#don't worry! obscurity isn't a requirement!

[hotheadedhero]

De-Stress Methods

When you're having a bad day, the last thing your turtle boyfriend wants is for you to suffer. Fortunately for you, he has his own special way of helping you out.

2003 Turtles x Reader

Leonardo

Meditation is usually his way of going about things but he knows you struggle to clear your head so easily like him. Instead, he beckons you to a rooftop, being sure to cover your eyes as he leads you up an apartment. It's a risky move on his part, both for potentially being seen and you blindly upscaling a ladder but he knows it'll be worth it. Once you're up, he waits just a moment longer.

Slightly disgruntled by the secrecy, you sigh, "Leo, if this is some kind of training exercise, I'm not sure I'm in the mood."

He just smiles as he gently coerces your hand away from your face. It takes a moment to blink away the blur but, when you do, you are blessed with a wondrous array of oranges and purples amidst the wide sky that hangs above you. The sight is breathtaking and the troubles of your day wash off you almost immediately. Leo sits you down with him atop the roof and together you gaze in content silence. Knowing him, this is probably some corny interpretation of 'tomorrow is a new day' but you feel better nonetheless.

Raphael

This man holds nothing back when he's in a bad mood. Give him a punching bag and he'll go to town on it. You, however, couldn't hurt a fly. He loves that about you but even the softest souls need an outlet. Luckily, Raph is in touch with his softer side, especially when it comes to you. That's why he attempts to show you how to knit - get you focused on a task that requires just enough attention to distract you.

"I don't think I've done it right," you admit bashfully as you showcase your poor knitting skills.

Your sullen glance to the floor almost has him giving up on this idea but he doesn't want you to be discouraged. Instead, he gently pinches your chin, points your head up towards him, and kisses your forehead, encouraging you to try again. The great thing about knitting is that you can easily pull the yarn away from your mistake and redo it. It takes some practice but the beaming grin of accomplishment on your face fills him with such pride.

Donatello

When it comes to methods of relaxation, there's nothing quite like tinkering on a new project to get Donnie to unwind. However, that isn't exactly your idea of a soothing pastime. Even just watching how he operates on machinery gets your head into a spin, akin to second-hand stress were he to feel any such stain himself. He places his tools down on the work bench and gets comfortable on the couch with a book, ushering you to join him. You lay your head in his lap and he begins to read, stroking a free hand over your head. After a few paragraphs, he feels you shift and stops reading to look down at you when he catches your stare.

"Please, don't stop," you object with a smile. "I like your voice."

With a tender expression of his own, he continues to read aloud about the geometry of spacetime. He knows it doesn't matter what he reads to you because that isn't the point. The way he sees it, the more obscure the book, the more likely you are to fall asleep and take the well-deserved nap he knows you need.

Michelangelo

Mikey may be a high-energy, goofball who, at face value, doesn't take much seriously but that doesn't mean he's an idiot. Where he seemingly lacks logical smarts, he makes up for in emotional intelligence. As soon as you walk into the lair, he can tell something's wrong. You don't want to talk about it and exerting yourself with any kind of activity sounds like too much energy. That means skateboarding and video games are out of the question then. Not a problem! There's plenty you can do that requires little to no effort. He quickly makes a batch of popcorn and sits you between his legs in front of the TV. As the back of your head rests on his chest, he feeds you so you don't have to worry about lifting a finger.

Through a mouthful, you laugh, "It's okay, Mikey. I can feed myself."

He gently shushes you and pushes another piece of popcorn into your lips. That's all he needed to hear. The moment he gets a laugh out of you is the moment he knows you're feeling better.

[felikatze]

Do you wish you could easily look up information on ISAT, yet the wiki is lacking in it?

Well let me tell you the good news, my friend... YOU can fix that! all you need to do is sign up to wiki.gg (which doesn't even require an email address!) and you can get editing! Add information that the wiki editors have overlooked!! correct spelling mistakes!! write guides for obscure achievements!!

"But I'm afraid to make a mistake!"

Don't worry! If you have questions, simply head to #the-wiki-channel on the official isat discord server, and there'll be plenty of people to help you out!

"But I don't know how wiki editing works!"

in that case, check out isatwiki's very own style guide! It gives you the run down on formatting, page layouts, syntax, and citing! If you still feel unprepared, check out a completed page and copy its formatting! Completed pages are few and far between at the moment, though. Ahaha.

"I don't want to mess up on a public page!"

In that case, our dear pal the style guide is here to help! Check out the last section on Sandbox pages! A very own page, just for you to mess around with! Additionally, you can cut your teeth on making an user page for yourself! Put anything on there (that complies with TOS, of course) and have fun!!! Check out other people's user pages too, if you want!!

"But I don't know what to do!"

Then check out our To Do list! All the wiki's main projects, all compiled in one place! And if something you want to do isn't on the to do list... do it anyway. If there's info you want on there that isn't, the more the merrier, right?

on my hands and knees. please. pretty please. we're a small wiki we have low standards. i will take literally anything over nothing at all. you can make the most barebones unformatted page ever and i personally will pretty it up for you. i merely ask that you cite. like at all. and if you dont cite you can put this cute little {{source}} banner up top so other people will know the info isn't cited.

you should get into wiki editing it's a very fun hobby. you might even pick up basic coding along the way and learn what it's like to cry over css.

[greenqueenhightower]

Alicent's Harem of Useless Boys: A Green Council Scene in 2x05 Analysis:

The scene opens with a shot of Alicent’s hands on the small council table. As the camera slowly moves upwards we see Alicent's worried expression. Grand Maester Orwyle reports on Aegon's condition and adds: "There are more injuries within, injuries we cannot see." Alicent flinches. How much does this comment describe the state of her own soul.

"I'm not sure he will ever wake". Alicent makes a conscious effort to appear strong and obscure any display of emotion that might make the male council members think of her as vulnerable and weak. As much as it pains her to think about the possibility of her son's death, the small council isn't the place for her to expose her agony. She is sitting on that council as a Queen and an advisor. She must put any personal feelings aside. She is ready to play her part as a politician.

"We must name a regent to take his place until he recovers. Or does not." Alicent self-regulates by tapping her nails on the hardwood before her. She stands up and states how the small council ought to proceed next. They should capitalize on the battle at Rook's Rest and let the smallfolk hear about the King's heroic deeds. Then, it is she who first recognizes the need for a regent to rule in his place.

"I myself served in this role for my husband. I am well-prepared to do it again." Alicent knows it will be difficult to take all the council members to her side as she vies for herself as a regent. The camera cuts to all of them, Ironrod, Orwyle, Tyland, her son Aemond, Larys, and Criston, as Alicent reveals her eagerness and readiness to rule. I'm exceptionally struck by the shot where Alicent has stood up, presenting herself as both a sacrifice and a means of salvation, evidently stating: "Here I am, your new regent" and the council does not even dare look at her. They are unwilling to consider the possibility of having Alicent, a woman, rule over them let alone lead or save them. They have no need for a female Messiah, no more than they require a female King.

"And here I had forgotten." Alicent responds sarcastically to Ironrod's comment about her unfitness to rule, having only done so in a time of peace. Alicent is no stranger to difficult circumstances. Her restraint from impulsive violence, trained leadership qualities, and acute sensitivity towards the good of the smallfolk are exactly what this realm needs. Why don't they see her point? Who else has ruling experience? Certainly not Aemond, whose rash actions have caused two catastrophes already? Doesn't anyone fear what else Aemond might be capable of if he gains more power and the authority to exercise it any way he likes?

"The obvious choice is his immediate successor, Prince Aemond." The council members willingly blind themselves to the dangers of naming Aemond as regent. There is a moment of awkward silence as Alicent seeks supporters within her council. She turns to Criston who avoids her gaze yet again.

"Experience is valuable, yes, but the Dowager Queen is a woman." Grand Maester Orwyle is the only one to speak in her favor but is quickly silenced by Ironrod and Tyland who imply a lack of strength for their side if a woman is to rule. Alicent affirms how suited she has proved to be for the role before she turns to Larys, her ally, for support.

"What would it say if, in response to Rhaenyra's crowning, we raised up a woman of our own?" Alicent breathes more heavily as she understands that the nature of her being completely sidelined and bypassed for her unruly son is political. They are not expected to be taken seriously by their fealty houses and allies who have offered their support precisely because they dislike the idea of having a woman sit the Iron Throne. The basis of the Green agenda has come to be reduced to the patriarchal principle. Aegon should have been crowned instead of Rhaenyra because he was the first-born male heir. Any male heir in his place will do for the Green cause, regardless of whether he is the best choice and irrespective of any consequences to the realm. It simply does not matter.

"It's agreed then." Alicent sits back down and Aemond assumes the place of regent. Scorned by her lover, her allies, her son, and the rest of the council, Alicent experiences disillusionment with her own political ambitions. Right in front of her eyes, the men in her life conspire to silence her as they pursue their own goals. Larys did not miss a beat to expose Criston's betrayal to sting her. Does he hope to salvage a relationship with her? Does he now gloat over his triumph for making her feel like a complete fool for sleeping with one of them and doing favors for the other? Does he relish seeing her tower of trust in them both crumble, as the power slips through her fingers? Larys' gaze seems apologetic; Criston cannot bear to face her yet again.

"No one is to leave or enter, save with our consent." As the men in the council resume making their plans, the camera is fixed on Alicent who recognizes the little value placed on all she's done and sacrificed because she’s a woman. Alicent, who the entire time effectively hid any emotional vulnerability associated with femininity, now disassociates, shakes her head in dismay, breathes heavily and tears up, reveals her anguish over Aemond's decisions, and has the pangs of utter rejection engraved on her face. Alicent knows that closing the gates is a bad idea, yet she says nothing. Does her advice have any value anymore? Alicent finally discovers that her political prowess as a ruler is reduced to that of a spectator. There will always be someone contesting and undermining her grasp for power because she was born out of the Targaryen male-dominated world. But what hurts more at the moment, is the revelation that she supported it.

Or worse, that she gave birth to it.

She is once again a prisoner to the narrative that she so wished to escape, and her captors sit right next to her at the same table.

[megistusdiary]

i just checked tumblr after a bit and hello?? professor arle is.. 💕

omgomg speaking of arle, possibly a short fic ab arle and her cat s/o as i mentioned before? that'd be amazing 🙌

fluff w/ suggestive themes (?)

- 🕊️ anon

hello, 🕊 anon ♡ i'll see what i can do 🙏

by chance, i found this little pawprint divider, and isn't it just so cute??

arlecchino x fem!cat hybrid reader

warnings: fluff with suggestive themes at the end, reader is a cat hybrid, arle is taller than reader, kiss*ng and c*ddling 😳

you sneak into arlecchino's office, steps lighter than air on her dark wood floorboards. you tiptoed closer to her, where her back was currently turned to you, preoccupied with a hefty stack of documents all requiring her signature.

your tail waved back and forth in a gentle motion as you approached her, only to fluff out in surprise when she suddenly looked over her shoulder directly at you.

her blood red eyes found yours, tilting her head in a slightly amused fashion even if her face didn't reflect the same emotion.

"what are you doing, sweetheart?" she asked, turning her chair to face you.

your hands stayed behind your back, still obscuring your surprise for her behind you. "just...coming to check on you." but the rapid waving of your tail betrayed you. "okay, fine, i have a surprise for you." you sighed, revealing the little box.

it was wrapped in deep gray paper, tied with a red ribbon that nearly matched the hue of her irises. her eyebrow quirked up as she allowed you to come closer, handing her the box.

"you know i'm not one for surprises." she simply hummed as you scoffed, tail flicking to the side along with your ears flattening a bit.

"you'll like this one. just open it." you insist, and how could she refuse. you watch as she opens it hesitantly, untying the ribbon to remove the lid of the box.

her neutrality slowly fades into a softer look as she picks up the ring you've gifted her. it was a dark metal, fit perfectly for her ring finger. cool to the touch but not overly so with an elegant sheen to the material.

"this is beautiful...how much did this cost you?" she asked, slipping it on her right ring finger (as you intended).

"don't worry about that. i just wanted to surprise you." comes your quick reply, brushing her off. "you like it?"

"i do." she rewards you with a small smile, pushing her chair out to beckon you closer, scooping you up into her lap. you are able to sit on her comfortably given the height difference between the two of you, resting your chin on her shoulder as she rubs your back gently.

"that was very thoughtful of you." she speaks in a soft tone against your fluffy ears, feeling them flick against her cheek. your tail sways, landing against her thigh as you cuddle into her.

she uses a sharp-nailed hand to lift your chin, giving you a soft kiss as her other hand comes to pet your ears. she delights in the way you purr so easily for her, clearly content on her lap.

"such a good girl for me." she praises as she pulls away from your lips, kissing your forehead now. her hand slowly trails down your back, teasing your tail as it tries to escape her grasp.

when she wraps her fingers around the base of your tail, you jump, a soft gasp escaping your lips as she strokes the soft fur. "arlecchino-" you whimper, sounding rather breathy as she chuckles lowly.

"someone's getting all hot and bothered, hm?" her voice is downright sultry as she mumbles into your ear, kissing the fur before trailing her hand back up to your waist. she smirks at your suddenly needy whines and squirming on her lap, pondering if it would be more fun to leave you wanting or to completely ruin you now.

[phanboyo]

Okay I'm gonna rant a bit about the "Anti-Ecto Acts" trope for a minute so feel free to scroll past if you aren't interested but

It just feels so unnecessary in almost every fic it's used in. Like, okay, there's definitely some fun angst in Danny's existence being made illegal but people either take it too far or not far enough.

Okay, so when people find out that he is legally considered nonsentient and property of the US government for experimentation, they don't really do anything about that but get mad on Danny’s behalf. The only people who would hear about it and even think about turning him in are literal supervillains, why is Danny so worried about it, as if most humans go out of their way to obey obscure laws that require action. It's hard to find a person unwilling to jaywalk, let alone someone who cares about the law (and doesn't care about human rights) enough to actually figure out how to contact some hyper-specialized branch of the government.

It makes way more sense for it to be just a passing comment when talking about how obnoxious the GIW is. Like "oh yeah and they passed a law that makes my existence illegal, as if that would make them any less incompetent at ghost hunting haha."

And then when the Acts actually become a problem? Just let any random character know and suddenly its been repealed and the GIW is under investigation and the bad people are in prison and everyone lives happily ever after as they work through their trauma together <3 You know what would actually happen? A few puppets would be arrested to make it look like the courts are actually taking action, effectively nothing would change, except the public would incorrectly think that they saved the poor mistreated ghosts from the bad guys. If he were in their facility, Danny would disappear to a new facility with even less of a trace than before, and if he weren't, he would still be on the run and the GIW would be after him all the same, just as willing to hurt and kill people to get to him as when they were "government sanctioned."

My biggest issue with the Anti-Ecto Acts? Why on Earth would the GIW even pass them? You think the US government isn't ready and willing to break the law and commit unthinkable human rights violations at the drop of a hat? Even if they "snuck it in another bill" (which. What.) Drawing any attention to their organization or even the existence of "ectoplasmic entities" is incredibly counterproductive for their goals. That's why they're called the Guys in White. They don't give out their organization name because it's so secretive that it's even questionable whether they actually have any authority at all (and that's a point that I wish people explored more often, the possibility that the GIW isn't even part of the government at all), or if it's all just empty threats. If people go on thinking that ghosts aren't real, that's all the better for them. Can't commit moral attrocities on creatures that don't exist.

I could go into it more, especially when it's used in crossovers like DC or Marvel where there are existing enhanced/metahuman rights politics but really, the Anti-Ecto Acts being used as an actual plot device almost never makes any sense.

[system-architect]

no one tagged me in it but i rlly wanted to do a character tag meme like ive seen ppl on my dash doing so,,, :"") here's the one that's been going around, for plex!

personally obsessed with the fact that his ingame visage is extremely babied boy and then when i draw him it reveals the fact like oh this is a very tired, awkwardly built, angular guy who's nearing 30. ok anyways, stuff below the cut!

-- B A S I C S

Name: Plex (fully titled: Infotechnist Plex)

Nicknames: (none. his handle on various console software is pl3x tho)

Age: 28

Birthday: 63 Scion 1308

Race: Asura

Gender: trans dude of some kind, he/him

Orientation: gay

Profession: he is an Inquest Technician very literally! minus the wiki bit mentioning magic since the stock npc is an ele lmao. ingame he's an engi, but as a character he has no combat skills whatsoever other than basic required training on how to use a firearm (which he hopes to never have to use)

-- P H Y S I C A L A S P E C T S

Hair: white (technically very very platinum blonde, natural)

Eyes: they're technically black with permanent yellow nightshine going on in his pupils. or irises. whatever the yellow dots are. don't worry about it.

Skin: albino (w/ light cream-tan stripe markings)

Tattoos/Scars: he's got a Y-shaped scar across his chest, and a couple of metal ports embedded on the right (viewer's left) side of his chest near his sternum, which have scarring around them

-- F A M I L Y

This section of the report has been obscured from view by the Inquest Legal Bureau at the behest of Redactor Trejj. Please contact your krewe's Overseer to initiate the proper clearance check measures if you believe this was in error. If you do not believe that it was in error, and instead that your ability to access this report whatsoever was unintended, please close the report at your earliest convenience and report to your facility's Inquisitor to be disciplined for reading this far.

-- S K I L L S

Abilities: Adept programmer with an eye for detail, and a photographic memory for numbers/strings of code specifically. Excels at combining complex pieces of information.

Hobbies: Gaming, movies/animations/shows, putting together model kits. Gets in a lot of arguments on programming and golemancy forums.

-- T R A I T S

Most positive generally helpful traits: Hard working (....usually), fast + thorough at things he puts his mind to, prefers to stay out of other people's business, good at keeping secrets, relatively open minded, has a pretty big capacity for empathy (even if he doesn't always show/use it)

Most negative generally unhelpful traits: Has a big mouth/isn't able to suppress his opinions about certain things, picky/fussy/whiny, socially awkward, tends to make interactions tense quickly, deep insecurity that bleeds over into how he acts around others, wants to 'win' things constantly, easily gets an inflated ego from said 'wins' that leads him to bite off more than he can chew after that

-- L I K E S

Colors: black LOL. also yellow (matches him!)

Smells: fresh coffee, cool rain on concrete, lemon, pine, canned air

Textures: leather and suede, soft fabrics (but not 'plush')

Drinks: coffee of course... also novelty flavor energy drinks even though they make his stomach feel like it's caving in on itself every time

-- O T H E R D E T A I L S

Smokes: lord no he'd start coughing on it

Drinks: his alcohol tolerance is about -2 so this is also a no. the man's veins and stomach lining are made of like.. tissue paper

Drugs: what do u think

Been arrested: no.. aside from being in the inquest (Which Is In Itself Literally Not A Crime) he's a fairly law abiding mild-mannered citizen lmfao. i mean he probably torrents things under a vpn but that's very low on the list of concerns for the peacemakers,

[painted-bees]

Hi!! Can I ask what happens at the festival? Do people recognize her music?

By this point, Raf and Magritte had composed a fair few tracks together, for fun. Most of it having been written and recorded during their year on Cortes Island. And so, they put together a setlist of these songs and rehearsed them as a three part band, which included Cortes.

This would be the first time Cortes accompanied them on stage (Raf insisted, just having Cortes involved does a lot to soothe his Anxieties), but Raf and Magritte had played together for shows prior to this...however, it had only ever been for very, very small venues, and under obscure ever-changing band names, without Raf himself ever explicitly having to identify himself to his audience. He had always been...rather covert.

Now, as part of his deal for getting Margie on the stage, his end of the bargain was to allow his name and likeness be used as a way of drawing in more attendees. He figured (and prefered) that he may as well do it as a bandmate to Magritte. And so, it was Stampy Ptarmigans ft. Rafael Ephrem. Just one band from a rather robust lineup of bands that would be playing during the weekend of the festival.

Being on stage, and everything around it, isn't difficult for Raf. One thing he kinda loathes to admit is that a part of him really does miss playing for large crowds. He likes putting on his stage persona and playing to an audience--he gets to be someone who doesn't really exist, playing for people who don't really exist. On stage, with the lights, it's hard to make out individual faces and expressions much of the time, and the people in the audience can be who ever he imagines them to be. It is like his life is a cartoon where he is simply a cartoon character playing to a cartoon audience, and all of it is within the realm of his control. When he was growing up, and as a teenager--being on stage in the middle of a live preformance was when he felt the safest.

But right before, and especially right after, was always the worst...the most uncomfortable. The scariest.

However, compared to what he was use to, rehearsals and the moments leading up to the show were quite different when Magritte and Cortes occupied the space where his parents/managers would have been. A lot of the energy he would have spent worrying about (and preemptively bracing for) the inevitable fallout of a less-than-perfect preformance was instead spent vibing with Cortes and assuring Magritte that they're just here to have a good time and have fun playing their silly little tunes same as they always have, and that folks in the audience are gonna enjoy it. After all, back when they first started meeting for their weekly jam sessions, one of the first tenants they agreed on was that they'd only play music together for as long as it was fun. They wouldn't be here, preparing to walk on stage together, if it wasn't fun to do so.

Thankfully, jitters aside, Magritte was eager and excited as always to just play music...and under such energizing circumstances! The lights, the VOLUME!! It's a lot more than she was use to, and despite her nerves, she couldn't stop smiling--so much that the muscles in her face hurt.

And it was fun. Their set list was an hour long, everything went well, and they had a blast playing. There had been a moment where Magritte skipped an entire verse of a song, and some clever improvisation was required to keep things moving forward in a way that felt pleasing and natural. But after the show, Magritte would cite that moment as her favorite part. Which is...more than a little refreshing from Raf's perspective, since those kinds of mistakes would usually mean a scathing lecture lasting into the earliest hours of the morning, followed by stricter hours of practise during the following weeks/months until the next major show.

But no. After the show, Magritte was on cloud 9, and would ride that high for months. The three of them would be remembered fondly by the audience, exactly the way they had hoped, with Raf's preformance being wholly overshadowed by his other two band members (especially the ""Icelandic"" one with the otherworldly vocals) and Magritte's Stampy Ptarmigans youtube channel enjoyed a healthy influx of enthusiastic new subscribers.

Certainly, there might have been people in the audience who recognized her from youtube and MySpace. But mostly, it was a fresh new audience hearing her work for the first time. And a lot of them decided they didn't want it to be the last time they'd ever hear her music.

All in all, a positive experience..! And certainly not the last of its kind to be enjoyed by our trio♡

[donnerpartyofone]

Boss chats me obscurely referring to a conflict he's having with a customer, about something that happened with my work, which he simultaneously refers to as ridiculous and also containing a good point, and it's in our company email which I can't get into because Google won't let me switch accounts on my phone without a pin that I don't know, and it won't let me recover the pin without using their admin app which I can't use because it requires a cloud account, and I'm struggling to resist the urge to bail on the important fun and very personal social thing that I'm currently doing so I can run home and check the email on my computer. Whatever this is can absolutely wait but nobody understands that as soon as I have Something to Do my brain is on fire and I will be completely preoccupied every single second until it is resolved even if it's "not urgent". My therapist is very surprised by the fact that my anxiety doesn't magically disappear if I just remind myself that something isn't an emergency and I can just relax and do it later, and she wants me to do yoga/meditation/breathing exercises in the moment that it's happening, which is just another task and not something that has ever reduced my anxiety level in any specific circumstances I can remember, not even with regular application. And now I'm totally preoccupied with how and when to fire her. While also knowing that I'm going to be worrying about the work thing every second of the next 2-3 hours while I wait to get home.

[otomefiend]

Alfons Sylvatica

Story Event: Wicked love blooming in the dark night (part two)

Chapter 2

All sorts of non-con going on. Proceed at your own discretion.

Chapter 1

~~Part 1~~

The door to the almshouse was opened by the director, who greeted us with a suspicious look on his face.

As soon as he exchanged something with Alfons, he smiled and invited us in.

(I couldn't see what it was, obscured by the shadow.)

(I wonder whether he is already under the influence of the ability.)

The man led us to a plain looking table and served us a cup of tea.

Alfons: "Recently, my father has been lamenting a notable loss of business."

Director: "Ah, I'm terribly sorry, but we give trade priority to those who are providing us with assistance."

(By 'trade' he means buying and selling corpses, right?)

Alfons: "No apologies needed. It's only natural that products flow to those who pay more."

Alfons: "There's a limit to the number of products, so it's difficult to know when the purchase is possible."

Alfons: "Even though it's a nameless corpse nobody cares about..."

Alfons: "I can't tell the poor people who live here to die now, can I?"

(The way he says it...ah, maybe he's trying to find something out from the director's reaction.)

I swallowed my upset and glanced at the man, but he never lost his gentle and kind smile.

Director: "I'm very grateful for your understanding of the situation."

Alfons: "Not to worry, today I'm here to inquire about the value of the aid."

Alfons: "And father gave my backside a kick to get the next 'product' regardless of the difficulty."

Director: "If that's the case, shall we move to the office?"

~~Part 2~~

Director: "I will prepare the documents, so please wait here for a moment until I call you."

Alfons: "Much obliged."

(I guess the task is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the trade and confirm whether there are any illegal transactions.)

(I... Should I wait here? But I've been told to deepen my understanding.)

(I think I want to see how Alfons works.)

Just as the thought crossed my mind Alfons, who was sitting next to me, gently reached out his hand,

And lovingly caressed the nape of my neck.

Alfons: "This neighbourhood is quiet, isn't it? It's daytime, but I can't hear anything else but the chirping of birds."

Kate: "What? Oh... that's true."

(It was so quiet... I didn't notice it until now.)

Director: "I'm ready, please join me."

Alfons: "...will you wait here while I speak with the director?"

Alfons: "I'm sure you have a moment... and this friendly cat requires attention."

Kate: "Huh...?"

When I looked where Alfons was pointing at, a black cat landed on my lap.

Kate: "Where did it come from?"

Alfons: "Most likely a pet? It was sitting under the table, didn't you notice?"

Alfons extended his other palm towards the creature.

The black cat rubbed its forehead against it and purred.

Kate: "When did you become such good friends?"

Alfons: "I am easily attached to cats. I'll be right back."

Alfons: "When I return...Let's have some quality time together as lovers."

~~Part 3~~

Alfons: "When I return...Let's have some quality time together as lovers."

He kissed me on the forehead in a smooth gesture, then walked to the back.

....Ten minutes later.

Kate: "Hehe, adorable."

I spent my time idly, playing with a cute black cat.

(Alfons, I'm starting to understand why you easily get attached to cats.)

Getting to know someone you love was fun and filled your heart with happiness.

(We've only spent half a day together, but... I'm glad that I learned more things about Alfons.)

(The bar with his acquaintances, the fact that he likes alcohol, his ability. And...)

The warmth of his hand that touched me so lovingly, the frequent kisses I was already getting used to.

(...then why)

(Even though we are lovers, how come I don't know some basic things about him?)

Something felt wrong.

Before I could grasp it, a warm hand touched the nape of my neck.

Alfons: "I made my cute lover wait, for that I'm truly sorry."

Kate: "Ah... welcome back. Are you finished?"

Alfons: "Mhm, it's over."

(I didn't hear any voices at all. I was too focused on the cat... hmm? What is this smell?)

There was a different fragrant note present, faintly mixed with the decadent scent that normally surrounded Alfons.

(I think I've smelled it recently...)

~~Part 4~~

(What is this scent?)

(I think I've smelled it recently...)

Alfons: "Mission accomplished. As I suspected, it was just a misunderstanding. Thankfully it didn't turn out to be bloody, right?"

Kate: "...I see. I'm glad."

(...it's just my imagination)

I sniffed the air again, but I could only smell the scent of Alfons.

(Somehow, I feel my head is not at its best today)

Alfons: "Well, let's go home then. You must be feeling tired, all those unfamiliar places."

Kate: "Y-yes... I may be tired after all."

Alfons: "Heh, rest assured. I'll make you forget about boring work in no time."

~~~

As we took off our jackets, we kissed and sank into the bed tangled together.

Kate: "Ah, wait..."

Alfons: "You're not very convincing, making those sweet panting noises."

He untied the ribbon at the back of my blouse and brought his lips to my bare chest.

Alfons: "You love to feel good, don't you?"

Alfons: "See, it feels nice when I touch you here."

Kate: "Ah.... no good...."

As he whispered, a strange and pleasurable sensation run through me.

(Something... something feels wrong)

(This should be normal between lovers... then why?)

(Why do I feel like I have to resist..?)

Kate: "No... wait, please."

Alfons: "Ah, how amusing. Though I don't think it's going to work."

~~Part 5~~

Kate: "No... wait, please."

Alfons: "Ah, how amusing. Though I don't think it's going to work."

I tried to stay calm, but when his fingertips started playing with my weak spots, my thoughts overflowed.

Alfons: "Look, where and how I touch you... please focus on that."

Alfons: "Forget everything else... you just have to think about what makes you feel good."

My body melted into pleasure, as if to mock the indelible discomfort in my chest.

Every touch released a shameless voice. I wanted to shut out all the love making sounds that were flooding my ears.

Alfons: "Heh... it feels good, doesn't it?"

Alfons: "...what should we do then? Shall we continue like this until the end?"

(Why... why am I... supposed to be in love with Alfons?)

I should be satisfied being intimate with my lover.

...why then it felt so lonely, so unbearable.

Kate: "...Alfons."

Alfons: "Hmm? What is it?"

Kate: "I... am I really your lover?"

Alfons: "...."

(I'm in bed with my lover...What am I even saying?)

It will either make him sad or agitated.

However, contrary to my expectations,

A bright smile appeared on his lips.

(Huh...?)

Alfons: "My my, are you awake already?

Chapter 3 Premium

Chapter 3 Bitter

[the-darkness-does-not-bargain]

What 😭. You mean to tell me that gif that I kept seeing with the woman worrying about whether to take her werewolf children to the vet or to the hospital isn't just a one off in an obscure anime with the name requiring hours of digging to find, but a whole movie with a plot revolving around werewolf hijinkd and everything? Betrayed you never mentioned, do you know how many werewolf aus I've haf 💔💔💔 /massive j

No but I'm so 👀👀👀 at it

😂😂 Honestly laughing a bit because Wolf Children is my favorite movie ever, it just doesn't have the biggest presence on this site so I don't post much about it. But it's amazing, and you should see it as soon as you can! The werewolf mechanics are my all-time favorite, and the story will break you into a million pieces just to glue you back together ❤

[alex51324]

Only one month now until eclipse day!

The original post up there is from August, 2023. Now's a good time to start firming up your plans for it!

If you live close enough to the path of totality to make a day trip of it, there's still time to go! Plan ahead for big crowds, by by allowing extra travel time for heavy traffic; bringing plenty of water, snacks, and any other supplies, so you don't get stuck standing in long lines; and selecting traveling companions who are able to tolerate frustration.

If it's an overnight trip, and you haven't made plans yet, getting to see the totality is going to require luck, creativity, or deep pockets--and you'd probably be better off with at least two of those. (For reference, the campground I mentioned in the original post--20 minutes outside the path of totality--was almost fully booked last August.)

But if you can't make it to the totality, all of the US and most of North America will be able to see a partial eclipse, and that's still pretty cool! Check out this map to get an idea of how much of an eclipse you will be able to see:

Check local news coverage for times. The good news about the partial, is that you don't have to worry about precision timing. People going to see the totality will be very focused on those few moments of Peak Eclipse, but if you're in the partial eclipse area, the moment when the maximum percentage of the sun is obscured isn't all that special. You'll have a window of time on either side when it looks pretty much the same as at peal, and in areas with a high maximum percentage, even once it's noticeably less than peak there's still something to see.

Depending on where you are, your window to See Some Eclipse could be as much as a couple of hours! So, even if you have to be at work or school, there's a good chance you can manage to get outside for at least a few minutes of it. (Unless the people in charge are completely unreasonable.)

Total or partial, don't forget to buy your eclipse glasses--last eclipse, they got very hard to find a couple of weeks out. (If you're lucky, there may be a local library, school, or other organization that bought some in bulk to hand out or sell at reasonable prices--but if you really want to see it, don't count being able to pick some up at the last minute.) Make sure you buy them from a reputable supplier; relying on counterfeit eclipse glasses can damage your eyes. I got mine here.

If you're reading this when it's already too late to get eclipse glasses, this page has information on using a homemade or improvised projector to indirectly view the eclipse. (Note: these are devices for seeing the effect of the eclipse without looking toward the the sun. You cannot improvise or make anything at home that will let you safely point your eyeballs at the Sun.

The pinhole projector thing is pretty cool, though--you might want to try that even if you do have eclipse glasses! I am a bit of a klutz and not mechanically gifted, so I was worried I'd mess it up and go blind, but to use the device correctly, you stand with your back to the sun. As long as you remember that crucial piece of the instructions, the worst that can happen is you don't see anything. (And it only took me a few moments of futzing around to get my pinhole projector to work, last eclipse. If I can do it, you can, too.)

North American Total Solar Eclipse, 8 April 2024

This is your friendly heads-up that if you want to travel to see the total solar eclipse coming up in the spring, now* is a good time to start making your arrangements!

This one will be visible as at least a partial eclipse to most of North America, with the path of totality cutting a diagonal from Sinaloa, Mexico to Newfoundland, Canada, including 15 US states from Texas to Maine.

Although we just had one a few years ago in 2017, we won't have another solar eclipse visible in the continental US until 2045--and the path of totality for the 2024 one is within driving distance for a much larger proportion of the US population than either 2017 or 2045. The Northeastern US won't see another until the 2070's.

For millions of people, including me, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a total solar eclipse without getting on a plane. Hotels in major cities along the path of totality are already starting to fill up.

Last time, in 2017, I was able to see the partial eclipse from where I live, but it wasn't feasible to travel to see the totality. I heard from people who did see the totality that it's really quite something, so I decided back then that I was going to go to this one. (The one in 2079 might be a bit closer to where I currently live, but I'll be 101 by then, so I figure I'd better not wait.)

Erie, PA is the closest place for me to see it, and I figured I'd camp. I started looking into it last night, and pickings are pretty slim already. I lucked into a camping cottage at a park 20 minutes' drive outside the path of totality--I think someone must've cancelled recently, for me to get it, because out 87 spots, all they had left was 9 tent/trailer sites, and the one cottage.

So anyway, if you want to go, it's an overnight trip for you, and you don't want to end up sleeping in your car at a rest area, now's* the time!

(*Actually several months ago would have been the best time, but the second-best time is now.)

[mahadihasan155]

Unlock the Excitement of Word Find Puzzles: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Word Games

Word find puzzles have long been a favorite pastime for puzzle enthusiasts, offering a blend of fun and mental stimulation. Whether you're looking to improve your vocabulary, sharpen your observation skills, or simply unwind with a relaxing activity, word find puzzles provide endless entertainment. If you're passionate about word games and love a good challenge, then mastering word find puzzles should be at the top of your list.

What is a Word Find Puzzle?

A word find puzzle, also known as a word search, is a type of puzzle where players search for words hidden within a grid of seemingly random letters. The words can be placed horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or even backward, making the search both challenging and rewarding. The goal is to find all the listed words within the grid, scratching them off the list as you go.

Why Play Word Find Puzzles?

Word find puzzles are more than just a fun activity—they offer a range of cognitive benefits. These puzzles can:

Improve Vocabulary: Regularly solving word find puzzles introduces you to new words and helps reinforce your understanding of familiar ones.

Enhance Focus: Searching for words in a crowded grid requires concentration, which helps improve your attention to detail and focus over time.

Boost Memory: The process of remembering and identifying words within the puzzle can help strengthen your memory.

Provide Relaxation: Word find puzzles are a great way to unwind and de-stress, as they require just enough concentration to take your mind off worries while still being enjoyable.

Tips and Strategies for Mastering Word Find Puzzles

To truly excel in word find puzzles, it helps to have a few strategies up your sleeve. Here are some tips to help you become a word puzzle pro:

Scan the Grid Thoroughly: Start by scanning the entire grid to get a sense of where the words might be located. Look for familiar patterns or clusters of letters that might form part of a word.

Focus on Uncommon Letters: Words that contain unique or uncommon letters (like Q, X, or Z) are often easier to spot within the grid. Finding these letters first can help you identify the rest of the word more quickly.

Use a Systematic Approach: Work through the grid in a systematic way, either row by row or column by column. This approach ensures that you don't overlook any part of the grid.

Highlight Words Correctly: Once you've found a word, make sure to highlight it correctly. Incorrectly scratching off words can lead to point deductions, especially in competitive word find puzzle games.

Keep an Eye Out for Hidden Words: Sometimes words can be hidden within other words or overlap with other letters. Be vigilant and don't assume that a word isn't there just because it seems hard to find.

Clear Obstacles: In some word find puzzles, certain areas of the grid might be obscured by "clouds" or other obstacles. Use tools provided within the game to clear these areas and reveal additional letters.

Speed Matters: Many word find puzzles are timed, so speed is crucial. The faster you find the words, the more points you'll earn. Practice makes perfect, so keep challenging yourself to improve your time.

Experience the Thrill of Word Find Puzzles Online

For those who love word find puzzles and want to take their skills to the next level, there are countless online platforms and mobile apps where you can play word search games. These platforms often include competitive elements, allowing you to go head-to-head with other players or earn rewards for your puzzle-solving prowess.

One such platform is the Pocket7Games app, which offers a variety of word find puzzles along with other engaging word games. Whether you're playing for fun or competing for cash prizes, Pocket7Games provides an exciting and rewarding experience for word puzzle enthusiasts.

Conclusion

Word find puzzles are a timeless classic that offer both entertainment and cognitive benefits. By honing your skills and employing the strategies outlined in this guide, you can become a master of word find puzzles and enjoy hours of rewarding gameplay. Whether you're playing on your own or competing with others, the thrill of finding hidden words never gets old. So why wait? Start your word find puzzle journey today and discover the excitement for yourself!

[kinyouhearme]

This source isn't exactly obscure, but I haven't been able to find a lot of kin resources for it, so I thought it would be okay to send a call here? Don't feel oblidged to post this though if it seems not obscure enough. Anyway, I kin HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey looking for anyone from the source (I'm not looking for doubles but would still love to talk to them). I'm a minor so please no 20+ interaction. I tend to forget to look back at calls, so please don't like/rb this. Instead message me.

.

[magistralucis]

dear beloved korean mutual, i have a really specific question about korean culture. my friend is reading a webnovel and there's a character who says that wearing bracelets is universally embarrassing. is this, like, a thing? is this normal? can you shed some light on this? also, if you want to charge me for this question, feel free. it seems kind of chargable. thank you. love your work. xoxo. thanks

Please link to webnovel and/or relevant section if you are able, I wish to see what the heck is up with this one 👀

[gamerwoman3d]

I'm gettin' pretty old, and can honestly say that I know my engagement with fandom over the decades has not only fed most modern AIs, in a lot of cases what the AIs produce is *based* on my creativity and how I engaged in fandom throughout the decades.

Oddly, I'm kind of proud of it. I'm kinda proud when the AI generates something that so clearly sounds like its created by Granny Gamerwoman.

But AI isn't the only one that has borrowed flavors from the BS I've written in the past. I've seen my ideas influence fandom creators that I didn't even know followed me - sometimes bc they follow someone who did follow me. I never say anything but it is always nice when it happens.

Especially if it's like, when I write a scene and an actual artist draws a similar scene, it feels like I shared myself in a meaningful way with an artist.

I understand that certain aspects of AI have rendered any use of the software into an act of outright theft from creatives. That it cannot create anything without us. That it's erasing my name from my work, that it is presenting my personality as its own. I understand that unlike a human, an AI can generate millions of wrong answers at once, and that an artist is still required to generate the right answer for what humanity needs at the time.

I understand that the creatives are still needed. But when I think about who AI is currently serving, I start to wonder if it isn't hurting an industry that was already harming creatives, and maybe that industry deserved to be hurt.

Maybe it's because I'm not industry that I entertain those thoughts. I never made money with my work, never really monetized. Maybe that's why I'm so forgiving over what AI is doing to the industry. I don't have the energy to be enraged for creatives that are being hurt by AI, when the root causes of their pain are now, and have always been, corporate greed coupled with war-pig cultural mentalities.

Maybe it's because I was already so enraged at the exploitation of creatives during the decades in which AI wasn't a thing, yet. Angered because creatives couldn't just make a living creating - angered because people are forced to do stupid shit just to continue to survive on this planet that we already pretty much conquered. The game is rigged against self-expression, and it always has been. But now instead of just "Disney and WB are buying/cheating/stealing everything you ever loved from creators so that they can sell it back to you" we also have "AI is stealing everything creative you ever loved so they can sell it back to you faster and at an even lower quality."

But I'm not really convinced that Disney and WB weren't already scraping everything we ever made anyway, watermarks and all. [Points innocently to a can of Josta Cola in an obscure corner of the Loki series.]

Watermark. And all.

Mobius Photo Source:

Original use of Josta in Loki Fiction [Watermark example]:

Side note, this isn't to say that I created the Loki character - Norse Mythmakers did that. Just that myth version inspired Stan Lee's version which inspired the Disney version of him. And Tricky Treats version of him is a different character entirely to any of the previous three.

Also, don't worry about me. I'll keep writing ✍️ It’s just more rewarding to do so when you know your works have been appreciated.

AI is incapable of appreciation at this time.

"Why doesn't my favorite writer post that much anymore?"

[rainbowsky]

Hi I’ve seen your post about gg’s recent vacation pictures. Yeah he is so hot there.

To me biggest candy is gg’s rainbow zenith watch. What do you think?

The legs in pool pic, can’t it be a just coincidence? I mean it’s a French movie, an old one too. What are the chances gg to see it? I mean it’s not a popular one like for an example call me by your name right??

This is in reference to a previous post.

Yeah, he really is! 🔥🔥🔥

Here's the thing, Anon...

It's CPN. CPN means looking at things through the perspective of a belief that GG are queer and in a relationship. Because of this, some things will land a different way than they would on solos, or even on turtles who don't believe GG and DD are in a real relationship.

And as a candy, it's also open to individual interpretation - ie. no one is obligated to believe in it. Nor is anyone obligated to try to discredit it. This isn't a courtroom.

We'll likely never see any interpretation fully validated or confirmed one way or another, so people should just enjoy what they enjoy, and scroll past what they don't enjoy.

As for your theories on why this particular interpretation is unlikely, you might be right, but I personally don't see it that way. GG is a film and TV buff who has repeatedly referenced dramas and films with queer elements in his posts and performances.

As a gay film buff, I actively seek out queer movies. Trust me, there simply aren't that many in the world. Especially not good ones. The chances that any particular gay guy has watched a particular gay movie is surprisingly high, no matter how obscure it might seem.

The French have some amazing gay films, and anyway, gay film appreciation requires one to look to global markets, just by nature of the fact that gay films rarely get made and are often marginalized in the industry. Especially if you happen to be Chinese and it's more difficult to find openly queer content in your country.

And we can't forget the fact that DD (and by extension CPN-wise, GG) has a lot of French connections who have recently descended upon Hangzhou to film a show.

So it wouldn't be that strange for GG to be referencing a French gay movie from the year his husband was born.

I’m not saying it’s a huge candy, but it’s not without some potential validity.

Call Me By Your Name, while an excellent film that I've watched an autism amount of times (like, well over 200 times and I'm not joking), isn't the only gay film out there. Gay content that's popular in North America is by no means the only gay content out there.

The rainbow Zenith watch is a great candy. He's worn rainbow Zenith watches a few times now and even chose it to represent love in a Zenith Qixi campaign. So yeah, it's a great candy.

So to answer your question, Anon, yes, the pool legs pic could be a coincidence or it might not. If that candy doesn't taste sweet to you, no worries. There are other things to enjoy.