#did some mixing and matching with this one

[kianamaiart]

tattoo tour!

got some asks about my own tattoos! i've talked about em on my other blog but not here i think

opihi shell

this was my first tattoo! when i was little, my grandma would call me her "little opihi" because i'd stick by her side all the time and i thought it'd be an appropriate and meaningful tattoo to get.

________________________

team rocket rose

another tattoo i designed along with @/loinktattoos on insta. dedicated to my love for jessie, james and meowth. it's a rose with a blast off star and a "TR" in the leaf~

________________________

tsuta mon

my japanese side of the family's crest! my brother, mom and i all have it~

________________________

lignum vitae flower

a tattoo of jamaica's national flower to celebrate my jamaican heritage. tattooed by @/loinktattoos and designed by @/sablingart on twitter

________________________

doughnut

it's the doughnut from the kpop girl group twice's song "doughnut" LOL. it's maybe my favorite song ever (?). they also raaarely play their japanese songs outside of japan but i got to hear it live and it solidified my love for the song

________________________

arbok tattoo

much like how i love team rocket, i love arbok. i sometimes draw jessie with an arbok marking tattoo on her chest and i considered doing that too but doing it on my wrist seemed like a nice placement. plus i can make my hand look like a snake and i think that's fun

________________________

brushstroke tattoo

my first purely aesthetic tattoo and also my biggest piece! i found @/reina.asami's work on instagram and instantly fell in love with their style. a lot of their work centers around japanese culture and specifically japanese american culture. i had such a lovely conversation with them about being mixed and my experiences. we also talked about the irony of honoring our japanese heritage with tattoos haha

________________________

botan hanafuda card

one of my favorite games to play with my grandparents on my japanese side is hanafuda! i've always loved how pretty the cards looks and all the different flowers. each suit corresponds to a month and the botan is for june (my birth month)

________________________

bat

i like bats hehe. i had a tattoo themed birthday party last year where my friends made "kiana themed" tattoos and we put them on temporary tattoo sheets. but also @/loinktattoos was there to give anyone who wanted a real tattoo a real tattoo. and i got a bat designed by one of my best friends @/ghostbri, who shares my love of bats~

________________________

botan

i came across @/miyookstatto's instagram a while back and reaaaally wanted a tattoo from her at some point. problem was she was based in seattle. however! i had a wedding in seattle coming up and tried to see if i could book an appointment the day i landed and she happened to have a spot open!

________________________

wobbuffet

my most recent tattoo and maybe one of the most special. my brother and i have been wanting matching tattoos for yeaaaars but couldn't really think of anything to get. our love for pokemon was always something we had in common but he models and can't have anything copyrighted on his body. however, one of his favorite pokemon is ditto and i got the idea to just do its face because you could argue that it's just a smiley haha. so i decided to get just a wobbuffet face to match! what made it special is that we were able to tattoo each other! he did stick and poke for mine and i got to use a machine which was rad.

that's all for now!! i want more so badddd. definitely want a back piece at some point and would also love to get a little shooting star to commemorate making "i don't want to be a magical girl"

[hellsite-proteins]

cursed hypothetical biology. i love it!

letter sequence in this post matching protein-coding amino acids:

ithinkitwldecliftherewasanmegaversetfrsalmninsteadfwlvesLikewhenthetimecmescertainmemersfscietygetreallyicymsclewiseandgetyiffyfangsandaresddenlycmpelledtretrnttheneighrhdtheygrewpinandhrslatershwpareftinfllstarvatinmdeandravagedywalkingthrghinterstatetraffictfckwhevwrsmellstheestinthelcalrgerkingThenafterwardstheydieanddisintegrateteeatenyseagllsintheparkingltmegaverse

protein guy analysis:

this one has a mix of everything, but none of it is really worth analyzing. still, here it is: there are several alpha helices clustered together near some beta strands, with a few small helices scattered elsewhere among several long disordered loops. the secondary structures don't look like they're really interacting with each other. intrinsically disordered regions, like what i would expect the longer loops to be, are often important for signalling and other complex regulatory events. however, since this did not evolve alongside the rest of a proteome within living cells, i can't imagine this one would be incredibly effective at activating any pathway. at least, that's what i hope.

predicted protein structure:

i thinkit would be cool if there was an omegaverse but for salmon instead of wolves. Like when the time comes certain members of society get really juicy musclewise and get yiffy fangs and are suddenly compelled to return to the neighborhood they grew up in and 96 hours later show up barefoot in full starvation mode and ravaged by walking through interstate traffic to fuck whoevwr smells the best in the local burger king. Then afterwards they die and disintegrate to be eaten by seagulls in the parking lot

[woso-story]

Drunk

Alexia Putellas x Reader

The club was buzzing with energy, the air thick with laughter and the celebratory spirit of victory. The whole team was out tonight, letting loose after a hard-fought win. You sat beside Alexia at a booth filled with your closest teammates. Glasses clinked together, drinks flowed freely, and the night was full of stories, teasing, and joy.

You leaned into Alexia, grinning. “This was one hell of a match.”

She smiled, her hazel eyes full of pride as she looked at you. “It was. You played amazing.”

You felt a warm blush creep up your neck, but before you could respond, Patri threw an arm around you. “Enough with the lovebirds, we’re here to celebrate! Come on, let’s dance!”

With a laugh, you allowed yourself to be pulled away, casting one last glance at Alexia before stepping onto the dancefloor.

The music pulsed through your body as you danced with the girls, moving to the beat, spinning, laughing, and feeling utterly free. The drinks kept coming, and soon, the world had a slight, pleasant blur to it. Everything felt lighter, funnier. You lost track of time as you twirled between your teammates, their cheers and shouts mixing with the booming bass of the club.

Meanwhile, Alexia stayed back with Mapi, Irene, and some others. She nursed her drink, but her eyes never strayed far from you. Every time you laughed, every time you threw your hands in the air, every time someone spun you around—she saw it all. She smiled, amused, and a little protective.

“Are you really watching her all night?” Mapi teased, nudging Alexia’s arm.

Alexia shrugged. “Someone has to make sure she doesn’t get herself into trouble.”

Mapi smirked. “She’s having fun. Let her be.”

Alexia did. She watched as you swayed, completely at ease, lost in the moment. But when she saw you stumble slightly as you made your way off the dancefloor and toward the bar, something in her stirred. Without thinking twice, she stood up and followed you.

You plopped onto a barstool, breathing heavily, the room spinning just enough that you needed a second to steady yourself. A presence slid in next to you, but in your hazy state, you didn’t immediately process it.

Then, an arm wrapped around your waist.

You turned your head, blinking slowly at the woman beside you. She was beautiful—hazel eyes, soft features, strong presence.

Too close.

You leaned back slightly, frowning. “Uh… I have a girlfriend.”

Alexia’s brows lifted in amusement. “Oh?”

“Yes,” you said, nodding seriously. “And she’s amazing.”

The bartender approached, and before you could open your mouth, Alexia smoothly ordered, “A water, please.”

You pouted, turning to her with a slight glare. “Hey! I was gonna get a cocktail.”

“You’ve had enough,” she said simply, her voice calm but firm.

You huffed. “That’s not for you to decide.” You waved her off dismissively. “Go away, my girlfriend is waiting for me.”

Alexia bit her lip, trying not to laugh. She tilted her head, playing along. “Really? What’s she like?”

Your expression softened, and a dreamy smile took over your face. “Oh, she’s perfect.” You sighed happily, resting your chin in your hands. “She has the most beautiful hazel eyes… I get lost in them all the time. And her smile? Ugh. It’s gorgeous. She’s so generous and kind. And she always makes me laugh, even when I’m in a bad mood.”

Alexia listened, her heart swelling with each word. She had always known you loved her, but hearing you ramble about her like this—completely unfiltered, completely sincere—made her fall for you all over again.

You continued, completely oblivious to the fact that you were talking about the very person in front of you. “She’s also so strong. And confident. And protective, but not in a bad way—she just always makes me feel safe, y’know?” You sighed again, taking a sip of the water Alexia had ordered for you. “I love her so much.”

Alexia’s smile was impossibly soft. “She sounds amazing.”

“She is” you said, nodding firmly. “I have to go find her.”

With that, you hopped off the stool—well, more like stumbled off—and made your way back to the table where Mapi and Ingrid were now sitting.

You leaned on the table, looking at them seriously. “Hey, have you guys seen Alexia?”

Mapi and Ingrid shared a look, both of them clearly holding back laughter. “Wait—”

Before they could say anything, Alexia appeared beside you once again, effortlessly wrapping an arm around your waist and pressing a kiss to your temple.

You turned your head, blinking up at her, then suddenly grinned. “There you are! I was looking for you!”

Alexia chuckled. “Were you now?”

“Yes!” You pouted. “You disappeared.”

She shook her head, smiling fondly. “I was with you the whole time.”

You frowned, confused, but then shrugged, leaning into her. “Whatever. You’re here now.”

Mapi covered her mouth with her hand, her shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Ingrid just sighed, shaking her head in amusement.

Alexia squeezed your waist gently. “I think it’s time to go home, mi amor.”

“Nooo,” you whined, looking up at her. “I’m not even drunk.”

Alexia gave you a pointed look. “Carino, you just spent ten minutes talking to me about how much you love me without realizing it was me.”

You blinked. “I… what?”

Mapi couldn’t hold it in anymore—she burst out laughing. “That’s what you were doing?!”

Alexia smirked. “Yep.”

Your face burned. “No. No way.”

“Oh, it happened.” Alexia kissed your forehead, her smile only growing. “And I’m taking you home before you embarrass yourself any further.”

After some gentle coaxing and a little bit of pleading from Alexia, you finally agreed, letting her guide you out of the club.

---

By the time you got home, exhaustion had taken over. The moment you landed on the bed, you were out like a light. Alexia chuckled as she carefully changed you into more comfortable clothes, making sure you were tucked in safely.

She brushed a hand over your cheek, taking in the peaceful expression on your face. Then she pressed a soft kiss to your forehead before whispering, “I love you, too.”

---

The next morning, you woke up with a pounding headache and a groan. Alexia sat beside you, a glass of water and some aspirin in hand.

“Good morning, carino,” she said, smirking.

You narrowed your eyes at her. “Why do you look like you’re enjoying this?”

She shrugged innocently. “Oh, no reason.”

“…Lex.”

She grinned. “You were so drunk last night that you didn’t recognize me.”

Your stomach dropped. “I—What?”

“You told me you had a girlfriend,” she continued, enjoying this far too much, “and then you went on and on about how much you love me.”

Your hands flew to your face. “Noooo.”

She laughed, pulling them away so she could kiss you. “It was adorable. And for the record, I love you too.”

Still mortified, you buried your face in her shoulder. She held you close, her body shaking slightly with laughter.

Yeah, you were never living this down.

[stxrsniolo]

ㅤㅤִㅤㅤ ݁ ꉂ fresh love drop ᴖ ֽ ㅤᷭ

ㅤ﹙ 𝟑𝟑𝟑 ﹚ㅤּㅤㅤ˻ㅤaegan is typingㅤ˺⠀⠀gather round, for what you're about to read is as soft as a feather's touch: it's fluff, my lovelies, where hearts swell and smiles are sure to bloom. enjoy the warmth.

you knew chris had a big heart, but you hadn't expected him to go this far. fresh love, his casual clothing brand, had always been a passion project, but this time, he wanted to do something special, something that would mean as much to him as it did to you: he decided it was time to make your relationship public, and what better way than through his art, his clothes? he took photographs of your eyes, capturing every shade, every nuance; he was obsessed with getting the colors just right for this drop, and when he couldn't find the exact shades in fabric, he didn't hesitate; he paid someone to custom dye the material. yeah, it was an extra expense, but compared to what he and his brothers made, it was a drop in the ocean, yet it meant the world to both of you. chris had you kiss a piece of paper with lipstick on, and that imprint became part of the designs - a literal kiss from you on his clothes, god, he even went the extra mile to create a heart from the union of your and his thumbprints, adding both your fingerprints to some designs, symbolizing your connection. but to make it even better and knowing you're neurodivergent, he made sure the fabrics were not just comfortable but ideal for you. some pieces were oversized, others had a boxy fit, and there were cropped options too, ensuring everyone could feel at ease and stylish. the photoshoot day arrived, and you were both buzzing, the studio was decked out with racks of clothes in colors that screamed 'you'. the photographer, a chill friend of chris's, had this smirk like he knew what was up. the place was lit with soft, natural light, with big windows showing off the city skyline, making the whole scene feel like a movie set. chris was in his element, guiding you through poses, his hands gentle but firm on your waist, his laughter infectious. "You look incredible in this," he said, holding up a hoodie that matched one of the exact various shades of your eyes, the fabric soft against your skin. you laughed, spinning around, the oversized fit making you feel free, comfortable. "Only because it's inspired by me," you teased, but your heart swelled with pride. the photographer snapped away, capturing moments of you alone, showcasing each piece, the light playing off the vibrant colors. then came the shots of chris, his playful side coming out, striking poses that made everyone laugh, his own designs fitting him like they were made for him, because in a way, they were. but the best part? the couple shots. when it came to them, chris pulled you close, his arm around you, both in matching hoodies with the thumbprint heart on the chest. "look at us, we're like walking art," he whispered in your ear, making you giggle like a schoolgirl. the warmth of his body, the scent of his cologne mixed with the fresh fabric of the clothes, it all felt so right. the photographer directed, "okay, get cozy, let's see that connection." you leaned into each other, foreheads touching, eyes locked, the moment feeling both intimate and exciting. chris would whisper silly things, making you laugh, the camera capturing those genuine moments of joy. you tried different poses, some silly, some serious, all capturing the essence of your playful, loving relationship. there was this one where you were both laughing, chris's arms around you from behind, his cheek pressed against yours, the camera catching that genuine joy, it was like every click of the shutter was a memory being made. throughout the shoot, there were breaks filled with laughter, snacks, and chris checking in on you, making sure you were comfy. "you're killing it, babe," he'd say, his eyes full of admiration as he adjusted a hoodie here, a beanie there, always ensuring you felt good, his goofy side coming out to make you laugh even when you were tired. "i just love you so damn much, babe," he'd say, his eyes full of admiration.

ㅤ﹙ 𝟑𝟑𝟑 ﹚ㅤּㅤㅤ˻ㅤaegan is typingㅤ˺ᅟ⠀ i appreciate the love shown through reposts, but let me be clear: my tales are not to be copied or adapted without a whisper to me first. my words are my treasure, and i guard them jealously.

my murder of crows: @courta13 @chrislilcumslvt @marrykisskilled @chrislova @sturnshood @inspiredangel @strnilolover @emely9274 @sturns-mermaid @blushsturns @ariieeesworld @pixie-sticks-are-good @luvjaeeee @sturnslutz

in case that you desire to be tagged in future works, here's the taglist.

[steddieas-shegoes]

matches my weird

for @steddielovemonth inspired by the quote "we are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." - dr. seuss

rated t | 1069 words | no cw | tags: pre-relationship, steve has a crush on eddie, open ending but assume they're gonna kiss later

🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒

Steve knows it’s gross, which is why he never does it when someone else is around. He opens the jar of pickles and the jar of peanut butter.

He scoops out a spoonful of peanut butter because he’s not an animal. He would never risk pickle juice getting in the jar when so many people come over to his house and ransack his cabinets. God forbid Robin try to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and end up with the taste of pickle on it.

She hates pickles almost as much as she hates Vecna. Seriously.

He dips the pickle into the peanut butter and puts it up to his mouth to take a bite.

“What is happening right now?” Eddie’s voice is high pitched and Steve jumps, nearly dropping his snack.

“What are you doing here?” Steve asks. He can’t hide what he’s doing at this point, so he might as well embrace it.

“I left my jacket here last night, remember? I called and told you I would be by to get it before I went to work?”

Eddie is holding said jacket in his hands and looks…not as disgusted as he probably should be. He just looks surprised.

“Oh, right.” Steve does vaguely remember this phone call, but he was half asleep this morning when Eddie called. He can’t be blamed for forgetting.

“Are you putting peanut butter on your pickles?” Eddie asks as he steps closer.

“I obviously am,” Steve replies.

“Bread and butter?” Eddie clarifies.

Steve checks the jar to be sure. “Yeah.”

“You should try it with the dill ones.”

Steve blinks. “Huh?”

“The regular dill ones are really good in peanut butter. These ones are too, but the savory– Oh! And the sweet and sour ones! I ran out of peanut butter once and used chocolate syrup. Wasn’t as good, but got the job done,” Eddie explains as he walks over and takes a pickle from the jar to dip into the scoop of peanut butter.

“Um. What are you doing?”

“I’ve never known anyone else to do this! I did it when I was little and Wayne thought it was gross, but he always kept pickles and peanut butter in the house for me,” Eddie shrugs as he chews.

“This isn’t you just trying to make me feel like I’m not weird?” Steve doesn’t think someone would go to such lengths, especially not Eddie, but who knows.

“No. Who would do that?”

“I…dunno. I didn’t know anyone else did this. It’s kinda weird.”

“Yeah, have you met me?” Eddie laughs. “I’m a pretty weird guy. Wait until you see what I do to my hot chocolate.”

“What do you do?” Steve takes another bite.

“This is Wayne’s fault, but I usually make it with a mix of milk and cola.”

Steve makes a face, but immediately realizes that’s actually probably pretty good. He’s heard of people using cola in chocolate cake before, so why not make hot chocolate with cola?

“I should try that,” he says.

“Yeah, I can make it for you after work if you want. I only have a four hour shift today.”

“I can go get some hot chocolate packets from the store.”

“We don’t need packets if you have syrup,” Eddie says.

“I always have syrup. El and Dustin drink chocolate milk every time they’re here,” Steve sits back in his chair. “But is that really gonna make it sweet enough?”

“Trust me, Harrington.”

“I do.”

It’s a loaded sentence, and Steve recognizes almost immediately that it’s a bit heavy for a very simple discussion about hot chocolate. His face is warm as he reaches over to grab another pickle from the jar.

“So…I can be here around eight?” Eddie continues after a long pause.

“Yeah, man, sounds good.”

Eddie reaches over Steve to get another pickle from the jar. Steve holds his breath as their arms brush against each other. His heart stops for a moment.

“You know, Wayne always says I gotta find someone just as weird as me. I don’t think he meant this, but maybe it’s that simple.”

Steve blinks, staring ahead so he doesn’t do something stupid like stand up and kiss Eddie or pull him into his lap. Now’s not the time to explore the feelings he’s had simmering in his gut for months, not when Eddie has to go to work. They’ve got plans later, maybe he can be brave about it then.

“Anyways! See ya later, Steve.”

Eddie leaves. Steve waits until he hears his truck start up before he throws his head back and groans. He’s ridiculous.

The phone rings and he groans again. He’s almost positive he knows who it is, and her timing is always impeccable.

“Hello?”

“Steve. You have to hear what Keith just told a customer. We would have been fired it it was us,” Robin whispers into the phone.

“Are you calling me while Keith is next to you?”

“Obviously I am.”

Steve huffs a laugh. “What did he say?”

“He told them that if they wanted to watch kid movies as an adult, they should keep that to themselves,” Robin sounds half-crazed. “I promise it sounded more scathing when he said it. The customer left and said he’d never come back. But I always got the creeps from that guy anyway. You know the one who always asks if I turned 18 yet?”

“Gross. Hate that guy. Maybe he won’t come back,” Steve says as he closes the peanut butter jar. “Hey, you know how I have a crush on Eddie?”

“Duh,” Robin says, half-distracted.

“Think I’m gonna do something about it tonight.”

He’s met with silence.

“You there?”

“I’ve been trying to get you to do something about it for a month now. Why tonight?”

Steve looks at the jar of pickles and smiles. “Because our weird matches.”

“O…kayyyy. You’re probably right about that.” He hears Keith say something about getting off the phone. “I gotta go, but good luck with that tonight.”

“Thanks, Robs. Do you like pickles dipped in peanut butter?”

“That’s disgusting, Steve. Seriously.”

“Just checking.”

“Do you?” Robin asks, but Keith starts yelling about personal calls on the clock and she rushes to hang up the phone before he can answer.

Steve hangs up and leans his head back against the wall.

“He matches my weird,” Steve sighs, smiling to himself.

[starringmycoffee]

Different Ways Fusions Can Result

(This post is specifically about fusion in CDD systems. I am open to questions, but I am not open to people shaming others' chosen recovery paths. Keep that off this post, please!)

Integration is the process of breaking down dissociative barriers between alters. The alters fuse when they accept and integrate with each other to such a degree that they function as one. This can end up several different ways! I'd love to show you some, using my own system/alters to explain & conceptualize.

#1: The "New Guy" (with traits from both)

Jayden, a 17 year old verbal protector, and Glyph, an ageless dragon soother/protector, fused to make Marcus, who became our system's primary caretaker. The alters both balanced each other out, with Jayden's "chill unless pissed" mixing neatly with Glyph's strong need to keep things in order/safe to make one responsible, organized, and laid-back alter.

#2: The "Old Guy With An Update"

Gemini, our co-host, fused with a bunch of memory-holding fragments. Nothing fundamental about Gemini changed, but he did have access to more memories and some skills.

#3: The "New Guy" (that mostly seems like an old guy)

Echo, our nonhuman shadow being of a gatekeeper, fused with Zeke, an avenger and anger holder who was also the host of his subsystem. Echo kept the name Echo and mostly seems the same at first glance, but sometimes Zeke's bluntness and habitual swearing come through. Zeke has found a lot of peace and healing by fusing with Echo, and Echo gained the perspective of "hot" emotions.

#4: The "Lava Lamp"

Finn, a happiness/energy holder, and Jukebox, a trauma holder, fused to who became Jukebox 2.0. Sometimes, this new alter is a lot more like Finn or a lot more like Jukebox or a perfect mix of the two. The ratio varies and he is ever-shifting. Consistently, he loves dinosaurs, orange juice, and gummy bears.

Overall, fusion can look different for everybody, and it can even look different in the same system! Fusion is a very diverse experience.

While fusion is a good thing, sometimes people do need to grieve it, just like any other large change. That's okay and it doesn't make you a bad person, nor does it make you "anti-recovery". Big changes can be very hard.

In my opinion, the most important thing to keep in mind about fusion, for those who seek it, is being kind to yourself throughout the whole process.

Sometimes, fusions don't work out too well. Sometimes, two alters aren't a good match yet. Sometimes, it takes a few tries. Ultimately, it's up to you and your system how or if you go about it - there's no "wrong way". Just don't rush things, trust yourself, and take it easy. It'll all settle in the end, I promise!

[n250s]

various thangyu headcanons because these two ugly ass loser boys have unfortunately wormed their way into my brain like a parasite. warning there are a lot. some of these are straight up canon but idgaf :P

- thanos’ hair dye stains nam-gyu’s pillows and it pisses him off so bad. thanos has started purposefully showering before falling asleep just to make the staining worse.

- thanos let nam-gyu die his hair once and never again. he fucked it up and left it all patchy. he ended up having to pay for more box dye and just did it himself.

- despite popular belief, thanos prefers cats and nam-gyu prefers dogs. thanos enjoys how low maintenance cats are and he especially loves how they all have such dickish personalities. nam-gyu just likes dogs. specifically big dogs that crush him when they lay on him.

- thanos started calling nam-gyu “nam-su” purely because he’s dumb and honestly forgot his name. now it’s just an endearing nickname that nam-gyu pretends to hate. nam-gyu calls thanos by his actual name when they’re alone.

- adhd vs. autism couple. nam-gyu reminds thanos of important dates or errands he forgets and thanos indirectly helps keep nam-gyu relaxed and grounded by his presence, although nam-gyu will never admit that.

- mango cotton candy watermelon mint burst vaper x cigarette smoker. thanos tries so hard to make nam-gyu take a hit off his fruity concoctions and he refuses every time. he hates the taste and smell. thanos is definitely a “bro you can’t even smell it” type of guy. you absolutely can.

- both enable each other’s bad habits but only because they’re just a little too dense to really realize that they’re bad. both with hard substances or just in general stupid ideas.

- undiagnosed bpd warrior nam-gyu is real in my eyes. thanos doesn’t understand it AT ALL and neither does nam-gyu tbh. thanos unintentionally sets nam-gyu off often just because he doesn’t really grasp the concept of his normal behaviors being that upsetting. he knows he’s obnoxious of course, but he doesn’t understand how nam-gyu can be that upset. when he first called him “nam-su” because he genuinely didn’t remember his name it sent nam-gyu spiraling.

- nam-gyu has featured in some of thano’s raps but never as an actual collaboration. just occasional sound bites of his voice mixed into the background or something.

- casually cuddle. they just kind of do it unintentionally and it’s never anything romantic or awkward, just comfortable. they’re both very handsy and clingy. thanos has definitely made a few gay jokes before about it but neither of them care.

- insufferable to be around when they’re both high. one is enough but the two of them are excruciating. some how their bad ideas get worse under the influence.

- nam-gyu pays for majority if not all of their snacks. it’s of course all gas station junk food that has an unhealthy amount of caffeine or red 40. thanos constantly steals some of nam-gyu’s despite having his own.

- additionally, thanos is a chronic food stealer. he can’t help it. whatever it be, he steals from nam-gyu. a fry off his plate or a bite of his burger, he steals it.

- thanos LOVES biting nam-gyu and not just inherently sexual. he likes to occasionally bite his skin just to be annoying or when he’s bored.

- unhealthy amount of “dude” and “bro” usage from thanos. nam-gyu sticks with “man.” they don’t use sappy pet names but settle with those. they don’t even consider them pet names but they pretty much are.

- their wardrobes are a complete contrast. nam-gyu wears a lot of black and white while thanos wears neon clothes and anything that doesn’t really match. neither of them try dressing nice either, they just like wearing casual clothes in public. they both sleep in clothes they wear in public and vice versa.

- there is no tame vs. chaotic energy, they are both simultaneously awful. thanos is probably worse by like an ounce, they’re both bad. keep them both on leashes tbh.

- in another universe they’re friends with the rest of team thanos. i know se-mi and gyeong-su HATE to see thing one and thing two pull up to the function. min-su tolerates it but has had his fair share of teasing the two of them for how clingy they are. they’re the worst group to come across in public. loud and always making a scene.

- “would you still love me if i was a worm” thanos and “no lmfao” nam-gyu. he doesn’t mean it. probably. thanos definitely texted him that at three in the morning.

- nam-gyu wears prescription contacts and thanos likes to say they’re matching cause he occasionally wears blue contacts. nam-gyu wears his glasses when they’re alone and thanos always has to try them on. he has no awareness over the fact that asking someone to try their glasses on is overly annoying.

- thanos is definitely bisexual and nam-gyu is strictly gay. thanos would probably have a preference towards women if it weren’t for nam-gyu, but he can find anyone attractive.

- thanos cannot sit still. something is always moving. very fidgety too even without the drugs. nam-gyu is slightly better but always has a leg bobbing or is picking his nails. thanos will stand up and walk around mid-convo just because he feels compelled to move.

- thanos also cannot sit properly. he's always sitting on his legs, has his legs raised up, etc. both feet are never planted on the ground, one at most.

- unsure if they have official birthdays or not idc, but i can imagine thanos as an aries and nam-gyu as a scorpio based off of their personalities.

- xbox thanos vs. playstation nam-gyu. thanos makes fun of nam-gyu for buying a ps5 and is a firm believer in xbox being better. he hasn’t bought a new console in years. he’s running off of an xbox 360.

- thanos speaks english randomly of course, but he starts doing it more often once it clicks that nam-gyu really cannot understand him just for fun. he’ll say something like “you’re stupid” and say it translates to “you’re sexy” for no reason other than he wants to.

that’s all i can think of but i’ll most definitely concoct more over time. be ready. or not idk. i hate these two soooooo much like i don’t even like them. i hate them so much guys you have to believe me.

[these-detestable-hands]

It's been a bit since I've interacted with octopath so my stuff on these ships may be a little rusty but I'll argue for them anyway.

Castitio (Castti x Partitio)

Before the game even came out, I thought they'd be a silly couple. Lady who doesn't remember and guy bursting at the seems with kindness. I think they're got a neat dynamic, with Castti teasing him a bit but they get along and are friends. Some post canon hcs I have are that Partitio would help Castti set up an organization that produces medicine and teaches about it cause he loves her and he's got the funding anyway. Also I do think being exposed to the poison rain twice did stuff to Castti so I like to hc she's disabled post canon, being a wheelchair user due to muscle weakness, having very little lung capacity and CPTSD. Also not a disability but she has eczema-like purple splotches on her body. Sorry I needed an excuse to quickly mention my disabled Castti headcanons. While they're engaged, Partitio and Floyd work on completely renovating a house to accommodate all of Castti's needs, so like low counters she can reach while on her wheelchair, only one floor, wide doorways, blackout curtains so she can sleep during the day, etc. Castti keeps insisting that she doesn't need that much help and that she's navigating normal houses just fine but then she'd see all the accommodations in their new house and bawl for hours. She'd work less and take it easy post canon. Listen I just think they'd be a really cute couple. Castti patches up your broken arm then her husband comes in and starts cracking jokes and talking about affordable public transportation. I feel like I'm also forgetting a lot of stuff but oh well. I've got a few fics for them posted on ao3, account name: BigOrangeOnion

Ophikari (Ophilia x Hikari) (I also call them The Radiance (hollow knight reference and it makes sense for an au))

OKAY SO this ship started out as an au when the ot1 travelers were added to ot2 for that update last year. Basically, post canon, Hikari visits the arena whenever he's in Montwise. This time, he goes and there's some omega powerful warriors fighting ruthlessly and with no concern for themselves. He realizes it's because they've got some kinda of curse, similar to him with the shadow (I THINK that's what it was called).

So Hikari starts working on figuring out how to free them because their current existence seems miserable. The first he manages to free is Ophilia, by using light magic near her. The light magic makes her briefly remember who she was but it's enough for her to snap out of the mind control that she's been put under. She talks to Hikari and explains that her and her friends were mind controlled by a very weak but not quite dead Galdera, in attempts to conquer and gain more power so he could heal himself faster. So the two of them start working on freeing the other travelers together.

Along the way, they ofc fall in love. I don't remember an awful lot about them unfortunately but I implore anyone reading this to write stuff for them :]

Here's a little drawing I did of them together. I'd include Castitio drawings if I had any but I am not big on drawing ship art unfortunately.

H'aanit x Cyrus x Castti (in a QPR!!! :3)

So this is probably the one I've explored the least purely because I never really shared it with anyone. I keep it to myself because of the amount of hyper specific and sad headcanons. But basically it was an au where I'd just mix and match travelers n stuff. Like just putting different travelers in different continents with weird team compositions cause I'm a big fan of aus and crossovers.

One of the ones I liked the most is where Castti leaves Solistia by herself to explore post canon because she's not very close with the other travelers and self isolates a little. This au starts out kinda sad cause of the focus on my hcs for various characters' mental illnesses. H'aanit is initially traveling alone but Castti joins her and they're a relatively quiet but very effective and productive duo. Later, Cyrus, Olberic, Primrose and Ophilia join. They all have their problems to work through and get through them together.

Castti has to deal with self worth and realizing that she's more than just the team healer.

H'aanit has always had anxiety around losing Z'aanta, which is really bad throughout the entire story so Castti often ends up calming her down during panic attacks and they get really close because of the mutual trust there.

Idk exactly how to describe Cyrus' problems but he's really jumpy and nervous and a little bit angry all the time because of being accused of, y' know, sleeping with a student. Yeah no I never understood why Cyrus wasn't that angry about it, even when I first played the game at age 10.

I think Cyrus is just dealing with the new found rage he constantly has. He had anger management issues as a kid but worked through them and they're just now coming back cause he's been thrown out of his home and people he used to be friends with think the worst of him and he's got no one but this new friend group he hardly knows. You get it.

The story is the three of them (and Olberic, Ophilia and Prim, but this post is about ships so I'll talk about them another time) as they deal with their mental health issues. Through helping each other with these very personal problems, they become very close and eventually decide to be in a qpr together. I think they'd just live relatively quiet lives in S'warkii cause Cyrus is too upset to return to Atlasdam and Castti isn't too keen on going back to Solistia after falling head over heels in love with two people in Osterra.

I don't remember way too much for this au unfortunately. I think they should all cuddle and finally get a good night's sleep for once cause no way a single one of those bitches sleeps well with the crap they see and have experienced.

Sorry I wrote so much. Here is a little drawing based on an Olberic chapter 2 travel banter and the most important H'aanit fact.

I miss octopath yapping with people so uh yknow what! We’re gonna play a game!!

Explain in the notes what y’all’s favorite ships are and why you like them!!!

Only rules are

1) do not explain why everyone should think your ship is canon, as that is not the point of this post 2) do not put any other ships down bc that is also not the point of this post 3) ALL games are included (yes including cotc) 4) ANY SHIPS ARE ALLOWED!!! GO NUTS!!!!

[malababatoja]

"Strangeview is a pleasant stopover town, but it also keeps its secrets. Why do people mysteriously dissapear here? Do aliens live among townspeople? Could it be just a coincidence? Stay for a bit and find out yourself."

We're FINNALY back with the final version of the Strangeview - new playable neighborhood based on @budgieflitter crazy idea to mix Pleasantview and Strangeview into one.

The neighborhood comes in two versions:

V1 With Bella as a townie as in Clean Pleasantview

V2 With missing Bella as in OG Pleasantview (based on April Black video, debunking how it's actually done, that Bella is missing)

The neighborhood is for UC or LC; it is a maxis match neighborhood, except 4 recommended mods/CC below.

The townies and sims have slightly updated looks to match the Strangetown vibe.

Almost every lot was build by @peanuttysims and I think he did an AMAZING job. He've got such a talent!!!

Every house is a combination of both family houses of OG sims.

The Neighborhood comes with a few new lots, every one of them is done in Strangetown vibe. There is crappy "Gas Station"; Trailer Park as a apartment lot; Club/Restaurant in the old factory; a Strangeview Cemetery with a few graves of the deceased; a Pleasantview park made into Strangetown climate.

RECOMMENDED MODS & CUSTOM CONTENT:

# A mod "Watch TV from all chairs"

https://modthesims.info/d/462269/watch-tv-from-all-chairs.html

There could be problems with sims not-sitting while watching TV. This mod fixes it.

# Mirrored spiral stairs from AL

https://www.thesimsresource.com/artists/AnoeskaB/downloads/details/category/sims2-sets-objects/title/mmf-spiral-stairs-apartment-life/id/842450/

Just a mirrored version of Apartment Life spiral stairs, they're used in some of the houses.

# Conversion of female "MessyBob" to use also for men

https://modthesims.info/d/636003/vq-yam-em-messybob-ftm-conversion.html

# CREATURE FIXES by Pescado!!! For Lilith and future sims with alien eyes so the eyes work properly.

# There MAY be problem with Lilith having a normal eyes, while she should have ALIEN eyes. EVEN with Pescado mod. Sometimes game bugs out like this when an alien is a teenager. For better immersion You can download Alien Contacts and give them to the bugged teenager from the makeup/accesories category.

https://www.thesimsresource.com/downloads/details/category/sims2-body-makeup/title/alien-contacts/id/128166/

Once more I want to thank @peanuttysims for amazing collab, and also @sepomitiva , @dina-caliente and Flatera for testing the neighborhood before the release <3

DOWNLOAD V1 With Bella as a townie

DOWNLOAD V2 With OG missing Bella

Have a great time, xoxo

[thewistlingbadger]

The Unsolved Mystery of Silco's left Eye (an analysis on shimmer and eyes)

Silco, the main antagonist in Arcane, has two different color eyes. One is a normal looking teal eye and the other is a black eye with a orange, muddy iris. When we only had season one, it was assumed his left eye looked the way it did due to the injury he obtained when he was attacked by Vander and the river toxins mixed with his bodily fluids.

But in season two we got to see an alternate reality! Silco and in that AU, Silco's left eye is completely different. Instead of being black and orange it's just kinda gray and normal looking. Very similar to the way blindness is portrayed in animation. This is interesting because Silco isn't blind in the AU or in the actual reality. His non normal eye looks around and matches his normal eye's movement, they coordinate together. Silco also never makes any comment about lacking any sort of vision, so it seems that he has retained at least most of his vision despite his major injury. Speaking of which, even Silco's injury itself is different in the AU. It's smaller and less dark than it is in reality.

This made people begin to ask why Silco's eye was different even though Silco obtained the same injury in both universes. Some suggested that the reason was shimmer, but I brushed that aside because I didn't really see how or why that would be. However, now that I think about it months after the fact, there actually IS a place we've seen a similar thing with shimmer and eyes.

Now admittedly this is VERY similar but this isn't exact to what Silco has. This is Deckard after consuming only one vial of shimmer. Even though his sclera is black like Silco's, which would suggest that shimmer is responsible for Silco's black sclera, notice how Deckard's iris is still a clear shape. It isn't like Silco's, which isn't perfectly circular. Deckard has also maintained his natural eye color, blue, once he takes Shimmer. This did not occur with Silco, Silco's left iris ended up changing a completely different color. The most compelling difference, however, is that Deckard's eyes actually REVERT back to their original color once the effects of Shimmer have worn off. This is interesting because once again, Silco is not the same way, his left eye is permanently black and orange.

So if shimmer did cause Silco's eye to change so drastically, then why was this the case when we know for others it didn't work that way? If shimmer had no effect on Silco's eye then why was he taking a shot of shimmer on the daily just for his eye? What was the purpose of it? Was it pain? Does this mean the au Silco is in pain everyday because he lacks shimmer as a medical resource? There are only two other people who have maintained permanent body augmentations as the result of shimmer, and one of them doesn't count because he was messing with other shit so it's difficult to determine whether it was actually shimmer's fault or not.

Jinx receives extensive shimmer treatments after she blows up a bomb way too close to herself. She was on the brink of death and shimmer was the only way to save her. This is dissimilar to Silco's situation, because even though he suffered a massive injury, he still had the ability to walk and commit other functions. Jinx was literally unconscious and about to die. We don't know how much shimmer was used on her, but then again we don't know how much shimmer was used on Silco back in the day, if it was ever used on him at all. Additionally, we know that whatever amount it was, it was a SHIT TON. We literally see the injections and they are brutal.

Her case with shimmer is truly a phenomenon because not only is she the first person to ever receive permanent benefits of shimmer that are positive (increased speed) without the need of consuming more shimmer, but her irises also permanently change from blue to pink.

Now this is interesting because remember, we saw Deckard's sclera's temporary change while his irises stayed the same. We saw Vander's own irises and scleras be unaffected by shimmer when he took the same amount of Shimmer Deckard did but then as he was dying we saw his irises become pink. We say Vi and Viktor's and Sevika's irises flash purple after being injected with Shimmer but only for a moment, nothing really long term. Not even the people who were addicted to shimmer are were using it constantly over the course of several years, like Huck, received physical changes to the eyes. Jinx's irises become pink forever, she gets new speed ability, and it seems that shimmer is just a fluid her body is producing now because she is now crying tears of shimmer.

So by this alone it seems that shimmer just...affects everyone a different way? But then we have to remember that there are potentially different versions of shimmer. The shimmer we see at the start of the show might not be the same shimmer that we are at the end of the show. Especially since in act one shimmer is framed as a prototype and in act two it's framed as a popular drug sold to the masses. ESPECIALLY since we know shimmer is Singed's invention, and he seems to have been tinkering with it over the years. Shimmer's most noticeable side effects are massive muscle growth at an accelerated rate, joint disfiguration, and massive height growth at an accelerated rate. Yet Viktor and Jinx, two people that received shimmer from Singed, don't receive these side effects. This could be implying that Singed has his own version of shimmer that isn't the shimmer being produced on a wide scale by Silco.

TDLR The nature of Silco's eye will always be a mystery because shimmer is just too inconsistent. The various ways it affects others and the possibility of multiple variations of the drug existing make it too hard to pinpoint if shimmer is the reason why Silco's eye is like that. I honestly don't understand why his eye is different in the AU and what they were trying to imply.

[talesofkhaos]

Spencer couldn't quite believe how quickly things escalated between them. He found himself equally mesmerized by Oliver's charm and sincerity, feeling warmth every time their eyes met. Despite his usual guarded nature, Spencer was surprised at how effortlessly he opened up to Oliver. Spencer wondered whether this bond was indeed something more profound than he had ever experienced. In his past relationships, Spencer often felt a lingering sense of hesitation, as if something was always holding him back. With Oliver, however, there was a unique sense of ease and authenticity that he had never encountered before. It was as if Oliver had unlocked a part of him that had long been hidden, revealing a deeper connection that Spencer had yearned for but never truly believed was possible. In his previous relationships, Spencer often faced heartbreak when his partners would suddenly become distant or even disappear from his life entirely. There were times when tragedy struck, leaving him to mourn the loss of those who had been important to him. Yet with Oliver, there was a sense of hope and stability that made Spencer dare to believe that this time, things might be different.

Spencer, now slowly searing the steak, felt a wave of contentment as Oliver returned, his smile lighting up the room. Glancing over at Oliver, Spencer replied, "I'm glad to hear everything's okay," his voice carrying a warmth that matched the cozy atmosphere they had created together. As Spencer continued to cook, his mind began to drift, imagining what it might be like to have Oliver in his arms, their bodies entwined in the privacy of his bedroom. Though they hadn't known each other for long, the thought of being so intimately close to Oliver sent a thrilling shiver down Spencer's spine. He couldn't help but wonder how Oliver's voice would sound in those private moments, soft and breathless, whispering his name. The mere thought of it made Spencer's heart race, a tantalizing mix of anticipation and curiosity. He quickly snapped back to reality, trying to focus on the sizzling steak, but the tantalizing possibility lingered in the back of his mind. Spencer cleared his throat, trying to sound casual as he said, "After dinner, maybe you could put some of your clothes in the dresser. I don't want your clothes to wrinkle in the luggage." He glanced at Oliver, hoping his suggestion didn't come off too forward, but secretly thrilled at the prospect of Oliver settling in, even if just for a little while.

Spencer noticed Oliver's hesitation when he offered the drink, but instead of pressing, he let his profiling skills kick in. "You know, we have some great sparkling water or juice if you'd prefer something non-alcoholic," Spencer suggested gently, offering Oliver a reassuring smile. He wanted Oliver to feel comfortable and at ease, knowing full well the importance of making choices that aligned with one's well-being. "Well, I wouldn't say easy," Spencer replied with a teasing grin. "But I like to think I've got a knack for picking up on the little details." He hoped his light-hearted response would ease any tension and show Oliver that he genuinely cared about his comfort. Spencer had a peculiar habit of unconsciously profiling people, a skill honed from years of experience, which often kicked in when he felt nervous. It wasn't something he did intentionally; rather, it was a reflex that emerged in moments of uncertainty or when he wanted to connect more deeply with someone. In Oliver's presence, this tendency seemed to surface more frequently, revealing Spencer's desire to understand and reassure him.

He paused the searing process, placing the spatula down, and turned towards the kitchen counter. With practiced ease, Spencer reached for a glass from the cabinet and filled it with a few ice cubes, their clinking sound adding a soothing rhythm to the room. As he poured the whiskey over the ice, he couldn't help but glance at Oliver, gauging his reaction and hoping the small gesture of hospitality would be appreciated. Spencer handed the glass to Oliver with a warm smile, saying, "Did you know whiskey dates back to the 15th century, originally crafted by monks in Ireland and Scotland? It's fascinating how it's evolved over the years." He continued, "In moderation, whiskey is said to have some health benefits, like aiding digestion and boosting heart health. But of course, it's all about enjoying it responsibly." Spencer hoped the conversation would not only distract Oliver but also offer a sense of comfort and intimacy.

Spencer chuckled softly, turning his attention back to the skillet as he expertly seared the steaks, ensuring they were cooked to perfection. He carefully lifted the steaks off the heat, letting them rest as the rich aroma filled the kitchen. Just as he was about to respond, Oliver's playful remark caught him off guard, and he glanced up with a smile, replying, "Well, maybe a little trauma makes the whiskey taste even better." Spencer took a sip of his own glass of red wine, smirking at Oliver's candid confession. "Ah, the allure of a perfectly cooked steak is hard to resist, isn't it?" he teased, setting his glass down. "Though I suppose we all have our vices," he added with a playful wink, appreciating the easy camaraderie that was slowly building between them. Spencer appreciated Oliver's flirty comment about liking his men fresh and lean, and it made him laugh heartily. "Well, I'm glad to meet your standards," he replied with a grin, enjoying the banter. As Oliver shared his passion for making homemade food for his dogs and cats, Spencer said, "That's impressive-only the best for your pets, I see!"

Putting his glass of wine down, Spencer handed over the knife to Oliver, saying, "Here, would you mind helping me cut the asparagus?" For the briefest moment, Spencer's imagination ran wild, envisioning a scenario where Oliver turned the knife against him. The absurdity of the thought almost made Spencer laugh out loud, but he quickly shook it off, focusing instead on their shared task. "Don't worry," he joked. "I promise the asparagus won't put up much of a fight." "Tonight, we're having these perfectly seared steaks with a side of roasted asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes," Spencer announced with a hint of pride. "I thought a classic meal would suit the mood," he added, glancing at Oliver to gauge his reaction. "And for dessert, I've got a surprise that I think you'll love," he teased, keeping the details under wraps for now.

Spencer’s impulsive move was definitely well received. it left Oliver feeling breathless and smiling like a dumbstruck idiot. he was enamored immediately, drawn in by Spencer’s brilliant personality and mind; though it helps that he’s easy on the eyes. while the affection was surprisingly immediate, Oliver felt their connection growing as time ticks on by. he wanted to be something special to Spencer and he wasn’t sure why that is, but looking at him now, he can feel it in his heart. he stays true to what he said earlier- he believes they were fated to meet and even, perhaps, they were fated to be, too. it’s not to say that Oliver really believes in fate, but meeting Spencer, he couldn’t help but believe in it in that moment. it felt too surreal to be anything other than fate. he couldn’t explain it, but he knew this to be true. they were written in the stars like Romeo and Juliet. he snorts at the thought as he puts his luggage away. it’s silly to think, but he’d already referred to Spencer as his Romeo two times already- it’s pretty telling on his part that he’s entertaining the romantic notion of it all. he’s never really been one for romance, but now he can’t stop thinking about it. it makes his heart soar to the heavens, begging to take Spencer with him in this adventure of his.

when he returns to Spencer’s side, he hesitates in answering him. he knows Spencer can sense the anxiety on him- it was pretty obvious from the get-go that he was nervous, but now that he’s staring Spencer in the eye, it feels like he’s on cloud nine and it whisks away any of the remaining anxiety. “yes, i found everything okay,” he replied easily, his gaze lingering on Spencer for a moment too long. he feels entranced by him, like he could stare at him all day and never tire. he was a book he could read over and over and never get bored of. he’d always find something new to discover. Spencer is an enigma he wants to solve and he feels like that’s a shared feeling- that Spencer wants to discover him, too. maybe tonight, they can discover each other in all new ways. it makes him blush to think about, having to finally tear his gaze away as cheeks warm at the implication his mind has offered.

dirty boy, Charlie says, cackling in his mind. you just want him to fuck you.

Oliver coughs into his arms, in hopes that Spencer can’t hear the voice inside his head. knowing logically that he can’t, he still fears that Charlie will be heard and his embarrassment will be tenfold. he chooses to ignore Charlie then, keeping his attention firm on Spencer as he offers him a drink. Oliver contemplates this, teetering on what he should do. he was an alcoholic at one point in his life- or twice, actually, and it sends nerves spiking down his spine. what should he do here ?? should he accept the drink and risk getting wasted and ruining their date or should he decline as nicely as possible and ask for something else ?? he debates for a moment before letting out a soft laugh. “am i that easy to read?” he says, leaning forward on the balls of his feet. he knew he should have brought a bottle of wine to drink. he’d even debated on it on the way to the apartment building, wondering if he should stop at a liquor store and pick something up. but he hadn’t anticipated what their dinner was going to be and he didn’t want to second guess himself, so he decided against it. he’s glad Spencer picked up on that notion himself and went ahead with his own drink. it eases some more of that anxious feeling in Oliver’s chest.

after a moment of this deliberation, he finally decides to say fuck it and ask for a glass of whiskey. he might as well make himself comfortable and the thought of alcohol would ease some more of that anxiousness he feels. “i could go for some whiskey,” he says finally; the finality of his statement relaxing his shoulders as tension begins to fade away. besides, alcohol has a tendency to make the visions go away and as Oliver looks off the side, he can see things that don’t belong lingering in the corner of his eye. he’d like to make them go away so he can enjoy his night with Spencer, be whatever it may be.

he chuckles at Spencer’s observation, his eyebrows raised in surprise and amusement. “are you sure it isn’t the trauma?” he teases back, lips quirked upwards into a smile. even he can be self-deprecating at times, but he finds it amusing to say nonetheless. no one’s ever told him he had a radiant glow about him, it makes him grin. “i’ve heard trauma has a particular radiance about it, too.” he continues, barreling on with a quiet laughter. “but no, seriously, i don’t think i could ever be a vegetarian. i like my meat like i like my men. fresh and lean.” okay, that was bad. his face flushes at his bad attempt at a joke, clearing his throat awkwardly as he looks away quickly. “i make my cats’ food from scratch, too. can’t leave them out. they get fed the same food, except my cats get more fish. i catch it myself, so it’s really fresh.” he likes fishing- it’s one of his favorite hobbies . . . well, when he can get himself out to fish anyways. he has a tendency to stay indoors when he isn’t walking his animals. he goes fishing maybe once or twice a month if he can. it’s a nice relaxing activity for him and he can write while he’s out there, and not get bit by mosquitos because he prepares accordingly. he’s not an idiot.

Oliver carefully takes the offered knife, holding it in his hands for a moment, just letting its weight fill his palm. he briefly entertains the idea of stabbing Spencer just then- and is abruptly startled by the thought that passes through his mind. but it’s such an intriguing thought that he pauses to consider what that would feel like and how Spencer would react if he just reached over and stabbed him in the gut, sliced him open like a deer carcass. he’s gone hunting before; he knows exactly what to do to gut a man. he entertains the possibility as he imagines blood washing over him as shock dances across Spencer’s face. he’d never see it coming. there’s a primal hunger there that he can’t deny; a feeling so thrilling that he almost considers letting the intrusive thought win. however, he shakes his head to clear it and smiles, walking around Spencer to help him out with cutting up the vegetables. it’s a sort of domestic atmosphere as he stands next to him, tilting his head to look up at him. “yeah, that’s not a problem. what are we making here?”

[frau-kali]

"Sorry, are you asking my opinion?"

[bmpmp3]

ive mentioned before that i find deco27 to be the Most Producer Of All Time in the sense that i find all the debates that i see in the distant seas from my little internet island about whether or not his music has fallen off or not a little funny - just 'cause that guy is constantly putting out solidly produced songs for everything (not just vocal synths) all the time forever to the point where it seems like it just depends on whether his machine gun spray approach of music had more hits or misses for you recently. personally ive not been super into a lot of his recently vocaloid work but his milgram songs have all been instant hits for me and the couple love live songs he did are so insanely good mr deco27 please come back to love live im begging you please

all that to say monitoring rules HARD

[b-free]

"Thank you." B takes the compliment, tail twisting and flicking around one of her legs.

"I mean, you did fantastic." Alex smiles a bit as they get to the house, built large with at least three floors from what can be seen on the outside. A couple balconies seemed to be showing, one at the front and the other overlooking a side that wasn't clear from where the 'landing pad' was. Also hidden from view had been a garden, green and orange leaves gently swaying in a cooling breeze as the hiss of sprinklers pops on to cover the plants in hydration.

"Main house." Alex gestures to said house. "Has the attached garage for some of my smaller projects. That building over there is my main workshop. The garden here is where some of my fresh stuff comes from... Still need to order in for a lot of supplies, but I have that all worked out." She shrugs, opening the door and bowing a little bit. "Welcome to my home~! Sit where you want!"

The entryway has a few pairs of shoes and boots sitting on the tile to the side, and out of habit she seems to slip off her shoes and into a set of slippers. B simply steps onto the tile floor beyond the entry section and waits politely to the side for the others to come in. The walls are a pale blue-grey with slightly darker accents of some kind, the furniture all seeming to be a mix of things that somehow match. Soft brown suede makes up the couch and a matching recliner-style chair while one of those fluffy bright green fold out round chairs stands askew to the side near a cream woven egg-shaped chair that could fit at least two people. An oval hardwood table with a couple water stains is settled between the seating, and on one wall rests a large projector screen instead of a television. The smell of food, grease, oil, and a bit of metal is in the air. The windows on either side have open curtains depicting some kind of scene, but only one window was open to let in the breeze. A set of stairs with a simple wooden railing rested off to the left, leading to the second floor.

"I've got tea, and a bunch of snacks in the kitchen. Just uh... gotta bring it out, heh..." Alex blushed a bit before she scooted herself toward what was likely the kitchen door. A poster next to it depicted what looked like an old photo that was kept in pretty good condition.

There's a fizzle in the air, not something that can be seen, but a feeling that makes one tense and confused. It's like the sense of something about to happen, but the uncertainty of what that brings the unnerved feeling through one's being.

It pulses twice, not in quick succession. If anything, there's a delay of about half a minute before a long drawn calm.

With the whine of wires filled with confused electricity, there's a sudden pop before something arrives in the cube. Some kind of device, something in the design of an early era cell phone with a built in push button qwerty keyboard. It's clearly been modified, a much larger battery making the item rather bulky and some kind of case protecting it as it clatters to the floor. There seems to be a transmission in progress, static interrupting words here and there.

"Did that one send?" The voice is quiet, but familiar...

"Well it didn't blow up this time." The second is slightly familiar in it's monotone softness.

"See, I can totally do this whole.... transcend space and time thing."

"Lay back down."

"But B-"

"I can smell that."

"Then I shall celebrate from down here, with the popcorn you were so kind to bring me."

"Damn straight you will."

(Hello yes words happened in my brain @b-free )

Spectre picks up the device.

"Well that's not terrifying at all, is it, Alex?"

She also types "Hello World" into the keyboard.

[caramelmochacrow]

happy birthday rei!!! (sorry it's simple)

[batsplat]

about relationships with those rivals i am thinking of one of the recent wta hot girls

“Do you have amongst the players good friends? Do you prefer to keep your distance because they're your rivals?” Qinwen: “My answer is very clear: I prefer always to keep the distance with the player. Has a lot of competition with me. I am, like, the sensitive type with my heart. I don't feel if I become friends with someone and I have to compete with them on court, I feel I'm not able to 100% focus and fight. When I have to scream, ‘C'mon,’ I'm not able to do that because I will feel a bit weird. In my heart, I feel if it's a friend, I really want she win or she feels good in her life. This is the opposite side of a tennis tournament. Once I figure out that, I decided don't try to make a friend on tour because there's so many people outside of the tennis world. Why I have to just make friends here? I come here to compete with them, to win the match. Yeah, that's my opinion (smiling).”

https://x.com/thetennisletter/status/1852351810079502451

yeah the girl who doesn’t shake hands with her opponents after losing a match🫶

wait ahah I'd answered this ask as a follow up to the TENNIS one from yesterday where I moaned about men's tennis some more, not the one about valentino and his relationship with his rivals. L for reading comprehension, though I suppose it is quite fitting I'd been thinking about zheng anyway. not going to rejig the whole thing, so here's what I initially wrote --

icl I fully typed out zheng's name in that last post before cutting myself off and going. I can't do that justice in a pithy way. but honestly lol that's been one of the funniest little subplots of the year. like the olympics were..? so odd..? on several levels, but zheng's whole drama with navarro where she was randomly accused of lacking respect was a real highlight. just completely came out of nowhere. obviously we've had a bit more of that energy recently - telling leylah's father to shut up at wuhan, the drama with the line judge in the final against sabalenka, just some generally rather frosty handshakes. now obviously (minus the line judge thing which I'm always quite eh about) I am in full support of this sort of thing. it's fun!! she's a character, she has insane levels of self confidence, she has SO much aura and now she's beginning to have the results to back it up. I'll fully admit I was a sceptic before the second half of the season, but she's really made a step. (does still have a massive sabalenka problem lol, she needs to do something about that next season.) super curious to see about where she'll take it next year

I do have to admit I'm always a bit wary of athletes saying they're not there to make friends, because a lot of the time the most intense rivalries do kinda... rely on a little bit of an interpersonal connection? not necessarily a FRIENDSHIP, but you do kinda need to engage with the other person in some way. you need to be interested in them, at least, which zheng doesn't seem to be at all. like just on a sporting level, good on her, I'm also not a fan of how a few of the other players are behaving around her - it feels quite clique-y. but just in general, ideally you want a bit of a vibe between players for the very best sporting narratives do develop, which obviously means you can't COMPLETELY shut yourself off from your competitors. then again, beggars can't be choosers. if zheng goes around and causes penko-type low level drama at the top of the game for the next however many years, sure, sign me up. prickly characters are a mainstay trope of the wta tour and it is a tradition I obviously want to see continued

-- and as a little addendum that actually engages with the ask I was sent not the ask I imagined in my head:

yeah no I think you're making a really good comparison there!! and as I've already said in the tags under the valentino post, I DO get where zheng is coming from on this. still don't think it's THAT tough to get yourself to hate someone in the moment, but if you're actually playing professionally and have to crush the spirit of your friend?? who knows how you'd deal with that... idk man, that's tough. something like kasatkina comforting mirra who's crying after their final would KILL me, like that's a kid!! a kid dasha has an actual relationship with!! all those quarterfinal losses medvedev's handed rublev, it's like?? three I think at this point?? that's the godfather of his CHILD - medvedev's talked about this in some detail and says he can separate those things completely, which, y'know, good for him, but I think it would also be quite normal if rublev had a little bit of resentment in his heart over that!! the thing about professional sports is that it is basically built for freaks - and a lot of that is to do with the all-consuming competitive drive. I don't feel like it's absurd to argue that needing a bit of distance from your rivals could be seen as... idk, more normal than just flipping like a switch every time you step on and off the court, or on and off the bike or whatever

and I do think it's quite admirable that zheng knows herself to such an extent and can set those boundaries for herself. but... yeah, idk, to me the exact stuff she's describing there is a pretty underrated element of valentino's competitive make-up. it's not just about needing enemies to motivate himself - maybe, just maybe, he struggles to find it within himself to crush friends. he HAS to get some distance, because the friction between these two roles - of rival and friend - makes him uncomfortable. I still low-key think he did approach the whole casey rivalry in a pretty healthy, sensible way... now obviously, casey wouldn't agree - and his emotional needs were not being met in that situation but. y'know. we know what the alternative looks like, and funnily enough I don't think casey would have been a massive fan of that either. again, I'm not saying getting involved in five feuds is the sign of an empath. but also fundamentally I do think there's some fairly normal psychological processes underlying this stuff, like it's not all just freak behaviour. man finds it tricky to deny the hopes and dreams of his friends, more at ten