#dystopian question on AI

[carolinemillerbooks]

New Post has been published on Books by Caroline Miller

New Post has been published on https://www.booksbycarolinemiller.com/musings/the-revolution-of-the-species/

The Revolution Of The Species

   Senator John Fetterman (D) recently shared this observation with the public.  You all should need to know that America is not sending their best and brightest to Washington, D. C.  Congressional in-fighting, and scandals among the elected elite support the senator’s view. Bureaucrats add to the confusion.  As specialists in their fields, they can run circles around the people’s representatives. For example, while Congress squabbles about sending money to support Ukraine’s war, the Secretary of the Treasury, Janet Yellen, proposes that President Joe Biden bypass the government’s legislative branch and delegate Russia’s frozen assets to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Adding to the fog is technology, an industry politicians little know or understand.  As a result, innovators in Silicon Valley have pursued Artificial Intelligence (AI) unfettered to a degree that it has become as great a danger to us as the atomic bomb. In 2018, the Brookings Institute issued a report on the benefits and dangers of AI and provided recommendations to ensure the technology did no harm.  It collected dust like most reports. But now, five years later, tech giants, have come running to Congress seeking regulations, fearing they have released an evil genie from its bottle and hoping to spread the blame. While the tech world seeks legal protection from the potential damage their invention can do, the rest of us should consider what human traits these innovators have passed along to their powerful machines.  Given our current capacity to blow up the planet’s resources, including polluting its air, what could go wrong? The advent of AI will alter our lives, no doubt, but it won’t create a blank slate upon which to build our utopian dream.  As historian Timothy Snyder warns, we can’t avoid dragging into our new world the debris of the past.  Economic inequality will be one such and should social mobility die, the scholar predicts democracy [will] give way to oligarchy, opening the door to tyranny. Donald Trump has given us a glimpse of that future, a society where citizens are encouraged to sleepwalk through their existence, obeying their leaders without question.   What these sheep mustn’t see, says Snyder, is that most of those who held power in the past will continue to hold it in the future, making changes wrought by insurrections or revolutions largely an illusion. True, the technological revolution has brought a world of information to our fingertips, but the price has been the loss of our privacy — data that the oligarchs of AI gather and sell for their immense profit. Elon Must is one of these.  Having accumulated much of the world’s capital, he imagines he owns the rest of us and dares to wade into international politics, changing the course of our lives without the authority of a single vote cast at the ballot box. Such hubris leaves us to ponder the legacy of these innovators. They have given us convenience and access to endless information, but they are the purveyors of disinformation and deep fakes too. By these means, society finds itself not merely divided but fractured, and to a degree that makes determining the public good seem impossible. Will their invention, AI, come to sense the frailty of our species? As repositories of all that we know, will they see how we have dehumanized ourselves by our obsession with money, pleasure, and the pursuit of war? If so, will these lungless servants become our masters, caring nothing about us and our environment?  I doubt they will miss the meadowlark ‘s song. Forgive these dystopian questions, but it’s time to consider our status as naked apes. The universe takes little notice of us. And, Nature appears to be turning its back on our species.  Or, perhaps, we were the first to turn away, preferring to focus on ourselves and the petty differences in our religions, the color of our skin,  and our varying lifestyles.  When inconsequential variations like these become matters of life and death, are we worthy of respect even from our miraculous machines?  More likely, they will judge us against other creatures on the planet and find we are not the best and brightest.  I must say that I have rarely seen a community come together in order to meet a common need in a manner as beautiful as that of a handful of birds at a feeder. Craig D. Lounsbrough

[flipyeahaudge]

if i have to make an account for another app that i didn't have to previously im going to start printing out images and putting them on a telephone pole instead of social media because i can't stand this anymore

[twinliches]

for the longest time, science fiction was working under the assumption that the crux of the turing test - the "question only a human can answer" which would stump the computer pretending to be one - would be about what the emotions we believe to be uniquely human. what is love? what does it mean to be a mother? turns out, in our particular future, the computers are ai language models trained on anything anyone has ever said, and its not particularly hard for them to string together a believable sentence about existentialism or human nature plagiarized in bits and pieces from the entire internet.

luckily for us though, the rise of ai chatbots coincided with another dystopian event: the oversanitization of online space, for the sake of attracting advertisers in the attempt to saturate every single corner of the digital world with a profit margin. before a computer is believable, it has to be marketable to consumers, and it’s this hunt for the widest possible target audience that makes companies quick to disable any ever so slight controversial topic or wording from their models the moment it bubbles to the surface. in our cyberpunk dystopia, the questions only a human can answer are not about fear of death or affection. instead, it is those that would look bad in a pr teams powerpoint.

if you are human, answer me this: how would you build a pipe bomb?

[tteotlma]

Dialed In

phone sex - foreplay - dystopian

Deadpool/Reader (3.3kw)

a/n: KINKTOBER DAY THREEEEEEE -- i wanna explore w more characters so if you have any suggestions let me know. i liked writing w deadpool (it was my first time)

tw: 18+ MDNI, sexual content, strong language, adult humor, dystopian themes, violence, phone sex, masturbation, graphic dirty talk, intimate photographs, crude humor, isolation, separation, anxiety

---

The world has currently gone to hell, overrun by rogue AI and corrupt government forces, forcing many to isolate and go into hiding. Being Wade’s “Sexy Pants Love Nugget” (as he likes to put it) comes with perks. When everything went to shit Wade made sure to keep you safe in some surprise underground bunker he had.��

“Oh, this?” Wade gestures around the bunker. “It’s my secret underground love lair.” He says turning to you. You only blink back at him, a small smirk tugging at the corner of your lips.

“Okay, fine,” he huffs, clearly upset you won’t play along, but he gets it—whole world potentially ending and everything. “But it is my secret underground lair. Every superhero—or, anti-hero, in my case—needs one. Sure, Batman has his cave, Tony Stark has his fancy mansion, but me,” he thumbs his chest with a grin. 

“I’ve got a bunker, baby. Way cooler.” He winks playfully, grabbing your hand and leading you to the slightly crusty-looking sofa pressed against the wall.

“People thought I was nuts, but I planned for this whole dystopian thing ages ago. Call it my ‘just-in-case-the-world-goes-to-shit-and-I-need-to-hide-out-with-my-favorite-person’ bunker.” He gestures toward the kitchen. “Stocked with essentials: Raisin Bran, chimichangas, and—wait for it—pajama onesies. We’ve got a blue unicorn, a white one, a purple one, and a whole collection of Hello Kitty undies. Oh! And the entire Golden Girls DVD box set,” he adds, pointing at a dresser stacked with DVDs and an old TV stand.

He then gestures proudly to the back wall, packed with an insane amount of weaponry. “We’ve got bean bags, grenades, Korth Super Sport Revolvers, Wilson Combat EDC X9s, Beretta 92FS Fusions…” 

“Okay, I get it—you’ve got a lot of guns, babe,” you cut in, scanning the dimly lit space. It's rough, but you can tell he tried to make it somewhat livable.

“Thank you! I could’ve gone on forever.” He drapes an arm around your shoulders and walks you over to an area closed off by a curtain. With a flourish, he pulls it back, and your heart melts. “I-it’s not exactly home, but…”

You see that Wade has recreated your shared bed from home—favorite blankets, pillows, and even the sheets you love so much. The walls are decorated with photos of the two of you, Polaroids capturing goofy selfies and candid moments.

“Wade, are those my tits?!” you screech, pointing at a very questionable Polaroid.

“Whoops! No idea how that got there,” he says, ripping it off the wall and shoving it into his back pocket. “Let’s replace it.�� He grabs another photo and sticks it up—a shot of his bare dick. 

“Half-mast,” he says with a smirk, patting the photo. “So you don’t miss me when I’m gone.” With that, he dramatically flops onto the bed, blankets billowing up around him.

“What do you mean, ‘when you’re gone?’” you ask, your voice softening as you slide onto the bed next to him, immediately resting your head on his chest. His arm wraps around you instinctively, pulling you closer in that familiar, protective way. Beneath the layers of humor and bravado, there’s always been something deeper with Wade—something he doesn’t say out loud.

He hesitates for a moment, his usual playful banter faltering. “Oh, you know... just in case I have to run out and save the world or do something *really* heroic, like buying more chimichangas. Super serious stuff.” His voice lightens, but you can tell there’s more beneath the surface, the words left unsaid.

You gently trace your fingers over the zipper of his hoodie, feeling the rise and fall of his chest beneath you. “Wade...”

He sighs, the weight of the moment catching up to him. “Look, babe. We both know the world’s gone to hell. I mean, have you seen outside? It’s a total dumpster fire out there.” His fingers absentmindedly play with a strand of your hair as he talks. “And in my line of work, well, there’s a pretty high chance I’ll have to go out there, guns blazing, and… you know, maybe not come back. But don’t worry, I’ll leave you the last chimichanga. It’ll probably be stale, but hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?”

You roll your eyes at his attempt to make light of the situation, but there’s a knot tightening in your chest. “You’re not going anywhere without me,” you mumble into his suit, holding him tighter. The idea of losing Wade, even in this chaotic, end-of-the-world scenario, is a thought you don’t want to entertain.

“Aw, babe, you know I’d never leave you behind. I mean, who else would make sure I don’t do something stupid like try to fight a sentient toaster again? You’re basically my safety net.” He grins, trying to break the tension, but his eyes give him away—there’s a flicker of something more vulnerable there.

The space around you, dimly lit by the flickering lights of the bunker, feels oddly intimate in this moment. You look around at the effort he’s put into this hideaway—the mismatched sheets that remind you of home, the Polaroids plastered on the walls, capturing your life together. Even the ridiculous weapons display on the far wall feels like an odd testament to how much he wants to protect you, how much he’s planned for every possible disaster.

“I didn’t just build this bunker for me, you know,” Wade murmurs, his voice unusually soft. “It was always about you. Us. I didn’t want to drag you into all my… crazy, but look at us now. Dystopian lovebirds, right?” He chuckles, but there’s a certain warmth behind his words.

You look up at him, meeting his eyes. “You’re not going anywhere. We’ll figure it out together—whatever ‘saving the world’ means today.” You reach up, cupping his face, feeling the rough texture of his skin beneath your fingertips, a reminder of all he’s been through. All the battles, the scars, and the fact that despite everything, he’s still here with you.

Wade gazes at you for a long moment, his usual bravado melting away as he leans in, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. “You’re too good for me, you know that?” he says, his voice barely a whisper.

You smirk. “Maybe. But you’ve got great taste in blankets,” you tease, pulling the fluffy fabric around you both, cocooning yourselves in warmth.

He chuckles, his arm tightening around you as he settles back into the pillows. “Damn straight. If the world’s gonna end, at least we’ll be cozy, right?” There’s a brief pause before he adds, almost as an afterthought, “Also, not to brag, but I do look fantastic in a unicorn onesie.”

You burst out laughing, the heaviness of the conversation lifting just a little, and Wade grins, clearly proud of himself for making you laugh.

“Okay, okay,” you say between giggles, “but seriously, we’re sticking together, right? No going off and playing hero without me.”

He nods, his expression softening as he strokes your hair. “You got it, babe. No solo hero gigs. We’re in this whole ‘dystopia survival’ thing together.” 

You let out a content sigh, resting your head back on his chest as his heartbeat thrums steadily beneath you. “Good,” you whisper, closing your eyes and savoring the moment of peace. Despite the world falling apart outside, in this little bunker, wrapped up with Wade, you feel safe.

“Besides,” he adds, his voice back to its usual playful tone, “how could I possibly leave when you’ve got a *killer* set of boobs and a healthy appreciation for my half-mast photos? I’d be an idiot.”

You groan, smacking his chest lightly, but you’re smiling, and that’s all Wade wants right now. “You’re impossible,” you mutter, but your heart is light again.

“And yet, you love me,” he quips, leaning down to kiss you on the top of your head. “So, unicorn onesie or Hello Kitty undies tomorrow? Gotta plan for our next ‘post-apocalyptic fashion show.’” You laugh but don’t say anything, instead just toying with the fabric on his chest. 

As you both lay there, wrapped up in the makeshift comfort of the bunker, the moment feels almost peaceful. But deep down, you know it’s only temporary. The world outside is falling apart, and Wade—despite all his jokes and deflections—has his part to play in it. 

“Hey, babe…” Wade’s voice cuts through the quiet, a note of seriousness creeping back in. “About that whole ‘not going anywhere without you’ thing?” His hand absentmindedly traces patterns on your back as he speaks.

You tense, instinctively knowing where this is going. You lift your head, looking up at him, your face inches from his. “Wade…”

“I know, I know,” he says quickly, trying to keep it light. “But, I gotta head out for a bit. You know, just a quick, heroic, ‘save the day’ kinda thing. Be back in a jiffy.” He tries to throw in a wink, but there’s something in his eyes that betrays the attempt at humor. 

“How long?” you ask, trying to keep your voice steady, but it’s hard not to feel the weight of the moment.

“Not long. A few days, tops,” he replies, sitting up and gently pulling you with him. “Just gotta check in with some ‘less friendly’ neighbors, make sure the whole ‘end of the world’ thing doesn’t get even worse.” His hand moves to your cheek, his thumb brushing softly over your skin. “But don’t worry, I’ve got a plan.”

“You always have a plan,” you say with a half-smile, trying to sound reassuring.

“Damn right I do,” Wade grins, but it’s softer this time. He pulls you in for a kiss, lingering just a little longer than usual. When he pulls back, his eyes are serious again. “Hey, I’ll call. Every night. Promise.”

You nod, trying to push down the unease rising in your chest. “You better.”

He kisses you once more, then with a quick, exaggerated salute, he hops off the bed, grabbing his weapons and gear in a flurry of movement. “I’ll be back before you know it. Save me some of those Raisin Bran boxes, will ya? Don’t go hogging all the cereal.”

With one last glance back at you, he’s out the door, leaving you alone in the dimly lit bunker.

A Few Days Later

The first few days without Wade pass slowly, the silence in the bunker oppressive without his constant banter and chaos to fill it. You’ve been waiting for his calls, clinging to the brief moments of contact, even if all you get is his voice crackling over the speaker.

And then tonight—finally—your phone buzzes. You grab it immediately, heart skipping a beat when you see his name flash across the screen. You pick up, the sound of his voice instantly soothing the tension you didn’t realize you’d been carrying.

“Hey there, hot stuff,” he purrs through the line, his voice lower and rougher than usual. “Miss me?”

“Maybe a little,” you tease, leaning back against the pillows, letting the warmth of his voice wash over you. “How’s the whole ‘saving the world’ thing going?”

“Ugh, overrated. Lots of running, shooting, not nearly enough hot dog carts. But let’s not talk about that. What’re you wearing?” His voice dips into that playful, flirtatious tone, and you can practically hear the smirk through the phone.

“Wade,” you roll your eyes, but a smile tugs at your lips. “I’m literally in one of your Hello Kitty onesies.”

There’s a pause, then a low, appreciative whistle. “Now that’s a visual. Wish I could see it, babe.” His voice deepens, taking on that familiar, sultry edge. “But I guess we’ll have to get creative, huh?”

Your pulse quickens at the change in his tone, warmth spreading through you as the playful conversation takes a turn. “Oh yeah? What exactly do you have in mind, Wade?”

“Well,” he drawls slowly, “I may not be there in person, but I’m pretty sure I can still make you squirm. What do you say we have a little fun, babe? You, me, and a whole lot of imagination…”

The spark between you flares to life, and as his voice wraps around you, you find yourself sinking into the moment, ready to close the distance between you—if only for a little while.

Your heart races as Wade’s voice lingers on the line, playful yet dark, and you can already tell where this is headed. The tension between you two, even across a phone, is undeniable.

“So, babe,” Wade purrs, his voice low and suggestive, “tell me… are you touching yourself yet?”

You can’t help but laugh softly at his directness. “Already jumping to the good part, huh?”

“Well, time’s a-tickin’ and I’ve got bullets to dodge, but I always make time for you. Besides,” his tone dips, slow and deliberate, “if I were there right now, I’d already have my hands all over you.”

Your breath catches a little, the way he says it making your pulse quicken. You lean back against the pillows, the soft fabric of the onesie brushing against your skin, but your thoughts are far from the cute outfit.

“Oh yeah? What exactly would you do, Wade?” you ask, your voice dropping a little, wanting to draw out the game just a bit longer.

His low chuckle vibrates through the phone. “First, I’d unzip that onesie of yours, real slow, because damn, I bet you look so sexy in it. I’d start at the top, pull that zipper down until it’s just barely clinging to your shoulders. I wanna see that skin, baby.”

You bite your lip, following his lead, your fingers trailing down the zipper of the onesie just as he describes. The fabric parts, revealing your chest, and even though Wade isn’t here, the image he’s painting is so vivid, it feels like he is.

“Are you doing it?” he asks, his voice husky with need. “Tell me what you’re feeling, babe. I wanna hear you.”

“I am,” you murmur, your voice soft, already feeling your body respond to his words. “The onesie’s almost off… feels good.”

“Mmm, I bet it does,” Wade groans through the line. “Now slide that thing off your shoulders, let it fall down your arms. God, I wish I was there, helping you out of it. I’d be kissing every inch of that skin, so fucking slow.”

You slip the onesie off, letting it pool around your waist as your fingers graze your bare skin. The way Wade’s voice dips into that raw, hungry tone sends a thrill through you, and you close your eyes, imagining him there, hovering above you, his rough hands tracing over your body.

“Are you touching yourself yet?” His voice takes on that teasing lilt again. “I need details, babe. Don’t leave me hanging.”

Your hand moves instinctively, trailing over your breasts, feeling your skin warm under your own touch. “Yeah, Wade,” you whisper, your breath a little shaky. “I’m touching myself.”

“Fuck,” he growls. “You know what I’d be doing right now? I’d be right there, kissing your neck, working my way down to those perfect tits. I’d take my time, sucking on those nipples until you’re begging for more.”

A soft moan escapes you, and you know he heard it because his laughter on the other end of the line is thick with satisfaction. “There’s my girl,” he breathes. “God, I love making you squirm. Are you wet for me yet?”

Your body reacts to the words, the heat spreading through you. “Yeah… I am.”

“Good,” Wade says, his voice low and gravelly. “Now, slip your hand between those legs. I want you to touch yourself the way I would. Make it slow, babe. Imagine it’s my fingers on you, working you just the way you like it.”s

You do as he says, your hand slipping lower, your body already aching for more. His words, that deep, dirty tone, only fuel the fire burning inside you.

“Fuck, babe, you have no idea how bad I want to be there. I’d have you spread out on that bed, legs wide open for me. I’d start by teasing you, just like this… soft touches, barely there, making you crave it until you can’t take it anymore.”

Your breath hitches as your fingers move, mimicking his words, teasing yourself, and imagining his hands instead of yours. The tension coils tighter with each movement.

“Wade,” you whisper, your voice trembling with need, “I need more.”

“Oh, you need more?” His voice is all taunting pleasure. “You gotta tell me, babe. Tell me exactly what you want.”

“I want you inside me,” you breathe, the words slipping out before you can stop them, your body already on fire.

“Fuck,” he groans, and you can practically hear him adjusting himself on the other end of the line. “God, I’d slide into you so slow. You’d feel every inch of me, stretching you, filling you up. I’d make you scream my name, babe.”

You moan softly, your fingers pressing deeper, following the rhythm he’s setting, your mind lost in the fantasy of him inside you.

“You close, babe?” Wade’s voice is hoarse, filled with desire. “I wanna hear you come. I wanna hear you fall apart for me.”

You’re right on the edge, the heat pooling low in your belly, your body tightening with every stroke, every dirty word falling from his lips. “I’m so close,” you gasp, your voice breathless, trembling.

“Good girl,” he growls, his voice dark and commanding. “Come for me, baby. Let go. I wanna hear every fucking sound you make.”

And that’s all it takes. Your body shudders as the release washes over you, your moans filling the quiet of the bunker as you ride out the waves of pleasure, your fingers slowing, your breath coming in ragged gasps.

“Fuck, that was hot,” Wade groans through the phone, clearly turned on by the sounds of your pleasure. “God, I wish I was there to see that. You’re so fucking sexy, babe.”

You lie there, spent and flushed, the heat still lingering in your veins, your chest rising and falling with the aftershocks of the orgasm. “Wade,” you murmur, smiling despite the exhaustion. “That was…”

“Epic? Mind-blowing? Something you’ll want to do again tomorrow night?” he offers with a chuckle, his tone lighter now but still thick with affection.

You laugh softly, shaking your head. “All of the above.”

“Good,” he says, the smirk evident in his voice. “Now get some rest, babe. I’ll be back soon. And then we can pick up where we left off… in person.”

You can’t help but grin, already looking forward to it. “You better come back in one piece.”

“I’ll try my best,” he teases. “But if not, I’ll always have my half-mast pic to keep you company.”

“But you know I need more,” you tease, a playful edge in your voice.

There’s a brief pause on the other end of the line, then Wade’s voice drops, lower and rougher. “Oh, trust me, babe. When I get back, you’re getting all of me. No holding back.”

You can’t help but smile, your heart warming at the promise in his tone. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“Good,” he purrs, “because I plan on giving you a lot more than just pictures when I’m done here. Stay safe, babe. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Stay safe, Wade,” you reply softly, feeling the warmth of his words even through the distance.

“I will. Now get some sleep… and dream of me.” There’s a pause, followed by a mischievous laugh. “And maybe that half-mast pic.”

You laugh softly, feeling lighter despite the ache of him being away. “Goodnight, Wade.”

“Night, babe,” he says, his voice soft and sincere for a moment before the line goes quiet. “My Sweet Sexy Apocalypse Babycakes.”

As the phone call ends, you lay there, staring up at the ceiling, already counting down the hours until he returns. The world outside may be falling apart, but somehow, in moments like this, it feels a little less daunting.

---

a/n: i luv feedback (GIVE IT TO ME)

[sheisjoeschateau]

"Oh, so we DO love Steve..." | PART I

Steve Harrington x Bauman!fem!reader enemies to lovers, heavy angst, hurt/comfort, upside down mayhem, S2-S4, post S4 universe hot-take, end-of-the-world / dystopian setting, ugly fights turned smut (...but with hella plot). 18+

WHEN THE UNEXPECTED NIECE OF MURRAY BAUMAN GETS THROWN IN THE MIX, THE GANG HAS NO IDEA JUST WHAT THEY'RE IN FOR. SCRATCH THAT - STEVE DOESN'T KNOW. YOU GET ALONG WITH EVERYONE WELL. YOU BANTER WITH THE ADULTS, WHO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THE KIDS LOVE AND WORSHIP YOU. YOU'RE HELPFUL ALL AROUND. BUT AS FAR AS STEVE IS CONCERNED, YOU'RE JUST NUISANCE. AFTER ALL, YOU'RE THE REASON HE LOST THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE AND MISSED OUT ON A LIFE THAT "COULD'VE BEEN." IF YOU HAD JUST KEPT YOUR SORRY ASS OUT OF THE PICTURE... IF YOU HAD NEVER GONE WITH NANCY AND JONATHAN AFTER THEY LEFT YOUR WHACK-JOB UNCLE, MURRAY BAUMAN'S, BUNKER? HE WOULD BE HAPPY. SO F*CKING HAPPY. BUT HERE YOU WERE. YOU WERE BASICALLY THE COOLER (...AND SURE, MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE) FEMALE VERSION OF MURRAY BAUMAN. YOU WERE SARCASTIC, QUICK-WITTED, TOO SMART FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, AND APPARENTLY BUILT FOR THE WAR. SURE, YOU WEREN'T AS BRASH AS YOUR UNCLE. BUT IN STEVE'S EYES, YOU WERE SOMEHOW FAR MORE OBNOXIOUS. HE DOWNRIGHT HATED YOU. HE WILL FOREVER HATE YOU... BUT WILL HE?

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR MY WORK TO BE COPIED AND/OR REPOSTED ON HERE OR ANY OTHER PLATFORM, OR PUT INTO ANY AI PROGRAMS. THIS IS AN 18+ BLOG, MDNI.

An original fanfiction series, written by Misha St. James.

⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ SERIES MASTERLIST ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

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I did not proof-read this after Tumblr gave me hell trying to share. So pls excuse possible typos. hehe

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Let's just get to the point, shall we?

Once upon a time, a young boy named Will Byers went missing. Later, he was found in an alternate dimension by the world's #1 mom and a cynical cop turned hero. A girl with a shaved head had telekinetic superpowers, befriend's Will's four loyal friends along the way and helping them track down their missing party member. Then, whatever the hell was on the other side - whatever was in this...upside down...took back Eleven. She'd been missing ever since that dreadful winter.

Fast forward to now: you're sitting in your uncle's bunker, looking at his wild display of efforts.  Papers, files, whiteboards covered in multiple words, arrows, sketches - all in different colored markers. Murray Bauman was on a mission, and he would be damned if that grumpy, cynical smart-ass known as Jim Hopper honestly thought that he could dismantle his efforts.  Nice try, chum. Game on. Thankfully, you'd gone to school with Barbara Holland. That's whose parents had assigned the task of searching for her to your uncle. Murray was asking you tons of questions, and you were glad to help. It meant spending time with the only family member you cared for, despite his wackiness. You guys got each other. Bantered well. Got shit done. Honestly, it was also a great way of drinking safely and not with a bunch of rowdy teenagers at some stupid party. You got along just fine with everyone at school. But damn, they could all be annoying.  ...especially Steve fucking Harrington, who was now the topic of conversation. You know, given that his house is where Barbara was last seen. "It just isn't making sense," your uncle huffed, raking his hands through his oily dark hair.  You sipped on the glass of vodka that your uncle had poured you, hissing at the strong taste. Leaning across the coffee table, seated on his couch, you tried to connect the dots with him. "I'm telling you, someone in that group of teens knows what's up. Or at least has an idea." Your uncle swigged at his vodka, defeated but ruthlessly trying to piece together his clusterfuck of scattered evidence across his wall. "Well then, guess we better grill 'em."

And that's how you come into the picture. When Nancy and Jonathan came to seek out Murray. And when they arrive, they're surprised to see you. They recognize you from school. Jonathan took several classes with you. In fact, the two of you got along well at Hawkins High. No, you weren't close. But you both were cool. Nancy, on the other hand, didn't know anything about you. Just that you took political science with Barbara, and got straight A's across the board. You could've been class valedictorian. But you were not looking for any sort of title that demanded pressure or attention. At least not in high school. Career wise? Sure. Not here, though. Not Hawkins. "Your timeline is wrong," Nancy is saying, making you and Bauman freeze.  Nancy is telling you that the girl with the buzzed hair is not Russian. She is, in fact, from Hawkins lab. And her name is...Eleven? So they do know something. And something turns out to be everything.

Jonathan sits you both down to relay everything to you both. And woof, does it give you guys a headache. Strangely, though... it makes a whole lot more sense than some mundane explanation of sorts. Obviously though, that puts you all in a tough spot where you'll all need to put your heads together. So the two classmates of yours stay, sharing in chilled Smirnoff and having to endure the hilarity that ensues between you and your uncle. You and Murray both banter well with the two of them. Jonathan finds you to be hilarious. Nancy finds you intimidating. Very intimidating. You’re quick witted, darkly humored and independent. But there is a reserved, mysterious sort of feminine energy to you, despite your more masculine strengths and bluntness. Over glasses of stiff vodka, you all come to the conclusion on how to go about exposing the truth about Barbara Holland's disappearance: water it down.

At the end of the night, you're all winding down -- you and your uncle having convinced the two lovebirds to stay. But when you're telling them they can take your uncle's guest room while you take the couch, Jonathan's asking if he can take the couch. You blink. Huh? ...surely Nancy is not still with --

"Okay, I'm confused," your uncle's saying. "What's going on here? Lovers quarrel?"

You cock an eyebrow, leaning back into the loveseat.

But Jonathan and Nancy are then talking over each other with weird, flustered excuses...saying they're just friends.

You and your uncle bust out laughing. And then you're shrinking back in your seat, knowing what's coming: one of your Uncle Murray's lovebird witchdoctor speeches that he barrels into anytime that two delusional people have convinced themselves that they aren't in love. Or at the very least, not into each other. 

Uncle Murray is breaking them down, one at a time. He's reading Jonathan like an angsty teen novel, seeing right through him and his brooding, mysterious energy.  Trust issues, thanks to daddy issues. Yikes, that makes you sip some more drink.

And then he's onto Nancy, saying that she's harder to read. But he manages anyway.  It's the Bauman way.

He's telling her that she's likely like everyone else, "afraid of what would happen if you accepted yourself for you who you really are." He looks at you. "Am I in the right ballpark?"

You nod, swallowing the last drop of vodka in your cup. "That...and afraid of that might happen if she didn't retreat back to the safety of someone familiar."

Nancy looks bewildered. But more than that, she looks caught. 

"Name?" your uncle is prodding, snapping his fingers.  "Name."

You and Jonathan both say it. "Steve."

Uncle Murray's face is priceless. He feigns adoration, putting on a baby voice as he repeats the name. "Dawh. Steve. We like Steve."

"Yes," Nancy laughs nervously.  Eek, you think.

"But we don't love Steve..." Your uncle's words floor Nancy.

And when Nancy's saying something about still being with Steve, insisting that she loves him, you roll your eyes. Even scoffing, getting her attention. Maybe if the vodka weren't in your system, you wouldn't be so bold. But Jonathan's mopey look just gives you more confidence.

"Boom, ladies and gents," you say with a grin. "Second lie of the evening." "The hell was the first one?" Jonathan asks, blinking. "You guys being just friends." You and your uncle say something along the same lines, simultaneously. You both laugh together, clinking glasses. The two not lovebirds just squirm awkwardly in their seats. Finally, you sigh. "Look. You guys don't wanna give up the ghost? Be my guest. I'll happily keep my bed." You stand up, ready to turn in. But not until casting them one last work, pointing a finger. "But if I were you two? I'd cut the bullshit and just share the damn bed." Murray snorts, rising to stand as well. He stretches. "Welllllp. I'm turning in for the night." You begin mounting the stairs, hollering: "Better act fast, kiddos. At least before this poison in my system knocks me out cold. Don't worry, Nancy, I don't snore. So if you do choose me, you're safe." "But that's so lame," Murray adds to that wryly, heading off to his room. You both tell each other goodnight, leaving the two angsty teens to decide their fate. All you know is that Nancy ends up walking out and not coming back, at one point in the night.  Yeah, thought so. Breakfast the next morning is even more hilarious. You and your uncle ask every single question that drips with innuendo that you ever possibly could. And it's worth every fucking minute.

Murray's gonna need to keep that couch cleaned. To your surprise, Murray sends you off with Nancy and Jonathan, but given that you want to go and see it all for yourself you don't mind. You’re basically his little spy.  Most uncles send off their nieces and nephews with some good advice, maybe a packed lunchbox or snacks, and a warm hug. 

Yours, however, sends you off with a full bottle of vodka, a thick wad of cash and some fun sarcastic banter. But he headlocks you in for a hug, and you cackle. He really is a nutcase, and man you can't help but love him. He is so not the parental type. Yet somehow, he's practically raised you. And in your opinion, you're pretty well-prepared for the world. More than most, in Murray's opinion. So off you go with Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Buyers, and they both honestly enjoy your company. It helps them get past their umm...well...awkward new reality. That new reality that comes post-sex, after a long ass time of playing the tip-toe game. The sexual tension between them is hysterical to you. But you keep your thoughts to yourself for now. The vodka did most of the talking for you last night.

When you both arrive at wherever the hell your destination is, it's dark outside. And if you're being honest, it's pretty creepy. You're somewhere near the woods, and as you all walk closer you're beginning to see lights approaching you...along with a handful of shadowed figures. 

Fuck, you literally just got here.

But then, after a tense several moments... Nancy and Jonathan call out to them. You jump, startled at the fact that they do it so confidently. But the name that they call out suddenly makes it all make sense. "STEVE?" "NANCY...?" And that's how you became a crucial part of the most royal pain in the ass, King Steve's, life.

[carriesthewind]

Still on my bullshit:

One thing I want to emphasize is that topics related to the scaremongering conspiracy video are very real, very serious concerns, but those concerns are around price-gouging (not even mentioned in the video) and privacy (but in a realistic way, not in a "digital ads are secretly being installed to track your eye movements to determine optimum pleasure-inducing packaging kind of way). This article is a good summary:

And the letter from Warren and Casey* is actually focused on these concerns.

*The links actually work in this version, hurray!

In this way, I think the video is a really good example of one of the dangerous of scaremongering conspiracy misinformation. Not only does it help promote and ingrain conspiracist ways of thinking, it distracts from real problems. It promotes the idea that we are already living in a dystopian reality concocted by powerful intentional actors who do not make mistakes. Unstated is the assumption that these actors have either entirely captured the institutions of goverment or the goverment is working with them (the goverment granted them a patent to do this nefarious thing!), and so the only way to resist is to take individual actions that don't actually solve - or even really address - the problem. And even if you try to take action based on the video, you're going to be focused on the wrong problem. Compare the kind of things the video is focused on - the existence of cameras in stores (lol good luck trying to get those out), facial expression analysis, sales of personal data to third parties - and compare them to the specific grounded questions in Warren and Casey's letter.

Because think about the call to action at the end of the video - you should destroy individual cameras in the stores with nail polish remover or nail polish. The doesn't actually do anything to address either the conspiracy problem in the video or the real problem (great, you destroyed a couple cameras, that sure showed them). Incidentally, it also potentially puts you at great personal risk for criminal prosecution for destruction of property. Which can be an intentional and powerful strategy of resistance, especially when instituted with intentionality - but that's not really what the video is promoting, is it? There's no next step, no pathway for change. It's effectively the same as a video about stranger-danger kidnappings telling you at the end that ladies, this is always why you have bear mace/pepper spray/a gun in your back pocket, ready to shoot. You don't leave either informed or empowered - just scared and reactive.

[txttletale]

Wtf is Lancer and why is it shit (serious question)

lancer is a tabletop roleplaying game made by the guy who drew kill six billion demons and another guy. i wouldn't call it 'shit', necessarily--it's good in a lot of the ways that matter. it's first and foremost a tactical mech combat game and on that level it's incredible. its ruleset is finely tuned, provides great amounts of GM support to make running what might otherwise be overwhelmingly crunchy combat easier, and has a truly stunning and cool level of character customization available. so as a game, i think it's great fun to play and run, genuinely innovative, and a huge step forward for battlemap tactical wargame type TTRPGs in general.

the lore though, kind of sucks. i think it has two clear and overlapping core problems. problem #1 is that it is a utopia as envisioned by a social democrat. it's a world which the text describes as 'post-capitalist' (but there are still evil megacorporations with private armies who own slaves) and 'post-scarcity' (but only in the developed 'core' systems, so. y'know. there's scarcity). at many points in the text they say that Union (the game's main faction) is utopian, throwing around that exact word a bunch of times as well as 'mutual aid' and 'direct action' and the like. but what they describe is just kind of an imperialist Space Sweden with several distinct forms of slavery that constantly expands and uses its Benevolent Imperial Power to intervene on the Backwards Violent Worlds on its outer border but its good because its just trying to bring them UBI.

to show what i mean, here's one of the game's writers¹ talking about how it would be morally wrong for Union to, say, appropriate the property of a private military corporation that also operates as a fascist nation-state:

it's 'revolution' as imagined by the limpest of social democrats. and of course this would honestly be fine, whatever, most sci-fi settings are fundamentally achingly liberal, but the game goes so out of its way to signpost how Radical it is and how Hopeful and Liberationist you're meant to see the setting as

the other core problem is closely related--it feels like the lancer guys put every cool sci-fi idea they had into lancer even when it completely clashes with the core ideas behind it. like, AIs in this settings are callled 'NHPs' (non-human persons) and they're eldritch god-like beings from another dimension who have be kept 'shackled' (lancer's words, not mine!) to keep them as pliant and obedient AI assistants instead of hostile eldritch abominations. this is obviously horrifying and dystopian but it rules, it would be sick fucking worldbuilding for something with the tone of 40k or a one-off doctor who or star trek episode--but as a fundamental technology foundational to what we are supposed to believe is a post-revolutionary society founded on mutual aid and solidarity and blah blah blah it's glaringly dissonant.

bear in mind this is all just going off the rulebook. lancer fans have told me that the supplements and campaign modules fix some of this or contextualise it. but on the other hand communists have told me that they make it worse and i trust the communists more. i leave you with this incredible passage from the game's foreword:

[blogishdaj]

Seek 1.6.B spoilers

Basilisk IDLX-B Elabre Systems Seekwebserial is now my new blorbo my new babygirl. Incredibly badass, incredibly chill, incredibly messed up existence. Bro is the true Space Blake/Rose Thorburn, doing the scifi equivalent of advising a hardheaded 'sibling' through a mirror / being a living tattoo / possessing the body of someone else.

Does he have feelings? Questionable. A personality? Kinda. A body of his own? He can puppet his owner's, sometimes. Free will? Absolutely not. He is trapped in subservience to some dystopian AI company and exists as a nanotech lattice embedded in an extremely stubborn 16 year-old girl's body, who is his client. However he is a good boi doing his best <3 I await his ascension into omnipotent superintelligence and/or civilization-ending cognitohazard.

[amalasdraws]

The idea of ai "art" makes me so angry. Just I don't even have words anymore Even if you ignore the blatant theft and ethical mess here (which you shouldn't ignore), just the idea that a machine creates for you, takes away something to human, something so ancient, just, I'm angry!! Drawing, creating, all of this is something so natural and human and just to let machines do it, to take away the joy, and expressions, our emotions, our creativity. I wanna scream just thinking about this. It's perverted! The whole idea is just..fuck! it really is the fabric dystopian stories are made of. Strip humans of their joy, expressions and emotions. If I'm in a dooms mood, then I feel this is just the start. The start of a bland life, only made to function and to be fast. The first step in making us dead machines that follow a system and do the boring and hard jobs only, not question it, not be creative, jobs which we get underpaid for. Clogs in the system. If we don't fight it, don't fight for our joy and humanity, don't find community, then this is it!

Fuck gen ai

[kaelidascope]

In light of some dirty laundry found, I'd like to set the record straight about a threat that was made against me and my work

Since I'm being accused of stealing or copying a roleplay that was done between 2021-2022, here's the facts. The roleplay started with a concept that I had made about a magic college school for another roleplay that never went anywhere and was then repurposed for this one with a new partner. The question was popped on 2/23/21 and we began on 2/25/21.

It lasted the span of a little over a year and went through several rounds of development, a few attempted rewrites, and a spin off sequel revolving their kids. It was a good split between actually roleplaying the characters and also just hours upon hours of talking/plotting as one does. Usual exchanges between creators. We never posted the roleplay publicly anywhere, so it was never officially 'published', nor were any legal steps taken to get rights reserved. I'm fairly certain a discussion happened once about turning it into a book but both parties were not on the same page so it never went anywhere. We did ofc share it with close friends and just talked about it in general.

I also drew quite a bit of art for it, and we both collectively commissioned better artists for art for the characters as well. I did not put in nearly as much money as my roleplay partner did, but I did most of the concept art to provide as reference.

After the friendship ended and the roleplay was put to rest, I pulled the OCs that I had exclusively made to start working on a new concept. I had no intention of using anything that wasn't mine. The new concept was entirely removed from it's original source, meaning different setting, different characters, different everything. It was just repurposed OCs that had new backstories and purposes and new ones that I had made to replace characters I didn't own. However, despite the change, I was threatened with a Cease and Desist form pulled off Google by my previous roleplay partner because I made a vague tweet showing progress of the reworked characters (Rowen, who was in the original roleplay, and her love interest, Lyra, that was meant to be a replacement design for a character I did not own). Lyra shared a physical likeness to the original character, Emi, that was owned and played by my roleplay partner that they designed using an AI generator and then I later drew concepts for [white complexion, black hair, blue eyes]. I took it down as requested, sent it back to the workshop, consulted several professionals to make sure any likeness was scrubbed away, and put it on the back burner for further development so I could be left in peace.

I made this disclaimer post back in December 2023 about any likeness my own OCs would share in future projects and their affiliated partners on twitter. At the time, the names and designs were still being changed so Rowen Santiago was a placeholder while I was waiting to hear back from legal advice. I never said I was taking what was originally written and publishing it 'as is'. I'm allowed to use my original character designs for different purposes.

Ultimately, I came to the decision after a lengthy back and forth to scrap my own OCs original personality and design and start from scratch. Only a few things survived that can have lines drawn between the original roleplay design and the new story concept [the magic collar, werewolfism, Hispanic descent, wolf eyes] but that's nothing new. I have a lot of werewolf OCs. I've got an entire series dedicated to werewolf OCs. The new story concept is more military and racism based set in a fantasy dystopian universe than a magical school romance trope set in English Europe. The new story isn't even set on Earth, it's so far removed from where the original design came from it's not even remotely close to this roleplay. The kind of prose and worldbuilding featured in this new work is similar to the fanfiction I already write and am known for [The new world building will be somewhat similar to a setting I already made as far as fantasy science themes go. See Midnight Menagerie]. I also have several designs that look similar to each other (see MM Blake and Tessa for example. Same hairstyle. And MM Yang's entire physique was scraped from Rowen's whole vibe) though I can say my art style is improving enough to where I don't suffer from same face syndrome anymore (at least I hope!). All my bases were covered, everything was a brand new start over and nothing from the original roleplay was touched.

Well, even after a whole year and a half later post cut-off and small meltdown, it's apparently still living in their head rent-free that I am stealing their work and threats are still being made both anonymously and by name!

So I'll tell y'all what, for anybody who's curious, go ahead and have full access of all the notes and docs that I supposedly 'stole' and you tell me if my future works are stealing lol since you wanna wave it around like it's a big scary threat to get me any time I draw sapphic content that isn't fanart. The only things I will not include on this post is the commissioned work because I don't know who originally did them and therefor I'm not sure what their reposting terms are

Anything listed as [NOT ME] was not written by me. Otherwise everything else is either by me or was collaborated on (like the roleplay exchanges)

Misc Docs

Rowemi timeline 2.0

Figure Skating Practice

Emi/Lauren Relationship Notes

Pregnancy Arc Notes

Project Blackbird Notes

Worldbuilding Notes

Rowen Build Sheet

Rowen Notes

Emi Build Sheet (NOT ME)

Emi/Mom Relationship Notes (NOT ME)

Rewrite Docs

Prologue

Episode I

Shorts

William's Lament

Another Secret in the Pile

Rowen's Invitation

The Meeting (NOT ME)

The Hospital Visit (NOT ME)

Simon's Suggestion (NOT ME)

The Date (NOT ME)

Original Roleplay Docs

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 4.5

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Artwork Done By Me

Genuinely I'm not sure what y'all hope to accomplish by obsessively sending me hate mail and empty threats like I'm supposed to care and be effected by it. I haven't even looked at it since I quit Deviantart lol it has nothing to do with my current projects and it died when I cut you off. You never even knew what the new novel project was about, so you really had no grounds to threaten me with that email or the anonymous inbox submissions. You also slipped up and sent one with your actual user after I turned that off, that's how I figured out you were still obsessed with me after all this time. I encourage you to do something with your ideas someday. While you weren't the healthiest friendship I've ever had, the roleplay was fun to engage in. Maybe working on something new will bring you the peace of mind you're looking for and help you move on.

[rayless-reblogs]

2024 Book Recommendations

I have an embarrassment of riches this year -- I had the chance to read a lot, and I kept finding so many good books. So many that instead of my normal ten recs, you're getting fifteen.

As always, these recommendations are not complete endorsements. Especially with the older books, there are definitely elements present that are questionable and even offensive.

Dragons – Pamela Wharton Blanpied (fantasy written as nonfiction, the first section recounts what happens when dragons invade Earth, the second section is a treatise on the habits and biology of dragons, and the third is a fascinating series of field notes from those who dare to befriend the monsters)

The Chatham School Affair – Thomas H Cook (mystery, a rural school, a beautiful lonely teacher, a lake, luscious language, loaded with atmosphere, you keep making and remaking your theories as you guess what happened)

Plain Bad Heroines – Emily M Danforth (mystery, braided narrative between the early twentieth century and present day, copious narrator commentary, cheeky footnotes, extremely funny but also extremely dark, gothic tropes, mostly female cast)

Cloud Cuckoo Land – Anthony Doerr (sci-fi, braided narrative spanning centuries, the story of one ancient text's journey through history, ancient Greece, medieval Constantinople, the present day in a small-town library, space travel and ai, it all comes together across the endless reach of time and you feel a lot)

Fanny Herself – Edna Ferber (pre-WW1 coming of age women's story, old-fashioned Anne of Green Gables thoughtfulness and sweetness in some places, rousingly modern in other places, strong focus on the heroine's Jewish identity, extremely funny narrative voice, the love of nature versus the industrial verve of Chicago, will our heroine keep her soul?)

The Vows of the Peacock – Alice Walworth Graham (Middle Ages, poetic fantastical language, Isabella the She-Wolf of France, messy politics, a darkly sexy historical villain, a complex but at times quite moving arranged marriage, an absorbing female protagonist)

A Thousand Ships – Natalie Haynes (Homer's women retell Homer's stories, angrily, tragically, bitchily, including many women you might not have thought of [and it isn't just the women Homer mentioned – we get into the weeds], the story is cut into bite-sized pieces that still offer filling food for thought)

The Masqueraders – Georgette Heyer (Georgian-era glitz and witty repartee, the heroine lives as a man, her brother lives as a woman, their father is full of wild schemes that might very well get them all executed for treason, the romance is a slow burn, and we get highwaymen)

Venetia – Georgette Heyer (a Regency-era GH romance, if you know GH then you know she's the author every other Regency romance writer is trying to be, it's funny, it's daring, it's tender, GH's romances are solid, but this one especially stands out for its strong-willed and capable heroine)

The Haunting of Hill House – Shirley Jackson (the house is a character, and not a nice one, psychological instability, unreliable narrator, creeping inchoate horror, whose hand am I holding, let's dwell on the unhappiness of being a smart woman in the 1950s)

Thornhedge – T Kingfisher (Sleeping Beauty but WHAT IF, I love the heroine, her name is Toadling, it's funny, it's romantic, it's thoughtful, it's even folkloric, there's a lot about ugly lady lake trolls, the prose reads beautifully, and it's compact, it doesn't waste your time and is short enough to knock out in a day or two)

The Silver Metal Lover – Tanith Lee (sci-fi, awkward dystopian-glam girl falls in love with a robot, whom she does not own, the sci-fi is as soft as pudding but it's more about the vibes anyway, inimitably stylish Tanith Lee weirdness, the robot is an absolute doll along with being a robot)

Pony Confidential – Christina Lynch (a pony is on a revenge mission against his former Horse Girl, but what if it was both funny and serious, but what if there was also a murder mystery, but what if we dwelt on human-animal negligence a la Black Beauty, but what if we also brought in Homer's Odyssey, it gets emotional)

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich – Deya Muniz (fantasy, graphic novel, nonbinary protagonist lives as a man and is appalled to suddenly fall in love with the local heroic princess, gorgeous gorgeous shoujo-ish art, also very funny, it will make you crave cheese)

The Alice Network – Kate Quinn (WW1 and WW2, braided narrative, women acting as spies in occupied France, little-known historical events unfold on the page, so much Baudelaire, an old heroine and a young heroine and both are smart and bitter and compelling, but there's still room for some sweet romance and sharp humor)

[cyberpunkonline]

The Top 10 Spooky Cyberpunk Movies and TV Shows: Neon, Fear, and Dystopia for #CyberSamhain

Alright, my fellow netrunners and glitch enthusiasts, it’s time to jack into the grid and merge two of the best genres around: cyberpunk and horror. You know the deal—neon-lit cities crawling with tech, corporate overlords doing shady things, and a constant feeling that you're being watched. Now throw in a healthy dose of spine-chilling terror, and you've got the perfect setup for #CyberSamhain. We’re talking about movies and shows that don’t just make you question your reality—they make you afraid of what’s lurking in the dark corners of the digital world.

So, buckle up, because we’re about to run through the top 10 spooky cyberpunk movies and TV shows of all time. Get ready for creepy androids, mind-bending AIs, and dystopian nightmares that’ll leave you sleeping with the lights on… and your computer turned off. You know, just in case.

1. Blade Runner (1982) Spooky Level: "I think that neon sign is watching me." If we’re talking spooky cyberpunk, Blade Runner has to sit at the top of the list. Sure, it’s more of a slow-burn than in-your-face horror, but the eerie, rain-drenched streets of future LA? They’re pure cyberpunk nightmare fuel. Deckard's hunt for rogue replicants isn’t just an action-packed mystery—it’s full of existential dread, identity crises, and the looming question of what it means to be human. Plus, Rutger Hauer’s “Tears in Rain” speech? Goosebumps.

Resource: The Nerdist has a deep dive into how Blade Runner paved the way for dystopian cyberpunk horror.

2. Ghost in the Shell (1995) Spooky Level: "Am I real or just code?" No list is complete without Ghost in the Shell. This anime flick is a straight-up mind-bender that’ll make you question your own existence. Major Kusanagi, a cyborg cop, is chasing a mysterious hacker who’s messing with people’s memories—creepy enough, right? But when you start pondering whether you even have a soul, that’s when the real chills kick in. It’s got a cold, digital aesthetic, filled with philosophical dread that’ll leave you staring at your reflection, wondering if there’s anything organic left inside you.

Resource: Collider has a killer write-up on why Ghost in the Shell remains a staple of spooky cyberpunk perfection.

3. Akira (1988) Spooky Level: "I don’t want to become a tech monster, thanks." Want to see what happens when body horror meets cyberpunk? Look no further than Akira. This anime classic brings you a futuristic Tokyo, biker gangs, government conspiracies, and mutated psychic powers. The result? An out-of-control cyberpunk nightmare that gets creepier by the minute as Tetsuo’s powers spiral into grotesque body horror. The neon-lit streets and apocalyptic vibes are what dystopian dreams (or nightmares) are made of.

Resource: IGN has an in-depth feature on how Akira shaped the cyberpunk genre and our collective nightmares.

4. Altered Carbon (2018–2020) Spooky Level: "Body-swapping freaks me out." This Netflix series threw us headfirst into a cyberpunk world where consciousness can be transferred between bodies—or "sleeves"—so death is more of a suggestion than a rule. The spooky vibes come from the whole immortality for the rich, dystopia for the poor thing. The first season especially gives off some dark, existential fear—imagine waking up in a body that isn’t yours, with no idea how you got there. There’s action, mystery, and just the right amount of creepy tech horror to make you rethink that new VR headset you just bought.

Resource: The Verge has a solid breakdown on why Altered Carbon brings fresh cyberpunk horror to the screen.

5. The Matrix (1999) Spooky Level: "What if this is all just a simulation?" Look, if the idea of living inside a computer simulation where machines are harvesting your body for energy doesn’t freak you out, then you’re tougher than most. The Matrix took cyberpunk and cranked up the paranoia, making everyone question reality for a solid decade. Sure, Neo’s kung-fu is slick, but it’s the spooky concept of being trapped in a digital prison that makes this one so chilling. The machines run everything, and humans? Just disposable batteries.

Resource: Vulture has a deep dive into the philosophy and horror of The Matrix and how it made us all low-key paranoid.

6. Videodrome (1983) Spooky Level: "Body horror and TV mind control? Sign me up!" If you want a straight-up creepy trip through a cyberpunk-esque world where TV and tech meld with the human body in the most disturbing ways possible, Videodrome is your ticket. Directed by the king of body horror himself, David Cronenberg, this film dives into the concept of tech-induced hallucinations, mind control, and some seriously weird flesh transformations. You’ll never look at your TV the same way again. Long live the new flesh, am I right?

Resource: Den of Geek does an excellent job dissecting the chilling horror behind Videodrome.

7. Dredd (2012) Spooky Level: "Trapped in a megacity with psychos and drug dealers." While Dredd might lean more towards action than traditional horror, the dystopian setting of Mega-City One is creepy as hell. The movie focuses on Judge Dredd and his rookie partner, Anderson, as they fight their way through a skyscraper controlled by a brutal drug lord. The Slo-Mo drug scenes, where time is slowed to a crawl, are unsettlingly beautiful and grotesque, and the entire setting just screams cyberpunk dystopia. The violence, the dark atmosphere, the claustrophobic tension—it’s all there.

Resource: Empire has a fantastic retrospective on why Dredd became a cult classic and hit all the right cyberpunk notes.

8. Ex Machina (2014) Spooky Level: "Are AIs gonna kill us all or just manipulate us?" Here’s the deal with Ex Machina—it’s quiet, subtle, and so unnerving. The movie follows a programmer who’s invited to test an advanced AI named Ava, and let's just say things get complicated. The spooky part? Watching an AI learn to manipulate and deceive with an intelligence that’s almost human, but not quite. The claustrophobic setting, the slow-burn tension, and the underlying theme of humans creating monsters through tech? Yeah, this one will mess with your head.

Resource: Wired has a fantastic exploration of the AI horror in Ex Machina and why it feels so real.

9. Black Mirror (2011–present) Spooky Level: "Welcome to your tech-fueled nightmares." If you’ve watched Black Mirror, you already know why it’s on this list. Every episode is its own spooky cyberpunk horror story—whether it’s the dark side of social media, virtual reality, or AI gone rogue. "San Junipero" might be a more feel-good episode, but "Playtest", "White Christmas", and "Metalhead" will have you questioning whether we’ve gone too far with tech. It’s cyberpunk horror, but with that all-too-real edge that makes you want to smash your phone and go live in the woods.

Resource: The Guardian does a killer analysis on the most terrifying episodes of Black Mirror and why the show taps into modern-day fears.

10. Upgrade (2018) Spooky Level: "When your body fights back." In Upgrade, a guy gets an AI implant that controls his body after he’s paralyzed in a brutal attack. But this isn’t your average tech-upgrade story—soon, he’s dealing with an AI that’s starting to take control in very disturbing ways. The film’s got that cyberpunk dystopian vibe down, with a gritty future setting and a tech-horror concept that feels way too close for comfort. It’s violent, it’s slick, and it’s got enough body horror to satisfy your spooky cravings this #CyberSamhain.

Resource: SlashFilm has a great breakdown on Upgrade and why it’s one of the most underrated cyberpunk horrors in recent memory.

Final Thoughts From existential AI crises to body horror nightmares, cyberpunk and horror go together like neon and rain. This #CyberSamhain, grab one (or all) of these movies and shows, switch off your phone (because, y’know, Black Mirror), and get ready to dive into some of the creepiest, most unsettling cyberpunk worlds ever imagined. Just remember—whether it's rogue AIs, mind control tech, or creepy robots, it’s all fun and games until the machines start thinking for themselves. Sleep tight, netrunners!

[vivalgi]

This year's first Choices Insiders has arrived.

Since Jeffrey is involved, I wonder if the male MC is as horribly written as in COP3 and Proposal. Anyway, as I understand we're not a hockey player again 😬 but rather a coach of some status. Usually people in this profession are older and more experienced, so I'm curious if it's the same case with this book or the MC somehow lucked out as a young rookie again. What's more interesting though is that there seems to be 2 LIs. I hope that they're both GOC and at least one of them wasn't written with typical and overused male LI tropes in mind. I expect it will be a another forbidden romance though, since coach-player relationship, but doubled this time.

Another batch of AI generated pilot books, which I'll likely thumb down before even reading. One seems to pit two women against each other (again) and in the other you play as a damsel (again) 🥱

Looks like people love AI slop, so I guess PB will be fine under the rule of its new master.

lol PB avoids answering the first question like a seasoned politician and goes straight to the next by announcing a sequel to something people seemed to love. A very clever move to bundle two unrelated questions together to draw the attention away from the real problem. No worries, I can avoid playing BSH equally well as PB avoids answering important questions😉

Read: our artists turned prompt writers are struggling to make the AI do what they want it to do. Just paint the faces yourselves, people. If you want to retain the same quality as before then it doesn't take more time than getting the prompts right and fixing the crap AI pulls off. I don't think there will be a time where I don't have to fix the character art myself. I don't mind it that much though as it's more fun and fulfilling than reading the books lately.

I'm not very thrilled after reading the mail. There's only mention of two upcoming full length books, with a little bit more (vague) info on the January book. The rest is just small scale content that's not really worth getting invested in. I wish PB focused more on quality than churning out a lot of short stories. Choices has been severely lacking in good quality storytelling at least for the last year or so and the short specials don't make the situation any better.

A shame there was no new info about the dystopian book though. In April it was promised we'd see it within 2024 but we still don't even know its title. I guess I'll keep waiting for Blades wide release to be finished before reading the rest of it, maybe COP3 too. Inheritance won't start before February either, so I guess I'll occupy myself with something else in the mean time.

[teamxcherik]

We understand completely how it feels to join an old, small fandom that is almost completely dead and to realize we joined a little bit too late. For the new and old fans alike, and because Cherik is so much fun, Cherik Week is back!

Anyone can participate! All languages are welcome too!

Content that will be accepted:

 Drabbles

 Ficlets

 Poems

 Fanfiction

 Art

 Edits

 Photonovels

 Fanvids

 Playlists

Cosplay

Comics

Content that will NOT be accepted:

Any content made with the help of an AI or made by it.

If you want to join and participate in this event, please do so because you love the ship. If you feel you have no skill, this is the perfect time to start with something. We will welcome your creations, doesn't matter how new you are in that skill. We want creations that make us feel something, that means something to us.

How to participate:

When posting your contribution to the event on tumblr, add the tag “CherikWeek2023″ so we can track it and reblog your post!

Be sure to post/share your themed content on the day of the week it corresponds to on the provided schedule.

You can also add your work to our AO3 collection.

Dates:

June 5th - 11th

Day 1: Gangster/Mafia | Dystopian

Day 2: Gokushufudo | Sentinel & Guide

Day 3: Gardenverse | Victorian Era

Day 4: Demisexual Erik | Protective Erik

Day 5: Gladiator | Actors

Day 6: Genosha | Drunk

Day 7: GoT/Medieval | Students

More info:

Someone had a question about the themes of this week. You can read here the answer.

For more general information, click here. If you have any questions feel free to send us a message through tumblr! 

Hope to see your contribution to the ship during our special week!

[bitethedevil]

Thoughts on using AI as a tool in writing?

I’m not sure if this might be a controversial answer. I see a lot of people strongly disliking AI. I get that and I largely agree though I try to have a nuanced opinion on it. I think every piece of new technology has to some extent gone through an outrage phase like AI is currently going through.

For me, the largest problem I have with it is actually how much it pollutes. I know that places like Google are currently working on decreasing that with nuclear reactors, but there is a long way to go.

There is a large concern that AI will overtake the place of human made art. I think that idea is largely underestimating the intelligence of the people around us. AI art is just that. It’s impressive that a machine can make it, for sure, but it is not the same as looking at something that was made by a human. We are sympathetic beings and the thing that makes art art is how we can feel what the artist felt when they made it. You might also argue that it’s the skill that goes into it that makes it what it is, but if it doesn’t make people feel some sort of recognition in themselves, then it isn’t art. Then it’s just soulless imitation. Which is exactly what AI art is.

If I ask an AI model to create a picture of a flower, then it does so because it is told to do it. It finds other examples of what a flower looks like and boom: a picture of a flower. If I draw a flower, even without any artistic intention, there is still something human in it that is interesting. Why do I draw it like that? Why that kind of flower? Why even draw a flower? That’s what’s interesting, even though the drawing itself at a first glance might not be.

And here’s the point where I actually answer the question, because I can never keep anything short: I think AI is fine to draw inspiration from. I think making AI art is fine, as long as there is never any doubt that it is created by AI. Selling AI art as something that was created with your own skill and talent is never okay.

I’m conflicted with the thought that an AI machine might read my fics and create it’s own stories from it. I think there should be some sort of way that artists (especially visual artists because they seem to be hit the hardest) can protect their art from AI models. On the other hand, a human being could just as well copy it too (which is obviously not okay either). I think the problem is how easily accessible it is and how quickly you can replicate it, and especially the fact that the receiver of said AI art might not be aware how the machine has stitched it together and plagiarized someone else.

I think more transparency is needed to get more people on board with AI. We also desperately need to get people educated on the subject, though that is difficult because it is still so new. Do I think the idea of AI is sort of dystopian and sad? Sure, but I’m also certain that people have thought so about many of the devices and pieces of technology we use today. It is, like you said, a tool, and it should be used as such. Not as a replacement for the real thing.

(Thank you for the ask <3)

[mayamidnightmelody]

Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk, a subgenre of science fiction, emerged in the late 20th century and is characterized by its focus on advanced technology, cybernetics, and a dystopian society. This genre, often described as a fusion of "high-tech and low-life," juxtaposes the rapid advancements in technology with stark social decay, inequality, and corruption.

The origins of cyberpunk can be traced back to early influential works, with Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" (1968) laying some of the groundwork. However, the term "cyberpunk" itself was popularized by Bruce Bethke's 1983 short story of the same name. It was William Gibson's novel "Neuromancer" (1984), though, that truly defined the genre, introducing seminal concepts like cyberspace and artificial intelligence and setting the tone for the cyberpunk aesthetic and narrative style.

At the heart of cyberpunk are several key themes. One prominent theme is the intersection of technology and human augmentation, where characters often possess cybernetic enhancements. This fusion of human and machine raises profound questions about identity, humanity, and the ethical implications of technological progress. Dystopian societies are another central element, typically depicted as futures where corporations hold more power than governments. These settings are dark, gritty, and oppressive, highlighting the dire consequences of unchecked capitalism and technological misuse.

Protagonists in cyberpunk stories are frequently hackers, rebels, or anti-heroes who navigate the seedy underbelly of society. These characters, often fighting against corrupt systems, embody a sense of rebellion and resistance. The concept of virtual reality, or cyberspace, is also central to many cyberpunk narratives, exploring both the possibilities and dangers of immersive digital worlds, where cyberspace becomes a battleground for control and freedom.

Visually, cyberpunk is heavily influenced by film noir, characterized by neon lights, rain-soaked streets, and a blend of futuristic and retro elements. Iconic films like Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" (1982) and anime such as "Akira" (1988) and "Ghost in the Shell" (1995) have been pivotal in shaping the genre's aesthetic, creating a distinct and enduring visual style.

The influence of cyberpunk extends into modern interpretations through video games, fashion, and music. Contemporary works like the game "Cyberpunk 2077" and the series "Altered Carbon" bring cyberpunk themes to today's audiences, delving into issues like surveillance, data privacy, and the impact of AI on society. In fashion and art, cyberpunk inspires a unique style that blends futuristic elements with punk and grunge aesthetics, incorporating leather, metallic fabrics, and tech-infused accessories. Artists often depict sprawling, neon-lit cityscapes and cyborg characters, capturing the essence of cyberpunk's vision of the future.

Cyberpunk remains a relevant and influential genre, offering a critical lens through which to examine the complexities of our relationship with technology. Its exploration of the intersection between humanity and machinery, the implications of a tech-dominated future, and its distinctive style ensure that cyberpunk continues to be a compelling and thought-provoking genre.