#fantasy roomba

[musicalhistorical]

In a discord server I'm in somebody lamented over how dirty the floors were of their fantasy setting. So I decided to draw a lil fantasy roomba, called Froomba.

Will definitely draw more of them.

[roomba-mangga]

thoughts on thistle and yaad's dynamic that i vomited in the tags of another post but will now try to articulate here: they're not actually family, or at least they shouldn't be. not in a conventional sense anyway. framing them as uncle and nephew (even in a non-literal, silly fantasy world way) rides more on technicality than anything concrete.

what i mean by this is yaad calls thistle by name and says he and delgal were raised "like" brothers. he talks about thistle like he's an outsider imposing himself into the melinis' space, and it's clear that thistle was never legitimized as a member of the family. for thistle's part, though we don't know how he would treat yaad pre-demon brainrot, it's safe to assume based on the way he punishes him—turning him into a doll—and how little is shown in the way of any sort of relationship between them that thistle only cares* about yaad as an extension of delgal (otherwise i'd expect something like kabru and milsiril, because it's not like another complicated interspecies family dynamic would be out of place, yet there's next to nothing on them even in bonus content, just their scant interactions in the main story).

in essence, they're strangers to one another. thistle's desperation to preserve the illusion of a family, a model where he doesn't even fit, was the snare they were caught in for the past thousand years of stasis. yaad-as-nephew is a prop to uphold that illusion, and thistle is playing a role he's unfit to play. in the context of post-canon interactions, attempting to reconstruct that facade would only be a reenactment of trauma for them both (in a deeply compelling way i'd love to watch unfold, tbh), as that "uncle and nephew" framing places thistle in an implicit position of power over someone he's already traumatized through misuse of authority in the past, a role which also perpetuates his adultification and yaad's infantilization in turn. it'd mostly be an obstacle to any real connection.

best to burn the melini family bridge, i think, and if there's still anything salvageable left in the rubble, let something different supplant it.

[vah-roomba-art]

Fig!! to get me out of art block!! will i draw the rest of these kiddos? i don't know!!!! I might!!!!! Dropping this in the tag and skateboarding away 🛹💨✌

If you like my art consider buying me a coffee! ☕

[luc1d17y-ffxiv]

Map night with the FC was basically "come in your favorite glam," but since the Ar-Caean crafting gear is DoH-only, I went with my second-favorite and leaned hard into the "Raex is Erenville's cousin of some unspecified degree of separation" headcanon.

[fuckablerobotbracket]

[my-ceiling-is-tilted]

comin atcha with a late day 3, brought to you by rushing a redraw of an og ceiling post. am i satisfied? no. Should heaven have kept the original angel body plans? yes. 0/10 alteration why the fuck do i always make eldritch shit have deer traits

[an-absolute-trainwreck]

Reading In the Lives of Puppets just reminds me of how much I’d rather be reading Under the Whispering Door

[ruershrimo]

down bad fr | f.megumi x reader

@takumifujiwarastan remember how a while back you said here that it sucked how there weren't enough introverted girls, reserved girls etc. SO I did try writing this please enjoy their (gn reader woooo) emotional constipation even though the reticence of their personality isn't really highlighted eurgh

having a crush on megumi is so fucking stupid. it’s driving you insane. 

you can’t even talk to him. everything he does, everything he says— your heart leaps like a rabbit he casts, and your emotions soar into a terrifyingly messy mishmash of confusion and yearning and infatuation, and then everything in between. 

you feel helpless, vulnerable like this— rendered out of control of your feelings after years of emotional constipation and a harsh strictness on yourself to rein them in like a rowdy horse being whipped during derby matches. you’re a climber, you’re hanging precariously from a cliff with every interaction, a child standing before a blueprint with nothing but toy blocks and a kiddie hammer, a roomba with its sensors malfunctioning— you get the point. those were enough metaphors to delineate your predicament.  

well, he doesn’t even like you anyway, right?

but you want him so badly. 

you just want to hammer it into his thick skull. to just go, ‘hey, I like you even if you may not like me! just go out with me anyway!’ 

yet with each interaction you struggle even more. because how the hell do you confess to fushiguro megumi, much less go out with him and become his partner?

for years romance had remained nothing but a velleity, a nice fantasy you could slip into when your mind demanded respite in the form of escapism and jejune daydreams. but now that your adoration for him has made it all somewhat possible, you don’t know what to do— your control is being tended away from you, and the worst part is that you don’t even mind it that much. 

spiky black hair and eyelashes of silk pass you by, his scent as clean as freshly laundered sheets in hotels. at the start you had thought little about him beyond him being your classmate and eventually just your confidante. yet gradually, you surprised yourself. and everything about him is attractive nowadays: his hair, his pearlescent teeth, the viridian hue of his eyes— hell, he made even the way he drank coffee look like a model of a man in an antediluvian monochrome film of the sixties. and it was so normal, so average, that you were about to slap yourself for the fact that an everyday trait  of his had become something so lovely to look at just because it was him. megumi would hold the cup securely by his lithe fingers, the same one he spouted cursed energy from when summoning his shikigami, before lifting the cup up and bringing the brim to his mouth, his lips that never chapped. 

nobara asks whether he’s drinking black coffee to look cool around and attract people. needless to say, at least you were attracted. 

you hoped he didn’t see the way your face must have blanked out, gaze transfixed on his eyes as he took swigs from his mug. 

why’d he have to be like that?!

megumi continued looking at ozawa, the girl who had a crush on itadori— she was just like you for real, but with double the courage and half the emotional constipation. 

you hoped it would work out for her. that way, perhaps you could muster the strength and bravery to do the same, too. 

you take another look at him. he’s really pretty. had you kicking your feet in the air and all and then screaming in horror because of it, had you wrapped around his finger without even knowing. 

with the help of kugisaki and megumi, ozawa and itadori, the two of them are cajoled to go around tokyo together. it’s the best ‘date’ that the two of them can help the other two have, especially since itadori is dense as rocks (megumi’s probably worse based on your experiences, then) and ozawa is as shy as a touch-me-not flower. 

“oh, and [name],” megumi starts while nobara strolls ahead, all set to begin a new shopping spree. 

“ah— uh, yeah?” you stammer. 

“do you like me? romantically, I mean…” he scratches the back of his neck. 

what the fuck. is this seriously happening? right now? 

“huh? what? I—” 

“no, it’s just that— seeing ozawa made me think. I guess I never considered it an option, but I suppose I have had… feelings for you for a pretty long time…” 

“woah. ah, sorry, I meant— sorry, I’m just very surprised…” you scramble, your hands gesticulating all kinds of things in an exaggerated way of taking it back because yes you like him, you like him a lot— “I mean, I do like you! it’s just, fuck— uh, what do I say— I’m really scared. I thought you didn’t reciprocate at all.” 

“I could tell. but I…” he hesitates, “I overthought everything,” then with a frown, he goes, “gojo would have teased me if he was here.” 

“well, I– uh. we’re lucky he isn’t, I guess?” you pause, “...so what do we do now? are we a thing? are we dating? wait, am I going too fast? I, oh my goodness, I—” 

“would you like to?” he asks. your knees are about to buckle with every second he keeps his eyes on yours. 

“I…— well, I would.” 

“then it’s settled. can I— can I hold your hand, please?” 

“...okay.” 

with trepidation in your hands and your heart pounding in your chest, you inch your hands closer, saline sweat on them as if you’d dipped it into the sea. he keeps his gaze on yours— they’re as unsure as you are, his cheeks a slight scarlet, his eyes swirling with nervousness but a sliver of anticipation, of joy and relief. so he feels exactly the same as you do, then. 

his fingers find yours after a while, tracing along the lines of your palm like a blind man touching something for the first time. you want to learn to love and to memorise each nook and cranny of him starting with his palm, and for once emotional vulnerability is not that bad. 

kugisaki’s in for a shock as soon as she turns around. first it was itadori potentially having a partner before she does, and now megumi? 

imagine writing this because of being delulu abt an irl crush (i should be studying for my exams.) haha couldn't be me right (i'm so cooked)

[adrianasunderworld]

Not that I play Obey Me for historical references or accuracy in any way. It's kinda funny that the Devildom has advanced beyond humanity in terms of tech to the point of having phones and internet but then fully stopped for the next couple thousand years. Case and point when they went to the human world and didn't know what a food processor or roomba was.

But my only gripe with Nightbringer so far is that it doesn't feel like we're in the past beyond how the cast, besides Solomon, treats us. They don't even get a costume change of a different style of clothes. Which, they're in their demon forms, so I guess they don't have to do that for something that is purely fantasy, but you get the idea. Idk maybe they wanted the transition from the original game to Nightbringer to be smoother, which it is. All the basic mechanics and apps are still there with a few additions. But I do wish story wish that there was more effort to make it clear we are in the past. Even something like DDDs are not yet invented, but we still have ours and Solomon did something with his magic to make it so we can still use all the apps and everything to talk to characters. Or that they had recently been invented so everyone is still figuring out how everything works. Idk, just some thoughts.

[c-rowlesdraws]

one of my all-time favorite things to explore in fantasy and speculative fiction is like, the hypocrisy and wackiness (derogatory) underneath the accepted status quo of a setting, especially as it’s presented to an outsider protagonist. So I think part of why I also really really like the quarians in Mass Effect is that, yeah, now everyone dismisses them as stateless, sickly, drifting outcasts, but up until the war that cost them their homeworld, they were a fully thriving civilization, considered unmatched experts in cybernetics and robotics-- and that was only two hundred years ago. To an elderly elcor, that’s still well into their early adulthood. To an asari or a krogan, that’s like a real life human remembering the 90′s. Like, binch!! You were buying the top-of-the-line quarian-made space roombas with everyone else before that whole AI rebellion thing! I bet you still have one!!!!

[dullgecko]

The Bad kids and they’re pets (minus Adaine cus we already know bout Boggy) (From most of the headcanons I’ve sent in)

(Riz and Roomba) (this is my favorite headcanon)

Riz and the Roomba’s relationship is complicated. It was a gift from Gorgug. At first he just ignored until it sucked up his tail and he had to kick it off of him. Then he kinda of just avoided it at all costs, if it was cleaning the area near his desk, he’s sitting on top of desk.

Then one day it got stuck underneath a book shelf and he made sure to keep an eye on it. He eventually found it a bit entertaining. He eventually started calling it little nicknames and looking for it when he got home. One day it fell down some stairs and he freaked out, called Gorgug and said something along the lines of- “GORGUG HE FELL DOWN THE STAIRS!!” - “Who?” - “GUKGAK JUNIOR- I MEAN THE ROMBA!!”

(Gorgug and Cloaca/Chloe)

Gorgug always loved birds when he was growing up. He liked watching them, listening to them. He even went through the effort as a kid to learn the different species he had living in the tree. Unfortunately birds are fragile, one day Gorgug saw one had died out in front of the tree and he literally went bawling to his parents asking them to heal it. Unfortunately they couldn’t. They had a little funeral and everything.

Ever since then Gorgug been so careful around birds, and as much as he wanted one, never said anything because he didn’t want to risk it. Cloaca was supposed to be his way of having a bird that he could rebuild if he broke it. Unfortunately, Cloaca “sucked.”

Gorgug wanted to rebuild her or start from scratch but didn’t have the heart. Eventually Cloaca started repeating other things and Gorgug decided to keep her around. Now she sleeps on a stand next to his bed and he’s trying to teach her what her actual name is and that she doesn’t suck.

(Fig and Baby)

Fig’s mom is a ranger, so she has a lot of experience with animals. Baxter was her equivalent to a childhood dog. Baby, however is not a dog, or an animal really. He’s just baby. Baby mainly stays in Hell unless Fig summons him, unintentionally usually. Fig kind of views him a pet of sorts, she’s tried to teach him things, like basic math (which failed) and basic reading (also failed).

Sometimes he’s just koala stuck to her leg or following her around. One time he called her mom and she didn’t correct him until he started saying it in front of people and she had to explain that she’s technically not his mom. This made him cry, ugly and hysterically.

(Fabian and Hangman)

After Fabian found out that the Hangman was a hell hound, he was ecstatic. He tried on multiple occasions to get Hangman to switch back into this form, and much to his disappointment, the bike refused. Fabian tried calling him a good boy, offering him treats, playing fetch.

Eventually hangman gave into his masters demand, and turned back. The hangman was a bit ashamed of this form, due to the many years of mistreatment from his master. After hearing this Fabian went all lot trying to heal the Hangman’s “Canine side”, toys, new bed, treats, he even gave him a collar with the sea caster emblem on it.

(Kristen and unnamed dog)

Kristen doesn’t have a pet currently, she did however have a really old childhood dog. She was an old Sun dog (fantasy golden retriever), she was incredibly elderly and yet would still follow after her wherever she went. Kristen adored her, in the middle of the night Kristen would go downstairs and lay on the old smelly dog bed with her.

She used to sit on the porch and wait for Kristen to come back from school. Kristen doesn’t really remember when she passed, all she knew was that day was the first day Helio talked to her.

AHHH THIS WAS SO LONG!! SORRY FOR THE DUMP BUT I LOVE THESE GUYS SO MUCH!!

These are so good I love them <3

Rizs roomba. Stick googly eyes on it and it activates his prey drive. He will perch and watch it like he's hunting and zone out for hours. He makes sure to clean the top of it occasionally (his office gets dusty because it isn't very well sealed) and keeps the sensors clear. He even put a little lip near the door so it won't escape and fall down the stairs again.

Chloe/Cloaca can't get totally rebuilt but he does upgrade her occasionally. Her feathers look a lot nicer and she's getting smarter but she still has the same basic frame. She's Gorgugs first pet though so he doesn't take her into battle because he's sentimental like that.

Baby is more of a menace than a pet but Fig still loves him. Sometimes interacting with him does require an extra headache tablet though.

Hangman will pout and sulk about it but will usually revert to dog-mode when asked. He is currently learning the joys of head scratches and belly rubs (also the goblin seems to be quite intimidated by this form. Hangman managed to chase the hissing menace up a tree once just by barking and remembering it makes him happy).

Kristen still finds herself wishing she had a pet but feels like she's not responsible enough to care for one right now. She gets a quoki pet to fill the void instead because it doesn't matter if she forgets to feed it occasionally.

[yuzurujenn]

[2024.08.29] FS Life Extra - Yuzuru Hanyu PROFESSIONAL Season 2: Yamamoto Sota

I really admire his passion for the moment.

This year, they once again performed together on "Fantasy on Ice." What is the secret of the ‘aura’ that Yamamoto felt?

How was it to perform in "Fantasy on Ice" for the second time?

-First of all, I was very happy to receive the offer again, and since Hanyu-kun has done many solo shows, for this year's "Fantasy" he was only in the A tour. This time, I also participated in the A tour only, and I was able to learn a lot from him backstage and during the show, so it was really fun and I was very happy to be able to perform with him again. “Fantasy” is an ice show that I really love, and this year, many people came to see it, and the energy in the venue was truly amazing. The cheers when Hanyu-kun was going for the quadruple jump in the opening were incredible! Even before he reached the center position to start the opening choreography, by just entering the rink from backstage, the cheers were so loud it felt like my ears were going to burst. It’s the kind of excitement that you can only experience in "Fantasy", so it was a really special moment, and I think everyone had a great time and enjoyed the show.

What did you think of this year's opening and finale?

-The opening is usually a one-trick performance, and the choreography is almost the same each time, but the costumes are unique to "Fantasy". This time, the costumes exposed the shoulders quite a bit, which was quite innovative and fresh. For the finale, we had Nishikawa-san’s 'HIGH PRESSURE,' which

began with the men sitting on the Roomba (mobile stage). The choreography effectively used the Roomba and I thought it was a very cool part. "HIGH PRESSURE" was truly a high-energy finale. No matter where you look, every moment was really wonderful.

Everyone looked like they were having a lot of fun dancing.

-That's right (laughs). I think it's rare for such a large venue to be filled to capacity, so the time felt really special, and it was an unforgettable experience for me too. I'd like to work hard this season so I can perform there again next year.

It was also fun to see Hanyu moving between the skaters in groups while dancing in the finale.

-That's right. The song ended right at the transition part, and I thought it matched the music really well. You could hear the cheers of the audience wherever Hanyu-kun went (laughs). It was a lot of fun, and when he came to our group, he danced like crazy to keep the excitement going (laughs).

You were in the same group as Javier Fernandez and the others.

-Yes. During rehearsals we were asked to split into four groups and that was the group I happened to be split into. Tanaka Keiji and the other Japanese skaters were in another group, so I was the only Japanese in my group (laughs). I wasn't sure if I could handle it, but when it was time for the show, everyone danced like crazy, so I think I was able to dance with enthusiasm too.

It looked like fun (lol).

-It was fun (lol).

Have you seen Hanyu's "Danny Boy" and "Meteor"?

-Yes, of course. First of all, the costumes for both "Danny Boy" and "Meteor" were really cool. I thought the costume for "Meteor" was really striking and glittering, very Gundam-like, and "Danny Boy" is a song that envelops you in a sense of tranquillity with just the sound of the piano, which he conveyed through the expression in his fingertips, jumps, spins, steps, and other elements. In the silence, you could hear the sound of edges and the sound of the ice being scraped, which was very refreshing. It was a program where you could even enjoy such details. There were moments when the track stopped, and you wouldn’t usually hear these sounds during the song, so being able to clearly hear the edge sound was something new and I thought it was really great.

You're not from the Gundam generation, are you?

-I'm not from that generation, but I've seen pictures on social media comparing the costume to the video clip, and I thought they looked really similar. I thought the costume looked really cool on its own, and it was amazing that someone could pull it off.

Apparently, it was self-choreographed.

-Ehh! Amazing! "Meteor" also has some mechanical-like movements... I'm sorry, I don’t know much about Gundam, but there were machine-like movements scattered throughout the beginning, and I thought the patterns of those movements were really beautiful. They matched well with Nishikawa-san's vocals, and I thought it was great how every part fitted the music perfectly. He did a triple axel at the end, and his jumps were also sharper, which was cool.

Every time, I feel the greatness of seeing it live

After watching it, is there anything that you would like to incorporate into your performance?

-I would like to incorporate it, but it's difficult at my current level (laughs). When I see him up close, I think, "Wow, he's really amazing." I mean, his greatness, his aura. I think I still have a long way to go to be able to show that kind of thing, and when I look back at my performances, whether it's exhibition programs or competitive programs, there are a lot of things I want to do better. First of all, I hope to hone myself and then, if there are elements I can incorporate, that would be great. Even in jumps, I'm not so good with the Axel, but when I see him jump the Axel at the end, I think I have to work harder. And the precision of his expression... I think that he can express himself skillfully in beautiful songs, and I think that kind of breathtaking expressiveness is unique to only Hanyu. It's true when I watch it on video, but I especially feel its greatness when I see it live at the venue every time. I would like to learn from him how to create an aura or atmosphere, his expressive ability, and his precise footwork, and I would like to be able to incorporate these things into my own competitive programs.

Where do you think that aura comes from?

-He’s serious about the moment. The passion he has for every moment is incredible. In the opening of Fantasy, everyone performs one trick at the start, and towards the end, Hanyu-kun jumps a quadruple toe loop. To his fans, Hanyu-kun’s quad toe loop might seem like just another jump (since he also performs other quads like the Salchow and Loop), but performing a 4T right after coming onto the ice and in the midst of deafening cheers must be incredibly challenging. What’s even more impressive was seeing him making the final adjustments in the backstage right up until the opening begins. Witnessing him manage all these aspects up close, I strongly feel the weight he is carrying and the immense pressure he faces. Despite this, his ability to always give 120% is truly admirable, and I want to learn from him. I think that such qualities naturally emanate as his aura.

Did you have a chance to chat with Hanyu this year?

-Well, during the actual show, everyone was focused on their own performances, but we had a chance to talk a little after it was over and at dinner hall. Apparently, Hanyu-kun does a lot of training, and he told me that there’s a sauna at the gym. He brought up this topic because I was there (laughs). I asked him, "Really? I'd like to go too. Do you use the sauna, Hanyu-kun?" and he said, "I'm not really keen" (laughs). Apparently, in the past, Tsuzuki (Shoichiro)-sensei would take him to the bath or sauna, but he said, "I'm not good with it." We had that kind of conversation, and I don't know what else. We were just talking about really trivial things. Last year we talked about skating quite a bit, but this year it was this kind of talk.

I would like to talk to you again if I have the opportunity.

What did you think of your own program, Yamamoto? This was the first time you did a collaboration this year.

-Well, last year I did two individual programs, but this year I finally got to do my long-awaited collaboration number. "Ich bin ich bin Musik" was the song that was sent to me by the organizers, and I felt that they prepared a program that suited each skater. My song was also very easy to express, and I think it was a musical program that allowed me to really express my emotions alongside Shirota Yu's vocals.

It was a really wonderful program that it's a shame it can only be seen on Fantasy.

-I'd like to perform it in various places too. I heard from Keiji-kun and (Miyamoto) Kenji-sensei that "if I get permission, I can use it." If there's an opportunity, I'd like to perform it again someday.

And how was your solo "Beat It"? There was a lot of cheering.

-Um, on the short side, like this...

The part where (the chest area of the costume) was exposed too much, right.

-Ahaha, right (laughs). There was a choreography that exposed the part a little, but I was happy to see everyone’s reaction to it, and this time there was a live broadcast and live viewing, so there was a camera (for broadcasting) there (laughs). The cameras were positioned to match the audience's viewpoint on screen, but in fact they were quite low down. So, during the live broadcast, I made an effort to appeal to those cameras as well. People who watched said things like 'It felt like we made eye contact,' and it was fun for me too.

What did you gain from this year's "Fantasy"?

-After all, ice shows are entertainment that is different from competitions, and although I am still an athlete, I want people to enjoy such events as entertainment. There are many different ice shows, and I want to do my best as a member of each show. I was able to learn a lot from Hanyu-kun and the other skaters at "Fantasy" about various expressions, how to engage the audience, and how to liven up the atmosphere, and I also realised the importance of being aware of the audience in different areas, like the upper sections of the venue or at live viewings. I am learning more and more every year about how to express myself and liven up the show so that people can enjoy themselves.

Please give a message to Hanyu-san.

-I've always been shy, and since it’s an ice show, it's hard for me to find the courage or timing to speak to you directly, but this time I'm going to excuse myself (laughs). I really wish to communicate and talk to you more, and I was really happy to be able to work with you again in this year's "Fantasy", and although it was a really trivial conversation, I was really happy to be able to talk to you. If I'm invited back to "Fantasy" next year, or if we have the opportunity to work together somewhere, I hope we can have lots of fun conversations about trivial things, saunas, about myself, and skating. If there's another ice show this year, I'd like to go see it if I get the chance, so I look forward to seeing you then. Do your best! I look forward to working with you again!

And please give a message to your fans. -I was able to appear in "Fantasy" again this season, and I was able to learn a lot about how to express myself to the audience, how to direct my gaze, facial expressions, and so on. I hope that the expressions conveyed in “Fantasy” will be reflected in my competitive programs as well. I will continue to give my all this season to create such moments again, so I would be happy if you would support me. I will do my best this season as well. Thank you very much!

Source: FS Life Extra PROFESSIONAL Season 2, pg 96-99 Info: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4594622488 https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4594622771

[roomba-mangga]

Dungeon Meshi WIP tracking

Gothic AU [Falin & Thistle] — Falin is a doctor summoned to a castle to treat a dying lord, whose household is comprised entirely of young people walking on eggshells around his elven chamberlain. No surprise that the place is under some curse—and maybe so is she. She hasn't been the same since her last death.

Ideas: Falin character study, the choice to become a monster, unhealthy friendship with Thistle pre-monsterification, interactions with the Golden Kingdom, genre study/test run because holy shit a lot of this works.

Progress: Rough draft complete (10k). Second draft in progress.

Mythic Fantasy AU [Laios & Thistle] — A Chosen One searches for loopholes in the fine print of his contract after apprehending the Mad Sorcerer who took his sister (because really, "defeat" could mean anything). He offers salvation under the wings of the lion-god of El Reino Dorado... but perhaps this god isn't as benevolent as it first appears.

Ideas: Genre deconstruction and reframing conventions through a SEA/Filipino lens (insp. Gubat Banwa), violence in relation to hunger, potentially religion's place in that. Touching on the colonial undertones to Thistle's background as well. I want to do something with Laios too but have to stew on it muna. Progress: Conceptualization stage. Rough draft in progress (1k), still needs a proper outline.

Post-Canon Thistle Fic [Thistle & Toudens / Thistle & Melinis] — The Big One. Exactly what it says on the tin. Thistle struggles with directionless rage and the new status quo over the seasons.

Ideas: Post-dungeon Melini, processing trauma, elvenhood and identity, busting open the can of worms that is Thistle and Yaad's complicated relationship (Melini family exploration in general). Potentially dungeon ecology lore. Progress: Semi-complete outline, needs fleshing out. Rough draft in progress (16k). I'm scared to finish this.

[kakurelit]

Humans are terrifying

Recently (like today, a couple hours ago) I came across this whole "humans are weird" and "humans are space orcs" trend and I have been furiously reading every post I come across. The subject, besides enormously entertaining, feels like a collective sociology debate or something where we describe, using aliens as some sort of audience, the most diverse aspects of human nature. Like some metaphor we're using just to enjoy what we like about ourselves as species.

And, honestly, most of these post are wholesome, cute or even funny but for some reason I feel drown towards the ones that explore the darkest and more gruesome aspects of human, as species. Now bear with me because English isn't my first language but hear me out:

Humans as apex predators. Aggressive humans. The liars, the vicious, the wreckless... It probably goes on and on, since I know for sure I have only touched the tip of the iceberg in my reading.

So, what I'm trying to say it's that sure, it's cute to get along with other species and ride their ships and impress them with our special talents and "properties". But what if we didn't?

What if aliens were afraid of us? What if protocols aren't such a thing after some centuries and there were all kinds of roge, pirate-like, human vessels and colonies around? What if we murder, hunted, ate, assaulted and cheated?

Imagine the horror in the souls of the soft, pacific aliens who are accustomed to their ancient ways of sharing, caring, and respecting, when they suddenly find themselves dealing with a new species that is as unpredictable as it is dangerous. Picture humans hunting a specific kind of alien because their meat is said to taste like some sort of addictive delicacy or because they have horns or nails made out of certain material that sells extremely well in the black market? Imagine humans flirting their way into power only to betray those who entrusted them with everything. I'm pretty sure apex predators can do that and more. The actors. The ones who can laugh at a Roomba with a knife taped to it as if it isn't something a little disturbing to begin with.

They can do horrors. They live in horror.

And aliens pray every day to not find those humans.

Because they all look alike. When and alien meets them they all smile and pat each other. They all ask questions out of juvenile curiosity and offer what they have, no matter how little. But they all can also have scars and sinful grins. They all can stab you in the back. And if you happen to meet the ones who will, you know is gonna be hard to scape. Because humans are some sort of fucking Land Rover-like beasts, specially on their adrenaline fueled moments. How can you avoid becoming the next barbeque? I don't know.

What about serial killers? Sociopaths? Psychopaths? There are a whole lot of new species to mess with. Imagine a narcissist gaslighting the hell out of some naive alien who wouldn’t understand why and how they are being mistreated, yet remains infatuated nonetheless. Dead bodies appearing on the ship in gruesome ways, as if someone were playing with their anatomy, portraying the dead aliens as some sort of spectacle, as if they were trying to say: "Look at what I did, this horrible, horrible thing". Aliens wouldn't understand, nor would they be ready to deal with the absolute disdain humans can sometimes have for life itself.

Even suicide...

I don't know why I find it interesting to think about these kinds of aspects. I'm not precisely enjoying it, but I just find it interesting. It's just some sci-fi headcanon, but still... Humans have so many shades, so much dark in their light. I don't feel the fantasy is complete if I don't consider that as well.

[randomfandomsgobrrrrrr]

Books that I have read this year (listen okay they are technically fandoms with no fanbases)

Roomba eats Satan's general (proceeds to start a cult and adopt a daughter)-All the Dust that Falls

Furry is forced into a hunger games that is being live streamed on universal twitch (proceeds to start a cult and adopt a daughter)-The Rise of the Winter Wolf

Girl realizes she's a lesbian only after she becomes god (proceeds to start a cult and adopt a daughter)-Goddess Reborn/Mirror World

Local tree starts eating people on its path to godhood (proceeds to start a cult and adopt a daughter)-Reborn as a Demonic Tree

Ant decides that the food chain does not define him so he equips diamond armor and start controlling gravity (proceeds to start a cult and adopt a daughter)-Chrysalis

Murderhobo -Full Murderhobo

Autistic man decides he hates mushrooms (he is one of the strongest people on earth & his best friend is also a snake god but we don't think about that to hard)-Primal Hunter

Mans sea food is so good that it is legally heresy and gives people super powers (he also has to convince people that he isn't an alien but Australian)-Heretical Fishing

Dudes mere existence angers a god (proceeds to beat up a fantasy world racist) -Gene Harvest

As you can see my taste in books is the best

[sophiesbookishthings]

January Reads

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

My non fiction read for the year! I listened to the audio book for this one which I definitely recommend. Jennette McCurdy deserves only good things for the rest of her life.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire

Wayward Children #5! Such an underrated series. Jack and Jill and the moors are my favorite. Also it's gay.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

Queer cozy fantasy! I loved how chill and kind this book was.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I think about this book daily. The way everything tied together in this book was brilliant. I loved the concept of the reveurs in particular.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

Ah the faerie books. I finally gave in and read this. It was fine. It was very basic fantasy romance. It wasn't bad, it was just unfortunately overhyped. Don't love the mc though she's kinda annoying.

3.75/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️

Return of the King by JRR Tolkien

Lord of the rings my beloved! I could scream about any lotr book forever so I'm just gonna say Samwise Gamgee is the character ever and I love faramir and he deserves only good things forever. Also the ending of this series takes my heart out and stomps on it.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune

Tj Klune is a master of found family and I will read everything he writes forever. This book also had an autistic ace mc, an anxious roomba, and a sadistic nurse droid and I adored every single one of them.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

I feel like I should like this book more than I did. The mc just felt too perfect and like a societal ideal of masculinity that I really didn't care about that much. And I think to some extent it may have been the point but it still felt off to me. Started this in print and switched to audio cause the writing was not my favorite. Idk if I'll continue this series or not.

3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

I went into this thinking it was about a satyr because of the cover. I was disappointed a few chapters in when I realized it was not. I did however really enjoy this book anyway. Very interesting how it resolves.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

Definitely better than acotar. Feyre's somewhat less annoying. Still think this series is overhyped but I do get it now. Also I don't get why everyone acts like this is straight porn. It's so tame lol but I read fanfic so 🤷. I do appreciate that this book went more into the politics of the world. Definitely made it more interesting.

4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨️