#interstellar sports meet

[atomboyz]

Atom Boyz: All Round Idol PK Competition

[mochiline]

the rituals are intricate

[goodluckclove]

On Not Writing

Hi! I'm back. i had a fun two days of doing absolutely nothing writing related, including scrolling this blog. Wife and I played a lot of Valheim. Took a lot of bike rides. Watched Interstellar for the first time - pretty good, kind of silly at the end. It was my first two-day weekend in probably three months, so it was much-needed, hard as it was.

And it got me thinking of some things I wanted to say to the community here. It's especially targeted towards younger writers, of which I used to be one, but I think it can apply to anyone who finds themselves despairing over how much they aren't writing.

Let's imagine you're sitting with me in this coffee shop. It's an overcast Portland morning and I just inadvertently vivisected a croissant. And as we sip our drinks (I ordered a lavender latte), you lament to me. I don't know what to do, Clove. I just haven't been writing!

You know what I say to that?

Good.

This is a new hot take of mine that I, once again, worry about upsetting people with. Because I see a lot of guides here about how to write, or how to write consistently, or how to write through writers block. But I haven't seen a single person talking about the inverse - how to not write. Or - perhaps more accurately - how to exist as a human being separate from your identity as a writer.

This is a problem for me.

Listen - I started young. I was 12 when I wrote my first novella, and 13 when I completed my first novel the next year. Adults in my life were impressed by the big-eyed child writing so many words. They encouraged me. I wrote two more novels, and they continued to encourage me. Because of the potential, right? I could be successful. I could be famous.

People stopped pushing me to try other things. I saw I was getting validation as a writer, so that only pushed me to continue fixating over something I was already enjoying and getting pretty good at. Dad had me writing two thousand words every day, because that's what Stephen King did. At 16 I finished four full-length novels, which everyone thought was really cool and interesting. I was also sporting dual hand braces every day throughout the winter to cope with the carpal tunnel I still struggle with to this day.

There is encouraging a person in their passion. There is also poisoning them with the belief that their self-worth comes from pursuing that passion. This is entirely, absolutely, even more true for younger writers and artists.

I am enraged for the young writer in my heart and in my head. Because they worried about a lot of the same things I see people worry about on here. Oh, if I don't write I'm not a writer! And to an extent they're right, as to be a writer you need to at some point write some stuff.

But here's the fucking thing, Young Clover - a child should not strive for the work ethic of a professional adult. You did not need to write 2k words a day to be a writer. You were a writer as soon as you updated that terrible Invader Zim fanfiction you wrote when you were 10.

And more than that, though, the most important thing to a person should not be their job and aspirations. If you don't write every day, you're still a writer. If you've never written anything, you aren't - and that's fine. You might write something later down the line, or you might not. Either way you are still entitled to exist on the planet and capable of living a full and passionate and wonderful life.

Hear my words: being a writer is not more important than being a human being.

If you aren't writing right now, maybe you're not supposed to be. Maybe you're meant to be nurturing your relationships, or nurturing yourself. Maybe you're supposed to be volunteering. Or meeting new people. Or gaining a new field of knowledge. Or getting really good at making focaccia bread. Or watching every Mark Wahlberg movie.

I don't like to hear this any more than you do. If I was told that I, for some reason, was not allowed to write for the rest of my life, I would be miserable for maybe a long time. After that passed it's my hope that I would move on and do other things, because my worth is not dependent on being a writer. I like doing it. I like being it, and I hope to be one for the rest of my life. But I never want it to be the first thing people see when they look at me. I don't even like bringing it up in conversation with people I don't already know.

So yeah, if you have "writer's block", maybe consider putting down the pickaxe and getting some rest. Step away entirely from the large boulder that stands between you being the next Stephen King or Brandon Sanderson or Teen Dystopia Writer no. 2321. Take a break, and I mean an ACTUAL break, not the kind where you spend the whole time sulking about work.

I am legitimately begging the writers on here to have developed lives and interests outside of writing. I am begging because I do not have that and it has consistently been one of the hardest things of my life.

You prioritize living outside your writing and it will improve the quality of your writing when you get back to it, as it'll allow you a frame of reference that extends beyond our niche industry. Or it might make you realize that, while you enjoy writing, what you really love is ceramics. Or game developing. Or mutual-aid activism. Or the movies of Mark Wahlberg.

It is not your job to treat yourself like you already have a dozen deadlines and an audience teetering on the edge of disappointment. That's ultimately not going to help you. Your job on this earth is to exist fully, for the sake of the universe that wants so desperately to live vicariously through you.

So breathe. Breathe and calm down. You aren't a failure and there's nothing you have to prove. All you have to do today is drink some water and have a nice snack while you look at a cloud.

Please be kind. All of us need to be kinder to each other and to ourselves.

That's all I want to say. I love you dearly. Please let me know if you need anything.

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: Beast of the Octagon

( Please come see me on my new patreon and support me for early access to stories and personal story requests :D https://www.patreon.com/NiqhtLord Every bit helps)   The octagon was a proud, almost sacred, place in human culture. It was a place where two warriors would test their mettle against each other in brutal, uncompromising combat. They would fight until only one was left standing and could claim their right of superiority.

That was until Fignar Folg came along.

Many argued that his alien physique should have disqualified him from a traditionally human only event, but it was lobbied hard by Folg’s hype man that the regulations were dated and xenophobic. Unable to make any counter argument that didn’t appear like the organizers weren’t xenophobic, and facing increasing pressure from both the interstellar community and public outcry, the organizers eventually caved and allowed Folg to compete.

Thirteen times Fignar Folg entered the human tournaments and thirteen times he had emerged the victor. None of the humans he fought could match his stamina and eventually would simply tire themselves out, and then Folg would come in and finish them off in a single blow.

One more tournament and Folg would depose the existing record holder and forever be placed over humans in their own sport. This pleased Folg as he had never appreciated the seemingly infinite sense of self-worth humans had for themselves and by defeating them here he hoped to knock them down a peg.

As he entered the ring to the cheers and jeers of the crowd he looked over at his final opponent. The human, “Danny” Folg thought but wasn’t 100% sure, was easily half his height and Folg needed to look down at them to meet their gaze. The alien contender smirked and wondered how this tiny human had been able to advance so far, let alone against other humans. It was a rhetorical question, as Folg had not been foolish enough to not watch the previous fights this Danny had been in. He was fast, nimble, and could deliver a barrage of punches if given an opening.

Folg’s plan was simple. He’d advance until this human was cornered. There he couldn’t use his speed to avoid Flog’s strikes and he’d knock him out in one blow, thus ensuring his victory.

With the sound of the bell Folg began to advance, but to his surprise saw Danny also move forward to meet him. He had expected the human to be somewhat intimidated and had not counted on them matching his move.

Before Folg could react Danny struck out with a right hook directly into his right knee. The force of the blow was far stronger than anything Folg thought this tiny human capable of and felt his bones break under the impact.

Folg tumbled hard to the ground from the blow. He tried to rise again but his leg was beyond hope to move. He looked up just in time to see Danny following up with his knee driving right into Folg’s jaw. The strike toppled Folg backwards on to his back and the world briefly went black for a moment before his eyes refocused.

All he saw were the blurry lights above the ring before a fast barrage struck his face.

Danny was unlike any of the previous fights Folg had seen. He was hammering away like a jackhammer, ignoring any notion of defense as he pummeled away.

Folg tried to block the blows but Danny stomped on his arms dislocating them entirely. He could hear the ref trying to intervene but Danny didn’t stop. He just kept beating Folg over and over until a pool of purple blood began forming underneath him.

It took three security guards to pull Danny off Folg. By then Folg was little more than a puddle of broken bones, bile, and shattered dreams. He was carted away to a hospital, but his fighting days were likely now at an end. -------------------------

“You did good out there kid.”

The figure held out an envelope and Danny took it without question.

“It’s a shame about the blue boy. He really could have been something if he just knew how to play ball.”

Danny nodded but said nothing. He’d been offered enough money to knock Folg out of the octagon once and for all. He was told that even if he was removed from the tournament and suspended the people paying him would make sure it would only be temporary; but it all depended on Danny being more vicious than he had ever been.

Truthfully Danny didn’t care about the reasons why they wanted the alien out of the ring. He didn’t care about the assurances they gave him that he’d be protected. All he cared about was the price they were paying.

The octagon was great, but to a human like Danny it was nothing compared to a good pay day.

[stargaby13]

Straw Hat Legacy Challenge

Another Legacy Challenge? YES! Or should I say... "Yes, Captain!"

This legacy challenge has generations inspired on the crew member, following the order in which they joined, story and/or backstory from them, canon information that I found in wikis plus manga and stuff... And, of course, personal ideias and adaptations.

*I'm playtesting it, things WILL be changed as I go and I'm open to suggestions.

*As you can see, I still didnt finished all generations, but I'll be updating this as possible.

*The basic rules are tha same as any Legacy Challange, don't use money cheats excessively (especialy when money is a parte of the generation challenge).

*I already gave a basegame option for almost everything, but your free to choose whatever you want when given options.

*I intent on given extra generations so you can add to your playthrough as more gens or just challenges for more sims in your household (like, if you want to give a set of rules for a spouse or sibling of the heir).

Generation One - Monkey D. Luffy

Your parents were never really in the picture, but you kinda had a grandpa that looked after you, but he was a bit too strict and almost never home, so you raised yourself. You were always a restless person with a burning passion for freedom, adventure and the unknown, so it wasn't a surprise when you decided to explore the vast space for a living, but the thing is, you never really played by others' rules and are always up to some mischief. Your motto is “anything, but a boring life!”. Oh, and you love fishing, it’s your way to calm your mind.

Color: Red

Traits: Cheerful, self-assured, Ambitious

Aspiration: Chief of Mischief

Career: Astronaut - Interstellar Smuggler Branch

Rules:

Master Astronaut career picking the Interstellar Smuggler Branch and complete Chief of Mischief aspiration;

DON’T level up the cooking skill (eat fruits, quick meals, buy food, etc.)

Master Mischief, Fitness, Charisma and Fishing skills;

Meet and keep ten friends (bonus if they are occult sims or from different worlds);

(Optional) Go on adventures when you have free time - like climbing, snorkeling, exploring new places, fishing and swimming (like vacations and new worlds);

(Optional) Make your neighborhood have a green footprint;

(Optional) Complete the postcard collection.

Generation Two - Roronoa Zoro

Your parents were always a bit too adventurous and busy with their own things, you had anything you could ask for as a child, but something was always lacking, not that you wanted more attention, you really do prefer to be left alone, but a bit more recognition would have been nice. You don’t really understand rules, ‘cause your parents never really cared for them, but what you do understand is being the best at things, so everything you do, you do to an extreme.

Color: Green

Traits: Ambitious, Hot-Headed, Loner

Aspiration: Bodybuilder - or -  Extreme Sports Enthusiast

Career: Athlete

Rules:

Master career and complete the aspiration;

Master Fitness skills (and if possible the Rock Climbing Skill) and any other skills needed to your career and/or aspiration (like Charisma);

Marry a childhood friend with whom you have something in common (like trait, aspiration or career) and this sim should have an unexpected death;

You can have as many kids as you want, but remember this sim is a loner and not really focused on family - you can have kids with your spouse before their death or adopt;

Have a declared enemy;

Generation Three - Nami

Your parent was a bit distant, but you grew up listening to your grandparents stories about being a space pirate and the crime life always looked like fun, and a good way to make easy money and if something is there for the taking, why not take it, right? Oh, yeah, you don't really care about rules, it always seemed like something made for other people, the only thing you care about other than money is your orchard, and that’s it.

Color: Orange

Traits: Kleptomaniac, Materialistic, Loyal

Aspiration: Fabulously Wealthy

Career: Criminal - Boss Branch

Rules:

Master aspiration and career;

Have a neighbor that is a declared enemy;

Complete the crystal collection and one more at your choosing (if you have packs, can be the snowglobe or simmies for exemple);

Buy something new every week;

Have only one child;

Plant and tend a fruit orchard.

Generation Four - Usopp

Your parent always seemed to like their trees and collections more than you, so lying and inventing stories were the ways you found to be noticed by them. You always wanted to be more, but never really knew how, so you always tried to say what you think people wanted to hear, even if you had to invent something and you're damn good at inventing stuff. 

Color: Yellow

Traits: Creative, Clumsy, Goofball - or - Paranoid

Aspiration: Nerd Brain - or - Master Maker

Career: Writer

Rules:

Master Aspiration;

Master Handiness skill (If possible Master Fabrication Skill too) 

Marry someone from the neighborhood (bonus if they are from that on your parent hated);

 Leave your job as a writer at some point to invest in your creations and after this your spouse leave you;

Have five kids;

Generation Five - Vinsmoke Sanji

Your parents never really cared about you, especially after the divorce, and your grandparent were not the best exemple being a criminal and all… So you decided to live your own life in your own way no matter what, even if it means starting from scratch all alone and by yourself!

Color: Blue

Traits: Romantic, Glutton, Perfectionist

Aspiration: Serial Romantic & Master Chef

Career: Culinary - Chef Branch

Rules:

Don’t really get along with siblings as kids, but when adult reconnect with them;

Runway from home as a teenager and start with zero simoleons;

Only eat when the bar is in the red until you're a young adult;

Master both aspirations and career;

Master cooking, baking and mixologist;

Cook all food recipes and drinks;

Fish all fishes (complete collection);

(Optional) Collect all recipes from city living, etc.

Generation 5.5 - Nefertari Vivi (bônus gen/extra)

You have a wonderful family and you believe you can help make the world a better place, but are still trying to find out how exactly (maybe hands on working behind the scenes, or maybe being the face of the change?). But not only this, you want to start doing the best you can in your own home too! Maybe this way your kids can also have what you had and then they’ll want to try to do what they can for other people too, like you and then… Well, you get the idea.

Color: White & Gold

Traits: Good, Family-Oriented, Loyal/Proper

Aspiration: Neighborhood Confidante

Career: Secret Agent until becoming an Adult, then Business - Management Branch - or - Politician - or - Civil Designer (Civic Planner)

Rules:

Have a loyal pet (any pet, can be cat, dog or cowplant!)

Master aspiration and the second career;

Master Charisma skill (and if possible Parenting skill);

Have kinds only when adult, because you were too busy helping the world;

(Optional) Marry an occult sim! (then your heir will be the kid that comes as occult too);

(Optional) Achieve a green footprint.

Generation Six - Tony Tony Chopper

You always knew you were different from other sims, even with loving parents and all the support at home, all you wanted was to help people and for everyone else to accept you as you are.

Color: Pink

Traits: Genius, Childish, Bookworm/Awkward

Aspiration: Friend of the World

Career: Doctor - or - Secret Agent (Diamond Agent Branch)

Rules:

Eat sweets at leats once a day;

Generation Seven - Nico Robin

Color: Purple

Traits: Non-committal, Genius, Loner

Aspiration: The Curator - or - Archaeology Scholar 

Career: Writer (Journalist) - or - Scientist - or - Education

Rules:

Master career and aspiration;

Master writing and logic skill, (if possible) master Archaeology and Selvadoradian Culture Skill; 

Generation Eight - Franky

Color: Light Blue

Traits: Bro, Genius, Erratic/Goofball/Maker

Aspiration: Computer Whiz - or - Academic - or - Eco Innovator

Career: Tech Guru - or - Engineer (Mechanic) - or - Civil Designer (Green Technician)

Rules:

Master Career and Aspiration;

(If possible) Go to university;

Master Handiness, Logic, Fabrication, Robotics, Programming and Rocket Science skills;

Generation Nine - Brook

Color: Black & White, Grey

Traits: Music Lover, Goofball, Gloomy 

Aspiration: Musical Genius

Career: Entertainer (Music Branch) - or - Paranormal Investigator Branch 

Rules:

When adult, let your sim die and play with him as a ghost until someone in the family can resurrect him;

Generation Ten - Jinbe

Color: Ochre/Gold & Cooper/Orange

Traits:

Aspiration:

Career:

Rules:

[m0r1bund]

[Image: Several turnarounds of a funky trilobite-platerodrilus-eryonid-lookin’ guy. She’s the size of a house, and is built like a tank to match. She sports 6 walkin’ legs and 2 pedipalps below her mouth, and her frontmost legs are heavily armored, with thick chitin plates. The pattern is repeated across the rest of her body, with broad, flattened plates extending down to her sinuous tail.

Her face is concealed by another huge, v-shaped plate, with each prong reaching outwards, like horns. Two circular “lenses” are etched into the plate where her eyes would be. They look kind of like goggles, or a knight’s visor. Her muzzle is plated chitin as well, and looks like a shark’s nose crossed with a turtle’s beak. When she opens her mouth, it’s revealed that she has a second set of jaws in her throat. These jaws resemble a squid or octopus beak.

There are some other doodles, too. Reyes picks up a chubby little baby version of the critter, which looks more like a typical trilobite. She smiles a deranged smile at it. Another doodle shows Reyes eating a breakfast burrito in front of the critter’s fully-grown form. The beastie delicately extracts individual pieces of ham from the burrito with her second set of jaws while Reyes isn’t looking.]

◆

you hear about bugs

silly little essays about space bug ecology under the cut. you can read more below or at m0r1bund dot com ▶︎

I’m already doing PR work for fungi, hiveminds, and parasites with the endeme, but what if i did PR for crop pest species too. I’m thinking about tyranids and zerglings and how they hold up a mirror to colonial settler fears. you are afraid of everything the eye can see being extracted by a foreign invader? of the very landscape around you becoming biologically, functionally, culturally, socially uniform? what if the terrible things i did to other people… happened 2 me….

The endeme keys into impaired ecosystems that are artificially kept in the first stages of succession, and that’s the reason it is monstrous and scary and ‘successful’ (like most weeds and pioneer species, it is not competitive and becomes second banana to whoever comes after it.) But I think it would be neat to meet it from the other end and play off of fungal and viral crop diseases. Maybe there are some funny little guys who are, like, not a big deal until you put a monoculture in front of them. Like normally there isn’t a giant interstellar bug in the sky, but you razed + converted an entire planet into its favorite food. what did you expect.

Anyway I think it would be funny if Earth had a cicada ‘nid horrible spacebug spawning event every 17 years or whatever, where the hive masses of the void return to their natal origin and eat all of their young and fuck and die and get eaten by their giant mom. They’re like salmon moving nutrients from the ocean to the continents, except they’re shuttling nutrients from the unfathomable beyond to different planets. And they can crawl onto land and eat all of your corn. You know how it is.

I think what happens is there’s a “larval” stage that spends most of its life as a detritivore, wiggling around in the dirt for 17 years. And then they have a mass emergence event that coincides with the “hive” forms returning from abroad to hunt and eat most of their young. In turn, they’re hunted and eaten by their larger, more predatory peers, climbing up and up the trophic chain until you make it back to The giant space bug herself.

I think this is like a summer gorging event crossed with a rare mineral pilgrimage for them. Fueling up for years and years of floating around in the abyss between worlds, and collecting rare vitamins while they’re at it.

The impact on Earthen flora and fauna is dramatic and mixed. The buggies are playing a really meta game of energetic monopoly, which has also been brewing underground for 17 years. So, their main objective is extracting their larvae + passing them up the chain as food to mom. But they are also looking for other things to eat. They prefer plants, algae, and fungi at the bottom of the trophic chain to critters at higher levels of the chain, because producers make up way more biomass and are doing more efficient energy transactions. They are also trying to minimize what’s basically mass bioaccumulation, which hivemom is *extremely* sensitive to. So, they’re actually quite picky about which individuals have the ‘honor’ of becoming food.

Some people think it’s more complicated than this, and that the hive is making complex land management decisions informed by things like carrying capacity, local extinction, replacement rates, succession, and so on, but that’s craaaaazy hahaha…. They would never develop such a sophisticated relationship with plants and animals…...... Unless?

Either way, this results in very patchy feeding pockets, where some forests might be nibbled down to the dirt, and others are untouched. This also means that most heterotrophs don’t really have anything to worry about during the spawning/eating frenzy. There’s a 7-ton centipede outside the house and she might cause the roof to cave in, but she mostly just wants to eat your potatoes.

Outsiders understandably view this as an apocalyptic feeding event, because oh my god every trophic level is usurped by bugs, and a non-negligible amount of organic matter IS being taken away by bug mom. But they also leave behind an equal mass of dead bugs, individuals who fall prey to the local flora and fauna, have reached the end of their lives, or were deemed “unfit” for intraspecies eating because they have, like, more than 0.3 micrograms of zinc in their body.

Obviously if you were planning on growing any kind of staple crop that year, good luck have fun. But typically their buggy leavings are enough to last other animals through the year while the plantlife recovers. It’s like a rare treat that comes around every 17 years.

All that to say Reyes ate nothing but forbidden lobster tails for several months when she was, like, 10, and she has been thirsting for them ever since.

[thestitchesart-chive]

random thoughts because I need Cyclonus and Co content (even if it is my own)

fellas. Would it be self-indulgent to rewrite idw2 so that all of Cyclonus’s friends survive and are subsequently integrated into the main plot

So looking at the few pages of content I have of Cyclonus and Co, why not randomly make up professions and stuff for them because I can?

Pre-war Gridlock would’ve been a manual laborer doing welding work for a living. Met Cyclonus during enlistment along with Grudge and Highfire. Post-war, assuming he survived, he probably would’ve decided to go back to university and get a degree in engineering during the subsequent rebuilding phase of Cybertron

Highfire was a low-level security guard for various ship depots and ended up meeting Cyclonus this way; they enlisted together in the war subsequently. After the war, she struggles a bit with reintegration but eventually joins up with the police force for a bit

Grudge worked on one of Cybertron’s early colonies as a trailblazer/scout/builder before returning back to the homeworld to settle back down and train other prospective colonists on interstellar survival- didn’t get that chance when the war broke out and he enlisted. Post-war, he bounces around for a little before getting into the rebuilding of Cybertron, cools off a bit and gets to mentor a new-spark, even.

Provoke is a stuntsman/sports videographer who doesn’t hold down jobs well- she bounces from place to place doing as she pleases before deciding to enlist at the start of the war and meeting Paragon, then the others. Post-war, she continues running odd jobs and cohabitates with Cyclonus and Paragon for awhile before being nudged back into videography.

Cyclonus is also involved with the expansion- he’s part of the conquest forces along with his mentor before something goes wrong and they’re forced to return to Cybertron, where he chooses to stay. He starts working security as well, where he meets Highfire and the war breaks out- postwar, he settles down with Paragon and supports him as head of his personal guard…

Paragon was a colonist in one of the rougher, more hostile, far-out colonies- after years of fighting for the land he chose to leave and settle back on Cybertron as an artist. After enlisting, he meets and falls in love with Cyclonus at one of the training camps. Post-war, having experienced the front lines and the expansionist age, he takes some time to think over his life choices and eventually runs for senator in one of Cybertron’s cities.

I’d also like to think that most, if not all of them would be neutral-decepticon leaning, missing the expansion era- though most of them will never officially affiliate with the Ascenticon/Decepticon movement. But they will all get back together as a team to safeguard Paragon during subsequent Decepticon takeover and negotiations. I’d like to think they make it all out fine- they deserve it :p

[vishnu2004]

June 5 - Guest Lecture, Musashi University

Today, we traveled to Musashi University to listen to a guest lecture and meet University students in small groups. The University campus was small and quaint, with luscious green trees lining the smooth pavement linking the different buildings. The University was about an hour away, and the lecture hall we were seated in upon arrival was quite large. The professor discussed the value and importance of identity in several contexts, including our cultural background, personal experiences, and relative power. This lecture felt especially relevant given all the different backgrounds and cultures in the room. After the lecture, we spoke in small groups with some of the Japanese students, all of whom were extremely kind and generally eager to talk with us. We finished off the official day with a delicious chicken steak lunch from an on-campus food truck before doing a quick walking tour around campus. In the afternoon, I went to Ginza to explore the clothes and colognes.

Academic Reflection

Since there was no reading for today’s excursion, my academic reflection will focus on my conversation with the Japanese students as they related to the prompts provided by the professor. Three students were paired with Chelsea, Kai, and me. They were all extremely kind and interesting people; one girl had four different backgrounds, and therefore, spoke four different languages: English, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese!

I found several similarities with the one girl with various backgrounds. For one, she also liked Kendrick Lamar, one of my favorite rap artists. Furthermore, she also put down Interstellar as her favorite movie and had read 1984, my favorite book. We didn’t feel as though the assigned climate change prompt would spark deep conversation with the Japanese students, so instead, we talked about our future plans and goals. One of the girls talked about how she wants to eventually leave Tokyo and perhaps explore a different city like Osaka or leave the country entirely. Another was relatively quiet, but said that she’s very interested in sports like rock climbing and would consider playing professionally in the future.

All in all, we found that the perceived barriers between us and them were just that: perceived. When we got to talking, we found more similarities than differences with the Japanese students, which was shocking to me considering the sheer distance between us. Of course, there were differences. They enjoyed Japanese shows and artists we had never heard of. Their favorite foods were things we had tried just a few days ago. But in the end, we all found a shared sense of humanity amongst people who would, at face value, be totally different.

[myalgicpierrot]

ID: A 1999 newspaper article titled “Kids Are Glued to a Violent Japanese Cartoon Show: 'Dragon Ball Z' Is Bringing Impalement, Strangulation To the After-School Crowd” By Sally Beatty, Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal.

Two characters are at the bottom, with the main text going around them in 3 columns. They are captioned, “Goku, left, is a hero in 'Dragon Ball Z.' On the Cartoon Network show, he battles the menacing Frieza.”

The entire article is archived below:

As many a young child already knows, "Dragon Ball Z," a violent animated series imported from Japan, is a huge cartoon hit.

A sort of Pokemon meets "Pulp Fiction," the show is much darker than the average kiddie cartoon. Every weekday afternoon on Time Warner Inc.'s Cartoon Network, characters age, die and get vaporized—suffering far worse fates than Wile E. Coyote ever did.

Brutality is a staple. In one recent episode, beads of sweat form on the brow of a character named Vegeta as he is nearly strangled to death by an evil foe named Frieza. In another, Frieza uses the horns on his head to impale a good guy named Krillin through the chest.

Mesmerized, kids are tuning in to the Cartoon Network in record numbers. "Dragon Ball Z" attracted an audience of 1.7 million households on Sept. 30, the largest number in the network's history. The show's ratings among six- to 11-year-olds—the demographic group most coveted by children's advertisers—leapt 95% in the fourth quarter through Nov. 30 from a year earlier. Nearly one million kids in that age group tuned in to watch the show Oct. 1, another record for the network.

Advertisers are lining up, too, including Hasbro Inc. and Mattel Inc. Even the U.S. Navy is running macho recruitment ads at the end of the show.

"Dragon Ball Z" is also crackling on the Web. On the Cartoon Network's Internet site, it generates among the most inquiries of any of its shows. Last week, "Dragon Ball Z" ranked as the fifth-most-requested topic on the Lycos search site, behind singer Britney Spears and the Pokemon cartoon, but ahead of the World Wrestling Federation and Pamela Anderson.

Based on the success of "Dragon Ball Z," the network plans to boost its programming time devoted to Japanese animation to three hours from two, adding two new shows next year. "Gundam" is a tale of bad guys from outer space, and "Tenchi Meyo!" is the story of a lady's man caught up in an interstellar war.

The Cartoon Network says it hasn't had complaints from parents or advertisers about the show's violent content. In fact, the U.S. distributor and licensing agent of "Dragon Ball Z," Funimation Productions Inc., says the show is toned down for U.S. sensibilities—blood is often edited out and frames are erased to soften the blows in certain battle scenes.

The Cartoon Network also runs "anger management" spots that appear during "Dragon Ball Z" and other shows. "There's nothing wrong with being angry," counsels a bubble-headed host in a space suit. "It's all in how you deal with it. Anger can be a motivational tool." The network says there is no connection between the spot and the show's content.

Betty Cohen, president for the Cartoon Network, says "Dragon Ball Z" is no worse than other popular Japanese programs like "The Power Rangers" or "Digimon," a show about mechanized monsters currently airing on News Corp.'s Fox Kids.

"People are attracted to action and people in battles with certain forces and unusual characters, but it's not about real-life human stuff," says Ms. Cohen. Young boys tune in to "Dragon Ball Z" for some of the same reasons people go to sports events, she adds. "They want to see conflict." Please Turn to Page B4, Column 5

Network executives note that "Dragon Ball Z" is rated Y7-FV—FV stands for fantasy-violence—the most cautionary rating available for a children's show. That rating designates "Dragon Ball Z" as not suitable for children younger than seven. Under a voluntary rating system adopted by the TV industry in 1997, the rating appears for 15 seconds at the start of each episode.

"Dragon Ball Z" picks up where two hot trends in animation leave off. The movement toward edgier, more adult humor produced "The Simpsons" and "South Park." But those shows, aired during prime time, were aimed primarily at adults. More recently, the visually stylistic Japanese animation known as anime has swept the U.S.

In Japan, where "Dragon Ball Z" aired in prime time before recently going off the air, the show became a cultural phenomenon—though by Japanese standards its level of violence was considered mainstream.

Building on the craze for the Japanese show in this country, Funimation says it has signed deals to produce a "Dragon Ball Z" merchandising avalanche: action figures, calculators, pajamas, trading cards and watches. "Dragon Ball Z" products have generated more than $3 billion in world-wide sales since the show was launched in Japan in 1986.

In the U.S., "Dragon Ball Z" had plenty of naysayers when it made its debut in syndication in 1995. For three years, the show had no regular home, airing on various local TV stations and at odd hours, sometimes as early as 5:30 a.m.

Gen Fukunaga, president of Funimation, recalls children's programming and licensing executives telling him that "kids in the U.S. wouldn't have the attention span" to sit through a serial cartoon, one in which complex plot lines unfold over 80 or more episodes.

Others questioned whether American boys would be able to follow the intricate stories, whose main characters regularly age from birth to death, and often merge with other featured players to create entirely new characters. Goku, the show's main hero, starts out as a young orphan and eventually dies.

"The show spends a lot of time in relationship development," says Mr. Fukunaga, explaining the popularity of "Dragon Ball Z." "It tries to tackle a little bit more difficult subjects than the typical children's show."

[so-true-overdue]

Unveiling the Mind-boggling Secrets of Panathenaea: Revealed by an Angsty Teen

Oh hey there, fellow humans! Have I got a mind-blowing revelation for you today! Brace yourselves, because I'm about to spill the beans on an unbelievably obscure truth about Panathenaea that will leave you scratching your heads in disbelief. Now, I'm sure you're all familiar with Panathenaea, right? No? Well, don't feel bad, it's not like it's a widely discussed topic or anything. Only true intellectuals like me care to delve into the depths of ancient festivals. So, here's the scoop: Did you know that Panathenaea was not just your ordinary, run-of-the-mill festival? Oh no, my friends! It was a secret disguise for an interplanetary gathering of aliens from across the galaxy! You see, those ancient Greeks were sly little devils. They had this genius idea to celebrate their cultural heritage while simultaneously hosting an extraterrestrial summit. Crazy, right? But hold on, it gets even better! The Panathenaea festival was actually a cover-up for aliens to exchange knowledge and trade secrets. They would disguise themselves as humans and blend in with the crowd, all the while exchanging intergalactic wisdom on advanced technology, interstellar navigation, and fashion trends from distant worlds. Talk about multitasking! But why, you may ask? Well, the answer is simple: the Greeks were the ultimate fashion influencers of their time. These aliens, being the true fashionistas that they were, couldn't resist the allure of ancient Greek togas and laurel wreaths. Their fashion game was level 1000, and they needed the Greeks' style tips to stay ahead in the galactic runway of fashion and stardom. Now, I know what you're thinking. How on earth did I uncover this mind-blowing revelation? Well, my friends, it all started when I stumbled upon an angsty ancient Greek teen's diary, which was conveniently hidden under a rock in my backyard. Talk about a cosmic coincidence! In this diary, our angsty protagonist spilled the beans on the true purpose of Panathenaea, venting about the pressure of secrets, intergalactic politics, and dealing with zit breakouts on those important alien council meetings. It was like discovering the holy grail of secret societies! So there you have it, folks! The jaw-dropping truth behind Panathenaea. Who knew that ancient festivals could be cover-ups for interstellar fashion gatherings? It seems like the angsty ancient Greek teen was onto something bigger than they ever realized. Next time you attend a festival, keep your eyes peeled for any suspicious beings sporting togas and stardust. You never know when you might stumble upon an alien exchange program right under your nose. Stay curious and keep questioning the unbelievable, my friends!

[vinceviralfreak]

Title: Stellar Spirit: The Galactic Cheerleaders

Chapter 1: The Cosmic Tryouts

In the distant future, humanity has expanded its reach across the galaxy, colonizing countless planets and establishing a vast interstellar civilization. Among the many popular sports, Starcraft has emerged as the ultimate competitive event, captivating the hearts of billions. But behind the scenes, a group of extraordinary individuals known as the Galactic Cheerleaders play a crucial role in boosting morale and energizing the players and spectators alike.

Meet Luna, a young and ambitious girl from the planet Terra Nova. With her radiant smile and unwavering determination, she dreams of becoming a Galactic Cheerleader and inspiring others with her passion for Starcraft. Luna's journey begins when she learns about the upcoming tryouts for the prestigious Starcraft League, where the most talented cheerleaders are chosen to represent their respective planets.

Chapter 2: The Intergalactic Training Camp

Luna arrives at the Intergalactic Training Camp, a state-of-the-art facility located on the planet Zephyr. Here, she meets a diverse group of aspiring cheerleaders from different corners of the galaxy. Each girl possesses unique skills and talents, making the competition fierce and intense.

Under the guidance of Coach Orion, a former Starcraft champion, Luna and her fellow cheerleaders undergo rigorous training sessions. They learn complex routines, acrobatics, and the art of synchronizing their movements with the fast-paced battles happening on the Starcraft arena. As they bond and support each other, friendships are formed, and rivalries emerge.

Chapter 3: The Stellar Showdown

After months of training, the day of the final tryouts arrives. Luna and her teammates are filled with a mix of excitement and nervousness as they step onto the grand stage. The atmosphere is electric, with millions of fans eagerly awaiting the performances.

As Luna and her team execute their routine flawlessly, their energy and enthusiasm reverberate throughout the arena. Their captivating performance leaves the judges and spectators in awe, earning them a spot in the Starcraft League as the official cheerleaders for Terra Nova.

Chapter 4: The Cosmic Challenges

Life as a Galactic Cheerleader is not all glitz and glamour. Luna and her teammates face numerous challenges as they travel across the galaxy, supporting their Starcraft team in intense matches against rival planets. They encounter hostile environments, treacherous opponents, and unexpected twists that test their resilience and teamwork.

Amidst the chaos, Luna discovers a dark secret that threatens the very foundation of the Starcraft League. With the help of her friends, Luna embarks on a mission to uncover the truth and protect the integrity of the sport she loves.

Chapter 5: The Stellar Legacy

As Luna and her team delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a conspiracy that involves powerful individuals seeking to manipulate the outcome of Starcraft matches for their own gain. With the fate of the League hanging in the balance, Luna must summon all her courage and rally her teammates to expose the truth and restore justice.

In a climactic showdown, Luna and her fellow cheerleaders confront the masterminds behind the conspiracy, using their skills, determination, and unwavering spirit to save the Starcraft League from corruption.

Epilogue: A New Era

Luna and her teammates emerge as heroes, celebrated for their bravery and dedication. Their story inspires a new generation of cheerleaders, who continue to uplift the spirits of Starcraft players and fans across the galaxy.

Stellar Spirit: The Galactic Cheerleaders is a tale of passion, friendship, and the power of unity. It explores the limitless possibilities of the future while reminding us of the importance of staying true to ourselves and fighting for what we believe in, no matter the odds.

[atomboyz]

Interstellar Sports Meet

Part 1 | Part 2

[spoocys-glade-of-dreams]

"I'll tell you about my experiences once we get back to Mona's place. C'mon now."

Rayman would stand on one side of the Rayman from Eden while Raymona took the other. They would form a little support barrier and would begin leading him back to Raymona's place together. When they arrived, they would sit him down on the sofa while the native Rayman would grab a stool to sit on. Raymona offered to make them some hot chocolate and would leave for the kitchens to prepare it. When they were left alone, Rayman would only talk about his experiences when his brother said he was prepared to listen.

"I've been doing the hero thing since I was young. I was a teenager when I succeeded in stopping Mr. Dark from using the Great Protoon to reshape the glade. I would leave my homeland with my creator and mother to place The Great Protoon in the Fairy Council's vault. My father remained back there to keep an eye on things in our absence. The only people I really knew from here were Ly and Mona. Mona was brought to our side of the globe so we could spend half a year together when we were much younger. We've been close friends ever since. Ly helped us get moved in. I would meet Globox and Murfy later on.

Then a few years later came one of the most traumatic events of my life. The Robot Pirate invasion. Interstellar visitors who have been responsible for the death of many planets before. Draining their resources and taking as many slaves as possible to their slave markets in the stars. We thought we could beat them, but Admiral Razorbeard and his crew managed to destroy the Heart of the World. The heart is the source of all our magic. I was rendered powerless and the nymphs and fairies were left severely drained. I was captured and I thought the end had come, until my brother Globox managed to smuggle a silver lum into our cell. I managed to escape. My nephews and nieces were constantly being captured and exploited to harvest resources. Ly had also been captured. The only one that was actively still fighting despite everything was Mona. She ended up getting herself captured while I was trying to find her.

My friend Clark almost died fighting the robot pirates, and if it wasn't for Jano, he wouldn't be here today. He ended up getting captured later and brainwashed to fight me. I managed to save him again. Then Globox got captured again and he was going to be used for target practice with the Admiral's new weapon. I won that fight but I almost died in that, I don't think anything hurts more than walking in with your foot missing to your own funeral. It was also the first time I ever saw Mona have a breakdown.

Then came the hoodlum invasion. Black lums that wear makeshift disguises lead by Andre. Globox accidentally swallowed him during his raid on the fairy council and I made it a mission to get my brother cured. It wasn't easy watching my brother get abused by him and not being able to do a thing about it. Once Andre had been released from Globox's gut, he sought out a foe I had made on the journey. Reflux, who was the ex champion of the Knaaren people. I beat him in combat and he was left disgraced. Ended up stealing a powerful artifact from their king, who is no more than a child. He had held him hostage and used him to get the scepter of Leptys from his grandmother. I beat him, but I ended up killing him by accident in the process. I hate killing anything so that tore me up pretty badly.

Then I had to deal with the Rabbids. The second most Traumatic event that's ever happened to me. All of my friends and family ended up captured by them. I was used as a player of their sports, and they would use my own nieces and nephews as part of their horrific little games.

I... found out later that not all of my nieces and nephews made it out of there. After I escaped and rescued as many of them as I could. They were children... and they were exposed to so many horrors because of Professor Barranco the Third. The cruelest Rabbid I have ever known. I would meet a new friend during my time fighting back the Rabbids. Simonhe. She still helps out to this day by keeping track of Barranco and informs me of whenever he's on the move again.

Later found out that many rabbids ended up defecting from him because they just couldn't stand his cruelty. Mona's made friends with the defacto leader, and it turns out he was my prison warden. Serguei is a giant of a rabbid, but he would come to respect me over time. I used to hold such distrust of Rabbids, but lately the ones that have been on our side have been growing on me. Serguei's one of my dear friends now along with four other members of Mona's rabbid friend group.

Long after that, I remember falling asleep alongside my friends. Murfy wasn't among those I had taken my nap with. We all woke up and saw everything was so different... Turns out we had been asleep for one whole century... We still don't have an answer as to why we slept for so long.

I've developed these bags under my eyes for a reason and I think they may just be permanent given everything I've gone through."

The Blonde hugs him back, he understood him? His cries intensified sightly as he looks at his brother sniffling as he got released from the hug and he released him from the hug, to just be hugged again this time a soft smile leaving his lips as he relaxes more , letting his head rest against Mona's one as he wanted to ask his brother what was the traumatic experiences...

❝ You did...? but. You look so happy always... so full of life, is hard to believe that you went throught something like that... I wish I was a strong as you... I guess i have to get ready for it... don't I? I want to rest for a bit first... at least until tomorrow, too much things going on for me in one day... ❞

Says him drying his tears and breathing deep to just relax. To have his heart beating normal again as she looks at everyone with now a soft smile in his features, he will be okay...

[sterecs-sterek-fic-recs]

Post-Apocalyptic AU Rec List

Whether it’s zombies, a supernatural uprising or an out-of-control infection, we love reading about how our boys navigate the end of the world together. Hope you enjoy our selection of Post-Apocalyptic fic recs!

Happy reading!

-mods @thisgirlsays22 & @snarkatthemoon

💀 Enemy of My Enemy | calrissian18 | E | 8k

Stiles blinks hard. He can’t argue that he’s not quite all there, a little woozier than he would like, but he’s done more difficult things a lot worse off. The wolf didn’t know shit and Stiles sure as hell didn’t need him. He huffs out a little laugh into his own chest, leaning back against the armrest and chin dropped to his sternum, head lolling slightly. His eyelids are heavier than they were a minute ago. “What makes you think I wouldn’t use the opportunity to gut you? I hunt werewolves for sport, and so does everyone I have left.”

A careful claw tilts his chin up and it takes Stiles’ eyes a second to bring the face in front of him into stark relief. “You can barely keep your eyes open,” the wolf says softly, “I don’t think you have the upper hand now, human.”

💀 build me a city (and call it jerusalem) | orphan_account | T | 3.5k

The way Derek sees it, they'd all be screwed if the supernatural among them weren't immune to whatever it is that's put the country in a state of perpetual turmoil. He's lost track of how many times he's had to slit someones throat and flush the blood caked beneath his claws down the drain of the sink. Sometimes it's too much, for all of them. Stiles especially.

💀 Time Is Numbered By Days | secondstar | E | 7.6k

It's been fifty four days.

💀 Come with Me and Walk the Longest Mile | DevilDoll | E | 39k

"Stiles shouldn't accept rides from werewolves he meets behind abandoned convenience stores." In which the zombie apocalypse is just one of their worries.

💀 World Gone Mad | veritas_st | M | 1.6k

Stiles can’t remember when he last slept longer than three hours.

They’ve been running for so long now that it seems his body just survives on adrenaline and nothing else, a few stolen bites of food here and there, a couple of snatched hours of sleep then they’re off again.

💀 Radio Tower | HyperLittleNori (Shiguresan) | E | 130k

Inspired by the concept and stunning art by the talented Suis0u on Tumblr. Everything was different. The world he knew was gone. It’d been a long time since he’d started thinking he was probably one of the last humans on earth, that out there the only sentient beings were those that would devour him whole. He wasn’t sure why he continued with the radio broadcasts, continued to talk into nothingness. The only explanation was that there was a spark of hope in him yet that he wasn’t alone. The lonely safety Stiles has built around an old radio tower in the middle of nowhere is about to be broken. Stiles isn’t sure if Derek is a harbinger of chaos or hope at the end of the world.

💀 Ride | wolfbeater | E | 35k

The howlers emerged after the war that stripped the world of its colour. All Stiles knows is the wasteland and he calls the road his home, hunting the mutants wreaking havoc on what’s left of humanity. But when he becomes the hunted, he has to team up with the very thing he kills. And it’s possibly the worst road trip he’s been on.

💀 A Rock to Cling to While We Catch Our Breath series | Hyperion327 | various ratings | 40k

The apocalypse isn't necessarily the end. Taken from a line in the film Interstellar, here we see Derek and Stiles as they endure worlds scarred, and deformed.

[penpalkingdom]

Hi! I’m Augustė, 20 years old (she/her) from Lithuania. I’d really love to meet some new people (would feel most comfortable talking to someone at least 17 years old haha) and talk to you through email or social media:) Some of my hobbies include TV shows: Supernatural (all time favorite); Suits; The Office; The Mandalorian; and many more, I’m sure we will find at least one we both like! Movies: Star Wars (the originals mostly); Interstellar; The MCU; Mamma Mia; and once again - many more, all genres! Music: Sabaton; Little Mix; Taylor Swift; Måneskin; KISS; and you guessed it - many more. More things I love are sports (football (the one with the ball on the ground that’s kicked with feet) and F1! Also, I love musicals, books, writing (stories or lyrics), playing the piano, singing, dancing, being in nature, traveling. Of course the hobbies I have written are just so you could know me better, it’s surely not super important that we have so much in common, I’m sure we will find stuff to talk about! So, if you’d like to be friends, you can contact me via gmail or instagram: augusteverb @ gmail.com [without the spaces] @sacrifice.saturn (or @sacrificesaturn, depending when you’re reading this as i’m planning to change it haha) See you!

[nikabiheart]

A-Z Family - Sims4 Challenge

A-Z Family

Welcome to the A-Z Family challenge! This is mostly about living out a story and exploring things in the Sims 4 World you may not have known existed. And experience as many aspects of the game as possible.

What to do and not to do: 

Follow the rules of each generation to complete the challenge, sometimes you have to cheat to achieve this

If two careers or aspiration are stated, do them both in that order

You can have as many children as you want except when it is stated otherwise

Every child and pet must have a name that starts with the next letter in the alphabet 

You can give your Sims a second name if you don't like the ones stated but they must start with the required letter

The next heir must be of the opposite gender (assigned at birth) as the parent and doesn't have to be the first child except when it is stated otherwise

All packs are required for this

Use the Hashtag #azfamily when you try this challenge and #az[name] when you show your Sims

THIS CHALLENGE IS NOT YET PLAYED OR BETA TESTED, ERRORS ARE POSSIBLE - PLEASE REPORT THEM TO ME 

A - Aurora/Allister

You live a quiet life with your dog by your side. As an Astronaut, you spend much time alone in space, floating around. But one day you wind up on a planet that is inhabited by Aliens! They are friendly, one in particular and you can´t help yourself but fall for this beautiful individual.

(Toddler trait: choose for yourself)

Perfectionist

Dog Lover

Genius

(Child aspiration: Whiz kid)

Aspiration: Renaissance Sim

Career: Astronaut

Max out career & aspiration

Join the Space Ranger path (if you continue after Gen Z, choose Interstellar Smuggle path)

Reach level 10 in Logic, Rocket Science & Meditation

Have a dog

Visit Sixam

Fall in love with an Alien & have Gen B with them

B - Buffy/Boone

You brought life into your parents life. You were wild and always running around. But Space was nothing for you. Even though it's quite cool to float around, you prevere the thrill of Gravity and overcoming it by hiking on the highest trails and climbing the tallest mountains. It is during one of your high-blood-pressure-causing-hobbies, that you meet your future spouse. A sporty someone with a great sense of humor.

Toddler trait: Wild

Active

Adventurous

Bro

Child aspiration: Rambunctious scamp

Aspiration: Extreme Sports Enthusiast

Career: Athlete

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Rock Climbing & Snowboarding

Move to Mt. Komorebi as an adult

Be an Expert Mountaineer

Have a spouse with the “Goofball” trait & meet them while hiking or climbing

Buy “GymRat” with Satisfaction Points

C - Clara/Claus

Your parents both love the thrill of extreme sports, while you prefer the thrill of the show. Always cracking jokes and making people laugh - that's what you are all about. You dream of becoming an entertainer and maybe even have your own Late-Night-Show, but it is a looong way. Maybe start by flipping burgers, okay? But once you're on the path to becoming a comedian, you´re meeting people left and right. And the thought of your Late-Night-Show turns into many One-Night-Stands. Oh yeah, and a kid or two…

Toddler trait: Silly

Goofball

Cheerful

Non-Committal

Child aspiration: Social butterfly

Aspiration: Joke Star

Career: Entertainer

Max out career & aspiration

Work as a Fast Food Employee

Join the Entertainer path

Reach level 10 in Charisma, Writing & Creativity

Have at least 8 different partners & try 8 different WooHoo places

Never retire & never marry

D - Dia/Dino

Your parent (Gen C) was a really funny person. Not so much a good partner. You had many stepparents in your life, most of them you can't really remember. But here is where you had your calling. Theft! Nothing wrong with swiping a few dollars out of their pocket while they are busy, right? And it just so happens, that you began to steel out of their houses as well. Oh well. But who's gotta stop you when Gen C is way too busy with work and you have an amazing partner on your side. A partner in crime and in bed. Nothing could be better than that! Except a kid that you both will love. And train as a little helper as a lookout of course.

Toddler trait: Independant

Kleptomaniac

Cat Lover

Romantic

Child aspiration: Rambunctious Scamp

Aspiration: Public Enemy

Career: Criminal

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Acting, Parenting & Handiness/Programming (opposite of the skill needed for your chosen path)

Have a cat

Marry a criminal Sim

Max out the relation with your spouse and child

Buy “Observant” with Satisfaction Points

Max out career & aspiration

E - Eden

You grew up with loving parents with a not so lovely job. But that wasn't the thing you disliked about it. It was the filthy rich people that, honestly, deserved to be robbed. It just wasn't fair that they had so much while there are people out there living in need. You decided to do something. You became an activist. And when you learned about climate change... whoa! Nothing could stop you. Except for maybe a pregnancy, that surprised you and your partner very early in life.

Toddler trait: Clingy

Vegetarian

Recycle Disziplin

Green Fiend

Child aspiration: Social Butterfly

Aspiration: Eco

Career: Conservationist

Max out career & aspiration

Join the Environmental Manager path

Reach level 10 in Handiness, Gardening & Research & Debate

Move to Grims Quarry in Evergreen Harbor

Have Gen F as soon as you become a young adult and one more child as soon as Gen F is a teen

Your partner must have the “Eco” aspiration and the “vegetarian” trait

F - Frida/Frankie

Your parents were really young when they got you and were also very busy with demonstrating so your grandparents raised you as well. You heard about Gen Ds stories and were fascinated. You begged for stories about clever thieves that were so brilliant, the whole world knew about them. They were your role models. Not so much about theft but world prominence... that was something for you. You began to work your way to fame with everything imaginable. Luckily, you had all the freedom and time in the world, as your family saw school as nothing important. You lived a life with no responsibility - until your sibling came along. Now you had to care for them, which got in the way of your work for fame. You knew you had to leave the house as soon as possible. Family is just something that keeps you down and away from success.

Toddler trait: Fussy

Ambitious

Mean

Doesn´t like children

Child aspiration: Artistic Prodigy

Aspiration: World-Famous-Celebrity & Villainous Valentine

Career: Style Influencer

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Photography, Mischief and Dancing

Move to Del Sol Valley as soon as you become a young adult

Stay under the level 3 of the parenting skill

Have a negative relation with your sibling

Have only one child when your sibling is a young adult, never meet up with family members & never pick up calls from them

G - Gillian/Gabriel

You grew up at your uncles and aunts place, together with all your cousins and your eco-grandparents. It was a busy but loving household. Something you had not experienced with Gen F. They gave you away pretty soon and don't really have much contact with them. Oh well. You are much happier here, surrounded by children and family that loves you. And you can´t wait until you start a big family of your own.

Toddler trait: Angelic

Childish

Dance Machine

Family Oriented

Child aspiration: Social Butterfly

Aspiration: Big Happy Family

Career: Babysitter

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Dancing, Singing & Baking

Pause your job when you have a toddler of your own & retire as an adult

Have at least six children

Stay with your spouse for the rest of your life & never remarry or have a new romantic interest after your spouse may die

Buy “Great Storyteller” with Satisfaction Points

H - Heather/Heath

You grew up with many siblings and not that much money. But you didn't mind. You don't need much to be happy. In fact, you need so little that you don't even want a job. All you want is fun and peace (and to do your weird niche hobbies). Everyone deserves that, at least in your opinion. You are carefree and yeah, kind of a hippie. "Make love, not war" really fits you. You do what and who you like, no spouse that could get in the way. Only lovely partners.

Toddler trait: Silly

Clumsy

Good

Freegan

Child aspiration: Rambunctious scamp

Aspiration: Serial Romantic

Career: None

Max out Aspiration

Only do Odd Jobs when money is under 100 Simoleons and all your needs are green

Reach level 10 in Charisma, Creativity, Herbalism, Wellness, Flower arranging & Fabrication

Live in an Eco-Friendly home

Never have more than 3000 Simoleons (you may cheat for this)

Partners that you move in can bring their money with them but they will have to quit their jobs

I - Iris/Indio

You grew up with parents that were very close to nature. You also grew up with many parents. Maybe that is why you want a stable home with a nice family. You dream of a house at the beach, a little expensive. Probably because you grew up with not so much luxury. You don't need much for a happy life, you know that. But it is a nice feeling to have a good amount of money. So you can support your child Gen J in the future.

Toddler trait: Wild

Loves the Outdoors

Glutton

Child of the Ocean

Child aspiration: Choose for yourself

Aspiration: Beach Life

Career: Conservationist

Max out career & aspiration

Join Marine Biologist path

Reach level 10 in  Fitness, Fishing & Selvadoradian culture

Move to Sulani and live in a fairly expensive house

Spouse must be a merperson

As soon as you have 10000 Simoleons, you can't have any money less than that - give it to Gen J when they move out so they can build a house

J - Java/James

You were always inquisitive as a child. The Island had so much to explore and to offer for a young and curious kid. As well as on land as under water. You spend most of your days swimming and diving around and coming up with stories about pirates and well... mermaids. But those are DEFINITELY not real. Topic change: your curiosity led you to the career path of a journalist. It's fun, sure, but not as creative as you might have hoped. You secretly dream of becoming a well known author. There are many books you have written but not published. Maybe when you're an elder. Now all that counts is the creative talent of your child.

Toddler trait: Inquisitive

Creative

Bookworm

Child of the Ocean

Child aspiration: Artistic prodigy

Aspiration: Bestselling Author

Career: Writer

Max out career & aspiration

Join the Journalist path

Reach level 10 in Logic, Creativity & Fishing

If you are a merperson, you must keep it a secret

Marry a Sim with the trait “Good” & max out your relationship with them

Quit your job and make money by only selling your books

K - Kristie/Kanon

You were very lucky to grow up with parents that always supported you and your art. From a young age they were always by your side and pushed you gently towards success. But now you are a young, famous and rich artist and absolutely hate it. Not the art but the society that thrives on it. All fakes and blanks... no thanks! So you move out of the big city to a lovely little town. At first it is a bit hard to get to know the close knitted people, but once one of them gets you out of your shell, you are welcomed by them all. Your spouse cares for a little farm and you can paint all day and ship your art to the city without ever having to meet these awful stuck up critics.

Toddler trait: Clingy

Loner

Art Lover

Gloomy

Child aspiration: Artistic prodigy

Aspiration: Painter Extraordinaire

Career: Painter

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Creativity & Parenting

Max out Child Aspiration before growing up

Move to a big city and later to Henford-on-Bagley

Marry a Sim who lives there and has the trait “Outgoing” (doesn´t have to be a townie)

Have a maxed out relationship with your spouse and Gen L

L - Lola/Lui

You grew up with very different parents. One very introverted and creative, the other outgoing and handy. You definitely take after the extrovert. And even though you are only a half townsperson, nobody seems to mind and they care for you as one of their own. No wonder, as you love to wake up early and help take care of the farm or spend your free time outdoors, doing anything. Luckily there is so much to do! Like... maybe meeting up with a special someone?

Toddler trait: Angelic

Outgoing

Loves Outdoors

Maker

Child aspiration: Rambunctious Scamp

Aspiration: Country Caretaker

Career: Gardener

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Handiness & Skating

Must marry someone out of town (doesn´t have to be a townie)

Must “Try for Baby” in a bush and have Gen M this way

Buy “Morning Sim” with Satisfaction Points

Stay in Henford-on-Bagley

M - Milly/Max

You grew up in a very small town with nothing to do. Who wants to walk around all day feeding chicken and picking flowers? Not you, definitely. No, you were always interested in the online world. New trends and videos, that is what you enjoy. And you can't do that out in Nowhere so as soon as you´re old enough you move to Somewhere. Just as outgoing as Gen L, you have some connections in no time. Even very important ones that will help you to move up in the world of media.

Toddler trait: Fussy

Neat

Insider

Self-Absorbed

Child aspiration: Social Butterfly

Aspiration: City Native

Career: Social Media

Max out career & aspiration

Join Public Relations path

Reach level 10 in Comedy, Photography & Media Production

Move to San Myshuno as soon as you become an adult

Have a bad relationship with Gen L

Go to every event that takes place at least once and accept every invitation

N - Nina/Nico

You have rich parents, so you have an easy life. That's the truth. You may not want to hear it and have people forget it, so you pretend to work hard with no startup money. You may fool some people but there is one person in your life that sees right through your facade. Bad thing about that; you work with them and they might tell your boss. Of course it would do nothing to hurt your career, everybody lies. But it would hurt your ego. So you agree to meet up with them and... wait. Is this turning into a date? Even though you are very flustered, maybe it isn't so bad to work with them after all.

Toddler trait: Independant

Snob

Erratic

Unflirty

Child aspiration: Whiz Kid

Aspiration: Successful Lineage & Grilled Cheese

Career: Business

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Logic, Programming & Yoga

Marry a coworker that you used to have a bad relationship with

Have a neutral relationship with Gen O

Throw a Black & White Bash

After finishing everything you must get the Grilled-Cheese aspiration

O - Opal/Otis

Your parents both are successful and rich and expect the same thing from you. They try to bring you to join their business but you have no interest in gameling with other people's money and getting more rich while the people are getting more poor. No, you want to help the people. But with the fear of disappointing your parents you see only one option: become a doctor. Not your favorite job in the world but not the worst. And just like your job, you choose a spouse that your parents approve of. You like them and they are nice but... not the one for you. Still, you have Gen P with them that you adore and spoil. To not hurt them, you and your spouse decide to stay together but date other people. Your parents don't know about this and never have to know.

Toddler trait: Angelic

Good

Ambitious

Gloomy

Child aspiration: Choose for yourself

Aspiration: Super Parent

Career: Doctor

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Video Gaming, Charisma & Bowling

Work as a Retail Employee as a teen

Marry Someone who has a good relationship with at least one of your parents, never max out the romantic relationship with them

Live with them while starting your affair - reach the max level of romance with them, they must never meet your parents - start a new affair if they do

Have a maxed out relationship with Gen P

P - Penelope/Presleigh

You grew up with everything you could ever want and ask for. In fact, you don´t even need to ask for it, your parents just buy it for you. They don't expect anything from you but to be nice and friendly. You can manage that, no problem. In fact, you become a little prober but spoiled royal, that is not really royal. Sadly, there are people who use you for your money and you are just a little too naive to see it.

Toddler trait: Charmer

Lazy

Materialistic

Proper

Child aspiration: Social Butterfly

Aspiration: The Positivity Challenge

Career: Non or Political

Max out aspiration

Reach level 10 in Charisma, Violin & Flower arranging

If you join the politician career, join the Charity Organizer path

Never move out of your parents home (you are allowed to rebuild it)

Be friend with 3 kleptomaniacs, 2 snobs and 1 materialistic Sim

Throw a Charity Event 

Q - Queenie/Quentin

Your parent has all the money in the world and never has to lift a finger for anything. Yet they care for you and gift you lots of toys. The plush animals were nothing for you but little robots - that's what you like. You were always taking things apart and putting them back together, fascinated by technology and robotics. It's only natural that you got to work with that for a living. Even though getting paid is only a nice bonus to you. Rich parents and all that. But not only did you inherit the money, you also got their heart of gold. So when you learned that one of your coworkers and their kid got kicked out of their home, you took them in. And slowly fell in love with them.

Toddler trait: Independant

Genius

Geek

Lactose Intolerant

Child aspiration: Whiz Kid

Aspiration: Computer Whiz

Career: Engineer

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Handiness, Logic, Programming & Video Gaming

Finish the “Whiz Kid” aspiration before growing up

Have a good relationship with Gen P & get aged up by a flower arrangement

Take in someone and their kid, have them join the engineer career (if they don´t do that already) & marry them

Befriend a Smart Speaker or a Talking Toilet

R - Roxy/Rexi

You always hated math, numbers and anything more complicated than turning on a computer. Both your parents and your half sibling spend all their days working on some weird science things that you have no interest in understanding. Just like nobody in your family seems to understand you. Only the music is there for you. Tunes and moves - that was what you grew up with. You felt ignored by your parents, so you rebelled and acted up at any chance you got. And still do, as an adult. But as a rockstar it is kind of expected from you. Failed relationships, a couple of kids... only as an elder you begin to understand how to relax and spend time with your family. But it's still hard for you.

Toddler trait: Fussy

Music Lover

Hot-Headed

Slob

Child aspiration: Artistic Prodigy

Aspiration: Musical Genius

Carrer: Entertainer

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Guitar, Creativity, Singing & DJ mixing

Finish the “Artistic Prodigy” aspiration before growing up

Have at least two failed marriages and at least 1 child with each spouse - give your children weird names

Your forever partner must be someone an age stage younger than you

Retire as an Elder & built good relationships with family members

S - Savannah/Santiago

You were always part of the show business. Your parent is a famous rockstar, it was clear that you had to do something similar. So why not acting? Since you were always good at pretending that everything was alright. But you´re not really happy. Not with your career and not your cheating spouse. But you love your child. And even more so you love your pets that surround you. They can't lie or cheat on you. Animals are honest and love you for you.

Toddler traits: Clingy

Animal Enthusiast

High Maintenance

Jealous

Child aspiration: Artistic Prodigy

Aspiration: Master Actor/Actress

Career: Actor

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Charisma, Wellness, Pet Training & Acting

Only be close friends with animals

Be part of the Drama Club

Marry someone who is “Non-Committal” and cheats on you

Always have one pet in your household since toddler age, have at least 3 pets as an adult, have a full household and one adopted child

T - Thea/Theo

You grew up surrounded by animals and always loved them. You liked taking care of them alongside Gen S and you would be heart broken when one of them was sick. So when you found out that your family had a farm in a cute little town, you decided to move there with Gen S and your pets to become a veterinarian. Sadly, you had to leave your sweetheart, who stayed behind in the City of Fame. But just before Gen S would die, your old love showed up out of the blue and you two decided to stay together forever and marry the next day.

Toddler trait: Angelic

Animal Enthusiast

Outgoing

Good

Child aspiration: Whiz Kid

Aspiration: Friends of the Animals

Career: Veterinarian

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Herbalism, Bowling & Veterinarian

Move to the same farm as Gen K, bring Gen S and all the pets with you

Have a bad relationship with your other parent 

Have a partner in your hometown, reconnect with them before Gen S dies and marry them the next day

Organise 3 Playdates for Gen U

U - Ursula/Ulrick

You grew up in the same town as some of your ancestors and were a small towns person through and through. Running around with other kids and climbing trees, sitting around a bonfire and eating Smores. You helped your parents and the people in town wherever you can and were always concerned about their safety. You wanted to be just like your big role models - brave police men and women. So that is what you would become and so much more. You could always count on your partner to support you. You were best friends as children and high-school sweethearts as teenagers. But you didn't wait so long to marry, like your parents did.

Toddler trait: Wild

Active

Romantic

Dance Machine

Child aspiration: Rambunctious Scamp

Aspiration: Soulmate

Career: Detective

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Charisma, Dancing & Parenting

Go camping at least 4 times with friends

Marry your childhood best friend & have only one child

Only ever visit Willow Creek, Newcrest, Granite Falls, Magnolia Promenade, Windenburg and Brindleton Bay

Die as an adult (you may cheat for this)

V - Victoria/Victor

You seek immortality. Gen U died way too young - that left you traumatized and scared of death. While growing up you are very paranoid and scared of everything but at the same time you want to live life to the fullest, as it can be over before you know it. But then you found out about vampires. They were real! Way too overjoyed to ask to join them, you asked too late what price you have to pay. Now you are a vampire and immortal but have to leave your family and your life as you knew it behind. You mourn for a long while but find new love and meaning in your now forever life.

Toddler trait: Clingy

Neat

Paranoid

Ambitious

Child aspiration: Whiz Kid

Aspiration: Master Vampire

Career: Freelancer

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Vampire lore, Logic & Fitness

Join the Paranormal Investigator path

Join university and live on campus but quit before reaching a degree

Have a child before exploring Forgotten Hollow and being turned into a vampire

When you are a vampire you must quit your job, never see your family again and find a new love after one year

W - Wilma/William

You were robbed by the mythical. Growing up with only one parent, you began to hate vampires and everything fantastical. You began to spend all your time learning about science and if there is a way to cure someone from vampirism and find the solution to a long life. But sadly, you were unlucky. Even worse, that nobody believes you when you tell them about vampires and call you a mad scientist (which is not completely unjust). Not even your child believes you, that is the only family you have left, after your spouse dies.

Toddler trait: Independant

Genius

Loner

Squeamish

Child Aspiration: Whiz Kid

Aspiration: Nerd Brain

Career: Scientist

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Logic, Pipe organ & Research & Debate

Be a Scout but quit after reaching stage two

Only have two friends in total

Marry your best friend & loose them to death after you have Gen X

Have a distant Relationship with Gen X

X - Xenia/Xavier

Your parent spends all their day in a lab - how boring. You need excitement in your life, maybe even fight some bad guys. Real bad guys, no ghosts or vampires or whatever Gen W tells you. Mafia bosses or international criminals - that is what you have in mind. So you become a super spy. It doesn't matter that you have to move somewhere safe and have no contact with your family, since you don't really have any. That is, until you meet someone at your job. Someone with the same unusual first letter! You begin to talk and fall in love and start a family. To take care of the kid, your partner retires and takes care of it. But you love your job too much. You don't even want to retire, but you have to eventually. At least you still have your skills, especially the mixologist skill (you would be surprised how many undercover jobs take place in a bar), that you share with your kid, whenever you are home.

Toddler trait: Wild

Active

Self-Assured

Bro

Child aspiration: Rambunctious scamp

Aspiration: Master Mixologist

Career: Secret Agent

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Fitness, Charisma & one more skill

Move to a town with only a few or no other Sims

Marry a co-worker who´s name start with X

Cook or bake with Gen Y whenever you have the chance

Retire as an elder and meet Gen Z

Y - Yasmin/Yoshua

You were not exactly lonely as a child but seeing Gen X was always a highlight. You tried to spend as much time with them as possible and picked up a similar hobby as them. From them you got your liking of mixing stuff and making it into something delicious. Cakes, soups, everything one could imagine. And you always loved to share it with people. Grand meals were very common at your house and you always invited over the whole town, since it was only a small, secret town for the family of spies.

Toddler trait: Silly

Outgoing

Foodie

Family Oriented

Child aspiration: Social Butterfly

Aspiration: Master Chef

Career: Culinary

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Parenting, Baking & Gourmet cooking

Stay in your hometown & only have 5 friends outside of your family

Hold a Dinner Party every two weeks and cater for it as well

Cook with Gen Z five times

Plant and care for a Cow Plant

Z - Zoey/Zack

You like mixing things and gathering ingredients. Just like Gen Y and Gen X. But unlike them, you are more interested in the effect than the taste of your work. You experimented so much with this stuff, that you just had to stumble upon the magic of potions. Of course Gen X does not believe you, they only care about themselves anyway. But you know better. Magic exists and you can use it. Sadly you have a thing for mischief and evil deeds, so one day you reset time. But everything is gender swapped…

Toddler trait: Charmer

Loves the Outdoors

Perfectionist

Evil

Child aspiration: Whiz kid

Aspiration: Purveyor of Potions

Career: Education

Max out career & aspiration

Reach level 10 in Gardening, Mixology, Herbalism & Mischief

Grow every herb in your garden

Become a spellcaster & never use magic around your family

Have a bad relationship with Gen X

If you have a child, give them a name that starts with A (you can restart the challenge this way but only with a child of the same gender as you)