#geo stark

[apheliia]

nvm just remembered arlecchino exists, going to work on another wip for her <3 what vision do you guys think her heir would have?

[thousandyearphantombunker]

[kaurwreck]

sometimes the way the usamerican internet talks about lawns and touching grass reminds me that I grew up in a semirural, unincorporated, recently suburbanized forest without a monoculture lawn and a disproportionately huge backyard that had fruit trees and shrubs, wisteria, kudzu, poison ivy, poison oak, multiple species of clover, multiple varieties of grass, roses, holly, rose bushes, multiple species of venemous snakes, other wild fauna (raccoons, opossums, wild rabbits, snapping turtles, squirrels, birds), azaleas, multiple species of mint, other plants that I never identified, and a mix of pine and hardwood trees (until Hurricane Katrina, this included a massive wisteria girdled around a massive oak that was nearly horizontal (as in, the wisteria had partially uprooted it), non-girdled oak trees, pine trees, and a weeping willow tree). this was within the back and front yards; I'm not counting the neighborhood generally or the actual plotted gardens or the surrounding towns or nearby neighborhoods still in fairly dense forests (the domestic water supply reservoir that's also used for recreation has lots of alligators and there were white tailed deer and bobcats at the edges of my middle school).

anyway. that was growing up. now, I live halfway across the country in a densely populated city that's also biodiverse. idk, it's odd to me how geographically and bio diverse and massive the united states is and how few americans conceptualize it outside of a very specific flavor of suburbia.

[dragon-ascent]

Rex Lapis can read thoughts that are about him. Your thoughts are...interesting, to say the least.

The Geo Lord is passing by the market, eagerly observing the new shops that have popped up since his last visit. His presence naturally attracts a crowd, and they're respectful enough to keep their distance as he promenades leisurely.

He's used to the whirl of thoughts that follow his every move, but right there in the middle of the whirlpool is a strange little solitary boat that comprises your mind.

Oh my gosh, He’s here! Don’t panic don’t panic don’t panic don’t panic- oh oh, He can read thoughts that are about Him, so all I have to do is not imagine Him doing anything weird! Like…being stark naked and doing a chicken dance! …oh, oops…I just did.

For the next few nights, all of the deity's dreams are plagued by that image of himself doing a strange nude dance, the scene having burned itself into his memory against his will.

One day he's stopped to admire some pretty flowers along his path, and picks up on a sound that's very clearly not the birds chirping.

Holy fucking SHIT, He's here again! I knew I should have done sit-ups to make my butt look nicer before leaving home! Or maybe my butt is fine as is? Oh, I'll just walk on by and hope He notices...

Moments later, he turns around to find you doing a strange crab-walk, facing away from him as you pass by. You glance at him over your shoulder, and then when you catch him watching, you run a hand through your hair in what he assumes is meant to be a cool manner. You pause, trying to get the hair manoeuvre right, and then when you're satisfied, you continue your stupid little crab-walk away from him, hips gyrating like a donkey's.

One time, he is talking to your people regarding the fairness of contracts, and how important it is to respect the terms of a contract. Failure to do so would result in punishment personally delivered by himself, as the God of Contracts. Right on cue, there you are in the crowd, staring like a deer in headlights, and he immediately attunes himself to your mind.

Eeeeek! What kind of punishments does He administer? Maybe I should buy myself some handcuffs and a paddle in case I break a contract and He comes unprepared…

He throws you a firm look as if telling you to calm yourself and not think such lewd thoughts. Honestly, what kind of god do you think he is?! Rex would never commit such improper-

Yikes! He’s staring right at me! Maybe He doesn't like the colour of the handcuffs and paddle I'm envisioning..! Okay okay, breathe. No more pink fluffy cuffs! Only--brown fluffy cuffs! ...oh, He's still unhappy about that from the look on His face...

[thisusernamewasntavailable]

The fact that HBO didn't give Scavengers Reign its time of day, not even the inkling of any chance to become a cult classic for generations upon generations to come (say, like Star Trek or Friends), is simply atrocious. That show deserved better than to be poorly promoted, geo-blocked, and then sent to another streaming service that treated it just as poorly. Once more, it's a testament to how completely and profoundly ingrained consumerism has become in almost everything that even labors of love and passion like art, animation, movies, and media in general never get a chance to breathe and develop. Instead, they are treated as disposable commodities- cut off before they can even begin to flourish. A piece of media either becomes a one-hit wonder, outperforming for several weeks the instant it's released, or it gets shot the second it fails to meet some vaguely set profit margin. Shows and movies, no, art in general, suffer from that. And the way they handled Scavengers Reign proves once more how very little actual, genuine interactions or a loyal fan bases mean. The loss of physical media is just another stark reminder of how very little art and media mean to these corporations. Because even if you would want to support a show by purchasing its DVD or anything of the sort, you're often (no, most times) limited to streaming services that merely host said content—thus you don't truly own it and can't freely share it. idk. I have so many thoughts regarding this—scattered, messy. Yet ultimately, what it boils down to is that late stage capitalism bleeds us dry—like slaughtered cattle, hanging upside down, blood dripping down and pooling into a puddle on the concrete, A reminder of our worthlessness to them. Rendering us powerless. Turning everything into something that could produce wealth, money, stock market value. It is absurd. And I am grieving all the shows that never got the chance to become more than what they are.

[z-zeph]

If those clouded mortal eyes choose to mistake his stark presence by your side for something as gentle and binding as matrimony... then so be it.

Let the entire harbor whisper, he would gladly bear the weight of their misunderstanding.

The night market thrummed around you, lanterns staining the air gold as smoke curled from skewer stalls. Xiao walked a half-step behind, as always—close enough to shield, far enough to deny he was here, truly here, and not some mirage of adeptal duty. You lingered at a trinket cart cluttered with carved jade charms, fingertips grazing a pendant shaped like a qilin’s hoof, when the elderly vendor clapped her hands in delight.

“Ah, such a devoted husband!” she crooned, misreading his vigilance as protectiveness. Her wrinkled hands bloomed open, gesturing to hairpins glinting beside cor lapis pendants. “Why not look a while longer? These jewels pale next to your bride’s beauty, but even the moon deserves adornment!”

The amber pendant slipped from your grip. Xiao stiffened. You opened your mouth to correct her—we’re not, we’ve never, he’d never—but his gloved hand brushed yours, silencing you.

“…Adepti have no use for mortal trinkets,” he muttered, the words pitched for your ears alone. Yet his gaze lingered on a simple band of unpolished jade—no carvings, no gilding, just raw stone that seemed to drink the lantern light rather than reflect it.

“But mortals do,” you teased, less from genuine desire than to chase the ghost of something human across his face.

Golden eyes narrowed, not in irritation but... assessment. As if permitting this human pretense required strategic deliberation. The vendor tracked his glance with the acuity of someone who'd survived three Archon Wars' worth of marketplace drama. "That ring's jade came straight from the Chasm!" she declared, whisking it onto velvet. "Blessed by Rex Lapis himself during his last Rite of Descension!"

Xiao scoffed. “Rex Lapis did not—” He bit off the words, teeth snapping shut as if sealing away a secret. You recognized the tension, the war between his need for truth and his deeper need to avoid conversations about Morax's retirement.

When he abruptly tossed a pouch of Mora onto the counter, coins clattering like a challenge, you startled. “Xiao,” you whispered urgently, fingers brushing the cold edge of his pauldron to pull him closer. His muscles tensed beneath your touch, a statue resisting being moved, yet he allowed the proximity. “I was only teasing. We don't need this...”

Your protest faltered as you glimpsed the ring. It was indeed beautiful—simple, yet elegant, though the vendor’s tale reeked of opportunism. The Geo Archon was “dead,” after all, and your resident Liyue historian was notably absent to debunk this charade.

He didn't lean away, though. Adepti didn't yield. "Deception serves strategy," he said, plucking the ring, thumb brushing the flawed jade with something dangerously close to reverence. Not for the object itself, but for the lie it enabled. One that let him stand guard at your side without the agony of naming why. "Mortals gossip. If rumors of a… partnership… deter pursuers, it serves its purpose."

You blinked. "Pursuers?"

He averted his gaze, lantern light catching the mask at his hip. The Adeptus had noted them thrice now. Merchants lingering too long at your inn's door, treasure hoarders mapping your walking routes, that Snezhnayan diplomat whose eyes tracked you like a rifthound scenting blood. Worse still were the laughing ones. The storyteller who made your shoulders shake with mirth, the blacksmith's apprentice who'd dared adjust your hairpin after a windblown stroll.

"Indeed."

The admission came gruffer than intended.

"You mean my friends?"

A growl vibrated through him, elemental energy humming beneath his mortal veneer. Friends? But when the crowd jostled you sideways, Xiao stepped forward, not shielding but claiming space, his shoulder blades bracketing you like stone guardians.

“I dislike disruptions.”

"Yeah, yeah."

You watched the vendor’s crow’s feet deepen as she counted Xiao’s excessive payment. The bulging pouch—enough for three such rings—stole your breath. This wasn’t the frugality Ningguang had lectured about, but the recklessness of someone who’d never needed Mora. When had he acquired mortal currency? The image of him sifting through hilichurl remains twisted your stomach, though you knew better. Verr Goldet had likely pressed it upon him during a rooftop vigil, that quiet understanding between Liyue’s protectors passing unspoken.

“You realize that’s not actually blessed, right?” You nudged him as the crowd swallowed the stall’s light, pulling you both deeper into the night market’s current. “Zhongli would lecture us both. You for falling for it, me for enabling—”

"Unlikely," Xiao's reply was clipped. He increased his pace by precisely half a step, a subtle, calculated move retreat masquerading as resolve. "...All contracts are hollow until given purpose."

"What? Contracts?" Your laughter bubbled easier here, where even the air made the weight of the world feel momentarily lighter. "Are you seriously more bothered by that marriage comment than the fact we were practically scammed back there?"

A muscle twitched in his jaw, the only outward sign of his internal processing. "No one swindled us. We obtained the ring." He rotated the band with precision, avoiding your gaze. "I can distinguish pure jade. Its origins are irrelevant."

Moonlight pooled in your cupped palms as you leaned in, mischief glinting. "Should we maintain the charade then? For contractual integrity?"

The ring slipped, striking cobblestones with a chime that silenced nearby finches. When Xiao knelt to retrieve it, his sleeve slid back just enough, revealing stark, jagged scars climbing his forearm. They weren't the clean lines of battle wounds you were familiar with. These were different, deeper, like intricate cracks spreading through fine porcelain. Karmic tethers. The price of his endless duty.

“You would… bind yourself to me?” His throat worked slowly, as if the words themselves were difficult to form. “Even here, in this—" he gestured to the laughing crowd, the steam rising from soup pots, all things that would crumble like sand in the face of eternity, "—fleeting place?”

The jest died on your tongue, stillborn.

Before you knelt the Conqueror of Demons. Ancient, battle-cracked, yet holding that pitiful ring like a soldier clutching their first oath. The easy joy of the crowd around you seemed to turn brittle, the laughter suddenly distant and empty.

"Of course," you managed, reaching instinctively for humor, for armor against the raw, aching vulnerability in his golden gaze. "We’ll scandalize the Adepti! Venti will compose ballads of our... our romance. Madame Ping will knit us matching tea cozies—“

The world lurched as his hand snapped out, gloved fingers vise-tight around your wrist. Beneath the leather, you could feel the faintest tremor running through his fingers. "Do not," he rasped, pulling you closer, "swear what you'll recant. Oaths linger... long after mortal tongues fall silent and forget."

It wasn't an admonishment, not a command.

Only the plea of a man who’d outlived every oath ever sworn to him, terrified of seeing another one fade away.

Later, much later, after you had returned to your temporary lodging, you would notice the ring was gone from the bedside table where you had placed it. Later still, glimpse worn chain beneath his vambrace during battle, its jade weight swinging near his pulse point during spear flourishes—a contract honored in silence, as all his burdens were carried.

But tonight, beneath the liar's moon of Liyue Harbor, Xiao asked for nothing more. For him, the weight of your yet unbroken promise hung heavy enough.

[yingdu-lover]

"He actually cries!...tells jokes, he is a gentle person!" : Li Haolin's critique of masculinity and heroism continued in To Be Hero X episode 3 (focusing on the power of storytelling)

It will be a spontaneous burst of whatever passionate yapping I want to scream out of my chest rather than a very well structured meta. Let's begin.

What a powerful opening frame

Nice's character song PARAGON's opening lines

To be the pinnacle, there's a price A model of virtue above the vice

The black empty swing against the stark white background is a bit too powerful and overwhelming. It's like the emptiness is screaming. And also, at first glance it kinda looked like gallows or a sacrificial altar in general. The design is so simple but the moment I saw it it hit my head like a cargo truck. You show this frame to someone non context, I think they will also say that there is something eerie about this frame. In a very beautiful way. Adding the solitary swing to the frame is actually nostalgic; it reminds us of the past we can only fill the gaps with our imagination, the person who is no longer here but used to be there- but the white-black contrast adds a bit of cruelty to it. The simple setup becomes very haunting. If there weren't any swing, you wouldn't even notice the emptiness of the room, it would just pass by. Just like ruined choirs/an empty tree branch with a few yellow leaves left which reminds you of a past which is not accessible now, the frame enhances the sheer nakedness and emptiness of the scene. The swing actually brings out attention back to the howling emptiness which we would otherwise simply not notice. What a brilliant cinematic frame!

It symbolically represents Lin Ling's mind.

But also, something way greater than that, which actually weaves together Lin Ling's experience of loss with us, the viewers, thus making this more relatable and haunting.

Now coming back to the episode title : THE EVER STANDING HERO

Can't stress enough how many times I have heard this line in a heroic context where the hero or hero's motivator goes : Heroes don't fall! Heroes don't show their back, they would rather die, Heroes don't fall, they only fall over their ebemies' dead bodies, a Hero never bends his knees, a Hero stands with a straight spine, a Hero this a Hero that blah blah blah.

In fantasy narrative, Western historical fantasy, South Asian or South East Asian nationalist, patriotic narratives... everywhere, martyrs and heroes would rather fucking die than comprising with their fucking ego and save their fucking lives at least for the sake of their fucking family but no. Masculinity wins. I am not talking about a death where a hero dies with regret and reminisce about their family/partner/children/teachers/close associates for the last time but the glorification of that death. Even his family and friends are fed shits like : your so and so did this! You should be proud! Proud my ass! Idk but I have a huge discomfort with chivalric narratives where the heroes family members are expected to show grief and deliver a speech like : ah my family member died, but guess what! i am encouraging you all to join the army and send yours to the war too! cuz that's fun. we will grieve together.

Even if it's a nation's narrative of independence against colonizers, still the glorification of martyrs' death is inherently problematic and inhumane. We need an army to defend the border we created because the nations were moaning to get geo-politically divided but anyways the sacrificial heroism is important!

If the sarcasm is making you even a tiny bit uncomfortable, then tbhx episode 3 is exactly going to expand upon that. It is again about how we expect heroism, shove expectations and accept inhumane aspects because HEROES ARE HEROES. Heroes are actually sacrificial lambs lol...

People save people from the goodness of their heart, it's an unreasonable humane quality. But along the way we forget that Heroes are also Humans. And a Human being is complex, vulnerable and fragile. If a Hero doesn't fear the potential death of another person, a Hero will stop saving people from putting himself at risk. But when the Hero becomes a brand or a machine whom you produce out of your pocket whenever you need it like a restaurant coupon, it's obviously a big OOPS! When Nice said,

It kinda made me emotional. It broke my heart a little. Or maybe more.

He 'defeated' Firm man and took the 10th position. But it became a burden.

The biggest question is : What is the benefit of becoming the most powerful hero? of becoming X? Has anyone ever asked this question? Lin Ling is just paying a hefty price one after another with his own life, life's most precious treasures, so the position of X must compensate for all those agonies.

Him stepping into the top 10 Hero list and entering the top 10 Hero tower only made his OCD worse; literally and metaphorically burdened his shoulders. Firm man actually got a happy ending. Lin Ling has freed him from all the shackles.

This made my heart ache too. Firm Man has his people and he has finally got the time to spend with them. Lin Ling is very alone.

Also, I wanted to talk about the Hero Towers and their interior designs and the overall architecture. They are SO big and looming that they humble your existence. It's very big, so big it traps you. I would say it's a physical manifestation of corporate power and capitalism. It gives you an illusion that it is providing you with a lot of essentials and luxury but in reality it chews on your individual freedom. How naked the whole residence is. (Not so) Unrelated, but it actually makes me remember that scene from TGCF S2 (if I am not wrong it's directed by link click s1's co director and tgcf S1 was under Li Haolin's direction) where Hua Cheng brings Xie Lian to his Paradise Manor. This palace is so damn huge that Xie Lian mutters a similar thought : Isn't it too big for these people to live? Ofc it is lavish, its the ghost king, crimson rain saught flower's palace but STILL it is huge, so vast that it makes you uneasy. Hua Cheng and Xie Lian have a heart to heart talk here

Hua Cheng : Nope. This place is just one of the residences I created for fun.

Xie Lian (awestruck by the grandeur) : Woah.. so this is your home?

Hua Cheng : Residence. Not Home.

Xie Lian : Is There a difference?

And then my man says the lines which will haunt me for the next thousand years

Hua Cheng : A home has a family. A place where one lives alone is not called home.

So there is a huge difference between 'residence' and 'home.'

And this is why...Time Photo Studio makes a overwhelmingly lovely home.

It's the definition of "You, me and a small habitable place...we can make a home."

Home and the architecture of home is a running theme and I would say important and powerful 'character' in Li Haolin's works. There is a HUGE focus in the place where people inhabit, the locationality, the emotional anchorage- it's a place, a physical manifestation of a complex system which holds people's lives together and runs on the happiness and life anecdotes of the dwellers. Someone should definitely write a link click fic told from the perspective of Time Photo Studio. This is how Li Haolin dissociates from a 'standardized' male gaze and patriarchal narratives by bringing domesticity and the politics of domesticity into the center. Most thrillers, action packed stories aimed for a certain demographic don't dwell much upon the narrative of the home. Men deal with the public. Only when you need to kill a Hero's family and progress the plot on their grave, the home becomes a symbol of grief, impending revenge and other shit stories I personally don't like.

So, what do you think? Is the Hero Towers 'residence' or 'home'?

I don't mind people 'shipping' Lin Ling x Xiao Yueqing or Nice x Wreck. I can't ship either of them. They are so much more that I just need to scream. AAAAAAAAAAAAA

uhm.

Lin Ling and Xiao Yueqing...sigh. I feel Lin Ling. I understand his position, it's very relatable. personally. Not just because they look shipable (nothing wrong with that) but they make me oddly emotional. I hope their bond grows. It gets deeper. I trust Li Haolin. He will deal with them justifiably, carefully. OK LISTEN. lin ling is heterosexual but in a very queer way. Men written by Li Haolin. I love him. The fact that their relationship can go in any trajectory makes me more hooked to the story.

NOW, let's talk about storytelling.

In a rant post I mentioned earlier why I have a huge problem with the statement : it's just fiction!

Nothing is fiction. We process reality with the version we want to believe. It's always a hybrid, a mimesis, never a true original. Fictional narratives are those important narratives where for people to understand things which are normalized and left out of critical scrutiny.

Firm Man has a stereotype. It's the grand narrative people want to believe, so they believe it. Perspectives and the power of storytelling are fundamental in this episode.

I would ask you to take a close look at Wolf Girl's den. Books, artistic pieces, art supplements, printing presses- these constitute the mise en scene. They appear again and again. Wolf Girl was trying to create a counter narrative to fight the famous grand narrative. She knows how the truth system works. It's about art and literature, it's about society, it's about history. It's not only about the popular cultural reception of the Hero figure but also reflections on social systems - capitalism and patriarchy for example. To Be Hero X is bringing your attention to the power of storytelling in a story where the power of storytelling is a crucial theme (It's very important in 🗣️link🗣️click🗣️toooo!🗣️ yess) So it is a very conscious metatextual engagement. How are you processing To Be Hero X itself?

Juan Jie's speech sums it all.

But she is also framing the narrative the way she pleases. She is ofc not gonna talk about the lesser known narrative which will put the naked corporate mechanism on display. She is a corporate lady. She will not mention the nuances, she will say bits and pieces and leave with a false sense that you have the agency to imagine the rest on your own. But in reality, you are left with one singular assumption. Clever tactic. Extremely clever. If Wolf Girl is feeding the common people with a twisted narrative, Juan is manipulating the story since the beginning. But she won't mention that. Of course.

Also this was the episode where for the first time I got shivers listening to KONTINUUM.

I lowkey didn't like the song before but I was jumping when the ending theme started after today's episode's finale.

😭 my god guhhhh

VERY EXCITED FOR THE LAST EPISODE OF NICE ARC/CHAPTER

also

what's that

[murdermetamay]

What I did know was that Abene really had loved Miki. That hurt in all kinds of ways. Miki could never be my friend, but it had been her friend, and more importantly, she had been its friend. Her gut reaction in a moment of crisis was to tell Miki to save itself. After I checked the charges and ammo in the bag, I found a fake pocket in the bottom. Inside it were several sets of identity markers and a larger, different brand of memory clip from the ones I had stored in my arm. I heaved myself upright, and found a reader in the cargo console. Well, that was interesting. I hate caring about stuff. But apparently once you start, you can’t just stop. I wasn’t going to just send the geo pod data to Dr. Mensah. I was taking it to her personally. I was going back. Then I laid down on the floor and started Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon from episode one.

It is very noticeable to me that immediately after Murderbot concludes that Miki really was Don Abene's friend, that Abene really cared about Miki, that their relationship was one of mutual respect and care, that it is possible for humans and bots to have that kind of relationship... that Murderbot immediately jumps to, actually I do want to see Dr. Mensah again. I'm gonna go back and see her in person. Anyway I'm not going to examine this train of thought any further now. Sanctuary Moon time.

The logical through-line is pretty stark, though. Even if Murderbot doesn't want to admit it, even to itself.

[witchygagirlwrites]

How Dare You-Part 15

Jay Halstead x Reader (nicknamed Deuce/ Surname of Barlowe but no first name used)

Donato gets brought down

Warnings: mention of sex, violence, threat of torture

1 more part of this to go!!

You were sound asleep, Jay’s body wrapped around yours. When the first knock at your door sounded you thought you were imagining it. You turned over, listened for a second then curled up to Jay’s chest and almost dozed back off when you heard Roxie’s voice “Deuce, get out here now!”

Her voice was a strained whisper, like she was trying to wake only you up. Ok, morning after could be awkward but her and Jay had known each other for a while so what was going on? You slipped out of bed carefully, looking around for your discarded shorts from the night before. When you finally found them abandoned near the dresser you slipped them on under Jay’s shirt and opened your door just far enough to slip out of.

She was standing to the side, twisting her red locks through her fingers. Something big was up. “Rox? What is it?” she cut her eyes towards your bedroom and your heart fall “Dear god he’s not married again is he?” she laughed lightly “No! Nothing like that…um Adan dropped a message in the secure line” 

“Ok?” you weren’t sure what Adan dropping a message had to do with all the secrecy. “He found Donato. He sent me a cell to keep track of and the fucker got his ass geo tagged” your heart leapt into your throat as you looked back at your bedroom door then. That explained why she had been so careful to not wake Jay up. “What do you want to do?” she asked and you took a deep breath, running a hand over your hair “I’ll um..I’ll wake Jay up and send him back to base to round everyone up. Call Trav and Marcel. Get them headed this way to get me and Sam. Everyone else head to the office so we can keep eyes on this bastard. I want wheels moving as soon as possible. Where is he?”  “Santiago, Peru. Nolan should be able to get the team a flight out within an hour or so”

You gave her a small smile “Thank you Roxie” she nodded “Of course babe” and headed up to her room. You took a deep breath and slipped back into your room. 

_______________________

Jay was laying back against the pillows, the blanket had slipped down to his waist. The metal of his dog tags were a stark contrast to the smooth skin of his chest and god he just looked so peaceful. You couldn’t even really tell him why you needed everyone rounded because you had every intention to not take him and Travis with you. You needed to bring in Donato alive if any way possible. He had valuable information. If those two were there? You didn’t know if you could reel them both in on top of your own temper.

You walked over to the bed and slowly crawled up on it. Once you were up on your knees next to him you tapped his chest gently “Jay?” you automatically leaned back after doing so, you’d shared the bed with him too much to not. It wasn’t his fault but sometimes how he reacted to waking up varied. This time however he woke up, his eyes landing on you and a smile slipping onto his face “Hey baby” “Hey, how you feeling?” you asked with a grin. He laughed “I was gonna ask you that”

“Well between my thighs are a little sore, fairly certain I’m marked in a couple places” you teased. He grinned “Come here” and turned to pull you over on top of him before you could stop him. Your hands flew out to brace yourself on his chest, “Jay!” he grinned “I’m sorry, I finally get to touch you again and you look so damn beautiful” 

You raised an eyebrow “My hair isn’t brushed, I’m wearing your shirt” he nodded “Nothing more gorgeous” you leaned down to press a kiss to his lips “I didn’t wake you up for no reason. We had a target come in on the wire”

______________________

Jay’s hands clung to your hips, thumbs tracing shapes on the skin when his fingers dipped below his shirt that you were wearing. Waking up next to you after all this time? After thinking he’d never get to again? He couldn’t imagine being happier. Even while you were telling him about a target. 

“Ok baby, what do you need me to do?” he asked and you smiled “We’re gonna have to get a flight within an hour or so. The target is in Peru. Roxie is calling Travis and Marcel to come get me and Sam. Do you want to wait on them or go ahead and grab a cab back to base so you have a chance to shower and get fresh clothes?”

He sighed because he wanted to stay with you but needed a shower “I guess I’ll call the cab” you nodded and pressed another kiss to his lips “Ok, I’ll be there right after you” “Ok baby” you climbed off of him and he missed you the second you were gone. 

Once you climbed off the bed you pulled his shirt over your head and he groaned “For fuck’s sake Deuce” you held it out to him with a shrug “You can’t go shirtless” he nodded “And now I’m half hard” you grinned “Sorry?” he took the shirt and slipped it on before standing to find his jeans, clocking the way your eyes were watching him. 

You managed to shake yourself away from looking at Jay and pulled him towards you and he gladly let himself be pulled around “So, do you still mean everything you said last night?” you asked as you slipped your arms around his waist.

“Everything from the fact that I love you and I want to stay in Bolivia to that I was made for you and everything I am belongs to you” you felt your face warm then tilted your head up to meet his eyes “I mean everything too Jay. I love you and I don’t want to lose you again” he smiled and leaned down to catch your lips in a gentle kiss “We’ll get it figured out, I love you sweetheart so damn much” 

You felt your heart flip “I love you too Jay, I’ll see you in a few at the base?” he nodded “See you in a few” and pressed another kiss to your lips. 

Luckily the fact of a target coming in on the wire managed to distract everyone from the fact that Jay had spent the night in your bed. You walked into the conference room, leading your team and Jay already had the squad rounded up and waiting. He gave you a small smile when you looked his way.

Nolan was also in the room and nodded to you “Roxie called, there’s a plane waiting to take your team to Santiago and boots on the ground to back your play” “Thank you” you told him then turned to face everyone who was waiting for your word to move. “Everyone gear up, Hernandez I need Red on this of course” “I got you” he replied with a nod. You nodded, cutting your eyes at Samantha, Roxie had told her who the target was. You swore her to secrecy about who it was. You didn’t plan to tell Jay and Travis until your team was there. You would send them to a secondary location that Roxie had that needed to be checked out while you planned to take Marcel and Davidson to back you.

“Ok, the flight should take about three hours. Hopefully less. Suvs will be waiting on us and the moment we land we’ll divide into two teams. One will back me to go after the target, the other will go to clear a location of interest. Any questions?” everyone shook their heads or audibly said no so you looked to Nolan “Lead the way to the plane”

____________________

You sat between Travis and Jay on the plane, leaning your head back against the metal side of it. Wasn’t your first trip on a military cargo plane by far. You felt Jay’s hand brush against yours so you shifted your hand closer, allowing him to lace his fingers in with yours. You saw a smile slip onto his face out of the corner of your eye. 

Travis bumped your shoulder from the other side and you rolled your head over to look at him “Yeah Bailey?” he grinned “How ya feeling?” you rolled your eyes, feeling your face warm “Bite me Trav” he looked over your head at Jay who was doing everything in his power to act as if he didn’t know for a fact the two of you were currently talking about him even though he was holding your hand. “No, I think that position is officially filled” Travis teased and you heard Jay bite back a chuckle.

You wished you could fall into the easy rhythm of joking, hoped they didn’t notice you weren’t. Any other time? The morning after like this? Travis’s teasing towards you and Jay would have you giving him hell right back about some of the things you knew about him and Valarie but you just couldn’t concentrate. “You good Deuce? Halstead wear you out?” Travis asked and you smirked “I wore him out if anything” and that caused him and Jay both to laugh. You cut your eyes at Jay and he had a light blush gracing his cheeks but shrugged nonetheless “I’m not complaining in the least” and winked at you.

The pilot let all of you know to prepare for a landing as a message came in from Roxie that the tracking was still active and he was still in Santiago, downtown. You took a deep breath as the plane landed.

You knew it was your job to lead the team off so that’s what you did. You stood, grabbing your gear. Travis and Jay both fell in behind you. This was going to be a little more difficult than you thought. 

____________________

You walked off the plane and the local authorities that were there to assist mixed with the closest federal authorities greeted you. “Supervisory special agent Barlowe?” you nodded “At your service. My girl get everyone up to speed?”

A man who’d introduced himself as Sergeant Dankworth nodded “We have two teams waiting. One will hang back while your team goes after the target to form a perimeter should he elude you. The other team will go with your people for the location of interest” you smiled “Thank you, I’ll let my people know who’s going with who and we can gear up to get this show on the road” “Yes ma’am”

You tilted your head to the side and everyone followed you. Everyone quickly geared up then you nodded to Marcel and Davidson “You two are gonna be with me on this” Travis stepped in front of you “Like hell” and Jay’s eyes were glued to your face “Why aren’t me and Trav rolling with you?”

You sighed and grabbed both of their arms to pull them away from everyone else “We don’t have time for this. You two are not with me on this” “Fuck that” Travis damn near growled. Jay nodded “Is this because of last night?” you shook your head as Travis crossed his arms “Then why the hell not? Talk to me, now”

“Because it’s Donato. We need to bring him in alive Trav and I’m going to have a hard enough time keeping myself in check” Jay looked between you and Travis “Who the hell is Donato?” you dropped your gaze as Travis said “The bastard that led her into the ambush”

“Baby?” Jay’s voice was light but it had the effect he wanted because your eyes flew up to his. “You’re not going alone” “I’m taking a team” you reminded him and he nodded “Yeah well that’s not good enough. You’re not going after that son of a bitch without me and Travis” “Neither of you have right to order me” you reminded him, feeling your jaw tense.

Travis stepped up “Deuce, you’re my sister. I love you. Jay is in love with you. Don’t make us know what that bastard did and send you off after him. Do you really think we’ll be focusing?” you sighed “Fine, but we have to move. Now” he nodded and looked at Jay “Let’s roll”

You were walking down the street, following the coordinates of the tracker Adan had on Donato. Hernandez and Red were waiting with the backup team. One order and Red would be on your heel. If the tracker was right, along with security footage Roxie had pulled, Donato was staying in the hotel on the corner. You would not enter a building he was in if you could keep from it.

Your hope was to catch him coming out. “See anything yet?” Travis asked over the com and you spoke low “Nothing yet” you kept your head down, walking towards the hotel. Jay was coming from one direction, Travis from the other. You were in the center of them. “I’m approaching the hotel”

You were nearly to the entrance when Donato walked out. He looked up at you and you felt your fingertips go cold. His eyes got wide and he threw the cup of coffee in his hand at you then turned and ran. “JAY HE’S HEADED YOUR WAY! RED SHIRT. TRAVIS, TAKE THE EAST ALLEY, CUT HIS ASS OFF”

__________________

You  shoved people out of the way as you chased Donato, sliding around a corner. He spun around, trying to run but realized he was boxed in. You were in one direction then Travis then Jay. “Hey Joten, long time no see” you greeted and he stammered “B-Barlowe?”

You laughed bitterly “You remember, yeah I lived. You remember Travis? My partner. Wants your head on a platter?” he looked at Travis who cocked the hammer on his gun for added effect. “I remember him” you nodded then motioned to Jay “Ya haven’t met him, Jay Halstead meet Joten Donato. The reason you don’t have a child and the reason you almost didn’t have me”

Donato’s eyes got big “W-what do do you want?” you smiled “You’re gonna come with me and you’re going to tell me everything I want to know about Los Guerreros del Illimani then you’re going to stand trial for attempted murder of a federal agent” the bastard had the nerve to smirk at you “Or?” you shrugged “Or I turn my back and act like we never caught you, I let these two do whatever pops in their fucking heads to get the information I want out of you”

He looked from Travis to Jay and you knew what he would see in both of their eyes. Pure hate, both men would love to get their hands on him. They would love to carve out that pound of flesh that was owed but you knew this was bigger than you. “Ok, ok” he went down to his knees with his hands behind his head “I’ll be damned, you’re smarter than I gave you credit for”

“He’ll stand trial in Peru for the attempted murder of a U.S. federal agent along with his other crimes. They won’t go easy on him” you assured Jay on the plane ride back to La Paz. Your hands had finally stopped shaking after you’d assured yourself it was over. Donato would never see the light of day again as a free man. 

“Plus I know some people, I called in some favors” Travis added from where his head was leaned back, eyes closed. You tilted your head towards him “That too”

“I wanted to kill him and please don’t think it’s just because of the baby. That bastard stood there and didn’t care that he almost took you out of this world. He didn’t care” Jay whispered and you slipped your hand in his “He didn’t though. I’m here” he smiled “And for some ungodly reason have let me back into your life”

“She’s got bad taste” Travis teased, a smirk slipping onto his face. You knew he was trying to break the tension, you laughed lightly and leaned over on his shoulder “Yeah, I’ve been best friends with you since the academy” he cracked open one eye “Exactly what I mean” 

Jay shook his head “So, we’re going after Los Guerreros del Illimani next?” you nodded “Yup, they’re a big target. Even if that means some of the smaller targets have to be saved for the next round of interdiction” 

His eyes met yours “It’s wrapping up quick now” you smiled slightly and shifted to tug him closer “We’ll figure it out” “I know” he replied with a smile.

Part 16

@elvenpirate51

@allisonargent144

@nevaehstreater18

@leavemealoneplsandthx

@alterna123

[svcker4l0ve]

Rules of the requests

Stuff I WILL write for

All types of smut (little to none expectations), fluff, porn with plot, porn without plot, all types of readers (although male readers will be a bit harder for me but I will do it if I can), size difference, SMAU, headcannons, one-shots, texts,

Stuff I WILL NOT write for

Spit kink, abuse of any kind, self-harm, racism, homophobia, original characters, dying, incest, rape/non-con/pedophilia and, in due of recent asks, i will not write for doll Chucky. Not because I think it's weird, but because I don't feel comfortable writing that.

Canon typical characters/people

I will try to write each character/person as canon/realistic to their person as possible

When requesting

When requesting something, you don’t absolutely have to go into major detail if you don’t want to (if you do, then by all means do), but please try not be vague about your requests, and please make sure to say who you want, and what type of story you want(i.e SMAU, headcanon, one-shot, texts) . I will try to get to as many as possible, but it will take some time, so please be patient.

Characters/people I write for

Harry potter

Harry potter, ron weasley, hermione granger, the weasley twins, draco malfoy, pansy parkinson, sheamus finnigin, dean thomas, ginny weasley, blaise zabini, theo nott, mattheo riddle, tom riddle

Supernatural

Majority of character- dean, sam, cas, jo, jody, rowena, crowley, michael, lucifer, gabriel, ect

Brigerton

Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, francesca,  Penelope, prudence, phillipa, cressida, 

Anne with an E

Anne, gilbert, diana, ruby, jerry, billy andrews

Wednesday

Wednesday, Tyler, Xavier, enid, ajax, larissa, yoko, kent, divina

My life with the Walter boys

Alex, Cole, issac, lee, danny, jackie, 

Outer banks

JJ, John b, Sarah, Kiara, Pope, Cleo, Rafe, Topper, Barry, 

Fate: The winx saga

Bloom, stella, flora, terra, sky, aisha, riven, beatrix, musa, sam, dane, 

All fear street movies

Deena, josh, simon, kate, cindy, ziggy, young nick goode, sheila, joan, kurt, alice, tommy, sarah fier, hannah miller, solomon goode, 

All texas chainsaw movies

Thomas Hewitt, Bubba Sawyer, chop top, drayton, heather miller/sawyer, 

It (1990 and 2017)

Richie, bill, mike, ben, stanley, eddie, beverly, pennywise

Friday the 13th

Mostly just jason, but if you would like to request another character from the franchise, then go ahead

Scream

Billy, stu, sidney, tatum, dewey, randy, gale, micky, roman, jill, charlie, richie, amber, ethan, kirby, quinn, sam, tara, chad, mindy, wes

Buffy the vampire slayer

Buffy, Angel, willow, spike, Cordelia

My Babysitter’s a vampire

Ethan, Benny, Rory, Sarah, Erica, Jessie

Chilling adventures of Sabrina

Sabrina spellman, Harvey kinkle, Nick scratch, Ambrose spellman, Roz walker, Theo putnam, Prudence blackwood, Dorcas Night, Agatha Night, Hilda spellman, Zelda spellman

Avengers

Bucky barnes, Steve rogers, Tony stark, Natasha romonoff(romanov), bruce banner, thor odinson, sam wilson, wanda maximoff, pietro maximoff, clint barton, vision, Peter Parker, T’challa, Stephen strange, Scott Lang

Fantastic four

Susuan, johnnie, reed, ben

X-men

Peter maximoff, logan howlett, ororo monroe, jean gray, scott summers, kurt wagner, Lorna dane, victor creed, rogue(anne marie), alex summers, Remy lebeau, andy strucker, lauren strucker, marcos diaz, john proudstar, Blink(clarice fong), Hank mccoy

Dc

Bruce wayne, clark kent, dick grayson, jason todd, tim drake, damian wayne-al ghul, Diana Prince, Oliver queen, barry allen, Garfield logan, raven (rachel roth)

Other slashers

Freddy Kruger, Bo sinclair, lester sinclair, Vincent sinclair, art the clown, michael myers, Tom hanniger(2009), daniel robitaille(candyman), chucky ray, Tiffany Valentine-ray, 

REAL PEOPLE

Formula One

Lando norris, Max verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Oscar piastri, Lewis hamilton, Liam Lawson, Carlos Sainz, Daniel Riccardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Isack Hadjar, Alex Albon, Kimi Antonelli, Esteban Ocon, Fernando Alonso, Gabriel Bortoleto, George Russel, Jack Doohan, Lance stroll, Nico Hulkenburg, Nico Roseberg, Ollie Bearman, Pierre Gasly, Sebastian vettel, Jenson Button, 

[endvertex]

Are there any psx blender tutorials that you would recommend or for you was it more of a "I just learned how to model via blender might as well make something low poly"?

Oh yeah, I actually did a lot of research on how to do PSX-style stuff. Because outside the models themselves, there's some hardware limitations unique to PS1 that give it that specific look. Some good videos on that are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvfrewlWrss and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUiyph17F3A . If you want to get into the very technical/mathematical aspects of it - Acerola just did one here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y84bG19sg6U

The modeling was easier since I'm used to doing higher poly stuff, so it was just a matter of doing less. Tbh, my model and texture resolutions are higher than PS1, but I chose to play with that.

To learn how to model using limits they would have had in the PS1 era, you can reference actual PS1 models here: https://www.models-resource.com/playstation/ - You can download a bunch, bring them into Blender, and check out the poly count/texture sizes.

Reviewing assets someone else made is a good way of learning. An artist I really like who also makes tutorials on low-poly modeling and texturing is Stark Crafts on Youtube. Here's a good one where he goes through how to turn yourself into a low-poly character: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D47_JIAcGIM He also has some free assets you can download and learn from here: https://starkcrafts.itch.io/

Another low poly artist I really like who has a bunch of models viewable on Sketchfab is Elbolillo - https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/6twelve-8c2c49cab08e402d8681434a4ade4ed0. I've purchased so many of his assets, and he makes a lot for free too - https://elbolilloduro.itch.io/ - definitely recommend supporting him if you can.

For texturing, there's a shader for Substance Painter that I really like called pixel8r2 - you can get it here https://actiondawg.itch.io/pixel8r2 - really speeds up the process. But if you can't afford that or don't have Substance, this is a good tutorial that does it with paint.NET which is free - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHqLn8AsN5k .

Outside of modeling and texturing, there are other aspects that give something the psx "look" - for instance vertex snapping/wobbling, affline mapping (warping of the texture itself), etc. The videos I linked in the first paragraph would go over what those things are. When I started I used this really good asset pack from Drips to dupe those things in Blender - you can buy that here - https://superhivemarket.com/products/dripspsxefx---lofi-playstation-1-effects That creator also has a channel with a tutorial on how to do the affline mapping in Blender with geo nodes here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtkkBz1ryIE

Finally, this is a (silent) tutorial from a fantastic artist who shows you how to model/texture/composite a PS1-style scene in Blender - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNgSiLOIW70 - that one is really beginner-friendly, and she shows some free add-ons for things like vertex snapping. She sells a guide on it here - https://buymeacoffee.com/dreamyrobot/e/271588

Hope this helps! :)

[under0-0s]

*Bucky sighs, Steve standing next to him like a kicked puppy, as the ex-assassin called Tony. Once Tony answered the call, Bucky felt so embarrassed and genuinely humiliated to explain his and Steve's situation.*

"Hey, Stark? I kinda got into a situation with Steve. Before you ask anything, just know this was Steve's fault. We're lost in the damn woods." *Bucky lets it sink in for a moment before continuing.* "Punk here had chosen a mission in the mountains of butt fuck nowhere and yet forgot to grab the compass and map. Now we're lost and have no idea where we are. We tried walking one direction, but all we got was more TREES! So... could you track where we are and help us out?"

*Steve mumbles, sounding upset and pouty for once, which is also heard on the phone.* "I said I was sorry, Buck..."

"Punk, you don't get to talk right now, I'm pissed."

There was a sharp sigh from the other end of the call. A beat of silence. Then the unmistakable, deadpan voice of Tony Stark came through, sounding entirely too smug for someone who’d just been told two of Earth’s Mightiest Idiots were lost in the woods like the cast of Blair Witch.

“I’m sorry—butt-fuck nowhere? Really, Barnes? Language. There are satellites listening.”

There’s the sound of clacking keys, whirring tech, and probably Tony pouring himself a drink despite it being an absurd hour somewhere.

“Let me get this straight. Two supersoldiers—one of whom spent 70 years in the ice and the other who spent 70 years being brainwashed to hunt people in forests—got lost. In the woods. Because the Boy Scout forgot a map.”

“Tell me again why I don’t just let you two become folklore?”

Steve could be heard faintly, clearly trying to salvage his dignity. “We didn’t think we’d need—”

“Steve. You once planned a covert op through Nazi territory with only a notebook and a dream. How did you forget a compass?”

Another beat of silence. Then a longer sigh, one that sounded less teasing, more fondly exasperated.

“Alright, alright. Give me a second, I’ll ping FRIDAY to scan for your heat signatures. If you’re within satellite range, I can geo-locate you and send the quinjet. Don’t move. Don’t try to find your own way out. Just—sit tight.”

You can practically hear Tony pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I’m gonna send you a care package with GPS trackers, granola bars, and a copy of ‘Navigation for Dummies’. And maybe a leash for Steve.”

Another moment passed.

“...You guys okay, though? Besides being dumbasses?”

Bucky’s grumbling softened for a second, but his voice still had that stubborn grit.

“Yeah. We're okay. Just cold. And annoyed.”

“Well, lucky for you, Stark Delivery Service is open 24/7. Sit tight, fellas. I’m on my way.”

And with that, the line clicked off. Thirty minutes later, somewhere above the tree canopy, the gentle roar of a quinjet echoed overhead—followed by a very familiar voice on the comms.

“Now wave to the nice drone, boys. And try not to look too miserable, I’m totally using this in next year’s Avengers Christmas card.”

[genshincreatorau]

CreatorAU Liyue Headcanons part 1

【summary】 — some headcanons for Liyue and the first few characters of the region. I'll be honest I don't know if these count as headcanons anymore it's just a straight up story but I'm too stubborn to change the title now so we're calling these headcanons.

【contains】 — brooding . Stalkerish? behavior . clingy genshin man . slightly suggestive right at the end

【characters】 — xiao

Liyue

Liyue is a nation ruled by the people, so their days of worshiping the gods are over.

even among those who know you as the creator, they are more likely to think of you fondly then to actually worship you.

and even that is not for your status as a god but for being the one to save Teyvat from the brink of destruction.

not that you remember that part.

There are a few exceptions though. the few who have oh so anxiously awaited your arrival.

don't keep them waiting too long.

Xiao

now your first venture into the lands of Liyue was Aided by your most lovable and reliable bard.

Venti was seeing you off as you crossed the border into the land of geo.

wishing you safe travels so that your paths may cross again.

you didn't give much thought to how he didn't leave right away, sitting by the stone gate as he started gently playing his flute. letting it linger in the air.

no you didn't think much of the sweet melody that played as you walked down the path towards the Wangshu Inn.

enjoying the sounds of the birds and the song.

what did catch you off guard was the Vigilant Yaksha that stood waiting outside when you finally made it there.

as you approached he seemed to just stare you down.

you weren't sure if he was waiting for you or if he just happened to be standing outside.

when you approached he didn't pay you any mind, just looking away as if he was disinterested.

he didn't look all that happy to see you, a stark contrast to the cheerful and eager welcome you'd had in mondstadt.

Xiao was the first one to completely ignore your presence.

it felt strange.

hesitant to try and start up a conversation with the cold Yaksha, you walk right by him to the inn to get a room for the night.

it took you quite a while to walk here and you could only imagine how far you'd have to travel to make it to Liyue Harbor.

you'd have to spend a couple of nights sleeping outside.

luckily you were prepared for that.

for this evening you'd enjoy the comforts of the inn, and then tomorrow you could head out.

the inn was nice with food and comfortable rooms where you could rest.

the next day would be your first day alone since you arrived in Teyvat.

...

or that's what you'd thought.

very early on in your journey you'd noticed the peculiar feeling of being watched

Xiao followed you from the Inn.

at first from a distance. you'd catch glimpses of him every once in a while, just watching you from somewhere high up.

but as the day went on it seemed like he put less and less effort of keeping his presence hidden.

your eyes always seemed to find him anyways.

by evening he was just walking along behind you. not a word spoken as you traveled in relative silence.

you'd settled down where you were gonna camp out for the night. going to start a fire.

as soon as you knelt down, Xiao was there beside you.

his hands brushing over yours for a moment as he took the flint from your grasp.

Xiao had the fire going within moments.

Xiao had started to get up to leave before you tugged at his sleeve. gathering up your courage to offer him to stay.

and to your surprise he did. sitting back down.

you hadn't thought this far. you truly didn't expect him to take you up on your offer. though he seemed to be sitting just a bit behind you.

you didn't waste your chance. trying to make a more comfortable atmosphere.

speaking up about whatever popped in your head, though you ended up mostly talking to yourself as Xiao just listened.

only really providing a few nods and soft grunts of acknowledgement.

you'd thought for a moment that perhaps you should drop the conversation, he didn't seem all that engaged.

but, as you had been talking.

Xiao had leaned his head onto your shoulder.

he looked so peaceful you couldn't bring yourself to break the moment.

Xiao didn't seem to notice the slight drop in the conversation.

you kept talking to him until you dozed off.

Xiao made sure you slept safe. letting you lean back onto him as the night went on.

and as you laid in his arms, he watched over you.

just as he did in the inn, just as he'd done the moment you crossed over the border.

Xiao had been so confused when he first saw you again. there you were, just as before, but it didn't seem quite right.

he heard you'd been resting in Sumeru after the battle but he didn't expect you to be so...

weak.

no. he wasn't looking down on you, but he truly couldn't help but frown when he saw the state you were in.

when he'd first met you in person, your mere presence had made him melt at your feet.

yet here you stood, barely an inkling of your divine force left. not that it was any fault of your own.

no. he'd failed.

he'd failed to protect you, failed to keep you safe.

you'd done so much for Teyvat even after it strayed from your teachings.

but he wouldn't fail again.

this time he'd keep you safe.

Xiao knew you didn't remember him, not from your time here in Teyvat.

so he'd chosen to keep a bit of distance, after all that happened he didn't deserve to be in your presence.

but when you looked up at him so sweetly, how could he deny you?

and if you chose to let him close.

then who was he to refuse?

he couldn't help but lean in to your shoulder, longing to be closer. you held the power to relieve his pain. calm his mind.

even as he didn't think he deserved it.

he couldn't help but crave your touch. the feel of your skin against his.

as he held you that night. all was calm.

【notes】 — man that was longer then i intended it to be. well Xiao will just have to get the whole post to himself. disclaimer, most of this is tired writing, i need sleep. I'm going to sleep. but I hope you enjoyed reading

[gold-rhine]

I forgor about raiden yes malenia is just elden ring raiden. Miquella isn't Dany though, Dany wants to continue targaryen legacy and cites this as a source of legitimatecy for herself, but miquella wants to make his own dynasty because(? I forgot I think it's something something erdtree failed haligtree good) of course that's just their own personal perception of their situations, in reality dany is repeating false ideas about the targaryens her brother told her and actually blazing her own path and miqqy is just Marika again. so in this case dany would be pyro but miqqy would be geo in the way chiori is geo. I don't think miquella would get a vision though.he'd be on the cusp of receiving one then just Not

bold of you to shit on mikky like that while admitting you literally don't remember his core motivation.

i'm not even mikky's fan, but he didn't do all that just to have him own dynasty. his core motivation was equality - acceptance of everyone. if you'd actually read his lore, you'd know his initial motivation was to heal his sister of her curse of the rot. for this he initially studied golden order fundamentalism magic, had back and forths of magical incantations with radagon (who is "leal hound of the golden order", i.e. the most pro golden order zealot) and came out critical and dissatisfied with it. i.e. dissatisfied and critical of the current system. at first he tried to plant his own edtree and fed it with own blood, came up with concept of unalloyed gold - i.e. gold without compromises and exceptions, pure compassion, everyone accepted, and this has halted malenia's rot, but not cured it. his own tree could not compete with erdtree, he realized that as long as current system reigns, he cannot just to to have his own safe haven of acceptance by the side, he needs to overthrow the entirety of the old system, he needs to have the power on the level that marika had. like he literally kissed a rotting wound of a woman that was hurt by his sister unleashing the rot to heal her, the point was that he cared for everyone. but he explicitly did not want to become second marika, this is why the shadowlands are littered with graves where he left parts of himself, shed everything that tied him to the old system.

that was the point, marika carried her old resentment and revenge into godhood and after ascending, genocided the hornsent, and mikky left everything behind and all he wanted was a world of peace and compassion where everyone is accepted.

and dany IS targaryen, she's following targaryen path, she's doing straight up old valyria shit with blood magic! her conflict is that same compassion and desire for freedom and equality of everyone that mikky has clashing with reality, bc turns out its not easy to plant the trees, its not easy to change the old system that was entrenched for generations. and so every time she gets frustrated, she turns to fire and blood, i.e. blood magic and dragons as easy solutions. here is a detailed write up basically explaining my point

and so, both mikka and dany are descendants of corrupt power systems who have a desire for good, compassion, equality, but are too infantile to put in the grueling, thankless work to actually implement that change (mikka is cursed with eternal youth and dany is like 16). and so they both want results right here, right now, and they skip the hard work by using quick magic solution - even if these solution require harsh personal sacrifices of them! for mikky its enchantment, stealing hearts instead of convincing ppl, for dany its direct violence, her dragons.

dany's whole problem is embracing the old ways, the valyryan ways, being a conqueror instead of a ruler, and asioaf is about the need to discard the old ways, all of the old ways btw, starks too, melisandre was right, they need to burn the weirwoods.

[southeastasianists]

In the world of ancient pyramids, it seems like there’s always a race to the past. Are the oldest ones in Egypt? Peru? It’s been up for debate since about 2001. But now, there’s a new contender in the historic who’s-who of pyramids: Indonesia.

A team of archaeologists, geologists, and geophysicists recently published a paper in Archaeological Prospection suggesting that Gunung Padang in the Cianjur District of the West Java Province is not actually the naturally occurring hill that everyone thought it was. Instead, they say it’s actually an ancient man-made structure. Previously, Gunung Padang referred only to the megalithic stone complex that sat on top of the hill, which some archaeologists believe was used as a celestial calendar (though the actual use is still unknown). But the team’s research shows that the entire structure—complex and hill itself—was sculpted by humans beginning about 25,000 years ago.

Danny Hilman Natawidjaja, Ph.D, an earthquake geologist and one of the co-authors of the paper, says he “stumbled upon a small hill with a peculiar shape and a surprisingly well-preserved surface” in 2011, while examining the area’s topography.

“This hill stood in stark contrast to the rugged, highly eroded mountainous terrains typical of the Tertiary volcanic regions in its vicinity,” he says.

That discovery sparked several years of research by Hilman Natawidjaja, who gathered multidisciplinary researchers to use ground-penetrating radar and 2D electrical resistivity tomography to explore the site. By 2014, the team knew they had a massive discovery on their hands.

From the inside out, Gunung Padang is constructed in four parts. The first and oldest is in the middle, a natural lava hill from a dead volcano, sculpted by humans into a pyramidal shape. The next portion is made of coarse sands and pillar-like structures, followed by another layer of columnar rocks, and finally the megalithic stones on the surface layer, all meticulously placed and layered by hand.

The published paper was the first full discussion of their findings, and it included details surrounding the exact procedure they used to date the sections of the pyramid they discovered.

“We must not overlook the equally compelling and profound journey to understanding our own history.”

“We are optimistic that our findings will inspire further geo-archaeological studies, as we know many other large, ancient structural treasures in Indonesia and worldwide that remain unexplored and undated by geochronological methods,” Hilman Natawidjaja says. “Surprisingly, even Indonesia's most renowned ancient sites, including the iconic Borobudur temple, lack precise dating.”

He hopes as well that the new methods of exploration—the radar and tomography, as well as a multidisciplinary approach with multiple scientists—could be helpful in accurately dating other ancient structures, like the moai on Easter Island and the Nan Madol complex in Micronesia.

“Despite the human quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe and search for extraterrestrial life, we must not overlook the equally compelling and profound journey to understanding our own history,” Hilman Natawidjaja says. “Much remains unknown and unexplored, waiting for us to uncover its secrets.”

That all being said, the paper is still causing some controversy in the scientific community, some of whom are calling for more research than what’s already been done in order to fully verify the claims.

“The dates are somewhat controversial but seem to be solid,” says Dan Joyce, Director Emeritus and Archaeologist at the Kenosha Museum Campus in Wisconsin. “To better understand… the age of the site, independent investigations concentrating on radiocarbon dates and repetition of results is needed. Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary, replicable evidence.”

For his part, Hilman Natawidjaja welcomes the controversy.

“We fully anticipate our study's results will be met with scepticisms and questions from scientists and scholars worldwide,” he says. “Nevertheless, we welcome the opportunity to engage in discussions and further studies… Our quest for knowledge should lead to enlightenment and unity, not division.”

[ravianefleurentia]

Tag 17. Der Morgen nach dem Kampf (Capitano x Mavuika x Xilonen switch) Genshin

Vorwort ; Spielt nach der 5.1 Archon Quest 

Keiner der Drei wusste wie es dazu kam dass sie gemeinsam in einem Bett aufwachen. Der letzte Abend als sie vorerst den Krieg gewonnen hatten (wenn auch nicht endgültig) endete mit viel Alkohol, welcher wahrscheinlich für diese Situation verantwortlich war. 

Capitano blickte die beiden Frauen neben sich an. So wohl Mavuika als auch Xilonen schienen noch zu schlafen. Irgendwie konnte er nicht anders als es einfach süß zu finden. Die Zwei sonst so taffen und coolen Damen waren in diesem Moment so verletzlich. 

Der Fatui blieb ruhig liegen und dachte über diese Situation nach. Er wusste das er und Xilonen Gefühle für die Feuer Göttin hatten. Wie er damit umgehen sollte konnte er aktuell nicht sagen. Doch wollte er nicht einfach aufgeben.

Als er noch etwas döste spürte er das die Frauen langsam zu sich kamen. "Guten Morgen..." gähnte Mavuika und brach als erstes die Stille des Morgens. "Morgen..." kam es von den beiden Anderen. "Wie viel haben wir bitte getrunken um zu Dritt hier zu landen? Aber wie es aussieht ist nichts weiter passiert!" meinte die Leopardin und seufzte erleichtert.

 So unterhielten sie sich eine Weile über den letzten Abend. Doch nach einer Weile fing Xilonen an dem Mann in der Runde in die Seite zu stupsen. Capitano zuckte zusammen und sah die junge Frau gespielt genervt an. "Bist du etwa kitzlig?" neckte diese und grinste frech. Auch Mavuika hatte ein breites Grinsen auf den Lippen. 

"Finger weg!" knurrte er leise doch nicht bedrohlich. "Ich glaube nicht!" lachte die Blonde und genoss den Moment auch wenn es komisch war. Der erste der Fatui ging prompt zum Gegenangriff über und fing nun an die Schmiedin zu kitzeln. 

Ein freudiges Quietschen erfüllte den Raum und alle Drei fingen an zu lachen. "Sieh mal einer an!" kommentierte der Mann. Die Rechnung hatte er allerdings ohne die Archontin gemacht, welche sich nun auf ihn stürzte. 

Sofort fuhr der Mann zusammen und ließ von der charmanten Leopardin ab um sich unter den Fingern der anderen Frau zu winden. "Hahahaha lass das hahahaha..." lachte Capitano und zuckte. "Aww der große Fatui ist kitzlig?" kicherte Xilo und kitzelte ihn ebenfalls. 

Die Runde hatten die Ladys ihn definitiv besiegt. Aber griff er während er lachte Mavuika an, welche auch sofort lachen musste. "Auf sie!" grinste ich und sah meine Verbündete an. Xilonen nickte und kitzelte ebenfalls Mavuika. 

Wenn jemand wusste wie empfindlich die Göttin eigentlich war, würde das wahrscheinlich ihr Ende bedeuten. "Hahahahaha nihihihihicht ihhihihihihr zwei..." lachte Mavuika und schüttelte den Kopf, wobei ihre roten Haare wild hin und her flogen.

"Dein Lachen klingt so schön!" kicherte die Geo Nutzerin frech und auch Capitano stimmte dem zu. "Oh ja, das gefällt mir!" fügte dieser hinzu. Der Fatui fing an sie festzuhalten, damit Xilonen freie Bahn zum kitzeln hatte. 

Diese grinste dankbar und kitzelte Mavuika sanft. Das laute Lachen hallte im Raum wieder. "Hahahahaha hört hahahahaha ahahahahauf..." rief sie und versuchte sich zu befreien doch hatte sie gegen Capitanos starke Arme einfach keine Chance. 

Nach einigen Minuten ließen sie die Rothaarige zu Atem kommen. "Ihr...seid gemein..." schnaufte sie aber hatte ein ehrliches Lächeln auf den Lippen. "Und jetzt seid ihr noch dran! Wer will zuerst?" grinste sie und rappelte sich auf.

Der Fatui schluckte, schob Xilonen vor und grinste. "Hey! Nein! Capitano zuerst!" rief die Leopardin und versuchte sich zu wehren. Es entstand ein kleiner Ringkampf und schlussendlich war Xilo diejenige die als nächstes gekitzelt werden würde. "Das ist unfair!" beschwerte sie sich und seufzte. "Tut mir leid aber du hast nun einmal verloren!" lachte der Fatui und drückte die Blondine sanft aufs Bett.

 Mavuika hatte die ganze Szene mit liebevollem Blick beobachtet. "Aber denk daran Capi, du bist dennoch dran! Nur etwas später! Und vergiss nicht, zwei Frauen können gemeinsam auch grausam sein!" kommentierte die Göttin und kicherte. "Ja, wir werden gnadenlos sein!" stimmte Xilonen sofort zu und wusste dass die nächsten Minuten höchstwahrscheinlich sehr anstrengend werden würden. 

Und noch bevor sie sich wirklich darauf vorbereiten konnte, fingen Mavuika und Capitano an sie zu kitzeln. Sofort zuckte sie zusammen. Ihr Leopardenschwanz wedelte hin und her und ein lautes Lachen brach aus ihr heraus. 

"Hahahahahahaha nihihihihihihicht hahahahahahaha..." lachte sie lauthals und wirkte noch empfindlicher als Mavuika es war.  Die Hände an ihren Seiten und Achseln ließen sie wie verrückt lachen. Nicht einmal ein paar Sekunden konnte sie die Reize unterdrücken. 

"So kitzlig, meine Liebe!" grinste Mav und fand es durchaus amüsant ihre Geliebte so zu sehen. Auch Capitano war entzückt davon. Das glockenhelle Lachen stimmte sie allesamt glücklich. "Auf das dieser Moment auf ewig in unseren Erinnerungen bleibt!" meinte die Pyro Gottheit und lächelte schon fast wehmütig. "Das wird er!" pflichtete der Fatui ihr bei und lächelte.

"Hahahahahaha jahahahaha!" stimmte auch Xilonen lachend zu und wand sich unter dieser kitzligen Qual auch wenn sie es tief im Herzen genoss. Ihr Lachen nahm immer mehr zu und als Mavuika sich auf ihre Füße konzentrierte schrie sie vor Kitzeln laut lachend auf. "Nihihihihicht dahahahaha!" flehte sie und ihr Schwanz wirbelte herum. 

Capitano grinste fast schon sadistisch als er dies sah. "Ich glaube da muss Mavuika noch genauer untersuchen! Das scheint mir immerhin eine große Schwachstelle zu sein!" hauchte er. "Oh ja, da muss ich genauer forschen!" kicherte die Angesprochene und lachte ebenfalls. 

Für Xilonen grenzte dies an Folter auch wenn sie natürlich jederzeit abbrechen könnte wenn sie wollte. Niemals würde Mav ihre lieblings Leopardin ernsthaft verletzen wollen. Und auch der Erste wollte nur den Spaß des Moments und Niemandem schaden. 

Nach gefühlten endlosen Minuten hörten Beide endlich auf sie zu kitzeln. Immer noch kichernd ließ sie sich erschöpft in die Kissen sinken und rang nach Luft. "Ihihihihr ward gemein!" beschwerte Xilo sich spielerisch. 

Mavuika strich ihr zärtlich einige Haare aus dem Gesicht. "Du hast aber sehr gut durchgehalten! Dafür verdienst du definitiv meinen Respekt!" sprach sie und küsste ihrer liebsten sanft auf die Lippen. Capitano beobachte es und seufzte. "Ja, du auch!" lachte die Königin und küsste ihn ebenfalls.  Überrascht aber überglücklich erwiderten sie Beide nacheinander.

"Damit fehlt nur noch einer in der Runde!" verkündete die Göttin und leckte sich über die Lippen, so als ob sie schon den ganzen Morgen darauf gewartet hätte. Der Fatui seufzte und wusste, dass es nur fair war wenn er jetzt gekitzelt werden würde. Er stieß dennoch ein unzufriedenes Brummen aus.

Beide Frauen kicherten. "Hat ein großer, starker Mann etwa Angst vor etwas harmloses wie Kitzeln?" scherzten sie und Capitano verzog gespielt beleidigt das Gesicht. "Natürlich habe ich keine Angst! Nur keine Lust!" murrte dieser. "Tja, zu spät, mein Hübscher! Du hast zwei Frauen gegen dich und deren Zorn wirst du nun zu spüren bekommen!" drohte Mav lachend und hob ihre Hände, bereit zum Angriff.

 Der Schwarzhaarige wusste dass er nicht entkommen kann. "Lasst mich aber am Leben!" murmelte er noch bevor er auch schon stark zusammen zuckte und sofort anfing zu lachen. "Aber klar lassen wir dir dein Leben! Du wirst hinterher nur nicht mehr atmen können!" kicherte Mavuika und kitzelte sofort gnadenlos.

Auch Xilonen zeigte keine Rücksicht und fing an ihn zu kitzeln. "Du hast schließlich als erstes mit dem Kitzeln angefangen! Also leb damit, dass wir nun dich lachen sehen wollen!" flüsterte sie und ließ ihre Finger geschickt zwischen seinen Rippen tanzen.  

"Hahahahaha..." lachte er noch ohne um Gnade zu flehen. Doch war er eindeutig zu kitzlig für sein eigenes Wohl. Immer lauter wurde sein Gelächter und seine Beine traten unkontrolliert umher. Mavuika grinste und setzte sich darauf und fing an ihre Kitzelattacke auf seine Füße zu lenken. 

Ein spitzer Schrei entfuhr ihm und er lachte immer mehr was für die Damen ein gutes Zeichen war. Xilonen fand jede kleine Stelle an seinem Oberkörper während Mavuika ihren Spaß an seinen Füßen hatte. 

"Hahahahahaha nihihihihihicht hahahahahaha..." gab er lachend von sich und zuckte wild hin und her. Das Kitzeln war nahezu unerträglich. Doch außer lachen und auf die Gnade seiner Peinigerinnen zu hoffen konnte er nicht viel dagegen tun. 

Die Frauen genossen es richtig den stärksten der Fatui durch Kitzeln so zappeln zu sehen. "Haha man könnte meinen, dass wir dich richtig foltern! Dabei kitzeln wir dich nur!" kicherte Mav und ließ ihre Finger geübt über die nackten Fußsohlen tanzen.

"Dahahahahas ihihihihist HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Fohohohoholter hahahaha..." schrie er unter seinem lauten und gleichzeitig heißen Lachen. Doch auch wenn er es als Folter bezeichnete, fand er dieses Gefühl fast berauschend.

So zogen einige Minuten ins Land, in denen Capitano hilflos lachte und sich hilflos unter den gnadenlosen Fingern wand. Als sie ihn endlich zu Atem kommen ließen, seufzte er erleichtert. "Ihr wart brutal!" beschwerte er sich gespielt und stieß  die Luft aus.

Mavuika und Xilonen kicherten und waren einfach nur glücklich im Moment. "Das war doch ein gelungener Start in den Tag, oder nicht?" kicherte Mavuika und ihre beiden Partner stimmten dem lachend zu.