#it was a five phase boss battle

[elithesia-autem-danguarde]

Giving Emmet A Pokémon Team In Hisui

I currently have several different ideas swarming around in my head about Submas and the brothers being reunited in one way or another. But today I would like to give me two cents about what team of Pokémon I believe Emmet would have as a Hisuian trainer.

Since Ingo has another team in Hisui, I figure that it’s only fair that Emmet does to, including a special guest to almost stand-in for Sneasler. I haven’t come up with any story ideas of Emmet being a warden (mostly because I like even numbers and would have to make up another to balance the two clans), but I could still see him having special relations with Pokémon, especially if he retains his memories from Unova. So without further ado, here’s who I think would comprise Emmet’s Hisuian team of Pokémon and why:  

Luxay: Not forgetting entirely where he stems from, Emmet takes Luxray as a pure Electric type partner since Eelektross is not available. I admittedly have a bit of a bias here as well since I really love Luxray, but I genuinely felt this was the best option to stick with in regards to a Hisuian main for Emmet, especially with how it contrasts Ingo’s Gliscor. Scizor: Since Durant is not available as a Bug/Steel type option in Hisui, Scizor instead steps in to take that spot, granting Emmet some technical strength in battles. A man just has his preferences sometimes, especially given how he would retain his memories. Yanmega: Bug types are a big part of Emmet’s team, and he does have aerial coverage back on his Unovan team, so I feel Yanmega offers the best of both of those worlds. It’s a stronger Bug type than something like Dustox of Beautifly, and it also has the Flying type to help cover other potential weaknesses. Steelix: Probably my biggest stretch, but Steel is one the the four types I usually associate with Emmet’s team (You can check how I define his and Ingo’s Unovan teams for more context), and he would absolutely go riding on a Steelix throughout the land of Hisui to scare the piss out its residents. It also provides him with a unique Ground-typing to show how he has to think a bit differently to home. Pachirisu: We all love headcanons about Emmet’s little Joltik hoard back on the Unovan Subway, but there are unfortunately no Joltiks present is Hisui. So Pachirisu takes a spot in order to be a small, cute little Pokémon for Emmet to happily carry around on his shoulder from time to time, as well as give him some more Electric type power on his team.  Rampardos: Rock is another type I associate with Emmet, and I can totally see him having a big strong dinosaur on his side that probably loves him because he gives good belly rubs. Either way, it would be another formidable force to handle in battle, which we know he takes very seriously.  Hisuian Zoroark: There is pretty much no story idea in my head where Emmet goes to Hisui and ISN’T involved with Hisuian Zoroark somehow, so this lineup is no exception. Though not a warden officially, Emmet watches over his special Zoroark that provides illusions to keep unwanted wild Pokémon encounters away.

[szynkaaa]

Black Myth: Wukong Journal Entries Part 2

Part 1 talks about what happened to the monkeys from Mount Huaguo after SWK died

Part 2 will be about the bosses you fight in chapter 6 to get the Golden Suozi armor parts, I will be linking back to the fandom wiki for the full journal entries and some videos. I highly recommend reading the articles in full because it also talks about what kind of person Sun Wukong is/was.

Sun Wukong's armor were scattered around Mt. Huaguo and turned into creatures after he died.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert in JTTW, a lot of things are drawn up from my own conclusion.

Long text so everything is under cut!

Gold Armored Rhino

SWK has a heart of gold, lungs of silver, head of copper and iron body from being in the Furnace for 40 days

Can still feep pain when injured though

was fed iron pellet and moletn copper by mountain deities and keepers when he was buried under Five-Element Mountain for 500 years

his monkeys didn't visit him :(

also headband curse so tight his head would resmeble a gourd ouch

Golden Armored Rhino mirrors the Great Sage's indomitable spirit, never yielding to defeat

"[...] Even if its horn was shattered, it never lost the resolve to charge into battle, standing resolute and read to fight anew.

In the game, you have to shatter his horn with heavy attacks in order to be able to do a lot of damage, but the horn grows back after few seconds, so it's rise and repeat. Also the location of the armor is littered with dead soldier bodies. After the fight ZBJ says that the bosses were killing the soldiers because the soldiers were trying to get the armor pieces. Dialogue starts at 4:22

Cloudtreading Deer

Sommersault Cloud made Wukong's body invulnerable and movement agile, but his lack of patience would lead to trouble

this whole paragraph: "Immortals often say that Sun Wukong was at his most mischievous and ruthless when he was the Monkey King. Yet, during that time, aside from his battles with the Celestial Court, he rarely harmed other beings. It was only after he became a disciple, following his master and gaining direction, that he developed many thunderous methods. Stealing, robbing, kidnapping, killing, arson, and destroying mountains and caves—all became second nature to him."

Cloudtreading Deer is transformed from his Lotus Silk Cloudtreaders (the things protecting his legs)

represents both sides of his nature: free-spirited and agile nature and his inherent ferocity

Cloudtreading Deer battle has two phases, the first one where it casts stupid tornados and also moves around very fast and through the sky. I fucking hated that phase LMFAO. Second phase was easier, but also spooky the boss turns into some blood deer and it's giving me massive bloodborne vibes. Transformation starts at 8:10 in the video. Basically, phase 1 is the free spirited and agile nature of wukong, and phase 2 is his ruthleness and ferocity

Feng-Tail General

Learned human manners and speech during his travels and when he studied Dao at Mt. Lingtai

"When he left in a huff at Yingchou Stream, the Old Loong King reasoned with him, and he returned to admit his mistakes. He abandoned arbitrary actions and always heeded sound advice." -> Before they met the White Dragon horse at the Yingchou stream, Tripitaka and SWK were ambushed by bandits, and SWK killed them all, to which Tripitaka was not happy about. They fought, SWK left. He then chats with the Old Loong King of the stream, who also told SWK that there was a White Dragon and his master might be in danger, so SWK goes back to Tripitaka. Also in his absence that's when Guanyin gave Tripitaka the headband to be put onto SWK

"He forged brotherly bonds with yaoguais, engaged in jest with immortals, and exchanged banter with Bodhisattvas. His amiable nature endeared him to all, who were ever willing to offer their assistance. He had a sense of decorum and propriety." -> not much for me to add there, he becomes sworn brothers with few yaoguai, like the Bull King or Erlang Shen

"He had the ability to summon wind and rain and could seek out loongs. He could transform into guais for scouting or borrow vessels when needed. In times of trouble, he sought the aid of higher beings, seldom relying on brute force."

-> truth lol, like the amount of times he had to get help from other deities to beat up an enemy and save his master

"This Feng-Tail General, with multiple eyes on his head, had a keen understanding of both himself and his enemies. He was adept at leaping and dodging, avoiding powerful foes whenever possible, and displayed a touch of the monkey's cleverness. It's no wonder that the crown on the monkey's head grasped his nimble thoughts so well."

This is the only boss you didn't have to fight, I saw it more as a stamina / health test to test your built lol. Basically what you have to do in the game is jump onto it's head and hold onto the antenna while the grasshopper is jumping three times, and then pull the antennas out while not getting burned. And yeah in the map he is just leaping and jumping around. Honestly not even sure if you can try to fight it, I didn't bother to find out.

Emeral-Armed Mantis

"Tang Monk often advocated for kindness, while Sun Wukong was known for his punishment of evil."

"At Kui-Mu Wolf's abode, upon learning of the princess's suffering and her reluctance to leave due to her feelings for the yaoguai and children bore for him, Sun Wukong ordered Bajie to throw the yaoguai's children from the height, reducing them to two lumps of flesh." -> Referencing the arc in ch. 38-31 in JTTW, the Yellow Robe Demon, also known as Kuimulang (will abbreviate as KML). KML is one of the 28 constellations, and he had a lover. in JTTW she was reincarnated as a princess, gets kidnapped by KML, married for 13 years and they have two kids. It's those two kids where SWK orders ZBJ to throw them off.

"At Old Yang's house, after learning of the unfilial deeds of the old couple's son and seeing how they indulged him for the sake of incense offerings, he proceeded to behead the son despite Old Yang's pleas." -> Ch. 52 in JTTW, screenshot taken from here

"Sun Wukong's nature was to show no mercy to villains and evildoers; he delighted in eradicating evils and yaoguais. The numerous blood debts on the journey to the West, though each had its reasons, were mostly attributed to the monkey.

The world knew of the other three pieces of armor, but they were unaware that the mantis was actually transformed from the Great Sage's gauntlet. It seems the gauntlet inherited the Great Sage's ruthlessness, for it played tricks on Zhu Bajie with the same cunning."

The last bit refers to when ZBJ was trying to catch the mantis but it jumped into his mouth down his throat into his stomach instead and the DO had to go inside his mouth to fight the mantis.

The first half of the battle is super easy imo but then after you cut down certain % of his HP, the mantis gets a lot more aggressive. While the mantis was inside ZBJ stomach, it is cutting on its wall, hence ZBJ is doubling over in pain. So I guess this refers to how ruthless SWK can be

[adorablebanite]

OC Deep Dive Questions

Thank you @hippotooth for the tag, and giving me more excuses to blab about my dumb girl!

I'd love to tag some folks, should they wish to partake (if they haven't already!) @newtia @beecreeper @obuoliukai @melvinthedepressedrobot @ennissg @sankttealeaf @forged-by-fire @forlornghosts @walkerdraws @lizziemajestic @archduchessgortash @archduchessgabrielle @elinorbard @sunflowergem @threeofswrds @arianiziolek @defira85 @lillietea @kawareo @toobisa @kaava @asteria49 @demong @aurorawintersnight @archduke-enver-gortash (I'm sorry if I missed anyone! I'd love to see EVERYONE'S response, if possible!

(I realize Tumblr doesn't let me tag more than a handful of people but i'm stubborn and will do it in the replies, lmao)

Questions/Answers for my beloved OC ~Lilla~ under the cut

Warning - she's literally just a "made in a lab for gortash" trope, so enjoy extreme self-indulgence!

What common/uncommon fear do they have?

I don't know if there's much in the way of common when it comes to BG3, but I suppose Lilla's actually fairly brave! She's a Banite after all - though it took some getting there. Honestly her worst fear is getting "fired" by the boss - but that's a given. Lady Orin actually terrifies her, and maybe Balthazar a bit, as well (he's just mostly stinky and smug, though.)

Do they have any pet peeves?

You'll be sick of hearing this already, but given Lilla's nature, her biggest pet peeve is when people don't cooperate with Gortash 😅

Honestly just general incompetence - her standards rival the Chosen's, which are basically impossible, so good luck!

What are 3 items you can find in their bedroom?

An emerald silk bathrobe, an alchemy station stocked to the brim with all the good stuff, and a small library nook!

What do they notice first in a person?

Visually not much (unless she's attracted to them, in which case she's just like the rest of us and looks respectively, or otherwise 😉).

Believe it or not, she doesn't judge much based on looks; she's learned from the boss that every person has the potential to offer some skill or opportunity that could benefit the Banites and their chosen - so she's always looking to see what she can exploit or harness from someone, and to see if she can delegate their skills to Gortash's cause.

On a scale from 1-10, how high is their pain tolerance?

Pretty high up there- gonna say at least an 8, but she's cheating because she was kind of intentionally 'made' that way. Once she got a pommel from a greatsword straight to the cheekbone during a tournament and she just kind of smiled bloody at the dude which freaked him the fuck out because she's so small and un-phased.

Do they go into fight or flight mode when under pressure?

Depends on the pressure! She's survived/won a battle royal against some really grizzled Banites - though it may have mostly been luck -but it helped shape her ability to respond to fear fairly well! Again, the whole 'Banite blood' thing helps a lot!

She did have a massive panic attack when she thought her worst fear (see first question) was realized, which sent her into quite a state - so that would be the closes to fleeing she's ever gotten, really.

Do they come from a big family/are they a family person?

If by "family" you mean "secret Banite sect at the outskirts of Calimport," then yes she comes from a fairly big family, but she doesn't remember them, since they erased her memory when she was five and gave her to an Ilmater orphanage (long story - sounds weird - it is). Not really a family person, but could be, if her path took a different turn! She's quite nurturing considering all things (Which may have been a point of contention with Bane, but she ultimately proved herself, eventually).

What animal represents them best?

This is such a hard question...I never considered. Hmm what could be considered regal and unhinged in the same stroke? Maybe I'll say Owl - because it's the symbol of knowledge, and she's a knowledge domain cleric? Also she can be fairly deadly if you let your guard down around her 😊 Also she doesn't shut up sometimes.

What is a smell they dislike?

Balthazar.

Have they broken any bones?

As mentioned before, she had her face smashed with a really heavy weapon. Would you be interested in a smol excerpt? (You get it regardless 😅 (as usual warning: amateur writing)

How would a stranger likely describe them?

Very prim, proper, and polite! Quite sweet as well! Unless you've said something uncouth about Lord Gortash (It is recommended to not do that around her).

Are they a night owl, or morning bird?

She's extremely gort-coded, so whatever he wants (so both)

What’s a flavor they hate and a flavor they love?

Plump red berries are her favourite for reasons only the readers of AFI know :p. I don't know what she doesn't like! Maybe dirty/muddy meat and potatoes, which also only AFI readers will know why ^_^

Do they have any hobbies?

lol. lmao.

Alchemy I guess xD. Basically studying anything that makes her more competent/useful at her job.

Boom, surprise birthday party! How do they react to surprise?

I think at first she'd think it was a waste of time, but she wouldn't admit that she loves it (and the attention).

Do they like to wear jewelery?

Yes! A black suede collar with a Banite charm! She switches it for an Ilmater charm when in public though >.>

Do they have neat or messy handwriting?

Very neat, very succinct, very efficient. Transcribing was the very first reason Gortash hired her - especially because she's able to use her Mage Hand to write (ie in unseen places for what may or may not be for spying purposes).

What are the two emotions they feel the most?

This is so lame and cringe but just general catharsis for fulfilling her purpose. It's a perk of the whole "made in a lab" trope. For a being conceived during a silly Banite ritual designed to make the perfect servant for Bane's chosen (whoever it should be at the time), she actually feels a great deal of love -it's up to individual philosophy if it's organic/genuine, or preprogrammed.

Do they have a favourite fabric?

Emerald silk ^_^

What kind of accent do they have?

An English one, I dunno man. She grew up in an orphanage, but was taught by Ilmater nurses/clerics, so she sounds like a fancy lil bitch.

[that-foul-legacy-lover]

IF FOUL LEGACY WAS A SKIN FOR TARTAGLIA IT WOULD BE OVWR FOR YA’LL

GOD YOU'RE TELLING ME I WOULD LITERALLY START SCREAMING AND YOU'D BE ABLE TO HEAR IT

also i had to do a little non-Melusine SAGAU snippet i couldn't resist okay

you've never bought one of the skins before, not at that price! sure, you picked up the free ones whenever there were certain events, but never the five-star skins. there just weren't any skins that appealed to you enough to incentivize you to spend money- they were pretty, yes, but an empty pretty. nothing you couldn't already get from the characters' base outfits. until, that is, someone came up with the absolutely brilliant idea of giving Childe a skin. specifically, a skin of Foul Legacy, and oh goodness, it was OVER for you. the Eleventh Harbinger was always one of your favorites, his final boss phase even more, and now you could walk around with Legacy in the overworld with just a simple skin. you groan, burying your head in your hands, the screen bright before you. Foul Legacy stares back at you, unmoving yet still as beautiful as when you last saw him

so obviously, you bought the skin

Foul Legacy blinks, the brightness of the sun momentarily blinding him- the sun? no, that's not right. he's only allowed in the Golden House usually, waiting patiently for the next battle. and yet it's true, that's the sun right there, and the sky and the clouds and the birds flying overhead. a chirp falls from his fanged maw, turning slowly in a circle to examine his surroundings in a field of lush grass, a lake and city in the distance. free and breezy along the wind

he hears someone, quietly, as if they're from a long distance. whispering tenderly to him, calling him the best monster in the world. the voice- you- wraps around him like silk, soft and shimmering like his wings. Legacy only hears you some minutes in the Golden House each week, and now you're here, his favorite, beside him in spirit

the Abyssal monster trills and croons in the middle of the wilderness, and the stars of Teyvat shine a little brighter that night

[utytimeline]

Redesigning Starlo NEO

All right, I haven't had time to put my thoughts together properly, but I do have some ideas about Starlo's NEO forms (or Zenith or Super forms, if you prefer).

1st Phase: Shooting Star

His first phase should not be call Sirius, he is the North Star, and the real name for the North Star is Polaris. Sirius is a completely different star, in a different constellation. I get the joke that he's become a "Serious Starlo," but that's the wrong star, he shouldn't be called Sirius at all.

I think his first phase should be called "Shooting Star," because he's literally a STAR who SHOOTS. Like, duh???

As for his design:

Yellow is actually a mid-temperature star. Based on Starlo's reactions to the Showdown boss fight, I feel like he's someone who would act cool and calm in a real, serious fight to the death. He'd have to be in order to even shoot straight. So his 1st NEO form would probably be a cooler, reddish-orange temperature. Like he's staying calm and giving you an opportunity to give up before he really starts to fight.

His lasso is on fire and burns you when he whips you. And his bullets are made of fire. Every hit has a potential to give you burn damage that lasts for a few turns, or a potential for smoke damage that leaves you unable to breathe, reducing your speed.

2nd Phase: Polaris

Much as I like the name Hypernova for Starlo, I think the North Star should get to shine under the name Polaris, yeah? But he doesn't look humanoid anymore. He still has arms and legs, but his torso and face are replaced by an intense ball of bluish-white light.

His bullets are made of plasma and deal electrical damage. His lasso looks like a streak of bluish-white lightning. If you get caught in it, you get electrocuted and can't move until he un-whips you.

3rd Phase? Singularity

We could give him a 3rd NEO phase (because why not, I mean, Ceroba got a 3-phase fight, even tho ASRIEL DREEMURR himself only got 2, but if Ceroba gets a 3rd, then why can't Starlo?).

This is a desperate, last-ditch move on Star's part and will kill him if he has to stay in this phase for more than a few minutes. Hypernova has used up most of his energy and in order to continue the battle, he has to collapse in on himself. He basically becomes a small black hole. He is no longer able to hold onto a lasso. He has become a living gravity well in order to drag you in. His bullets are pure radiation, no longer being shot from a gun, but from his own body. He will only use this phase if a battle comes to point of "if I'm going down, I will drag you down with me." This kind of attitude goes against his own nature, and is something he will only use if faced with an enemy that poses a threat to all man- and monster-kind.

You can't see anything left of him but two, small, burning, white eyes, and the rainbow-colored tips of the five points of his head. The rest of him has become a black, empty void.

So when would he even use this?

Well, as we've already seen, Star doesn't use this in a Geno run. I have a lot of thoughts on this that need to go into a proper analysis post, but for now, I'll just say that he doesn't even start to develop his other phases until after the events of UTY. Because until the end of a True Pacifist run (that is, sparing Ceroba), Starlo never comes to a full understanding of Justice. He has a messed-up idea of Justice that he got from combining his movies with his monster upbringing. Clover is the one who teaches him that Justice must be combined with MERCY, or else it isn't Justice at all, it's just judgement.

So Star probably would use these phases on dangerous criminals after reaching the surface.

[spines-tvo]

*uses my epic video game boss battle powers to grapple you (It's a hug (I'm just wasting time (I have 26,589 health potions (I am willing to use them all (After that you have to defeat my five phases)))))*

[voidhollow]

Chapter four of black myth wukong started with darkness and spiders and other bugs with heaps of poison and a rather confusing map area. Lots of ways to go and things to miss out on. The upper area was still infested in its own weird ways, but was much brighter, the secret area was pretty. I like how the first boss you come across in the secret area will attack the last boss if you don’t kill him, I tried to kill it, but got wreaked. The last boss of chapter four was pretty intense and mildly annoying, using the vassal from the secret area helped a lot.

Going into chapter five I didn’t know what to expect and it’s been wild. Chapter five has zero chill, lots of fire and aggression. I think it’s the most linear and the shortest chapter so far. The secret area boss is insane, ultra aggressive and has three different areas you can fight it in over the course of the battle.

I’m currently level 91 and have done no farming for levels, about 51 hours into the game. I’ve been very throughly exploring each area. Still having a lot of fun and looking forward to hopefully getting all the trophies.

I think a good break down for the game phases is as follows: chapters one & two are early game, three is mid game, four is mid to late game, five is late game and six is end game.

[praxianpoet]

Lost Not Light: Prologue

Optimus Prime heeds Prowl's warnings about Megatron in the worst possible way; making him the tyrant's official chaperone aboard the Lost Light.

///////////////////////

Basically Prowl gets sent to the Lost Light for an attitude adjustment disguised as a mission and the Constructicons tag along, using the opportunity to more aggressively court their sixth now that he's essentially alone. ao3

Prologue

Through a small window, one of the many construction sites that had been built up around Iacon was visible. Noisy evidence of the city’s continued post-war reconstruction. Evidence of a false, unquestionably temporary peace between Autobot, Decepticon, and NAIL; they all worked together, albeit through slanted optics and wary stances, on what was to become the first all faction accepting housing complex. How obnoxiously hopeful. Fights often brokered out between the workers, short, petty brawls that ended only when steel beams began to fall from the rafters. Such a brawl was currently ongoing, an unknown NAIL having shouted something at an unrecognizable Decepticon. The unruliness had delayed the project’s finish by double its original completion time. His derma curled and optics narrowed at the inefficiency—a different construction crew, one who would have railed at the incompetence and poor craftsmanship blurred at the edges of his mind; he flicked the nonthought away. 

Control of the planet was at a precarious stage and sanctimonious notions of togetherness threatened every orn to turn the planet back into the battle filled wasteland it had been less than a century ago…but that was no longer former Autobot second-in-command's concern. It was time to get back to his own newly assigned mission.

The audial glitching screech of metal on metal echoed throughout the modest square room.

Prowl grunted as he dragged the berth along the studio apartment, its edges scraping loudly against the metal floor, and he grit his denta both in strain and against the noise. Despite what the plush mesh that made up its majority would imply; the furniture was extremely heavy. Weighing much more than a speed frame like Prowl’s was used to lifting. However, given the circumstances, he would endure the overstrain on his joints, and more pressingly take advantage of the distraction such a simple, if unpleasant, physical task provided.

In an uncharacteristic turn, Prowl was trying his best to ignore his tac-net and its calculations of what was to follow completion of his mission's first phase; packing.

A long, wide luggage cart waited just outside the door of the apartment, meant more for furniture than actual luggage; the simple machine had been too large to fit through the doorframe. Upon seeing the dilemma, Prowl had resigned himself to lifting (dragging) what few furniture pieces he owned across the apartment and out to the oversized cart. How he would lift them to place atop the cart was a problem he would determine a solution to at a later time. A much later time if his current progress was any indicator.

Not that the praxian was opposed to taking his time moving. Anything to delay the dreaded inevitable. Barely a solar-cycle on planet and Prowl had already been ordered to undertake an off-world mission that was decidedly both outside of and beneath his skillset. An acclaimed sparkling sitter at best; a thinly veiled punishment for circumstances Prowl had held no control over at worst.

Said green and purple circumstances entered his peripheral vision and Prowl grimaced.

“Hey boss,” Scavenger waved from the open door.

Without releasing the berth he held half-up the floor, Prowl turned his helm as much as he could toward the door, scowling. Five Constructicons huddled together outside his apartment, red optics and visors all staring at the Autobot in expectancy of acknowledgment or greeting. He gave them neither. He had also never given them the address to his apartment, either.

“Nice place you got here, boss, very…you,” Long Haul complimented, red visor no doubt taking in every square-inch of the room he and his kind had never been permitted to enter. The apartment, more akin to a single berth barracks' room than an actual habitation suite, was bare save the most essential necessitates. A desk, chair, and berth. All designed specifically to accommodate a winged frame—the only reason he had elected to replace the ship’s provided berth with his own. Not for comfort or luxury, but practicality. He would work more efficiently if his frame was not constantly stiff and sore due to inadequate recharge.

“For a mech who doesn’t have much, you sure don’t pack light,” Mixmaster commented, giving the struggling praxian a roving look, red optics lingering on his doorwings. Prowl refused to let them raise under the scrutiny.

“You know they got berths on the ship, right?” Hook asked. “We have a pretty big one ourselves, could fit six mechs easy.”

The Autobot curled his derma, not needing to verbalize just how distasteful he found that line of processing. He rarely vocalized anything around the Constructicons anymore, beyond the occasional do not touch me or go away.

“That looks heavy,” said Bonecrusher, the brute displaying his astounding powers of observation.

“Could probably help with that,” Long Haul added, faux casual. If the cons were capable, they would all be whistling their projected nonchalance. None of their little charade of calmness fooled the praxian, however. Prowl knew how badly they wanted into his apartment. Even as he had learned to clamp down on his end of the gestalt bond so they felt nothing from him, he had yet to master blocking them completely out. And they bled desire.

There was never a moment where they didn’t transmit their sheer strength of want toward him through the bond. To be near him, to talk, to listen, to touch—platonically, lasciviously, in any manner they could get away with before he shut them down either through harsh words or harsher blows. Angry actions that the construction mechs eagerly accepted. Desperate as they were, the Constructicons didn’t care how their unwilling sixth acknowledged them, only that he did. Even now they did nothing to suppress through the bond how much they wanted to be in his apartment. To be with him in even the most mundane of settings.

Prowl pressed his derma flat, a refusal readying itself on his glossa. They were Decepticons, filthy sadist, murderers, scum of scum, five of the worst their vile faction had ever produced who had all personally wronged him—and the berth was very, very heavy.

“…Very well.” He slowly lowered the end of the berth he had been holding to the floor, scowl deepening as he felt five red stairs directed at his aft.

Degenerates, all of them.

“We got this,” Bonecrusher and Long Haul said as they pushed past Scavenger to get into the apartment first. They took their time once inside, helms swiveling to take in all the nothing that surrounded them.

Prowl stepped away from the berth, going as far as he could to get from the mechs in such a small space; he didn’t want the cons to think he actually wanted to be anywhere near them. They were a convenient means to an end, nothing more. He stopped close to a wall, watching as Bonecrusher and Long Haul elected themselves the main movers and stood at opposite ends of the berth.

“This is a real nice berth, boss, soft,” Long Haul said as he pushed large purple servos into the mesh, testing its give. And from the sudden pulse of desire that reached out to Prowl through the bond, imaging some lurid scene involving the Autobot it belonged to. Decepticon filth.

“Unlike me,” Bonecrusher tacked on, holding up a servo for Long Haul to high five. Which he did, very loudly. Prowl withheld a groan.

Filthy, Decepticon, gutter trash.

Not five klicks in and they were already making Prowl consider kicking them all out and restarting his solo-packing attempt, arduous as it would be. Of course, the tactician had already predicted he would come to regret allowing the five lumbering mechs into his quarters—they were the Constructicons after all—but even his tac-net hadn’t calculated it happening so soon.

The rest of them filtered in and Prowl came to the conclusion that continuing his pattern of ignoring the cons at every given opportunity—even as he begrudgingly allowed them to assist him—would be the best course of action. Wouldn’t want their expectations for his company to raise any higher than the microbe height Prowl had spent every moment after that first combine ruthlessly stomping it down to. After the second, it had been an exercise in maintenance. Willingly combining with them once, even when considering the extreme circumstances surrounding the decision, had given the combiner team the incorrect assumption that the Autobot had finally accepted them. He hadn't. He never would. 

Hook, Mixmaster, and Scavenger made a beeline for Prowl—whose frown deepened with every step closer they took—excitement pulsing through the bond stemming from the close proximity he would typically never permit them.

Any close encounters he had with the cons came from their stalking, planned ambushes as a result of their stalking, or the ever-increasing petulant tantrums they threw at job sites when they incorrectly felt too much time had passed since they’d last seen the praxian. Leading to Optimus inevitably, frustratingly, ordering Prowl to intervene, which only served as an encouragement of the tactic as it got the Constructicons exactly what they wanted. Prowl arriving at their construction site, admonishing them for their sparkling like behavior, only for them to turn around and make inappropriate comments regarding his frame while lifting heavy objects and bragging about their bolt placement or some other ludicrous thing. Another way to describe the encounter was a complete and utter waste of the tactician’s time. Same as his every other interaction with construction mechs.

Two of which were gripping his berth on both ends, bending their knees and proceeding to…not lift it? They grunted, they huffed, Bonecrusher’s legs wobbled, and Long Haul shouted a nope before releasing his hold on the berth, then threw his helm back, ex-venting harshly. Bonecrusher let go of his end immediately after and rubbed his servos together, before squatting and regripping the berth’s headboard. Their behavior showed implicit signs of…strain? But that was impossible. Their red visors brightened and they began counting down: one, two, three, lift. The berth did not rise. Long Haul dropped his end, wiping his forehelm as if condensation had gathered there, as though his frame had overheated due to strain. Strain from lifting a berth even Prowl had managed to drag halfway across the apartment.

"What are you doing?” He asked, crossing his arms over his chassis. Their antics were unamusing as usual, but even more so when within his personal quarters.

“It’s heavier than it looks, boss,” Bonecrusher responded, a wheeze to his vents that had to be intentional.

“And it already looked heavy,” added Long Haul, rolling a shoulder.

Prowl cycled his optics, trying to make sense of the scene before him. The Constructicons never missed an opportunity to show off their relative strength in comparison to his own. Often going out of their way trying (and failing) to impress the tactician with their physical prowess.

Already done with their antics, he commanded, “lift the berth.”

They collectively groaned.

“C’mon boss, you’re gonna blow out our backstruts here,” Bonecrusher complained.

"Unless that's what you want?" Long Haul's visor impossibly waggled at him.

But before even a snicker could pass their vocalizers Prowl pointed a digit at them. “No, no more of this buffoonery.”

“Woah, good word boss,” Long Haul admired. Bonecrusher nodded in agreement; a single blue optic twitched.

His engine revved once before he could stop it, low and growling his irritation. Prowl gestured toward the berth. “Are you going to take this seriously or are you only here to waste my time?” 

“Course we’re taking this serious, boss. We’re always serious about you,” Bonecrusher assured as though he was assuaging a real doubt of the Autobot’s. Which he wasn’t because Prowl did not care if they were serious about him. Only if that they took him seriously. 

“Serious as a facing virus,” Long Haul tacked on.

Prowl’s shook his helm, optics pinched, “have you had a—no, don’t answer that. Just lift the berth, it is not that heavy. I know it’s not. Lift it now and get out of my apartment.” Prowl’s servos clenched around nothing, the urge to flip something large, green, and purple over filling his processor. An urge that he knew he could not carry out because the Constructicons would enjoy it.

“Uh, yeah it is,” Bonecrusher rebutted, now carrying out a full-frame stretching routine. “And, you know even if we did ever have anything like a facing virus—”

“Which we didn’t,” Long Haul chimed in.

“—It would be all cleared up now, least a million stellar-cycles gone.” Bonecrusher finished.

Prowl clasped his servos together with two digits pointing up and pressed flat against his mouth, searching for a patience buried deeper within him than Earth's Mariana trench. “Lift the berth or leave. Now.”

Sensing the snap of Prowl’s very short, frayed tether of tolerance for their particular Constructicon nonsense, they dropped the both nodded.

“Whatever you say, boss. Couple klicks, that’s all we need,” Long Haul promised, tone sincere.

“…Fine,” Prowl conceded, vocals clipped. If the berth weighed any less he would never have yielded his anger over their inappropriate jokes at his expense so easily. But then if the berth were any less heavy he would never have accepted their help in the first place. This was their last chance. Whatever moronic plan the Constructicons had likely concocted for their encroachment into his quarters would reveal itself in time. And then—

“So…,” Mixmaster trailed off, standing to the praxian’s left.

“While we’re here….” Scavenger stood at Prowl’s right, rocking on the heels of his peds.

“Think it’s about time we had a proper conversation about the upcoming journey. Expectations and all that,” Hook said standing in front of him, uncomfortably close. While distracted by Long Haul’s and Bonecrusher’s show of idiocy, the other three Constructicons had used the opportunity to move closer and now they stood only an arm’s length away from the praxian. Closer than he had allowed them since their last combine. And now they were in his quarters pressing for a talk Prowl had refused them at every encounter.

Opportunist glitches.

“There is nothing worth discussing,” Prowl said, tone cold enough to ice-over an engine. “I will be boarding the Lost Light to observe a criminal and report back to Optimus any suspicious behavior.”

“And we’re going with you,” Scavenger piped up, sounding enthralled by the idea of it.

“No, you are not,” Prowl firmly corrected him. “You are traveling aboard the Lost Light as passengers indulging Rodimus on his ridiculous quest. You are not going anywhere with me.”

“But we are?” Mixmaster rebutted, sounding of all things, confused.

“No, you are not.” Prowl reasserted.

“We are,” Hook said as he took a step closer to the Praxian, the two others mimicking his movement. “We’re going together.”

“There is no together.” Prowl backed away.

“Yes, there is,” Hook insisted; they all stepped closer.

“No, there is not.” Prowl stepped away.

“Aw, don’t be like that, Prowl. You know that’s not true,” Mixmaster cooed.

Another step back; his doorwings pressed against the wall behind him and his optics widened. The cons had surrounded him, blocking off any exit that didn’t involve pushing past them. Touching them. 

Prowl vented heavily, vocals raising, “we are not—”

“—Ah-ha, got him! He said we,” Scavenger exclaimed, clapping his servos together once in a loud clang.

“Told you we could do it,” Bonecrusher praised, finally ending his pretend struggle with the berth and hoisting the entire thing up and over one of his ridiculously wide shoulders.

“It’s not much,” Long Haul shrugged, walking away from where he and Bonecrusher had been holding the berth to join the three Constructicons that had entrapped Prowl. His shadow loomed over them all and Prowl tensed when the ludicrously large mech stopped just behind his fellow cons.

One of the many, many justifiable reasons Prowl avoided close proximity with the Constructicons was, as a group, he knew he couldn’t defeat them in a fight. They knew it too. And he never knew when their reactions to his repeated rejections would take a more…traditional Decepticon like direction.

“It’s a start,” Hook said pragmatically.

“Better than nothing,” Mixmaster agreed.

“Next he’s going to say together, and us, and Scavenger please frag me through the floor,” Scavenger bounced excitedly, his excavator bucket waggling behind him. It came to a stop when Long Haul swung a large fist at the back of his helm, causing the smallest Constructicon to jump and yelp.

“Enough of that,” Hook scolded.

“Yeah,” Bonecrusher called from where he was placing the berth down on the cart. “If anything he’s gonna be saying Bonecrusher, frag me ha—”

“—Enough!” Prowl fumed, baring his denta. “What glitch has infected your processor for you to… for you….” Prowl’s helm burned hot as he tried to gather words to describe the shameless degradation he was being subjected to. But he had never been so thoroughly disrespected in his entire function—and he had been punched in the face by members of the same faction multiple times. Words failed him and with his very flippable desk on the opposite end of the room, he took to glaring, blue optics blazing.

“For us to…?” Hook prompted with a tilt of his helm.

“There is no us, there is no we.” Prowl took multiple deep vents, letting them out slowly as he attempted to regain his composure. He pointed toward the open door. “Get out, allowing you in was a mistake.”

In every conceivable way.

“C’mon Prowl, you know we’re just kidding around,” Bonecrusher’s deep vocals soothed from outside the apartment. “You really wanna haul all this to the ship yourself? We still gotta load up the desk and chair, too.”

In one great heave Bonecrusher had placed the berth on the cart, patting its headboard once before leaving to join his fellow Constructicons.

“Maybe the berth is all he’s taking, unless…,” Long Haul trailed off, then with a snap of digits. “This is an excuse for us to build you new furniture once we’re on the ship—you sly bot!”

“Makes sense,” Mixmaster agreed. “He knows we’re the best.”

“Could make it fit just for his frame,” Hook nodded. “Of course, we would need to take some measurements….”

Scavenger tilted his helm. “But don’t we already have the specs on Prowl’s fra—” Bonecrusher slapped his servo over the excavator’s mask and Long Haul had the audacity to actually say shush.

Prowl was a logical mech. He understood that while not believing in their divinity, Unicron and Primus existed. That he had witnessed near inexplicable, incomprehensible, bordering on mystical events ever since becoming the Autobot second-in-command. All due to his close proximity to the matrix bearer. Yet none of that prevented him from trying to fathom, tactical network providing no results, just how he had been cursed to share a gestalt bond with five of the most idiotic mechs he had the misfortune of ever knowing. Because that’s what the Constructicons were. A bright green cursed blight on his life.

“Do you think you can conduct yourselves—or at the very least pretend to be respectable members of the Cybertronian race while in my presence?” 

Five mechs chorused, “anything for you, boss.”

He would offline them. He would offline them and there would be no witnesses and the greyed bodies would never be found. That is if they didn’t trip over their own stupidity directly into a smelter first.

“We can do that, boss.” Long Haul assured him.

“Yeah, yeah,” Scavenger nodded excitedly. “We just wanted to talk.”

“And we noticed you hadn’t unpacked anything into your room back on the ship,” Long Haul added, which earned a scowl from Hook.

“Not that we went into your room or watched for you at the dock or anything,” Mixmaster quickly added palms of his servos raised in some serious attempt to dissuade Prowl from the notion they had been stalking him—again. An insult only in that it meant they must have thought the Autobot as moronic as themselves for him to believe such blatant, pandering lies.

“Enough, place the furniture on the cart and push it to the ship; you have two sentences to say your peace and not a word more. Any more and I walk—alone,” Prowl said as though carting the furniture to the ship without the aid of the cons was a threat, because to the desperate mechs, it was.

The cons looked between one another, sharing a private conversation Prowl was certain he didn’t want to be privy to. The huddled, nodded amongst themselves, then got to work.

“We like you a whole lot, boss,” Mixmaster said, holding the chair in front of himself as he carried it out to the cart. The other Constructicons, Long Haul having lifted Prowl’s desk to bring out to the cart, nodded and hummed their agreement.

“That’s one,” was Prowl’s only response.

“And you’re gonna like us too!” Scavenger exclaimed brightly before leaving the apartment to place himself behind the cart, servos holding the handle.

“That’s two.” Prowl said as he left the apartment to join them in the hallway. There wasn’t enough room for the Constructicons to cluster as they so liked to do, instead they stood in twos, Hook and Long Haul ahead of Bonecrusher and Mixmaster, with Scavenger pushing the cart ahead of their garrulous green pack. Of which Prowl was not a part of. He would walk in the same direction as the Constructicons toward the same destination, but he was not walking with them, never with them. 

That they had wasted their only words on inane drivel he had heard before was not his problem.

“That only counted while we were in the apartment, right?” Long Haul asked, turning his helm look at the praxian filling out their rear.

“That’s how I took it,” Bonecrusher answered with a quick shrug. 

“I think this will be good for us, you know?” Mixmaster turned to walk backwards; servos clasped behind the green paneling his nozzles were attached to.

“I said not a word,” Prowl ground his denta together. They were calling his bluff. A bluff even tactician hadn’t known he’d made until he was furiously walking behind Constructicons who continued to talk even after he’d threatened them against it. Once the five laborers had arrived they had correctly assumed Prowl was never going to carry his own furniture. The benefits of their strength, for once, would outweigh the negatives of their company and he would endure their presence for however long it took to complete the burdensome task Prowl had never wanted to do (to join the Lost Light as its overqualified, unofficial sparkling sitter). But the numbers that tilted in the Constructicons' favor were rapidly shifting in the opposite direction the more they prattled on. 

“A great bonding experience,” Mixmaster continued, waggling his optic ridges at the Praxian. Constructicon laughter followed the horrible, horrible pun, Bonecrusher going so far as to slap the cement truck on the back.

“Good one,” Long Haul commended.

“Funniest Constructicon right there,” Bonecrusher praised, grinning.

Prowl stopped walking, bringing both servos up to cover his face plate as he searched deep within himself for the cold composure the former enforcer was known for—it came to him in the single, gratifying thought of tossing five green and purple nuisances out the ship’s waste disposal once they breached Cybertron’s atmosphere.

An amused smile spread underneath his servos at the mental image.

“You coming, boss?” Bonecrusher shouted after him.

Snickers followed the innocuous question and Prowl’s smile dropped along with his servos; whatever brief amusement he had felt instantly gone.  

How such immature mechs had survived their millenniums long war when there wasn’t ten percent processing power between them would forever remain a mystery. One Prowl had zero interest in unraveling. There was, however, one discerning question the praxian pondered as he took time to more carefully consider the five mechs before him.

The Constructicons were being more forward with their humor during this one encounter than in all the time Prowl had grudgingly known them. Yes, they had made inappropriate jokes around him before, but never so ardently or repeatedly in such a short amount of time. The most they ever managed where a few shouted catcalls whenever the praxian visited or passed their construction sites.

Within Iacon the Constructicons had been, not content, but willing to endure Prowl’s stern rejections and strict denial of the bond. Of them. The Autobot held a high enough position of authority even post-war, post-bombshell, post-Devastator, to enforce serious consequences had their persuasion attempts taken a more active, tactile approach. And while not a wide pool of allies supported him, it was just deep enough that had they tried for more aggressive tactics, Prowl would have been aided and abetted with any retaliation, legal or otherwise, he chose to enact against the Decepticons.

The same could not be said for the journey they were soon to embark on.

He had been granted no such authority on the Lost Light beyond being exempt from its new, undeserving captain’s. He would be aboard not as a crew member, but as a neutral observer. There would also no longer be a lethal pink wall between himself and the Constructicons whenever they tried to approach him on duty. Prowl would be completely alone once they left on their voyage. He would have no external protection, for lack of a better description. The Autobots and Decepticons that counted among the Lost Light crew were at worst openly hostile toward the praxian and at best wholly apathetic to his presence.

Not for the first time, Prowl considered refusing to board the Lost Light. For once again arguing his case against the need for the tactician to be aboard a ship of delusional, dangerous, incompetent miscreants. Megatron needed watching, but that was a job for spec-ops, not the former second-in-command. It would be a waste of his time and Autobot manpower. Prowl also considered not arguing his case at all, but simply not boarding the ship and only announcing himself once it was too late for it to return—he had gone against Optimus’ orders before and with less reason for refusal than he currently had.

Which in that moment came in the form of five, red, leering stares.

“Let’s go, boss.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Prime’s order had the domino effect of stripping Prowl of his carefully crafted defenses against the Constructicons’ ever building offensive—and they knew it.

[bittersweetresilience]

Top 5 favorite songs

HI ABBI ABBI IN MY INBOX KISS KISS KISS

my favorite songs are proooobably still the same as when gray asked me this a while ago but... i'll do the top five from the honkai ost... if you don't mind... gaylylooking...

swordward (jingliu character trailer theme) this theme goes so hard forever it has to be on this list

obscured pearls (scalegorge waterscape area theme) this only plays during the trailblaze mission when you open scalegorge waterscape for the first time and head into that strange underwater land to reach the dragon at the heart of the arbor and confront phantylia at the end of the journey and it gives me chills every time

pedujara: demiseless existence (phase three phantylia boss theme) the music for all three phases synergizes so well but jing yuan's character trailer theme comes in here to represent the resistance of the luofu and it. drives. me. BATTY.

transcendent ruan tunes, blushing mei blooms (ruan mei myriad celestia trailer theme) this also happens to be my favorite myriad celestia trailer and it was actually the first honkai thing i ever watched, almost an entire year ago, many months before i started playing the game. i'm emotional about it. and the intermix of traditional chinese instrumentation and science fiction synths is so gorgeous.

gleaming clash (yanqing battle theme) this part of the game up to the end of topclouded towerthrust was my favorite and yanqing's battle against dan heng and blade was my favorite battle and the music is good and i get dizzy when i think about what happens right after this AAAUUURUGURUURGHRTGRHGURHHGRHGHRGRGHR XIANZHOU LUOFU TRAILBLAZE MISSIONS I LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

[creator-indy]

top five reasons That You Like Chip?

Top five reasons I like chip revvington:

1.character

This man is a workaholic that has to deal with an override that is basically an alternate personality that was downloaded into him that also fires his employees on a whim ALSO THE ENTIRE SQUAD THAT HE WAS HIRED TO LEAD IN THE FIRST PLACE yeah of course I’m gonna love him for he deserves better (he’s prime poor little meow Meow material too)

2.design

JUST LOOK AT HIM HES LITERALLY CHAINSAW MAN AND THOSE GREEN EYES?HES FRICKIN AWESOME (very handsome too) also I just really like his hat I want to get one of those at some point

3.backstory

He applied for his job as regional manager not knowing that the company was run by an incompetent chair so…yeah he got the override installed for whatever reason fucked up his life and drove everyone away other than his brother spruce but he doesn’t know about it so chip is deathly afraid of him finding out and leaving him too but here’s the kicker…

It’s implied that he might’ve killed someone while the override was triggered

I just want to give him a hug bro…

4.fight

Oh good lord his bossfight looks so fuckin hard from what I’ve gleaned THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS YOU NEED TO KEEP TRACK OF

THE RPM METER THE OTHER COGS IN THE BATTLE AND CHEATS THERES EVEN A CHEAT THAT KICKS YOU OUT OF THE FIGHT AND YOU GOTTA START OVER

JUST-JUST WHAT???

His boss music is just FIRE THOUGH (especially the one for phase 2 that one’s my favorite) also it has the death March as a leitmotif-

5.I just think he’s neat

Yeah I just think he’s neat and I want to study him

[crystal-wingeddragon-spikes]

Kindly Isma, is one of The Great Five Knight bosses which can be fought in Pale Court fan DLC.

Krita. 8th August 2023

Isma is a curious fighter. Her attacks are not aggressive. They cover great range, but are very slow. However, she makes her battle more complicate by spawning Fool Eaters and Gulkas, two very common Green path/Queen's Garden enemies, and restricting my movement with thorny plants.

Normally, I consider bosses with minion fight (Grey Prince Zote) to be cheap and infuriating, but these minions do not move, making them more of an extra attacks and traps rather than the extra enemies.

Her move set works wonderfully with her minions. She progressively raises the difficulty, without using any new attacks. First, she uses Fool Eaters to create danger on the ground, while the Gulka make sure staying in the air or walls is not safe either. Then, she slowly closes her arena in while spawning 2 invincible Gulkas to keep the pressure on me even if she is not attacking, also making sure healing is nigh impossible. In her final phase, the wall surrounding me are covered in spikes, eliminating my option to wall jump and be a source of damage to me.

Isma's fight feel mostly fair, except for a few moments that Gulka's shots do not despawn when she is changing phase.

I had a displeasure, of suffering her fight for over a week, then achieve my first win defeating on my last health, only to be hit by Gulka's bullet, turning my victory into a bitter draw.

I finally defeat her by entering her second phase with full health, as I give up any hope of healing with 2 bullet chasing me down. Freeing up 3 notches from Quick Focus, I put on Dream Shield, and with the intention to end the hard part of the fight as soon as possible, Unbreakable Strength, Shaman Stone, Thorn of Agony and Grub Song (I can't use Nail art well). I won the fight with 4 mask left, took me almost 4 minutes.

Mighty Hegemol fight that I was worried about turns out a lot easier than I anticipated. I just need to nail bounce on his head once and hop to the side.

Now I head that Mystic Z'mere is even harder. I do not know if I am string enough.

[thedemises]

pulling plans for 2.6-7 hsr!!!!

— 1st Phase. [2.6]

rappa : I love her to my very core she's my silly ninja girl who will say what she says and do what she does, her gameplay and kit are pretty interesting to me (had fun flying about during her trial lmao her technique is so fun to use eobekeelw) and she's perfect for break teams and is suitable to be with firefly, ruan mei, the harmony Trailblazer and some other characters I've possibly forgotten but might be a good pair with rappa in battles but unfortunately, I'll be skipping her cuz I have this feeling I won't use her too much 😔 (also her backstory tore me in tf she did not deserve that)

dan heng · imbibitor lunae : dan heng, dragon version. I love his design SM and his eidolons R so pretty to look at and his gameplay I love it Idk how to explain it but I do 😍 however I'll skip him because yeah 🙂🥲 (I forgot the reason why while I was writing this whoops)

— 2nd Phase. [2.6]

acheron : it's really a 50/50 for me if either I after get aventurine and his signature lc and I still have some stellar jades left over then I'll pull for her (possibly not her LC too cuz I don't think my luck will last that long 😭), I really love her playstyle and kit, she's one of the really strong characters in meta and I'd love to have her but sadly, again, skip 😭

aventurine : ALL OR NOTHING— I saved up as much I can for aventurine, even though I wasted like 90+ stellar jades to pull for Robin and then topaz & numby and THEN TRIED TO GRT LINGSHA ONLY TO LOSE THE 50/50 TO CLARA- I am so sorry my guy aventurine, I'll save as much I can for you and your lc and possibly your e1 I promise 🙏🙏🙏 (if not, I have an alternative lc for him) I desperately need a shielder in my team and March isn't really a good shielder (no offense March 🙏) and gepard's shield isn't that great either from what I've heard (his shield doesn't stack and doesn't last that long :(( plus I'm planning to get miss himeko after I reach the 300 bonus reward thing in the standard banner (I forgot the word eoejkejjwkd)

— 1st Phase. [2.7] please correct me if I'm wrong about this lineup-

sunday : yeah I'll pull for him, why not? he's a cool support from what I've read from the leaks of his and fugue's gameplays. I don't have a solid opinion on him really, especially since I haven't defeated his boss yet 🙂 which Is exactly why I'm waiting for aventurine to pull for him (and Acheron if I can)

fugue : five star tingyun!! kinda wonder what her reaction is gonna be when she finds out all her personal belongings are now in space 💀 anyways, ill skip her. I don't have a reason why but I don't think she'll be worth it 😞

thanks for listening (or reading, in this case) to me rant btw lmao

[nitrosodiumrapidproto]

Making the Map

Last night I drew out a basic map sketch in my notebook. This morning I turned it into a tilemap. As you can see, there are roughly five sections to the level. You start in the southwest and head east into the Tombs. From there you can head north to the Barracks, or east again into the labyrinthine Caverns. (The northmost door to the Barracks is locked from the inside, sort of a metroidvania-esque twist so you don't have to backtrack.) To get to the Forge in the northeast of the map, you will either need to go through the Barracks with a key found in the Tomb, or go through the maze of the Caverns and bypass the key entirely. Once you reach the final room of the Forge, you can take a teleporter to the massive white-brick Arena, where you fight a massive Bone Titan in a long corridor. To keep the battle going, there is another teleporter in the far west section of the Arena which brings you back to the centre, sort of a "phase two" for the boss battle.

This is the map once I have filled it with enemies and pickups. I did a short playthrough of the game each time I filled out a section, just to make sure it was playable. I had a rough formula for making sure the player had enough ammo: (total enemy HP) - (total ammo). Usually the player has some spare to account for misses and sporadic shooting at walls.

[nyxicnymph]

Genshin Impact 3.6 Livestream summary:

For those that wish to avoid spoilers, I am placing all info beneath this "Read more".

This summary does not include Redeem codes nor the specifics of new character talents, lore, or extra details of the events. Have fun!

3.6 Banners: -Nahida/Nilou first half -Baizhu (new five star character)/Ganyu second half, starring Kaveh as a new four star character

3.6 new equipment: -Jadefall's splendor: --Five star catalyst weapon. New artifact set: -Nymph's dream: --2pc: Hydro dmg bonus + 15% --4 pc: After attacks hit enemies, a stacking buff will be triggered, increasing ATK% by a certain amount and Hydro damage by a different certain amount. Lasts for 8 seconds, and buffs triggered by different types of attacks exist separately. -Vourukasha's Glow: --2pc: HP +20% --4pc: Increases elemental skill and elemental burst damages by 10%. After equipped character takes damage, damage bonus is increased to 80% for 5 seconds. Stacks five times, stacks' durations are counted individually. Effects can be triggered even when equipped character is off-field.

Quests: -Baizhu Story Quest. -Layla Hangout quest. -Nahida's second Story Quest.

Events: -Flagship Event: Akademiya Extravaganza. Features six different minigames from each darshan. --Rtawahist: Star alignment minigame. --Kshahrewar: Architecture focused minigame: Use as few pieces as possible to build a path according to certain requirements. --Vahumana: Search for Relic Replicas in specific areas with a special gadget, and fend off interferences. -- Haravatat: Listen to a story and ask questions in order to uncover the truth behind it. --Spantamad: Combat centered minigame. Use specific buffs and potions to defeat enemies. --Amurta: Control certain creatures according to "a certain rhythm". Event grants a free Faruzan by the end, as well as Primogems and other materials. -Fulminating Sandstorms: Help the people of Sumeru repel the Wenut via a cannon. -Brewing Developments: A combat event with special buffs and conditions. -Overflowing Mastery: Double drops in talent domains 3 times a day. -The Recollector's Path: Help Sorush (New gadget/companion) continue it's training in various ways.

New Area: -New desert area to the northwest of the Desert of Hadramaveth. Khaenri'ah emergence point/Abyssal suppression point.

New Enemies: -The Iniquitous Baptist: New enemy that will use multiple elements in battle and create shields. -New World Boss: Dragon of Virtue, Apep. Three phases, including a second phase where we protect the dragon. -Anemo Hilichurl Rogue -Hydro Hilichurl Rogue -- Both Rogues are wanderers and do not belong to tribes, but may assist others.

[ultraericthered]

Something of a companion piece to this post. Credit to @themattress​

Yeah, I’m sorry, but a whole month later and I’m still not over this. In all my life, time, and involvement in Pokemon fandom, I don’t think I’ve ever been so unironically happy and welcoming of Atsuhiro Tomioka being a self-plaguarizing hack like I am regarding this here.

I now fully understand what those two episodes and the story told within them were originally intended to stand as by the PokeAni staff, but they ended up never broadcasting those episodes so that we never got that exact story with all that exact set-up in it, so what we were left with now actually stands in the BW series narrative as the Boomerang Cornerstone of the Unova Saga. And I use “Boomerang” because the event canonically occurs within the saga’s narrative, and then every little goddamn thing that happened there comes back to happen again later on in the two important narrative points for Team Rocket and Team Plasma respectively - the pre-League Undella / Meloetta arc and the post-League White Ruins / N arc (Episode N).

And I’ve such a good grasp on how Tomioka’s writing tends to work for his Big, Action-Packed Epic Event Episodes, even the imagined Reshiram VS Zekrom two-parter in the extended post-League final arc of the Unova Saga we should’ve been given would have this going on, with many striking parallels to Team Rocket’s earlier finale.

Team Rocket VS Team Plasma / Operation Tempest 2-Parter

> Giovanni’s VTOL arrives at his set destination in the Unova region > Giovanni steps out of the VTOL, some grunts there at his side > Team Rocket stands in soldier formation to greet their Boss > Giovanni declares that the main phase of Team Rocket’s mission to take over the Unova region shall now commence. > There are Rocket Grunts present > Jessie and James have tech with uses very specific for this mission > Ash comforts his Pokemon friend as they’re held captive inside the hangar of Dr. Zager’s helicopter > Righteous male character speaks seriously with female authority figure as the two of them join forces to pursue Team Rocket > Team Rocket enters ruins and sets up some ritual to break the seal on the ancient prize they seek > A spiral staircase rises from the ruins > At the top of the stairs, on a pillar, is the coveted ancient artifact > Giovanni raises up his hands as he makes an excited declaration > Meowth suddenly starts talking again in Part 2, having been uncharacteristically silent all throughout Part 1 > Righteous male character, female authority figure, Iris, and Cilan race to the site of crisis in a vehicle > History of anicent civilization that had an artifact which caused the civilization’s demise is explained along the way > A nearby city is directly endangered by the effects of the big battle and there’s mass panic in the streets about it > Pikachu makes a big jump and launches a humongous Electro Ball attack right at the source of the crisis > TRio physically supports Giovanni when there’s danger to him > TRio remarks on how they knew Ash’s Pikachu was a special one > Inside his VTOL, Giovanni orders a retreat back to HQ in Kanto

Team Rocket VS Team Plasma / White Ruins/N/Team Plasma Arc

> Pokemon are driven into a frenzy and attack humans in the streets > Looker appears and flashes his International Police badge > The enigmatic Team Plasma is introduced to us > Team Rocket (TRio) meddles in Team Plasma’s operations > Team Plasma has their own aircrafts and use an old, abandoned runway in the Desert Resort as one of their bases of operation > Lord Ghetsis keeps in touch with his grunts from within his lair > Team Plasma has a Pokemon fire a Hyper Beam into a skyscraper > Team Plasma’s Liepard fights with Team Rocket’s Woobat > There are five main Team Plasma members working for Ghetsis > Ancient Unovan ruins that appear to have some connection to the Hero’s Legend > A powerful, shiny rock is buried within these ruins > A Professor named Juniper is a key player in events > The Hero’s Legend, Black and White Chapters, factor in heavily > Looker physically manhandles an eliteTeam Plasma grunt > Krokorok (or Krookodile) digs a tunnel to help Ash and Pikachu > Pikachu makes a big jump and launches an Electro Ball attack right at the source of the crisis > TRio wears undercover guises and uses jet packs > TRio remarks on how they knew Ash’s Pikachu was a special one > Giovanni, dressed in full Stalin garb, wants to conquer Unova and hopes to see Team Plasma eliminated as competition to that goal > Some big Team Rocket and Team Plasma related action goes down in Castelia City, with the city being threatened with destruction

Operation Tempest 2-Parter / Reshiram VS Zekrom

> Dark clouds gather and a hole in the sky opens up that Legendary Pokemon of Unova comes through > The Boss starts acting more unhinged than he normally is > Legendary Pokemon is taken control of by Boss, who orders them to turn their power against all of Unova so that he may conquer it > Green haired, black-and-white-color-schemed empath companion is reeling from an overload of anguish and pain > Iris’ Dragonite features heavily in the big epic battle > Pokemon under evil team’s control unleash barrage of attacks > Disturbances and destruction from this battle can be felt nearby, as the entire Unova region’s fate is soon to hang in the balance > Boss cranks up the power on what’s currently being weaponized > Pikachu unleashes a huge amount of power, with extra energy having been granted it by an electric type Legendary Pokemon > Thanks to this, a humongous ball of electrical power is formed > Electric attack is launched right at the enemy and their weapon > BOOOM! It’s a direct hit! > Explosion passes, smoke clears, the enemy has gone down > Green-haired, black-and-white-color-schemed empath companion soothes the savage beast(s), averting a crisis upon Unova > Boss is displeased at their mission outcome, but can accept failure and look forward to what future work might hold > Our heroes say goodbye to green-haired, black-and-white-color-schemed empath companion and friend(s) in a final scene at sunset

[possessingtheproperspirit]

Fic Author Self Rec

Fic authors self-rec! ✨ When you get this, reply with your favourite five fics that you’ve written, then pass on to at least five other writers.

Thanks for tagging me, @kay-elle-cee <3 I found this very hard haha as self-reccing goes against everything I hold dear, but nonetheless here we are...

the way you left me || At nineteen, James vanishes, and Lily breaks.

I wrote this in a fevered rush, and I think it's the one I'm most proud of overall. Not entirely sure why, which doesn't lend itself to this sort of post, does it? It's sad and sweet and painful and all the things I like writing most. Angst with a happy, hopeful ending is my sweet spot.

2. Uninvited || With NEWTs looming, friends gather at the Potters' cottage in Wales to study and let off steam during the Easter holidays of their seventh year.

What's not to enjoy about pining, a Welsh beach and a 'there was only one bed' scenario? It includes this sentence, which I feel nicely encapsulates the gang:

They ate their fill; Mary tried to teach them a strange Muggle game called cricket, which James had a natural affinity for (“ever the fucking sportsman,” Marlene jeered from her position on the opposing team); Sirius tried to lead a team into the shallows, forgetting that the waters around the British Isles were frigid at the best of times; Remus built a bonfire in a bid to stop said team from developing frostbite.

I mean, what more can I say?

3. Forget-Me-Not (cw: sa). ||. At eighteen, Lily Evans fell - and fell hard - for James Potter, a classmate she had never given much thought to before. He seemed as into her as she was into him, so why is it, when she starts a new job almost a decade and a lot of water under that particular bridge later, that her new boss - James Potter himself - doesn't seem to remember her at all? A Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi Mcfarlane AU fic.

I wasn't going to include this one, but I guess I changed my mind? I'm proud that I a) finished this fic at all, and b) hopefully managed a very fine balance in dealing with an extremely sensitive subject. It was all a very personal writing experience and I guess I'm glad it all came out okay in the end.

4. A Lesson in Communication || There's a rule at his school that teachers are strictly not allowed to date the parents of pupils. James has never minded this rule before...

This largely started because it so amused me to think of James wrangling children at sports day. This is one of those stories that was supposed to be a quick thing, and then morphed into a nearly-12k monster whereby the misunderstandings piled up on top of each other like delicious pancakes. Yes, if anyone asked a straightforward question this fic would be about 500 words. Yes, my favourite bit is still Remus' reaction when he realises James' mistake.

5. The Price We Pay || As the summer before their sixth year comes to an end, Sirius, Remus, Lily and James consider how things may be different on their return to Hogwarts. When Sirius finally breaks free from his toxic home, it should be a fresh start - but unfortunately, it's the start of a spiral that will threaten the foundations of friendship, and change their lives irrevocably.

Last but not least! That blurb could do with updating, really, given that now – 27 chapters in – we're into seventh year and rather a lot has happened, haha. Still, when I started it, I didn't think I'd write more than maybe five or six chapters, and then it sort of grew its own little legs and scurried away from me. You know, how writing does? It's my original baby fic and I love it so but I also go through phases where I worry it's all utter bollocks, so it's very much a rollercoaster of a relationship. There is something both wonderful and challenging in writing a canon multi-chap, especially in this fandom where there are so many amazing canon multi-chaps. We battle on.

What a strange, therapy-esque post this ended up being 😅

Tagging (please feel free to ignore if you don't fancy it/have already done it) @wearingaberetinparis @mppmaraudergirl @clare-with-no-i @thequibblah @isahorcrux