#so that'll be the first re-touch

[etirabys]

When I started translating my notes on Nick Lane's book on abiogenesis into an blog post, I felt like I'd woken up from an ultra detailed dream with an amazing plot, only to discover it makes no sense when I describe the twists. I kept reducing my ambitions until I succeeded in writing a rather muzzy and exasperated five paragraph summary for friends. Since I don't want to say nothing about my partial understanding of a partial account of abiogenesis, one of the most interesting questions ever, I will paste those paragraphs.

(Note: he chooses not to touch the major question of how DNA and DNA replication arose. This book is about how reality might have solved the other significant challenges.)

--

Nick Lane's bet on the location of the origin of life is underwater alkaline hydrothermal vents, which are formed when water sinks underwater, reacts with certain common rocks like olivine, and comes back hot & alkaline & also holding a lot of rock stuff like metals and sulfur. When this re-meets the ocean, the rock stuff precipitates out into a "mineralized sponge" riddled with labyrinthine interconnected pores, throughout which the pH difference can be dramatically different. Like 3-5 pH units.

This rock offers a bit of natural inside/outside protection for a protocell putting itself together. Organics naturally concentrate in small spaces due to thermophoresis, which is the phenomenon where larger molecules accumulate in the colder regions of a small space (because they're worse at randomly bouncing back to a hot region than a small molecule). So you have an environment full of CO2, hydrogen gas, metal catalysts, as well as a natural gentle flow of water carrying out waste. Promising!

Carbon fixation is the process of stripping carbon from inorganics like CO2 to tack them onto organic molecules like RNA. Every living cell has to do this. The simplest carbon fixation pathway only requires CO2 and H2, so let's assume it's the first pathway that was used. The pH difference comes into play twice, here: (1) Stripping an electron from H2 to give it to CO2 to make an organic molecule is hard in any pH, but not hard if the electron crosses a semiconducting mineral like FeS in a thin wall, from a more alkaline environment to a more acidic one. (2) Where does the energy to run these carbon fixation reactions come from? Simple membranes are by default porous to protons, which are small. Simple cells wedged between two areas with differences in pH can exploit the flow of protons, which go through (something like) ATP synthase to generate ATP, which can perform work in the cell much as they do now. (Actually, probably not ATP, but acetyl phosphate, which is much simpler but can do the same thing.)

But howww do you go from passively exploiting the proton gradient to producing it yourself by pumping protons out, as modern cells do? As a hint, we notice that all cells seem adapted to an internal concentration of Na+ that's weirdly lower than the ocean concentration. Na+ can also be used for energy production, and lipid membranes are much less permeable to Na+ than H+. So while there's no point in pumping H+ that'll come back immediately, there is an advantage to pumping Na+, since it'll stay out and increase the energy gradient you're using to live. The additional Na+ gradient can give the cell 60% more power than relying on protons alone, meaning cells with the Na+ pump can colonize areas of the vent with a smaller pH difference. Once you have an Na+ pump, there's an advantage to tightening the membrane against protons since… I didn't believe the logic here :/ but the endpoint is that you have an impermeable membrane studded all over with proton pumps, at which point you're ready to leave the vents.

Even this relatively plausible account is so implausible I don't think life actually arose...

Archaea and bacteria probably diverged before attaining independence, and left the vents separately. We think this because their cell membranes and cell walls are so different. Like, they both use glycerol to make their membrane impermeable to protons, but they use different stereoisomers of glycerol to do so. Both of them use the same fundamental energy converting membrane protein, but oriented in opposite directions, which led to different design constraints. Which I do not understand well enough to relay to you.

[philcoulsonismyhero]

There's a lot of lines in Amongst Our Weapons that make me want to wave my arms around and yell incoherently about Peter and Nightingale and how far they've come and how much they mean to each other, but right now the one I want to yell about the most is this one from right at the end:

Image text: 'The wider the base, the greater the stability of the building,' said Nightingale. 'You taught me that.'

Because, like. Peter wanted to be an architect. The thing he always wanted to do was to build things. And look what he's built! He hasn't just rebuilt the Folly as it was, he's built something modern and completely new out of its constituent parts and he's done it by caring about people and being interested in how things work and by what Beverly jokingly calls 'compulsive networking'.

And everything he's done for the Folly, he's done for Nightingale on a personal level too.

Nightingale was So isolated when Peter first met him. His police colleagues didn't want much to do with him, his social circle seemed to consist of Molly and Dr Walid and not much more, he was completely out of touch with the modern world. And to his credit, he was the one who decided to take on an apprentice, but that was pretty much all he was planning to do. Train up a replacement for himself in case he got killed, pass on the Forms and Wisdoms properly, keep the status quo going.

But he chose Peter, and suddenly he's got an apprentice who wants to study the science behind magic and modernise the Folly's record keeping and work out better ways to liaise with other police and fundamentally Make Changes. Nightingale ends up with all these connections through Peter, to Beverley and the other Thames girls, to Lesley, to Abigail, eventually to the rest of Peter's family, to other police like Guleed and Stephanopoulos and unfortunately for him Seawoll... He has people he can rely on, and who choose to rely on him, and not just for magic -I especially love how Peter's mum eventually starts using him to babysit Peter's dad, and the fact that he helps Abigail's family with her brother. He's not alone anymore, and he goes from just living to genuinely thriving.

And it's all down to Peter, and what the two of them have built together. In fact, they've built something so significant that in a few years Nightingale isn't going to be necessary anymore. He's been Britain's Last Official Wizard for seventy years, all the weight of that tradition resting on his shoulders alone, and in a handful of years Peter has helped him to build something that'll be able to take the weight instead if he wants it to. There are people who can help do everything he's been doing alone and more, so finally he can think about what he actually wants for himself. (And don't even get me started on his arc re: teaching and discovering that it's what he wants to do for the rest of his life, I Will start yelling even more.)

And it's Peter who's taught him to let other people take the weight. That you can build something stable and lasting if you're willing to share the load. The wider the base, the greater the stability of the building.

Not bad for a wannabe architect who can't draw, huh?

[thewriters-world]

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3:

There's a harsh ringing in Marc's ear as Cristian escorts him to his motor home. Alex holds his arm in a death grip that he doesn't realise is leaving bruises on his arm. Marc doesn't mind, it keeps him grounded, it keeps him here. Cristian is saying something in his ear, whispering things that he knows are important but Marc's ears are ringing and he doesn't know what is being said.

Alex freezes, grip on his arm tightening further in a way that makes Marc finally take notice of his surroundings. Valentino is leant against his motorhome. His curls are tucked into a cap and he's wearing the simplest of outfits; a loose white shirt t-shirt and below knee shorts that remind Marc of Valentino's age. Yet he is still mesmerised.

Cristian is frozen, how does one confront the messiah? How does he berate the man who made the sport. Alex narrows his eyes, venomous tinge to his pursed lips. Marc places a hand on his arm, nods at both men, encouraging them to leave him be 'I can handle this' he says with his eyes.

No he can't.

...

Valentino enters the motorhome with all the confidence of a God. Marc closes the door behind the domineering man, allows him to walk the full length of the motorhome, before he makes himself at home on the plush sofa.

Marc looks at him, cross-armed, blank-faced.

"Do you want to date?" Valentino asks so casually that he himself is thrown by his words. Wants to reach out into the void that is the space between Marc and him to clasp at those heavy words and shove them right back into his larynx. Never to come out again. But those are the only words he has. Can't say 'I hate you but I don't like that people hate you because of me', won't say 'I think you're a manipulative bastard but my tapes (that I did not leak) are the reason for this mess that you're in'. Won't admit 'I want to touch you but you can't be mine (I will ruin you)'.

Marc almost vomits onto the scuffed linoleum floor of his motorhome. Feels the color on his cheeks rush out onto the abyss that threatens to send him hurtling into a free-fall beneath him.

Valentino must see something on his face.

"Pretend, fake dating" he clarifies.

Marc might have said yes if he came a year ago, even a few months ago. He might have leapt head-first into a mistake once again. Might have allowed himself this fantasy world where he could run his fingers through Valentino's curls to maintain a pretence. A world where Valentino's eyes softened once again as they met his frame. A world where the warmth of Valentino's chest could meet the warmth of his chest (all as pretence, of course).

But the red on his cheeks has just re-appeared. The throbbing ache of his chest has just subsided. Alex has just told him how his heartbreak didn't just hurt him. And he knows, knows that this would hurt him once again. That Valentino would discard him once his purpose, whatever it may be (to hurt him, to ruin him, to break him) was fulfilled. Would Alex once again have to sit on the stairs that lead to his bedroom to listen to him sob into his pillow?

Marc bypasses the question entirely.

"Why did you do it?" He questions, lower lip tucked into his teeth.

Valentino's brows furrow and Marc scoffs.

Why did you take my youth?

Why did you alienate me from everyone who actually understood?

Why did you fuck me and then get Uccio to do your dirty work?

"The tape" he reminds, biting his inner cheek.

Valentino is thrown. He didn't know why he hadn't expected Marc to believe he had leaked the tapes. He had thought maybe Marc would extend him a grace that he would never have displayed himself. Valentino doesn't know how to say 'it wasn't me' in a way that'll make Marc believe him. Doesn't know how to make 'I don't even touch those tapes' a convincing lie. So he shrugs in a way that he knows might steal a piece of Marc's entire being. Looks down, thanking the curved brim of his cap for shielding his view of Marc. He knows all the details that make Marc, like he knows all the lines of his wretched turtle tattoo. So he knows the exact way the open wound on Marc's face is bleeding into his mouth. Knows the way his face is scrunched up in a mimicry of hurt that Valentino is still too angry to face.

He waits a beat. Gives Marc the ten seconds he needs to readjust (Valentino is good at pretending that he stills knows Marc). Then he looks up, feels an icy sensation akin to 'I gotchu' rushing through his veins as Marc's face is all hard lines and rigid lips. He raises his brow, a tentative smirk on his face that he uses to say 'answer my question'. And Marc knows, of course Marc knows what every angle of his face means, the raised brown, the smirk.

"No" he says looking up at Valentino.

Valentino nods unperturbed, gives the selfish beast inside Marc a moment to come roaring out (but it doesn't and maybe Valentino doesn't know Marc as well as he thinks he does).

...

Marc doesn't answer Alex's phone call. Ignores his urgent messages as he leans against the wall of his motorhome. It is only now that Valentino has left does Marc allow his brain to wander into places it shouldn't frequent. Was he that obvious? Could everyone and their mothers see right through him? He wants to make a mad dash for Bezzecchi's motorhome, wants to ask do you see it too? Knows that man hates him and would love to rub it in his face that he knows something about Marc. A weakness to be exploited. Can you see it in my face, that I would ruin myself for your God?

He can feel his entire brain unravel but the shrill ringing of his phone interrupts

It's Cristian. He has to answer this one. They've waited too long to release a statement and people are getting curious.

"Cristian" he greets.

"Hi Marc, how are you" the press manager begins with small-talk that Marc has no interest in engaging with.

"We need a statement, yes?" There's a pause and then Cristian sighs.

"Yes" he acquiesces.

"They want to know what happened?" Cristian presses into a deep wound that has been festering for years. The what did you do remains unsaid.

Marc releases a sigh of his own before nodding, even though he knows Cristian won't see him through the phone.

"Can I get back to you with a statement that you can look over?" Marc knows he's asking for too much. It's easier for them to draft a statement. It should be easier for him to tell them what happened. But he knows the words won't come out, how can they when he himself doesn't know what happened.

There's silence for a moment and Marc almost thinks this is the end of Cristian's kindness. But then the older man breathes out a resgined "yes".

...

It's 1am. Marc's fingers and back are both cramping. His lower back is sore from having been seated in one position this whole time. His eyes hurt from the strain of staring into his laptop screen in the dark. And he has only written three words.

Valentino Rossi is...

A lot of things that Marc is unable to articulate. He needs to explain their relationship. Lack of relationship. He changes it.

Valentino Rossi was...

But then there's nothing. Mind draws a blank on actual information they need. Valentino Rossi was soft, he was kind, he smelt sweet and musky, his arms were warm and his smile was blinding. He played big spoon and spoke about his brother with stars in his eyes. But he broke my heart. He whispered promises in my ear as we slept and allowed me to dream. He spoke in finality, he made me believe we actually had a chance.

But he can't say all of that. And it's not fair, Marc has never complained. Not about Valentino deciding to throw him away, not about the whole grid deciding he was a pariah, not about his broken arm. But this, this could ruin him. They would discard him in a heartbeat if he wasn't Marc Marquez and he knows Valentino wants to hit him where it hurts but he had held out some hope throughout the years that Valentino wouldn't resort to cruelty. But here he was, once again suffering for the sins of his past. Maybe he shouldn't have to do this, maybe he should be the exact notion of selfishness that Valentino believes him to be. He changes it.

Valentino Rossi is my partner.

Shoots Valentino a text. Is that offer still on the table.

And welcomes sweet slumber.

[that-spider-fan-over-there]

BNHA 428: This chapter made me annoyed and yet it was still somewhat better than I expected?

Himichako. I like it, it's a good ship- not one I'm crazy about, but the vision is compelling. I mean, the loved girl on hard times who admires honesty but represses her feelings + hunger motifs, and the formerly wealthy and rejected girl who's honest to herself but masks her sadness from others + drinking motifs? Being so similar at their core from selfishness, bleeding love, admiration and imitation? Yeah, why not, sign me up, it looks fun.

(plus Ochako needed a subplot that would shy away from Izuku because oh boi her writing is messy-)

Then the ending annoucement happened and I immediately went "oh no" when I remembered that tidbit. But. Yesterday, I remembered this page from 424, which in hindsight makes sense:

Shoto moving forward and choosing to not dwell on his past anymore, because he wants to know the man he wants to become alongside his family of choice.

Spinner feeling so much grief for Tomura inside his room, his extra Quirks add up to it. Further gut points as it was all because of AFO, but the wrong person is getting the blame.

Ochako looking lost and dissatisfied, not really saying anything about Himiko's status; then her hidden injury which left a scar that'll never go away, nothing can change that.

And then, well, a sky with a chance to fight for a "bright future". Which is the most ambiguous you can get for anything, really, sequel or not.

(sidenote: is it me or the panel where she's touching her stab wound looks like a tangent line?)

Okay so, I went into the chapter, with Pikahlua's translations. It was A Chapter alright-

If it wasn't the antepenultimate chapter, the "filler" would've been welcomed. But I guess it means we should focus on the smaller details, I guess? Like that 1st year saying Izuku filled him with courage and Izuku immediately thinking of Spinner's pain? Yeah he hates himself and that people call him a hero, when he considers himself a murderer, and will never forgive himself for failing Tenko, therapy for him and everyone in Class 2-A please- yeah it was a fun detail. Also the throb of hiding your pain of "defeating" someone you wanted to save but in the end everything is miserable but everyone else is happy and you don't wanna be a bother. Fun.

Also I wasn't the one to point the out, but looking at the uniform (U.A. uniform blazer for boys + the tie with a dot for girls), the student who's a Izuku fan is probably trans/gnc, which I appreciate a lot :D (Damn Izuku attracts so many queer people I wonder if that's a sign- /hj)

Also, I guess Class A stating "[Bakugou], Midoriya and Todoroki were at the heart of it all" then focusing on Ochako is good foreshadowing on how her own battle wasn't fully recorded? It's like saying in the end her fight didn't matter, but the other ones went "well", so she's trying (and slowly failing) to keep her sadness at bay because, well, everyone's happy, so who cares? Another "throb".

I thought since the Todoroki family issues are out in the open, didn't they record the whole thing? Then I re-read it, they only saw the family stopping Touya from exploding. So they didn't see Shoto trying to talk to Touya, which means none of the LoV were humanized. Fuck's sake.

After that, I get focusing on the first years and civilians wanting to help and all, but it feels like a repeat of everything seconds before Jakku, so I assume it's a way for them to pretend things are normal? But not-quite-quoting Katsuki (<- which I will point out for my sake is very much alive and well and- oh boi LFtR will kill me) and Edgeshot here because it made me smile:

"Will you...go back to the way you were?" "I plan to attain something greater than what I was originally!"

So, yeah I suppose he'll be fine eventually. (Best J. really loving Edgeshot even as a worm, honestly, goals)

Again with Izuku remembering saying "[He'll] bring it all back" and apologizing for "not keeping his promise" and others telling him to not blame himself and they can reconstruct as many times as it takes. Again, gave me a little smile, but not for long-

Finally, Ochako pretending things are fine. Hello there, Sports Festival/Provisional License!Ochako I missed you- /hj (I miss the dorms era in general, actually.)

So... *sigh* Full disclosure: I wasn't looking forward to Himichako as we were getting 5/10 pages for the "conclusions" in the previous two, I thought Ochako would be off about Himiko being depressed about the League. But since she's MIA, red flags are now red herrings, and it's better than the dead outcome. If Ochako got another person dying in her arms that'd just break her character.

A blood transfusion takes hours, she couldn't been doing that for more than 20min, if it was gonna kill anyone it'd be Ochako. Either Himiko ran away or got arrested, and Ochako feels guilty because she doesn't know if she's dead or not. Not great, but until I see a corpse she ain't dead. Besides: Touya, Shoto, Edgeshot, Katsuki, Toshinori, Ochako herself, all physically hurt unlike her, and yet they live.

And then we have Izuku showing up. I'm upset he used OFA embers for this, but eh, it's Izuku, do I expect anything else?

Rolling with the assumption Himiko died (like our POV characters), Izuku would need to face his own failure in Ochako- Failed to save two people like she failed Himiko, but it'd be so. Empty. Ochako was true to herself, while Izuku gave nothing but "I want to save that crying kid" while fighting Tenko. The most they can do is bond with "failing" and "this isn't what we fought for". This is not really a moment where he can be a shoulder to cry on, it'd come across as hypocritical /neg.

The only way it could make sense it without being shallow on Mr. Control = Repress Your Heart's part (as he didn't open up to the two people who died in "his watch") is Ochako telling how Himiko loved yet seeing him repressing this part of his is idiotic? She likes people who are true to themselves, which Izuku hasn't been for ages, leading to him realizing something. I thought it'd be through a DvsK3 but. I'll take it, two chapters left, I just want his thoughts (and for them to talk but that can happen in the last one).

They only recorded Shoto stopping Touya from being a suicidal bomb, Ochako floating a bunch of Twice!Himiko clones and Izuku entering a coccon, popping out armless, getting them back, punching Tenko to death. The "I want to save [them]" wasn't registered, it makes sense they're (well, Izuku and Ochako mostly) weirded out about this, dissatisfied like most readers are (sidenote: why when it comes to the trio either Ochako or Shoto get sidelined? So much could tie their stories together and yet-)

It's still a tough pill. I'm not a villain stan, just wondering if those fights were for nothing- the humanity of Tenko and Himiko? Can't be proved for anyone else, since they weren't recorded.

And I don't know if anyone saw the same thing, but those "city lights" look like the bubbles from Ochako's awakening, maybe we'll get a Blackwhip or Entrance Exam callback? Maybe it's what the tagline meant by "hidden feelings", since she unlocked it to reach Himiko and doesn't think anyone would understand why. I hope it's just a nice visual though.

If Himiko is truly dead though... You know, I headcannoned the characters were telling the story through confessionals/recordings to register it to the world so they'd learn from that, but I guess the interviews Aizawa was talking about seemed more likely, which. Well it's something, but I thought it'd be everyone instead of just Class A. Idk. The idea the LoV didn't change anything, or that they did change things but don't get to see it, is bitter.

So uh. Yeah, those are my thoughts. I'm not sure how to feel about it, on one hand I want Izuku to finally open up but on the other, it feels like it'll be at Himiko and Ochako's expense by involving him in something that's theirs now. And there's a chance we'll get the "nothing is fine" from Ochako- god I'm fearing the discourse next week already :DDDD

... Man, and this is a bad timing to be in the fandom, considering the LFtR episode airs this Saturday (which will be yesterday by the time this post goes up and I'll be crying about that instead-), so uh. Yeah, this fandom will be emotionally devastated for two reasons XD

Okay, so I'll try ending this on a more optimistic note: I think Himiko is alive, and Ochako just doesn't know it, which is why we're getting 0 confirmation and a breakdown. Izuku's confrontation with her can make or break this plot, but as long as 1) we acknowledge the emotional, different stakes between the Himichako fight and Tenko vs. Izuku one and 2) it doesn't end in a confession (and let's be real, it won't), then we're probably good (sadly, if you disregard the LoV status). I still think it's an ass pull for the camera battery to go out though.

But no matter how this goes: C'mon, two chapters left now, this one was wasted on the first years, smh, let this sequel hopium be a reality I wanna know who's the 425 guy, not the poor first year who's gonna replace Shindo Yo in fanfics- /hj

[jessequinnfirstofhername]

Hazben hotel confessional?

I am utterly sick and tired of depictions of lucifer being a Sad/cheerful quirky boi? I just find it so utterly and completely boring.

Also they never really sold me on the Demon redemption bit as a concept, partly cause they dont show past lives and the like, and all it takes is taking a bullet for someone else in combat when in hell?

might be interesting in the Hell spawn having to interact with regular folks in Hevan that they harmed in life that now has to share space with them but I doubt it.

I get 99% of the show is set dressing for quirky signing and fun animation and that is fine but still slight annoyance.

First Hazbin Hotel confession! Woo-woo!

I'll respectfully disagree with you Re: Lucifer. I think it's pretty funny to have a depiction of The Devil who's such a dork at heart. That being said, I do understand if you find the ubiquity of fanon!Lucy only ever being quirky boring. I'm a sucker for Lucifer getting to be a bit wicked...

I think that if Hazbin Hotel has one big flaw, it's how rushed everything can be. From what I've seen Vivziepop does have a very elaborate and detailed world that she's created, her writing style is just a touch too frenetic to give the stories time to breathe and world-build. But maybe that'll change in the future.

-Jesse xx

[vidavalor]

Story Analysis Meta Masterlist

I'm spring cleaning up the blog a bit here and have been making a meta masterlist. As you know, Tumblr only likes so many links per post so all meta related to Good Omens story analysis is here in this post beneath the cut. You can find additional meta related to analysis of language, characters, some theories and just silly stuff in the pinned post on my blog. Thanks. 💕

Story Analysis

A short look at non-linear storytelling & what it suggests about 2.06

Historical context of eccles cakes

Aziraphale's snakeskin patterned vest & feather boa flirting in 1941

On symbolism of coffee and America

The other S2 kisses...

Humans are ants, angels are bees... on insect analogies

Aziraphale's journal entry in 1827 says for how long Crowley was gone

One reason we needed to see where Mrs. Sandwich lives/works in S2

You Can Leave Your Hat On: On when Crowley's wearing his hat in 1941 & why

The Ball & 'The Sound of Music'

High on a hill in the Job minisode was a lonely goatherd...

Do-Re-Mi

You Love Trains: Crowley & Aziraphale inspired 'North by Northwest'

The wine Crowley drinks at Marguerite's and horses

On Maggie's individual scene with Crowley

I Have Confidence

"Moonlight Serenade" in S2

Gabriel's S2 bookseller outfit & the Ineffable Husbands

Underrated humorous Ineffable Husbands moment in S2

Flirting in the Job minisode at the start of the cellar scenes

Scenes showing C&A looking after each other & A helping with C's PTSD in S1

On scenes relating to C&A, touch & Gabriel

On Crowley not getting another apartment after S1 because he basically lives in the bookshop

On the trauma-related ties between Crowley pulled to Hell in 1827 and the wall slam at Tadfield Manor

Gabriel subtly mocking Sandalphon to Aziraphale in S1

Why viewing the 2.06 kiss as a first kiss doesn't work with the rest of the scenes the show has already put forth

This is the face of an angel who is going to burn this place to the ground...

The wall slam & sex games

Crowley magically drawing Aziraphale to him by his bowtie in 1827

"You look me in the eye and tell me..."

Crowley caressing in the parallel 1967 and S2 Dirty Donkey scenes

On whales, The Them and ice cream and probably some other stuff

The S2 poster with the frou frou cocktails with little umbrellas

When the Lord closes a door...

This way Up

"That'll Be the Day"

"Toast"/"It's Toasted": A nod to 'Mad Men' in S2

"Funny old world"

The Horsehead Nebula

On Maggie, parrots, crows and flying free

[raccoonfallsharder]

here are a few sneak previews of what we’ve got going on (this is really more to organize my thoughts and force myself to come up with titles than anything else)

upcoming rocket raccoon fics behind the cut

1. Window Across the Galaxy

aka long&angsty. hoping to start posting on Sunday or Monday.

Slooowww burn + eventual smut. elements of hurt/comfort because rocket is the saddest-angriest boy. Slight AU starting pre-GOTG volume 1 (but will hit most of the same major plot points).

Rocket is captured by a Ravager crew hoping to get rich off the excessively large bounty on his head. Throwing a wrench in everyone’s plans is the Terran girl they hired to do some freelance assessing on a recent haul of goods they’ve seized from a Xandaran luxury liner. Oops.

She looks at the rusted bars, and back to her brute of a tour guide, and sighs heavily. Slowly, she turns back to the cage, swaying toward the bars so she can peer in at eye-level. She’s immediately face-to-face with the creature. His ears are still pressed flat against his head, fur bristling, and he’s gazing back, clearly suspicious and probably - justifiably - feeling more than a little bit mean. She’s suddenly certain that if she got close enough, he’d take out her eyes. There’s no helping herself, is there? One corner of her mouth twists up in exhausted resignation and she nods. “Welp,” she says solemnly to the raccoon, “fuck me, my dude.”

2. Blackmail Material

(codename: pwp???). will probably post part 1 in a week or two.

just pure fucking smut. this was gonna be two parts but I'm leaning toward three now (smut // fuff // smut). probably takes place sometime after endgame but before volume 3? not that it really matters tbh because there is NO FUCKIN PLOT HERE. ur girl's got a praise kink so that'll definitely be featured per usual.

basically: rocket finds your vibrator.

“I’ll tell you what,” he offers up, still grinning that shit-eating grin. “I won’t say a word and I’ll give it back to you. You can even keep whatever batteries are in it.” That sounds too good to be true. You raise a brow and cross your arms in front of your breasts. “If?" “If you let me watch you use it,” he challenges, eyes daring you. “For science.”

3. Domestic Scenes in Space Travel

(codename: ok sweatshirt girl.) i dunno -maybe post the first one by mid-august?

Comics-inspired but not exclusive - just a buncha feel-good fuffy one-shots and equally feel-good smutty one-shots. Series of slice-of-life readerxrocket one-shots following The Very Boring Adventures of Space Pilot & Sweatshirt Girl.

“Just try not to push any buttons or pull any levers till you know what they do.” You snort. “I fully intend to keep my hands completely to myself unless I have your explicit permission to touch.” Rocket leers. “That could be fun.” Your eyes narrow. “Space Pilot, I’m gonna need you to focus on the task at hand so I don’t end up accidentally jettisoning us.”

4. Other Duties As Assigned

(codename: schemers, dreamers, & multicalendar memers) i don't have an intended outcome for this fic yet so while i am VERY much enjoying it, i first need to grapple with whether or not i'm okay posting something that may be unfinished. i usually try to avoid that.

I have no idea whether this will get smutty or not (probably, knowing me?). Begins five months after The Snap.

Natasha Romanoff is an administrative nightmare - a fact that does not go unnoticed by the (interim) captain of the Milano. First she demands that the remaining two Guardians of the Galaxy be reachable via a primitive Terran messaging system, and then she can't be bothered to read the frickin' emails.

Thank fuck she's hired a new assistant.

**THIS MESSAGE IS ENCRYPTED** To: <nromanoff@aee.org> From: &lt;rocket@aee.org> Subj: re: WHAT THE FUCK RED Date: Monday, September 24, 2018 7:34am well that’s probably the nicest message I’ve gotten since I hacked the internet I’m gonna have to kill your boss though

(a super-secret spoiler sidenote - i have a formula and I shamelessly overuse it, so there are no surprises here: girl falls first, raccoons falls harder. every fuckin time friends.)

[sussysatann]

MY THOUGHTS - HALLOWEEN EVENT: SPECTRAL SOIREE

[Spoilers for a Twisted Halloween: Spectral Soiree under the cut!!]

OKAY, SO...

I started playing TWST around February/March time this year, so I haven't been able to play the first Halloween event from last year. Though I'm missing context from what happened in the previous event, I still enjoyed playing through the story. There were some good moments during the story and really seemed like the stakes were high, but I can't help feel that the ending diminished that and left me feeling unsure. The ending twistune was super cute! It was nice seeing everyone come together and I did find the ending humorous, but also wished it had leaned into those high stakes more and have actual consequences for it?

I haven't seen many people posting about this event. I thought there'd be more posts about it since it's a new second part - I didn't realise until much later on that the EN server already had the event later last year. Why would they re-release it in August?? It's such a strange choice, but I've seen many people theorize they did it to prepare for the Masquerade event, which might be next (I will scream if it is i have been SO EXCITED to play this!!) and will hopefully happen either in September or October. We will have to wait and see...

Anyways,

Short story short, I liked the event. The never-ending Halloween concept was super cool and the ghost fights and possessions really upped the stakes, making for a really suspenseful and fun story. There were several memorable moments throughout, one of my favourites being when Leona and Ace were trying to get Floyd to not touch a possible dangerous artifact and Ace questioning Leona's entire party boat story afterwards. I really loved the group pairings in the spectral realm, it was so nice to see the different dynamics and interactions they had with one another. Riddle, Ruggie and Ortho's conversations about adventures and puzzles were so sweet!

Speaking of puzzles and escape rooms...

I can't help but feel a little bit pissed off at Lilia and Malleus for putting them through all this. But then again, they didn't know what was going down behind the scenes and weren't informed of the ghost fights, so they're not entirely in the wrong for that.

But they DID make it incredibly cryptic in the worst way possible, to the point where even the teachers were concerned. Students vanishing into thin air, appearing to be kidnapped, is not something that'll get taken lightly. Especially when Lilia was yelling outside Silver's dorm, seemingly getting kidnapped too. That really must've fucked him up, especially since no-one else heard him scream. I felt so sorry for him - he genuinely thought his father was in danger the entire time, only to find out he was helping Malleus host a grand party for the ghosts. Obviously I'm glad they ended up being okay but MAN that wasn't fair on him. Sebek as well - they both thought Lilia and Malleus were in peril and were so genuinely distraught over the whole situation, it made me pretty annoyed that they didn't think through Silver and Sebek's reaction to something like this.

On the one hand, it was the ghosts' fault for fighting and possessing students. On the other hand, Malleus and Lilia are also to blame for the setup of the 'prank'. And on the other other hand it was also technically the students' fault for fighting the ghosts in the first place, but when you're put into such a seemingly dangerous and unpredictable situation, you go straight into fight or flight mode. I don't blame them for reacting the way they did.

That aside, I also kinda wished that the event was actually that dangerous, that Lilia and Malleus really WERE possessed. Imagine if there was an actual boss fight. An actual enemy. Someone who genuinely DID want an eternal Halloween, and needed the mirror shards to create a mirror portal to the human realm and take over even more bodies of the living. A ghost uprising if you will.

Imagine the teachers and the few survivors having to fight off an entire army of possessed students with a genuine intent to harm.

Imagine Malleus and Lilia being genuine threats and holding the prefect and Grim captive while everyone is trying to fight back without overblotting.

...That might be a little overkill.

BUT.

It would've been interesting to see actual consequences arise from this. I can especially imagine the prefect being really affected by the Spectral Realm.

They're already in a world that's not their own, so being thrown into that world's literal afterlife would really mess them up - whether emotionally or maybe even physically. Maybe they get really sick once they get back, maybe they were (unknowingly?) on the verge of disappearing permanently. Maybe that's why they were so worried about joining Malleus and Lilia. Because they were scared of what could happen to them, Grim not really understanding that. I love that Ace was so concerned about them both, he really is a great friend and I kinda wished these concerns were brought up a bit more.

Anyways, if you've made it this far thank you for reading!!

Feel free to add on to this, I'd love to know your thoughts and opinions! ♡

[bks-blogs]

I'm Back!! + 100 Followers!

#101DalmatianStreet #Save101DalmatianStreet #Disney #DisneyPlus #101Dalmatians #101DSSeason2 #Update #Bluesky

How is it GOING, my dedicated pups? Danuki here!👋😁

First off, I want to thank you all so much! Thanks to you fellow supporters on Tumblr, I have reached over 100 followers during my time on this website, and I couldn't be more thankful for your support!

I know some of you are anxious to hear about the updates about my upcoming "Space Dogs' Face Blogs" 101DS Tumblr Series! As of now, I've pushed to a December date from the original date of November to buy me time to promote the project.

I know many of you are eager to see the project be released, and I'm gonna make sure the wait will be worth it!

Now for my reason for my absence.

First off, I want to sincerely apologize for being inactive on Furaffinity lately. Lots of stuff had came up during the past month esepcially during the past week, and you guys have a right to know where I've been.

The reason for my recent absence was because my brother (Who lives far away from me) had suffered a serious disease over the past week. ����🤒

I'm going to be honest, the shocking news of my brother being hospitalized had me absolutely shook, that one of my family members had to go up and see him. I had to take a few days off to collect myself, and since then I've been keeping in touch with my fam on his condition.😟

Thankfully, he's doing okay now, but to hear that he's been suffering makes me worry.

Anyway, now that the worse of it is behind me, I can now get back to working on my 101 Dalmatian Street fan-content! I'm planning on announcing something SPECIAL for the 101DS community this week, and I hope to make it more availble to the public when I can!🎁🎁🎁

Also note, with Twitter having gone off to a bad direction with it's block feature watered down, I'm now moving my work from Twitter over to my Bluesky account! I could really use help re-building my outeach to many of you dedicated pups who had followed me and supported my work over the years since I've joined the fandom, so I'm asking many of you to follow me there.🥺🙏

I'll still be active on Twitter, but even I don't know how long that'll be.

Until next time, my dedicated pups! Peace!✌️

[meatriarchived2]

any time i get the urge to write up a thing re: religion it starts as a small train of thought but then the brain sits there and tells me well wait a second i cant just talk about ana's struggles with faith both pre-, during, & post- house i also have to talk about maria's faith which doesnt show as strongly as it does in ana but then also i have to talk abt how raph's somehow religious in the sense of spitting it out like venom, as a declaration of some divine retribution that'll strike down the family for what they've done but how can that happen when theres countless verses in the bible that "justify" what is done on that fucking property?

but also i'd have to discuss luda's views on faith bc shes canonically very religious but that faith is skewed in order to again justify and explain and make peace with what the family has to do, what she had to do, to keep themselves alive.

and also would have to touch on nancys very much interesting takes and views on it bc she personally finds all of it incredibly amusing - nancy dabbles in plenty of sinister, sort of witchlike-demonic type shit, soul-bound to devils, things of that nature and yet..? she and johnny are able to set foot upon such sacred, pure grounds every some sundays when they go into town for church? its fascinating, amusing, to her in many ways. how its preached that god loathes sin and is in constant battle against it, yet he allowed it. he created it. hes the reason it exists in the first place, the reason it continues, and if any of what the family did was ever truly so disgraceful and punishable then why the hell have they been allowed to continue for decades -

theres so many raised questions that go unanswered. with reasons that dont sit well on the tongue. but, always, somethingsomething god loves you but not enough to save you. god loves you but not enough to actually care.

[starryostar]

Its time

for a shitty tutorial i made in my sketchbook at work.

Lets begin.

this page.... is alright.

"Start with a circle. This will be the basis for your revolution" "It doesn't even have to be good"

The basic shape of heads in my style is just a circle. Circles are good! Hence the next part. The first one doesn't need to be good because its mostly going to be erased or obscured: it mostly serves as a guide. Or a basis, if you would.

"Continue with additional circles. Use guidelines Or don't." "These ones should be okay, they're eyes."

This is the only instance in which I acknowledge guidelines. I encourage their use! It helps.

'These ones should be okay' yeah no what i mean is that these ones should be treated with more importance because theyre not going to be erased or obscured as much, because theyre going to serve as her glasses, which for all intent and purposes, is her eyes.

Moving on.

This is where madness and incomprehensibility sets in. Okay.

"Add facial detail. Nose, mouth, eyelash thing, bridge of the glasses (if necessary)." "Nose and mouth are close on a bunny."

This, for the most part, I feel, doesn't require that much clarification. But I will clarify anyways: when I say (if necessary) re: the bridge of the glasses, that's if they are distant enough to not be touching. Sometimes they're not, and the circles touch on their own; the bridge is unnecessary in that case. The circles never overlap though! Not yet anyways idk.

'Nose and mouth are close on a bunny' Close Together is what I meant to say. It's my inclination to draw her facial features small and cutely unless she's showing her teeth, and compact as to fit on the first circle without needing to extend her cheeks or make a more defined chin or muzzle. But that is just me and my personal inclinations! If its in your artstyle to make the aforementioned chin or muzzle, then, feel free i guess. But Starry's face is not "long": there is very little space for the chin and forehead at most angles. That's also just my flavor of doing things. Cry about it !!!

"Hair time. The order and direction you approach from matters!" "Parts here. Do first or last." "Ive marked numbers for the order i make lines and arrows for how I make them."

Okay this is the complex part. First thing... the hair parts above her left eye with a W shape for the roots, as seen. This can either be detailed first or last, but if you're not confident in where to start drawing the first line, you should start there.

Regarding the rest of the hair, I find that working from the inside out works a lot better for creating volume than working from the outside in, and she looks nicer with more volume! It also helps to start in this way so you can make it that her hair frames her face like curtains. How much of her cheeks and chin are visible are dependent on that framing, and if it can be helped, its best to keep the lower horizontal curve in tact and hide the vertical left and right curves behind hair. That covers lines 1 and 5. Line 2 should have its end covered by line 3, line 4 is a self contained little bow shape, and line 6 has a sharper angle in it to create a more dynamic shape instead of simply cascading down. I think i might have drawn the arrow wrong for line 6... either will work. See what feels better: the volume should *not* be symmetrically distributed. And one last thing! If possible, try to make each line with a single stroke or quick gesture. You will create more natural flowing lines the quicker you try to draw them.

Moving on! Deeper into the pit.

"Hair part 2. I give her a bullshit ponytail thay defies physics..." "she has some hair leftover that frames her cheeks from behind."

I really should have elaborated more on this since its sort of important (its lab safe after all!) but it also... defies explanation. It goes up and out, down and in, then spikes 3 times. You'll either figure it out or draw something more realistic that'll slay. The hair behind her head is also a similarly complex out then in then spike; if anything, just draw the spike part behind her neck.

"If its down, its long, messy, and curly / wavy. Include the wavy shape."

Now. I think this is pretty succinct, and needs no elaboration. What i didnt mention is the errant strands that go in front of her shoulders, and just how long her hair is specifically. How long is it?

"It fucking lomg"

Yeah, you said it! Though if I had to say, dry, it would reach down to the bottom of her ribcsge, and wet, or straightened, probably down past her waistline.

Moving on.

I was starting to become cynical here! It's because my traditional looks way worse than my digital art and I have way less space to write.

"Ears. Yeah put em on. Theyre as complex as you make them. (Examples)"

Space them out to be on the left and right side of her head (some people draw bunny ears meeting in the middle: do not do this) and draw whatever you feel will be better. I try to default to v1 but if they're at an awkward position, then v2 will work better. Position can reflect emotion, but her ears tend to be upward. She's not lop-eared! it tends to get visually busy or overcomplicated if her ears are down alongside her hair, as the ears being up balances the overall mass and silhouette. They also tend to be pretty large for this purpose as well. As shapes, I tend to draw them with a straighter inside and a bow curve outside for v1. For v2, a simple oval is fine. Her ears don't tend to "bend" or fold on themselves, but if necessary, v2 works much better for this.

Dont touch them. I'll kill you

"Markings / color / other things." "I don't often include it when working in monochrome, but there's a star on the cheek and spot on the opposite eye." "This sucks doesn't it. Oh well."

I agree with you! Let's discuss this. The star is on her right cheek and the spot on her left eye always. With her glasses on, the spot looks more like an outline for the lens. They're going to be a gentle orange color. Her glasses are red and blue on her right and left, respectively: so to speak, her orange spot outlines the blue lens since they're color compliments. I make the choice to not depict any colors or markings when working with monochrome colors (meaning, just one color, like pencil on paper or making quick pen sketches on digital).

Other things that didn't get mentioned! Sometimes features of her face are visible or invisible depending on her emotions: or if they're necessary in conveying said emotions. Her mouth can sometimes be invisible, her eyebrows can sometimes become visible, and her eyes/pupils can sometimes be visible as well. When she smiles, I draw only vertical lines for her teeth. This is classic mad science shit. Get with it! If her mouth is open in a way that would show teeth, then I draw them normally, or with appropriate detail.

But that's all, i think. Now go out there and learn some damn combos. (draw her! i would like that)

[zorkaya-moved]

❛ I still want to kiss you. ❜ ( mammon )

@xamassed

Is it bad that she wants to kiss him just as badly? It's hard to refuse him when he says it like that, looking into her eyes, and being so honest. She could tease him, making him chase after lips, but Sokolova longed for his affection as well. He is warm, he is hers, and she is his. It makes her re-think what she wanted to do before by letting words ignite more of a flame inside his chest. It's so rare for her to become so soft, but he makes it so easy. Was she wrapped around his finger when it came to sharing of affection or was it just a singular time when her heart longed so much that it was impossible to ignore? Perhaps, she truly was weak before love. Though, she knows she is not blinded by love and affection. However, right now, she wants to be ruled by it.

Without saying a word, she reached out her glove hand to cup Mammon's cheek before she stepped forward. The distance is cut between them as she wordlessly kisses him on the lips. No hesitation, to interruptions, no wishes to top this moment of affection. It doesn't have to turn into lust, it doesn't have to become more passionate, and it doesn't have to be a flame that'll burn everything else away. It can be softer; she will let him embrace this softness and treasure it. None will ever be entitled to this unusual warmth and this softness of winter.

Is he surprised by her actions? Is he enjoying himself for that moment? The softness of her kiss stops when she distances from him, noticing how her red lipstick stains his lips. It suits him, it really does. She is mesmerized by him: his presence, his warmth, his vices and virtues, his voice, his way of saying her name, his touch. Will he remain by her side until the day of her death comes? Even if she is old and wrinkly? Who knew. She doesn't enjoy looking into the future so far; it's useless. What is important is the present time, the very moment they both remain in right now.

"I want to kiss you as well," she tells him with a melody to her voice, a whisper only for him to listen. It's intimate, far more intimate than usual. There is an emotional note to her touch and her voice; her eyes look at him with unhidden love and affection. Will he dislike this side of her when he's used to her teasing and her similarly greedy and entertainment-driven nature? It becomes hard to be satiated with just desire, she wants everything he can offer to her, and she wants to give just as much back. What a combination: he is a demon and she is a human. But since when did it matter? Not anymore. Perhaps, it mattered when she first arrived, but now? No, it doesn't matter. As long as he holds her close, she'll remain and give him herself. Her body, her heart, her soul. If love for the Avatar of Greed means succumbing herself to him, as long as he gives himself back to her - she doesn't mind. So selfish, so greedy, so wanting. Everything he is, she wants it. She wants it. She doesn't want any sugarcoating. The only sweetness she wants is his love for her and how her name sounds when he speaks it. "It's your turn now to kiss me. Or was... one time enough for you? I'm yours, so ask for as many (kisses) as you want."

[napo-leo-art]

A-Z headcanons. There are many that make me curious, I hope you are in a writing mood. :)

For Gavin Green, Fluff, Touch, Yack

And for Levi Song, Escape, Question, Upcoming

Almost always haha, thank you for the questions! Sorry this took so long to answer. I'm going to put it under a read more since I think it's going to get long.

Fluff :: What hits their soft spot? Does anything them into emotional goo?

Gavin's soft spot is located directly under his best emotional defenses (his sarcasm and his charm). So basically, anytime he tries to do the fun, unbothered, dependable guy act and someone gives him a chance to just be genuine and open instead. (Mason happened to do this a lot in Wayhaven Book 3 haha)

Also: people who just generally find it in them to worry about him. He knows from experience that (unfortunately) it's very easy for him to get treated like a doormat.

Touch :: How do they handle contact? Is their personal bubble big?

Gavin's in a personally very neutral touch space for the majority of people- he doesn't mind people casually touching him even if they aren't particularly close. At the same time, he doesn't really pursue touch from people, and usually just lets them touch him first (friends or otherwise). He's kind of a master of teasing contact from partners/dates because he can usually hold off of it a lot longer than they can.

Yack :: What’s their favorite thing to talk about? What do they go on about?

LMAO I'm just deciding this now, but horror movies. Especially old horror movies or indie ones that are a bit weird. He doesn't scare easily and if people enjoy the topic, it's nice to hear their opinions or any little facts they know about whatever movies come up.

------

Escape :: What do they do to destress? How successful is it? Answered here! Question :: How often do they feel doubt? What topics are they defensive about?

Levi tries not to let doubt sink in at all, because he knows it can turn into something that spirals really fast. If he did let himself look into it more, he would get very defensive about the way that he treats the Rangers and anyone else in his life that he's pushed away. For example, making Herald his 'nemesis' when he hardly knew him, and then realizing how much shit he denied or outright ignored about Herald in favor of maintaining what he had already decided about him (like that he was an ignorant newbie, not a pretty smart and observant ex-vigilante and all that). Mostly because y'know, going down the path of realizing that everyone is a better person than he assumed they were is going to really mess up everything Levi has felt like he had to do (like deal with being a Re-Gene alone).

Upcoming :: How much do they think of the future? Do they make long-term plans?

Despite being a tactician, I don't think Levi really has a long-term plan? I think he's accepted that he's going to burn out eventually and he might as well burn as bright and hot as he can before he does. If he's able to take down a lot of people with him, that's all the better. He doesn't have a goal that he thinks will last, he's already accepted that he'll die young and he's just decided he wants a hand in controlling how that'll happen.

[farer-dreamer]

Entry 2

Rough Ideas and Main Character

(9/3/24) - There's art in this one I swear

Planning… Scheming, even

Because I admittedly don't have a lot of concept artwork done for this project, my informal pitch presentation I'm gonna put together for class is mostly going to consist of my mood board images, games I've taken inspiration from, and a rough idea as to what levels I'd like to make and the "storyline" of this game (aka, Doc just wants to go outside and touch grass). I may also get into some of the NPCs I hope to include in the game that the player can talk to, but I also don't want to bite off more than I can chew.

Anyways here's my rough ideas thus far, this is gonna be more of a ramble/brainstorm as opposed to something put together super neatly lol:

Story…

Farer Dreamer is a game about a character named Doc who felt their life was too stagnant and wanted to go out and explore the world. They board a magical subway car named Ferri who takes them to various places.

Gameplay and Mechanics…

The player will have basic movement controls, as well as a jump (…maybe a double jump?), and maybe a dash/sprint… honestly this is super subject to change as I get the levels put together and all of that but the primary focus of this game is exploration. The player will also be able to interact with NPCs they meet during their journey, usually chatting, sometimes giving items they'll pick up during their travels

Items! yeah! I think it'd be neat if the player could gather items from specific levels and then use them elsewhere/gift them to NPCs as mentioned before. Maybe some of these items can be used on the player and have differing effects. I do plan on having a health system/death state in Farer Dreamer, so some of these item effects can play a role in that. Speaking of that, when the player dies they'll lose whatever items were in their inventory at the time. Before entering a level they'll have the opportunity to talk to Ferri (the AI running the subway) and from there they can store their items on the train car. I think this can add more a risk/reward mechanic to the gameplay, even if this game is more exploration based.

The basic gameplay loop I have in mind is you start on the subway car, arrive at a stop and exit the car, enter the level and explore/survive, re-find your way to the subway car (completing a level or just re-entering from the entrance of the car if it doesn't disappear), rinse and repeat. I think that I'll also include a mechanic where the player can reset themselves back onto the subway car, but it would be similar to dying so they'd lose their items.

I think another mechanic I might add is the ability to sell items on the train for currency. See I kind of want to add shops that you can visit in the random levels, but I'm not entirely sure how I want to go about obtaining currency… but I feel like this would give the items more of a purpose and also add to that risk/reward thing (heck maybe if I decide to be real mean you can lose your coins when you die to. We'll see how evil I feel when I start polishing all this rambling)

Visuals…

Visually, I envision this game looking similar to the Paper Mario games, with the environments being 3D while the characters and some items are 2D. I plan to use a billboarding effect for the characters that'll follow the camera.

Speaking of, I am still debating on if I want to make the camera static or not. I guess it could be one of those things that depends on the level you're on. Like for some of the more open and explorative levels I think it could be cool to have a toggle for first person to third person view (controlled by the scroll wheel on the mouse). I suppose that's a bridge we can cross when we get there, I know that for the main level hub (the subway car) I want the camera to be 3rd person and static.

So, who are we playing as?

Now lets talk about Doc! The character the player will be playing as. They're a character I've had lingering around since 2020ish, originally starting out as my own take on what my player character in Sky: Children of the Light looked like at the time before eventually evolving into their own thing. They don't really have much of a backstory, as all that I had really written down for them in terms of characterization is that they enjoy traveling.

// Pictured above is various art I've made of Doc from around mid 2020 to early 2021, yes that last picture is technically miitopia fan art as I decided to put them on my team during my playthrough of the switch release hehe

Doc's Updates

This is the first time in awhile they've received any major updates design-wise as for the past couple of years I have been focusing in developing on my other characters and universes. But given their affinity for travel and not already belonging to any set universe of mine, I thought it'd be fitting to plop them into this project as our main player character.

I decided to give them a bit of a redesign for this project for several reasons:

The biggest reason was making them easier to animate. While yes on one hand there is more fabric to have to work with now, I find this new design is easier to break down into basic shapes compared to their old design. The changes made to the arms, hands, and feet will also hopefully make them easier to animate as well.

I also wanted to make them a bit more cartoonishly stylized? In my recent sketches and doodles of them I've found it easier allow myself to be more expressive and silly with them as opposed to their old design where they were more, I guess, "accurately proportionate"

I also wanted to further divorce them from the thing they were originally inspired by, and pulling more from the plague doctor aesthetic they have going on with their new appearance.

I still might tweak some things with their new design, mostly in terms of where some colors are placed, but I think build-wise I'm pretty happy with where they're at! The most relevant row of designs pictured here is the first row as that's how they will appear in-game. The other rows are more for my own reference/to try and make sense of how their clothing is layered on them and whatnot.

// Doc's updated turnarounds!

I think if anything winds up changing in the near future, I may wind up fully closing their little cape thingy… I'll decide once I draw them more probably.

With Doc's redesign mostly out of the way, in the coming weeks I plan to really lock in with figuring out what my level environments look like and how they'll be structured. I also might hop into Unity to test out some gameplay elements and get a movement script going.

// Old Doc meeting new Doc......... new Doc is not actually that teeny

[casspurrjoybell-23]

Berserkr - Chapter 11 - Part 3

*Warning Adult Content*

Heart of the Storm

The tinkling sound of dripping water caught his attention and Vali shifted his gaze to witness the nearly-empty wash bucket at Tofa's side, one of the Omega's hands now free from their embrace as he squeezed out a wash rag.

"Let's start with 'yer arms, yeah?" Tofa gave a small smile and all that Valie could do was nod again.

Finally releasing his friend's other hand, Valie stuck both arms out through the open front flap of Einar's bearskin, offering up the skin without protest.

The coolness of the water felt wonderfully refreshing as Tofa began dragging the damp cloth across the inside of Vali's forearm, leaving behind a streak of wetness in his wake.

Next to him, Valie watched on in quiet contemplation, the only sound being the tiny rhythm of water droplets as Tofa dipped the cloth back into the bucket.

Thankfully, the silence didn't last long though, as Tofa's quiet voice soon filled the void as he moved onto the other arm.

"Only the heavens know how much finding you means to me, Val. When I first arrived here..." Tofa's voice trailed off.

He re-dipped the cloth, moving up to wash Valie's neck and upper chest now.

Valie's cheeks tingled with mortification, knowing that the evidence of his and Einar's... intimacy still lingered there.

Yet, Tofa's touch remained steady and gentle, unwavering in its care.

"Of course, I felt the bond with Kerr but..." he paused.

"Truly, I was terrified, all alone in that cellar by myself from dawn to dusk, unsure of whether I was to live or die."

Tofa's eyes twinkled, filling with tears that glistened but did not overflow.

"The whole time, all that I could think about was ya'. My only friend, my only family. When you didn't come back for me back at the village, I thought..."

"I know," Valie whispered back once Tofa's pause lasted long enough to show that his emotions were getting the best of him.

"I felt the same. It was some of the worst moments of my life, thinking that I would never see you again," Valie whispered his agreement, a sad smile tugging at his lips.

"Thank you. For being here now, for looking after me. I know this isn't easy for you, either."

"'Yer right, it's not easy. Far from it, in fact," Tofa sighed, his gaze turning far off as he trailed the rag down along the inward curve of Valie's stomach.

"But what I've come to realize is that easy paths rarely lead to worthwhile destinations. And no matter how horrible or terrifying, struggle gives depth to our stories and meaning to our existence," the smaller Omega paused in his ministrations to meet his friend's eye.

"And through it all, our task is to seek out the treasures hidden amidst all that mess and to hold onto 'em so tightly that it makes every step of this beautiful, terrible journey worth it."

Tofa's fingers began to move again as he continued cleaning Valie's skin, each stroke of the cloth a genuine gesture of care and compassion.

After a few more moments of simply enjoying one another's presence, Tofa finally dropped the cloth into the bucket for good, shuffling back a little to take a glance at his masterpiece.

"That's the last of the water, so that'll have to do for now," he said, glancing around the loft curiously.

"Do ya' have 'yer garments lying somewhere around here?"

"Yes. Well, technically it is Einar's but..."

"Wearing one another's tunics now, are we? If I didn't know better, I'd think ya' two are serious about one another."

Tofa wiggled his brows playfully and Valie giggled softly at his sarcasm.

He tugged the bearskin close around his shoulders before standing up to pad over to the place where they'd discarded their clothing in the heat of passion the night prior.

Shuffling around in the pile, Valie quickly found the discarded tunic and Tofa assisted as he slipped the thin fabric back over his head, using a spare bit of rope to tie it up so that he wouldn't look completely absurd with his entire body swamped within the ridiculously oversized garment.

They'd just sank down onto the much more comfortable furs when the first piercing scream sliced like a blade throughout the valley, an agonizing sound that pierced not only their ears but their very souls.

Every single muscle within Valie's body seized at once at the tortured sound, his eyes blowing wide as he leaned over to grab onto his friend.

Tofa was evidently just as equally caught off guard as he mirrored the reaction, clinging onto Valie with a strength that spoke of shared unease.

"Could that be them?" Tofa whispered, as if speaking any louder might summon more horrors.

"I..." Valie started, blinking rapidly as his heart thudded painfully.

"I am not certain. But... I did not feel any disturbances through our bond, so Einar must be..."

"Oh, thank Odin for that bond of yer's," Tofa breathed out a breath of relief,

"I nearly forgot that it'll let ya' know when Einar is hurt. Hopefully, Kerr is with him and they're both safe."

"Surely they are. Surely," Valie murmured back.

Both Omegas had no inkling of an idea of how much time passed as they sat there, wrapped up tightly within one another's arms as the thunderous crescendo of war raged not only around them but through them.

Valie's inner Omega jolted.

"No," Valie's voice was barely more than a breath, a fragile thread woven with both urgency and a distinct kind of distress.

Tofa's brows knitted together as he looked up at his friend with curious regard.

Valie's eyes appeared distant, as if chasing ghosts only he could see and with a nearly automatic sort of grace, the sensation of him slipping away was almost like a whisper.

Valie shifted, finding his feet in a stumbling rush and Tofa mimicked the action as a knot of worry tightened in his chest.

His voice was laced with unease as he trailed after Valie.

"What is happening? Are you alright?"

Despite his urging, Valie continued to move with a purpose that Tofa could not quite grasp, a cascade of panicked syllables still falling from his mouth in an unstoppable avalanche.

"No, no, no," his urgency propelled him to the corner of the room, muscles straining against the weight of a heavy trunk that he scraped across the wooden floor.

And when he finally stopped, Valie climbed onto it, fingers dancing with unease as they sought out a familiar, loose wallboard.

After a few moments, his frantic touch found the rough edge he was looking for.

And when he pushed it aside, glancing out onto that same village square he'd seen when he'd first discovered the hidden viewpoint, he stopped breathing entirely.

Valie could not count but he knew enough to know that there were dozens of bodies scattered around the square, strewn about in a mosaic of suffering.

Their forms ranged from contorted shapes... some still screaming in horror as they attempted to drag themselves to safety... to some who lay staring directly up at the sky, eyes devoid of the light that a soul provided, their guts spilling out onto the dirt.

And still, many large men... Kerr among them... still pushed on along the outskirts of the village center, the smell of blood permeating the air as their weapons severed flesh and hands shattered bone.

Hand flying to his mouth, Valie stifled a whimper-like scream behind his palm, the reality of their situation finally settling into the deepest recesses of his very marrow as a chilling realization sent icy shivers down the length of his spine.

Was this truly the life Einar had lived?

If so, how was it possible that one single human being could bear such an immense burden of suffering?

Instantly, Valie's admiration for his Alpha skyrocketed to levels previously unknown.

It was then that he saw him.

Valie himself could easily overlook the sheer scale of Einar's presence and form, given his tender and careful demeanor whenever he was around him.

Yet, observing his Alpha now... monumental, furious and fierce, splattered with blood that clearly wasn't his own as he dragged a man who fought and wailed from the imposing home adorned with a prominent 'G' rune... Valie was abruptly confronted with the unvarnished reality of his fated's identity.

His Alpha was a warrior.

And not only that, one of the most imposing and formidable warriors he'd ever come to witness or imagine.

As if Odin himself were tuning into the inner workings of his mind, Valie's introspections were immediately confirmed as... before his very eyes – an arrow shot out of seemingly nowhere, striking Einar directly in his bare bicep.

Yet another one of those helpless sounds escaped Vali without his permission and indescribable dread filled him as... within his mind's eye... he practically saw that single arrow taking down his fated for good.

But to his complete and utter astonishment, Einar simply glanced down at the arrow embedded in his arm with an uncaring scowl, as if it were no more bothersome than a roses' thorn.

And then, with an almost casual air, he simply reached over to the bleeding wound, plucked the arrow from his flesh and turning to glare up at a previously unforeseen foe perched atop a nearby roof... launched the offending item right back from whence it came.

Less than a second later, a large body plummeted from said roof, a bloodied arrow pierced directly through their throat.

All of it was a remarkably gruesome sight to behold.

But somehow, Valie found himself unable to look away from the sight of his Alpha's ruthless fury and raw, unbridled power, all released in the name of keeping him safe.

Oddly, it stirred some sort of twisted pride within him.

"Do what you must, Alpha," Vali found himself whispering, wishing that maybe, Einar would feel him despite the fact that he was so far away.

"I believe in you."

[is-therefreefood]

Committing to Being a Swiftie Part 3: Speak Now (TV)

Song: Mine Would Save?: Since 2010 Best lyrics: "She is the best thing that's ever been mine"

Song: Sparks Fly Would Save?: Since 2010 Best Lyrics: "Get me with those green eyes baby as the lights go down" Thoughts: This song (especially "give me something that'll haunt me when you're not around") is just straight up like "oh, taylor fucks now"

Song: Back To December Would Save?: Since 2010 Best Lyrics: "I'd go back in time and change it, but I can't" // "I'd turn around and make it all right" Thoughts: This is the first song (I think) where she admits she's the problem in the breakup, and she painted my most intense celeb crush as the most perfect boyfriend to ever exist so how was I not going to love it?

Song: Speak Now Would save: Saved upon (TV) re-release -- Spring 2023 Best Lyrics: "The organ starts to play a song that sounds like a death march" Thoughts: Obviously this is fake?! But should she be breaking up a wedding...

Song: Dear John Would Save: Upon TV re-release Best Lyrics: "Don't you think nineteen's too young to be played by your dark, twisted games when I loved you so? I should've known" Thoughts: I recently learned that she copied his guitar style to write this absolutely savage track about him. Slay, Tay.

Song: Mean Would Save: Earlier this year/last year - due to hearing it out so often Best Lyrics: "Someday, I'll be, living in big ol' city and all you're ever gonna be is mean" Thoughts: this song always reminds me of boystown and rising above homophobia

Song: story of us Would save: upon TV Best lyrics: “why are we pretending this is nothing?” Thoughts: would gravitate to this occasionally as a Teen because it’s high school drama to. The. Max.

Song: never grow up Best lyrics: 14 there’s just so much you can’t do and you can’t wait to move out and call your own shots // memorize what it sounds like when your dad gets home, remember the footsteps Thoughts: I only heard this when I was grown up 🥺 but it’s so sad!!

Song: enchanted Would save: since 2012 Best lyrics: “please don’t be in love with someone else” // “dancing round all alone” Thoughts: literally got goosebumps listening live. Listened to the audio split for like 20 minutes on repeat (also get goosebumps each time) on my most recent plane ride. The owl city reply is not it. But I used to be obsessed at 17

Song: better than revenge Would save: upon tv Best lyrics: she’s better known for the things she does on the mattress (#SlutShamingVersionSupremecy) Thoughts: I just connected that all the cheating songs on fearless are about this.

Song: innocent Best lyrics: “your string of lights is still bright to me” Would save: no Thoughts: this song is about Kanye but why tf is he assuming what his childhood (on the south side of Chicago) was like. Come on now….

Song: haunted Would save: upon TV best lyrics: “come on come on don’t leave me like this.” Thoughts: this was my favorite song upon listening to TV

Song: last kiss Would save: first one I’m saving on this listen Best lyrics: Because I love your handshake, meeting my father. I love how you walk with your hands in your pockets Thoughts: I too would not want a last kiss with Joe Jonas

Song: long live Would save: 2nd one I’m saving on this listen Best lyrics: “tell them how the crowds went wild. Tell them how I hope they shine.” Thoughts: this was the perfect end to eras

Song: Ours Would Save: no Best lyrics: "people throw rocks at things that shine"

Song: Superman Would save: no Best lyrics: "I wish the cards were from you, I wish the call was from you" Thoughts: Could this song be more about romanticizing the idea of someone?

Song: Electric Touch Would Save: no Best lyrics: "I'm trying hard not to look like I'm trying" Thoughts: When I heard about this collab I was so excited -- only to be let down

Song: When Emma Falls in Love Would Save: Did upon TV Best Lyrics: "Sometimes I wish I was her"

Song: I Can See You Would Save: Did upon TV Best Lyrics: "You Can See me as your secret Mission" Thoughts: This song was way too horny to come out in 2010 for Taylor Swift

Song: Castles Crumbling Would Save: no Best lyrics: Now they're screaming at the palace gates, used to chant my name

Song: Foolish One Would Save: Actually unliked it LOL Best Lyrics: "Stop checking your mailbox for confessions of love"

Song: Timeless Would save: hell no Best Lyrics: "even if we met on a crowded street in 1944..." (uh.....) Thoughts: The audacity of this song... yes I know its about her grandparents who fought in WWII but something tells me she won't be performing it in idk, all of Europe next year. How did not think this through and claim to be a mastermind??? I literally gasped when I heard it the first time because how many people in the world literally did not feel comfortable walking down the street in 1944.

Final thoughts: this is my favorite TV (so far!) and it got me to listen to the whole album since it came out in high school. 15/22