#demise of big oil

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

EV sales in China grow 68% in November as global exports skyrocket

EV sales in China grow 68% in November as global exports skyrocket

P.S. The American legacy media tries to create a deceptive impression that the electric car market is in crisis, but in reality, the global crisis has come for legacy ICE vehicle manufacturers who are not ready for the technological competition in the modern electric car market...

[two3dist]

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[ahmedtrade]

WTI Oil Falls Below $70 a Barrel First Time Since Late 2021

[sky-jc]

COVID's ECONOMIC EFFECT ON OIL

Skyler Chang (Friday @12:00pm, ID#43831931), Kyle Kao (Monday @3:00pm ID# 56763178), Joe Hunt (Friday @12:00pm) ID# 79453995)

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

P.S. Another small fact that shows that the customs tariffs introduced by the EU will not stop the expansion of Chinese EV manufacturers in the global car market...! New Zealand has no obligation to bail out lazy legacy automakers...like VW...! It's just realpolitik that the Germans love so much when it comes to their politicians' business dealings with the Kremlin...

Another day, another new EV from China!

This is the Leapmotor C10 selling in New Zealand for $55k ($32k USD) with a range of 420 km (261 miles).

I pick one up soon and will give it the usual puntastic treatment but wanna know if there's anything specific anyone wants to know?

[002yb]

Fairtytale!AU

It might be that Jason will always be a cautionary tale, his life twisted into something dark and terrible.

No one knows him, but there are rumors of him. A beast that haunts an abandoned manor in the deepest parts of the woods that used to make up Old Gotham before madness drove everyone to settle further away

People tell stories of him—exaggerated tales for convenience. Warnings for children to mind their guardians; threats to wayward kids to not be reckless, angry, selfish. Hurt. Something scary and horrific and violent. A punishment for criminals and a caution to travelers to stay away from the curse of the old lands lest they be killed by the beast who guards it.

Tim doesn't believe it, despite Bruce telling him otherwise.

Because Bruce has seen it for himself. It's a monster, a beast.

The mystery of why the beast takes residence at the old Wayne manor haunts him though. He can't argue that he isn't curious about all the secrets that make up centuries of darkness and frenzy. For as meticulous as the Wayne family was about documenting their history, there's precious little in regards to that time

In the time before? Plenty. Blessed land before it was cursed.

Much like the land Gotham currently has roots in. It's like the curse follows them. The warning signs being there and that being what Tim hones in on because Gotham is their home; they need to protect it.

Which Bruce is doing to the best of his abilities. He's sustaining everyone, but it's a temporary fix. He's not addressing the root of the problem. Not that they know what that is...

Which is why Tim wants to explore Old Gotham to find clues about what brought about its demise so that they can preempt New Gotham's downfall.

Naturally, Bruce refuses. Because he'll take care of everything on his own. And in typical Bruce fashion, he forbids Tim to leave.

Of course this prompts Tim to do just that.

But it's fine because of course Dick notices Tim's absence and chases after him in typical big brother fashion.

Something something, Tim unraveling the mysteries of a lost generation after breaking into the old Wayne manor and sifting through their records in the library.

Only to be interrupted by beast!Jason, who is every bit the monster everyone spins their tales about.

At which point, fade to black and back to Dick. Who is a blood witch in this AU, for reasons. Mainly for magic aesthetic, but also for story purposes. Maybe.

Something something Dick being able to sense curses. And knowing in his soul, even from a distance, that Old Gotham is something wretched. It's forsaken land, steeped in dark and twisted magic. So unnatural it's been forsaken.

Which is what Dick warns Tim of, but of course Tim does what Tim wants.

Hence: Dick giving chase when he realizes Tim has stolen away to uncover some alleged mystery.

Something something Dick tracking Tim with magic (maybe from a protection thing being broken when Jason gets to Tim and Dick being able to follow that feeling?)

Anyway, Dick ends up at the manor. He makes an exchange of prisoner so that Tim can go home safely with all his stolen relics that hold hints of the truth behind Gotham's tragedy.

And, yeah. Tim rushes home, somehow with everything gained and arguably more lost.

He promises he'll be back for Dick though. He swears it. It's an oath. ;3;

That intro background aside, thoughts on Dick coming to Tim's rescue and fending off beast!Jason:

No thoughts, just Dick being sparked and alight with magic that cuts through the dark and that eats away at the fringes of the shadows that make up the beast.

It's Dick throwing himself into harm's way to protect what's his, facing off with a monster and somehow coming across even more vicious. A beast disguised as a man.

Only to realize that it's not another monster he's confronting

Because Jason is an abomination of nightmares and terrors, more shadow than form with only hints of something other—sometimes feathers like an oil slick or matted fur or gnarled scar tissue, but all Dick sees is a child, wrapped up in curses.

And Jason might bare his teeth in a snarl, growl so low it rattles Dick's bones, but through all the dark Dick sees eyes that are distressingly innocent. Lonely, scared, hurt—

Truth be told, Dick and Tim could both escape.

Dick chooses to stay. For Jason.

But Dick lets Jason think that he has Dick as his prisoner. It's a small concession in the grand scheme. Especially since Jason generally steers clear of Dick.

Just the visual of this monstrous beast being unsettled by some weird man that strolls into his home. And that man being more monstrous in nature than the beast can even pretend to be.

Seriously, just Jason prowling around the precipice of his own home to avoid Dick because Dick is weird and intense, always with the quiet observations and piqued curiosity; the gentle smiles and thoughtless conversations and mellow humor and—

Meanwhile, Dick observing how Jason exists at extremes, both beast and boy: prowling the perimeter of the manor, then sneezing at a flake of snow that lands on his nose. Bloody jowls from a hunt, but then sleeping in a spot of sunlight within the manor, curled small with nodes of dust caught in the air around him.

And...yeah. Just Dick bonding with Jason as he sets about trying to unravel the mystery of what cursed Jason, why, and how to undo it. Which Jason probably gets defensive over (the curse protecting itself?//Jason trying to protect Dick from getting cursed, himself??)

Soft moments with Dick sneaking up on Jason and startling him. Laughter ringing through the manor for the first time in forever because Jason might be a beast, but he startles like a cat - shadows puffing up like smoke around him. And Jason might snap and snarl in response, but Dick just gives him a pat and sees through the threat to the petulance beneath

Dick pulling open the drapes and letting proper light in for the first time in too long. Jason protests and shrinks away at first, especially because of how Dick looks when back lit by dawn. But then later Dick catches Jason basking in a spot of sun, soaking in the warmth. ;U;

Jason being wary of Dick's magic. Threatened by it, even. Only Dick's magic is bright and warm and hopeful so unwittingly Jason is drawn to it. He'll chase it, curl up with it. It's kinder than the curses he's wrapped in.

But it can be vicious, too. Which Jason sees when they hunt together. And Jason has such an adverse reaction to the violence in it that Jason spooks and gets lost in his curses and it takes a long time for Dick to coax him back out.

((Jason staying scared of the darker side to Dick's magic until Dick uses it to protect Jason ;A; ))

Something something the unnatural magic that’s made Old Gotham a forsaken place wearing on Dick somehow and impacting him in some way? Magic becomes a bit more wild (frenzied) so he has to stifle himself and that being a painful thing, but he endures for Jason?? Jason realizing and trying to force Dick out but Dick won’t be kept away from him???

Additional, scattered thoughts to wrap-up a scattered AU post, whoops:

Starting with some scene where Dick is exploring the manor and comes across what can only be a dungeon. And being so struck with sadness because there are scratches through the stone and stains that smell of blood. The desperation is palpable. Dick can still hear the echoing cries of a child in the air.

Actually, that shackle still being caught around beast!Jason's foot. Dick catching sight of it past the shifting of darkness and curses and faltering because the truth is too cruel

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

The blood witch bit being entirely based on an idea of 'blood weaving'. Where Dick weaves his own blood into a cloak. And when he pulls it over beast!Jason, Jason is himself again (if only while the hood is pulled up) ;U;

Ahhhhhh just the visual of them both sat on the floor with Jason peeking up at Dick from the shadows of the hood

And Dick offering a small, adoring smile despite how grotesque all of Jason's lingering abuse is ;A;

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

The way Dick's heart would break when he realizes that Jason cursed himself on accident—a protection spell gone wrong

A desperate attempt to save himself from pain and torture and loneliness.

He's a specter from bygone days, lingering proof of darker times. Where Joker lingered and used Jason for forbidden magic and left the husk of him to rot.

And Jason freed himself, but there was only ruin. Because by that point Joker fucked Old Gotham over and everyone was retreating.

Maybe Jason makes it home to the manor, but he's not the boy he was. Just a beast. And Bruce Wayne (not the same as present!Bruce??) traps this boy someplace just as dark as the grave he was left in by Joker. Shackled at his ankle or muzzled and left to die alone.

Because Jason came back wrong. Or because he was a threat to Gotham and its peace.

=======

This was from an ask I got back in January about a Beauty & the Beast AU. It's months late and kind of rough, but this has been a fun AU to mull over! Thank you for the ask. <3

[starryinkart]

[CLICK FOR BETTER QUALITY]

[Likes and Reblogs are appreciated!]

Hey guys!!! I said I would work on a Uzi human version to match with my N human version, so here it is!!! I decided to make her a mix of Japanese and Middle Eastern, since Nori means seaweed in Japanese and I’ve have a friend named Khan who was Middle Eastern irl!

Since you guys like the headcannons last time, have some about Uzi:

Uzi was born with blue eyes and black hair, like her parents had, though Khans eyes were a more icy blue. When Khan started to neglect Uzi, she decided to mimick the appearance of her mother instead, seeing her as a role model after everything cool she heard about her around the colony, dying her hair purple like her.

In this AU, Uzi knew her mother before she died for a short time as an infant. Of course, she doesn’t remember much, but she does remember the play dates she used to have with her cousin Doll anytime her aunt Yeva would come over.

Nori and Yeva were sisters, both genetically modified to have the solver inside of them, making Doll and Uzi cousins. Nori and Yeva knew the consequences of having offspring with the solver in their veins but were actively working on a cure before Noris demise.

Uzi, Doll, Lizzy and Thad used to be childhood friends, but after Nori died and Yeva began to pull Doll away from her cousin to protect her from any trace of the solver, Doll and Lizzy began to bully Uzi.

Uzi came out short, like her father Khan, whereas Nori was tall, partially due to the effects of the solver.

Uzi's favorite foods are Philadelphia Sushi Rolls, Shrimp Tempura Rolls, Shoyu Ramen, and Khan Plov (suprisingly)

Uzi's favorite dessert is Apple Cheesecake!

Khan and Uzi used to have a pretty wholesome father daughter bond, but when Nori passed, he distanced himself from his daughter around the time Doll and Lizzy started bullying her, due to fear the solver may have developed in his daughter. Unfortunately we all know what eventually happens in the series and how Khan picked the worst time in her life to try and rekindle a bond with her.

Uzi has a scar on her left shoulder from N stabbing her with his wing in the Pilot, but honestly she doesn't care if people see it, unlike N who's self concious about his scars, and she thinks it looks cool.

Once she begins to be taken over by the solver, her thirst for oil is uncontrollable, though she HATES the taste of it.

Uzi's favorite anime is Chainsaw Man, though N thinks it's to gorey.

N taught Uzi to fly with her wings, and it went...as well as you could expect the first few times, but eventually she learned.

Sometimes Uzi has moments where she doesn't remember certain events in the day like what she ate for breakfeast or what she did that day in school, and her mind sort of blips all over the place ever since her solver powers were activated. She doesn't know this, but whenever that happens the solver is slowly getting acustomed to her body, putting her conciousness to "rest" while it tries out her body.

N and Uzi's favorite activity is to watch the sun rise together from inside an abandoned building they have made their "treehouse" of sorts. V doesn't know about it, and it's filled to the brim with comfort items, furniture and decorations for whenever they decide to stay out too late and no make it back home to risk burning up.

Uzi's favorite animal is cows!

Uzi and N spoon each other often, even when they were just friends, because the warmth of their bodies makes them feel safe and loved.

Uzi's favorite subject is Science and anything to do with being hands on. She likes learning and school, but just "dislikes" likes and doesn't know how to speak to them without being bullied her peers with a passion.

Uzi can be very motherly and protective, and is actually very nuturing and kind underneath her edginess.

She'll NEVER tell V this to her face, but she's grown to love V as a big sister of sorts and cares about her as much as N.

Her favorite color purple. She thinks it makes her and N match look cool but you didnt hear that from her.

She likes alot of metal and hardstyle types of music, but acutally enjoy's N's upbeat and pop music from the late 1900's and early 2000's human era more than she lets on.

She doesn't like when N uses his deeper voice and whispers in her ear...it makes her feel...weird. But in a good way- wait what?

She loves to draw and totally doesn't have sketches of her, N and V as superhero anime characters, her and N building a neural network together in her sketchbook. EW. GROSS.

>> PS. This is part of my Murder Drones Skin and Bones AU!

I didn't know how to end this, but I will say Im totally doing the other characters! Next is V!

____________________________________________________________

ALSOOOOO…

THANKYOU ALL FOR 1,000 FOLLOWERS GUYS!!!

IM WORKING ON A BUNCH OF STUFF LIKE ANIMATIONS ON YOUTUBE, MORE AU THINGS, AND WORKING ON MY ABSOLUTELY FANFIC! I'm hoping to expand more on my comics on Tumblr like my @thedarknessyouhold and the Murder Drones universe as a whole, so stick around for some awesome stuff coming soon!

My commisions are also open! You can find them on my KO-FI HERE and HERE !

You can ALSO find updates and sneak peeks sometimes as well!

AND my LINKTREE HERE!

[ozzgin]

Soo I just got blocked by someone extremely upset by my demon king fic AI cover, and while it is entirely their decision and not my business whatsoever, I cannot help but marvel at the misguided sense of justice a significant percentage of Tumblr seems to display.

AI being used for downright vile, perverted content that should be reported and chased down? 😴

People reposting art without permission or credit? 😴

People selling AI art and/or advertising it as their own handmade work? 😴

Big companies using AI art instead of paying their employees and should be called out? 😴

Hobby writer who posts in their free time just included a cropped, minimalist AI image as their divider? 😡 Gross! Outrageous! This is what the world has come to! These occasional bloggers should be commissioning elaborate oil paintings for each and every drabble they post, otherwise they promote the demise of authentic creativity!

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

P.S. Nothing to worry about: In countries that do not have their own fossil fuel reserves, RENEWABLE ENERGY is the CHEAPEST AND MOST EFFICIENT ENERGY SOURCE ANYWAY! The fact that US "conservatives" want to turn into an energy Taliban and voluntarily gift the world energy market to communist China, these are the problems of these fake "conservative" idiots. Insidious "conservatism" that is based on lies and abandonment of common sense IS DESTINED TO FAIL...! 

“Against a backdrop of record-breaking heat and floods this year, the $22m endeavor, Project 2025, was convened by the notorious rightwing, climate-denying thinktank the Heritage Foundation, which has ties to fossil fuel billionaire Charles Koch” https://ow.ly/xuZX50PuxWV

[schraubd]

Losing Your Chevrons

Somewhere, an environmentalist wished upon a star: "I hate big oil. It's a blight on the universe. If only Chevron would disappear forever!" and a monkey's paw curled once. I was steeling myself to write about Loper Bright and my official welcome on behalf of the Con Law professoriate to the Admin Law professors joining the "burn all your lecture notes and start from scratch club", and then Trump v. United States came down. Even though the latter is a more immediate big deal and is closer to my expertise wheelhouse (I've fielded far more inquiries from former students asking "what is going on!" with respect to the Trump decision than any ruling in my entire career, Dobbs included), I really don't have all that much to say at this moment. That may change -- in fact, it almost certainly will, as I try to work this blog post into an essay -- but for now I'm going to lay off and just write what I planned to write about the demise of Chevron. My short version take is this: in many, many cases, we'll see little difference between before and after. This prediction, however, should not be confused with sanguinity. Rather, it is a recognition that judges are human, with the normal assortment of human interests, talents, and vices.  In most deep-weeds administrative law cases, where judges neither know nor care about the difference between, say, nitrogen oxide and nitrous oxide, they aren't going to actually do a deep dive review of the law from scratch. These issues are hard enough for a team of subject-matter experts with Ph.Ds in the hard sciences grinding away for months. For a judge with a J.D. from Hofstra who last took a statistics class in 11th grade? Forget about it. In practice, no matter what the doctrine purports to demand or what they claim to be doing on the opinion pages, judges will end up deferring to reasonable agency interpretations of the law unless they're howlingly off-base -- which, of course, is why we ended up with Chevron in the first place. Any objective observer of courts sees this sort of thing from judges all the time -- there are all sorts of cases where nominal "de novo" review is the furthest thing from, because judges simply find the topic boring, repetitive, or impenetrable (you can usually spot these cases by their use of the phrase "after careful review ...."). This will be what happens for many if not most cases on obscure rules in unremarkable issue areas. What will change is in those administrative rules on hot button issues of high-salience. Here, Loper Bright doesn't make judges any smarter, but does give them a green light to start substituting their judgment for expert agencies who at least have some measure of accountability to the political process. In other words, Loper Bright won't universally result in the substitution of inexpert judicial policymaking for the judgments of administrative agencies; rather, it will result in that substitution on an ad hoc and arbitrary basis whenever the judge who happens to be draw the case has an idiosyncratic or ideological hobbyhorse to ride. The administrative state will be able to carry on, with a cutaway for partisan judges to meddle more openly whenever partisan proclivities instigate an urge. So there's your consolation about the end of Chevron. Feeling better? I thought so. via The Debate Link https://ift.tt/ow8Pq4G

[honey-minded-hivemind]

hi again I hope you can do a yendere mer parents Scott and jean [ animated series ] [ Scott and jean are sirens, beautiful but deadly ] x baby reader and how would they react when they baby gets kidnapped by big game hunters who want to sell reader as a pet,but the hunters become the hunted.

Ohoho, that's good- Let's try it-

• The waters were deceptively calm. The water lapped at the boat, salty and green, while they sky was cloudy and tranquil. Birds cawed lightly overhead, fish swam by in shining schools, the wind smelled of salt and tangy ocean water, not a hint of rain... Yet there was a darkness on the boat, something sinister...

• Held within its bowels was a tank... and in the tank was a small siren pup, not even old enough to leave the nest. Its scales shone brightly, and its small hands were pressed to its face, trying to quiet its cries. And watching from the shadows, smiling cruelly and laughing, were the ones who put them there...

• The two were game hunters, humans who hunted the biggest, baddest, largest animals, and kept them as pets or stuffed them and kept them as trophies. Yet these ones were even worse, as they were poachers as well. They'd caught Reader while their parents were gone, infiltrating their nest and capturing them. Their hands had been rough, their nets biting and tight, their knives sharp and cold- It left Reader a trembling, crying shell, calling out for their parents and pod... And the two hunters were gleeful over having such a rare specimen. They had plans to sell the small siren to the highest bidder, be it a human who wanted a pet or one who wanted a taxidermied siren...

• Yet in the deceptive deep, Reader's parents hadn't forgotten them... No. They had found their nest ransacked, their pup gone, and the ugly scent of human in the wreck... And the two, snarling and crying, started the hunt. They swam for miles, going as fast as they could, not stopping for anything as they tracked their pup. The waters became colder and colder, going from pleasant to lukewarm to freezing. It didn't deter them, though. Their pup needed them, their baby was alone and possibly hurt, and they wouldn't rest until they were in their arms and their assailants dead and rotting...

• Approaching a large, floating vessel, they could smell the scent of siren blood on it, along with the sickly oil and metal that coated it. They could hear the humans above, gloating to each other of their catch, the finest specimen, a siren... They discusses how to keep it alive, or if they preferred, how to stuff and mount it... They didn't notice the two angry, murderous parents listening below, plotting their demise.

• A soft song started, longing and inviting, calling for anyone who could hear it to follow it. It wailed, loud and long, begging them to go to it, to embrace it, to fall in. And the two humans did just that, falling into the freezing waters, and right into the path of the siren pup's parents... It didn't take but a moment for the two to realize their fate, who had caught them- But it only took a moment to cut through their throats, to tear their limbs apart, to drag them under and down and to let them sink to their watery tomb... Their song became more joyous after that, promising safety and love and asking where their young one was, coaxing them to respond. And respond they did...

• Scott was the first to get onto the ship, changing from a siren to human, then helping to pull his mate up, the powerful Jean... They could hear the soft cries of their pup, their baby, echoing in the dark hull, and they ran as fast as they could down into the darkness. The ship stank of blood and death, bones and pelts and stuffed, dead creatures lining the rooms and halls. It didn't take them long to figure out what those humans had planned for their little one... Yet they smiled, all teeth, knowing those two were dead and gone, and that their little one would be safe in their arms soon. It warmed their hearts, making them chirp out for their pup.

• A scared, hopeful chirp came from a locked room, asking parents-mom-dad-help-here? Scott broke the locks, wrenching the metal in two, while Jean knocked the door down, sending dust into the air. The room was dark, only lit up by the lights of the tank... And sitting in the tank, scratched and bruised, was Reader... Jean was swiftly pulling them out, checking them for injuries, while Scotf was kissing their head and stroking their tail, cooing softly. Both parents kept it up, trying to look over Reader and trying to calm them, assuring then they were there now, they were safe, those nasty humans were gone...

• Once they made sure their pup was well enough to travel, they left the dark, stinking ship, sinking it and letting the ocean hide any evidence a pup or the humans who captured them... Swimming in the chilled brine, the two parents sang to each other and to their child, happy and loving and promising nothing would take them ever again. When their baby started to yawn, tired and exhausted, Scott held them while Jean lulled them under, sending them into peaceful dreams, and ensuring they wouldn't wake for the next several hours...

• The two swam for miles, going back home, calling out to their pod and telling them they were moving, to better, safer waters, and that their little one was safe. Their response was loud, joyful cries, the other sirens singing of warmer waters and plentiful food and bloody vengeance, their scales flashing in the darkness and their eyes bright and watchful... And the humans who heard the song shuddered, knowing it was a night of sirens, a night of blood, and any who crossed them would meet their doom at the hands of the Moon's children...

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

BYD Sealion 7 EV comes to Norway: The price of the Sealion 7 starts at NOK 469,900 ($42,150) in Norway. Source: cleantechnica.com

P.S. Tariffs on Chinese EVs will not stop demise of legacy ICE vehicle automakers...

[the-sonic-cafe]

Nutcracker (Sonic, Amy, Eggman)

Read the rest of it on Ao3 here: Sonic 12 Days of Christmas

Author's Note: I think this might be one of my favorite chapters I wrote for this story.

Jazzy Christmas music was piped through the speakers of the strip mall while crowds bustled in and out of different venues. Storefront windows showcased dazzling animatronic displays and a large, twinkling Christmas tree was placed in the center of the courtyard for all to admire as they passed.

Not that Sonic could enjoy the view. A stack of beautifully wrapped packages filled his arms. They were stacked high above the hero’s head, wobbling with every step he took.

“Come on, Sonic! We have a few more stores to hit!” Amy called ahead of him, bags hanging from her wrists.

“Remind me again why I agreed to do this?” he complained.

“Because you’re my friend and knew I was in need of a companion.” She then fell into a series of coughs which mysteriously sounded like it had the phrase ‘reverse psychology’ in it.

“What was that?”

“Nothing!” she waved him off. “Oooo look! Think Tails needs a new sweater?”

Sonic groaned but trailed behind her.

The next ten minutes passed by in a monotony of multicolored wools as Sonic was dragged from rack to rack. “Ooo maybe this one? Oh, but this one would bring out the blue of his eyes!” Amy held up the two sweaters, “Which do you think, Sonic?”

“Tails will like either, Amy,” Sonic said. In all honesty, whatever she picked up for him would inevitably end up black and covered in oil from his workshop.

Amy’s eyes continued to dart back and forth between the two sweaters. Sonic knew he had to do something or else they would be here another half an hour. “You know, now that I think about it, I think he’d prefer the green one.”

“You’re right! That’s the one!” Amy exclaimed, placing the other one back on the rack. Sonic let out a sigh of relief that was followed a second later by Amy’s gasp, “Look over there! Are those more sweaters? Let’s check those out before we decide on this one!”

NoooooooOOOOOOOO! This was torture! Amy really should have brought Miss V along. Vanilla would love to shop with Amy! Maybe he could get out of this? Claim a stomachache or that Eggman—

A loud shriek froze both hedgehogs in their tracks.

“What was that?” Amy asked.

“Beats me, but I’m going to check it out!” Sonic said, depositing all the packages into Amy’s arms.

“Hey!” she shouted, but he was gone.

He zig-zagged through the hoards of people until he came across a large crowd pointing and screaming. He followed their gazes up, up, and up until wide eyes landed on the biggest nutcracker he’d ever seen. Its face reminded him of a certain mad doctors with its big bushy mustache.

“Hello, holiday shoppers,” Eggman’s voice echoed through the area as the Egg Mobile floated out from behind the nutcracker. “This is your soon-to-be ruler of the world speaking to inform you that Christmas has been canceled!”

The crowd gasped and Sonic continued to push his way forward. He needed to get a bit closer.

“Let it be known this is what happens when you take a man’s eggs and ham for your frivolous festivities!”

There were a series of screams as the nutcracker’s hand swept the mall’s large Christmas tree off the ground and tossed it right into its awaiting mouth. Powerful jaws crunched the tree until nothing remained. Eggman’s laugh could be heard over the poor tree’s demise.

Time to make his grand entrance!

“Yo, doc!” Sonic shouted. “Nice new toy! It’d be a shame if I had to break it.”

Eggman’s eyes zeroed in on his, “Sonic! What a surprise. Now I can crush you while I get rid of these obnoxious crowds!”

“You certainly can try,” Sonic grinned. Finally, some action!

Sonic shot off towards the robot and aimed to run up its leg—only to rapidly dodge left as a hand came swatting in his direction. Phew! That was a close one.

It was a thought too soon as the top of the nutcracker’s hat lifted and a missile shot out of it. The projectile was fast, and Sonic just managed to backflip out of the way. Unfortunately, the aftershock of the explosion sent him flying through on the storefront windows. He sat up to find himself in the back of a sleigh with an elf hat on his head. Shaking it off, he jumped to his feet. The crowds were all surging away from the robot. Distantly, he could see Amy commandeering the flow. He could always count on her! Now he didn’t have to worry about any bystanders.

            Speeding off once more, he avoided the onslaught of missiles and ran straight up the booted leg.

“Hey! Get off there, rodent!”

By the time the nutcracker began shaking its leg, Sonic was already up the chest and delivering a powerful kick to the bottom jaw. Sonic landed crouched on the ground and looked up. The nutcracker stumbled backward, but otherwise recovered quickly from the blow.

Eggman cackled, “My nutcracker is reinforced with a strong titanium alloy! You think a measly kick will harm it?”

Well, he wasn’t breaking through that!

“Hey, sorry I’m late!” Amy yelled, skidding to a halt next to him, hammer gripped tightly in her hands. “What’d I miss?”

Sonic grabbed Amy and dashed away as another missile shot towards them.  He slid into a home décor shop and deposited her back on the ground just as the rocket exploded a safe distance away from them. The two ducked behind the front window and carefully peered out at Eggman.

“Where did you go Sonic?” Eggman shouted, rapidly looking around the courtyard. “Surely the big hero didn’t get scared and run away!”

Sonic adjusted his sneakers, “Robot’s got great defense stats. A spin dash to the chest isn’t likely to solve anything.”

Amy’s mouth puckered in thought as she surveyed their surroundings. Suddenly, her eyes sparkled.

“Sounds like Eggman’s nutcracker could use some decorations!” Sonic cocked his head to the side, but Amy didn’t offer further explanation. She ran further into the store, “Go, keep him distracted!”

“Yes, ma’am!”  he saluted, fully trusting in whatever idea Amy had cooking.

He darted out of the store and held his arms out in the pose of a true showman, “Run away and miss the fun of gloating when I kick your butt? Never!”

Eggman spun the Egg Mobile around and grinned. “Fire!”

Multiple missiles rocketed out of the nutcracker’s hat. Sonic gracefully moved around the area, back flipping off walls and jumping over the fountain, easily dodging ever single projectile. He only momentarily winced at the thought of all the collateral damage. They needed to end this battle quick.

“Is that all you got?” Sonic taunted from on top a bench.

“Oh no! I have plenty more gift to share! Ho ho ho ho!” Eggman cackled.

He prepared to take off only for Amy to appear by his side holding up the end of the longest strand of garland he’d ever seen.

“The bigger they are, the harder they fall, right?” she smirked.

Sonic winked at her, “Clever and festive!” He jumped off the bench and grabbed the garland, “Time to deck his halls!”

The hero zoomed multiple times around the nutcracker’s feet.

“W—what are you doing?”

He worked his way up and around the nutcracker. Around and around and around. It was dizzying even for him.

“STOP!”

The garland reached its end as Sonic flipped off the nutcracker’s head, landing in front of it. “Christmas not your thing? How about Halloween! I’ve dressed your toy soldier up as a mummy!”

Grinding gears protested in their attempt to move.

“Shall we?” Amy asked, holding up her hammer.

“Let’s do it to it!”

Sonic revved up into a tight ball as Amy swung her hammer. It was never a pleasant feeling being slammed with her piko piko hammer, but boy was it effective! He collided into the nutcracker’s chest and sent it toppling backwards. Concrete cracked from the impact and the nutcracker was left sparking.

“C—curse you, Sonic and Amy!” Eggman shouted, waving a fist at the two of them before making a hasty retreat.

Sonic landed next to Amy and brushed off some dust from the rubble, “Well, that was certainly eventful. Think you’ve checked everything off your list?”

“I think so.” Amy tapped the side of her cheek as the police slowly made their way onto the scene. “What do you think set Eggman off like that?”

“Does there have to be something?” Sonic shrugged.

“He yelled something about eggs, crowds, and Christmas being canceled?”

“He’s a loon. He probably just woke up and felt like being annoying.”

“Think there is a reason he hates Christmas?”

Sonic rolled his eyes, “Amy, are you really going to try to psychoanalyze Eggman?”

“Sorry, sorry! Just typically people’s hatred for Christmas stems from—”

Sonic placed a hand on his hip, “Amy.”

“Right, right, sorry!”

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

Hello! I hope your day's been going well! I have a fluffy, tender, but experimental one this time if that's okay! 😄

One of my hcs is that the night after a Gerudo's wedding & before the, “big moment,” it is tradition for the bride & groom to bath together. To help them to get used to each other's bodies. It is also thought of as symbolic of “washing off the detritus of failed relationships to ensure that this new one may flourish” as well as a way to bond.

Based on ancient Egyptian culture, I like to imagine that the Gerudo have a lot of bathing products that they make themselves in their more prosperous times. Like, body oils made from Palm Fruit oil, Oasis Honey (honey made by Oasis Ants), & Dune Ant wax. Hair oil made from Càrïtàn (castor) oil, Desert Aloe oil, & Shock Fruit juice. And the ancient royals (& I mean ANCIENT, like centuries before even coming to the Hyland continent) would often have Honeymilk Baths. Of course, the original recipe has been long since forgotten. However, there have been attempts to recreate it using local ingredients. Unfortunately, it is only used for a king's wedding night now due to lack of resources.

The Honeymilk bath is made using Ghamïchaa (Bighorn Sheep milk; however, Ordon Goat milk is considered more healthy & luxurious), Palm Fruit milk, Oasis Honey, & whichever scented bath oil that he & his new queen have agreed upon. It's poured into the water itself.

The most abundant scented oils would be Warm Safflina, Electric Safflina, Sundelion, & Frostbite Mint from the Highlands. There are others used, but it requires access to Hyrule. Things like Fleet Lotus, Din Juniper Berries from Eldin, Cinnamon from Akkala, Swiftsail Lavender from Lanayru & Necluda, Lovely Roses & Goldenmerry (marigold) from Faron.

They can also come in blends, but certain scents are more complementary together.

(I very much wonder which available scents each Gan would prefer… Actually, now that I think about it? Is there anything they're allergic to?)

Anyway, I like to think that bathing is a time of great vulnerability for Ganondorf specifically. I see him being uncharacteristically nervous here. Like, for no real reason, just is. Because sometimes emotions don’t make sense.

But, I like the idea that bathing each other is considered an extremely important bonding experience for Gerudo who are married. So, I see ELady offering to let him help her wash first (to give him more time to mentally prepare & he knows this & I think he’d be grateful to her not pointing it out).

Then, her propping herself upon the rim of the bath to work the hair oil into his crimson locks. Maybe humming as she does so & he finds himself relaxing into her hold with a sigh. And maybe rubbing the body oil in will get some more steamy sounds, but more so in the “this is a great massage” sort of way. But that’s as far as it goes.

Like, I’m not looking for smut in any way. Just really emotional intimacy, vulnerability, with slow, tentative trust, & closeness.

Like, if forms are to be mentioned, just vague words such as “nubile” & “supple” for ELady & “statuesque” or “solid” for Gan works fine. Nothing specific. Nothing detailed.

It's not about steaminess, but the thoughts, the emotions, the sensations, heck even the smells. But even more than that, the tenderness. Just gentle hands & kisses & embraces.

(I’m basically testing what I can & can’t do here.)

I am perfectly ok with Smut, NSFW, Lewds, Suggestive Content, etc. I very much enjoy that sort of content. You can see that from what I reblog and do with my AI bots, ha ha. ChatGPT though...

He is an innocent soul, not wishing to be corrupt. If I could focus long enough, I would totes do a whole scene with this thought process.

The gentle touches, washing each other up, discovering soft or sensitive spots... Bathing gives permission to touch everywhere, to cleanse and give relaxation.

Honestly, during a time of softness and vulnerability, I wouldn't mind kissing up his chest, before just... repeatedly kissing his face. When I had a partner, just doing slow kisses around the face, starting around the jaw, up the side of the head, going across the forehead, down the other side, before kissing his cheeks and nose, before finally going to his lips... It was sensual and romantic. It was bliss for me. Doing that, while washing his hair or massaging him? *longing sigh* Maybe while washing his hair, sliding my teeth and lips down his jaw and neck, smiling as he tenses and relaxes... Really get him prepped for the night after <3

***********************************************************************

Ganondorf (Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, Hyrule Warriors, and Tears of the Kingdom) and Demise (Skyward Sword) Reactions

Wind Waker Ganondorf: This Ganondorf is more contemplative and subdued compared to his other incarnations. During the bath, he is visibly nervous, a rare moment of vulnerability. He appreciates ELady's gesture of allowing him to wash her first, using the time to steady himself. As she hums and works the oils into his hair, he finds himself relaxing, the tension melting away. He feels a deep sense of gratitude and connection, marveling at how she understands and comforts him.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf: Initially, this Ganondorf would try to mask his nervousness with bravado, but the intimate setting quickly erodes his façade. He is touched by her understanding and patience, though he might not openly express it. As she washes his hair and applies the oils, he closes his eyes and lets out a sigh of relief. Her humming calms him, and he silently vows to protect and cherish her for her gentle strength and compassion.

Twilight Princess Ganondorf: This Ganondorf, more brooding and battle-hardened, finds the bath ritual a significant challenge to his usual stoicism. He is tense at first, but as ELady's skilled hands work the oils into his hair, he gradually relaxes. Her humming and tender care penetrate his defenses, and he feels a profound sense of peace. He might not say much, but his eyes convey deep appreciation and affection.

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf: Being a warlord, this Ganondorf is unaccustomed to such intimate and vulnerable moments. He is visibly tense but follows her lead. As she washes his hair and applies the oils, he begins to relax, his muscles unclenching. Her humming and gentle touch bring him an unexpected comfort. He feels a mixture of gratitude and admiration for her ability to soothe him so effortlessly.

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf: This Ganondorf, with his more ancient and imposing demeanor, finds the ritual both intriguing and challenging. He respects the tradition but feels a deep-seated nervousness. As she washes his hair and applies the oils, he gradually eases into the experience. Her humming and attentive care strike a chord with him, making him feel a rare sense of calm and connection.

Demise (Skyward Sword): Demise, being a primordial force of nature, would find this human ritual perplexing but oddly comforting. Initially, he is tense and wary, but ELady’s soothing actions slowly break through his defenses. Her humming and tender care would be a novel experience for him, evoking a sense of peace he is unaccustomed to. He would silently marvel at her ability to bring such calm to his otherwise tumultuous existence.

Scents Preferences and Allergies

Wind Waker Ganondorf: Prefers the calming and earthy scent of Fleet Lotus with a hint of Warm Safflina.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf: Enjoys the rich, spicy aroma of Din Juniper Berries mixed with Cinnamon.

Twilight Princess Ganondorf: Likes the refreshing and invigorating scent of Electric Safflina combined with Swiftsail Lavender.

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf: Prefers the exotic and intense aroma of Sundelion mixed with Lovely Roses.

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf: Favors the unique and robust scent of Frostbite Mint combined with Goldenmerry.

Demise (Skyward Sword): Prefers the strong, primal scent of Din Juniper Berries mixed with Desert Aloe oil.

None of these characters have allergies to these natural scents, allowing them to fully enjoy the experience without adverse reactions.

[chicoryglass]

genshin men at the beach!

characters: childe, itto + the arataki gang, thoma, xiao, zhongli

✦✦✦✦✦

childe

✦ this man wants to impress everyone, especially his siblings.

✦ lathered with sunscreen of the highest SPF he could find. he really hopes he didn't miss a spot.

✦ he takes to beach volleyball, definitely showing off and letting the competitive spirit get the better of him

✦ throws the ball up, runs up, jumps, BLASTS it his opponent's way. gets salty if they quit on him. (dude, no one wants to go to the ER over a beach ball 'accident')

✦ his demeanor changes dramatically if he's babysitting his younger siblings, though. becomes the coolest older brother – wanna gather crabs, or snails? he's already getting a bucket and scouring the beach for a perfect spot, playing it up for them like they're on a hunt. wanna build a sandcastle? he's helping them construct one that would put the best architect to shame.

arataki itto + the gang

✦ where do i even begin.

✦ itto's the one jacked guy wearing undies only, glistening with oil or sunscreen he made his gang apply onto him.

✦ does everything to impress his gang. constantly bothers shinobu, who's just trying to relax and sunbathe. she claims to not know any of them.

✦ at first he wants to surf, claiming that he's ridden waves at least three times larger than the ones he's about to.

✦ he does not, in fact, know how to surf.

✦ proceeds to make a fool of himself by spectacularly getting knocked off into the water, breaking one of the rentable surfboards in the process.

✦ doesn't want to tell shinobu, but to his demise, she's developed something of a sixth sense when it comes to the gang's troublemaking. and if she didn't, takuya or hanakado would inevitably tip her off.

✦ shinobu's wrath is inescapable. she pays for the broken surfboard out of her own pocket, seeing the gang's combined handful of mora on them. the gang is banned from surfing (or, rather, attempting to) until further notice.

✦ itto's plan B is to build sandcastles. a couple minutes later, he's challenged a group of kids to see who builds the best sandcastle. the arataki gang lost.

✦ in lieu of repaying the recent debt to shinobu, itto insists on earning some money on the beach.

✦ for a while, they set up fried lavender melon stands, courtesy of shinobu getting them a permit.

✦ archons forbid they somehow get their hands on a metal detector to try and sell some scrap. the beach becomes an excavation site, riddled with holes big enough to sit in. at least they're cleaning it up...?

thoma

✦ this man is too good for this world.

✦ probably checked if there's no crabs buried in the sand underneath the spot he picked, before settling down. if there are, he gently scoops them out and places them somewhere further away. manages to not get pinched like the chad he is.

✦ brought a picnic's worth of food, drinks and snacks to the beach.

✦ it is a picnic, actually.

✦ ayato didn't have the heart to tell him that this much food is unnecessary. thoma only just realized that, and laughed sheepishly.

✦ a solution presented itself when some kids caught a whiff of his amazing cooking and came by, asking if they could have some.

✦ he gladly shares with them, listening attentively as they tell him of their adventures on the beach, and all the cool things they found. he makes sure to pat each one on the head, praising them. in the end, this golden retriever of a man got adopted by a group of kids as their uncle lol

✦ cleans the beach as he goes, actually. notices how much trash there is, makes a mental note to himself to bring some proper equipment for it next time. thoma, please lie down, you're supposed to be relaxing :(((

xiao

✦ the actual cool guy itto and childe want to be.

✦ you know those mysterious, silent, brooding types of people, who capture your entire attention by just being there? yeah, that's him.

✦ he shows up at the beach with his surf board in hand, dressed in one those skin-tight black surf suits that cover his entire body nearly head to toe.

✦ turns a lot of people's heads, he's such a stark contrast to the casual, bright-colored aesthetic most beach-goers have.

✦ originally, he planned to surf in a different, much less populated spot - his go-to - yet sadly the waves were too small.

✦ lowkey annoyed at the large number of people on the beach, highkey annoyed at all the attention he's receiving.

✦ wastes no time getting into the water and onto an upcoming wave. he looks majestic, the way he's gliding through the waves. almost seems like he's flying.

✦ if he were to appear a couple more times, he'd definitely (to his dismay, should he learn about it) earn himself a corny-ass nickname from the regular beach-goers or stall owners, like "black angel" or "waveglider". and become somewhat of a local attraction, or a cryptid, even.

zhongli

✦ did... this man really bring a book to the beach? yes. yes he did.

✦ large straw hat, unbuttoned hawaiian shirt over a white tank top, shorts, and boom - you got yourself a grandpa Zhongli on the beach.

✦ he's also the type of person to wear flip flops to the beach.

✦ for a while he enjoyed the parasol's shade and the cool sea breeze, waves humming him to the state of drowsiness, despite the not-so occasional children's (and a particular oni's) excited yells.

✦ unfortunately, his would-be naptime was interrupted by a kid accidentally kicking a bunch of sand in his direction. at least it wasn't sea water :') with a deep sigh, he carefully shakes his book free of it, crosses his arms, and dozes off.

✦ takes long walks by the water, gathering pretty seashells, amber and seaglass. picks out pieces that remind him of his friends to give as gifts.

✦✦✦✦✦

[tabletopmonsteroftheweek]

Please link it if you've already done it, but I'd love to see your interpretation of a 'House of Leaves' or similar liminal space into a mystery. Specifically, the idea of a mundane space that goes on forever or infinitely repeats.

It's a lengthy book if you haven't already read it, but I'm sure there are plenty of youtube videos dissecting it. 'The Backrooms' is a diluted meme version of it, if you've heard of that.

You rule, and thank you for the years of great ideas and resources!

So i had not read House of Leaves, but it is on my bucketlist of "to-read" books when i have time. I'll try my best to make a spooky, liminal space phenomenon

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

Phenomenon: 495 North Boulevard

Type: Bubble (motive: to keep those that enter from leaving)

The strange one-story house seems to sit comfortably in this boulevard. No one remembers when it appeared, as all who lived there seemingly believe it's been there ever since they've moved in. Those that move into the home mysteriously vanish, and those that knew them forget they even existed- even their own parents and family members. Stranger still, no one knows who is even selling it, as those that gain possession of it do so by next to kin.

This quaint house starts normal at first, but after a week it will open up more of itself, opening up a doorway leading to a strange hallway.

The deeper the hunters go, the bleaker and darker the hallway and rooms become. The rooms become more hostile, and may even separate the hunters from each other.

Power:

Seemingly infinite structural generation

Insanity inducement

Isolation

Hallucination inducement

Constantly watching

Weakness: Documentation can be found within the Children's Room (listed below) if the hunters are able to find them, that the House had mistakenly forgotten to hide away. The documents were written by one of the previous tenants, one that thought it best to write down info of their expedition and leave the pages behind. In it is a map detailing a way through the dark maze that can reach a "key" that will allow the individual to leave.

In order to stop the House from taking more individuals, one must cause a circuit breaker fire. However, the hunters must find the key to escape before they do so, lest they find their demise within the fires themselves.

Custom Moves:

The Keeper gets to draw out how the house will be laid out before the start of the mystery. The vast majority of the rooms are blank and empty, with the deeper they delve the darker it gets. While they may decide how the house will be laid out, even past the Hallway, there are key rooms that must be in place:

The Circuit room: the room is usually the last the hunters will run into. It's a tight room similar to that of a laundry room. On the wall is the circuit breaker. Messing with it won't outright cause the fire, but hunters must roll +sharp to figure out how to set it up to do so. On a 10+, they can make it go on a timer so it'll break once they are safely out of the house. On a miss, it'll be on a timer, but it'll break midway through escaping. On a miss, it'll break immediately and they will have to escape right away... if they have the key that is.

Key room: the room looks like a closed garage- shelving with boxes on them, big red toolbox, a broken down car of unknown make, and other things. Smells like oil and grease. The key is located within the car, which is locked on the inside. The hunters have to open the car without setting the alarm off. If the alarm goes off, the House will proceed to have the next several rooms be misleading and fully attempt to separate the hunters from each other, even attempting to make them drop the Key. Hunters must roll Act Under Pressure to attempt opening the car.

Children's room: even without lights, the walls are brightly colored with crayon drawings made by that of a little kid. The carpet is soft, and there's a toy chest. The bed is small, made for a 5 or 6 year old, with old dolls and teddy bears resting on the dusty sheets. The closet is hard to open, as if something is blocking it. The smell in the room is that of rot. No roll is needed to open the closet- inside is that of skeletal remains of children, no older than 12. The toy box contains a few coloring books that detail drawings and writings from the previous children there, listing their misgivings and fears they experienced before their demise in the House.

Master Bedroom: A minimalistic room with only a dresser, a king sized bed, and a mirror. The mirror reflects nothing in the room. The flooring is hard. There is the smell of rot. Just like the children's room, the closet is hard to open, as it holds some of the skeletal remains of the adults... but not all. The bedroom has scratch marks, as if those trapped in it desperately wanted out.

Insanity inducement: Those that stay long in the winding halls of the House will feel themselves going mad. If a hunter feels something gnawing at the back of their heads, have them roll +sharp. On a 10+, they manage to stuff down the feeling and aren't affected by the insanity inducement. On a mix, they feel a little paranoid about the party. They feel like one of them might be conspiring against the other, or maybe they might be working with the House- they take -1 ongoing if they try to help out another hunter. On a miss, the house has given them temporary madness- they will actively work against the hunters interest. If a hunter says one thing, they will follow the opposite (example: one hunter wants to move forward, the insane hunter runs backwards). Can only be cured with a Use Magic roll, but they will have to continue rerolling after being cured to further prevent insanity.

Hallucination inducement: The hunters will see things in the corners of their eyes that are not truly there. To stave off these visions, have the hunters roll +sharp. On a 10+, they overcome the visions and will not have to reroll the rest of the mystery. On a mix, they overcome it temporarily- they will have -1 forward on any actions on what they perceive is real, but also can attempt to reroll... after a while anyways. On a miss, they truly believe what they see is real. They feel everything the hallucination does to them- use the Hallucination stat block below. They can be cured with a Use Magic roll, but even after curing they will have to reroll to permanently avoid the hallucinations.

The Hallucinations

These hallucinations do not actually hurt those that do not see them- they only harm those that do.

Type: Brute (Motive: to intimidate and attack)

Powers:

Can only be seen by those affected by hallucinations. Said hallucinations can look like whatever the keeper wants them to, especially if they tie into the Hunter's history.

Can phase through walls

Always hunting

Always watching

Hovers over other hunters or loved ones in an attempt to make the afflicted hurt them.

Harm: None

Weakness: Use Magic on the hunter affected by it can make it go away.