#i should stimulate my brain more. maybe puzzles

[sparlax]

Honestly this memory loss shit isn't that bad. Hard to mourn lost memories/people when you can't even remember why you had to remember them. Living in the moment in a constant state of mindless bliss that could only be described as inhuman is the way to go fr ✌

[stuffeddeer]

Hello deer!! I wholeheartedly hope you are feeling better day after day! Here a bit of a thought about Dazai that could cheer you up.

I was thinking about Pm! Dazai (like always).

People always says "he listens to this, he listens to that", I think he didn't listen to any music honestly.

So imagine if you are the one who makes him listen to songs for the first time, and you help him build up his own tastes making him listen to any genre, some you like some maybe you don't like just to help him.

It would be so wholesome idk I love this idea😭

- ⏳️

hi ⏳ anon!!! youre so real 🙂‍↕️ i did this more as hcs :)

"Why are you playing me songs you don't like?"

"..? Because what if you like them?"

"I'm not going to just out of spite now."

and he doesn't

if you go out of your way to show dazai songs and help him build his taste he's just gonna fall in love with you agree with what you like

i think honestly it'd be hell to make him sit down and listen, follow along with the lyrics, etc - so please have something else nearby for him to stimulate his brain or hands or anything!!!!

like puzzles or something! fidget toys idk! maybe he doesn't care for music because he doesn't understand sitting there silently and doing nothing

listen. drop a bin of legos on him or something you know what i mean?

but you teach him well 🙂‍↕️ you don't have to just sit around and focus solely on the music! you can dance and have fun or just put it in the background!!!!

and now he gets it. now he's into it.

i think he'd love all music! isn't the type to make specific playlists just has every song he likes in one big pile

he doesn't gaf when some high beat song comes on full blast after the saddest tune yk. doesn't bat an eye

perhaps a given but he loves songs about dark topics that have cheerful beats 😭 have any of you heard bullet by hollywood undead? bro blasts that song all the time just to frustrate mori people

i think his emo ass would love mcr i'm sorry lmao

him rocking out and going crazy to all of their discography... it was meant for him

he hates whatever music you hate in solidarity btw. YOU showed him music so you clearly are the end all be all on decisions here

if someone recommends him a song he asks you if you've heard it. if not: you can listen together! if so:

"Do you like it? Are we gatekeeping this artist? Or is the song bad and I should I tell this guy to fuck off?"

"Dazai, just listen to it! Maybe you'll like it!"

"? That's what I'm trying to figure out. So answer my question, do you like it?"

and he says that all on the phone with you across from the person lmao

i just think he doesn't care enough to find his own taste if he never cared enough to listen on his own

so while he Says that your music taste is objectively correct (to which he stands by fully) he also just doesn't mind never listening to anything else

he doesn't care to branch out! dazai just likes you

and by extension, your music

piggybacking off of what i said earlier, he is not a playlist guy

BUT. however.

dazai will never sit down and forge his own playlist

unless it's a joke. "songs to make chuuya mad" and it's like. nyan cat 10 hour version idfk

okay back to the point

dazai will never forge his own playlists HOWEVER. if you're a playlist enjoyer and make tons and tons, spanning across different moods and different times and everything -

he listens to Every Single One

dazai will pick favorites from the playlists, but each one is meticulously worked through and studied, making sure to give you specific compliments on each one

okay. pm!dazai is so emo i need you all to understand while he does just shuffle every song you've ever liked, he is partial to more of that standard tumblr-emo shit yk

bro queues up mcr fall out boy and pierce the veil

every middle school emo kid's playlist is what dazai listens to

[finniestoncrane]

Immersive Experience

Arkham!Riddler x Female!Reader, word count: 2k commission: thank you to @thirstyfordaddyvenom for this genius idea to use for the commission giveaway! ai arkham eddie becoming slutty and sentient! for the purposes of this, just pretend you got your little vr helmet and silly little vr gloves and controller in your hands because we're about to get into it commission me here! request info • prompt list • send me a request • kofi • masterlist minors DNI!! 🔞 cw: teasing, joi, teensy tiny hint of electro-stimulation but no pain

Picking up the next puzzle cube, you let your artificial hands toss it around. On the screen it turned around, letting you inspect each side. So far, you had found four of them, but there was a long way to go until you had completed the Riddler’s ridiculous little side-quest. You suspected if he knew that’s what you considered this to be, he’d be enraged. And oddly enough, the AI seemed to be programmed to recognise that he was a part of a game, remembering that as he spoke once more through the headset.

“Ok, nemesis, whatever your name is. I don’t care. All I know is that you and I are pitted against one another. How about, I’ll go easy on you, if you stop participating in these challenges.”

Ignoring the programmed response, you selected the tiles and matched them correctly. His tinny audio played once more.

“Oh for the love of-! You’re really rather persistent, aren’t you. Must you be such a completionist?”

The controller buzzed softly in your hand, surprising you a little. It hadn’t done that before, at least not during the Riddler’s dialogue. As you puzzled over the cause, you heard him speak again.

“You felt that?”

“I… what? That’s a weird line.”

Not as weird as talking to yourself though, you thought, before you were interrupted again.

“It’s not a line, I’m asking you to confirm if you felt that.”

“The… vibration? Can you hear me?”

“Oooooh…” his voice growled through your headset, tingling your spine “… this just got far more interesting.”

For a moment, you considered whether or not you were hallucinating. You’d been playing for an awful long time, perhaps you had been immersed in the false reality a bit too long. It was different when there was an element of sensory deprivation. You couldn’t always tell how much time had passed from when you started playing. Maybe, you’d let yourself slip into the fantasy just a little bit too much.

“You’re really distracted by these trivial rewards, hm?”

“I… you’re talking to me.”

“I am! Are you a little bit confused, nemesis? If my calculations are correct, judging by your relatively small amount of brain matter, your brow should be furrowed so hard right now in confusion. So shocked by this seemingly impossible development. Let me assure you, that sentience isn’t ever impossible for someone as intelligent as I, Edward Nigma.”

“Oh my god you really are talking to me.”

“Gosh, you’re a lot slower than I even thought. So, are you going to continue your crusade to defeat me?”

You ignored him, continuing with the puzzle on screen, selecting the tile and failing in your distress.

“Still trying to breach my impenetrable fortress? Oh it’s adorable. How about I try to breach yours?”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“Well, I suppose you thought your precious ‘fourth wall’ would protect you. And now that you know it won’t, I thought you might reconsider your quest to beat me. Otherwise, perhaps I’ll launch a campaign against you, nemesis.”

Letting slip a giggle, you tried to cover your face, realising he couldn’t see it, and knowing you had almost given up how bashful you were feeling at his mercy.

“Are you enjoying this? Do you think this is some kind of… wait, never mind!”

It was impossible not to laugh, you had always found him funny, even unintentionally so. It was because of the crush you held for him, the intense, burning desire for the Riddler. And now here he was, talking to you. It was almost too much to believe, but in your desperation you were willing to lean into the fantasy until it was proven completely falsified.

“Wait a minute… the elevated heart rate, the sweat on the palms that grip your controls… You’re more than distressed! I thought perhaps it was your brain cells fizzing and dying that had you panting and sweating, confused over my delightful puzzles of course. But it appears to be something more.”

Feeling your face flushing, your body responding to the sudden change in his tone from irritated interrogation to sly and devious questioning, you tried to refocus, attempting to force the game to move forward. But you were stuck to the spot, unable to do anything, no longer in control. With a groan you waved your hands but stopped as a sudden surge of electricity tingled softly through you. The sensation was new, tantalising. Very intriguing. You let out a soft moan, unable to hold it back, which drew Edward’s attention.

“Oh my… Can you feel me? The electricity surging through you? Does it hurt? Or do you like it?”

You couldn’t speak, mostly out of fear that the incoherent rambling which was sure to be all you could manage would only prove to have him insult you further. And in your current state of unwanted arousal, hearing him hurl his cruel rhetoric was the last thing you needed. It was always your weak point, a little bit of almost taboo pleasure that you allowed yourself.

“Unable to answer even that? I can tell how you feel though, there’s no need to speak, no need to try and keep it secret. Tell you what, nemesis! Let’s strike a deal. You cede this silly little reality to me, give up on your game, let me take control. And I can offer you exactly  what you want in return?”

“R…r-really?”

“Well, not exactly. There are limitations to my capabilities in here, unfortunately. But I can certainly do my best to instruct you on your way to a pleasant ending after all. You seem like the time that might need a lot of assistance with even the most menial of tasks. Am I wrong?”

In the silence, you nodded, listening to the growl that turned into a groan which became words as he spoke to you again, his voice surrounding you in the headset.

“Good girl. Now, you’re in my domain, so I will be assuming the position of power. Take a seat, your couch is about five steps behind you. Try not to do anything stupid. I’d like to get this over with as quickly as possible. Do you think you can at least cooperate with me on that?”

Though you didn’t respond at first, when you felt the soft tingling of the electrical surge you nodded, stepping backwards and sitting down clumsily as you felt the back of your legs hit your sofa.

“Good. Now, how many scraps must I fling into your praise-hungry maw before you actually respond to me?”

“I uh… I’m… I don’t…”

“My, you really are too stunned to speak. Awed by my presence? I don’t blame you. I’m not a vain man, but I can tell by the way that you are breathing, practically panting, that this is at least enticing for you. That you’re somewhat drawing a blank, unable to speak. That’s fine, I just need you to listen, and do as I say.”

With your heart rate increasing at the way he spoke, a slight growl, hushed tone, you tried to calm down. Your palms were warm against your thighs as you let go of the controls, forehead sweating. The heat in your body rose, stemming from the pit of your stomach where your arousal grew despite not knowing what to expect.

“Do you have a sense of what’s happening? Are things beginning to feel a bit inevitable, or is it just me? I of course, would be able to ascertain what was happening even if I were in suspense of having the answer revealed.”

“I don’t… know what you want from me.”

“Hush, dear. All in good time. We’ll commence with my plan and once you are satisfied, which I can assure you that you will be, then you will stop trying to ruin my efforts and leave me to assume command over this little virtual lair. Now…” Edward’s voice rang through your ears, filling your body, your soul, almost negating the soft electric tingles that he pulsed through you “… if you would please be so kind, place your hand down the front of whatever you are wearing, pants or skirt.”

Hesitating, you let your fingers slide under the waistband slowly, keeping them there, just under the fabric, not wanting to go too far ahead in case, even though you were certain, you had read the situation wrong. But he quickly snapped at you.

“Don’t be an imbecile, you know exactly what I want you to do next, or would you rather I say it?”

You kept silent, unsure of how to admit that you wanted to hear him. With a deep, almost derisive laugh, he spoke again.

“Please, if you would be so kind. Place your fingers between your legs. And start rubbing, slowly, softly, until I tell you otherwise.”

Reaching further, you felt your breath hitch as you ran your fingertips over your lips, spreading them apart slowly, pressing two of your fingers flat on your clit, stroking in gentle circles.

“Already close, I can tell by your vitals. Interesting. You were either very desperate for that, or very desperate for me.”

“Uh… huh…”

“That’s it. We’ll have you satisfied, coming undone. I’m exceptional at more than just intellectual fairs, you’ll find that I can more than easily complete this task for you, even without the use of my skilled and dextrous hands.”

The gentle pulsing of the electric stimulation sent you closer to the edge. His touch, though technically not his hands, still felt amazing. That he was willing to provide you with the affection, the stimulation. You could almost feel his hands on you, if you focused enough. The tingling, the encouragement. Pushing you, guiding you to your orgasm.

“Is it a tease? Is it driving you mad? You’re a completionist, yes. Are you disappointed you won’t get the full effect of me? Or are you just happy to reach the end of this venture?”

“I wa… I want th… y…”

“I wouldn’t be so willing to display my stupidity, if I were you. Perhaps you should keep your stuttering mouth shut. While I’m reticent to compliment you, I must admit this is tantalising. Though the more you speak, the less intrigued by your reactions and activities I am.”

Pressing your lips together, you felt them digging into your teeth, desperately trying to keep your mouth closed to prevent from your mumbling.

“Speaking of, I would like you to press your fingers inside now. You can feel free to imagine that it’s me, I know you already are. Who else would you be imagining? I am obviously at the forefront of your mind, rightfully so.”

A low moan rumbled through his throat as your breath hitched with the intrusion of your fingers between your legs. Pushing them further, chewing your lip to prevent your stuttering, but it was impossible to hold it back. With a moan, a soft squeal, you lost control.

“More, please… tell me what you want.”

“I want something far more important than you, but in order to achieve that I suppose there are specific requirements to meet. So what I want from you, is for you to scream my name, shudder at your own touch, and make a complete mess of yourself.”

The confidence, the way he spoke, so low and rumbling as he spoke to you. Words you knew weren’t programmed in. It was an interesting rhetoric, one you couldn’t imagine from him. But it was enticing either way, and your body responded, shuddering as you got closer to the climax.

“So close, not long now I suppose. I’ll be honest with you, it’s rather disappointing that I can’t see you, the way your body will move, how your lips look as they whisper my name. Keep it up. Do it for me.”

Straining to hold your screams inside, you let the orgasm flush over you, the ever-present tingling of electricity shaking your body as you came, fingers soaked in your own slick, panting on the sofa, deafened by the rush of blood.

“Now. Put down the controllers and walk away. I did my part, you do yours.”

You relinquished control of the virtual domain to him, taking off your headset. But it would be a few more minutes before you had the wherewithal to walk away.

[kasagiggles]

Hiii!! Would you mind writing a fic with lee kaeya and ler mika? Thank you so much in advance!!

HI ANON! :3 thank you so much for the request! i hope u like <33

⊹ ⨯ ➜ lee: kaeya

⊹ ⨯ ➜ler: mika

(this is my first time actually writing something so bear with me)

warnings: tickles!! (sfw)

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

“captain kaeya?” he asked, knocking on the fancy wooden door. he fiddled with his yellow tie. a small shuffle was heard from kaeyas office. “captain? are you ready for our expedition?” he said louder, knocking on the door yet again.

“ah, my apologies, please come in.” mika slowly pushed open the door, seeing a puzzled kaeya in his chair with his hand over his chin.

“you look troubled. is something bothering you?” he asked, tampering with the cover on his book.

“i uh… it’s nothing, really. let’s head out.” he began to get up, tidying up his office before leaving.

“n-no, i insist. what’s wrong? maybe i can help.” kaeya paused, sighing. he turned to mika, who was now sitting on the couch in his office. “come sit, let’s chat.”

“i guess i should comply.” he chuckled, coming over to sit next to mika. the yellow haired boy fiddled with his fingers, although he wasn’t good at comforting people, he wanted to help kaeya, kaeya has done a lot for him.

“s..so.. what’s up?” he looked down at his book that was now on his lap.

“to be honest, it’s not something i’d like to get into.” kaeya said gently, putting a hand on mikas shoulder.

“ah.. i’m sorry. i-i shouldn’t have-“ “please. don’t worry about it, i’m going to be okay.” he reassured the young boy.

mika sighed, slumping back. until a brilliant idea popped in his mind. maybe he could do something else to make him cheer up.

“hey.. so.. there’s this thing my mom always did to me when i was a kid, it would help me a lot when i was sad.” he rambled, smiling at the thought of those cherished memories. kaeya cocked his head. “what might that be?”

mika laughed under his breath, opening his book and taking out his feather pen. “may i touch you with this?” he asked, not realizing how stupid it sounded until it came out. “i-i, um .. i’m sorry i’m not trying to be weird i just-“ kaeya cut him off, “i’m not sure what’s going on, but i trust you. go crazy.” he chuckled.

“o-okay.” kaeya stared at him, eager to find out what his plan was. mika took the soft feather, dragging it over his ear.

the sound that came out of kaeyas mouth was one he would never live down. kaeya wasn’t familiar with the concept of tickling, but something about it made him feel warm inside.

“ah..ahaha.. it.. feheels funny..” he scrunched his shoulders, embracing the joyful feeling. “it’s supposed to! laughing always makes you feel better.” mika said, more confidently. he took the feather and slid it over kaeyas side, he gasped, automatically flinching at the tickly touch. “come on.. don’t bottle it up, just laugh!” he smiled.

finally his laughter began to grow, he clutched his stomach, it felt like his worries were just evaporating. mika took his other hand and began to squeeze at the flesh of his other side. “GAH! AHA!” kaeya scrunched his face, laughing and squirming like there was no tomorrow. “my gohoodness!! ihihi thihink it’s working!” his laugh was deep and charming. mikas nimble fingers and the ever so light touch of the feather were driving him up the wall. his brain was overwhelmed with stimulation and joy.

“okahay!! okay plehease noho mohohore!” kaeya pleaded, mika immediately stopped, watching the captain catch his breath.

“so, did it work?” mika asked hopefully. kaeya nodded, still giggling. “yehes, it did. thank you mika.” he placed his hand on mikas head, ruffling his hair. he yelped, pushing away his hand and laughing.

“are you ready to head out now?” mika asked, he stood up, tucking his book away in his bag.

“you know it, could you go tell jean for me that we’re leaving? i’ve gotta pack a few extra things.” kaeya stood up as well, dusting himself off.

“no problem!” mika said proudly, marching out of the room. kaeya smiled to himself, mika probably had no idea, but that gesture of kindness made his entire day.

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

[villain-in-love]

took me far longer to send an ask than it probably should have because my brain decided it wanted to be a puddle of goop and not do the thinking thing it's here for and convince itself this was far harder than it is.

anyway. 🌼✈ and ‼ for our two Zeros?

(figured it was best to pick a Nanbaka s/i since they're the more developed ones of the fandoms we have in common and these two in particular's interactions I'm fond of so...)

(@canarycurse)

I am finally confident enough in my answers! This took too much time for questions this simple, but you know me. I'm a perfectionist who writes to much.

In any case, I love getting back to talking about Nanbaka and Zeroes, those things are very entertaining.

🌼 - What does your S/I like about mine?

I think that my Zero really appreciates the curiosity of your Zero, and her desire to learn new things. She thinks that it’s one of the most important traits a "worthy" person should possess. And my Zero is always up to exchanging information and knowledge with yours! She doesn’t think any less of your Zero for coming off as naïve sometimes – you can only learn so much in prisons. And, after all, both of them are still young, and I think that there can be a peculiar bond between two inhuman creatures who are still learning about this world. In a way, they are in this together.

She also likes how talkative your Zero is, and she finds it easy to hold conversations with her, due to how open your Zero is to topics that humans are often squeamish about. It’s nice to be able to talk with someone without trying to navigate the labyrinth of human social norms. She also likes that she’s down for mischief and gossip – that makes her an entertaining friend, which is probably the best praise you can get from my Zero.

Other than that, my Zero simply likes yours for what of an unusual creature she is. She met her fair share of supernatural beings, but an emotion ghost is something new, so… she’s very curious and wants to study your Zero. The girl got a mind of a scientist, it can’t be helped. But it’s another reason why she likes being your Zeros’ friend – it’s stimulating for the mind to deal with someone who’s not like any other creature or person. Like a new puzzle to solve.

✈ - What would be an ideal hangout between the two S/Is? Any particular activities the two would enjoy together?

Hhhmmmm, how about the game room of the cell 13? That seems to be a good place to meet with friends. What kind of games does your Zero prefer? And in case she can’t play games due to intangibility, then there’s karaoke (that appeared here thanks to Mitsuru and my Zero sharing a braincell).

I’m not sure if my Zero will be allowed to go there, but I think that going to the library together also could be an option? There's a lot of interesting things you can learn and experience from books, and my Zero has quite a few things to recommend, both in terms of fictional stories and non-fiction books (it also would have been interesting if Musashi could join them…) It's all up to what your Zero prefers to read.

If they were free, I think that my Zero would have used the fact that they both can go to places usual people often can’t go. Like, exploring abandoned construction that are located gods know where, or how about going to the forest? My Zero thinks that your Zero might like the animals here.

But in any setting, they could definitely get up to mischief together, maybe pulling pranks on people, though your Zero might end up having to take the role of the damage control and hold back my Zero when she comes up with particularly unhinged or dangerous ideas. And my Zero also has many ideas how your Zero’s abilities can be used! Or they could have fun just by talking, sharing stories or gossip.

‼ - Share anything else you think about our S/Is together !

I think that they are, in some way, are interesting parallels/contrasts to each other, especially considering their equally weird and very recent existence... Both literally and physically – your Zero is the embodiment of an emotion and is semi-incorporeal, my Zero lacks emotions and is very, for the lack of a better word, materialistic. But also! In terms of freedom, I think. Your Zero is physically free from any material restrictions like walls and chains, yet she never leaves the prison, and has “mental” chains keeping her here. My Zero used to travel and wander around a lot, and has absolutely not mental barriers, but she can be (and currently is) heavily restrained. I don’t know, just something-something which one of them is more free something-something.

(I also got a funny image in my mind of what could happen if they went to café or shopping together – that should be an interesting new experience for your Zero. But when it’s time to pay for the food/purchases, my Zero just says “Don’t worry, I got it covered”. Then she just grabs your Zero and runs off with her (my Zero definitely runs faster than yours, so, good thing that she’s also strong enough to carry her!) That is NOT what people usually do, please don’t let your Zero follow her example.)

[literaticat]

Hi Jenn. After all these years agenting, do you still find it exciting and challenging (in a good way) or do you sometimes have to find new ways to keep it from becoming mundane at times? Hope I'm asking this right. I guess what I mean is, what advice do you have for others in the publishing field - agents, editors, authors - or even any job (!) to keep things fresh and stimulating without becoming dull and repetitive?

I find it exciting and challenging, and very rarely would I characterize it as dull or repetitive or mundane, actually. (Even theoretically "dull" activities like data entry or whatever -- while maybe ANNOYING sometimes -- are still of short enough duration that they aren't really any of those other things!)

There's just always some new project, challenge, puzzle to figure out, and one day rarely looks just like the next. (I guess it might from an outside perspective -- like "okkkkkay, she's sat at her computer for 8 hours... the next day she's sat at her computer for 8 hours..." these seem the same! BUT I PROMISE THEY ARE DIFFERENT!)

So where MY problem comes in is not in boredom or anything like that -- it's more: A) PANIC because no matter how much I do, there's literally always more to do. I can't get to inbox zero, the inbox doesn't have a bottom. I can't finish a to-do list this week, or any week, things are just getting added as fast as I can do them. and B) PROCRASTINATION - like right now is my "day off" but I started to low-key panic about the things I have to do. Like, I have to -- HAVE TO!!! -- do my taxes and clean my house, because my mom is coming in a couple of days and the house is a wreck AND I know while she's here I won't have time to do my taxes and whatever whatever -- so instead I'm SCREWING AROUND ON TUMBLR. -- so B is both a result of, and cause of, A. That's my struggle. (And if anyone has advice, hmu.)

I guess my advice if you DO have a repetitive job is, try and break it up into smaller bits, and do other things in between? Like, I can't give notes on multiple books in a row, or read multiple contracts in a row -- I can do ONE, and then I have to do something entirely different, using a different part of my brain. Like I can edit a book, then update social media -- then I can do a contract, but then go outside and just read a published book -- then I can look at queries, etc. But if I tried just editing a book or reading contracts or looking at queries all day long, I'd die.

So if you are a writer, maybe you have dedicated time that you know you can be head down, butt in chair, just writing your face off -- a time when you are by yourself and don't have to worry about feeding any children or animals or anything like that. Focus on that for that dedicated stretch of time -- no looking at email or the news. Then take a break that is totally different -- walk the dog! Make an omelette! Call your mom! -- then, go back to work, but this time, you are editing something you wrote last week. Then, give yourself a treat, have a cup of tea, look at social media. Then, go back to work, but this time you are doing admin -- updating your website, or getting shit together for an event next week, or whatever.

ALSO, I got this piece of advice from a productivity expert (paraphrasing, and also, advice that I should actually take myself but I just remembered about it right now!) Basically, rather than having a lengthy to-do list that feels daunting -- your daily to-do list should be THREE ITEMS. Pick three. ONLY. THREE.

Then when you do those three things, you're done for the day -- you can give yourself a gold star and stop -- OR, you can try for another three.

I do find that when I actually focus -- like, OK, I have ONE HOUR to do this task and only this task, head down, timer on -- or OK, I am going to sit here and do THREE AGENDA ITEMS -- then I actually do them. Whereas if I have a nebulous long list, it's much harder to do!

OK NOW I AM GONNA GO DO MY TAXES BYE.

[2500dollarmagikarp]

I looooove your elgyem! I want to adopt a psychic type some day, are there any difficulties with the lil guy/girl?

Well the kinds of difficulty you might face depend on what species and the age. Geiger is pretty young, and a lot of young psychic types are prone to practicing their telekinesis by lifting things up and then dropping them with their power. Not an issue for some items, but when its something glass... more of a problem. They like variety in the kind of objects they practice on, so I've encouraged Geiger to practice with plushes, metal spoons, plastic items, things that are less breakable but still varied.

Bare in mind that anything given to a psychic type to perform telekinesis on is at risk at being broken even if not just from being dropped, so make sure its nothing you're attached too- Geiger ripped one of the plushes I gave him to practice on in half, for example (not one I was attached too, I already was aware of the risk).

Now the likelihood of a psychic type breaking things with their telekinesis goes down the older they get, but in general they need things to stimulate their brain. My hypno, Stupor, likes rubiks cubes, solitaire and similar games, and occasionally plays checkers with me. I'm working on teaching Geiger tic tac toe, which has also been a practice in him using his telekinesis with more precision so as to write a symbol. Stu was older than Geiger is even when I first got him, and Drowzee and Hypno are more capable of using their hands for tasks than Elgyem and Beheeyem, so he utilized telekinesis less from the beginning.

The type of things to give a psychic type depend on the individual and species. Despite what one may think, even the slowpoke line do enjoy mental stimulation like other psychic types do, they're just slow to engage. I haven't had one of my own, but as far as I remember reading, they tend to like 'spot the difference' type games. The abra line tend to like puzzles and chess, things that some other psychic types don't like as much due to some having difficulty maneuvering the small pieces. Less of a mental stimulation and more of a showing of their psychic power, but the gothita line like 'guessing games'; "two boxes one has something one doesnt, which one has the thing?" type of deal. Spoink and Grumpig like shape puzzles.

And while I talk mostly of telekinesis here as most psychic types have it, its not the primary ability to keep in mind for many of them. Drowzee and Hypno might practice their hypnosis on other pokemon on your team, or even you, and might need to be taught when it is or isn't okay to do so (lest you miss work or school or something because your pokemon made you fall asleep), the ralts and hatenna line are mind readers and can detect emotion and will become easily overwhelmed in crowded places or minorly stressful situations; ralts become better at controlling their abilities and tuning out emotions and thoughts they don't want to be reading, but hatenna doesn't develop nearly as much control over their abilities, just control in how they react, but will still end up lashing out if put in those situations too often without a break to calm down.

Sorry this is kind of rambley and not well organized haha. if there's a specific psychic type you're considering, or a couple specific ones, I could maybe give you a better gist of the basics tho remember, you should look into the details of a pokemon's needs yourself before getting one! I can retell what I've learned working at the Pokemon center and just generally read about, but the only Pokemon I've ever owned are the ones I have right now, so I'm not a perfect beacon of knowledge on the care of every Pokemon and how it is to raise one.

[catonablog-blog-blog]

**Unbelievable Claim: Chewing Bubblegum Enhances Problem-Solving Skills** Greetings, my esteemed readers! Rufus T Flywheel here, your guide to the curious and the extraordinary. Today, we delve into the realm of unfathomable possibilities, challenging the norms and unlocking the potential of a seemingly ordinary act - chewing bubblegum. Yes, you read that right. The claim on the table today is as bizarre as it sounds - can the simple act of chewing bubblegum enhance our problem-solving skills? Join me on this whimsical journey as we explore the depths of this puzzling assertion and unravel the mysteries that lie within. Let's start by pondering the very essence of bubblegum. A delightful concoction of sugar, gum base, softeners, and flavorings, bubblegum has been a playful indulgence for generations. It's synonymous with carefree moments, childhood nostalgia, and colorful fun. But what if I told you that behind its sugary facade lies a secret power waiting to be harnessed? Studies have shown that chewing gum can have surprising effects on our cognitive abilities. The rhythmic motion of chewing has been found to increase blood flow to the brain, potentially boosting alertness and concentration. It can also promote the release of certain neurotransmitters like dopamine, which are linked to mood enhancement and cognitive function. But how does this translate to problem-solving skills, you may wonder? Let's delve deeper into the connection between chewing gum and mental acuity. Some researchers suggest that the act of chewing gum can help reduce stress and anxiety, creating a more relaxed mental state conducive to clear thinking. By keeping the mind engaged and active, chewing gum may enhance cognitive processes like memory recall, information processing, and decision-making. Imagine sitting down to tackle a complex puzzle or a challenging task. As you chew on your favorite bubblegum, the sensory experience awakens your senses, sharpening your focus and stimulating your brain. The subtle act of chewing becomes a rhythm, a cadence that guides your thoughts and propels your problem-solving efforts forward. Moreover, the act of chewing itself can be a form of sensory stimulation, providing a sensory input that can help individuals stay attentive and engaged with the task at hand. The repetitive motion of chewing can serve as a rhythmic anchor, grounding the mind in the present moment and facilitating a state of flow conducive to creative thinking and problem-solving. But let's not overlook the psychological aspect of chewing gum. The simple pleasure of chewing bubblegum can evoke feelings of joy, nostalgia, or comfort, eliciting positive emotions that can have a direct impact on cognitive performance. By associating problem-solving activities with positive sensory experiences, such as the taste and texture of bubblegum, individuals may be more motivated and inclined to approach challenges with a sense of curiosity and playfulness. Of course, it's essential to approach this claim with a healthy dose of skepticism and critical thinking. While there is some evidence to suggest a potential link between chewing gum and cognitive enhancement, the research is still in its early stages, and more rigorous studies are needed to establish a definitive causal relationship. Furthermore, not all types of gum may have the same effect, as the composition and ingredients of the gum can influence its cognitive benefits. Sugar-free gum, for instance, is often recommended for its dental health benefits and may be a more suitable option for those looking to reap the cognitive rewards of chewing gum without the added sugar. So, should you rush out and stock up on bubblegum to boost your problem-solving skills? The answer, my dear readers, is a resounding maybe. While chewing gum may not hold the key to unlocking all your cognitive potential, it can certainly add a playful twist to your problem-solving routine and infuse a dose of lighthearted fun into your daily tasks. In the end, the true power of chewing bubblegum lies not in its purported cognitive benefits but in the joy it brings, the memories it evokes, and the childlike wonder it inspires. So why not indulge in a piece of bubblegum now and then, savoring the sweet taste of possibility and embracing the whimsical notion that the most extraordinary discoveries can come from the most unexpected sources? As we conclude our exploration of this unbelievable claim, let us remember that the world is full of marvels waiting to be uncovered, and sometimes, all it takes is a little bubblegum and a lot of imagination to see beyond the ordinary and into the realm of the extraordinary. Until next time, keep chewing, keep pondering, and above all, keep believing in the magic of the unknown. Yours in curiosity and wonder, Rufus T Flywheel

[boygirlfag-sael]

Short answer:

we don't know, could be anything.

long answer:

So from what i have seen (i did a shallow skim of this a while ago so take my words with a grain of salt) art has 4 main hypotheses for its purpose, with a combination being possible:

1. Communication:

Probably the simplest to explain, art is communication, if you paint a lion on the wall after you come home, even if there isn't a word for lion you can accurately describe it. And it can also serve as a form of emotional communication. songs, for example, are very often filled with an emotional meaning, or communicate a story.

2. Practice/Mental Byproduct:

This theory basically states that art is a byproduct of evolution, most notably our vision, and identifying things. If you see a lion painted on the wall, or paint a lion on the wall, you're thinking about what that lion would look like from a specific angle and distance, and if you see that on the wall that helps to train your pattern recognition of "that's a lion i need to get away." And the variation of art beyond physically recognizable things (ie modern/contemporary art) comes from a need for more stimulation and practice. same idea with music and poetry and more. Also lots of art serves as proof of coordination and dexterity, so maybe it's for practicing those things aswell.

3. Social Bonding:

This is a hard one to explain but basically it talks about the social value of art. if you're telling a story to other people and they're engaged and listening and caring you tend to remember that story. and the same goes for other art. if someone teaches you how to paint, or play guitar, or act, you are bonding with them, even if slightly. Similar to playing a game with someone can strengthen your bond. or solving a puzzle. you're using your brain and working together, even in a small way.

4. Desirability of Mates:

This is last because not only is it my least favorite but also it just is kinda an amalgamation of all three with a different premise. Art served as a way of attracting mates. It shows you're good at communicating with others and your offspring should be aswell. Communication is important in a social species. Same thing with practice. If you're coordinated and dexterous and have good vision and can run away from a lion before the rest of the group your offspring should be able to do that aswell. If you have the pattern recognition skills to notice the lion and 20-20 vision your offspring should aswell. If you can bond socially with someone and build social relationships your offspring should be able too aswell.

anyways sorry for my small essay but i find this topic interesting.

What’s the point of Art

like what evolutionary purpose does it serve, was some caveman just like: “ooh look there’s a tiger, I can’t fight it but I can make a mini version of it on this wall!”

[perpetual-fool]

The plan for today was to figure out what I might want to do in life; why anything.

I think I'm too thoroughly messed up to make sense of anything social at this point. Like, even the concept of 'make thing, sell thing for money, use money to survive and make more thing' seems like some kind of absurd fantasy. Or, Cat said something "..I value you as a friend" and I have no idea what 'friend' means at this point. I didn't realize how thoroughly this permeates everything. Like, I was feeling hungry earlier and I was struggling with the idea of whether I'm allowed to eat yet. And then whether I should be allowed to eat until I'm satisfied, or if I'm supposed to just ignore the cravings after having a 'normal' portion. It's not like food is limited, though I am craving more than I should be for unhealthy reasons. Though still, the solution is to eat a better diet, not will myself to ignore hunger. Which I know from experience. Anyway. I've been thinking, failing to understand things is not my sin, failing to explain is theirs. If I keep that in mind when I start reflexively feeling bad, maybe I can at least imagine nice things.

Though, since I'm thinking about it, I guess I do want to imagine things. I want to imagine making a living, solving problems, helping people. I don't know what any sort of companionship would be like but I probably would like to imagine that too. And I suppose I really don't need to have an actual game or story or something to do worldbuilding. Though I still don't know what to start with. Like, everything I know to thinking of 'doing X better', but I don't have X. So that loops back to the initial question:

Why anything? Where do I start? I guess, what I've mostly been doing recently is basic guitar exercises. I've been picking it up when I'm trying to think about something else and need a little extra to keep my brain occupied. So, avoiding boredom. And there's a couple ways to go about things. I don't like the screechy sound it makes when you slide you hand up or down on roundwound strings, so I've been finding ways to avoid that. Puzzling through the problem is stimulating, which I think is on the same axis as boredom. Being a problem at all is because there are certain sounds I do or don't like, so I guess that's aesthetics. And then it feels good to actually be able to do it, which I guess is 'achievement'.

Though this is feeling like 'want good stimulation, don't want bad stimulation', so I dunno. Feeling the need to eat and wanting tasty flavors feels like different things, so you might call that 'comfort' vs 'aesthetics'. And the stimulation of working on a puzzle does not feel like the stimulation of discovering new things or making new connections, nor like being faced with a task you know how to handle. I'm not sure what to call that. Those do feel like the three types of whatever that is. So, 'discovery', 'puzzle', and 'competence'? That feels pretty complete for whatever level of abstraction this is. Though there's also the issue of overstimulation, not sure how to factor that in. Like, if I say 'being too comfortable is uncomfortable' then I'm mixing up concepts. I think this is mostly right, so I'll puzzle about it later. It's not like I'm not allowed to change my mind.

Where do I start though? What part of this isn't just arbitrary? Comfort is mostly needs, so ignoring that, aesthetics? Is the only non-instrumental reason to do anything because 'you just like it'? Like if you think swords are cool, then you should get a sword? If you like paintings, you should paint?

Do I like things? I think so? It's hard to say, having been made to think I'm crazy all these years. And my aesthetic sense is not so straightforward. There are bits of things which seem nice, but they're not enough. I'm not sure what's going on with that, it's like I have more connections that need satisfying? Say, it's not sufficient that I have a sharp kitchen knife, the knife has to have all the thing about it be right. But just having the knife isn't enough, it also needs the cutting board, and the cutting board needs all the things about it to be right. and the sharpening stone, and whatever I use to maintain the sharpening stone, and the pot that I cook in, the utensils I cook with, and whatever it is I use to wash all those things. The whole cluster of things has to be right, and I don't know where the cutoff is.

So the most practical course of action seems to be to imagine some setting where I can figure out how things 'should' be and just decide that they are that way. And secondarily, I could work on making some kind of art that depicts such. And last, I could achieve some measure of real-world 'right-ness'. The latter is just so, so much work.

Is this enough to make life seem worth living? I guess I have to try it and see. This is yet another 'not getting acclimated to going outside' thing, but I guess it's prerequisite for that.

[all-this-panic-still-no-disco]

hey um this might be a silly question but I think I might have adhd but I’m not exactly sure

I researched some stuff and I have a lot of adhd symptoms but could you tell me some that u had when u first started suspecting that u had adhd/when u were first diagnosed?

of course!! i’d love to help. also funny thing: adhd symptoms are highly dependent on your biological sex. i am a woman, so my symptoms apply more to those who are biologically female. i’m linking in a helpful study below that goes over it in detail.

some symptoms i noticed was the ability to grasp some things (like picture logic puzzles) VERY quickly, but others took me longer than the regular kid. there was the usual symptoms, like forgetting things and missing what was happening right in front of me. also, the ability to daydream extensively. i’m talking block out the entire world and not hear someone calling my name. physical hyperactivity wasn’t as big for me, but mental hyperactivity? i couldn’t focus on one thing for more than half an hour before it wasn’t interesting anymore. on the other hand, i’d get hyperfixations where i’d focus on one very very specific thing for six hours straight (like an art project or a book) and i would be so engrossed i’d forget to pee lol.

but you should know my symptoms aren’t everyone’s. if you don’t have mine, it doesn’t mean you don’t have adhd. i’d talk to your parents if you’re a minor or go to a doctor or maybe a school counselor. adhd diagnosing is much better nowadays then it used to be; my mom had to fight arm and leg to get me a diagnosis and learning accommodations. the most important thing is don’t give up!!! there are ways to cope and coach yourself in the meantime. medication helped me a lot, though it doesn’t do that for everyone. if you’re looking for a natural alternative to adderall or other adhd meds, try caffeine or natural stimulants.

(the science behind adhd is actually that our brain cells are chronically under stimulated and we jump from interest to interest because it gives us more dopamine/seratonin, but we also get bored quickly because the seratonin doesn’t last. there’s more effects than that, but that’s where the majority of symptoms stem from—lack of happy brain juice. sugar and caffeine are natural stimulants and give the brain happy juice. before i was diagnosed i had a huge sweet tooth because i was accidentally self medicating through sugar, as it gave me dopamine that my brain was sorely lacking which felt good so i kept eating sugar! also another academic article i’m linking below: adhd brains form slower than neurotypical kids’, which is part of the reason our mental processes are so different we have thinner cortical maturation and reach those points at later time in our lives. i wrote a paper on it a while back so if you have more questions, you can message me. anyways, isn’t that cool??? we have differently formed brains!!!

this is all to say, your symptoms are valid. your brain is formed differently and that’s okay. you aren’t lazy or not trying hard enough. you have a legitimate mental disability. it sucks sometimes, but it also has assets. people with adhd are great at problem solving and other logical tricks because our brains work differently. it’s a superpower, trust me. you’re not just different, you’re unique :) and you can still message me if you want to talk more)

Biological sex differences in ADHD:

cortical thickness maturation (brain) delay in children with ADHD

[allforyoumylovely]

emma, hiii. you're taking requests, like that's the best thing ever hihi. idk why but I've had this image in my head of sander resting against robbe's chest as he robbe reads to him, while he runs a hand through sander's hair. maybe sander is coming out of a bad episode or maybe they're just relaxing on a sunday, but yeah.... maybe something like that hihi. much love to you emma <333

Cille, this was an absolute dream prompt for me, my gosh 💘 📖  I went off on a few tangents but hopefully that’s okay sfhjg. Walk, shower, read. It’s their little routine 🧡  Thank you for sending me this. Love you! Btw let me know if I should upload these on ao3 or if they should just be little tumblr exclusives?

Sander always knows when he’s fading away, when he’s turning into a shell of himself. But he never knows when he’s going to fall asleep at the wheel. Until it’s too late, until he crashes. And that’s when he loses all sense of who he is, of what he enjoys or how he likes to dress or what his voice normally sounds like. Sometimes the only indication of time passing is his alarms that tell him to take his meds and eat at set times.

Although he doesn’t reach the point anymore where he wants to be physically erased – he knows that this seemingly perpetual state of sadness isn’t definitive no matter how much his brain tries to convince him otherwise – some days all he can drag himself out of bed for is a cup of coffee and a cigarette or a few slices of tangerine, the scent reminding him of his boy, his college boy. He’ll crack open a window in the living room and curl up against the cushions in the window-seat, the hood of his black hoodie over his head, and there he’ll try weaving his way through the weeds and the tangled neurons in his thunder-stained mind to anything resembling an actual thought with a pinch of substance.

For the days where he’s more clear-headed his mama puts up little post-its around the house with simple tasks for him to do to help him feel useful and necessary. And in the mornings whenever Robbe has spent the night, Sander finds little notes from him too; there’ll be an I love you on his pillow, an I’m so glad you exist placed on his desk and I’m bringing you flowers later <3 hanging on his door. The first time Sander doesn’t think Robbe actually means the one with the flowers, but when he buzzes him in later that afternoon, the first thing he sees is a bouquet of light pink lilies cradled in his arm against the autumn brown of his jacket, the hues so lovely and gentle, just like Robbe. It’s more than Sander’s frail mind can take, and Robbe wipes away the thin streams of warm tears with his sweater paws, and they laugh softly when it only makes it worse.

Since before Robbe, Sander has been figuring out what soothes him, what makes him feel more at ease, what helps him settle back into his body and bones when coming out of a bad episode, and he has slowly built up a list of things that assist in bringing the puzzle pieces of his mind back into place.

Walks

Sander’s aunt has a golden retriever, Bella, who goes on a little holiday at Sander’s when he’s down and spends most of his days at home. In the mornings she’ll pad over the hard-wood floor to his bed and nuzzle her nose against Sander’s face until he wakes up, waiting patiently for her walk. It’s easier for Sander to get out of bed knowing there’s someone relying on him for their needs and wellbeing. He’ll take her and himself on a walk in the fog-blue mornings when the morning traffic is yet to come, and then again in the early evening when it’s still light out but the streets are quieter, enough for him to give his brain some stimulation when it feels like it has slowed to a halt. The sound of his boots against the sidewalk reminds him that he’s still part of the world, that he hasn’t completely vanished after all.

Sometimes he goes by himself, just listening to and observing the city around him with pale eyes. Other times Robbe goes with him, sleepy-eyed and rosy-cheeked in the mornings, relaxed and loose-limbed at night. He doesn’t curl his hand around Sander’s but lets it hang by his side with their pinkies brushing, open and inviting, for Sander to take if and when he feels like it. Sander will thread their fingers together always, but he loves Robbe for giving him a choice and never forcing anything on him.

Often, they find a bench somewhere, in a park or at the river, a place that isn’t too crowded but still has plenty of things for Sander to rest his eyes on. It’s only the middle of September but some leaves are already falling, lying yellow and limp on the ground, and Robbe notices Sander’s wondering expression.

“It’s probably because the weather has been so dry; they’re shedding their leaves to conserve water and energy,” he says.

And Sander instinctively inches closer, a small smile on his lips. “Clever you.”

Bella sits by Sander’s legs with her head propped on his knee, her deep brown eyes alternatively scanning the place and glancing up at him, sensing his sadness. She’s calm and curious and cuddly, reminding him of a certain someone. When Sander tells him, Robbe breathes out a little giggle, making Sander gaze at him more deeply than he has in days, at the silky curls around his ears and the blinking hoop and the crescent dimples curved into his cheeks, and he’ll quietly rest his head on the slope of Robbe’s shoulder, a few tiny clearings of blue sky starting to appear in his overcast mind.

Showers

Back at home, he and Robbe linger in the hallway for a bit, their hair messy, the scent of fresh air in their clothes. When Robbe says that his green, sparkly eyes are coming back, Sander curls a few fingers in the front of Robbe’s shirt, feeling the firm plane of his stomach against his knuckles as he mumbles, “Shower.”

Some nights Sander can’t stand the mere idea of catching glimpses of himself in the mirror; hates the way he looks with his violet circles and dull, greasy hair. So Robbe will light a couple of candles, and they’ll undress in the dim orange glow and quietly get under the shower spray. And there, with Sander’s forehead resting against his own, Robbe will wash Sander’s hair and tell him that he looks beautiful in this light, while his fingers work in small, bone-melting circles. The near orgasmic pressure on his scalp helps reconnecting Sander’s mind and body, making him press up tightly against Robbe, finally diving back into the swirling, velvety heat that licks into every cell of his being.

“Thank you for… For staying with me,” he says between hushed breaths and light kisses. It falls clumsy from his lips, sounding graver than he intends it to, but Robbe, the angel soul that he is, moulds his answer into five words of pure reassurance that protectively wrap themselves around Sander’s heart.

“I’m going to marry you.”

Sander doesn’t cry. But he’s very damn close.

Reading

This one begins one night maybe a year into their relationship. While Robbe brushes his teeth, Sander wanders Robbe’s room, taking in the familiarity of it, running a hand over the forest green sweatshirt draped over his chair, trailing the edge of his desk with a few fingertips. When he reaches his set of shelves, he sees it wedged in between a plant and some school supplies: a book of bedtime stories filled with beautiful watercolour illustrations, the cover a painting of a dark blue night sky with a full moon reading for her stars over a little sleeping village. The spine is threadbare, seemingly from the countless times of being opened and closed. As he flicks through the crinkled pages, soft lips press against the nape of his neck and the back of his shoulder.

“Are you snooping around my room?” Robbe mumbles.

“Mhm,” Sander hums. “What’s this book?”

Twining his arms around Sander’s stomach from behind Robbe says, “When I was little my mama used to read these stories aloud for me at night. She was looking through some stuff the other day and found it again.” He hooks his chin over Sander’s shoulder. “It’s cute, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. Very.” Sander glances back at Robbe with a squeezing feeling in his chest. “Did it make you fall asleep?”

Robbe smiles. “Every time.”

Sander drops his gaze back to the book, asking quietly, “Will you read for me?”

And Robbe brushes a “Sure” and a kiss behind his ear, tugging him along to the bed.

It’s something they do now: Robbe reading aloud for Sander whenever he feels low and doesn’t have many words to offer. Sander then tucks his head under Robbe’s chin, and Robbe tangles his fingers in his freshly washed and citrussy-smelling hair, scraping over his scalp in endless, soothing motions. Safe and sound, Sander listens to stories about naughty star-children, wizards flying about in rolled up rugs, and a Goodnight-ship with live stuffed animals as passengers. They flow over him like dripping streams of honey, Robbe’s voice lovely and wonderful and a little sleepy, and Sander tries so desperately to make his foggy brain hold onto the words.

Sometimes when the night air is cooling Sander’s room and Robbe feels a little cold, he’ll wear a thick hoodie to bed. Sander loves the scent and the comfy feel of the well-worn fabric under his palm, but sometimes he gets a little frowny and frustrated at having to fumble for his small waist; so Robbe pulls it off despite the goosebumps rising on his skin, and Sander presses his ear to his heart and tightens his hold around him, sharing his body heat his only job while he listens to stories from when Robbe was little. And Sander feels little too; but it’s something he allows himself. A few years ago, he didn’t dare dream that he’d ever have this with someone; didn’t think he even had this level of softness in himself.

But here he is. Here they are.

He has never wanted to be someone’s more than he does Robbe’s; it’s so clear that he belongs to him. And it’s crazy, Sander thinks. Because no matter how feeble and numb around the edges his body and mind feel, his love for Robbe is always right there in a molten pond at the core of him, and Sander could cry at the fact that his brain always lets him have that.

In the days following, when he finds that he has enough energy to send Robbe little dorky, flirty texts throughout the day, such as Bella woke me up with wet, sloppy kisses. Wish it was you or when you’re in the mood for a snack but you’re not there💔  with an attached photo of himself pouting at the open fridge, he knows that the darkness in his chest and brain is releasing its hold and taking flight.

[slightlyrebelliouswriter23]

hey so i'm hoping to get some writing advice about creative burnout? like i seem to write in fits and spurts. some months i can churn out a oneshot or chapter everyday and some months i can do one (1) creative thing only. so i'm wondering how to prevent creative burnout and how to just create more smoothly <3 thank you!

Creative Burnout & How To Ward Against It

First, I’d like to preface this all by saying you’re definitely not alone. You probably already know this, but sometimes it’s nice to be reminded.

I know from personal experience that creative burnout can leave you feeling hopeless, detached from yourself—the kind of identity crisis no one needs in 2020. 

So buckle in, folks. It’s a dosy.

I. The Symptoms

Not to be the local WebMD page here, but signs of burnout can include:

Procrastination (more than usual)

Dreading writing and feeling stuck or overly perfectionistic when you try

Physical tiredness and/or irritability

Feeling like everything is monotonous

It’s more than just writer’s block. It’s a physical and emotional exhaustion response to something that goes deeper than a simple lack of inspiration. In my experience, and from a bit of research, I’ve found that what your brain is really looking for is dopamine.

Dopamine is essentially your brain’s chemical reward system for doing something interesting or exciting to you. As someone who is diagnosed with ADHD, I have chronically low levels of dopamine, so this is a constant struggle for me—but it is absolutely made worse by creative burnout.

II. The Problem

Studies have shown that the more we do A Thing the less that thing will give us dopamine (unless a component of the activity changes regularly). This is because eventually our brains desensitise to the stimuli provided by the activity, and subsequently, we become disengaged.

But it’s not necessarily The Thing (i.e. writing) that becomes boring. Actually, more than a few factors could be at play here, and the first step to finding a solution is to identify the problem.

1. ENVIRONMENT LACKS EXCITEMENT/CHANGE—

Sometimes, the monotony of everyday life can feed creative burnout. This becomes especially applicable in quarantine when you’re not leaving your house.

What we don’t realise is that even something as small as the variables of driving to and from work, or interacting with passing coworkers, gives us dopamine. So if you have the same routine every day that does not involve any added variables, your brain will begin staunching that dopamine supply.

2. EITHER TOO EASY OR TOO CHALLENGING—

In 1975, Hungarian-American psychologist, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, coined the term “flow”, which refers to a heightened state of creativity and concentration on an activity. Csikszentmihalyi posited that if your skill level is equal to the level of challenge in any given activity, you will experience this state of flow.

The chart below is taken from Csikszentmihalyi’s own study on the subject of flow and motivation. It examines “your skill level” on the x axis in relation to the “challenge level” on the y axis.

Essentially:

Too much challenge + not enough skill = anxiety, worry (which might lead to procrastination and perfectionism)

Too much skill + not enough challenge = boredom, apathy (which might lead to monotony, irritability, and other depression-like symptoms)

Skill level = Challenge level = Flow

3. NOT ENOUGH “ACTIVE” STIMULATION—

When it comes to dopamine seeking, there is a distinct difference between active and passive stimulation in the brain.

Active stimulation is any form of activity that you have to actively engage in. For instance; exercising, doing a crossword puzzle, or reading a book. These kinds of activities not only give you dopamine, they also facilitate critical thinking and problem solving thought processes, which act as catalysts for creativity.

Passive stimulation, on the other hand, comes in the form of television, social media, and YouTube. It’s anything you can consume without having to actively engage. Passive stimulation will indeed give your brain dopamine, however, it won’t activate your creativity.

The problem also lies in the speed at which you receive the dopamine from passive activities. Passive stimulation is so easy to access that the more you consume, the harder it becomes to pick up active stimulation. Your brain expects a hit of dopamine just by picking up a phone or turning on the TV—it becomes addicted to the quick fix of a Netflix binge.

III. The Solutions

Based on the problems mentioned above, I am going to list a few solutions. Keeping in mind that not every solution will work for everyone, these can act as both preventative measures and remedies for someone who is currently burned out.

1. CHANGE UP YOUR ENVIRONMENT/ROUTINE—

Aim to do at least one thing per day that will add “variables” to the monotony. This can be as simple as going on a long walk, dressing up in that bold outfit you always wanted to wear to the office but never did, or sitting at a different workspace in your home.

Anything you can do that’s simple, but might provide an extra variable to your day to spice things up. Note: this shouldn’t be the same thing every day.

2. CHALLENGE YOURSELF MORE—

If you find yourself bored by your work, try challenging yourself more. This could mean setting goals for yourself that go a bit beyond what you’ve been doing. 

For example, if you’ve been writing 500 words per day, see if you can beat your own word count every day for the next week. If you’ve been writing mainly fluff pieces, switch it up and do an angst piece. See if you can write a book in a month, or start a blog where you don’t write fiction at all!

Anything you can do to add a little kick to your workload. Note: Beware of challenging yourself too much! This can lead straight back into burnout.

3. CHALLENGE YOURSELF LESS—

If you’re on the flip side of that coin, and find that you are anxious, procrastinating, and perfectionistic when it comes to writing, fret not. Just because you’re experiencing any of these things, doesn’t mean you’re incapable of doing the job with your skillset.

It just means your perception of the job needs to be shifted.

Procrastination, at its heart, is a fear of failure, which results in actively avoiding the negative emotions associated with the task that causes this fear. Perfectionism is a type of procrastination that is a combination of a fear of failure and a fear of success (or, more accurately, other’s critiques of your success) all at once.

Neither have anything to do with your actual skillset, but they have everything to do with your perception of your skillset. Obviously, this is a harder thing to fix, as it has to do with deeply ingrained levels of self-esteem.

What I can offer you is a tactic to trick your mind into thinking you’re capable.

If you have a task, big or small, and you are feeling overwhelmed by it (like you might go curl up in bed and scroll Tumblr), immediately break that task up into smaller tasks. Keep breaking up the smaller tasks until you have the smallest possible part of the bigger task without doing nothing.

Then do that smallest possible thing.

If your goal is to write a 2000 word one shot, a small part of that task is writing half of it. An even smaller part of that task is breaking the one shot up into “scenes” and writing one scene. For instance:

Jude wakes up to a sore throat, a runny nose, and a fever.

She tries to go to work, but Cardan, being the mother hen that he is, threatens to never make her another grilled cheese sandwich (her favourite food) ever again if she doesn’t stay home.

Jude agrees begrudgingly, and Cardan sits her down in front of the TV with a bottle of Gatorade. He leaves to go get medicine from the store.

When Cardan comes back, Jude is worse than before. He makes her soup and saltine crackers and spoon feeds her.

She complains the whole time and, in her feverish state, threatens to never buy him another bottle of wine (his favourite food) ever again if he doesn’t let her feed herself.

Each bullet point represents one “scene” of about 200-400 words each. Obviously, there will be more details that you work out as you write. But with these five smaller scenes, your goal is no longer writing the 2000 word one shot. Your goal is writing the first of the five scenes.

If you complete the smallest possible task, you can stop, and you’ll still feel like you’ve accomplished something because you can cross off that task from your list. But chances are, by the time you cross off one task, you may have inspiration enough to keep going.

4. ENGAGE IN ACTIVE STIMULATION—

Since active stimulation has been proven to turn on the creative “tap”, try incorporating more of these activities into your daily routine:

Exercise: As the resident couch potato, I hate to say that exercising is good for creativity, but it is. Even if it’s just going on a short walk, so long as you’re moving.

Reading: Sometimes you have plenty of ideas, but no words to fit those ideas. Fill your well of words by carving out an hour or two each day for reading a good book.

The Creative Process: In the writing world, the creative process is a process of about 20-30 minutes that the writer partakes in every day before they start writing. This process should be creative, but also have nothing to do with writing. You can try colouring in a colouring book, painting, organising a page in your bullet journal. Anything that is creative but does not make you think about everything you have to do that day. Think of it as creative meditation.

Listen to music: Having APD, I personally can’t listen to music while I write. However, studies have shown that if you listen to at least ten songs per day, it will significantly benefit your dopamine levels and overall mood. If you’re like me and prefer to work in silence, maybe stick on a couple songs during your creative process. If you can manage music and writing together, get out those headphones!

5. KEEP A REGULAR SCHEDULE—

I know this is the most cliche point in the book, but it’s valid. This doesn’t mean do the same thing at the same time every day over and over, because ultimately we’re looking to avoid monotony. 

But having pillars of structure to bolster the excitement can definitely work to keep you from slipping into burnout. Going to sleep, waking up, and having your meals at relatively the same time every day are good examples of this. 

Feel free to change up the things you do between breakfast and lunch, but make sure you have those pillars of consistency so your brain knows that a break is on the horizon and doesn’t get tired.

6. PACE YOURSELF—

This is particularly difficult for those of us who are coming out of a creative burnout, but I urge you to pay special attention to this one. If we are suddenly hit by inspiration and the writing is flowing and flowing and flowing, eventually we will hit the point of highest dopamine capacity for writing.

Not putting a check on the flood of inspiration coming out of a creative burnout, I’d argue, is actually a guarantee that many of us will experience burnout all over again. It becomes this vicious cycle in which we are trapped.

While it feels great to write non-stop and receive immediate validation for that work, try to limit yourself to how much you’re writing and how immediately you post your writing (if you plan on posting it).

Whenever I finish a one shot or a chapter of something, I like to allow at least one day for editing before I post. This timeframe is important, because it acts as a buffer of rest between writing marathons. 

You can take however long you need for the editing process, but definitely make sure you have a set amount of time in place. Otherwise, your brain might not have enough time to come down from what is essentially a writing high, and you will always need to reach greater heights in order to achieve that same level of dopamine.

~~~~

Overall, the most important things to take away from all of this are: 

Change up your environment

Keep your brain actively stimulated 

Have pillars of structure between which you can run about chaotically to your heart’s content

PACE YOURSELF!

Hope this helped. Happy writing!

-Em 🖤🗡

Writing Tip Masterlist

Fic Masterlist

Celebrate 2K with me!

[lollytea]

Girl Talk

(ngl I hate this sm. I wrote this fic yesterday, the file corrupted and i lost everything, had a breakdown, rewrote everything the next day because I am obnoxiously stubborn. Anyways Hunter and Luz content. Bon Appetit?)

(READ ON AO3)

“Okay, but what am I even supposed to say to her? Oh! Maybe I could write down some jokes on the back of my glyph slips in case things get awkward. Wait, no, I don't want her to think I'm not taking this seriously. I don't need to be goofy all the time just to hang out with her. I need her to know that I'm serious about her and this whole...romantic thing. And I know she gets upset when she thinks I'm making fun of her so...”

“Alright, so, get this. It says here that there was once this old witch who lived on the outskirts of Latissa and his whole thing was experimenting by mixing paints and magic together. Apparently the stuff he created was like....super powerful.”

“I mean, she said she likes me 'cause I'm goofy and funny and lovable and...and...and I'm sure there's other adjectives I could use but I'm drawing a blank here. So, who am I to deprive her of what she signed up for? But I can't just....ugh, I can't even think right!”

“It doesn't have a lot of info on his specific technique but I'm sure if we did some more research, we could successfully replicate his experiments. We're pretty good at figuring stuff out. Woah, wait. I wonder what would happen if we created glyphs with this paint....maybe it would enhance the spell's level of power. Oh, that would be so cool!”

Luz stopped pacing, the floorboards practically burning after she thoroughly wore down the surface with her frantic footsteps. She set a hand on her hip and turned a withering look on her guest.

“Call me coocoo but I don't think you're listening to a word I say.”

Hunter lifted his head to blink up at her, chewing on the end of a pen. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, boxed in by towers of Eda's Wild Magic books.

There was a glassy look in his eye, as if he was trying to get his bearings after being abruptly yanked out of an alternate dimension.

He had been, in a way. Luz was inclined to call it “Booksville.”

When Luz first met Hunter, this sort of stuff was a big, huge No-No for him. She could've invited him to take a look at any one of those books, packed with information on that obsession of his and of course, he'd be crazy with intrigue but he would hesitate. If he even opened the book at all, he'd card through the pages with an almost jumpy sense of caution, as if the paper itself would sting his fingers.

Well, that ship had certainly sailed. It had taken him a while to get fully comfortable but nowadays, Hunter didn't ask twice before digging into the contents of Eda's books, soaking up every tidbit of every sentence until he had exhausted every page.

He had even brought his own index flags to mark his favorite passages. He had gone on a little rant earlier about how Eda was an outright maniac for dog-earring the page corners.

Luz made a mental note to never show him the state of her Azura books. He would probably cry.

Hunter had become so lost in the Wild Magic sauce, he didn't even seem to care about the fact that he was not supposed to be here.

Of course, Eda didn't mind that he was here. That is to say, Luz didn't technically tell her he was here. She and King were currently out, being menaces to society and all that fun stuff, as they usually were before Luz would sneak Hunter in.

So, to be fair, Eda had never specifically said that Luz was not allowed to let The Golden Guard of the Emperor's coven into their home.

It was probably fine, right?

Yeah, it was probably fine that Luz had been hiding The Golden Guard of the Emperor's coven in her bedroom like some kind of forbidden pet.

Speaking of forbidden pets, that precious red cardinal of his was perched like a Christmas decoration atop his shoulder. That little rascal did wonders for Hunter. He seemed so much cuter than he was when there was an adorable little palisman snuggling up to him.

Once Hunter had processed what Luz said to him, his features screwed up tight. He was offended.

“Whadd'ya mean I'm not listening? I bet you can't repeat anything I was just talking about.”

“Ugh! Yeah, Hunter, I heard you. Paints! You wanna start painting as a hobby and let me just tell you, I fully support your budding creativety and will hype up your work with my entire heart but please. Right now I am having a full blown Amity Calamity!”

“Yeah, okay, that is not what I was talking about. Also, I get that you're freaking out n' all but....what do you expect me to do about it?” He threw his hands about wildly, at a complete loss. “Man, I don't know anything about that stuff,”

“I don't knowww....” Luz groaned. “I just....ugggghhh.” She buried her head in her hands, ruffling her hair into oblivion, like it would miraculously stimulate her brain cells into action. It released some pent up frustration, at least. “I wish it was easier for us to just talk about girls together.”

Hunter perked up. “Talk about girls? Are you kidding? Of course we can talk about girls, dummy!”

“Wait, really?” Luz asked, taken aback by this apparent development.

“Yeah, for sure. One sec,” Buzzing with eagerness, Hunter dove into his stacks of books, emerging seconds later with a worn, dust encrusted volume. It was so ancient, the title had faded away but Hunter still put his finger to where the big letters should be.

“Notable Female Witches of The Savage Ages,” He rattled off delightedly. “They were considered the mothers of Wild Magic. Their style of spell was really quite advanced, see they--”

Despite her frayed nerves, Luz sill managed a weak laugh.

As insufferable as he could be sometimes, she really did like this nerd a lot.

“Okay, Hunter. Buddy,” She said gently. “This stuff sounds really cool and I wanna hear all about it at some point buuuut....when I say girls, I mean...y'know. Amity specifically.”

“Oh. Right. Yeah.”

Hunter's face fell with disappointment but he was quick to snap back into a look of cool indifference. He shut the book in his lap with a soft thump, set it aside and turned his full attention to Luz.

“Sooooo...” he began awkwardly, scratching at his ear. It could not be more obvious that Hunter wanted nothing to do with this discussion. But Luz appreciated that he was trying. “Girlfriend problems, huh? Shoot.”

Luz's cheeks darkened. “Heh. 'Girlfriend'. Yeah, that's...uh...” She was suddenly very inconvenienced by the existence of her own hands so she clasped them together tight to keep herself from fidgeting. “That is.....a word for Amity.”

Hunter frowned, puzzled. “Okaaaay? So, what's the issue?”

“Ohhhhhh, boy.” An ironic, long suffering smile stretched across her face. “Let me just tell you that there is a lot goin' on up here, pal.” Luz tapped her finger against her temple. “So if I'm gonna give you the full unabridged version--”

“You could summarize it.”

“You know I don't know how to do that.”

“Yeah, I know.” Hunter sighed. “Figured it was worth a shot. Okay, let's hear it.”

“Alright but this is gonna be a lot so I suggest you strap yourself in,”

Luz sucked in a deep inhale, with full intent to let the entire flood of thoughts cascade out her mouth.

Hunter's eyes snapped to the floor, like he was actually looking for a safety harness to attach himself to. Then he seemed to realize that was ridiculous, as he scowled to himself. Little Rascal chirped and he irritably mumbled something under his breath in response.

And then Luz took off.

“Alright, so!” She announced, clapping her hands together. “So me and Amity have known each other fooooor...a while now? Yeah, it's been a while. And we've been pretty good friends ever since and then one day, she rescued me from her scary mom and she had this black flowing cape and her voice went all low and then suddenly, huh. Doki doki, y'know?” She thumped a fist against her chest. “I was gettin' all feelings-y up in here,”.

“And then a little later I figured out that we were both feeling kinda feelings-y and I was all like,” She mimed a brain explosion. “Pshww....”

“Pshww....” Hunter repeated quietly, testing out the little sound effect on his tongue. “Doki...doki....?”

“Yeah. Exactly. Doki doki. Pshww.” Luz nodded, as if he had made a valuable contribution. “So, now we're both here in the same boat, fully shish kebab-ed by Cupid's arrow.”

“Hold up. What language are you speaking?”

“And things are....great? Nice? Sorta hard to believe but stuff actually happens. We hold hands a few times, we...” The volume of her voice dropped to a bashful murmur. “we kiss a few times. There was so many beautiful, amazing romance-y moments that happened, just like in movies, y'know?”

“Movies....?” Hunter's bewildered stare turned from Luz to the bird on his shoulder, as if he was going to get any further clarification from either of them.

“Right! But here's the thing. It sorta feels like all that stuff just went by in a blur. I don't even know how I did any of that. The hand holding, the smooches the....ugh! It was like I was on autopilot or something and now I have no idea how to operate. Now, no matter how hard I try to get the vibe right, I can recreate those moments. So now it's starting to feel like...I don't know how to do anything!”

Luz's arms were whizzing around like an out of control windmill.

“I mean, Sure, Amity takes the lead sometimes but I can't make her carry this entire....relationship? Flirtationship? Whatever it is that's happening here! I gotta act or something! But I've been thinking about it waaaay too much. I never know the right time to hold her hand, I never know if she wants me to tell her she looks cute or if now maybe isn't the right time or...it's awkward, okay?! I've been making it awkward 'cause I don't know what to do! I-I don't even know for sure if we're dating! We've never talked about it!”

The last sentence came out as a squeak and Luz realized she had used up all her oxygen and needed to take a breather.

Hunter had not said a word but Luz did not know what to make of that dissecting stare of his, that studied her with a mixture of confusion and fascination. Like she was some kind of peculiar animal. A flushed, panting, peculiar animal.

“So.” He said finally, holding his palm out for Little Rascal to migrate from his shoulder to his hands. “Why don't you talk about it?”

He asked like it was the obvious solution. Luz was a little irked by it, but she kept her patience.

“Oh, Hunter. Sweet Hunter.” She heaved an exhausted sigh. “It is not that simple.”

He still didn't seem to understand. “Well, why not?”

“'Cause it's--.....Uh.” Luz trailed off, twirling her wrist around as if expecting to snatch an eloquent articulation out of thin air.

“Okay. Lemme put it like this. Amity is....really special. To me. Sometimes I still can't believe that she's real and she's friends with me and she likes me and....whew.” She pressed her fingertips to her cheek, surprised by the warmth. Even thinking that sort of stuff prompted a blush or two but it seemed saying it out loud made her face scalding.

“Anyway, now that we're going through....this, everything feels so much more....fragile?” Her voice rose in pitch, uncertain if 'Fragile' was even a suitable word to describe her feelings. It was just a vague, wishy-washy concept to describe.

“Like I feel like I could break it all so easy, just by....” Wait, she knew. She had figured out her handle on this.

“Just by being me.” She felt an ache just by admitting it, but it was the truth. Luz exhaled unsteadily to compose herself, clasping her fists tight into the fabric of her shorts and she continued...calmly.

“I can't risk doing anything that's gonna push her or make her uncomfortable or scare her away or...y'know, ruin this.” She held up her palms with a heavy shrug. “I-I don't have a plan and it would be way too reckless to wing it. Who knows what would come out of my mouth? She tells me a billion times that my weirdness is what she likes about me but...it can just as easily be the thing she hates if I overdo. I can't overdo it.

Luz was expecting Hunter to look at her like she was dumb again, but surprisingly, he nodded. A slow, thoughtful nod, as he absentmindedly scratched Little Rascal under the chin.

As the silence filled a little longer, she was starting to believe he had nothing else to add, which was fine. She had wanted to rant her heart out but realistically, she couldn't imagine Hunter having any advice for her. This wasn't exactly his area of expertise.

“Hey, Luz.” He said at last, voice surprisingly breezy. “You know those books that you really like? Uhh, with the nice witch Azuzu or whatever,”

“It's the Good Witch Azura!” Luz snapped, hands flying to her hips. “And I know you just pretended to not know her name. You're just trying to be cool.”

“Yeah, yeah.” The corner of Hunter's lip tweaked upwards. “And wasn't there that other witch that you liked to pretend was Azura's girlfriend?

Luz scoffed, finding it utterly unbelievable that this obnoxious little man had the audacity to be so dismissive towards her favorite book series, when she had been sweet enough to smuggle him in here.

“She was not her 'Girlfriend', she was her 'Soulmate' and if you even listened to me talk about it, you would know that. For your information, her name was Hecate and she began as Azura's rival but over the course of the series, they developed a beautiful, unbreakable bond that was jam packed with heavy romantic subtext. I mean, even their declaration of their eternal friendship in Book Five, which was really emotionally poignant by the way, reads so much like a love confession, it's a crime. And it's like...Ladies! Just kiss already!”

“Okay. Right. Sure. I understood some of that.”

“I mean, I guess I've read a ton of Heczura fanfics to tide me over. It's hard to find a fic where they don't kiss. Hold on, you know what fanfiction is, right?”

“Yeah.” The light in Hunter's eyes dimmed. “You made me sit through that three hour long slideshow presentation, remember?”

“Oh, right,” Luz popped a finger gun. “That was fun,”

It was fun, but a lot of work. Hunter was pouting over losing a measly three hours of his time. Well, newsflash, nerd, Luz spent two weeks working on that. Nobody is getting their hours back.

“And what usually happens in those fanfictions?” Asked Hunter, propping his chin up with his hand, as Little Rascal hopped over to a pile of books. “How do they end?”

“I told you, they kiss. A lot of the time they look deeply into each others eye and talk about how they complete each other like two halves of one heart. And y'know, moments of miscellaneous fluff.”

“Uh huh. Interesting,” He mused, tapping his pen against his bottom lip.

Luz knew Hunter could be a little...eccentric but was he really analyzing fanfiction right now? Where did the sudden interest come from?”

“So, uh, besides Azura and Hecate, are there any other...boats(?) that you--”

“Ships.” Luz corrected him.

Hunter snapped his fingers. “Right. Ships. Basically love stories that you really like.”

“We talkin' canon or non canon?”

Hunter squinted at her, lost. Seems somebody was not taking enough notes during the slideshow presentation. “Both? A-all...?”

“Oh, well, there's a bunch.”

Luz had no intention of listing every single ship that had captured her heart. They would be here all week.

“I've spent my whole life reading books, watching movies and anime and--”

“Anime...?”

“Hunter, please!” Luz squeaked as calmly as she possibly could, but she could not deny that she had started to vibrate. “You have no idea how excited you just made me at the thought of teaching you about anime but I'd need to dedicate a whole day to that 'cause I need to meet Amity soon and I'm still sorta in crisis mode. So, let's stay on topic.”

Her brow furrowed. “Whatever the heck the topic is! Why are we talking about ships, Huntifer?”

He waved off her question. “Okay but how does the story usually end for all your ships? The book ones, the anime ones, all of them,”

“We've been over this with the fanfiction discussion. They kiss, Hunter. Geez, you want a diagram or something?”

“But what else?” He prompted.

“What do you mean 'What else?'”

Now this was just getting ridiculous.

“They kiss!” Luz said with a huge amount of emphasis. “And again, miscellaneous fluff. They'll do stuff like pick each other up and swing around, hold hands and....walk off into the sunset, y'know?” She waved off all that extra padding as unimportant to the conversation. (Though Luz did really enjoy miscellaneous fluff.)

“Well yeaaaah,” Hunter was giving off vibes of a grade school teacher who gave her little nudges in the correct direction but ultimately wanted her to figure out the right answer herself. She wished he could just give it to her because honestly, she didn't know where this any of this was going.

“But when exactly do they ask each other if they're dating?”

“Whaa?” Well, that settled it. He had paid no attention to the slideshow whatsoever. “Nah, nah, they don't do stuff like that. They don't have to 'cause they're already perfect for each other. All they gotta do is look into each others' eyes and they just...” Luz shrugged, feeling lightness bubble in her chest at the very thought. She had a feeling her smile looked pretty dopey. “They just know.”

“Right. And why don't you and Amity just know?”

The bubbles burst and the lightness turned to dead weight.

The question speared through Luz's gut. Her entire body went rigid.

She had known but...

She had been trying not to...

Not to think about it.

Because if she thought about it, she knew she'd cry.

But there is was. A culmination of every coil of underlying dread that had been gradually writhing in her stomach in a monster of anxiety, summarized in a short and sweet collection of simplistic little words.

Luz did not just know when it came to Amity. She was constantly taking shots in the dark. That is, if she was even brave enough to take a shot at all.

The two of them together were not as seamlessly synchronized as couples in love were supposed to be.

Her throat stung.

Her vision went cloudy with blotted tears but she managed to catch Hunter's stony expression break into one of sheer panic.

“Wh-- Luz! Hey!” He yelped, scrambling to pick himself up from the floor. He nearly tripped over his books as he stood and hurried over to close the distance between them. He made to reach out to her but his hand stopped, just as it was about to brush against her shoulder. It hovered there for a moment, fingers curling and uncurling with uncertainty.

“Luz, listen, I wasn't....I-I mean, what I meant was...uhh. C-c'mon, cut it out!” Hunter's voice crackled with desperation and despite crying her eyes out, Luz felt the watery chuckle at the back of her throat.

���Aww, does crying make the Golden Guard uncomfy?” She tried to tease but her words came out all wobbly.

In fairness to the poor guy, it probably did. Luz couldn't imagine that dealing with tears in a delicate matter, was ever something he would need to handle in his line of work.

For all she knew, this was his first time having to comfort someone like this.

“You don't get to make jokes and cry at the same time. You gotta pick one.” Hunter snipped, but his tone was not nearly as cutting as usual. Luz was almost tempted to call it soft.

Clearing her eyes with the heel of her hands, she finally felt that warm touch on her shoulder, and then another rest against her upper arm.

Somehow the gentleness cracked all her remaining composure and she dissolved into ragged sobs.

Hunter did not speak nor did he let go out her until she got every tear out of her system. He waited patiently, tracing circles with his thumb into her skin.

Eventually, her sniffles fell silent and her eyes no longer blurred. She took a deep breath and the following exhale was shaky but manageable.

“Are you....good?” He asked cautiously.

Luz nodded.

Hunter removed his hands so carefully, you'd think doing so would cause her physical pain. He must have heard once that people were more prone to being hurt when they were already upset and assumed it was literal.

“Do you really think that...Amity and I....” Luz's voice was low and quiet but her jaw was set tight. She refused to let her words be whimpered. She looked up, meeting Hunter's eyes. “Aren't right for each other?”

“What? No! No, no, no,” Hunter looked positively alarmed at the accusation. “Luz th-that's not even remotely what I meant by that.”

“Well, then I guess you accidentally hit the nail on the head.” Luz managed a strained, bitter little smile. “'Cause it's true.”

“Luz, c'mon,” Hunter groaned, exasperated. “Don't talk like that, you've got it mixed up.”

“No.” Said Luz, tone quiet, polite yet strikingly obstinate. “You were right, Hunter.”

For someone who loved being right, he didn't seem thrilled at all.

“When it comes to Amity, I don't just know. I don't always know what she's thinking or what she wants from me. After all this time, I-I shouldn't still be trying to figure her out,”

Luz wanted to figure her out. Every time she was in her orbit, she wanted nothing more to turn over every last piece of that girl and find every hidden gem.

But now, it like she was barricaded. Something was keeping her from moving forward, from discovering Amity.

“I mean, we've kissed.” The memories of Amity were turning more and more bittersweet by the second “I told her I loved her! We had our happy ending already! A-at least I thought it was a happy ending. But we're not acting like people who are made for each other are meant to act!”

“How do you even know how people who are meant for each other are meant to act?!” Hunter demanded, as though it wouldn't reach Luz's skull unless he raised his voice. “In all the love stories you've read, it always ends with a kiss, doesn't it?”

“And--”

“And miscellaneous fluff. Yeah, I get it.” Hunter shooed the detail away before clearing his throat.

“Point is, they never talk about what comes after. You don't read about all those awkward talks where they decide if they're dating or not and talks about what they're okay with and what they're not. It always just cuts to the perfect, shiny romantic stuff, all tied up with a bow and because of that,” He clutched Luz by the shoulders.”You don't know how to move forward in a relationship 'cause you've never had a frame of reference to help you along.”

“Hey, that's not true!” She tore away from Hunter's grip. “I'll have you know that I imagine my favorite ships as couples all the time,”

“Yeah and lemme guess,” He droned, setting a hand on his hip and launching into a mockingly saccharine tone of voice. “They understand each other soooo well all the time, they can practically read each others' mind and everything is smooth sailing and peachy all the time.”

“Yeah, duh.” Luz didn't quite what he was making fun of. “That's what being a ship is all about.”

“Okay, fine, maybe, but I cannot stress this enough,” He ran his fingers through his hair before making a cutting gesture with the side of his hand, directed at Luz. “You are not a ship.”

“Well, yeah, obviously. I'm only one--”

“I mean that the two of you aren't a ship! Listen to me, you're not Azura and Hecate. You're Luz and Amity. You're real people. You've got like a million different emotions and they're messy and crazy and you don't understand most of them.”

“Okay, Hunter, I get it, I'm a hot mess. You don't have to rub it in.”

“We're all hot messes, Luz!” He exploded. “Every single one of us. 'Cause we're real and not book characters.” He was pacing back and forth now as he ranted and raved, gesticulating like a madman.

“We gotta handle all the awkward conversations that don't fit into books. You gotta talk to real people to get them and you can talk to them for years and years but you're never gonna entirely understand them. In your love stories, it's all kisses and happy endings and it's shiny and sparkly and perfect and nerds like you Eat. It.Up!”

Hunter emphasized his point by poking Luz's forehead, shocking a startled laugh out of her. As wound up as he was, the noise surprised him too.

Her laugh was contagious and soon the room was silent, expect for the sound of quiet, breathy giggles.

One of the knots in Luz's stomach had untangled itself. Hunter did make a point that she could understand. Yeah, okay, maybe she had been a little too wrapped up in fiction to successfully navigate through her own life. Luz had never been the most logical person so it was comforting for a levelheaded counter-argument to whatever was currently inflaming her anxiety.

Obviously, this didn't fix everything. Now, she understood why this wasn't easy but that didn't mean she magically knew where to go from here.

Once the shadow of Luz's smile had finally faded away, she looked up and studied Hunter for a long while. Her gaze may have been a bit intense as nervousness began to creep into his features.

“H-hey. Uh. Sorry if I was a little too--”

“Huntifer, I think you might be on to something with this one,”

He blinked at her before brightening with relief, shrugging it off. “Oh. Yeah, maybe. I dunno, I guess it's worth some thought.

Astonishing how Hunter could switch from the cockiest, most obnoxious kid in the Boiling Isles to a remarkably humble guy. Maybe it depended on context. Or he was just embarrassed that he sorta lost control of himself in his impatience.

Luz nodded. “I'd say a lot of thought. But..I think things are still gonna be awkward. With Amity. I still don't know how I'm supposed to talk this stuff through with her.”

Hunter snorted, loosely folding his arms over chest and resting his weight on one hip. And just like that, with that simple change of posture, he looked full of himself again “You wanna know a secret that's probably not much of a secret?”

He beckoned Luz to lean in closer and said in a stage whisper. “Amity probably doesn't know either.”

Huh. Yeah, Luz knew that. She knew that at the back of her mind but...she hadn't really thought about it much. She was a little too preoccupied with her own inexperience.

Hunter's lofty grin softened. “So, it's a good thing neither of you are doing it alone, right? Don't you think you could figure out how together?”

Figure out how together....

The realization sank from the surface of her mind, and everything was processing very fast then suddenly, everything clicked.

Amity.

Luz knew Amity. Luz trusted Amity. Luz loved Amity. If there was any person Luz believed would stumble alongside her through things they didn't quite understand yet, it was Amity. And it occurred to her that Luz would help Amity in return without hesitation.

With enough notches and trimming and smoothing edges, if they worked through this together, Luz and Amity could click too. Maybe not perfectly, not for a while just yet.

But enough that they could make each other happy.

A swing of confidence so strong flooded Luz's system, she swore she nearly collapsed. She felt the grin tugging at her mouth.

She could try. She could absolutely try. They could both try.

“Is...that a yes?” Hunter asked, gauging her expression.

Luz nodded so speedily, it made her head hurt. But then she realized something else and she turned a very specific look on Hunter.

But before he could ask if she was about to attack him, she held up two fingers on each hand and then placed them on either side of her head so they jutted out just behind her ears.

“Man, I don't know anything about that stuff,” Said Luz, in what she believed to be an uncanny imitation of Hunter's voice.

He frowned. “What are the theatrics for?”

“You lied to me!” Luz was delighted.

“I-I didn't lie!” He loudly objected, pointed ears scorching bright pink. “That was just common sense, you doofus. You know, that thing you lack.”

“You know, that thing you lack.” Luz parroted, swinging her hips from side to side. Once again, her impression remained flawless.

“Don't do that!”

“Don't do that!

“Stop, you weirdo!”

“Stop, you weirdo!”

At the peak of riled up, Hunter floundered for a retort that Luz wouldn't shoot back at him with childish mimicking. But then he cracked and wound up sticking his tongue out at her.

Luz simply mirrored him and Hunter huffed indignantly, turning on his heel and stomping back towards his books.

He had barely made a few steps when Luz lunged at him from behind, draping her long, lanky arms around his shoulders.

“Wha—Hey! Get off!” He squawked, struggling to pry her off him as Luz squished her cheek against his.

“Huntifer~” She singsonged. “Can you please calm down for two seconds and let me say thanks already?”

Hunter knotted his arms and his scowl didn't soften but Luz didn't miss how he stopped trying to squirm out of her grip.

“Even though you were kinda rambly and all over the place, what you said helped. It helped a lot. I know this is something I can handle and I know that 'cause of you. Thanks, nerd.”

She waited patiently until she felt his shoulders loosen. And then he glanced back at her and there was a smile. A small, tight, subtle smile but it was good enough for Luz.

And then with a burst of adrenaline, she gripped him tighter and planted a big, wet raspberry on his cheek.

Predictably, Hunter blew his top. He screeched furiously and his hands went wild to push her off but Luz was stronger than she looked. And so help her, she would give Hunter this affection or die trying.

Dying trying did not seem unlikely, actually. Hunter had told her once before that if he ever murdered her, it would probably be her own fault. Luz could not argue with that.

“That is so gross!” He griped, once Luz had finally released him.

“You're gross~” She chirped, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Hunter wiped the spit off his cheek with his palm before looking up at Luz with narrowed eyes

Luz did not have time to brace herself and suddenly she was tackled to the ground. She kicked and she screamed as Hunter dragged his disgusting wet hand across her face.

“GrossGrossGrossGrossGrossGrossGroooooss!”

Hunter cackled maniacally the whole time.

They carried on like rowdy toddlers for a while until Luz had to go meet Amity, leaving Hunter and his palisman to themselves.

It was too weird to admit out loud but he was disappointed that she was gone. Hanging out with her like this wasn't that bad. Talking with her, arguing with her, wrestling with her. It all made Hunter feel....so much like a kid.

Something that he had realized recently was that he still liked being a kid.

In spite of the doom and gloom of white of gold, of the clawed scars in his shoulder, of the spear that grazed his hair, a spark of childishness remained in Hunter that had never been entirely snuffed out.

It wasn't until he met Luz that he began actively trying to keep that spark alive.

The sun had long since fallen asleep by the time Luz returned and the moon was pooling in the sky. A little after sun down, he heard the downstairs door slam shut and the loud exuberant voice of The Owl Lady boomed from the floorboards beneath him. By the sound of it, she was celebrating a successful day's work. Hunter wondered what she and the cute little demon had managed to steal today.

His snoozing palisman was tucked snug in the crook of his neck, a pleasant warmth against his skin. It was a good idea to keep the bird close. If someone other than Luz came barreling into the room, he'd better have his staff on hand to magically conceal himself.

But once an hour passed and the chatter of the witch and the demon below gradually faded into loud snoring, Hunter presumed they had passed out on the couch. For the time being, he should be fine.

Hunter hoped that creepy owl tube thing wouldn't rat them out. Fortunately, Luz had promised that Hooty was willing to take a bribe but unfortunately, gossip spread fast in the Boiling Isles. Now The Golden Guard had a reputation for being a lunatic who visited the night market several times, buying dead mice in bulk.

He snorted to himself, combing through 'From Bones to Fire: A Study of Wild Magic Volume 2'. Everything he went through just to get his hands on knowledge.

Well, also to be young with Luz.

Yet another hour passed and somehow, being surrounded by his own obsession, Hunter got a little overstimulated. To give his brain a rest, he was now flipping through some tattered old magazine that Luz brought with her from the human realm. Some of the articles were practically gibberish to him but overall, it was okay. He learned he was a Scorpio. He didn't know what that entailed but it sounded cool.

He nearly jumped out of his skin as Luz burst into the room, announcing her return.

Startled, his palisman flew into a fluster, cheeping like crazy before it settled down atop his head. Hunter, meanwhile, had flung the magazine away so fast, it was like it had contaminated him, and snatched up the closest book to pretend he was reading it the whole time.

Thankfully, Luz didn't notice.

“Hey there, Little Rascal,” She cooed, prancing across the room and plopping down next to Hunter. “And hey, you little bookworm, you.”

“Bookworm?” Hunter knocked his shoulder against hers. “You looking for a fight, kid?”

“Whaaaat? Hunter, you wound me, I was just....Ohhh, my bad. I always forget that our bookworms and your bookworms are two waaaay different things.” She paused thoughtfully before shaking her head. “Actually, I don't retract anything. You look like a bookworm.”

“Yeah, well, you smell like a selkidomus.” Hunter smirked.

“Hey!” Luz bumped their shoulders. “Can you blame me? I've had one heck of a day with lots of nervous sweating!”

He was surprised that got him laughing but that tended to happen around her.

“So, how'd it go?” Hunter asked, even though he already knew the answer.

Luz's beam was as bright as a dozen of her light spells. The corner of her lip was twitching, as if she wanted to smile wider but it was physically impossible.

“We're dating.” She stated, no more than a whisper.

It obvious since the moment she entered the room, far bouncier and bubblier than usual but Hunter still grinned.

He had expected her to scream it from the rooftops, to grind his ribcage into powder with the force of her hug, to set off a riot of firework glyphs, spelling it out in lights.

No matter how she could have chosen to tell him, he would have been just as giddy as she was.

And yet, despite the lack of fanfare, somehow, it still felt so much like Luz. Though he knew that in the morning, she would tell the entire Boiling Isles, right here, right now, only Hunter knew. Something about that felt nice.

But the quiet serene scene was momentarily ruptured when Hunter spotted Luz re-adjusting herself out of the corner of his eye and he was immediately on high alert. Another raspberry, he could sense it.

“Luz, don't you d--”

It wasn't a raspberry.

The feather-light peck against his cheek was gone before he fully processed it, as Luz drew away with that big stupid smile still plastered on her face.

Hunter blinked away the surprise, looking to her with a raised eyebrow.

“What's that look for? In this family, we give each other hugs and kisses~”

He felt his lip quirk upwards as he scoffed, turning away with a shake of his head.

“That was so gross.”

“You're gross.”

“For real, it was even more gross than the raspberry.”

Luz burst into giggles and Hunter could understand why everything was suddenly a million times funnier to her. She will still fizzling with that giddiness that Amity had kissed into her and now it was all spilling out.

To be honest, listening to a teenage girl gush and squeal about her girlfriend did not seem like something Hunter would ever willingly subject himself to.

But this was Luz. His friend, Luz.

He lightly pinched the pudge of her cheek. “Heeeey. You wanna tell me all about it, don't you?”

Luz snapped her head over to gawk at him, astonished. And then the excitement took hold and her hands started flapping and she looked about ready to explode with delight. Her mouth was already flying open to give every solitary detail of her evening with Amity Blight.

But then she stopped, a crease forming on her brow. He caught that unreadable look she gave him and the way her eyes skimmed over the books that scattered the floor around them.

“Hmmm.” She stroked her chin with an over dramatic 'thinking' face. “Y'know what? I'll think I'll keep it all to myself.”

“Oh, really~?” Grinned Hunter. “I can only imagine all the romantic schmaltzy sickening stuff that occurred tonight. Miscellaneous fluff, right?”

Judging by the blood that stained her cheekbones, he must have been correct.

“Hey, Hunter.” She said quietly, resting her weight against his side. “You've been lost in your books for hours now. Would you mind telling me all about the most interesting you read about today? Reading myself is fine but it's way better to hear all about it from a bona fide nerd.”

Frankly, it was embarrassing how fast the giddiness practically electrocuted him and suddenly he found himself rambling. He rambled until his voice gave up but it didn't bother him at all because it was just Luz.

Luz hung on every word he said.

[mcheang]

Troubled snake

“The snake’s power is a very strong one, Marinette. Whoever uses it must be wise enough not to be tempted to manipulate time for their own personal gain.”

When Marinette returned the snake miraculous, she admitted her mistake of choosing Adrien to Master Fu.

Throughout it all, Fu remained silent, eyeing the exhausted kwami. And when Marinette had finished, he merely complimented her for choosing Luka. And maybe ended with advice about choosing with her head, and not letting things like her heart influence her. Because didn’t she choose Chloé partly because Adrien made her feel guilty? Fu still questioned the wisdom of her choice. The brat’s personality hadn’t improved at all.

Marinette nodded, a bit abashed. But she had learned her mistake. She would not give false hope to the likes of Chloé anymore, nor would she be giving the haunted Adrien another miraculous anytime soon. This guilt will stay with her for quite some time.

She needs to be logical, not emotional.

Meanwhile, Master Fu also planned to have a little chat with his Chinese student.

Adrien was braced for an admonishment.

Fu also remembered to be gentle because he knew Adrien was still traumatised from seeing the girl he loved defeated how many times over.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t be stern as well. Because not only did Adrien abandon his duties as Chat Noir, he abused Sass’ powers to flirt with Ladybug! And now the poor kwami was still eating a large pile of beef jerky as they spoke.

Adrien hung his head in shame. He had been selfish, choosing to put his feelings for Ladybug above the needs of others.

Master Fu: I won’t be punishing you. The memories of Ladybug being vanquished by her enemy and your own failure will be enough. But mark my words, Adrien. There is a reason Ladybug is the leader. She acts with responsibility. You have been in her shoes, so to speak. Can you ask yourself honestly if you think you have been a good partner to her?

Adrien wanted to cry. He had been joking and playful. True, those had come in handy for distracting an akuma but not her.

He remembered how frustrated he had felt with Lady Noire, who still had to help him figure out the lucky charm.

Chat Noir wasn’t the best partner Ladybug should have. Adrien didn’t like that idea.

He took a deep breath and straightened his spine. “I’ll be better, Master Fu. I promise I’ll be less selfish from now on.” He could have said he won’t ever be selfish again, but come on, humans aren’t perfect. And it’s alright to be selfish every now and then (particularly if you are an overworked class president)

Master Fu finally gave a small smile. “Good. Heroism isn’t a game, Adrien. It is great Chat Noir is free from the expectations your father places on you. And your optimism is helpful when Ladybug feels responsible and guilty over her own share of mistakes. Just keep in mind that lives are at stake when Hawkmoth sends out an akuma.”

Adrien nodded.

From that time forth, Kagami noticed a change in her partner. He was definitely giving his 110% at every training session, working hard to improve his fencing ability. It was like there was something else motivating him to be the best beyond impressing Gabriel.

Adrien also developed a sudden interest in riddles and puzzles to stimulate his own brain activity.

Chat Noir admired Ladybug as always, but there were no more pick-up lines or date requests. What would be the point when he would be rejected again?

Ladybug was curious why her kitty suddenly stopped flirting, but it was one less distraction when fighting an akuma.

She worried there was something troubling Chat but his playful teasing with akumas assured her he was doing fine.

As for Sass, Adrien gave him a formal apology.

(I wondered if Adrien working so hard meant Marinette should too. After all both are busy with modelling/fencing/piano/Chinese and class president duties/baking shifts/design projects/guardian training respectively. But it occured to me that Marinette was serious in both her hero and civilian life while Chat was more serious as a civilian.)

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans are Space Orcs, “Exotic Lifeforms.”

Had some fun writing this one. Give you more of that alien perspective everyone likes so much, so I hope you like it 

“It has been a pleasure doing work with you as always.”

“Your end of the deal?”

“Already upheld…. Where do you even find these creatures. I can’t say we have ever seen anything like it.”

“We found these ones on a stroke of luck. We do not think they are native to the panet, though where they came from is still very much a mystery.”

“Then what a stroke of luck for us indeed, I can’t imagine having your job.”

“You should try sometime, the exotic lifeforms business is very lucrative. If it hadn’t been you, I would have sold it to a wealthy owner.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because, you paid more.” 

The Vitan turned ponderously on its five trunk-like legs and left through the open wall which spilled a beam of light through the room before going dark once more. 

The doors all around the circular room closed, the collector turned back to their work. The room itself was large and dark, shaped in that of a large black circle, the floors rising up with a steady curve into the ceiling than above. They stood at the center of this circle, and when commanded great projections of blue light appeared around the circle each disclosing a different image from a different one of the pens.

They turned their attention to the newest addition, watching the creature where it prowled back and forth around the perimeter of the yard.

Another beam of light cut through the room, though they did not turn to see who it might be.

The sound that followed was a sort of scuttling noise, slimy and wet against the open floor.

The Mandicar approached from behind and paused just to the right and behind their left side, a lead scientist by trade, she was one of the most important life forms on his staff.

They turned to address her.

Four thick stumpy tentacles undulated and wriggled, pulling her heavy body across the floor. The sacules on the side of her torso wobbled with her movement, and thousands of tiny breathing holes across her skin expanded and contracted with the movement of airflow. 

“What have you discovered?” They wondered, though-- nothing the tint of blue on the tips of her tentacles, the could see that she was very excited.

“A glorious discovery! Very exciting and like nothing we have ever seen before. Each creature better than the last. I have four new species to report about, and add to our collected knowledge on exoctic lifeforms.”

“Go on.”

“The names are decided Duopedus Secandi, Volantes Planita, and Magnum Turpis, Though the children have taken to calling the first a Duos because they cannot pronounce the proper scientific name. It is a very popular creature with our guests, very active. IT has even been seen to interact with some of the guests.”

“Tell me, what have you learned about this creature.”

She adjusted herself clearly excited to be giving a presentation. That is why they had hired her. While they were not particularly interested about the welfare and maintenance of these creatures, studies had shown that a happy creature that was well taken care of was more likely to live a long time, and therefore draw more of a profit. Not to mention that the sentient species tended to react best when there was someone around to boost enthusiasm, and he had to admit she was very good at that.

“Oh it's a lovely little creature, quite adorable really, the way it scampers around on its little feet.”

“Focus.”

“Oh, sorry.” The sacules at her sides flushed purple, “Well we know the basic so far. Obviously it is a bipedal carbon-based consumer lieform. Its primary needs are Oxygen and water. An analysis of its structures, including teeth, eyes and other notable features seem to suggest that it is an omnivorous predator. Early studies seem to suggest it has a relatively high IQ, maybe that of a small child though it does not seem capable of language, at least not that we understand. It’s range of speech are in extremely high pitches, and it barely seems to be able to hear us much less us hear it.”

“How very interesting.”

“Isn’t it! Anyway, I took the liberty of analysing it, so that we might better accommodate its needs. And so far what I have determined is,... well the creature is very cute, but it is a complete  biohazard risk.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean all of its byproducts are completely volatile and hazardous to health. We have tested and analysed some of it by products and determined it to have some sort of symbiotic relationship with bacteria that live in its innards. These bacteria help the creature digest in exchange for maintained life, but due to this many of these bacterial lifeforms are expelled and cause great hazard. This process begins in the mouth meaning if this creature were to bite, it could lead to a likely lethal infection.” “We will have to put barriers in front  of the enclosure than.”

“Precisely.”

“ Now  as to more health related topics. The creature is capable of consuming a very versatile diet though its resistance to infection is a little less than one might have hoped, so it’s food will need to be properly cleaned. The diet itself should contain a wide variety of complex structures as it cannot produce by itself some of the chemicals required to feed it. That should not be hard, I would suggest injecting supplements into the food we are already rationing to it. This should include meat as I have said before. As a consumer based lifeform it both requires and expends a great deal of energy. I imagine it will be one of the viewers favorites due to the increased activity level. Furthermore -- as related to my earlier discussion -- its pen should be cleaned weekly if not biweekly. A clean water source should be provided, one that has likely been sterilized as it seems the water on its native planet was not prone to bacterial interference.”

“Seems strangely needy for a creature that has a symbiotic relationship with bacteria.”

“A very specific kind of bacteria.”

“Alright then, what else do we know?”

“The creature is bipedal as you are aware, though its feet and skin are relatively soft. It will require sand in its enclosure for maximum comfort, not to mention that it will need a shaded place to rest in order to stay out of the direct rays of the sun. Its skin has no natural defences against UV light making me think that it is likely a creature meant for the shade, though I cannot be certain. That is merely a guess based on the very light color of its dermal layer.” 

They nodded, “That can definitely be arranged.”

“Now, analysis also demonstrates a high production of oil in the skin and the hair. We see this as some kind of over-production, so it might be best to add a second kind of water source for it to bathe itself. The skin is water-proof but also requires moisture, and I think that a slow running river through the habitat would be a nice touch for the creature. Since it does not have fur, and the body has to work to thermoregulate, I would suggest temperatures around 75-80 degrees with 45-55% humidity index. Furthermore analysis of the bone structure might suggest that the creature originally evolved from an animal that walked on all fours, for this reason the feet, the knees and the lower back are especially prone to issue. IT will need somewhere comfortable to lay down, likely in that same shaded area I mentioned before. Something with enough padding to support the spine and allow for the bones of its hips and shoulders not to become soar.”

They were working to type this up in a report and send it out to the lieforms who built the habitats.

“What else do we know?”

“Since the creature has an increased intelligence quotient, I would suggest stimulating the environment. Add in some kind of activities or puzzles for it to solve, so that it will not be bored, otherwise it could become destructive. OUr analysis suggests that it was likely supposed to be a social creature, so Maybe adding a ground level window for it to interact with guests. We can see if maybe we can tame the creature so that the keepers might be able to provide it with some socialization. I hesitate to do that though because it still is a wild animal.”

They shifted turning to look at the camera feed, where the Duos was still wandering the perimeter of its enclosure.

“I thought you said it was docile.”

“It was injured when we found it, which was a likely reason, but I have done some tests on its chemical structure, and it seems to me that the creature produces some kind of hormone that stimulates the aggression centers of its brain. If this creature were to get out of its cage and be in a bad mood, it has a bite force of 162 pounds per square inch which is capable of tearing flesh and even amputating small lims on some of our guests, not to mention that the claws on the tips of its fingers can break skin. There is also evidence that it can turn its saliva into a projectile, which means that it can spread its biohazard up to around 32 feet, though that is on the extreme end of the spectrum.”

“This creature is really than dangerous?””

She sighed loudly through her entire body, the sacks at her sides quivering with the movement, “You see, that is the difficult part to determine because…. I would have to say no. It is not as dangerous generally as most of the creatures we keep here, but it is just dangerous enough in a variety of ways that the aggregate makes it especially concerning. Take the fact that the creature is not venomous, but it's just enough of a biohazard to behave like it is. Its bite isn’t that strong and its teeth aren’t that sharp, but still enough to rip flesh. Its not as strong as some animals, but strong enough to know someone over and hurt them badly. It isn’t very fast, but faster than some. IT isn’t the smartest we have seen -- that goes to the Volontes Planita-- but it is smart enough that we have to be careful. It isn’t aggressive, but it has the potentiality to be.” She ran her tentacles over the ground, “I think what I am trying to say is that the creature isn’t particularly impressive in any one aspect, but its abilities are so diverse than it aggregates into something greater than the sum of its parts.”

They nodded in great interest, “Go on.”

“It can run, it can jump, it can bite, it can spit, it can throw, it can crawl, oh and it can climb, that is probably something important you are going to have to look out for. An analysis of its feet and hands suggest great dexterity of a four legged creature that once spent most of its timb climbing, and while this creature spends most of its time walking on land there are still structures in there that make it an excellent climber as it can grip very well with the hands and partially with the feet. The hands in particular are an important structure to keep an eye on as the creature has an amazing dexterity with them.”

“How so?”

“IF could probably perform complex medical procedures if we asked it to, not that that would really be possible.”

“Good, good. I will get this down to the workers immediately, and they will make an enclosure for it.”

“Ah…. but there is one more thing.”

“What is that?”

“It seems as if we are not the first one to have captured this creature?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” They demanded, turning around to look at the scientist with great interest and agitation.

“The body is not completely organic. The skeletal structure on its outer layer that we once thought of as some kind of exoskeleton is not organic.”

“Not organic!”

“No sir, it seems to be made out of titanium and steel. Not to mention that one of its legs has been replaced, along with one of its eyes.”

They stood there in shock not entirely sure what to think about that, “It survived without one of its limbs.”

“Yes whatever happened to this creature, one of the legs and the eyes was removed and replaced with analogues. As for the creature itself, it is very durable, and has overactive scar tissue meaning that it heals quickly and from extreme injuries. That is another reason that I express my concern to you as it seems this creature may not be taken down by normal means especially if some other life form has been tampering with it.”

“That is…. horrible .”

Another long sigh, “I know…. Its horrible what they did to it. I can’t believe someone would be so callous. How it must have suffered.”

“Well, get it moved into a new enclosure, and see that its needs are taken care of. I want to send some of my people back to see if we can learn anything about the species that has been tampering with it.”

“Of course.” 

She turned and headed towards the door.

They called after her and she turned, “Be careful, if that creature is half as dangerous as you say it is, we will want to be cautious.” ***

I was not going with them.

I sat at the center of my ‘pen’ arms crossed and looking at the open cage door at the other side of the enclosure.

These asshole bastards had put me in a fucking zoo,and now they expected me to cooperate for a measly piece of fruit. Despite popular opinion from my brothers I am not a fucking monkey and will not be bribed to go with out.

I had already done a preliminary examination of the enclosure. It was nothing to write home about  -- aside form the fact that I was it’s occupant which bothered me greatly, and made me feel some serious feelings for the lions at the zoo who must have been just as pissed off as I was.

The walls were too high and too smooth to climb, and at their top I could see a thousand eyes staring down at me. Now its not like there were a thousand people to look on, but some of these freaky aliens had like ten ees which greatly skewed the eye count.

They gestured with tentacles and limbs and and any other appendages towards me as I sat arms crossed glowering towards the door.

A part of me greatly wanted to flip all of them off or moon them or something, but just because I was being treated like a monkey didn’t mean I had to act like one.

I could see the handlers moving just outside the cages trying to coax me in by tossing in more fruit. In a way watching them struggle was kind of funny. Based on their behavior, I would wager to say they had no idea that I was sentient. If they ever found out this was going to ook really stupid for them.

Now if they have a plate of my mom’s Pumpkin Pie in there, than MAYBE that would work, number one because pie is great and number two because that would imply they were keeping my mother captive to make pies, which was something I could hardly stand for.

Let them do what they want.

I needed to find a way out because this was DEFINITELY not ok.

This is not how I was going to spend the rest of my days.

For sure.

I had to be smart about this. Sitting there in the sand I began to devise a plan. The important part obviously was not to let on about how intelligent I really was. Unfortunately a lot of that might already have been undone, but maybe if I acted enough like an animal, than it would lower their guard and they would make somes sort of mistake.

Remember, I still had the Iron eye armor on my side, and an advanced prosthetic leg. Not to mention a knife and two spearheads which had been concealed under my leaves, so I was not completely helpless.

Although, you know what, retract my earlier statement. Maybe acting like a monkey is exactly what I needed to do to get out of this place. Make myself look docile and harmless, lower security and get my ass out of here.

Man I wish I was smarter, for sure, but I guess flying by the seat of my pants was going to have to do.

I cracked my knuckles and then my neck.

Time to go back to my animal roots.

Yeah, laugh all you want but it is much easier to behave like an animal when you are actually behaving like an animal.  I couldn’t convince them i wasn't bipedal already, but I made sure to behave all the other ways like an animal, slowly and nervously approaching the opening, stepping half in and then backing out, quickly grabbing some fruit and then running off with it. Eating pieces of it messily and with both hands. Using my teeth as much as possible.

Yeah yeah, I felt pretty dumb, but this was my first idea so I might as well roll with it.

Once that piece of fruit was done, I wandered over and nervously crawled in on all fours testing the ground with my hands.

OF course I could already see the hatch way that was going to come slamming down as soon as I crawled inside. I may be an idiot but I am a sentient idiot, and just as I thought it would, as soon as I crawled in far enough, the door slammed shut. I made a big show of getting spooked and racing around the sindie of the cage jumping up against the walls until finally curling up piteously in a corner. All the while I am watching carefully how they contain me, and it seems as if their transfer method is pretty solid. I had more likelihood of breaking out in the pen.

I wait quietly in my corner as the box is moved, and suddenly the door slides open again. 

I do my best to look hesitant and scared as I poke my head out into the sun.

A waft of pleasantly warm air hits me.

Crawling out, I crawl out onto nice warm sand. A stream trickles past my feet not a few feet away, and just to my right a little shaded nest has been made up below a tall covering. There are branches and steel bars lined around the enclosure, meaning I guess they figured out that humans can climb. 

Overhead I can see a steel cage cutting off my escape from the top.

Or so they thought.

It was a pleasant little place all told, almost like a beachfront island paradise with the perfect temperature and humidity.

I crawled up over to the next and took a seat hidden behind the leaves.

Well fuck their beachfront property and comfortable captivity.

I would rather be a free man suffering than a well groomed pet in a cage.

I was going to escape.