine.” 

“Shut up and kiss me already.” 

“Why would you do something that stupid?” “Because I’m in love with you.” 

“I think I might be pregnant.”

“Oh, great. It’s you again.” 

“Is that a bite?”

“Oh my god. You’re here.”

“I’ll never forgive you for this.” 

“Why don’t you just let me help you?” 

“I am done waiting for you.” 

“I’m in love with you, dumbass.” 

“Please, just let me take care of you.” 

“What are you gonna do about it?”

“I’ll kill all of them.” 

“I can keep you safe.” 

“You’re lucky it was just a scratch.” 

“So you aren’t heartless after all?” 

“I had it under control. You didn’t need to do that.” 

“Can’t sleep?” 

“I thought I lost you.”

“You’re being really nice.” (Bonus: “Yeah, are you surprised?”) 

“I’m not afraid of you.” 

“You know, I was wrong about you.” 

“How about a goodnight kiss?”

[decepti-thots]

ooh, 4 & 7 for fic recs?

Recommend a fic that is over 50,000 words:

Hitting me with a tough one right out the gate as I do Not read much fic that long, in fact! (We love a short story in this house. What can I say.)

…I am going to cheat slightly. This is a ~40k fic, but it's in the ballpark and I really want to rec it, so. (I truly only have like… two fics? I think? That are over 50k I can think of off the top of my head!)

(Re)Experience - SatelliteSoundwave

This fic is a gen Rewind character study that I need everyone to read Immediately, okay. The fandom is sorely lacking in explorations of Rewind as a character outside him being part of a relationship, and this fic scratches that itch perfectly while still looking at how those relationships matter to him. And it even has excellent Minimus in there to boot! AND it has HORROR. The idea of looking at who Rewind is as a character by way of removing and then selectively returning his memory to him, given that his whole character revolves around his relationship to memory and history, is just. Mwah. Perfect. You should read this fic and become as insane about Rewind as I am, thank you.

Recommend a fic that uses a trope you love:

I actually really enjoy university AUs, because university is such a weird liminal social space full of stress, big emotions, and a strange combination of very high and very low stakes conflicts for anyone attending which, IMO, all allows you to take a 'mundane AU' and do a Lot with it in relation to canon.

I'm also really picky about them, though! And the one TF one I love is this G1-IDW-ish Starscream/Grimlock art student AU, which is exactly what I just said above. High drama, very funny, very perfect for them, and very sincere at the end of it all. Absolute banger of a way to approach that AU format. (Also. Like. Starscream as an art student is just Inheretly hilariously correct. LBR.)

Superstar - halotolerant

[mymegrokosmos]

The door closed with a solid thump as you made your way towards the hefty wooden desk. It was ornate and grand even in its current state, scratched and worn like a favourite jacket that had been handed down through the generations. You could picture how it had once looked, polished and proud, when it was first placed in this office but the vision quickly faded.

You shook your head to clear your thoughts. It's age practically sang to you, humming through your veins like electricity as it always did, and you folded your hands together on your lap to avoid the urge to stroke the scarred oak surface.

"Miss y/l/n, can I get you something to drink?"

You shook your head, head snapping up to meet the swirling grey-blue eyes of your academic advisor. "No thank you."

"Not even some water?"

You smiled politely but declined. He shook his head but settled back in his chair.

"Suit yourself. You know why you're here then I take it?"

That wasn't a question, not really, and you both knew it. Your lips pursed as you inclined your head.

"I know. I need to get my grades back up. I'm trying."

You weren't going to make any excuses, not here. Silas wouldn't accept them regardless. You'd played this game with him before. He clasped his hands, leaning forward to hunch over his desk in a way that was probably meant to be intimidating but only made you want to shove him off the surface of the otherwise pristine wood.

"I understand that you have a lot on your plate right now but the status of your program is really coming into question. Have you at least found another internship to replace your previous position?"

Your expression must have said everything because he sighed, steepling his fingers as he sat back. One leg crossed over the other while those steely eyes stared through you.

"y/n."

"I know." You bit your lip, fingers digging into your thighs as you fought the urge to climb over the desk and throttle him. The pity in his gaze wasn't real. Or not any more real than his concern was for his job over your placement.

"I'm doing my best. I really am."

"Well then you're going to have to try harder because if this is your best y/n it isn't going to cut it. You have four weeks until the hearing. Just four. You'd better have a good job and a fantastic gpa by then or your time in this program is done."

"How'd it go with mister stick up his ass?"

You snorted, elbowing your best friend half-heartedly as he slung an arm around your shoulders.

"About as well as expected, so not great."

He hummed at that, leading you down the hall towards the student union. It was still hard to believe sometimes that they let him in but he had been voted onto the council two years in a row. Students really seemed to have confidence in his ability to speak up for their issues. They trusted him to listen to their concerns and make sure what they wanted to say got heard. He was great at it, and it helped to give him a place where he could blow off steam by arguing in a sanctioned format.

You slipped inside easily making your way over to your usual table by the small window. You waved at Yunho as you dropped your bag and pulled out the lunches you'd packed for yourself and Wooyoung.

"I still need to fix my grades and get that tutor I've been talking about. I keep trying but intro to alchemy is going so far over my head it's probably time to admit that I need help."

Wooyoung plopped down across from you, messenger bag slung across the back of his chair, and popped open the containers on the table between you both.

"You should have admitted you needed help about three lessons ago but yeah."

You sighed. He handed you half a ham and cheese sandwich and you settled back into your respective seats.

"I know. It just... it's hard."

He nodded, taking a bite and staring at his sandwich for a minute before pulling a packet of ketchup out of a pocket you hadn't noticed and carefully spreading it onto the filling. While he worked on his perfect ratio you nibbled on your crust.

"Anyway. That's doable, I think. A couple of the classes I've caught up in are making sense and Silas is going to set up a meeting with the student group so hopefully I can find someone to help me with the ones that still aren't clicking."

Wooyoung blinked at you over the top of his newly reassembled sandwich. "That sounds promising. Okay so one thing down. We can take a look at your resume tonight and work on some more job applications. You're bound to find something."

You nodded, blowing out a breath. "Yeah."

"Okay, so then you've got this."

You winced.

"Y/N... what aren't you telling me?"

It was your turn to blink. To give your best friend your most convincing wide innocent eyes as you leaned across the table a little.

Wooyoung just leaned back and raised a brow at you. "Go on."

"I may, or may not, perhaps have set just a wee teeny tiny little itty bitty patch of Karina's flowers on fire. There was slight mishap with that Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice Elixir I've been working on."

Your best friend groaned. "Please tell me it wasn't the geraniums?"

"It was the geraniums. And the poppies. And the aliums."

"Fuck."

"Yeah. Giselle was not too pleased. She asked me to leave."

"The house?"

"The coven."

"Oh."

You nodded. Wooyoung's expression was more serious than either of you liked.

"I see the problem."

"If I was anyone else, it wouldn't be a big deal. I mean yeah, obviously it's not ideal but they were polite about it and they're not going to put it in writing."

"But you're not anyone else."

"And thus my problem lies. No other covens are recruiting this far into the school year and anyone that is hardly wants to take in the pity initiate who got dropped from her own legacy house. So I can fix everything else but I'm not saving this. I'm just going to have to flunk out of the program and try again next year. Start fresh."

"What, and lose all your credits? All the hard work you've put in so far? Give up all your grants and papers and that summer exchange you've been talking about since middle school? No y/n. No. There's got to be another way."

"For you, maybe. I don't think there is Youngie. I'm just kind of screwed."

"That's so unfair. Would being pack count?"

"Theoretically, if I could get one to accept me."

"You could. You have."

"No, not anymore. You heard the elders. Once I turned eighteen that was it. I'm out. I've been out for nearly three years now."

"You're pack y/n."

You sighed. "No Woo." He opened his mouth to protest and you shook your head. "To you maybe. You and Min."

His soft snort made you smile a little. He didn't say hell no at least.

"To the others? I never will be. The council made that clear. More than clear. I'm not one of you Youngie. No matter how much you dislike it. Their verdict is final."

He scrunched his nose in disgust. "You're wolf."

"Not enough to count. I can barely shift and I can't feel so much as a tingle at the full moon. No moondark withdrawals either and you know that isn't how it should be."

"Fuck how it should be y/n. You're one of us. You always will be."

"No Youngie, but I'll settle for being your pack even if that counts for nothing to anyone else. Thank you."

He snorted. "Load of bullshit is what it is but good. You're stuck with us, Mangi and me."

"I wouldn't have it any other way sweetheart."

A soft nuzzle against your cheek and then he was draping himself over your back to steal the chocolate chip muffin right out of your left hand.

"Yah!"

He flashed you his most innocent eyes. You sighed, pouted and sipped your banana milk.

"You're so lucky I love you."

"I know."

Little did you know that Yunho's nosy little self would net you everything you ever wanted and then some.

[yashkonu]

it's next fest! thought i'd share a few games i found interesting.

next fest is always hit or miss because there are a zillion roguelikedeckbuilder/openworldsurvivalcraft entities for every one of anything else, and those are both genres i'm just fully done with. also for added difficulty nowadays you also get a second zillion worth of shovelware badly papered over with ai art. here's a few things out of the mess that i actually liked:

Mycopunk

is a co-op shooter where you play as a bunch of robots and explode mushrooms. I don't honestly have much to say about this one other than 'it's fun how the enemies just sort of seem to assemble themselves like k'nex pieces until all the ones you've been ignoring are now a big pain katamari catching up to you' and 'i don't think extraction shooters are a good format'. It's another in the Hardspace Shipbreaker lineage of games that make their story about being abused by a corporate entity, which is always just kind of tedious to see in a game. Maybe I've just been a working adult for too long to think it's anything other than a bummer setting full of jokes that don't land. Still fun to play! Probably a good time in co-op.

Mina the Hollower

Is a top-down 2D action-adventure game very much in the style of the game boy zeldas. My intro to zelda was oracle of seasons so i'm especially susceptible to this. It's by Yacht Club Games, whose other work includes milking Shovel Knight for all it's worth and nothing else. I'm truly glad to see they're doing literally anything else. Mina the Hollower is a game about a rat girl inventor and fighter on a mission to save a cursed island. The art looks great, the movement and combat both feel terrific (and very much in keeping with the game boy style of game they're emulating) with some systems borrowed from other genres—you have estus flasks, kind of, and castlevania sub weapons, kind of—in ways that actually feel good and not just like an attempt to fit a genre mold. genuinely looking forward to this one!

Prison of Husks

is a soulslike, but not like that. A persistent woe of mine is that the sweeping majority of soulslikes aren't particularly soulslike, they're bloodbornelike. DS3-like at best. I need that Dark Souls 1 'wander around darkroot garden for several minutes and get very confused about the moving tree with a health bar' sort of flavor. That Demon's Souls 'where the fuck am i, they werent lying that swamp sure can sorrow' type of delicacy. Tromping around and only having enough stamina to attack twice, or once if you want to dodge after. Prison of Husks seems to be delivering on that, and is about a doll seeking its beloved, who is a woman. The demo truly scratched an itch and I'm looking forward to more.

Bubblegum Galaxy

isn't really for me, but I enjoyed my time with it anyway. It's a very genuinely cute game about a cat woman with a small house on her head interning at a company that makes planets by assembling tiles. Yellow flag on the 'haha, isn't work shid,' story framing, but it's a charming little puzzle game and you know it has to be doing something right because my tendency to sneer at any game calling itself 'cozy' is severe. I'd make a killer cartoon supervillain.

AEROMACHINA

absolutely fucking rips. It's a 3D platformer with some combat and exploration that mesh nicely with the platforming, and the demo is honestly more of a prologue than a demo. It has hidden optional bosses. The movement is the best I've seen in a platformer since Pseudoregalia (please don't ask me which is better i have no idea) and the upgrades you find expand on it in really gratifying ways. The combat isn't complicated but plays with itself really nicely—your little basic one-button melee combo isn't much to write home about, but when you start working in the other abilities you end up at things like combo -> end with a launcher kick -> bullet juggle -> aerial combo -> kick back to the ground. It's really fun. Terrific character design too, look at these three

[jaybuilds]

I'd like to know your opinion about what exactly one needs to add to a model to give it a Trans am system? Like if I wanted to put it into something from the WFM line and combine it with the Gund Format, how much do you think I would need to modify the model itself?

Considered I’ve dabbled in this sort of integration at times, I’ll just give my general thoughts on it and hopefully you can understand a little better. So let’s begin, shall we?

My earlier projects straight-up just attached GN Drives to the back, and left it as-is. While this certainly has more of a Build-universe vibe to it, and it’s not too out of line from what you can see in 00 with Graham’s Flag that just hastily taped one to his machine as well. It doesn’t look elegant because it lacks what really makes the 00 aesthetic.

For latter works of mine, I felt the need to make these look more authentic; these feature round sphere-like bits on joints/the chest/etc, in a manner similar to that of the Exia itself. The purpose of these is that it alludes to how a proper GN machine would have regulators throughout its body to have a more faithful implementation of such a thing, and actually look more in-line with the 00 universe itself.

But then there’s my Exia Repair….

This frankenstein monstrosity was meant to be as unapologetically defiant to this design as I could think of, while still keeping a mental note that it would have to look functional. It’s got the Drive, it’s got the regulators, but the difference here is that I decided to play around with the aesthetics of IBO as well, which is why all the exposed bits on it look like they have the same sort of energy running through them, that’s also coming from the GN tech.

With all of that said, and if you want a better answer, I have to respond with a follow up question myself: Do you intend to combine Trans-AM with Permit Scores? Or is this merely just including it as its own/secondary power source? Because the system itself has its own sort of interactions to keep you scratching your head over.

[g1itchtree]

Divulgence- Part 1

Next

Okay quick authors note cause! Why not!

This is a new lukadrinette series. Honestly I love this ship so much it needs more stuff so. Here I am! It’ll be a bit canon divergent, idk how much but Chat and Ladybug actually have proper communication so that’s fun.

Updates will be pretty sporadic, basically whenever the writing mood strikes me. I wrote this in only like a few hours but then l’ll go weeks without writing lmao

Also I really have no idea how to use tumblr and I’m on my phone so if these are formatted weird please let me know

That’s it I guess? Enjoy!

———

“Miraculous ladybug!” Ladybug shouted as she tossed the spotted Dino Huggie in the air. As always, the magic ladybugs swirled around the city, fixing any damage the akuma had caused.

There was one thing that couldn’t be reversed, however.

As Marinette- no, Ladybug. As Ladybug gave Alec his charm and the trio of heroes brought him back to his TV crew, Luka couldn’t help but dread the consequences of what he had learned today. Two of his close friends (if that could even describe what he felt for each of them) were Paris’s superheroes. The sheer fact that they risked their lives every day and still managed to make time for average civilian life was astounding.

He was beginnning to understand why Marinette was always running off.

After they were done with Alec, he and Ladybug zipped off toward an empty alleyway. As soon as the coast was clear he took off his Miraculous and handed it over.

“Thank you, Luka,” Ladybug smiled at him, tucking the bracelet back in her yo-yo. And yeah, he could totally see it now that he knew. He knew quantum masking was powerful and all, but they had the same exact smile, same sparkle in her eyes after a job well done. How could he have missed that?

“Thanks to you, our secret identities were preserved and no one discovered who Chat Noir and I really are.”

Oh, she was still talking. Luka should probably stop staring.

It didn’t seem to matter too much though, because she turned to leave right after. Except she stopped right before tossing her yo-yo, that nervous smile that was just a bit too tight and her eyes a bit too wide to be genuine on her face. “Not even you, right?”

“Not even me,” He confirmed, though he could feel his nerves bubbling up. “Luckily Wishmaker never hit you or Chat Noir.”

Ladybug narrowed her eyes at him, and he knew she could see right through him. Like he could hear her inner song, she seemed to be able to know his deepest thoughts, no matter how much he tried to play it cool. Sure, that was part of the reason he fell for her. She was always the first to comfort him whenever things got a bit much. But damn, if it wasn’t inconvenient right now.

With a look outside the alley to make sure no one was near, she let out a deep sigh, her shoulders slumped as she leant against the wall. “Tikki, spots off.”

With a pink glow, the suit slipped away, leaving only Marinette and her kwami behind, looking stressed to all hell.

“Sorry,” Luka muttered, mostly on reflex.

“It’s not your fault, I knew this was a possibility when I asked for your help,” She assured, fishing a macaron out of her bag and giving it to Tikki. “Is it just me, or Chat Noir too?”

“Both,” He admitted, tugging at the bottom of his hoodie with discomfort. “…you looked really cute as the knitting fairy?”

She looked at him with that adorable expression she had whenever she was disgruntled or surprised, nose scrunched and lips pursed slightly. She then let out a laugh, shaking her head and pressing her hands to her face. “Fuuuck, that’s embarrassing.”

“Not at all,” He waved it off, grinning just a bit despite the circumstances.

“What was Chat Noir’s?” She asked, then seemed to realize her mistake. “Wait, maybe you shouldn’t tell me that, scratch it-”

“He just wanted to please his parents,” Luka shrugged, figuring that wasn’t too bad. Lots of people wanted to do that. “Make them proud, do whatever they said.”

Marinette furrowed her brows ever so slightly, nodding after a moment. “Yeah, that makes sense. I know his dad is overbearing, but he still loves him.”

The two sat in silence as Tikki finished her snack, unsure of where to go from there. Eventually though, the tiny god wiped her face and gave Luka a smile, diving into Marinette’s bag.

“We should head back and find Adrien,” She said after that, pushing herself off the wall. “Can you come back to my place after? We… need to talk.”

“Of course,” He agreed, but really he was dreading that conversation. Many possibilities ran through his head, each worse than the last. Would she not let him be Viperion again? Would she tell him they couldn’t be seen together anymore? Would he have to leave the country just so Shadow Moth couldn’t get to him?

The endless downward spiral screeched to a stop as Marinette took his hand, giving him that tiny smile that said everything would be fine. “It’ll be okay. Let’s just head back for now.”

And so they went.

———

As soon as they reached her bedroom after talking with her parents, Marinette immediately started freaking out.

She paced back and forth, hands tugging at her hair as she started to plan. “Okay so obviously it’s bad that you know who both of us are. If it was just one that might be okay- hell I already told someone, and I let Chat know that he could do the same. But both is a recipe for disaster! If Shadow Moth finds out, then you or your family could get hurt, and if you’re akumatized? I don’t even- that can’t happen! I could load you up on charms, sure, but what if you lose them? Or they break? Wait, can they even break? What if-“

“Marinette,” Luka interrupted, making her stop in her tracks. “You’re going to burn a hole in your floor if you keep going like this.”

She let out a sheepish laugh, her eyes dropping to her feet. “Sorry, sorry.”

“Come on, sit down,” He offered, patting the spot next to him on the chaise. “Let’s work through this one problem at a time, without catastrophizing.”

“Right, okay,” She agreed, plopping down and taking a deep breath. “How about… do you have any questions for me?”

“You mentioned others know?” He started with, figuring that was easiest.

“Oh yeah, that’s a pretty recent development,” She admitted, looking down at her hands. “I told Alya, after the Gang of Secrets mess she figured something big was up. I… I was really struggling balancing my superhero and civilian life, and it kind of just came out.”

“That’s perfectly reasonable,” Luka said, giving her his patient smile that honestly made it super hard not to cry. “I’m sure being Ladybug is stressful enough, and after you became Guardian? I’m not sure I would’ve been able to handle it myself.”

She bit her tongue, holding back from saying that she wholeheartedly believed anyone could do better than her, and she was sure Luka would do utterly amazing. She instead continued her answer, picking at her nails a bit. “I told Chat Noir who Carapace was, cause it was a bit unfair that I got someone and he didn’t, and obviously Carapace isn’t me so there was no risk of him accidentally telling me his identity. And the two are around the same age, and I know Carapace can keep a secret if it really matters. I’m not sure if Chat ever approached him though.”

Luka nodded, silent for a while before asking his next question. “Will… will I get to be Viperion again after this?”

Marinette sighed, dragging her hands over her face as she thought about it. “I don’t know… in all honesty, I really shouldn’t. But… you know how this all works already, and you’re really good at it too! Finding someone else I can trust to wield that power will be a lot of trouble. It’s easy to abuse it or not really know how to utilize it. And… I know Sass likes you a lot, too.”

That made Luka smile, a low chuckle escaping him. “Well, I like Sass too. I’d miss the little guy.”

Marinette couldn’t help but smile back, glancing to where the Miracle Box was hidden. “I guess… well, I won’t call on you unless it’s really needed. But… so long as no one ever finds out you know, then it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”

“I can keep a secret, there’s no need to worry about that,” Luka assured, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She glanced up at him, the familiar butterflies returning once more. It wasn’t fair that he was just so… so charming! And comforting! And someone she could just be herself around without any fear! Not to mention absolutely gorgeous? Honestly, it’s like the universe was trying to make her suffer.

“Marinette?” He all but whispered, drawing her attention back to reality. His brows were pulled together ever so slightly and he was biting the inside of his cheek, sure signs that something was on his mind.

“What’s wrong?” She immediately asked, starting to panic. Did he think this was too much? Did he not want to be seen with her anymore? This was the first time they’ve really spoken after the breakup, and honestly, she didn’t know if she could watch him leave again. Even if it was for the better.

“I… the whole reason we broke it off was because you’re Ladybug, right?” Luka asked, immediately filling her with dread. “Because you had to keep leaving, and I couldn’t know why.”

She winced at that, turning gaze back down to her hands. “Yes, that’s most of it… and I’m so sorry for that, Luka. I just couldn’t tell you. If I hadn’t broken down, I wouldn’t have even told Alya! I just didn’t want to put you in danger, but I still-”

“No, I get it,” He immediately assured, moving the hand on her shoulder to her own hand. “Now I do, at least. I’ve never had any hard feelings about it, I knew you had your reasons. I still loved you, even though I couldn’t be the one who you open your heart to. I still do, even now.”

“You… you still…?” Marinette whispered, looking to him with wide eyes. Great, now she felt even worse for dumping all this on him. He now knew why it was totally unable to work at all, not with the utter mess that was her life.

“I do, and now that I know you’re Ladybug…” He trailed off, looking down to where his hand laid on hers, slowly interlacing their fingers. “I really wanted us to work, y’know? Is there… any chance we still might?”

“Wait, you-” She immediately moved back, pulling her hand away. “Are you serious? You- after all I did, you still-”

“Sorry, that was probably too much,” He immediately backpedaled at her reaction, hiding his obvious hurt behind a smile. She could see it though, and it made her feel all the worse. “I just wanted you to know I care about you. I get why you wouldn’t want to, though.”

“Hold on, I didn’t say that,” It was her turn to interrupt as she held her hand out, cutting him off. “Just… give me a minute. I honestly wasn’t expecting that.”

Luka softened at her flushed cheeks and how she bit her lip, his affection for her evident in the look he gave. “Of course, take all the time you need.”

She visibly relaxed at that, leaning against the back of the chaise as she contemplated it. She glanced up at him every so often, then at her picture board, and a few times towards the box.

“I… I wouldn’t be able to dedicate enough time to you,” Marinette started with. “I would always have to run off, leave you behind again.”

“And I’m okay with that,” He said. “I was just worried that something was wrong with you before, that you were in danger. Or that I did something wrong. But I know why now, and I can help you escape if it’s needed.”

She let out a sigh, knowing he had a point. “If Shadow Moth ever finds out who I am…”

“He won’t,” Luka immediately cut in, that passionate fire blazing in his eyes. God, she loved that look. “You’re always so careful. That’s why I was there today, right? To ensure Shadow Moth wouldn’t find you. And that was a good call. There’s no way he’ll find out who you are.”

He really wasn’t making this any easier, was he?

“Dammit, Luka…” She muttered, uncurling herself and moving back next to him. “I really lo…like you, too…” She winced at the stutter, cursing herself for being unable to really express her feelings. “You make me feel so… comfortable? I don’t know if that’s the right word. I can just relax around you, not worry about every little thing. I hated breaking it off. I do want to be with you, really. But… I still don’t think it’s a good idea. I still… I lik-”

“Is it Adrien?”

Marinette turned to him with wide eyes, sputtering at that. “I- wha- nooo, of course not! Why would I ever… was I that obvious?”

“I think the only one who doesn’t know is him,” Luka joked, bumping their shoulders together. “I don’t blame you. Honestly, I’ve got the hots for him too.”

“You do??” She almost shouted, mouth agape. “But- you just-”

“You can love more than one person, Marinette,” He started, taking her hand in his again. “It doesn’t have to be this exclusive thing. I mean, it’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but I personally have no problem with you pursuing a relationship with Adrien while you’re with me.”

She looked from their hands to his eyes, utterly confused at this point. “I- I’m not sure I understand.”

He laughed at that, tucking a loose hair behind her ear. “That’s alright. I can try to explain.”

He turned away, a little smile on his face as he walked her through it. “Love isn’t something that’s limited. Some people choose to only love one person with their whole being, and that’s perfectly fine. But others prefer to have more than just one partner. They spread their love evenly and wholly. And you, Marinette, have more love to give than anyone I’ve met. I’d honestly feel bad keeping you to myself.”

She was silent, processing his words. “So… you, me, and Adrien would all be a couple?”

“That depends. I’m not sure if Adrien’s into me. But we don’t all need to date each other for it to work,” He explained. “As long as there’s communication and clear boundaries, then I see no reason why you can’t date who you want. The only question is, are you comfortable with that?”

Marinette thought about it, coming up short with a perfect answer, as was the pattern with her feelings. But… it sounded nice. “I don’t know. It… I guess I wouldn’t mind trying? I haven’t even considered that.”

“Most people don’t,” Luka smiled, turning back to face her. “It’s fine if you don’t want to. Just follow your heart.”

My heart really wants to kiss you.

The thought turned her bright red, but she was unable to deny its validity. Could you blame her? The way he looked at her, with endless compassion and devotion, made her absolutely melt. Now that she had this new perspective, she honestly couldn’t bear letting him go again.

It seemed he felt the same. He was slowly leaning in, bringing a hand to her face. Not pulling, just caressing her gently. His eyes flicked down to her lips then back up, a new glint of desire in them.

Fuck it.

She grabbed him by his hoodie and pulled him down to her before she could second guess herself. He jumped a bit in surprise but adjusted quickly, tilting his head ever so slightly as he reciprocated it.

It was quite honestly the best thing she’s ever done. His lips were soft and warm, and they fit against hers perfectly. His hands were rough from years of playing guitar, and the feeling of them on her was too good to ignore. The one holding her hand moved to her waist, drawing tiny shapes there.

They pulled apart after a few moments, both breathless at the exchange. Marinette immediately panicked once it was over, which should honestly be expected. “Oh my god, we just- wait I am so sorry I didn’t even ask that was so awful of me! I can’t believe I did that, I’m so-”

“Mari, it’s okay,” Luka interrupted with a laugh, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead. “I wanted it too, no worries. You can ask next time if it bothers you that much.”

She looked up at him with amazement, smiling nervously. “How do you always manage to calm me down?”

“I know you,” He murmured, sending her heart into overdrive.

She hesitated for just a second, a bit shy but really wanting to continue. “Can I… can I kiss you? Again?”

He huffed in amusement, dipping his head down to capture her lips in his. She immediately melted against him, a little content hum escaping her. She brought a hand to his hair, threading her fingers through it and pulling him closer.

She really had no idea what she was doing, but Luka made everything so easy. He slowly backed her up so she was against the back of the chaise, moving the hand on her cheek to the back of her neck. His tongue glided over her lips carefully before retreating, giving her the chance to back away if she needed to.

Yeah, like hell.

Instead, she gave an experimental poke of her, surprised to be met with his. She let him guide her, following his movements and slowly making bolder moves of her own. She tightened her grip on his hair, not quite pulling but definitely firm. A low groan escaped him and he kissed her with more fervor, clearly affected by her actions.

Marinette herself was thrilled with this course of action, giving a few more slight tugs as she wrapped her legs around him. Before they could get too into it however, she felt someone watching them. Many someones.

With a groan, she reluctantly pulled away, glaring over at the kwamis. Most of them had their heads poked out, including Tikki, the traitor.

Luka sat back with a laugh, giving a small wave to the creatures. Daizzi rushed forward first, flying around his head with excitement. “Are you the Guardian’s new partner? That’s so amazing! She’s been really upset, honestly. Staring at those photos of you all day, that glum look on her face.”

“That’s enough!” Marinette squeaked out, grabbing Daizzi and covering her mouth. “Another word and I won’t be sneaking you any choquettes!”

“We’re just happy for you, that’s all!” Xuppu cheered, the rest of the kwamis flying out. “And it sounds like you can still be with Adrien! It’s a win-win!”

“Please don’t take our choquettes!” Mullo whimpered, giving Marinette her puppy dog eyes.

“Ugh, fine, just don’t peak next time we make out…” She sighs, letting Daizzi go.

Luka perks up at that, shooting her a smirk. “Next time?”

Marinette turned red, waving her arms around awkwardly. “What? Did I say that? Pfft, how silly would that be? Unless you want there to be a next time, then I’d be more then happy cause honestly that was really hot and I wanted to keep going but! I get if you don’t want to cause I wasn’t really expecting to either, not to say it was amazing, it totally was, and please just shut me up already…”

He laughed at the last bit, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. “I’m totally down for more. But maybe another time… I’m sure we’ll get some privacy next time?”

He looked to the kwamis, and each instantly nodded their agreement, giggling and looking between the two of them.

“See?” Luka gestures to them, that easy smile stretched across his face. “No trouble.”

“I should probably feed them now, anyways,” Marinette sighed, slowly standing up. “Do you want to grab something too?”

He grinned up at her, grabbing her hand and pulling the hatch down open. “Lead the way.”

[i-actually-post-stuff]

Day 6 of @mcspirkevents Mcspirk week! 

Decided to mix it up. 

I've never publicly posted my writing before so feedback is appreciated!

All right now, how do I format this? 😂

I've decided to work with the "Only One Bed" prompt, to do more with this piece! 

Warnings

Nothing serious! Just some descriptions of bodily harm via boobytraps.

AO3 link

Spock was sitting, legs criss-cross, on the floor. Probably meditating while the painkiller sets in, Leonard thought.

It'd been one hell of a week. From breaking out of a downright stupid castle dungeon to trudging through the trap populated forest on the way to the closest city- hell- even finding someone with a kind enough heart to lend some medical supplies and a bathroom was a nightmare. “What's a warp capable planet doing pretendin’ t’ be medieval anyway..” He grumbled, disinfecting the cut on his upper jaw in the bathroom mirror.

“As you are aware, Doctor, we were informed by the preliminary survey team that the Earloric people seemed to be strictly loyal to tradition. Clearly, the survey team was accurate; the technological advancements of Caruca Prime had little impact on their social structure and traditional practices.” Spock spoke quietly, with an obvious irritation, and minimal movement.

“Or on their medical technology. I really am working with beads and rattles t’night.” McCoy added with a hint of humor.

“I find your work to be quite unchanged. Perhaps you're better suited for the work of an ancient plague doctor.” Spock prodded. McCoy's pout turned to a frown.

“N’ you're suited to be one of those demons from the paintings hung in the church hall. That's why they wouldn't let us in.” He knew Spock’s bitchyness was the result of being interrupted out of his meditation. With the week they'd been having, he couldn't blame him. “Now go on n’ rest. I won't interrupt again.”

“See that you don't, Doctor.”

Narrowly escaping execution by the king was one thing. As usual, Spock had a particularly rough time of it; He'd been shot via arrow through his left arm during their escape while attempting to shield Jim, luckily having it pass straight through, only taking off a chunk of skin (still, nothing to sneeze at). Scraped and scratched by just about everything in the forest. Caught in a barbed wire trap that bound him up by the wrists, which could have been worse, if he hadn't been getting the both of them out of the way; it was intended for the head. Hit by the first energy weapon trap they found, simply by being caught off guard by it. Downright bodied by one of those cartoonish swinging log traps after having pushed him out of the way. And just earlier that morning getting his leg caught in a bear trap. He was lucky he didn't lose it.

McCoy himself had been a lot luckier; the only real trap that'd gotten him was a rope trap the day before. It tugged tight around his ankle as it whipped him upside down, and in the process it friction-burned off a layer or two of his skin, which didn't hesitate to bleed.

Now Jim was out looking for a hospitable house, or a church, or even an inn that would take the promise of compensation arriving with The Enterprise as payment. Leonard didn't think much of their chances. At least he felt a bit better now that he’d fixed himself up.

He looked over at Spock. Despite his impeccable work at patching him up and cleaning him off, he looked like a mess. His unbrushed hair certainly being the worst offender.

Leonard grabbed a hair brush from the sink, rinsing it off, and hoping that rinsing it after he used it too would be enough to avoid disturbing the already delicate hospitality that had been extended to them. He approached Spock, kneeling in front of him. The Vulcan’s normally perfect, helmet-like hair had gone wavy, tousled and dirty. His face tired, with deepened creases, the sunkenness of minor dehydration and certainly lack of nutrition, little pigmentation- say for his under eyes. He was certain he looked worse. Blasted Vulcan constitution.

Still, seeing him hurt was never fun. It put that uneasy feeling in his core, the one that would bring his hand up to clutch at his shirt over his stomach instinctively. It was that impressive Vulcan physique of his that made it all the more troubling when something was wrong.

“Doctor.”

Leonard flinched. Spock hadn't even opened his eyes.

“Your unease is palpable from this distance.”

“I'm worried about Jim, out there all alone with a bounty on him..” Not a lie, necessarily. “Now I'm gonna brush out your hair, you're a mess.”

Spock opened his eyes drearily. “You intend to take out your anxieties on me?” He scolded.

“Hush up and take it.” McCoy huffed, taking the brush to Spock’s bangs. He found after a few strokes that it went through shockingly easily, kind of like brushing a cat.

“I also have,, reasonable concern for the Captain's safety.”

McCoy briefly looked to his eyes before continuing. There was a level of authenticity in them, slipping through the exhaustion.

“Yea?”

“You were not incorrect in your reasoning for wanting Jim to stay..”

“Thanks for your support..” He remarked sarcastically. Spock hadn't said a word to support his concerns before Jim had decided to go out on his own.

“I did not say that I agreed entirely with your opinion, simply your reasoning.”

“T’mato t’mato, Spock.”

“Incorrect. In the region of earth of your origin it is t’mata.”

McCoy chose not to yank out a clump of his hair out of spite. “I mean it's the same thing! The difference is,, inconsequential. You should’a agreed with me if you agreed with my reasoning.”

Spock seemed to hesitate, likely deciding against shaking his head. “His decision was still the best option available to us.”

McCoy sighed. Spock was right. You win this round. At least the squabbling soothed his stomachache. “And when Jim knows he's right, trying to change his mind is like,, tryn’a keep a bull from chargin’ red.”

“Correct again, Doctor.” Now was Spock trying to settle him? He could have sworn he saw a little quirk up at the corner of Spock's mouth. How cute.

~~~

Another success for Captain James T. Kirk. A kind inn owner who would trade his hospitality for some manual labor on Jim's part, and then material compensation after arrival of The Enterprise. It was a great deal. The inn owner himself was not a fan of the king, having a large family that he found it troublesome to provide for. He seemed to be good-natured enough, having at least the humor to find amusement and non-judgmental intrigue in Jim's lack of hooves. Jim had also agreed that if it took longer than expected for The Enterprise to arrive, Spock and Bones would pitch in with their help. Really, there was only one downside to the arrangement (apart from having to make it in the first place).

There was only one room left, and that was one room with one bed. Now, breaking that to those two is a whole new challenge. It was easy for him to sleep next to Spock, it was an absolute pleasure. Sleeping next to Bones was even less of an issue; if he did something silly he'd get loving teasing instead of an unreadable raised eyebrow. Both of them seemed to be quite skilled at falling asleep and being rendered entirely unshakably unconscious. Sleeping like a rock, they say. But to his knowledge, Bones and Spock had never shared a bed.

Not that he hadn't encouraged it. Despite their bickering he knew the two of them made quite the team. He would venture to call them a power couple if he didn't know uttering the words aloud in front of them would make both of them leave the room in disgust, or at least feigned disgust. Those two needed a lesson in relaxation. You're one to talk, Kirk. He shook the thought from his head. Good news. We have a nice place to stay. He started formulating what to say. It's a, beautiful, inn.

He ducked into the alley, having sworn he heard the clattering of a knight's armor. It was right before his turn anyway; he'd find his way just as easily taking a left as he would a right.

He opened the bathroom door. Spock looked a lot better, with his perfect hair and pretty eyes. He looked up at him from where he sat on the edge of the tub. “Jim.” He greeted, relieved, Kirk knew.

Bones would have also greeted him if he hadn't had an apple in his mouth. The Doctor was sitting on the sink clearly enjoying what may or may not have been stolen from the kitchen. That being thought, Spock looked better too with respect to nourishment. So maybe the hosts were a bit more gracious than he'd assumed. Instead of a greeting from his mouth, Bones just slightly smiled at him and tilted his hand in a single wave.

“And here, I thought apples and doctors didn't get along.” Kirk joked. Bones rolled his eyes and swallowed.

“What's the news, Jim?”

“Well,, good news.” Jim started. “I found this, beautiful, inn, and the owner sympathizes with our issue. He's more than willing to put us up in exchange for some supplies at a later date, and,, some help around the inn while we stay. He understands, you two got the worst of it in those woods, so I'll be helping out for the most part.”

“And the bad news?” Bones could obviously see right through the easy solution to their problems. When is he gonna stop reading me like a book?

“Well hold on now, Bones,, I wouldn't call it bad news,, he just only has the one room for us,,, with one bed.” He shrugged defensively. “I've, been assured it's a very nice bed. Plenty of room for three adults. Polyamory is apparently, quite popular, on Caruca.”

Bones and Spock had instantly looked at each other, it was something Jim was choosing to ignore, play clueless and let them sort it out.

“I'll take the floor, thanks, Jim.“ Bones started as he looked back at him.

“Illogical, Doctor, Vulcans do not require soft surfaces to sleep on as Humans do. I will take the floor.”

“With your injuries- Spock- I'm not letting you walk on your own, and I'm certainly not lettin’ you sleep on the floor!”

“The choice is not yours, Doctor.”

“I'd say it is-”

“Gentlemen, gentlemen,” Kirk motioned for them to soothe themselves. “save the debate for after we've seen the room.”

Bones huffed and passed the remainder of his apple to Jim, who accepted it happily; he'd been a bit caught up with hotel hunting. As always, Spock seemed to decide that such a silly disagreement was no reason to decline the good doctor's help. Bones hoisted him up and acted as a crutch for him, being the more suitable of the two of them due to his height. Jim suppressed his urge to volunteer himself. He'd restrain himself to opening doors.

~~~

A walk is easy under normal circumstances. When you're carrying someone who's twice as dense as you are, or you've got your leg recently caught in a bear trap, it's a whole lot harder. McCoy reasoned that's why getting to that nice little room on the second floor was grounds enough for Spock to withdraw his claim to the floor. It seemed that the Vulcan had non-verbally opted to simply collapse onto the bed. Although he certainly tried to make it look like a decisive choice to lay down.

Leonard wasn't doing that well either. Finding the nearest chair to slump into and almost as instantly passing out himself. But Jim picked him up. That irritating bastard clearly intended to put him in bed.

“Jim, you’re gonna put’me’right back down this’instant.” He managed getting the words out, squirming mildly- just enough to protest, not enough to actually do anything- he didn't want to be dropped, obviously. He wasn't a fool.

“Bones, you need some good sleep, I'm laying you down next to Spock and you're getting that sleep. That's an order.”

He laid Leonard right down on the bed next to Spock. They were touching, seeing that Spock took the middle of the bed accidentally. His skin was warm to the touch despite the chill on the Autumn air outside that had certainly nearly chilled McCoy to chattering teeth. Even Jim wasn't quite so warm. Hell, he couldn't even be classified as luke-warm. He was a bit too tired to theorize on whether or not Spock had a fever. It would be like that birdbrain to get one with his amalgamated biology. Poor thing.

“He's not gonna be a fan of me cuddlin’up’on’him all night, Jim, you know that.”

“I think the two of you will sleep together just fine, Bones. In fact, I'll wake you up before he's even close to waking up. So you don't get embarrassed.”

Well at least now his cheeks felt warm. “You hush..” He couldn't really argue.

The three of them were safe.

Spock was at least reasonably dressed for sleep, in his handsome black undershirt, and his work pants that never quite seemed to get in the way of sleeping in spite of their intended purpose.

He would sleep just fine in his uniform pants, and the blood on the back of his shirt had certainly dried by now.

And Jim would do just fine finding something better to sleep in than the ever so often torn up top of his and his own uniform pants.

So he closed his eyes, and he kicked off his boots and his socks. And after listening to Jim shuffle around a bit- clearly taking off Spock’s shoes, then leaving the room- he got just a bit closer to Spock. Being tucked against him warmed up his core. Hearing his heartbeat pump the blood through his arteries in overtime to fix him up soothed him; at least he knew everything was working right in there. And as he drifted in and out of consciousness for the next few minutes he recognized when Jim came back in and carefully tucked himself beside the two of them, clearly quite intentionally reaching his foot over to touch him. Probably trying to let his subconscious know that he was there.

That was good enough for him.

Who needs to have blankets on top of you when you sleep anyway?

[skekthesilly]

i don't like halloween. sure, the costumes are cool as fuck, and the decorations are cute and spooky, and haunted houses are fucking awesome. but. i dont like it when i have to actually be there with halloween stuff in person. im going to format this post with some effort because i really want to talk about this so bad

halloween 2023. one of my friends is dressed as something i don't remember. they have makeup on their face and horns on their head. the horns trigger something primal in me. i feel scared. i feel threatened. this is the most panic i have ever felt. but this is my friend! i recognize that this is my friend. but they don't look like how i remember them. they look wrong. there are protrusions on their face and claws on their hands and when they smile their face warps and twists and it scares me. it terrifies me. this is not my friend. this is someone i don't know. this is a cruel mockery of whoever used to stand beside me. my fight or flight instincts kick in and my breathing gets faster. they reach over me to get something on the other side of my desk. i shrink back. i don't want them to touch me. i don't want it to touch me. what is it? why does it look like that? i do not know what it is. i am scared. i am scared. i am scared. i cannot recognize it. it wears my friend's face and it speaks in my friend's voice but it's not them because it doesn't look like them. there's something wrong.

halloween 2024. one of my friends has stilts on their shoes to make them look taller. i am scared. they were never this tall. their body looks wrong. one of my friends wears this skin cap to make them look bald. they look wrong. false skin grafted upon their head. it sickens me. it makes me want to puke. i am scared. i recognize nobody. they look like my friends but they are different and wrong and i don't know what's going on. i am scared.

2016. or 2018. or 2015. or 2017. or 2019. i don't remember. my mom wants to practice using her makeup. i don't think she needs to practice. she calls me to the bathroom and puts makeup on my face. "only some lipstick. only some eyeliner. only some brow crayon." my face feels putrid and filthy. i look in the mirror and i cannot recognize who looks back at me. that is not me. my fight or flight instincts kick in. i begin to panic. i hate this. who is that in the mirror? i cannot recognize them. i cannot recognize it. i am scared. i am scared. i wash my face as quickly and thoroughly as i can. my skin does not feel like my own skin. i am scared. something primal scratches and whines and panics inside of me.

whatever!! i dont know why i panic so bad over someone looking different but whatever!! anyways i also dont like mirrors

[a-v-j]

Akills and Hryxy rp-turn-to-short fic

Content warning:

Swearing, not really a polished fic so format can be a bit wonky, mentions of sex, a bit of 4th wall break, existential crisis

Written by @nyxus-nyx and me

Enjoy~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 4: Youre the first

Akills: italic

Hyryx: bold

Akills waved it off and went to stare somewhere else, scoffing at the idea that sex could be as sacred as a SOUL bond.

"Welp, good to know we have difference views and principles when it comes to that...for us, skeletons, SOUL bond is what we consider a big deal. Any skeleton unfortunate enough to be sexual just do it for shits and giggles or basic intimacy" He rambled

”I dont get it.. for halfbreeds.. we use intercorse as the moment we.. soul bond.. its.. just how we Roll..” he holds his own hand to his chest where his soul is.

“Skeletons just do it for fun hm..? Stupid..”

"your kind soul bond thru sex? Well, that's doing two things at once"

"Doesn't mean we dont do that too, sex and a bond can happen when passion peaks high enough. We can just do either just sex or bond, or both. Some skeletons dont have parts for sex so that's why the bond is the main go-to" He continues on, ignoring that slight comment.

”Mm..”

He sighs.

“What does it even feel like.?” He scratches at his chest again.

"heh"

He tilt his head down as he quietly chuckled.

"Ya gotta be specific, buddy"

”Soul bond.. I never did it to my wife.. she never deserved it but stil..”

He clenches his fist.

“Told it felt nice..”

Akills expression softens a bit as he's able to recollect what a soul bond felt like, he stares blankly for a moment as fond memories softly flashed back to him, then he got a faint image of who he was doing it with and made his mood sour. His expression changes but went on to describe it to Hryxy anyway.

"It's more than nice...it felt like a connection...overwhelming, rush-inducing, feeling of completeness, we can actually feel what we feel for each other... it's like you're able to see what's exactly inside. You'll feel a lot of emotions there, some that are even hidden from both of you. It's more than nice, it's feeling fulfilled "

Hryxy looked at Akills and chuckled.

“Sounds like you have a bit of venom in those words..”

He turns to face Akills once more.

"..heh...one of the many things robbed away from me..."

He looks back to Hryxy, his sockets void of his eyelight and expression unreadable. But his vibe indicate it was a big deal for him

”Hm.. did you ever.. find that one person who robbed you of it..?”

He crosses his arms.

"theyre watching us right now"

Hryxy twitches.

“Oh..?”

"theyre the one playing god and making me, me...i never ask to be, to be honest"

"But boy they sure do like exploring possibilities"

He stopped his leaning position and went sitting cross legged, head down, making his face hidden in the shadows.

”Well. Mine is trying to make me, sentimental.. and feel things..”

He grumbles as he grits his teeth.

“Stupid.”

)HEY-)

"its funny how we are aware of it and still play the stories set for us as if it's a real thing...kinda depressing when you think about it..."

Akills started fiddling with his fingers, not looking at anything but still under the darkness of his hood

Hryxy looks at Akills.

“We have to.. or we’ll end up being scrap.. well.. atleast me..”

Hryxy reaches over and pats Akills head.

Akills stiffens at the touch but lets it be

"Heh, id rather be scrapped, left, forgotten. And i don't mean killing myself, it's more like wishing there were never a trace of me ever. It suck to be who i am"

"Pretty sure you feel the same...being thrown in unnecessary angst for the sake of a "what-if"..."

”Yeah. That atleast my whole life.. hated it.. but gotta live through it.. well for me to die through it and grow rotten..”

He laughs a lil rubbing his hooded skull.

“But bud, im not good with.. ‘comfort’ but atleast.. use that anger or hopelessness on thing that drive you.. well.. crazy.. that works for some of us atleast..”

Akills laughs bitterly

"What do you think im doing. Im killing myself off frame by frame. I know it's hopeless. But...

It gives me a sense of purpose.

Even if it's a fake one.

I know for sure i wont be scrapped like those fortunate enough to be uninteresting, might as well take some of what's coming for me"

"Cant exactly fight god, they could let me but it'll never be real. Dont exactly have a choice but play by their rules, pretend i mean what i am and forget all this is just play...

Heh

Sorry, it's getting existentially heavy" 

Hryxy sighs and grabs Akills and pulls him into a bear hug. “Dont say shit.. just fuckin calm down.. not the end of our worlds yet..”

He grits his teeth wanting to scratch his chest but he protests it.

“Not everyday meetin someone.. who wanted to ring you of your spine then get sentimental.. huh?”

Perhaps forgetting the heavy things is therapeutic, he always been doin it and it felt more better to be in character than feel like shit for being aware of being a character.

Akills would usually kill for the unwanted hug but this one felt right. Felt like a kind that actually gets where his coming from and that it indeed appropriate for the situation. He accepts it

"Heh, nope, youre the first"

(End rp?)

"God, fckn finally"

(Or ya wanna add Hryxy's response?)

"Oh ffs"

(we can end it buddy.)

“Lol.”

The end :D

[literaticat]

I know we are only on the cusp of the battle with A.I. in publishing. My question is for agents, AI can help write summaries and pitches. So if agents decide to use AI to help with SOME functions of their jobs, is that ethical? Is that something every agent should disclose to clients?

There already ARE ways that we "use AI to help with some functions of our jobs" -- because there's AI all over the place in computer programs, etc. For example, when I record my podcast, the program I use can generate a transcript for me, and Zoom can create a written transcript of meetings. (I don't happen to use those features, but they do exist!) My email will suggest responses and "grammarly" will correct my grammar on the fly. There are computer-generated reminders one can set up that can be activated when certain payments haven't come in. Amazon's "customers like you bought XYZ" feature can be helpful when trying to create a list of similar titles. Basically a lot of the shit we use every day, from Gmail picking the garbáge out of our emails to Siri finding a playlist for me, to Spotify MAKING a playlist for me, to somebody's smart fridge telling them they are out of milk and adding it to the grocery list -- all involve AI in some fashion, right? So I would imagine that for things like database management / organizational type situations, it could be useful in some way.

(Again, I'm a dope who does everything in notebooks and am not really hip to HOW, but I'm sure that there are things it already does or will be able to do that could be helpful for work situations or life situations or whatever.)

That said -- I'm talking here about workflow, databases, and the like. I'm not talking about the *creative* part. I might be naive, but I don't really think it CAN be used to properly write a good pitch or a summary of an unpublished book in manuscript form unless you feed it all the information (which, no, and also, it still would probably be wrong and not that good so you'd have to edit it, and also if you're going to all that bother, why not just write the dang thing yourself?)

I've just noodled around with ChatGPT a little to understand what it even is, and I'm sure I barely scratched the surface, but like -- the info it gives is not factual, and there is no nuance, and it's just *vague as hell* for the most part? I asked it to "brainstorm a list of titles for an enemies-to-lovers romance about rival figure skaters" and the titles were SO CHEESY and bad, it was basically pointless. ("Struck by Cupid's Skate Blade" is at least memorable, but not in a good way!) I asked it to write an agent bio of ME and it just made random shit up -- like it all SOUNDED right and was formatted well and if you didn't know anything about me, you'd be like "seems great!" -- but actually it was insane. Not to brag on myself or anything, but I'm a MUCH BETTER WRITER than it is. The only thing it was just as good as writing as I am was a rejection letter, because those are vague and full of platitudes on purpose.

So - yeah, idk, I don't really foresee a time when I would let a robot take over ANY real part of my job, let alone a creative part. But like -- IN THEORY? IF there was an AI that somehow actually knew how to write a killer pitch full of singular hooky details etc and a random agent who isn't me wanted to utilize that? I guess my feelings about the ethicalness depends: If the agent has to somehow "feed" the client's work into the AI thingie to make it spit out the correct info, that'd be wild and weird, and something they should not only disclose to their client, but also GET PERMISSION from their client to do, IMO. If, though, the agent is using some kind of AI program as a helpful tool to improve their own work and it DOESN'T involve giving a robot your intellectual property, I don't really see any problem.

I mean -- if gmail auto-suggests I answer an email "sounds great, thanks for the heads up!", and that's what I was probably going to say anyway, and so I click that button rather than spend twenty seconds typing it out -- I don't put an addendum saying, just so you know, AI suggested that response. :-)