#stump removal methods

[treeservicejacksontn]

Expert Stump Removal Services in Jackson, TN: Clear Your Yard with Jackson Tree Service

Once you have had a tree on your compound cut down, you are left with a stump which is an eye sore and can cause several problems. That is where stump removal comes in handy, a vital service that helps in keeping your outdoor area looking great, safe and usable. That is why at Jackson Tree Service we offer professional stump removal services to help you get your yard back to the way it was.

Why Is Stump Removal Important?

Most people who own homes do not know how beneficial it is to have a tree stump removal service after a tree has been chopped down. However, leaving a stump behind can lead to several issues over time, including:

1. Aesthetics and Property Value

An example of a tree stump is a leftover stump that is left standing in your yard and it gives your yard an incomplete or untidy look. For someone who likes to maintain a clean compound especially with a well-trimmed grass, having a decayed stump in the compound will spoil the beauty of the compound. 

2. Preventing Hazards

The stumps of a tree are dangerous and especially if you have children or pets in your compound. Stumps are usually awkward and cause tripping hence they may lead to some injuries. However, if you are tilling or mowing the lawn, stumps are dangerous to the equipment in case they are not conspicuous. 

3. Stopping Pest Infestations

In the long run tree stumps begin to rot and as a result they attract insects such as termite weevil ants and beetles. Not only are these pests dangerous to your lawn, but they can invade your house and cause much larger and more expensive issues. This way, choosing stump removal, you will avoid the situation when the stump will become a shelter for these unwanted guests.

4. Avoiding Tree Regrowth

Occasionally, stumps cause sprouting of other trees, which is undesired by the gardener or farmer in most instances. Sprouts grow from the stump and result in the development of several small trees which drain the nutrients from your soil. These sprouts can be continuously growing and may have to be trimmed often.

Methods of Stump Removal

There are several ways that Jackson Tree Service can remove a stump, including the type of stump, size and location of the stump and the layout of the yard. Here are the primary techniques we employ:

1. Stump Grinding

This is the most common and most efficient way of stump removal. Stump removal entails the use of a particular equipment to reduce the stump to the ground level. The grinding process reduces the stump to mulch that can be used on the garden or taken away from the place.

2. Complete Stump Removal

If you require complete extraction of the stump with its roots we are able to provide full stump removal. This encompasses the act of removing the stump and the roots from the surface of the ground, clarifying the hole later to be filled with soil.

3. Chemical Stump Removal

Chemical stumps can be used in that the chemicals used hasten the decay process of the stump. Years later, the stump turns to be soft and can easily be chipped and pulled out.

Why Choose Jackson Tree Service for Stump Removal?

We know that stump removal is a delicate process and have the experience and equipment to get the job done properly at Jackson Tree Service. Here’s why homeowners in Jackson, TN, choose us for their stump removal needs:

1. Professional Expertise

We have a team of highly skilled personnel who have been involved in the stump removal business for several years. We then evaluate each stump removal scenario and decide on the most appropriate approach to offer you the best stump removal services.

2. State-of-the-Art Equipment

Our stump grinding equipment is modern and very efficient to guarantee you that your stumps will be removed with a lot of efficiency without causing any destruction to your compound. Our machinery is able to cut through even the most immense stumps and is not capable of damaging anything around them.

3. Fast and Efficient Service

We know that you want your yard back as soon as possible. That is why we focus on speed without sacrificing quality. The majority of stump removal jobs can be done in several hours at most, depending on how many stumps and how large they are.

4. Affordable Pricing

With Jackson Tree Service, we make sure that we give you the best value for our money when it comes to stump removal. We offer no surprise charges and our estimates are free of charge before any project commences.

So, if there is some unwanted stump in your yard, which is occupying a valuable space, it is high time you did something about it. Tree stump grinding is more than simply a necessity for your property, but it is also the best way to avoid issues such as pest infestations, as well as regrowth of the tree. When it comes to stump removal you can count on Jackson Tree Service to get the job done fast, efficiently, and for a reasonable price.

[deathricedrawn]

Oh ham!!!! That's not how you drink!!!!

[edamette]

big shackled colonel x fem!reader

smut, fluff, established relationship, 18+ mdni

You slowly and methodically remove his gear, layer by layer. Armor, vest, pouches, everything until he stays in regular clothes. And a mask. Your hand lingers on his stomach and you look up at him. A smile lights up your face at the sight of two icy oceans in the slits. König returned a little earlier than he promised and this was already a reason for joy. He tucks a strand of your hair behind your ear and places his hand on your cheek. You lean into his touch, wrapping your hand around his, closing your eyes, enjoying the warmth. The other slides along the waist, as if exploring, remembering the shapes. Over time, the hand seems to become heavier and lies in a possessive manner. König seemed to finally see the real you, and not a mirage, as if he was convinced that he was not dreaming. You press yourself against him, burying your face in his muscular chest, and your hands wander along his back. He runs the strands between his fingers, then pulls back a little and runs his entire hand into your hair, forcing you to throw your head back and look up. “Tell me, what do you want?” - König suddenly says. The question has you stumped, but you grin mischievously after a moment. “Shackle and fuck you, of course. You were on a trip for a whole month.” His eyes seem to sparkle, and you pull away without a word. You go around him and fish out the handcuffs from the nightstand, turning to him, confirming the seriousness of your intentions. The amusement in his eyes makes them seem to warm up, as if a glacier is melting. His question was asked just like that, casually, but the consequences are enormous. “Someone has prepared for my arrival,” a quiet, satisfied chuckle is heard from under the mask. He walks to the bed and lies down. When you get close, the colonel raises his hands above his head and you chain him to the head of the bed. There was something about it that made warmth spread through your chest. The humility of a man who broke the backs of others without much difficulty, a man who is several times larger than you in build, could not help but turn you on.

You enjoy the view for a few seconds, and then you put your hand under his shirt and move it up, lifting it up to his chest, exposing his sculpted torso and sitting on his hips. The life of the body was fascinating: how its muscles rolled when breathing, how it shuddered under light, weightless touches. His whole body reacts so sharply, and he himself now looks vulnerable, painfully thirsty, until now not even realizing how much. König arches his back slightly, exposing himself, desperately asking for affection and you give him more. You run your hands over the old scars, passing the nipples between your fingers. Your palm penetrates under the mask, crawls along his neck from his collarbone, lifting his balaclava, tracing his Adam’s apple with your thumb, pressing slightly and heading even higher. He stares at you while you feel his chin and cheekbones. You reach his lips and trace them when he suddenly wraps them around your finger, plunging them inside. You can’t see anything under the mask, but you feel his wet tongue on your pad, and the colonel still glares at you, even with a challenge in it. He thrusts his hips sharply, like an impatient stallion trying to throw off his rider, and you just chuckle in response. From the reaction of his body and his gaze, it is difficult not to notice how the long separation affected him. König is shackled, but still daring and demanding. You tease him a little more, riding back and forth on his hips to the sound of cuffs and noisy breathing, and finally, when he tries to jerk again, you move further, hooking your fingers on his pants and leading him down. He freezes, and you stop at the same time. Your hand rests on the bulge between his legs, rubbing, pressing, wrapping your fingers through the fabric. König lets out a long groan, closing his eyes and throwing his head back, clenching and unclenching his fists. Finally, you pull down his pants and underwear enough to release his erect cock, oozing precum. First, you lightly move your fingers back and forth along the veins on the shaft, squeezing the testicles. When you wrap your hand around him and move with force, König impatiently moves his hips towards. “Colonel, show restraint, you yourself agreed to this,” you giggle. The ice in the eyes promises cruel retribution, and you are well aware of what awaits you later, but for now you just enjoy the moment of his helplessness.

He watches carefully, with all his eyes, as you stroke the cockhead with your thumb, and then kiss it tenderly. You begin to move your hand forcefully along the entire length, squeezing, increasing the pace. König just breathes noisily. You touch the slit with your tongue, pressing, slightly penetrating inside, watching him roll his eyes. The head of the bed protests with a creaking sound, trying to break from the way he strains his hands when you finally take the head inside, suck, release and simply run your tongue along the penis, pressing it to your face, watching him from under half-closed eyelids.

When König plunges back into the warmth of your mouth, he begins to thrust his hips harder. Out of habit, he would grab your hair, but now he is in your power, completely. After a time of overstimulation and sweet torture that reaches the point of pain, the colonel cums profusely. You swallow some of it, and lick off some of the drops running down the cock. You pull his uniform pants even further and reach for napkins. You wipe it.

Having properly caught your breath, you pull out the lubricant, generously squeeze it into your hand and begin to move it over his penis again. You defiantly circle the head with your tongue for the last time, looking at him point-blank, and then you rise and remove the handcuffs from him under the gaze of blue eyes the color of ice and sky.

Contrary to expectations, König does not attack, does not throw you sharply onto your shoulder blades, no, he slowly moves into a sitting position. There is a silent threat in his actions, like a lion preparing to lunge, but not in a hurry, savoring the moment when his victim is already driven into a corner. You lean back, leaning on your hands, waiting. He rests his knees on the mattress, hanging over you, and you lie down on your back.

Under the pressure and expectation in his eyes, you pull off your shirt, and the colonel does not hesitate to squeeze your breast, rub your nipple. His dick drips onto your stomach. You touch his chest in response, wrap your arms around his, moving your palms, feeling the tense muscles and bulging veins, feeling the arteries between his biceps and triceps, tracing his pulse. In response to this, in a warning gesture, he lightly squeezes your neck with his fingers, lingering on it, allowing you to feel the weight of his massive hand. The hint is transparent, and you lower your hands, burying yourself in the sheets.

His hand moves lower, along the ribs to the stomach, stroking and slightly pressing, and when they reach the bottom, he simply rips the panties, throwing the fabric to the side. When König rubs against your entrance, lightly penetrating his fingers, pressing his thumb against your clitoris, you instinctively grab his wrist, pressing harder, demanding more pressure, to which he slaps your hands and you dig your fingers into the bed again. Unlike him, you don’t hold back your moans as he moves.

When it becomes empty inside, König turns you over on your stomach, leaning on top of you. It’s heavy, if you want to escape, you won’t be able to escape. His penis is sandwiched between your bodies, buried between your buttocks, his hands lie firmly on yours, completely immobilizing you. König rubs his thighs, spreading the lubricant over you, pulls off his mask and balaclava, pushes your hair to the side, bites your skin.

When the tension in your body goes away and you go limp under him, he pulls away. Roughly he pulls you towards him by your legs, placing himself at the entrance. The Colonel is in no hurry, as if he is trying to fully taste your body. His palm feels like it’s hot, burning the skin as he moves it up the muscles of your back, running his fingers down along the spine. König moves on to the buttocks, sometimes simply stroking, sometimes squeezing until they bruise. When you lean back a little impatiently, trying to plant yourself on his cock, he slaps your ass. Disobedience is followed by more and more until you stop with a dejected groan.

He again lays his chest on your shoulder blades, playing with your clit with his fingers, pushing the folds apart and finally enters inside. He moves slowly, carefully, and stops when you instinctively clench. König cups your jaw with his other hand, tilting your head back, and when you relax, completely giving him control, he continues to move, peppering the skin of your neck, its base, your shoulders with kisses as encouragement. He knows that he is truly huge and takes his time, doing everything smoothly and carefully. When he finally manages to sink all the way down, the Colonel pauses for a brief moment, giving you a second of respite to adjust, and then begins to gradually increase his pace.

König mutters something in German, breathing raggedly as his movements become a frenzied gallop. His hand covers yours again, this time your fingers intertwined. You turn your head, catching his sighs on your lips. When he rises up on his hands and knees, you follow him, not wanting to break such close contact, resting your back against his torso. Then he sits down, pulling you along with him and pushing you even harder onto his dick. A trembling grips your body as you cum at the same time, and you still twitch, but your Colonel holds you tightly, pressing you to him, as if trying to absorb you, running his nose along the still tense trapezius and mastoid muscles. When you manage to more or less come to your senses, you blissfully throw your head back on his shoulder, surrendering to his embrace and raising your hand back, reaching out to him.

“Your hair is so long,” you say, running short strands between your fingers.

“It wouldn’t hurt to shave,” he wheezes.

“Dont,” you open your eyes, looking for his, azure ones, “it suits you very well.”

He smiles warmly, brushing his lips against yours in a gentle kiss.

“If you insist,” König whispers.

You sit there for a while longer and you feel his cum leaking out of you even though he's still inside. Your walls clench and unclench around him, and you can’t stop thinking about how his uniform pants are probably ruined now. You giggle involuntarily.

“What?” he asked, burying his nose in your hair, inhaling the aroma that had already been forgotten.

“You're just very dirty.”

“Should wash you off either,” he stands up, taking you off of him.

König grabs you more comfortably, throws you over his shoulder and carries you to the bathroom.

“Be gentle, Colonel,” you egg on, to which he gives a savory slap on the ass.

After washing yourself and thoroughly warming up in the shower, you change the sheets, collect your clothes and go to bed. You trace circles on his rock-hard abs as he talks about work. In the end, he gives you one last kiss on the forehead and you fall asleep in each other's arms. His long-awaited vacation begins tomorrow.

[weixuldo]

Allow me// ch 15

Vader x Reader

a/n: sooo little life update- schools starting back up and i’ll be busier with the cafe and my classes so updates may start to be a bit slower again :( im sorry- but ill try to keep on top of things as much as i can!! also this chapter was written in several diff sessions so im sorry if it doesn’t read well 😭 it’s basically a bunch of miscommunication and misconceptions

A moment of weakness? or just a part of being human?

warnings: cursing, angst, harm, medical procedures, cannon typical violence

_____________________

Vader bit back a scream as he gripped your hand; the droids working on removing his leg ports were not as gentle as you had been with his arms (regardless of the ice water method). 

“It’ll be over soon V, I’m so sorry” you comforted as he trembled. 

The searing pinch of the lasers around his sensitive stumps made him dizzy with pain. He just wanted the melted ports off. 

Once more he gritted his teeth to suppress another howl of anguish.

You clenched your eyes shut at a particularly forceful squeeze; you didn’t want to tell him it hurt because you knew what he was experiencing was far worse. 

He groaned once the droid pulled off the warped metal from what remained of his legs and threw them into the disposal bin.

The droid moved away to prepare the new ports, allowing Vader a moment to breathe. 

He exhaled a shaky breath and loosened his grip on you; he saw the red marks on your hand where his just was and felt guilty. This was not your fight, you shouldn’t have to help him through this when you weren’t even involved.

A part of him also was just embarrassed that he was so vulnerable right now, especially in front of you. 

He needed to be the strong and fear-striking sith he normally was- not only for himself, but for you too.

What if you didn’t like this side of him?

Of course in the past you told him you liked all of him, vulnerable, strong, and everything in between- but that was before you saw him when he truly needed help. 

This was still your first time seeing him fully out of his suit, seeing him have to ask for assistance with every little task, seeing him human. 

What if you were pitying him? Did you think of him as a burden now? 

He shut his eyes once he saw the droid returning, hopefully this wouldn’t be as bad since it was just putting on new ports rather than tearing old ones off. 

The ends of his legs ached much more than his arms; the droid had to sear off some of the skin around the metal and a bit higher on his thigh to fully remove everything.

His legs were also much more affected by the lava and flames based on the position he was thrown in. 

Vader sucked in a sharp breath as he felt the droid running disinfectant over his open wounds. You reached for his hand to hold once you saw he was shaking again but he snatched his arm from you dramatically. 

Vader didn’t mean to do it so harshly- he had problems with dexterity and motor skills when he was out of the suit- he was just so worried you wouldn’t be the way you were before he left if he continued to let you see him in such a vulnerable state. 

He needed to salvage the remaining image of a strong leader you still had left of him. 

He needed to do this alone. 

You, on the other hand, felt saddened by his action- all you wanted to do was be there for him, comfort him…

Even if it were a stupid notion; you wanted to be the one person in the galaxy the Sith lord could always count on… maybe even the only one to love.

Of course it was foolish to think he could love you the way you wanted him to… but you could try. 

Despite your efforts, he pulled away… were you becoming too clingy? Were you smothering him?

You fretted over the hypotheticals as you backed away from his table. 

You watched the muscles in his jaw clench with every movement of the droid- he was in so much pain and all you wanted to do was take it away for him… but apparently he didn’t want you to. 

Once the droid got the first port secured you exited the room silently. Best to give him some space.

 Vader sensed your exit and felt saddened at your absence- why did you leave? Were you really that disgusted with him? 

He had a familiar wave of shame as he heard the steel doors slide closed behind you; would you come back if he called for you?

No.

He needed to do this alone, plus it was probably for the better, he didn’t want you to gain more aversion towards him than you apparently already had.

As he endured the operation on his leg and thoughts of you leaving him; he felt the uncomfortable sensation of bile rising in the back of his throat. 

Now it was definitely a good thing you weren’t here. 

He closed his eyes again and tried to quell the urge… so what if you didn’t reciprocate his feelings? He was Darth Vader, lord of the Sith- you couldn’t  say no to him. He could end you-

The contents of his tired stomach emptied themself as Vader rolled onto his side. There wasn’t much for him to lose, but the motion of his esophagus simply wouldn’t stop. He gagged and heaved on his side as he imagined “ending you”.

Even if you truly hated him and posed a threat to his empire, he couldn’t kill you… he wouldn’t be able to.

It made him physically sick to think about your death. You meant too much-

It would break his heart…

Once he gained his bearings another droid came to his aid offering a towel and oxygen. It cleaned his chest and his mess before the original resumed the operation. 

He’d have to talk to you eventually… he couldn’t keep letting his mind wander. 

____________________

Outside of the exam room you sat quietly; hands fidgeting in your lap. You were so worried about Vader that it never occurred to you that he might not want you there.

You just assumed- maybe that was foolish of you. 

You cringed as you heard his muffled cries while the bot secured the his new port. It was hard for you not to immediately rush to his side but you reminded yourself to restrain. 

After a while you felt the familiar pull of Vader’s force signature- guess he wanted to speak with you now. You prepared yourself to face whatever mood was waiting for you behind the metal door. 

Vader was testing his temporary limbs when you entered; he sat up attentively and watched as you cautiously walked towards him. 

“Why did you leave?” he asked as if he didn’t act like your presence annoyed him ten minutes ago.

“I just thought I wasn’t helping you much by standing here and I felt that my presence was not wanted, I’m sorry sir” you accidentally added the title, making Vader cringe- back to formalities…

“Sir” he echoed. 

Your eyes widened and corrected yourself “My apologies… “my Lord””. 

Vader chewed on the inside of his cheek at your reaction- he knew you didn’t mean it in a facetious way; he could tell you were genuinely on edge. 

“Please, do not revert to titles again- I… did not intend to be so brash with you” he said as his eyes intensely scanned your face. 

“Of course, It is no problem at all, you were perfectly fine” you responded shortly. 

He knew you were just trying to not upset him- stepping on eggshells. That's exactly what he didn’t want; he didn’t want to intimidate you into telling him what you thought he wanted to hear (he had a whole galaxy of subjects to lie to him on the daily, he didn’t need that from you too). 

Sure, he wanted to preserve the strong leader image he had for you, but he also wanted you to be comfortable to talk to him on the same level- to trust him. 

Vader focused his energy and watched your relieved face once his force signature descended warmly over you; this was his way of offering you comfort (since he wasn’t completely sure how you felt about his body in this state).

As you felt the warm sensation wash over your body, a small sigh escaped your lips. He seemed regretful- sympathetic- apologetic even?

You were just so caught up in his fragile state that you may have hovered a bit too much- it was only because you cared for the sith so much. It was probably best to distance yourself.

“Would you like me to stay or shall I go?” you asked with a small smile. 

Vader’s brow bone quivered as his eyes called for you (he desperately wanted you to stay but he was too ashamed to admit his desire). 

“Do as you wish.”

“I believe I will take my leave then”. 

You cast your gaze to the floor and blinked back a few tears before managing to meet his eyes again. You didn’t speak; your eyes were glassy and held an expression that could not read. His blood ran cold. 

Nothing was exchanged for a few moments- only intense eye contact. 

“I disgust you” Vader's weak, raspy voice managed, breaking the terrible silence. 

“Vader-” you said softly, watching his eyes transition between yellow and blue. 

“Have I ruined us? This is what I was worried about- I never should have allowed you to get this close- I never should have let you in” he monologued (more-so to himself than anyone else).

“I was a fool to think you would want to stay by my side after you had seen my reality- I am broken… But I never wanted you to witness my incompetence... my weakness”.

His face contorted into a pained grimace and his voice became more hoarse than it already was; you could tell that tears would have been forming if his tear ducts weren’t burnt from past wounds. 

“Vader-” you called once more as you walked towards him slowly. 

He looked frightened as you cupped his cheek with one of your hands. 

“You have done none of these things. You do not disgust me and never have”.

He inhaled sharply as your thumb brushed over his scarred cheek. You bent down to kiss his forehead when he grabbed your other hand with his robotic ones. His eyes were purely blue when he searched yours once more. 

“Then why did you leave?” his voice was wavering with each syllable. 

Your brows furrowed for a moment, “what do you mean, V?”.

The nickname was a relief to his ears, but he pressed on, “Just a moment ago- the droids were working on my legs…”. 

“I assumed you didn’t want me here… you snatched your hand from me-”

Vader closed his eyes and rested his head against your chest. 

“I… have mobility issues whenever I am out of my suit for long periods of time” he said.

“I see, but why- why did you pull away in the first place- I know you intended to, I felt it”. 

“Would you be content if I were to tell you it was because I was trying to protect our relationship- or arrangement (or whatever the fuck we are)”.

You shook your head and he tilted his head towards yours, “No V, I wouldn’t”.

He sighed and sat up straight. 

“I was afraid that you were pitying me… I was afraid you would no longer desire me the way I do you. I thought if I pushed you away that you may not have to see me in such a state for much longer” he admitted, holding tightly onto your hands. 

He really was just a broken man with anxieties just like you- his vulnerability did not avert you from him; if anything it endeared you to him- he was making an effort to connect with you. He trusted you. 

“You could have just told me-”

“No! I couldn’t have- I… I’m not good with managing my thoughts and emotions, or conveying them at least'' he sulked before you tilted his jaw towards you and kissed him softly. 

“I think you’re doing a pretty good job- It really means the galaxy to me that you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone… for me” you said softly before kissing his cheeks. 

“Vader… I will always belong to you, we do not need to define us if you do not wish to- just know, no other being in the galaxy could captivate me the way you do… I am solely devoted to you”. 

Vader felt dizzy at your confession; you were truly loyal to him and that’s all he’d ever wanted (or so he thought).

But he couldn't help the nagging feeling in the back of his skull… he wanted more… he wanted love. 

“Now, we have some time before the emperor comes by for your inspection, right?” you asked, walking towards the droid that just finished his operation. 

Vader cleared his scratchy throat and nodded, “He shouldn’t be here for at least another five hours. Why do you ask?”.

You powered off the droid and turned back towards the man on the operating table, “because I think you should get some rest”.

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep-”

“Not in here, I want you to actually get good sleep” you said, preparing a cloak for him. 

You helped him put his arms through the sleeves and loosely tied the robe around his waist (careful to not make it too tight around his still healing skin).

After giving him a small kiss to his cheek you helped him dawn a portable oxygen mask that looked almost identical to the black mask he wore in his bacta tank. 

You pulled the large hood over his head and took one of his metallic hands in yours as you headed for the door. 

“What are you doing?” he asked in a hushed tone. 

“Just follow me” you whispered, ducking around the corner. 

Luckily Vader’s chambers weren’t surveilled by the ship’s general command center- so it was easy to sneak him around without worrying about the cameras. 

Before you entered the general corridor you told him to disconnect the cameras until the two of you passed. He was tired and agreed because he didn’t feel like arguing- with a simple flick of his mechanical wrist he intercepted the surveillance links and made them blurry as the two of you made your way to the end. 

Before he could ask where you were taking him again you quickly pulled him into a room and shut the door. He removed the hood and took in his surroundings- he was in your room. 

“Why-”

“I know you wouldn’t have been able to relax on that stiff table, at least here you can have something comfortable to lie on” you said, turning on the warm bedside lamp. 

You guided him to the edge of your bed and helped him undress; the whole time he watched you in awe. You were so thoughtful, so tender, so wonderful. 

“Here, I'll turn the pressure up” you said, removing the tight mask from his scarred face. 

Once he was finally situated you pulled your blankets over him; they were a bit short for his tall frame, but his legs really didn’t need the warmth (the prosthetics had no temperature sensors).

His tired eyes blinked slowly as he felt the exhaustion catching up with him. He tried to fight it as much as he could because he desperately wanted to spend more time with you- but he also really did need sleep. 

Vader was positioned in the middle of your bed and you were perched on the side near his abdomen. You could feel his energy draining by the second (the force bond you shared was sensitive, yet strong). 

“Sleep well Vader” you cooed as you caressed the side of his face.

He reveled in the soft gentle brush of your beautiful hands. He wanted to stay awake- he wanted to hold you.

“Will you be here when I wake, My Darling?” he rasped out. 

A smile replaced the neutral look on your face- maybe it was just his delirium but he had never used such an endearing term with you.

Sure, he called your “My Dear” but it wasn’t the same as “My Darling”. 

Before you could respond the Sith had succumbed to his exhaustion; chest rising and falling steadily (though you could still hear the wheezing of his damaged lungs). 

In your head you reviewed the events that transpired today- he was really trying for you, something the Sith wouldn't go out of his way to do for just anybody.

You mulled over your emotions and actions towards him and his to you today...Maybe his feelings towards you weren't as different as yours.

Slowly you leaned down to plant a gentle kiss onto his forehead and got up cautiously (careful not to wake him),

“Of course- I will always be here, my Love”. 

***

a/n: well well well- what do we have here?? are they finally going to admit their feelings towards eachother? who knowsss- ngl i don’t have a definite plan for this fic but i hope it’s still enjoyable and coherent for u all haha

taglist: @vadersassistant @sxoulohvn @khaleesihavilliard @kashasenpai @darling-murdock @beautifulbearpolice @salvatoresister1 @lune-de-miel-au-paradis @blueninjablade3 @jujuba096 @missmannequin @jellydodger @mirastark @wyvernthekriger @duckyhowls @monada43 @lauriidoesstuff @vienettacream @ray-rook @itswhatever06 @ilovenielperry @icequeen8043

[lycheeleeches]

you're so good at drawing the sides!! any tips for newer artists on your process?

Thank you <3 :D I definitely still consider myself a beginner but I can still go over my basic process

when I start sketching I play around with different poses warp stuff and scoot body parts over until I’m satisfied with it

Then we go into line art considering I’m still doing art for fun I tend to prioritize parts of the art process that I find more enjoyable so since line art in most cases tends to be my least favorite thing to do I’m not stressing over how messy it is (as I continue in my process I will clean up but as for now it isn’t a big priority) when doing line art I'm making sure to do lines one stroke and not have a bunch of little strokes make up a line. Playing around with line weight helps for example having thicker lines to indicate shadows are heaviness. Also it's fun to play around with different brushes until you find one you like

Then when choosing colors I tend to fill the character in a color I want the drawing to have and remove my white background I find that it helps me when choosing colors. I still keep all little colored parts separate in case I want to switch colors or add gradients. At this time I also add some blush to the face cause personally I think it makes them feel more alive.

Time for shading, at the start I have the color I want my shadows to be then hit the multiply layer then lower the opacity with however I see fit. It allows me a basic idea of where I want my shadows to fall (this isn’t the best example but it helps to have a basic idea of where your light source is coming from

Then the 2nd part of my rendering which is me playing around with colors surprisingly there is some method to the madness and that is having a basic idea of what color I want my light source and shadows to be with this drawing I want my light sources to be an orangy color and my shadows a pinkish one - at this stage I’m also painting over mistakes and anything I feel is sort of wonky

And there is times where I add an overlay layer if I want to help my colors to be more cohesive, or lights and shadows to be more dramatic

Lastly I have a layer to add my white highlights and any little effects I want

As I’m drawing if I am stumped with whatever I’m trying to depict I look at references also what helped me continue wanting to draw is drawing stuff I found enjoyable and making sure that I found a way to do art in a way I found fun. As I continued drawing I also try to compare myself to only past drawings that I did cause comparing myself to others only ever made me feel demotivated. I also took a lot of inspiration from other artists and how they colored stuff. Hope this messy explanation of my process helped.

[auideas]

Ermmm sorry if this is weird but do u maybe have any like, ““original”” cyberpunk prompts? I want to write something cyberpunk for an au but I just don’t have any ideas right now no matter how long I brainstorm

Exploring Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk is a very unique genre, which is why so many people are both attracted to it and stumped when attempting to develop plots within an unknown world. Think of Black Mirror created by Charlie Brooker (TV show), Blade Runner written by Philip K. Dick (a movie based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, a classic Cyberpunk novel), Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan (modern Cyberpunk novel), etc. -- each of these were incredibly influential in their own right, but they all also build their worlds gradually while having a single easy-to-explain concept that can spawn an entire universe. To be more specific, each story establishes an issue created by an advanced society ignorantly abusing technology, then allow their characters to explore that problem and try to find a solution in a manner that isn't explicitly black or white for society as a whole, but every shade of grey.

For Black Mirror, each episode anthologically builds upon a high-tech future within the same universe and explores how its characters interact with problems created by new pieces of said technology, both good and bad.

For Blade Runner, the story establishes that androids seem to be malfunctioning, but the bounty hunter charged with hunting them down discovers that the true issue lies in society's understanding of what it means to be human.

For Altered Carbon, the novel explores the issue derived from the obscene length of time it would take for humans to travel between planets stretched across the universe, then dives into more detail regarding how a solution has been abused.

How to Construct a Cyberpunk Concept

What we'd recommend is to start by asking the right questions and looking in the right places. Black Mirror takes its inspiration from a variety of technology, both new and old; Blade Runner explores the idea of AI and androids during the 80's when robotics was on the forefront of innovation; Altered Carbon took note of our increasing ability to travel in an interstellar fashion, then posed a simple question regarding the limits of humanity (specifically, time).

This may sound strange, but the best thing you can do is seek out trends online and scientific journals about new breakthroughs, then ask questions about what may go wrong. For example, an old post we featured here on AUideas that has since been removed from ~2017 because it's in the process of being developed into a script (sorry guys, our bad!) called Dreamscape Co. uses this exact method. When the prompt was made, Admin M was in the process of reading a scientific journal about how neurologists had been able to project a person's thoughts into an image. Although the technology was rudimentary at the time, Admin M posed the question "if dreams can be viewed, what if dreams can be watched in real time with a high quality image? What if they could be immersive? What would that industry look like? Who would pay how much to see a certain person's dreams?" This spun out into a sweeping cyberpunk mini-series, yet came from a simple news article.

Some Cyberpunk Inspiration

When performing a quick search, some amazing ideas seemed to jump out from technology news headlines these past couple weeks alone:

Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal (FLC) Technology Being Used in 3D Displays

Unlike holograms, this technology uses liquid crystals that exhibit spontaneous polarization, meaning their orientation can be influenced by an electric field. They're high-speed, low-power, and have innumerable applications in the future. So, what could go wrong?

How could this technology impact the medical field? Although this may not be possible, consider what could occur if FLCs were injected into human bodies and influenced by electric fields to perform different tasks and functions, such as replacing an organ, attacking cancer cells, etc. How could such a technology be abused or go wrong? How many could die with a simple pulse, like an EMP?

Real-Life Freeze Ray Technology Created for the US Airforce

This technology hasn't been developed to be used as weaponry, but instead to replace large amounts of coolant that must be used on space and air crafts to prevent the machinery from overheating (coolant is heavy and can reduce efficiency yet is absolutely necessary due to the fact that space is a vacuum and therefore does not cool heat like air would on Earth). This "freeze ray" technology utilizes plasma's strange property that seems to break the second law of thermodynamics: it chills down when touching another object before heating up, which experts have proposed is because it vaporizes the ultra-thin layer of carbon and water on an object upon contact, similar to how water evaporates off your skin when stepping out of a pool. The question must be asked: how could such technology be used for not just utilitarian means, but outside of the Airforce's intentions?

Perhaps the technology could be manipulated and over-chill an aircraft, or otherwise damage internal engineering.

Consider its potential applications here on Earth: what could benefit from being chilled with something light-weight and low-power? How could it be integrated into homes? What could be disastrously destroyed with such technology?

Breakthrough in Enhanced Geothermal Systems Technology May Completely Replace Carbon Energy Sources

Google and Fervo have successfully developed geothermal technology that has increased its efficiency and broke records by changing existing rock formations in the Earth's crust. For a natural geothermal energy system to produce electricity, it has to have the right amount of heat, fluid, and rock permeability -- these Goldilocks conditions can be difficult to find 'in the wild'. However, this new Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) targets the most-easily found aspect (rocks with high heat) then creates the necessary permeability artificially by drilling to the intended rock formation and injecting fluid to create fractures in the rock, achieving the necessary Goldilocks conditions. Sure, this may be carbon-free energy, but what would happen if this were employed on a mass scale?

When energy is prioritized by a high-tech society over food and water, how could citizens gain access to those resources?

What long-term effects could such a system have on the Earth as a whole? Could the ground become unstable? Maybe earthquakes crumble city after city? Maybe the entire Earth's crust loses its integrity and disintegrates, pulling only a lucky few deep underground and forcing them to survive off the left over fluid injected into the Earth's crust and whatever they can find.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see from above, there's a crazy amount of inspiration that can be drawn from current technology events. What's important to remember is that yes, we've been talking about complicated technology, but only you have to understand how it functions in your universe down to the molecule, not your audience. Deep technology topics can be dry to a certain extent, and over-explaining your world can be damaging to your story. Explanations regarding how technology works in each of the stories we discussed is limited for that same reason (Black Mirror's overarching concepts, specifics about how Blade Runner's Replicant technology are rarely discussed, etc.). Leave some mystery surrounding how your cyberpunk world functions and allow how your characters room to breathe and interact with that world -- it can speak for itself. Your audience may first love the idea behind your story, but what they'll remember and relate to is how your protagonists and antagonists suffer and prevail within your universe.

We hope this answered your question, and feel free to follow up if you'd like some more guidance and advice on how to construct your Cyberpunk story! In addition, feel free to check out our other post which outlines more information on how to build a Cyberpunk world.

Now get to writing, and have an awesome week!

-- Admin M x

[melongraph56]

This survey will contain questions that may be of a concerning manner, and could cause discomfort.

By selecting 'I Understand', you consent to this experience.

Did he really understand?

(cheeky response to @yogscastshipbracket's survey)

A zap of electricity stung the chill of night. The energy made its way down from the heavens striking an artifact in the hands of a being sitting in front of a fire, crackling against the sounds of rustling leaves blowing in the wind. The crystal gem encased with refined metals pulsed with a soft hue in his palm. He held it up as it conjured a mirage, the following words appeared:

[SURVEY_024.GF]

[PLEASE RESPOND]

It can't be... How have they sent him a message? A Yoglabs rat escapee. A better question how did they find him? He ensured there wasn't a trail attached to him when he ran. Though the message was something he didn't expect, it was a form. To be honest, if he were to receive word from the facility, they wouldn't have said a thing especially, if it was a warning if they found him.

His empty hand rose to the holographic screen created by his communication stone, reading the terms and conditions. His hand reeled back in hesitation before he could press 'I Understand', he shouldn't. It would expose him, leading him back to being captured and locked away for more testing. The underground laboratory's precious sentient being, created from a plant of unknown origin to house ancient magicks. They've been constructing a method to hone such magical strengths for quite some time and he was the product of their curiosities.

His lip quivered as his chest tightened, holding in a breath. He found himself pressing next, proceeding through the survey. Slowly his index scrolled through the form, clicking each answer that applied to him. Why is he taking part in this? More than half of the questions didn't make sense to him. This was a trap, he knows it is. However, something innate compelled him to keep responding. Perhaps it was all the testing done to him. He felt like he had to or else he'd suffer consequences if he didn't comply.

He answered as honestly as he could but by restrictions of the survey, or possibly it was his will faltering, the choices became limited to one answer.

Are you sure?

No.

The answer contradicted his response to the previous question. He could change his answers around to make it correct though that would be lying. The situation felt forced, a trick question to keep him stumped and left pondering. A common trend the scientists used against him as they quizzed him on his intellectual abilities. He was unsatisfied with his choice but he had to move on.

Is the chip in your neck active?

A hand shot to the nape of his neck, scratching at bandages hidden under his cloak. He felt himself take a sharp breath through his nose, his chest rising. There shouldn't be a chip in there, he removed it as soon as he could when he escaped their clutches.

Have you lied to me?

No.

Are you sure?

The magical artifact cracked under the strength of his grasp, his other hand tugging away at the medical dressings around his neck. He touched little tuffs of hair and bare skin as he ran his fingers back and forth searching for the wound. Where- He furrowed his brows. It should be- No... No no no. The wound, it should be here, right? He clenched his jaw as his breathing picked up. He can't- Why can't he find it? His fingernails dug into his neck, his eyes wide as he stood up. He could feel his magic swirling through his veins causing his heart to beat even faster than it was previously.

He threw the messenger stone straight into the campfire set at his feet. The fire swelled and engulfed the new fuel source, the smooth iron finish tarnished under the heat, turning black with soot. He closed his hollowed eyes and took a deep breath, allowing his body to calm itself, though he couldn't shake away that feeling. He couldn't bring himself to finish the rest survey, not like he could anyway. He opened his eyes once again and stared into the flames, watching his gadget char. The screen remained for a short period before it frizzed and faded as the last of the magic stored in the device disappeared. He caught a glimpse of the last line of the form before it was gone for good,

You really shouldn't worry about it.

A chill ran down his spine, taking in a staggered breath. Even though he was near a fire, he shivered. He packed his things with haste and left just as fast into the night.

[babyjakes]

ever green, evermore | 2. the little garden fairy.

〈 disclaimer: this blog posts content not suitable for individuals under the age of 18. minors are strictly prohibited from viewing, sharing, or interacting with this blog. for more information on this blog's commitment to protecting minors, read our full statement here. 〉

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summary | loving husbands jake and ari had always believed they were all each other could ever want or need. but one unusual summer, when their world is turned upside-down by an uncanny girl from down the street, they find that having someone to love, nurture, and care for together is the missing piece that finally completes their perfect family and lives.

characters | caretaker!jake jensen, daddy!ari levinson, wrenley beauchamp (original character)

warnings | mentions/depictions of domestic and sexual violence, mental health themes: anxiety/panic disorders, trauma and post-traumatic-stress, eating disorders (restrictive subtype), therapeutic methods and tools: exposure, age regression.

As soon as his rugged boots hit the pale gravel of the driveway, something stirred within Jake. Lifting his head up to look around, his eyes were immediately drawn to the lush bunches of green and petals filling the rows of wooden boxes before him; furrowing his brow, the man paused in confusion. “Ari?”

Closing the driver’s side door behind him, the older, larger man walked over to stand at Jake’s side. “Yeah- you okay, honey?” Ari asked, his eyes following the blonde’s gaze to look over the garden. “Oh right- I was gonna tell you, I think someone’s been stopping by to tend to the garden.”

“Oh?” Jake asked as he approached the collection of plants, his hesitancy stemming more from amazement than anything else. Carefully eyeing the row closest to him, which happened to be one of his favorites: his bright yellow tulips, Ari’s suspicions were immediately confirmed for him. “You’re right; someone’s definitely been in here. Unless you were the one who got rid of all the weeds.” Considering the fact that he’d been gone for four and a half weeks, Jake normally would’ve expected to return to a decent amount of new prickly growth. But looking over all the boxes as he walked slowly along the rows, he couldn’t find a single stem that was out of place; whoever had done the job was more diligent than even he would have been. 

“No, wasn’t me- but here they are,” Ari responded, now standing over by the waste bin at the end of the workbench. Walking over to join him, Jake’s eyes widened at the sight waiting in the black garbage bag. The weeds, plentiful in number, sat tied together with some sort of string in neat little bundles at the bottom of the bin; clearly, their removal had been no accident. “Whoever it was, I think they were watering too. Some days I’d come out and the soil would already be damp, even in the middle of the afternoon.”

“Fascinating,” Jake whispered, turning back to look over the plants once more. “They look… greener than I remember.” Pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, the man’s expression once again turned to a look of bewilderment. He was stumped. He couldn’t think of anyone who might do such a thing. The couple’s closest neighbors were well down the road, over a large hill, and he hadn’t ever talked much with any of them. In fact, most of them he hadn’t met at all. “You didn’t see anyone?” 

“Nope, and I tried to check a few times a day. I was curious. Maybe it was a magical little garden fairy,” the brunette teased lightly, reaching out to rub the younger man’s shoulder. Turning to face him, Jake’s pensiveness melted away as he smirked playfully at the thought. “I should probably head in and start on dinner, don’t wanna be sitting down to eat too late,” Ari murmured, planting a kiss on his husband’s forehead. “You gonna stay out here for a bit?”

“No, I’ll come in and help you,” Jake decided, rubbing the back of his neck as he sighed. “I’m gonna wait ‘til tomorrow to figure this out. Right now I just wanna get inside, get some food in my stomach, maybe curl up with you on the couch-”

“Mm, that sounds good to me, sweetheart,” Ari hummed, his lips lingering against Jake’s forehead as he wrapped his arms around his smaller frame, pulling him in close. “Missed you so much, handsome, ‘m so glad you’re back.”

“Missed you more,” Jake breathed into his shoulder, soaking in the warmth of his familiar embrace.

At breakfast the next morning, as Ari stood between the sink and the island counter in the home’s large U-shaped kitchen and pulled freshly washed dishes out of the dishwasher, Jake sat with his usual cup of coffee at the dining table, his eyes focused on long runs of code and fragmented data typed out in one of his countless tech manuals. “That one any good?” the brunette asked as he wiped another glass clean with the white cloth in his hand before reaching up to store it away in the overhead cabinets. 

“Yeah, better plot than the last one,” Jake joked as he scribbled a few illegible notes in the margin before flipping the page, the eraser of the pencil mindlessly finding its way between the man’s rosy lips. 

“Honey,” Ari warned with a chuckle, causing the blonde to immediately remove the already half-chewed nub from his mouth. The older man never seemed to miss a thing when it came to watching over his partner. By now, he knew all of his little quirks, and though Jake would have been a little embarrassed to admit it, Ari’s constant attentiveness and borderline overprotectiveness did give him a nice feeling of security. He loved feeling cared for, which was something his husband did very well. “You want some real food? I can cook you up some eggs before I get started in the office.” 

“No, that’s okay,” Jake declined casually as he took a sip from his burgundy mug, the lead of his pencil falling back down to meet the white of the page as he jotted more notes. “Think I’m gonna bake some muffins this morning, I’ve been craving something sweet. We got any fruit in the fridge?”

“Fresh box of blueberries from the farmer’s market,” Ari replied with a grin as he kicked up the dishwasher door to close it, hanging the towel over the bar of the handle. “You want me to take the stuff out for you?”

“Sure, thanks,” Jake agreed gratefully as his eyes skimmed line after line of the random letters and numbers through the thick frames of his glasses. “This stuff rots the brain, I swear,” he mumbled.

“Yeah, I can imagine,” Ari murmured as he began pulling ingredients from the cupboards, placing them out on the counter next to the sink. “Baking’ll be a good break for your head. You just got back yesterday, bud. Hate to see you diving back in already.”

“It’s fine,” Jake tried to assure him, more than anything just wanting to get to the end of the section so he could have a nice place to pause and close the book.

“Hey, have you thought any more about the garden?” Ari asked curiously as he looked over at the blonde, lips curling up in an affectionate smile as he noticed the familiar look of concentration settled into his features. Ari loved everything about Jake; he could sit and watch him do his work for hours. There were so many little things he did that the doctor just found so precious, so endearing. Ari didn’t know many people as smart as himself, but Jake had to be one of the few exceptions. And it was a different kind of smart, one which the older man found so fascinating. In his eyes, Jake had the most beautiful brain on earth, so vast and full of information; it never failed to amaze and impress him. 

“Yeah- muffins are part of the plan,” Jake revealed as his eyes shifted from the left page to the right, earning a questioning look from Ari. “I’m gonna spend my day in the kitchen; that way, I can keep an eye on out front. If I finish up these last few paragraphs, I’ll be caught up on work through the end of the week. Gonna hang out in here, maybe crank up some tunes- you know, get the groove goin’.”

“Mhm, I see,” Ari nodded with another smile as he finished gathering everything his husband would need for the muffins. After looking over the pile on the counter, the man made his way over to the kitchen table to stand at Jake’s side, wrapping his arms around the blonde’s head and leaning down to plant a kiss in his hair. “That sounds like a good plan, my love. I’ll try to finish work early today so I can come join you; we can cook up a nice dinner together. How’s that sound?”

“That sounds perfect, honey. Thank you,” Jake breathed as he turned to wrap his arms around his lover’s waist, taking a moment to rub his face lovingly against the soft cotton of the man’s shirt. “You let me know if you need somethin’, okay? I’ll be around all day, not doing much. If I can bring you coffee or a snack or anything, just holler.”

“I will, sugar. You take such good care’a me,” Ari hummed, giving the top of his head one more kiss before letting go. “And you come and tell me if you spot anything, alright? I’m curious to see just who this little garden fairy is.”

And though he waited patiently and hoped, that first Monday home went by without a single stir through the window. As did the next day, and even another. Jake did his best to keep himself busy, pulling out the old record player he and Ari kept stored in the hall closet along with the cardboard box that stored their combined vinyl collection. Grooving along to all of his old favorites, he passed the time with various activities: baking, reading, tinkering around with his tech gadgets- by the time Thursday came around, he even resorted to giving the kitchen a full, thorough cleaning, though Ari had just done a deep clean the week before. He wasn’t sure what was taking the mystery gardener so long; he couldn’t imagine how they would’ve found out about his return, or that they would even know he was the owner of the garden to begin with. 

By the time Friday morning came, the man’s hopes were dwindling. But even still, after pouring his usual cup of coffee, he once again settled down in his seat at the kitchen table, flipping open his laptop with a soft groan as he wasn’t exactly looking forward to logging back into his work browser. 

Taking the first sip from his mug, Jake’s face scrunched up as he choked lightly on the unusually bitter taste of the brew. “Needs cream,” he mumbled to himself, rising from his chair with the mug in his hand. And just as he made his way over to the refrigerator to retrieve the carton, he saw it through the large double windows behind the sink: by the roses, pale yellow watering can in hand, stood a small creature, a girl- and as he watched in amazement, Jake honestly thought could have been imagining her entirely by the way she almost seemed to shimmer in the sunlight. She was just as his husband had suggested: like a magical being from a storybook. “Little garden fairy,” Jake hummed to himself in awe as he continued to observe the young girl; aside from her lack of glittering wings, everything about her matched the title. Her small, delicate frame, the petite features of her soft face. Her flowing locks of sand dollar hair, caressed by the golden light of the morning. Her white sundress blowing gently in the breeze, the garment’s simple look and color giving off an air of complete innocence. Her silver ballet flats with long ribbons laced up around her calves- she can’t be real, Jake thought to himself as he stood, frozen, still trying to process what was right before his eyes. Though even after blinking a few times to clear his vision, there she remained, in all her wonder and beauty. 

Keeping his movements slow to avoid gaining her attention through the window, Jake took a step back, swallowing down a lump in his throat. He was nervous; he didn’t know what exactly to expect, but this was far off from whatever he had been imagining. Dumping his coffee down the drain, he placed the mug at the bottom of the sink, trying to plan out his next moves wisely. He wanted to go alert Ari, but he was worried the girl could disappear at any moment, and then he would’ve lost his chance. “I have to go say hi,” he finally told himself, turning to leave the kitchen. “I have to thank her for taking care of things while I was away.”

Though he was certain she couldn’t see him as he passed through the living room towards the front door, Jake still made an effort to keep quiet as he slipped on his shoes before heading out into the mild morning air, keeping his footing light against the beige gravel of the walkway. Just as she came into view from behind the edge of the house’s navy blue siding, the man halted, taking another few moments to just observe undetected. 

The girl now stood at the other end of the rows of boxes, her steady hands carefully sprinkling water over the last of the daffodils from the watering can. Jake didn’t recognize it as one of theirs, bringing him to the conclusion that she must’ve brought it herself. A glint of metal caught the man’s eye as he watched; eyes trailing over, he discovered an unfamiliar bike stationed by the foot of the driveway, just past the entrance to the garden. It was a unique looking bike, ivory in color, with two rear wheels that held a large basket between them. She must live nearby, Jake thought to himself as he turned his attention back to the girl who was still at work, humming softly to herself as she gazed down lovingly at the plants below her.

Gathering his courage, Jake decided to finally make his presence known, taking another step forward before clearing his throat. “Hey…” he began, trying to shake the nerves from his voice. “So you’re the one who’s been takin’ care’a things around here, huh? I’m glad I finally get to meet you,” he greeted with a friendly smile, though it quickly turned to a look of great concern at the girl’s reaction. 

As soon as she heard the man’s voice, she jumped, her watering can flying out of her hands as she let out a gasp. When her wide eyes landed on him, Jake was startled to see that they quickly filled with tears, a frightened whimper sounding from the poor girl as she cowered back instinctively. Cornered, bumping up against the shaded racks of flower boxes behind her, she could do nothing but fall to her knees, her bottom lip wobbling feverishly as she shook like a leaf under the stranger’s gaze. 

“Oh, oh hey-” Jake stumbled, extending a hand out as an offering of peace. The girl only shrunk back from the motion, tears beginning to flood her cheeks as her chest rose and fell sporadically with uneven breaths. Frowning, the man took a few careful steps forward, trying to lower himself a little to avoid towering over her. “Hey, I’m sorry- I didn’t mean to startle you.” Big eyes blinking quickly, she couldn’t manage any words. All she could do was struggle for air; recognizing her inability to speak, Jake softened his voice. “Hey, it’s alright. You wanna take some deep breaths with me?” he offered, his sensitive response to the panicked girl coming much more naturally than one might’ve expected. The truth was, though, that he was actually an expert at this. “It’s alright,” he murmured again, starting the grounding exercise just like he always did, “you’re alright. Let’s go slow- here, in… and out…”

“In… and out…” Jake had spoken the same words years ago to a similar cowering figure- that of his beloved little sister Claire, who he had grown up helping care for. She had developed a severe anxiety disorder early on in life from an incident at school, making her prone to episodes of debilitating fear that looked a lot like what was playing out before Jake’s very eyes there in the garden. Though he had been a growing boy himself, often times he was the only person who could manage to calm his sister down; with his gentle tone and demeanor, he was a natural at soothing her unwieldy mind. And though he knew nothing about this girl who was now sobbing quietly before him, something inside of Jake told him that his years of practice growing up might come in handy as he tried to de-escalate the situation at hand. “In… and out, you’re okay- it’s okay, sweetheart. There’s no need to cry, nothing to cry about here.”

Little hands clutched in fists over her chest, the girl let out a weak whimper, lips trembling as she tried to form words, though at first all she could manage was a jumbled mess of incoherent syllables. “I-I… I’m… I…” Raising his brow, Jake’s expression softened further at the first sound of her voice. “I… I’m so sorry,” she finally managed after a few more shaky breaths, more tears bursting from her pale blue eyes; now able to get a closer look, Jake could see that they were quite the unique shade of silver, almost giving off the tiniest bit of lavender in the mid-morning sun. She had just about the cutest features decorating her delicate face, soft patches of freckles dotting all over her little button nose, and pale pink lips that glittered faintly from what looked to be a light layer of gloss. Rosy cheeks flushed from her tears, the girl rubbed at her eyes, her bottom lip puffing out unthinkingly as she peered up warily at the man before her.

“Hey- it’s okay, no need to apologize,” Jake told her soothingly as he slowly took another few steps in her direction, not failing to notice the way she once again shrunk back from his approach. Bending down to sit a safe few feet away from the stranger, he cleared his throat, his eyes struggling to catch her gaze as she glanced around nervously. “Remember to keep breathing,” he said softly, his gentle reminder seeming to provide at least a little comfort to the girl as she gave him a small nod. “I’m sorry for frightening you,” Jake apologized again, his voice swelling with sincerity, “I didn’t mean to- oh sweetie, you’re alright,” he continued to hum his comforting words as his heart couldn’t help but break at the sight of the poor thing still trembling. “I was just so excited to finally meet you- I’ve been wanting to thank you for all the work you’ve done in the garden,” he tried to explain. “I was away for a few weeks; usually when I come back, the place is in need of some serious TLC. But thanks to you, things are thriving now more than ever. You’ve got a real green thumb on you,” he told her with a warm smile, trying to convey just how appreciative he was.

Blinking a few times at the man’s words, the girl nodded again hesitantly, almost seeming doubtful that Jake would really be thanking her for her service. “Oh, I… of c-course, sir,” she stumbled a bit more over her words. With the urge to almost lean in just to hear her better, Jake realized this little garden fairy already had him wrapped around her finger; there was just something about her voice, so sweet and mild, that did him in. “I-I’m sorry for coming in and… and messing with things without asking for permission. I just… I wasn’t sure if anyone was here to take care of it,” she rambled nervously. 

Shaking his head reassuringly, Jake promised her, “That’s okay, believe me. You’ve been such a big help. You’re welcome here any time.”

Eyes growing a little wider as the rest of her tears finally subsided, the girl’s voice grew slightly in amazement as she asked, “Really? Oh, th-thank you so much, sir. That’s so kind of you- I’ve always dreamed of having a big garden just like this, but I’ve got no room for it at home.”

“Well, I would never turn down an extra pair of hands around here,” Jake chuckled softly, “especially ones as skilled as yours. I’m Jake, by the way. I don’t think I caught your name.” 

“It’s n-nice to meet you, Mr. Jake,” the girl greeted with the softest of smiles, her eyes shining with a pleasant sense of friendliness. “I’m Wrenley- you can call me Wren. I live just down the road from here, over the big hill,” she told him, nodding in the direction that the road followed. 

“Wren” Jake repeated the name back to her, a certain fondness evident in his voice as he returned her smile. “The pleasure’s all mine. Here, can I help you up?” he asked, extending his hand out as he spoke.

With just the smallest hint of a wince, Wren hesitated, eyes drooping warily at the offer. Picking up on her uncertainty, Jake softened his voice once more. “Here, let me back up a bit,” he suggested as he retracted his hand and scooted back a few steps, rising to his feet. Carefully standing after him, the girl only came up to his shoulders as they faced each other; she was quite a tiny little thing, and as he continued to look at her, a question began to rise out of Jake before he even realized he was speaking. “How old are you, Wren?” 

Cheeks reddening, her small voice replied, “Twenty, sir. I’ll be twenty-one in the fall.”

“I see,” Jake nodded, not sure how much more he could ask without coming across as nosy. “Are you in school, then? Or do you work?” Though they lived out in the countryside, there was a chance that she went into one of the nearby towns to attend college or work a job. The closest was a short drive away, convenient for things like buying groceries and seeing a doctor every once and a while. 

“I-I’m taking university courses online,” Wren explained. “I’m very lucky; my boyfriend makes enough to let me focus on my studies instead of working. What about you, sir?”

Not wanting to go too deep into his occupation, Jake simply said, “I work for the government. Tech stuff, nothing special. Sometimes I get to take trips to help out the higher-ups. You live with your boyfriend, then?” The girl nodded. “That’s nice. I live here with my husband, Ari. You should meet him, sometime. He’s been just as impressed with your gardening work as I have.” At the mention of meeting another stranger, it was unmistakable that Wren began to tremble slightly once more; expression softening sympathetically, Jake reassured her, “Only when you’re ready, of course.”

Nodding gratefully, Wren seemed to pause, opening her mouth as if she was getting ready to say something. But when no words came out, she simply deflated a little, apologizing, “I-I’m sorry, sir. I… I don’t know how to explain, I…” Listening intently, Jake nodded, patiently waiting for her to continue. “I’m… I just have a hard time with… with people. I get so nervous and…” Words trailing off, she lowered her head slightly. 

“Hey,” Jake smiled softly, trying to give the flighty girl a reassuring look, “that’s okay, sweetheart. You know, I actually have a sister who’s a little bit like you. She has a hard time with people too; sometimes she gets really overwhelmed and needs to do some breathing to calm down.” A look of recognition appeared on Wren’s face at the man’s words, followed by a bit of relief as she nodded knowingly. “So I understand, and I’m always happy to help if things are getting to be too much. You don’t have to be sorry for that; I know it’s out of your control.”

“Th-thank you, sir,” Wren breathed, her shaking dying down a bit as she admitted, “it’s nice to meet someone who... you know, who gets it. When I… when I got scared earlier, I… no one’s ever reacted that way before. You’re very kind, sir. Your sister is lucky to have you.” Hearing the underlying sadness in her voice, Jake’s heart broke a little bit for the girl. It sounded like maybe she had been treated less kindly by others in the past, which he just hated to imagine. 

“There’s no need to thank me, sweet thing. You’re safe with me, okay?” he assured her, and one thing was certain: he really meant it. Though he had only just met her, Jake already knew that she was a special girl, and all he wanted was to be someone to her like he was to Claire, someone who could help when she needed it. He just hoped she’d let him.

← last chapter | series masterlist | next chapter →

[marvel-starwarsfangirl]

I have to know about "some crosshair healing fic, ig?"

Hello and thank you for the ask! Also thank you @indigofyrebird for asking as well!

I love Crosshair. You all know that. But our favorite sniper has been through hell and back to get where he is now. And here's the thing, he's still not ok. So, I decided to write a post-series long fic where I put Crosshair in therapy to work through his trauma. One thing I gave him in the fic as assigned by his therapist is a journal because I feel that he would really enjoy writing out his feelings.

I borrowed from my own experiences with anxiety when writing and I'm doing some research in order to better understand PTSD and what methods of therapy/healing in general work the best. There is some overlap with anxiety, but I want to do the best I can.

Snippet from his journal in the current chapter I'm writing:

"Iris and I haven’t talked about my self-loathing. And I don’t think I want to. Believe me, I’m aware of how bad it is. Honestly, I don’t even think her mindfulness techniques would help. I could repeat ‘my family loves me’ all I want, but it doesn’t remove the doubt I feel. I’m ashamed of all that I did during my time in the Empire, especially towards my family. I SHOT my brother. I did that. Not Hunter. Not Omega. Not Tech. Me. Sometimes, I can’t even look at myself without thinking of what I’ve done. I was told I needed to ‘discover myself.’ Will that help me move along on this path that I’m on? Will figuring out something as trivial as the shirt I put on in the morning help me move past what I did on Kamino? Probably not. The inhibitor chip was what turned me against my brothers. Except it was still my hand on the blaster and my hand alone that pulled the trigger. I tried to fight, but the horror I felt was like a little voice locked up in a box. It couldn’t get out. After the chip was removed, I still stayed with the Empire. There was no other path for me. How could there be? I was abandoned by my family. But I was still a solider. I am solider.” Crosshair looked down at his stump and sighed. “Not anymore it seems. I stopped being a soldier on Tantiss. The moment I shot Nolan was when I abandoned the Empire. What am I supposed to be now?”

This is the first long fic I'm committing to in over 3 years so I hope it goes well 😅

[zacki0gaming]

My Opinion About Season 1, Episode 3

Before I Start

Hello everyone! I'm gonna shove a ton of steroids inside of me if this episode isn't gonna get better than the previous two. Surprisingly, it was a little better for me in some ways.

Let's Discuss The Episode

By the conclusion of Season 1, Episode 2, Cube had erected a barrier over The Tree of Life without requiring Cyan's assistance, even though this method had fucking reasons unknown to progress the main story. Dub encountered this maneuver with his laser eye, rendering the barrier useless. Consequently, Copter and exiled to the Land of Spheres, while Cube and Cyan were sent to Poly Forest. The Sun bears witness to these events in a state of abject terror. Why the fuck the Sun was included as a character in this series anyway, as it appears to only serve mainly as a jovial and lighthearted presence, but is unwilling to not want to even try to throw hands at Dub due to how big this celestial body is??

Moving forward, Iris found himself taken aback by the events he had witnessed and promptly instructed Ketches to set sail towards Cube and Cyan's current location. Meanwhile, Dub had begun to remove the Trees of Life from the ground with his impressive strength, causing the surrounding area of its energy to be drained. Dub's actions were solely focused on extracting the power of the Cyan Tree, as further evidenced by his remark, "Now, let's see what Cyans can do." (Lets pause here).

Quote: "Now, let's see what Cyans can do"

Dub's statement implies that he has consumed the other Trees of Life in the past. However, this minor plot point doesn't have that much significant depth and therefore remains rather vague to me. It is unknown if Dub has undergone different appearances, powers, etc. As the result of Dub consuming the powers of the other Trees of Life, who knows. :/

Back To The Episode

Dub transformed into a stronger version of his former self. He eliminated the remaining Trees of Life by splitting them into four different locations across Paradise, infecting them and causing them to turn pink.

Dub suddenly conjures his tower seemingly out of thin air or can create things at the speed of light. Positioned atop of the structure, Dub was seen adeptly playing a solo musical performance with his guitar. He appears briefly shrouded in darkness like a shadow, and when lightning strikes, he sneers at the camera with an evil grin (another brief 4th-wall break). After this, the intro begins.

I would pretty much say, fast-paced and intense opening scene even though it was going a bit too quick for me.

Subsequently, Cube gradually regained consciousness upon hearing Cyan's agitated vocalizations (now that Cyan had also been awokened too). Frantically searching his surroundings, Cube discovered Cyan on top of a splintered tree stump. Likely with is super strength, Cube leapt across the nearby river to Cyan's location only to find that Cyan had been damaged, presumably inflicted by Dub's attack. Overwhelmed with grief, Cube tearfully questions Cyan about what happened to him. Unable to comprehend Cyan's reply due to the latter being in their primary form, Cube apologized profusely nonetheless.

Behind the protagonists, Pentellow makes a her appearance and gently taps Cube's shoulder. She proceeds to introduce herself and reassures Cube, telling him that she knows how to fix his hero, Cyan. Hesitant at first, Cube ultimately accedes to Pentellow's offer, allowing her to lead him by the hand, with Cyan in his other arm, toward a hideout. As Cube and Pentellow move out of sight, an enigmatic corrupted figure (later meticulously revealed to be Lycanthropy) continues to monitor and trail them from afar, wearing a devious smile.

Essentially, what is going on here is that the series is building "the mysterious character in the background tension" for a later episode.

The story continues as Pentellow leads Cube and Cyan to her hideout. She then wakes up her hero, "Tsavorite", as well as Orange, who is both Pentellow and Iris's hero. Cube becomes engrossed in thoughts about Cyan's state, including his persistent infection, but his cogitation is abruptly halted by Orange and Tsavorite who greeted the duo. This also makes Cyan happy. (Lets pause here).

Lack of Cohesion Trend What follows here is going to be another fucking major trend where your going to see the main characters, especially for Cube and Cyan are going to show the incredible amount of lack of relationship build with each other throughout the series. (Not in this episode).

Back To The Episode

Pentellow informed Orange and Tsavorite that Cyan was injured and asked for their help in fixing him. The two eagerly approached Cube and were pleased to meet the new pair. Orange used telekinesis to raise Cyan, while Tsavorite used his ability on Cube's hand, mimicking how their caretaker had previously held Cube's hand while asking for their names.

Cube revealed his name including Cyan's, and soon after, Orange and Tsavorite heal Cyan's injuries, which proved to be successful. After Cube was seeing Cyan fully repaired, he profusely expressed appreciation to the trio, whereupon Pentellow gave him some advice him about Cyan. (Lets pause here).

Lore: Heroes's Weaknesses What follows here is we're not gonna talk about the fucking sudden and incomprehensible knowledge that Cyan purported to process. Rather, Pentellow explains to Cube that Heroes sustain more than three strikes from the Pink Corruption, they are highly susceptible to fracturing into multiple fragments. Hence, the heroes' resilience may be aptly described as that of "fragile glass." Furthermore, Pentellow's awareness of this phenomenon suggests that she, Iris, Pyrare, and the other heroes probably have faced similar circumstances from this due to knowing about this.

Back To The Episode

Upon Orange and Tsavorite's inquiry regarding Cyan's injuries. Cyan explained the incident to Orange, who was surprised. For some reason, the two heroes managed to comprehend Cyan's high-pitched tweets. (Ok so, people don't talk about this but, the heroes except the caretakers can somehow communicate with each other in their "first form". Seeing Orange and Tsavorite able to understand what Cyan is saying without being in his second form. How come the Caretakers don't have this ability? I have no fucking idea...).

Orange advises Cyan that the attacker is dangerous and suggests that he should tell Cube. However, Orange receives a series of chirps from Cyan, likely telling him to do it instead.

The latter obeys, telling Cube a corrupted flower (Lycanthropy) attacked Cyan. (Wait so, I'm confused here... Are you telling me that Cyan woke up before Cube and suddenly got attacked by Lycanthropy or something... I don't even know why Cyan is bringing this up... I need more answers...)

Cube felt confused by this discovery, given that Cyan had vanquished a significantly larger opponent than a flower (Acrilimus). Pentellow then realizes that it's not an ordinary flower. Pentellow notices something that she was looking for someone. As Cyan proceeded to enter into his secondary form, Pentellow revealed that Pyrare, the first caretaker, and his hero, Gold, possessed extensive knowledge regarding the Tree of Life and Dub. Cube suggests that they should go now.

The focus now turns to Dub, who is in his tower in the underground area, conducting experiments on the infected Cyan Tree of Life. He is interrupted by an infected flower, who informs him that Cube has also been infected. Dub asks the flower to leave and reflects on the situation, feeling sad that Cube is not with him at the Factory, might be referring to Cubic here I suppose.

In a later episode, we learn that Barracuda has passed away, and this news saddens Dub. He believes in following in Cube's footsteps and promises Barracuda that he will make him proud while still trying to fully conquer Paradise.

Ok so, what's happening here for Dub is that he has a bit of a sad side in in him due to him occasionally reflecting on his best friend, Barracuda after his mysterious demise that we don't know about. However, Dub will still keep their shared plans with the Pink Corruption Virus to its fullest to take over Paradise once and for all.

The narrative proceeds with Cube sitting with the three heroes, asleep in his scarf (a cute moment showing how much of a true fucking father-figure Cube is since the beginning of Season 1). Pentellow appeared visibly irritated because Pyrare was always in the same location he always had been. Cube hypothesized that the corrupted flower (Lycanthropy), might have played a role in Pyrare's absence. However, Pentellow rebuffed this notion, contending that Pyrare is a pretty strong caretaker, capable of defeating most corrupts. (Lets pause here).

What follows here for what Pentellow said about Pyrare being a strong fighter is going to show you how much of a "damn perpetual idle", Brittany Robinson deliberately made for Pyrare throughout the season. (Well... Almost when we get to Season 1 finale).

Iris, apparently quite bored (THE EMO GRAPEHEAD BITCH INCOMING YALL), having tirelessly scoured the area for hours, eventually arrives at the designated location with Ketches, whereupon he spots Cube, but seemingly fails to notice Pentellow's presence and instructs Ketches to wait. Cube perceived Iris's approach and Pentellow appeared thrilled to see him again. I could pretty much agree with myself that Pentellow is generally an "Iris simp".

Iris approached Cube and initially assumed he was not in the company with Copter. Nevertheless, Pentellow goes over to Iris, which makes their triangle glow in their torsos, symbolizing their love (I'm not a huge fan of this ship so please don't attack me... I'm being respectful here...).

After the reunion, Iris disclosed that he stumbled upon a village (Poly Village), situated close-by, which featured an inn (Poly Inn), which might prove indispensable in their search for Pyrare. Cube, feeling drowsy, as the gang proceeded towards the destination. In the background, Lycanthropy was seen grinning, presumably keeping a watchful eye on them.

At the Inn, appears to be occupied by all, Inside Cube's room, was with Cyan, ashamed because of Cyan being hurt. He got worried because he wasn't helping Cyan than expected, When he looks at Cyan, Cyan turns away from Cube a little bit then sighs, and Cube eventually sleeps.

Back To The Episode

Cube became increasingly anxious and clutched his blanket tightly. He glanced at Cyan and shifted slightly before letting out a quiet sigh and falling asleep. Suddenly, a noise caught his attention and he woke up, finding himself lying face down on the ground. He stood up, still wearing his soul clothing, and looked around in surprise which he was inside his "soul realm". (Lets pause here).

Concept of "The Soul Realm"

"The Soul Realm" in the Pink Corruption Series is this mysterious, supernatural unconscious space that resides within the confines of a shape's soul. If we take a look at Cube's soul realm for example, it shows a watery platform with a waterfall in the background. It also has pillars, very likely symbolically with Cube's controllable weapons. Unfortunately, this concept remains woefully underdeveloped for me.

Notably, while headcanons aren't typically my thing because they don't generally satisfy me in a way. However, if I would've made simple one out of this, I would have shapes that possesses the ability to fight could have their unique soul realm, allowing for greater concentration and meditation for better control over their powers and weapons.

Back To The Episode

As Cube questions where he is, Cubic, Cube's corrupted counterpart as a voice, informs Cube that he is currently within his own soul and proceeds to insult him by calling him an "idiot". (Bitch ass pink ice cube...). As a result, Cubic appears, floating and dissolving, while also creating a new platform. As Cube struggles with anxiety and unease of what he is witnessing, he asks his doppelgänger for his name, to which he replies, "Cubic," and discloses that he is the virus that Cube is currently carrying. Cube claimed that he was not part of him. However, Cubic believes he is just playing around as Cubic starts pulling out his claws.

One of Cubic's claws grabs Cube, forcing him against the wall, then Cubic walks onto the approaching Cube as he tells a short history of his hero, Cyan. Then he says one of the best quotes we've heard in the series so far, "Nothing but doubts of you being a good caretaker fills your mind.", and asks if he is correct. (Now lets finally pause here and talk about this!).

Analyzing Cubic's Intial Introduction On Cube's Insecurity On His Role As A Caretaker

Before we start this, I'm gonna explain why this section of the episode works dang well for Cube's character development for Season 1. I'm gonna be combining these two dialogues in the following below for this explanation:

Quote: "Nothing but doubts of you being a good caretaker fills your mind."

Cube: "I wonder... Is this how it feels like to be a caretaker..? I feel like I haven't helped Cyan as much as I thought..."

Firstly, what Cube said here before Cubic's introduction started, this dialogue suggests that Cube is reflecting on his role as a caretaker and expressing uncertainty about whether he has been effective enough in helping his hero, Cyan in the series so far. It is shown here that Cube is grappling with his own comprehension of his responsibility and questioning his ability to provide better meaningful assistance to his hero. This may be seen as a moment of self-awareness and introspection on Cube's character in his caretaker role implying a sense of inadequacy or doubt about his ability to support Cyan as he hoped he would but still can't.

Secondly, the quote. The quote here suggests that Cube is being plagued by doubts about his ability to be a good caretaker to his hero, Cyan. Cubic questions whether his doubts are justified, indicating a "lack of confidence" in his caregiving skills. Overall, combining the two dialogues, it appears that since Episode 2, Cubic has been watching over Cube inside his soul, seeing him watch Cube grow increasingly insecure, grappling with feelings of inadequacy and doubt concerning his role as a caretaker of his hero, Cyan. This would explain why Cubic starts talking about this toward him in this scene. Cube has shown signs of introspection and self-criticism, as he ponders his effectiveness in providing ample support and assistance to Cyan. This points toward Cube's conscientious nature and his deep-seated sense of responsibility toward his hero. However, despite this gifted trait he possesses, Cube still sees himself lacking confidence in his caregiving skills, leading him to question his own capabilities in fulfilling his duties as a caretaker.

From what I'm saying here, is that Cubic's introduction does a amazing job of Cubic exposing Cube's insecurities as a caretaker since Cube was acting this way since the beginning of the series. It basically shows Cube's journey as a caretaker involving him navigating this internal struggle while this series explores the theme of insecurity in his character. He is dealing this issue while striving his determination to fulfill his duties to the best of his abilities to assist and protect his hero, Cyan. I will generally considered this the most highlighted moment in the entire series' writing in my opinion.

Back To The Episode

Cube is currently in agreement with Cubic's statement, but regains control by removing Cubic's claw that was clinging to him. While Cube was grapping on to Cubic and lifting him in the air, Cubic then mentioned that his bond with Cyan would make Cubic stronger. As Cube was about to punch Cubic in the face, Cyan then wakes up Cube by saying his name, and Cube regains his consciousness.

After realizing his mistake, he asks if he had attacked them. Orange then explains to Cube what had happened because of him attacking Cyan while initially being mind-controlled by Cubic. Cube becomes upset and apologizes, but Cyan reassures him that it wasn't his fault and that there is no need to apologize.

Cube then asks Orange and Tsavorite to teach Cyan to defend himself, not wanting him to see Cyan hurt again. Tsavorite and Orange agree but Tsavorite notes to Cube that not every hero can learn the same thing, implying that the Heroes can have different abilities (Just guessing).

Orange then describes that it's morning so the three heroes went out to train Cyan (Still going to talk about this part in the next episode). Cube then thinks that he should ask for Iris and Pentellow for how he can protect Cyan. (Lets pause here).

Then he heads over to Iris' and Pentellow's room, then Iris opens the door and says morning to Cube. Cube mentions to him that he and Pentellow need to talk with him. Cube explains to the duo how he can use his hero, Cyan, to raise and assist them. However, he admits that he is not entirely sure how to do so.

Let's Analyze About My Issue With Pentellow & Iris's Advice To Cube

Raising Part: Pentellow and Iris's guidance on "raising the Heroes" dictates that during their first and second forms, they can be regarded as "babies." If they demonstrate traits consistent with them acting like "babies", it means that you are raising them incorrectly.

The main issue with the raising part is that "none of the fucking heroes seem to act like actual babies in either their first or second form." From my perspective, regardless, all of the heroes act pretty fucking mature in first or second form. I don't really know what's the point of this anyway despite being like "damn 0 to 4 years old".

Aiding Part: Pentellow and Iris's guidance on "aiding the Heroes" doesn't entirely involve only protecting them but also requires the caretakers to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with them, strengthening their bond for that specific caretaker and hero to grow stronger together.

Overall, the main essence of their advice lies in the improvement of Cube's relationship with Cyan and his development into a reliable hero under Cube's mentorship as his assigned caretaker. However, the main issue with this advice is that it's a "hit or miss". I do find this advice still practical and beneficial, only for the "aiding part" because of the importance of actively supporting and fighting alongside them in battle. But, the "raising part" feels completely meaningless and irrelevant because the Heroes never really express immature and babyish traits in their first or second form frequently in my opinion. I would honestly find this gap in this advice to be somewhat inconsistent regarding the developmental forms of the Heroes' maturity. Rather shitty advice if you asked me, but still agree with the aiding part...

Back To The Episode

Cube's face darkens in shock when Pentellow mentions the importance of strengthening his bond with Cyan. Pentellow clarifies that the stronger their bond, the stronger both Cube and Cyan will become. Cube admits that he hasn't been supporting Cyan at all, and expresses concern about his own infection and its potential to aggressively harm Cyan.

Pentellow and Iris give a reassuring arm around Cube while Iris (fucking gives off an inscrutable face for no reason. EMO GRAPEHEAD YALL!). Pentellow than says he shouldn't be worried because Pyrare had the same corruption and never was fully corrupted. Then it ends.

I'm generally surprised that no one isn't super concerned about Cube's infection spot because it's a big fucking problem for him and the group throughout the series.

Final Verdict

I found Season 1, Episode 3 to be a marked improvement over the previous two episodes. In my opinion, Season 1, Episode 3 stands out as the best episode compared to the rest. The writing feels a little better here for effectively portraying a dynamic plot progression with more interesting stuff happening, such as showcasing more of Dub's actions and motives driving the story forward, and the introduction of Cubic as a manifestation of a plot device for Cube's insecurities adds an extra layer of complexity to his character, elevating the rest of the conclusion of the episode. However, it had several issues. Such as, the concept of the Soul Realm feels like it's just there to feel pretty undercooked, the advice Cube has been given to Pentellow and Iris was rather inconsistent and shitty, and could've been better explained for the raising part (Great friends... Right...?). Overall, I will give it like a 6/10, an above-average.

[henrysglock]

Mothergate: Time For Some More Horrifying Science Facts

Because all love my horrible science facts <3

We’ve discussed the history of uterine transplants, and pinned down that it’s 100% possible with zero suspension of disbelief. Uterine transplants were attempted in 1931 most notably with Lili Elbe, who died of immune complications, not complications of the surgery. The first successful kidney transplant, however, happened in 1954, which puts us perfectly in the realm of reality (again, without any suspension of disbelief).

However, something that had been stumping me for a bit was the fact that egg freezing and IVF didn’t really show up in the medical community until the ‘80s. So, I decided to look a little deeper into the history of the subjects. Here’s what I found.

IVF:

Though the first successful human IVF procedure happened in 1978 with the birth of Louise Brown, experimentation with IVF dates back to the mid 1930s.

(x)

However, there was success in rabbits in 1959.

This has been confirmed by multiple sources (x)

Rabbits. 1959.

(and in Brenner’s Encyclopedia of Genetics, no less 💀)

Here’s why I care more about early success in animals than I do about the first successful human cases:

1. Brenner has no code of ethics, which is integral to the medical community at large. That’s why procedures takes so long to get put into practice. Brenner’s whole thing is no-ethics fringe science. He cares about what is possible, not what’s right or safe.

2. Henward directly refers to both himself and El as being “animals” in Brenner’s eyes. Thus, animal trials are on the board.

3. The rabbit scene, 1959.

Not just the fact that it’s a trapped rabbit in 1959 associated with Henward, but that Virginia (removed/from a distance) and Alice (directly) are associated with that particular rabbit.

In fact, the gutted rabbit is most heavily associated with Alice, which feels like a tie to Mother Alice being described as being cut open in the Indianapolis Gazette (she was compared to a deer, but the “torn open” part remains the same).

So organ/uterine transplants and IVF? ✅ In the realm of possibility both in reality and within the bounds of Stranger Things.

SEX CELL FREEZING:

Sex cell freezing began in 1949 with the discovery of glycerol as a cryoprotectant. In 1950, scientists began freezing various sperm samples and found success in the process. Egg freezing, however, wasn’t successful until 1972, when Whittingham/Leibo/Mazur perfected the slow-freeze method in mouse eggs.

Now you might be going “but James, that means it can’t have happened back in 1959, and that dismantles your whole theory”…Not necessarily.

Bear with me for a second. We’re talking about Hawkins National Lab, a lab on a TV show about a fictional town with kids who have superpowers. We’re talking about the lab that developed NINA, the lab that developed Soteria. 1972 is just 13 years after Henward was stolen. That’s when it happened in real life. We’re in a fictional universe. IVF and egg preservation were dreamed up by Huxley in 1934 with the release of A Brave New World. Suspend your disbelief for a moment.

Could it happen? Abso-fucking-lutely.

Hell, Henward directly equates both himself and El with lab rats in Brenner’s eyes:

Rats -> Mice? Same difference.

All this to say…the science of it?

Henward’s monologue also uses scientific terminology associated with breeding programs:

In which backcrossing with parents is a common practice:

As is performance testing of offspring to determine the best new reproductive candidates.

Paired with the in-universe references…This is all within the realm of possibility.

[snowrassa]

Usher, Part 2 | Lights Out | Usher, Part 3

Ghost Quartet fabricated film stills using public domain images from the NYPL Digital Collection

Sources: 1. The common method of removing stones from cut-over land is by use of the crowbar. 2. Blackened stumps of trees and ugly snags cover the slopes leading to Mount Hood, Oregon3. Side wall of old house dating from early nineteenth century showing details of construction. 4. Interior work : construction of a room, showing the completed brickwork of the walls, windows and ceiling. 5. Stained glass windows in church at Woodstock, Ohio

[lovewash3d-doll]

🦋💐My Double P method (Plotting & Prioritizing) for Writing with a Word Limit🦋💐

………………………………………………………………………….

As a frequent short story writing contestant, nothing hinders me more than writing under word limits. The typical 2,000 words & 6 pages isn’t enough for my regular stories of 5,000 words. I’ve encountered many situations where I’m stumped with my plotline (in such a short amount of writing place) and need to severely lower my word count. Here is a method I’ve developed that’s helped me overcome this!

1. Plotting

When writing with a such a small word limit, it’s important to have a meaningful but not overly complicated plotline. Your story’s problem needs to be solved in at most 1,000 words, with 500 left for the exposition and the end. Each scene should be meaningful to the plot line but not rushed or muddled together. Be mindful of your words!

I start my method by writing a one pager, fulling outlining the plot, without any flowery embellishments or even storytelling elements to my summary: I state it clearly. This really helps me map out my story and plan out how many words my scenes will embody. I make sure the tension effectively rises and that the narrative’s message and intended effect are perfectly gemmed.

2. Prioritizing

As much as we love our words, the story comes first! The next step I take is prioritizing plot points. Along with every scene or action in the one-pager summary, I comment on its significance to the plot and story. If the scene does not serve a relevant purpose, it’s best to cut it. Overly long speeches, excessively long imagery, “fluff” and stark, filler scenes should be removed and replaced with elaborations and extensions of more important scenes. Character developments and relationship improvements should be made within the plot, not outside of it in unnecessary scenes that dilute the impact of those changes. Although a moment in your story may seem important, it really may not play a role in the bigger picture. By removing these sections, you can solidify your story more and lower your word count!

🦋This method also helps with filling in the gaps in your story. Once you can identify what your plot is missing, it’s simpler to think of an idea that encompasses your missing points than right off the spot.

I hope this helped! Reposts are appreciated

XOXO,

lovewashed doll💐

[novmbr2nd]

ignore this <3 full bg3 verse under the cut <3

you're born because your mother (in name only) makes a deal many years earlier. a plan years in the making; mary grants a lolth sworn drow permission to take her place for one year exactly while she remained in slumber. that drow has already given bhaal the rights to their firstborn child. you. they don't speak of it when she comes back, but they have a second child now. dean, your brother, is the perfect half wood elf and he will grow to become the perfect barbarian soldier for your father. you will always be half drow, you will be a cleric of the tempest domain in the name of kelemvor.

bhaal, unknown to anyone, feeds you his blood as just a newborn, making you into bhaalspawn. spilling your mortal blood to replace it with something much worse. unknown to anyone, he kills mary and lets your father, just a feeble human ranger, believe it was one of his spawn and set out for revenge. your childhood is spent travelling the realm in the fight against evil whilst you fight these dark urges that haunt your dreams.

you are eighteen years old and you argue with your father. you always argue with him because you are not the son he wants. finally, when he says that if you leave then he never wants you to come back, you lose control over the urge bhaal placed in you as an innocent child and there is blood everywhere. john isn't dead, but there is a bloody stump where his leg used to be. so you flee. you will not give dean the chance to reject you too.

another bhaalspawn finds you and takes you in to guide you. ruby. under her instruction you learn, and through her guidance you begin to lose your humanity. you are bhaals favourite, she says, and she will help you prove why to everyone. you don't know that dean is searching for you desperately, to save you and take you home, even when your brethren name you the boy king of his domain.

he does find you, so far removed from the boy you were, but he breaks through the shell they built up. when it comes down to it, you help him kill ruby with the promise you will do better from now on. you never get to keep it; you are bhaals favourite, and he'll guide you back to his path. he has one of his spawn erase your memories, the method left to her discretion, to rid you of this ghost of humanity dean brought out in you. she goes a little far and it all backfires when, with no memory of yourself or even your brother, you try to resist the urge again. not always successfully.

[pansy-buttercups]

MUSHROOMS IN THE GARDEN BED🍄

(Garden Tips Tuesday #1)

🙘✦🙙🙘✦🙙🙘✦🙙🙘✦🙙🙘✦🙙🙘✦🙙🙘✦🙙🙘✦🙙🙘✦🙙🙘✦🙙

Ft. This little guy in my starter tray <3

First off if you find a mushroom in your garden beds or containers, DONT FREAK OUT! No you didn't do anything wrong, and nothing bad is going on. I think a lot of gardeners that just started out panic at the sight of a capped stalk in their beds because they think it means their soil is messed up or that mushroom will make their plants ill. That was definitely my first reaction a couple years ago the first time a mushroom popped up in one of my containers. Mushrooms and Fungi however are actually a good sign (Normally)!!

What are mushrooms and what do they mean????

Mushrooms and Fungi while not being plants have a couple similar system. Fungi are often complex systems that can span for miles underground in a fine delicate networks called mycelium. These systems can go hundreds of years underground, but only sprout their fruiting bodies (which we call mushrooms) when conditions are right for them to emerge.

And these conditions that make it right for mushrooms to pop out also makes it the right condition for your plants usually. Mushrooms thrive on humidity, moisture, shade, but most importantly decaying organic matter in your soil. Mushrooms help break down the matter in your soil and help make it more accessible for your plants! They are also useful in remedying soil of contaminates, such as oil, heavy metals, pesticides and apparently even bits of radioactive waste. Here's an article that goes way more in depth on how mushrooms are used in land restoration projects:

The relationship between Fungi and Plants:

Finally this is less of a gardening thing and more of an environmental thing, however it still applies. Fungi and plants often share the same ecosystem, and beyond that some share resources too! Why? Simply because they both have something the other needs. Mycelium as previously mentioned breaks down organic matter using enzymes into usable nutrients for themselves. The kind that breaks down dead organic matter for their own use are called Saprophytic fungi and are responsible for recycling our dead organisms. There are however fungi called mycorrhizal fungi that do not live by this method and instead thrive on their symbiotic relationship with plants. Plants have one very important thing the fungi requires which is the sugars they produce through photosynthesis, and the plants require the complex nutrients that only fungi can give them. So the mycelium colonizes the tips of the plants roots and they pass resources back and forth, however mycelium sprawl and connect to other plants meaning these resources also get shared between plants. This also them help keep the balance between an ecosystem by sharing the nutrients of healthier plants to those that are struggling. The large network that communicates nutrients, moisture, and even chemical signals between plants and mycelium is referred to as a mycorrhizal network.

The dozen threats to the network:

The mycelium network however is very delicate often, and human activity often poses a threat to these important fragile systems. There is no short list of threats to mushrooms listing from the already harmful herbicides, fungicides, certain fertilizers, to logging which is a major detriment due to the compaction from both heavy machine and foot traffic and from the damage that comes with removing the stumps. There is however one thing a lot of gardeners do that often damage mycelium networks and that is tilling soil! Along with disrupting the network tilling already has a dozen problems it causes (Which ill probably be writing about as well in a later post). All of these things can lead to the rapidly decay of a proper mycelium network which can sudden cause harm to surrounding plants and trees that relied on them.

How to be a mutual friend to the Mycelium! :

There are however a lot of things you can also do to help promote your fungal friends! Try to avoiding disrupting the soil in your garden as much as much as possible, and looking into no-till alternatives! Leave out lots of organic matter such as fallen leaves, fallen logs, bark, straw, hay, woodchips, basically anything organic and dead. I believe the organic matter my mushroom in the starter tray liked was the coco coir which is also common mushroom cultivation substrate. Fungi also heavily appreciate humidity and shade so make sure to keep the soil around any mushrooms that pop up a fair bit damp. Lastly when you're not gardening and instead out hiking perhaps try to stay on the path to avoid compacting the earth over where precious mycelium is keeping the environment balanced and thriving!

So next time you see a mushroom pop out in your garden be sure to give it a little thank you for keeping the soil nice and helping your plants :)