#the bug theme of the game is take responsibility

[thebestusernamepossible]

I’m mostly staying off the Mouthwashing fandom bc I personally don’t want to put myself through whatever discourse is ever going on there. But know I love Anya and Mouthwashing is one of the best games I’ve played that had an SA survivor AND was respectful about it!! The abuse Anya suffered is never portrayed as a spectical for the audience to leer at. They use the art of implication VERY well, and in the end Anya gets to go out dignified. She’s not just Jimmy’s tradgic victim, she’s her own character who makes her own decisions. Jimmy doesn’t get to kill her, she expresses her own agency to do so. She’s also the one who kept the gun away from him for so long. Also she’s SO fucking strong, she’s so cool. Anya I love you.

Also the game’s overarching (but subtle) commentary on rape culture, enabling, and how capitalism almost makes a set dressing for it is peak.

[finalgirllx]

can i get a 😨 themed hc with ellie pls

hehe thank you for an ask from this game! pic creds @/elliestattooo

ellie + fear went the silly route here. tw: spiders

ellie's initial fear response is usually anger. this shows itself in high stakes situations (as we well knowwww) but even in more mundane, day-to-day moments.

take when she's handling bugs, for example. ellie is usually fine with, if not fascinated by insects. so much so that naturally she becomes the designated bug remover in your relationship.

this setup typically goes by without a hitch. but sometimes it goes more like.. “holy shit, that spider is huggeeeee!” ellie's voice rings out, startling you while you are just moseying about the living room. her shout is immediately followed by said spider scurrying out of reach. you've come to expect a string of curses to fly from her mouth as well as lots of banging and some fallen items as she tries to find it again. good thing she kept her cool.

[losergames]

Chop Shop is strictly 18+ for language, themes, and potential explicit content. 

🔗 - Game Intro | Bug Report | Ko-Fi

Episode Three is now available! (+ 86,000) - PLAY HERE

Get your first taste of the underground car scene.

Meet some other players in the game.

Be made an offer.

5 achievements up for grabs!

And more!

AN: thank you so much for the patience - i've been dying to put this update out. lots of new characters and lots of variation!! there are 3 major paths to choose between in this ep, i recommend trying them all out! and thank you to my betas for keeping me sane lmao

This update comes with a patch and UI refresh (Version 1.1.2) Notes are under the cut. If preferred, you can access them in game in the start menu.

STORY

EPISODE 01:

MC should now be able to smoke! Buying cigarettes at the shop was not triggering correctly. If playing with an old save, you DO NOT have to restart as code at the beginning of EP 03 has resolved the error. Player will need to restart if they wish to read smoking related scenes in previous episodes.

Updated MC Name selection. Player can now choose from a list of names instead of having to input one to proceed.

Player can now give Taha their chocolate bar if it's in their inventory.

When asking Maz about their scars, the second choice 'You want to ask about it but you're going to keep your mouth shut.' should now take you to the correct response.

Extended and updated 'End Game' scenes.

EPISODE 02:

If MC is faint after exiting the car, but also drunk, they should now get the fainting scene, followed by Dilani helping the MC in the bathroom.

UI + TECHNICAL

SETTINGS:

Autoname Save is now defaulted to ON. This is to add ease and flow to gameplay, especially for mobile, tablet, and app users, instead of calling for an inputted saved name. If player wants to input save names, toggle Autoname Saves to OFF.

Autoname Save previously only used the forename of the MC but now includes the surname as well.

Removed the Fullscreen toggle as it is only intended for desktop use. Player can still toggle fullscreen function via the UI bar on the desktop interface.

Added a choice indicator toggle. (This probably won't come into effect until EP 04 or 05)

Changed serif font from Vollkron to EB Garamond.

OTHER:

Changing the MC's pronouns via the Dashboard has been updated. Additionally, after confirmation will take player back to the Dashboard and not close the dialog boxes entirely.

Hovering over 'Personality', 'Motives', and 'Skills' titles in the Dashboard will now display an information box with a definition. Mobile and tablet users will need to tap on the title.

'Resume Game' now only appears on the main menu when there is an autosave in the saves log.

Choices styling changes.

General UI and button style changes.

Fixed errors with the text message styling.

Added styling for reading text off of a page in game.

Darkened blue in light theme 'Skyline' to reduce eye strain.

CREATE A SAVE

Introducing Create a Save! This feature allows players to quickly manufacture a save file and start at a later point in the game.

Set your identity, appearance, history, and statistics; including personality, motives, and skills. Continue to set key decisions made in previous episodes.

Randomise options available for creating a PC and key decisions.

OTHER

Fixed gaps and spacing issues.

Minor phrasing and sentence structure changes.

Grammar and typo fixes.

whew -- that's a lot of patch notes! apologies for so much that needed to be fixed.

this update shouldn't break/ mess with saves but as a disclaimer i will say, if you spot anything funky, broken, or you don't think things are triggering correctly, try starting a new save. the new create a save feature is incredibly code heavy, and it's been tested relentlessly, but i wouldn't be surprised if something crops up.

if starting a new save doesn't resolve your issue - please submit to bug report or just send me an ask/message.

some things have been meaning to get fixed for Some Time - thank you to everyone that is using the bug report form!

apologies if there are typos and/or bugs - this was a long one to edit and my lovely betas did an OUTSTANDING job reading so much for ep 3 - thank you so much again!!! this time i am going to give it a bit more time before i put together a patch so i can grab more error responses haha.

create a save has also added a wee chunk to the word count, somewhere around 6k, but i'm not including it in the episode 03 word count as it's purely code. so, if you think the total wc is off, that's why!

if you've read this far, happy reading and thank you so much for the continued support!! :) - becky <3

[cissyenthusiast010155]

hiii!!! can you do a larissa x student story based on the song teachers pet? like they are in a secret relationship and they are very kinky together but they need to be careful and the reader sometimes doesn’t like being kept a secret so she tells her but larissa says it’s just for their protection though it’s okay and then larissa gets touchy and seduces the reader and they have dirty hot sexy time🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭

Under My Thumb ~Dark!Mommy!Larissa Weems xFem Student!Reader

Summary— Reader, a student at Nevermore, has found herself in a complicated, toxic, manipulative explicitly sexual relationship with the one and only principal of Nevermore, Larissa Weems. What happens when Reader tries to talk to Larissa about it, when she starts to get tired of all the mind games and secrets…? Anon Response— Hiii @mxmmyviolet !! Thank you for the request! I love how detailed it is, and I would love to write it for you. Great song choice as well, very fitting. Hope you Enjoy! ♥️

Mommy… Master List

Requests & Prompt-List

Warnings: NSFW, 18+!!, darker, smut, themes of manipulation, age gap, grinding, humping, implied fingering, implied g!p, implied g!p fucking and smut, taunting, teasing, mommy kink, manipulation, guilt, guilt tripping, implied future smut, etc.

Enjoy (;

You were having a shitty day. You had a lot on your mind, finals were going on and a bunch of mental health crap that you just didn’t have the time for.

And like any shitty day by the end of it, you ended up in Larissa’s office. It was an unhealthy habit, you had to admit. It bugged you. But you couldn’t get enough of the woman. And your feelings overrode the logic on this one. Most of the time anyway.

You entered Larissa’s office after she called you in from knocking. Larissa stopped her work and looked up at you with a smile.

“Darling, I— what’s wrong…?” She began to enthusiastically greet you, but quickly changed direction as she saw your face.

You threw your things aside and by her fireplace, before coming around the woman’s desk. Larissa opened her arms and indicated for you to sit in her lap.

You didn’t hesitate, plopping into the older woman’s lap and curling up into her figure. Larissa looked down at you with care and concern, her hands wandering and caressing you lovingly.

“Talk to me, Darling… please…” Larissa pled.

You nodded slowly. You sat up a little more in her lap and took a deep breath, meeting her gaze.

“I… I don’t like being a secret…” you whispered, tears threatening to come to your eyes, “It’s— It’s destroying me…”

Larissa’s eyes widened and she nodded. Her one hand came to your hip, while the other tucked a strand of loose hair behind your ear.

“Oh Darling… I know it hard, but it’s what’s best… We need to keep it a secret for your own protection…” Larissa purred,

Larissa’s hand then began to wander from your face to your collarbone, to down your curves, where it stopped at your hip.

When you didn’t seem swayed by her words, Larissa’s eyes darkened and she smirked lightly. She leaned in and let her lips ghost the shell of your ear, making you shiver.

“It’s all for you, Darling…” Larissa purred in your ear, her hands starting to grind your hips against her lap.

You squeaked lightly and immediately moved your hands to her shoulders. You tried to say something, to use your logic and explain to Larissa, but then she started to bite you… bite your ear, bite your neck, bite any exposed skin… and you were a goner…

“You know I’d never do anything with the intention of hurting you…” Larissa darkly cooed, sucking on your pressure point and making your eyes roll back and your hips jolt into her lap.

Your breathing was shallow and spiked, as your hips began to give in to the grinding that Larissa’s hands were subjecting you to. Your eyes started to roll back as more and more jolts of pleasure ran through you, your core being stimulated oh so deliciously and working you up to your climax.

“Just want to take care of you, Darling…” Larissa husked in your ear, continuing her assault on your exposed skin with her mouth and tongue.

When your grinding became less controlled and more desperate, the blonde began to bite your sensitive spots along your neck, shoulders and exposed chest. She drew more and more whimpers and mewls out of you, bringing you closer and closer to the edge.

“Don’t you want mommy to take care of you, sweetheart…?” Larissa seductively husked in the shell of your ear, nipping the side of your neck rather hard after her question.

Your hips jolted against her frame with even more vigour and a desperate yelp escaped your lips. Larissa then suddenly stopped, bringing your humping to a swift stop as well as her mouth assault. She looked at your with a wicked grin and twinkling eyes.

“Right, Darling…?” Larissa cooed darkly, “You want mommy to take care of you, right…?”

Your breathing hitched and your pupils were already blown out. Your head was swimming, and all you could think about was Larissa Larissa Larissa…

Larissa’s firm hands… Larissa’s sultry and seductive tone… Larissa’s sharp tongue… Larissa’s assaulting mouth… Larissa… Larissa… Larissa…

“I… yes m-mommy—” you stammered followed by another needy mewl.

Larissa quirked her head and grinned like a Cheshire Cat in delight.

“Good girl…” she cooed wickedly.

You were still feeling slightly guilty and a little manipulated, but not to worry… Larissa was going to make that all go away with her shapeshifting cock.

~~~

Larissa Weems Masterlist

[thesweetnessofspring]

Post-epilogue Everlark family. Inspired by a conversation I had with a little one. Rated T for theme.

On the walk home from school, the boy is quiet, letting his sister monopolize Peeta's ear. He doesn't even stop to examine a bug or an interesting rock, or to say hello to the shopkeepers they pass. Peeta listens to their daughter, who chatters about the jump rope tournament coming up, and how she and her classmates compare to each other.

Thankfully, the boy's teacher had phoned Katniss and Peeta to let them know their son would be getting the first lesson about the Games. And that would always include the old star-crossed lovers, the baker and the huntress. The children had to be assured that such atrocities were over, and their story central to that ending.

Katniss waits anxiously in the bakery, helping a customer pick out a box of pastries. Peeta takes the kids through their normal routine of heading to the back and getting a snack, while Katniss finishes with the customer and flips the sign over to "closed" just a little earlier than usual.

Katniss first looks at their son, sitting on a stool at the counter and somberly pushing around an apple slice, and then to Peeta. He gives a quick raise of his eyebrows and a shake of his head, indicating a lack of response from their son. The boy has always been the quieter of their two children. The girl had come back home with a million questions when she learned about the Games, but the boy is taking the opposite approach.

"Hey bud," Peeta says, taking a seat at the counter next to him. "Your teacher told us you learned something hard in school today."

He looks up at his father with discerning gray eyes, older than his six years and gives a short nod.

"I'm learning long division," the girl says. "That's harder than anything he learns."

"You learned about The Hunger Games today," Katniss says. She stands next to Peeta, an arm wrapped around his shoulder and he puts his arm around her waist. "Your teacher told us."

Their daughter closes her mouth, pressed in a line. When she first came with her questions, Katniss and Peeta had been sure to have her promise not to tell her little brother, not until he was old enough to know.

"No one else's parents were in The Hunger Games," the boys says. "Only me."

"You're right," Peeta says. "Here in Twelve and in your class, only you and your sister have parents who had to go in the Hunger Games. There are a few other people whose parents were in the Hunger Games, but most of them are grown up now and live far away."

The boy scrunches down, eyes on his plate. Katniss knows this boy and how he works. She works in a similar way, thoughts becoming dangerous without being spoken out loud to have someone help straighten out.

"Do you have any questions for us?" Katniss asks. "Anything you want to know?"

"Did you kill anyone?" the boy asks, glancing up through pale lashes.

"Yes," Peeta says. "Neither of us wanted to. Never, ever."

"Were they bad guys?" the boy asks, desperation in his voice.

"No, bud," Peeta says. "No, they weren't."

Not most of them, Katniss thinks, her final arrow in Coin's chest flashing in her mind, but they were keeping things simple for their children until they were older.

"They had no choice," the girl says, sitting up straight in her stool. "Momma and Daddy wouldn't kill anyone if they didn't have to."

The boy's lip wobbles, though he ducks his head to try and hide it underneath his mop of blond curls. Katniss slides her arm off of Peeta and holds their son to her, pressing his cheek to her breast. She wishes she could take this fear and ache away from him, knowing how heavy it rests on such a little body. She would take his pain onto her own, if she could.

"I don't wanna kill anybody," the boy wails in his mother's arms.

"Oh, baby, you won't have to kill anybody," Katniss says. "There are no Hunger Games anymore. Daddy and I made sure of it."

"My teacher said there was a war," the boy says, his grip tight on the back of his mother's shirt, his words muffled between fabric and one squished cheek. "Didn't people have to kill then, too? What if there's another war?"

"We don't think there will be another war," Peeta says.

"But what if there is and I have to kill somebody?" the boy asks. "You and Momma had to. That means I might, too."

There was no reason to believe Panem would succumb to the horrors it had when the baker and huntress were young, but there was always that what if, that chance history's cycle picking up again. It haunted both Katniss and Peeta still.

"It's scary to think something like that could happen again," Katniss says, brushing their son's curls out of his eyes. "But remember the game we play together?"

"The good things game!" their daughter bounces in her seat excitedly and her brother lifts his head to turn and look at her, light coming back to his eyes.

"Yes, the good things game," Katniss says. "That's what we can play when we get worried about bad things in the future."

"Let's play the game now," Peeta says. "Only the good things we think about will be about you, bud."

The boy squishes his shoulders inward, his chin ducking to his chest in bashfulness, but the slight lift of the corners of his mouth let them know he's pleased with the idea.

"What about me?" the girl demands.

"We'll do you another day, baby," Katniss says. "For now, let's focus on your brother."

Their daughter is less intrigued by this, hand now propping up her chin against the counter.

"Let's see," Peeta says. "There's no one better at catching tadpoles than you, that's for sure."

"Or such a help when we have to clean up the kitchen," Katniss says.

"And you're so bright and curious," Peeta says. "You ask questions I've never had before."

"And so friendly to all of our customers that come in."

Their daughter jumps in, "You help get us free candy from the store."

"Free candy?" Peeta asks. "Well that's just about the best thing to the two of you, isn't it?"

Peeta gives their son a tweak on the nose and he laughs, glowing at the game revolving around him. They share a few other good things about their son and brother, until if he's still worried about having to kill anyone like his parents, it's far from his mind. The boy tucks into his snack and then he and his sister are off playing.

Peeta can sense the worry coming off Katniss with the way her brow hangs heavy over her eyes, and he draws her to him from behind, kissing where her neck and shoulder meet.

"You all right?" he asks.

"Yeah," Katniss sighs. "I just hope we weren't lying to him."

"I wasn't," Peeta says. "He really is the best at catching tadpoles."

"I mean about what he's worried about."

"We weren't lying. We don't think he'll need to, but..."

"Right. The 'but.'"

"Maybe we need to play the game ourselves," Peeta says, turning Katniss around so they face each other.

Katniss sighs, putting her arms around Peeta's neck. The game gets tedious and long for her, but she's always willing to start off with her first good thing.

"You," she says. "Saving me with that bread."

And Peeta returns his first good thing. "You. Coming to find me in the arena."

They usually banter back and forth all of the good things they'd done for each other, purposefully leaving out the messy complications of their early relationship and only remembering what made them fall in love in the first place. But today, Katniss skips ahead.

"You," she says. "Helping me talk to our little boy about this."

Peeta gives her a kiss, then says, "You. Having the courage to carry and birth and raise our children."

And all they can do is hope they can do enough to protect their children from their fears coming true.

[indieyuugure]

Hi there!

I have a question: what are the indie turtles’ biggest fears? And because? Is it because of a past experience or something like that?

I’m curious

Sure why not!

Well to start with their collective fears humans, needles, The Shredder, and a world with no pizza or videos games or TV (a true horror).

Most of their fears are spawned from Splinter trying to make sure his boys stay safe. You can’t explain to a 5 year old the true gravity of the situation they’re in. How do you explain that they live in a world where if they’re caught, their life is basically over in the most horrific way you can imagine? So Splinter ended up relying on fear to try to keep them from getting too friendly with the outside world.

Of course, childhood fears aren’t easily overcome, though in most cases their fears become more of a deep respect, like with humans, though some of their fears, however, have evolved beyond reason, but it’s also arguably the only thing keeping them alive, like the Shredder.

But for individuals fears, they mostly come about from unpleasant experiences.

Leo fears failure, though this is more of an insecurity than a fear, I feel like it counts. If you want the psychology on that just read this short comic, it does a better job explaining it than I could here 😅 He also dislikes snow/the cold as he has unpleasant memories associated with it.

Raphael hates bugs, he’s not really sure why but they just disgust him to an almost irrational degree, though the bug themed enemies they fight probably don’t help. He probably takes trauma the best of the brothers, but he can still be shaken. He fears failure similarly to Leo but more in a protective way than a responsibility way (if that made any sense,

Don starts out with probably the least number of fears of his brothers—being the most logical and rational of the four—however develops several trauma related fears including fear towards medical equipment, being alone, and restricted movement/tight spots.

Mikey is weird because somedays things bug him that won’t the next, however the most consistent fears of his are of getting lost/being alone(which stems from his lack of a sense of direction and knowledge that he didn’t pay attention) and loosing others, either in battle or can’t find them which is only exasperated over time.

I may end changing some of this, idk, my plans are ever evolving, but i’m currently happy with this.

Good question! :]

[kungukingi]

Meditations on bris/isbr [12/?] "Evolved Dynamic"

Link to previous part.

The 3v3 match and its aftermath marked the high point for these two in terms of their interactions in the Second Selection. Consequently, it follows that their relationship was far from being a top priority in the list of "Narrative Elements That Need To Be Conveyed" during the 4v4 match. This match primarily revolves around the triangular relationship between Isagi, Bachira, and Rin — focusing on how those three are in dialogue with each other during the match.

Yet the central theme of the match is predictability versus unpredictability. So it tracks that Kaneshiro still managed to incorporate a surprising number of panels highlighting the dynamic between Isagi and Barou.

From my perspective, the entire match can be distilled into a few key observations regarding their relationship:

Barou demonstrates the ability to function as part of a team in which he is not the leader.

Isagi proves capable of utilising Barou in ways that do not undermine his ego.

They show that they are not limited to plays where they attempt to devour each other.

None of these observations are likely to stand out to the reader upon first reading. However, in the context of the manga as a whole, up to where we are currently (chapter 270), they become more noticeable and, in my opinion, more significant.

But let's go through all bris/isbr relevant moments around the match anyway:

Strategy Meeting

Following Isagi's confirmation of the upcoming match against Rin's team, Team White convenes to discuss his proposed strategy. In a notable departure from his previous attitude, Barou listens to Isagi with the same attentiveness as his teammates. As Isagi assigns roles and responsibilities on the pitch, Barou appears to have no reservations about following his plan.

And why should he, when Isagi has allocated him a role that capitalises on his strengths while allowing him to function as a semi-autonomous agent?

Taking Their Positions

Shenanigans involving Aryu and Tokimitsu prompt Team White to adjust their planned formation even before the match commences. This begins with Barou informing Isagi that they are going to alter the formation, since he has just decided he wants to face off against Tokimitsu (who pisses him off).

Barou's assertiveness and tendency to act as he pleases is completely in line with what we've seen from him before, but what's noteworthy is that this time he gives Isagi a heads up about this decision. While he's not exactly deferring to Isagi or seeking his permission, he is acknowledging Isagi as the team's de facto leader by bringing this information to him specifically, instead of just breaking out of formation in the middle of the match.

And Isagi takes it in stride.

Isagi has demonstrated his adaptability ever since he came to Blue Lock, but following the previous match, he has developed a keener understanding of what he will later (during the Manshine match in NEL) come to recognise as 'the protagonist feeling'. Having failed to reduce Barou to a supporting role in the 3v3 match, Isagi has become far more receptive to treating each teammate as an individual with their own desires and motivations, rather than merely as pieces executing his own designs.

It remains unclear whether Isagi is consciously aware of this shift yet (I think not), but his approach to the game has undeniably evolved in this direction.

New Synergy

As the match commences, we get to witness Isagi's and Barou's newfound synergy through Bachira's perspective. First he is blocked in from passing by Barou, then Isagi interjects his pass towards Tokimitsu, and then...

This moment serves as the first glimpse of the new approach they've naturally fallen into while playing within the same team. It showcases their ability to maintain their rivalry without either one having to willingly assume a supporting actor's role.

Barou As The Bug In The System

Later, Isagi realises that everyone is playing into Rin's hands, as he can anticipate each player's moves with his superior visualisation. Only Isagi himself can keep pace with Rin's thinking, but his physical performance lags so far behind that he cannot compensate.

It's not looking good.

However, Barou has grown dissatisfied with the match's direction while he's been 'playing nice' with his teammates. He decides to once again fully embrace his new 'villain' persona. As Isagi becomes locked in a one-on-one with Rin, Barou stalks him, choosing the opportune moment to charge in and snatch the ball from his own teammate. By acting in such an unpredictable manner, he manages to catch Rin off guard and score.

Barou proceeds to tell Isagi he is 'not up to snuff' and should 'feed him more' — which aligns with how their dynamic has evolved through his awakening. This represents their new symbiotic relationship, in which Isagi aspires to be the lead actor by controlling the pitch, while Barou aims to snatch that mantle from him by targeting the plays Isagi creates. Isagi draws the spotlight, and Barou thrives in the shadows at his periphery. Their rivalry has coalesced around these motifs of light and darkness, the hero and the villain.

During this moment, Isagi recognises that Barou's unpredictability is currently the most valuable asset in his toolkit.

Isagi embraces this new dynamic between himself and Barou, unconventional though it may be, as he recognises its utility.

He wastes no time in finding a way to incorporate this element into his team's strategy, using himself as bait to allow Barou to charge through.

The strategy proves unsuccessful, as Rin has swiftly adapted to Barou as an unpredictable agent. However, this does not discourage Isagi, as it was merely his initial attempt.

On top of that, he saw that Rin only narrowly reacted in time, suggesting that the tactic has potential.

Had Isagi and Barou not fundamentally altered their perception of themselves in relation to each other, Isagi's line here might have come off as a regression. After all, wasn't the entire 3v3 match centred on Isagi's attempts to control Barou, and Barou's resistance to that?

However, things have changed, even if neither has completely reinvented their overall playstyle. Barou still plays selfishly, and Isagi still aims to control the entire pitch. The key difference lies in their understanding of how far they can push their own methods when it comes to interacting with the other.

And none of this they've negotiated out loud. Instead, they demonstrate an intuitive understanding of the new 'rules' of their rivalry.

Post Free Kick

Following Rin's successful free kick, Barou grumbles about his exclusion from the defensive wall, since Rin managed to score by aiming over Isagi's head. This observation sparks a realisation in Isagi: he can attempt to outmanoeuvre Rin by adapting mid-match once again, this time by utilising himself from a different perspective.

And what better angle to initiate his series of unpredictable plays than to make it seem like he's working with Barou?

Isagi acts as if he's about to pass to Barou, prompting him to follow Isagi's vision in anticipation of receiving the ball. However, instead of passing, Isagi breaks through himself, causing Barou to realise he has once again been used as bait.

Through a series of passes, Isagi manoeuvres himself into a position in front of the goal. And for the first time, he outsmarts Rin in a one-on-one situation with his back-heel shot.

As usual, Barou is the only one who refrains from joining the celebration of goals scored by others. However, this time he neither grimaces nor curses about it.

Not only that, Barou then proceeds to ask whether Isagi had orchestrated every aspect of that play, showing no signs of having a grudge over being used as bait.

This stands in marked contrast to his reaction when Isagi employed a similar tactic during the 3v3 game:

The Isagi x Barou Countercombo One-Two Charge

As their unpredictable tactics continue, when the match resumes and Tokimitsu presses Barou, he passes to Isagi to prevent the 'big baby' from stealing the ball.

Some might argue this is out of character for Barou, but the significance of this pass in the broader context lies in its distance from the opposing team's goal; there is no risk of it becoming an assist. Even with his evolved mindset, and prior to Isagi's selection for the Blue Lock Eleven over him, it's unlikely Barou would have ever been comfortable giving him an assist.

Even in this instance, Barou only passes because he expects Isagi to return the favour.

When Isagi immediately executes a one-two pass back to him, Barou instantly grasps his intention. They advance with rapid passes, showcasing a level of cooperation they haven't demonstrated before or since.

Although this is the only instance where we've witnessed this kind of synchronisation from them, it proves that they are capable of it. They can intuitively read and respond to each other's plays, leveraging one another without friction while maintaining their individual pursuits of becoming the lead actor through scoring their own goals.

Considering the inevitability of playing on the same team in the future, it's significant to note that the single-minded, devouring mindset we get to see from Barou in the match against the U20 team is not his only mode of interaction with Isagi. In this match, he utilised those tactics, but he did not confine himself to that approach alone.

My own belief is that from Barou's perspective, a crucial factor in creating this dynamic was that just before this game, he felt like he had achieved equal footing with Isagi. In contrast, during the later U20 game, he starts from a disadvantageous position, which prompts his "Isagi-hunting" with a holistically antagonistic mindset.

Given his recent growth towards becoming a better team player during his time in Ubers, who knows how this development might influence the way these two play together, should they end up as forwards in the same starting lineup.

The End

Ultimately, their team has to face defeat after Rin scores the finisher goal. He selects Isagi to advance with them to the World 5 game, forcing him to part ways with his teammates.

Through this, all of them maintain a stoic demeanour, with Barou's final words to Isagi conveying his resentment at having been consigned to a supporting role once again.

This time though, he's better equipped to handle this affront to his ego, since he's already clawed his way up through this feeling once before. He vows that it won't end like this and, as we all know, it does not.

[crackedegotheories]

soooo.......

thoughts on the poppy playtime pt. 3?

I'm so proud that Mark is learning to read. It's tough to struggle through words you don't know, but the more you try the more you learn and the more you know...something about half the battle I think?

Sorry, couldn't help it. I'm guessing this is a follow-up on the last ask about the ego hints, in which case: I thought it was interesting.

I guess the big thing was about 7 minutes into the video, where Mark tells Ollie/Gregory "Things are just happening a little out of order for me at the moment, I'm kind of experiencing multiple realities all overlapping." (Sounds like a typical Thursday to me.)

More under the cut which I had to move up to here because Tumblr keeps rearranging all the photos and putting them one by one instead of a cluster like in the draft. It also keeps moving the read more link around, so who knows if it'll actually be here.

And then we get several cuts, each about a frame each, all from ISWM:

In order, we've got the guy in the woods from the Hee Hoo universe, Cecil H. H. Mills, Cryptid!Mark from the timeline where you mocked him for crying (how could you, Captain?), Abe, Chef, Old Man Mark at the restaurant at the end of the universe, Dorene Whitacre in the void, the campfire scene, Lady aiming a gun in your face, and the Invincible II seen from the outside.

I think the reasonable response would be to assume this is one of the editors slipping in a bunch of ISWM references after an off-the-cuff remark. After all, the second year anniversary is coming up in a little over a month, and Mark's been known to drop hints to go back and watch his larger projects before ("When's the last time you visited Yancy? He misses you, you know" or something similar.)

But eh, let's have fun with it and keep going.

Because I think we could tease out some more (very probably unplanned) references to ego stuff.

Take the very beginning of the video, during the elevator bug that started Mark's spin off into other realities. While Poppy and Kissy Missy have trouble with gravity, Poppy continues to speak to Mark--her voice seemingly coming out of nowhere as he gets farther and farther away. Cue Mark begging her to "Get out of my head!"

A similar scenario actually happens in Wilford Motherlovin' Warfstache, where Abe is monologuing to himself while driving and Wilford, in the backseat, intrudes on his thoughts. Abe tells Wilford to get out of his head and Wilford tells him to stop shouting without either one actually saying a word out loud, then Abe almost runs into a truck. During a series of red gas induced hallucinations about 11 minutes in, Mark responds to "Poppy's" question and says, "I don't know, how am I alive?"--something Abe also questions during WMLW, until Wilford snaps him out of it.

During the multiple realities reference, Mark mentions not being able to separate fact from fiction, something that comes up again later during a second round of hallucinations when "Poppy" asks, "Do you even know what's real?"

Difficulty separating fact from fiction is a recurring problem for Wilford, and even makes up a central theme when the WAIA is speaking to the viewer during The Warfstache Automated Interview Automaton video.

About an hour and a half into the video, after Mark, eh, successfully defeats Catnap, he says, "Remind me why I was doing this in the first place, because I don't recall," slipping into the Warfstache voice as he does so. Wilford doesn't exactly have the greatest memory, or really know why he does most things it seems like.

(He also slips into the Warfstache voice after he gets the finger gun, but that's par for the course every time Mark gets a surprise gun in a video game and starts getting shooty.)

Back to ISWM, we have the Catnap fight. Or more specifically, Mark's unfortunate choice of words, "And I wait to do it all over again." Cue it becoming the recurring phrase during a montage of Mark's failed attempts to beat the boss until, after an unknown number of retries, finally succeeding.

What is that, if not the exact same thing that the Captain goes through In Space? Whether it's the ultimately futile attempts to save the ship in Part 1, or your choice in the warp core that sends you all the way back to the beginning to try again?

When Mark is greeted by Ollie/Gregory who has the audacity to say things like, "Wow...you did it," "You must feel pretty good," and "This win is yours," he immediately breaks out into a storm of cursing.

Very much the same reaction we see in the Captain after failing and being sent back early in Part 1, but especially after obtaining an "ending" only to go into the light and find themselves right back in the cryopod again.

This is the hand gesture of someone (silently) cursing their existence.

Mark slowly turning to stare into the camera while going through the vents (twice) and suggesting he could come crawling out of the screen is just normal Mark behavior though, not sure what else to say about that.

[thebestpartofwakingup]

Comment was too long, so I'm approaching a little bit closer here to share about 🐊🐛💨:

Love the potential that crocobug presents

Those characters already have a lot of long term headcanons individually that anyone could use to make stories more intense/silly/dramatic. But even if we take non of them into consideration the dynamic is too funny to just ignore..

From short,kinky,fun power trip to complex character revealing journey they could go through together.

becoming a business partners for a short term reasons after crossguild and other important story shenanigans (crocodile playing a risky game again with money and future plans). Then finding themselves years in the future still by each other side but with all the freedom they could have to do their own thing

Because of business, yep, business only

having a pet together

And that pet is the only reason that someone could even think that they are A THING, since no one holding back at showing affection towards it in public, talking domestically about little responsibilities over that creature. The relationship itself is not a secret either, it's just hard to believe in and no one wants to mention it right away

!!!!!!!!!!!

Crocodile and Buggy fit together like chocolate and peanut butter and I’m tired of pretending they don’t.

Crocodile is lowkey SO silly and weird…..what do you MEAN he gave an underling the codename “Miss Merry Christmas” what do you MEAN he knows about Christmas?!?!? Oda get back here!!!!!!

Hates white beard for humiliating him as a rookie by kicking his ass? Here’s the most pathetic pirate ever and son/apprentice of THE Gol D. Roger who is too weak and stupid to ever actually upstage you ever. ESPECIALLY considering croc bug as like…..happening after crocodile/Doffy and/or crocodile/dragon??? Theme of being in the shadow of famous families. Theme of self doubt and self determination. Theme of self love and self esteem through live of the other. “This guys problems make me feel normal”

[entomolog-t]

Hey Idk if you're still doing the tropes ask game, but thought I'd give it a shot. It's cool if you aren't no pressure <3 (main is awkwardgtace)

I really like the super independent tiny getting noticed by the giant. Like super good borrower gets caught from one mistake and maybe hurt has to let the giant help them. Forced trust/reliance would be the trope

Found family, especially giant parents finding tiny kids and just taking them in. No questions asked just tiny kids are mine now.

Fearplay. Especially like the oblivious giant doing things that terrifies the tiny even if they don't know the tiny is there. The post that meeting and having to prove they aren't actually cruel or terrifying.

Last one is hands, just like tiny trusting the giant to hold them. All encompassing trust just chilling with fingers taller then them all around

Alright, Lets get to it, shall we?

These tropes are particularly interesting, especially given the specifics you added.

Independent tiny forced to trust a giant- This is ripe for subconscious imagery.

I would heavily suggest you look at the characteristics you assign to the giant and the tiny respectively. Think of the themes at play here- the giant holds the power and the tiny must relent to a degree and put their trust in them. The characteristics assigned to the giant could be projections of something or someone you want to be able to trust. If it is traits and not a fantasy of someone in particular this could suggest that there is something in the giants personality you are hesitant of expressing in yourself (assuming you're identifying more strongly with the tiny) but your subconscious is signaling to take a leap of faith and trust it.

If you identify more with the Giant, it could more of a quintessential innate human desire for trust and understanding. Wanting someone to see past your physical self and trust you for your character itself.

It is very likely that both can be true simultaneously as when we create characters and fantasies there is a lot of subconscious and conscious projection at play.

Now for found family, there are some obvious themes at play. Platonic need for intimacy being key. The parts we identify with the tiny child are likely parts of us that we want protected and nurtured. Perhaps parts that we've had to repress as well. For example, a young child who lashes out frequently doesn't mean we want to nurture our ability to lash out, but instead could suggest you've had to repress your own anger or fears and don't get to express your true emotions.

Traits in the giant parents are likely traits we would like to associate with ourselves, whether it be within ourselves, or associate with. Perhaps a longing for someone responsible and stable within our lives.

Identifying more strongly with the parental figures could also suggest a desire to care and nurture within our own lives. Its s very human thing to long to care for others, even if you don't personally want kids.

Fearplay is such a dynamic trope to analyze. As done earlier, I'd ask what traits you associate with the giant- there is likely a link to a particular power dynamic. Perhaps certain characteristics you associate with the giant are things you associate with power. It could also be used as a subconscious reframing tactic to change past poor experiences with power imbalances by rewriting the massive imbalance to end as caring and kind.

As for hands I would love to reference back to this previous session.

Thank you for your time, Please book your following appointment with my secretary on your way out. We take cash, credit and cool bugs as payment.

[strawberryfloofs]

Headcanons for Regressor!Sayaka Maizono or Regressor!Sonia Nevermind? (@peppermintprincess-ava)

OFCC, Thanks for the request! I hope you enjoy it :D Regressor Sonia Nevermind Headcanons!

Sonia regresses to more of a kid space, about 5-8, she's definitely old enough to run around and play pretend games!

I'd imagine her regression being mostly voluntary, but just so she can keep the involuntary parts in check. Being the heir to the kingdom throne is stressful, so this is one of the ways she copes!

She loves playing with her stuffed animals and treating them as her royal subjects that she takes care of. She definitely makes a castle out of pillow forts and let them stay with her! She'll read stories to them, help them out with made-up problems, and even give them tours of the castle!

She doesn't need a caregiver, but she wouldn't mind having someone to play with! Her go to would DEFINITELY be saving her stuffies from dragons or maybe even a tea party!

Not very bratty at all, likes following the rules, but sometimes finds it hard to. Why do all the boring, not fun stuffs when you can play and watch cartoons?

Whenever she's not playing or watching cartoons, she's usually napping because she has a lot to do outside of littlespace for her kingdom.

Wants to play with other regressors, but she's a little reserved/private about her regression and doesn't feel comfortable enough for that. She thinks it would ruin how others viewed her.

Prefers drinking from plastic cups with the little cartoon character designs on them, same goes for the plastic plates! Loves them to be animal or disney princess themed.

Sonia loves to wear dresses, skirts, and cute tutus but occasionally she'll wear shortalls or something more suitable for when she goes outside!

As a kid, Sonia wasn't allowed to play outdoors and get messy, (It was un-ladylike and inappropriate for a royal member) so she takes the chance to do it once she's regressed, and she LOVES it! Picking flowers, putting her hands in the dirt, chasing after butterflies, and watching/playing with little bugs are her favorites! Lots of giggles WILL be heard from afar.

ADORES playing with the velcro cutting pretend food toys! She loves creating little sandwiches and other foods for her stuffies to enjoy! Sometimes, she'll just even pull them apart just because it's satisfying and makes a cool noise.

Is the type of regressor to decorate her face with ALL the stickers she can find! It makes her feel super silly, but also cute! (Don't let her find make-up....that will be a disaster)

Likes reading fantasy/mythical books, but doesn't always finish them. She tends to read a couple pages, and then just flip through just to see the pretty pictures of the creatures!

Feels too old for a pacifier, so she's very prone to nibbling on her stuffies instead!

Bath time is maybe just a LITTLE too long because she gets caught up in playing with her toys... (She always uses bath bombs)

Always has some type of accessory when regressed, whether its a tiara or some cute hair clips, she's got it!

She actually doesn't like being called princess when regressed because it reminds her of her big girl responsibilities of the kingdom. She actually prefers kiddo, little one, baby, or any other name that makes her feel anything but big.

Sonia is a pretty sensitive little, maybe it's because of the facade she has to put up when big, but little things might set her off and make her all fussy or crying. It's okay though, because letting it out and hugging her stuffies always makes it better!

"Sir Ravioli, would you care to attend my tea party?! As a thanks for comforting me!"

[thatlifebloodvessel]

ABOUT ME

Who Am I?

Names/Nicknames: Most people refer to me as Lifeblood, but I'm okay with being called Ves or Mothy as well!

Pronouns: I'm okay with any pronouns!! (Though I have a slight preference for She/Her)

What Do I Do?

I have been teaching myself pixel art for four years ever since June 2020! I mainly draw bugs of sorts, mostly moths! I have also gotten a bit in to game programing, I love exploring the ins and outs of what makes a game truly shine! Other than that, I have been working up to one day start a small webcomic that uses a pixel art style, I've rarely seen this done, and would love to see it more!!

What Are My Current Interests?

In Stars and Time

Hollow Knight

Bug Fables

Bugs in general (Mostly moths)

Sky: Children of the Light

Your Only Move is Hustle

Rain World

(More under the cut :3 )

What Do I Use?

Aseprite: for pixel art. (With most of my plugins made by CarbsCode, Aseprite Record Plugin for timelapses by Sprngr, and Wild Night Theme by WildLeoKnight)

Krita: For non-pixel related digital art!

Commonly used color palettes: Rosy42 and Journey by pinetreepizza, and the NES Palette.

Fonts: m3x6 by Daniel Linssen, and VCR OSD Mono by Riciery Leal.

Godot Game Engine: for programming.

Common Tags?

#lifeblood rebugs: Reblog tag

#lifeblood arts: Art tag

#lifeblood rambles: Basically any post of mine that isn't art

#oc:[NAME] : tag for any of my OCs (e.g #oc:rose)

#strawpage saturday: I post any gimmicks I get on my Strawpage every saturday

Who Are My OCs?

Rose (She/Her): Anxious little rosy maple moth wearing a sunhat

The Lamplighter (They/Them): A quiet moth entrusted with responsibility of being 'the chosen one' and having to bring back light to a world shrouded in darkness. They hate it.

Chimere (She/Her): A luna moth who is visited by a strange, mysterious teacher from the depths of her dreams.

Loam (They/Them, Refers to themselves as We/Us): Hollow Knight OC, A collective of lifeseeds piloting the discarded mask and cloak of a vessel.

Maria (She/They): Bug Fables OC, cheeky merchant who steals from others to stock her own shelves

Maggie (She/They): Sky: CoTL OC, a stubborn, bird-like skykid who travels the world in search of their siblings who were split apart when the Eye of Eden first shattered.

Do I Take Commissions?

Not yet! But it's something that I do plan on doing some time in the future! Feel free to let me know if that's something you would be interested in! In the meantime, feel free to send in requests in my askbox! I may or may not do them.

Where Else Can You Find Me?

thatlifebloodvessel on Discord (Im mostly in the ISAT Server)

My Steam profile

My ArtFight profile

My Strawpage site

... More to come???

Other Blogs That I Run.

@where-is-odile-isat: Where I put Odile from In Stars and Time in random ass places.

Cool People You Should Check Out!!

WhiteVault: The pixel artist and game dev who helped to shape me in to the artist I am today, and a gosh darn charmer!

CupOhJoe: Another great pixel artist that I watch!

Iridaze: Cozy Sky: CoTL streamer, I am often lurking in her streams when I have the chance to.

[ideas-on-paper]

Monster Hunter Tri Diary, Part 2: Day cycles & Nighttime hunt in the Moga Woods

For previous entries, search for #monster hunter tri diary

Disclaimer: Text is paraphrased from my localization and might slightly deviate from the English version.

Moga Village (night)

Yay, we have day cycles! This is actually a feature that got scrapped in MH3U; while there were day and night versions of each map (probably a leftover from this mechanic), it was always day in Moga Village. In Tri, however, time advances in the village too, and you actually get to explore Moga at nighttime! (I believe the only previous time they tried something like this was in MH Dos, with the seasonal cycles.)

And look, fireflies! Or are those Thunder Bugs? (Given that this is Monster Hunter, probably Thunder Bugs.)

Also, there is a nighttime version of the village theme! I've never heard it before, due to there being no day/night cycle in 3U. It's a tad softer and more tranquil than the daytime version - I like it!

Chief's Son: "To restore the base camp, we need to dig new latrines, rebuilt the tent, cover the old latrines, delouse the bed..." Sounds like a really pleasant job. Might be easier to just throw the lousy bed into the trash and get a new one, though.

Okay, so the Chief’s Son tells me I have to report to him what I hunted in the forest, since he’s responsible for keeping tabs on that. Makes sense, since you kinda need to keep an eye on the monster population to prevent an imbalance in the ecosystem if you want to ensure a sustainable economy.

Actually, this reminds me... I remember there's an in-lore explanation that the Guild keeps records of the monster population in each area, to prevent certain species from going extinct and others from growing too large in number. (I think the only time they integrated this into the gameplay was in MH Dos; there was some kind of "bounty system", and the more often you hunted a certain monster, the less money you'd get for it.) So, are the reports I give to the Chief's Son sent to the Guild as well? (I suppose that would be like constant surveillance; but maybe, that's the exact intention behind it.)

At first, I thought the Jumbo Pearl might be a reference to MH Dos (since the village from that game is called Jumbo). However, after checking the Japanese item name, the kanji indicates that it's just an extraordinarily large pearl, rather than a pearl found near/associated with Jumbo Village. (Pity, though; that would've been so cool.)

Chief's Son: "Go report to my dad, will you? He LOVES reports." Okay - well, at least that shows he's taking his job seriously.

Chief: "There are no hopeless causes... Just lost confidence!" That's actually a damn good motivational quote right there.

Gossipy Lady: "It's obvious whenever the Chief is in a pensive mood. He stands at the left pier and gazes out at the sea." I wonder if there's a story behind this habit...

Guild Sweetheart: "The good news is that the Guild apparently has completely forgotten about us. So, you're not missing out on anything!" Well, I guess that's the bright side of it... xD Still, a bit odd if you consider the Guild is technically responsible for protecting the village - all they do is send one rookie hunter here and that’s it. They don’t even bother helping the villagers repairing the damage in any other way.

Outfitter: ""No weapon is perfect. Every one has its strengths and weaknesses." Maybe grandpa was right after all..." Well... A fault confessed is half redressed, or so they say. xD

The shy kid tells us about a goblin with a mask living in the Moga Woods (his older brother also says he's "constantly talking nonsense about an elf"). If my memory serves correctly, that has to be Cha-Cha.

Blacksmith: "I'm gonna to tell you - but just this once!" Except when you cycle through the dialogue by repeatedly talking to him, you can select "yes" again. xD

The Bowguns are completely different in Tri. Instead of the usual two classes (Light and Heavy Bowgun), you have to assemble your Bowgun out of individual parts (stock, frame, barrel), each influencing the stat values and overall performance. I guess this was done in an attempt to make the Bowguns more customizable, so you can have a sort of in-between as opposed to just light/heavy. I'm not a Gunner myself, but I think the idea is kinda cool; ultimately, they didn't stick with it, though.

Btw, there are some weapons that are completely missing from Tri: Dual Blades, Hunting Horn, Gunlance and Bow are all unavailable in this game (despite being available in Freedom Unite).

Also, the Switch Axe and the Long Sword are not available from the start; you have to unlock them later on (you have to do the 3-star Urgent Quest to hunt a Gobul to get access to Long Swords). I was a bit confused when I saw that I couldn't make any Long Swords, since I was sure I heard they existed in Tri. However, the selection of Long Swords in this game is very limited: Minus the weapons from online events, there are only seven Long Swords you can make in the game. That's right: seven. A bit of a bummer for me as a Long Sword main, especially since there are not even blades for every element. (There isn't a single Ice Long Sword you can forge offline.)

So, seems like I'll have to get a little creative here - I think I'll make myself a Great Sword when I get the chance, since that's a weapon I'm at least moderately accustomed to. I also might try out a Switch Axe against Gobul, since you already unlock these after the 2-star Urgent Quest. (Can't say I'm looking forward to it, though. xD)

Btw, I don't know if it's just a translation error in my localization, but when explaining weapon sharpness, the smith says orange is sharper than yellow which is sharper than green. Of course, it's the other way around, with yellow being sharper than orange and green being the sharpest. So, this is a small pitfall for anyone who might be new to the game - just wanted to mention it.

"Fuel for the furnace, chemicals for forging... All of that costs money, so you gotta pay something." I think this is the first time I've seen it mentioned that the smithies in MH are using chemicals to make weapons/armor. Guess that makes sense, since a lot of the equipment pieces are composed of both organic and inorganic materials, so it probably wouldn't hold together otherwise.

"My life's goal? To forge a weapon beyond anyone's imagination! I've tried again and again, but failed. One day, I'll succeed - just you wait!" Well, as long as you have a goal and dedication, you can achieve anything. Better luck next time! :-)

I really like the smith in general - such a lively and spry guy. ^^

What the?! How did the smartass kid get into my house? Who let you in? WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY SWAMPHOUSE?!?

"Did you know you can skip conversations? That way, you can skip boring conversations with people you don't even want to listen to. Very handy!" I wish this was a feature in real life.

"But some things you'll get to hear only once. And then you'll say: "Oh no! Why did I press the cancel button? Now I can never hear this again! Buhuuuu!" Unironically me every time I want the text to scroll faster and accidentally end up missing dialogue. xD

"Oh, some conversations you can't skip, like important village info and lectures from your mom..." Pity - I'm sure everyone would appreciate the latter. xD

"Do you believe there is life on the moon?" I dunno, kid - I've never read sci-fi literature from the MH universe myself.

"Why don't hunters use their huge airships to fly to the moon? Did no one get this idea before?" Well, maybe they did - I just doubt they got very far. xD

Yay! I can actually give my Poogie a name! (Actually, I think this is the first time in the series you can do this.) Though it's curious that the list includes both male and female names - is Poogie's gender just whatever you want it to be?

The cuddle timing for the Poogie is WAY more lenient than in Freedom Unite (seriously, that was hardcore).

Moga Woods (night)

"Hello, it's me, the Chief's Son! Not Junior! Nobody calls me that!" Yep, definitely daddy issues. (Nice to see the Chief's Son inherited his dad’s telepathic skills, though.)

"Oh, nice attack! Maybe you're not such an inexperienced hunter after all..." Shit, they've caught onto my ruse - they know I'm too good to be a noob! xD

It will never not be funny to me that the "So tasty!" when you make a Well-done Steak is the only voice line they ever bothered to record for the old games. In fact, it was so important that they even recorded it in different languages. xD

I appreciate how there's a brief display of "MAX" at the end of the stamina gauge - that way, you know when you're at max stamina.

Okay, so the monster list also works differently in Tri. Instead of buying the books with the info at the item shop, you have to gather the infos yourself while being out in the field. It feels a bit like a spiritual predecessor to MH World; I guess they did this to add more to the "exploration" feeling. It's a little tricky to do though, so I understand why they got rid of it. (You have to open the monster list in the menu, point the Wiimote at the monster and then add the info to your list via drag-and-drop. I can imagine this is going to be rather difficult with large monsters, since you kinda have to pay attention that you don't die while gathering data. xD)

Honey: "Full of nutrients, but indigestible in this form." What? Last time I checked, honey was a perfectly digestible type of food. What makes MH honey different?

Okay, so I've picked up an item called "Firedouse Berry". It increases fire resistance, apparently. The logical conclusions would be that there are other berries in Tri to counter the other elements (water, thunder, ice). Either way, I've never seen these in any MH before.

I’ve always wondered what the "houses"/windows carved into the cliffs of Area 7 are. I suppose this is what the Head Farmer meant when he was saying that the statue in the cave had something to do with the "forest ruins". Is this where the ancestors of the sea people lived? If so, why are these great buildings in ruins? What brought about their demise?

You see, it's the little things that always kept me fascinated in Monster Hunter. You can find these ancient ruins in all of the old MH games, but it’s never explained who built them. It's like a dark mystery of the past, constantly looming over you - and perhaps, a silent threat that this might happen again.

It's funny how the Jaggi were my literal introduction to Monster Hunter. If I hadn't read an article about there being "raptors" in MH4U - despite the Jaggi looking more dilophosaurs with their frills (which is ironic, since they're the bird wyverns that don't spit poison) - I probably wouldn't have picked it up. xD

After playing Lies of P for so long, I have to get used to MH combat again. Although I adjusted the controls of LoP so it was basically the standard MH controls (because I literally can’t play with anything else xD), the combat itself feels very different. MH’s is a lot more mobile in comparison, involving lots of dodging and repositioning; since there’s no target lock-on (targeting for large monsters only got introduced in MH3U if I remember correctly), you can’t just lock onto your target to circle around them.

Also, I don't think there’s a pause button in Tri? A bit strange since Freedom Unite had one, but I guess you're supposed to use the Wii Home button for this.

There was a young Aptonoth in Area 1, probably the one who fled from Area 3 when I killed its parents (cool that the monsters move to other areas, though!). I briefly contemplated to let it live, but then I told myself "well, it's probably not gonna survive without its parents anyway" and did the mercy kill. (I'm such a cold-blooded murderer, guys. xD)

One thing that never fails to make me laugh is how there are wooden struts sprouting from the ground if you place the BBQ spit on uneven terrain. xD (That BBQ spit is so important, it even gains the magical ability to support itself if need be.)

So, in summary, I killed 15 Jaggi, while also gathering some stuff along the way. I would've needed 30 resource points at minimum, I delivered 90 - so, thrice as much. Well, there's no kill like overkill. xD

Moga Village (day)

As far as I know, 3rd Gen is the first to have its own kinds of fertilizers for mushroom and insect farming spots on the farm (Shroom Germ and Funky Pheromones, respectively).

Dung: "That's right: Monster poop. The odor reveals (too) much about the monster's diet." Must be really pleasant to carry that around in your pockets (or store it in your item box). xD

The item description says you can only sell Pittance Fangs for "pocket change" - that "pocket change" being 180z per piece, which is quite a lot by early game standards. (I've been wondering about the name, though; could it be that monster parts like fangs, teeth etc. are used as currency in some places in the MH universe? Is it custom to give these kinds of fangs to beggars so they can buy themselves something for it?)

Okay, the smith now wants me to bring him some Iron Ore to prove that I’m “worthy” of being his customer - at least he was so kind as to lend me his Mega Pickaxe for it. (Remember, kids? The time when you still had to carry pickaxes and bug nets with you to gather ore and insects?)

Village Chief: "All wyverians are hard to please. And this one is the worst. I know him since my early youth. I got into more brawls with him than the sky has stars!" Sounds like the Chief and the smith were best friends. xD It's charming to see the Chief reminiscing about his youth, though.

Chief: "My son still has a lot to learn... But you have to overcome barriers to grow." That's true - ngl, the Chief does have some pretty deep quotes.

Guild Sweetheart: "Drum roll... The Guild says: absolutely nothing!" Man, they sure are taking their time... Okay, how about this: I'm gonna go out to get some Iron Ore for the smith (and for myself), and you see if you can get through to the Guild in the meantime, alright? Don’t worry, sweetie - I’ll be right back!

To be continued

[wedontdeservethestars]

hii!!!! assuming ur still takin requests for that writing game, could u do cingulomania w/ ethan winters?

LOVED the heisenberg one btw I'm abt to reblog it and express my adoration for ur writing it is soo good <333

and so u don't have to go look through that whole big post, here's the definition for u :] "cingulomania: a strong desire to hold a person in your arms."

Hi there! First off I am SO sorry for how long this took for me to churn out, this ask got sent around the time I started tech week at my college for a show and then, of course, the show itself overtook my life. Oops lol....anyhow!! I decided to go a more hurt/comfort route with this so it got a little angsty, hope that's okay!! Still has a happy end (because God knows our poor guy Keithan Splinters deservers it..)

Also plot note: reader somewhat takes the place of Mia in the Resident Evil timeline (sorry babygirl), this drabble takes place post-RE8

CW for themes of identity crisis, self-hatred, and things like the such

((Send me a vocab word and a resident evil character and I’ll write a little drabble!!))

“Can you hold my hand? Please?”

Ethan’s tone surprised you. You yourself felt rather sunny. It was hard not to, what with the baby blue sky brushed with cottony clouds and a summer breeze that just tickled your skin enough to be pleasant on such a warm day. The scent of fresh sandwiches and fruit slices and homemade cheesecake (Ethan’s favorite) wafted by on the wind. What made the day even more perfect was that the two of you had somehow managed to secure this spot alone. Despite the field you settled your picnic in being near a public hiking trail, there wasn’t another soul in sight. Usually Ethan enjoyed this. People weren’t his thing, especially not as of late. He much preferred spending his time with just you and Rose, who was fast asleep in her baby basket beside the two of you, her little nose scrunching up when it caught pollen on the breeze.

The day itself was planned out as perfectly as you could hope. Along with lunch, you packed books and a deck of cards to play with later on and you wore a neat little outfit. Ethan was dressed similarly in a blue-dotted button-up and earthy slacks, but despite his trimmed appearance, you could tell how distressed he was. That, and the mere cadence of his request. He seemed so despondent. He had been, ever since returning from Europe to the states. You really couldn’t blame him, after what he’d endured just to get Rose back. It wasn’t like you hadn’t been through a lot, either, but Ethan had arguably suffered just as badly, if not more. 

Especially since he learned of his genetic reform. 

“Sure, bug,” you murmured, stretching your hand towards him. 

Ethan, with glazed eyes that couldn’t quite reach yours, grazed his skin against your fingers. You pulled him fully into your grasp. He didn’t feel cold, but he definitely didn’t feel as warm as you expected him to. He just felt stagnant. 

“You okay?” you poked, searching his face for any hint of what turmoil lied behind it. 

“Mm.” Ethan replied curtly. You sighed. By now, you were used to his non-responses, but it didn’t change the fact that you were still saddened that he wouldn’t talk to you.

“That doesn’t sound very okay,” you murmured, trying to be gentle but also, and quite frankly, fed up with him closing you off like you hadn’t been married for literal years. 

When Ethan remained silent, you felt your heart sink like stone and let go of his hand–that is, until he tightened his own grip. When you looked back at him, there was the unmistakable red glow of tears threatening at the corners of his eyes. Immediately, you felt bad for dismissing him before.

“Ethan?” you asked. 

“I’m afraid.” 

You brushed a stray tuft of blonde hair from his face. “Of what, darling?” 

This time, in addition to a trembling breath, you got a full sentence. “What if I’m not me anymore?”

A frown tugged at your lips. “Of course you’re you. What are you talking about?”

“I’m not human anymore.” Ethan’s voice was quiet. It was tinged with palpable tension.

“You’re human enough,” you assured him. “Maybe not anatomically. But you can still move and talk and think, can’t you? And love.”

“And hurt.” It sounded like something was stuck in his throat. “I-I don’t know what I am anymore.”

“You’re Ethan,” you said decisively. “Nothing else matters. You still feel like yourself, right?”

“I don’t know.” Ethan looked up at you suddenly, his piercing eyes wide and wild. “I don’t remember how I’m supposed to feel. Do you know how many times I’ve been cut and stabbed and shot and-and ripped apart, only to be-to be fucking stitched back together like some freakish monster? I haven’t felt like anything but a monster for years!”

A silence had overcome you. Even the gentle sound of the breeze felt like an intruder. You wet your lips and averted your gaze. Ethan had let go of your hand again at was staring at his wrist. The first place he’d been destroyed.

“I’m…sorry,” you finally settled on. What else were you supposed to say?

“You weren’t supposed to know that,” he said.

“Why not?” 

“Because you can’t fix it. Fix me.” You watched his fingers flex back and forth. You could still make out the numerous scars and scratches forever etched deep into the fungal layers of his skin, even if they had grown fainter with time. 

“You’re right.”

Ethan looked at you, startled at your agreement.

“I can’t,” you continued. “I don’t think anyone can fix you. I think that you have changed. But so have I. And so has Rose…all of us are different after the Baker house, and the village, and Evelyn, and…everything. Did I ever tell you about my nightmares?”

“Your…nightmares,” Ethan wracked. You laid your hand over his.

“I dream about the Bakers every night. Even after all this time, I still see them in my mind. That’s my scar.”

“You…” His mouth had gone dry. Feeling like you had guilted him a little harder than you meant to, you backtracked.

“My point is, we’re both different people. But what matters is that, in the most important ways, we’re still the same. I still love you, just like when we met. I hope you love me the same.”

“I do,” he said quickly. “More than anything.”

“So you’re still Ethan.” Your hands gravitated towards his strong jaw, and you smiled. For the first time in a long time, you saw a lightness enter his eyes. 

“Maybe…” It wasn’t a full confirmation. But it was something. 

“Besides,” you teased lightly, “I like all of your scars. Makes you look like an action hero.”

“Gee, thanks. I’ve always wanted to be one of those stunt guys.”

“There he is,” you giggled. “There’s that sarcastic guy I fell in love with.”

Ethan huffed, but the deep creases of his face had softened, and you aided their slack with a kiss to a pink cut across the bridge of his nose. 

“But seriously,” you murmured as you laid your lips along the other marks on his face, “I will kiss every single scar and scrape on your beautiful body if I have to.”

“And what would that prove, hm?”

“That I’ll never stop loving you. No matter what you look like, or what you are, or whatever’s going on with you. You are so, so perfect, Ethan Winters. And I love you more than anything on this godforsaken earth, even if it doesn’t seem to love you back.”

Ethan chuckled softly and squeezed your hands. 

“Thank you, honey.” He planted a kiss just on your forehead, and you smiled. “I love you, too.”

[thenextaitool]

How Cursor is Transforming the Developer's Workflow

For years, developers have relied on multiple tools and websites to get the job done. The coding process was often a back-and-forth shuffle between their editor, Google, Stack Overflow, and, more recently, AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude. Need to figure out how to implement a new feature? Hop over to Google. Stuck on a bug? Search Stack Overflow for a solution. Want to refactor some messy code? Paste the code into ChatGPT, copy the response, and manually bring it back to your editor. It was an effective process, sure, but it felt disconnected and clunky. This was just part of the daily grind—until Cursor entered the scene.

Cursor changes the game by integrating AI right into your coding environment. If you’re familiar with VS Code, Cursor feels like a natural extension of your workflow. You can bring your favorite extensions, themes, and keybindings over with a single click, so there’s no learning curve to slow you down. But what truly sets Cursor apart is its seamless integration with AI, allowing you to generate code, refactor, and get smart suggestions without ever leaving the editor. The days of copying and pasting between ChatGPT and your codebase are over. Need a new function? Just describe what you want right in the text editor, and Cursor’s AI takes care of the rest, directly in your workspace.

Before Cursor, developers had to work in silos, jumping between platforms to get assistance. Now, with AI embedded in the code editor, it’s all there at your fingertips. Whether it’s reviewing documentation, getting code suggestions, or automatically updating an outdated method, Cursor brings everything together in one place. No more wasting time switching tabs or manually copying over solutions. It’s like having AI superpowers built into your terminal—boosting productivity and cutting out unnecessary friction.

The real icing on the cake? Cursor’s commitment to privacy. Your code is safe, and you can even use your own API key to keep everything under control. It’s no surprise that developers are calling Cursor a game changer. It’s not just another tool in your stack—it’s a workflow revolution. Cursor takes what used to be a disjointed process and turns it into a smooth, efficient, and AI-driven experience that keeps you focused on what really matters: writing great code. Check out for more details

[basedkikuenjoyer]

If we're just gonna talk trans manga for a bit might as well show a little love to two shorter series that hold a special place in my heart. For being good. Just that, no frills they're just good and have something honest to say beyond the normal "be your true self" narrative. Because who gives a shit about trans folk after the fun part right? A big reason I love Kiku's story in One Piece is being a rare subversion...but even then she's only really like, the next steps after that phase.

Today's example, Kanojo ni Naru hi (lit. "The Day He Became She") goes way further. And it does so by using a light sci-fi touch to great effect. In this world, we handwaved the mechanical part of transitioning by just having it be something that can spontaneously happen to any male. The phenomenon is called "Emergence," it's compared to Clownfish, completely perfect and our protagonist Nao is a rarity for it happening as a teenager. Through that lens, we have a world where it's mostly normalized. Weirdly enough, we do also seem to have like, what we think of as "trans" in modern day alongside that. One of our recurring characters you could call an Otokonoko, they do mention "sex change" procedures...Emergence is a layer on top of our world. Which makes this straddle the line between part tale of someone all this comes easier to but also the crux of sci-fi, the world we're headed towards.

And this is a good example of how the sci-fi element works. Emergence still takes a toll on the body so our heroine here like, lags a few years behind as a result of transitioning. She's also a late bloomer as a high schooler. She wasn't asleep she was in a legit cocoon-type thing, so the bigotry is all bug-themed which is a pretty clever inversion of normal butterfly motifs. I always lose it at the friend who calls Nao "Mothra" as a lark. It's a lighter touch than it sounds, nice stand-in for going away for a while or having a rocky, reclusive period. But that was after the actual Emergence; sorta like Senpai is an Otokonoko the author had a one-volume idea that expanded to four. We start with it spontaneously happening and a high school drama with her childhood friend Miyoshi.

But this works so well and really shows the brilliance in the rear view. When you have what the story becomes...it really shows how Nao was originally going through a distinct phase. One a lot of trans women, especially teens today, struggle with. Your ability to look the part isn't everything. And it can cause its own category of troubles when that outstrips your ability to cope with the changes. A theme that continues throughout the series, but it's important here Nao has a chance to go back and you're still living around the environment you grew up in. People are willing to give you a lot of grace and positive reinforcement. Senpai wa Otokonoko sorta tells the opposite story, how it isn't a bad thing to let someone experiment a little. Past that point of no return though? That's where the real game begins.

That's Nao with her Dad. I love this storyline. Well before Emergence, Nao's mother abandoned the family for another lover. This caused him to have a lot of issues with women, and as a high school boy he was pretty shitty about serially dating girls and dumping them the second it got serious. Something that bites her in the ass a few ways as her and Miyoshi navigate being a college couple for most of the series. A big thing for her is that she looks like her mom now. For the record, Dad's just a workaholic that didn't even notice. His response was that Nao always had the same face either way and a totally different everything else.

But this is the magic. How everyone gets caught up in stupid misunderstandings and it's never something grand and dramatic. That's a story that deserves to be told, it already resonated with me a lot as a college student navigating my first relationship with a guy ten years ago. It does so much more now. Like...it's not hard to get why a newly out trans girl might hang around with a male-dominated hobby group she was already a part of for a bit. But this is a series that goes far enough to show you that type of pull coming up way later. How some little spark can trigger an old side of you, or even just...how hard it can be to rectify old traumas as a normal part of growing up when you feel like a completely different person than the one who experienced it.

Or maybe realizing there's more to this than you anticipated. When "Emergence" handwaves bigotry like acting as if HRT does nothing...that would have been useful. As someone who's always been at least kinda athletically inclined, who do you talk to about the sobering reality you got more than you bargained for there? No one wants to accept they're struggling with physical exertion that would have been nothing two years ago. Even the most open-minded girls don't want to hear about getting weaker from you and most guys just plain will not get how you didn't logically sit down and expect all of that from the jump. And you yourself don't even know if you're just being a defiant girl or a disappointed former guy about it.

I wouldn't expect someone fresh out of the closet to get all that subtext beneath a good romance manga, but Kanojo ni Naru hi hits that note in a way I have yet to find anything else that even comes close. What makes it work is that Nao and her sweetie Myoshi are cool people. Like here with a future in-law trying to expose Nao for being a bad wife. She filets a tuna like it's nothing and the house is spotless. It's very much a celebration on how this bizarre concoction of circumstances can create something beautiful.

Your only option for this one is fan translations, Lord knows I'd love an anime adaptation but that ain't happening. There is a sequel series, Kanojo ni Naru hi Another, that focuses on a younger emergee who is more resistant to the change. I can't relate fully because despite transitioning in the same time frame that only happened because I was well aware and accepted it about myself from an early age. If I lived in today's world without an abusive mom I'd be one of those cases that was well past socially transitioning pre-adolescence. But getting to know some teens today I feel like Nao is great representation for the type of trans girl who figures things out as a teen and maybe has to deal more with pressure to move forward outstripping the speed they personally come to terms with that. Especially if like, social transition comes surprisingly easy for you.

Watching one of the best case scenario teens I knew still hit that inflection point and "cocoon" stage on the cusp of adulthood was a real wake-up call to me that even in the best of circumstances this can be a weird journey with very little guidance. It's not wrong to take the easier path of showing someone dealing with baby steps or discrimination, but man did it make this series stand out for traveling the road not taken. And it makes Nao & Miyoshi's romance honestly just one of the best couples in any manga I've read.