#the edition by smart world developer

[luxurypropertiies]

Smart World Developer at Gurgaon welcomes you to a whole new world of comfort and extravagance. Improving the level of your living standard this new project is set amidst green surroundings with great connectivity and amazing conveniences.

Smart World Sector 65 Gurgaon is offering lavish and spacious apartments in the form of 2 BHK & 3 BHK luxury apartments with multiple states–of–the–art facilities & accommodations.

Feel the joy of luxurious lifestyle and energetic ambiance, as the development names it has an exclusive position and many more conveniences that make it prolific and favourable for upscale existing.

Life at Smart World Property Sector 65 is an unmatched experience of the stunning beauty of nature and an elegant collection of classy abodes. Exclusively designed with conveniences like clubhouse, swimming pool, gym, gardens, and parking area and offer you a great way of living a luxury lifestyle.

[saintvampe]

i definitely need to find more supernatural/paranormal but also slice of life ocs....

[aryanreality]

Smart World the Edition: New Launch Property at Gurgaon

The team of the best real estate company and advisor, Aryan Realty Infratech Pvt Ltd specialized in Gurgaon residential and commercial properties, and provides invaluable expertise to prospective buyers. and we understand the fact that the quick-paced real estate market of Gurgaon has become a hub for opulent and creative residential developments. so, we are again here with the beautiful and most anticipated residential property “Smart World The Edition" from the most reputed real estate developer Smart World, Smart World the Edition Gurgaon stands out as a beacon of contemporary living. So, let’s discuss the facilities, features and other aspects of the Smart World the Edition Gurgaon.

Unveiling Smart World: 

The Edition: Smart World: The Edition is not just a residential project; it's a lifestyle statement. Situated in the Centre of Gurgaon, Smart World the Edition Gurgaon strives to provide an exclusive fusion of advanced technology, sustainable living, and contemporary architecture. The Smart World the Edition is evidence of the continuously evolving interests of property buyers who look for homes that are comfortable and also can enhance their active lifestyles.

Key Features:

Smart Living Spaces: The Smart World the Edition Floor Plan boasts intelligently designed living spaces equipped with the latest home automation systems. Everyday living is made more convenient and effective by the ability of residents to use their cell phones to manage the lighting, temperature, security, and entertainment.

Green and Sustainable Design: In an era where sustainability is paramount, Smart World: The Edition takes a step forward with eco-friendly initiatives.  The Smart World the Edition Gurgaon promotes the health of its residents as well as the environment by including green areas, rainwater collection, and energy-efficient technology.

World-Class Amenities: Residents can indulge in a range of world-class amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness Centre, swimming pool, recreational areas, and landscaped gardens. The Smart World the Edition Sector 66 aims to create a holistic living experience that goes beyond the confines of individual homes.

Strategic Location: The property's strategic location in Gurgaon ensures proximity to major business hubs, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and entertainment zones. This significantly increases the economic potential of Smart World the Edition and also makes everyday living more convenient.

Architectural Excellence:  Smart World the Edition Sector 66 stands as an architectural marvel, blending contemporary aesthetics with functional design. The interior and external areas have been meticulously designed to ensure that inhabitants have a house that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional.

Conclusion: -

Gurgaon is continuously evolving as a hub for smart and contemporary living, Smart World the Edition Gurgaon emerges as a premier project that sets new benchmarks in luxury and creativity. Smart World the Edition Sector 66 aims to provide a retreat for individuals looking for a lifestyle that goes above the ordinary with its smart features, sustainable design, and prime location. Smart World the Edition symbolizes the future of urban living, not just a place to live.

Why Choose Aryan Realty Infratech: -

the Aryan Realty Infratech is the most experienced and skilled team of experts who conduct thorough market research, and consider all the factors like location, facilities, and future growth prospects. The adviser of Aryan Realty Infratech helps customers choose properties by guiding them through the process and assisting them in making decisions that suit their tastes and financial objectives. During the dealing process, we facilitate the negotiations, ensuring fair prices and favorable terms. We also handle all the legal intricacies, streamline paperwork, and coordinate with relevant parties to make the property acquisition process smooth and stress-free for the buyer. So, contact Aryan Realty Infratech Pvt Ltd if you want to be a part of Smart World the Edition Gurgaon and if you are looking for professional support during the whole dealing process. 

[cindersnows]

the problem with mitsi (or as i like to call it. mitsogyny)

(context: this was written under a youtube video, which i'm sure most of us have at least seen pop up in our recommendeds, in response to many people taking criticism against the new episode. it has been edited a little to be more cohesive as a somewhat-essay)

ok, i wanted to write out a rant/essay/ramble/whatever sort of summarising the criticism against mitsi's plotline because a lot of the people here seem to be misunderstanding the fundamental issue that people have with it, including some of those people themselves.

first off, an analysis that i think tell both sides of the argument very well which i feel should be read before reading the essay: Mitsi: What Makes A Fridged Character (and why y'all are wrong about it) | an AvA essay by InksandPensblog. i will note: i don't care to discuss whether mitsi was fridged or not and that won't be of much importance in this post. the above link gives some insight into some of the fandom's criticism of mitsi and how she was "fridged", defining common tropes for examples. that's what's relevant to this post.

the main issue with mitsi, in my opinion, is less with the fact that mitsi's a girl and moreso the fact that she's one of the only female-coded character in the series, and that her character's main purpose was to further victim's own development. the other arguably female-coded character in the series is pink, who (like navy) only really exists to explain purple's motivations. i don't have much of an issue with that since they're not meant to be important or sympathised with at all. that's not their job in the story.

with mitsi, i've seen people point out that she has more character to her than just victim's love interest and supporter: she invents rocketcorp, she's smart, she's kind, innocent and helpful. narratively speaking, she shows other creations' relationships with their animators, parallels her innocence with victim's trauma, and introduces victim to the outernet (as most fans call the stick realm).

but most of this things imo are either stretches or invalid arguments. she's not really a 2/3-dimensional character in any way; her main character traits boil down to the fact that she likes to be in service of others with no nuance behind why she likes helping people. she hypes up victim for the villagers, she starts a company with him to share his talents with the world, and she helps him overcome his trauma from alan's torture. all of her main plot beats center around victim: and while technically the sticks are genderless and free to be interpreted however the viewer wants, alan and most of his team see all the main characters as male, and that subconciously affects how they're written. mitsi, the first major female-coded character, spends most of her storyline in service of victim, a character not written as female.

there's also the issue of her being victim's canonical love interest. i feel like this statement from alan is important to keep in mind (don't mind the sound effects and edits, this is the only isolated clip i can find at the moment). in particular:

"i just assume that [the ava/m characters] are just a bunch of bros]. i haven't thought of adding any female stick figures but i think it'd be good. i don't want to introduce any romance though, i don't want that to be a theme."

he seems to have changed his mind on that last part, which is fine, but the notable part for me is that he seems to associate female characters with romance from the getgo. before anyone misinterprets this, i'm not trying to call alan sexist or anything. but there's a common issue with women in stories being reduced to just a romantic partner for the male lead, and mitsi falls under this, with her entire character existing to serve victim. (not to mention people will make things about romance whether you like it or not. that's just basic fandom. search up grapeduo or chodark.) even her death is to put victim on the path of vengeance--- it doesn't need to happen to show the extent of tco and tdl's destruction, because that's already made pretty clear in ava s2 the flashback and the earlier scenes showing various characters escaping burning buildings. when you write a female-coded character whose only purpose is to serve a male character, you're contributing to sexist narratives.

a counter i see many people point out with the idea that she has no character is that she does have character traits, it's just that they're generic ones like "kind" and "innocent". the issue is that she has no flaws to counterpoint this; it's not that she didn't have enough screentime. in ava4 for example, we see tsc's flaws pretty clearly; they can be very mean when they want to, they're petty (albeit for a fair reason), they're a little impulsive. this is shown in 11 minutes (from the moment they come alive to the end of the video).

with mitsi meanwhile… she doesn't seem to have any flaws? she helps victim whenever she can. she's nice to all the villagers. her customers all like her and she's a great leader at rocket corp (to note, specifically as part of a pair with victim. they're a power couple, she's barely given credit for her work alone). she has 13 minutes of screentime, or 10 if you count from her waking up in the outernet. there's plenty of opportunities to show her having flaws; maybe she acts a little selfish during tdl and tco's attack, only wanting to help herself and agent smith, or maybe she overworks herself, or feels awkward at having too much attention (and that could also be why she redirects so much attention to victim, she's shy). you could argue that the episode needs to develop victim and agent smith too, but ava4 shows that's easy to do too: just a few seconds dedicated to showing rgyb fighting over who leaves first shows that they can be selfish and childish. it's very easy to insert a moment like that for mitsi.

it's a little disappointing when the first major female-coded character in ava is completely flawless, with no personality outside of being nice and helpful for others.

also, slightly unrelated, check out this quote from mitsi's plushie website: "her white featureless face seems to ooze mystery and feminine power all at the same time." her main character trait, as a woman, is being feminine. it's irritating as someone who's been raised a woman to see her reduced to just her gender. she feels more plastic than a person, like the concept of what a woman should be (perfect, kind, useful) and not an actual character/person.

i would expect more from the writing in the series seeing as it's not just an independent passion project anymore, and has multiple writers that all could've worked to flesh out mitsi, or at least get a sensitivity reader of sorts to point these issues out. it's extremely disappointing and i can understand why people were upset.

tldr: the problem isn't just that mitsi's a girl, or that she's nice or dating victim, it's that she's written in a misogynistic way.

[sexymemecoin]

The Emergence of NFTs: Transforming Digital Ownership and Creativity

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have revolutionized the way we think about digital ownership, art, and collectibles. By leveraging blockchain technology, NFTs provide a way to create, buy, sell, and own unique digital assets with verifiable provenance and scarcity. This article explores the world of NFTs, their impact on various industries, key benefits and challenges, and notable projects, including a brief mention of Sexy Meme Coin.

What Are NFTs?

NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, are unique digital assets that represent ownership of a specific item or piece of content, such as art, music, videos, virtual real estate, and more. Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, which are fungible and can be exchanged on a one-to-one basis, NFTs are indivisible and unique. Each NFT is recorded on a blockchain, ensuring transparency, security, and verifiability of ownership.

The Rise of NFTs

NFTs gained mainstream attention in 2021 when digital artist Beeple sold an NFT artwork for $69 million at Christie's auction house. This landmark event highlighted the potential of NFTs to transform the art world by providing artists with new revenue streams and collectors with verifiable digital ownership.

Since then, NFTs have exploded in popularity, with various industries exploring their potential applications. From gaming and music to real estate and fashion, NFTs are creating new opportunities for creators, businesses, and investors.

Key Benefits of NFTs

Digital Ownership: NFTs provide a way to establish true digital ownership of assets. Each NFT is unique and can be traced back to its original creator, ensuring authenticity and provenance. This is particularly valuable in the art and collectibles market, where forgery and fraud are significant concerns.

Monetization for Creators: NFTs enable creators to monetize their digital content directly. Artists, musicians, and other content creators can sell their work as NFTs, earning revenue without relying on intermediaries. Additionally, smart contracts can be programmed to provide creators with royalties each time their NFT is resold, ensuring ongoing income.

Interoperability: NFTs can be used across different platforms and ecosystems, allowing for interoperability in the digital world. For example, NFTs representing in-game items can be traded or used across multiple games and virtual worlds, enhancing their utility and value.

Scarcity and Collectibility: NFTs introduce scarcity into the digital realm by creating limited editions or one-of-a-kind items. This scarcity drives the collectibility of NFTs, similar to physical collectibles like rare coins or trading cards.

Challenges Facing NFTs

Environmental Impact: The creation and trading of NFTs, especially on energy-intensive blockchains like Ethereum, have raised concerns about their environmental impact. Efforts are being made to develop more sustainable blockchain solutions, such as Ethereum's transition to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.

Market Volatility: The NFT market is highly speculative and can be volatile. Prices for NFTs can fluctuate significantly based on trends, demand, and market sentiment. This volatility poses risks for both creators and investors.

Intellectual Property Issues: NFTs can raise complex intellectual property issues, particularly when it comes to verifying the rightful owner or creator of the digital content. Ensuring that NFTs are legally compliant and respect intellectual property rights is crucial.

Access and Inclusivity: The high costs associated with minting and purchasing NFTs can limit accessibility for some creators and collectors. Reducing these barriers is essential for fostering a more inclusive NFT ecosystem.

Notable NFT Projects

CryptoPunks: CryptoPunks are one of the earliest and most iconic NFT projects. Created by Larva Labs, CryptoPunks are 10,000 unique 24x24 pixel art characters that have become highly sought-after collectibles.

Bored Ape Yacht Club: Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) is a popular NFT collection featuring 10,000 unique hand-drawn ape avatars. Owners of these NFTs gain access to exclusive events and benefits, creating a strong community around the project.

Decentraland: Decentraland is a virtual world where users can buy, sell, and develop virtual real estate as NFTs. This platform allows for the creation of virtual experiences, games, and social spaces, showcasing the potential of NFTs in the metaverse.

NBA Top Shot: NBA Top Shot is a platform that allows users to buy, sell, and trade officially licensed NBA collectible highlights. These video clips, known as "moments," are sold as NFTs and have become popular among sports fans and collectors.

Sexy Meme Coin (SXYM): Sexy Meme Coin integrates NFTs into its platform, offering a decentralized marketplace where users can buy, sell, and trade memes as NFTs. This unique approach combines humor and finance, adding a distinct flavor to the NFT landscape. Learn more about Sexy Meme Coin at Sexy Meme Coin.

The Future of NFTs

The future of NFTs is bright, with continuous innovation and expanding use cases. As technology advances and more industries explore the potential of NFTs, we can expect to see new applications and opportunities emerge. From virtual fashion and digital identities to decentralized finance (DeFi) and beyond, NFTs are poised to reshape various aspects of our digital lives.

Efforts to address environmental concerns, improve accessibility, and ensure legal compliance will be crucial for the sustainable growth of the NFT ecosystem. Collaboration between creators, platforms, and regulators will help build a more robust and inclusive market.

Conclusion

NFTs have ushered in a new era of digital ownership, creativity, and innovation. By providing verifiable ownership and provenance, NFTs are transforming industries ranging from art and entertainment to gaming and virtual real estate. While challenges remain, the potential benefits of NFTs and their ability to empower creators and engage communities make them a significant force in the digital economy.

For those interested in the playful and innovative side of the NFT market, Sexy Meme Coin offers a unique and entertaining platform. Visit Sexy Meme Coin to explore this exciting project and join the community.

[sevs-corner]

Another quick shot ideas on- Tf 141: Mafia AU!

Link to Prev parts:

Currently on Ch 2- Mini Epilogue, and you can find it here :D 👇

A/N: 1st Edit of adding onto Price’s part + the other TF 141 boiyos will get their own on a separate post✨

So here’s the sitch folks

Price👏has👏the👏moola

Which means that he will not hesitate to spend it all for you

But he keeps it lowkey, he isn’t the show-y type (cough Soap cough)

So he starts slow, aside from giving you his apparels, he wants to give something to call your own

But if he asks what you want, you’d suspect him

‘Smart sweetie,’ he thinks, whenever he sees you give him that inquisitive look

Eyebrow raised, a knowing smirk

If only you knew the things you do to this man behind closed doors

He starts giving you simple stuff, a bracelet - something that was sleek in design but had good value (both sentimentally and economically)

Because, when he gave that bracelet to you

It was the day he, tells himself this, officially fell for you- wanting to do his damnest to court you however possible way he can

Imagine a cold December, the worst possible season ever for you.

You hate the cold, as much as how it cool it becomes when the rain rolls in and rattles your bones.

No, you’re not old, just weary.

You always hated the rain, but why- as you stood hand-in-hand with this mafia boss- did you want the rain to continue.

Currently, you were running through the rain with him, laughing all the way until you found a tiny closed up shop with an awning over it.

Pointing at it with a quick, “over there! Som cover!”

Price nods and speeds up his pace, making you squeal— complaining that he should slow down or you’ll both slip but he insists.

“I’ll catch you,” he says so reassuringly, “don’t worry.”

And you didn’t.

Even when you both slid under the awning, with you almost slipping past-- but luckily he was there.

You then realize he is a man of his word.

Catch you he will, and catch you he did.

With his hands on your waist, you swore to yourself that you haven’t felt this more secure than ever in your life.

John Price on the other hand, was tethering-- barely able to keep his hands to himself once he got a taste on holding you in his arms.

He pulled you closer, not letting his hands leave you for a second, as he lets his inhibitions go, resulting with his arms wrapping around you securely. (That even if you did try to escape you wouldn't be able to- not like you wanted to anyways.)

Once he fells no resistance coming from you, he breathes in deep, trying to live in the moment as much as possible as you relax in his hold- both of your giggles dying out and letting the patter of rain consume space instead.

"You know," you whisper, "I hate the rain."

You could feel Price's chest rumble, and his voice respond right next to your ear.

"I know that, lovie."

You let that stew in you, humming out a reply that just came to the top of your head.

"But I don't hate it right now."

Price wanted to ask why, but he knew-- inside he knew why you didn't at that moment. Though it didn't feel right to voice his thoughts at the moment and simply holds you closer instead, hoping to reassure you through it that,

'its okay to hate things most of the time, but then like it when you're with someone.'

And he thinks to himself, maybe... it was like that with you too.

He never liked going out on dates- he never had time for those frivolous things.

He wasn't a gift giver, but always found himself giving you whatever you wanted or needed.

He wasn't a lover, but damned the world and his existence would be if he couldn't find himself not to love you.

Squeezing his arms close to you made him snap back to his reality, the reality that you were in arms-reach.

And that tether?

Now fully loose and wrapped around you-- just as his arms are.

Once you arrived back at your apartment, John knew that now was the right time.

So he tugs at your coat from the bottom of the stairs, barely able to catch you before you leave his sight.

“Hey.”

He watches you turn around, a crooked smile on your face as you copy him.

“Hey?”

“I-,” he stumbles, “-could you..?”

He lips feels dry, the saliva he gulps becomes hard to do with his throat feeling like sandpaper, his hands get clammy and he has to shove it down his pocket to avoid you seeing it shake.

You stare at him, head tilted as you return back his words to him- hoping to coax out whatever he wanted to get out.

“Could I..?”

With a deep breath, he forces eye contact with and asks,

“Will you accept this?”

From deep within the recess of his pocket, he hands you a small dark navy leathered covered box, gold engraving on its front— and it made you pause.

“John…” you step down the stairs to stand chest to chest with him, “…what’s this for?”

You wrapped your hands around his, entrapping the box between his hands.

If there was moment in his life where he felt his heart drop in- this would be the number one.

What if he overstepped—?

Moved too soon, way too early? Fuck- he just messed up didn’t he-?

“John?”

But your voice forces him to resurface from the deep spiral and he shakes his head. Splitting him from fantasy and reality.

He tries to ground himself further by dropping his head to lock eyes with you, and he swore that the stars still shined in them, just as the day he met you.

“I,” he licks his chapped lips, “I thought of you when I saw this.”

You released his hands for him to open it and once he did, you gasped, eyes snapping back and forth from the silver bracelet and his face- oh his face.

It was so twinged in nervousness but at the same time, a sense of softness and vulnerability that you instinctively knew that he never shows this kind of side of him to anyone.

“I got a couple of charms on it,” he points out with a chuckle, “thought it’d be nice to add onto it whenever we go to places.”

“Like a keepsake…” you mutter, thoughts unable to be kept within as you feel your chest tighten.

He nods, “precisely.”

“And this,” he points to the rain droplet charm, “will be a reminder of today.”

Any thought that came onto your brain was incoherent and words, if it were to be spoken right now, felt too cheap to say.

So you settle for a hug, one so tight and comforting that Price greedily wishes that he could be in it forevermore.

Eventually you had to let go, dry your eyes, and tuck in for the night.

“John!”

You call out one last time by your window, and said man turns, his usual smile softened by the glow of the moon.

“I kinda like the rain now!”

His laughter resounds through the night as he carries your words next to his heart.

‘One day,’ he thinks to himself, ‘one day we’ll get to fill up that bracelet.’

[gloomygloworm]

why is no one talking about modern edwin and crystal being besties because they have the same shitty hobbies? crystal exhibits rich kid mannerisms obviously yes but also abandoned kid mannerisms through shoplifting and stuff, i wanna see burnout edwin smoking a cigarette smart enough to pass his classes easily but failing every single one of them, doped out on drugs at house parties (ur friends only like you when ur "fun" and "dumb" like them) i wanna see a slightly jaded edwin that keeps his niche hobbies under wraps (collecting special and rare editions of books, taxidermy, thrifting/collecting antiques, aquariums??? maybe???) approached by smiley cheery charles (maybe they get tossed in the same tutoring program?) who slowly finds the will to live again cause charles is the sun breaking the storm clouds.

i want niko wedging herself between crystal's ribs. crystal who gets egged on by edwin because they're both tired and jaded. i want to see her drinking too much at parties and being cruel because shes made of broken glass. i want niko's sweetness to piece her back together slowly, gently collecting the shards of crystals actual personality (fierce, and loyal, and oh so GOOD) i want niko to make crystal feel warm and fuzzy and like she wants to TRY again.

everyones always talking about how edwin wouldnt really change if he was born closer to crystals years or whatever but i think thats wrong. i think the way the world has developed socially would make radical changes to the way he acts, to the way he thinks. i want modern exploration of how people think edwin would evolve - how his sexuality expands, the way he dresses. because i think he indulges. i think he dresses for fun at parties, a little more revealing a little more form fitting. i think he has dark circles under his eyes, that he showers every single day, that his hair is a mess. i think hes sassy and rude and bitchier than he should be because theres no one to dilute his salt laden personality until charles and niko show up.

i also need him to be ill. chronically. i need exhaustion to settle in his joints, for his paranoia to make him twitchy and unpleasant to talk to. i need him to grit his teeth and be on edge because i think he comes from a rich but large family and i think the dynamics there can be very backstabby.

really what i want is a fcking - 5 + 1 the 5 times charles panics and hides his cigarette cause edwin thinks he's quit and can't see him weak and the 1 time he catches edwin smoking on the roof and he just goes "yeah i dont like the smoke in the house or how crowded it gets here so i just do it when no one else is awake"

i also need edwin and charles fwb because edwin doesnt know how to be friends and the emotional exploration of attachment - charles thinks everything is fine theyre besties and having sex nbd but edwin has a panic attack every time charles leaves his room cause what if he just goes away and never comes back

[specialagentartemis]

Black Women writing SFF

The post about Octavia Butler also made me think about the injustice we do both Butler, SFF readers, and Black women SFF writers by holding her up as the one Black Woman Writing Sci-Fi. She occupies an important place in the genre, for her creativity, the beauty and impact of her writing, and her prolific work... but she's still just one writer, and no one writer works for everybody.

So whether you liked Octavia Butler's books or didn't, here are some of the (many!!! this list is just the authors I've read and liked, or been recommended and been wanting to read) other Black women writing speculative fiction aimed at adults, who might be writing something within your interest:

N. K. Jemisin - a prolific powerhouse of modern sff. Will probably have something you'll like. Won three Hugo awards in a row for her Broken Earth trilogy. I’ve only read her book of short stories, How Long ‘Til Black Future Month? and it is absolutely story after story of bangers. Creative, chilling, beautifully written, make you think. They’re so good and I highly recommend the collection. Several of her novels have spun out of premises she first explored through these short stories, most recently “The City Born Great” giving rise to her novel The City We Became. Leans more fantasy than sci-fi, but has a lot of both, in various permutations. 

Nisi Shawl - EDIT: I have been informed that Nisi Shawl identifies as genderfluid, not as a woman. They primarily write short stories that lean literary. Their one novel that I’ve read, Everfair, is an alternate-history 19th century that asks, what if the Congo had fought off European colonization and became a free and independent African state? Told in vignettes spanning decades of political organization, political movements, war tactics, and social development, among an ensemble of local African people, Black Americans coming to the new country, white and mixed-race Brits, and Chinese immigrants who came as British laborers.

Nnedi Okorafor - American-Nigerian writer of Africanfuturism, sci-fi stories emphasizing life in present, future, and alternate-magical Africa. She has range! From Binti, a trilogy of novellas about a teenage girl in Namibia encountering aliens and balancing her newfound connection to space with expectations of her family; to Akata Witch, a middle-grade series about a Nigerian-American girl moving to Nigeria and learning to use magic powers she didn’t know she had; to Who Fears Death, a brutal depiction of magical-realism in a futuristic, post-war Sudan; to short stories like "Africanfuturism 419", about that poor Nigerian prince who’s desperately sending out those emails looking for help (but with a sci-fi twist), and "Mother of Invention" about a smart house taking care of its human and her baby… she’s done a little bit of everything, but always emphasizes the future, the science, and the magic of (usually western) Africa.

Karen Lord - an Afro-Caribbean author.  I actually didn’t particularly like the one novel by her I’ve read, The Best of All Possible Worlds, but Martha Wells did, so. Lord has more novels set in this world—a Star Trek-esque multicultural, multispecies spacefuture set on a planet that has welcomed immigrants and refugees for a long time, and become a vibrant multicultural planet. I find her stories rooted in near-future Caribbean socio-climatic concerns like "Haven" and "Cities of the Sun" and her folktale-fantasy style Redemption in Indigo more compelling.  And more short stories here.

Bethany C. Morrow - only has one novella (short novel?) for adults, Mem, but it was creative and fascinating and good and I’d be remiss not to shout it out. In an alternate-history 1920s Toronto, scientists have discovered how to extract specific memories from a person—but then those memories are embodied as physical, cloned manifestations of the person at the moment the memory was made. The main character is one such “Mem,” struggling to determine who she is if she was created from and defined by one single traumatic memory that her original-self wanted to remove. It’s mostly quiet, contemplative, and very interesting.  (Morrow has some YA novels too. I read one of them and thought it was okay.)

Rebecca Roanhorse - Afro-Indigenous, Black and "Spanish Indian" and married into Diné (Navajo). I’ve read her ongoing post-apocalyptic fantasy series starting with Trail of Lightning, and am liking it a lot; after a climate catastrophe, the spirits and magic of the Diné awakened to protect Dinetah (the Navajo Nation) from the onslaught; and now magic and monsters are part of life in this fundamentally changed world. Coyote is there and he is only sometimes helpful. She also has a more traditional second-world epic high fantasy, Black Sun, an elaborate fantasy world with quests and prophecies and seafaring adventure that draws inspiration from Indigenous cultures of the US and Mexico rather than Europe. She also has bitingly satirical and very incisive short stories like “Welcome to Your Authentic Indian Experience” about virtual reality and cultural tourism, and the fantasy-horror "Harvest."

Micaiah Johnson - her multiverse-hopping novel The Space Between Worlds plays with alternate universes and alternate selves in a continuously creative and interesting way! The setup doesn’t take the easy premise that one universe is our own recognizable one that opens up onto strange alternate universes—even the main character’s home universe is wildly different in speculative ways, with the MC coming from a Mad Max-esque desert community abandoned to the elements, while working for the universe-travel company within the climate-controlled walled city where the rich and well-connected live and work. Also, it’s unabashedly gay. 

And if you like audiobooks and audio fiction (I listened to The Space Between Worlds as an audiobook, it’s good), then Jordan Cobb is someone you should check out. She does sci-fi/horror/thriller audio drama. Her works include Janus Descending, a lyrical and eerie sci-fi horror about a small research expedition to a distant planet and how it went so, so wrong; and Descendants, the sequel about its aftermath. She also has Primordial Deep, about a research expedition to the deep undersea, to investigate the apparent re-emergence of a lot of extinct prehistoric sea creatures. She’s a writer/producer I like, and always follow her new releases. Her detailed prose, minimal casts  (especially in Janus Descending), good audio quality, and full-series supercuts make these welcoming to audiobook fans. 

-

Nalo Hopkinson - a writer who should be considered nearly as foundational as Octavia Butler, honestly. A novelist and short story writer with a wide variety of sci-fi, dystopian futures, fairy-tale horror, gods and epics, and space Carnival, drawing heavily from her Caribbean experiences and aesthetics.

Tananarive Due - fantastical/horror. Immortals, vampires, curses, altered reality, unnerving mystery. Also has written a lot of books.

Andrea Hairston - creative and otherworldly, weird and bisexual, with mindscapes and magic and aliens. 

Helen Oyeyemi - I haven’t read her work but she comes highly recommended by a friend. A novelist and short story writer, most of her work leans fairytale fantastical-horror. What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours is a collection of short fiction and recc’ed to me as her best work. White is for Witching is a well-regarded haunted house novel. 

Ashia Monet - indie author, writer of The Black Veins, pitched as “the no-love-interest, found family adventure you’ve been searching for.” Magic road trip! Possibly YA? I’m not positive. 

-

This also doesn’t include Black non-binary sff authors I’ve read and liked like An Owomoyela, C. L. Polk, and Rivers Solomon. And this is specifically about adult sff books, so I didn’t include Black women YA sff authors like Kalynn Bayron, Tomi Adeyemi, Tracy Deonn, Justina Ireland, or Alechia Dow, though they’re writing fantasy and sci-fi in the YA world too.

And a lot of short stories are out there in the online magazine world, where so many up and coming authors get their start, and established ones explore offbeat and new ideas.  Pick up an issue (or a subscription!) of FIYAH magazine for the most current Black speculative writing.

[frogs-crackcorner]

Choose your own story: Fae edition

Welcome to Choose Your Own Story, where I set the scene and you write the story!

It's been centuries since the fae and mortal world's combined. Most humans had died during the great war. Those that survived were seen as lowly creatures or animals, many became slaves. Those that didn't were sold as pets to the wealthy fae. Humans became increasingly more rare. This is how you find yourself surrounded by four, rather intimidating, fae generals. The king decided to reward their hard work by gifting you to them.

The fiercest and leader among them was Price. A broad, sturdy man with a thick beard and bits of mossy green dotting his skin. He was said to be a monster on the battlefield. He could bend and command the earth to his will. Rocks would break and explode, vines would decimate enemy armies. He was truly the best of them all.

Next in command was Ghost. He was tall, hulking mass of muscle. A large gash in his cheek hung open revealing his molars and his body was covered in scars and wounds that never seemed to fully heal. It must be part of his magic because liquid never spilled out of his mouth as he drank. Ghost was the commander of death. Sudden and silent, his power of disease wiped out armies without a single arrow fired.

After Ghost came Gaz. Gaz was a charming, slender fae. With dark skin and bright eyes, it was hard to suspect him as being a formidable warrior. He was known to be able to drown a thousand men without anyone ever seeing a drop of water. His power of water was also highly regarded for supplying fresh water to exhausted soldiers.

Last up was Mactavish. A muscular man with a wild Mohawk and fiery eyes. He was the wild card. His power of fire was known to get out of hand on occasion. He had an obsession with explosions and destruction, he seemed to thrive in the chaos. He was unwavering, unpredictable, and undefeated.

As ruthless as these men were, they knew how fragile mortals could be. They made sure to get plenty of enrichment for you. Any activity you wanted to do they made it happen. Sewing kits. Bowling pins. Acrylic paints. Swings. Soccer balls. Any hobby you decided to try they made sure you had everything you needed. They built a library for you in the house. Put a garden in the backyard. You practically had your own little zoo with the amount of animals they got you.

They also made sure to give you plenty of tasks to do. A list of tricks that all humans should know. How to sweep. How to wash a dish. How to get dressed. How to feed themselves .The list goes on. Every fae that owns a human should know how much work they are. Humans are not as developed or cultured as the fae are, every fae knows that to be fact.

Sure, they can be a little demeaning at times but you were used to that. It's how every fae treated you and some were down right cruel. But you knew these four were well intentioned albeit a little misguided. They really did care for you. The high class society they had grown up in had taught them that humans were low life forms that should be cared for similar to house pets. Humans were things to own and show off.

You were taught the same. Your whole purpose in life was to be owned. To be a good pet. You had been sent to school at the age of 13 to be taught how to be a pet. But deep down, you knew you wanted more. You were smart. You could do so much more than be a party trick. Deep down, you didn't want to be just a pet.

Now you have a choice to make

[junipers-archive]

Flower Girls

Word Count: 650

Includes: flufffff, Spencer and you renew your vows, and your daughters Daisy and Violet are the flower girls!! (@radiant-reid i wrote it!)

"Mama do I get to hold the flowers?!" It was Daisy your six year old daughter chasing around your equally excited younger daughter Violet who'd just turned four.

"Yes honey and Violet's going to help you!"

It was almost time to get them changed into their dresses, and you were happy to find they were just as excited to relive the wonderful time that was wedding day as you were.

You and Spencer had decided to renew your vows for your ten year anniversary, especially since Daisy had made it clear how unfair she thought it was she wasn't alive to see the first one.

As you check your phone you find its already 10am and you had spent too long watching the girls run around the yard.

"Daisy, Violet! Come on, we gotta go get you two dressed!"

They both chase after you like you had promised ice cream, squealing.

"I get the pink one right mommy?" Violet's still developing her idiolect and pronounciation and you smile at how her voice swoops and cuts oddly as you enter your bedroom.

"Wait a minute I thought I got the pink one mama! what am I supposed to wear now?"

Daisy has discovered attitude which you blame completely on Spencer as he was the one to cause a scene when you took the last cookie from the tin a few weeks ago.

"Baby, you both got matching pink dresses remember?" You try to console her as she puckers her lips and scrunches her cute little eyebrows, looking remarkably like her father.

It isn't until you take out the dress in front of them that she begins to giggle.

In an hour you've dressed them both and have done their hair into little buns at the top of their heads per their request.

You're done as well, all that was left to do was meet at the beach, you and Spencer had considered a more formal option but seeing as it would've cost a fortune and time you don't have to plan it all you'd gone with the simpler choice.

You'd be meeting at the beach he proposed to you on and renewing your vows over a flower arch with only your closest friends and family, then you'd all eat dinner (you'd reserved a part of the resturaunt) at the place you and Spencer had gone to after he proposed.

It was simple, and it was perfect.

You were getting in the car with your girls when Daisy gasped.

"Mama" just like her father that one, "Where are the flowers!?"

You tried hard not to laugh at her expression as you backed out of the drive way, but it really was hard not to.

"Don't worry petal we're going to give you and Violet the flowers when we get there."

And you did, or at least Spencer did.

Once you got to the beach you all saw him standing and greeting the guests. Once Daisy and Violet did too they ran to him hugging his legs before he could catch them and toppling him over successfully.

And when they finally walk down that isle as the sun begins to paint the sky a beautiful gradient of pinks, oranges and blues he thinks about how lucky he is to have not only you the love of his life but also the two beautiful smart and talented daughters you both created.

Daisy and Violet hold two wicker baskets, throwing Daisy and Violet petals which you'd agreed had to be done.

You keep your eyes on them as they grin from their seats next to their auntie Penelope.

And when you both recite the loving vows you said exactly 10 years ago you also find that both you and Spence edit it slightly to include the wonderful human beings you brought into the world.

To which they of course squeal and cheer at until the ceremony is over.

[luxurypropertiies]

Investment in SmartWorld

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Smart World Sector 65 Gurgaon is offering lavish and spacious apartments in the form of 2 BHK & 3 BHK luxury apartments with multiple states–of–the–art facilities & accommodations.

Feel the joy of luxurious lifestyle and energetic ambiance, as the development names it has an exclusive position and many more conveniences that make it prolific and favourable for upscale existing.

Life at Smart World Property Sector 65 is an unmatched experience of the stunning beauty of nature and an elegant collection of classy abodes. Exclusively designed with conveniences like clubhouse, swimming pool, gym, gardens, and parking area and offer you a great way of living a luxury lifestyle.

[finisheachday]

Things my law school profs have said out of context: 3lolhell edition

- You take your kicks where you can find them

- I’ll just stick to murder. It’s easy.

- If I wasn’t talking about the law with you guys, I’d be inflicting it on my wife and kids at home. You’re doing them a service

- I don’t have much of a life. Thank you

- If it’s confusing you, just flip the page it’s ok

- Predictably, hijinks ensued

- I find that very astute and amusing, but maybe that’s because I’m a nerd

- Don’t panic. That’s kind of my big, headline statement for now

- Are these slides fucked or something? Oh - it’s just because I’m stupid

- I am remarkably lucid when I’m blackout drunk. I could understand those rights no problem. I could be blackout drunk right now.

- You’re wrong, you’re wrong, you’re wrong, that’s a sex assault, you’re convicted, fuck off

- I’ve actually never voted because I fucking hate democracy

- I don’t say that out loud. I imply it heavily with my tone.

- I don’t own enough property to care about property crime

- Because I know you’re a nerd…[proceeds to recommend a new court of appeal case to me…..that I had already read the day it was released]

- If people just smoked weed there’d be less crime

- I choose to see Trump getting elected as a joke because I don’t know how else to deal with it

- Prof: “Alcohol is really fun until it’s not. So are a lot of drugs. Not all drugs. Some drugs are terrible. Don’t do meth. Nothing good ever came of dabbling in meth.” Former cop: “It’s cheap though”

- A lawyer is just a janitor with a 6-8yr degree

- He is actually smart, whereas I just have a modest amount of animal cunning

- To survive the practice of law, you will probably develop a dark, morbid sense of humour

- Sort of smacks of hipster crusading social justice to me

- Hey trial judges, you lesser mere mortals

- Look, I’m not very smart, but you’ve probably figured that out

- Mocking is a good past time

- Although the court didn’t belabour that matter, that won’t stop me!

- I’m just sliding between real life and the fantasy world I’ve constructed

- Speaking as someone with a relatively short attention span

[yanisdoingstuff]

The thing is done. I now must share it.

So I was rewatching LMK with my bestie (season 5 does suck btw... Though I LOVED father-son relationship development between MK and Pigsy. And MK is just such an anxious suicidal mess. I wish they'd explored it further, 'cause the build up was CRAZYYY. Waiting for the next season to be better so I could love it as much as I want.)

And my bestie pointed out that Spider Queen and her henchmen are... basically Bad Sanses. The smexy villain with lust for power over the world. The smart, slightly snobbish guy. The big guy. And the horny flirty man that accidentally got a boyfriend in a fight and self-reflects the most. ALL THE FAN STEREOTYPES ARE HERE. THE PLATE IS FULL.

So naturally, I had to make a funny edit of a funny frame.

I had a thought of actually redesigning them or making a separate full art completely. If someone already did that or wants to, PLEASE tag me, I wanna see!!

Also, if anybody has a theory of who could be the LBD in this Sans Multiverse thing, lmk. I couldn't come up with an answer??

[king-candybug-backup]

Going to gush a little about a couple Kill Switch scenes that I appreciate because I think you're being too hard on yourself about whatever pacing issues you think you have :)

Every night, after the arcade had closed and the random roster race was concluded, Vanellope would sneak a heal kit out of Hero’s Duty, gather up some food, and then come to see him for a few hours. 

Whatever true reasons she must’ve had, she’d always hide them under the guise of ‘keeping him company’. Perhaps it was her sneaky way of torturing him, forcing him to listen to her ear-gratingly-annoying voice every night. If this little brat weren’t his only ticket out of here, he’d have tried to kill her a hundred times over by now.

This part I particularly love because it does a really good job at communicating how King Candy thinks in such a small, casual paragraph! He's only ever used kindness as a manipulation tactic, so it makes total sense that he'd see Vanellope's kindness as the same thing; not true kindness, but some sort of means to an end, something she must be doing to get one over on him somehow. He's completely and totally wrong of course but this small thought process fits his character really well! There's so much I could say about just this part if I were better at wording things, but ye, I just love this!

His head arose at the sound, blinking a few times to squint at her, as though he couldn’t tell if he’d actually woken up yet. “... You’re back?” 

“Well, yeah, obviously.” She replied, hoisting her haul against the bars of the cage. “If it took threats of violence to get ridda me, I’d’ve just left ya trapped in Diet Cola Mountain.”

Completely baffled, he just stared at her, slack-jawed. She really was a lot stupider than he initially thought.

This part I really like because I think it's another short but effective way to show how his thought process is going to develop about the situation. He keeps seeing her nice gestures as her being foolish and dumb, which I think will let his guard down more as time goes on and he sees this more and more as "oh she'll be EASY to manipulate" even though Vanellope is actually smart and knows full well to be wary of him, and he just can't process how her kindness does not equal stupidity, so his flawed world view there is pretty much setting himself up for failure if he misleads himself into thinking she's a lot dumber than she actually is (That is, if I'm reading into that part correctly. Mayby I'm overthinking a little bit there. xD Bad at wording things)

She shot a snarky look his way. “Also, you literally tried to kill me in Rainbow Lane, I don’t think you have much room to judge, there.”

He looked as though he were about to object, took a second to think about it, then shrugged in a surprisingly nonchalant manner. “True.”

Vanellope rolled her eyes before continuing on her original tangent. “So, what, d’you think every single other racer on the track suddenly doesn’t matter if they don’t win every single time?” When she saw King Candy open his mouth to respond, she quickly held up her hand, remembering who it was she’d been speaking to. “Actually, don’t answer that.” 

And this part I don't have much to say about I just like because it's funny xD

Brb, gotta go have a cry real quick 😭

But seriously, thank you, that's so sweet! :') I'm honestly blown away by how much people seem to be liking the fic so far, it makes me really happy that you're enjoying it! 💗 Your ask honestly just made my day, like, THIS FANDOM IS SO NICE, WHAT IS HAPPENING

It also makes me very very happy to know that people are picking up on the vibes I am putting down, thank you very muchly

And what I mean by the whole "pacing issues" thing is really just, like, there were a couple of parts that simply didn't transition between scenes very smoothly, and it comes off as a little jarring (in my opinion). I didn't have the chance to finish the edits yesterday as originally planned, but basically all I'm going to do is add a scene with Candy and Vanellope talking a little bit more before the Sinistar attack, because I feel like that part happened too quickly before they had a chance to build up a bit more of a consistent dynamic, and I'm also going to add a scene before Candy tries to attack her to show his anger growing a bit more naturally, as I feel like that part was glossed over a little too much. Like, he went from "I'm going to bide my time and wait for an opportune moment" to "Actually f#@% everything I'm going to stab this child right now" without exploring his worsening emotional state enough, lol. Those were really the only two issues that were bothering me about it. Like I know it's not the HUGEST deal, but I feel like I can make it better, so I wanna try, lmao

[logicpng]

i Believe i am finally done making references

edit: pasting the image descriptions out of the alt text. since they're refs they're really long I am so sorry

[First image ID:

Digital artwork of Aldebaran Aster - a humanoid being in a suit, four arms, and a star shaped head - standing next to a large program window titled: "Aster: Info". He is holding up the mouse pointer in one of his hands and laughing, with a smug smile.

The text in the window reads:

"Current module:

[Selected radio button] Rigel [Selected radio button] Vega [Glitchy text box] Name: Aldebaran :)

Pronouns:

[Checked tick box] He/him [Unchecked tick box] She/her [Checked tick box] They/them

Other: [Long empty text field]

Module description:

[Following text in a large text box:]

The result of an undocumented bug, never caught during development. Aldebaran, as he dubs himself, combines Rigel's love for putting on a show and Vega's scripting skills, and it shows in the artistic ways he bends the OS to his will.

Being a fusion of two AIs unable to cooperate, though, has the side effect of giving him a bad temper and lack of patience. Combining that with the rush of being in control of everything from GUI to the very kernel? Doesn't seem like a smart idea. Especially not when the laptop has experimental technology baked into it.

But hey, you've backed up before this, right...?

[Text box ends]

[Large lavender OK button]"

First Image ID end]

[Second Image ID:

Digital artwork of The User - a human with a gray-green skin, dark green hair with a white t-shirt, track suit shorts and green socks - standing next to a large program window titled: "User information". They are standing with a laptop bearing the CaelOS logo on its back, and scratching their head, looking a little nervous.

The text in the window reads:

"Base info:

Name: Urs Norma; Pronunciation: OO-rs NOR-mah; Age: 25

Pronouns:

[Checked tick box] He/him [Checked tick box] She/her [Checked tick box] They/them

Other: Any/All

Personality profile:

[Following text in a large text box:]

Young adult figuring out... being an adult.

After hastily finding a used tech store, they found a replacement for their busted laptop. As it turns out, the machine hosts an OS that never saw the light of day, featuring experimental technology. At least, it's compatible with most software they need...

Despite the world being cruel and unforgiving, the spark of optimism remains bright. Just like the AI the laptop hides, all they can do is perpetually learn from their mistakes, and maybe even relay some of that knowledge to the little virtual assistants they find themself talking to every day.

[Text box ends]

[Large green OK button]"

Second Image ID]

[Third Image ID:

Reference image of Urs Norma - an androgynous person with gray-green skin and dark green hair. A large program window titled "The User: Outfits" shows them standing neutrally, facing the camera, in three different outfits:

Home: Plain white shirt, track suit shorts, green socks.

Work (casual): Green hoodie that says "gorf" with a cat face on it in white, gray-purple pants, and black dress shoes. Left and right hand feature black and white rings on their respective middle fingers.

Work (formal): Pink dress shirt, slightly unbuttoned at the top, same pants, same dress shoes, and same rings.

Behind them is an outline of Aster, that has text in it saying "height comparison aster :)". At the top of their rays, they're noticeably shorter than Urs.

A window titled "Head", slightly overlapping the large window, shows lineart of the user's head in profile and from the back.

Third Image ID end]

[just-plumli-stuff]

People are always talking about how we baby Jean but what about Harry? I’m basically sorry cop Harry in real life, and one of the most emotional things for me in Disco is finding out HARRY DOESN’T SUCK. In fact, Harry is a certified 360 spin kick genius. I assumed we were a depressed alcoholic floating through life and just an utterly destroyed broken human being. But despite all that:

-You’re famous enough Kim knows who you are and goes with your amnesia because he thinks the famous Harry Dubois is playing a funny prank. He lets you do all this shit cause he trusts you are THE Harry Dubois.

-Jean will take you back in literally every ending. He came to the Whirling in a wig, you guys have to be on better terms than he pretends you are to do that. He’s a dick, but honestly a lot of straight male friendship is calling each other slurs cause their fathers never taught them how to express love.

-Judit is weirdly defensive of you and I don’t know why she would be unless you were a GOOD BOSS. You let a chick on your task force you progressive thinker!

-Trant has some pretty kind takes on your position and seems if anything in awe of your methods. If Harry was a total fuck up would he try to mental gymnastics there must be a reason you got so drunk you wiped your brain?

- the Unsolvable Case and the World Mural, the other two times you were drunk off your ass were recent. Harry probably always been a drinker, but it’s possible shitty Harry is a more recent development.

I just wanna imagine Harry personally changed the lives of everyone in the phone call room and that’s why these 2 IQ losers are somehow carrying Precinct 41’s closing rate. Harry is a leader of men and chicks. HARRY DUBOIS ISN’T STUPID HE’S JUST TOO SMART FOR HIS OWN BRAIN AND A LITTLE SILLY.

Edit: I FORGOT MY THESIS. Super apologetic people will apologize for shit they didn’t even do. If you, like me, woke up as Harry Dubois and assumed you are the worlds greatest fuck up you need to examine why. Harry could have been literally anyone but we assumed he/we were a bad person.