#the progression of art to show all the different lighting and the different forms is AMAZINGGGG

[planetdream]

the muse.

characters. kim seungmin. reader.

genre. smut. minors dni. words. 1416

synopsis. shibari in relation to the arts. photography in particular.

fic contents. amateur description of shibari oopsie. descriptions of smut [d/s dynamics. hints of hard dom!seung. cum. aftercare]

💌 idk trying something different stylistically. kinda short but sweet

It’s not usually spoken about, but Seungmin has a special eye for art. He likes exploring the variety of ways to express and entertain specific emotions, ideas, and concepts. 

Of the thousands of ways to create art, photography might be the best fit for Seungmin in comparison to forms such as painting or graphic design, for example. The camera is possibly the single best man-made creation, he thinks. Anyone, professional or not, can click the capture button on the camera, and each picture or photoset can tell a different, specific story. And perhaps what captivates Seungmin the most about photography, and art as a whole, is the story. A single frame that captures one particular, significant moment in time. It can be personal or shared with the world, but Seungmin’s art is private and only for him. 

An influx of ropes made of different fibers and materials, varying in colors and lengths, made their way into the apartment. Seungmin is usually a private person and that extends to his art; typically not allowing you to see until the final project is complete—whether that be a small painting or the final version of a song. Obviously, despite the fact that Seungmin had been eager about this new hobby, he’d been private about it; afraid that you would potentially be put off by his new interest. But with a tab on his laptop mistakenly left open, the ropes began to make more sense; it wasn’t exactly some strange art project he’d been hiding. 

Shibari. An art form that fits Seungmin as a person more than he had anticipated. He’s always had a silent appreciation for the skill behind it, as well as the emotional connection between the rigger and the rigged. Eventually, that appreciation turned into experiential learning, and Seungmin found that he was surprisingly good at the practicing task of tying ropes against himself—and that he would get even better with more practice and experience, hopefully, with the addition of a partner. 

You did not approach Seungmin immediately. Instead, you choose to give it a day or two; attempting to subtly drop hints about your newfound knowledge with no idea of if Seungmin had been picking up on them. If he did, however, he refused to let you know. It took you vocalizing it; asking him if he’d be interested in spicing things up in the bedroom. There had been a gleam of light in his eyes, a special sparkle. He dared to crack a smile, hesitating at first, then succumbing to the feeling of joy. 

That was the start of a new journey in your relationship. You learned more about Shibari, and in succession, more about Seungmin and your relationship. Through entry-level, amateur, Shibari, it is as if you and Seungmin have connected on a deeper level in comparison to other moments of significance in your relationship—like seeing each other cry for the first time, your first road trip together, or, and in vast contrast, when he cums in you and watches his seed drip out, all before pushing it back in with two thick fingers. 

A scene will always start with a deep discussion about what it is that you want out of the next few hours. What is it that the both of you desire? Is it emotional depth? Intensity? Typically, Seunmin allows you the final say on how the scene progresses. Anything you need from him, he will provide. You tend to forfeit your final say, allowing for Seungmin to take the lead and do as he pleases; more than glad to be the pretty star of Seungmin’s show. 

There’s a few layers to it, though, of course. The man that Seungmin is, though, could not continue on without tracking his progress, combining his new-found interest with another that he’s loved for a long time. Seungmin has a natural skill for taking pictures. If you ask him, he would simply explain that he doesn’t think too much about it, he simply lets what he’s capturing move him. Each picture he takes, no matter how blurry or pristine, turns out exactly how it’s meant to be—and that is the beauty of photography according to Seungmin. 

Seungmin is rarely ever such an open book and the same goes for his various picture books. Collections. Several of them are filled with so many important moments in the last few years of his life; only a select few of them, however, are for the eyes of the masses, such as close friends and family. There are also two additional picture books, black and inconspicuous, filled with varying pictures of you. Some pictures are innocent, full of bright smiles and simplicity. Other pictures are very clearly the opposite—often still showing your beautiful bright smile as you’re displayed in various compromising positions with little to no clothing on—all for you and Seungmin’s eyes only. 

Seungmin loves taking pictures of you because it allows for control—himself as the creator, the artist. Seungmin likes to take his subject and twist it, perhaps even defile it—because sometimes that’s where a lot of the beauty and story resides: in mess and destruction. That, however, doesn’t mean that the structurally neat aesthetic of beauty within art doesn’t captivate him as equally as mayhem and wreckage within art—after all, in contrast to his lewd preferences, Seungmin is a very neat person. Destruction, however, is poetic—like the most beautiful song his ears have been blessed to hear. It’s all completely visual, though, and Seungmin feels intensely lucky to capture it. 

The photographs he takes are all of you in lewd, promiscuous positions. Seungmin picks the type of lingerie you wear—the specific fabric and color; darker, deeper colors and lace being of his few favorites to adorn you in, satin being a very close second. He loves choosing the type of material in which he uses to restrain you. Silks are fine because they’re comfortable around your wrists and ankles. Seungmin tends to use ropes when he would like to make intricate designs and also tie your legs and arms. The ropes tend to cause discomfort after a long while, so Seungmin makes sure to be quick, but careful, with everything.  

Seungmin doesn’t have a particular art process. He visualizes a position to place you in, and from there he begins to work on his masterpiece, bending you to his will. It’s all for him, for his interest, and he’s extremely grateful that you allow him to do to you as he pleases in times of creative bouts. 

His favorite photoset is from one of the first few weeks of joint experimentation. That week, he’d been focusing on leg binding ties. Seungmin is a bit of an overachiever, trying more complex ties despite his formerly low skill level. He remained calm, replaying each step in his mind as he tied both of your legs into a H-shaped Futomomo tie. In his favorite picture, your legs are spread open. Cunt bruised and stained with thick, fresh spurts of cum. He captures your full body in the frame—hand shyly covering your face from the camera but he can still see your smile (now, you wear a wide smile in most pictures, not caring to cover any part of your body). Seungmin can’t help but smile, ears growing a light shade of red whenever he looks at the picture. 

The aftercare process typically depends on the nature of the scene. Had Seunmin been particularly harsh on you? Had the ropes or silks been tied too harshly against your skin, leaving indents? Seungmin allows you time to come down from your high, kissing at the indents in your skin from the tightness of the ropes. Lotion and soothing balm firmly being rubbed into your skin. It’s simple—a bath and massage, small words of affection followed by a deep conversation; what you liked, what you didn’t, and what to look forward to next time. 

And for Seungmin, just to feel your skin and warmth, to be close to you is enough aftercare for him. All the love he gives you, you return to him. What matters most to him within setting up a scene is you and your comfortability. If you’re not feeling good—there is no means to create. The photos, the ropes, the sex—all of it allows for you and Seungmin to be intimate with each other on a greater scale; but if you’re not comfortable, those things don’t matter. You are his muse. Seungmin finds himself taking inspiration from you. 

© PLANETDREAM 2024

[sensualnoiree]

astro notes: the sun 🌞

The Sun represents the central principle of vital energy and conscious selfhood in the birth chart. Just as the Sun is the central entity in the solar system, it is also the central entity in the individual psyche reflected in the birth chart. Your Sun sign is considered the core of who you are in astrology. It represents your vitality, your sense of self, and your individuality. The Sun in your birth chart symbolizes your spirit, inspirations, motivations, personality, expressions, life force, and personal identity. The sign the Sun sits within on the day of your birth shows how this life force expresses itself in the world and what traits you are building throughout your life to feel and become more of yourself.

The Sun represents spiritual intelligence. Light is a symbol of intelligence or an awakening, and the Sun, as the supreme source of light in the human world, represents the highest form of intelligence, spiritual intelligence. The Sun symbolizes the Creator in various spiritual traditions, with prophets and messengers acting as mirrors, reflecting the sun's rays. This concept is central to progressive revelation, the belief that the universal God continually sends guidance to humanity through different prophets, all reflecting the same divine light.

In Japan, the Sun is revered as a goddess, the personification of the physical sun and the Ruler of Heaven. The Japanese Sun-goddess, Amaterasu, is considered the founder of Japan, and all emperors are known as "Sons of the Sun." In Shinto, the ancient religion of Japan, nature is worshipped, and the Sun plays a central role in rituals and customs. The Sun is seen as a source of physical stamina, business success, and protection from invasion.

In Christianity, the Sun has been used metaphorically to represent Christ. Christ is often referred to as the "Sun of Righteousness," and his birth was symbolically linked to the sun's creation in early Christian literature. The winter solstice, December 25, was chosen for Christmas because of its association with the invincible sun in pagan celebrations.

In ancient Greek art, the sun symbolized eternity and stability, despite the constant flux of time. The sun god Helios was worshipped in the Seleucid east, with bronze coins depicting a fusion of Helios and Apollo. The Vergina Sun, a rayed solar symbol, represented completeness and totality, symbolizing the 12 gods and the four elements.

In Native American traditions, the Sun is revered as a living being, connected to all aspects of nature. Native to the Americas understood themselves to be part of a larger interconnected web of life, where everything is sacred and connected. The Sun is viewed as essential for life, providing warmth, light, and energy to sustain all living beings.

The Sun holds immense significance across various cultures and spiritual traditions. It represents the core of who you are, your vitality, and your sense of self. Spiritually, it symbolizes the highest form of intelligence and the source of all light.

The Sun's symbolism reflects its universal importance as a life-giving force that sustains all living beings. Whether as a celestial body in astrology, a goddess in Japanese mythology, a metaphor for Christ in Christianity, or a symbol of stability in ancient Greek art, the Sun's significance transcends cultural boundaries, reminding us of our interconnectedness with the cosmos and the natural world.

follow for more astro insights like this and support me over on instagram @sensualnoire or yt @quenysefields

[marzmeltdown]

Show Me Your God

⌦ Pairing: Demon!Hyunjin x FEM!Reader ⌦ Genre(s): smut ⌦ Warning(s): pet names (hyunjin: ,, reader: angel,, princess,, darling,, ),, religious themes(??),, throat fucking,, rough sex,, hair pulling,, dacryphilia,, dirty talk,, praise,, minor fluff,, oral (m + f receiving),, edging,, spanking,, swearing,, overstimulation,, unprotected sex (be smart),, creamepie,, slight pinning,, choking,, fingering,, ⌦ Word count: 2.18k ⌦ Summary: You were used to being on your knees, though in the biblical sense, sighting your nightly prayers and what not. Recently, however, your knees have been on the floor for a completely different, sinful reason. ⌦ A/N: Listening to Werewolf by Motionless in White truly was a great song to write this fic to. um,, this was written partly for my own delusions if I'm being 100% honest. If there's anything you feel I should improve on in the future, don't hesitate to let me know! You can find progress updates on this story and everything else I write in my pinned post every Wednesday.:)

⌦ marz’s tag list ⌦ marz’s req form

You were used to being on your knees, though in the biblical sense, sighting your nightly prayers and what not.

It all started one night on your way home from your church's weekly nightly sermon. Though night sermons were typically held for those who could not make it to regular church services or for those who needed a warm place to stay for a few hours to combat the cold winters that swept through town, you always showed up.

He seemed to take pleasure in testing your faith each night since then; it was as if the devil himself sent the man to come and taint your once pure mind. He reached places you never knew were possible and put you in positions you were sure you would have never been able to do yourself.

But tonight. Tonight was different.

You couldn't shake the feeling that he had something sinister going on in that devilish mind of his. He was rough, messy, and held a cocky grin each time that cross necklace that never left your neck glistened in the light.

He took full pleasure in forcing gags from your throat with just his cock alone; the way you looked beneath him was truly a work of art. His hand gripped your hair at the root as his hips thrust into your face with such force that you were sure you'd have bruises around your mouth by the morning.

"You look so good like this, angel; on your knees for me with my cock down your throat," Hyunjin said, wrapping your hair around his hand in attempts to pull you closer to him. You whimpered in response to his praise, and the vibrations from your whimper shot up the demon's spine, causing his head to lull back in pleasure.

Your throat felt raw from how long his cock was being shoved down your throat. The only sounds coming from your mouth were the lewd sounds of your spit being churned in your mouth, and the gags being forced out of you with each harsh thrust sounded like music to Hyunjin's ears. You could feel the stickiness of your saliva mixed with tears running down your body.

His hips began to stutter as his orgasm pushed closer, and the whimpers that started to fall from his mouth went straight to your core, causing you to rub your thighs together. The friction you created with your thighs did little to appease your neglected cunt.

He thrust one, two, three more times. On the third thrust, hold your head still at the base, your nose brushing up against his pelvic bone. The two of you maintained eye contact as his cock twitched against your tongue and his cum shot down your throat, forcing you to swallow every drop.

He held your head in place for a few more seconds, catching his breath, before he let you pull away. He looked spent, and your jaw was on fire, but you knew that you were just getting started with your eventful night.

Your head fell forward as you took in as many deep breaths as you could. Hyunjin reached down to take hold of your hair once more, pulling your head up so you two were now face-to-face. "Don't tap out on me now, princess; we're just getting started," he said.

"I know, I just need a second to breathe," you replied, your voice hoarse from the harsh fucking it just received a moment ago. He kneeled down, placing a small kiss on your forehead.

Despite being rough in every sense of the word, he always made sure you were okay. He wouldn't continue until you gave him the okay to do so. The small gestures of kindness were short, almost nonexistent, but every time they do arise, you can't help but feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

He sat on the floor next to you, placing soft kisses on your head and stroking your hair soothingly. It didn't take long for you to recover; you just needed to gather your breath anyway—nothing too drastic.

You were quickly bent over the edge of the bed, Hyunjin's face buried deep into your cunt as soon as you gave the okay. The way his tongue expertly ran through your folds, teased your hole with his tongue, and sucked at your clit had you seeing stars.

He had one of your legs propped up on the bed to give him more room, and your moans grew louder with each poke and prod of his tongue throughout your pussy. A wanton moan leaving your lips once Hyunjin's fingers slipped inside your heat. He pumped his fingers in and out of your hole, curling his fingers up to hit that sweet spot inside your walls that had your head spinning.

"F-Fuck!" You whined, gripping at the sheets to ground yourself from the intense pleasure you were receiving from his mouth and fingers alone. Your walls clenched around his fingers, pulling a groan from Hyunjin at the feeling of your tight walls sucking his fingers further inside of you.

"Such a dirty mouth for such a pretty girl; you'll have to beg for forgiveness in confession," Hyunjin teased. The way he spoke about how dirty his precious church mouse was pushed you closer to the edge.

"Hyu- dear God! I'm close!" You cried, and Hyunjin chuckled softly as he pulled away. The immediate loss of attention to your cunt caused you to whine and look back at the demon who took your pleas to the Lord above while he was pleasing you as an ego boost.

He stood, lining himself up with your heat, though he didn't thrust in. Instead, he teased your hole with the tip of his cock, forcing more whines to fall from your saliva-soaked lips.

"Use your words, princess," he simply said; he spoke as if the sight of you writhing beneath him didn't have him leaking. You were growing impatient with his teasing, and your hips pushed back against his cock before you had time to think about it.

That action rewarded you with two reactions from your lover, one being a soft groan and the other landed a harsh smack against your ass. You yelped at the punishment, jumping forward in shock as your brain registered the stinging pain you had just received from Hyunjin's spanking.

"Please, Hyunjin.." You whined, looking over your shoulder to make eye contact with the man behind you. He resumed teasing your cunt, watching as you bit your lip to suppress a whine from escaping your lips.

"Please what, darling?" He asked, letting the tip of his cock slide into your cunt.

"Fuck me, please, Hyunjin," you begged.

He thrust his hips into you in one full motion, barely giving you time to adjust. The tear of his rough entry was more pleasurable than waiting for your okay. You moaned loudly as he bottomed out. Hyunjin had one hand against your neck, pressing your head into the bed, while the other held onto your hip to keep you from squirming.

His thrusts were fast and sharp, hitting your cervix with every thrust while simultaneously digging his nails into your neck. His eyes were focused on how his cock disappeared so quickly and then reappeared just as quickly. You were sure your walls were somehow molded to fit his cock perfectly—not that it was physically possible, of course.

You were on cloud nine, almost missing how he pulled you up by the hair so your back was flush with his chest. The hand that was holding your hip previously was now rubbing harsh circles into your clit, with his other hand gripping your neck. You were so cock drunk that your head lulled back and rested itself on his shoulder as your hands found themselves tangled in his hair. You bit your lip in an attempt to lessen the volume of your screams, but that was only presented with a harsh pinch to your nipple.

You let out a yelp of both pain and pleasure, your hands tugging so ruthlessly on his hair that his head was pulled back with it.

"Let me hear you, precious. Let God hear you," he growled into your ear. The snapping of his hips only became tougher the longer he fucked himself into you.

"Feels so good.. Feels so-…" You cried out, tears falling from your eyes as you rambled on about how good his dick felt inside you, how big and thick his cock was, and all the lewd descriptors that would make your local nunnery faint.

The cord in your stomach began to twist and turn again, faster this time from Hyunjin's relentless beatings to your pussy and his fingers harsh figure eights against your clit. You weren't sure where his obsession with bringing the Lord into your sexual escapades came from, but you weren't objecting at all for reasons you couldn't quite pinpoint.

"H-Hyunjin! Im gonna-" You sobbed, too far gone to even finish the sentence, but Hyunjin knew what you were trying to tell him. He could feel it in the way your walls were sucking him in, holding his cock captive inside the warm and wet paradise that was your pussy.

"Go ahead, princess," he whispered into your ear. That was all you needed to hear before the dam finally broke. Hyunjin's hand did not once falter from abusing your cunt as your cum soaked his hand, your legs, and the mattress beneath you.

The moan you let out when you squirted all over your lover's hand could only be compared to an animal howling at the moon. The demon's hand did not stop attacking that bundle of nerves that seemed so hard yet so easy for the male species to find. The tears streaming from your face thickened as overstimulation began to set in. Hyunjin held you up by your throat when your legs began to shake; the growling in your ear almost overpowered the pain you were slowly beginning to feel.

"Hyunjin, please!" You sobbed once more. Despite your nerves being on fire, you couldn't help but want him to continue.

"My angel did so well for me; do you think you can do it again?" He asked, and instinctively, you nodded. Hyunjin could make you squirt 5–6 times before he had to cum a second time, and the way he beat your pussy felt like he was angry at times. And you'd be lying to say you didn't enjoy it.

"C-Can we cum together?" You managed to ask through your sobs of pleasure, and he chuckled softly at the request. He could feel the cord in his own stomach twisting and turning; the sight of you glistening with your own juices and still having the energy to continue turned him on more than any piece of lingerie could.

"Of course, princess," he said. He moved the hand that was around your throat to force his middle and ring fingers into your mouth as his other hand rubbed circles into your clit until you were cumming down your leg again.

You let out a moan that had to have come from the bottom of your chest with how powerful it was. Watching as your body writhed with pleasure as he fucked you through your orgasm was enough to send him over the edge a second time.

It started with a few twitches of his cock before he was filling you with what felt like more cum than what he had forced you to swallow earlier in the night. You whimpered when his hand left your clit to aid the hand around your chin in holding you up, as your legs were effectively spent from the harsh beating your pussy had just endured.

"You did so well for me, baby girl, so well." He said this as he thrust his cum back inside of you whenever it threatened to leave your hole alongside your arousal and run down his balls. He pulled his fingers from your mouth as he kissed your sweat-soaked temple.

"Thank you, Hyunjin," you said; your voice was long gone by this point.

"Look at this mess you made," he said, still thrusting into your cunt shallowly, more so to make sure every drop of his cum stays inside your cunt rather than arousing you again. You blushed as you looked at the soaked spot on the bed.

"Can we lie like this for a little while? I don't want you to pull out yet." You asked, and he only shook his head as he pulled out and gently laid you on the bed.

"After I clean you up, princess, I don't want you to get sick from cockwarming right after sex," he said as he kissed your forehead.

You whined in protest but accepted it, and you liked it when he was soft after the fact. Emotionally, not physically, of course. He always cleaned you up with a warm towel, clothed you, changed your sheets, gave you water, and then laid in bed with you until you fell asleep.

[mrsdovesstuff]

Hello, here I upload a short speed paint of about 30 seconds or so.

They have asked me how I draw, well here it is.

The first thing of all is to start with a sketch, the good thing about painting digitally is that you can move, change and delete without destroying your canvas, so you can make mistakes whatever you want. In this drawing of Ronal I have used a photo of Kate Winslet to draw his mouth (in my opinion one of the most complicated things, taking into account that she is smiling and the muscles of the face are complex), but usually I recommend starting with simpler forms.

Then I do a simplified study of lights and shadows, that is, a light gray will be the light and a slightly darker gray will be the shadow, making a differentiation of planes in a simpler way, then different grays can be added, lighter or darker.

This study of light and shadows must be taken as if it were creating something similar to 3D or a sculpture (I recommend doing studies of sculptures, many lights are reflected on the surface or certain shadows are projected differently)

Then, playing with the blending modes (color and multiply) I add what I think will be my base color, and then I edit this base until I get the desired color.

While I do all this I usually rotate my canvas (like the masters did with mirrors, but being digital it is much easier) to correct errors.

Finally you have to add skin texture with a noise brush, you can do it with special brushes (you add it in multiply mode, but never combine this layer with the layer where you have your drawing) and continue adding details, some highlights here, a light reflects there...

Since I haven't finished it yet, I don't have anything else to show, but adding more shadows to give a sense of depth would be very appropriate.

I'm not an expert, if my teachers saw me leaving the background for last they would kill me hahaha, and many other things that I'm sure I do terribly, but if you think I paint well or something and you feel frustrated because you compare your work with that of others, let me tell you that it's all a matter of practicing and practicing until your hands hurt hahahaha

I have been in an art school since I was 18 (I am now 23) without stopping until I burned out, there are great people, too many xD, but art should be your tool for progress and not a way to validate yourself as a person, simply a hobby, a way of expressing feelings for something or someone, and art has many forms, styles and colors

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[balioc]

Holiday Engineering: Lamptide

OK, let's put my money where my mouth is.

Lamptide is the invented-from-scratch holiday that I actually celebrate. It has its roots in a roleplaying game that I ran some years ago with @cloakofshadow and @mirror-lock, but after the game finished, I decided that I wanted to import a modified version of the festival into real life.

And it's worked very well! Or so I posit. We've had well-attended Lamptide celebrations for a couple of years running, and not only do people show up and enjoy themselves, there's a distinctive holiday spirit. The weird rites and activities do in fact happen. Which is possibly just because my friends are good sports, but...I think we're reaching the point where some version of Lamptide might well take place without me pushing it along.

As a holiday-engineering project, it's a work-in-progress. I am still tinkering with the observances, and the pieces definitely aren't yet all in place. I don't personally have the expertise to create some of the holiday stuff I'd want to create. Moreover, the population that celebrates Lamptide is still very small, and in some ways homogeneous -- mostly childless urban professional-types -- so the holiday doesn't have the context that it would need to manifest in all the forms that I imagine for it.

But I'm proud of it. And, at the least, it provides an example of what it looks like for a holiday to be built from the ground up.

Vibe. This is where I started. (Both in the RPG and in real life, actually.) In the RPG, Lamptide is an intercalary day, and like many intercalary festivals it's a weird and occult time. In real life, of course, I do not control the calendar. But even so, Lamptide is meant to have that same feel, manifesting as a carnival of spooks and revelry. To some extent, it's meant to serve as a Halloween-like that works better for me than actual Halloween does.

And much like Halloween, in theory, its core rituals can be practiced in three different "modes" depending on context. For families with kids, it's a cutesy holiday of flamboyant fun. For older kids and adolescents, it's a holiday of mischief and boundary-pushing (in a way that is, I hope, less obnoxious than the adolescent version of Halloween). For independent adults, it can be contemplative and/or literary and/or Spicy and Sexy, to taste.

Theme. In a highflown theoretical sense: Lamptide is the festival of narrative conquering material reality, of ideas and illusions becoming more-real-than-real. It is the day when you leave the sunlit world behind and walk back into Plato's cave, because our art allows us to create such beautiful shadows on the walls.

(The "lamp" of Lamptide is, notionally, the lamp whose light reveals what-is-not.)

In a more-everyday sense: Lamptide is a festival of magic.

Timing. Lamptide is observed on the spring equinox. There are a few reasons for this, some of them rooted in stuff from the RPG, but the big one is that it's almost halfway around the calendar from Halloween. I really don't want to compete with Halloween, to the extent that I can avoid it; I would lose that competition very hard. And there are enough obvious points of similarity that it's a real danger.

Early spring is also a good time for holidays generally, in the contemporary US. There's relatively little going on then, and people feel kind of festive because the worst of winter is over.

Mythology. The personification of the holiday is Father Lantern, an ogre-like character who carries a lamp. In the (notional) tales, he shines his lamp on you, and in its light you see an otherworldly version of yourself -- a creature that you could be, if you left ordinary reality behind. More prosaically, if he shows up at your doorstep and you offer him candy, he will tell you stories (or gift you with media).

Father Lantern is mostly a funny and approachable figure. He is long-winded and pretentious, in love with the sound of his own voice. But there is meant to be an edge of menace to him; he is an ogre, which means that there's always the danger that he'll just eat you, especially if you're a child. (This is not a behavior-enforcement thing -- he's not Krampus, and Lamptide is not that kind of holiday. Father Lantern's whims are inscrutable.)

I haven't yet experimented with having someone play Father Lantern, in the way that people play Santa Claus, but it's an obvious possibility.

Decorations. You put lamps and lanterns everywhere. If you can keep your celebration space lit entirely by lantern-light, that is to be commended. Silhouettes and shadow-plays are very much in the holiday spirit.

Holiday attire. Masks -- masquerade-style masks, the kind that allow people to eat and talk comfortably -- are very strongly encouraged. (When I throw Lamptide parties, this is the only thing about which I actually nudge people.) In terms of creating distinctive atmosphere, this fires on all cylinders. A space full of masked people feels otherworldly and ritualized and, well, magic. And the symbolism is super on-the-nose.

Fancy and flamboyant clothes are also encouraged.

Ritual interactions. The Lamptide tradition is to greet people with curses and maledictions. This is done in the spirit of theater superstition; it is a topsy-turvy intercalary carnival, after all. "Die in a fire" is the standard form of cheery holiday well-wishing, although you're encouraged to be creative if you're so inclined.

(Does this mostly give little kids an excuse to be gleeful about saying stuff they'd normally never be allowed to say? Maybe.)

Activities. There are two big ones.

Divination. Lamptide is a time for fortune-telling. Tarot cards are my go-to, and offering Tarot readings at Lamptide parties has proven to be a big hit, but any form of divination at all -- ranging from Actual Fucking Haruspexy to "let's ask ChatGPT about our future husbands" -- is praiseworthy. When my son was less than a year old, I had him crawl around the floor and choose Symbolically Portentous Objects like he was the infant Dalai Lama or something, and it was great.

Bribery, especially candy bribery. One of the core dynamics of a Lamptide celebration is that you walk in carrying candy, or other things that you're happy to give away, and you offer your prizes to people in exchange for them doing stuff that you want them to do. For families with little kids, this is a chance for the parents to reward their children for showing off cool skills / desired behaviors in a concrete ritual framework, and for the children to get their parents to do silly stuff. For teens, it's a structure for something that's essentially Truth or Dare with more flexibility. The applications for Spicy Sexy grownup parties are left as an exercise for the reader.

(I have thoughts about expanding the candy bribery thing into a practice of Reverse Wassailing / Trick-or-Treating, essentially, where you walk around town offering strangers candy in exchange for singing with you or otherwise doing cute harmless stuff. I haven't yet worked out exactly the right feel, though. And, well, things being how they are, you need a pretty thick social skin to be willing to offer strangers candy without a widely-accepted social framework.)

Undeveloped aspects of the holiday, which I hope to flesh out in future years:

Traditional food. We don't really have anything other than candy, right now, and it's an obvious lacuna. Lamptide isn't really a sit-down-for-a-nice-dinner kind of holiday...although I guess it could be...but I suspect it would be useful to come up with some kind of Classic Lamptide Hors d'Ouevre or Classic Lamptide Crudité or something else appropriate for a party where people are milling around doing different things. (Not a dessert, I don't want to compete with the candy.) Sadly, I have no culinary genius, so I'm going to have to outsource for this one.

Music. @cloakofshadow has written some alternate lyrics for Christmas carols, but a thriving holiday should really have its own songs with their own distinctive melodies. Which means that I should probably find a competent composer to help me out.

Gifts. It would be very In-Theme for Lamptide to be the holiday when you give people the books / movies / video games / etc. that you want them to consume for your sake. I haven't yet done anything with that idea, but I am definitely considering it strongly.

[ticklish-n-stuff]

Merry Christmas!

This fic is a present for the love of my life @azureyemberzz

I know you already got your actual presents early, so I thought I'd save mine for the actual day lol

This is an x reader fic, though I made the reader have more of Azurey's personality, but I don't think there's any physical descriptions of the reader.

This fic is a bit different from my usual ones, so I apologize if it's not as great, but it was still made with love dies of cringe

Rambling aside, I hope you enjoy. I had fun writing this💖

______________________________________________________________

Albedo x reader (romantic)

Lees: Albedo & reader

Lers: Albedo & reader

Warnings: Tickles! Author is a lesbian LMAO

______________________________________________________________

December 1st…

The moment the calendar changed from november to december, you knew that it was Christmas time. One could never start too early on their Christmas traditions. Even Albedo had made the necessary adjustments to make this month as special as possible.

It seemed natural that the first thing you both did was pick up a Christmas tree. You had always leaned towards the more traditional ones, so now a beautifully green tree that reached the ceiling sat in the living room, waiting to be decorated…

December 5th…

Albedo thought it could be a fun idea to hand make some of the ornaments. With two artists living under the same roof, it made sense, so you both got to work.

You two made all kinds of designs that showed off each of your personalities. There was a simple blue one with gold sparkles, a crystal-like white one, another one had a cheesy science pun written on it that had the both of you snorting like idiots, it was great.

Once all the designs were done, Albedo used his magic on the drawings to bring them to life, materializing them right before your eyes. This wasn’t the first time you had witnessed Albedo bring one of his drawings to life, yet it always mesmerized you each and every time. And knowing that he had brought to life some of your original designs to be hung up made it feel all the more special. It was like his way of showing off your art skills, and how proud he was of you.

December 9th…

Now that all the necessary decorations had been acquired, it was time to give the tree a makeover, starting off with the lights.

A few boxes of those white lights with the “crayon” shape sat there as you both started the pesky progress of untangling them. You couldn’t help the groan of annoyance that escaped you, itching to get to the fun part.

“Patience, dear” Albedo would tell you, stopping momentarily to give your nose a teasing boop, causing a playful pout to form on your lips and a faint blush to rise up your ears.

Your attention then got captured by Albedo’s hands, watching the way he’d untangle each light strand, making it seem flawless and graceful, as he usually showed with any task. You couldn’t help but wonder how those fingers would feel against your skin- No! Stop that, now isn’t the time for such fantasies.

Of course, Albedo wasn’t called a genius for nothing. He already felt the way your gaze bore towards his hands. A faint smirk grazed his lips when you tried focusing back on the task at hand, thinking you had been so slick. ‘Cute…’ he thought to himself. In a moment of playfulness, he reached out and sneakily poked you on the side. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the way your body jolted in surprise, the adorable squeak that escaped you provoked him further into destroying you right there and then. So that’s what he did.

You knew you were screwed when you noticed the mischievous gaze of your lover, trying to scramble away, but it was too late. In just a few moments, you had been reduced to a pile of laughter against his arms. His fingers playing the sides of your torso like an instrument.

“W-wahahait! The liHIHIghts!” You tried to reason with him, not like it would work, you already knew that, yet it added to the excitement of the moment.

“They can wait. Besides, your laughter shines the brightest~”

You wanted to groan right there and then over how unfairly sweet he was being, though that only just made him double down his efforts. Watching with a pleased expression as you shrieked your head off, the lights long forgotten by now.

Oh well… there’s always next time.

December 10th…

After yesterday’s ‘lil detour, you both finally managed to put the lights on the tree. The bulbs twinkled like little stars in the vertical pattern they had been put on.

Now it was time for the rest of the decor. Garlands as fuzzy as a cat’s tail would spiral down the tree (not before you got tangled between them somehow, causing Albedo to tease you some more), all the homemade ornaments were on display, plus some extra delicate glass ones towards the bottom of the tree from years prior.

The tree was finally coming together, it was just missing the final touch.

You sat on top of Albedo’s shoulders, holding the delicate star topper on your hands. It had a few cracks from accidentally being shattered a few Christmases ago, but Albedo being the sweetheart he was, helped you put it back together. It was too precious to throw away.

Two short people made one tall person, at least that was your logic. So with the added height, you managed to reach the top of the tree, carefully placing the star in its rightful place.

You climbed off of Albedo’s shoulders, the both of you admiring all the hard work that had been poured into that tree. Christmas was already shaping up well.

December 14th…

As the month progressed, the shared home started to become nicely cluttered with more festive decor. You and Albedo were currently making some paper snowflakes, a silly yet fun tradition you had grown attached to.

You couldn’t help but lightly chuckle at how concentrated Albedo was on the task, crafting each paper snowflake perfectly perfect. Whereas yours looked a bit messy in comparison, but that was all part of the fun.

Speaking of fun… you were suddenly feeling mischievous, wanting to get a bit of revenge after the lighting incident. You snuck up behind your boyfriend who was blissfully unaware, completely caught up in his own little world. A playful grin overtook your lips as you dug into his ribcage.

“gYAh?! Whahat are you- You’re messing uhup my progrehehess!” The blonde cackled helplessly against your fingers, his brain losing any sense of coordination to fight back and simply opting to curl up. His paper snowflake, now mismatched, long forgotten…

December 19th…

As much as you loved Christmas, it could also be an overwhelming time of year, so today you and Albedo decided to have a ‘lil art date, simply drawing portraits of each other.

The tree and all the decorations gave the place a warm and cozy feel, despite how cold it’d get outside.

You had grown so relaxed in the simple activity that you ended up falling asleep. Albedo smiled at the sight, getting up to put both drawings out of harm's way. He didn’t have the heart to wake you up, knowing how… questionable your sleep schedule could get at times, not like he was one to talk. He settled down next to you, allowing your sleepy self to cling onto him for warmth.

December 24th…

Usually, Christmas eve was the time everyone went all out with parties and fancy dinners, but when two introverts live together, Christmas eve is spent a lot more casually, yet still just as meaningful.

The lights were dimly lit, which accentuated the Christmas tree. You and Albedo were snuggled against each other on the couch watching The Polar Express, a holiday classic. A big blanket was draped over you two, and you each had a cup of hot cocoa for extra warmth and immersion.

It was no secret that Albedo could be a bit of a pro in the kitchen, but his hot chocolate skills were out of this world. Seriously, what is his secret?! You could drink this stuff all day anyday.

More beloved Christmas films would continue to play in the background throughout the night, eventually the both of you passing out on the couch all cuddled up together.

December 25th…

By the time you had come to your senses, it was already daylight. That’s right, it was finally Christmas.

You looked to your side, pouting a bit over the missing alchemist. Said blonde emerged into the room shortly after, holding a present in his hands.

“I know we said no gifts, but I thought this felt appropriate” He was right, neither of you were big on materialistic possessions, gifts never needing to be included for the holiday to be special, but Albedo was a true gentleman, of course he’d still show up with something.

You carefully took the gift from his hands, unwrapping it delicately. A smile instantly spread across your face at the sight. Albedo had taken it upon himself to frame the two portraits you each drew the other day. Simple yet thoughtful. You set it aside, springing to your feet to give him a hug, practically twirling him around, much to the alchemist’s embarrassment.

“That was so thoughtful, ‘Bedo. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!~” You placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek, grinning when the blonde’s pale skin started to grow pink.

“No need to thank me… Now, go get ready quickly, the snow is waiting for us”

You nodded like an eager puppy, running off to dress yourself properly for the harsh weather. You practically dashed out the door, with an alchemist in hand, heading over to the snowy scenery.

Christmas is a special time of year that can be celebrated in all sorts of ways, yet you wouldn’t trade any of this away. It was perfect, this was perfect. Another joyful Christmas to remember for years to come.

I love you, Azurey. Merry Christmas - S🌸

______________________________________________________________

[eklaize]

Greetings!

Your artworks positively brighten my day. Is it possible to post a process video of your art? I'm learning how to do digital art and your work is a huge inspiration for me.

Thank you!

I won't be able to post a video, because i'm not drawing a painting in one go, but instead work on it over several weeks and switch between paintings, because I get bored easily lol.

I basically started 5 images at the same time after you all gave me suggestions this weekend.

But i'm honestly not doing anything different than all the people that already show their progress on insta and youtube. This video by Jackie Droujko is basically the process I go through as well

But here is an example for the bathscene. I start with an idea that I sketch( the different colors are to not get confused which bodyparts go where between the two characters), then I think about light situations in black and white to see how the light would get me the feeling that I want to achieve. In that case I thought Laurent's face in shadow would work better with his anger.

Usually I go right to my color sketch after that, but I felt like Damen was not working yet (the proportions were off), so I did a cleaner sketch to figure that out.

Then color time! I have no color theory ideas I just paint and see what works. I used a "hard color"/"vivid light" blending mode for the light (bluish color) here and "multiply" (beige) for the shadow and "screen" for the orangy glow on the edge. It really helps to experiment with those to see what works for your image.

Orenjikun on insta has a few little videos on how the photoshop blending modes work, if you are interested.

And then it's just rendering the forms until you are happy with the detail. But most of the work is done in those phases above =figuring out the base that you'll work with during rendering

[youremyheaven]

As a woman, am I not capable of being a genius? I read women are the Moon, thus vessels for men and have no light of their own. Women need to devote to a man who is the Sun and shine his light. That men as Solar are the only ones capable of being originators of ideas or progress or Truth (as they say) and thats how its intended to be, the woman/women since the sun cannot be restricted to one woman unless he desires to be should accept. Is it true or misogyny disguised as spirituality?

"Women are said to be the highest of vessels both physically and spiritually. We are the Moon which receives the light from the Sun and consequently reflects his light, his genius, all that he is. The Moon doesn’t shine on her own, but only in his light. His light is all over her body. She is the vessel that receives and is filled, thereafter “cooks” and gives birth to his energy, both in a physically literal way as a child or in an energetic sense, like a woman automatically subconsciously becomes the student of her chosen consort." - Taralina Nau (The Importance of Maintaining Female Sexual Purity on Medium)

I read the whole article (what you put in quotes) and I don't find it particularly misogynistic. I think men and women have a different relationship with sex. Women are by nature more inwardly drawn and emotional.

Men can bang 200 faceless women and maybe they'll feel disgusted afterwards but they'll more or less be okay. It's just not in their nature to absorb as such??

But a woman can't walk away from such an experience without being brutally affected by it.

But that said what you mentioned in the first part of your question is interesting.

A lot of the "divine feminine" content online reeks of misogyny and this includes Claire Nakti

But I did not interpret the specific Moon- Sun metaphor to mean that women can't be brilliant.

Moon has no light and women are inherently Lunar but there is strength and power in being receptive and reflecting light. The Sun can shine it's light but that's about it. The Moon receives AND reflects it. Imagine thinking that's not brilliant???

If you're entirely in darkness and all other stars around you are also dark, do you know how incredible you have to be to absorb and reflect light??? It's not a "lack", it's a quality and strength that's part of the Moon's unique nature. It does not create but reflects.

This is why the planet of creativity, Venus, is Yin. Because creation does not take place in "lack" or "absence". You can't make something out of nothing. In order to make anything, you have to draw from your influences.

Same goes for Moon. Light can't be created out of nothing. Only the Sun can do it. Does it make all other planets stupid??? Every planet has its own qualities 😩

The biological nature of a woman is to receive, alchemize and create.

We only need a sperm to make a whole ass baby inside us. Is that not mind blowing??? A human being with personality, likes, dislikes, talents etc is made within us???

But we do need that sperm. We can do 95% by ourselves but the other 5% we need from a man.

And that's fine??? It's completely alright?? It does not show weakness or inability?? Like am I also supposed to create the sperm on my own?? Lmao??

We were not put on this earth to be completely independent. Life would be disharmonious that way.

Now you may ask, what about men?

Men are Solar. The Sun creates its own light, it shines by itself. But it's life lacks purpose all alone.

Men don't do anything within their bodies, they're not wired that way. They don't have an interior life. That DOES NOT MEAN they're self sufficient or completely independent. They're inherently missing the feminine principle, the way the woman misses the sperm (the masculine principle lmao)

They seek it in art, poetry, beauty, gambling, porn, music, cinema, all forms of creativity because that's the Yin spirit. Even if a man avoids women and dies a virgin, he's still seeking the Yin in other ways. Why are women the biggest distraction for a man??? Because his presumed sufficiency feels hollow and empty and he needs to discharge himself energetically onto someone else.

Why are there so many films about rich, handsome, successful men who live lonely lives??? Because without the Yin, sufficiency feels limiting. Yin energy is innately spiritual and awakens them to both fun, pleasure etc but also subconsciously connects them to spirit and makes them feel alive. A man who has never been in love vs one who has are two different breeds.

[switch]

it’s that time of the year again, it’s

Switch’s List of Halloween Games

games on this list are all 10+ years old, mostly on the more obscure or niche side, and if they’re not outright horror games they have a tone or theme appropriate for the season. because of their age, many have not been re-released, but if you know what you're doing that won't stop you. obligatory disclaimer to check content warnings for all of these games if interested. screenshots distributed randomly as i didn't want this post to be any longer than it already is.

The Residents' Bad Day on the Midway (1995)

a rather free-form black comedy point-and-click game set in a creepy carnival. you can freely swap between any characters that show up onscreen, read their stream of consciousness, and get different endings (or die) with each of them. this game makes full use of the setting, storytelling format, and uniquely repulsive art style established in The Residents' Freak Show, but now with more game to actually play, including minor puzzle-solving, even if a lot of it is optional. the game runs on a relatively short timer, and is intended for multiple quick replays.

The Dark Eye (1995)

The Dark Eye comes from our old friends at Inscape (who also made Bad Day up there and the infamous Drowned God), and is best known for using grotesque-looking stop-motion clay figures for its cutscenes. it’s a point-and-click adventure game that plays through multiple nightmarish Edgar Allan Poe stories across a single framing plot. the game can be a bit obtuse mechanically to play, but is another strong pick if you want a more artistic, psychological, less cheesy tone (and paint thinner that destroys your bones) than some of these other games.

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream (1995)

one of the best point-and-click adventure games out there from a narrative and character standpoint, and a fantastic adaptation and expansion of the original story. the psychodrama device is something i’m a big fan of and they make full use of it. actual mechanics or methods of getting certain endings can be rather obtuse, but if you're familiar with this genre it’s par for the course, and it's such a worthwhile and cathartic experience. very strong voice acting performances all around in a genre that tends to be associated with the opposite of that. either way, I consider this one a must-play game in the genre whether you've already read the original short story or not.

GARAGE: Bad Dream Adventure (1999/2021)

a Japanese point-and-click psychological horror adventure game with a storied history, formerly widely inaccessible until 2014. GARAGE has been re-released in English on modern platforms by its original developer, something i'm very grateful for, and with new endings. GARAGE has an art style like nothing else I've ever seen before or since, with 90's 3D graphics depicting claustrophobic industrial spaces and alien-looking biomechanical characters that can be deeply uncomfortable to even look at, while the game challenges you to look past that surface. it also features some resource management and a fishing minigame! fascinating, genuine, hard to swallow, and a very strong recommendation.

Sanitarium (1998)

another very strong entry in the point-and-click adventure game genre, and it’s an isometric one this time. its puzzle design in particular is well-regarded for the genre, and its absence of any kind of game-over/softlock system unlike its more punishing genre cousins, as it really does want you to experience its whole narrative (although, it can be prone to crashing or breaking progression. save often). each level is highly and uniquely themed, though the tone is consistently more surreal than horror. the overarching story is much more cohesive and heartfelt than the initial apparent premise and setting might make you suspect.

CarnEvil (1998)

a classic, darkly comedic on-rails Arcade light gun shooter. CarnEvil is just a blast to play, set in a variety of attractions in a demonic undead carnival, with responsive gun controls, an adaptive goring system, and highly memorable enemy variety and scripted set-pieces all absolutely full of personality, all backed by fantastic sound design. power ups are dubiously balanced and the difficulty, while not blatantly unfair, becomes roughly what you’d expect for a game made to eat quarters, but you’d be playing this on an emulator, so that’s only a factor for self-imposed challenges. comes built-in with a menu to disable or enable things like various gore settings or tone down the appearance of certain enemies to your preference level. whether you’ve played a lot of arcade shooters or want to give the genre a shot, you can’t go wrong with CarnEvil. never a dull moment in this game.

Illbleed (2001)

a campy, unconventional, third-person survival horror Dreamcast entry that's gained somewhat of a cult following, you may primarily know it as "that game with the demonic sonic the hedgehog boss in it." another game set in an evil theme park, with attractions based on horror movies, but all of which feature fun and surprising spins on their premises and mechanical shakeups suited to each level. the mall and woodpuppets are my personal favorites. multiple playable characters with their own strengths and weaknesses, and NG+. the game can have a bit of a steep learning curve and somewhat obtuse mechanics, and you'll certainly want to read a guidebook (lest you commit the mistake every youtuber who plays this game ever makes and miss the horror monitor entirely), but it's quite generous with providing funds to access items and upgrades once you're past that. the unique, meticulous gameplay style of managing your stats and sweeping for traps inbetween high-risk combat encounters has been both praised and criticized.

Harvester (1996)

it's Harvester. you might have heard of it. a shocking, gory, cheesy black comedy horror point-and-click adventure game. the game infamously utterly falls apart in both mechanically and narratively its final third, but there really just is nothing else out there like the first two-thirds of Harvester, and i think that alone makes it worth playing at least once if you have the stomach for it. i’m tempted to call it a classic, but i’m still not fully sure how to regard this game. Harvester is Harvester.

Shivers (1995)

a Myst-like that surpasses all other Myst-likes, if you ask me. Shivers added just enough QoL improvements and just enough tension to the formula to be enjoyable by both people who normally like Myst games and people who might normally not. features an auto-memory for puzzle hints and the possibility of death without ever being unfair. limited item management is the main thing still applying here. light use of FMV. the varied museum settings, rich use of colors and shadows, strong soundscapes, audio cues, and fun voice performance by the recurring narrator really makes the whole thing memorable. spooky in a fun way.

The 7th Guest (1993)

Myst's CD ROM drive selling cousin, you probably won't get more pure Halloween-y than with this game's theming, haunted mansion setting, and use of FMV. the game can be a bit incoherent at times, and it's a point-and-click adventure puzzle game with heavy emphasis on its relatively challenging puzzles, which is either a good or bad thing depending on what you want. features a very fun soundtrack and fun story.

(as an aside, i've also heard the VR remake is good. haven't played it myself, but its use of FMV actors in VR is certainly praise-worthy when Myst ended up dropping that particular ball.)

Phantasmagoria (1995)

while i've never personally been a fan of this one, Phantasmagoria was objectively a landmark entry in point-and-click adventure games, in horror games, in FMV games, and in Sierra On-Line's/Roberta Williams' whole catalog. in terms of its genre, it's actually on the approachable end in terms of puzzle difficulty! it's known for its extremely over-the-top gore and violence, but it takes itself more seriously than the likes of Harvester, or it at least tries to. if you're someone who can enjoy a messy, gross, gory horror movie, you might enjoy Phantasmagoria. i can certainly respect its use of practical effects...

even people who like this game don't tend to like Phantasmagoria 2, though.

The Path (2009)

a full-on walking simulator art game that tells an overarching Red Riding Hood-themed story with almost no dialogue. multiple characters and endings to go through, and lots of collectibles, some of which do things and some don't. if you just don't like walking sims it's unlikely this would do it for you, but if you're someone who does enjoy a good walking sim, this is a classic entry. the forest is a beautiful setting to explore and the soundtrack sells the uncomfortable and somber tone well.

American McGee's Alice + Alice Madness Returns (2000/2011)

action-adventure platformers. american mcgee's alice features fantastic setpieces and level design, responsive controls yet somewhat slippery platforming, an arsenal of highly unbalanced but fun weapons, good enemy variety, a fantastic soundtrack, and a high level of challenge. alice madness returns heavily tones down the challenge and former emphasis on weapons, enemy variety, and boss battles in exchange for highly responsive platforming, a rewarding collectible system, and a deeply cathartic story. they're both games i repeatedly come back to for their own reasons. i'd recommend getting the original version of AMA and not the 2011 re-release if you can help it, but it's not a dealbreaker.

The Colonel's Bequest (1989)

another Roberta Williams classic, it's a charming and detailed murder mystery graphic adventure game that has an emphasis on discovery and characters more than puzzles. the game is split across multiple acts with various characters on schedules, and is full of conversations to eavesdrop on, clues to find, and notebook entries to fill out, or not find. there's multiple endings and multiple ways to die, and you can complete the game even with varying levels of overall notebook completion. it’s a game designed for replays, and it’s still arguably one of the most well-made and most complete games of its kind out there. it's got a good sequel in 1992's Dagger of Amon Ra, which isn't on this list purely for not feeling very Halloweeny.

you can play this one in-browser through archive org! just look for the manual for both the game and the emulator to make sure everything runs smoothly and that you don't get walled by the copy protection...

Honorable Mentions:

Troubled Souls (1994, Classic Mac OS)

troubled souls is, admittedly, ‘just’ a little ol pipe-style puzzle game, no story here like the others. yknow, it’s like pipe mania. but, it’s a highly themed, creepy-looking pipe game. plus, it's got an absolutely killer BGM loop. if you’re ever gonna play any time-killing dedicated puzzle games this October, it may as well include some Troubled Souls.

Pathologic Classic HD (2005/2015)

It's Pathologic. you've almost certainly heard of it. i hesitantly dropped Patho down to honorable mention just because it's exploded so much in popularity these past couple years compared to the others on this list, but i'm recommending Classic HD specifically because i think a lot of people these days might only play 2, but i can't overstate what a wonderful and all-around complete package Classic is. it's a challenging survival game, but i don't find it the unwinnable, hyper-obtuse, archaic, anti-game it gets hyped as. the ebb and flow of its VN-influenced storytelling format and slower, meticulous, moment-to-moment gameplay that will then spike into being utterly frantic just often enough is highly engaging, as is its stat management. look, you can use a walkthrough/hint guide if you want to not get locked out of an ending, it's fine.

Shivers 2 (1997)

another game i'm personally not a fan of, but it's well-loved by the people who do like it. it's really Shivers in name only, but it preserves the improvements made to the Myst-like formula, so you can't go wrong if you enjoy a good Myst-like. i also can't deny that the game's rock music theme, desert setting, and overall presentation has its charm.

Dark Seed (1992)

another point-and-click puzzle adventure game, most noted for its H.R. giger designs, though its tone is ultimately less horror and more subdued and genre-conventional quirky than that initial selling point might have you think. the game runs on a persistent timer, and both the puzzles and click areas can be difficult to parse, making for a game that isn't interested in not being dated and induces tension more through frustration than through actually being horror, and it doesn't do much that any of its numerous genre cousins don't do better. still, an interesting if dated game that one can get a kick out of, at least once. there's not much i can say about this one that Majuular hasn't already explained better.

Dark Seed 2 (1995)

this will explain everything.

The 11th Hour (1995)

The 7th Guest's very bad, no good, utterly tonally inexplicable, terrible sequel. only worth playing if you want to see even more cheesy FMV, more mansion, or more Stauf.

Zombieville (1997, EU)

an overly-ambitious oddball point-and-click action-ish-adventure game that went through development hell. most notable for its system wherein characters (including yourself) can turn into zombies, using the rare 'return of the living dead'-style of intelligent zombies, and also for featuring Greg Proops in one of his only video game VA roles, ever. massive disclaimer that the game is extremely buggy, unpredictable, and unfinished in many areas, even if it is possible to reach its (thematically strange...) ending with a guide. an interesting time capsule of missed potential, but unlikely to be enjoyed in any capacity unless you have a very specific kind of technical or genre curiosity.

[ariellewm]

Character Profile: Adonis, "The Male Cecaelia Sea Warlock"

!! Note: Please do not use my character for roleplaying or fanfiction (with the exception of Ycey Narrates who voices Adonis in A Pearl in the Sea). He is still a work in progress. If you wish to draw him out, please contact me for more information !!

Artwork done by Shio

"Why don’t you come a little closer my dear? Mustn’t lurk in the darkness. Don’t be shy. Come to me, come to me darling..." - Adonis Acquati

Full Name: Adonis Acquati

Aliases/Other Titles: The Wicked, The Banished Cecaelia, Atlantis' Sea Warlock.

Gender: Male

Race: Cecaelia (Half Human, Half Octopus)

Age: Unknown

Height: 6'1ft

Eye Color: Dark teal sclera with light blue irises.

Hair Color: Silver, medium length sometimes slicked back.

Skin Color: Pale with hint of dark blue and light blue freckles along shoulders, back, chest, and under eyes. Hands fade to ink black.

Tentacles: Dark teal with blue and light blue spots. Suction cups are white.

🌊🐙About/Backstory🐙🌊

Adonis is descended from an esteemed family of sea witch cecaelia’s that have resided in the underwater realm. He is the only child of Azriel, a noble well-known sea witch/warlock. They specialize in the arts of aquamancy and other sorts of magic. The Acquati family is associated with the gentler aspects to the craft compared to other chaotic sea witches. They brewed a multitude of magical potions, practices in “blue magic” (water elements), and the blessing of crops or merfolk. Bargains are used in exchange for their services and most of the time, bargains are met.

After being left in charge of the shop by his father, the daughter of King Neptune would pay a visit to Adonis one evening. The mermaid princess wished to be with a human and Adonis would concoct a potion that would turn her into a human for a few days. If the princess kissed the human, her voice would be returned to her. But the bargain would not be fulfilled. The princess would end up retreating to the ocean to only turn back into a dolphin. As rumors spread of Adonis’ “dark magic” on the king’s daughter spread, the cecaelia was exiled from the realm. The “wicked sea warlock” would find residence at an underwater cavern with an opening for him to also visit the surface world.

Since his exile from the kingdom, Adonis has been looking for ways to return the princess to her formal appearance. When the rumors spread of his human transformation potion concoction, merfolk would visit his dark dwelling in hopes to also become human for a few days.     

🐚🔮Personality🔮🐚

Of all the sea witches in the undersea realm Adonis is very flamboyant and animated. He isn’t afraid of showing it off with merfolk that come with their problems or wishes. Adonis is bold, will take risks in helping those fulfill their deepest desires and thanks to his charming ability, he can easily influence them even with his voice. He is the type to shower others in compliments and take genuine interest in the customer. He likes to be noticed by others, showing his colorful side. Many of the merfolk have known Adonis to be quite the charmer, especially with his alluring songs when not in the shop crafting potions or spell crafting.      

Adonis, however, has another side. Since his exile from the kingdom, Adonis has had a bit of malice against the king. The king had always had a hatred over the Acquati family, cecaelia’s alone since the king’s rise. But unlike those cecaelia’s that have a dark demeanor, Adonis is somewhat different from his counterparts. He has looked into wicked ways, mischievous ways, to seek revenge, but at the same time has looked into finding ways to bring back the princess from her dolphin form.

🫧Abilities🫧

Aquamancy – To perform magic that is connected and drawn to the ocean or other bodies of water. They can generate water blasts, vortexes, ice breaths and attacks, and other water related abilities. Additionally, they can purify water and other liquids. Some malevolent, wicked sea witches use a deeper, darker magic to control others or creatures using their blood, which contains water.

Potioncrafting – The ability to craft beverages with magical properties. These potions can include enhancing mental or physical abilities, healing, granting powers, bewitching someone, etc. Using plant, herb, floral, animal, or other substances, such as magic, it is used in potion concoctions. Since Adonis’ exile from the kingdom, he has created more physical changing potions for merfolk to turn them into human form, which he dreads crafting.

Shapeshifting – Adonis can shrink or grow large. He rarely ever uses this ability but when in danger, he prefers to shrink rather than becoming gigantic.

Charm/Temptation – The male sea witch can easily influence or charm any merfolk, including humans. It enhances their attractiveness, socially attracts those in their proximity, and persuades them into accepting deals or offerings. Sometimes his kind are known to release pheromones that attract or repel others.

Alluring Voice/Song – Just like mermaids and mermen, Adonis is gifted with the siren song. It is uncommon for the cecaelia race to possess the siren song. Like hypnosis, users can captivate others with their alluring vocals. Their songs are known to be both enticing and dangerous. Whoever hears it will be drawn and lured to the source. Adonis was top class in his choral group, and his voice once lured fishermen to the sea cliffs.  

Grasping Tentacles – Capable of grabbing victims, holding on to prey or objects. This is accomplished with the cecaelia’s suction cups that are on their tentacles. Even when stationary, their tentacles are always in motion, coiling and twisting.

Other Known Abilites – Camouflage (blend in with their environments), Amphibious (ability to breathe on land), Ink (blind their enemies when threatened), Sea Creature Communication (can understand and communicate with a multitude of sea creatures), more TBA.  

🔮🌊Concept Artwork🌊🔮

Artwork done by Shio

Artwork by @wyyvernn

📖Stories/Audio Roleplays✏️

"A Pearl in the Sea" Audio Roleplay

SFW OC's Valentine's Day Day Headcanon's Special

Summertime with the OC's

Before the Events of "A Pearl in the Sea"

Inspired Spotify Playlist: Adonis, "The Male Cecaelia Sea Witch" Playlist

Inspired YouTube Playlist: TBA

[herinsectreflection]

A New Kind of Bad, Just In Time For Christmas (Amends)

Holiday episodes are a dying art form in the televisual world of 2023. With the domination of on-demand streaming services, the exact airdate of an episode has come to matter less and less. Modern shows might still centre episodes around certain holidays, but rarely can they be considered true Holiday Episodes. By virtue of being easily available outside of one specific date and time of airing, they cannot have the same inherent link to a specific temporal point that the Holiday episodes of years past did.

Things were different in 1999. Episodes were tied to specific points in real time, which affected the fiction. Buffy is no exception. The show progresses at a linear rate of one in-universe year to one real-world year, and all on-screen events occur within the nine-to-ten months we would recognise as an academic year. Buffy herself notes the hellmouth’s tendency to become extra-apocalyptic each May in Get It Done. The show moors itself in the chronology of our world, a choice which benefits television’s personable nature. 

As far as traditional holidays go, Buffy is slightly more indifferent. The closest thing to an annual holiday the show has is Buffy’s yearly birthday disaster. Outside of that, we have three Halloween specials, one Valentine's Day episode, one wildly misguided Thanksgiving story, and this - Buffy’s first and only Christmas episode. This episode has no shame in wearing its Christmassiness on its red-and-white sleeve. Everything from the advertising, to the carol singers that open the episode, to the saccharine snowfall of the climax, to the Santa hat placed on the Mutant Enemy demon during the credits, all screams Christmas. ‘Tis the season, screams the Buffyverse, and of course that means that this is a time of warmth, community, and coming together with the people you love - for other people. For the inhabitants of the Buffyverse, it is a time for demons, loneliness, and seasonal depression.

The Scooby Gang discuss their plans for the holidays, and each of them seems progressively more bleak. Buffy has probably the best time of it - a low-key Christmas with just her and her mother. Willow is alone, still flagellating herself over the Xander incident, and trying to make things up to Oz. Xander is planning an escape from his abusive family’s violent arguments. Cordelia claims she is going skiing in Aspen, but given that we are now in the mystery zone where Cordelia’s father may or may not have been arrested yet, there’s a good chance she’s lying and is spending the Christmas penniless and friendless. She would have this in common with Faith, who is stuck hanging a sad single string of lights in a dingy motel room, inventing fictional parties that she can claim to be invited to so as to not lose face in front of Buffy. And then there is Angel, who, in addition to being a vampire stuck in a Christian holiday, and having recently been dumped, is also being tortured by the incorporeal manifestation of pure evil.

Read More

[kharonion]

then vs now: shippy version

inspired by @arcandoria @breezypunk @elvenbeard & @humberg to name a few! 💚

Man, Vikt and Kerry have been through a lot, and VP is no different in that regard. 😂 Honestly, their ship occurred entirely on its own; it wasn't at all planned when I started Vikt's file. So, through snapping shots, I've been able to work on establishing they.

— then...

Like most, I started with NPC swaps in Night City clubs, which served well enough but kept my vision narrow. (I didn't know custom lighting was A Thing yet, Reshade was completely new to me, and spawns/poses scared me jkshdf.) This at least started the engine of what I would call "their public vibe", how they show affection in crowds and public spaces.

But I started wanting to improve more, constantly inspired by the gorgeous VP of the community. So, I started to dip hard into AMM... and then mods.

— and now.

Wow, how they have grown. 🥺

Posing is, for the most part, a lot more natural now, and I found the niche I always want to capture from the start: their dynamic. How they look at each other, how they express their love for one another. Capturing their essence when it is just the two of them and no one else. This is something I love doing in art form, and seeing the progression to accomplish that in VP is honestly staggering. 😭

It can only go up from here! 👏

[kaistrashbin]

Hi Kai, it's me again!

While I agree that Donna is No1 forever and always I'm also excited to see the others in the AU! Are they all professors or do they habe different roles?

- Valentines anon

Hello again Valentine! It's good to see you :D

Ah yes, our beloved Donnie <3 Always and forever our Queen

I'm honestly extremely excited to further develop this AU! Progress is slow-especially cause i'm mostly focusing on Donna rn and i've just started college-but I really wanna turn this into smth cool and make as much content as I can for it! I'd hope to some day make lil comics for it and at least have some sort of fic written for the AU. Though i'd be just as happy if I only ever get asks XD Anything that gets me to at least talk about it, doodle, and further develop ideas XDD The motivation and joy that come from knowing other people like the idea is great fuel (aside from my own enjoyment and obsession with it PFFT)

As for the others!!!- More info on them under the cut!!!(I wrote way more than intended LOL i'm figuring things out as i'm writing pfft-)

I see all of them as like board members for the school. Leading and managing it at the highest level right under Miranda who ofc is the headmistress(might come up with a different title, still in development). Let's get into a few quick details about the other Lords though! Do note that not much worldbuilding has gone on so types of magic and what is taught at the school is still in the works. Quite literally everything is still in VERY early development so expect changes

Alcina Dimitrescu

Definitely a professor! Of what..? Well uh....i'm still working on it! XD Perhaps of a music related magic? (Resident Lover shows Alcina as the art professor and while I think it's a great choice for her, I don't want to just hop onto the same idea.) I don't really see much about Alcina's relationship with music so perhaps I can do something for it through this AU :) Either that or a "dark arts" type thing? Necromancy and shadow related things? I'll be honest i'm slightly leaning towards darker arts...especially for plot reasons...

A vampire- ofc she is PFFT, the Dimi Daughters are also vampires(whether they're her biological children or were willingly converted is still in development)

She's every teacher that complains about other teacher's methods and classrooms

Karl Heisenberg

In charge of school security! He's technically supposed to be teaching students about combat and taking in certain students for a guard internships but he has an assistant who does the actual teaching for him LOL He's just there to occasionally be the face and the muscle of the program XD Though he does do some actual teaching for that program, he's more about demonstrating and correcting students he observes(he also just mostly is interested in the security interns)

Now because his assistant handles most things related to the combat courses/guard internships he actually teaches a second class with a different assistant. It's metal/machine based and as it's more a deep passion of his he actually takes it more seriously and prefers to do more of the teaching himself. All his assistants and deputies just make it more manageable for him to be taking care of multiple things like this. He actually spends the most time and effort on this class.

Is a Lycan! They can't turn into wolves or convert others though (a good portion of the school's security is actually lycans)

His magic is also a work in progress, though in this AU in general I want to have some who mostly just focus on mastering one form of magic and those who are experienced in multiple. Obviously the more types you focus on (that aren't considered more basic/general stuff ex. lighting a candle with a snap, animating an object to do a simple task, ect.) the less you master each. I would like him to possible specialize in more than one but we'll see how things go!

Salvatore Moreau

I actually imagine he'd be a professor of healing related magic or a beastmaster, and also supervising a program about experimental magic

Handsome fish man. You know classyfruit's gorgeous genderbent Moreau? Yeah, but handsome fish man. A triton but more fish-like

Wow this was short and he needs more love

Extra love for handsome fish boi Moreau

[throw-away-toy]

Days of the Plasma Lab

-

Day 1

We were separated the moment we got there. I wanted to have something, someone familiar. But I have a feeling that this place will only get worse.

-

Day 7

I have been kept in yet another tube that is warm, I hate this feeling, the cold was much nicer. I know I'm never going to get freedom, just forced to be alive, ... But for what?

-

Day 14

The scientists are taking the extra tubes out, the ones that were putting liquids into me. They were trying to "quarantine" me, ... I think that has something to do with being sick all the time from the previous place.

They seem to be preparing me for something, ... The words they are using are unknown to me.

-

Day 15

They are taking me out of the tube, ... everything is going blurry, ... Why is there a bright light? ... What are they going to do to me?

-

Day 16

I've awakened too so much pain in my chest, it's hard to breathe. What did they do to me? I'm in such misery and pain, why must I go through this?!

-

Day 17

The pain only continues, I cannot bring myself to rest. I feel so wrong, the tube is still warm, and my body aches and feels so wrong.

(line art by AceRanger)

-

Day 23

The pain is not as bad, but whatever they did to me is causing more than just pain. My body feels it, ... They added something. ... It's not supposed to be there.

-

Day 30

I've been taken out of the tube again, tho I feel like I'm at risk. I'm still in pain, but they have put me in a room. I'm alone, ... my legs barely let me stand and my arms are restrained, ... I hate this.

-

As they are barely able to stand there, small frame starting to shake, tail tucked between their legs. The room was quite large yet so empty, they couldn't help dart their eyes in hopes of finding a way out. After sitting there for minutes that felt like hours a voice speaks. "Test 001 will now be in progress." A chime rings off and a door opens.

A pokemon slowly walks in, a Patrat, the moment their eyes lock it attacks. After a few minutes of screams and ruthless attacks, it stops, the door opens and it leaves.

"Test 001 did not yield results. Bring in the next one. Test 002 will now be in progress."

The next pokemon walks in, a Blitzle, it takes it's fighting stance. The chained pokemon begins to panic, desperately trying to escape, trying to vocalize it's distress. But it was all for nothing as the Blitzle let off a burague of electric and normal attacks, more shrieks of pain echo the room. 10 minutes pass, the Blitzle stops, the door opens and it leaves.

"Test 002 also did not yield results. Bring in a stronger pokemon. Test 003 will now be in progress."

A Liepard walks in, staring at the tiny mon that shakes before it. The mon starts shaking it head as it tries to back away, chains still holding it in place. The Liepard attacks using a dark move, the mon screams but this time it's different, it's loud, it's as if it's right there, inside their minds. The chained pokemon's form glows bright, blinding those who witness temporally. The scientists smile, only to be wiped once a painful ringing and splitting headache begin once the pokemons new form is seen.

"I HATE ALL OF YOU SCIENTISTS! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?! THE PAIN AND SUFFERING YOU HAVE CAUSED ME! YOU WILL ALL PAY FOR THIS! THAT I WILL MAKE SURE OF!"

The new mega pokemon now free from it's chains begins fighting the Liepard as it transmits those words. Shortly after the Liepard faints. The mega looking to the mirrored glass, eyes dilated and teeth bared.

"Neutralize the test subject now!" A scientist yells as they send out an Ivysaur that uses sleep powder. The mega mon takes a few steps forward before falling asleep, it's body going back to what it was before.

Quickly putting it back in the tube, after a few hours it awakens. It's body however, isn't showing any signs of recovery but instead a decline. It's thoughts of hatred festering as it slowly loses consciousness and soon sucoming it the decline.

-

Their eyes open, it's white everywhere, it's empty yet bright. They slowly stand up, looking around trying to figure out what happened. Til they see them.

"Do not worry little one, I will gift you new life for you are not done yet."

"What does that mean? ... Wait, I died, didn't I?"

"Yes, but I admire your spirit, so now go forth and live."

Before they could say another word they awoke again, the sun now shining on their pale purple skin that was once a pale yellow. They stared at themselves for a while, they felt different from before very different. "What hasss become of me?"

~

(Asks are now open for Mewnette)

[dailycharacteroption]

Heavyweight Skirmisher Operative (Operative Alternate Class Feature)

(art by frozenbunn on DeviantArt)

It’s easy to assume that all operatives are catsuit-wearing sneaky types that specialize in agility, light weaponry, and stealth. However, if you’ve ever thought about a lot of elite teams, not everyone fits that mold, and being an agent of any sort of group is just as much having the training to leverage your talents, rather than fitting into any one neat and confined box.

Hailing from the Interstellar Species book and heavily associated with larger, more ungainly alien species like dragonkin, these heavyweight skirmishers learn how to leverage their strength and might, rather than raw agility, and favor bigger and stronger weaponry, but they retain the various specializations and skills that differentiate them from soldiers and other heavier hitters.

They might still be stealthy, but more akin to a sudden summer squall than a barely noticed breeze, or they might be one of the more social sorts of operative, leveraging their weight class as part of their intimidation factor, and so on.

Either way, these sneaks and agents are definitely a whole new breed than what you might be used to with this class.

At their core, these operatives rely on strength rather than agility, and this shows, for they favor larger and more powerful melee weapons, as well as heavier armors. They can use any weapon that is not too slow or too imprecise with their trick attacks, though the additional damage is increased at a much slower rate than other operatives. What’s more, the damage they deal on average is a bit better as they can reroll progressively more and more of their bonus damage dice.

They can choose to become proficient in heavy armors, and learn to overcome their sluggishness with practice.

Additionally, if they attack repeatedly with their weapon and hit both times, they can apply their trick attack as if they had made the skill check. What’s more, they become more accurate when attacking repeatedly than most, though they miss out on attacking thrice in a turn.

This option is great if you want the skills and tricks of the operative while being a bit more combat focused, sort of like a combat rogue variant of the normal operative. You miss out on multiple attacks per round and on evasion, but if you plan on standing on the front lines, whether it be with a big melee weapon or gun, this may be what you’re looking for.

Obviously this option was meant for bigger characters to give them a way to be an operative without feeling hampered by their bulk. That being said, I stand by what I said about different operatives achieving their goals based on their strengths and preferences, because the operative is very much about that, the application of skill and precision. It doesn’t matter what those skills specifically are. After all, part of the gimmick of the operative is finding ways to use skills in clever ways, such as adding different skills to the options for when you make trick attacks, and so on.

Composed of ex-cons, former mercenaries and others, VaxasCorp’s “problem-solver” team is kept in line not just by their paychecks but also various forms of blackmail that they have on all members. Take Slugger, the team’s heavy-hitter. The company keeps constant tabs on his daughter, ready to threaten her if he puts a toe out of line. He’d do anything if it meant getting her, and himself, out from under their thumb.

Though she is a mountain of a woman, Kova has always found she preferred to work with computers, though her raw strength comes in handy in rough company. Now that she’s out of the military, she seeks a new career that makes use of both of her skills.

Mostly mouth and infamous for their society of dominance over the weak, xaarbs are not thought of as a subtle people. Some, however, find there is much to learn from the complex ways of other peoples. Traditionalists call them sneaks and skulks, but they still show their xaarbish pride in the way they fight.

[rubykgrant]

The first 3 gens of Pokemon games are so interesting to look back on, for many reasons, but right now I'm thinking about the visuals in particular; the first games were 8-bit, but they still did as much as they could. I remember being 10 and loving how the little flowers on the ground would move in their charming little dance-cycle. When we got Yellow, more colors were added, and it would change depending on what area/town you went to. The sprite designs for the Pokemon are also really interesting... to us now, they don't look 'quite right". Part of that is, again, working with 8-bit, so certain details don't make it in, but several of the Pokemon have almost entirely different designs that what we saw around the same time in cards/the anime. A few are kind of "surreal", and I think may have been made BEFORE final definitive versions of the designs were set (and shared in promotional art).

Then we get into Gold/Silver/Crystal, and playing that for the first time was like seeing an EXPLOSION in graphics; so many MORE colors and details in the environments. I especially love the Pokemon sprites in this game... this gen has some of my favorite poses/designs in the Pokemon, so much effort was put into making sure they looked defined, identifiable, and had a lot of personality. In Crystal, they were giving MOVING animation, which was amazing to see, and the Pokemon you caught would have an extra little blink or nod when you looked at them in your party or the PC. Day/Night cycles were added, with different tints to the colors of your surroundings depending on early morning/day/evening/night. There was just a lot more variety in the trees/buildings you saw. We also got more Trainers! Many of the original classes from Red/Blue/Yellow returned (minus a few, like Tamer), but several new ones were added, also with more details and unique poses/colors. Oh, and the Ruins of Alph had such cool designs with the Unown writing on the walls/floor, and the puzzle picture you could put together

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald was absolutely amazing to see for the first time; all the up-dates in graphics both looked like a natural progression (the "style" was still similar to previous games), but the jump in detail was INCREDIBLE. Everything that already existed was improved on (the exception being a true day/night cycle; time passed, but you didn't get to see a visual different with light/dark). The colors/shading were so vibrant. So many areas had highly unique designs (Meteor Falls didn't look like any other cave). The Berry trees now all had different looks based on what type they were (and you could see the progress of them growing, going from a little mound of dirt that turned a shade darker when you watered it, a small sprout, a young sapling, a taller bush, and finally a full Berry tree with berries for you to pick. if you were lucky and waited around, there was a glittering animation when the Berry changed form). You could run across a sandy beach and leave little foot-prints that slowly faded away, and when you walked through puddles, there was a splashing animation/sound! There were now two different Bikes available, Mach and Acro, one that went incredibly fast and let the scenery flash by, and one that could pull tricks (so there was animation of you riding the bike in a wheelie, and pulling a jump trick).There was a volcano, and the area below it was covered in ash; when you ran through the grass, a little cloud of ash would rise up, showing the grass as green where you had cleared it away. Speaking of grass, there was now tall grass and VERY tall grass, which you couldn't see through, but could track yourself (and other Trainers) by watching the movement from above. Rain and intense sunlight was both part of the plot, and visually shown as the weather changed. Time and tide changed the layout of Shoal Cave, allowing you to explore upper and lower levels... and you could DIVE! You could go deep underwater, explore areas of the sea floor, and encounter Pokemon in the seaweed (with animation of bubbles rising up as you passed through it)

Obviously a LOT more graphics and potential are available in modern games, but there was something special with the early ones, where they would do as MUCH as possible with what they had, and they all still looked like they went hand-in-hand