#or just blueshift i think

[canneddolts]

[once-in-a-half-life]

man I really gotta replay HL2 soon... idk why but when I played it for the first time last year it was so nostalgic to me... maybe bc it's from 2004 and games from this era are, like... my childhood? idk haha

[callmegaith]

Figuring out how to draw Barney still lmao

Finished hl1 and blueshift recently and played hl2 for a good amount. Think 2 is good but 1 is peak cuz I made shit up in my own head and the game very much allowed me to do so. Like most the time playing I just had this dramatic scenario in my head about dragging Barney around with me/Gordon through the events of the game and it made me get attached to the silly guard npc that I would feel sad when we had to part and I would just go "WE WILL BE REUINTED AGAIN MY BELOVED" before I go into a vent lmao. And when we met again it was so joyous like HELL YA LETS FUCK SHIT UP AGAIN BESTIE. It was a unique experience I couldn't find in hl2. So ya I really enjoyed hl1 find a bonus of my summary under the cut

[marikbentusi]

If Scylle can red/blueshift as a light entity and since infrared is lower energy than visible light, does that mean she goes invisible when sleeping/knocked out/otherwise resting?

Even better, she can warm up anything by just becoming microwaves.

That's a cute idea! Or maybe concerning?

I think with the pick-and-choose realism I wanted to go with I'd want to conserve energy, but it is something to consider! Cheers!

Maybe I should make a couple doodles for some light powers I had in mind for Scylle, since that's one of the few aspects of her that I actually have some notes on.

[robots-n-sweet-tea]

Same Fate, Same World Ch 1: HRP

I love the babies. May or may not post this to ao3, we'll see. Also original idea here:

All questions for this fic-thing are on the table, so feel free to ask away!

It all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. One moment Blueshift and Electronica were recharging in their tiny human beds and the next they woke up in a cold environment; this environment consisted of a room with a single high window, as well as two beds (along with pillows and blankets) and a large door opposite to the window. Neither is sure of how exactly they ended up in this room. Blueshift was the first to wake out of recharge, sitting up with a yawn and a stretch. Blinking a few times, she glanced around the room sleepily after putting on her red-tinted glasses.

“...Sire?” she called out, jumping out of the bed as she did so. “Sire, c’mon, this isn’t funny.” No answer. Just the chirping of the birds outside.

“Can you…be quiet? I want to recharge a little longer…” Blueshift blinked, glancing over to the other bed curiously.

“Oh. Sorry…I’m Blueshift.”

“Electronica…” the figure muttered before sitting up. It had slightly messy, light brown hair that it was trying to fix. “Where did you come from? I don’t remember any of the Autobots taking in another bitlet.”

“The Autobots? Who’s your sire?”

“His designation is Jazz– what about you?”

“Mine’s Soundwave. And, for the record, I don’t think this is either of our respective bases…” She watched it pull itself out of the bed, standing alongside her. The two of them were still in their nighttime clothes. “Where do you think we–”

“Glad to see you two are awake,” an overhead feminine voice interrupted her. Where this voice was coming from or who it belonged to was unknown to them. “Welcome to the Human Rehabilitation Program. My name is Mix. I was assigned to look over your unique case. Do you see a large door in front of you?” The two bitlets nodded, albeit a bit hesitant about whoever this ‘Mix’ was. “Go through it, and head straight down the hall to a large pair of doors. I will be waiting for you in the office.”

Then the voice disappeared.

Blueshift and Electronica glanced at each other, shrugged a bit, and followed the directions given. The barren hallway they walked down had a lot of doors on either side, likely leading to other rooms if they had to guess. But the overhead voice wasn’t lying about the double doors, thankfully. As soon as they peeked into the room, they found it to be colorful and comforting in a way. It was a large waiting room, like one you’d see at the doctor’s office, just with more colors, accompanied by some toys and books scattered around. Before either of them had a chance to explore their surroundings, a young human approached them, bending down to their height. They were holding a clipboard with some papers attached to it along with a pen.

“There you two are. You can call me Mix. What are your names?”

“...I’m sorry, what’s a name?” Blueshift was the first to speak, asking the question both of them had. “Do you mean designation?”

“Well, a name is what you’re called. We don’t use the term designation here,” Mix explained.

“I’m Blueshift, and this is Electronica. Can we go home?”

“We’ll…talk about that later. For now, however, you two seem to be in good health,” they spoke, writing stuff down on their clipboard, “aside from the weird names, but I guess that is to be expected with your case.”

“Our designations aren’t weird, and what do you mean by case?” Electronica gave Mix a sort of stare for that comment.

“Yeah, Mix, what’s going on? Where are we? Why are we here and not with–”

“Woah, woah, slow down a bit. One question at a time. You two are the newest members of the Human Rehabilitation Program or HRP for short. We rescued you from the Autobots and Decepticons. Our goal here is to prepare you for normal life in human society,” they answered, not even bothering to look up from their writing. The two kids looked mortified.

“You took us away from our sires?!” they shouted in unison.

“Well, when you put it like that, it makes us look bad– wait, I’m sorry, your what?”

“Our sires! Our families! You took us away from them!” Blueshift growled at them.

“Honey, those aren’t your families. You’re humans, not mechs. We simply rescued you from a dangerous environment with the intent of giving you better, proper lives amongst your own kind.” The two of them simply stared at Mix. Tears were already starting to form.

“I…I want to go back home…I want my sire, I want Jazz,” Electronica hiccuped a bit, wiping the tears away with the back of its hand.

“And I want Soundwave! You’d better return us to them or else!”

“You, as children, sure are feisty. I’ll be sure to let your new families know of your attachment issues to these monsters.” New families? Monsters? What in Primus’ name was Mix talking about? The children stared at them more, this time with more curiosity but also disgust. “Now, what else is there…? Oh, that’s right! Since we’re on a bit of a deadline, you get to meet your new families today instead of later. Thankfully, we called them in before you two woke up. I’m sure they’ll be very excited to meet you.”

“NO!”

“I’m sorry, is something the matter, uh…Blueshift, was it?” Mix was trying to be as calm as possible about all of this.

“I don’t want some lame organic family!”

“Me neither! I want my sire!”

“Well– I– I’m sorry, but that’s not a choice either of you get to make. You’re just going to have to learn to live with it.”

[thursdays-adult]

So I just realized this and it's driving me crazy. Also, major spoilers for the ending of Fiona and Cake so do keep that in mind. The scene where Simon and Betty say their final goodbye and let go of each other. It's all in red, yeah. And you could think that it's taking place in Golb's mind or with Golb's powers so red makes sense. But also in terms of physics when light is redshifted it means that it's moving away from us and blueshift is where light is moving towards us. And what's the last song that plays over the endings montage called, where everyone and Simon are moving on, FREAKING BLUESHIFT!!! It's just kind of amazing that they so deftly worked in actual physics principles to symbolize Simon learning to let go of the past and move forward!!!

[put-me-out-of-my-destiny]

You may have seen my recent post about possible new styles Dante could have in a future installment of Devil May Cry. One of the proposed styles I named "Redshifter". This is a separation of Dante's teleport mechanics from his Trickster style.

To elaborate, I think this style would share a lot of moves with Vergil's "Darkslayer" style from Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition. Dante would have a 'Ground Shift' sending him a short distance across the ground and closer to his target, an 'Air Shift' sending him a short distance closer to and slightly above his target, and a 'Back Shift' sending him a short distance across the ground and away from his target.

In the same game, Vergil would have equivalent moves in his complementary style - for the sake of symmetry, named either "Darkshifter" or "Blueshifter" - albeit with slightly superior speed and range. However, they would each have a fourth more unique move.

For Vergil, his neutral Style Action would be a teleport that places him slightly closer to and level with his target, whether they're on the ground or in the air. Dante doesn't need this move because his 'Air Shift' wouldn't place him as high as Vergil's 'Air Shift'. Speaking of, Vergil's 'Air Shift' would be his forward Style Action, his 'Back Shift' would be his backward Style Action, and his 'Ground Shift' would be his back-to-forward Style Action.

However, Dante's Ground Shift would serve as his neutral Style Action, with his back-to-forward Style Action being an 'Up Shift' that sends him straight up.

Each brother would also gain a different effect if the player holds the Style Button instead of just tapping it. For Dante, this would simply cause him to repeatedly Shift, allowing the player to change direction simply by holding the left analog stick. For Vergil, this would cause him to teleport straight to his target rather than a short distance closer to them, provided they have been impaled with a Mirage Blade.

I'll have to make a whole other post some day about my thoughts on Style Actions during Sin Devil Trigger, but for now I'll say I do want Dante and Vergil to have the same range of moves during this transformation.

Dante's Shifts would become as fast as Vergil's, and holding the Style Button would cause him to teleport straight to the enemy like he does in Devil May Cry 5 (and the way Vergil does by default).

But for Vergil, I struggled to imagine how his teleports could become any more powerful for a long time. It's not like there's any way for them to be faster than instant, right?

In the post linked above, I described a possible expansion of the Quicksilver style, and one move that I added was called 'Rewind Time'. This allowed Dante to reverse the flow of time briefly, restoring himself and his enemies to the state they were in a few seconds prior.

During Sin Devil Trigger, Vergil can now Shift straight to his enemies simply by tapping the Style Button. But by holding the button, he will appear in the proper location, while his enemies rewind by a couple seconds. Furthermore, his 'past self' will appear like an afterimage, performing whatever actions the player did before using Vergil's time-traveling Shift, before disappearing himself. This wouldn't have the recovery application that Dante's 'Rewind Time' would, but it would provide a niche opportunity for combo-savvy players to exploit.

So long as I'm talking about Styles, I want to discuss a second one that Vergil could have. This would be more-or-less his answer to Dante's Royal Guard, called the "Blackguard" style. Blackguard is a real word (though it's not pronounced how you think), for someone 'who behaves in a dishonorable or contemptible way'. I think this reflects in the selfish path Vergil has taken up to this point, contrasting his brother who's upheld his duty to protect the human world.

While in this Style Vergil would have access to his passive block from Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition, blocking attacks at a very small Concentration cost, so long as he isn't in the middle of an attack, a taunt, or a jump. To complement this, Vergil's side-roll would be replaced with a dodge similar to the one he uses with the Style Button in Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition while he is in 'Darkshifter'/'Blueshifter' style.

His neutral Style Action would be a simple parry, much like the one he uses when hit with a melee attack during his boss fights in Devil May Cry 3 or Devil May Cry 5. This can be a block with Yamato's scabbard like in the latter, or a swipe with his free hand like in the former. This would only be effective against melee attacks.

His forward Style Action should be based on how he counters ranged attacks during his boss fights in Devil May Cry 3. He draws his sword and spins the blade, before flinging them back to his enemy, completing Dante's Royal Revenge in a way. This would be ineffective against melee attacks.

His backward Style Action should cause him to cast his sword away and summon Urizen's crystal shield around it, creating a shield with limited health at the temporary sacrifice of his most reliable weapon. I'm not sure if he should be able to recall his sword with the attack button, or if he should be committed to this state until the shield is broken or until combat ends.

Finally, his back-to-forward Style Action should be a new version of World Of V, transforming Vergil into V, and allowing him to command Urizen in some way. I think this fits into Vergil's defensive Style because World Of V is a means of recovering health.

I think 'Blackguard''s equivalent to Royal Release should be in Sin Devil Trigger, a two-handed dashing sword swipe mimicking Nelo Angelo's, negating and reflecting damage from both melee and ranged attacks. It wouldn't rely on stored charges like Dante's would, but rather damage dealt would scale based on the attack being deflected.

Again, the post about Dante's Style Actions in Sin Devil Trigger will have to wait.

[godborn]

i’m gay and can’t resist the opportunity to be sappy so here’s a january 1st post to let all of my mutuals know that you are loved by me whether you like it or not and that i’m grateful for every single one of you and am looking forward to getting to know you more in 2024!

when i returned to this rpc after a year long hiatus where a lot of stuff was just going wrong in my life, i was a little nervous that i’d have trouble finding interactions and building relationships both ic and ooc. it was a little difficult at first, but i’m so thankful i stuck it out because right around the corner were some very cool & special people who are not only talented writers and masters of characterization, but genuinely kind & fun people to talk to & get to know.

this post is dedicated to all of my lovely mutuals whether we’ve written together for months or u just followed me today, but there are a few people i want to be gay toward individually under the cut 🥳🏳️‍🌈🩷

@vialaviolenza / @valoroso : my beloved mortis!! you were my first new friend that i made upon the end of my hiatus & i adore you to the moon & back. i knew you were special from the moment i found out you basically live a stone’s throw away from me lol but more than that, you have been such a blessing to me. you’re always willing to listen to my ramblings & crazy ideas & our threads are always fuckin based, so you genuinely have it all & i’m excited for us to become closer in this new year!! 💚💚💚

@lovesigned : bella, i’m kissing u. i remember when you first followed me and we messaged back and forth about how we loved each other’s writing and were fucking nerds about classical allusions & mythology & all that. even now i’m still in awe of how beautifully your prose reads btw. but beyond that you’re probably the funniest person on this website & going absolutely feral with u is always a good time lmfao. i love everything we’ve ever plotted and written and i will love everything we will plot and write in the new year. u are so sexy and cool mwah

@blueshiftting : MEME MY BELOVED u are genuinely the sweetest person ever in the world and you deserve every good thing ever in the new year. not to mention cordelia is a baddie & the immaculate energy you have created for her is untouchable, truly one of the most well-written ocs i’ve encountered. i owe u my life for making the fuckhouse server because it’s always such a vibe in there & it’s been great getting closer to everyone in there, including you.

@rejectshumanity : the coolest person on this website actually,,, but also a total sweetie that i’ve loved every second of talking to. dani when i say i stan you heavily i mean it you genuinely have Thee best take on dio & manage to blend the serious & unserious parts of his character immaculately. i’m excited for when ur inspiration returns to you because i think we all want to see how you will absolutely kill it in the 2024 season lol. either way, you’re a gem & i’m looking forward to growing our friendship in the new year!!

@praeteritus-memories : lu … u are my homie fr like the only constant thing in my life in this rpc for the past 3 (ALMOST 4???) years. coming back to writing with you again has been like returning to a warm hug which i really fucking needed after everything i went through in 2022-23 😭 i love everything we do together & everything we explore in our threads, they’re always a blast & i’m relieved we cannot always pick up where we left off without things being awkward lol. i hope this year treats you kindly, you deserve it luv 🩷

@ironleonine : GEO MY LOVE IM SO SORRY I KNEW I HAD LEFT SOMEONE OUT THIS IS LESBIAN ON LESBIAN CRIME . anyway you are the literal sweetest, kindest, most fun person to talk to be it ic or ooc. i will start 10 million different threads with you and idc i will love every single one. you have such a talent for bringing your characters to life, i will never NOT enjoy writing with you wtf. our chats are always the best even if they’re full of the most random shit lol i feel like you really understand me & the chaotic chemical soup that is my brain. when i marry you in 2024, what then?

[rosignoelle]

mckirk rec list

Some of my favourites from this pairing, in order of increasing word count. All of the fics listed here are aos inspired (i’m a total spirk shipper when it comes to tos but mckirk has my heart for the aos).

where i lay my hat

Rating: G

Word Count: 5k

“If Bones wants to spend a ridiculous amount of his own salary keeping an empty apartment, then by all means.”

Jim accidentally moves in with Bones over the course of several shore leaves. The relationship progression is lovely.

and i can lend you all my broken parts that might fit (like this)

Rating: E

Word Count: 17k

“Academy Era. First they fall into bed. Then they fall in love”

A study in intimacy.

blueshift

Rating: E

Word Count: 22k

“When Leonard shows up at Starfleet Academy, he wonders just how drunk he was when he met with the recruiter. He has no friends, misses his kid, and if drowning his sorrows doesn't kill him, PT will. Then he meets Jim Kirk again.”

This is probably one of my favourite depictions of a character with depression. A little rushed towards the end, but very well written overall.

Better Strangers

Rating: E

Word Count: 23k

“When Leonard McCoy moves to San Francisco it's to start a new life. Something different from his old life. That means putting up with Starfleet policies, combat classes, idiot hospital employees and Jim Kirk.”

Major focus on Bones working as a doctor, which I love, and the characterizations feel spot on! The ending is a little abrupt.

Denial

Raring: E (teen until the last chapter)

Word Count: 26k

“Denial or, 5 times Bones touched Jim when he wouldn't know, and one time he did. When Leo bumped into the kid at the bar, he never knew that he'd met the one who would save him from his loneliness.”

This is written in a stream of consciousness style which plays out very well. A very sensual piece.

Old Man and the Enterprise

Rating: M

Word Count: not listed but probably ~30k

“The life and times of James T. Kirk and Leonard H. McCoy; a series of short scenes which start on shore leave and end in the indefinable future.”

This is not a sad fic by any means, but it feels mournful and yearning and lovely. gorgeous allusions to literature throughout.

This Business of Art

Rating: M (maybe T+)

Word Count: 46k

“Art culture modern AU mystery --- “Listen, Jim, I don’t know what you’re trying to do. Whether it’s taking the skeletons out of your closet or resurrecting some lost essence your father possessed…it’s not going to work.” He leveled his gaze upon Jim’s own, “It will only bring about more pain and upset everyone you love while you’re at it.” – the problem was, Jim thought, in this world of art and business who did he love, friend or foe?”

It’s a murder mystery and and art AU all in in one! I adore how this author adapted canon tidbits to their AU. Great use of foreshadowing.

Touch and Go (Right in Front is You)

Rating: M

Word Count: 48k

“Four days. That's now long Leonard had known Jim. Four days and eight train rides, during which they'd shared three thermoses of tea, several pints of beer, a handful of snacks and texts, and a red and white tin of mints that started the whole fucking thing.”

This is a great story— the author lived in the area where the story is set, which contributes to the gorgeous world building. It also has a nice focus on friendship and an ensemble cast!

the violence of comets

Rating: T

Word Count: 57k

“Jim has never once, in his life, believed in love. He wears his bare skin with only his own tattoo circling his ankle as a badge of honor. He meets a man named Leonard McCoy on a shuttle in Riverside, Iowa who believes exactly the opposite.”

A very cute AU with a nice focus on building trust.

Love, Like Ghosts

Rating: E

Word Count: 64k

“This is several stories, not just the story of Jim & Bones' epic romance.

Jim's story. "Most would think defeating the Narada was my greatest triumph, but those closest to me know the truth. The Narada was a distant third. My last Kobayashi Maru comes in second-- and not for the reasons you'd think. The first, well..."

Chris's story. "I reached a certain age and thought I knew exactly who I was and what I wanted out of life. Then I walked into an Iowa bar and realized I wasn't the person I thought I knew. Not even close..."

Leonard's story. "You know that story? the one where Pike meets Kirk and there's mentoring and bonding and they tiptoe through the tulips into happily ever? Well, this ain't it. Dipshit."”

The characters are so wonderfully flawed in this fic, it feels like a psychological piece in the best way.

visions

Rating: M

Word Count: 65k

“Jim and Bones met in high school. music was something they shared from the start. Over the years after they parted ways, they find each other again and again, and wonder if there will ever be some version of the future where the two of them can be together”

This is tagged as a high school au, but is primarily set during adulthood. A great example of non-linear storytelling, and a happy ending guaranteed!

Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe

Rating: E

Word Count: 70k

“From Variety, June 2008:

Pavel Chekov ("Charlie X") and Gaila ("Bread and Circuses") have joined the cast of small budget drama "That Which Survives," funded by Fleet's indie arm Academy and supervised by Nyota Uhura.The debut feature from longtime script doctor Leonard McCoy, former show runner on sitcom "Three to Tango," centers on a college student coping with his father's terminal cancer. Chekov plays the son, Gaila the nurse. The father is yet to be cast. Also attached are director James T. Kirk and producer Spock, the team behind the blockbuster spy-girl franchise starring Carol Marcus, the latest of which, "A Taste of Armageddon," opened last month. (A modern-day Hollywood AU.)”

The romance definitely takes the back burner here, which suits the realistic vibe of the fic. the storytelling is really well done.

En Promenade

Rating: E

Word Count: 73k

“After three months of weekend bar-hopping and a slow process of elimination -- with finding the right bar, that was, and tragically not discovering who Bones was into -- Jim was starting to narrow it down. Bones was actively scowling less, which seemed like a good sign, but Jim still didn’t quite have it right, and lo, he was determined.”

It’s the dancing fic. One of my all-time favourites, this is an excellent academy-era fic with a plot that manages to be both absolutely insane but incredibly compelling.

Friends with all my Demons

Rating: E

Word Count: 93k

“Someone has to teach Jim Kirk how to take care of himself, ‘cause he sure as hell isn’t picking it up on his own.”

A gorgeous academy-era slow burn, strong focus on medicine and how bones balances being jim’s doctor and his friend which was really nice to read.

Catching Fire (The Firehouse AU)

Rating: E

Word Count: 137k

“21st Century fire department AU. Paramedic Leonard McCoy flees a disastrous break-up in Savannah and ends up working at a fire department in Iowa.”

The character development in this fic is exquisite, and Bones makes for a great unreliable narrator which allows for some great set ups.

Two Men and a Motorbike

Rating: E

Word Count: 150k

Alternate Link AO3 Link

“One of the few constants in James Kirk's life the last three years has been his best friend, Leonard McCoy. After saving Earth from a bunch of crazy time-traveling Romulans, Jim & Bones find out what happens when best friends cross the line between friendship and something more after a late night ride on Jim's motorbike. There are good times and bad times, and times that are just plain complicated.”

A post-Narada academy fic that’s simultaneously a total romp and wonderfully endearing. Also has a 60k sequel with an emotionally mature depiction of two (admittedly fucked up) individuals navigating a romantic relationship.

Switch

Rating: E

Word Count: 230k

“The life and times of Leonard H. McCoy MD/PhD … If Leonard McCoy's life could get any fucking weirder, it would be … Jesus, he didn't even want to think what that could possibly mean, because it's already been too fucking weird to make any kind of rational sense. A Starfleet Academy story, set in the ST:XI universe.”

For me this is THE mckirk fic. The storytelling is so seductive. It’s beautifully written and the characters are deeply compelling.

[citrusbusiness]

HEY! For no reason at all, due to no post at all, completely unrelated to anything at all ever. Tell me about Space.

Ah yes absolutely no reason at all I'm sure. Not a single one.

I will preface this first by saying that I'm not actually an official expert on the subject, i’m just a little guy and I think space is cool. Nevertheless, I had a lot of fun writing this little rant so thank you so much I love you. Second, looking at this this is a rant about a very specific thing that space does (redshift) and likely not what you were expecting, but I'm happy to provide a more... standard space rant if it is desired!

Obligatory long, post warning!

We know the universe is really big, and we know it’s getting bigger. In it we have the Local Group, which is the group of galaxies which are gravitationally bound to ours. That means they’re close enough to us that the gravity attracting them to us is stronger than the force expanding the universe. But other than those guys, all of the galaxies in the universe are moving away from us.

One of the really cool things that happens because of that is redshift, where the light waves of far away objects get stretched out and appear more red. (The opposite of this also happens its called blueshift) To recap how the light spectrum works, to our eyes, longer, lower energy waves appear redder and shorter ones more purple. Eventually the waves get so small or so big that they don’t appear as visible colors anymore, and then you get things like ultraviolet and x-ray or infrared and radio waves.

There was a while where I knew redshift was a thing but didn’t really understand why it happened. I think that was because I was thinking of the light as a wave when in reality, light has properties of both waves and particles because its weird like that, and particles make more sense in this scenario. Now I like to think about it like this:

Imagine there’s a machine that drops marbles down a ramp at a steady rate, like one per second or something. The marbles all travel at the same speed in the same direction, a certain distance apart. But if that machine starts going in the opposite direction, then the distance between marbles is the distance created by them rolling for 1 second, plus the distance the machine travels in the other direction in that second. There is more space between each marble.

We now translate this logic into electromagnetic wave land, thinking of the path of the marbles as a wave rather than a straight line and adding a lot more marbles. If we look at the individual particles then the points would make a more stretched out wave pattern because the distance between them is bigger.

That was a huge explanation that might not actually make sense to anyone but me but in summary, when something moves away from us, the light gets more red. This is one reason why it’s so hard for us to see far away objects. Their light has gotten stretched out all the way into infrared, which we can’t see. This is why the James Webb Space Telescope has been so useful; its a very powerful telescope that specializes in infrared. With that power it’s discovered some of the farthest objects we’ve ever seen.

Thank you to you, yes you, for reading my silly rant and double thanks if you user is mickemz01 for sending me this ask!

[crmsndragonwngss]

What would you say are your top five "must check out" bands you'd recommend to people? (bonus points for intro album suggestions)

Oh this is easy! Here’s my top five six

Erra - Drift

Novelists - Noir

Crystal Lake - Helix

Lorna Shore - Pain Remains

Veil of Maya - False Idol

Spiritbox - Eternal Blue

And because I can’t help myself, here’s the rest of my top ten eleven!

Polaris - The Mortal Coil

Tesseract - Altered State

The Amity Affliction - Let The Ocean Take Me

Periphery - Hail Stan

Crooked Royals - Quarter Life Dream

And a bonus plus one two!

Blueshift - Voyager

Valis Ablaze - Render

Lots of the bands here tho only have one full album, so definitely check out their EPs and singles too

As for Erra, it’s probably pretty obvious that I love everything they’ve ever done, but Drift was on an entirely different level, and it’s always the starting point I give anyone who wants to get into their music. My first Erra song was Dreamcatcher, and it’s still one of my favorites by far, but Drift is a tremendous album and is a fantastic first time listen

The same goes for Novelists, their entire discog is fantastic, but my personal favorite album is Noir and I think that’s the perfect jumping off point for their music

The only band in this list whom I don’t recommend their entire discog is Lorna Shore. imo stick to Pain Remains and And I Return to Nothingness (the ep)

But really, I could continue forever, so if you want a playlist that has all my favorite stuff on there, you can check out my massive metalcore playlist

Now this is all specifically for core/djent because that’s my scene. If you want a top five for other genres, I can do that too, just give me a genre and I’ll give you some recs!

[rkibria]

Far Reaches

Isaacs watched as his fellow physicist Dr. Jensen donned the probe-studded helmet; the colander-like device had a thick bundle of fibers hanging from the back like a technological ponytail that connected to a boxy machine with a strange dish antenna made of a bluish crystalline material.

“So this is what you’ve been spending all that unpaid overtime on and scrounged a chunk of my equipment budget for? Correct me if I’m wrong, but this can’t possibly relate to our actual work,” Isaacs groaned. His friend was brilliant, but often unwise in his choices.

“This, Frederick, is going to enshrine our names alongside Einstein and Newton,” Jensen replied. Isaacs rolled his eyes, but Jensen wasn’t normally one for pranks and he was intrigued; he motioned with his hands, inviting Jensen to explain. “Think of, uh, an animal, and imagine it having an unusual color!” Isaacs blinked, not sure if this was a prank after all. “Come on, do it. Really focus on it! And don’t tell me!” Isaacs sighed.

“Alright, I’m doing it. Now what?” Jensen screwed up his eyes.

“It’s, um, a crow. A purple crow! I’m right, aren’t I?” Jensen exclaimed triumphantly. They went through a number of other outlandish mental images before Isaacs had to concede that, somehow, Jensen could read his mind. “Now, try to focus on me. Clear your mind, just tell me what you feel.”

“I, um. There’s something. Uh, you’re thinking of a top hat filled with peanut butter?”

“Yes, it’s two-way! It works!” Jensen whooped with delight in reply, throwing his arms to the side excitedly and hitting the dish with his hand so that it swung upwards. The look on his face changed so abruptly from exuberance to terror that Isaacs wondered if Jensen got an electric shock.

“The tendrils, they undulate, they feel my gaze, no no no- The golden stars, they don’t shine yet in our sky, please, we never meant-” Jensen’s babbling stream of nonsense trailed off, then turned into a piercing shriek and the man pounded the machine with his bare fists. Isaacs cried out as Jensen shattered the crystal dish, badly lacerating his hands in the process. The next moment, his wild-eyed friend had grabbed a long, wicked shard and lunged at him. “They spoke to me, and my words were slime! Their strands are around my inners, they squeeze and squeeze and arghhh-” Isaacs just barely managed to avoid getting stabbed through the eye. Jensen picked up the whole machine and threw it on the ground, spilling parts everywhere.

“They saw! The machine opened the way, they are so distant, lurking beyond the blueshift, but their minds are the size of star clusters and we got each other’s scent, they will not abide us, puny insects crawling on rocks, never again, never open the way never- ” Jensen shrieked. Isaacs scrambled out of the room as his friend stabbed himself in the throat with the shard, over and over, silencing himself forever.

[s7hummel-blog]

without any sense

Without any sense, more faith than reason!? It is not enough to read the Bible or to create revealed theories … it is enough to think. But it seems that the brilliant minds, in their naive wisdom are not even aware that the image of their ignorance is right before their eyes.

It all started with Hubble, who proved that galaxies are moving away. It's just a pity that for 100 years no one has been able to understand that this truth appeared in a very simplified universe. And any simplification can distort our understanding of the universe. But now that we know about clusters of galaxies, scientists won't understand anything either. So let's stick with the simplified Hubble universe.

And yet Hubble's theory of dubious scientific value, turned out to be the greatest scientific wisdom. Except that it created a false reality, full of inaccuracies and obvious contradictions. If Hubble's theory were to make sense, a special space would have to be created, completely different from the normal space in which we live. But no one thought that nothing could cause a space-time or normal space to suddenly become a space with miraculous properties, start to multiplying or duplicate itself, start getting bigger, and start expanding. Everywhere, as if on demand.

So when scientists say they see galaxies moving away (redshift), it must mean that there is a region of space around the normal space of our group of galaxies that is beyond human comprehension. This is because the space between galaxies expands without affecting the galaxies, which remain stationary, but gives the impression that the galaxies are moving away (redshift). But galaxies don't literally move without having own cosmic propulsion, are not pushed by space and space doesn't "carry" galaxies. But the illusion is created that it is the galaxies that are physically moving away.

But we also observe a blueshift. Something very strange and incomprehensible. Because it could mean that there is a huge space of a few hundred million light-years between the galaxies that are moving away from us, where not only are the galaxies not moving away, but on the contrary, they are moving closer together. But such an illusory explanation of the greatest scientific wisdom, which should be the most important scientific achievement of mankind, is not enough.

The essence of the problem is that it is not the nearest galaxies that are moving away, but the galaxies that are quite distant from us (millions of light years away). Only such distant galaxies are moving away from each other, and the further away they are, the faster they are moving away from each other. But there is a fine detail that could explain everything and remove all doubt, if it were not constantly ignored. For there can be no apparent contradiction or even an obvious contradiction. Galaxies cannot be moving away from each other and other galaxies cannot be moving closer at the same time. Other galaxies cannot come closer. Of course, this can be explained by the existence of our group of galaxies. But perhaps the truth is much more complicated than it seems.

So there are extraordinary implications, all the nonsense of the Hubble theory. Everywhere in the Universe we must see galaxies moving away. But can anyone reasonably deny that at the same time we must be observing blueshift? I repeat, anywhere in the Universe, not just in our group of galaxies. After all, the view from our galaxy cannot be different from the view from any other galaxy, anywhere in the Universe! Unless we live in a privileged place in the Universe, and only then can Hubble's law make sense?

This should mean that any observer (aliens) living anywhere in the Universe should see both redshift and blueshift. But only very distant galaxies are moving away, scientists say. But what about the vast space between the galaxies that are moving away, where we live, and the galaxies that are not moving away? Maybe they form a local group of galaxies, so we can see a blueshift as the galaxies get closer to each other and to our galaxy (e.g. Andromeda). So perhaps the most important question should be. What evidence, other than the blueshift, supports the existence of our group of galaxies? Perhaps redshift and blueshift do not necessarily mean what scientists claim.

part 2

The infinite eternal universe … and next was the finite expanding universe, a stupid scientific creation, something from nothing, effect of ignorance and misunderstanding. Of course, one can say (with a large dose of idiocy) that the universe (like the Big Bang) was created out of nothing, but that is only the beginning of the problems. Because even in the existing universe there are only funny games of quantum fluctuations with energy hidden in space. But nothing concrete is created, not even new space.

But how could a self-creating universe be possible in a Nothingness (not in the void) where absolutely nothing (as something) can be created, appear, arise spontaneously by itself; not even a shred of energy, billions of times smaller than an atom. And even inflation before the Big Bang (scientific delirium).

Nothingness. But it is not a false nothingness in our universe, which is just a void of space, with nothing concrete, but full of quantum possibilities. To understand nothingness, let us imagine our eternal universe as an infinite area without gravity, energy, laws of physics and even without quantum philosophy. So it is not from quantum fluctuations in 'false' space before the Big Bang, but from such absolute nothingness that the entire universe must have originated.

But if the universe began in absolute nothingness, where does the energy and mass of the universe come from? "During inflation, as the universe gets bigger and bigger, more and more matter is created" guth. So it was inflation … but how, when the speed of (repulsive) gravity cannot exceed the speed of light and the space that creates matter is no longer empty space without the limit of the speed of light.

But if inflation failed to "produce" something that could form trillions of trillions of galaxies, then we have a problem - with scientific stupidity! Because even if the Big Bang could create something out of nothing, or inflation could create something that could create trillions of galaxies, it doesn't make sense. Because such things (energy, matter) can only be created by expanding space. Not literally, of course. More space is created by replicating space. As ridiculous as it all sounds, this is how the expanding universe works. If such a universe makes any sense at all.

Of course, it is easy to say that the universe came from nothing and became everything. But it didn't come into being with the big bang; everything starts with energy and matter, a process that takes billions of years. So the claim that the Big Bang created all matter (everything) makes no sense, not even scientific sense. It is simply a nonsensical lie. But this implies that all processes must take place in the space of the expanding universe. But that all means an eternal universe without any Big Rip.

30 December 2023 Copyright ©2023 by Stan Humel @ s7Hummel (Yahoo; Gmail) s7Hummel. Poland

[katyahina]

This is such a great way to describe this distinction! I did not know about astronomical terms 'redshift' and 'blueshift' before, and they are incredibly fitting! I mean, the whole astral bodies and space theme!! Bloodmoon and 'pale' moon are essentially the same thing - bloodmoon is simply 'pale' moon that sipped enough blood to become red! It can become red through bloodspill of the hunt, or, more evidently - through cursed sacrifices (Mensis, Pthumerian civilization), so by distancing from the 'cosmos', that is associated with evolution and transcending humanity's vices. Meanwhile, blood of the 'holy' Kin of the cosmos is devoid of red too:

This is from datamined internal names page ( x ), you can see the 'stars' are connected with the Moon. The 'cursed' Amygdalas that hang out with mortals more and demand sacrifices bleed red, implying their cut ties with the 'Moon'. Ebrietas cries red bloody tears, implying that her grief draws her further from the cosmos and closer to us mortals (very sweet detail). Rom bleeds red from her body and her head bleeds 'grey' when you fight her in the lake, but in her dungeon version her head bleeds red too, implying that only in the lake she is connected to the Moon (no wonder, since she is concealing it...). You see, everything you said falls into place perfectly!

On the other hand, 'pale' moon seems to be associated with color cyan/aqua (Ludwig's Holy MOONlight sword and Guidance rune), that is polar opposite color of red - however, I think calling it blue still works! It doesn't really clash much as in either case what is implied is wastly contrasting color.

Also I wanted to add some screenshots I think you might like:

These flowers grow in Nightmare Frontier, in the caves! They're easy to dismiss because it IS the area where you have to run from Winter Lanterns as fast as you can, but you can see striking resemblance with the sunflower - something that applies to both Coldblood Flowers and Lumenflowers! They glow like Coldblood ones but are lacking... well, blood x) I think this is fair, as this place must be very close to the cosmos.

Then, in Research Hall, we can find a corpse with a Lumenflower growing nearby, but interestingly, from the floor - without any ground! Maybe these flowers can feed off blood just the same as Coldblood ones? But again, this one would not be bloody, since the patients do not really die in traditional sense for humans.. They transcend their humanity, they're closer to the cosmos!

Anyways, sorry for the rambling in the addition, I really wanted this theory in this blog too because it is just such a great way to put it. It only makes sense that both Coldblood Flowers and Lumenflowers are, essentially, two sides of the same coin... I mean, remember that the name of the deity that governs the world (until Hunter kicks her ass) is LITERALLY named Flora :')

Hey, @wikipedianna you asked about my Coldblood flowers theory, so I thought I’d make a little post for them!! <3

So, I feel like FromSoftware has a habit of taking biological phenomena in nature and either personifying it or treating it like a magical element. For the flowers in Bloodborne, there seems to also be this trend.

Coldblood flowers themselves are inspired by a real world bloom if we go by the Japanese text.

Here are the descriptions—

“The pale vegetation is said to bud within deadblood in abandoned places. However, when its large petals have opened, it is a pure red higan flower.“

Higan flower is likely a reference to my very own beloved Lycoris Radiata, or the Red Spider Lily. In Japanese, they are called higanbana, literally meaning “flower of higan.” Higan is a Buddhist holiday for the autumnal equinox.

Spider Lilies can also be called corpse flowers or equinox flowers. They are very popular in East Asia, particularly Japan, and are often cultivated there by locals. These flowers bear their deathly names because they bloom primarily in autumn, usually in response to heavy rainfall.

They have also been planted on the graves of ancestors by Buddhists in order to pay respect to the deceased and to celebrate the advent of autumn, hence the further association with death. To add to the identity of these flowers, the link they have with cemeteries and the autumnal equinox inspired writings in the Lotus Sutra (famous Buddhist sutra) that described the flowers as being ominous plants that grow in Hell, eventually guiding the dead to their next reincarnation.

So, what do these death flowers have to do with deadblood flowers? Well, I think it’s worth noting that visible distinction we can see between the Japanese and English when referring to the Coldblood medium. It is called “dead blood” in Japanese, further clarifying that it’s meant to be corpse blood.

It makes sense that we can extract the dying wills of the fallen from this type of blood, and it also feels like Bloodborne’s equivalent of collecting souls from the dead like we did in Dark Souls. It appears to be a theme in Soulsborne that the soul is in the blood, and so when we extract the souls/blood from those who have passed on, we absorb part of their essence.

So, now we have these flowers that bloom from dead blood in abandoned places. Seems reasonable enough. I think that’s why they are so prominent in the Chalice Dungeons, places that have been long-lost. They are also dropped by Loran Clerics, which would make even more sense, because Loran is notably a lost civilization.

But that’s where my theory comes in, because I suspect it may also have to do with the cosmos and the Great Ones.

In Bloodborne the connection between Lumenflowers and the cosmos seems to be heavily implied. Lumenflowers or Starflowers, as they’re called in the Japanese, seem to provide aid in cosmic ascension. This idea comes from the Milkweed/Seedbed Rune.

The Japanese description follows—

The Caryll rune of "Seedbed." Become a Starflower stem that houses phantasms. A Caryll rune borne by the laboratory patient Adeline. It is a phonetic representation of damp sounds, whispered by inhuman voices.

It divinely reveals the way to attend the stars. Those bound to it become a starflower stem that aims toward the sky. As a Seedbed, phantasms become able to dwell inside you. Phantasms guide, perhaps they will bring even more discoveries.

When you become a seedbed or a Starflower stem, you become a host for phantasms that guide towards further ascension. The flowers literally connect you to the stars.

So, now my theory about Starflowers and Deadblood flowers is based around the concept of redshift and blueshift, mostly figuratively, but perhaps also literally?

To sum up what I mean, I think the blossoming of either of these flowers indicate how close or far away the cosmos/cosmic beings are to the earth and its inhabitants. When they draw nearer, the starflowers bloom (perhaps even with an intentional blueish hue like we see in the art above), and when the cosmos abandons a place, the dead flowers bloom with their red-stained petals. This is why i call it the redshift/blueshift theory, because here is the definition of the phenomena.

Redshift and blueshift describe the change in the frequency of a light wave depending on whether an object is moving towards or away from us. When an object is moving away from us, the light from the object is known as redshift, and when an object is moving towards us, the light from the object is known as blueshift.

It’s how astronomers determine things like if a star or planet is moving away or towards us. Redshift is a big part of the reason why we believe the Universe is expanding. We can see the red light in the distance.

So, in Bloodborne’s world…where the cosmos and its movement can be associated with the Great Ones, I suspect that the two flowers I’m analyzing might be connected to that. I mean, a Loran Cleric dropping a Deadblood flower in the depths of the Chalice Dungeons may not seem too significant, but it would make so much sense that the corpse flowers were blooming in the ruins of the places long-since punished and left behind by the Great Ones.

I think the inhabitants of both Loran and Pthumeru lost their ties to Greater Beings, hence why they were ruined by the beast scourge and their civilizations were lost. Now the Deadflowers bloom in red, marking the death and loss of divine favor. The cosmos moved away.

Meanwhile, the Starflowers are blooming in the shade of night under the stars, aiding patients like Adeline in ascension. They are everywhere, likely planted by the cosmos-obsessed Choir, who clearly figured out quite a bit about divine communication. Even the Living Failures are fought in a field of Starflowers and in the shade of an Astral Clocktower, with the Failures being able to call the stars to their aid. I think the symbolism is all there.

When the cosmos draws near, the Starflowers bloom. When it draws away, the Deadblood flowers bloom.

Redshift and Blueshift!

—

That’s the theory, haha. Short and simple, but it got stuck in my head a little while back when I discovered that the Deadblood flowers are called Higan Flowers in the Japanese. I adore the Red Spider Lily as a flower, so I got really excited about the connection. This theory is also so fun for me because…botany and astronomy are just such fun topics for me to explore, so I love it when I can apply them to Bloodborne. Miyazaki has such a habit of incorporating concepts from the two fields into his games anyway, so I’m always looking for the connections. I’m glad you were curious, because now I had an excuse to go full nerd and make a post for these tiny details, haha.

Thanks for your interest, friend!

[robots-n-sweet-tea]

Same Fate, Same World Ch3: Home

I think this is gonna be the last chapter for this mini-series. Sorry if it feels rushed... If you'd like to see more of the bitlets, feel free to suggest ideas for them in my ask box!

Seven years. It’s been seven years since then. The bitlets absolutely hated every second that they were with their organic “families.” They were constantly moving around on these weird trips, that part they didn’t mind, with the downside being that they could not go out of anyone's sight. That part they minded a lot. Especially when it’s seven years of the same shit over and over and over. Countless attempts to run away and sneak out, only to be met with stricter and reinforced surveillance. Eventually, they learned to just…live with it, accepting their fate and the fact that no one was coming for them.

The only thing they had keeping them going at this point was each other.

In that seven-year timeframe, the bitlets had been enrolled into a human school, put on several medications (mainly Blueshift for her “aggressive nature”), and were given the life of two seemingly normal human lives. They despised it all. Not being able to talk about their “old” families, not being able to use the Cybertronian terminology for anything– it flat-out sucked. Primus, they weren’t even allowed to call each other Blueshift or Electronica anymore; it was just Arizona and Otto now.

“You two have a good day at school! We’ll see you when you get home.”

“Whatever, [REDACTED],” Blueshift huffed.

“Love you too!” And with that, they watched the car drive out of the school’s parking lot. Blueshift and Electronica glanced at each other, each with a small sigh.

“Another day in purgatory, Otto?”

“Another day in purgatory,” it nodded as they started to walk together towards the school. “What do you suppose we’ll be learning about today?”

“Dunno, don’t really care at this point. Like, I love the learning part, but I hate the teachers and everyone else in this hellhole. I’m just glad we’re in most of the same classes.”

“Exactly! Let’s just get this over with, then we can go home and play whatever video games we have.” And that’s exactly what they did. Well, the school part anyway. They wouldn’t be going home this particular day. Once school let out for the day, the two teens leaned against the school wall waiting for their ride. They watched everyone else with a blank expression for a while before turning and making small talk with each other. Just like always. Although…today was different, somehow. They could feel it. And, at that exact moment, two particular vehicles drove by the school; one seemed to be a police car, while the other…a Porsche? In this area? That’s a bit unusual. These vehicles didn’t go unnoticed by the bitlets.

“Otto, you see what I’m seeing?”

“Mhm, yeah. That cop car doesn’t look like the ones from around this area, and I know for a fact that nobody has a Porsche around these parts.”

“Maybe they’re from out of state,” she shrugged.

“...No, wait.” Electronica squinted a bit at the vehicles before quickly taking off, following the cars without waiting for its friend.

“Otto! Hey, wait up!” Blueshift shouted, following after it. “What’s wrong?!”

“I know only one being with a Porsche.” She gave it a weird look. “It’s…It’s Jazz, my sire. And the cop car must be Prowl!”

“What? No way! I thought they gave up their search years ago.”

“Well, there’s only one way to find out.” Electronica sped up, now going into a full sprint as it ran ahead of the two vehicles with Blueshift catching up to it. They crossed the street, stopping only in the middle of it; this caused the vehicles to stop abruptly. There was no honking, no angry drivers yelling at them to move, nothing. That was the first sign. “Stay here, and watch this.” It approached the Porsche, took a deep breath, and knocked on the hood. One two…pause…three four five. It took a second, but the doors opened as fast as they possibly could. “Blueshift, get in NOW!”

The bitlets wasted no time hopping in, and Jazz and Prowl wasted no time in speeding off as fast as they possibly could in a school zone. Electronica was trying so hard to stay calm, tears pooling in its eyes already.

“Oh thank Primus!” it hiccuped, wiping the tears away with a smile. “Please tell me it’s really you guys…”

“You know it! Electronica, you have no idea how much everyone missed you. Where on Cybertron were you?! And who’s your friend?” Jazz spoke; there was so much happiness in his voice– was this really happening?

“This is Blueshift– her sire is Soundwave, and she got in the same boat as me.”

“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Blueshift! Now, what boat are you talking about?”

“We got taken by the fragging Human Rehabilitation Program, or HRP for short. They thought we were being kept as pets by you guys.”

“And they forced us to be with these stupid organic families to “reintroduce us to human society” according to them. Primus, it’s been a whole nightmare,” its friend added.

“The HRP? Oh frag no, we know about them all too well. Normally they’re all about rescuing humans who have been in underground scrap, not those who have been adopted or befriended by mechs,” Prowl interjected with an extremely pissed-off growl in his voice. “I’ll get in contact with Soundwave as soon as we get to a safe point, away from the town. You two are in good servos again, so just hang tight.” After that, things were quiet until they reached said safe point; this just happened to be somewhere in the woods. Less likely to be found here. Blueshift and Electronica were let out, and the two Cybertronians transformed.

Electronica was immediately picked up by its sire and pulled into a never-ending hug. It was clear to the others that seven years was too long.

Prowl looked to Blueshift, “Your sire’s on his– Never mind, he’s here now, actually.” That was…extremely quick, to say the least. They watched as Soundwave landed, transformed, and immediately went to pick up his bitlet.

“Sire!” she smiled.

“Oh, my bitlet, my precious bitlet– I missed you too much,” he whispered, holding her up to his mask as close as he possibly could. This is probably the one time that the two Autobots and bitlets have ever seen a Con this emotional. “Where– How…?”

“The HRP,” Prowl answered. “I’m sure you’ve heard of them.”

“...Unfortunately, I have. They had the audacity to take our bitlets, then?”

“Mhm. Kidnapped them, put them with organic families, and attempted to rehabilitate them into their own society by force.” Now Soundwave was pissed. “We managed to find not only your bitlet but also our own bitlet. Soundwave, meet Electronica.” Jazz held it up to Soundwave, both of them watching as it waved.

Soundwave nodded, “This is Blueshift. Are they friends?”

“We sure are! We’ve been friends for the past seven years,” Blueshift nodded. “We’ve kept each other company in these trying times.”

“Well, would you look at that! Our bitlets are friends, that’s amazing!” Jazz chuckled. “Wait, does this mean that we’re making friends with a ‘Con?”

“Well, we kinda want to remain friends if that’s okay with you?”

“...I’m sure we can arrange meetups,” Soundwave nodded again.

“Frag yeah!” the bitlets cheered

Meetups and hiding from the government? What a way to end this story.

[the-parallax-of-rain]

thinking about how the entire universe is expanding and everything within it is fated to keep moving away from each other, yet the milky way and andromeda galaxies are still set to collide billions of years in the future