#contributions to solving this welcome

[internutter]

The New Rat-Cat Farm

I had a billion-dollar idea that could probably become the next self-sustaining scam.

Get a bunch of plastic waste

Use it to grow waxworms because they eat the plastic

Keep about 10% of them for breeding purposes

Feed the rest of them to a fish farm

Sell the fish meat

All organic, none of the advanced chemistry that’s going to take ages to come to fruition. We could do this shit now.

Infrastructure necessary:

Something to shred the plastic into itty bitty bits

Glass containers for the waxworms so workers can feed them and inspect their progress

Wire mesh containment system for the breeding adults

All the equipment you need for a functioning fish farm

Also the knowledge to run all of this successfully

I also have no idea how much this could cost, but holy shit I could get paid at least twice for this stuff. Maybe thrice if I sell some of the waxworms as fish bait.

[gazavetters]

"Here I am trying to fix my pants, and the jacket gose off!" These were the words of the late Samir Ghanem in the play "The Married Couples".

As a start : What happened, happened!

In our view, this is exactly what happened to us. We tried to put vetting in order when we created GazaVetters for important reasons, primarily to preserve the dignity and worth of the people of Gaza. How so? The success of GazaVetters is the answer. When we first started, we realized there was a marginalized group trying to vette their campaigns but struggling with the slowing pace of vetting. One reason was the work pressure and the overwhelming number of vetting requests, which exceeded the ability of one or two people to handle, leading some to resort to pleading with coordinators to vette their campaigns. This situation drove us to create a solution that preserves the dignity of our people. We, as members of this community, share the same need for recognition, vetting, and promotion. We wouldn’t accept humiliation for ourselves, nor would we accept it for others.

Instead of staying stuck in the initial stages of promotion, we sought to solve the problem and provided a dignified vetting experience. We were proactive, working with professionalism and high respect. (You can ask anyone about their experience with GazaVetters by contacting Abu Ahmed through calls or scheduling vetting interviews). Through this step, we eased the burden on the coordinators and, most importantly, preserved the dignity and self-respect of new campaign creators by supporting all those who wished to vette their campaigns.

[In this regard, and after an exhausting journey, we deeply appreciate the efforts of the original vetting teams, and we wish to thank them for standing with us through this crisis. We extend our gratitude and appreciation to them.]

And then this Happened

However, we encountered a new problem. Some platforms started using our list of campaigns unfairly, which contradicts the principles upon which our platform was founded.

We’ve all witnessed the story of the aid truck that ends up with a select few while other, equally deserving people receive nothing. All the campaigns we vetted are 100% legitimate, but seeing certain campaigns, even if legitimate, receiving large-scale attention while others that are equally in need are marginalized, this is simply not fair. This imbalance contributed to the exclusion and despair of campaigns that most need help.

Regarding Campaign vetting

To our friends and followers, rest assured that we will return very soon after evaluating the current situation.

In Conclusion

We will come back stronger, with a new mission.

The most important point right now is that we need your minds to think with us about solutions to organize this matter. We would be very interested in your ideas and suggestions, and if there are any points you would like to discuss with us, we would warmly welcome them.

Now, our brother ,"Abu Ahmed" initially kept his identity private by his own choice. However, in the spirit of constructive criticism, the challenge that arose was the lack of clarity about who was behind the blog, the "unknown soldier." Therefore, today, out of respect for everyone, we will present the blog of the person who fully vetted and archived this list (Abu Ahmed) @hs2024.

===============================

"جيت ألمّ البنطلون، الجاكيتة ضربت!" كانت هذه كلمات الراحل سمير غانم في مسرحية "المتزوجون".

في البداية: ما حدث قد حدث!

في اعتقادنا، هذا ما حدث معنا بالضبط؛ فلقد حاولنا ضبط أمور التوثيق عندما أنشأنا GazaVetters لأسباب مهمة، أهمها الحفاظ على كرامة وقيمة الإنسان الغزي. كيف ذلك؟ نجاح GazaVetters هو الإجابة. عندما بدأنا، أدركنا أن هناك فئة مهمشة تحاول توثيق حملاتها ولكن تعاني من توقف وتيرة التوثيق. وأحد الأسباب هو ضغط العمل وكثرة طلبات التوثيق التي تتجاوز قدرة شخص أو اثنين أو ثلاثة على إدارتها، مما أدى بالبعض إلى الاستنجاد والتوسل للوصول إلى المشرفين لتوثيق حملاتهم. هذا الوضع دفعنا لإيجاد حل يحفظ كرامة أبناء شعبنا؛ فنحن منهم ولديهم نفس الحقوق بالتوثيق والنشر. لم نقبل الإهانة على أنفسنا، ولم نقبلها عليهم.

فبدل البقاء في مستنقع الترويج التقليدي، ساهمنا في حل المشكلة وقدّمنا تجربة توثيق باحترام. كنا إيجابيين وعملنا بمهنية واحترام عالٍ. (يمكنكم سؤال أي شخص عن تجربة التوثيق مع GazaVetters عبر أبو أحمد، من خلال الاتصال أو جدولة مواعيد المقابلات للتوثيق). بهذه الخطوة، أرحنا المشرفين وخففنا عنهم من أعباء التوثيق، والأهم من ذلك، حافظنا على كرامة وعفّة أصحاب الحملات الجديدة، محاولين خدمة كل من أراد توثيق حملته.

[وفي هذا الإطار، وبعد التجربة المرهقة، نحن أكثر من يقدّر مجهود الفرسان الأوائل من الموثقين، ونودّ أن نشكرهم باسمنا جميعاً لوقوفهم معنا في هذه الأزمة. لهم كل الشكر والتقدير منّا جميعاً.]

ولكن تفاجأنا بمعضلة جديدة، حيث قامت بعض المدونات باستخدام قوائمنا بشكل "غير عادل"، وهو ما يتنافى مع القواعد التي تأسست عليها مدونتنا.

جميعنا في قطاع غزة شهدنا قصة شاحنة المساعدات التي تصل إلى عدد محدود، بينما يُحرم آخرون محتاجون منها. كذلك، على الرغم من شرعية جميع الحملات التي وثقناها بنسبة مئة بالمئة، إلا أن بعض الحملات حصلت على زخم ودعم كبيرين، في حين تُهمل حملات أخرى نعلم مدى حاجتها. هذا الوضع ليس عادلاً، بل إنه ساهم في إقصاء بعض الحملات التي بأشدّ الحاجة إلى الدعم، وترك أصحابها في حالة من اليأس.

بالنسبة لتوثيق الحملات

نطمئن أصدقاءنا بأننا سنعود قريباً بعد مراجعة الأوضاع الراهنة.

أصدقائنا الأعزاء النقطة الأهم حاليا اننا بحاجة لعقولكم تفكر معنا بحلول لتنظيم هذا الأمر.

سنكون مهتمين كتير بافكاركم و مقترحاتكم تحبون ان تتحدثوا فيها معنا و سنرحب بها كثيرا.

الان الاخ ابو احمد، كان سبب حماية هويته الشخصيه هو رغبته بذلك، لكن في إطار النقد البناء كانت النقطة الصعبة فيما حدث عدم معرفة من يقف وراء المدونة - الجندي المجهول - لذلك اليوم احتراما للجميع سوف نعرض المدونة الخاصة بهذا الشخص الذي قام توثيق وارشفة هذه القائمة باكملها (ابو احمد) @hs2024

[chronologically-challenged]

I keep imagining the family going through a post-game celebration round of all the towns they visited along their journey... but Siffrin having no idea who ANY of these people are or any of the shenanigans that happened before the loops.

"Oh, saviors!!! It's so nice to see you again!!! Thank you for saving our country and my marriage!!! Before we were frozen, we were finally able to bury that awful crest that's been defiling our home. Now, we can move forward and start our family anew. If you ever need our family key for anything else, you're welcome to it any time."

"Thank you for all your help. For everything. If it wasn't for you, those sadnesses would have destroyed our town long before the King froze us. And as for Garrus... he's still bitter about his defeat. We're keeping an eye on him. Anyone can Change after all... even King fanatics."

"Oh! Saviors! Nice seeing you. Uh, no hard feelings on that 'gonna make you all solve puzzles in my mansion to prove you're strong enough to fight the King' thing right? Right?"

"Oh!!!! Saviors!!!! This tower you unlocked is amazing!!!! It has such odd craft, and knowledge, I can't BELIEVE you found a tower from the pre-war era. Thank you for your contributions to our history. And saving the country, of course."

The rest of the party is having a fun time catching up. Meanwhile, Siffrin in the background:

[pucksandpower]

Grid Kids: Escapades

Sebastian Vettel x wife!Reader x platonic!drivers

Summary: everyone’s favorite grid family takes on their biggest challenge yet … an escape room

Series Masterlist

“Alright, who thought it would be a good idea to lock a bunch of F1 drivers in a room and expect them to work together to get out?” Charles grumbles, eyeing the cryptic clues scattered around the dimly lit space.

George smirks, picking up a coded message. “Well you’ve had plenty of practice trying to decipher Ferrari’s strategy lately, so maybe you’ve got an advantage here?”

The room erupts in laughter as Charles feigns a wounded expression. “Low blow, George! Do I not suffer enough already?”

Lando, fidgeting with what looks like an ancient artifact, suddenly blurts out, ���Do you think this is like a button or something?” Before anyone can respond, there’s an audible snap and the artifact falls apart in his hands.

“Seriously, Lando?” Max exclaims, shaking his head in amusement. “First my trophy, now this? Hands off everything, please!”

You chuckle, patting Lando’s back consolingly. “It’s alright. Maybe breaking things is part of the puzzle?”

Lance, busy trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, adds, “At this rate, we’re never getting out of here.”

Mick, focusing on a puzzle piece, comments, “We’ve only got an hour, guys. Let’s get serious.”

Sebastian begins delegating. “Alright, George and Max, you handle the codes. Mick, Charles, focus on the physical puzzles. Lance, Lando — just ... try not to break anything else.”

As the room buzzes with activity, you can’t help but think that this is one of the best ideas you’ve had in a while. It’s hilarious watching these fiercely competitive drivers work together in a situation that doesn’t involve cars and tracks.

After a series of (mostly) successful problem-solving attempts, a loud buzzer sounds, indicating you’re out of time. The doors swing open, revealing a grinning staff member.

“You were only one clue away!” she exclaims, clapping. “Not bad for a first attempt!”

Max looks around the room, a smirk forming. “Well, if Lando didn’t break that artifact, maybe we would’ve made it.”

Lando throws his hands up defensively. “Hey! I added character to the room.”

Everyone bursts into laughter, making their way out. Another day, another adventure — this one off the track.

***

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Sebastian mutters, amusement evident in his eyes, as he steps into the living room. There are strings hanging from the ceiling, makeshift locks on the furniture, and “cryptic” clues pinned everywhere, like Look UNDER the couch, accompanied by a not-so-subtle arrow pointing downwards.

You, equally surprised and amused, chuckle. “What in the world happened here?”

Charles steps forward, barely containing his laughter. “Welcome to the Grand Prix Escape Room! Guaranteed to be at least 90% more escape-able than the one we failed at.”

George adds, pointing to a padlocked fridge, “I did the food clues. Trust me, they’re the most challenging.”

Max chimes in, “And Lando ... well, we didn’t let him touch anything breakable this time.”

Lando mock-pouts, “One little accident and suddenly I’m the family menace.”

Lance hands you a paper that reads The KEY to success is WHERE you eat BREAKFAST. He grins, “That’s my contribution. Top tier clue, right?”

Mick has a mischievous twinkle in his eye, “I suggest you look in very obvious places. We wouldn’t want this to be too hard.”

As you and Sebastian navigate through the hilariously straightforward challenges — like the “hidden” key taped directly next to the padlocked fridge or the note on the oven saying THIS IS NOT A CLUE, just wanted to remind you we have pie — it becomes clear that this isn’t about the challenge at all.

It’s about laughter, family, and the simple joy of being together.

After an entertaining fifteen minutes, which involves Sebastian dramatically pretending to struggle with a code that's simply “1234,” you successfully escape.

Mick raises a toast with room temperature champagne (they forgot to place it in the fridge before it was padlocked), “To the greatest escape artists in the world!”

You laugh, “And to the best, most creative grid kids in the universe!”

***

You wake up to the soft chimes of your alarm, stretching lazily before noticing an envelope on your bedside table. Scrawled on it in mismatched rainbow crayons is Mission: Breakfast Heist.

Opening the note, you read:

Dear Y/N and Seb,

Your breakfast has been stolen! To get it back, follow the clues and embark on a thrilling adventure. Also, no cheating by ordering takeout!

The Breakfast Bandits (aka your grid kids)

Amused, you head downstairs, following a trail of strategically placed toast crumbs. In the kitchen, you find another note taped to the coffee machine: To get your morning brew, tell us a joke that’s new!

Sebastian, rubbing sleep from his eyes, joins you and declares, “Why did the coffee file a police report? It got mugged!” Mick appears from behind you, making both of you jump, and hands you two cups of coffee before backing away silently.

Chuckling, you move on to find that on the fridge, instead of a padlock, there’s a touchpad with a question on its digital display: What’s hot yet cool at the same time?

You ponder it for a moment, thinking of all the possible answers. Sebastian, catching on to the playful challenge set by the grid kids, smirks and says, “It’s the Iceman, isn’t it?”

You both laugh, with you playfully nudging Sebastian, “I always knew you thought Kimi was hot.”

Entering K-I-M-I on the touchpad, the fridge beeps in agreement and swings open, revealing a lavish breakfast spread and a note that reads: Breakfast is served! We might have kept it under lock and key but only to make it special. Enjoy!

From the doorway, the “Breakfast Bandits” applaud, their faces beaming with mischief.

Lance grins, “Took you long enough! And Seb, never knew you had a thing for Kimi.”

Charles joins in the teasing, “Seems like there are still some secrets in the paddock!”

Sebastian playfully rolls his eyes, “At least my secret doesn’t involve singing into a hairbrush every night before bed.”

Charles blushes as the room bursts into laughter. “Who told you about that?” he exclaims, pointing an accusing finger at Lando, who’s trying hard (and failing miserably) to stifle his giggles.

Lando attempts to defend himself through his laughter, “It wasn’t me! But if we’re confessing, who knew that Seb’s haircare routine involved more products than all of ours combined?”

Sebastian raises an eyebrow, pretending to be offended. “Gotta keep the locks looking good, don’t I?”

Max interjects, “Well, if we’re on the topic of secrets, who wants to bet on how many stuffed animals Lando has on his bed?”

Lando gasps dramatically, “Betrayed by my own brothers! Next time, I’m hiding them all in George’s room!”

[lefteagleblizzard]

𝔐𝔬𝔯𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫 𝔧𝔲𝔰𝔱 𝔞𝔫 𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔠𝔦𝔢𝔴

Summary: You arrive at The Ritz-Carlton for an interview, ready to write a journal about the place, but the charming concierge quickly turns the conversation into something more intimate. As the tension builds, the line between professional and personal blurs.

Prompt number nine of the jhutch promptober made by @joshfutturman <3 “journal”.

Inspired by “A late checkout Ritz-Carlton story”. I didn't give this new character a name because I honestly had no idea what to call him. I like the mysterious vibe he gives off, and I'm honestly terrible at naming characters :)

Tags: no pronouns used towards the reader so everyone can read. No use of Y/N. fluff. Subtle flirting. Making out. Heated kiss. Allusions of smut at the end.

Words count: 1200 words

You step into The Ritz-Carlton, the grandeur of the hotel washing over you immediately. The elegance of the polished marble floors, the soft, ambient lighting, and the quiet murmurs of guests moving about create an almost otherworldly atmosphere. Your focus, however, is fixed on the interview you're about to conduct.

When you arrive at his office, he's already there, sitting casually behind his desk. He looks up at you as you enter, his expression unreadable for a moment before it softens into a warm, welcoming smile.

"Ah, there you are," he says smoothly, standing up and extending a hand. "I've been expecting you."

His voice has a certain charm to it, deep but with an easy, almost conspiratorial tone. You shake his hand, feeling a brief flutter of nerves under his gaze.

"Thanks for making the time," you say, taking the seat he gestures to. You settle into the plush chair, pulling out your notebook and pen. "I'm here to learn more about your role here at the Ritz and in general about this wonderful place."

He chuckles, leaning back in his chair and eyeing you with a glimmer of amusement. "Oh, you know, I'm just here to make sure everything runs smoothly. Guests are happy, problems solved, the usual." His gaze flickers to yours, holding it for just a moment too long. "What’s your first thought that came to your mind when arriving here?"

You clear your throat, caught off-guard by the intensity in his eyes. "There's a certain... charisma here."

He smirks, his eyes never leaving yours. "Charisma, huh? I'll take that as a compliment." He leans forward slightly, resting his forearms on the desk, his posture relaxed yet somehow charged with energy. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves. What exactly would you like to know?"

You focus on your notes, trying to ignore the way your pulse quickens every time he looks at you like that.

"I see...so, you’re almost a guardian of sorts here?" you ask, pushing through the unexpected tension.

He chuckles, leaning forward slightly. "Guardian, problem solver, call it what you want." His tone turns softer, more intimate. "I just like making sure things go..... smoothly."

There's a pause, and you realize he's watching you carefully, waiting for your response. You try to focus on the next question. "The hotel itself plays a significant role in making the guest feel welcome. How do you think the setting contributes to the atmosphere and in which way?"

He leans back in his chair again, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "The hotel is everything. It’s part of the experience. People come here expecting one thing, but they leave with something entirely different. This place has a way of... revealing things about you. Things you didn't even know were there."

His eyes lock onto yours, and for a moment, you feel as though he's not talking about the hotel at all. Your breath catches in your throat, but you manage to stay focused.

"That's fascinating," you say, your voice a little shakier than you'd like. "Do you think that's why you seem to have such a... deep connection to the guests?"

"Exactly," he replies, his tone softening. "I think I know what people need before they do. I can be good at reading people, knowing when to push, when to hold back... when to offer a little something extra." His gaze drops to your lips for a split second before returning to your eyes, and your heart skips a beat.

"And do you... enjoy your role here?"

He laughs, a rich sound that fills the room. "Oh, I enjoy it very much. It's fun, you know? Pushing boundaries, seeing how far you can go before someone notices. Like right now, for example." He grins at you, his eyes dancing with amusement.

You blink, unsure if you heard him correctly. "Right now?"

He nods, still smiling.

"Speaking of personal," he adds, pushing back from the desk, "how do you take your coffee?"

You blink at the sudden change in topic. "Oh... just black, thanks," you stammer, trying to regain control of the conversation. He smiles, standing up and heading to the corner of the room where a small coffee maker is perched. You take a moment to breathe, wondering if you're imagining the tension between you.

Is this really happening?

You're supposed to be interviewing him, but he's turned the tables so effortlessly that you're the one who feels like you're being scrutinized.

When he returns, two mugs in hand, you expect him to sit across from you at his desk. Instead, he sits down right next to you on the plush sofa, close enough that you can feel the heat from his body. He hands you a mug, his fingers brushing yours for a brief, electrifying moment.

"Here you go," he says, his voice soft and intimate. "I hope you like it."

You take the mug, your hands trembling slightly. "Thanks," you murmur, taking a small sip.

He doesn't say anything for a moment, just watches you as you drink, his eyes dark and unreadable. Then, without warning, he leans in, his face inches from yours.

"So," he says, his voice barely above a whisper, "what would you like to know?"

Your mind goes blank, the only thing you can focus on is how close he is, how his breath is warm against your skin. You swallow hard, trying to remember what you were going to ask, but nothing comes out.

He smirks, enjoying your flustered state. "No more questions?" he teases, his voice dripping with amusement. "I thought you wanted to know all about me."

"I-I do," you stammer, your heart racing. "It's just..."

"Just what?" he asks, leaning in even closer, his lips almost brushing yours. "Too distracted?"

You can't find the words, so you simply nod, your breath coming in short, shallow bursts.

He chuckles softly, his lips so close to yours that you can feel the warmth of them. "Is this okay?" he whispers, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down your spine.

You nod again, and before you can say anything else, he closes the gap, his lips pressing against yours in a deep, hungry kiss. His hand cups the back of your head, pulling you closer as his tongue slides past your lips, exploring with an urgency that leaves you breathless.

When he finally pulls back, his lips still hovering near yours, he smiles. "Maybe we should continue this somewhere else. How about I give you a private tour? We could start with my room." His voice is a seductive whisper, his eyes gleaming with desire.

Your pulse quickens at the suggestion, and all you can do is nod, anticipation swirling in your chest.

If you liked this story please leave a comment, I love reading them <3.

[horrorshow]

Can you talk about why you think blocking and moving on is a bad thing? I thought it was a way to curate your space and avoid drama

idk maybe i'm too idealistic but fandom is a much more friendlier, welcoming, supportive, creative, engaging, active, diverse and interesting space when it's treated like a community where people are encouraged to participate and talk about their interests and where there's space for niche or more unpopular opinions without these people having to worry about being blocked and feel unwelcome by the majority of the fandom they are in. i can't stand how blocking everyone you disagree with has become the first thing to do.

you say its 'to curate your experience'. but blocking people does not only curate YOUR experience. you're also forcefully curating other users' experiences. and not for the better.

people say 'i will block you for literally anything' and then those same people wonder why engagement is down, why no one sends asks, why no one reblogs, why rarely anyone talks in the tags anymore and why this place feels so dead and boring and quiet. i wonder why!!!!

people treat real people as annoying ads they can dispose of at their whim. but that's not how a fandom or a site like tumblr works. (besides, if you really care about people curating their own experience you wouldn't block people. you can filter and blacklist and never see them again while still granting them the same freedom instead of actively making their experience worse.)

you say its to avoid drama. but seeing a post you dont agree with is not 'drama'. and blocking is not solving anything except for you personally. fandom was more fun when we remembered that every user is a real person you share a space with, and probably some mutuals as well, so you find a way to live with each other. starting with a restraining order seems a bit excessive and is not contributing to anything. it's not that hard to be respectful and tolerate others and acknowledge people have different opinions and interests and still co-exist in peace. its not that hard to be nice to people and try to find common ground with them and interact with the stuff you DO like. you do this in every aspect of your real life, so why not online?

i hear you say: 'but that requires WORK and i don't NEED to do any of that bc i can just block them'.

yeah, you can try to create your own bubble and only hang out with like minded people but you wont EVER fully achieve that (no matter how much you block, social media WILL keep feeding you posts you disagree with bc it makes them money). social media WILL pressure you into an 'us vs. them' mentality where you constantly feel like everything online is a threat or an argument you have to win and where being mean and unnuanced gives you the most notes and where you don't even see, let alone be able to treat, other users as people anymore bc you don't interact with them anymore other than to block or fight them. that's not how i want it to be online. it's not fun to me. and maybe i'm a pessimist but i think it will eventually be the death of online fandom and sites like tumblr. look at the state of twitter right now. DOES blocking give you a better experience in the long run? i doubt that it does. overall, i think it makes people even less tolerable and more vulnerable to hate and fear mongering, and social media an even more hostile place.

it's everything i hate about social media and everything i want to fight against and WILL fight against. i won't pretend my meager contribution will change anything, but i LIKE to just scroll past posts i don't vibe with and not see every argument online as a personal offense. it keeps me curious. most posts aren't that bad when you know the person behind it. i mean, you do you, i'm not gonna say what you should or shouldn't do bc that's up to you, but i recommend it: free yourself of the block button and bring back supportive user communities based on a shared love for the same thing and focus on what you have in common with people, just like you would do in real life. save the block button for the rotten apples who DO keep trying to pick fights and exclude others.

(which is, now that i think about it, probably the main difference: most people see the block button as a neutral way to prevent worse. but. that's only the case on an individual level. and treating everything online as an individual choice to which there are no further consequences, especially if they happen on a larger scale, is already a loss.)

[mcytblrescape]

Welcome to the Escape Room!

Hello, and welcome to the MCYTblr Escape Room Event, run by @edgarallanpoestan and @patorucho! This is an event where you follow clues and fulfill prompts with a team, in order to escape and complete the challenge.

Interested? Our current stage of running/creation is below, as well as more information about the event itself!

Discord

AO3 Collection

Our current stage of running/creation: Interest Checks!

Our next stage of running/creation: Sign-ups!

Schedule

-> Signups: October 19, 2024 12:00 am CST - November 30, 2024 11:59 pm CST

-> Team Assignments: By December 14, 2024

-> First Room Opens: January 5, 2025 12:00 am CST

-> Event Ends: March 15, 2025 11:59 pm CST

(Below is a rough breakdown of rooms; NOT necessary to stick to this schedule. Each new room opens once you complete the previous room, the only strict deadlines are those above)

-> Room One: January 5, 2025 12:00 am CST - January 18, 2025 11:59 pm CST

-> Room Two: January 19, 2025 12:00 am CST - February 1, 2025 11:59 pm CST

-> Room Three: February 2, 2025 12:00 am CST - February 15, 2025 11:59 pm CST

-> Room Four: February 16, 2025 12:00 am CST - March 1, 2025 11:59 pm CST

-> Room Five: March 2, 2025 12:00 am CST - March 15, 2025 11:59 pm CST

Rules

-> As per Tumblr and Discord Terms of Service, all participants must be 13 or older at the time of sign-ups, no exceptions

-> You must join our Discord. If that is an issue, contact a mod, and we will try to figure out a workaround, but you must be present in the server in some way

-> Show all other participants respect and consideration. You will be on different teams, but you are not against each other. Help out your fellow escapees, and be kind to everyone!

-> Work with your teammates, make sure to contribute! We understand if something comes up, real life should always be your first priority. When possible, please at least give a heads-up to your team

-> Absolutely no AI generated content

FAQ

What is the Escape Room Event? How does it work?

-> All teams are given a clue to start out. These clues will lead the team to a prompt. If you get stuck don't worry! Teams will be allowed to vote on hints. There are 5 rooms to solve, and for each room "escaped", your team is given the aforementioned prompt to create for. These can be created a few different ways: every person in the team takes a prompt to fulfill (or, each person creates one or two full pieces, depending on team size, throughout the course of the event); all team members work together to fulfill every prompt (or, each person contributes to each prompt! A webweave made with multiple people looking for content, while others are writing drabbles or doodling something to include, multiple artists working on the same art piece, one fic broken up into multiple parts for each writer, the ideas are endless); or any other combination your team would like to try, as long as everyone is participating! There is no penalty to not finishing all the rooms, this is all for fun!

How do I participate?

-> Fill out our sign-up form, and join our Discord, which is linked above the cut! This is where we will be sending most of our announcements and information, so this is required to participate. You are free to join using a throwaway or sock account, and you do not need to talk -- this is for ease of access on our end, especially if we need to reach out to anyone for any reason.

How do I join a team?

-> Teams will be randomly selected! If there is anyone you specifically do not want to be teamed with, please let a mod know privately

Is AO3 posting required?

-> You are not required to post onto AO3, but we will have a collection available for anyone who would like to!

[strangecloud]

Do you remember your first Skyrim playthrough?

I played Skyrim on the 360 when it came out. I remember the starting Helgen cutscene making me uncomfortable, being carried to an executioner's block. The character I ended up playing was a paladin sort of dude who instead of shielding or avoiding blows would use Restoration to heal himself back up when he inevitably got hit.

I've been on an Elder Scrolls kick lately, playing Morrowind and Skyrim and even some ESO. I think they're good games, but I believe I've puzzled out why so many people prefer Morrowind over the rest of the series.

When I say the starting cutscene in Skyrim made me uncomfortable back in like, 2011, I mean it has since lost any of that power. I've just seen it so many times. I think this is the core of why Skyrim, despite being indubitably an absolute achievement in game design, seems to be less and less appreciated as time goes on. Simply put, most people have played it to the point that it's almost like a solved game.

This is a phenomenon that has happened to me across some games, even my favorite game of all time, Fallout New Vegas. I've just played it so darn much that the whole thing is predictable, like I can see all the decisions and consequences without even booting up the game. This contradiction of the medium has been commented on and explored by the metafiction of games like Undertale. The artificiality of an entirely predictable system, no matter how lifelike, will lessen your investment.

And it's not the game's fault. If anything, a game being good to the point of wearing out its welcome with diminishing returns because people just insist on playing it over and over again is a crowning achievement. However, transcending that, making a game that's quality to the point of beating that almost invincible limitation? That's on a whole other level.

Enter: Morrowind.

On the surface, Morrowind just looks like an old ass game. Everything is a little weird, to the way combat works to how it expects you to visually navigate the world with directions, sometimes daisy-chaining instructions on how to get where you're going. You know, go here following a path, to ask this person who actually knows where you want to go how to get there. And then follow a path again. The game expects you to study in-game lore books to figure out what to do. Like, actually roleplaying a researcher poring over tomes for answers. It's real weird.

But it makes a lot more sense when you consider, all of this, intentionally or not, contributes to a very interesting result. It makes the game a kind of perennial experience.

Even if you know what you're looking for, there's no map markers telling you where most things are in Morrowind. Some things might be easier to do off the top of your head when you're familiar with the game but even then, most of the time there's nothing for it but to knuckle down and search around. Like, actually paying attention to the world instead of some compass or map.

The character building works almost the same. You can steer your character into some set of gear you really want, assuming you know it exists and how to get it, but until then you're mostly gonna use whatever fits. Random magical items are more likely to dictate your effectiveness than anything else. You just don't control your builds and progression as much.

And the main story and lore are probably the best in the series. There's just so much to think about, find out, and discover. Even the little blurbs that random NPCs will spout about how their job works are very well written and made with a ton of thought. It's like the anti-Skyrim, the more you put into it, the more you get in return.

All this to say, playing Morrowind is still a rewarding experience decades after it was released, because there's a weird kind of harmony in its crazy designs. It's like it was made to be played and enjoyed forever, there's so much in there. Even if you've played it before many times, you might just forget where an important item is and have to navigate manually. You might decide to make a wacky character that leads you down factions and quests you've never done. You might find out some fact about the lore you've never really thought about.

It just keeps going.

I'm not one of those people who resent modern Bethesda for "dumbing down" or "selling out". I love Skyrim, but there's very little it can give me after all these years. On the other hand, Morrowind just keeps on giving.

I think that's the difference, and I think that's why people like it so much.

[fuckyeahmarxismleninism]

March 14, 1883: Death of Comrade Karl Marx, communist revolutionary and founder of scientific socialism.

Frederick Engels’ Speech at the Grave of Karl Marx:

On the 14th of March, at a quarter to three in the afternoon, the greatest living thinker ceased to think. He had been left alone for scarcely two minutes, and when we came back we found him in his armchair, peacefully gone to sleep – but for ever.

An immeasurable loss has been sustained both by the militant proletariat of Europe and America, and by historical science, in the death of this man. The gap that has been left by the departure of this mighty spirit will soon enough make itself felt.

Just as Darwin discovered the law of development or organic nature, so Marx discovered the law of development of human history: the simple fact, hitherto concealed by an overgrowth of ideology, that mankind must first of all eat, drink, have shelter and clothing, before it can pursue politics, science, art, religion, etc.; that therefore the production of the immediate material means, and consequently the degree of economic development attained by a given people or during a given epoch, form the foundation upon which the state institutions, the legal conceptions, art, and even the ideas on religion, of the people concerned have been evolved, and in the light of which they must, therefore, be explained, instead of vice versa, as had hitherto been the case.

But that is not all. Marx also discovered the special law of motion governing the present-day capitalist mode of production, and the bourgeois society that this mode of production has created. The discovery of surplus value suddenly threw light on the problem, in trying to solve which all previous investigations, of both bourgeois economists and socialist critics, had been groping in the dark.

Two such discoveries would be enough for one lifetime. Happy the man to whom it is granted to make even one such discovery. But in every single field which Marx investigated – and he investigated very many fields, none of them superficially – in every field, even in that of mathematics, he made independent discoveries.

Such was the man of science. But this was not even half the man. Science was for Marx a historically dynamic, revolutionary force. However great the joy with which he welcomed a new discovery in some theoretical science whose practical application perhaps it was as yet quite impossible to envisage, he experienced quite another kind of joy when the discovery involved immediate revolutionary changes in industry, and in historical development in general. For example, he followed closely the development of the discoveries made in the field of electricity and recently those of Marcel Deprez.

For Marx was before all else a revolutionist. His real mission in life was to contribute, in one way or another, to the overthrow of capitalist society and of the state institutions which it had brought into being, to contribute to the liberation of the modern proletariat, which he was the first to make conscious of its own position and its needs, conscious of the conditions of its emancipation. Fighting was his element. And he fought with a passion, a tenacity and a success such as few could rival.

https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1883/death/burial.htm

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hey, I've been thinking of maybe getting into TTRPGs, but I don't really have any friends in person that are into that sort of stuff (I do have online friends who are into it, though). Do you have any recommendations for a/some good "solo" ttrpg for beginners.

THEME: Free Solo Games for First-Timers.

Hello friend! I managed to find a whole cluster of free roleplaying games, so I hope you find something here that tickles your fancy! There’s some story games, some survival games, and some that are in between.

Lycans & Lawyers, by GorgonHead.

You are one of Capitol's top lawyers. You also turn into a werewolf at night.

Welcome to Moondale, one of Capitol's nicer districts! Your law firm is based here, and most of your clients come from here. It is you job to keep them from getting convicted, even if they are guilty. 

And they are. You must employ your best skills, both as a lawyer and as a lycan, to keep them safe from the Union's law long hands. To manage this, you'll have to do some shady things. But it's all for the good of the client!

This is a simple, one page game with a lot to play with. It has a few paragraphs of lore, a map to help you visualize your neighbourhood, and two moon tracks to follow. You’ll have two different sets of stats depending on whether you are in your werewolf mode or your lawyer mode, as well as a series of roll tables to set the scene. If you like a concrete goal but also some flexibility in the details that you get to contribute to the story, you might like this game.

Strandead, by chuymarin.

Awakening amidst the boundless stretch of the open ocean, the unsettling sensation of isolation grips your soul. What lies ahead in this abyss, lurking within the depths of the ominous waters? The weight of impending threats gnaws at your very core. 

A solo hexcrawl for the survivalist at heart. Travel across an ocean and roll for encounters, fish, and random items as you try to survive for X number of days out on the open seas. With two difficulty modes and an optional QR-linked random generator of rumours, you’ll have an excellent combination of randomness and strategy to keep you invested. Perfect for folks who prefer balancing numbers and don’t want to fill in a narrative from prompts.

Fortress in the Frozen Wastes, by August Wigg.

Set in the post-apocalyptical land of the Frozen Wastes, a young Ranger must journey to an outlaw fortress to rescue their captured mentor and a group of settlers. Customize your Ranger to be proficient in different skills and choose different paths as you attempt to save the prisoners of the Fortress in the Frozen Wastes.

This is a combination of a traditional roleplaying adventure and a choose-your own adventure story. You’ll create a character sheet with stats, character abilities and inventory slots, and success and failure depend on a d10 roll. Your character dies if their endurance ever gets to 0, so you’ll do your best to navigate each new situation you encounter and make choices that keep your ranger alive long enough to fulfill their quest.

5 Min Knight, by enui.

5-Min-Knight is small one-player RPG about being a Knight of the round table. It takes 5 minutes to play.

This is basically a writing challenge, with a number of d6 tables that you’ll use for writing prompts. You are meant to roll and write as much as you can in 5 minutes - when the timer is up, you roll again to see what called you away. This is a great exercise if you’re looking for a way to practise your creativity, or if you don’t have that much time in a day to play.

If you’re more interested in solving mysteries, you can also try 5 Min Maven, by the same creator, inspired by Brindlewood Bay!

Curiosity Killed?, by Zole Tsoi.

Playing as a cat wandering the streets of a futuristic city, you are tasked with helping ghosts of the underworld who have unfinished business.

This is a one page game that uses a d4 for pretty much everything. You’ll want to keep an eye on your three stats, because if they get too high or too low, your cat is forced to end their mission early or gets stuck. Get your Stress down to 1 or your Morality up to 5 to win the game!

Homunculus, by DOMINO CLUB

Alchemy is a dirty, tiring, thankless job. I’ve let this absorb my whole life, and I’ve now gotten to the point where I’m ready to move on.

In this game, you play as an homunculus, newly created by an alchemist to explore the world .

Homunculus is a game that starts you off with quite a bit of guidance, easing you into play by setting you up with prompts connected to cards you draw from the deck. Card suits are connected to four stats in this game, which you will attempt to increase equally in order to gain the best possible ending. This game allows for a few replays if you are interested in getting different endings, but it also relies on interpreting prompts as drawn by the cards. If you like a game where you’re reaching a specific target, you might like Homunculus.

The Dukes Aid, by g0ri.

On the frontiers of space, an interstellar empire exists in a perilous balance. As a close aide of a Duke and his house, your job is to navigate safely through the coming intrigues.

Observe the plans within plans within plans as your House takes over the production of the Empire’s most important resource.….

The Duke's Aide is a solo roleplaying game requiring at least half an hour, a set of roleplaying dice, a deck of cards and something to write with and on. This is a proper journaling game, using a deck of cards to supply prompts, jokers included to help pace the game out for you. You’ll choose a character class, which also determines the dice you roll, which you’ll need every time your character tries something risky. This is a great introduction to a journaling game that still gives you a lot to work with if you don’t feel super comfortable extrapolating from prompts.

Games I've Recommended in the Past

The Wandering Library, by AP.

[aguineapigcouldntdothis]

if goyische americans expect american jews to willingly contribute more to the USA then they need to start treating us like americans instead of "others". because it is exhausting to be expected to work more to earn a place in your own country, whether you were born there or immigrated there, simply because of your ethnicity and/or religion. goyische americans have plenty of struggles with this, esp immigrants, im not saying those issues don't exist im just focusing on jews in the USA right now. no matter what we invent or the problems that we solve we are never enough to be seen as worthy of our own homes. we are separated from the vast majority of people from the USA oftentimes against our own will. goyim do not see us as their neighbors, friends, coworkers, etc. to them we are entirely different from the rest of the american people no matter our level of observance, our contributions to society, or anything of the sort. a jew is a jew to them and they dont mean that in a kind and welcoming way.

"they're using our tax dollars" you mean jewish people who are citizens of the USA sometimes get government assistance in the same way that any other group does?

"they're controlling our federal government" there are not many jews in the federal government. how could we be controlling anything? is the presence of a singular jew enough to make you think that.

"at least they care about this country" this might seem nice however its a backhanded compliment. it makes us seem like a separate entity that cares about some far away land rather than people caring about their own home.

so if you're upset that jews align ourselves with the jewish community more strongly than with the USA then consider how you treat us. why do you expect us to care about this nation more than any other group when you can't even see us as citizens of your own home? when you have done nothing to protect the jews in your life? when you have othered us for decades while benefitting from our work? why must we denounce our culture and our religion to be seen as true American citizens?

[trashytoastboi]

Day of Sloth - Belphegor

~SFW Alphabet~

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

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

⭐️ Belphie is very affectionate, he needs to be touching some part or form of your body. He enjoys the warmth, the comfort and everything that you provide. Through the means of physical touch, whether it's just holding hands or sleeping close by. He enjoys laying against you, resting his head against your shoulder or even laying his head on your lap. Everything that can contribute towards a comfortable sleep. If not for the means of sleep he loves hugs and snuggling, constantly wrapping his body around yours. Has a fixation of playing with your fingers when holding hands and it can calm him down. Sometimes he thinks back to the isolation of when he was trapped in the attic, bound for years upon years and being alone. Belphie truly learned the value of comfort in having someone else nearby, sometimes he gets anxious. He doesn't say it, but it's obvious when he holds you a little tighter than usual and nuzzles into you.

B = Best Friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

⭐️ Belphie is a chill friend, the kind that you go to when you just need to nap. He doesn’t mind if you show up just to rest, he understands and welcomes it. He’s platonically affectionate and is always down for hugs and cuddles. One thing that you two talk about is movies- some are silly, others bad and some are really good. Belphie enjoys falling asleep to movies, especially those with really pretty visuals and says it makes for more pleasant dreams. Belphie loves listening to you talk, he’ll lay with his eyes shut listening to you talking about your day, troubles or other things. He’ll reply properly to let you know that he’s paying attention. Only when you hear the soft breathing you know that he’s fallen asleep. Belphie surprisingly offers good advice.. Sometimes he assumes murder is the first answer and you tell him that’s not a viable option then he’ll give actual practical advice to the problem and how to solve it. He occasionally has the most unhinged humor that makes you giggle.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle) 

⭐️ 10/10 Loves cuddling and is a little cuddlebug. Belphie finds it to be comforting to sleep with you by his side, sometimes he’ll feel your hands running through his hair and lean into your touch like a touch starved kitten. It’s one of his cute habits. Sometimes he’ll send you little messages asking you to come up and give him cuddles, he’ll even act pouty if you say no. If your excuse is being busy then he’ll send you a reasonable compromise, you get to do what you need to do and he gets to hold you. Sometimes he’ll come to your bedroom, pillow in hand and see you studying for an upcoming exam and offer to help you study, on the condition he gets to cuddle you while doing so. Nine out of ten times you’ll agree. After all, he makes it hard to refuse when he’s pulling every trick in the book, knowing how to use your soft side against you to get his way, anything for an extra cuddle.  

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?) 

⭐️ 2/10, Belphie is able to cook and clean, he’s not great at it but not too terrible either. He’s very specific about keeping his bed clean though, and enjoys the smell and feel of freshly washed linen. That’s one thing he’ll do with no complaint, aside from that he puts minimal effort into anything else unless it comes to you and Beel. If you wanted him to make you something, Belphie would gladly do so, nothing fancy or restaurant worthy but it will sate your hunger and taste pretty good. (Master of grilled cheese sandwiches as Beel has asked for his fair share of them). It takes a lot of time for him to come to a decision of commitment, he enjoys the idea of settling down and having someone so close to him but it equally scares him sometimes. He’s getting better at communicating his feelings. In his mind he knows he wants this, he acts shy about it and may not admit it as readily as you do but his actions convey everything his words do not. 

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

⭐️ Not the most pleasant thoughts that he sleeps on, and he would sleep on it a lot before making any kind of drastic decision regarding what to do. He toils, sits on it, truly thinks if it’s what he wants, of course it's not. But what more could he do? Belphie is pretty upfront about his decision, and delivers the news quickly. He doesn’t leave you in confusion, he explains his reasons concisely, although while expressing those very reasons he’s trying to hold back the surge of emotions welling up within himself. He’s not perfect when explaining and stumbles over his words, falling over himself when trying to express things and the scattered thoughts and feelings make it even harder. He decided to be quick and cold about it. To not let anything linger and remain ambiguous, Belphie understood perfectly well that it’s easier said than done. He truly wonders if his explanation is for you- or more for himself. After the breakup he will act as if he doesn’t care; it couldn’t be further from the truth and will be caught in those sad naps for a long while. 

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quickly would they want to get married.)

⭐️ Belphie feels a very close bond to his siblings, a bond he thought would never compare to anything else, especially like the bond he shares with Beel. He never realized that he could experience something so precious and deep in a different way, a relationship that is immense with someone else. You disproved so many things, including his misconception and belief that he would never be able to connect or commit to anyone due to seeing no point. That’s what he believed of most relationships, shallow and pointless. He had his family, there was nothing else that mattered, until slowly and steadily you approached his heart. As long as it’s you, he would commit in a heartbeat, maybe he understood that even more after forming a pact with you. He feels connected to you, even down to your very soul. Maybe marriage isn’t such a bad thing, it’s a symbol, a testament to being yours and you, his. It’s a bond that would be exclusive to him. Something precious, new and unique. An expression to all of his feelings, marriage suddenly becomes a thing that lives in his thoughts. 

G = Gentle (How gentle are they? Both physically and emotionally.)

⭐️ Early on, Belphie held more hostility than anything. Could anyone really blame him with everything considered. He was rough around the edges early on in the relationship, foreign and unfamiliar were all the feelings and gestures he wanted to convey. The closer you got, you easily began to see the shift, the different side of him. One that is endlessly gentle, caring and sincere. A side that you didn’t expect him to hold, one that became more prominent the more he healed. Emotionally Belphie is soft, understanding and willing to compromise for your happiness. Although you appreciate it, you also remind him and explain that there has to be a limitation to his compromise sometimes. Physically he is gentle, not that he even has the energy to be rough all the time. Especially when it comes to you, he knows how he hurt you and regrets it. He swore to himself he would never do that again, due to this you always find his touches to be careful, calculated and generally clumsy. 

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?) 

⭐️ Loves hugs, similar to cuddling, it’s a comfort and welcomed affection. He likes hugs because they give him closeness to you and an excuse to nuzzle his head into the crook of your neck. Taking a break to ‘rest his eyes’ or to just calm down and recharge to find the energy to power through the day half awake. Half the time the hug just turns into an excuse to fall asleep while holding you. There have been more than a few times when he surprises you from behind, wrapping his arms around you with a hug and after a while he just dozes off while standing up. Such things have become a daily ritual for Belphie, it doesn’t surprise anyone to see Belphie finding any excuse to be holding and hugging you. 

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-Word) 

⭐️ Belphie was surprisingly quick to drop the L-Bomb, the only difference is when he truly began to mean it. He said them more to placate and every so often use it to act cute. He’d say them, with a charming smile that never quite reached his eyes. At some point they actually became sincere declarations of his feelings, and longer just a cute phrase to utter meaninglessly. He’d act sweet, he’d end his good mornings and good nights followed by an “I love you”, even in his sleep Belphie murmurs and mumbles those little “I love you’s.” The turning point was seeing the change when Belphie uttered those words to you, previously he’d say them almost playfully and devoid of the actual endearment behind them. Until he would say them with a subtle shyness, a quiet pause as if preparing himself to say “I love you” that was when you knew he understood and felt what he was saying. 

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they're jealous?) 

⭐️ Does experience jealousy but the display of it comes about in a more abstruse way rather than an outright and easy one. His jealousy is silent, he doesn’t display those zealous reactions of one caught in the grips of the green eyed monster. He’ll have a sudden urge to be more affectionate, his displays of affection become more possessive in a gentle way. You’d feel Belphie holding your hand a little tighter than usual, he’d seem more grumpy when seeing you interacting with someone he doesn’t like and suddenly be bold enough to kiss you in front of everyone. He never crosses the line, nothing in the territory of extremity but he will do it often and become more forthcoming with affection especially in front of certain people to make a statement. 

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

⭐️ Belphie gives soft kisses, they’re sensual and light. Little pecks that are gentle, sometimes he’ll catch you off guard and accidentally boop your nose which causes him to show you an adorable awkward smile as he tries again. He always kisses your face, mostly your forehead and lips. He also enjoys giving you kisses on your neck and shoulders while he’s snuggling into you, he especially likes it when you kiss his neck. Especially when you’re all cuddled up and he feels those little affectionate kisses and nips on his neck, he’ll laugh from the slight tickle returning every kiss you give at least two fold. Expects a good morning and a goodnight kiss because he says it makes them better, it will make his day better knowing that he got his good morning with a kiss from you, and he knows he’ll sleep even better knowing you kissed him goodnight. 

L = Little Ones (How are they around children?)

⭐️ Belphie wouldn’t exactly say he’s fond of them. He doesn’t have any visible hatred or dislike for children, it’s more discomfort than anything else. Belphie gets antsy and uncomfortable whenever they cry, whine or refuse to sit still. He gets tired just watching them, interacting is an entirely different game. Like when a child will ask the same question various times and just keep asking why to every single answer he provides. He just wants to sleep but they won’t let him. Belphie had never really considered having any of his own. Marriage drifted into his thoughts a few times, and children seemed like it could possibly come with the territory, of course your opinion being important before coming to such a decision. Though Belphie thinks it would be tiring but impossible not to love them even when they’re driving him up the wall and away from his precious sleeping time. 

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

⭐️ He's not a morning person at all. It's damn near impossible to actually get him up and functioning. Having to snooze his alarm for the umpteenth time in attempt to get the groggy little bedhead up whose only response is “Another hour…” of course you never give him an hour, you give the courtesy of 5 minutes or else you know he will not attend RAD that day and Lucifer would have his head for that. Eventually after enough pleading, beckoning and soft little whispers he'll get up, sporting the most ridiculous but equally cute bed hair you've seen yet. Although the troubles do not stop there you have to keep an eye on him to prevent Belphie from going into that goodnight again. You do admittedly find him tottering around and trying to get dressed while in the midst of his sleepiness all uncoordinated and groggy to be a little entertaining. 

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

⭐️ Belphie’s evenings are relaxed if he’s not sleeping or drifting off then he’s reading your book over your shoulder, watching whatever you’re watching, stargazing or just shuffling about for some of your attention. He has the habit of rearranging his very many pillows and bed on a nightly basis depending on his mood. He’ll do this as a part of his nighttime routine. It’s cute to watch him scuttle about while rearranging the bed and his very many pillows. Honestly speaking, you don’t think you’ve ever had a more comfortable sleep. Belphie is a true connoisseur of comfort. While laying together Belphie will talk about the stars and some of the founding legends linked to them, his voice is soothing to listen to as he explains the story in an easy to listen manner, interesting enough to keep you engaged until he sees you drifting off.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while and reveal things slowly?)

⭐️ Belphie was forthcoming with basic things including his likes and dislikes, simple things that he didn’t feel pried too far into his thoughts or feelings. If you asked about something that required him to reveal too much of his innermost thoughts Belphie would stealthily steer the conversation elsewhere to avoid answering or would give a shallow and insincere answer that came to mind first. Slowly he felt safe enough, trustful enough to impart to you his more intrinsic thoughts. Belphie held back a lot, stopped by his own hesitation and fear, He worried how you would react to some of his honest worries. Things like the immense guilt he holds over things that really weren’t even remotely his fault. Entrusting you with the things he kept buried within himself was nothing short of liberating. Belphie knew he could truly trust you to keep your word, and his secrets safe. After the little hurdle Belphie shared everything with you.  

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?) 

⭐️ When it comes to anger it’s pretty dependent, depending on who did what will tell you a very different story in their personal experience with Belphie. Belphie can be the slowest to anger, or can rival Satan for the title of Avatar of Wrath with how quick his rage is to spark. His anger is fierce, frightening and all consuming. Anything that brings harm to his brothers, especially Beel is the fastest way to find yourself on a trip to the afterlife. These are the things that trigger him so severely that you don’t even know what hit you- until…well, Belphie does. Aside from his outright triggers it takes a lot to work him up and get him angry. Belphie will get irritated, passive aggressive and complain that being angry takes too much energy. 

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing or they kind of or forget everything?) 

⭐️ He has an exceptional memory for what matters. Especially when it comes to you. You’re often surprised with little gifts, things you saw and thought were quite cute. You mentioned these things in passing but nevertheless Belphie remembered. He also knows that you like gestures, things such as when he leaves notes for you, sometimes he found snacks and shared them between you and Beel but remembered how much you liked them. Things you mentioned in passing are always being recorded in a mental note for things he can do for you. Sometimes it surprises you, when you go out and get something to eat he’ll pick out all the things you don’t eat and it surprises you everytime. The only time he won’t remember something is if it was mentioned when he was half asleep and was a little too far gone from the waking world to recall them. However with the amount he always remembers you never mind. 

R = Remember (What is their favourite moment in your relationship?)

⭐️ It is a hard decision to choose a single favorite because there is so much he appreciates, so many moments and memories, so many things he has shown of himself to you. If he tries to think of favourite moments one of the first he’d think of is when he confessed, and when he discovered you shared the same feelings as him. Following the fondness of those memories, many of your mutual firsts and the very first time you ever told Belphie you loved him. Amongst the other moments that one would be the most special and dear to him. He can recall every detail of it so clearly, it was such a normal day up until that moment when it became the most fondly looked back on. He had his head in your lap, you softly stroked his hair as you would with a cat and listened to him rambling on about some legends he’d find out about the human world constellations and which ones he liked the most. He mentioned these legends while watching the constellations that were visible from the attic, some random music played from your D.D.D. Human world music that Belphie took a liking to, you watched him explain everything with a calm passion. You smiled while listening, and interrupted him with the words of “I love you.” 

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

⭐️ Belphie holds a lot of regret over his past actions towards you, considering everything he did. Even after your utterances of forgiveness, he is the one who cannot forgive himself. He is very protective of you, it might be a way to over compensate although he is subtle in his protection. Indistinct gestures that on the surface show no other meaning and yet in a heartbeat it can change to something blatant. He is willing to stand against anyone or anything all for your sake. You’ve admonished him for this, not because of him protecting you but simply over the fact that he is reckless while doing so and has little to no care for his own wellbeing. Belphie always reassures you, he’s fine and will be fine. He feels the need to remind you that you’re human, you’re far more fragile than he is and he doesn’t need to be protected the same way they do. You never really listen because when it comes down to it- your first thought is to protect Belphie and nothing else. He gets frustrated with this but deep down really appreciates that you protect him. 

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

⭐️ Belphie is a low energy boi, but that does not equate to being lazy. He adds effort into every date he plans even if it’s a simple movie night. He does work up the energy to go out and wander around town with you for dates, he usually researches in advance to see where everything is and to prepare for it in the sense of knowing where to go. Belphie, in his own way, adds effort to everything big and small. If it’s a stay in date, he’ll make sure to fluff the pillows so they’re extra comfy for you, and make sure he has the movie saved for offline play just in case. He never knows if Levi is downloading or playing a game that’s gobbling the wifi or if Lucifer will string Mammon from the ceiling using the wifi cable AGAIN. He’ll safeguard the snacks for the date from Beel and make sure that everything is as perfect and cozy as it could be in order to spend time with you. 

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

⭐️ He’s a bit of a messy baby, he’s usually too busy sleeping to care about the mess that’s accumulating aside from his bed. Although when you’ve pulled the thirteenth mug out of his room and have to go mug hunting just to have something to put your morning beverage into you know it’s time for another clean. It’s a bit much having to go to the attic for things like mugs and spoons and it annoys the brothers to no end. Other than the dishes dynasty in his room, he is the blanket hog between the two of you. Belphie likes to be a snug bug, and has mastered the art of turning himself into a sushi roll with the blanket while leaving you stranded in the cold. Thankfully you can say that his bad habits aren’t truly bad, more annoying than anything. If there was a bad habit that you’d rate as the worst- it’s when Belphie is too quick to jump to conclusions and become completely non verbal when he’s angry. You’ll know you’re getting silent treatment but you won’t know why until his sulking spell is over. 

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?) 

⭐️ His appearance is not that high on his list of priorities. He’s got better things to do. Belphie does put effort in, more so for you than himself. Though you could never really call him vain. He’s not one to spend hours upon hours with a beauty routine nor does he do any regular spa treatments unless Asmo has forced it upon him or like sneaking in and painting his nails. Although you took over that from Asmo and Belphie is more than happy to have you paint his nails. Belphie will brush his hair, but fails to see the point when it turns into a tousled mess of bed hair again after a nap. To combat this, and to treat him like the pretty princess he is, you’ve taken to brushing his hair everyday. While not vain, it’s not to be mistaken with not being hygienic. Belphie refuses to neglect himself in that aspect; it's just when it comes to little details like hair or nails he doesn’t care that much. His nails aside from the painting could use more TLC considering he has a nasty habit of biting them short and can become grumpy because of biting them too short. You do argue that he can give himself more care but he says there’s no point. (But an exception is when he dresses up for dates and special occasions and you appreciate it even more knowing how much effort he put into it.) 

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

⭐️ You know all too well how Belphie takes loss and that he does not deal with it well. He’s said it time and time again how he feels this constant emptiness after losing Lilith. For a long time he doubted that he’d ever feel complete again without that gnawing anguish that always haunted him.  Her absence will always haunt him, or so he thought. Belphie discovered that serene feeling of completion in a different way, with a sense of peace he hadn’t felt in a long time. One where he can find solace, he’ll always explain your presence in his soul is akin to a winter day nap. One under the winter sun that warms the skin, while covered with the safety of the blankets. It’s warm, calm and feels like home. A peaceful place where he can find consolation and repose. Now that he knows these feelings, losing you would tear him apart. He’d feel lost and unsteady without you. Sometimes the idea of losing you scares him and he voices his worry, his insecurity that he couldn’t bear to part with you for any reason. 

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them)

⭐️ His favourite gift from you was this nifty thing called something along the lines of a snugget? A snoobie? A huggle? A snoodie? He doesn’t remember but essentially it’s a blanket combined with a hoodie. The way he LIVED in it until it was threadbare and quite literally falling apart at the seams. You had to buy him another one because he refused to part with the old tattered one until he had a new one. It was a custom design that you filled with cute pictures of sheeps and stars, he insisted that should you ever give him a gift going forward it had to be one of those. One regret was the whole wrestle it took to convince Belphie to get out of it to be washed, it was a true hassle because Belphie kept refusing to part with it. Eventually you convinced him to a weekly wash and he’d agree to parting for only that long. He’d wait around and constantly ask if it’s done, if he could wear it yet and why it hadn’t dried yet. Belphie complained and basically begged Solomon to create some potion or powder or something that would clean it while he was wearing it. Solomon so eloquently phrased it as Belphie wanting dry shampoo for blankets. 

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn't like, either in general or in a partner?)

⭐️ There are a few pet peeves and things that he just could barely stand. An obvious thing is hygiene, it’s a given for everyone. But Belphie’s bed is essentially his sanctuary and he likes it to always be clean, smell nice and it must stay neat. Sure even Belphie is guilty of eating on his bed sometimes but you’d never find a crumb afterwards. He also loves snuggling and wants to smell nice for you :)

⭐️He doesn't like people who disregards his family or seeks to hurt them in any way. Mess with them and it’s pretty much game over. He would never, ever condone that kind of disrespect unless it was against Mammon but only sometimes. Belphie does have standards. 

⭐️He HATES arrogance those who walk around with a lot of it especially when it’s unfounded and they believe themselves to be the best thing to ever grace the Devildom. Belphie is used to the frequent comments that borderline arrogance from Asmo and Mammon but he knows it’s on the line of arrogance and confidence but people who push others down while pretending they’re so high and mighty just make Belphie want to tear them down. 

⭐️High energy people who try and force him to operate with the same level of energy when he’s just a tired boi. 

⭐️People who invade his personal space without warning and or invitation, nothing grates him like a person who walks in without knocking. 

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habit of theirs?) 

⭐️ Considering just how much time Belphie spent sleeping on the daily it’s definitely not a stretch to believe that you know more of his sleeping habits than his awake habits. He mumbles a lot, talks and whines in his sleep. Sometimes it’s incoherent nonsense that makes you question what dreams he’s having and other times it’s his honest thoughts and feelings. The amount of love confessions you’ve heard from Belphie in his sleep. It warms your heart because even in his sleep he’s still thinking about you. On rare occasions you can even hear Belphie carrying a full on conversation in his sleep. He’s also an active sleeper and moves around a lot while fast asleep. He shifts into a completely new position, almost trying every corner of his bed to find out where is the most comfy. You find the equivalent of Belphie flipping the pillow over but in a full body sense because he’s someone who truly knows the real value of the other side of the pillow and all its wonders.

Taglist: @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf

[ereana]

Alhaitham X Cyno - If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to flirt by giving me books.

The first book arrives on Alhaitham’s desk two weeks after he finally steps down from the role of Acting Grand Sage. There is the possibility that it was left there earlier as he’s been on leave the past two weeks and it’s the first time he’s set foot in his old office. However, a quick glance shows no sign of dust, the pages are crisp leading him to conclude that the book has been dropped off in the past few hours.

Unfortunately, it is his first day back so he can’t spare the mystery too much thought; merely noting the title as one he’d been interested in purchasing for himself before turning his attention to other matters. Namely, untangling the bureaucratic mess his replacement had left for him. Alhaiham clicks his tongue in irritation, his handover file had been very clear and he’d even put aside a few hours to walk through some of the more difficult tasks of the job. 

He sets the apparent gift aside and gets to work, making a mental note to complete an evaluation of Bandi’s performance for Human Resources. Despite his annoyance it is a welcome relief to submerge himself in the dull, easy duties of the Grand Scribe after nearly eight months as the temporary head of Sumeru’s government. As he starts to restore order to his office Alhaitham can only think of three benefits to his tenure as Acting Grand Sage.

One, his opinion that becoming a sage would not contribute to a peaceful life has been proven true. There will be no need to wonder over what ifs in his old age.

Two, the increase to his salary.

Three, it had afforded him the rare opportunity to work with two individuals whose company he enjoyed. Lord Kusanali was fair, knowledgeable and ambitious in her plans to change Sumeru into a better country for all of its people, even the ones who did know accept her as their god. What she lacked in experience she more than made up for in her drive and wisdom.

Then there was Cyno.

Alhaitham flicks a glance over to the book sitting innocently amongst the stacks of paper. It’s a nonfiction text about the history of Watatsumi Island.

Cyno, he thinks with a degree of exasperation, is a conundrum. One which Alhaitham has yet to fully solve despite devoting many hours contemplating the subject.

The second book appears three days after the first.

This one is wrapped in plain brown paper and left on his doorstep. Alhaitham nearly steps on it in his sleepy early morning haze, but luckily he spots it in time to prevent such a travesty. There is no tag or other indication who it is for but as Kaveh is still trying to keep his current living situation secret Alhaitham assumes it is for him. Peeling off the wrapping reveals a collection of essays penned by several of Fontaine’s leading engineers centered on the subject of airship design.

The familiar pulse of intrigue makes him open it and, without sparing a glance to his surroundings, Alhaitham makes his way to work with his head buried in his new acquisition. If his headphones pick up the slight rustle of leaves as he walks down the street he gives no sign of it beyond the smallest curl to his mouth.

The third book takes longer to appear. Three weeks in fact.

Alhaitham is in a sour mood when he finds it. Despite his best attempts scholars are still tracking him down with an eagerness that matches some of the matra. They barge into his office, book up any and all appointment slots and accost him in the halls to plead their cases. No matter how firmly or how often he reiterates that the power of the Grand Sage now lies with someone else they still come to him. Complaints, please for advice, unsubtle offers of influence that he makes a record of to file a report on later; he can’t get away from them.

Even the replacement sages seek him out on the excuse that as one of Lord Kusanali’s trusted people his opinions are worth listening to. When he dry points out they could contact Lord Kusanali herself for such things they protest about bothering the archon with such minor issues. Privately Alhaitham thinks that Lord Kusanali would be happy to speak to her council of sages considering she hand-picked them herself but refrains from mentioning it. The last time he voiced a criticism to one of the new sages the woman had nearly resigned in a show of penance.

As a result it takes him a few moments to find the offering. Once again wrapped in brown paper it sits on a high shelf in a tucked away corner of the House of Daena, a little known spot that Alhaitham flees to when he needs some peace and quiet.

The book is a lengthy poem written in one of the lesser known languages of Liyue.

Alhaitham runs a finger over the title but does not open it. Instead he leaves his sanctuary, striding purposefully towards the exit.

He finds Cyno in the Razan Garden. The General is perched on one of the thick branches of the Divine Tree staring out across the first and Alhaitham uses his vision to teleport next to him. He drops the book in Cyno’s lap before sitting down beside him.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were trying to flirt by giving me books.” He states calmly as though his heart hasn’t been racing from the moment he found the newest gift.

Cyno peers up at him through thick white lashes feigning confusion for a second — a second which causes ice to form in Alhaitham’s veins at the thought that he’d miscalculated — before it melts into a grin. 

“When did you realize it was me?” 

“I had suspicions from the first and was sure after the second. You were one of few people with access to my office who would also be aware of when I was returning from leave. There aren’t many people in the Akademiya who could move about so stealthily that I wouldn’t be able to find any trace of them. That number becomes even smaller when it comes to knowing what I would enjoy and what books I don’t already have in my personal library or in the House of Daena. You were also away on a mission for three weeks which is the gap between the last book and this one.” Alhaitham lists off, neglecting to mention that he had counted every day of those three weeks until Cyno was back in the city. “And you let me hear you outside my house so if this was meant to be a surprise then you’ve failed.”

Cyno doesn’t deny it. If anything he looks satisfied about being caught.

“An impressive display of deduction.” He says and Alhaitham is helpless against the spark of warmth in his chest at the honest praise. “But of course since the scribe claims to know better than other mere mortals will he please enlighten me as to why he thinks I did this?” 

Alhaitham is not an idiot. He sees the mirth in ruby red eyes and hears the teasing note in Cyno’s voice as he leans forward, intruding on Alhaitham’s personal space. There has never been a more welcome invader.

“Undecided. There are several options and I need more evidence before settling on a definite answer.” He narrows his eyes and closes the distance between them even more, until he can see the wet sheen on Cyno’s lips. “But I would say if flirting had been the intention I would have expected the General to be more upfront about his intentions given his propensity for decisive action.”

A challenge. As it always is with them.

And Cyno rises to it beautifully, reaching out to pull Alhaitham into a kiss that steals the breath from his lungs.

The third book drops to the ground with a thud as Alhaitham’s hands are much too busy to catch it as it slides off Cyno’s lap.

[artemis-fowl-incident-report]

Welcome to my throwback day contribution!

So I did a post a while back talking about what I would have done with the Fowl Twins books, and a subsequent chapter by chapter breakdown for the second book. And thus, as my throwback, I'm gonna break down what I would have done for "Deny all Charges" aka the third one.

(Just to preface, I never finished the third book. I dont know what Eoin was doing there, but I wanted no part of it)

Chapter 1

The Twins have recently turned 14. Following the trend of his character development from my version of book 2, Beckett has really come into his own, doubling down on his talent for engineering and languages, and is actively working on writing his first children's book (since he found that, with all his passion for the "Alien Pooping Boy" books, he might as well try writing all his ideas for himself). Beckett also keeps bees now, since he can talk with them, and bees are one of the only creatures that consent to their domestication by humans. Myles is as snarky as ever, but is a bit less vicious about it, since he's begun realising how hurtful some of his statements can be.

The boys are in Italy with their parents, visiting their Uncle Foxy and his boyfriend, one Giovanni Zito (because I said so). They're just discussing when Artemis will be returning from Mars when the boys get a message. The Crown of Frond they saved from the last book has been stolen from the Section 8 archives. The trail leads to Venice, so the boys head over to investigate.

They tail behind the fairy thief who they believe stole the item as they twist and turn through the city until they come to a church. Just as they get there, however, the building blows up. No one is hurt, but they can only assume their target is dead.

Chapter 2

As they're preparing to head home, Myles keeps fretting about the explosion. He goes over the security footage over and over, until he remembers that many churches have catacombs under them. He keeps researching until he comes across footage of their thief being whisked away by a boat that looks like an ACRONYM vestal.

Cut to their fairy nervously pacing around a safe house, wondering if the money was worth it- BLAM! Beckett knocks down the door. Between the two of them (and Whistle Blower, who they keep threatening to feed the fairy to) their thief confesses that he stole the crown for one Lord Teddy Bleedham-Drye. The only other information he has is that he's going to be attacking a fairy magical research lab on the Devon moors soon.

They leave him, wandering through the streets to where Lazuli parked the shuttle. Beckett wonders if Artemis will be back in time for this adventure, and how it would be fun for them to get to solve this problem together. Myles is less enthused, noting that Artemis would probably get himself killed with his lack of self preservation instincts.

Chapter 3

A few days later, Lazuli, Myles, and Beckett (with Whistle Blower in his backpack) scale the Devonshire Moors. Since the area is well known for its military training camps they deemed it best to go by foot.

Lazuli is doing rather well since the last book, discovering she was from a secret branch of the Frond royal family. She's practically been adopted by Lily Frond, since most of Lily's family isn't great and she always wanted a sister. They may only be distantly related, but its the only family Lazuli's ever had (my heart!)

The magical testing facility is disguised as a Tor (big piles of granite that jut from the moors surface). But its clearly been attacked recently, with chunks taken from the surface, revealing the buildings structure underneath.

They head inside, learning that all the scientists and engineers have been kidnapped, and one piece of tech stolen. A magic amplifier. It was originally being developed for No1, as a way for him to cast spells on mass like healing the Amazonian rainforests or large groups of people during emergencies.

As the Regrettables leave they find themselves surrounded by the British Army. They're about to be fired upon, when a bright light shines down upon them. A ship descends, and a familiar voice in their ear pieces telling them to cover their eyes. There's a brilliant flash of light, and the army men drop to the ground, dazed and mind wiped of the last hour.

The spaceship's pod descends and two people step out. Butler and Artemis.

Chapter 4

Everyone (except for Myles) is overjoyed to see Artemis. He and Butler are rushed down the Haven with the Regrettables, and tearfully reunite with their friends, before buckling down and getting to business. (yes, Artemis is most pleased to be back on earth because he gets to wear suits again. Go figure)

Myles does not appreciate being side-lined like this, being treated like a child as Artemis and the others take over the situation. (Beckett tries to point out that they are actually children, but it doesn't go well for him). Its actually Lily Frond who gives them the means to listen in on the situation, having the keys to the office connecting to the situation room.

Turns out the machine is missing one key element, a very rare crystal that draws in magical energy from its environment and stores it within itself. They decide to contact Minerva about it, but it will take a day or so, since she's still a smuggler in this story, but a more high quality smuggler (also, Artemis is Godfather to Minerva's daughter. Its so sweet). Myles convinces Beckett they need to go to Minerva themselves, for which they steal a pod and head for the surface. (They leave Lazuli behind since they want her to, you know, keep her job)

Not that Beckett doesn't like a good heist, but he's usually the impulsive of of the two. He doesn't understand where this grim determination has come from with his brother. When pressed on the subject, Myles simply points out they shouldn't be overlooked like this.

Chapter 5

They turn up in New Orleans, and Minerva is very confused, but agrees to help when the situation is explained. Turns out, she has just the rock they are looking for, and a large chunk of it at that. The Twins buy it off her (because they got that Fowl money, you know what I mean?) and decide to take it to a secure location so Teddy cant get his hands on it.

Teddy gets his hands on it. He attacks the boys as they're transporting the crystal. During his big Villain monologue, he reveals he wants to be King of England, and he will use the fairy people to do so. He does, however, accidentally mention that a certain "she" will demand her share as well.

The twins are pushed from the pod, but not before Myles accidentally manages to get hold of a baby chunk of the crystal. They fall into the Atlantic Ocean, being picked up by a fairy rescue vestal.

Chapter 6

Back at Villa Eco, the twins get scolded by their parents and Artemis. Beckett kind of accepts it, but Myles refuses to. He runs away, reflecting on how all of this has been an absolute mess, that maybe they really should have left it to Artemis and the others.

When he catches up to him, Artemis and Myles have a heart to heart. Myles admits that he used to idolise Artemis, that he thought his big brother could do anything. But then he got himself killed at the end of the Last Guardian. Worse than that, he got killed from information Myles supplied him with after being possessed. He wants to be an equal to his brother, he wants to be close to him, but he felt his death stronger than anyone else. And then, when Artemis came back, he headed off to Mars like an Interstellar hipster on a gap year trying to "find himself".

Artemis apologises, explaining that he'd lived his first life for other people for so long, being the genius, the heir, Artemis Fowl II, that he didn't really know who Artemis was away from those things. He just wanted to keep his family safe, even though he had no idea how to be anything but a stranger in said family. That he should have reflected more on how him and Beckett were affected, that he does see them as his equals, and that he's sorry.

They hug it out. Myles is crying, Artemis is crying (I'm crying!)

Chapter 7

Much like the Death Star, it turns out this magical amplifier has a very specific (plot contrived) flaw. The crystal at its heart is not only rare, but its very fragile. If shot through with the right frequency, it will shatter and explode, all the magical energy contained inside it bursting out in one shot. However, they don't know what that frequency is, since they would have to run tests on some of that specific crystal vein.

Myles is happy to announce that he has one of said crystals, but will only hand it over to the LEP if they agree to let him and Beckett help. Their parents try and argue against it, but finally (finally) realise that nothing will stop their sons if theirs something they want to do and so elect to come along and help.

They fly across to Isle of Scilly to meet up with the rest of the team. Lord Teddy's manor is a virtual fortress, guarded by the fairy scientists and engineers he had kidnapped from Devon. They're clearly being mind controlled, and they have anti shield goggles on, so there's no way they could attack the house by air.

They had, however, contacted the Hortenut Seven, through Mulch, to dig them in. While they face off against Teddy, the dwarves will disable the guards, in exchange for Artemis backing their political interests (he has quite a bit of sway with the People since his resurrection, being viewed more like a Hero than the monster he used to be).

Artemis Sr and Angeline are actually surprisingly good help navigating the halls of Childblain House (turns out Angeline used to be a cat-burglar and Tim was, you know, a former crime lord so that helps). They reach the grand hall where the machine has been set up, the crystal humming away menacingly.

They each separate into one of three teams. Team A, Myles, Fowl Sr, and Butler (who between them are lugging a large box). They will be dug around the back of the hall by Mulch through the garden. Team B, Angeline, Juliet, and Beckett move to various positions around darkened hall out of sight ready to snatch the crown at the first opportunity. And Team C, Holly and Lazuli, who are shielded in the rafters with their guns ready if something goes wrong. Foaly is also there, in spirit, or rather on tech support, using his little bug drones from the Last Guardian to keep eyes on everyone.

Taking a breath Artemis, now wearing a gloop tie and glasses, steps into the hall.

Chapter 8

Artemis tries shooting at Teddy, but misses, being tackled and chained down by fairy guards for his trouble. When Teddy comes closer to inspect the intruder, he's told that this is "Myles" come back from the future to stop him. The maddened Lord wholeheartedly believes this, and takes it as a sign of his future victory. Since, if he hadn't won, there would be no need for "Myles" to have been sent back.

The crystal is changed up. Teddy is monologuing, strolling up have the crown on his head hooked up to the machine, regal in his throne

BLAM

He's shot in the chest.

Teddy looks over, betrayed, as Sister Jeronima, or rather her corps puppeteered around by Opal's ghost emerges.

All the fairies are suddenly released from the crowns spell and try to run, only to freeze back in place as Opal puts the crown on her own head.

Of course she has a villain speech, and of course she knows its Artemis. She talks about how he's always been small and pathetic, with a mind that could once rule the world but no resolve to do so.

She gets her guards to round up all the various Fowl's, Butler's and others. She hooks herself up to the machine, ordering Holly and Lazuli to take aim at their friends.

BOOM!

The crystal explodes, the machine Myles had set up vibrating at just the right frequency to release the magic trapped inside. There's chaos, Opal trying to order her fairy minions as the humans all rush forward to get the crown. Angeline is actually the one to get Opal, punching her in the face with a war cry of "that's for what you've done to my sons!" as Whistle Blower tears Opal/Jeronima's ankles to shreds.

But not before Lazuli goes to take a shot at Artemis, with Myles pushing him out the way.

Chapter 9

Between the two of them, Holly and Lazuli manage to heal Myles, where he wakes up in his big brothers arms.

It ends with them all sitting on the beach eating ice cream, waiting for the LEP to come sort out the mess and take Opal into custody.

They give the crown to Lazuli to look after, who resolves to hide it just as her ancestor Darach wanted.

Artemis tells his brothers how truly proud he is of them, and how he hopes this is the Fowl's legacy. He called an old man by Beckett, and a simpletoon by Myles.

The end

(I have been writing since 3am and now it is 7am. Why do I do this to myself? I have no idea)

[hcartcorruptcd]

ELLINGTON "EL" TAYLOR survived another night. The town would certainly feel less safe without a them close by. Not to mention, we can’t lose another LEVEL THREE MECHANIC, plus they’re only THIRTY-THREE years old. Crazy to think, it’s been TWO YEARS since their arrival, though in a place like Oblitus it can feel much longer. Good thing they’re staying at the RESIDENTIAL AREA. Almost like it happened yesterday, they still remember LONDON, ENGLAND, and where they came from. It’s no secret, they were LEAVING THE AIRPORT FROM A WORK TRIP when they came across the tree, and is still keeping them up at night. Truth be told, they’re awfully COMEDIC and DISTANT, but they’ve survived this long. Well, it’s almost day light again, maybe they’ll play SITTIN ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY by OTIS REDDING this time. Welcome to another night in Oblitus, please don’t open the doors. (fitz, 27, he/him, est)

BASIC INFORMATION

NAME: Ellington "El" Taylor GENDER: Non-binary (they/them) NICKNAMES: El BIRTHDAY: April 23, 1991 AGE: 33 ASTROLOGY: Taurus Sun, Taurus Moon, Cancer Rising SEXUALITY: Lesbian HOMETOWN: London, England BIRTHPLACE: London, England RELIGION: Agnostic EDUCATION: Master of Engineering (MEng) in Aerospace Engineering from Imperial College London RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

HEIGHT: 5'8' EYES: Green HAIR: Brown BUILD: Slim DISTINGUISHING MARKS: Large back tattoo of an airplane

PERSONALITY & BEHAVIOR

HOBBIES: Model Plane Building, Stargazing, Gardening, Cooking/Baking, Vinyl Record Collecting, Photography LIKES: Routine, Neatness, Reading, Meaningful Conversations DISLIKES: Rashness, Superficiality, Crowds, Loud Noises. QUIRKS: Fidgets, Slightly Mismatched clothing, Ritualistic morning routine, Collects small objects. STRENGTHS: Patient, reliable, empathetic, determined WEAKNESSES: Stubborn, overly-cautious, emotional absorption.

BACKSTORY:

you can find the full story here.

BACKSTORY BULLET POINTS ( tw: addiction. overdose. death. )

Family: Youngest of three; parents instilled a love for precision (mother was a nurse, father an engineer). Childhood: Quiet, introverted, obsessed with model planes; early fascination with aircraft due to father’s influence; El's mother hurts her back lifting a patient and begins on a tumultuous path with prescription pain killers. Teen Years: Developed a passion for aviation; earned a private pilot's license at 18; inspired by father's military stories to join the Royal Air Force (RAF). Tragedy: Just before leaving for basic training for the RAF, El's mother overdoses on heroin. Military Career: Served as an aircraft technician in the RAF, excelling in aircraft quality assurance; served for five years. Education: Left the RAF and earned a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Aerospace Engineering from Imperial College London in 2019. Post-Military: Worked as a global aerospace quality assurance engineer, conducting aircraft inspections. Personal Life: Had a serious relationship with Maude, a fellow servicewoman, but they broke up due to emotional differences. Trapped: On their way back from a work trip in 2023, encountered the mysterious tree in the road and became trapped in a strange town with no way out. Life in Town: Struggles with anxiety and the loss of routine but uses their problem-solving skills and military training to contribute to the community.

WHERE WAS YOUR CHARACTER WHEN THEY SAW THE TREE AND THE MURDER OF CROWS? WHERE WERE THEY GOING? WERE THEY TRAVELLING ALONE? HOW DID THEY FEEL?

As El returned from a work trip, their mind was still filled with thoughts of quality checks on the latest aircraft. The long day at the facility had drained them, yet the routine of their job had provided a comforting structure amid the chaos of the town they found themselves in. The evening air was cool as they drove, the familiar route easing their mind, but the calm was shattered when they encountered a massive fallen tree blocking the road. “Of course there’s a tree in the road,” El muttered, rubbing the back of their neck as they slowed the car. The sight felt surreal—like something out of a horror film rather than the mundane reality they had come to accept. The tree lay sprawled across the asphalt, roots exposed like the twisted fingers of a buried hand clawing for freedom. They parked a few feet away and stepped out, heart racing as the cawing of a murder of crows echoed ominously overhead. “What now?” El sighed, running a hand through their brown hair. The tree, large and menacing, seemed to loom over them, its presence a stark reminder that this town was anything but ordinary. El's analytical mind, trained to assess and diagnose issues in aircraft systems, began to work overtime. “This must have fallen recently,” they thought, observing the fresh splintering at the base and the disturbed ground. Their engineer instincts kicked in, but an unsettling feeling prickled at their skin. The air felt heavy, as if the tree had absorbed the darkness of the night. Stepping closer, El felt a wave of anxiety wash over them. The crows’ caws intensified, and they glanced up, trying to read the sky for answers. “It’s just a tree, right?” they reasoned, but something in their gut whispered otherwise. They took a deep breath, trying to shake off the discomfort that had settled in. “Just get past it, El,” they urged themselves, but the sight of the tree held them captive. The serene world of aircraft engineering felt a million miles away. “What if this is a sign?” El took a step back, the urge to turn around growing stronger. Their practical nature battled with an emotional intuition that had been sharpened by their experiences in this strange place. “No need to tempt fate,” they decided, finally pivoting on their heel, ready to find another route.

DESCRIBE YOUR CHARACTERS FIRST DAY/NIGHT IN TOWN. DID THEY ARRIVE IN THE DAYTIME? WERE THEY WARNED BY THE RESIDENTS? DID THEY HAVE TO BE RESTRAINED?

El's first day in town was a slow descent into confusion and dread. After arriving in the late afternoon, they felt an uneasy air of anticipation wrapping around them. The sun hung low, casting an orange hue over the streets, but as they drove through, an unsettling realization struck: every turn led them back to the same spot. It was as if the town itself conspired against them, trapping them within its confines. After several frustrating attempts to leave, El began to feel the weight of impending nightfall pressing down on them. Just as the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, they spotted a townsfolk wandering by—a woman with wide eyes, her demeanor frantic and wild. Desperation surged through El as they pulled over, stepping out of the car and rushing toward her. “Please, can you help me? I can’t leave!” they exclaimed, shaking her shoulders gently. “What is happening here? Why can’t I get out?” The woman’s eyes widened in alarm, and she took a step back, her hands trembling. “You have to stay away from the trees and—” she started, but El’s mind raced, logic slipping away as panic gripped their chest. In an instant, the serene engineer was replaced by a whirlwind of anxiety. “No! This doesn’t make sense!” El gasped, their breath coming in quick bursts. The world around them began to spin, shadows stretching and creeping closer, and they could feel the pressure building in their chest as the realization of their captivity hit home. “Breathe, El! Just breathe!” they muttered to themselves, trying to cling to the remnants of their calm nature, but it felt futile. The anxiety attack washed over them like a tidal wave, and they stumbled back, disoriented and gasping for air. Within moments, the townspeople had gathered, understanding the urgency of the situation. They moved in, gentle but firm, restraining El as the darkness thickened around them. “You can’t be out here when it’s dark,” one of them said, voice steady, almost soothing amidst the chaos. El's heart raced, and they fought against their hold, a mixture of fear and frustration coursing through them. “I just want to go home!” they cried out, but deep down, they knew that was no longer an option. The sun had set, and with it, the true nature of this place began to reveal itself. As night enveloped the town, El felt the reality of their situation sink in, the comforting familiarity of their engineer’s mind now a distant memory.

WHAT DID THEY LEAVE BEHIND? WHAT WAS THEIR LIFE LIKE ON THE OUTSIDE?

Before El found themselves trapped in the mysterious town, their life outside was one of structured routine and quiet heartache. As an aerospace engineer, El thrived in their work, meticulously overseeing quality checks on aircraft and collaborating with a dedicated team. Their days were filled with problem-solving and innovation, but the weight of a recent breakup lingered heavily on their shoulders. El's life was centered in London, where they lived in a cozy apartment adorned with model planes, vinyl records, and a small herb garden that they tended to with care. Although they cherished the serene evenings spent stargazing from their balcony, contemplating the vastness of the universe, the shadows of their past relationship cast a long pall over their thoughts. El had recently broken up with Lila, an artist whose vibrant spirit had once breathed life into their more structured world. Their relationship had been passionate and creative, but the differences that once attracted them eventually created rifts that were too wide to bridge. Lila’s spontaneity and free-spirited nature often clashed with El’s need for stability and routine, leading to a heartbreaking conclusion. Their last conversation still echoed in El’s mind—an emotional farewell that left them feeling adrift, yearning for the connection they had lost. Now, facing the horrors of their new reality, El felt the ache of what they had left behind—an unfulfilled life, a job they loved, and the memories of laughter and friendship shared with Lila. Those recollections became increasingly distant, tantalizing yet painfully unreachable, as they grappled with the chilling thought of whether they would ever return to that life or if they were destined to remain in this endless nightmare, haunted by both the town and the echoes of a lost love.

CONNECTIONS IDEAS

Mentor-Like Figure: El has bonded with an older resident who has been stuck in the town for much longer. This person could serve as a mentor, helping El navigate the strange rules and creatures that roam at night. Close Confidants: After two years, El has found people they trust deeply and they all rely on each other for survival. A Rivalry Turned Alliance: This is another resident who challenges El’s way of thinking, maybe someone more impulsive or emotionally driven. They clash over how to handle their entrapment, but after a crisis (like a close encounter with the night creatures), they realize that working together is the only way forward. Unspoken Romantic Tension: El develops a complex connection with someone in town who reminds them of what it is like caring for someone else romantically, sparking a mix of nostalgia and hesitation. Their connection could be subtle and unspoken for a long time, with moments of vulnerability and near-confession. The town’s dangerous environment could keep them from pursuing anything deeper out of fear of attachment and loss. Sibling Dynamic: El has taken a protective role over someone younger, perhaps a teenager or a young adult who stumbled into the town recently. This person could look up to El, relying on their patience and problem-solving abilities. Resource Exchange: El has a transactional relationship with another resident (neighbor?), where they trade resources, skills, or information. This person might be particularly good at scavenging or making life in the town bearable, while El offers practical engineering skills, such as maintaining equipment or building makeshift defenses against the night creatures. Newcomers: After being trapped for two years, El encounters a new arrival who refuses to accept the reality of the town, mirroring El's own initial reaction. The newcomer’s optimism might trigger memories of when El still believed in escape, creating a bittersweet dynamic.

LEARN & LISTEN: pinterest, playlist.

[tyanis]

Poll: Which TEAM of male Resident Evil characters would solve an escape room the quickest?

And now for a REAL competition. While traveling around town, the gang spots an advertisement for a new escape room attraction. Essentially, a room you and some friends get willingly locked into where you have to solve various puzzles to get out.

One could argue that the majority of games these people have been in are just one big escape room. Therefore, nearly everyone here is good at this to at least some degree.

So, to make things interesting, they decide to go in with only teams of two with the agreement that both parties must work together and contribute equally. And no using brute force to get out.

This will be a speed competition as it's unlikely any team would actually get stuck...

Each team will take turns competing in the same room with The Merchant timing them and wondering how he got dragged into all this...

And please welcome Lucas who is filling in for Krauser while he's wandering around in the wilderness.

Team 1: Heisenberg & Lucas!

Team 2: Steve & Ethan!

Team 3: Piers & Chris!

Team 4: Luis & Jake!

Team 5: Hunk & Wesker!

Team 6: Leon & Carlos!

Winners go on to face the winners of the female poll so make sure to vote in both!