#its so easy and it's enrichment

[taldigi]

i think about this so much it makes me ill.

[abirddogmoment]

I am fortunate to have a dog that is good at settling in the house, regardless of how much exercise she gets, and I am careful to reinforce that so I don't create an athlete or whatever.

that said

Trying to explain to my adolescent dog that boredom is a part of life (and specifically life where we live, where we experience dangerous weather conditions) is actually one of my least favourite activities.

[darabeatha]

MY KING

(source)

[here-there-be-drag0ns]

me, giving my dog a bowl of ice with treats frozen inside it that will occupy him for a While: haha silly dog with your silly enrichment toy. surely we have nothing in common!

me, not even ten minutes later: oh boy genloss!!

[meme-loving-stuck]

it's kind of silly how the rise of consumerism makes you just feel discontent not spending money. as if everything else about an enjoyable life is secondary to 'going out' and acquiring new things.

we always say, "I wanna go OUT and DO STUFF but I'm BROKE till next week..." with the implication being, "guess I'll just have to stay home, take care of myself, rest, possibly cook a nice meal/snack, indulge in a hobby, tidy my living space".... like oh no... the horror... of all these options... lol

[kordbot]

the hopeful is like enrichment to me. this game is so good and fun and i genuinely cant wait to start pain mode bc it stopped being a challenge at this point

[forest-from-the-trees]

i always feel so terrible when i see posts about indoor/outdoor cats and how letting them outside is bad for them cause its dangerous and everything. we have four cats, and three of them are indoor/outdoor. the fourth one just doesnt like to go outside anymore cause shes really old so she never does.

anyway, i always feel bad cause they're family pets and when we got them my parents didnt really know just how bad it is to let them free roam outside when they want. ive never had control over whether or not they go outside and i still dont, so theres nothing i can do about it. its why i hate it when people will get so agressive and be like "youre a fucking terrible person for letting your cats outside and i hope people steal them and give them a better home cause you fucking suck and clearly dont care about them" etc etc. like. i do care about them! i do love them very much! i do my best to keep them safe and healthy and well-cared for with all of the resources i have available to me. but at the end of the day unfortunately that does still mean that they do go outside. and that part is completely out of my control

[howdydoodydodis]

I definitely wish I could see more takes on C3 from people who aren’t steeped in western cultural Christianity.

I think a huge problem I’m seeing in some attempts at meta with C3 is that there is a subset of viewers who do not understand the place, value, and meaning of real world religion. It breeds takes like “well throw the gods out! Who needs them! They caused characters and the world pain! Free Vax from the Raven Queen!”

I throw that last one in there because it is the most ridiculous yet frequent and is really the crux of the issue. Vax’s story is very much about faith and the importance of faith and devotion. If you place no value on that you’ll end up grossly misunderstanding the character and the nature of his tragedy.

I’m going to out myself as an atheist, but I think the issue with a lot of these takes are that they come from internet atheists who are either resentful of and hostile toward religion because of personal experiences or do not know any devout people in their lives who they respect and can empathize with. And while I am not trying to downplay the very real phenomenon of religious trauma, when healing from it it is crucial to realize that all spiritual traditions are not synonymous with the one that harmed you. I would really implore more people to explore why many good people find spiritual traditions and religion to be a source of solace, community, and meaning before writing off the idea wholesale as something only functioning as a means of power and control that people can be educated out of believing. I encourage you to branch out and here are some examples of things I’ve done to challenge my own judgement over the last ten years: read the writings of gay Catholics exploring the queerness of Jesus. Read some beautiful poetry written by a trans man who specializes in Anglican theology. Explore religious observances different from the ones you experienced and attend a Seder. Go if a coworker invites you to a celebration of Ganesh. Learn the significance of solstice celebrations because your coworker is officiating one for a Wiccan event. Break fast at sundown during Ramadan with in solidarity with your roommate.

Deciding that all fictional religion must be an allegory for a specific kind of toxic nationalistic prosperity gospel Christian cult found in America will only limit how you engage with both fiction and the real world. It took me a long time to get to this place about it and I hope I’ve put the spark of curiosity and not judgment into at least one person reading this.

[phagodyke]

almost explored the entirety of the nationals discography.. I've come so far from spending a whole year only listening to sleep well beast <3

[whensecretsrise]

The monster adoption fair was like nothing you could imagine. It was massive. Feeling as though it stretched on forever. Creatures ranged from mundane to outlandish. Rows upon rows of were-creatures- be it wolves or cats, naga or foxes or great feathered birds and more- all nestled safely within their kennels. A sign directed the way to where the centaurs, minotaurs, and satyrs were kept. You barely gave it a glance before turning down the next row. Tanks held merfolk and sirens, some muzzled for safety, and a number of amphibian and reptilian creatures. One tank in particular seemed impossibly large. The water in it so dark you weren't sure what could be inside. That was until a great suckered tentacle brushed along the glass.

Your heart kicked against your chest at the sight of it. Half primal fear, but the other half. Well, there wasn't any use dwelling on it. There was no way you could imagine what caring for something that large would take.

You wander deeper, giddiness welling inside you. The background checks you had to pass, the rounds and rounds of interviews you had to go through to prove that you would be a responsible owner. All of that and more was worth it to be allowed entry into the fair.

There was a temperature change in the next room you entered. Everything was warm enough that you were already starting to sweat before taking even a dozen steps inside. Demons, incubi, succubi, and plenty more beyond that all stared out at you through their glassed enclosures. The glass was thick enough that you couldn't hear their words, but the way they moved, so languid and sensual, had a blush rising to your cheeks that had nothing to do with the heat. The temperature slowly lowered as you approached the far end of the room. The creatures in those enclosures were more insectoid. Joints that seemed to bend the wrong way, appendages stranger than any you'd seen before. You couldn't help but pause to watch their twitching movements and how they traversed the structures in their enclosures. Beyond those lay more familiar creatures. Giant bees. Wasps with their wings beating so fast you were sure you could hear their buzz. Moths that had left a fine coat of powder from their wings on the glass. After a moment of awe you move on.

The temperature in the next room was considerably lower. A much welcomed respite from the heat. More tanks and enclosures filled this room. Your heart began to speed for you had made it to the room you had come for. Slimes of all sizes and colors pressed against their glass. There were plenty of humanoid slimes with big, soft eyes and coy smiles, but that wasn't what you wanted. You brushed past the larger tanks with barely more than a second glance. A smaller companion was what you were seeking. Something that wouldn't take up too much space, but was easy to cuddle with if you wanted.

You carefully inspected a number of tanks. Some of the slimes gave off a faint glow while others shimmered under the lights. There were even some that seemed to change from one color to another as they moved. Each one had a small description plate in front of it detailing habits, temperament, enrichment suggestions, and more besides. The wiggling masses within regarded you with varying levels of interest.

One, however, immediately perked up when you approached it. It was a beautiful pearl white that sparkled with golds and pinks. It swarmed against its glass, pressing itself as close to you as it could manage. Tentatively you placed a gentle hand against the glass. Doing so wasn't allowed, but you couldn't help the way it was drawn to you. A trickle of warmth passed through the glass and a wave of calm washed over you. This was it. The one you would take home had claimed you for its own.

You quickly scribbled down your guest number on the provided card, and took a copy of the creature's location card. The slime remind pressed against the glass as if watching you work. It was only when you began to walk away did it shrink back down to the bottom of its container.

It took a while to locate a staff member among the vast network of rooms and the other visitors of the fair.

"I would like to adopt this creature please," you said as you handed over the slime's identification card.

The worker scanned the card before giving you a sympathetic look. "Are you sure about this? This particular slime has been bounced back to us at least three times. It's very temperamental."

You recall the wave of calm you had felt when you were only separated from it by the glass beneath your hand. "I'm certain."

"Have you ever had a slime before?"

"No," you admitted, "I've never had the money to adopt one. I've been saving for years though, and I'm certain this is the slime I want."

"You might want to start with an easier one first. You being brand new to this and all. I can almost guarantee that this one will still be around if you decide to go looking later."

You shake your head. "I appreciate the advice, but I'm set on this one," you say firmly.

"Suit yourself," the worker shrugs. "Not like the poor thing isn't used to coming back here."

"I'm going to take great care of it. I've got my apartment set up and everything."

"Alrighty then. You can go ahead and head up front to pay. I'll have your slime brought up by the time you finish." The identification card is handed back to you.

As promised, there was a small, travel sized tank waiting for you after you'd paid and gone through the mandatory speech on slime care. You already knew most of it after years of research, but it did remind you of a few things you seemed to have forgotten.

You carried your new creature out to your car and buckled the tank safely in the front seat.

"Alright little slime, it's me and you now. I'm going to make sure you have a good new life. I'm not going to give up on you like the others." You pat the top of the tank and feel a vibration and a soft noise from the other side of the glass, almost as if the creature was purring.

Back home you carried the case over to the tank you had prepared for it and sat it inside. Only then did you open the travel container so that the slime had a chance to safely explore and get used to its new surroundings. You secured the tank lid and went off to put away the pamphlets that the adoption fair had given you.

When you returned the slime had moved into the big tank. It pressed itself against the glass as though it could sense you.

"Hey there, it looks like you're getting used to your new place. I hope that it’s big enough for you. It'll be a while before I can afford something bigger, but even then I'm not sure it would fit."

The slime vibrated again.

You smile and open the tank to remove the travel container. The slime oozed off of the glass and to the bottom of its tank. You stick your hand back down, fingers brushing affectionately against it. Another purr came from it. This time, the first time you've actually touched it, had it suckling at your fingers. Calmness washed over you again. Your fingertips began to tingle.

"Hey now, what are you doing?" You pull away with a laugh.

The slime follows you up, but releases you once your hand is nearly out of its tank. It sinks back down into a puddle and crawls to a corner as if sulking.

With another laugh you reach both hands down toward it. "Alright, if you're going to be mad about it, I guess I can let you out for a bit. We'll both have a chance to properly meet each other."

It surged upward into your hands. It oozed over the edges of your hands, but retained its overall shape. You carried it over to the couch.

The creature puddled into your lap. Bare seconds had passed before it was sending tendrils out to explore you. It wrapped itself up your arms. Retreated and slid along your neck. It caressed your lips and coated your stomach.

No residue was left in its wake. You had expected needing a full shower after taking it out of its tank, but perhaps not. Calmness had stolen through you, stronger now that the two of you were touching. The soft, lapping movements over your skin lulled you. Before you knew it you were stretching out across the couch, mind hazy with calm. Time passed and your eyes dropped closed. Your slime exploring you had faded into the back of your consciousness.

When it slipped beneath your clothes you barely noticed. Not even when it explored lower, seeking out the warmth between your thighs. By then your body was pliant and wanting. A wanting that stole over you on paws so soft that you couldn't remember not that want. Something secret, just for you. The slime drizzled like honey into your center. So slow and fluid you didn’t register the feeling. No, you existed in a state of such hazy serenity that it was only when the slime began to purr that you clicked back to reality.

The purr sent a jolt through you. A vibration that had your hands clenching into fists on pure instinct. Now you could properly feel the ebb and glide of it within you. Your hazed mind began to clear with your racing heart. Heat bloomed in your cheeks. Seemingly of their own accord, your hips began to rock. The slime began to spread. It filled you in ways it hadn’t before. A moan escapes your mouth. You arch your back, trying desperately to grind on thin air.

The slime moves inside you as if thrusting. Hitting you deep and slow. Even through your first orgasm it doesn't stop. It sent another wave of haze inducing calm washing over you. Keeping you right on the edge. Making sure you felt every millimeter of it. A tendril of slime draws out of you. It spreads to cover your center. The feeling of it sucking at you pulls another orgasm from your pliant body.

It wrings orgasm after orgasm out of you. The state of bliss and arousal is never disrupted for long. It ebbs and flows from orgasm to orgasm until, finally, the slime pulls away. It climbs up your sweat slicked skin to nestle against your chest, purring contentedly.

"Little slime," you whisper, "you and I are going to get along very well."

HAVE YOUR AGE LISTED OR CATCH A BLOCK

[velvetvexations]

RE: Binary Privilege, I really think youtuber VerilyBitchie said it best in her video on monosexism that privilege can be broken down into two parts; unjust enrichment and spared injustice. The example she uses is a bisexual man from a country where being queer is a crime being denied asylum because a judge does not view him as queer enough to actually be in danger(or even queer at all), while a gay man would be approved by that same judge because they think he's more at risk. The gay man is not being unjustly enriched, he needs asylum! But, he is being spared an injustice, namely his sexuality is seen as more real than the bi man's so he gets to escape while the bi man has to go back to his country and risk imprisonment and death. (This is also why I think it's important to keep in mind that being granted privilege does not necessarily mean a person is an oppressor or capable of leveraging their privilege to oppress. The gay man is not oppressing the bi man in this situation, he is just being given grace the bi man is not granted.)

So while I do think that binary trans people may be spared some injustices that nonbinary people have to deal with, I don't think any of that translates to like, unjust enrichment or the ability to oppress nonbinary people on a systemic level. And even then it does depend entirely on the situation and the people involved. I would be considered nonbinary by cishet people, but I use she/they pronouns, so I am spared the injustice someone who uses say, it/its or a neo-pronoun would face because mine are easier for cishet people to adjust to(even though a lot of cishet people default to her and ignore the fact that I'm trans, they are still using the correct pronouns). I am spared the injustice of having people treat me like a freak for my pronouns and default to the wrong ones because mine are seen as normal and easy to ignore, but I am not gaining any unjust enrichment, and certainly am not being granted the kind of privilege that would allow me to systemically oppress another nonbinary person.

I also think maybe it's important to keep in mind that someone can be bigoted without being an oppressor. Like I do not think that monosexual queer people are my systemic oppressors as a bisexual, BUT I can face bigotry and lateral aggression in the form of monosexism from biphobic monosexual queers. Like they can absolutely uphold my systemic oppression and weaponize parts of it against me, but they are NOT the ones who built or are driving the monosexism machine. That's cishet society. I think that's the what we see with like, transmedicalism and exorsexism from other trans people. They still aren't our oppressors, they aren't granted unjust enrichment or power, but they can still be exorsexist and transphobic and weaponize both against nonbinary people in horrifying ways, and they are also granted some slight privilege that we are not in the form of spared injustice.

I think conversations around privilege and oppression and bigotry are really complicated, and it's just important to keep in mind that having privilege you don't does not always mean someone is your oppressor, and also that someone can be bigoted and oppressive towards you without actually being your systemic oppressor class, you know? Or that's at least how I think about it, and it seems to help break down the conversation in a way that avoids too much finger pointing or semantic circular arguments over terminology that get us nowhere.

I like the scientific breakdown of "privilege," that's a very cool way of putting it.

[reasonsforhope]

A reef that has been degraded—whether by coral bleaching or disease—can’t support the same diversity of species and has a much quieter, less rich soundscape.

But new research from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution shows that sound could potentially be a vital tool in the effort to restore coral reefs.

A healthy coral reef is noisy, full of the croaks, purrs, and grunts of various fishes and the crackling of snapping shrimp. Scientists believe that coral larvae use this symphony of sounds to help them determine where they should live and grow.

So, replaying healthy reef sounds can encourage new life in damaged or degraded reefs.

In a paper published last week in Royal Society Open Science, the Woods Hole researchers showed that broadcasting the soundscape of a healthy reef caused coral larvae to settle at significantly higher rates—up to seven times more often.

“What we’re showing is that you can actively induce coral settlement by playing sounds,” said Nadège Aoki, a doctoral candidate at WHOI and first author on the paper.

“You can go to a reef that is degraded in some way and add in the sounds of biological activity from a healthy reef, potentially helping this really important step in the coral life cycle.”

Corals are immobile as adults, so the larval stage is their only opportunity to select a good habitat. They swim or drift with the currents, seeking the right conditions to settle out of the water column and affix themselves to the seabed. Previous research has shown that chemical and light cues can influence that decision, but Aoki and her colleagues demonstrate that the soundscape also plays a major role in where corals settle.

The researchers ran the same experiment twice in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2022. They collected larvae from Porites astreoides, a hardy species commonly known as mustard hill coral thanks to its lumpy shape and yellow color and distributed them in cups at three reefs along the southern coast of St. John. One of those reefs, Tektite, is relatively healthy. The other two, Cocoloba and Salt Pond, are more degraded with sparse coral cover and fewer fish.

At Salt Pond, Aoki and her colleagues installed an underwater speaker system and placed cups of larvae at distances of one, five, 10, and 30 meters from the speakers. They broadcast healthy reef sounds – recorded at Tektite in 2013 – for three nights. They set up similar installations at the other two reefs but didn’t play any sounds.

When they collected the cups, the researchers found that significantly more coral larvae had settled in the cups at Salt Pond than the other two reefs. On average, coral larvae settled at rates 1.7 times (and up to 7x) higher with the enriched sound environment.

The highest settlement rates were at five meters from the speakers, but even the cups placed 30 meters away had more larvae settling to the bottom than at Cocoloba and Tektite.

“The fact that settlement is consistently decreasing with distance from the speaker, when all else is kept constant, is particularly important because it shows that these changes are due to the added sound and not other factors,” said Aran Mooney, a marine biologist at WHOI and lead author on the paper.

“This gives us a new tool in the toolbox for potentially rebuilding a reef.”

Adding the audio is a process that would be relatively simple to implement, too.

“Replicating an acoustic environment is actually quite easy compared to replicating the reef chemical and microbial cues which also play a role in where corals choose to settle,” said Amy Apprill, a microbial ecologist at WHOI and a co-author on the paper.

“It appears to be one of the most scalable tools that can be applied to rebuild reefs, so we’re really excited about that potential.”"

-via Good News Network, March 17, 2024

[cryptotheism]

If you asked me "What did Austin Osman Spare mean by magic" the answer is "a practice where you achieve momentary ego death so the world-soul can flow freely through you, and construct symbols to act as vessels for that world-soul." He made up his own system to do this, with its own vocabulary. In practice, it looked like meditating so you could do automatic writing/drawing.

Philosophically he was influenced by Crowley, William Blake, and Schopenhaur. His writing is sparse, but quite good, to the point where contemporary philosophers enjoyed him. (Another parallel to William Blake.) Most of the people reading spare didn't really care about that stuff though. The popularity of Spare's system was it's depth and applicability; it was easy to pick up, hard to master, and you could apply it to other systems to enrich them. Plus, it came with a lot of cool pictures, and a proper magical text needs evocative pictures.

[haberai]

TUBİDY (4)

In today's fast-paced digital world, having instant access to music is more important than ever. Enter Tubidy Guru, your ultimate destination for hassle-free music retrieval and downloads. With an intuitive platform, Tubidy Guru makes it easy to discover and store your favorite tracks with just a few clicks. Whether you're looking for the latest hits or nostalgic classics, this service offers a seamless experience for free MP3 downloads and music searches.

Free MP3 Download

With Tubidy Guru, your quest for a hassle-free free mp3 download experience is finally over. This platform offers a seamless way to find your favorite tracks without any hidden charges. Whether you're streaming or downloading, Tubidy Guru organizes music in a user-friendly manner that makes navigation a breeze.

Gone are the days of endless searching and confusing links. With Tubidy Guru, you can utilize the Tubidy search function to quickly locate the songs, artists, or albums you desire. No more unnecessary clicks; just pure music at your fingertips.

The best part? You can enjoy a truly free music download option without compromising on quality. Each download is formatted to ensure high-definition sound, elevating your listening experience to new heights.

Join countless others who have made the switch to Tubidy Guru for all their music needs. It’s time to indulge in a world of unlimited free mp3 downloads. Experience the convenience and quality that everyone is talking about—unlock your musical journey today!

Free Music Download

Experience the joy of music without limitations using Tubidy Guru's exceptional platform for free music downloads. With just a few clicks, you can access an extensive library of tracks across various genres, making it easier than ever to find exactly what you're looking for. Whether you're in the mood for the latest hits or timeless classics, Tubidy Guru has it all.

Not only is the service completely free of charge, but it also provides high-quality audio files, ensuring that your listening experience is top-notch. Enjoy the convenience of downloading your favorite tunes directly to your device, allowing you to listen anytime, anywhere – even without an internet connection!

Use the powerful Tubidy search feature to discover new artists and tracks that align with your musical taste. The user-friendly interface ensures a smooth and hassle-free experience, so you can focus on enjoying the music rather than navigating complex menus.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to enrich your music library with the latest releases and classic favorites. Get started today and unleash the full potential of your music experience with Tubidy Guru!

Tubidy Guru

Tubidy Guru is your ultimate destination for all your music downloading needs. Whether you're searching for the latest hits or classic tunes, this platform provides a seamless experience to get your favorite tracks. With its user-friendly interface and efficient search capabilities, finding songs has never been easier.

One of the standout features of Tubidy Guru is the ability to access a vast library of audio files, allowing users to enjoy free mp3 download and free music download without any hassle. Simply enter your desired track or artist in the Tubidy search bar, and you'll be presented with an array of options to choose from.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to enhance your music collection effortlessly. Try Tubidy Guru today and experience the simplicity of finding and downloading your favorite songs!

Tubidy Search

If you're looking for a seamless way to access a vast library of music and videos, the Tubidy search feature is just what you need. This intuitive search tool allows users to quickly find their favorite tracks by simply entering the title, artist, or even lyrics. It’s designed for efficiency, ensuring that you spend less time searching and more time enjoying the content.

Tubidy search functionality is particularly user-friendly, catering to both tech-savvy individuals and those who may not be as familiar with online media platforms. The results are displayed in a clear format, making it easy to locate and select the desired file for free mp3 download or free music download without hassle.

Whether you're looking for the latest chart-toppers or classic hits, the Tubidy search feature connects you directly to a multitude of options. Its vast database means that almost any genre or decade can be explored, fulfilling the diverse tastes of music lovers everywhere.

For anyone eager to experience the joy of music without constraints, Tubidy search is an invaluable resource. It not only simplifies the process of finding music but also enhances your overall experience on the platform. Dive in and discover your next favorite song with Tubidy today!

[lunarmoves]

Your grandmother used to tell you stories of the gods. 

How the world came to be with the snap of their fingers; the wind that came from their breath and the water from their tears. She told you of the ones who lived in the trees, giving life to all the flora and fauna that graced the Earth. The ones who sparked hope in the darkness of places, or supplied warmth at the hearth of people’s homes. 

She told you of Suj’asti, the Sun god, who gave life in the form of light that brightened the sky into a gorgeous blue. Who watched over the Earth as he guided the sun over your heads and shaped the way your days were made. He was the being of prosperity; he was the being of energy.

She told you of D’armil, the Moon god, who decorated the night sky with stars and kept an eye on those who slumbered. Who rotated the moon every night and controlled the push and pulls of the tide by the shore. He was the being of protection; he was the being of dreams. 

You listened to her tales with utmost devotion, intrigued by the way she wove her words to form these intricacies that—to your young mind—revealed all the mysteries of the universe and how it worked. You spent a lot of time in your village’s record collection, reading over scrolls and books alike that contained legends, myths, and theories. It was interesting—it was utterly fascinating. You learned as much as you could and still craved more. It sent you across the lands—this thirst for knowledge—and had you dappling in all manners of magic, folklore, and science. 

You enriched your life with the deep history of magic and mythicals—the powers they possessed that saturated the world over time. You taught yourself how to decipher the languages that connected different beings and that encompassed the words of magic. You wrote, in a little journal you bought in the capital, spells and incantations that you were able to recite—as well as those that you couldn’t. And you always made sure to return to your grandmother’s little cottage at the edge of the woods, recounting to her the things you’d learned. The things you’d seen and experienced. She always appreciated it, you knew.

Before she passed, your grandmother gave you her necklace that she told you had been blessed in the Rivers of Rosoi. The waters that ran through them were said to contain a powerful magic that came from the gods themselves. It will protect you, your grandmother told you as she clasped the fine, golden jewelry around your neck with trembling fingers. It was a gorgeous thing with a pendant made from a jewel that reminded you of smoldering coal. From anything that will bring you harm. It became something you wore more out of habit than necessity, tucked under the collar of your tunic. 

Eventually, once you’d had your fill of adventure and thaumaturgy, you settled down in your late grandmother’s cottage. You busied yourself with flora—documenting them in one of your journals—and the magic some of them contained that could be used for a variety of actions. And since the cottage was seated at the point where a wide, expansive field kissed the beginnings of the woods, you were able to stare out its windows at the open sky above you. Watching as the sun climbed lazily across it as its bright blue transitioned into a deep, deep navy and reminiscing about the tales your grandmother told you of so long ago.

It was peaceful. It was easy. You were content. 

And then… the sky went dark.

You woke up one day to the sight of void-like clouds stagnating over the sky. At first, you paid them no heed, believing that a thunderstorm had decided to descend upon this region of the world. But as days and nights went by without a drop of rain, nor a flash of lightning, you began to realize that something was… wrong.

You weren’t the only one who’d noticed either. A trip to one of the villages nearby showed that everyone was talking about it, worriedly looking up at the black clouds. It was everywhere, they said. From the high mountains of the north to the low beaches of the south. The sky had turned caliginous. And no one had a clue as to why. 

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and there still was no break of sunlight or moonlight through the clouds. You were beginning to wonder if there ever would be. You overheard many talking in quiet whispers about the prayers they sent up to Suj’asti and D’armil—calling for them. Wondering where they had disappeared to and why they weren’t performing their duties. But the sky gods had gone silent. There was no one to answer. 

And as you sat in your little cottage—looking out at the open field before you that resided under that tenebrific sky—you decided that there was something that needed to be done. 

You packed a bag with necessities—food, money, water, your journals—and locked up your home. Then you were off, setting out on an adventure you hadn’t had the taste of in a long, long time. It made something spark in your bones—a feeling that brought you a nostalgia you found to be oh so dear. You were struck by the burning question of what happened? And you’d be damned if you returned empty-handed. 

You walked and walked and walked. You went to the capital to poke around and see if anyone knew anything. You explored villages in the forests and by the sea. You ventured into the lands of mythicals to ask if they had an inkling of what was going on—for surely as beings of legend, they would be more connected to the gods than simple mankind? But no, there was nothing. Not a peep, nor a shout. You searched on. 

You learned of the lost temple of the sky gods in a quaint village that rested at the foot of a red-tinted mountain. Where the people there were tuned to the earth and the air. They told you it was somewhere in the Forest of Isdu—a haunting place, where time seemed to stand still. Rarely did people venture into its looming trees, and rarely did they ever come back out. It was, in essence, the perfect place to hide secrets. The perfect place to go looking for something thought to have been lost. 

But that’s just it, the villagers reminded you, the temple was lost. Then they said no more. And you thought to yourself—well, you had nothing to lose. 

So you walked the long path to the Forest of Isdu and found yourself peering into the gloom that peeked out at you from between tree trunks and wild bushes. You clasped at the pendant that hung from the necklace around your neck in one hand and raised the other to allow a small light to dance around your fingers. Then you set one foot forward and disappeared beyond the treeline. 

The air was different here. It was settled in one place. And where the outside of the forest was teeming with the bumbling sounds of wildlife—chirping birds, rustling leaves, a whooshing breeze—the inside was quiet. Not dead, no. Just quiet. It unnerved you even more—made the soft hairs along your arms raise in unease. You dared not even breathe too loudly, for fear of what lurked around you.

But you pressed on, letting the golden light in your palm guide you around roots and low-hanging branches. Everything was darker here—a result of the thick canopies overhead and the dark sky beyond them. You whispered a spell into the still air to help lead you to the place you sought. You walked until your feet ached—until your shoulders pained you from bearing the weight of your bag. And just when you began to think that perhaps this was a fruitless endeavor, you spotted it—nestled deep between two leaf-ladened trees and covered in ivy. 

The lost temple of the sky gods was a mix of obsidian and swirling gold. Its architecture was noble yet ancient, with spiraling pillars on both sides of the dark, gaping entrance. There was no sign to tell you what it was or who it belonged to, precisely, but if you squinted, you could see the etchings of a crescent moon and the sun just above the entrance. You stared into it and had to suppress a shiver at the cool air that gently wafted out. Amid your unease, there was delight and relief at having found your destination. You internally thanked the magic you used to aid you. 

You let out a breath of air, squared your shoulders, and walked up the few steps of the temple. And before you could let your second thoughts sway you, you ventured forth into the temple and let your light shine brighter to illuminate its inside. It was even quieter in here, if that was even possible. 

The temple wasn’t too wide, but it was certainly tall, you noticed, as you gazed up and around. From what you could see, there was a rather large hole in the ceiling that let you see the inky sky. It was directly above a rather large, stone pedestal that had the remains of incense dusted atop it. You lowered your hand and looked to your left, where there was a gold-stoned statue of a tall, lithe being. It had its arms splayed up and out in a grandeur gesture. Triangular protrusions stuck out of its head, and its face was blank apart from a set of two eyes that were closed. You stepped closer to the base of the statue to peer down at the engraving upon it. 

Suj’asti, it read, E Kuz We-Suj. The god of sun. 

To the right was another statue, this one made of obsidian. It was also tall and lithe, with its arms splayed downwards at its sides and a long cap of sorts resting on its head. If you squinted, you could also see that its eyes were closed. The lack of a mouth was something you thought was strange, but not enough to greatly question it. You walked over to the statue to read its engraving as well. D’armil, E Kuz We-D’ar. The god of moon. 

Finally, you brought your hand forth to look at the last statue that rested directly beyond the pedestal—at the back of the temple. It was tall—taller than the two at its sides in a way that had your neck craned back to an uncomfortable degree. Unlike the gold and obsidian statues, this one was a deep burgundy that glinted in the light in your palm. It had four arms, two of which were crossed over its chest in an ‘x’, while the other two were clasped in front of it like it was saying a prayer. It too had its eyes closed and no mouth, along with many triangle protrusions around its head that varied in length. 

You looked at it curiously—it was not a deity you recognized. And in your curiosity, you rounded the pedestal to stand at its feet and look down. 

There was no name etched at its base. Instead, there was a sentence—one that you read quietly aloud. 

“E Suj kaamo, e D’ar muuso,” you murmured, your lips gently forming around the familiar words. “Taayta, e K’es.” The Sun rises, the Moon follows. Awaken, the Eclipse. 

The temple seemed to hum around you. 

It was a sudden thing that reverberated in your bones and sunk deeply into your heart. Your head snapped up and you spun around to dart your gaze about. From the still Sun statue to the Moon statue. And then you noticed a light was starting to appear from above—through the hole in the ceiling. You stepped closer to the pedestal so you could look up and through the hole in surprise and awe. The light started off as a faint pink, but as you watched the dark clouds above finally, finally part to make way for the sky, it suddenly deepened into a blood red that spanned across your face. 

Your wonder was replaced by a sinking feeling of horror in a heartbeat as the sun revealed itself, covered by the moon and turning the sky into a deep hue of orange. 

An eclipse. 

Cold washed over your figure. The temple hummed louder around you and shook minutely. You stumbled away from the pedestal, gripping at your pendant tight, tight, tighter as you felt this burning feeling land upon you. What was happening? You had no idea—there was only this sense of dread, so thick and potent that you were getting choked up. You looked at the two statues at your sides again before your gaze finally darted to the one standing in front of you, separated from you by the pedestal. 

Its eyes were wide open—burnt mandarin with tiny void-like pupils. 

And it was staring right at you. 

Your heart skipped a beat. 

In a surge of motion the statue stepped forward—only, it wasn’t a statue anymore. It was a living, breathing being of sorts, with vibrant eyes that lit up half the temple on their own in a hellish glow, and a face and body that was half black and half blood red. Darkness seemed to cling to it, draping along its torso and shoulders. Its arms unfolded from their positions, stretching out stiffly before they pulled up and around its body in a foreboding manner that made you step back. Claws—sharp and wicked—extended from its fingers. It loomed crookedly towards you over the pedestal and seemed to stop, head cocked to the side as it continued to stare at you. 

You froze immediately, the golden light in your hand trembling slightly before it shrunk and disappeared. Its absence made you feel cold, but you couldn’t find it in you to summon it again. You swallowed thickly and watched as the protrusions from the being’s head rippled around it like a wave. Its head rotated in a way that was inhuman. There was something heavy in the air—something that made you press your lips tightly together until you were sure they were nothing but a thin, straight line. 

You were locked in a staring contest with it. One that you weren’t certain how long would last. 

You weren’t sure what it was doing, frozen like that over the pedestal. Maybe it was assessing you like you were assessing it. Your eyes darted about at the slightest of twitches it made in its fingers and its head. Those small, black pupils did not once leave your form. You didn’t know what to do—didn’t know what to say. You had never heard of such a being before. Maybe it was a deity, maybe it wasn’t. Either way, you were dead if you didn’t do something soon. Your bag seemed to weigh heavily against your back. Your muscles tensed. 

And with all the strength you had in your body, you took a small step back. 

Immediately, the being’s pupils dilated until its entire eyes were a midnight hue, cutting off one of the sources of light illuminating the temple. It jerked and shuddered, then seemed to grow even bigger as you stepped back again—towards the temple’s entrance. Its voice cut through the air—deadly, swift—from a mouth that did not exist on its face.

“Käwshka, käwshka!” the being—K’esyo, Eclipse—hissed out in a deep, grating voice that made something drop in the pit of your stomach. He spoke in a language you did not recognize—something ancient that had been lost eons ago from your people. But you didn’t need to understand what he was saying to know that you were in terrible, terrible danger. You scrambled backwards with a yelp and he surged forward, stepping easily over the pedestal and covering the distance you’d made in a few, powerful steps. “J’a syo twe— k-käwshka! Onyi méfe! Shash jawt, shash jaaawt.” 

You wanted to scream, but your voice was caught up in your throat. And before you could spin yourself around on your heel to sprint out of the temple, Eclipse lunged at you. You threw your arms up over your head as though that could protect you and braced yourself for impact.

Only—nothing happened. And after a few seconds of standing there, cowering under your arms, you tentatively peeked through them, wondering if your death had been so swift that you hadn’t even noticed.

Eclipse’s sharp claws were inches before your face, glinting in the blood red light. The sight made your heart hammer in your chest, adrenaline shooting through your veins. You blinked at them, then lowered your arms as you realized he was straining to reach you. But he couldn’t touch you, even as you were before him, doused in his ominous shadow. You gaped up at him, then looked down at your hand clenching the ruby pendant atop your chest. It was slightly aglow. Your grandmother’s words whispered in your ears. 

He couldn’t hurt you. Not when you had your necklace on. 

The thought was oddly empowering. 

Eclipse snarled—a viscous thing that scratched at your ears—and reared back so that snarl could turn into a tumultuous roar. “Mbanpe, mbanpe! Onyi méfe! Shash jawt!” His voice seemed to switch between a rough, deep sound to one that was a bit higher pitched, though still as sharp as a blade’s edge. You backed away slowly as he appeared to fight with himself, bloodlust tinging his every movement. His upper arms grasped at the protrusions on his head while the lower two curled outwards like he was still trying to grab you. “Těmbiiiing. Mahù go mběl— těmbing! Käwshka syo twe p-p-ponkul.” 

He growled frustratedly after a moment, upper hands starting to claw viciously at his head. Perspiration rolled down the side of your face. Whatever was going on with Eclipse, it was certainly nothing you were prepared to deal with. You swallowed thickly and seized a chance where he was distracted with himself to look behind you. The temple’s entrance wasn’t too far away from you. Maybe you could make a run for it—use the shelter of the forest to hide yourself away. 

Resolute in your decision, you glanced back in front of you out of precaution and immediately let out a yelp as Eclipse lunged towards you once again. You ducked down, your arms shielding your head, and watched his shadow pass over your body. Then you lowered your arms and twisted your torso around to stare behind you—through the temple’s entrance that Eclipse had flown through. 

He had landed just outside and was staring up at the sky through the canopies that lay oddly still above him. The red lighting from the eclipse cast everything in a devilish glow, falling upon the leaves and ground in a way that made them look like they were drenched in blood. Your breaths bated, you watched Eclipse jerk and shudder, his arms moving sporadically before he suddenly stilled. His head snapped towards a direction—you could not see his face from your angle—and before you could even blink, he growled and bolted. 

You stared, dumbfounded, at the spot where he had just been. You’d been forgotten just like that, it seemed. But instead of relief, you only felt this mounting sense of horror—so strong that you scrambled to your feet and took off after him, following the sounds he made as he crashed through shrubs and trees alike. Your mind raced as you mapped out the surrounding land in your mind. The Forest of Isdu wasn’t too far from a small, sleepy village that was positioned to the East. The paths and trails that led to it tended to have the occasional passerby or traveler wandering about. Your jaw clenched as you realized the direction he was heading in.

Eclipse couldn’t hurt you, but he could certainly hurt others. 

And you couldn't let that happen.

[gold-pavilion]

Belonging and humanity (some more Ivan thoughts)

There's a big difference between knowing for a fact that you're a human being and getting to FEEL part of humankind. That's a thing that I feel Ivan sorely lacked. Some of his issues can definitely be traced back to it.

There's three things we know for certain about Ivan's early childhood nowadays, so let me start from those:

There were other humans around him in the slums, at least other children (for now it doesn't seem there were adults around, or none who would approach or care for the children).

However, we also know Ivan did not learn social behavior properly; for example, how or when to smile.

Going by the lonely tone of the song Nowhere and its emphasis on having no one, plus the previous point, we can infer there was no meaningful social contact with any people he knew/saw.

Ivan has been described as someone who is always learning to survive and his time in the slums must've been the same, after all; it's most likely that the other kids were competition to him (for food or other resources), threats or simply strangers with whom connections were never made.

That's to say, there were humans around Ivan but no "human community".

And that's the thing: take someone who went through a critical developmental stage with no one to care for or be cared by, learn social behavior with or practice the emotional exercises of understanding and empathy - ask that someone what "being a part of humankind" feels like, and what can he even make of it? It must not mean much more than categorizing a species, no feeling involved. And anyway, what difference does it make if there's anything else to say or not?

It's not like those are easy questions. None of the ALNST cast, with all their limitations, would be able to respond comprehensively.

But it changes things, the differences are there.

There are things that Till knows, from having a mother, learning from her and being enriched emotionally by their interaction, that I don't think he could describe but certainly has within him. Or Hyuna, who had a brother to feel that family bond and sense of community with, learning all sorts of positive social skills and having a heart full of room for empathy as she always looked out for the little Other Person next to her.

Beyond knowing their species, they know what it MEANS to be the rare and amazing human creature from these experiences of connecting, teaching, being taught, holding things in common, giving and receiving love. On an instinctual level they accessed what it feels like to be "part of humankind", which is so cool about them!!

Then you have cases like Mizi being too trusting of aliens because she was raised to feel community with one, Sua being mostly withdrawn because she didn't have a lot of warmth and community around her, Luka who was deprived of everything and then clung too hard to his first proper bond...

And Ivan, with his empty circumstances. There are a million things Ivan didn't learn and doesn't KNOW he lacked.

Of course that with his background he'd end up 1: being defensive by nature, having selfish tendencies, trouble processing emotion and socially weird habits and 2: feeling like a twisted being because of it, which is such a core aspect of his character. A human with less humanity but no idea why or how.

He adapted himself a lot once adopted, of course, and caught up an even bigger lot in his time in Anakt Garden. But I don't think he ever understood why he was "more twisted than others" and honestly, his intelligence and observance doesn't do him any favors on that front; on the contrary, I think it made him more aware of the gaps between him and other people.

And I really have to wonder if his experiences around the segyein are all that different, emotionally speaking.

I mean, of course objectively they have to be, but… his adopted life was a matter of observing his new environment, feeling like an absolute stranger because he's another species, but learning and adapting as quickly as possible in order to make himself a desirable pet that would be kept around. His experience being sent to Anakt and put in a human group was, again, feeling like a stranger because he's different to others of his own species, but learning and adapting as quickly as possible, eventually making himself an "acceptable", charming, absolutely cagey but near-perfect man. He succeeded both times.

He never did get rid of that awareness of being "twisted", though. After all, he also didn't unlearn all his survival patterns or fix the weak spots in his emotional development. As much as he progressed, the sense of not quite belonging and the faint relationship with his own humanity stayed. (With one big exception, but I'll leave that thought for the end of this ramble.)

In a way, I feel like this is exactly what made him so successful in segyein society as far as he lived. So adaptable that beyond being a good pet, he could also be trusted with and hold down an actual job, decent (faked or not, still good) relationships with segyein and, if he had any chance of survival, probably the capacity to live in their society with moderate perks.

Being an adaptable stranger who belonged nowhere in the first place… I think it's what made him more willing, more capable and more okay with mixing with the segyein like that, paired with his intelligence to pull it off.

No human pride to sacrifice. Not much humanity in the first place.

Except for the one noteworthy exception that shifted Ivan's growth: his relationship with Till.

Not only did Till embody things that Ivan lacked, which fascinated him from the start, but through his bond with him Ivan developed a lot of those traits and sensitivities that constitute peak humanity. It's a bit of the "love will make you human" trope, but on god does it apply. Ivan learned to care, to feel and to love, at times selfishly, at times messily. Buth he got pretty good at it; so much that love made him selfless and sacrificial in the end. He became a little more human for the object of his feelings. It didn't't erase all his struggles or fix his issues at large, but it was a lot. Of course he'd die thanking Till.

Anyway, that's all I wanted to get off my chest!

Humanity is a tough theme with Ivan, so I hope my thoughts about it were an interesting read.

The usual disclaimer: I've talked about 1 aspect of Ivan in this post, which does not mean this is all there is to his character or that I aim to invalidate other aspects. Just rotating this one in my head.