#maze solvers

[stevebattle]

Putan (1981) by Namco, Tokyo, Japan. Namco's "Maze Escape Robot: Putan" has a more humanoid form than its big brother, Goro. "Namco established a robotics division to produce robots for entertainment centers and festivals, such as those that distributed pamphlets, ribbon making machines, and a robot named Putan that solved pre-built mazes." – 65 Facts About Namco.

[remember-digimon]

Prodigious!

Izzy is the reason all these kids are still alive btw just wanted to make sure we all know that

So Izzy is smart. He brings a laptop and cellphone to summer camp and uses big words. But thankfully he does not fall into the trap of 'smart kids' of western media; overly nerdy, completely socially inept, you get the idea. No, Izzy is more than that. His intelligence has a basis in something besides a trope; namely, computer science and engineering.

(Don't even get me started on Matt being the one to go into engineering when IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IZZY)

From the moment the kids land in the Digital World, Izzy is curious about it. His crest is knowledge but I really think it should've been curiosity. He gets Tentomon to evolve by hacking his code. He comes up with some aliens conspiracy to explain why they're there and why there's things like phone booths on the beach.

Izzy is the problem solver of the group. In fact, without him, the other kids are just... Kinda lost. Izzy has the answers, and if he doesn't he'll at least know how to find them.

Even though he's younger than the others, being 10 when they're 11, they treat him as an equal. This is opposed to the other kid that's 10, Mimi, who is kind of coddled, and the two youngest, TK and Kari, who are literally the hope and light of the group.

Izzy is basically Tai's second-in-command, deferring to Tai's leadership while Tai takes his input very seriously. However, Izzy isn't much of a leader on his own.

He gets distracted by details. When Mimi finds him in the temple, he's so busy on his laptop that she gets upset and runs off into a maze. I would attribute this to him being younger, and as he gets older he does get better at applying his intelligence to a leadership role.

Most of the kids have an interesting family dynamic and Izzy is no different. It's revealed that he's adopted, that his birth parents died shortly after he was born and his adoptive parents were friends that took him in.

What I like about this reveal is that, of course, Izzy found this out on his own due to his curiosity. He overheard his parents discussing whether or not they should tell him, deciding not to because he's too young.

During the Odaiba raid, when the kids have a moment, Izzy gets to finally have the conversation. They admit that he's adopted and tell him what happened, and he says he already knows. He didn't want to bring it up himself because he thought he could just pretend like things were normal, like before he knew. But obviously it couldn't. This shows the price he pays for his curiosity, that sometimes knowing things isn't all fun times and computer jargon. It isn't helpful for Izzy to pretend to not know, to ignore what he knows. Instead it's better for him to apply what he knows to react appropriately, instead of hiding behind the easier mode of willful ignorance.

This also comes into play, though in a different way, during Izzy's confrontation with Vademon. Izzy gives away his curiosity (under extreme duress but still) and is basically empty of all character after that. He does a weird alphabet yoga meditation and willingly gives up his crest and tag, when earlier in the episode his curiosity was at a boiling point over it.

This causes Tentomon to de-digivolve to the baby stage; the only other partner Digimon to go back to this stage is Patamon. With the loss of his curiosity, Izzy has lost the core of his being and is no longer able to maintain Tentomon's existence.

Of course, he gets it back and everything is fine afterwords. This episode is very interesting when looking at how things work for the kids and their Digimon, why the crests are important, etc. But that's a post for another time.

Izzy is incredibly important to the team. Without him, I highly doubt they would've made it very far at all. He's able to look up Digimon on his laptop, kind of like a Digimon version of a Pokedex, when none of the currently present Digimon can give an explanation about who they're up against. But aside from his usefulness as the Smart Kid, it's noteworthy that he uses his intelligence to be helpful instead of lording it over everyone. And he is still a kid, albeit with an impressive vocabulary, so sometimes his curiosity gets him into trouble.

[dragons-hoard-of-fandoms]

(Murder Drones Episode 7 spoilers!)

THEY CHANGED THE INTRO V IS OFFICIALLY DEAD FUNERAL'S ON THURSDAY

Cult. It's a cult. This is definitely a cult. They probably don't even realize it but it is undeniably some kind of cult.

Nori what are you doing. Nori why are you like this.

The cross is a USB??

They're keeping the Drones themselves in the lockers??

Of course the unpaid intern whose opinion doesn't matter is the only one with any sympathy for them.

Pink Solver core?? SOLVER LIZZY?!?

Ah great, the Envy shippers are gonna be using this as "proof" that he's still in love with V.

HE IMMEDIATELY APOLOGIZED HE LOVES HER SO MUCH

Tessa. Stop. I was willing to give you the benefit of a doubt but you're not doing yourself any favours.

And now she's being racist. Way to go.

"The power of a black hole in the palm of my hand."

SEE TESSA ALL YOU DID WAS MAKE EVERYTHING WORSE

THEY'RE BACK THAD AND LIZZY ARE FINALLY RELEVANT AGAIN

Did they change Thad's VA? He sounds different.

Was that V? Is she already back?

N BABY NO DON'T SAY THAT YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS

Eldritch V??

I can't wait for people to meme about his perfectly cut scream there.

Not going near the corpse. Smart move.

Cyn stop. Cyn stop. CYN STOP PLEASE I'M BEGGING I WANT YOU TO BE SYMPATHETIC

She hugged him. That's probably a good thing, right? That's probably proof that the real Cyn is still in there somewhere, right? THAT PROBABLY MEANS SHE MISSES HIM AND IS GENUINELY SORRY RIGHT

Nothin' like a good old-fashioned Robot Uprising Apocalypse, eh? In other news, Skynet is suing the Solver for copyright infringement.

Those admin privileges comin' in handy. Unfortunately they don't do much in the physical world.

Uzi has absolutely no reason to be crawling and scuttling around like a creature right now except for the simple fact that she wants to. Never change, little gremlin.

Oh I don't think you should watch that. N was right, y'know, there's probably stuff down here you don't wanna see.

Why does this remind me of the garbage maze in FNaF Security Breach?

Okay so it's not some kind of disembodied Solver Lizzy core. Don't blame me, the lights looked pink before and the cat ears headphones reminded me of Lizzy's bow.

Familiar?? Nori??? DID N ACTUALLY KILL YOU AND WHY AREN'T YOU BRITISH/MOMMY LONG LEGS

Khan? A hunk? In the words of Professor Membrane, NOT SCIENTIFICALLY POSSIBLE!!!

"How do you know my daughter?" "Well y'see, it all started when we tried to kill each other..."

Oh it was J. Is it bad to say I'm kind of relieved?

Are we getting the cool edgy Khan from the concept art??? Bro why are you so nonchalant about it being the end of the world.

INB4 people go frame-by-frame through the list looking for the most Russian-sounding name and say "THERE, THAT'S DOLL'S DAD"

Tessa was that really necessary? You're giving really bad vibes right now.

Patch? So the Solver can be removed? And she knows? Again, major bad vibes.

*FNaF 2 Foxy jumpscare*

I'm starting to suspect Yeva either can't or chooses not to talk.

Is she saying the Solver wiped her memory of the labs? I guess that would explain a few things.

N being so polite and cute as always.

What do you mean, "found its way back?" Where did it go? Is the timeline completely wrong? Did it start on Copper-9 then go to Earth then return to Copper-9? I'm so confused.

Nori why are you so casual about the prospect of your own daughter being a planet-eating eldritch abomination. This is exactly why I'm worried about the fandom giving you the Rose Quartz treatment.

I told you not to watch it, Uzi.

Welp, so much for Doll. Consider this karma for killing V. But "fight back?" Does that mean it can be resisted?

So now we know where Uzi gets it from.

Tessa no. Tessa stop. Tessa STOP. TESSA STOP YOU'RE NOT EVEN TRYING TO PRETEND TO HELP ANYMORE

YEAH N SAVE YOUR GIRLFRIEND

Whoa, didn't see that coming. No face reveal?? Does that mean she really is a Drone???

WHY CAN'T YOU JUST LET THEM BE HAPPY

Imagine meeting your daughter for the first time and she's currently being possessed by an eldritch abomination masquerading as her boyfriend's dead sister.

Every time I think this episode's about to end on a cliffhanger it doesn't.

EVEN WHEN SHE'S BEING POSSESSED BY AN ELDRITCH ABOMINATION MASQUERADING AS HIS DEAD SISTER HE WOULD RATHER DIE THAN LET HER BE HURT AND IT WAS ENOUGH TO SNAP HER OUT OF IT FOR LIKE HALF A SECOND HOW COULD ANYBODY SAY THEY'RE NOT IN LOVE

Oh no, now people are gonna write fics about Nori being vored by her own daughter.

"Hang out" is code for "date." "Hang out" is code for "boyfriend and girlfriend." "Hang out" is code for "madly in love with each other." "HANG OUT" IS CODE FOR "WE MAKE SWEET AND PASSIONATE LOVE TOGETHER EVERY SINGLE NIGHT WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING THE WEDDING AND I'M GONNA WEAR THE DRESS AND WE'RE GONNA NAME OUR KIDS GLOCK AND BAYONET"

Literally smacked the sense back into her.

Imagine meeting your mom for the first time and you don't know who she is and she's a gross little fleshy crab-spider-thing similar to what your boyfriend's jerk boss turned into so you punt her into a bottomless pit and she makes a dodgeball noise.

LOOK AT HER REACTION SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT "HANG OUT" IS CODE FOR SHE JUST DIDN'T REALIZE HE THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY TOO

My last two brain cells while watching this episode. Now would be a really good time for you two to kiss.

Oh good gosh she's not dead. Okay it wasn't at all necessary to put your head on backwards.

CYN IS HUMAN NOW??? OR IS SHE WEARING TESSA'S BODY LIKE ENNARD DID WITH MICHAEL

NO JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE ALREADY

Sorry J but you're still not plot relevant yet, you're not allowed to participate.

J: *sees the railgun* *has war flashbacks*

UZI YOU CAN'T SACRIFICE YOURSELF RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM AND TELL HIM TO "DIE MAD" AS YOUR LAST WORDS THAT IS LITERALLY NOT OKAY

*Uzi falls* *screen fades to white* *UNDERTALE*

The Void???

Glitch I beg of you please don't make us wait another half a year for the next episode. And Liam please don't let it end after one season.

[theimaginethinker]

Beyond the Walls (Gally x Female! Reader)

Masterlist

Chapter Warings: Language, Violence, Death, Use of Y/N

Chapter 1: Introduction

I stood at the gates of the maze with Harriet and Sonya waiting for the walls to open.

“To tell you both the truth, I’m ready to get out of this icy hell.”  I told the girls with a little laugh. Looking around the spring, seeing girls get up to get ready to go to work.

“Us too.” Harriet said back to me, rubbing her hands together.

“Well, look at this way we do get another girl today.” Sonya interjected with her joyful glee she always seems to have.

 “Well, a newbie for Ximena to welcome into our lovely Spring.” I said sarcastically and tightened my laces. The gates start to open, and I turn to the girls standing next to me. “I’ll see y’all later.”

“Stay safe” They yell at me as I take off down the corridor.

(7 hours)

“Hey, let me go” I yelled as men dressed in all black clothing carried me away. I had just found a way out and when they came out of nowhere to grab me. They put me in an all-white room, reminding me of when it snows in the Spring.

“Hello Y/N. Do you know who I am?” A woman much older than me in all white asked me. She was a little taller than me with blonde hair and a few wrinkles in her face. Her skin is fair with some color in her cheeks. Her hair was pulled back tight making her round face pull back with it.

“Should I?” I asked.

“No, you should not. But you found a way out faster than we planned.” She sat down in a chair across from me. “And we can’t have you go back in. So, we are going to put you through another test while we wait.” she told you with a smile. A smile I didn’t like, one that told me that the ‘test’ wasn’t going to be one that I’ll like.

“What is tha-” I started before I felt a prick in the side of my neck, and everything went black. When I awoke, I was in the hottest place I ever remember being in. Looking around all I see is sand, blue sky with a hot sun, and what looked like a building in the distance. “Well, this is different.” I said to myself, I put my hands in my pockets to find a piece of paper. ‘Survive. Find Safe Haven.’ is all that is written on it. Great.

Time skip (A week)

“Come on this way.” A man told me leading me down a tunnel underground. I had been in what these people have been calling the Scorch for about a week before these men found me. And decided that I was worth keeping after I was able to steal from them without them noticing, and that I was from WCKD.

“Lawrence, we found this WCKD Immune walking around the scorch. What should we do with her?” The man said, not mentioning I easily steal from them. Another man stood next to a plant that held flowers. The man turned to me showing that he didn’t have part of his nose. He stared me up and down, thinking.

“We could sell her back to WCKD. Bet they pay good money for an immune.” The man told the man who found me. No. I’m not going back to those people ever, if I go back terrible thing will happen.

“Or I can help you. I used to do the maze and I was also a medic in my maze. I’m one hell of a problem solver and a great negotiator. I can do anything you give me and help any way I can. Plus, I stole from your man without them noticing” I said quickly to not be sold back the WCKD. “Something this guy forgot to mention, probably to save his humility.” Both heads quickly turn to me then they look at each other. 

“Why were you in the Scorch by yourself?” The man asked me as he waved to me to come closer with his hand.

“I found my way out of the maze quicker than WCKD intended. They didn’t know what to do with me, so they stuck me in the middle of that waist land and told me to find a way. That was it. I wanted to go back for my friends, but they grabbed me before I could do so. Guessing so I couldn’t go and get the rest of them out, ruining whatever plans they have.” I explain to them.

“We keep her. Train her. She is going to become a great aspect to our cause.” He said, giving me a small smile. “She is not afraid to stand up and talk. We can use that to make alliances. She may also be able to help us with WCKD compounds.” He went back to his roses. “Jasper, get her a place to rest and new clothes.” the man nodded at me to follow him. “What’s your name sweetheart?” He asked me.

“Y/N.” I stopped and turned to him.

“Welcome to our world Y/N. You can call me Lawerence.”

“Thank you.” I gave Lawrence a nod before going back to following the man named Jasper.

Time Skip (4 months)

“Okay, this should be Maze Trial A. An all-boys group, from what we have gathered, they escaped just a few days ago. So, the compound should be abandoned.” I told my group as we got out of our vehicles. “What we are here for is information we can use, and any weapons left behind. But stay sharp. We don't know if WCKD has put any hidden sensors or anything like that.” We open the door with our guns ready. Walking in I see two bodies on the ground. The first one I came to was a boy no older than 14 years old, curly hair and a round face. God why does it have to be the younger ones. I pulled my mask off after feeling his pulse looking at the gunshot wound in his chest. His skin was cold and the was no pulse, not even a shallow one. “He's gone.” I told them moving to the older blonde headed looking boy, who looked to be my age. I hear a few curses from the men towards WCKD as I walk over to the other boy. He had a spear in his chest. Checking his pulse, I could feel a very light pulse. “He’s not thought. I need help over here, we got a live one.” I yelled out.

“Y/N he’s not going to make it.” The other medic of the group tells me.

“We need to save him, if he's immune. He’s worth saving.” I told him. “I need everyone else to spread out and search the compound. We move out in 30.” I yell out to everyone else as we get to work on the boy. Slowly getting him back stable and the spear out of him. That's when I notice his vines and start searching, seeing a needle looking thing next to me. “Hey, he’s been stung. I need the antidote.” I yell out, and he starts to shake. He gains some sort of consciousness back as he opens his eyes up some, looking at the other medic before looking at me. We lock eyes I give him a small smile. “Don’t worry we got you.” I told him as his eyes closed.

Time Skip (A few days)

I sat in my living area, being of a higher rank gives me a better space. Being a good friend to Lawrence gives me an even better space. I’m going over the files that were collected from our Maze A mission. Information left behind was more than we expected as WCKD usually wipe everything. I guess they didn’t have time to wipe everything, just the info on the test subjects that were being held and tested in the maze. I was focused on the task at hand when I hear a cough coming from my sleeping space. As I was the one that wanted to save the boy, I had to be the one to take care of him. One of the rules made by Lawrence. Getting up I walk over to see him already sitting up in my makeshift bed.

“How are you feeling stick?” I asked. The boy immediately jumped up and looked at me. Getting into a fighting like stance.

“Who are you, where am I, and how did I get here?” he questioned. I put my hand up to stop him.

“My name is Y/N. You're in my apartment, in a safe compound just outside the last city. We saved you from WCKD compound Maze A, a few days ago and brought you here to heal. And just so you know we are not WCKD nor selling you back.” I told him, walking farther into the room.

“How can I trust you?” He asked angrily standing up, walking towards me and towering over me. Something I didn’t take too kindly to, but it was kind of hot. Well, I can emit that the boy is a little cute.

“Because WCKD decided that they were going to take me. A female who spent the time of her life that she could remember in a frozen hell and throw her into the middle of the desert. Just because she finished one of their trials too quickly. The same female who saved you after the other medic in her group told her that it might not be worth it. That same female who gave you her bed to recover in, has been watching over you and who’s been changing your bandages for the past few days.” I say to him before turning around to walk out of the room. “You’ll meet with Lawrence in an hour, he is the boss around here. And you're welcome for saving your life.” I said as I walked away. “Oh, your new clothes are on the chair.” I called behind my shoulder. I told someone to inform Lawrence that the boy was awake.

A few minutes later the boy walks out now dressed in black pants and a gray hoodie. And if I was to tell you the truth, the boy is cute. With his short but not shaved hair and warm brown eyes. He was skinny but still built, most likely from the food WCKD gave them to eat. “You hungry?” I asked and all he does is nodded his head. I get up heading to my small kitchen, as he follows me. I make him a plain meat and cheese sandwich and he quickly eats it. Making me have a small smile which he gives back.

“Um…” he starts getting my attention. “You said something about WCKD, were you a part of it at some point?” He questions as I sit across from him at the small table.

“I’ll tell you, but you have to tell me your name first.” I told him.

“Gally.” He said very quickly as I chuckled at it.

“Hello Gally. Well, I’m just like you, a test subject of WCKD. I was put into a maze to be tested on. I got out too early and so they put me in the middle of the desert.”

“You said you came from a frozen hell. The maze I was in  wasn’t frozen, and it was all boys. Well, we were all boys until.” he cut himself off.

“They made our maze different. Yours was more of a heat and humidity type environment. Mine was cold and icy. I mean we had to use ice skates instead of running the maze because it was just covered in ice. They probably did it to see which environment worked better for whatever they were needing it for.”

“And then were you all girls or?”

“We were all girls, when I was there­.” I replied as there was a knock on my door. “That's the cue. Time to find out your fate Gally.” I told him with a smile as I walked him to where Lawrence was. “You’ll be fine. And don’t stare.” I said with a smile, and he just looked at me confuse before walking in.

tags list

@rosesareyellowtoo

[gravityglitch-blog]

Okay, so I just finished the new Murder Drones episode. I feel like I understand even less now. Someone please tell me I'm not alone in this feeling.

A long post, spoilers and my barely coherent thoughts about moments that stood out to me under the cut.

What exactly is JC Jensen in Spaaaace trying to accomplish with these experiments? Nori and the other Workers must have been suffering so much at their hands. One thing I found touching in an otherwise horrifying flashback was Yeva caring for Nori, even through the nightmare they were living.

---

It was sad to see Uzi being scared of N again.

---

Newfound respect for Doll, standing up to her own nightmare.

---

Tessa has been setting off my alarm bells since she first landed, but I wasn't expecting what she did to Doll or...whatever this is. Then again, this really isn't Tessa at all, is it?

---

I'm still thinking the Solver consumes planets and life, like Galactus from Marvel comic books. The flashback inflicted on N shows a world trying to fight back.

This next shot comes after the scene of V and J on the ground. Are these new Disassembly Drones we haven't met yet?

---

Nori meeting N...one of the first things she says is, "Hey, you look familiar." So the theory that N killed her before can't be dismissed yet. Even in this weird setting, it's adorable that, down to her literal core, Nori still loves Khan.

---

The fight with Solver Uzi moved too quickly for me to get a good screenshot (the animation in this episode was so good) but the way N broke it up, omg

(Little hearts and everything 💛💜)

---

This is the part that genuinely made me laugh in this confusing maze of horror.

And this is the part that made me want to cry, especially when he strokes her hair.

---

Uzi and N dangling over basically a hellmouth, and her loving him enough to sacrifice herself.

---

I feel like she must at least suspect something is on the other side, or this is the calmest fall-to-doom I have ever seen.

---

Here I think she's looking into the eye of the Solver itself, like the Eye of Sauron. Is she truly in outer space or is this a hallucination? I guess only the next episode will tell.

---

Shifting focus a little, I was really happy to see these guys again, especially Khan. I've been hoping that he'd take a more active role and fight for his daughter.

He actually built Uzi's rail gun😭

---

J remembers the rail gun. I love that shot of Lizzy and Thad. I hope the fan theories about them being siblings are true, they'd make a great brother and sister team.

---

In conclusion, this episode was a rollercoaster.

Still not entirely sure of what I just saw or how I feel about it, only that it can be summed up by this image

This one, too, actually

Thank you for reading this far.

[crossroads-of-the-raven]

By Blue Eyes, Yellow Will Die - Chapter 2: A Murder Drones story

"Amanda, make sure everyone's in their rooms, I don't want any interference" Alice command, as she went through her checks.

"Y-yes of course, Alice" the drone woman said, all but running from the main lab room.

"Alright, Beau, you ready for the final exam" Alice said to her son as she waved the port cord in front of his visor.

Beau was ten years old today and if all went well, he'd no longer have to rely on his mother, to get around the lab. That didn't mean he was allowed to grow up - they still didn't have a cure - but his mother had worked out a redesign to allow him more mobility. But, to get his birthday present, he'd have to pass his mother's test.

All drones, especially UNNs, had the ability to transfer their code. It was a necessary ability to allow for Drones to age up their bodies as they got older. Generally speaking this line of code was programmed to be something that just happened when it was time and the new body was prepared; Beau was ten and his pillbaby unit was constantly informing him and his mother that he was ready for transfer (a pop up that Alice had put to sleep because without a cure, she considered allowing her son to age, to be the equivalent of placing him in the hands of Yellow Eyes). That didn't mean that his mother wasn't preparing him for the day he would be transferred. Rather, she was preparing him to be adaptable, on the very real chance that the day he grows up was the day he would face Yellow Eyes.

The idea behind the tests was simple, a digital rat's maze complete with check points, the execution was a little different. All Beau had to do was leave his body - which his mother would then connect to the end of the "maze" -, go through several machines via, wire cords, radio waves and a self activating email as well as completing several tasks within each machine ... simple.

"You'll be fine, Beau," Alice said, her empty hand coming up to pat his head, "it's nothing you haven't done before, it's just all been put together, and if you really need an out, I've got an emergency extraction ready."

Beau took a breath, this was it, looking at his mother and then the port cord, he gave a smile and Alice plugged him into the maze.

There's a moment between the plug and the the full download where Beau was still able to see from his UNN visor before he's fully entered the digital realm, in that moment, he knows his mother can't see his eyes, but he can see her. His first memory of her was her tears, her fear, his second memory was seeing her command the lab drones to put the place back in order, knife tail whipping back and forth, he doesn't remember what happened to caused these events, but he remembers a ferocity in her voice, in her eyes. In this moment, however, as he transfered out of his body, this moment where she thought he couldn't see her, he could see her fear; he'd taken early extraction before, not again, for his mother's sake he'd finish the test in one go - download complete.

"Alright Beau, ya hear me" Alice said into the mic of the observation board that would track his progress, and also the only way she would be able to talk to him while he was in the maze.

A green light on the observation board, flickered - yes.

"You good in there?"

The green light again.

"Alright, starting the timer, you've got an hour, begin."

Green light.

The maze was isolated to the room his mother waited in, that didn't mean he didn't have access to whatever else was in digital reach. Doors of temptation, if he went through just one, if he found the right one ... but he couldn't, he's seen the tapes of the other solver weilders, even if he was able to find a way to leave, to grow, his mother had shown him his code, had shown him the marks on his digital soul. The moment Yellow Eyes knew he existed ...

The image of his mother's fear came to mind once more and he got to work. Diligently he made his way through the task of the first machine before traveling by cord to the next. Fifty minutes left. Second machine, the tasks here would allow him to move the blocky device and have it plug itself into the third machine. Thirty-five minutes. Here he had to travel a constant back and forth between machine three and four via radio waves to have access to the fifth. Fifteen minutes left as he sent himself to the fifth machine via self activating email.

"Alice" came a scream of pure fright that was picked up by the observation board mic.

"Connie, back to your room or so help me-!"

"The sky demons, they found an access point!"

"-Lock down, get everyone to the safe points, I'm releasing the sentinels, anyone not behind a door by then can get scrapped."

The sound of a door opening, closing and locking.

"Beau, Beau, the test is over, we'll try another time, I'm extracting you now"

As frustrated as he was, Beau knew better then to continue the test - the digital finish line that was his body was removed to halt the win conditions that would have allowed him access. As he waited for the extraction door to open, he felt an odd glitch in machine five, curious, he opened one of the forbidden doors to give himself access to the cameras and felt his code run cold. There, just out there he could see one of the sky demons and he swore that she could see him - the red light, the red light that turns on when the cameras are on! Quickly, he shut off the cameras but if the monsters didn't know someone had seen them, then now they had something to hunt.

"Beau" Alice shouted, finally getting his attention, "Beau, can you hear me?"

Green light.

"The extraction point isn't working, one of those monsters must have sent a signal or something, I need you to check if anything's been lock inside."

Scanning the digital premise he found a message. One way, no tails, no way for the sender to come through but as it sense his gaze, it opened:

Sender: SD-G

Topic: From Cyn

I see you :3

"Beau, Beau, did you find anything?"

Green light.

"Good or bad"

Red light.

"Stay where you are and keep yourself together, I'm doing a manual extraction."

From where he was, Beau could see the message shifting, he couldn't wait for a manual extraction, even if the sender couldn't come through they had sent something and that something was growing. Searching, Beau began rebuilding the maze, he couldn't activate the win condition but if he could leave then his mother could destroy machine five and the message. Picking up on the threads he had used to travel he picked his target before freezing, if Yellow Eyes could see him then how long had she been watching the test for the sky demons to show up now? Recalculating on a hunch, Beau pick a diffrent target and hit send.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by sentinels, as they left their individual stables, filing out of the room to begin their hunt. Keeping himself calm he followed them into battle. The next three hours was a massacre as Beau's code took full control of the sentinel, as Beau's code slowly came to realize the age of this current body. Beau knew there was a reason his mother hadn't allowed him to grow up. There's a type of temporary madness that comes over a solver weilder when the power reaches it's full strength, a madness when the weilder faces an inescapable high stress, when the hunger for oil becomes too much. Right now, all he could smell was oil.

~

"BEAU!"

His sight was blurred, shaking his head, he looked around as everything came into focus, coming to, he saw the bodies of sky demons piled high as sentinels fought over limbs and heads. Where had the voice come from?

"Beau, Beau, can you hear me" his mother asked from inside his mind, "okay, good, Beau, listen to me, I need you to round up the sentinels, get them back to their room then get yourself back here, I've set up a landing place, just get back here."

Going on autopilot, he followed his mother's orders and when he finally found himself back in his own body his eyes were hollow.

"Hey there, bud, can you see me."

His eyes tracked over to his mother and he cried.

"Oh, bud" she said as she took him into her arms, "shh, shh, it's alright, I trashed old Yellow Eyes' nasty little surprise, I promise, I'm right here, I won't let her get you."

Sometime after, Max and Jerom, who had been ordered to lead the clean up that ended up being more of a collection as several sky demon cores were found intact, came to deliverer the cores that were soon jarred, given the labeled "corrupted" and placed in Alice's ovens. The next day Beau would receive his operation to allow for mobility with his mother even repurposing one of the monster's arms for his use. He was now ten years and one day old and Yellow Eyes knew he existed.

[holeinthehedgerow]

I feel like a potato in a potato sack.

Covered in coarse, rough, Burlap.

Burlap,

The ugliest material in the world.

I wake up at eight.

Get there by nine,

The rest is an endless sea of burlap.

Why put burlap on the walls?

What could have been so wrong with the walls?

The walls couldn’t have been uglier.

I don’t think anything could ever be

That brownness.

I’ve never seen any brown like it.

How could a brown look so un-earthy.

It’s alien brown

It’s not green,

It’s not white,

It’s not even brown,

It is burlap.

I have a plant.

It’s a cactus.

I forget to water it until it dies.

I replace it with a new one when it does.

I have some pictures,

Stuck to the walls in-between the burlap.

One is of a beach.

I’ve never actually been.

The color of the ocean drained by fluorescent lights.

I have a computer too,

Usually a screen full of cells,

Like a room full of cubicles.

It stops working,

And I unplug it,

And plug it in again,

And it starts working,

I’m a problem solver just like my resume says I am.

I get mail on it sometimes with jokes.

I never laugh at the jokes,

I always say I did later on.

I’m like a rat in a lab experiment.

I’m in a maze made from tiny burlap covered walls.

But there’s no cheese,

Just an endless sea of tiny

Burlap cubicles.

But I’m not a rat,

I have two legs,

I can stand up,

And if I stand up,

I can see over the edge of the tiny walls.

I hardly ever stand up.

There’s nothing to see up there but an endless sea

Of burlap cubicles.

I stand up now,

Look out across the checkered burlap squares.

An army of hunched over data enterers staring at fluorescent flickering screens.

All I hear is the sound of clicking keys,

And a distant weird buzzing that never seems to stop,

And yet never seems to exist at all.

I need a drink.

I feel dried out like my cactus.

I walk over to the water cooler.

I’m like a hamster drinking from his giant sippy bottle.

[mogwaipoet]

Look Who's The Shining Two!

I just shipped my PiCoSteveMo game, Look Who's The Shining Two! You can play it on itch or on the Lexaloffle BBS. Splore 'em if you got em! It works great with a controller, good with a keyboard, not-terrible on a phone.

I had two goals in mind for this game. One was doing an extended riff on the tropes of The Shining franchise. The other was a blending of the Zelda style adventure game with the block-pushing puzzle solver. I'm pretty proud of the results.

Most Puzzlescript-style games are very tightly designed, with no extraneous pieces and exactly one solution. I tried a pretty different approach here, more like an immersive sim where there aren't so much "puzzles" as situations that you approach with whatever tools you happen to have on hand.

I saw playtesters discover solutions I didn't think of, which in a block-pusher is typically considered a design failure, so I got to feel like an iconoclast by delighting in it instead.

[fluffymuffincentral]

This is the pinned post and guide to my blogs as well as a bit about myself and what I’m doing here on tumblr!

Quick about me!

Name: FluffyMuffin, but you can just call me Muffin

Pronouns: they/them

Likes: games, TV shows, animations, vocaloid music (I’m so cringe ik), The Crane Wives music, drawing, reptiles

Dislikes: school assignments, being singled out, sudden loud noises, being yelled at, feeling like I’m worse at something than everyone else

Fandoms/hyperfixations: murder drones, Pokémon, the owl house, TADC, hollow knight, wings of fire, sky cotl, Steven Universe, Amphibia, Gravity Falls, Kipo, She-Ra, Hazbin Hotel, Fablehaven/Dragonwatch, Percy Jackson (the Disney+ series sucked tho. The books are better), Maze Runner

Other facts: very possibly neurodivergent, flute player, has a hyperfixation issue

My discord server: Muffin’s Treehouse

My commissions: carrd

Ask rules:

I may be socially anxious but don’t be deterred! I love chatting with people! (Especially about my hyperfixations)

You may: chat with me, just say hi, ask me about my ocs, ask me about my art and stories (no guarantee I spoil anything), send me things like fanart, memes, or other things!

You may not: send me NSFW, be problematic, or be weird or creepy in any way. I am a minor and would rather not see those things without consent.

DNI with me if you are: Homophobes/Transphobes, TERFs, Ableists, Pedophiles, Zoophiles, Proshippers, Prolifers

Quick blog guide!

@askmuffinmews my interactive pokémon sideblog about my mew and mewtwo ocs!

@the-solvers-heart my interactive sideblog about my murder drones ocs!

[stevebattle]

Thezeus (1981) by Alan Dibley, UK. Named after Claude Shannon's original maze solving mouse, 'Theseus', the ZX80 based 'Thezeus', went on to win a follow up maze-solving competition as reported in "Your Computer" magazine, in June 1982. In the British heat of the Euromouse Maze Contest, Alan Dibley's original Thezeus (pictured above) came sixth, while the latest version, Thezeus T3, found its way to the centre of the maze in a winning time of one minute and 13 seconds.

Thezeus has an unusual turning mechanism that's just about visible in the video above. "The method I chose for turning Thezeus seems quaint now, but at the time appeared to be the only logical method to use. He puts a foot down on the floor, lifts himself up about 3mm and turns around on the central pivot which carries the foot." – DIY about the mouse, by Alan Dibley, Practical Computing, July 1984.

"What happens if you give one of these mice a memory? Well let's see how long it takes him to [get to] the middle. Can a mouse like Thezeus, for instance, which seems to know its way around the maze, be considered intelligent? No it's absolutely dim. This particular mouse has a program which will, I hope, solve one particular problem. Outside of that environment it's useless. He's only following a set of instructions that I told him to do. If I give him wrong instructions he looks very stupid indeed because he goes down the wrong path." – Alan Dibley, Sinclair ZX80 Robot 1981.

[ameliagomez08]

Matrices and Algorithms: A Deep Dive into MATLAB Mastery!

Embarking on the academic journey often feels like navigating a complex obstacle course, and for many students, Matlab assignments stand out as formidable hurdles. As a student who has traversed these challenges, I stumbled upon a game-changing solution – a remarkable website that emerged as my ultimate obstacle solver. In this review, I aim to shed light on the invaluable assistance provided by this platform, emphasizing how it became the compass that guided me through the maze of Matlab assignments. The first encounter with MATLAB left me feeling overwhelmed and ill-equipped to tackle the complexities embedded in the assignments. However, my academic trajectory took a positive turn when I stumbled upon a website that promised to be the beacon of light amidst the coding chaos. The obstacle solver in question specializes in Matlab assignment help, positioning itself as the go-to resource for students grappling with the intricacies of this programming language. What sets this platform apart is its holistic approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with MATLAB assignments. From basic coding exercises to advanced algorithmic implementations, the website boasts a comprehensive array of services that cater to students at various proficiency levels. 

Navigating through the website, I was immediately struck by the user-friendly interface that facilitated seamless exploration of its features. The obstacle solver, as I fondly began to refer to it, offered a structured layout, ensuring that even those unfamiliar with the complexities of MATLAB could easily find the assistance they needed. The website is a testament to the creators' understanding of the obstacles students face, and their commitment to dismantling these barriers through accessible and user-centric design. 

One of the standout features that transformed this website into my preferred obstacle solver was the pool of experienced and knowledgeable experts it housed. The platform prides itself on a team of MATLAB aficionados who not only possess a deep understanding of the language but also have a knack for simplifying complex concepts. This expertise was evident in the quality of solutions provided, as each assignment was approached with a level of precision and clarity that surpassed my expectations. 

The obstacle solver's commitment to academic integrity was another feather in its cap. Plagiarism-free solutions were delivered promptly, addressing not only the immediate hurdles of assignment completion but also instilling confidence in the academic integrity of the work submitted. This emphasis on originality resonated with my commitment to producing authentic and well-researched assignments. 

As a student, one of the recurring obstacles is the looming deadline. MATLAB assignments, with their intricate nature, often require time and dedication that can be challenging to squeeze into a tight schedule. Here, the obstacle solver emerged as a time-management ally, providing prompt and efficient solutions without compromising on quality. The website's commitment to meeting deadlines ensured that my academic journey remained on track, even in the face of stringent submission timelines. 

The real-time communication channels offered by the website further contributed to its status as my trusted obstacle solver. The platform facilitated direct interaction with the assigned experts, fostering a collaborative learning environment. This not only ensured that the final solution aligned with my understanding of the assignment but also allowed for valuable insights into MATLAB's intricacies. The obstacle solver thus transformed from a mere service provider to a learning companion, demystifying the challenges posed by MATLAB assignments. 

In conclusion, the website emerged as my beacon of hope in the academic wilderness, a reliable obstacle solver that dismantled the complexities of coding and programming. From its user-friendly interface to the expertise of its dedicated team, every facet of the platform was designed to address the unique challenges students face when dealing with MATLAB assignments. As I reflect on my academic journey, it's clear that this website wasn't just a service provider; it was the unwavering support that transformed obstacles into opportunities for growth and learning. 

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Yexiao: Thousand Wishes

Designer’s Reflection: Thousand Wishes

Obtained: first Chinese New Year hell event

Rarity: UR

Attribute: Green/Fresh

Awakened Suit: Thousand Memories

Story - transcripts from Design’s Reflections

Chapter 1 - Blossoms Fall

Chapter 2 - Blooming Flowers

Chapter 3 - Winter Arrives

Chapter 4 - Spring Returns

Chapter 5 - Blooming Again

Story - summarized

Everyone ages, but not Yexiao. Ten years could pass by, and not a single part of her will change. She used to live with a family of three and spend time painting with the little girl. Unfortunately, the other villagers were scared of her unique trait and formed a mob to try to run her out of town,

The little girl rushed to defend Yexiao, leaving the child with a scar on her arm. Tearfully, the two of them said goodbye. So, Yexiao drifted from town to town, never staying longer than a few years at a time. And every time she left, her memories would fade. It was like starting over with the seasons, but it still hurt to let go of something so precious.

During one of her moves, she comes to Cloudcrest, to the home she currently stays in. An elderly lady lives there, too, and Yexiao finds contentment caring for her and painting the blossoms in the yard. Just as she is getting comfortable, a young man finds her and asks about her paintings. He mentions a legendary designer of old who would make similar paintings to Yexiao’s.

She worries that this man has figured out her secret. After he leaves, she packs her belongings and tries to leave. But the old lady falls ill, and while her last living child lives in town, she still needed attention. Yexiao decides to wait until the lady is better before leaving Cloudcrest.

Seasons change, but the old lady is still sick. When spring comes, the young man comes to call again. This time, he shows a painting that came from the same yard that Yexiao and the old lady live in. It’s not Yexiao’s painting, so that means it has to be the old lady’s.

But something in the painting is familiar. Memories resurface, and Yexiao asks to check the old lady’s arm. Sure enough, there is a scar there - the same scar the little girl had when she defended Yexiao from the angry mob.

This is that little girl! A hundred years have passed, and she is still here.

The young man knows, but he never had any attention of tattling on her. His name is Qin Yi, and he only wants her help in finding the Puzzle Solver. Otherwise, he leaves her alone.

Yexiao enjoys the rest of the season painting with the old lady in the yard.

Connections

-Qin Yi asks if Yexiao is the Puzzle Solver. In Vol. 1, you help Nikki find the Puzzle Solver to unlock the secret of Leonid’s Manuscript.

-This is not the first time Yexiao has had to deal with her immortality. In Mind Maze Ch. 5, she used to live in Banyan Town, which was a perfect village that lasted forever - until waters from the Ocean of Memories seeped through and slowly destroyed everything, except Yexiao.

-While the Yexiao we know was “born” on the Ark (and therefore can’t age or die by natural causes), we time travel to the past in the Dunhuang hell event and see Yexiao working for Queen Joyeux. This may very well be Yexiao’s “original self,” who could still age and change.

Fun Facts

-During the hell event, when Nikki and Momo collect wishes in Luming’s place, they find Yexiao’s wish. All she wants is to live a content life, to enjoy her life, and that nothing changes again.

-In Chinese symbology, peaches are tied to immortality.

-The old lady has severe dementia, which not only impacts your memory but disrupts certain behavioral patterns or functions. It’s why she gets stuck on certain “loops” like asking for someone’s parents or insisting she go outside to find someone.

[awebkinzblog]

I don't know how you do it

But you somehow manage to set up your mazes in such a way that I never find the end early. Maybe I'm just a good maze-solver.

[slunch]

adapted the maze generator/solver to a hexagonal grid

draw the walls, then draw the connections

[abcq2]

what would a maze solver do if freed from the maze

[gotilo]

Gotilo Maze King: Your Ultimate Maze Adventure

Looking for a game that challenges your mind, excites your spirit, and offers endless fun? Look no further than Gotilo Maze King! This game is the perfect mix of exploration, strategy, and competitive thrill. Whether you’re a maze enthusiast or just looking for a new adventure, Gotilo Maze King has something for everyone.

🌟 Dive Into Exciting Challenges

Every level in Gotilo Maze King is a unique adventure.

✨ Start with simple mazes and work your way up to intricate labyrinths. ✨ Each maze is designed to test your patience, focus, and strategy. ✨ Explore stunning environments, from magical forests to mysterious dungeons.

Every maze conquered is a victory worth celebrating! 🎉

🎮 Engaging Gameplay Awaits

Gotilo Maze King isn’t just fun—it’s an experience.

✔ Simple Controls: Focus on solving the maze, not on figuring out the buttons. ✔ Beautiful Graphics: Bright visuals and captivating designs make every maze a delight. ✔ Dynamic Features: Time limits, moving obstacles, and hidden traps keep the excitement alive.

Get ready for an immersive gaming experience like no other.

🧠 Train Your Brain, Level Up Your Skills

Who said games are a waste of time? Gotilo Maze King sharpens your mind while you play!

🌀 Boost your focus by tackling intricate paths. 🌀 Improve your problem-solving skills with clever strategies. 🌀 Sharpen your memory as you learn and navigate challenging mazes.

It’s a workout for your brain—fun AND productive.

👑 Compete & Claim the Crown

Gotilo Maze King isn’t just about solving mazes; it’s about becoming the best.

🏆 Climb the leaderboards and showcase your skills. 🏆 Challenge your friends to see who’s the fastest maze solver. 🏆 Earn rewards as you crush milestones and unlock achievements.

Do you have what it takes to be the Maze King?

🌍 Fun for Everyone

This game is for ALL ages.

👶 Kids love the colorful mazes and fun challenges. 👩‍💻 Adults find it a great way to relax while staying mentally active. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families enjoy it as a bonding activity.

No matter who you are, Gotilo Maze King is your perfect gaming companion.

Why Wait? Start Your Maze Journey Today!

Gotilo Maze King is more than a game; it’s a world of endless mazes, rewarding challenges, and unforgettable adventures.

✨ Regular Updates: New levels and features keep it fresh. ✨ Offline Access: Play anywhere, anytime. ✨ Community Love: Share your wins and tips with other players.

🎮 Ready to take on the challenge? Download Gotilo Maze King and start your journey to becoming the ultimate Maze King!

👑 The crown is waiting—are you ready to claim it?

Would you like to explore bonus features or exclusive content? Let’s chat! 💬