#but alas...stats matter now

[makeitlookdecent]

egg daughter is also "smart". may find a helmet.

[oathkeeper-of-tarth]

Pictures taken seconds before disaster.

You might have received alerts about this mod updating a bunch over the past few days, after me saying I was done with it, in true aylin_origin_final_final(2)final.pak spirit. Well, now I am done with it, unless someone finds some glaring issues.

You might also notice the little icon pop up that says the mod uses Osiris scripting - that's because I now run a little start-of-game script to handle Aylin's tags and some general setup, so she gets tagged as an aasimar in dialogues no matter what race you pick to play as stat-wise, and also to remove the "Baldurian" tag from her, because it just didn't make sense for her to have it. She also, like all origins, now has her own unique "Aylin"/"Really Aylin" tag. This doesn't do much. For now.

Note, since I've seen some confusion about this: there is no new dialogue or reactivity added to the game with this mod. It's all stuff that was already there. Aasimar are simply considered to fall under the "rare races" tag group, which means you'll get a bunch of these "oh, we don't see your kind around here much!" reactions and responses. You'd get the same ones if you were, say, a dragonborn or githyanki. I also don't have the power to change the game's fundamental storyline - this is mostly a cosmetic mod. I say this primarily because of the lovely person who commented to ask me what would happen when they arrived in Act 2 and if playing as Aylin meant the "real one" wasn't imprisoned anymore, which genuinely made my day but also made me vaguely sad.

Alas, no, it will all happen as it always has, no matter my personal willingness to fistfight Balthazar and Ketheric in a parking lot for that face up there. You'll just have two Aylins on screen during some segments which, yeah, is kind of immersion-breaking, but is also honestly a win in my books.

Also redone: her starting equipment! Again, since other origin characters have their own personalised sets, I thought it fitting to have Aylin start with the Vengeance Paladin equipment, except the warhammer is replaced with a greatsword. She also gets a bag with her iconic armour safely stowed away (primarily so that the helmet doesn't interfere with customising her hair in the character creator). It's got the stats of basic plate and no special abilities - it's mostly there for cosmetic purposes.

I also thought she should have a little souvenir.

Wings Unlocked over on mod.io is a nice and simple and noninvasive way I've found to have wings you can turn on and off, aasimar style. This is accomplished by making them an item and equipping them in the underwear slot. You know, truly putting the ass in aasimar.

As a final little starting inventory tidbit, I decided there wasn't enough gay yearning in the game, so I made sure to sprinkle some more in there - while also figuring out the letters/books system. This is something that's probably way too wordy to actually be an in-game text, but I saw a chance to have a bit of fun and I took it.

Full text under the cut.

[Worn Letter]

[A carefully creased and pressed bit of fine stationery, yellowed with age. It appears to have survived much, with parts of it stained and worn beyond legibility despite its owner's clear efforts to preserve it.]

My dearest angel, The days and nights without you at my side have been long, though I try to fill them as best as I can. While I shudder to think what dangers you wade through and what sinister plots you leave crushed in your wake, the thought of you taking the time to write in the midst of it all fills me with warmth beyond compare. We are all as well as can be. Father is as he always is, and I admit to an increasing desire to inform him of our plans to leave for our pilgrimage. But I'm getting ahead of myself; those are words best spoken in person. You asked for tidings - I cannot hope to match your poetic turn of phrase, but I'll relay what sleepy little Reithwin has been up to in your absence. There was an accident with a snapped pulley while some of old master Morfred's men were lifting marble blocks for carving. Miraculously, though I was called to assist at the House of Healing immediately, there were no injuries save for scuffs and bruises. The masons are back on their feet, fretting over ruined scaffolding and delayed statuary work. I took the liberty of trying to reassure them that the Moonmaiden won't mind too badly. In more pleasant news, we found a loving home for the last pup from Squire's litter, so both of you can rest easy at last. She and the potter's children took a shine to each other so quickly, it was a true joy to behold. I'd wager you'll spot them frolicking around when you fly over the riverside fields on your way back. I picture the looks on your beloved, handsome face as I regale you - always so wonderfully expressive! - as we sit huddled together before my fireplace at day's end. Selûne willing, I will have you back in my arms soon. I gaze up at her every night as I await your return, knowing you must be looking upon her yourself, and I pray she keeps you safe in her light. Though your duties to Our Lady send you questing far and wide, I know, as surely as the tides turn and the moon cycles through her path in the sky, she will always guide you back to me, and me to you. Until then, I do the one thing I can, and pour onto this paper whatever feeling these poor words can hold. I love you. I lov--

[tathrin]

Tagged by @roselightfairy, thank you! I never remember to check my stats on this stuff, so it's always interesting to see when somebody reminds me that that's a feature that exists lol.

How many works do you have on AO3? Ninety-six, which is nearly everything I've ever written, although there are a few very-very-very-old-and-abandoned fics that never made it off FFnet (and do not need to shhhh!).

What's your total AO3 word count? 2,010,650 (we're not going to talk about how I discovered a little while ago that there's a character-limit for individual google doc; thank goodness for Ellipsus!)

Your Top 5 Stories by Kudos:

Green-Eyed Snake - an old HP fic from back before the TERF-in-Chief made even thinking about that fandom unendurably vile, and it's funny to me that this one has accrued the most kudos because it's a canon-compliant take on Slytherin!Harry which means it makes a lot of readers very very angry even to this day, since I refused to write this bewildered ten-year-old as a suave and sexy machiavellian mastermind lmao.

The Filth of Saruman - a gap-filler Gimleaf story which I am delighted to see take the second-top spot, because it's one that I'm quite fond of myself. It features the obligatory post-Helm's-Deep-bathing-together-scene, in which Gimli is Having A Lot Of Feelings That He Is Not Interested In Articulating To Himself Yet, Thank You! which has definitely become a common feature of my stories.

A Slip Of The Tongue - another Legolas and Gimli post-Helm's Deep one, albeit set in Movie!Continuity which is a rarity for me, in which there is a little more articulating, if only by accident. Also featuring Third Wheel Aragorn, which is my favorite flavor of Aragorn. This one is short and cute and I like it a lot for what it is, so I'm pleased to see it's a popular one too!

Green-Eyed Snake II: Heir Of Slytherin - book two of the aforementioned series. Alas, I only made it through book four before her vileness became too prominent to make writing this stuff palatable, which means we never got to the stage of their adolescence in which we would have gotten into all the queerness and gender-fuckery that would have really pissed her off.

A Broken Bridge In Erebor - Oh I think this is my first romantically-inclined Gimleaf fic, actually? So it's lovely to see that this one is well-liked too. Not that they get to the point of articulating/figuring out any actual romantic feelings here either, so it could just as easily have been tagged with the & as the / — but one of the joys of gimleaf as a ship to me is that there's no real notable difference in how their relationship is written on either side of the romantic/platonic divide. They're together, whether they're kissing or not, and that's what really matters.

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Oh, yes! Yes yes a thousandfold. The whole point, to me, of sharing fanfic is having people share their thoughts back. Otherwise you might as well just leave them sitting on your hard drive, right? Fandom is supposed to be a shared space, where we can all squeal and gush and flail and talk to one another about the stuff we like, so I absolutely answer back when people are generous enough to share their thoughts or feelings with me!

Do you write crossovers?

Nope. Although I do have an old Star Wars/LotR cross-over from way back in college that never made it past the opening chapters that I might dig-out for the briliant @goodintentionswipfest next year, now that I remember it exists!

Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do, as of pretty recently. I'm not sure how to define "what kind" because I'm not really sure what kinds there are, uh...cross-cultural/cross-species stuff that is heavily centered in world building, I guess? I'm not sure if that's what the question is asking exactly, but that's an accurate way to describe what I write at least lol.

I started mainly because I wanted to get my fantasy-biology-headcanons down in more coherent form than just random unwritten musings, and I admit that's still what I find most fascinating about the concept, most of the time. But the more of it I write, the more I enjoy the characterization and emotional moments you can get into those scenes, so that's fun.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not so far as I know. Although I did have some of my fics kicked off FFnet before.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Somebody once asked to do one but I don't think they ever did, or at least, I don't have a link to it if they did; but I suppose since I wouldn't be able to read it in any other language because I suck, it doesn't really matter (except that I'd love to have linked to it from the story). I think it's incredibly cool that there are people who both can and want to do that stuff, though!

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I have not, although I've done a lot of shared-world-building with @babybat98 for Green/Mirkwood which is sort of fic-co-writing adjacent I guess (and is also loads of fun).

What's your all time favorite ship?

About that... yeah. It's funny, really, because I spent my early years of LotR fandom virulently opposed to the very idea of them being a ship (thanks to personal issues with romance-vs-friendship at the time, due to being terrified that someday I would fall prey to icky-romance-grossness myself eww) and now, I am clearly not only very invested in them (shh) but in fact, I would say that I literally "learned how to ship" from them lmao.

So, yeah. I loved them together even before I was willing to accept that they were "together," tbh. (Adolescence is complicated when you don't even know your sexuality exists, okay?) Now that I have, I'm quite happily besotted.

What's a WIP that you want to finish but probably never will?

Ugghh definitely Shadows Creeping. It's a mess of a fic that would take SO much effort to fix, and thus all but impossible to even think about finishing, but it's sooooo close to the end of the story, and I feel bad forever that I let it languish like that.

What are your writing strengths?

Descriptions and world building for sure. (A little too much so sometimes lol.) I'm also pretty good at chameleon-ing—adapting tone/style to match or at least mesh with somebody else's (see: the Celebrimbor Fellowship AU, my Animorphs AU Series, or even the aforementioned HP crap, in all of which I've tried to ape the original author's writing style, sometimes to the point of even sliding excerpts from the original text right into the story, hopefully seamlessly). Oh, and fight scenes! I'm told those are a real struggle for a lot of people, but I find they generally come pretty easy to me, and are fun to do.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Too much description and world building. I get lots in the exposition-weeds way too easily. I struggle to find the balance between telling enough and telling way way way more than anyone wants to actually read. And tend to err very much on the side of the latter. Oops.

What's a fandom/ship you haven't written for yet, but want to?

I haven't actually written Celebrimbor/Anntar/Narvi together on the page yet, although I've come close. Honestly if I had all the time in the world, I would love to sit down and work on putting together that Huge Epic Rise And Fall Of Ost-in-Edhil Fic that feels like has been lurking in the back of my brain pretty much since the first time I read the Silm, if not longer.

What's your favorite fic that you've written?

Ohhhh I have such a hard time picking favorites for anything, really, because "favorite" always depends on "of what sort" to me...but if I have to, I'll probably go with this one, because it's the story I'm currently fixated on. For completed stories, probably this one. And for best thing I've ever written, it's hands-down this one. (Once I have the remaining two parts of that trilogy written, I think I want to get them all printed so I can put them on my bookshelf, that's how happy I am with it!)

Thank you so much for tagging me for this @roselightfairy, it was loads of fun to look at and think about stuff I don't often spend time/though on. And I shall in turn tag: @babybat98 @sallysavestheday @thescrapwitch @mossy-thing

[thebreakfastgenie]

I'd like to comment on the "if your pro-choice character chooses not to have an abortion then you need another abortion in the story to show you are pro-choice" post.

I say that if the story is well written it is possible, and more elegant, to show approval for pro-choiciness with the first character.

Alas, not everything is well written. In fact, some people insist on using unnecessarily cutesy words and annoying exclamations like "alas."

It's certainly possible to depict a character who chooses to carry an unplanned pregnancy to term as staunchly pro-choice, but I think it's hard to adequately express support for abortion that way. Not impossible, just hard! But you know, if you're not writing a story where it makes sense to show that character protesting for abortion rights or volunteering as a clinic escort or whatever, you're going to end up trying to balance action (keeping a pregnancy) with words (expressing pro-choice beliefs) and it's really easy to accidentally fall into the trap of depicting abortion as technically fine but something for other people who we magnanimously believe should not be expelled from society. I don't think most writers mean to say that, it's just that anti-choice rhetoric runs so deep in a lot of places.

I didn't mention this show in the original post because it doesn't have a plot-bearing unplanned pregnancy-carried-to-term, but Crazy Ex-Girlfriend kind of touches on this idea when Paula unexpectedly becomes pregnant right when she's pursuing her lifelong dream of going to law school. When her husband first broaches the subject because she's clearly so unhappy about being pregnant, she initially kind of scoffs at the idea of "options" being for teenage girls, not for people like her (a married, employed adult with two children). Paula's brief arc is realizing that she's pregnant and doesn't want to be and therefore she is who "options" are for, and she ultimately has an abortion with the full support of her husband and teen/tweenage sons. Challenging cultural assumptions about what type of person gets an abortion by emphasizing how many people who do are already parents (I no longer remember the stat but it's pretty high) is something the pro-choice movement used to do a decent amount when I was more involved in college. I'm sure that still comes up but now there are unfortunately bigger fish to fry :/

The anti-choice movement kind of takes advantage of the pro-choice movement saying "we're pro-choice because we believe in bodily autonomy, so we support pregnant people making the choice they want, no matter what it is" by heaping excess praise on people, usually teenage girls or women living in poverty, who choose to give birth. There's this kind of soft anti-choice mindset that at least purportedly agrees it's a pregnant person's choice, but also believes, openly or not, that there's a right or at least better choice.

I think it's a little easier if you're telling a character-driven story that has a lot of time to devote to the pregnant character's interiority, but I was thinking of shows like Gilmore Girls where the pregnancy is necessary for the plot but not the primary focus of the story, leaving "why didn't she get an abortion?" as the elephant in the room.

There are definitely other ways to tell an actively pro-choice story that includes a character choosing to carry an unplanned pregnancy to term, I was being a little snarky in that post and using that kind of serious-but-snarky tone on the internet is kind of a gamble because it's really easy for it to get lost. And I didn't help by accidentally turning more serious in the middle because I started overthinking using gendered vs gender neutral language lol. And I definitely agree with you, with good writing there are lots of ways to do it, it's just that writing is often bad. Good writing is hard! Good writing within the confines television is really hard!

I was mostly kind of indirectly challenging multiple season network shows with mediocre at best writing, lol. Like, okay tv writers, prove to me you really believe abortion is okay.

[heartz4levi]

Do you have any crumbs for Hyunwoo?? We got robbed of him (I never moved on), but I feel like he would have grown up to be the very confident type, quite like Hyuna. Shining and oozing with confident it's hard to tear your eyes away from him, always so bright he seems untouchable. And he'd be so good at taking care of others, much like his sister. He'd definitely be a part of the resistance tho.

Anw, either this going down the yearning path, or the Achilles' heel type of plot. Sorry for the ramble this just popped in my head and I have to share with youu.

what we could have been !

☆ thinking abt hyunwoo & his future . .

☆ hyunwoo (alnst) ,, gn reader . . reader is a member(?) of anakt garden and a participant of hit survival show alien stage ,, mentions of other characters (hyuna and luka) ,, this is just what i think would've happened with him and this specific sort of reader if luka didn't murk him.

in an alternate reality, hyunwoo's life would have been different.

within anakt garden, he would be quite popular. him and his sister, hyuna, have grown to be quite the remarkable duo — both are fiery balls of energy and boldness, radiating confidence no matter what they're doing. their stats are off the charts, and all of the dedicated alien stage fans can't wait for their individual debut stages.

despite his popularity, hyunwoo is never actually seen hanging out with others as much as one would think. in his younger days, he was seen around luka plenty of times. nowadays, he tends to only stick around hyuna and.. you.

the two of you were inseparable, always hanging out whenever you had the time, making up any excuse possible to go and see the other. as the years passed, no hardship managed to tear the two of you away from one another.

you were the first one to be considered eligible for competing in alien stage. hyunwoo was, undoubtedly, your biggest fan. he would have loved to be in the audience, cheering you on and ensuring your victory because deep down, the mere thought of losing you scared him to death. alas, he could only be apart of the virtual audience, silently rooting for you.

the second you came back to anakt garden, safe and sound, hyunwoo was the first one to greet you. not your guardian, not hyuna, not any of your other friends. hyunwoo got there first. he was relieved to see you standing before him, completely intact. his heart felt like it was pounding for the entire duration of the round and now it was finally over.

not long after your first stage, it was hyunwoo's turn to have several pairs of eyes fixated upon him. as expected, it was an effortless win for him — when seeing how his opponent was faring you, now a virtual viewer like he once was, you immediately knew that hyunwoo would win that round without breaking a sweat. and that he did.

what you didn't foresee, however, was you having to compete against him in the next round that would happen in due time. the news shocked both you and him, and hyunwoo felt like he couldn't even bear to say a single word to you again, knowing that he might be the cause of your timely death, but it could also be the other way around.

it's not like either of you could do anything about it, though. and so you swallowed up the dread that engulfs you every time the thought crosses your mind, continuing to memorize the lyrics that will be sung on that fated day.

on that fated day, you win automatically. hyunwoo was a no—show, and not only was he gone without a trace, but hyuna was also nowhere to be seen. the two of them were registered as missing and you were left feeling conflicted.

you won, but hyunwoo didn't die. you're grateful, you truly are, but what happened to him? where did he go? him and hyuna? it's hard to imagine someone escaping from anakt garden and not immediately getting caught. however the siblings seemed to have done the impossible, for you never saw them again.

well, that's a false statement. you did see him again, many, many years later. admittedly, you forgot about his existence. despite that, you recognized him the moment he appeared in front of you, and a myriad of memories started to flood your thoughts. a weak utter of his name left your lips, hanging in the air as you contemplated whether he was real or not.

that's him though. you can't possibly mistake someone else for him — that's hyunwoo, the boy who was once your closest friend in anakt garden, who cared for you and made your days in that distasteful environment more tolerable. more fun. now here he is, grown up and a member of this.. rebellion thing. you don't really understand what it is that he's doing now, but you're glad to see him alive.

you're left staring at him, and he's staring at you. while tears start to prick the corners of your eyes, his own swirl with emotions that display some kind of vulnerability you have never seen him exude before.

you wonder if he's going to stay with you this time, or if he's going to abandon you without another word or any explanation like he did all those years ago.

[ava-core]

I HAVE FOOD TO BRING!

let’s talk about Craig Boone, and my Courier Six: literal sixth child of a sixth child, ex-Empire of Shi golden child, grizzled, haunted-at-23 May Bells (not her real name, of course.)

(i want money to commission them together PLEASE..also you like angst? you like new beginnings? a couple who don’t realize they love each other? YOU LIKE WONG KAR WAI’S IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE?! you’re in the right place!)

firstly, May Bell’s already got a fleshed-out backstory—but I want to make another post for that, so that’ll have to wait!

all you need to know is that May is difficult. it’s what a difficult life does to you, after all; in broad strokes:

she was born in the Empire of Shi, with parents both influential in the spheres of its government and upper-class society.

her father wanted her to be the heir of his scientific legacy when he realized his two sons were incompetent (not even bad people—he just had extremely high and stifling standards: calm, intelligent, obedient. May only hit the Intelligent mark with that 9 INT stat and was naturally a genius, her tag skills being medicine, melee, and science.)

when she didn’t meet the mold of her father’s expectations, it coincided with the fact that her eldest sister got pregnant by a poor merchant’s son.

her father went berserk, killed everyone in the house except for May and her oldest brother because they were out. this incident happened when she was 17.

May and her brother were tried (mother deemed insane to stand trial) and her brother ran away. May was found guilty because of public clamor, but she managed to escape out Shi and never looked back, working as a mercenary in the California area—using Shady Sands as a base of operations for a few years—before eventually getting that damn courier job.

yes, these are broad strokes. who wouldn’t be haunted?

now, take all of that baggage and give it to a half of an extremely combat-capable duo, the other half of which is convinced he’s only destined for bad things because of all the misfortune that’s happened in his life. both have seen the horrors of death and the loss of life, as well as having a hand—direct or not—in the loss of their loved ones and family, having no power to stop it from happening.

what happens when they realize they realize they’re falling for each other?

it makes for a tragedy in origin, of course.

i originally wrote May independently, as opposed to my usual process of making a character in consideration of someone i want them to end up with, and encountering Boone in Novac as May just made it all click.

they would work so well together: Boone filling in the gaps of May’s small frame and 5 STR stat (she’d like for it to be 8, but alas) and May serving as his new partner as two snipers.

that’s the thing, too: May, for all her inability to be sociable (always had a grumpy expression on her face, quick to dismissive sarcasm and is generally unlikeable upon first impression because she masks her loneliness with being an asshat), finds it easy to care for Boone. She levels up her Survival skill to cook him food. She uses that high Medicine to patch him up after he runs into a pack of Cazadores guns blazing. She always gives him extra smokes, ammo, and the occasional bottle of Nuka-Cola.

in his own way, Boone cares for her, too. she always has a First Recon sniper watching her back behind her. He always takes care of enemies before she can even see them. He takes longer watches when they rest so she can sleep (after a lot of protest). Hell, by Honest Hearts, he watches her sleep just to see her breathing and alive.

And the fact she helps him process Bitter Springs, supportive but not overbearing? The fact that she knows his secrets, and cares for him anyway? it hits him where it matters.

this journey May’s embarking on and the dynamic they’re building reminded me of something as i was looking for inspiration for her story (Asian media): Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood For Love.

if you’ll remember, Mrs. Chan and Mr. Chow only fall in love because they knew their spouses were cheating on them with one another. it all clicked so much, i’m telling you: what started as an agreement to find who sold Carla eventually led to the both Boone and May trudging against the harsh winds of the Mojave, realizing they had one person they cared about more than themselves—and to the both of them, it was nothing if not dangerous, given how self-depreciating and burdened they are with their past.

but who’s to say they won’t heal?

it’s the possibilities of their relationship that keeps me going, honestly: they’re so perfectly made for one another, and deeply care for one another, but they can’t see that, and it infuriates the people around them: Veronica, Arcade and Raul especially (who becomes May’s close friends) who sees this tension so palpable it wouldn’t have made a difference if Boone bent May over on a roulette table in the Tops and went to town with her knowing she’d let him anyway. that’s how well their chemistry works.

i’ll keep on exploring this, but god, the way the stars align for them even in my writing!!! i will be back for this it’s a PROMISE

[eek-a-tron]

Catwoman, the godly-powers-of-Bast, and the arranged marriage plot, continued!

(From PART ONE here)

We finally get an explanation for all the yikes-it's-exoticism guys wandering around Gotham in "Out of this World," a.k.a. Catwoman Vol 3 #31 by Ed Brubaker and Paul Gulacy. It starts off with Catwoman being kidnapped from a near-death fighting experience only to find herself healed up in a FANTASY PALACE, of course!

Rules for fantasy palaces everywhere: (1) gold, (2) columns.

But never mind that! Cue the hot guy!

oh no he's hot and he's stuck in this yikes story forever

More under the cut, obviously!

ARRANGED MARRIAGE TROPE FANS, ENJOY

Q: Why do magic-y guys all hold their hands like this? A: Hand flexibility … for spells, obviously, ahem, oBviousLY

Hot Guy™ turns out to be Omari, the chosen one of Maahes (the Egyptian god of war, although this goes unexplained) — wikipedia sidenote: "Maahes was a deity associated with war, protection, and weather, as well as that of knives," so hey, that tracks — while Selina is the chosen one of Beti (a.k.a. Bast, I guess). This means that, an entire year ago, in that temple, seemingly by accident, Selina was "blessed" with power-enhancing abilities by Bast, which now beef up her stats-roster of expert thief-powers and martial artistry. (That's right: this issue states that Selina was given super-ish powers, sort of. She could probably intern with the Justice League, if she wouldn't roll her eyes at the idea.)

Luckily Omari turns out to be fine on the inside, too, because he's not actually into an arranged marriage without enthusiastic interest! And of course there's a power-hungry brother behind the scenes, so Omari's not really at fault! Hmm!

These are official wedding clothes? Sure Jan etc.

For all you sports-stats comics people who think Catwoman is "weak," I would like to point out that Catwoman, in this extremely silly canon story, is shown beating up a crowd of armed men whilst wearing a beaded swimsuit. Oh, 2004.

Exploitation doesn’t negate fighting skills, I guess.

OMG AND OMARI GIVES UP HIS FANTASY THRONE FOR HER SORT OF (note that his brother seems pretty mean and Omari's more of a figurehead, so it's not thaaaaaaat much of a loss)

But it likely seems shocking to someone whose long-term (Bat)man often refuses to give up or compromise on his job. I love Batcat and all, but I'm just saying. Like, I'm just saying. Just saying.

But you didn’t tell me anything *Tuxedo Mask memes away*

It doesn’t matter anyway because Selina wakes up a month later (fully-clothed thankyouverymuch) on a train heading for Gotham Central, whilst Omari is shown floating away on a cruise ship of some kind. Alas, theirs was not a story to be told beyond one very wtf issue, and he's literally never appeared again! Booooo(?)!

Farewell, Wealthy Hot Guy with a Butler-Like Companion™!

Despite this bizarre story dropping off the face of the comics earth, Bast concepts still loom in Catwoman comics. They've done the "Catwoman has nine actual lives" thing thanks to Bast as recently as the 2020s, but I don't know if they've kept her "stronger and faster" blessing-powers too. Anyone who can fill me in on the "Selina is vaguely Bast-magical" stuff would be much appreciated, but given the length of this post I doubt I'll ever know! MYSTERY!

Its many glaring issues aside, this was def a departure from the usual dark-and-gloomy Gotham stuff. And I think of it, sometimes, re: fluff or OOC content in comics-based narratives. Like, this was a canon print run. Written by a well-known author. So go ahead and trope however you want, people: everyone does! But maybe steer clear of early-2000s exoticism, though. :s

[bookoflibrary]

Event Summary: "Everything Begins within the Stars

The event story starts off with reality Alice reading a book, 'The Galactic Railroad' on the school's roof, as recommended to her by her teacher who she loves. This is where she is contemplating suicide. One thing I found neat is the part where all the alts in the event are about to die take direct excerpts from their stories of the same scene. But then suddenly a giant locomotive falls through the sky and ruins her suicide. Reality Alice is wincing and wondering what just happened when Match Girl yells out if she is okay, but Nutcracker gets angry says they should be seeing about him first.

It turns out Dorothy helped the dolls build the train, and all the Library characters groan like 'Of course there was gonna be something defective on it.' Reality Alice is still sitting there confused as they talk amongst themselves. It was originally meant to be a Conducter's Day event, but the train broke. Aladdin says he needs to find a place in this world that can buy gold stat, but Nutcracker says they don't have time to do that and convert it to real money. The locomotive is still broken, so Aladdin says they need to find a place to stay until they can fix it or sell off some gold. They ask Reality Alice what she was doing and she sighs, 'suicide… '

The two Alice have a small and gentle exchange of words. Reality Alice snaps back to reality and looks down at the bustle below the building. She feels a moment of sickness, but somehow finds Library Alice comforting. Aladdin says in broken English they need to seek an asylum. Match Girl is confused, 'What's an… asylum?' And Aladdin corrects himself, 'A shelter.'

Nut then takes it upon himself to ask Reality Alice invasive questions about her home and life, and invites them all into her home, saying it's a responsibility of the youth to protect the elderly. Her parents happened to be overseas on a trip, so they come in. There Reality Alice's cat, Noa, greets everyone. But the cat startles him and he stumbles backwards into the stove and catches on fire.

Enter Reality!Matchie coming to help extinguish the fire because the crew call 9-11 and she taps their location. 'Where's the fire?' But then the two Matchies exchange shocked looks. Once they use an extinguisher and get rid of the fire, Nut stands there wet and the two Matchies looking at each other confused. They may look like they have a difference in age, but there is no mistaking they also share the same face. Library Matchie breaks the ice saying Reality Matchie was so cool just now, and she reminded her of 'her other self'. Reality Matchie could only question her confusion.

The two Matchie's get together right away and have fun. But there's one more character here missing. Aladdin somehow finds out 'he' is living in a luxurious apartment. There's a high tech facial recognition thing attached to the gates of them, but because he has 'his' face, Library Aladdin just continues on with a smile. He sees the apartment and smiles, because of course it would be like this. 'Well, I guess it makes sense I would have money no matter where I'm at' and 'With lots of people, like a castle'

But then suddenly the intercom comes on. Its Altladdin and he's less than pleased. 'Don't come near my apartment without an appointment for starters.'

Library Aladdin is kinda taken back by the day trader and tries to explain things to him, but Altladdin refuses to believe him.

So Altladdin says he wants proof he's from a fairytale and he wants proof there's a magical train. 'If it exists and it's from another world, it's probably worth a ton of money anyway'. So they all assemble to the roof and reality Ala is basically like well holy shit basically once the tarp covering the train is taken off.

Aladdin is like 'Weeeeeell… I need something from this world to fix it because the train is broken' and asks Altladdin if he could buy the part in this world they need. Altladdin says, 'What's in it for me?' Aladdin says gold is going up in value in this world and he can have as much of his gold as he pleases and Altladdin hurries and says 'Good deal'

The train gets repaired thanks to the day trader. While they're getting everyone on board, Altladdin pops open a can of an energy drink. Aladdin wonders what that is, and so Altladdin tells him the day is looking busy so he needs it. Aladdin looks at him sadly. 'You shouldn't drink that. That doesn't look healthy for you…. '

Alice decides to go to school in place of Reality Alice. The two had gotten very close. She does just that, meanwhile Reality Alice's cat Noa continues to bully and scratch Nutcracker. While Library Alice is at school, the teacher approaches her, saying he looked into abortion and it wouldn't cost much at this stage and that there would be little to no damage on her body either. Library Alice remembers Reality Alice throwing up as they were changing, and sees the wedding ring on his left finger and then realizes what's happening. She gets angry and swats him away. 'DON'T TOUCH HER AGAIN!' Upset, she runs home despite the school day not being over. Reality Alice sees how poorly Library Alice looks and asks what's wrong. Library Alice says no one knew they swapped places but students picked that she looks like she lost weight, then tells her that the teacher is awful and even he couldn't tell.

Reality Alice knows that her teacher is cruel, but she can't stop loving him, and it reminds Library ALice of how she is bounded to her Author. 'Then, if you can't hate him, I will.' Reality Alice says in that case she will hate her Author for her, and the two girls laugh after they hug.

Meanwhile Reality Matchie is in the dispatch car with her coworkers. It turns out people are turning to nightmares, and soon they all start doing the same. She screams out, and as they drive by, she sees the building she set herself on fire at at the end of her reality chapter. This is.. my story. I'm supposed to die here… '

It turns out this the dolls doing. They are determined to get the characters to end the world and continue killing again and don't want the story disturbed. Reality Alice begs her cat Noa to wake up. Reality Matchie runs off. She takes Noa and runs to the building. 'I have to go to that building!' That's her story. The dolls are like 'that's right.' It turns out this current world is one Reality Alice's unborn child dreamed of to save her from killing herself, and is trying to summon every single fairytale and alt alike to help.

The dolls say the unborn child is too weak to maintain the order in this world and keep the dream going, therefore the world is going to collapse. It doesn't matter because all of the characters can keep killing and dying and coming back to life anyway.

Reality Matchie also realizes she has matches in her hand, but Library Matchie rushes to her. Library Matchie is crying tears of joy, happy she was able to save the firefighter. 'Thank goodness for the other-other me…' Reality Matchie says she was indeed rescued by a girl exactly like her who was more brutish. The two girls team up to defeat nightmares, then Library Matchie takes her hand. 'Come with me!'

Meanwhile, Aladdin Alt walked himself to the brokerage firm, the same one in his story where he died. He had an energy drink in one hand and caffeine pills in the other. At this point he was aware this was his story and he accepted the consequences of his actions. But then Library Aladdin rushes to him. 'You are me, and I am you. And you too are using money to compensate not being able to protect someone important to you.' Aladdin Alt: 'What do you mean?' Aladdin just smiles at his reality self saying the answer is simple, and swats the stuff out of his hands. Saying that losing anything else at this point is foolish and he should come with him.

Meanwhile Nut has been busy trying to Avenger assemble the other characters, but the alts are no longer in the scene of their deaths and he cant get every character. All the characters and their reality counterparts rush out, and the dolls try to stop them in their tracks saying they are violating conduct to seasonal events and the main story, then summon a huge nightmare. Nutcracker yells back at them that they violate things all the time and they're the ones who set everything up like this in the first place.

They all panic and run to the locomotive and get inside. Altladdin mocks Aladdin and says 'Drive safely conductor' and Aladdin smiles and says to leave it to him. Reallity Matchie says in the case of a fire to leave it to her and it dawns on Alice what book she was reading. She made a conductor signal to her reality counterpart. 'Night on the Galactic Railroad.' A hole appears in the sky and they take off into it, away from the collapsing city the unborn child tried to make a better haven from it's dream it couldn't sustain.

Alice says as they talk off she's tired of wearing strange clothes every season anymore. Aladdin says Library is quite weird and he's tired of it himself. But Reality Matchie tells Library Matchie her conductor suit looks really nice on her and that makes her happy. Reality Aladdin said maybe it's time they all revolt against the dolls. Library Alice agrees, they had it a long time coming. The dolls tell them to stop talking and get their asses back in the Library.

Meanwhile Reality Alice is quiet, and looks down in her lap to her dying cat Noa. It suddenly dawns on her the soul of her child was Noa, and she tears up, saying she's sorry for being an incompetent mother. Noa licks the tears off her hands to comfort her, then meows one last meow before fading away.

Library Alice comforts her, saying Noa did everything he could to save them all. Aladdin says this new world they are going to feels like a child being reborn. The characters have broken free from the pain of their stories but now they lost their sense of purpose. Nutcrucker comforts them, saying that this train goes anywhere and they can explore every single possibility.

Nut says this place goes beyond the Library, where no rules restrict anyone. Aladdin says it's like a baby being reborn. And the event ends with Alice blowing a conductor whistle which sounds like a cry of an infant. Alice points it out but Nutcracker says she is hearing things. A new scratch from nowhere appears on his back. And so, these 'nobody' characters traveled through new stories in the galaxy. Altladdin eyes sparkle like a child at the view.

End.

Side Note: The alts aren't in the location of their deaths because this triggered an effect on all the characters to avoid their fate. They are alive and well, fully voiced in the side story reading the Library Abridged ver of The Night on The Galactic Express. With Dorothy's help, of course.

[mythofemotions]

Fear & Hunger: Finished!

23.6 hours and 30% of the wiki later and alas, here we are Fear and Hunger was kinda intimidating at first, but most of it came down the to publicity of it. I don't think I could call it "cruel" or "brutal", it just has a different gameplay loop than the games most usually play. Hell, I don't wanna speak too soon but it really feels like Dark Souls all over again, except in this case F&H is good. What I'm saying is that if you make YouTube essays you should die

To make it simple: the game's core philosophy is "bash your head against a ball until it cracks before your heads does". Death does not matter much as runs (to Le'garde) aren't supposed to last more than half an hour, and each death does not reward you with any items or permanent progression stuff but knowledge, which sounds corny as shit and I hate agreeing with youtubers but it's true. Died to a certain enemy? Avoid them next time. Fell down a toilet and had to commit suicide? Don't!. Pulled off a sword from some rubble and got crushed by debree? Avoid it or try something else! Slowly but surely you start developing your own route, you can get to places that took you an hour in mere minutes, you know what areas to visit and which aren't worth it, which items you want, and most importantly: How to cheese every encounter and every moment of the game

On a lore level I still don't think I'm qualified to talk, I've read as many books as possible but I still have some doubts here and there. What I can say however is that, as a sucker of Lovecraftian horror, the way the dungeon works, look, and feels was, put simply, my shit, same thing applies to most inhabitants of the dungeon as well

And that's the real golden detail of Fear & Hunger, the "feel". I hate words because I really don't know how to describe a "feel" other than by just, idk shove an electric rod in my brain and analyze the neuron connections to see what I mean. To put it as best as I can: The mechanics of the game really feel "fitting" to the atmosphere. Even when you're overpowered you still don't have fights guaranteed, you can always lose a limb or fail a cointoss and guess what no amount of Eastern Sword crits are gonna save you now. The dungeons feel heavy and dark, every new enemy is a terrifying learning experience, a question of "is he just a normal grunt or does he-" and the Lizardman raises his shield and now D'arce killer herself like an idiot; and once again, it's your knowledge that will defeat the dungeons, not your Strength stat

There's only one moment where I feel the game was bullshit and that was the room right before the very final boss, there's a mage there that constantly casts hurting and tears your limbs, and there's a good chance you won't find him in time before both your arms and legs are gone, so yea that's a good 15 minutes of progress lost to pretty much a quicktime event where you have to guess the inputs, now you need another 15 minutes of walking and avoiding stuff just for another chance of finding that fucker. It's less than 1% of the game but when everything else felt near perfect it really annoyed me that it was at the very last moment where something had to go wrong

But other than that, game's good, gave me a type of brainrot I haven't felt in a long long while. Would recommend if you thought Saya from Saya no Uta was cute (this post was written in a notepad and proofread exactly 0 times)

[kalakrutimedia]

Top Upcoming Marathi Movies to Watch in 2025: Trailers, Release Dates & More

The year 2025 is already proving to be an exciting one for Marathi cinema lovers. With a strong lineup of thought-provoking dramas, intense thrillers, and heartwarming comedies, the Latest Marathi Movies are set to redefine regional storytelling. Filmmakers are stepping up with fresh scripts, powerful star casts, and high-end production values that match national cinema standards.

In parallel, the booming digital landscape has given rise to the Latest Marathi Webseries, which are now often promoted alongside film trailers and OTT announcements. Whether you're a traditional theatre-goer or a binge-watcher, there's something for everyone this year.

Let’s dive into the most anticipated Marathi films of 2025, complete with trailers, plot previews, and release dates.

The Marathi Film Industry: A Quick Look at 2025 Stats

According to a 2024 report by Ormax Media, Marathi cinema saw a 27% increase in box office revenue compared to the previous year, driven by a combination of strong scripts and audience demand for regional storytelling. Moreover:

Over 75 Marathi films were released in theatres and OTT platforms in 2024.

The demand for regional-language content has surged across platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, ZEE5, and Planet Marathi OTT.

Viewer engagement with Latest Marathi Movies and Latest Marathi Webseries increased by 40% year-over-year, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.

This rise clearly signals that Marathi cinema is no longer niche—it’s mainstream.

Top Upcoming Marathi Movies in 2025

1. Ved 2 (Expected Release: July 2025)

After the massive success of Ved, starring Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh, fans are eagerly awaiting the sequel. Ved 2 promises a more intense emotional narrative and a bigger production scale.

Why to Watch: Strong continuity, popular lead pair, and chartbuster music.

2. Balbharti – The Untold History (Expected: August 2025)

A historical drama set during the freedom movement, Balbharti explores the birth of the Marathi educational system and its role in shaping society.

Trailer Buzz: The teaser has already crossed 5 million views within two weeks of its release.

3. Dhaga 2 (Expected: September 2025)

A spiritual successor to the National Award-winning Dhaga, this film revisits the lives of rural artisans and their struggle to preserve tradition in a digital world.

Why It Matters: Socially relevant and rooted in Maharashtrian culture.

4. Teen Batti Char Raasta (Expected: November 2025)

A slice-of-life comedy with a multi-star cast, this film is expected to be the festive blockbuster of Diwali 2025. Shot in real Mumbai chawls, it captures the essence of urban Marathi households.

5. Mumbai 302 (Expected: December 2025)

A gritty crime thriller based on real-life events, Mumbai 302 blends investigative drama with intense performances. It's already being touted as the Marathi equivalent of Delhi Crime.

What’s Driving This Content Boom?

Digital Promotion: Most of the Latest Marathi Movies now release teaser trailers 3–6 months in advance, followed by actor-led social media campaigns.

Crossover Stars: Bollywood actors like Amruta Subhash, Jitendra Joshi, and even Nana Patekar are returning to Marathi cinema, boosting its appeal.

OTT Expansion: Alongside films, several Latest Marathi Webseries are timed with movie promotions to capture binge audiences.

Don’t Miss These Parallel Marathi Webseries

In addition to these films, fans of Latest Marathi Webseries should keep an eye out for:

“Gondya Ala Re” Season 2 (SonyLIV): Based on the lives of revolutionary freedom fighters.

“Athang” (Planet Marathi OTT): A psychological drama with stunning cinematography.

“City of Dreams” Marathi Spin-off (Disney+ Hotstar): A political web drama based in Nagpur.

These webseries often intersect with upcoming film promotions, giving fans extended universes and deeper character development.

Final Thoughts

The Latest Marathi Movies in 2025 are shaping up to be some of the most diverse, ambitious, and globally appealing stories we’ve seen in the regional space. As Marathi cinema embraces modern themes while staying true to its cultural roots, the future looks promising.

Whether you're excited for big-screen releases or looking forward to binge-worthy Latest Marathi Webseries, this year guarantees a rich mix of entertainment for every viewer.

So mark your calendars, watch those trailers, and get ready for a cinematic ride like no other!

[elstreem]

Decided to take the morning off as far as drawing goes, so I decided to go open up MH Tri Ulti and fight Goldbeard again because I just wanted to experience the vibes.

It's been a long time since I played it, so I forgot the logo has the Port Tanzia Guild Gal at the back:

So cute! It makes me wanna draw her, but hnnn, so many wips to do for this month already.

I forgot, how many hours have I put into this game -

...oh. Wow. That's a lot. And all that time but still at HR 43, lol, I think it's because I mostly open it and then traipse into Moga Woods lol.

...apparently that's still not the worst of it though, I checked my Switch stats and my hours on MH Rise are 500+, but that's because i have 2 save files on it. For MHGU I have 330+ (my current 2nd file on another account is nearly 200 hours soooo....even more. whoops).

Hey girl, how you been? What had we been up to, and why in the heck is the Item Pouch full, did we have another Moga Woods excursion last time I played??

...why do I have Rathalos Plate casually jangling around there lol.

Alas, I do have a small confession to make: my Tri Hunter is a filthy near Long Sword-only playthrough.

What is that!?...how embarrassing...as someone who now defaults to Switch Axe and Hammer and trying to git gud at the GS and Bow, I am ashamed at this version of me...should I spend another 300 hours fixing this lol.

Oh, my last trip was into Moga Woods back in 2021. I must have hunted a Qurupeco and an Azure Rath since I had carves from both in my Item Pouch.

Anyway, all that aside, I'm gonna clobber Goldbeard over the head with a Hammer.

It was pretty fun, really - not a challenging boss fight by any means, even if I'm rusty at Tri. In fact I ate the water beam several times lol, but it is hilarious that your 5-6 foot something human only grunts in pain getting body-slammed by a huge horned whale or getting hit by a jetstream of water. Man this fight had all the right atmosphere though, amazing arena, the unforgettable music, and I forgot how good the sfx are for that water beam attack, it sounds so abyssal and menacing and to be fair it does shoot off a third of my HP. But Ceadeus rarely ever chains attacks closely enough for the damage to matter, just gulp down a Mega Potion in between hits.

And would you look at that, I carved off a Dark Dragongem!

[1d1195]

✨part two✨

Tbh I’m pretty sure all those traditions are just culturally based lol and yours are cute too! Love the ornament tradition and it’s so sentimental which makes it even more special! And honestly I never saw it as a flex! If anything I was just always confused! I did sometimes question when I was really young but in the end it was very normal for me due to the majority of people around me did the same thing lol

I get the vibe of going to Barnes and Noble! And not the Old Navy being so close lol I get not being able to resist! For me it’s the same vibe with target lol The Fourth Wing really must be good then since it’s typically not your vibe! I trust your reviews bestie! And I’m sort of the same way! I don’t have the capacity anymore to commit to a series(kid me is mourning the energy I no longer have😔) but I do enjoy the suspense of it all! Idk I think it truly depends on the story and overall vibe!

Thats so cute you were obsessed with Barbie! It’s so adorable to think of childhood Sam just being surrounded by of bunch of Barbie merch!truly seems like you were living your best life! I wasn’t into the dolls as much in general(though i heavily fucked with monster high dolls lol) but I was definitely obsessed with the movies they produced! I would also constantly watch The Island princess and The magic Pegasus!

You definitely should be proud of the work you’ve accomplished! Like this was all in one year?! CRAZY and each one of them was so fucking good!

Oh Sam I really do think sometimes your students are fucking with you because they really can’t mean those questions?!😭 but idk I’m not an educator😭 plus I know you and others have expressed great concern for our future generations soooo idk 😭 though I can tell by the last few words you’re over it lol AND THATS FINE! I don’t think I would have the patience for it lol besides that I hope it gets better and not as busy!

I’ve started school already and I’m suffering lol I know I picked out these classes so it’s kinda my fault but I didn’t think I would be so DRAINED after the first week😭 plus no cute TAs or guys so I can’t romanticize anything for motivation 😔

Anyways lol I hope your week was good and that you have a lovely weekend! Hopefully some self care can happen! Missing you and sending you loads of love 💕-💜

I kind of figured a lot of people may have done the same thing around you so it might not have mattered in the grand scheme of things. I love that regardless.

I just hate WAITING . So I don't think I would mind that it's a series if I could get the whole thing NOW. I love Target too hehehe

Omg it was borderline bad. I think Barbie and Ken played out my original fanfic stories in my six year old brain. I never did the Monster High dolls but I did Bratz dolls when I was in elementary school and my friends were like "barbie is for babies." LOOK AT THE WORLD NOW. Anyway. I think I might just love dolls tbh.

I'm def proud but i lowkey regret making the post because I feel like I'm not going to have the same #s for this year. But who knows. I won't stress about it now!

I literally went through and saved a whole bunch of literacy stats and I'm going to try and explain to them being able to read doesn't make you a proficient adult you have to learn to think. You seriously would think I never told them what a triangle is. They're insane. They make me insane. But alas

Last semester!? I can't remember. NO HOT TA's that's tragic!!! I hope they get a little better. Maybe it was just overwhelming from coming back from break?

Also, you have to forgive me I know you live in CA but I can't remember what part. I hope you and your family are safe from the wildfires 💕 it's so devastating and I can't even begin to imagine how to cope.

Week was pretty good, busy weekend planned. I am getting my nails done so 💕 a tiny bit of self-care. I love YOU! miss you too!!!

xoxo

[darthbreezy]

The images above sum up how I feel that our David is doing convention appearances in the two states* that I have a 'financial embargo' on - Flori-duh and Texas. I refuse to visit/spend money in those states due the the backwards. christo-fascist laws they keep enacting so alas, my dream of getting a photo op with my dreamy demon stats but a dream for now... *Mississippi is on the list but it's not exactly a bastion of massive conventions. Will they miss my paltry contribution to their state tax base? Not in the slightest - same as JK Terfling doesn't get any of MY cash, it's a matter of principle.

[georgiapeach30513]

I would have to have access to his account to know that. Alas, I do not.//

I think then we just assume he deleted and not archived because like you said, we don’t know for sure. But I think a way we could tell that he has it archived is through the stats info that @annislittleshopofhorrors shares. No matter what, it’s sad that he and his team did that. Keeping his work posts are beneficial to him and his career.

I think the Dodger posts are most likely to have been archived. Now they generic business ones, I could see an actual deletion. To my knowledge there isn't a way to tell on the other side if it was archived. Unless it randomly pops back up on his grid in the same spot.

[nickgerlich]

Just Charge It

One of the longest-running consumer behavior topics I have had through the years is the discussion centering on EVs. I’ve been tossing this one around for more than a decade, and I bet I’ll be tossing it around for many more years to come.

But to cut to the chase, some are now saying that we have passed critical mass and EVs are about to see a huge surge in adoption. It’s only a matter of time until ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles die a slow, painful death. [If the link to the WaPo article puts you up against a paywall because you have already reached your monthly limit, simply copy the URL and paste into a different browser. You’re welcome.]

Now if you are scratching your head wondering how this could be true, consider this: Last year EV sales accounted for 5% of all cars sold in 4Q, and earlier this year in 1Q, hit 7%. I’ll let that sink in for a moment.

Critics of EVs will still scoff, post laughing-face emojis in a fit of smartassery, and ask where the crowd is. And never mind the red herrings they love to serve, bringing up distractions such as child labor at lithium mines, how much energy or whatever it takes to make an EV, and the expected life of an EV battery. No one ever said they are perfect, just better. And that meme of someone having to pay $30,000 for a new battery is only partially true, because they were trying to do so for a model that is no longer made and replacements are scarce.

To hear the analysts is to assume there must be a mad rush, though. I just haven’t seen the teeming masses lining up to buy a Tesla, Rivian, Leaf, Bolt, or otherwise. Yet.

Ah, but that’s where I and the others may be wrong, because the analysts think we have just passed the tipping point, that magical moment popularized by author Malcolm Gladwell in 2000. Essentially, there is an inflection point in consumer activity that ushers in a period of rapid growth, and once that sets in, it’s Katy bar the door.

Those same analysts point to EV adoption in Norway. Now before you scream, “But that’s like comparing an apple to a zucchini,” I realize that the two nations are very different, from population to geographical size and population densities.

Alas, a decade ago, EVs accounted for 5% of sales in Norway, and today are at 80%. That’s a pretty steep adoption curve. In fact, it is this “S-“curve that analysts expect to see play out in the US.

To be fair, though, a recent study indicates that 46% of Americans still prefer an ICE vehicle. But here are the fragmented stats that, when seen in their entirety, suggest the shift is on. Nineteen-percent want an EV, while 22% want a traditional hybrid, and 13% prefer a plug-in hybrid. That means 54% want some or all-electric in their cars.

While the tide is changing, we must still deal with the biggest real and perceived problems of EVs: cost, range, and charging. But these are evolving as well, with Elon Musk initiating some steep discounts of late on Teslas. President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, perhaps one of the worst-named initiatives ever, actually has generous investment credits for wind and solar installations. The UAW strike also works to Musk’s favor, because if the demanded 40% wage increase over four years is accepted, Musk will have a huge advantage. Musk’s factories are non-union, and he recruits and retains employees with stock options, not high wages.

If you have noticed a surge in construction of wind and solar farms the last year or so, now you know why. And these help address the matter of infrastructure, another thing that critics like to point out. Otherwise, charging stations are popping up everywhere. Oh, and a general agreement to have one charging standard across EV makes and models sounds a lot like what Apple just signed onto with its latest phone.

As for me, I love the idea of driving an EV. It’s just that right now, I cannot get what I want, and that is to be able to drive 800 miles a day without significant layovers. I want 400-mile range, and charging in 15 minutes or less. My driving style often includes 12-hour days as it is, and I sure don’t want to waste a couple hours or more each day twiddling my thumbs at a charging station.

But once they remedy these issues, I’m good with this.

As for those buying EVs today as well as in recent years, perhaps their blood flows green, or they see them as stylish options. In some cases, they may actually lead to cost savings compared to $4 gas, but the up-front expense of the EV can still be daunting. I see that all changing in the years ahead, though, as production really ramps up, and charging becomes as little a concern as is finding gasoline today.

Remember—or learn for the first time now—that when autos started trickling into the public realm a little more than a century ago, gas stations were also few and far between. Folks had to lash gas-filled “Jerry” cans to their vehicles, effectively making a rolling bomb with all that fuel unprotected. But the market took care of that, and gas stations became commonplace. The same will happen for charging.

I am excited about this, although I do have some hesitations about how fast the steep part of the curve will come. I know it will come, though, but maybe not quite as fast as some would think. Still, it is fun to be living during yet another revolution. There’s never a dull moment anymore. It’s electrifying.

Dr “Waiting But Willing” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[byierficrecs]

just wanted to pop over and say that i love this blog so so much; I love getting to see creators, especially lesser-known ones, in the spotlight. As someone who has been writing fanfiction for over a decade and has gotten very little recognition for it (relative to other stories in my fandoms, that is) it's always very discouraging to see my stats stagnate whilst so many other people who are arguably at the same level as me getting so much more attention and love.

I'm not really in a place (mentally or financially) to be commissioning art for my fics, so seeing your little graphics for all the fics people recommend make me so so happy. I'm obsessed with the one you did for my fic; but they are all always so cute. And it's just nice to see someone spreading positivity in a way that is broad and fair (i'm a libra, lol) and doesn't put anyone down in the process <3

Yeah sorry this is kinda rambly but just like, I was seriously considering not writing for this fandom anymore because it feels like no one cares about my blog or my writing or anything; but then I found this blog and it reminded me why I write, and reinspired my love of what I do.

So thanks <3333333

ngl, this actually made me tear up a little. i've also been writing for various fandoms for a while and i know how discouraging the low interactions can be overtime. it really is a matter of luck half the time and no matter how much effort you put into something, it's impossible to know if anyone will care or if you'll be yelling into the void.

and sometimes, fandom makes it worse. the obsession some people have with numbers, not willing to dedicate their time to anything that's not already popular can be quite upsetting, and the bad habit some people have of pitting authors and works against each other is, indeed, extremely stressful.

i've seen it in other fan groups; it is an unfortunate constant all across the internet, i think. but this fandom in particular can be quite cruel and sometimes it drains my creative energy altogether. i assume it's the same for others. and nevermind the hyper-criticism and high standards, sometimes people are hurtful in their effort to support some creators and it's baffling. i even started this whole thing (twt account and blog) as a response to someone ranking fics. and i know they meant no ill, but for many it is saddening to know you'll never be in one of those "best fics" things.

(and before anyone says anything, yes, people should write for themselves, first and foremost. however, the act of actually posting a story for the internet to see is a little unnerving, and the biggest reward is to get feedback. to get none is quite crushing.)

alas, i can only hope that this thingy makes some writers happy. be it that more people check a story (not in my control) or the authors simply get a graphic of dubious quality, i hope i can make some people smile at least for a few minutes. know that at least you got one reader checking out your hard work, and that i love every single story that has been sent.

,,,see, now you got me all rambly x.x anyway, i'm happy to know i could help a little, and i'm so glad you didn't stop writing <3 if it's not much to ask, would it be possible to know who this is? i won't share that if you don't want me to, but this really brightened my day and it has filled me with determination to try to do better (in writing and in making the graphics) :]