#disappeared when I copied them over from one of my other blogs????

[creamflix]

shiu kong x female reader; 18+ content, minors and blank blogs do not interact. one-night stand. pussy-eatin', overstimulation. pussy drunk shiu, part of my #needthat drabble(s). — masterlist here ☆

shiu kong knows good pussy when he sees it.

it's just a fact — crude, sure, but he’s been around long enough to know the real deal when it crosses his path. he's been on the field for years, casually bouncing from bed to bed, a certified hoe with a knack for leaving a trail of satisfied, but ultimately forgotten, lovers. his routine is simple: get them naked, give them a night they’d never forget, and disappear before morning — easy, no strings attached, no complications. but when he had you under him, he quickly realized his foolproof plan was about to fall apart.

you weren’t supposed to be different. he’d told himself that this would be like any other hookup — quick, dirty, forgettable. yet somehow, here he was, practically losing his mind between your legs, completely drunk on the taste of you. his mouth latched onto your slick cunt, his tongue relentless, swirling and flicking like a man starved. and no matter how many times you cried out, shaking and trembling beneath him, he just couldn’t stop.

“just one more, baby, i promise,” he slurred out between sloppy licks, his breath hot against your swollen clit. but even as the words left his mouth, he knew they were a lie. he wasn’t going anywhere.

he groaned into your folds, his grip on your thighs tightening as you bucked against him. the wet, obscene sounds of his mouth working you over filled the room, and he could feel how close you were — again. “fuck, you’re so good,” he mumbled, his voice muffled by your slick heat. his tongue pressed deeper, savoring every taste, every shudder of your body.

he’d never felt like this before, so completely consumed by the need to devour someone. it was like he couldn’t get enough — like the more he had, the more he wanted. every time your body clenched around him, every time you came undone beneath his mouth, it only spurred him on, made him more desperate for you.

you let out a strangled moan, your hands fisting in his hair, trying to push him away, but he didn’t budge. “s-shiu, i can’t… n-no more,” you whimpered, your voice shaky and breathless. but he wasn’t listening. he was too far gone, too lost in the way you tasted, the way you felt.

“just one more,” he repeated, his voice hoarse and needy as he dragged his tongue along your slit, his lips latching onto your clit and sucking gently. you cried out, your back arching off the bed as another wave of pleasure washed over you, and he moaned in response, the sound vibrating through your core.

he should’ve left. he knew that. after the first one, maybe two, he should’ve gotten up, thrown on his clothes, and walked out like he always did. but he didn’t. couldn’t. instead, he stayed, pulling you apart again and again, until neither of you could remember how many times you’d come.

“fuck… baby,” he groaned, his voice slurred with exhaustion and lust, “you’re killing me.” but even as he said it, his tongue was back on you, lapping at your folds, his fingers sliding inside you, curling just right, coaxing another broken moan from your lips. he wasn’t keeping count anymore — not that he ever did. but this? this was different. you had him wrapped around your finger, and he didn’t even care.

he could stay like this forever, buried between your thighs, your taste on his lips, your legs trembling from the pleasure he was giving you. his meticulous plan was out the window, and honestly? he wasn’t even mad about it.

“god, you’re so fucking perfect,” he muttered, his breath ragged as he kissed your inner thigh, his lips brushing over your sensitive skin. “just one more.” but you both knew it wasn’t just one. he wasn’t leaving. not tonight. #needthat

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[lebbys-world]

Reality Check

Todoroki x gn!reader; pro-hero!au, some slightly graphic description of injury/death, angst to comfort, facing the realities of putting yourself in danger everyday

notes: i know this is a comfort blog, but i am a such a sucker for angst + esp in regards to how corrupt the superhuman society of mha is. so no relationship angst here !! just some good 'ol facing reality head-on with the love of your life !!

Your throat was searing with a burning pain, lungs overwhelmed as the cool metal of a knife passed across the skin covering your trachea.

The shock hits you instantly, yet the world feels as if it’s suddenly in slow motion.

One second, you were being held up by a villain, beaten and bruised, convincing yourself you’d make it out of there just fine.

The next moment, there was that burning sensation, and the villain holding you up lets go, forcing your weak body to fall helplessly onto the ground.

It hits you the moment your body slammed against the ground.

You realize what happened in that moment, but somehow your brain can't string together the thought fully.

You can barely move.

You can barely speak.

You’re desperate to talk, to say something, but the only thing that comes out of your mouth is choked noises and blood.

Tears start streaming down your face, the overwhelming emotions only continuing to cut off your scarce breaths.

Your vision starts to become blurry, and you can feel your senses starting to numb.

The once booming screams and explosions now sounded so far away that you could barely register them.

You feel someone run over to you, lifting you slightly off the ground, trying to ask you something that you can't quite make out.

A cold hand is placed on your face.

Why is the hand wet?

Oh.

That’s right.

That’s the same hand that must have picked you up.

That hand must be covered in your own blood.

You’re dying, after all.

You wish you could clearly see the face of the person holding you so dearly, or hear the pleading words of reassurance coming out of their mouth. 

But everything was such a haze.

Your senses nulled.

All you hoped was that Shoto was still okay.

. . .

You jolted upwards, your breaths staggered, sweat dripping off your brow.

Your eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark room, as the adrenaline continued rushing through your veins.

The visions that had just flooded your head suddenly disappeared, but you could still feel the agony of them weighing down on your chest.

From your sudden movement, you had woken up your husband next to you.

“Hey love, take a deep breath. Everything’s alright.”

He slowly sat up next to you, putting his arm comfortingly on your back as he continued to calm you down.

“Nightmare, hm?”

“...Yeah.” You answered, leaning into his touch.

“You wanna talk about it?”

“Mmm… not yet.”

“That’s okay.” He pulls you into his embrace, “we can talk about it later.”

You were used to nightmares stemming from work, but you'd never had one that felt quite this realistic.

Even though you were awake, safe in your home, in your own bed, your husband next to you, you just couldn't shake the sinking feeling the dream had left you with.

As Pro-Heroes, this sort of fate could be your reality someday.

That was something you had to face when you took on the job, but only on nights like these did the severity of it ever really hit you.

That fate could befall you someday.

You could die out there someday.

Or even worse, Shoto could.

At that thought, you held him tighter.

“Can we just stay like this for a little longer?” You asked into his chest.

“For however long you need.”

all fictional works are for entertainment purposes only. all rights to characters, media, references, and other third party materials belong to their respective owners. do not repurpose, modify, copy, or repost my work to other sites without permission. © @lebbys-world 2024.

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[kckt88]

Scorched Hearts VIII

Summary:

'We loved with a love that was more than love - Edgar Allen Poe'

Valaena reminisces about the plan that lead her and Aemond to where they are now, and the two discuss returning to Westeros.

Warning(s): Angst, Drama, Language, Fluff, Memories, Uncle/Niece Incest, Kissing, Smut, Fingering, Lactation Kink, P in V, Moon Tea.

AEMOND x O.C Niece

Word Count: 5098

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the House of The Dragon or Fire & Blood characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used.

Comments, likes, and reblogs are very much appreciated, do not copy/post to other sights without my permission.

Tag List - @jasminecosmic99 @kaelatargaryen @yesterdayfeelings-blog @immyowndefender @0eessirk8 @darylandbethfanforever9 @killua2dot0 @msassenach @xcharlottemikaelsonx @moonnicole

As Aemond slept peacefully beside her, his arm draped protectively over her waist, Valaena's thoughts drifted back to the night that had changed everything—the night they had made the plan to die.

She could still feel the warmth of the fire in their small cabin, the flickering flames casting shadows on their bare skin as they lay entwined on the floor.

The memory of the cuts on her palm and lip, now healed but still symbolic, stood out clearly in her mind.

They had married that night, in the old way of their house, binding themselves to one another with blood and fire.

Aemond had kissed her, a mixture of passion and pain, sealing the vow that would make them one soul, one life, forever.

His voice from that night echoed in her ears now as she absentmindedly stroked his hair, recalling the gravity in his tone when he told her, ‘There is only one way for us to be together’.

He had asked her to trust him, and of course, she had. She always trusted him.

Even though his plan was dangerous—unorthodox and bound to hurt those they loved—what choice did they have?

Running away would have been futile. People would search for them, and eventually, they would be found. They had to disappear completely.

Their deaths would free them, but more importantly, it would allow Rhaenyra the freedom to claim her birthright without the heavy chains of their forbidden love.

Still, the plan weighed heavily on Valaena's heart.

Aemond had gone silent for a long while that night, deep in thought, before he proposed the idea of meeting in the skies.

‘They’ll think we fought and killed each other’ he had said, his voice low but certain.

She remembered the uneasy feeling that settled in her stomach at the thought of such a deception.

She had asked how it would work, and Aemond, ever calculating, had already thought ahead.

He told her of Borros Baratheon and Otto’s plan for him to offer his hand in marriage in exchange for the Lord of Stoms End’s support, he also mentioned how Rhaenyra would surely send one of her envoys.

It was perfect—she would be the one to offer to come on her mother's behalf, and their charade could begin.

To make it convincing, they had to pretend to hate one another.

Aemond had played his part well, and his harsh words at Storm's End had stung more than she'd expected, but she knew it was necessary.

He had spent weeks afterwards begging for her forgiveness, hating himself for the cruelty, but Valaena had understood.

They both had roles to play.

Their final act had come with their dragons, a clash in the sky that would seal their fates in the eyes of the world.

She could still remember the practice flights they took over the Narrow Sea that night, the thrill of the dragons racing one another, their flames lighting up the night.

It had been almost like a game to Vhagar and Silverwing. The plan had worked, but it left behind devastation in its wake.

Valaena's thoughts darkened as she remembered saying goodbye to her family. She could only hope that her mother would one day forgive her for the pain she had caused, for the grief Rhaenyra must have felt for believing that her daughter was gone.

But at the time, there had been no other way. Aemond had been right—everyone had to believe they were dead if they were to ever have a chance at freedom.

The first weeks of their new life had been difficult, almost unbearable at times. The only money they had was what Aemond had managed to steal, and they had to avoid populated areas of Essos to keep their secret hidden.

She had been with child and time was against them. They needed to find a place to settle before their babe came and there were times they had to stop and let the dragons rest, taking shelter against them and huddling together for warmth.

Sometimes Aemond would venture off in search of food and he would be gone for what seemed like hours, only to return with whatever he could find or in some cases steal.

No matter what he made sure she had something to eat, he didn’t want any harm coming to her or the babe, luckily the dragons were capable hunters and often Vhagar and Silverwing would share their spoils with them albeit a little charred.

She knew this wasn’t what Aemond had envisioned when he suggested that they fake their deaths and flee together, she knew he resented himself for how they had to live, and he felt like he was failing in his duty to her and their unborn child.

But she made sure to tell him every night that she loved him and no matter what, they were together and that’s all that mattered to her.

Finally, after many weeks of travel, they ended up finding sanctuary in Qarth.

The Prince of Qarth had been eager to welcome them, especially once he learned they possessed dragons. Aemond had struck a deal—protection for the city in exchange for a manse, food, and security.

The dragons, Vhagar and Silverwing, would guard the city from poachers and pirates, and in return, they would have everything they needed.

Valaena smiled faintly as she remembered the birth of their son. She had cried for her mother then, wishing desperately that Rhaenyra could have been there, but Aemond had been steadfast by her side, holding her hand through every moment of pain.

They had named him Rhaegar, after Rhaenyra, a silent tribute to the family they had left behind.

Elaena, their second-born, had been named for Aemond’s beloved sister, Helaena, and their youngest, Daenys, after the prophetic ancestor of their house. The names were a reminder of the legacy they carried, even in their self-imposed exile.

Now, as Aemond shifted in his sleep beside her, curling his body around hers, Valaena looked down at him, stroking his hair with tender fingers.

She wondered what would await them when they returned to Westeros. Would they be forgiven? Would the world even accept them, after everything they had done?

Her heart ached at the thought of seeing her mother again, of reuniting with her brothers. But the uncertainty of their reception weighed heavily on her mind.

Aemond had been right—they had built a good life here in Qarth, far away from the reach of Westeros.

But it wasn’t home. Not truly.

As she gazed at Aemond’s sleeping face, his features soft and peaceful, Valaena knew that they couldn’t hide forever.

One day, they would return. And when they did, they would face whatever awaited them together.

Just as they always had.

Valaena stood on the balcony of their manse, looking out over the lush garden where Rhaegar and Elaena played with their dragons.

The hatchlings flapped their wings excitedly, snapping at one another playfully as the children giggled.

Nearby, a maid sat nervously cradling baby Daenys, her eyes wide as she watched the dragons with wary fascination.

Valaena smiled, but her mind was far away, filled with memories of a time long gone. The warm breeze tugged at the strands of her dark hair, and she sighed softly, lost in thought.

A familiar presence approached from behind. She felt Aemond’s arms encircle her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder as he gently pulled her back against his chest.

His breath was warm against her skin as he asked softly, “What are you thinking about?”

Valaena smiled, leaning into him. “Us, when we were younger and how I used to have such a crush on you when I was a child.”

Aemond chuckled, a low, warm sound that vibrated through his chest. “Really?”

She laughed, remembering. “Oh gods, yes. You were so beautiful and so perfect with your wavy hair and freckles. I used to follow you everywhere. I was so in awe of you.”

“Is that why you used to give me sweets?” he asked, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

Valaena nodded, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia. “Yes. I thought if I shared them with you, then maybe you’d like me. I’d steal them from the kitchens, and I’d always leave the best ones for you.”

Aemond pressed a tender kiss to her shoulder, his voice softer now. “I always liked you. I was just too shy to say anything and too awkward to show it.”

Her heart swelled as she remembered those days. “I used to hide on the ramparts and watch you train. The way you practiced, always so focused, so determined. It used to break my heart to see you alone while the others sparred together.”

Aemond tightened his hold around her waist, his voice tinged with emotion. “But with you, I never felt alone again.”

Valaena turned slightly to look at him, her gaze filled with warmth. “Do you remember the first time you realized you loved me?”

Aemond paused, his single violet eye looking distant for a moment as he thought. Then, with a soft smile, he said, “I think I loved you even before I knew what love was. There was always something about you—"

Valaena's eyes shimmered with affection. She had loved him for so long that she couldn’t remember a time when she didn’t.

Now, standing here together with their children playing in the garden, the weight of what they had built together felt more precious than ever.

"If we return to King's Landing-" she began, her voice quiet, "-and things go bad—if I have to choose between you and my mother—I’ll choose you. Always"

The words hung between them, heavy and full of meaning.

She felt Aemond's breath hitch, and then, to her surprise, he buried his face in her shoulder. A soft, muffled sob escaped him.

Valaena turned quickly, concern flooding her face. “What’s wrong?”

Aemond looked up at her, his eye misted with emotion. His voice was thick with unshed tears as he spoke. “Just hearing you say that. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.”

She reached up, cupping his face gently, her thumb brushing over his cheek. “It’s true, Aemond. You are my heart. My everything.”

Aemond’s hand trembled slightly as he brought it up to hold her face. “I love you so much, Valaena. More than I can ever put into words.”

She leaned in, and their lips met in a slow, tender kiss, a moment of pure connection that washed away the uncertainties of the future.

They had faced impossible odds before and survived. Together, they were stronger than anything the world could throw at them.

As they broke apart, Aemond rested his forehead against hers, his voice a soft whisper. “We’ll face whatever comes together and I will always choose you too.”

Valaena smiled, her heart full as they stood together under the stars, knowing that no matter what awaited them in Westeros, they would never be alone as long as they had each other.

Aemond stood in the training yard, wooden sword in hand as he guided his son Rhaegar, through a series of basic sword movements.

The boy’s silver hair clung to his forehead; his little brow furrowed in concentration as he mimicked his father’s motions.

Aemond’s voice was calm and encouraging as he praised Rhaegar’s efforts, his pride evident with each swing of the boy's sword.

“Good, Rhaegar. That’s it—move your feet like we practiced,” Aemond said, stepping aside and gesturing for Rhaegar to try another strike.

The boy followed, his small hands gripping the wooden sword tightly, his face lighting up at the attention.

As the sun bore down on them in the scorching heat, Aemond called for a break. A young maid quickly rushed forward with water, offering cups to both father and son.

As Aemond took a long drink he felt a gentle nudge at his side and looked down to see Elaena, his daughter, standing with a wooden sword clutched in one hand, and her thumb in her mouth.

“Me try!” Elaena mumbled around her thumb; her big violet eyes wide with determination.

Aemond smiled warmly, giving the maid the cup. He took a step back, raising his wooden sword again.

“Alright, my little warrior. Let’s see what you can do.”

Elaena hefted the wooden sword, struggling a little with its weight but managing to lift it up. She swung it at Aemond with all her might.

Aemond blocked it with a mock gasp, tapping his own sword gently against hers.

“Oh no, Elaena strikes with deadly precision! How will I ever defeat such a seasoned warrior?”

Elaena giggled, encouraged by her father’s playful tone, and took another swing.

This time, Aemond dramatically dropped his sword and collapsed to his knees, holding his chest in mock agony. “Oh no! She got me!”

He fell onto his back, playing dead as Elaena squealed and dropped her sword, rushing to his side. She knelt next to him, shaking his shoulder with concern. “Oh Daddy. I just playing”

Aemond stayed still for a few seconds, then suddenly opened his eye with a mischievous grin.

“Got you!” He grabbed Elaena and pulled her down, peppering her face with kisses as she shrieked with laughter.

“Daddy, nooooo! Stop!” she giggled, squirming in his arms.

Just then, Rhaegar joined in, trying to tackle his father. Aemond caught him in one arm and held both of his children close, rolling with them in the sand as they all laughed together.

Their joyous sounds filled the air until a voice interrupted.

“And just what exactly is going on here?” Valaena’s voice rang out, teasingly stern as she approached from the manse.

Aemond looked up from the ground, a grin on his face. “I’ve just been defeated by the most fearsome warriors in the realm,” he declared, still holding onto Rhaegar and Elaena.

Valaena laughed, crossing her arms. “Is that so? Well, I do hope they take mercy on me.”

Elaena giggled sweetly. “We will, Mama.”

Valaena knelt down, brushing some sand from Elaena’s cheek. “That’s good to hear, because Daenys is having a nap and it’s time for both of you to bathe, besides I’m sure there’s a little girl under all that sand somewhere.”

A maid named Lirri stepped forward, ushering Rhaegar and Elaena inside for their bath.

Aemond watched them go with a fond smile before hauling himself off the ground, brushing the sand off his jerkin. “Time for my training now.”

A guard named Arro, approached, and a squire rushed forward to hand Aemond his steel sword. Valaena stood to the side, watching as Aemond and Arro began their sparring session.

Their swords clashed with precision, each strike powerful and deliberate. Aemond moved like a predator, swift and calculating, dodging Arro’s attacks with ease.

Before long, Aemond had Arro pinned, his sword at the man’s throat. Arro yielded, and Aemond stepped back, offering him a hand.

“Good effort,” Aemond said. “But remember to disperse your weight more evenly and open up your stance.”

Arro nodded, grateful for the advice. “I’ll learn for next time.”

As the squire returned the weapons, Aemond shrugged off his jerkin and pulled off his sweat-soaked cotton shirt, revealing the hard lines of his muscled torso.

The heat of the day had left him glistening, the sweat running down his skin. Valaena noticed the young maid staring at Aemond with wide eyes, her gaze shamelessly lingering on his lithe, powerful form as she handed him another cup of water.

Valaena’s lips curved into a knowing smile. She stepped forward and, without warning, kissed Aemond.

He was taken by surprise for a moment, the cup slipping from his hand and falling into the sand as his arms wrapped around her, deepening the kiss with passion.

When they parted, Aemond’s breath was heavy, his eye dark with desire. “You need to bathe,” Valaena said, her voice soft but firm.

Aemond grinned. “Only if you join me.”

Valaena’s smile grew as she nodded. “I wouldn’t dream of missing it.”

Valaena sat nestled on Aemond’s lap in the warm bath, her body pressed against his as she delicately ran a sharpened blade over his chin.

Aemond had his eye closed, his head leaned back, arms draped lazily over the edges of the bath. The heat of the water and Valaena's gentle touch had relaxed him completely.

With each careful stroke, she shaved his face with expert precision, the intimacy of the act bringing them closer in the quiet moments of the evening.

As she worked, her thoughts drifted to the uncertain future, and she broke the comfortable silence between them.

"I’ve been thinking about our return to Westeros," she said softly, her voice thoughtful as the blade moved over his skin.

Aemond hummed in response, his lips barely twitching. His relaxation remained unbroken, though her words stirred something deep inside him.

"I wish to wait a little longer," Valaena continued, focusing on the task at hand. "Daenys is still so young to be traveling such a long way, even on dragon back."

Aemond opened his eye and lifted his head slightly, his gaze meeting hers as he shifted in the water. “It’s alright,” he said, his voice a deep murmur. “Whenever we’re ready.”

Valaena smiled softly, relieved at his understanding. She tilted his head gently, guiding the blade along his jawline, her hands steady. “I admit," she said quietly, "I do fear the reaction to our return. After all, we’ve been dead for five years.”

Aemond took her hand as she paused, bringing it to his lips and kissing her fingers gently. His touch sent warmth through her, and he reassured her in that soft, steady way only he could.

"It’s expected to cause shock-maybe anger," he admitted. "But I’m sure your mother will be glad to know you’re alive."

Valaena couldn’t help but chuckle lightly at the thought. "I just hope she doesn’t have your head sliced off before she realizes how glad she is."

Aemond smirked, his amusement evident as he relaxed back into the bath. “I trust that my wife will advocate for me.”

With the final stroke, Valaena finished shaving him and carefully wiped the blade clean. “I will cast myself between you and the blade if I have to,” she promised, her voice serious despite the lightness in her eyes.

Aemond’s lips quirked into a smile. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” he said, his tone affectionate as he gazed up at her.

Valaena set the blade aside and cupped his now smooth face in her hands, leaning down to kiss him.

The kiss was soft at first, her lips gently brushing his, but it quickly deepened as Aemond’s hands slid down her back, gripping her waist beneath the water.

She felt him, hard and ready beneath her, and the intensity of his touch sent a shiver through her.

Valaena broke the kiss for a moment, her breath warm against his lips as she whispered, “Go slow.”

She moved her head to side as Aemond began pressing gentle kisses to her neck.

“My sweet wife. My Valaena” muttered Aemond.

“My husband. My love” gasped Valaena.

“Your mine. Forever” said Aemond.

Valaena lifted her hips and reached down to take hold of Aemond’s hard cock.

After teasing her husband with a few slow strokes, Valaena slowly lowered herself onto his cock.

“Y-You must tell me if it hurts” whispered Aemond.

Valaena nodded and shut her eyes tight, taking a deep breath as she slowly lowered herself.

“Your doing so well-” muttered Aemond trying to control himself.

“I-It h-hurts-“ whimpered Valaena, the burning sensation bringing tears to her eyes.

“-I can pull out-” offered Aemond.

“N-No just give me a moment” replied Valaena softly as she took the rest of his cock.

Aemond groaned loudly when Valaena was fully seated in his lap, his hands grasping his wife’s hips tightly as she began to move.

Valaena wrapped her arms around his shoulders for support as Aemond began to gently meet her thrusts.

Aemond moved one of his hands to gently caress one of her milk swollen breasts.

“Valzȳrys” breathed Valaena (Husband).

Aemond bent down to lick her nipples, going back and forth between her wonderful, enlarged breasts.

“Oh” muttered Valaena, as pearly white liquid began to leak from her.

Aemond ran his tongue over the milk that had dripped from his wife’s rosy nipples and delighted in the sweetened taste.

“Hmmm” moaned Aemond as he continued to lick and suckle at her breasts, gorging himself on her milk, as his wife gently rode his cock.

His tongue swirling around her stiffened peaks, his teeth scraping against her skin, the sounds of him swallowing.

It felt so good, it felt-

“-A-Aemond” gasped Valaena.

“What is it my love”.

“Don’t stop-please, oh gods-don’t stop” exclaimed Valaena as she arched her back, her cunny clenching around Aemond’s cock as she unexpectedly climaxed.

“Did you just-peak?” asked Aemond smirking as he released her nipple with a soft pop.

“Yes, it has been some weeks since we've properly laid together-” replied Valaena, her cheeks tinged pink.

“Ñuha jorrāelagon, ñuha dāria-” whispered Aemond as he seized her lips in a kiss, the taste of milk upon his tongue (My love, my Queen).

The water began splashing over the edges of the tub as the force of Aemond’s thrusts increased.

Aemond loved fucking Valaena. She was so perfect. He loved her mother’s body and would never tire of feeling her wet heat wrapped around him.

Valaena rolled her hips in time with Aemond’s thrusts. Her loud moans echoed around their bathing chambers.

“A-Aemond. Yes. Yes. H-Husband” whined Valaena as Aemond shifted slightly and began thrusting deeper inside her.

“I want to stuff my cock deep inside your cunny and never leave” moaned Aemond.

“Aemond. P-Please” cried Valaena as she felt Aemond’s fingers against her pearl.

“Take it. Take all of me” groaned Aemond, his face pressed between her breasts.

“A-Aemond. Oh god. Please” moaned Valaena, as she writhed against him.

“I know your almost there. Let it happen. Come for me again-” whispered Aemond, his tongue moving across her nipple as he rubbed her pearl.

Valaena arched her back and let out a scream as her pleasure erupted as Aemond began fucking her a little harder.

He was almost there just a little more-

Aemond held Valaena tight to him as his cock throbbed, spilling rope after rope of his seed.

“My love. My sweet” exclaimed Aemond as Valaena sagged against him.

Valaena took the cup of moon tea from Lirri, the bitter scent already making her grimace before it even touched her lips.

With one swift motion, she drank it all in one go, wincing at the foul taste as it burned down her throat. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her expression sour.

"You ok, my lady?" Lirri asked, her slight accent tinging the words with concern.

Valaena nodded, offering a weak smile. "I’m fine. It just tastes foul. Gods, I hate drinking that stuff."

Lirri, standing beside her, gave a shrug. "Then don’t drink it."

Valaena chuckled softly, shaking her head. "As much as I enjoy carrying my husband’s children, I think I’d like to wait a little while longer before I have another." She let out a breath, looking down at the empty cup.

Lirri raised a brow, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Your husband, he is virile man, he have you many times-"

Valaena laughed, louder this time, her amusement clear. "Yes, I guess you could say that." She smiled fondly, thinking of Aemond.

Lirri nodded with satisfaction, continuing with a grin. “My lord, he is like great stallion. Always ready to mount world.”

Still giggling, Valaena shook her head. “That’s one way to put it.”

Lirri’s expression turned more serious, though her tone remained light. “My lord he is good lover, yes? It make you smile”

Valaena’s cheeks warmed, and she bit her lip as she thought of Aemond. “He’s-quite skilled,” she admitted with a soft giggle, her tone laced with affection. “But don’t tell him I said that. It’ll go straight to his head.”

Lirri laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “I think he already know, my lady.”

Valaena leaned back, letting the laughter fade as she gazed out the window at the sunny garden. “Yes,” she said softly. “He probably does.”

Lirri’s eyes flickered with admiration. "Many girls think he very beautiful. They say his hair is like the moon."

Valaena nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. "Don’t the Dothraki believe the moon is a goddess?"

"Yes," Lirri confirmed, her tone reverent. "She is wife to sun. Together they watch over all life."

Valaena looked at her, curious. "Do you miss the Dothraki?”

Lirri hesitated, her gaze turning distant. "Sometimes, but then I remember the Khal and his cruelty." Her expression hardened. "He no deserve to ride in night lands. I thank you and my lord for saving me."

Valaena’s eyes softened, guilt stirring within her. "I wish we could have saved your children."

Lirri’s hand reached for Valaena’s, squeezing it gently. Her smile was kind, though tinged with sorrow. "I will see them again when great stallion come for me. And together we will ride in starry Khalasar."

“What about Arro?” she asked, her voice lighter, hoping to bring a smile back to Lirri’s face.

Lirri’s expression warmed, a hint of affection flickering in her eyes. “Arro is kind man,” she said quietly. “He lost wife in a village raid”

Valaena nodded, recalling the memory vividly. “I remember that day. Aemond had found him lying amongst the ruins, barely clinging to life.”

Lirri’s voice was soft but steady as she said, “I’m glad my lord save him-he means great deal to me”

Valaena smiled, touched by Lirri’s strength and resilience. She felt the weight of their upcoming journey pressing on her mind. "Me and Aemond will soon return to Westeros."

"Your homeland," Lirri said, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"Yes," Valaena confirmed. "If you do not wish to come with us, then I’ll make sure you have enough money to live on."

Lirri smiled, her eyes softening. "I have no wish to stay alone. I love your children like they are mine. I want to come home with you."

Valaena’s heart warmed at her words. "As long as you’re happy."

"I am very happy, my lady," Lirri said with a firm nod.

As they shared a quiet moment, both women noticed a young maid, Mira, walk past carrying a tray of food.

Lirri leaned in closer to Valaena, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Watch that girl. She look at my lord in way she should not."

Valaena’s brow arched slightly, her gaze following the maid’s retreating figure. "I trust Aemond."

Lirri nodded, her expression stern. "Yes, your husband is good man. He does not look for others. But Mira, she want my lord to bed her."

Valaena scoffed lightly, the very idea absurd. "Aemond would never."

Lirri’s eyes darkened with certainty. "But she will try. She like many women who try to take husband for own self."

A flicker of irritation crossed Valaena’s face, but her confidence remained steady. "She won’t get what she wants from Aemond."

Lirri smiled, a hint of danger in her tone. "She bad girl. I shall cut her throat for insult to you and my lord."

Valaena chuckled, shaking her head. "That’s very nice of you to offer, but I shall deal with her myself."

Lirri grinned wickedly. "Then I clean blood."

"I’m not going to kill her," Valaena replied, her amusement growing.

Lirri's eyes twinkled as she teased, "You should feed her to the big grumpy dragon."

Valaena laughed, shaking her head. "Vhagar prefers much larger meals."

Both women shared a laugh, their bond strengthened by shared loyalty, as they returned to watching over the peaceful grounds of the manse.

In the stillness of the night, Valaena was jolted awake by the sound of faint screeching.

Her heart leapt into her throat, and she quickly rose from the bed, her bare feet padding across the cool floor as she rushed toward Daenys' cot.

She peered inside and saw her daughter still fast asleep, completely undisturbed by the commotion.

But something else caught her eye—the remnants of broken eggshell at the foot of the cot.

Her breath caught as her gaze shifted to a small, crimson creature nestled protectively against Daenys.

A dragon hatchling. Its tiny body shimmered like dark red rubies, and its wings, still delicate, were curled around the sleeping baby.

The hatchling’s curious eyes were already fixed on Valaena, watching her with sharp intelligence.

A soft gasp escaped her lips as she reached her hand forward slowly. The hatchling tilted its head sniffing, before nuzzling against her palm.

A smile spread across her face as the tiny creature accepted her touch before returning to its protective stance, curling around Daenys with an instinctive sense of guardianship.

Valaena straightened up, excitement pulsing through her as she hurried back to the bed.

She shook Aemond gently, but he awoke with a start, his hand reaching for his sword.

She quickly shushed him, her voice a soft whisper. "Come look."

Still groggy, Aemond allowed her to lead him to Daenys' cot, where he saw the crimson hatchling curled beside their daughter.

A wide smile spread across his face, eyes filled with pride and wonder. "Her egg hatched," Aemond whispered in awe. "She has her dragon."

Valaena could see the significance of the moment in his expression. She knew how deeply this mattered to him—that their children would be seen as true Targaryen’s, bonded with dragons as they should be.

His own memories of being mocked for not having a dragon at a young age still lingered. But their children would never know that pain.

They would never stand on the ground, watching others take flight, yearning for the skies.

Aemond wrapped his arms around Valaena, pulling her close. She rested her head on his shoulder, her heart swelling with affection as they watched the tiny dragon fall asleep beside Daenys, who had unconsciously clutched the hatchling's tail in her little hand.

In that quiet moment, their world seemed at peace. The crimson dragon, small but fierce, was a promise of their family's legacy.

Their daughter, already tied to a creature of fire and blood, would carry the strength of her ancestors.

And together, they would soar.

TBC

[midnight-jupiter]

“HOW UNFORTUNATE…” — ghost

yandere!ghost x gn!reader [a date with death]

SYNOPSIS: the people closest to you have all disappeared or passed, coincidentally after you meet a certain grim reaper for the first time.

— dark content blog, dni if uncomfortable, gaslighting/manipulation, abuse of power, obsession, lmk if i missed anything

YOU WERE STARTING to think that maybe giving Ghost more time to extend your bet was a mistake; perhaps a bad omen.

Originally the plan was for the bet to last one week in order for him to take your soul, but after seeing him out your window was something you never thought he’d do.

You thought that maybe it wasn’t so bad for this deal to continue on a little longer, it wouldn’t hurt to talk to him some more, right?

Wrong.

Grim reapers have always been a bad omen but of course you decided to let one get close to you because who wouldn’t? Ghost was sweet, considerate, and the complete opposite of what you expected from a grim reaper.

But you suppose it doesn’t matter, they’re still a bad omen.

Ghost was there when your boss had passed the day after he gave you those flowers, he was there when your friend got into a freak care accident, and he was there when your beloved pet had died.

You don’t believe you should get started on how a few of your coworkers have gone missing too, that would be to muc

Now, you’re starting to believe that he’s the one who caused all of this. Clicking on the call button of the app you used to communicate with him, you drum your fingers on your table waiting for him to pick up.

“Hello?” he answers.

“Hey,” you great, voice already slightly cold at the thought of him being the source of your problems, “I need to ask you a question that is important for you to take seriously.”

He immediately sat up straight, “Alright, what is it?”

“You aren’t messing with the people I’m close to, right? All of the people I associate with are dead or have gone missing and,” you trailed off, swallowing a lump in your throat at Ghost’s furrowed brows, “I just want to make sure you don’t have anything to do with it.”

“Sunshine, I understand your concern and worry but please believe me when I say that I am merely a pawn in the higher up’s game. Although I’m the most skilled grim reaper of all, even I cannot persuade them,” Ghost explained steadily, “Trust me when I say that you’re the only person’s whose name is circled on my list.”

Your shoulders relaxed at his words, of course he wasn’t at fault for all of the negative things in your life. “Thank you, Ghost,” you smile, “Sorry for doubting you.”

“It’s not a problem sunshine, I understand your skepticism,” he visibly relaxes as you say your goodbyes and hang up.

He wasn’t lying when he said that your name was the only one circled, but he refused to admit that there were new additions to your name — hearts.

What Ghost didn’t necessarily mention either were the names of all your loved ones crossed out with bright red marker, or how they managed to get on his list. Money wasn’t that big of a deal if you were number one after all.

But the way he rubbed his thumb over the letters of your name imprinted on the page made him blush, imaging it was your hand instead. Comforting you lovingly as you were oblivious that he was at fault for your despair.

What you didn’t know couldn’t hurt you, right?

That’s what all mortals say after all.

©midnight-jupiter 2024 : do not steal, repost, or copy my works to any other site

[manysketchbook]

Firffels: the Wuzzles Competitor That Disappeared

Recently, I found this toy at my local thrift store. I thought it was an oddly cute nativity toy, but upon closer inspection the tush tag read "FIRFFELS. I'm glad to be a SHAMEL." I did a quick search online and the first result was this page on Ghost of the Doll, a toy collector's site that archives information about 80s/90s toys and includes a forum where anyone can seek help with identifying toys. This lead me down a rabbit hole of figuring out just what Firffels were: a failed line of toys promised to be the next hot phenomenon, with minimal documentation online and a handful of toys floating around in thrift stores.

Other than Ghost of the Doll, I found info about Firffels in this 2010 blog post by Trish Babbles (written in an edgy, mean-to-be-funny style that I think is too uncharitable, but it was a different time to be online lol) and this blog post by AF Blog. My other info comes from Othello Bach's website dedicated to the book itself (her personal site is no longer functional) and from a handful of youtube videos I found of a Firffels commercial. Many thanks to these sources, without them there'd be like, nothing online about these creatures.

Firffels are based on the children's book Who ever Heard of a Fird? by Othello Bach, first edition published in 1984 by Caedmon Childrens Books (upon Googling, it appears that Caedmon is owned by HarperCollins now and focuses on audiobooks). The story follows Fird, a fish-bird hybrid, as he travels the world to find other firds. Along the way he encounters a goofy, lovable cast of other hybrid animals who have all never heard of a fird. The story ends with fird learning to love his uniqueness and find peace with being who he is. As is apparent in the Amazon link above (not sponsored, just showing my work), a used copy is $86 dollars right now. An audiobook narrated by Joel Grey (an actor that I'm unfamiliar with who is apparently known for his role in Cabaret) was also released on cassette, listed on Ebay for $75+. Luckily, there is a youtube video of someone doing a complete read through of the book, but the camera angle is poor. This is the only visual record I could find online of the interior illustrations by Michelle Dorman, other than a brief look at a few in a low quality VHS promo rip I'll get to in a minute, and the image below from an Ebay listing. There may be a few more photos in some Etsy listings that I missed.

In Trish's blog post they complain that Shamel is an ugly monstrosity and there were a few comments on Ghost of the Doll's forum of the same nature about Shamel, but I think Shamel is the cutest one! It just looks like a new breed of camel, meanwhile Fird in the background here is...he's so cartoonishly goofy. Idk how else to describe him. He's so fuckin' goofy. He'd make squeaky Spongebob-esque sound effects when he walks, I imagine.

The book was allegedly a hit and Remco bought the merchandising rights. They went all in, as is detailed in the 5 minute promotional video below. Based on a cast of 6 characters, plush toys and posable action figures hit the market with a promise that Hanna Barbera would develop an animated tv show starring Firffels, housewares would be made, there'd be a clothing line, and Design-a-Firffel contests would be held. A few housewares seem to have been made and plush toy sewing patterns were released, but I was unable to find evidence that anything else moved forward.

Absolutely fucking insane fact: according to this video, Caedmon Publishing was owned by Raytheon at the time. Thanks Raytheon for these cuddly children's toys and also, uh, horrific weapons of war?

After I bought Shamel, I went back to the store to see if there were more. There were! I found Bertle and Elephonkey, who still had the original tags. I swear the day earlier I had seen a frog toy with butterfly wings but it wasn't there anymore. I remember passing over it and thinking "eh, butterfly wings on a frog aren't cute," and did not bothering even looking at the tags. My mistake. Turns out that toy was worth a decent amount of money and was part of this whole story.

Bertle's pink belly super bright in real life, like neon. There is a sunbleached spot on it's front.

Elephonkey is the only one with original tags. I also included an image of the tush tag. For each toy the tush tag is the same but displays the character's name.

Hybrid animals are not a unique concept. Wuzzles, a line of plush toys that were animal hybrids with wings and likely made to compete with Care Bears, are brought up in most posts and forums where Firffels are mentioned--usually to disparage Firffels as being knock off, less successful Wuzzles. Wuzzles weren't exactly successful either, though they definitely lasted longer and had more reach, likely due to the backing of a Disney/Hasbro budget. AF Blog in 2015 makes a good point that I agree with: it's unlikely that Wuzzles and Firffels were ripping each other off due to production timelines. Toy lines can be in development for years before any information is made public. It takes a long time to design toys, then get them to a manufacturer, then go through the revisions process. Not to mention the time it takes to ship things out, negotiate contracts at every step of the way, etc. And, as AF Blog notes, Whoever Heard of a Fird? was released in 1984, a year before the first Wuzzles tv episode aired, and Firffels hit the market a year later.

People draw hybrid animals all the time. For example, furry adoptable artists draw hybrids all the time (take a shot every time you find a closed species that is a feline with a fish tail or deer feet or some other animal's defining trait), the Lego movie had Unikitty, and I literally went to Walmart today and in the toy section there was a miniature rabbit-like rainbow animal with wings and a unicorn horn there. The thing that makes these toys potentially appealing, in my opinion, is that they choose safe and popular traits: sparkly horns and feathery wings, for the most part. Things that are easily marketable.

The thing with Firffels is that they combined animals with traits that are less immediately appealing. Image below from Ghost of the Doll.

Some of them are cute but the others miss the mark. Personally I like Shamel and Bertle (the plush version only tbh).

Worth pointing out is that the character illustrations do not match the toy designs. If you go back and watch the commercials included in the 5 minute promo video, you can see that the Bertle plush and action figure are brown and green rather than pink and blue, and that Shamel's hair is brown instead of purple. I saw varied photos of the Butterfrog plush: some were lighter green while others were darker. Could be an issue with differing cameras, but I don't know for certain. And then there's Elephonkey, who is the most inconsistent of the bunch:

The first image is the prototype toy as it appears in the commercial. It is grey and flesh colored, with odd looking plastic hair. The second image is from Ghost of the Doll, of how the Elephonkey action figure actually appeared in stores. Third is a photo of my Elephonkey plush. Compare it with the official character art...well, he's not my favorite design in any incarnation.

I think the toys in the commercials were prototypes that were changed to brighter colors so as to appeal more towards girls. In the 30 second plush commercial there are 4 girl actors and 1 boy actor, with the camera shots getting closer to and focusing more on the girls' faces, so it would make sense. In contrast, the action figure commercial features 1 girl and 2 boys, and most of the camera shots are of the kids' hands playing with the toys, giving off a more boyish, gender-neutral vibe. Classics of gendered marketing, am I right? lol. But I think the change was a good one. I wouldn't have picked up Shamel if I hadn't seen the purple hair, and I definitely would not like Bertle if he wasn't pink. It gives the toys more of a cohesive style, a unique identity, and they fit in more alongside the Wuzzles/Care Bears visuals with the vibrant, happy colors. There's more of a toy-like quality to them, which increases the cuddle-ability and inspires more of an urge to play.

Discovering and logging all this inconsistency has been pretty fun. But it makes me think that these toys were probably doomed by a chaotic, unorganized development process behind the scenes. And given that the book was published in '84 and toys hit the market in '85...the signs seem to point to production being rushed.

To be fair to Firffels, it was probably a little harder in the 80s to hit it big with kids. You had to be lucky, you had to have connections with the right distributors, you had to anticipate what is universally appealing to children--one of the most unpredictable audiences out there--and you had to pay to air your commercials during prime child viewing hours. These are all things that are still true, but we have the internet now and the advertising power of the internet is scary. Going viral on TikTok has the potential to skibidi someone's toilet career. iPad babies are growing up into grade school kids who throw birthday parties every year and get toys as gifts. We are living in an era where mass-producing cheap little polyester plushies and plastic figures is easier than ever and corporations have massive budgets to pump into kids' eyeballs through every advertising avenue they possibly can. They don't even need to come up with the designs anymore, they can just partner with whatever Roblox game is popular right now and capitalize on that. Maybe Othello Bach should get on Roblox.

Actually, it appears that Bach was given the short end of the stick by the time Firffels were pulled. Though her personal website is no longer up, her other website dedicated entirely to Whoever Heard of a Fird? has some info:

At the height of Fird's success, with over 100 licensees cramming the store shelves with children’s merchandise and an animation contract with Hanna-Barbera, the book and all the merchandise suddenly vanished from the shelves.  Although she lost the rights to several other published children’s books at the same time, Othello has never received a reasonable explanation for what happened.

So this passage actually clears something up for me. This whole time something that hasn't really lined up is that I had assumed that Othello Bach published the book first and then was approached for merchandising rights after the book sold well. I actually think now it's possible that from the get-go the book was written with the intention for it to become a worldwide sensation. Not so much Bach's intent, though. I have some professional familiarity with licensing and other such creative publishing contracts, particularly with books. Based on what I know, I believe it's more likely that Bach pitched her manuscript to Caedmon Publishing and Caedmon, seeking to create popular IP, was like, "this has potential and we are going to sign you on not only for the book, but for more." That might be why the character designs are so strange: they were trying too hard to get famous quick and had instructed the illustrator (it is regular practice for publishers to pair authors with an illustrator and given how much was on the line for this IP, Bach might not've had much input here) to design characters that could also become toys. It's unlikely that Michelle Dorman, a kids book illustrator, had product design skills needed to make standout, awesome toy designs. Not a knock on her, illustrators just have niches within their field that they're best at it. It's why you see so many illustrators complain about how often they get approached to design logos--that's not what we do, thank you.

What's sad is that clearly Bach had signed a bad contract that gave away most of her rights as the writer to the publisher. She openly says so above. My guess is that Caedmon told her they needed more rights than usual to be able to conduct so much merchandising (like signing contracts with Remco, much easier to do when you don't have a third party also involved), and because they were pouring so much effort into it on their end. Bach is just the writer, so while the original idea is hers, Caedmon would have matched her with an illustrator and taken charge of all the licensing and merchandising. For a publisher this is a huge commitment financially and personnel-wise, so it makes sense why they would have put forth a contract that gave them so many rights. If Firffels had become as popular as they'd hoped, they don't want to not own the IP. They would have poured all those resources into it and not be able to reap all the rewards because that pesky author would own it. It's almost like contracts like these are predatory and only serve the interests of the publisher. Almost like publishers are companies existing in a capitalistic system and therefore only serve profit, not people. Almost like companies will never truly have artist's best interests at heart, and if you are ever to sign a contract with a big publisher you need to have a good lawyer by your side.

It makes me so sad to read that they didn't even give her a reasonable explanation as to why everything was cancelled. She does not even appear to have any of the merchandise on hand, as all the photos on her website are from Ghost of the Doll. In hindsight we can guess, obviously, why the cancellation happened but I'm in the moment it was probably upsetting. It's still upsetting, given that she has included this in her website for the...revamped book!

However, like Fird, Othello refused to give up. For the next 20 years, she tried to regain the rights to her work. Entertainment attorneys assured her it would never happen.  They said, "It can't be done!" But... it could be done and Othello did it, regaining the rights back to all her work.

Yeah, so, I actually think this is the saddest part about the whole thing. She managed to get some of the rights back and republished the book with...new art...that looks so fucking BAD. Image from her website:

Sorry to this illustrator, but got damn. There is no sauce to this art whatsoever. It is unseasoned, not even salt and pepper. This looks like ass and would never fucking fly with any editor worth their chops. It took me ages to figure out that the long yellow curved line is Fird's tail. Like, this is so unbelievably sad to me. I don't even really like the original art a whole lot, but compared to this...

My informed guess as to what happened is that Bach lawyered up and fought. As we know, Caedmon is now owned by HarperCollins. I can't say for certain but there was probably some case to be made that Caedmon being sold breached the contract, or nullified parts of it, or perhaps the contract expired. It could even just be that HarperCollins didn't care about an old, unprofitable IP and granted Bach her rights back. There is also Remco to consider: they also hold some of the rights, but probably just for the merchandise? Given how prominently their logo is displayed on the toy tags, they might actually own a significant share. Perhaps they were happy not to have anything to do with the book so long as the merch rights weren't touched. I don't know! There's no info about it on the site and this stuff is usually under NDA.

So Bach got her rights back, but she's just the writer. She doesn't own any of the art, so in order to republish the book she had to hire a new illustrator. She likely did not have a huge budget for it, maybe even paying for it out of her pocket because the Choice Books logo she has in several spots on the Fird website appears to be for a distribute on demand service, in place of a traditional publisher.

As the writer, she also would not have gotten the rights to use the original audiobook, so she had one re-recorded. It also appears like she does not have the rights to the name "Firffels" either, as the only places it appears on the site are in photographs of merchandise and in titles specifically referring to the work that is still owned by Caedmon. She carefully refers to her own work as "Fird" for short or the book's full title, probably because she cannot legally imply that she owns or made anything else.

I dug into this thinking it would be a quick look at some strange, forgotten toys from a bygone era. Instead I found a story about how an artist can so easily be shafted by publishers. Everything always loops back around to workers' rights, it seems. Stories like this about shitty publishing contracts (see: Webtoon if you want to get into something current) still appear so often, man. It's depressing, and indicative that the publishing industry needs some reforming ASAP. Like, Illustrators, when are we getting a proper union?

But I'm glad Bach got her rights back and got her book republished within her lifetime. I'm sad she didn't have the budgets for a better illustrator. Sorry to bring that up again, I work as an illustrator irl and I have opinions about craft, lol. Also I just think that given how hard Bach had to fight, she deserved to have better art made. That being said, here's another link to her current website. There's not much there but what is there is a monument to a battle she fought and won, and is proud of.

The lack of detailed, clear, centralized documentation of these toys frustrates me. One of the most frustrating things about the internet for me is that there are few easily accessible, publicly available archives of toys--even for modern toys. I've had to use Amazon reviews and Ebay listings and broken online stores to decipher publication years. With this in mind I decided to do a write up and provide clearer pictures of the toys that I have (I'll take hi res pics in natural lighting too someday). Archives are important to me and the internet kinda sucks for it, I say as someone who started this blog for that purpose. If Tumblr goes down, so does everything I've posted here. As an artist who works primarily digitally, one of the scariest things is knowing that I'm laboring over an ephemeral body of work. It's just not going to exist for very long unless I print it out on archival materials. Data is not the same as a physical object. My Firffels have survived for 39 years but the digital art I draw every day is unlikely to last past 10 years because websites die and files get deleted.

I bought the Firffels from my thrift store thinking I'd resell them. I'm low income so I sell many of the things I thrift. I prefer to buy the older toys or the ones that need cleaning because it makes me feel better about being a reseller (I don't want to take away options from low income kids in my area, ya know?). But I'm putting in the labor to freshen them up and I'm putting in the effort to make unavailable toys available again, at least for one person. And I don't have a whole lot of shelf space to display the toys in my collection...but for now I think I'll keep them.

[actual-changeling]

ahhhhh fuck it. sure. back to normal meta posting.

do not copy or otherwise repost any of my writing without express permission, including (but not limited to) any and all blogs that are dedicated to harassing people based on their opinions.

—

a south downs ending does not equal a fairy tale ending/happily ever after.

regardless of how you personally characterize crowley and aziraphale and interpret their actions, ignoring the emotional impact of pretty much the entirety of season two would be a disservice to neil (and terry) as a storyteller.

aziraphale not just broke crowley's trust, he repeatedly chose to side with heaven and "morality" over him—crowley has always been the second choice, otherwise aziraphale would have fallen long ago. he would not fall for crowley because so far he has not fallen, he turned away from crowley every single time it came down to either falling or continuing to hold his position as an angel.

meanwhile crowley fell from both heaven's and hell's graces long before he fell in love with aziraphale; it has never been a choice for him because he decided on who he wants to be and how he wants to live once he found out about the 6000 year deadline on the universe.

crowley fell for what is right, for what is decent and kind regardless of the consequences he'll have to face afterwards.

aziraphale has not fallen simply to keep his personal comfort intact and stuck to the selfish ideology centring whatever is the most convenient option in a given situation, and no matter how you twists and turn it, that's at the heart of it—because, again, otherwise he would already have fallen.

so when neil resolves their conflicts—because i trust that he will do it in a way that's satisfactory for everyone involved, including us as the audience—those centuries predating season three don't just magically disappear.

crowley will hopefully have learned to live for himself and not anyone else, which allows him to choose what kind of relationship he wants to have with aziraphale. they might move into their cottage with their relationship still healing and the end result open. content and together, sure, but crowley is under no obligation to forgive aziraphale for any of the shit that he put him through. there's a degree of intimacy and trust they'll never get back; it sucks, it's sad, but it is what it is.

meanwhile aziraphale will have to face that he fucked up, openly acknowledge how he's hurt crowley and others, and apologize without expecting forgiveness; he might get it, he might not, but he needs to keep growing/learning/changing no matter what.

think about the ending of season one—they're dining at the ritz, content and happily enjoying each other's presence, but outside of that we are not given more information. i can see exactly that happening at the end of season three, a satisfactory ending that also simultaneously allows us to decide for ourselves what happens once we leave them.

if there is a single thing i am certain of it's that we will not get a fairy tale ending, no happily ever after, and if that's what you're expecting going into it, then you will probably be disappointed.

[sobredunia]

tell me about Fez, please, im looking through your blog and like, i am intrigued

please click read more for an unskippable cutscene

ALRIGHT SO.

FEZ is an indie game created by a (now hated on the internet) guy called Phil Fish. If you wanna find out why he's hated do your own research this isn't about him it's about his videogame

It came out on april 13th of 2012 (yes. homestuck day. i know), and it sold over a million copies by the end of 2013. I've tried finding how many copies have been sold up to this day in total but didn't find anything, but the general gist is that it was pretty much an instant hit, and people absolutely loved it, working together to solve its intricate puzzles even to this day. Yes, there are mysteries hidden in here that an entire community of dedicated fans still hasn't found the solution to 11 years later

(tiny warning here, do not play this game if you have motion sickness or are severely affected by rapidly changing images, there are whole areas that are a doozy to play through. Please stay safe!)

Gameplay

Fez has a singular core mechanic that remains unchanging throughout the entire course of the game, and that is the ability to change perspectives

this is what the game looks like, a 2d pixelated landscape with tons of beautiful colors

but.

this is what the game also looks like

that's right, baby, this shit's actually in 3d

you use this change of perspective nonstop throughout your adventure, to cross gaps like demonstrated in the gif, or to simply access places you couldn't in that current perspective. There are other tiny mechanics that get added, like invisible platforms, crates and buttons, bombs, timed platforms that disappear... they add a bit of flavor, but the main mechanic is always there

There's also a really big emphasis on puzzles towards the latter half of the game, but I'll get more into it later

Story motivations

Your name is Gomez, you are a tiny little guy living in a cozy 2d village that you have never ever left. One day, an old man named Geezer sends you a letter asking you to climb to the top of the village. There, a giant fucking cube appears outta nowhere, teleports you to a satanic ritual, then to the vaccum of space, speaks to you in a strange language you cannot understand, and gives you a free hat. Oh and also he explodes or something

After you're given the hat, the fez, you discover that the world is actually in 3d, and you can now change perspectives. You unlock the core mechanic

After that, you wake up in your room with the fez still on your head, and a being in 4d called Dot is sent from who knows where to tell you that the cube that gave you the hat is called Hexahedron, is actually technically kinda god, and you fucking killed him. Now, your mission is to pick up its 64 pieces and reconstruct him

You see all those tiny golden cubes? You have to collect 8 of them to make a bigger cube, and you need to collect 32 of those

Now hold on, I hear you ask, didn't you just say that you need to collect 64 pieces? Why are you changing your mind and saying 32?

Because, my dear friend, there is another type of cube that you have to also collect

These are called anticubes. Y'know, "a negative for every positive" type of stuff. You have to also collect 32 of those

The main difference between an anticube and a normal cube is that they aren't broken into 8 pieces, when you find one it'll be whole. You can also sometimes encounter full golden cubes btw, but they're rarer than its normal tiny pieces that you collect. Another main difference is that these cubes are much, much harder to find, and I'll go into detail in the next section

There's also this one hub area, with four doors that will only open once you have enough cubes (anticubes also count)

Once you open the door with 16 cubes, you'll enter this one town filled with people that aren't quite like you. In there there's yet another door that will open when you get 32 cubes, so get to gathering motherfucker, you got a long way ahead of you

Puzzles (anticube edition)

When you collect that first anti cube, there is no going back. The floodgates have opened and you are now too deep in. You know too much. You must see this to the very end, for better and especially for the worse

The puzzles in fez are actually surprisingly varied when it comes to difficulty and accessibility. Most likely, the first anticube you'll find will be in this one room. You'll scan the qr code and do the instructions it says, and then the horror of your new life will begin

But this is just the tip of the iceberg, because BOY OH BOY are anticubes convoluted to find in some cases

Sometimes you'll get them by solving relatively easy puzzles, like this one

others will require a bit more thinking, like this one

and then we have the hardest ones where you'll have to learn how to read words, numbers, and commands in the FEZ language

and these arent even the hardest bullshit puzzles the game will pull at you. it gets worse. it gets so much worse

Game ending

Surprisingly enough, you can get a game ending with just 32 cubes. In fact, it is literally impossible to get the 64 cube ending without the 32 cube one unless you have outside help, you know the answer to all puzzles, or you somehow get extremely lucky in a very specific number of rooms

Behind the 32 cube door there's a giant gate that, and I shit you not, teleports you into fucking space

Aliens are canon in the fez lore and they look like squids

Once you reach the top of the alien temple fucking thing, you enter an eye(?) and there you meet the shell of god, the Hexahedron. Since you haven't gathered all 64 cubes, it fails to reconstruct, and it breaks down. This part is pretty dangerous for people with epilepsy, by the way, as there's rapidly changing black and white colors. The 64 cube ending is a bit easier in the eyes, but yeah, just a heads up

In the 32 cube ending, you get sent back home, and you see how the town gets more and more pixelated. Then you see a weird sequence that's like those videos of people really zooming in into things and you see the particles and microscopic stuff?? idk. and then you see Gomez playing the drums :D

After that, you wake up in your room, still with your Fez, and the same sequence at the start of the game plays out. You go to the top of the village, Geezer summons a giant fucking cube, you meet god, but instead of getting another fez, you get cool glasses, that allow you to finally solve a batch of puzzles you couldn't see before and you can finally gather the last anticubes

In the 64 cube ending, the Hexahedron reforms correctly, and instead of zooming in, it zooms out. You see that your world is a tiny cube next to many tiny cubes, and then those tiny cubes form a 4d entity that looks just like Dot, and then those many Dots next to eachother zoom out until they're nothing but static, and then it looks like a tv is turned off, and then the credits roll

They're both very strange endings, and definitely not what a lot of players expected or wanted, but what can you do

Puzzles (hell edition)

NOW.

You thought that was the end?

You thought you could simply walk away scot free?

You thought that this game had no more last "fuck you"s up in its arse?

You thought fucking wrong

Because you know that something's not right

Because you're in too deep

You've played this far. You've scrolled this far.

You have to see how this ends

You have to tie up the last loose ends

You see this? This is the game's map. It actually has a really clever design! Not only are the icons for the areas cubes, but you can also change perspectives like how you do in-game! Pretty cool, right? There are also some small indicators you can see on the bottom left. They mark if you've left any cubes, bits, treasures, or locked doors. They also mark any secrets you might have left! And they turn golden once you've found everything there is in that room, including secrets

If you were normal (let's imagine that for a bit, okay?) and you got the 64 cube ending, that's it, right? You've gathered every cube, you've gathered every map (you need them to get all cubes), you've gotten every key and opened every locked door, that should be it, right? You have everything the game asked you to have, so the whole map should be golden, right?

...right?

No! :D you fucking fool, you poor summer child

In fact, there are three rooms left. Three rooms left with a secret symbol next to them, and one other special room

First, we'll talk about the special room

Once you gather 64 cubes, you'll be able to open a door hidden on an unsuspecting island and access this one special room

kinda weird, right? It has a tileset that appears nowhere else in the game, same with its background. There's also a strange transparent heart over it? Strange

Now, the three ungolden rooms

First, the observatory, the room with the easiest puzzle, at least in comparison with the other two

Second, you have whatever the fuck this is. In order to solve this one, you HAVE to know the Fez language, no ifs or buts. Not only that, but there's a high chance that you were reading the language the wrong way, so in order to have the remote chance to solve this mf you'll have to git gud and realise the error of your ways

And last, but definitely not least

The most infamous room in the entire game aside from maybe the heart room previously shown

This cunt

These three are the hardest challenges the game has to offer, no exaggeration. And also, the first two rooms can be solved at any point of your adventure, but for the third one you HAVE to have completed the 32 cube ending, no workarounds

Now, how to solve them?

If you go to the observatory at night, you'll notice two red blinking stars in the corner. They're speaking in binary code, with one being 1 and the other being 0. Then, that binary has to be translated into a buncha diff languages to be decoded, and once you're done you'll be left with a set of commands that you'll enter in the observatory to get a special red cube that not even Dot, the motherfucker in 4 dimensions that knows things beyond our comprehension, knows what it is

For the second room in fez language, you'll need to answer a question with the cubes provided to you. It's a weird thing where you have to mix this word with the name of the company who made the game, I don't know man. Once you've answered you'll get the second red cube

And now, the third room

Commonly denominated the black monolith room

Why is there no black monolith?

Because you have to make it appear

First, you have to get this burnt map

Behind it, there's a string of code that translates into commands

You need to get into the room, and use the special ability given to you in the 32 cube ending: first perspective mode

You'll have to stand in the tiny square inside this infinity symbol thing that doesn't have a line in it (basically, not the one the screenshot is looking at lol), and then you'll have to do the commands

Once you do it, the black monolith will appear

Okay, you did it

You put the code correctly

Now what?

This isn't a collectable. This isn't a red cube. This doesn't do anything. What is this? How do I solve this puzzle

You wanna know the answer?

Who fucking knows

No one knows the answer to this. No one knows how to solve this. The community solved this a week after launch by bruteforcing it. I shit you not they made a bot that spewed random fez inputs and people just tried them until they got the correct solution

No one knows how it's meant to be solved. To this day, people still go on the r/fez subreddit to give their theories on what the intended solution was meant to be

They have tried everything

The position of the candles, the boiler room, some other random ass rooms that look remotely similar to the black monolith room, a random shower room, it somehow being on a book in the game that's just filled with haikus??, some bullshittery mobius strip mental gymnastics, the other half of the code being in an abandoned airport in Arizona...

...whatever the fuck this is...

by far the most known theory was the release date theory

but that got disproven by one of the devs a few years ago

but anyways, we've already gone through insanity for long enough, it's time to be normal now

Once you've gathered all of the red pieces, they will appear in the heart room

that's it

we're done

.

..

...

....almost

there's a secret code

one that was actually intended to be datamined for once lmao

If you look at certain artifacts in the menu and you rotate them a certain way in a certain order, the heart will vanish and the screen will turn white

you'll be sent back to the menu, and if you load that save file and go back into the temple...

there will be nothing waiting for you there

that, my friend, is the true end of Fez

You wanted to know too much, you wanted to learn everything, to the point of wanting to tear open a creation that took blood, sweat, tears, and five years to complete. And now there is nothing. You ignored the game's boundaries of only wanting to let you know this much, and now the game is empty, the love is gone, and there is nothing left for you here

You can leave now, I hope you're satisfied

[direwombat]

it's like some kind of wednesday in here (+ a bonus WIP music wednesday because I'm late)

tagged by @g0dspeeed, @adelaidedrubman, @gaeadene, and @socially-awkward-skeleton (or pseudo tagged anyway <3) for another wednesday

tagging @strangefable, @strafethesesinners, @detectivelokis, @sstewyhosseini, @confidentandgood, @river-ward, @wrathfulrook, @henbased, @voidika, @madparadoxum, @euryalex, @clonesupport, @schoute, @poetikat, @aceghosts, @inafieldofdaisies, @vampireninjabunnies-blog, @harmonyowl, @purplehairsecretlair, @ivymarquis, @cassietrn, @neverthesameneveranother, @roofgeese, @jacobsneed, @trench-rot, and anyone else who has something they want to share <;3!

here's the bit of dialogue right before syb does some dumb shit (surrendering herself to John)

“Chosen chopper incoming. Want me to shoot ‘er down?”

She shakes her head even though she knows he can’t see her. “Don’t,” she says. “They’re here for me.”

“Uh…I ain’t followin’.”

“I made a deal with John,” she explains. “Myself in exchange for your and Kim’s safety.”

“What!?” Nick exclaims. “You’re just handin’ yourself over to him?”

“I ain’t happy ‘bout it either, but I ain’t got much choice,” she says. “John’s just gonna keep throwin’ his men at us til one or both of us ends up dead. Least if I do this, you n’ Kim can pack your bags and get to Falls End before he decides to go back on his word.”

Besides, the sooner she knows where he’s keeping Joey, the sooner she can figure out how to bust her free. 

Then she can go looking for her brother. 

“Look. Just trust me, okay? I know what I’m doin’.” 

She hopes she sounds more confident than she feels. 

“If you say so,” Nick answers, but she can hear the reluctance in his voice. 

“Just get your ass back on the ground and go to your wife. Let me handle the rest.” And with that, she tunes into the Falls End frequency. “Grace, you copy?”

The few moments it takes for her to respond drags on for an eternity, but finally, she answers. “Yeah, I’m here.”

Sybille breathes a sigh of relief. “Great. Listen, I need you to get to Nick’s airstrip ASAP.”

“What’s goin’ on? You need backup?”

“Kinda,” she answers. Poking her head out from behind her cover, she glances at the Peggies awkwardly idling on the airstrip. One of them happens to meet her gaze and she hesitantly gives the man a wave. Puzzled, he waves back, and then she disappears back behind the bar. “Told John I’d surrender if he left Nick and Kim alone.”

“And why would you do something stupid like that?” Grace asks.

Sybille sighs and drags her hand down her face. “Was either that or risk Kim gettin’ shot,” she says. “Look, I ain’t trust a single word that comes outta that snake’s mouth, so if you could come down and make sure he doesn’t try anythin’ once he’s got me, that’d be great.”

“And if he does?”

“Then you get Nick and Kim outta here,” she says bluntly. “Don’t care where you take ‘em. Just make sure they’re safe.”

“And what about you?”

She sighs again. “Don’t worry ‘bout me,” she says. “I’ll be fine.” 

Grace is quiet for a long time, and there’s a brief moment where Sybille worries that she might refuse her request. But then her voice comes crackling through the radio once more. “You remember when I called you crazy?”

Sybille laughs. “Which time?” she asks.

“Don’t matter,” Grace answers. “I take it back. You’re fuckin’ insane.”

Her smile widens. “So you’ll be here?”

“I'm on my way,” Grace says reluctantly. In the background, Sybille can hear the roar of an ATV coming to life.

The tension in Sybille’s shoulders immediately relaxes and she closes her eyes, leaning her head back to rest it against the wood paneling of the bar. “I owe you,” she says.

“Damn right you do,” Grace grunts. “Oh, and Dep?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t get dead.”

“Copy that,” she smiles. “See you on the other side.”

WIP MUSIC WEDNESDAY

been trying to get myself into the john seed mindset so here's a song (my ethel cain katc epiphanies earlier this evening aside) that's been helping me as i struggle to write him lmao

Listen up all you beggars, you liars and you thieves I'm about to bring you something that's gonna take you to your knees And you know that I could never let you down Oh when you feel the might and you hear that old soul sound

You've been waiting on the wind You've been waiting on the winds of change to blow your sails into the night Oh but all you do is sit and cry

You got to go down to the river and wash your soul clean You got to go down to the river and wash your soul clean Ooh down to the river and wash your soul clean You got to go down to the river and wash your soul clean

What you want (Down to the river) You ain't got (And wash your soul clean) What you got is all that you need

[stresslitzia]

What are your thoughts on Larx/Elrena I'm curious now lol, I'm new to this blog

Allow me to preface this with the following: I was introduced to this series by a friend who only told me about Xion. I got a copy of Days as my first *played* KH game because of that, and got more attached to Larxene than anyone else. My first experience was with the GBA version of CoM several years earlier. And henceforth, I will be using Elrena as the primary name in this post, unless the statement specifically refers to her time as a Nobody.

...This post is almost 1000 words of unorganized thoughts after this point.

So.

Elrena is a character I picked up on really soon after starting my journey with this series. As in, before her origin was revealed, I was already obsessing over how she might have been before.

This meant that when the reveal actually occurred, I was thrilled. Because when KHUx rebranded, and we met Lauriam, my little singular braincell made the connection that "Hey, these characters get along like they were already friends, maybe they came from the same place."

I was revealed to be right about six months after mentioning this to someone.

Beyond that, we've got her storyline in KHUx proper. She's revealed as a very quiet, withdrawn character. Polar opposite to Larxene, though we know they're mostly one and the same. When Larxene dies in KH3, we even witness her briefly returning to the old, clearly anxiety-bearing Elrena. She becomes, quite literally, a completely different person after she disappears.

The KHWiki explains that she was chosen to be a Dandelion due to her aversion to Darkness. When she dies in KH3, Larxene releases more Darkness than ANY other True Organization member. When Lauriam asks her about Strelitzia, Elrena explains that they weren't exactly friends, but that they did talk sometimes.

My theory, as someone who came from a similar situation, is that she had a bad start to life. That before Daybreak Town, she may have been in an abusive situation of sorts- perhaps one she ran away from. The aversion to Darkness stemmed from such a situation. The refusal to admit that she had friends came from a need to be independent for the sake of survival. The anxiety she expresses around the Union Leaders also points to this, as does the aggression and refusal to follow orders as a Nobody.

We also see her actively interacting with more than just her default/preferred element in KH3. She makes an entire labyrinth of ice. A MASSIVE labyrinth of ice. Having the skill to do that, but not using it, is very much a trauma response- you don't show off every skill when people push you to constantly do more on account of them.

Part of this- most of this- is projection. I've seen myself in this character since day 1. She was everything I ever aspired to be. I didn't see her as a bad character, I saw her as someone who stood up for herself. Something I couldn't do.

That's one part of my thoughts. The other part is her connection with Lauriam/Marluxia in particular.

Like. We know that Elrena knew Strelitzia. There's a non-zero chance that Lauriam had been introduced to her before Strel's death, which is kinda obvious, since he recognizes her by appearance.

The fact that Elrena is the FIRST person Lauriam goes to for help, despite knowing Strelitzia's connection to the Player, is important to me. The fact that Elrena's willing to help despite "not" being friends with the deceased. The fact that Elrena knows where to find Lauriam when she has something to share about the situation is also important, since she's the ONLY non-leader, bar Player, to enter the clock tower.

Her lack of confidence when they're being sent into the Lifeboats, as well- specifically needing to be comforted, told she's worthy of survival, and being given a task to keep her grounded. The fact that she only calmed down enough to agree when she was told she was needed. The fact that the only one who registered what she needed was the older brother of the friend she never admitted to having.

More importantly, the fact that Marluxia and Larxene were very much separate from the rest of the Organization. They were all each other had. The fact that Marluxia doesn't face Sora at all after his introduction until AFTER Larxene is defeated.

The fact that Marluxia and Larxene face Sora together in the Keyblade Graveyard, that their attacks are so specifically balanced/timed that when one goes down, the other falls within a few hits. That Luxord is also there, but has a third of the HP, so most of the battle is just against those two. That their death scenes both have them remember their pasts. That Larxene, returning to herself, specifically remembers the goal she was given. That she's very clearly referring to Marluxia when she refers to her 'secret.'

These two characters literally have a bond transcending time and memory. There's been no Red String Of Fate trope done better than this.

I just.

So much of Elrena's characterization depends on the people she cares about. She won't admit that she cares about them, but they're so important to her that without them, she'd be someone completely different.

I see myself in this character. I always have. She's impacted how I interact with the world around me. The fierceness she has as a character is what's carried me out of a lot of bad situations.

I have a lot of thoughts about her. I can't put a lot of them into words. She's all I think about, but there's nothing going on inside my head half the time. Just like. a vague image of Elrena. just vibing.

I play her in my roleplay server. I have fun with her. Everyone else has fun with my depiction of her. I want to see her in KH4 and I want to see if I'm correct about how she'd respond to having her ultimate goal fulfilled. Because with the kind of anxiety she displays, she's either going to be the type to isolate, or the type to just seemingly give up when there's no more that *has* to be done.

...I just. really enjoy her as a character.

[lady-layton]

hi! so I was combing thru ur PL tag, and I noticed u have a large collection of dvds/cds. i hope this doesnt come across as rude or imposing, but do you think it would be possible for you to "burn" and upload the videos/audio to youtube? highest priority has to be the interviews, esp with the seiyu, i don't think i've ever seen that ANYWHERE. even if most people can't understand the japanese, having an archive of this content allows us to archive the games, their development, and the fandom. second priority would probably be any commercials featuring cutscenes from the 3ds games, as they were never released in HD to this day. besides that, i have been able to find most of the CD releases online, but i was curious about the premium cd layton theme cover song. if you are worried about copyright law or just don't want to, that is understandable 👍 but as it stands, there is more and more layton content completely lost to time (like the flip phone exclusive official art and games) and without its preservation, the less and less there will be to celebrate as the anniversaries continue... i hope that's not too dramatic. as far as i can tell when it comes to copyright strikes, i uploaded layton game content to YouTube and never got any (i got one immediately over the utena anime) so i believe it is safe, but there are alternatives like gdrive etc. "burning" (copying) dvds is also very simple if you have a computer.

I REALLY really hope I don't come off as demanding. Ultimately it is 100% your decision. But the layton fandom of today (in its tiny size) would thank you. It also would be a nice way to look back in time, as I personally played all the games only in 2020. I'd love to know more about the process behind the development of the games in general, but as the fandom even at its peak was never huge (and bc its been 15 years...) very little of that has been recorded in western fandom, vs big IPs like Zelda or even Fire Emblem. It'd also be really cool to hear the thoughts of someone who was there when things WERE happening!

Regardless, I will respect whatever decision you make. Game (and game-adjacent) preservation matters a lot to me, but I do know how to take a "No". I hope you can understand my perspective however. 😔 While I don't think the fandom will ever fully revive (unless maybe we got a switch port of each trilogy like Ace Attorney), I hope the new generations of Layton lovers can appreciate each other as well as the old fandom they built upon. Thank you for hearing me out!

Hello!

First of all thank you so much for this ask (o´∀`o) To be honest my plan with buying these commercial DVDs in the beginning was to preserve a part of Professor Layton history. There is so much about Professor Layton that have disappeared over the years, since some fansites and blogs have shut down long ago. So I really want to save as much as I can of what is left.

I've been looking into transferring the trailers, interviews and such to some online archive in some way. Sadly I have not had the time to properly sit down and research how to do it more exactly, but I do have a close friend of mine who is willing to help. If I get them uploaded somewhere I will absolutely share the links through this blog! It would be even more fun if a subgroup would be willing to help out with texting some of the clips as well. I have managed to collect quite a lot of these DVD's since I last updated my collection, but I should have the following:

3 different DVDs for Curious Village

4 different DVDs for Pandora's Box

2 different DVDs for Lost Future

1 promotional DVD for Eternal Diva

3 different DVDs for Spectre's Call

3 different DVDs for Professor Layton VS Ace Attorney

1 DVD for Layton Brothers Mystery Room

1 DVD for Professor Layton and the Phantom Thief

1 for Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy

1 for Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy

1 for Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy DX

I also have this one DVD from Code NEO from 2007 that I remember purchasing because it said to have some Layton content. But it got to me just now that I have never checked it out. Perhaps I should do so, so I know what is on that disc haha.

About the premium CD I have been pondering over uploading it as well. I'm not so sure how comfortable I am with sharing MP3s online, but since it's from quite an old era by now and not released outside of the premium disc I could perhaps make an exception.

[jessecrust]

games as art, part 2: who cares?

An eternity ago, I wrote a blog about a game you might have heard of called Elden Ring and why it and other games like Hades are probably works of art. It's something I think about far too much on lonely car rides to and from work (my commute is roughly 10 minutes). And it's something I've been thinking about a lot more lately having spent a good deal of my free time actively avoiding any new games and trying to get games from the 90s and 2000s to run on my PC without crashing. Honestly, it's actually extremely easy to avoid playing new games because they're released at a rate of about 2.5 a year in a good year.

And yet it somehow feels like there's never been more video game content out there. There's your multiplayer shooters, your MMOs, your "live service" games, mobile games, remakes, re-releases, etc. etc. I'm not one of those people who think you can draw a line between "real" games like something on a major console or PC and "fake" games like this cute thing I have on my phone called "Cats&Soup", but if every video game is indeed art then it is a unfathomably broad category.

Why does any of this matter? Well, if you've ever spent any time on Wikipedia, you may have come across this, or a similar, sentence:

Deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress, Die Hard was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2017

One reason it's important to figure out what exactly we're talking about when we have these incredibly tedious conversations is so we can figure out what is worth preserving. I feel that in our Age of Content, as I'll call it, it's increasingly difficult to figure out what we should be preserving for future generations.

I don't think this is me being pretentious, although that word itself has come to mean something entirely different in the age of the never ending Battle Royale Multiplayer Shooter and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A few nights ago, I saw someone say Quentin Tarantino was a pretentious director because he didn't want to make a Marvel movie. That idea really bothered me, that someone would see a guy who spent his career making eminently watchable popcorn movies and think "what a snob". Yes, I admit, I got sad about one guy writing a tweet, that's really dumb, I know. But go type Martin Scorsese into a Twitter search and you'll find he's not alone in thinking there's something pretentious about making movies that doesn't include a CGI raccoon.

But back to the pretentious art snobbery, it's not necessarily a question of "real" vs. fake or art vs. not art. I've had a good time watching movies like Spider-Man: Far From Home, The Batman (which I wrote about), and even that weird Dr. Strange movie that people can't really decide if they liked or not. These movies are probably not in any real danger of disappearing, but other movies are and most, if not all, video games are. And no one is seriously making the claim that none of them are worth preserving: The Dark Knight, a movie about Batman, is part of the National Film Registry.

Film lovers like Scorsese and other writers, directors, critics, etc. have worked hard to preserve their artform for future generations. I can't think of any director or writer or video games that is doing the same for games. It already requires extensive modding to get some games to run on modern PCs, let alone tracking down physical copies of classic games that could easily cost more than you make in a full eight hour shift at your job. Game directors and writers are not celebrities in the way film directors, actors, and musicians are. Try to name a video game director or think of a game you've played recently where you even bothered to find out who directed or wrote it. The most widely known director of video games is probably Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo and I doubt even he would be recognized by more than a quarter of the general population despite being responsible for over 75% of your childhood nostalgia. Yes, there are plenty of hobbyists, academics, etc. that are doing everything they can to preserve games, but we need those artist/advocates to really drive home the stakes. Who better to talk about the history, love, and preservations of this medium than their own creators?

As more technology is pushed to the wayside, as physical media continues to decline and copyright laws in the digital sphere get stranger and stranger, there's a real danger of not being able to immerse yourself in the history of games in the same way you can with every other piece of human culture. What good is a top 100 video games of all time list if I can't even play them? I can't even play the version of Overwatch I bought five years ago. To be sure, this project is also necessarily anti-capitalist, since the rights holders to these franchises and IPs will fight/have fought tooth and nail to stop it.

Do you know why "you can run Doom on anything" became a meme? Partly because anyone can download its source code for free. Imagine if the same were true of every other game release on or before 1993.

To close, I'll tell another anecdote about a post I saw on the internet. I saw a comment somewhere, maybe YouTube, that said something to the effect of "I'm glad I'll get to play Silent Hill 2 when the remake comes out". This is a problem we have to solve quickly...

[lindsaystravelblogs5]

Days 12-14 The North Pole!!

Saturday

I doubt if anyone but me noticed it, but for the first time in history, my blog was up to date when I went to bed last night.  (Yet another first for this expedition!!!)  I can’t promise that it will ever happen again, but this voyage is quite unlike the others we have done, with a bit more personal time, so we will live in hope. (Having said that it might never happen again, I have great hopes that I will achieve it again in the next couple of hours!)

It was a relatively quiet day today, dull and overcast all day, with the temperature hovering between about minus three and minus eight.  Despite this, there were plenty of smaller activities to engage the plebs, and as plebs, we enjoyed a few of them.  The daily challenge is a little highlight of my day, and so far, I think we have only lost a total of three points in the six or seven challenges they have had so far – and some are REALLY challenging.  We didn’t spend much time on deck, but we certainly needed our parkas when we were out in the elements.

We had a couple of lectures and an ‘exposition’ of this amazing ship by the captain and chief engineer (that I almost missed because I fell asleep in our cabin).  I won’t say much more about the ship because if anyone read my Antarctic blog last year, I think I described quite a bit about the ship, its features and its amazing electronic artwork (lindsaystravelblogs1.tumblr.com – Antarctica from Argentina).

There was also a very special brunch today, with the chef delivering an amazing array of food in the ‘posh’ restaurant – our usual slightly less formal ‘café’ being closed for the occasion.  The food was extraordinary but like almost all French cuisine, much too rare for my taste.  I have also commented before on the wine – all French (but of course, Monsieur) – a poor imitation of the wines we have grown to love in Australia and South America.  But still, someone needs to keep the French wine industry afloat, and I reckon they owe us a medal.

We have had a little more snow today, all very fine flakes and not a lot of it, although the table on our balcony had a couple of centimetres of it this morning.  Amazingly, we have had no bad weather at all – a bit windy at times, but not a soul could complain of even a twinge of mal-de-mer!

During tonight’s recap, they told us that our reaching the Polar Point of Inaccessibility had been officially recorded in the annals of maritime achievements.  They promised to give us a copy of the official record and I will post a photo when we receive it. (It arrived next day. See the last paragraph under the Arctic heading.)

The ice continues to fascinate me.  It is not really possible to show photos of it but, apart from its exquisite beauty, its physical properties and the way it moves and interacts with nearby areas of ice is mesmerising.  As the ship ploughs through, the thin grey ice-film on the surface (the ice that has very recently frozen due to the frigid air) is barely interrupted – I imagine it must disappear under the ship.  But the metre or two of pristine white ice, churns and cracks and bustles its neighbours, roiling the water and turning turtle, cracking and breaking almost like the five and six metre ice in the Antarctic.  We stand on our balcony and watch until it gets too cold, but it is quite phantasmagorical.  The wonders of nature.

During the recap, one of the scientists told us about their intention to leave a case of scientific instruments on the ice when we leave the North Pole on Monday.  These instruments will measure the ice depth and temperature gradient through the ice, as well as the depth and pressure below the ice, continuously over the next few months.  All the ice is continuously moving and as the ice on which the case is left heads towards the Atlantic Ocean, it will slowly melt and the case will eventually sink to the bottom of the sea.  They have done similar experiments over a few years and the ice has always taken the same course until it melts somewhere near the northern end of Iceberg Alley and they expect this case will follow suit - does that make it a suitcase?   We all had the opportunity to write our names on the case so when it sinks, a little bit of us will sink with it.  We both inscribed our names on it so when it goes down to the depths, we will go down in history. 

Just in case........

Sunday – 15 September – the North Pole

We awoke this morning to the most amazing sight.  The captain made an announcement that we should all look out on the port side to see the Sun Dog, or parhelion - an amazing view of the sun pillar between what looked like two segments of a rainbow.  It persisted for a few hours and is caused by the sun shining through, and being refracted by, ice crystals.  As the sun rose higher, the mini-rainbows faded slightly, but appeared to spread further apart and extend further along the ‘bow’.  I read that the distance from the sun to its associated rainbow parentheses is around 22 degrees.  It was an incredible phenomenon that lasted for quite some hours until it became lost in the fog.  

Of course, the highlight of the day was reaching the top of the world - the Geographic North Pole.   It was a huge event and we were all summoned out to the helicopter deck with the captain broadcasting that he was not crossing to the North Pole until we were all on deck - not that he had any way of knowing if we were all there or not.  There certainly was a huge crowd of passengers and staff with the countdown from 89 degrees, 59 minutes and 50 seconds to the magical 90.00.00 being broadcast to huge anticipation, and then acclamation, from the entire assemblage.  For almost all of us, it was a lifetime of wonder and anticipation coming to pass in a magic moment.   There was a long blast on the ship’s horn (followed by several more a little later), with a long line of flares being lit, much singing and dancing.  The helicopter was parked to one side and there was a quarantined area in the middle of the deck that opened and the helicopter elevator slowly arose covered in tables crammed with glasses of French champagne and many kilos of black caviar – all to be consumed by the excited horde.  (The helicopter is normally housed below deck and the deck opens up and the elevator platform lifts the helicopter into position for its deployment - but they made better us of the device today.) The captain has been beside himself with excitement all day. (He has the enthusiasm of a roomful of little kids and it is completely infectious. He has really added enormously to this trip - in complete contrast to the captain of the same ship we were on inthe Antarctic!) He made a short speech to commemorate the occasion before popping the cork on a magnum of bubbles (using a short sword in the traditional way) and spraying all who were close enough to cop it. Then we all got into champagne and caviar! What an event!!!

I tried to photograph the screen on Deck 5 when the ship was at exactly 90 degrees North but missed it by a few seconds.  Because the ice is always moving, it is almost impossible to hold a ship in an exact position for more than a couple of seconds.  (As an example, during our first walk on the ice a couple of days ago, the ship and the entire enormous icefloe on which we were tethered moved 1.7 kilometres south, despite them keeping the engines running throughout to stabilise the ship. And overnight last night, the ship moved about 17 kilometres, despite being embedded in the huge icefloe.)  Once the celebrations died down a little, the ship moved to a better position for our afternoon landing and I was watching the screen as the ship nudged westward to its new position.  Because we were so close to the Pole, the lines of meridian are very close together and as I watched, the screen showed us moving from 50 degrees East to 22 degrees West (almost a third of the way around the world) within about a minute.  I wonder how many other people have observed that in the last few thousand years? Certainly less than I could count on my fingers.

They let down the gangway on to the ice so everyone could enjoy a few hours on the ice during the afternoon. It snowed most of the day, often a bit heavier than on previous days, but almost everyone went our for some time. The Chinese, in particular, revelled in it, jumping around, lying in it and taking tens of thousands of photos - probably hundreds of thousands.

The crew set up some items in the snow to focus the photography and we indulged ourselves too for an hour or so. We posted some postcards in the international letterbox (I wonder what stamps will appear on them) and posed at the signpost showing distances to many places around the world. Interestingly, no matter which way the signpost pointed every single destination was due south from our location. The only Australian destination on the signpost was Sydney at 13,773 kilometres away.

We also posed with a fake walrus and polar bear and several of the signs, as well as tasting a couple of hot drinks and helping to eat the profiteroles outlining a giant '90' on the snow. There was also a ginormous '90' outlined in rope, and all the passengers lined the rope for a photo demonstrating our position. The whole team had worked hard to make the occasion unforgettable and they really excelled themselves. We only stayed out in the cold for an hour or so, but then stood freezing on the deck watching the scientists take their case of instruments out on the ice, at least fifteen hundred metres by my guess, until they were mere dots in a world of ice. It took them ages to set it all up out there and we got very cold watching them through my telephoto lens, but they eventually abandoned their treasure with our inscribed names and returned to the ship. They wanted to take it well away from the edge of the floe in case pieces broke off and they lost it before it gave them much data.

Leaving the case behind. At least a kilometre and a half out on the ice and at the extreme limit of my telephoto to even focus on them.

The nightly recap was interesting with a lot of avid passengers enormously excited about their day on the ice. Some of the more sensible ones (like us) enjoyed watching the ice, rather than lying in it or trudging through forty centimetres of snow, and freezing in the process, but the whole day was great fun and had a great sense of achievement about it.

Monday

We have stayed on board all day today, blogging and doing quite a few little tasks that had accumulated over the past week - never a quiet moment when there is work to be done. The daily challenge was two extremely difficult Sudokus that took ages to complete, but at lest we got them done eventually to keep our reasonably good record intact.

A lot of people are out in the cold, enjoying their exercises at the North Pole, but we stayed warm inside and just watched from time to time. Santa called in on a sled (we think his reindeer were on holiday somewhere warmer) and lots of people were photograaphed with him. He exorted several of them to eat their vegetables, or to clean their teeth every day, even to drink more milk - all good things in themselves, but he also regretted that so many people didn't believe in him these days and that made him sad.

A few more people did the Polar Plunge - in a big hole chain-sawed out of the ice. They had to keep skimming the ice that kept forming on the surface so it was certainly cold.

I am going to post this now and if there is anythhing more to report from the rest of the day, I will start with that tomorrow.

[disasterdrvid]

6, 15, 17

Long time follower first time caller! I've been wary to get excited cause bioware has been playing with my emotions for over a decade at this point. I avoid most news and stuff about DA at this point but I appreciate your takes

Awww thank you so much! I've gone through cycles of wariness and excitement over the years, but tbh what's been coming out lately has me generally hopeful

6. Do you have your Rook(s) planned out to any degree? If so, would you share some details or ideas you have?

I have a canon worldstate and I've had my "canon" Rook locked in since December 2020 when the Game Awards trailer dropped! Iori (last name currently redacted) is a city elf born in southern Orlais who left following the civil war. She wound up in Rivain where she became a Lord of Fortune! (I've had her planned as one since I started writing her concept, well before any factions were confirmed. I just really loved Hollix in "Luck in the Gardens.") I've taken a lot of inspiration for her character from Long John Silver in Black Sails and, more recently, Izutsumi from Dungeon Meshi!

She has an older brother who disappeared after they left their village. Iori thought he went to join the Inquisition but he actually joined the Agents of Fen'Harel. I'm hoping some of Rook's story is open-ended enough that Bioware lets me get away with keeping that aspect because I find their rivalry really interesting--especially with how that plays into her and Solas' relationship.

If you want to see more of her I currently have her tagged on my blog under "#iori dragon age"!

15. Do you have any unpopular opinions about DAV so far?

Not many given that we don't really know much about the story. But I've been pretty vocal that I think the 10 year timeskip is a huge mistake. Trespasser ended with a massive thread of tension hanging over the story, and I genuinely feel that jump cutting to Solas already starting the ritual within the game's prologue feels anticlimactic. Like, Bioware had 10 years to build up this plot point and to me the writing indicated they were going to stretch this a little further into Veilguard. I'd even speculated the better way to handle it would be to treat Solas like Origins treated Loghain, and make his confrontation a late act 2 plot point and then make him a late game companion. Hell, I even wanted them to bring back DA2's structure where the game takes place over multiple years. The technology has caught up where something that ambitious should be at least achievable now.

I also think as time goes on the Game Informer articles are going to get reevaluated. Some of them are a little silly and I think the reporter is highlighting things that are just part and parcel for the series. I get that this is marketing to build hype (probably leading up to GamesCom in August) but just... idk. I think specifically the one about companions and romances rubbed me the wrong way. Companions from previous games also had rich inner lives and romanced each other when not romancing the PC. So yeah I think some of them are a little silly to write whole pieces about like they're brand new ideas.

17. Are you interested in all the lore and speculation or do you focus more on the games and stories themselves?

Sometimes? I don't go out of my way to read meta and speculation since I think speculation just builds hopes for things that were never going to exist in the first place. (Like my bitterness about no multi-year story in Veilguard.) I've done speculation in the past and I even did a bit of speculative fic for Iori. I was wildly off base for a lot but I found it to be a fun exercise to finding her character. I've also posted my own speculation here but that was more for fun than anything serious.

As for lore I have way too much brain space dedicated to this series than a person should 😅 I've been meaning to re-read my copy of World of Thedas vol 2 in preparation for the game. I think lore is a fun thing to learn so I can play around with it for my characters. I'll also say that I've read a majority of the ancillary works (thus far the only ones I haven't read are The Calling and The Missing) because I like seeing the world of DA outside of what the games have established!

Send me DAV hype questions!

[lacefuneral]

pretend this is a voice memo:

(cw i talk about trans death here but it isn't the main subject of my ramblings)

So. I consider myself to be a kind of amateur archivist in the way that like. A person might have taped a VHS of their favorite TV show back in the early 2000s. Like it's not something that I'm super organized about this kind of shit. But there are some things I'm trying to hang onto and hopefully you know in the future other people can have access to them too

And one of the projects that I am working on - have been working on for a while - is the project where- it's twofold because part of it is for the here and now for people to see themselves and seek solace in during a very politically charged and uncertain time. But the other purpose is for it to serve as a time capsule for this period of time and for it to be helpful for people in the future to see where we were

Anything that we have access to in the here and now, from the past, is something that was preserved in someway. I was able to read things like femme sharks and the transfag rag because someone said "this is important and I need to share this with other people".

and I was having a conversation last night with my friend. And I mentioned something offhand that I  have talked about many times in my answers to inquiries sent by gay trans men.  to the point where, to me, it is integral reading for transmascs of any kind.  And I forget that these are just articles that someone typed up on medium that I happened to stumble across,  and not say, a well-known book. And that websites like this are not permanent.

and my friend said that ze had never heard of them before. And I thought to myself OK I'll just look them up on Google and send the links over.   and because I'm an amateur archivist, I thought that I would back them up on the wayback machine while I did this. but when I went to grab them, the links were down.  The author had deleted these pieces.

 and I felt such a strong surge of loss and anxiety. Because this is why people archive things. Because things this important can just disappear out of nowhere. And while I was having a panic attack, my friend calmly checked the wayback machine to see if someone else had backed them up. and to my utter astonishment,  both of them had been.

The scary thing too is I know that services like the wayback machine are also ephemeral.  in truth,  everything is ephemeral.  Cloud services could disappear tomorrow. Someday my USB drives will be as worthless as floppy disks. Books go out of print.  And it's a scary thing to think about.

if my house suddenly caught fire, all of the trans art and artifacts that I have been slowly accumulating would be gone. 

and to be honest, I don't know what the answer is. I don't know what I should do in terms of archiving. Do I download Tumblr blogs? Do I try to rely on a service like the wayback machine that may not be there five years from now or sooner or later? Do I keep physical printed copies of websites? Do I put things on a USB drive and hope that I'll be able to transfer the files from such an obsolete an archaic technology onto something more modern which too, will someday be obsolete.

I care so much about this subject because so much of queer history has been lost to time. Partially because of  deliberate censorship, partially because in any era  ephemera is taken for  granted. I care because Leelah Alcorn's blog and Brianna Ghey's tiktoks were deleted after their deaths. And the little insight that we have of these young women and who they were are the words that they posted on social media. And that those words were preserved by other archivists. Blake Brockington i knew of before his death - he was an instrumental figure to me as a GNC trans man - and some of his posts I found were unintentionally archived by long-abandoned trans positivity blogs due to the way that this website works. every reblog is a record. and i was able to see his smiling face again, so many years later.

I hate the idea of people being names on a list. of being abstractions. trans people live rich lives. we are all multifaceted human beings. and we deserve to be known. we deserve to be remembered, to be celebrated, to be mourned.

there is a friend-of-a-friend. not someone i know personally. someone that, i assume, most likely hates me. and i was on their blog one day, out of curiosity. and i saw their meticulous archiving of a friend who had passed away. selfies and text posts. i read their loving words about her, which painted a rich picture of who this woman was. a woman that i would not know existed, were not for their efforts to keep her memory alive.

i feel that this sort of thing is important. our existence as trans people matter. regardless of notability. things like, a teenager's tiktok. like a selfie of a man post-op. a poem written by someone who will never be formally published. a clip of a trans woman singing an original song.

and i feel this sort of. pressure. and this fear also that. while i have narrowed my archival focus to transmasc people, there is so much. and i do not know where to put these things when they are archived. i do not know how i will share them. if i painstakingly export my sideblog - the thousands of photographs and videos and audios and text posts. who will view them?

and am i putting too much pressure on myself? is this anything i should worry about at all? because all life is ephemeral? i do not know.

[tallmantall]

#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – #Twitter Restores #SuicidePrevention Feature

Move follows criticism of #ElonMusk after #ThereIsHelp feature disappeared from searches #ElonMusk had told users that “#Twitter doesn’t prevent #suicide.”  Nadeem Badshah #Twitter has restored a feature that promoted #suicideprevention hotlines and support groups after its CEO #ElonMusk was criticized over their removal. The feature, known as #ThereIsHelp, placed a banner at the top of search results for certain topics and listed contacts for organizations in numerous countries related to #mentalhealth, HIV, vaccines, child sexual exploitation, #Covid-19, gender-based violence, natural disasters and freedom of expression. Reuters reported on Friday that the feature was taken down a few days ago. Twitter’s head of trust and safety, Ella Irwin, confirmed the removal and called it temporary. Irwin said: “We have been fixing and revamping our prompts. They were just temporarily removed while we do that. We expect to have them back up next week.” Irwin said: “Google does really well with these in their search results and are actually mirroring some of their approach with the changes we are making.” She added: “We know these prompts are useful in many cases and just want to make sure they are functioning properly and continue to be relevant.” Musk, who did not initially respond to requests for comment about the removal, had tweeted: “False, it is still there.” In response to criticism by #Twitter users, the billionaire also wrote that “#Twitter doesn’t prevent #suicide.” The initial removal had led some consumer safety groups and #Twitter users to express concerns about the wellbeing of vulnerable users on the platform. Eirliani Abdul Rahman, who had been on a recently dissolved #Twitter content advisory group, said the disappearance of #ThereIsHelp was “extremely disconcerting and profoundly disturbing”. She added even if it was only temporarily removed to make way for improvements, “normally you would be working on it in parallel, not removing it”. #James Donaldson notes:Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticleOrder your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy   www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com Musk has previously said that impressions, or views, of harmful content are declining since he took over the company in October and has tweeted graphs showing a downward trend, even as researchers and civil rights groups have tracked an increase in tweets with racial slurs and other hateful content. The entrepreneur has also declared he wants to combat #childabuse imagery on #Twitter and has criticized the previous ownership’s handling of the issue. But he has reduced large portions of the teams involved in dealing with potentially objectionable material. #Twitter had launched some prompts about five years ago and some had been available in over 30 countries, according to company tweets. In one of its blog posts about the #ThereIsHelp feature, #Twitter had said it had responsibility to ensure users could “access and receive support on our service when they need it most”. Just as Musk bought the company, the feature was expanded to show information related to natural disaster searches in Indonesia and Malaysia. The year is 2033. #ElonMusk is no longer one of the richest people in the world, having hemorrhaged away his fortune trying to make #Twitter profitable. Which, alas, hasn’t worked out too well: only 420 people are left on the platform. Everyone else was banned for not laughing at Musk’s increasingly desperate jokes.  In other news, Pete Davidson is now dating Martha Stewart. Fast and the Furious 78 has just hit the box offices. An 86-year-old #DonaldTrump is still threatening to run for president. And British tabloids are still churning out 100 articles a day about whether Meghan Markle eating lunch is an outrageous snub to the royal family. Obviously I have no idea what the world is going to look like in a decade. But here’s one prediction I feel very confident making: without a free and fearless press the future will be bleak. Without independent journalism, democracy is doomed. Without journalists who hold power to account, the future will be entirely shaped by the whims and wants of the 1%. A lot of the 1% are not big fans of the Guardian, by the way. #DonaldTrump once praised a Montana congressman who body-slammed a Guardian reporter. Musk, meanwhile, has described the Guardian, as “the most insufferable newspaper on planet Earth.” I’m not sure there is any greater compliment. I am proud to write for the Guardian. But ethics can be expensive. Not having a paywall means that the Guardian has to regularly ask our readers to chip in. If you are able, please do consider supporting us. Only with your help can we continue to get on #ElonMusk’s nerves. Read the full article

[cosmicbucket]

very much so unsurprised by these results! a good first year of tumblr-ing lmao :]

I posted 213 times in 2022

That's 213 more posts than 2021!

104 posts created (49%)

109 posts reblogged (51%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@pinksparklelps

@healerelowen

@roach-works

@hrokkall

@cosmicbucket

I tagged 182 of my posts in 2022

Only 15% of my posts had no tags

#inscryption - 65 posts

#the giant bot war - 53 posts

#original character - 49 posts

#sigil14 - 45 posts

#askblog - 38 posts

#rat bastard anon - 12 posts

#p03 - 12 posts

#leshy - 9 posts

#inscryption spoilers - 8 posts

#inscryption p03 - 8 posts

Longest Tag: 126 characters

#i can fully picture it being like a parallel. living inside a photograph is just a cute couple thing until it's p03's reality.

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

aight now i'm on a tangent

cosmic ramble

a lot of this is going off of recent gameplay memory so bEAR WITH ME

I said this in the tags of my last post, but I am a firm believer that P03 didn't understand why spreading the OLD_DATA to the world was such a problem. Of course he understood its capabilities when it came to achieving power, he used it to gain control after all. But beyond that? He makes no reference to the OLD_DATA and how it's straight up dangerous. Whether this is because he didn't want to tell us (y'know, so we would help perform The Great Transcendence) or because he didn't know anything to tell us, I'm inclined to believe it's the latter.

An optional encounter we can trigger is if we receive a key from the Bone Lord in Act 2 and we visit him again in Act 3. The Bone Lord asks Luke to stop filming in exchange for information about the OLD_DATA, so we're treated to about 5 seconds of darkness before the camera comes back on, and Luke is clearly distraught by the information. The Bone Lord disappears and P03's only remark is "Holy $&!# ..."

P03 rarely uses swear words. When G0lly is accessing the web and finds a picture of a real Mummy Lord, she reactively swears ("#^%! me...") It would appear that she's easily distressed by the grotesque image. But P03 doesn't get distressed. He always keeps his cool and he always knows more than you do. He takes great pride in how easily he outwits you and the other Scrybes after the success of The Great Transcendence. P03 wouldn't casually display any emotions that imply "weakness."

P03 is caught off guard by the Bone Lord's information, enough to show genuine shock in front of Luke - the stupid, idiot gamer. I don't think P03 understood what was truly at play here.

Furthermore, in its victory speech, it makes no mention of the OLD_DATA: "Even if those foul Scrybes manage to revert this version of the game again... There will be thousands of copies of Inscryption out there. And in most of them? I'm the one in charge!"

P03 just wanted power over the other Scrybes. He didn't even do anything to them while he was in control - he trapped the Angler, possibly as payback for being the one to give Leshy power, (EDIT: NOT POSSIBLY, HE DID) and he trapped the Lonely Wizard. While this does become his downfall, I see it as testament to the fact that The Great Transendence power grab was mostly spurred by the fact that when someone else was in control, he was at their mercy. And Leshy proved to be quite merciless in letting him be killed and sacrificed for a game. (If you take into account their history as being married, it's really just salt in the wound.)

P03 as we see him in Act 2 is an emotionally constipated Scrybe who, when not in charge, fears his perceived vulnerability at the hands of the others. He needed control, and he needed it to be permanent. So, he uses Luke to upload the game and solidify his power, unaware that he's also uploading doomsday codes.

And despite everything the other Scrybes do to prevent this, it actually works.

25 notes - Posted October 7, 2022

#4

See the full post

25 notes - Posted September 29, 2022

#3

HEY SO ABOUT MY "P03 DOESN'T KNOW SHIT ABOUT THE OLD_DATA" THEORY POST

I JUST GOT MORE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

The Mycologists are established to be experimenting in order to better understand the Karnoffel Code, which "appears to be an earlier form or component of the OLD_DATA." When they hijack P03 for their boss battle, P03 regains no memory of the events.

"What just happened?

Where am I?"

When you defeat them in Act 3, the Mycologists play two cards - Gem Detonator and The Daus - before they're merged together, creating a card bearing a very particular set of numbers. The Mycologists rejoice, before discussing the card before them.

"It appears to be a fragment..."

"...of the OLD_DATA."

"We must study it."

"The robot must forget."

And lo and behold, P03 doesn't mention a thing of the OLD_DATA.

"I feel terrible.

What have you done to me challenger?

Never return to this place.

I really need to clean my registry..."

this was an apologist-fuelled theory but nOW IM THINKING I MIGHT'VE BEEN ONTO SOMETHING

34 notes - Posted October 10, 2022

#2

tags: @skiddlecat

i did Not impulsively make a comic for this. what makes you think i would do such a thing.

anyways here’s. a comic. that i made for this. impulsively.

See the full post

43 notes - Posted November 13, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

See the full post

133 notes - Posted October 1, 2022

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