#not a simulation variant

[theamityelf]

What's your take on polytagonist/naehinahara? I just feel like they'd be really cute 'cause they're unconfident boys who would definitely support and be there for each other <3

Also just the thought of them tag teaming in each class trial is really appealing to me............ but how would that even work? maybe in an au where Monokuma gathers all the past killing game survivors for one last killing game? but ough that's just so tragic............ but at the same time can you imagine them taking turns in pairing up together?? investigating together?? 🥹

First of all, of course I love them as a ship! I already like Hinaegi and Naehara separately, and Hinahara would also be a fun combination, with Hajime's steady abrasiveness and Shuichi's more precise, infrequent abrasiveness in-between bouts of malleability.

As for that specific scenario:

Oh my gosh, first of all, I'm going to say for this AU that despite the 77th class all having been brought back after SDR2, only the survivors of that game are in this new killing game. For V3 I'm going to say that was also a simulation, specifically so Kaito and Kokichi can get pulled in on some technicality about their case being inconclusive.

Now, you may look at this as me very specifically targeting the trauma of the THH cast, since they're the only ones whose entire friend group is in the killing game.

Anyway, I'm also going to say everyone's memory is erased except the protags, because whoever set this up is doing it as a specific torture of them. This means we have pre-character development Maki, Fuyuhiko, Byakuya, etc. in play, and if the protagonists try to impress upon them that they're already friends, they just get extremely suspicious and defensive.

Naturally, this means the protagonists all huddle up together right away.

"Alright, who's doing this one?" Makoto wonders.

"I don't know," Hajime says.

"You don't know?" Shuichi repeats in dismay. "You're from the Future Foundation and you're from Ultimate Despair. I thought one of you would have some idea."

"Whoever it is, we're not in a simulation right now," Hajime says.

"You're sure?" Makoto says.

"Positive."

"That's...worse, but...we know our friends. Whoever let us keep our memories did it to hurt us, but we know our friends."

(Hajime levels a sympathetic look on Makoto.)

"Knowing someone doesn't help you stop them from killing, if they feel they have a reason," Shuichi says quietly, thinking of Maki. "And the mastermind is in charge of giving people reasons."

"I probably could have re-befriended my friends the slow way, if I'd caught on faster that they didn't remember me," Makoto sighs. "Now, I weirded them out, and it'll be a lot harder."

"That's okay. You can actually branch out," Hajime suggests. "You should talk to Fuyuhiko and...Yumeno. Those are good matches for you. Once you've gotten to know them, I think Hagakure is also still an option; he's more interested in your seemingly supernatural insights than anything, though aligning yourself with him might not legitimize you in the eyes of Kirigiri, Togami, or Fukawa. I can reason with those three. Shuichi should spend time with Akane and Asahina."

"Then, what about Sonia, Kaito, Maki, Kazuichi, and Kokichi?" Makoto asks.

"Focus on your two for now, okay?"

It is a good idea, and they do mesh well with those groupings, but of course things don't go entirely to plan.

And of course, whenever something terrible happens, they retreat to each other's arms. They're all protective of each other, and they're all protective of their own friends, and the potential for hurt/comfort is matched only by the potential for messiness when some of them have to prioritize who they most want to protect.

Hajime's many talents are, of course, an asset, but if he knows multiple people are in danger at once and he can't save all of them, he's prioritizing his friends (which include Makoto and Shuichi) over their friends and might even have to do a trolley-problem-style switcheroo where Toko dies in Sonia's stead or something of the sort. He wasn't the one to kill her, but he decided who he was more willing to lose.

Shuichi would be willing to lie in the trials, and Kokichi would notice, and Kyoko would probably also notice. Hajime would back up Shuichi's lies when he knows he can get away with it and contradict them when he knows he can't. Makoto would not lie because he finds it really important that everyone is able to trust each other.

Kaito might punch Fuyuhiko in the face at some point. That would go really poorly. Or maybe he tries to punch Fuyuhiko in the face but Makoto's in the way and gets punched instead, solidifying Fuyuhiko's bond with Makoto because now he's got to teach this guy a lesson for effing with both of them! (Kaito is sorry, but like...not sorry enough?)

And Makoto (who passes out on impact, btw; his character development didn't involve not passing out when he gets punched in the face) is just like "No, you don't have to do anything to Kaito!" while Fuyuhiko is all "Sit down and let me handle this."

Makoto realizes, over the course of calming his friend down, that Hajime set both him and Shuichi up with people who could and would protect them from physical threats. He always thought of it as Hajime trusting him to keep Fuyuhiko out of trouble and trusting Shuichi to keep Akane out of trouble, but in a way, he's also trusting his friends to keep Makoto and Shuichi safe.

The day Maki dies or gets executed (I'm sorry, there's no way she sruvives this one.), Shuichi sleeps in Makoto's bed, crying into his chest. Hajime intuits where they both are and brings them food. He wants to curl up on Makoto's other side, but he has to keep watch over the school. There are too many people they can't afford to lose.

(A version of this same AU where it is a simulation is also on the table. In that case, Hajime wouldn't have any Kamukura Project stuff in his head and also motives like Despair Disease could happen.)

[belligerentbagel]

submitting my transfer request for the warlock track

[certified-diplodocus]

I just want you all to know that I beat the Least Steps challenge for Chamber 16 of Portal (one of the most evil challenges ever inflicted by man upon man) by 15 steps instead of the required 40

and I am feeling very unhumble about it

[bestfictionaldinosaur]

Best Fictional Dinosaur Tournament: Megatheropod Bracket; Round 1D, Poll 4/8

[highretrogamelord]

Spelletjes 1 for the ZX81

[ask-obt]

Is Requiem like a darkrai and cressilia smooshed together? Speaking of I absolutely adore your take on hybrids and your art style is just too hecking cute.

Requiem: I dunno, do I look like that to you? And here I thought my sense of style was original.

[formidable-fermenter]

need you to know your username and that tag paragraph you left on a reblog one time have captivated me and that's why I followed. I know nothing about fermenting. I've spoken of you to my friends. tell me a fact about fermentation

I’m going to scream, this is my first ever ask and I’m so nervous!

Let’s see, a fact about fermentation.

There are too many so here’s a few that I find interesting 🤷‍♂️

SCOBY (the thing most commonly associated with kombucha) stands for (S)ymbiotic (C)ulture (O)f (B)acteria and (Y)east

Vinegar can also develop a SCOBY. However, instead of being called a SCOBY, it’s more typically referred to as a MOV - (M)other (O)f (V)inegar

Hot sauces can be fermented. Many famous hot sauces are fermented. And it’s generally agreed upon that fermentation hot sauces have a better blend of flavors.

If a bread had yeast in it it’s been fermented. The difference between regular bread and sourdough bread is that with the wild yeast some bacteria will also take root which helps give that nice tart taste!

Fermentation is just the process of having smaller microorganisms digest a food before you do. The most common fermenters are fungi and yeast, bacteria, mold, and enzymes.

All vinegar starts as alcohol

Even salamis and other dried/aged meats are fermented!

There’s so much more I could talk about, but these are a spread of facts that are neat!

[leafofkudzu]

I see the poll’s final results and I’ll have a proper announcement post for the art party up tomorrow afternoon/evening! Got distracted by room reno stuff tonight and have work things tomorrow, but no last-minute announcements this time - it will happen at a reasonable time this time around!

[ask-kuu]

What flowers do you like Kuu?

wow, it’s been ages. Uhm… I’m ‘sorry’ for not looking at my inbox. I just didn’t feel like it. Well, I’m not a gardener. But, on my walk to school, specifically in the summer months, I pass these beautiful blue flowers. I think they are called ‘Ajisais’. They are drunk on religious festivals I attend with school, too. Not bad.

[prokopetz]

I'm spinning this off of the main thread about tracing the origin of the term "d66" because it's not strictly germane to the topic – none of these examples actually use the term "d66" to describe their dice-rolling methods – but I'm going to post it anyway as a matter of general interest: following a conversation with Tumblr user @notclevr, it appears that before tabletop wargames (and, nearly concurrently, tabletop RPGs) got their hands on the mechanic, the principal (though by no means exclusive) users of the old "roll a six-sided die twice, reading one die as the 'tens' place and the other die as the 'ones' place" trick may have been tabletop American baseball simulators.

The most notable example of the type – and the only well-known example still in publication today – is J Richard Seitz' APBA Baseball, first published in either 1950 or 1951 (accounts vary). In this game, a d66 roll is cross-referenced with a card representing the active player and a "board" representing the current situation on the field:

For example, with Carlton Fisk at bat, a d66 roll of 31 would yield a result of "8". Assuming for the sake of argument that the situation on the field is a runner on first and a grade C pitcher, consulting the "Runner on First Base" board, this corresponds to an outcome of "SINGLE—line drive to left; runner to third".

(This example is, strictly speaking, incorrect, as Carlton Fisk didn't have his major league debut until 1969 and I'm using the wrong lookup tables for any year in which he played, but you get the idea!)

Interestingly, APBA Baseball is not the first game to use this setup. It's heavily derived from Clifford Van Beek's National Pastime, a game whose patent was registered in 1925, though it wasn't actually published until 1930. Even at a glance, the similarities are substantial:

Indeed, though National Pastime's lookup tables are much simpler than APBA Baseball's, where they overlap they're often word for word identical. It's generally accepted that Seitz plagiarised National Pastime without credit when creating APBA Baseball (ironically, given his own famously combative stance toward alleged imitators!), though he was within his rights to do so, as National Pastime had fallen into the public domain by the time APBA Baseball was published.

We can go back even further, though. As far as I've been able to determine, the earliest known tabletop baseball simulator to use d66 lookup tables for resolving plays is Edward K McGill's Our National Ball Game, first published in 1886:

A copy of the game's 1887 US patent application can be downloaded here. This one uses an unusual 21-entry variant of the standard d66 lookup table in which the order of the rolled digits is insignificant, with doubles being half as likely as non-doubles rolls; it's unclear whether McGill was aware of this when he laid out the table. Unlike later incarnations of the genre, there are no individual player statistics, with all at-bats being resolved via the same table.

[circuitfurscaleandvine]

🔥Pulling a reverse Ender's Game on your little Pilot ward, telling her she's still going on missions after you've rewired her mech into a simulation~ Adding realistic battle damage and gore after every successful mission. And after every "failure", drugging her to the gills so she can't tell your "rescue operation" took fifteen hours of snuggle time instead of deployment and recovery. Slowly weaning her off the combat drugs, into variants more gentle on her body, until she comes back from missions full of energy, ready to take on the world <3

You're not sure when you'll let her know the truth, but you do know she can keep going on missions as long as she wants <3

[freedomfireflies]

404*

Summary: The one where you and Harry are software engineers on a project for Juno Inc.

And you can’t fucking stand each other.

Word Count: 2.6k

*Contains Mature and Explicit content! Please only consume what you feel comfortable with!💞You are so much more important!*

(Note: This edit is not mine!! I believe the @ is on it, but full credit to the incredible creator! It's so perfect!!)

“What the hell are you still doing here?”

Your eyes never leave the computer screen as Harry’s familiarly snippy question echoes across the empty lab. “Working,” you answer simply.

He snorts as the door falls shut behind him. “It’s two in the fucking morning, I thought you left hours ago.”

“I did. And then I came back.”

You vaguely hear him walk further into the dark room, slipping around the different tables as he moseys his way closer. “Why?”

“S’this fucking sequence,” you mumble, now glaring at the different variants that litter the test. “Every time I run the simulation, the connection fails. And it shouldn’t.”

Your peripheral catches the way he uses his knuckle to push his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. “Is there a missing link?”

“There shouldn’t be. I’ve run it before, and it’s worked fine. But now it’s not. It’s like something is broken.”

“Or missing,” he argues, coming to a stop behind your chair. He studies the project from over your shoulder, and you feel your muscles recoil when you get a whiff of his cologne. “There could be something wrong with the back end.”

“Okay, well, there’s not,” you retort, shooting him a quick glare. “I already checked.”

“Well maybe you missed it. You have a tendency to misplace things.”

“I didn’t misplace it, Harold, I studied every inch of that fucking code, and there was nothing broken or missing.”

He leans back, arms crossing as he regards both you and the program. “Maybe you should check it again.”

“And maybe you should bite me,” you huff, too overworked to deal with the snarky attitude. “I really don’t have time for this today, all right? Can you just leave me to it?”

“I’d like to, but clearly you don’t know what you’re doing,” he replies calmly, and even without looking at him, you can sense his smug smile. “Every time I leave you to it, I come back to find out you’ve wrecked our project.”

Your eyes roll. “First of all, it’s not our project. It’s my project. And second…why are you even here? I thought you had shit to do tonight.”

“I did, but I’m done now.”

“Oh, so, naturally you came back just to annoy me?”

“Naturally.” He places his hand on the desk beside you and leans down, hovering near your arm as he glances over the computer. “There could be something wrong with the framework. Try the sequence again, I wanna see how it behaves.”

“No thanks.”

Harry smirks, and you realize you don’t like how close his face is. “Relax, Tinkerbell, I just wanna help.”

“And I don’t want your help,” you remind him, using your elbow to shove him to the side. “I’ve spent months with this program, it’s my baby, and I will fix it alone.”

“We’re supposed to be working together,” he argues, but it’s much too coy. “So stop being such a bitch and just run the goddamn sequence.”

You snort under your breath as you spin around in your chair to look at him. “It was that bad, huh?”

He settles back against the table behind him, hands shoving into his pockets as he stares right back. “What was bad?”

“The sex.” You jut your chin toward him. “The thing you had to do tonight. It was bad enough that you had to come back here and start swinging your dick around just to feel better.”

He smirks, tongue running over his bottom lip. “It was fine.”

“Fine? Gee, how romantic.”

He exhales an amused laugh and glances around the lab. “She was still hung up on her ex. Think it lasted all of fifteen minutes, and I’m pretty sure she faked it.”

“Well, she was having sex with you. Of course she faked it.”

His smile gets a bit bigger. “Well, I faked it, too.”

“You?” you scoff. “No way. She could have sneezed on your cock, and you still would have cum.”

His head shakes, grinning wildly. “Normally, yeah. But we both just wanted to get out of there.”

“Poor girl.”

“Yeah? What about poor me?”

“Oh, I never feel sorry for you. You always find a way to get what you want eventually.”

His head tilts, green eyes sparkling behind the tortoiseshell frames of his glasses. “Do I?”

“Clearly.” You settle back into your chair, legs crossing. “I mean, have you ever heard the word no in your life?”

“Hear it all the time with you.”

“Exactly. I’m doing you a favor.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. I’m keeping you humble.”

“Is that right?”

“It is.”

That smug look of endearment returns as the lab falls silent. He watches you for quite some time, and you think that you’d pay anything to hear what he’s really thinking.

Then, he smirks. “Good,” he says, and with that, he’s pushing off the desk and striding to you.

He bridges the five-foot gap between you with ease, and you aren’t even afforded the chance to take a breath before he’s grabbing hold of your face and kissing you.

His large body bends in order to reach you in the chair, but you can feel him tugging on you. Encouraging you up and into his hold as you gasp against his mouth and allow him to help you stand.

It’s a seamless dance. Familiar. He grabs onto your hips and slams you onto the desk, knocking a few pens and some of the various equipment out of the way.

His hands are sliding up your shirt. Memorizing the expanse of your skin as his lips press into your neck. Nipping and sucking just below your ear in the way he knows you love.

Your fingers have disappeared into his curls. They’re soft and oddly comforting. Perfect to tug on as you whimper gently and arch your back. Pressing your tits against his chest as he groans.

“Can I tell you a secret?” he murmurs, now sliding his hand toward the zipper on your jeans.

You nod quickly, mewling as you practically buck into his touch.

He smiles, mouth trailing across your jaw, “I was thinking about someone else, too.”

Your lashes flutter shut.

“The whole time,” he carries on, rough fingertips dancing down the front of your underwear. “When I was with her. Couldn’t think about anybody else but you. Every time she’d whine or say my name, I thought about how you’d do it. How you’d sound, how you’d feel.”

Your nails scratch down his black t-shirt, needing more than anything to feel his skin. See it littered with your marks. Your claim.

“She could never do it right,” he tells you, and it makes your stomach wrench. “Never do it like you.”

“Yeah?” you manage to breathe, wiggling in an effort to help him yank your pants down. “S’that why you couldn’t get hard?”

He grins as he flicks his belt undone. “Who says I couldn’t get hard?”

With a rather determined tug, he shoves your panties to the side, large hands stroking through your folds.

“Because if I’m thinking about you,” he whispers, eyes trained on your cunt, “I’m always fucking hard.”

You whine when he thrusts inside, two fingers to start. He’s rarely gentle, but you love it. And so does he, obsessed with the image of your pussy stretching around him. Any part of him. His tongue, his hands, his cock.

He’s bigger than most, and he always makes sure to prep you before he gives you what you really want. Granted, he taunts you with the idea of ruining you and splitting your poor cunt in half each time. Driving himself to the hilt before your tight little hole is ready. He likes the idea of corrupting you for someone else. 

“Relax,” he instructs, soft but firm. “S’gonna hurt a lot more if you don’t.”

You drop your head back and balance yourself on your hands, legs pushed open by his hips. “I’m trying,” you whimper, just to see his jaw clench.

“Gonna have to try harder,” he says, working his fingers into your wet cunt while his glasses slowly begin to slip down his nose. Settling at a crooked angle, and it makes you smile. “Can’t give you my cock if you don’t.”

You push your lips into a pout. “Please, Har.”

He looks up, the veins in his neck prominent as he seems to swallow another groan. “You’re so tight, Tink. Gonna wreck this pretty pussy if I don’t get you stretched.”

“Good,” you moan, thighs shaking as he brings a third finger closer. “Want you to.”

He grins. “Yeah?”

You nod fervently. “Want you to do whatever you want. I’m always good for you. Always fit you.”

“You do,” he agrees quietly, the heel of his hand pressing into your clit as he works through your arousal at a quicker pace. “Always take me so well. Even when it makes you cry.”

You whine again at the thought as he finally yanks his fingers free and moves to retrieve his cock. 

You’re nearly salivating at the idea, scooting toward the edge of the table in preparation as he pulls himself out and steps up to you.

Your eyes widen when you see him. Hard and heavy in his hand, leaking the most delicious looking drops of pre-cum that you’re already thrilled he never offered this other girl.

He runs the tip through your folds a time or two, making you both squirm before he gently begins to push in.

You have to give him props for the amount of restraint he always demonstrates for you. The ability to go slow and be delicate despite the fact all he wants to do is ram himself inside you and settle into your warm cunt.

Like now. You can see the effects of such sluggish movements, the way he holds himself back until he’s sure you’ll be all right. Teeth gritting, muscles tensed, cock throbbing.

You reach out and gently slide his glasses back up, making sure they’re comfortable and that he can see all right before kissing him. “Okay…okay, go.”

He kisses you back quickly before studying you. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” you whimper, hooking your leg around his hip. “Need it, Har, please.”

And that’s all it takes for him to sheath himself inside your aching pussy, disappearing completely between your legs as you both moan.

The quiet lab isn’t so quiet anymore, and you throw your arms around his neck as he begins to pull out and push back in.

“There she is,” he grunts, large hand squeezing your thigh to keep you still. “Look at you, Tink, taking me so well.”

“Always,” you exhale, pressing your mouth to his cheek. 

“Better than she ever was,” he continues, setting a quicker rhythm now. “So much better.”

He’s pounding you into the desk, hitting spots that make you see stars, and you clench around him until he gasps.

“Funny how well you take me…when you claim to hate me so much,” he says now, unable to resist needling you, and you whimper.

“I do,” you insist, despite the way you scratch down his back. “Fucking hate you.”

“Yeah?” His hips snap to yours. “S’that why you always beg for my cock?”

You don’t like the insinuation that you beg him for anything, especially when you know that he’s right. But you’re too far gone right now to take care, equally as depraved of pleasure as he seems to be.

The two of you don’t do this often. Maybe once or twice a month, if that. Most of the time, it’s incredibly unfriendly. A quick fuck in the supply closet or in his car in the parking lot. In between quippy remarks about how fucking unhinged the other is. How idiotic, and uncouth, and how goddamn annoying.

Because he is. So endlessly annoying and every day you have to resist the urge to slap those fucking glasses off his face.

But he knows how to fuck. That much is certain, and despite your immeasurable hatred for him, you can’t help but fall victim to his prowess.

In fact, moments like this are about the only time you don’t mind him. That you can actually stand him, and even want to submit to him.

Of course, you’re filled with regret and embarrassment the second you’re both finished, but for these few minutes…you don’t mind.

“Every fucking day,” he continues, holding onto your waist as he buries his cock deeper. “Have to watch you parade around like you’re fucking God’s gift to technology.”

You’d snort if you had enough air in your lungs to do so. 

“In your fucking tight little tank tops and see through dresses,” he seethes, dragging you back to the edge of the desk to angle you the way he likes. “With your hair always up in that stupid ponytail. Just begging to be pulled. To be yanked onto your knees while you take me down your throat.”

Your eyes roll back as you keen into his body. Memories of swallowing around him flooding your mind as you shiver.

Despite his aggravating remarks, he’s always so proud of you when you take his cock down your throat. He knows it’s a lot and he knows he can’t force you to do anything your body isn’t equipped to handle.

But he’s enamored with the way you try. Pleased to see you lick him, suck him, take as much of him as you can. He might hate you, but he praises you more than anybody else ever has.

And it’s one of the main reasons you can’t quit him.

“Then maybe…you shouldn’t look,” you pant, whimpering when he thrusts particularly hard. “I don’t wear that shit for you.”

He snorts, now grabbing onto your wrist and forcing your hand against your clit. He moves your fingers for you, pressing them into the sensitive nerves until you cry out and clamp down on him again.

“No?” he taunts, cock twitching inside you as he nears his release. “Then who do you wear it for, hm? Fucking Sam?”

You make another noise as he pushes your body into more immense pleasure, touch still locked atop yours.

“No, not Sam,” he decides. “Cause Sam can’t do it the way I can. S’why you came to me, isn’t it?”

You don’t dignify this with a response. You don’t have to. He knows.

“Sam can’t make you cum, can he?” Harry continues, almost vengefully as he feels you get closer. “Never fucking could. That’s why you only cum for me.”

It’s blinding. So intense that it makes your entire body ache as you fall victim to the wave of pleasure pulling you under.

He’s right behind you, spilling into your cunt before spilling out of it. Dripping down your legs, down the table, down his thighs as you both ride each other through the bliss.

He doesn’t let you release your clit for at least a good two minutes after, ignoring your pleas for mercy as your body struggles against the sensation.

It’s overwhelming. Hot, sticky, sweaty. He pulls out to go grab a towel from the supply closet before bringing it back and helping you clean up. 

He leaves a few teasing licks to your cunt in the process, and you swat your hand across his head in warning.

He smirks.

Once he’s finished, he pulls your jeans back on and up before tucking himself into his pants to do the same. 

Then, after helping you hop down, he offers you a lopsided grin and pushes his glasses back up.

“Now,” he says coyly, “go be a good girl and run the fucking sequence.”

Next Part:

~ Off the Shelf* (pt. 2)

~ Full 404 Masterlist

~ Main Masterlist

~ Blurb Masterlist

Taglist: @walkingintheheartbreaksatellite @keepdrivingkisses @swiftmendeshoran @tiredinwinter @straightontilmornin @justlemmeadoreyou @harrysdaydreams @tiaamberxx @peterparker1sgf @myfavfanficsever @littlenatilda @vamprry @fdl305 @tchalametishot @ssaama @indierockgirrl @likeapplejuicenpeach @vane28282

[apas-95]

I think there should be a social-deduction game like Among Us, Mafia, or Trouble in Terrorist Town, but where killing people is really hard.

In Mafia (or Werewolf etc) killing is extremely abstracted - the killer chooses someone to kill each round and that's that. Some variants will have doctors or other player roles that can intercede, but the actual act of killing is basically telepathic. Similarly, in Among Us, the impostors kill instantly with the press of a button, though they at least need to be in physical proximity with their quarry. In Trouble in Terrorist Town, innocent terrorists are also armed, and can fight back against traitors (replacing the usual vote-to-execute mechanic with a tense standoff), but killing any individual target is generally as simple as pointing a ahotgun at their chest and clicking the trigger.

Games simplify or complexify mechanics to change the gameplay environment. When you have regenerating HP, or instand healthpacks, damage is a lot cheaper than when you have simulated bleeding, tourniquets, and cardiac arrest. Social deduction's party game lineage strongly influenced its conventions, but in a genre centred around the act of killing, its simplification may be a hindrance. Generally, the only question on the killer player's mind is when to kill, not how - they are, generally, only stopped from immediately and indiscriminately killing by their own discretion. Making the act of killing a task in itself, making building up the capacity to kill arduous, could provide a more engaging experience, as well as inducing greater paranoia over a potential killer without any concrete evidence.

Even minor changes, like a version of TTT where ammunition or weapons were scarce, would significantly change the gameplay - and in a genre where a shifting balance of power is the point, could add some interesting dynamics.

[clip-the-simp]

Training Day

Ao3 Master list

Pairing: Logan Howlett // Wolverine x mutant!fem!reader

Word Count: 2,806

Cw: slight proofreading, language, violence, blood,

Summary: Professor X decided it’s time for you to hone your powers for more than just defensive field work. However things get a little out of hand when Logan is the one running the simulation.

A/N: Reader had the same powers as in the previous fic, A Logan Holiday. I’ll be keeping the readers powers and backstory the same unless someone sends in a request for other power variants or I state otherwise.

It frustrated you to no end that you had been forced out of your comfort zone. You were good at what you did. Bending light particles to form unbreakable shields was the safest use of your powers. It was useful for keeping both the team and bystanders out of harm's way.

Charles however saw the potential in your abilities. Not only could you bend light particles but also atoms on a subatomic level. It took more out of you to manipulate denser atoms which is why the training was necessary. But no matter how much you pushed yourself, the fear of causing an atomic explosion and whipping out the institute loomed over your head.

“Fight like you mean it!” Logan yelled before another blast from the cannon fired. The Danger room was simulated as an attack from a Sentinel and so far your ass was getting kicked. Charles had decided it was time for you to learn more offensive maneuvers instead of always being on the defensive.

The impact from the blast brought you to the ground where you quickly had to roll out of the way of falling debris. Your breathing was ragged as you stood, Logan looking down at you from the control room. His voice yet again came over the speakers.

“You gotta use your powers offensively bub.” There was a crackle as he cut the feed. You glared up at him through furrowed brows. Sensing a rock hurtling in your direction you effortlessly formed a shield which caused the boulder to break on impact. The pieces falling to the ground as they broke.

“This is stupid!” You yelled as you lowered the shield again. Logan continued to look down at you, his eyes never left yours as he pressed another button. Suddenly another door opened where two more Sentinels were revealed and immediately fired on you. Quickly you moved and ducked behind a fallen metal beam before you threw a bubble shield over yourself. Adrenaline pumped rapidly through your bloodstream at an alarming rate as you assessed the situation. Not even Scott could take down three of those robots by himself. It no longer felt like training, it was beginning to feel like a murder attempt.

“What do you think you're doing?!” You yelled once again to Logan. Not paying much attention, the Sentinels had made their way behind you to rip the beam away from you. With a petrified look plastered on your face you quickly dissolved the shield and began to run.

“I’m pushing you. If you're not going to use your powers willingly I’ll force them out of you.” Logan informed you over the loudspeaker. Panic started to build in your chest at the realization that the only way out was to completely destroy the Sentinels.

“Fuck you!” You managed to retort before your foot caught on a rock, causing you to trip and land face first into a concrete slab. Tears welled up in your eyes from the impact to your nose, the feeling of blood started to run from it. Not paying enough attention to your surroundings, a metal hand quickly gripped your body in a firm hold, the air forced out of your lungs.

The panic returned, the focus no longer on your bloody nose or the bruise blooming on your check. The instinct to survive kicked in with a flash. The air particles around you were no longer being used to form shields and were instead large spears that forced their way through the metal of each robot.

The hand of the one holding you captive was the first to receive retribution. A spear going through its wrist to release you from its bonds. Before quickly receiving another that pierced through the cranium and the chest, pinning the robot to the floor. You formed a disk to stand on as the Sentinel released you. Your eyes glowing slightly with the color of your powers.

The other two metal beasts soon received similar treatment as the first. One got a spear that penetrated through both thighs and finished off with another piercing through the center of the chest all the way up through the skull. As for the final one the finishing blow was a spear that went from the crown of the head and through its torso which staked it to the ground.

With all three Sentinels dead you lowered yourself back to the ground, firmly planting your feet as the simulation faded away. Leaving behind only yourself and the slain robots. The Training room doors opened behind you but you paid them no attention. Instead looking at the metal bodies that remained before you. Each one contorted in a way that made them seem almost angelic. The spears in their bodies still glowed as your shields often did. With a quick wave of your hand the spears vanished and the hunks of metal collapsed to the ground.

“Well that’s one way to do it.” Logan’s voice broke through your thoughts which brought you back to the fact he was the reason this happened. A short sword quickly formed in your hand as you swung around. The tip of the blade resting at his collar bone. Your breathing still heavy as you glared daggers into him. Your nose was slowly still bleeding and the swelling in your check was getting worse. Normally you would’ve focused on healing yourself by now but your anger had gotten the better of you.

“You could’ve killed me.” You said, pushing the blade harder against his skin. He never flinched, simply keeping his eyes locked on yours. His eyebrow rose as he took you in.

“But I didn’t. Next time-“ he began, but you quickly cut him off. Whipping around and nicking his skin with the blade as you moved it further up to rest under his chin. If looks could kill, Logan would be on the floor stone cold dead.

“There isn’t going to be a next time.” You informed him. There was a cough from the door which you instantly knew who from. You lowered the sword and looked over to the door where you found Charles approaching in his wheelchair.

“I think you’re looking at this the wrong way my dear.” He said calmly, trying to get your perspective to turn positive. That was fairly hard to do when all you could think about was your potential death.

“And how should I look at it?” You bit back, frustration starting to bubble into your bloodstream. “This time around I stayed in control. I knew my environment and knew what would happen if I let loose. Out there in the real world I’m not able to do that.” Your voice grew harsh but it was the only thing holding back the tears that wanted to form.

“In the field I’m not always able to kill the bad guy. So what happens if I do, huh? More Mutants get slaughtered because of my negligence? This is why I always stayed on the side lines.” The sword you once held dissipated into the art as your hands began to shake. You hated losing your composure and sought to gain it back. With a deep inhale you ran your hand over your face. The stinging from the bruise grounding you back in reality.

You knew what Charles was doing was for your benefit. The fact of the matter however was that you had fought for years to stay out of the line of fire. Your powers could be of great use of course, but the bad guys were always the ones looking to use them. Being at the institut was the only way you could insure your safety. So Charles deciding to go against what you had fought so hard to keep was almost insulting.

“Charles, I think she’s right. I pushed her too far. She made great progress today so we should just leave it at that.” Wolverine placed a hand on your shoulder as he spoke to the professor. He’s thumb lightly stroking over your costume. Looking at him you saw the knick from the sword had already healed over as Logan drew closer to you.

The Professor hummed in agreement, quickly realizing that perhaps he was too hard on you. “Very well. Perhaps I did go a bit far today. Please accept my apology as I was only trying to improve your abilities.”

“You’re forgiven.” The words fell from your mouth before you could register your thoughts. The pain in your cheek had become too much for you to think straight.

It hadn’t taken Charles long to notice your discomfort, quickly instructing Logan to take care of you and while Hank fixed up the training Sentinels. You walked with Logan to the infirmary in complete silence. Taking time to focus on your cheek in order to heal the bruise that had formed. Your nose had stopped bleeding at that point but the blood still remained caked to your face.

Once in the infirmary, you made your way over to the sink and grabbed a rag off the top of the pile. Being the school nurse and team medic, you knew where everything was in the room. As the water grew hot you took the cloth and held it to your face to rehydrate the dried blood.

“Sorry for being so rough on you. It was at the professor's request.” Logan leaned his back against the counter, arms crossed over his chest. Still holding the rag to your face, you side eyed him. Keeping quiet in favor of reserving your dignity.

Blood now soaked into the rag you finished cleaning up before finally drying your face. Logan never stopped watching you as you worked, cloth finding its way to the hazard bin while you sanitized the rest of the area. You were trying your best to ignore him since the incident from mere moments ago. The thought of him potentially killing you still on your mind.

“Can you quit staring?” You growled before turning to exit the room. With everything sterilized you were able to leave to rest up in your room. Logan continued to follow you through the halls and back up to the main floor. The further he followed you the more aggravated you got. You kept your expressions calm however as you passed students in the hallways.

Many of them greeted you with a smile which was quickly returned. A few older students waved at Logan who loomed over you but most were intimidated by him so didn’t dare look in your direction. It didn’t take long before you were back at your room, Logan still hot on your heels.

“I don’t need a babysitter, Logan.” You finally snapped at him, whipping around to plant your finger into his chest. His expression was unreadable, void of any detectable emotion. Not even his signature scowl was to be seen.

“I know that.” He said with just as little emotion that was on his face. It almost made you feel bad for being so mean spirited towards him.

Almost.

“Then you can quit following me. Charles may have asked you to watch me, but I’m telling you I’m fine on my own.” You poked his chest again before crossing your arms and straightening your back. His gaze was already fixed on you as you glared up at him.

“I’m not here because of him.” He informed you while crossing his own arms. His eyes never left yours as he stared down at you.

“Then why? Feeling bad for nearly killing me.” Quirking an eyebrow you proceeded to grill him. You were simply trying to get under his skin. However your worlds twisted the knife you didn’t know was already planted in him. His brows furrowed slightly but his eyes held an underlying emotion you couldn’t pick out just yet.

“Yes.” He simply replied. It caught you completely off guard. Your stance softened before you averted your gaze to the ground. That wasn’t what you were expecting so a response was lost to you. Guilt twisting your stomach as you tried to find a way to resolve the situation. With a sigh you lowered your arms and reached for the door handle to your room.

“Want to watch a movie with me? I wouldn’t mind your company.” You offered before twisting the knob and letting the door swing open. Logan relaxed a little at your offer, a soft smile adorning his face.

“Sure. Just try to avoid a musical.” He said, you smiled up at him before spinning on your heels to enter your room. He followed close behind as you gave a half hearted pout at his disdain for musicals.

“Oh you’re no fun.” You said before walking over to the night stand to flick on the lamp. Logan proceeded to shut the door behind him as you walked around the room to turn on a few more light sources.

“Why not use the overhead light?” He asked from his spot at the door. A laugh left you as you turned to him, now having made your way to the TV stand.

“I like this atmosphere better. Got a problem with that?” Picking up the remotes you turned on the DVD player along with the TV before setting the remotes back on the coffee table in front of the loveseat.

“Not at all. Seems far cozier.” Logan admitted as he moved over to where you stood. Leaning down you opened the entertainment center to reveal all the movies you owned. The collection was extensive due to your many years of living and broad taste in films.

“I need to change out of this suit. Pick a movie while I change.” You instructed before moving over to your dresser on the opposite side of the room. It was placed beside the bathroom door which you were lucky to have. Being as you were a permanent resident of the school your room had its perks.

“Yes Ma’am.” Logan said with a bet of sarcasm as he knelt down to examine the cases that laid before him. He was even a bet taken aback by the stockpile you had.

“Do you want a change of clothes? I might have some oversized sweatpants to fit you.” You made the offer as you rummaged through your clothes. Logan was in his usual jeans and white wife beater combo but figured it polite to ask if he wanted to change too.

“I’m alright, bub. Go change while I find a movie.” He waved a hand over the couch as his focus stayed on the film titles. You nodded to yourself while grabbing a pair of comfortable sweatpants and a blue tee, quickly walking into the bathroom. It didn’t take long for you to change but you did take a minute to look over yourself. Ensuring that there weren’t any more major bruises or cuts left over from training.

There weren’t any that were of great concern so you walked back into your living space to rejoin Logan. He was lounging on the love seat with an arm draped over the back of the couch. His feet were propped up on the table which you would have to get on him for later, but what caught your attention the most was the movie he chose.

“Hacksaw Ridge, really?” You asked with a skeptical tone of voice. Of all the movies he could’ve chosen you hadn’t expected it to be that one. Sure you know he preferred historical based media but it still came as a shock. Especially since you had many other, and bloodier, historical films.

“Yeah. It was in your collection.” He stated the obvious as you began to walk over to him. You scoffed at his remark.

“Well if I start crying you’re not allowed to judge me.” A chuckle came from Logan for your remark as you marched forward. Quickly grabbing a throw blanket off your bed before curling up on the couch next to Logan. You avoided leaning into him but when he grabbed your shoulder and tugged you into his side there was no protesting.

His smell flooded your senses as you laid there. The bitter smell of his cigars and lingering scent of pine always brought comfort. As much as you wanted to hold a grudge against him for the training, you couldn’t.

“I won’t judge you.” Logan paused for a moment before pressing play on the movie. “At least not too much.” He added while he looked down at you, your eyebrows knitted together as you looked back at him. The two of you laughed lightly before quieting down for the film. Your head rested on his shoulder as it began. It didn’t take long before your eyes began to drift shut and you eased off to sleep.

[zerbu]

The Sims 4 Mod: Spawn Refresh

This mod completely overhauls how venue spawning works in The Sims 4, allowing for fully-staffed, multi-purpose lots!

How it works

With Spawn Refresh, most spawns are no longer tied to the lot type, but are instead based on the objects on the lot. Not only will all bars, stalls, etc. be fully staffed, but the objects also impact the types of visitors that spawn and how many. For example, a lot with gym equipment will attract Sims who like to workout, and a lot with many barstools and a few (but not many) bookshelves will attract a lot of barflies, but only a few readers.

Both staff and visitors will spawn on the following lot types:

Arts Center

Bar

Beach

Cafe

Gym

Karaoke Bar

Library

Lounge

Museum

Nightclub

Onsen Bathhouse

Park

Pool

Spa

Retail (not owned by the active household)

Resaurant (not owned by the active household)

Thrift and Bubble Tea Store

Additionally, the following lot types will spawn extra staff, but the visitors will stay the same:

Foxbury Commons

Recreation Center

UBrite Commons

New Lot Type: Rental (Shared)

Spawn Refresh also adds a new lot type to the game called Rental (Shared). This is a Rental lot that spawns Sims like a public venue. It can be used to simulate hotels and other accomodations for storytelling.

You will need a venue mod like Venue Changes for this to be available in Build Mode.

Limitations/where lot type still matters

Although this mod blurs the importance of lot types, they still matter in some cases.

Bowling events and spa classes are only available on venues they were available on previously. This may change in the future, but wasn't a focus for the first version.

You cannot combine multiple types of businesses. Although the mod will spawn Sims on businesses not owned by the active household, the "main" type still has to be set to the business type.

Events like bar nights and karaoke contests are still limited by venue type.

To prevent bar nights from breaking, barflies in Bar venues will spawn the same way they would without the mod.

Parks are the only lot type that will spawn bench sleepers.

Beaches and pools are the only lot types that will spawn swimmers, and will do so using the same logic it would without the mod. This doesn't mean Sims on other lots can't swim, it just means they won't spawn Sims specifically for that purpose.

For roles that have variants that normally spawn on multiple venues (for example: bartenders and barflies can normally spawn on Bars, Lounges, Nightclubs and Karaoke Bars), the mod will use the same variant as in the vanilla game, although it can still spawn multiple of them.

Only Museums and Arts Centers spawn visitors specifically to view art, since you probably don't want a bunch of random Sims showing up just to look at decorations on other lots.

Conflicts

This mod will conflict with any mod that modifies the "Zone Director" files for venue spawns. It should work fine with mods that limit Sims to their home world, since those don't edit the Zone Directors.

Download

Download Spawn Refresh

[hauntedbubbles]

Since I wouldn't accept that OG Modern Warfare gave us Captain MacTavish, only for reboot Soap to never survive past Sargeant (!?😩) I've been sitting on a theory that Black Ops 6 might have actually confirmed and I can't keep this to myself any longer!

This could be spoilery for BO6's campaign, so if you haven't played it yet, come back later, maybe? 👀

In the "Emergence" mission in BO6 you are introduced to the effects of the "Cradle" a virus created by a disbanded division of the CIA, known as "Pantheon". A virus that is later weaponised and you experience first hand what this yellow gas can do... 🧟‍♀️🧟‍♂️🧟

Some folks voiced their displeasure about how un-cod it was... personally this mission was all the confirmation I needed that maybe my working theory wasn't as far fetched as I thought it could be 👀

I was going to ramble and infodump all the little things I'd been making note off, but instead I decided to make it a thing... With a Blender piece I did, because why not? 🙌🏻

👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

Konni Research Division

Date: October 17, 2024

Project Lead: Dr. Aleksandr Gustev, Head of Advanced Pathological Research

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PANTHEON NEUROGAS “CRADLE VARIANT K" CASE STUDY: SERGEANT JOHN “SOAP” MACTAVISH

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Current Project Objectives

Konni Research Division’s objectives are to further refine the Cradle compound—specifically, the “Cradle Variant K” strain—to allow for long-term memory suppression, reality manipulation, and controllable cognitive reprogramming.

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Following the success in London, Cradle Variant K far surpassed our initial expectations. Not only were we successful in deceiving the Task Force into believing Sergeant MacTavish was KIA at the hands of the Commander, we have laid the groundwork for further applications of the Pantheon's weaponised neurogas on a larger scale.

Additionally, the changes made to the Cradle strain appears to have maintained the diminished uncontrollable rage as observed in our earlier controlled trials.

Curiously, the illusion may have directly fueled the sense of vengeance that drove Captain Price to retaliate in an unexpected manner.

By executing General Shepherd in a rogue act, he ultimately severed Task Force 141 from official military backing and initiated a sequence of destabilizing events.

Further testing will be required to ascertain if Price’s reckless actions were a direct result of being exposed to the Cradle’s illusion or an emotional response to failing to protect one of his men.

Regardless, the Commander's suggestion to target MacTavish for the next phase of the experiment has certainly proven fruitful.

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Test Subject Conditioning Protocol

Subject Identification

Name: Sergeant John “Soap” MacTavish

Classification: Task Force 141 Operative

Current Status: High-priority test subject under secure containment

MacTavish was expected to perform complex missions while fully immersed in an artificial narrative, where he believes he is combating a zombie outbreak as part of “Operation Deadbolt.” This ongoing experiment aims to suppress higher cognitive recall.

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Manipulated Perceptions and Key Figures in the Simulation

Kate Laswell’s Role and Conditioning: Laswell, similarly detained and conditioned, was initially positioned as MacTavish’s operational coordinator.

Her familiar voice served as a mission directive channel, further reinforcing his immersion in the Deadbolt narrative. However, Laswell’s stability deteriorated during preliminary conditioning cycles, necessitating her withdrawal from active mission guidance and her relegation to containment status.

With further extensive conditioning sessions being required, (due to her apparent excessive resistance training under the CIA) in preparation to reinstate a reconditioned Laswell within a disavowed TF141.

Confident they will attempt to rescue one of their own, a chance to witness the prolonged effects of the Cradle and MacTavish’s absence on our targets should present itself.

We hypothesise that a growing lack of external support will surely weaken morale further in preparation for the Commanders final stand against Farah Karim’s forces and her devalued allies.

Viktor Zakhaev as Adversary: Viktor Zakhaev, eliminated by Captain John Price circa 2020, has been reinstated as a familiar antagonist within MacTavish’s induced perception.

Konni scientists strategically inserted Zakhaev’s persona into the subject’s narrative, where he functions as a persistent threat linked to a global threat.

This resurrected adversary fuels MacTavish’s sense of purpose and suppresses any awareness of the Commander’s true objectives. By sustaining a continuous “enemy” figure, we maintain an environment that supports heightened vigilance, while suppressing any remnants of personal connections.

Sergei Ravenov as Mentor: Historical data on Sergei Ravenov, a former Soviet operative and Cradle test subject during the Cold War, has been utilized as a psychological anchor within MacTavish’s mental construct.

Footage of Ravenov’s conditioning sessions has been repurposed to present him as a veteran mentor in the fight against the "Undead," a fabricated threat tied to an earlier experimental initiative known as Aetherium (an internal code once used for the Cradle virus).

Ravenov serves as an authority, the “Dark Aether Expert,” providing MacTavish with insights on how to “combat the outbreak,” further reinforcing the constructed narrative and validating the subject’s current mission reality.

Despite the risks of introducing an unknown persona, the results will establish how important familiar anchors are to the Cradle test subjects.

————————————————————————

Subject Response and Reality Simulation: Operation Deadbolt

MacTavish has demonstrated exceptional receptivity to Cradle-Variant K, which induces controlled delusional experiences, allowing him to perceive a fictitious outbreak setting.

Under the codename “Operation Deadbolt,” MacTavish believes he is conducting a tactical offensive against “infected” entities across Urzikstan.

Farah Karim’s militia, in reality, are recast as hostiles in this outbreak scenario, instilling a sense of urgency and commitment in MacTavish as he pursues mission directives designed to ultimately bring Urzikstan under Konni control.

In this altered reality, MacTavish perceives himself as an essential operative within Operation Deadbolt, believing he is containing and eradicating “dimensional breaches” and combating the spread of Aetherium. Laswell’s pre-recorded directives have been integrated into mission audio logs, lending an air of authenticity to the simulation.

————————————————————————

Findings and Psychological Anchoring

To ensure compliance, MacTavish’s memories have been regressed to 2021—a period prior to the formation of his stronger bonds with Task Force members, but where his potential truly began to establish.

This strategic temporal regression isolates MacTavish from critical relationships that might disrupt his immersion in the fabricated narrative and allow his growth to better align with Konni standards.

Under these conditions, he perceives himself as a newly recruited operative, acting as “Head of Strike Team” under Operation Deadbolt, with diminished awareness of his personal history.

Lieutenant Simon “Ghost” Riley as an Unintended Psychological Anchor: During testing, sporadic cognitive resistance has continued to manifest, specifically when MacTavish encounters stimuli reminiscent of Lieutenant Riley. Notably, Riley’s masked “Ghost” persona.

Although he cannot consciously access these memories, MacTavish displays signs of awareness regression, often reverting to behaviors and beliefs beyond 2021.

Such interactions appear to intermittently destabilize Cradle’s hold over MacTavish. The bond with his former ally has proven resilient, risking periodic disruptions in mission adherence

Countermeasures and Long-Term Stability Adjustments: To mitigate the effects of these “Ghost-associated triggers.”

Konni researchers are employing additional neuro-blocking compounds aimed at obscuring memory pathways tied to Riley. Continuous reconditioning sessions, using Ravenov’s image as an alternate anchor, have thus far yielded moderate success, although sustained behavioral control will likely necessitate further neurological suppressants or targeted memory erasure.

—————————————————���——————

Conclusion and Tactical Recommendations

Summary of Findings

High Receptivity: MacTavish’s response to Cradle-Variant K exceeds projections, with 95% adherence to mission parameters and minimal cognitive resistance when Ghost-associated stimuli are absent.

Effective Delusional Construct: The subject accepts the Operation Deadbolt scenario as reality, performing his role without critical assessment.

Resistance Countermeasures: The occasional reversion to past memory states requires enhanced countermeasures. Ravenov’s role as mentor and Zakhaev’s reintroduced presence are proving effective in reinforcing the subject’s altered perception.

Recommended Next Steps

1. Strengthen Aetherium Construct: Enhance the Dark Aether narrative by introducing mission-specific “dimensional breaches” to maintain environmental consistency.

2. Memory Reinforcement Sessions: Increase frequency of Ravenov-anchored memory sessions to deepen the mentor-student dynamic and prevent memory destabilization tied to Ghost.

Laswell’s voice should remain a final fallback command anchor in all simulations; if required, brief audio segments can be played during moments of cognitive resistance to redirect the subject’s focus back to mission directives, until a deep fake can be established.

Project Status: ACTIVE – Phase IV trials awaiting authorisation for continuation of field deployment.

Suggested Operation Target: Popov Power Plant.

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End of Report