#flying space lizard 2

[too-expensiv-to-lose]

current VC progress

I’m planning on finalizing her colors.

[on-the-clear-blue]

Dead Man's Diner pt 2

Danny had to admit, Lunch Lady was an excellent teacher.

Sure they were blitzing though a cook book thst was more tape and hope the paper, but Danny was for once actually understanding and enjoying being taught.

Cracking an egg into a bowl, Danny held it close while whisking quickly, not fully incorporating the flour in his pancake batter before dumping a good sized dollop on the flat top, smiling from the brief sizzle that he heard.

There was a sudden cacophony sounds from the front of house (which was the dining area? He never knew that before) putting the flat top on low, Danny looked over to where Lunch Lady was floating only to find nothing.

Blinking a bit, Danny wiped his hands off OK his apron as he poked his head out, frowning at the diner car, "What was that..." his words were cut off by one of the blinds slats bending as if pried open, and as he squinted, Danny saw two figures watching from a distance ontop another rail car.

Vigilantes

Danny felt his heart flutter with excitement, while not as cool as maybe Martian Manhunter or StarFire (since y'know...fucking aliens, Space) the Gotham caped community were interesting, if only since Batman and his Flock were Sam's low key obsession, she had even gone out as Robin for multiple Halloweens, and don't even get him started on the fan theories about them all.

Smirking he tapped the bar, allowing thr blinds to snap closed, "Sam is so going to flip that I saw the Birds before her." Letting out a little giggled, Danny quickly swore as he smelt a bit of burning and rushed to flip his pancakes.

---

Tim was, in Dicks opinion, the most concerning member of the family, sure most days he gives of "miserable wet cat" energy but even then Dick had seen his little brother easily take down guys that even Bruce had trouble with.

That wasnt even touching on his um...mental quirks

The less he speaks of the time period between Bruce's and Kons deaths till their eventual return, the better.

Putting down the binoculars, Dick stole a glance over at Red Robin, who was frowning deeply at his wrist computer, scooting a little closer Dick leaned over to see what was happening, "Whatcha do~oing?"

So entranced by what he was reading Tim jumped a little, an elbow flying out to where Dicks face had been a second ago as he turned and glared.

"Don't...! Do that Wing! Ugh..." shaking his head as he let out a huff Tim took his eyes off the small monitor and looked up at the diner car, pointing at it as he spoke scornfuly.

"That place does not exist."

"Like, legally? I am sure Batburger doesn't either-"

"No." Tim said, cutting the older vigilante off, "It doesn't exist physically."

"Timmy..." Dick said as he ran through the protocols for when RedRobin got a little too many insane things in his head.

"Get that look off your face Wing, it really doesn't exist, like..." letting out a sigh, the teen tried to put his words right "Don't look straight at it but a bit to the side so it's to the side of your eye." Pointing to a middle distance a bit away from the diner cart, Dick sent a small frown at his brother but did as he was asked.

"Holy leaping lizards..." Tim, somehow, was right, since when Dick just looked about a few feet away from the diner, it started to waver turning...transparent? And a little blue? But when he looked at it closer it was just a normal, abet run down looking diner.

"Exactly, no need to bench me till Agent A stuffs me full of anti-psychotics!"

"That was one time Tim, and you were having a mental break down."

"I am not lying when I say we killed Santa Claus Dick!"

"Sure Tim...sure"

---

Danny drummed his fingers on the breakfast bar, nursing a cup of coffee as he waited for something to happen.

He knew thst he was being watched, he had a vague idea who was doing the watching, but was starting to get a bit bored waiting for them to get closer.

Pausing mid sip, a grin spread across Danny's lips, "Hey cart? Can you do something that might draw those guys over here? Let's get some customers!"

Some how, Danny's grin only grew at the rumble of the cart, and he xould hav sworn he heard a sound that was a mix between a train horn and a chuckle.

---

Tim shot his brother a stinging glare, swatting at his arm as he blushed, he did every much indeed accidentally killed Santa Claus and took an impromptu trip to Apokolips to give DarkSeid coal.

His next rebuttal to Nightwing was cut off as the diner cart shuddered as if it was in an earthquake before it stilled, and the banner that was across it suddenly gained a new line.

[JUST NOW! VIGILANTES AND HEROS GET ONE FREE SIDE OF FRIES! COME ON IN BEFORE THE OFFER ENDS!]

Tim was silent for a moment, watching the cart to see if there was any more changes before turning to Dick, who had lost the joyful energy that he always seemed to have.

"RR, plans changed, we are going to investigate inside."

Tim gave a sharp nod, his bo staff elongating as he grappled down to the train tracks below, his boots crunching gravel underfoot as he slipped from shadow to shadow, getting closer to Big C's diner.

---

Danny was in the back, flipping through his cook book as he heard a bell ring, jolting up, Danny could see through the service window and see who came in.

He had never met a real hero before, not like the two that had just came in, feeling nervous, Danny fumbled with a small notebook as he came out from the kitchen, grinning at the two Birds.

"Heya! Thanks for coming to Big C's! Names Danny and I am kinda the only one in today, what can I get you both?"

His eyes flickered between the two vigilantes, noticing new things each time he looked at them, like how Red Robin's cape had buttons instead of being sown on, or how Nightwings suit wasn't slick but actually textured.

---

Dick looked at everything he could as he stood in the diners door, it looked like a typical 50s styled mom and pop kinda place, an old radio buzzed with songs of a bygone era while the seats were cracked pink leather vinyl.

He could hear someone moving in the back, resting a hand on his eskrima sticks, Dick stalked further in, it felt real enough...

He could feel Red Robin knock into his back as the person from the back came into view, it was a teen, and holy hell did he look like Bruce Wayne adoption bait, raven hair, blue eyes and a cheesy looking grin.

He couldn't be older than Damian, who had turned 16 a few months ago, the teen was just so...tiny.

Danny, that's the name given to them, and Dick can see it, he looked like a Danny.

Pausing to look to Tim, Dick smiled back at the teen, "Well...can we see a menu?"

[thecreaturecodex]

Skull Peeler

Image © Paizo Publishing, accessed at Archives of Nethys here

[The skull peeler from PF2e's Bestiary 3 is a monster I wanted to like, but enough stuff bugged me about it that the version published isn't my favorite. For one thing, it supposedly is a specialist on sauropod dinosaurs, but as a CR 6 versus a CR 10 (at least) seems a little steep. It's described as being explicitly a "naturally evolved creature", but a mammal with insect wings doesn't strike me as something that can be claimed to be naturalistic, even for fantasy world evolution. Lastly, the slow speed and the excellent camouflage make me think it was originally intended to be a sloth monster, and got changed to a monkey monster at some point in development. I have made a number of tweaks to the mechanics and flavor text alike in order to bring it to my admittedly persnickety standards.]

Skull Peeler CR 6 N Magical Beast This creature looks like a monkey except for its translucent butterfly wings. Its forelimbs have oversized claws, and it has a long tongue studded with razor blades.

Skull peelers look cute, but their behavior is anything but. Skull peelers are predators of the canopy, feeding on birds, monkeys, lizards and browsing megafauna. A skull peeler will attack a giraffe, elephant or even sauropod dinosaur from ambush, tearing into its face and neck with razor sharp claws and a bladed tongue. Even if the prey survives the initial assault, it often bleeds to death from the creature’s supernaturally anticoagulant saliva. The skull peeler then lives up to its name, tearing off its victim’s head to eat the fleshy cheeks and the fatty brain. Skull peelers can go a long time between meals, and rarely descend to the forest floor to feed on the rest of the corpse. Scavengers and kleptoparasites tend to feed well in areas inhabited by a skull peeler.

Skull peelers are native to the First World, but have escaped onto the Material Plane through portals and the intervention of mortals and fey alike. Fey creatures and gnomes can often coax a skull peeler to remain in a particular area, but otherwise they are undomesticable, being semi-sapient in their own right. The combination of adorable appearance and vicious temper makes them popular as trophies and guardians by crime lords or rulers of a crueler bent. Skull peelers are notorious escape artists, however, and are adept at escaping into the wild and taking up residence in unexpected habitats.

Skull Peeler CR 6 XP 2,400 N Small magical beast (extraplanar) Init +8; Senses low-light vision, Perception +8

Defense AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+1 size, +4 Dex, +4 natural) hp 66 (7d10+32) Fort +9, Ref +10, Will +5

Offense Speed 20 ft., climb 15 ft., fly 15 ft. (average) Melee 2 claws +13 (1d4+5), tongue +13 (2d4+5 plus bleed) Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with tongue) Special Attacks anticoagulant, bleed (1d4), giantslayer, sneak attack +1d6

Statistics Str 20, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 5, Wis 16, Cha 13 Base Atk +7; CMB +11; CMD 25 (29 vs. trip) Feats Acrobatic, Improved Initiative, Stealthy, Toughness Skills Acrobatics +10 (+6 jumping), Climb +17, Escape Artist +7, Fly +12, Perception +8, Stealth +13 (+17 in vegetation); Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth in vegetation Languages Sylvan (cannot speak) SQ fragrant, freeze (vegetation)

Ecology Environment warm and temperate forests (First World) Organization solitary or pair Treasure incidental

Special Abilities Anticoagulant (Su) Bleed dealt by a skull peeler requires a DC 21 Heal check to stop with mundane methods. Anyone using a healing spell to stop the bleed must succeed a DC 16 caster level check or the bleed persists. Fragrant (Ex) A skull peeler smells like vegetation as well as looking like vegetation. Creatures with the scent special ability must succeed a Perception check against the skull peeler’s Stealth check -10 to recognize the presence of a creature within their scent radius. Giantslayer (Ex) A skull peeler deals an extra +1d6 points of damage with its sneak attack for every size category larger the creature is than the skull peeler. Tongue (Ex) The tongue of a skull peeler is treated as a primary natural weapon that deals slashing damage.

[zahri-melitor]

Okay, off the top of my head (or with a bit of judicious checking of exactly where the run is) I'm going to make a stab at that list of weird things that have happened in DC comics poll:

Batman briefly had a Starro as his unofficial Robin: Jarro obviously, Justice League 2018 #10-38.

Green Arrow (Ollie Queen) gifts Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) Das Kapital each year: comes up in the Christmas with the Super-Heroes #2 story The Flash and Green Lantern: An Old-Fashioned Christmas with Hal and Barry, though it's spelt Das Capital there; may appear elsewhere.

Barbara Gordon endorsed herself for congress as Batgirl (and won): Babs' run for congress is in Detective Comics #422-424 and she talks to reporters as Batgirl which gets taken as an endorsement in #423.

Batman became a sexy vampire: Bruce ends up a vampire in Earth-43. Whether or not he counts as sexy I guess comes down to your interpretation of art.

The Flash (Wally West) became the spokesman of a pyramid scheme cult: oh lord this is somewhere in the Flash run I think. Cannot tell you where but I remember people talking about it.

Wonder Woman rides on a kangaroo called Jumpa: Jumpa is a long-established Golden Age character, first appearing in Sensational Comics #6. She can fly.

Hal Jordan was (essentially) gender fluid in the 2000s and was called Auntie Hal: Welcome to Hal Jordan's Spectre run in 2001.

Martian Manhunter is addicted to the Oreo knock off Chocos: I think this was first established back in the Justice League Detroit years? But yeah, he's got a thing for Chocos.

Booster Gold accidentally undid the extinction of the dinosaurs: literally just happened in Batman: Brave and the Bold #13-14 and he spent some time with the Jurassic League (then he redid it). May have occurred elsewhere.

The Flash's (Wally West) 21st birthday was hosted by Fidel Castro: another famous fact about Wally, from The Flash 1987 #22. His Flash run WENT PLACES.

Black Canary became a swashbuckling space pirate who fought slavers: so this is the one I'm convinced is wrong. Dinah's fought slavers in Black Canary 1993 #9-11, among other places, but I cannot recall her being a space pirate to do so. You know who has been, though? Diana in the Messner-Loebs Wonder Woman 1987 run, from #66-71. (She even had a space dragon/fire lizard during the period)

The Riddler was briefly a shakespearean actor (and its how he met his ex bf): okay this one I can't place, and may also be wrong.

[ephysalis]

My friend and I just finished our rewatch of Star Trek: TOS. What a fun, fun trip it was.

Purely for my own enjoyment, here are the 10 Star Trek: TOS episodes I liked the most. Heavily steeped in my love of retro cheese and B-Movies.

10. Arena

The Kirk vs A Lizard episode. The rocks are very obviously foam, the fight choreography is peak Trek and the lizardman wears a go-go dress lovingly crocheted by meemaw. At the end a bedazzled space twink shows up. A classic for a reason.

9. The Corbomite Maneuver

Structured like so many other Trek eps (ship gets in predicament, Kirk must pull a solution out of his ass in the 11th hour) but with great twist ending that blew my mind. Showcases Kirk's brand of cleverness very well.

8. Turnabout Intruder

The last episode of the series has a fascinating plot: one of Kirk's ex-girlfriends forcibly switches bodies with him. There's a lot of unfortunate gender discourse but if you decide to view the whole thing as a typically 60s trans allegory, it becomes fascinating. Spock recognizes the captain through a mind meld and defends him in court. Good times.

7. The Cloud Minders

The best episode of season 3 imo. Beautiful painted backgrounds and amazing retrofuturist interiors. The story is a really solid metaphor for classist oppression right until you learn the workers actually ARE violent and stupid because of some gas in the mines. Still loved it.

6. Operation: Annihilate!

The crew visits a planet decimated by alien parasites that look like flying rubber pancakes. Spock gets got and it's very tense and dramatic. Good Spirk vibes, plus I love it when my blorbos suffer.

5. The Way to Eden

The Enterprise picks up space hippies trying to find a fabled paradise planet. The costumes and songs are super enjoyable. A shining example of an ep that was probably extremely cringe back when it aired but has aged like a fine, campy wine.

4. The City on the Edge of Forever

Ok this one isn't underrated, everyone knows it's good and they're correct. Kirk and Spock get stuck in the past together and it manages to be incredibly gay despite Kirk literally dating a woman. Excellent story. Spock wears a beanie.

3. The Trouble with Tribbles

Another one where I agree with the general sentiment: it's silly and fun and I will never tire of seeing Shatner buried in furry little potatoes. The Animated Series episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles" is a hilarious sequel.

2. Amok Time

The Spirk episode that started it all, featuring a fascinating look into the mix of uptight decorum and violent heritage that makes Vulcan culture so compelling. I did particularly enjoy the extremely awkward conversation between Kirk and Spock about "Vulcan biology" at the beginning. "It happens to the birds and the bees..."

1. The Devil in the Dark

Shatner's favorite ep and also mine. The acting is on point and seeing Spock yell "JIM!" with obvious concern on his face is just 👌🏻. I love the retro cheesiness of the paper mache caverns and the alien who looks like a lasagna; I love how testy Bones is about having to do first aid on said lasagna; I love the horror-like story structure and overarching message about understanding others. 100/10.

[thenomadclan]

I would like to start a challenge to my Godzilla/Kaiju loving fans!

I’d like to start something of a trend similar to Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. My challenge is for others to create Kaiju-Sona for the coming release of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Movie!

I’ll go first, introducing Nomad Gojira! (Drawn up by good friend @black-suns-rim )

Nomad Gojira’s Lore:

In the emptiness of space, there was nothing but the stars and planets the filled the black void. That was till an partials of pollen belonging to a certain planet Kaiju streaked through the black abyss, shedding the partials and cells belonging to many creatures in their battle. Pollen particle cloud split into two separate clouds, one being sent into a nearby black hole while the other was orbiting the sun within the Milky Way. Eventually the cells in the pollen began to form, clumping piece by piece into a hard like rock. This egg creature would eventually “devour” and take the energy, the radiation and power of the sun till the star exploded, the rock would shot through cold space from the shockwave of the exploding sun. The the rock creature crystallized and was sent into another dimension via worm hole.

The crystal mass was sent flying through endless space till it entered a very familiar solar system, scorching past planet after planet till it reached the orbit of Earth. It was a fireball that nobody predicted as it screamed through the sky and crashed into the ocean, but it was so hot it burned through the ocean floor and went straight to the Hollow Earth. The crystals that incased the meter from space began to melt until all that was left was the rock, it was in the form of an egg. Soon it was found by a member of the Gojira species, a Kaiju named “Black Momba” ( @black-suns-rim OC) possibly one of the last of Titanus Gojiras (besides Godzilla himself) to walk the Earth. Black Momba has been around for a really long time, but she had laid dormant for most of her time living to save energy. Momba would usually only be awake for 2 reasons; eating and/or having children. She has had bad luck with raising young due to the other Kaijus in the Hollow Earth, so after a while, she had stoped trying.

Upon finding the rock egg, she could smell the familiarities of her kind on it but also others. The Titanus Gojira growled and was about to destroy the egg till it moved, the egg was hatching and glowing red. The outline of the creature inside had her curious, for once the egg finally hatched a dark red Gojira like creature bursted through letting out its first screech. Black Momba was…interested as she investigated further by taking in the scent and licking the hatchling clean. The child Gojira took its first steps on its wobbly legs, opening its eyes and setting its blurry vision on its surroundings till it came into focus.

The Child Gojira looked up at the monstrously huge Black Momba, giving gator like chirps which was met with growls and barks from the older Gojira. It lowered herself to the Gojira Child’s face, to which the red baby lizard gave its best bark and snarl as it butted heads with Black Momba’s snout. To say it was amusing would have been a understatement, so Black Momba would adopt the tiny Gojira (not like it would have changed anything since it followed her everywhere), she mothered and took care of the Gojira Child the best ways she could. However she only gave it tuff love, not out of hate or issue but to prepare the Child Gojira for the world it inhabits, where the strong feed on the weak.

The humans that surveyed in the Hollow Earth (Monarch) discovered the two Gojira, part of them felt fearful that there are now 3 walking City destroyers. However if they were similar to Godzilla, being a protector, then there’s a chance for humanity to survive the constant raids from outside forces. Monarch were highly interested in the red child Gojira, going so far to name it “Nomad” on the account of it roaming all over the Hollow Earth without Black Momba anywhere in sight. Nomad handled himself well against the monsters in his environment, from insects to mammals, but it was the crystals that formed where the dorsal fins were meant to be which interest Monarch as they formed in and around Nomad and Black Momba’s territory, crystals of various sizes were found forming like a castle.

Monarchs Scientists have discovered that due to the crystals on Nomad and around his den, they cause an electrical field disturbance that immediately shut down drones or cameras. Even when in fights, Nomad has a protective shield burrier to protect him from elemental attacks, not to even mention his electrical beam he shoots from his mouth. Almost like a surgical laser it cuts through flesh like butter, while having telepathic like powers using them in combat or to show off his intelligence by stacking rocks for unknown reasons. When Nomad is hit with elements such as electricity (he got struck by lightning once) it almost was as if it was a power up, becoming his own conductor while having regenerative abilities to rival Godzilla when injured.

One feature the scientists saw in action was Nomads crystallized spear tail, using it to catch / stab / or even kill his prey. Though not entirely built for Melee combat, it doesn’t stop the growing tank from doing so. His main form of attack is range and setting up crystals to disorient enemies and power himself up further. Just not too long ago, Nomad faced his first life threatening creature in the form of a swarm of blood thirsty bugs. They would drain Nomads energy almost to depletion, that was if it wasn’t for his crystals and quick thinking, sending out a shockwave of extreme energy equivalent to the sun.

Nomad destroyed almost the Hollow Earths forest, but the bugs were all gone, exploded from the over absorption of energy. Nomad would slowly form a crown on its head with every victory he won. Though Nomad never met Godzilla, Monarch would like to keep it that way for now having the two avoid each other. Nomad could be classified as a alpha Titan if grown properly and carefully, as Nomad grew older we no longer see him with Black Momba as often, if not alittle to not at all. She has completely gone off the radar as Nomad explores the Hollow Earth but not going anywhere near human settlements but did further expand his territory.

After 20 Years of silence later and absolute no activity from Nomad Gojira or Black Momba Gojira, Nomad would appear from the uncharted parts of the Hollow Earth (the central point of all Monsters to rest or live), brandishing a whole new appearance. The most noticeable features being his size shot down any predictions the scientists placed bets on, Nomad would stand a healthy height of 400 ft tall and judging from the weight plate that was built and hidden, he weighs a whopping 99,721 tons. Nomad Gojira just shyly beats Gojira that was know from the incident in Washington, America with Ghidorah by weight and height.

Nomad Gojira also supports a brand new attitude, while still keeping to himself or avoiding Monarch but when threatened or challenged, Nomad Gojira would gladly accept the challenge from other Kaijus once challenged. Nomad Gojira scarily has the brutality of the Godzilla we know, but also has the calmness or self awareness of what he’s doing and what could go wrong if the battle rages for too long. His many feats go from him clearing a infested cave of Rat Kaijus creatures that overwhelmed and almost ate him alive, to wrestling and fighting a Muto Prime. He brandished many scars from hard fought victories, with a whole new arsenal then a regular Gojira Kaiju.

Half of Monarch Scientist that studied Nomad Gojira in the Hollow Earth would chase him down and try to leave trackers, but Nomad seems all too smart for normal Kaiju tricks. Nomads Gojira grew new ability that evolved his electrical field around him having human machines being affected as if it was hit with a EMP. While studying the Kaiju the moment that many tried to avoid finally happened, Godzilla finally ran into Nomad. Naturally with the amount of battle scars and the scent of blood of other Kaijus on Nomad, Godzilla treated Nomad like a Alpha Titan who never submitted under his rule. This Godzilla Challenged Nomad, and in turn like text book behavior Nomad Accepted.

Immediately, the Hollow Earth shook from the battle, Godzilla swiping while Nomad Bashed his Crystal shoulders into Godzilla. The battle caused the scientists to retreat and seek refuge within Kongs Cave, but afar Godzilla and Nomad were going feral. The battle raged with both going into their primal like instincts, Godzilla and Nomad seemed evenly matched (but that could be due to them being the same species).

However with everything Godzilla threw, Nomad had a counter or defense. Nomad dragged, slammed, stabbed and tore into Godzilla till the old Gojira noticed a flaw. The crystals Nomad summoned, Godzilla then used Nomads own body to tackle and cause the crystals around them to crumble, Nomad slowly began losing his power. With what little energy Nomad had left, he used his spear like tail to stab into Godzillas stomach and pump his venom.

While Nomad thought he had won and tried to pull away, Godzilla quickly grabbed on and pulled Nomad towards him, yanking his tail to the point it came off causing Nomad to roar in pain. Nomad looked up to receive a headbutt and bite on the face, despite slashing and stabbing his Crystal shoulder into Godzilla. Nomad saw as Godzillas Stomach was healing but not from his healing factor, but from the venom, it was radioactive and causing Godzilla to heat up.

Nomad could take the heat, the force however that came with it, the nuclear pulse shattered Nomads crystals in the ground that powered him and the ones on his body. Sending Nomad into a large mountain, as he struggled to get up and heal his tail, looking through his one good eye that wasn’t scared on his face. Godzilla powered up a red atomic breath, he slightly missed from Nomad desperately summoning one more crystal to stab Godzilla in the foot, having Godzilla miss Nomad and hit the mountain on the ceiling of the hollow Earth. Causing most of the mountain and ceiling to fall and crush Nomad Gojira in rubble, burying him.

Godzilla would walk away the victorious….

Or so he thought, from under the grave like rubble. Once Godzilla left of course, it began to rumble and shake. However instead of anything coming up, underneath, a creature took what was there. A creature of pale white skin and pink like stripes took Nomad into a tunnel system of her design. Having him rest in her nest as she took care of him similar to how Mothra shared a symbiotic relationship with Godzilla, so did this creature. Though small, it did its best to heal the hurt Gojira and lit up the room with Nomads crystals she collected over the years as a warming source. To which even now with them, it was better to have the source of the heat keep the reptilian Kaiju warm. Nomad only groaned in pain as his G-Cells began to reconstruct and heal his gaping wounds or at least what could be healed. Nomad nuzzles closed to the creature he couldn’t yet see, but it was a familiar feeling one that he felt he knew. Though he couldn’t place it, he’d have to figure it out once he awakens from this coma like slumber. (OC by my girl @wolfsnowphoenix )

Monarch’s scientists managed to use the tunnels of the creature and encase them both in a hibernation like state, like they did with King Ghidorah and Lava Rodan. Until they need Nomad for possible help, they’ll release him since he proved himself of holding his own against Godzilla. Till then, Nomad would remain hidden and locked away with only a select few…the project of locked up Kaijus would be known as “Monarch: Pandoras Box.”

To Be Continued…

[lordturkish-robomallcop]

Gimme 11, 7, 26, 27 and 28 (Drawing not required). For Ana and/or Marcel, but also for anyone whom you'd feel have interesting answers for these!

Taking that and and running with it straight under the fold!

11 for Marcel, Anatol and Roman because he's bundled in with the Ana package: Marcel was my first WoD pc, so he's largely a port of my main DnD guy (Dillup the Diviner) who also got blended with Midnight Gospel dissociative ennui and Mackgyver goofiness. Anatol... less fun and goofy, this one. Ana/Roman were originally built to be kinda a parable tackling my thoughts/feelings regarding to "trans widow/er" narratives and spiraled out from there. I haven't posted their full origin story outside of the snippets in Limits, but a lot dwelling in that uncomfortable zone of folks reaching for things they do not have language for, so they reach into the phantoms they construct of loved ones as mooring points and then freaking out when those points prove to be imagined/changed. Also just a general exploration of "toughing through" a relationship that perhaps has reached its sell-by date. Roman is married to an image of Ana that never was/will never be but has convinced himself that is a natural state that must be returned to. Ana is married to an image of Roman (the man who was disowned by his family to be with Ana, who despite being a bit of a patriarchal terror in his own right was one of the few folks who begrudgingly gave him space/grace outside of his own father) that Anatol has convinced himself is someone he needs to rebuild/is the touchstone he needs. This is also mirrored with Mihal/Kliment, except Mihal in a shocking twist is probably the only motherfucker in this generational pain cycle to recognize, in that one moment, that he was chasing a construction and just... letting go, letting that fixation die. Understanding it was making him and the person he claimed to do everything for worse. That he was unconsciously doing what his own sire did to him, and ooooh no if there's anything he hates more than being passe it's being reminded he's very similar to the Old Dragons. Also the fixation was immediately resurrected when Ana entered the picture, because pobody's nerfect but lil ruffly bugboi tried.

Wow I've already done a massive ramble anyhoot there's a healthy dose of Artemy Burrakh from Pathologic 2 in Ana as well bc I had Pathologic brainrot when I was first drafting him, lmao. He also got his last name Stamatin from that game.

7 for All Assortment of Lads: Marcel is a Divination Wizard, as was his Dillup Double! And like Dillup he'd def find a way to become a Hag. Ana would def be a Warlock of some stripe, likely a Great Old One patron. He'd be a human and be grumbly about it. Eliza is pretty straightforwardly a halfling Rogue. Roman starts as the lvl 1 Runescape farmer and ends up as a pretty bomb ass Ranger. Mihal would be the patron Ana's praying to, lol. 26 for All Assortment of Lads: Ana compulsively categorizes people he meets as different types of flora so this is the perfect question!! Ana- Venus fly trap Roman- Strawberry Blossum Mihal- Eidlewiess Kliment- Red Rose Eliza- Blue Hydrangea Marcel- Ivy/Kudzu 27 for Ana and Macel: Marcel is a Cuckoo Shrike bc he barrels in out of nowhere and completely wrecks other people's houses for his own ends. Like, look at this stupid son of a bitch, I hate him:

Ana is def some kind of weird lizard or stickbug. Part of me wants to say "do dragons count bc he's genuinely the type of kid who'd buy one of those Dragonology books growing up and also his grandfather was an Obertus Monk so Big Lizard Stanning is just a family tradition" but also another part of me feels like that's a cop out tzim answer lol.

28- Ana and Marcel: Marcel rolls with the skaters/burnouts smoking by the dumpsters after school before doing some light shoplifting at the Casey's down the street. Ana rolls with the theater kids to Perkins at 1am as the designated Butch Carabiner Haver of the department. Roman is the single jock at the end of the queer theater table struggling as the "Sure I Am An #Ally bc my S/O is queer but don't get it twisted I'm straight ha-ha" boyfriend. Maybe someday I will dig out the wacom tablet that I know to be existing in a desk drawer somewhere to do my own OC doodles but today is not that day lol.

[acetheidiotinacloset]

Reblog as your Oc(s) answering these questions

(answer as many or few as you want, doesn't matter what fandom your oc is from, if any at all, there are 21 total)

What is their go-to Mario Kart character?

2. How about Super Smash Bros?

3. Do they give tortoise or hare vibes?

4. On a scale of 1 to 10, how well can they cook?

5. Are they a dog person? Cat person? Lizard person maybe?

6. Would your oc successfully be able to put out a fire?

7. Are they more of a theater, band, chorus or orchestra kid?

8. Are they scared of death? (That got deep real fast)

9. Do they understand the concept of patience

10. Do they like shiny things?

11. Favorite Number?

12. Halloween costume they did once (if any)

13. Who's their favorite being?

14. How many lighters do they have in their living space?

15. Most used website (If any)

16. Do they use the left or right arm rest in a theater setting?

17. How many of them would it take to screw in a lightbulb?

18. How well do they speak on the phone?

19. Worst crime they ever committed?

20. If they saw a red button that said "DO NOT PRESS" would they press it?

21. Favorite musical?

22. Favorite Undertale ending?

Feel free to add more questions if you want!

Note: Sorry for tagging this to so many random fandoms (Ooh rhyming), I feel like it would be cool to have a lot of different kinds of people doing this if any :)

Tagging:

@monsieur-fisch

@styrbear

@nightsinwonderlandva

@ziogetsjiggywithit

@eldritchplutoartedition

@melopie-artz

@jellyviscious

@heartfullofleeches

@jasbell

@coffeecakecafe

@h0use-fly

@officialrinyx

[soylent-crocodile]

Converter Beast (Monster)

(Converter Beast by Uriah Voth)

CR9 LE Huge Aberration (Phyrexian) HD14

A converter beast is exactly what it sounds like- a creature engineered by Phyrexia to assimilate and convert enemies and captives on the fly, the collective’s ultimate goal of conversion of flesh and eradication of culture manifest in a single squamous form. Creatures swallowed by the converter beast are trapped in its cage of bone and drenched in choking phyrexian oil, their flesh and minds slowly corrupted into phyrexian soldiers of compleation.

Converter beasts are ill-equipped to work alone, however, with their blindsight limited and their minds dull and obedient. Most frequently they are accompanied by a huntmaster, a phyrexian ranger trained to thrive in whatever environment they and the converter beast are assigned to. Notably, huntmasters are frequently converts from the populace and region they return to besiege, one of the highest ranks such a phyrexian can reach without having been born a newt or sculpted from scratch. It is the role of these huntmasters to guide them to suitable prey and keep their instincts leashed when the time does not call for it. The beasts, for their part, are obedient servants who know better than to challenge their master’s commands.

Some converter beasts, however, are simply dropped into their environment with no such commander. This is done when subtlety and precision is unneeded, as an unleashed converter beast is just as likely to convert a target as it is to shred it with its tails and jaws.

This large, lizard-like creature has an array of spikes forming a thick cage on its back and a tail that splits into three lashing segments. Misc- CR9 LE Huge Aberration (Phyrexian) HD14 Init:-1 Senses: Perception:-1, Blindsight 60ft, Scent Stats- Str:26(+8) Dex:8(-1) Con:25(+7) Int:3(-4) Wis:8(-1) Cha:13(+1) BAB:+10/+5 Space:15ft Reach:10ft Defense- HP:161(14d8+98) AC:20(-1 Dex, -2 Size, +13 Natural) Fort:+11 Ref:+5 Will:+10 CMD:29 Immunity: Acid, Curse, Disease, Poison Weakness: Special Defenses: Mycosynth Flesh Offense- Bite +16 (1d10+8 plus Grab), 3 Tail +14(2d4+4, 18-20/x2, 20ft reach) CMB:+20 Speed:60ft Special Attacks: Lashing Rend, Swallow Whole (40hp, AC16, 1d4+1 Wis damage), Fast Swallow Feats- Multiattack, Lightning Reflexes, Iron Will Skills- Survival +10 Spell-like Abilities- (Caster Level 11, Concentration +12) Deathwatch, Psychic Link /Constant Acid Spray (DC16) 3/day Ecology- Environment- Any Languages- Necril (Can’t talk) Organization- Solitary, Attended Beast (1 Converter Beast, 1 Compleated Ranger 11) Treasure- Standard Special Abilities- Lashing Rend (Ex)- A creature hit by two or more of a converter beast’s tail attacks in one turn must make a DC18 Reflex save or be knocked prone and moved 10ft towards the converter beast as with the Drag maneuver. Psychic Link (Sp)- A bound converter beast has a mental link with its huntmaster, as with the spell Mental Link. Swallow Whole (Ex)- A converter beast can hold 4 medium creatures, 16 small creatures, or 1 large creature in its stomach. Additionally, if a creature breaks free of its stomach, that does not free any others and it can still use its swallow whole ability, as sharp trapping horns erupt to fill any gaps. If a creature is brought to 0 Wisdom by a converter beast’s swallow whole ability, it makes a DC12 Constitution check. If it succeeds, it removes all damage and gains the Phyrexian template. If it fails, it is rendered unconscious as usual.

[dimalink]

Alienologics - Game of space

Pixel art for today based on videogame StarFlight 2 for MS DOS. It is game sci fi, about space. MS Dos itself it is a space thing. Black background it has. And some videogames. With its own graphic interface. Its own graphics. And space theme. I think, maybe, it is some strategy game. You need to flight. Explore stars, planets. Search aliens. I think it is very interesting thing – at the evening to sit and play in MS DOS in something like that. And drink a tea.

And this is my drawing based on title screen for this game. Interesting Alienologic, alienology. Alien logy, logics. They – aliens – they are very clever. So  that’s why here it is world that looks like logic. To fly in space – it is a thing not for fools. And how different they can be, these aliens? Good and kind aliens can be very various. So, this is aliens that has a base form a lizard. And near – ancient fly. That’s why doing evolution and progress – they look like lizard and fly.  Someone will say – reptiloids, even. Well, let it be like this. They are gathered a space level of their civilizations. Fly and lizard. They are conquering space borders.

So green alien invites you to play in game of space. It is such a game. As a computer game. Like civilization. So, you need to do progress and evolution. And who is most developed – then he gains a first place. And so on. Game has a random conditions. Unpredictable. Some element of chaos. And element of control. You are with your mind do a vector of development for your side. At water planet – it can be fish. In a desert - lizards and cactus. In a swamp – frogs and mushrooms. All them can go to a first place in a game of space. Well, it is your time to play in this game!

Drink a tea in the evening. And have a dream about something space. For example a computer games like Star Control, Star Flight. MS Dos – it is also a space theme.

Dima Link is making retro videogames, apps, a little of music, write stories, and some retro more.

WEBSITE: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/home_eng.html ITCHIO: https://dimalink.itch.io/ GAMEJOLT: https://gamejolt.com/@DimaLink/games

TUMBLR: https://dimalink.tumblr.com/ BLOGGER: https://dimalinkeng.blogspot.com/ MASTODON: https://mastodon.social/@DimaLink

[mysticstarlightduck]

OC vs a Cockroach

Thanks for the Tag, @anyablackwood!

I'll answer it for Realms of Loss for this one, because I did this tag for Enchanted Illusions the last time!

Prince Archyvel of Sarythea: ????0/10 Are you kidding me?! This boy is the most spoiled person one could ever hope to meet, he's the baby brother of the King! Archyvel was raised with a silver spoon in a palace with an older brother who sheltered him every day of his life and their stepmom who was way too nice to him. If this kid sees a cockroach he's having the mental breakdown of the century - he'd scream, cry, nearly puke, and promptly run away, likely calling out to Mehri - his valet/assistant - to deal with the "revolting beast".

Mehri: 10/10 Would pick the roach up with his bare hands and gingerly lead it to the garden or somewhere far away from his prince. Is very adamant that "this little insect is just another sweet form of life that should be cherished, not hurt".

Nesrynna Alorai: 8/10 Has more important things to worry about so she doesn't bother, just walks away unless asked to do something about it. Will obliterate the roach if it gets too close to her personal space or starts to fly.

Gwain Vytris: 3/10 Hates insects, especially roaches because they feel unclean (he hates feeling/being dirty) and bring back bad memories of his childhood in the slums and forests of the Outer Cities. Usually, he won't have a breakdown or really show much of his disgust aloud, will step/jump on the thing until it's dead, or simply walk away. But if it flies and somehow gets in his hair lots of loud cursing, screaming and a lot of crying will be heard, though he'll carry on like nothing happened and stoically pretend he wasn't disturbed after the insect is dealt with.

Kassien Vann: 11/10 Somehow perfectly hits it with an arrow or drowns it with his magic, every time, he never once misses.

Adaria Vytris: 10/10 Goes full exterminator on the insect, with the wrath of a thousand suns. It won't even see her coming until it's too late. She also hates bugs, but instead of being scared/disgusted she just has a fiery hatred towards them. Will continue to stomp on the roach long after it's just goo on the floor.

Lucian Dhaeras: 8/10 Has one of his stray cats catch it and lets them play with it. If they aren't around, he is very weird about it: might set it on fire.

Drystan Earell: 10???/10 Will automatically consume its life force to fuel his magic, thus disintegrating it into ash.

Viktoras Aeravi: 7/10 Does nothing about it, just locks it in the room and makes it someone else's problem, like the little rascal he is.

Teivel: 9/10 Watches it silently from a distance and feels disgusted that a part of him - the one that was trapped in a dirty Avillorian cell for almost five years with little to no food and some days forgets he's free - even considers eating it. Feels depressed.

Delyan Sorkip: 2/10 Is the person who finds the roach Viktoras neglected to kill, usually after it crawled onto his bed at 2AM. Nearly has a heart attack, kills the roach like a normal person, and storms out of the room in tearful rage ready to start a fight with Viktoras and the Gods.

Sara Kallary: 4/10 Hates it with every fiber of her being, and even though she could probably destroy it to hell and back manages to miss it every time she tries to hit it and even if she does stomp on it the roach doesn't die. Angrily calls out to her murderous boyfriend Drystan to deal with the roach properly.

Gwynnifer: 10/10 Doesn't mind it at all and is unbothered about it. Will catch it in a jar, carefully study it and keep it alive like a pet for weeks until either: 1. it dies, 2. she sets it free, 3. she feeds it to her bonded Drakyna, who plays with it like the giant lizard-cat it is.

Tagging: @clairelsonao3, @steh-lar-uh-nuhs, @gummybugg, @meerawrites, @oh-no-another-idea, @tabswrites, @ashen-crest, @writernopal and @elshells

[too-expensiv-to-lose]

VC’s colors

Mainly Chromatic scheme

@skyethebisexualwolfwizard

[doubleddenden]

I sprited the first of my new starters based on very rough concept art I made while babysitting. I'm not 100% happy with my sprite, but I adore the concept so I'm gonna forgive it.

Dex entry:

Meet your Water starter, Bubbat! The Fish Bat Pokemon.

Type: Water/Flying

Ability: Torrent/Infiltrator

evolves into Hydrobat at level 15, then Aguabatix at level 32

When you first encounter it:

"This is a newly discovered Pokemon collected from the wreckage of a fallen UFO by two of my (Professor Poincienna's) research assistants, as such, details are scarce about this species. It appears rather friendly and trusting to a fault, and has grown attached to their partner quite quickly- This could suggest an innate desire to bond and please others. It appears a tad clumsy but willing to do its best, and can use a variety of water and flying type attacks- thus, i classify its typing as so."

After about 2 gyms, the dex entry updates:

"What appears to be "goggles" around its neck are actually a specialized organ that can collect and store water from the air around it or a nearby water source to allow it to breathe on land. Its eyes are actually quite sensitive to light, and it will sometimes place these "Goggles" over them as a form of comfort. Despite appearing mammalian, it shares more commonality with fish Pokemon, yet also has common mammalian and amphibious properties- Perhaps it is a new class of Pokemon, seen only on other planets."

Okay, an explanation: usually starters as of late have a unifying theme related to their region. We sort of... cheated that system lol.

The starter theme for my Sorigul region is *Aliens to the region*- literally most senses of the word with the theming they're from outer space, are based on at least one or more animals non native to the US Gulf Coast states (in the wild anyway, to my knowledge), and are based on animals named for different animals- particularly animals that have different classes: In this case, the Bubbat line are both a fish and a bat- based on the name of creatures called the batfish

And no, they're not gonna have big red lips and a hecking schnoz, because unlike Game Freak, I actually want to make my starters with the idea I might want to use them myself. So instead, we take the literal name "batfish" and turn it into "fish bat" :) ideas from these guys might be used for Armor lines, but not the main evolution line.

You may think that's cheating by working around the semi Aquatic water dwelling pokemon rule for water types- however, there ARE a number of species of bats that do hunt for fish by flying and hunting near the water's surface, such as the Mexican Fishing Bat- aka Myotis Vivesi- which will actually fly out to open water to catch fish via its feet.

Listen if they can make a water starter out of a lizard, i can do one for a sea bat.

This line is going to be fun. I wanted to fit a bat into the starters somehow, but it actually became rather educational and justified in the end. I'm actually really excited to get to the final one, because it might be my favorite final stage concept.

Working on the fire starter next.

[spidercatenthusiast]

2, 25 and 27 for your Knight-Commanders!

thanks for asking!! really fun questions to think about

2. How do they feel about Areelu Vorlesh?

Ok so this is a Complicated Fucking Question for Mordren, because I made her with the express purpose of getting the secret ending, basically being Areelu's ideal ascension KC, but I just ended up liking the regular demon ending so much more that I changed course completely. For most of the game, she doesn't have much proper feeling for Areelu besides an interest into where she's heading, and tries to figure out some answers from her since it becomes clear during the demon act 3 mythic quest that areelu & nocticula are leading you somewhere. So she's following the trail of breadcrumbs for most of the game, figuring out each one as well as she can, right up until the big reveal at Threshold, where she gets pissed about just being a vessel for someone else, and ends up killing Areelu, throwing away all her progress towards everything she wants in the process.

Tamarie feels for her a lot, and buys into the soul merge concept the hardest, but also doesn't think she can really let her live after Threshold.

Cernan has a whole tangled web of feelings about her, they hate being led around, especially after fully detaching the shadow & their mythic power, but they also get where she's coming from, and would probably do the exact same things in her situation.

25. How did they welcome the physical change that came with their mythic powers? Did they embrace it/reject it?

For Mordren I'm thinking she's embracing it, the changes aren't super drastic for her up until getting the wings anyway, even though I personally miss the default tiefling tail too much.

Tamarie loves it, even if it means cutting like 20 holes in the back of everything she has, and its a tooth-achingly sweet headcanon that I have that Arueshalae teaches her how to actually fly, its a concept that I just adore.

im just kinda completely unprepared to answer this one for cernan because its never really clear to me how the Space Head actually works?? like it orbits right in front of their field of vision a lot, is that a thing they can see past, can they see it at all???? it never gets addressed and vexes me to no end

27. Favorite animal companion?

Mordren gets a bit of a soft spot for the war horses in Drezen, and get accustomed to hearing them.

Aivu's disqualified on account of I already talked about her a little, but Tamarie's attached to dogs, and misses the ones her family has, so she keeps a few stray ones inside the citadel and takes care of them.

I am forever a Hunter class Wenduag truther, which means she gets a monitor lizard, Cernan loves him even though he bit them a couple times, and I love him because free trips are really busted to have.

[lizardinkart]

Lizard Reads Ward

Arc 2: Flare

Lizard Cry Counter: 2

TL;DR: Cool shit happening this arc with more fun worldbuilding around the state of Capes, Victoria’s coping mechanisms and hero complex, and some especially funky stuff exploring other Earths and how the shards/triggers are getting extra-special fucky after Gold Morning. We finally get to meet the rest of the PHO group and they are all wonderful, and Wildbow is flexing with the extended metaphor of powers as trauma. 8.75/10

Alrighty, let’s get wormin’! 

Once again, splitting this into mini-arcs so I can keep track of it: 1. Job-Hunting, 2. Broken Trigger Shenanigans, and 3. Group Therapy(?).

Part 1: Job-Hunting

Oh, if this did not capture the soul-crushing nature of the job search so well lol. I really enjoy Victoria’s engagement with each of the big groups that have cropped up since GM, their ideologies, and the optics that each group focuses on. Because if Victoria Dallon understands anything, it’s Aesthetic (in both physical and ideological appearance, thank you Carol (derogatory)). I think the bit where the recruiter asks if Panacea can also be part of the package deal crushed my soul so hard cause mmmmmm. We all have that family member that is perceived very differently from how they actually act towards the people they ostensibly care about. Adding this to the list of times I wanted to hold Victoria gently in my hands. 

Crystal continues to be a treat, I appreciate that she doesn’t own scissors. I find it so interesting that she wanted to be part of the Parahuman Paramilitary, but I guess stability has its allure in times of absolute chaos. Also gonna slide in here the bit about the people Victoria talked to about joining the totally-not-a-cult that comes back later in the arc, I appreciate the “if I can save even one person it will have been worth it” mentality. 

The hospital scene was really nice, both with Tempera/Fume Hood and then taking the kids flying. I think a lot of people can be very cynical about how doing stuff for others can be very self-serving (esp someone as famously cynical as WB /affectionate), but I think that this came across very genuinely, and it’s actually something that can be very good for trauma recovery by just doing things to get yourself out of your own head. Especially when it came to the kid with the friend who had triggered, Victoria really didn’t have to go out her way to make sure that the kid was taken care of. I think that this once again shows her character. Taylor could never (shoutout to the kids that triggered in her territory). 

Part 2: Broken Trigger Shenanigans

Oh man oh man oh man. I really did come into this part with a sigh because really, up until now Wildbow had not wowed me with the new stuff he was exploring with powers/shards, but this section grabbed me by the throat and threw me across the room into a brick wall. I appreciate that this is carving out Ward’s new identity as its own story with more to say outside of just Victoria, but also work as reflections of her and her unique experiences with her power/shard. It’s neat!

But aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa man this was downright tragic to read. Once again, WB hits with the suspense of “something is happening on a timeline, and all you can do it be there for when shit hits the fan.” The Parahuman Paramilitary was funky and off-putting as any type of military institution tends to be. Because ACAB, that’s why. 

Corona Pollentia warfare was enacted here, and the fact that people were literally stopped in space was horrifying and distressing as all hell, Worm never really got to touch on when triggers went wrong because shit was already bad enough being, well, triggers. But the bit at the end with the last guy standing not wanting to be subsumed into a collective (shard/entity?) consciousness was haunting as hell and so, so cool. I can’t wait to see how the entities continue to fuck around and Victoria and the Gang continue to find out. 

Part 3: Group Therapy(?)

Subsisting off of a comfort diet of brownie ice cream and shit TV, Victoria hangs out and Dr. Yamada pulls back the curtain on doctor-patient relationships. Therapists are people too! But it was nice that she thought of giving Victoria something therapy-related to do, even if it was ultimately a ploy to get Victoria to join her little group therapy team and (unsuccessfully) talk them out of doing the whole hero team thing. 

But mmm, I do love me these guys now that we get to really meet them, so down the line we go again!

Kenzie: Still the love of my life, I would kill and die for her. She is so damn earnest and I can respect the hell out of that. Include her in things!!! Give her friends!!! Be nice to her!!! Let her make all the boxes!!!!!! Also I will be deeply upset when we figure out her whole backstory. Preparing to be devastated. 

Sveta: I love that she and Weld are dating and that she is so happy but knowing Wildbow he’s gonna fuck it up somehow and it pisses me off so bad. But for now I will revel in her joy!!! Let her be happy goddammit!!! Also shoutout to her absolutely owning the disability label, I really was like “ah man this is gonna be implied subtext huh” but nope! And I’m really happy about that! But on god the fact that she has a body now??? And she gets to make it pretty and expressive how she wants it???? Kissing her on her forehead she is too good, great even. Unironically the best character. 

Tristan/Byron: Knowing that I have to go back through the PHO chapter and check the timestamps to see which one was in control is simultaneously infuriating and exciting lol. I can’t remember if case 70s appeared in Worm cause if they did I do not remember them. But yet again adding to the weird shit shards do is a thing I will applaud because the specific scenario of “twins who were touching when they triggered” is just horrifying in concept and seems that way in practice as well. I’m placing my bets for the human trafficking being so that they can try to separate themselves. Or something like that IDK. I also wanna slap Tristan on his dumb jock head because sometimes he needs to shut up (tho I feel him. I, too, talk incessantly, see this post series lol). But he gets a pass because he’s nice and makes arms <3

Chris: Breaking out my trusty spray bottle to spritz him every time he’s an antisocial prick. Not necessarily an actual character flaw, I am interested to see what’s gonna happen with this exceptionally small lad, but mmm. He’s an interesting fellow who I think would benefit from touching some grass every now and again. But progress looks different for everyone I guess!

Ashley: She also gets the spray bottle but for being an edgelord. Shadow the Hedgehog called and said tone it down. Once again, very much the Bitch-type of “I have a singular trajectory and will do what I want fuck you all” but in like, a friendship way? Idk, I know everyone loves her (and ships her with Victoria- *cough*) and I also love her, but I would also like to punch her sometimes and I think that is ok! She’s getting better! Maybe! I hope!

Rain: I can smell the little-meow-meow coming off of this guy. This man is a protagonist of another story but got shoved into Ward instead. He is scientifically crafted to be pocket-sized, and if he’s not dead or beat to shit by the end of this story I will eat a shoe. I can tell a sopping wet whipping boy when I see one lol. But in all seriousness, I know that everyone has a lot of shit going on, but Rain’s “it’s complicated” catchphrase is like “Yes, Wildbow, I know he’s your special little guy. It’s ok, you don’t have to be coy about it.” Kinda the way that Amy was in Worm tbh, Wildbow just has favorites he likes to torture sometimes and I have to respect the honesty lol. But yeah, he is genuinely interesting and has some nifty stuff going on w/ his cluster. Very intrigued that Snag is his clustermate, and how their power-exchange works. Again- cool shit!  But oh my god someone’s gonna step on him. Too small lol. 

But all that being said, I appreciated the actual group therapy going on here, and that Victoria is getting some buddies to talk stuff through with, even though this really does seem like a setup for failure. The talk about logistics triggered the “gotta schedule D&D” part of my brain and whoo boy that was some anxiety lol. But I am intrigued to see where this lil team goes and what they do in the story moving forward! Also, a very strong end to the Arc with “This is the way things are now” “...Fuck that.” Stuck that landing, let’s get some change rolling!

(Also the interlude was funky, love seeing Weld and Crystalclear again. The theocracy seems like it mayyyy be an issue tho moving forward. Maybe lol)

Final Thoughts

I think that this arc had a lot to offer, and really started to solidify the direction that Ward is gonna try to go in. I can already feel the length of the story though, that 2 arcs have felt like 6, but ya know. It’s the format! But there’s a part of my brain that really wants to go in and cull a lot of stuff that I know people love but is just like...this is so long. But other than that- I think that finally getting around to the new group is good, and I think the biggest takeaway from this arc is the diversity of Shard Shenanigans. Looking forward to that making shit go sideways lol. 

But yeah! That’s all I got, not as insightful perhaps as the last couple entries but I hope y’all like the more first-impressions type rambling. As always, would love to hear what y’all think of this arc!

Until next time- Ward out ✨

[fuckyoutommie]

rules: put your music on shuffle and list the first 10 songs that come up, then tag 10 people.

tagging (no pressure of course) @sunfl0wer-power @writingcold @jakeyt @theaudacitytowrite @theintelligenceoflove @rhythm-of-space @songbirds-sweet @losfacedevil @obetrolncocktails @wetkleenex-gvf

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