#this asteroid has finally finished this thought

[ggumjjun]

# jisung with a creampie kink.

nsfw + mdni

his fingers clenching into the plush of your thigh tightly, pretty splotchy bruises in the shapes of his fingertips, holding your leg around his slender waist, jisung’s gasping pants breathed against your collarbone and shoulder, soft, fluffy hair tickling your neck, covered in his signature love bites, never more than a couple in places almost hidden. hickeys just like him, shy and subtly peeking out to those who pay attention to the details. a warm, wet sensation of his spent release seeping down your swollen folds around the base of his thick cock, twitching as it fills you up with another heavy load of cream, clinging to his shoulders and back with weak fingers, exhaustion creeping through your limbs,, it’s not your fault though, jisung has more stamina than you. so it’s okay, when you let him use you as he needs. sweet sugary kisses pressed to your lips, whispers exchanged in shared breaths until he pulls away.

the afterglow look when jisung leans back, his soft skin glistening with the slightest sheen of sweat, a blush on his cheeks as he tries not to feel too shy at what he’s done,, but the timid feeling fades, replaced with an urging sensation. the way he swallows, trying to push down the rush of lust as he carefully spreads your thighs, unable to look away from the mess he’s made, your arms coming up to hide your face in embarrassment as he stares. creamy white dripping from your swollen pussy, sticky and viscous as it seeps down the curve between your thigh and ass, drooling cunt so full of his cum you can’t keep it in. don’t look, ‘s embarrassing, you whimper as his hand holds your thighs back from closing up,, and jisung can’t help but feel the need for more. his fingers tentatively touching your abused folds as you whimper in response, dragging his fingers up to gather his cum, pushing the creamy seed back into your pussy only for more to leak out. and the same happens when he presses lightly in on your tummy. you’re too full of his cum for your cute cunt to handle.

and it’s only moments before jisung’s lips press to yours,, apologetically quieting your whimpering cries, sungie, ‘s too much— leaky tip of his flushed cock pressing to your drippy folds,, just one more load,, just one more. you can take it,, he knows you can.

[in1-nutshell]

Heyyy

Recall when I sent in that ask about Ironhold's role during the '86 movie? I was wondering if I could make a request for a more in-depth look at that. Like, what happened after the decepticons returned to Cybertron? Did they try to oppose Starscream's rise to power, or did they just let him take control?

What are their reactions to Galvatron, Cyclonus, Scourge and the Sweeps?

Post-movie, what are they up to during the events of five faces of Darkness? You mentioned them joining the autobots, how does this complicated their relationship with Rumble?

Reminds me of the first time I watched the movie.

Pre Movie: "Ooh! Haven't seen this! I wonder what's it about!"

During Movie: *Ugly sobbing*

Post Movie: "... I was not the same person as I was before..."

Anyways, hope you enjoy!

Ironhold during the 1986 Movie

SFW, Platonic, Romance, Familial, Angst, Character death from the movie, Cybertronain reader

G1

Ironhold wasn’t aware of all of Megatron’s plan for taking down Autobot city, and quite frankly they were too tired to care.

The Decepticon’s already managed to conquer Cybertron, did they really need to stomp out the rest of the Autobots on Earth?

Couldn’t they just live their lives separately and in peace?

Apparently not.

Ironhold was supposed to be on the same shuttle as Rumble, but they ended up in their separate shuttle to make sure any stray asteroid didn’t damage the hull.

Which would be a great plan… except that due to a faulty part, they were not able to fly out with the others.

Once their ship was ready, they were off.

They commed Rumble to know what had happened in the shuttle.

Rumble: “You shoulda been here Hold! It was a massacre!” Ironhold chuckling a bit: “Yeah, I bet it was.” Rumble: “Megatron even got Ironhide out!” Ironhold froze for a second: “What?” Rumble: “Yeah! The bot really tried stopping the boss with half his chassis gone! Ha!” Ironhold: “…Rumble what was the plan again…” Rumble: "You forgot already? Well the massacre part wasn’t really part of the plan or taking the ship. But, hey! What can you do? Plans change in the heat of the moment.” Ironhold shudders a bit: “…I’ll meet you all on Earth.” Rumble: “All right then, see ya on Earth Hold.” Ironhold: “Love you.” Rumble: "Aww c’mon! Ya had to say it over the line… the others are here.” Ironhold: “You don’t have to say it back My Spark.” Rumble: “…loveyoutoo.” Frenzy: “Ha!” Rumble: “FRENZY!”

Ironhold arrived on Earth and froze once again at the heavy damages done on Autobot city.

This shouldn’t have come to this.

But they had a job to do.

One by one any Autobots that came across their path fell unconscious, they were feeling merciful today.

They spotted their father fighting Optimus from a few feet away.

The two truly looked like they were going to end things today.

To end the war for once and for all.

They truly thought Prime was going to finish Megatron with honor… until the glint of a blaster came into view.

Before Ironhold could react, Hot Rod had tackled Megatron down trying to get the gun.

He failed and ended up being held hostage.

That was when Megatron noticed they were there.

Megatron: “Ironhold! Finish Prime now!” Ironhold looks down at the Prime. He was disarmed and badly injured. They could easily end the war with one blow. The war would finally be over… Hot Rod: “Optimus!” CLANK! Megatron and Hot Rod both had surprised looks on their faces seeing Ironhold dropping their blaster and helping the Prime up. Megatron tossed Hot rod aside in anger.  Megatron: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Ironhold: “THIS IS NOT HOW THE WAR SHOULD END! ENOUGH WITH THE BLOODSHED MEGATRON! Aren’t you tired of this fighting? I am done—” BLAM! Ironhold stares in shock at the new hole in their chassis and the smoke coming from their father’s fusion canon. He held a grim expression as they fell on their side. They could feel Optimus’s servos on them for a few seconds. The last thing they saw was Hot Rod shocked face staring at them.

Hot Rod couldn’t believe what had just happened.

One of the most loyal Decepticons, Megatron’s spawn, had just gone against his orders and protected Optimus.

Megatron had shot his own child.

He wanted help them, but now his worries were on his leader.

Anyways he saw some Cons bringing them back into Astrotrain.

Rumble nearly screamed when he saw Ironhold with a smoking hole coming from their chassis.

Thhhis was another time he wished he were a bigger bot to carry them back to the ship instead of relying on the others

Once on the ship, Rumble placed Ironhold’s helm on his lap and gently stroked their helm.

He didn’t care for any stares.

He just needed to know if they were okay.

Ironhold wakes up a few minutes after the unanimous decision to throw Megatron out the shuttle.

Rumble told them everything what had happened.

Ironhold is quiet during the entire story. Ironhold groans as they try and stand. Rumble grabbing their servo: “Are ya nuts!? Sit back down!” Ironhold ignores him and manages to stand. Ironhold: “Starscream.” Starscream turns to them, half expecting to hear a rebuttal about his new rise to power. Ironhold vents softly: “Do you want to lead?” Starscream pauses in confusion: “Yes?” Ironhold: “Then do it.” Starscream: “What?” Rumble: “What?” Every Decepticon: “What?” Ironhold groaning a bit: “I say we give Screamer here a chance. And if he messes up I will take control. Am I clear?” No one says anything. Ironhold stand up straighter: “I said, am I clear?” There is a mumbled agreement with the others. Their knees suddenly start buckling and falls. Rumble, Frenzy, Soundwave and some other cons catch them. Ironhold groans again as they are set back down on the bench.

Once they get back to the base, they get patched up just in time for Starscream’s cornation

They were really starting to reconsider their decision to make Starscream in charge

Luckliy Starscream’s regin didn’t klast long thanks to the entrance of Galavtron

But they soon realized that Galvatron was worse than their father and Starscream combined.

Especially once he slipped about Unicron.

They were done.

Ironhold knew that the other Decepticon’s had already claimed Galvatron as their leader.

After thinking about it, they ultimately decided to leave.

The Decepticon’s had strayed fair from their morals in the beginning and there was no way they would bow for Galvatron, Cyclonus, or any of the Sweeps with Unicron pulling the strings.

That night they cried a little as they pried Rumble from their frame.

As quietly as they could, they confiscated a shuttle a flew off.

They were flying around for a while until they received a strange energy spike on the Junkions Planet.

Ironhold lands on the planet and walks out only to be met with several blasters to the face. They slowly raise their servos up. Ironhold: “I come in peace.” Daniel: “Yeah right! Like we’re gonna listen to you!” Ironhold: “I came to help you.” Springer: “Help us? From what?”  Ironhold: "From Galvatron and his cronies.” Arcee: “And how do we know you aren’t setting us up for a trap.” Ironhold opens their subspace and pulls out their Decepticons insignia before throwing it on the ground: “Because I am not going to follow his orders. The Decepticon’s reason to fight is not something I am going to fight for. I know the past we’ve fought, but believe me, I am done being a Decepticon if THIS is what it means to be.” They look at Hot Rod for support, they know they don’t deserve it, but there was a small part that hoped for a change. Hot Rod: “I believe them.” The other bots: “You do?!” Hot Rod: “They tried to help Optimus before… before that. They stood up to Megatron and ,correct me if I’m wrong, you said you didn’t want to fight anymore.” Ironhold nods. Hot Rod: “And If they came all this way to help us, I say let them. We’re going to need all the help we can get fighting Unicron.” Kup is the first to approach Ironhold holding his servo out: “Welcome to the team kid.” Ironhold smiles at the older mech and shakes his servo.

Ironhold was met with hostility on the ship, which they completely understood.

If the situation was the other way around, they would also be wary.

Once Unicron was defeated, Ironhold was ready to hear them say to scram, to leave and never come back.

They were surprised when Rodimus Prime offered them an Autobot badge and a spot on the team.

A flash of Rumble’s face flashed in their helm.

Ironhold smiled at the new Prime and accepted.

There was a party celebrating the victory and Ironhold joing the fold.

Despite the festivities and the laughter shared, they walked into their new habsuite with tears in their optics.

The weight of the loss of their father…

Their family…

Their Conjunx…

They could only hope that Rumble had some part in his spark to forgive them once he found out they defected.

[angelofchaos001]

Time for my post about my two dumbass OC's, I'll eventually get good enough at hearthians to give them references buuuuuuut not for a while *shrug*

Mild spoilers for the base game and DLC!

@doodlebug091 @mellow-mooon Sorry Lumi but you made the mistake of being into this game, you get to hear all my terrible ideas.

Shale

Shale is a young adult hearthian, around the same age as the protagonist is. They always had a unique obsession with space as a hatchling, and wanted to join Outer Wilds Ventures to become a traveler like many others. When they joined the training, they trained alongside a few other hearthians around the same age and expertise.

While in training, Shale heard about the other travelers and the aspirations of their own class, and they developed a fixation on exploring beyond their own solar system. This fixation only grew as they learned more, wondering where the Nomai came from, what it could have been like, and what other life could lie beyond their small system. The Interloper became a major study for them, and was the focus of many small projects. Once finally able to fly, Shale took to the Interloper and dutifully studied everything they could about it, taking careful note of the ghost matter, the ice, and the unreadable Nomai text/tapes. They theorize on where it could have come from and long to know the secrets outside their solar system.

Shale plays the viola in their own small group, comprised of themselves, the protagonist, Schist, Tin, and Bismuth. They have a unique song together that sounds similar to Travelers, but seems more of a second verse to the song rather than an addition to it.

To the hatchling, Shale is kindhearted and gives helpful advice, even if they're a little scatterbrained. They aren't aware of the sun going supernova and the fact that the Interloper is eventually swallowed by it, and hatching could tell them about it for a similar result to giving Chert a crisis. However, the result will be the same: By the time they realize it's going to the sun, it's too late for them to escape the asteroid.

Here's some of the example dialogues I created in my head for them (aka entire conversations). Bold would be the selected dialog option, since I don't think I should cover every idea I had (it'd take a while):

[First Interaction]

Well hey there, hatchling! Glad to see you're finally up in space with the rest of the class. Guess that makes me not the last one, hehe!

>You're not the only one glad about it.

>Well, I can always go back home . . .

Of course you're excited for yourself! I wouldn't expect anything less from you, would I? By the way, did you ever finish getting that translator working? You and Hal had quite the undertaking there!

>Oh, it works!

>It works without exploding, so I'd say that's good.

>More like I did.

Hehe! Hey, I just had a thought! The core of this place has some Nomai tapes in it. There's also a few scattered about, like right in here! You should totally translate them and tell me what they say! I'd love to know.

>Sure can do!

>Maybe . . .

You've gotta tell me what they say!

[Second Interaction]

Hey, hatchling! What do you wanna talk about?

>I found something!

>How can I avoid the ghost matter in the tunnels?

>If the others are in space, where are they?

>Where should I explore here?

>You do realize this place will crash into the sun, right? (<- Only appears after the 1st loop)

Oh, that shouldn't be too hard! Just pull out your signalscope and you'll find them right quick! But . . . I can give you some tips if you don't remember them! Schist said they found some new species they wanted to study on Ash Twin, Bismuth was studying quantum objects in various places, and I believe Tin was grounded for medical reasons.

>What instruments does everyone play again?

>Tin was grounded?

>Alright, thank you!

They sure were! And rightfully so, too! Kept talking about some kind of weird spinning disk they found . . . Personally, I won't believe it until I get some kind of proof it exists.

>Ah. I see.

>And they grounded them for that?

>The Stranger? (<- Only appears if the player has visited The Stranger)

Poor, delusional Tin . . . Though, if whatever they're on about does exist, I wouldn't mind exploring it myself. It's not of hearthian or nomai origin, according to them! It's probably not real, though.

---------------------

>The Stranger?

It's actually real? Wow . . . now I feel kinda bad about being so harsh on Tin. Maybe I can send a message back to Hornfels to have them ungrounded! It'd be amazing to see for myself! I can only eagerly imagine where it came from . . .

---------------------

>I found something!

Really? Tell me about it!

>The Nomai explored this place, just like you're doing now, to try and figure out where it came from.

>Turns out this thing was basically just a pressured chamber of ghost matter a long time ago.

>There's a frozen Nomai ship on the surface!

>Actually, nevermind.

Well, that makes some sense, I suppose . . . but the core's kind of . . . exploded? Not much of anything can be densely packed in there.

>I did say it was a long time ago.

>Exactly. It burst and covered everything in ghost matter.

Uh . . . I don't think I have to say that's not good. What happened to the N- Wait. Oh. Oh no.

>Not exactly the best way to go out.

>Yeah . . .

>Remind me why you're choosing to explore this, then?

Don't get sassy with me, hatchling! I did better than you in all my training, that's why I got to fly first! Besides, it's not this thing can explode twice. As long as I avoid the ghost matter still here, I'm okay. I think.

---------------------

>You do realize this place will crash into the sun, right?

Trust me when I say it won't. Sure, it gets pretty close at times - Close enough to melt the ice to get down here, even! But it won't go directly into the sun. I've been studying it's path since I was a hatchling, just waiting for the day I could get to it.

(Next piece only appears if the previous option was selected and the Interloper is on it's last loop. It replaces the dialogue of the second interaction.)

Hey, is it just me, or are we dangerously close to the sun right now?

>I told you it would crash into the sun!

>It's just you.

WHAT?! Oh, nonononono! No! I've gotta hurry to my ship and get out of here! I don't wanna be burnt to a crisp! Come on, we've gotta move!

>I think we're already too late to leave.

>Don't worry. We're in a time loop.

>But what about your research?

Quick lesson, hatchling: Research is almost never worth your life.

>I think we're already too late to leave.

>Don't worry. We're in a time loop.

Now's not the time for jokes, hatchling! Do I need to have the word sent out for you to be grounded with Tin? You're sounding just like them right now!

If you guys want to hear all my terrible dialogue ideas, maybe they'll get their own separate post with everything. But, for now, moving on!

Schist

Schist is an adult hearthian. While never interested in space, they were interested in the biological processes of the world, and loved learned about the plants and animals in the system. After seeing the baby anglerfish exhibit in the museum, they desperately wanted to study it. Upon learning that meant they needed to be an astronaut, they joined the training with a few younger hearthians.

They had no reason to pass the training as well as they did, nor should they have realistically been allowed to fly given their blatant disregard for space travel itself, but Schist joined the ranks of the travelers with a kalimba as their chosen instrument and immediately set off to learn about the anglerfish.

It's a miracle they never died, given all the bad choices they made around such danger. Through studying from afar (and one instance of creating a distraction), they learned about the creature's blindness but acute hearing. Some other things they've learned about the beasts that they should have absolutely died for is this: They don't respond to being touched on a small scale (such as a hearthian placing their hand on them), they defend their eggs valiantly but not the youth, young anglerfish may hang onto bigger anglerfish as a safe means of transportation or catching loose bits of prey (sometimes they latch onto ships as well, getting confused). There is also a massive anglerfish tooth lodged in their ship that they've simply built/repaired/decorated around since they're not getting it out.

No, Schist doesn't know how they were able to do all of this and not get caught for it. But point is anglerfish are their specialty. However, they also research other creatures and plants (that I made up), and notably, have discovered the concept of gender along with some words for it. Here's a small key:

Moons/Mooners: A female creature. (Based on how they noted the creatures with such reproductive parts were more docile and calmer, like a peaceful night with the moon)

Suns/Starunners: A male creature. (The creatures tended to be flashier, brighter, more aggressive and overall more, like a bright sun)

Schist (for sake of my brain hurt trying to think of something better) does have the pronouns she/her and he/him known, only because of some of the few things they knew about the Nomai (and that they had pronouns).

Schist plays the kalimba in their own small group, comprised of themselves, the protagonist, Shale, Tin, and Bismuth. They have a unique song together that sounds similar to Travelers, but seems more of a second verse to the song rather than an addition to it.

Currently, they reside on Ash Twin, studying a new species of terrestrial creature they discovered. They call it a 'Plated Star', or a 'Shelled Star'. (It's a weird mix of turtle and tortoise, I'll draw it later and explain how it survived the ghost matter explosion) Schist believes it to be last of it's kind, though there could be more hiding from them. Notably, Schist can be brought screenshots of different flora and fauna the player has encountered and try to have them identify the specimen. (A lot of plants and animals I made just for this, this is why I can't learn to mod since my ideas spiral out like this)

Just like Shale, here's some example dialogue!

[First Interaction]

Hm? Oh. Good to see your face around here, I guess. How's it going, anyway? Does your translator work?

>Yeah. You probably don't care, though.

>It does, actually! Want me to show you?

Heh. I mean, you're right about that, at least. Nomai never interested me much. I know that's, like, our entire thing out here, so go ahead and fuss at me if you want. But if you could make, like, an animal translator, that'd be pretty cool . . . I guess.

>Why don't you care about an entire species?

>I mean . . . It'd take forever, but I could make one.

>I'm not going to fuss at you, that's Slate's job.

Pff, dang straight it is! Oh gosh, you were not there the night before my launch, all they talked about was how I should be more focused on history and whatever! Personally, the only history I care about is how creatures like us evolved.

[Second Interaction]

Still here? What, got a question for lil' old me?

>I found something!

>Why aren't you exploring Dark Bramble anymore?

>Can you tell me more about this creature in front of you?

>Why don't you care about the Nomai?

>Where can I explore here?

>I don't, actually. Cya.

Ugh, let me count the reasons why. First of all, I've been exploring it for so long I think I could describe the whole thing to a rock and make it understand. Secondly, anglerfish are cool and all, but I'd like to study something a little less deadly for a while.

>Does this have something to do with that tooth in your ship?

>Am I allowed to call you officially obsessed with those things yet?

>Clearly they weren't that deadly, since you're still alive.

Yeah, actually. Was studying a lil' tiny one when it's moon parent came at me. Think she took a good bite out of the vines, mostly, but her tooth got stuck in my ship. Two teeth for the price of one trip!

>Two?

>How did your ship not break?

Yep! The one in my ship from the big one, and this tiny lucky tooth from the baby! By the way, let me tell you, the babies may be small, but they can still take a good bite into your arm. Keep an eye out if you ever go in there yourself.

----------

>Can you tell me more about this creature in front of you?

Absolutely! I call it a Shelled Star, since, well, it looks kinda like a star when you look at it right, and it's got this really sturdy shell! If you look closely, it even has some very small gills.

>Why would a creature have gills on a desert planet?

>Truly, a creative name you came up with there.

>What does it do?

Hey! Bet you couldn't do much better if I told you to.

>. . . Fine. You win.

>Sandshell.

. . . I like mine better. Do you have any actual questions for me, or are you just going to keep harassing me?

>Why would a creature have gills on a desert planet?

>What does it do?

>That was all.

Well, I suspect Ash Twin may have once had water on it! . . . Somewhere. Bet you this lil fellow's species was once abundant on this planet, but when the water disappeared, so did the Shelled Stars. I think she's the last of her kind.

>How are you sure it's a 'she'?

>Kind of a far-fetched theory, don'tcha think?

>The poor Shelled Stars.

When you study animals as long as I have, you kinda tell the difference between members of the same species. It's got to do with reproduction, and some physical differences, but really, I just mark them into two groups: The Moons, like this one, and the Suns. I wish I could find a sun Shelled Star to meet her and keep their species alive!

>Who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky.

>Sounds kinda lonely, being the last of your kind.

I certainly hope so! Glad you're finally supporting me for once, hatchling.

----------

>I found something!

Really? Like, a plant or an animal or something?

(Option would have the screenshot displayed in the top right corner when hovering over each selection, for now, take placeholder names. Also there's more than this I just dont wanna type everything out)

>Check out this picture! [Anglerfish]

>Check out this picture! [Timber Hearth Trees]

>Check out this picture! [Owlk]

>Check out this picture! [No creature/plant detected]

>Check out this picture! [Picture blurry/too dark to see]

>Well, I guess not.

Wow! An anglerfish! Y'know, this picture seems really sad compared to me having seen them in the flesh. They're so much more imposing and cool that way! Really, I could go on about them for a while.

Got any more?

>Check out this picture! [Timber Hearth Trees]

>Check out this picture! [Owlk]

>Check out this picture! [No creature/plant detected]

>Check out this picture! [Picture blurry/too dark to see]

>Well, I guess not.

I would hope you recognize the cone trees. They're everywhere on Timber Hearth, they're even what your emergency seeds are! Seriously, why am I telling you this? Didn't you pay attention in training?

Got any more?

>Check out this picture! [Owlk]

>Check out this picture! [No creature/plant detected]

>Check out this picture! [Picture blurry/too dark to see]

>Well, I guess not.

Oh wow . . . this is certainly strange. It looks like some mix of . . . well, really, I have no idea what this is. It could be worth further investigating!

Got any more?

>Check out this picture! [No creature/plant detected]

>Check out this picture! [Picture blurry/too dark to see]

>Well, I guess not.

Sorry to break it to you, hatchling, but I don't think this qualifies as a living thing. Kinda cool, though.

Got any more?

>Check out this picture! [Picture blurry/too dark to see]

>Well, I guess not.

I'm begging you, work on your Scout photography skills. I can't tell if this is a cyclone on Giant's Deep or your own hand in the way. Bring me something more legible.

>Well, I guess not.

Then don't waste my time.

[alumbianchronicler]

EctoberHaunt - Oct. 9 Magic - Dragons

Summary:

Few ghosts reach the tertiary stage of Core Development that marks an Ancient, but those who do must learn to harness their Primordial power and the draconic form that comes with its development.

It's a good thing Danny has a way to get out of the Sol system, because apparently he's going to turn into a dragon. A dragon with a black hole at his Core.

Warnings: Ecto-hunger (only ecto-weenies were harmed in the making of this fic. And a star system). Eating non-food items.

Crossover: n/a

Danny felt like he was starving.

No matter how much he ate the last few weeks, it never seemed to be enough.  Even ectoplasm-laced food wasn't satiating for more than an hour or two, as the destruction of the entire Ecto-Weenie colony could attest to.  Or... couldn't, since it had been eaten.

He paced, trying to ignore the gnawing in his stomach, his tongue running absently along the fangs that had recently grown in, pushing out his human canines. The process had been awkward and mildly painful, but thankfully seemed to be over.

In his human form, at least.

His ghost form seemed to still be experimenting with dentition, fangs growing and replacing each-other, finally settling into some semblance of a predator's maw in the last two days.

He wasn't sure he liked it.

At least his ghost form was more malleable than the human. Stretchier and more prone to shifting instead of tearing, even if that meant that sometimes it moved in ways no human body would ever be capable of.

Honestly, he should go see Frostbite. This many changes, and being this hungry?  With his luck, he was gaining some new level of ghost power that he was going to have to learn how to control if he didn’t want to accidentally hurt everyone around him...

Ok. Snack first, and then off to Frostbite.

Danny slipped downstairs, not bothering to check for his parents, who were usually out on their own patrol around this time of the evening.

A search in the fridge yielded a few slices of leftover pizza, quickly consumed. The trip through the lab gave him a vial of ectoplasm which he downed as well before letting his transformation wash over him and flying into the Ghost Zone.

At least this time whatever was happening with him wasn’t quite literally freezing him from the inside out.

He flew through the vast space of the Ghost Zone, reveling in the feeling. It was freeing, flying like this, surveying the expanse of an entire dimension spreading out to infinity, much like space itself, right down to the distant ghosts of stars that twinkled impossibly far away.

Perhaps one day he would figure out how to fly that far…

To fly, and fly, and never stop. To thread his way through nebulae and around asteroids, to engulf the stars themselves in the singing void of his Core. He hummed, pitching his voice to match the distant thrum of the dead stars, listening to them sing back.

Danny abruptly stopped, coming back to himself in a shock of realization.

That was… weird, right? Those were some really weird thoughts.

He looked down at his hands, disconcerted to see that ghostly claws had extended, leaving them distinctly inhuman.

He needed to get to the Far Frozen.

Thankfully, he had flown most of the way there already, and it only took a few more minutes to finish the trip. Danny barely registered the greetings of the Yetis going about their business as he flew to Frostbite’s personal labs.

The Yeti chieftain was there, looking over some sort of computer readings, and he looked up with a wide smile as Danny landed.

“Great one! What brings you here today?”

“I think I’m going through another weird ghost growth thing,” Danny blurted out almost before Frostbite finished his question. “I grew fangs, and I’m always hungry, and on the way over here I kept spacing out and thinking about flying between the stars and eating asteroids and…” he paused to take a breath he didn’t need, “I’m kind of worried that I’ll just fly off into space for some weird ghost reason and never be able to find my way back.”

Frostbite regarded him for a moment, his cheerful expression morphing into contemplation. “I see. Let me get some readings, and we’ll see if we can sort out what’s happening to you.”

He guided Danny to a table and attached probes to his chest and his back to measure his Core’s energy outputs, turning his screen so that Danny could observe as well.

“When you say you are always hungry,” Frostbite started, tapping the screen to set the desired parameters, “is it for human food, or for ectoplasm?”

“Uh… both. And…” Danny ran a hand through his hair, embarrassed, “not always food. I kind of ate a handful of rocks the other day, just to feel like I wasn’t starving.”

Instead of looking worried by this, though, the yeti just nodded thoughtfully. “Curious.” On the screen, the gently oscillating hum of Danny’s Core was displayed. The dips and rises were a little stronger than last time it had been scanned, but otherwise, it looked fine.

Frostbite tapped a sequence into the screen, changing the display until it showed the elemental outputs of the Core. He stared at it for several long moments, then made a low, confused sound.

“That doesn’t sound good,” Danny commented, worried.

Frostbite shook himself and turned to Danny with a soft smile.

“It’s not bad, Great One. It is simply something I have not been able to study in person, myself. It is not often a ghost develops a Primordial Core, after all.”

“Primordial?”

“Indeed. As you have already experienced, some ghosts, upon becoming strong enough, develop Elemental Cores. This, however, is not the end of Core development. Rarely, a ghost will gain enough power and influence to begin developing what we call a Primordial affinity.  According to records, anyway.”

He closed out of the reading display and pulled up a diagram instead, showing the different types of elemental Cores. “The elemental ones are rather straightforward, usually aligning with the individual’s personality, surroundings, or experiences.”

A few more taps on the screen and a new display appeared. This one showed diagrams of several powerful ghosts. Danny recognized some as Ancients he knew. He guessed the others were either Ancients he had never met, or ones who had Faded or Ended.

“Primordial Cores are a bit more complex, and form around concepts,” Frostbite continued. “Time, Dreams, Weather, and so on. Unfortunately, much like Elemental Cores, they can take some effort to learn how to harness and safely ration one’s abilities, and many Primordials spend several centuries alone in the depths of the Infinite Realms, or in lifeless regions of the overworld, to learn how to control themselves.”

Danny stared at Frostbite, his Core thrumming sharply with anxiety.  “I can’t do that. I have… homework. School. Friends and family. I can’t just… disappear!”

“Phantom,” Frostbite said, sharply but not unkindly. “I believe I have an option for you. I have already spoken with the Timekeeper, and we agreed on a solution, should this development occur. Your Core has already begun developing Primordial traits, and so we can not turn back the clock on it, but we can send you somewhere, and somewhen, that you can safely test your limits and gain control over your form and powers.”

That was… somewhat reassuring. Of course Clockwork would have already seen this potential and made contingencies. And Frostbite had the Infimap. It could travel time as well as space. He could just go back in time a few centuries and…

“Wait, form?”

Frostbite nodded. “Indeed.” He tapped the screen, and the diagrams of the Ancients morphed from the familiar humanoid forms into new ones: long, curling bodies and large fangs, a few with vast wings blotting out the sky, some with horns and claws. All with a sense of immense, unrestrained power.

“I’m… going to turn into a dragon?”

“Yes.”

“What… what kind of Primordial Core do I have?”

Frostbite relaxed, apparently relieved that Danny was taking this relatively in stride, and tapped back to the Core Energy display. The usual cold temperature had plunged to near absolute zero, and the usual bright blue iciness of his Core now had a swirling impossible blackness at the center, the ice-blue light slightly bulging outward as it swirled around it.

Danny blinked. He recognized that sort of object.

“I have… a black hole. In my chest. Frostbite. What the actual heck?   My Core is turning into a black hole?!”  Well, that did explain why he was so hungry, right?  Was that hunger going to be permanent?  Was he destined to consume anything and everything he ever came near to??

“A Void, or Space, Core is exceptionally rare,” Frostbite explained calmly. “I believe Ghost Writer has records of some others, but most in the past, as I am sure will be no surprise, were exceptionally solitary. No one is sure whether those individuals have Faded, or simply lost themselves to the depths of space."

Danny rested his hand on his chest, feeling his Core thrum there. “Will I… lose myself to space, too?”  He had to admit, spending eternity flying among the stars didn’t sound terrible… but he had so many people on Earth that he cared about.  He couldn’t just leave them.

“Considering your half living status, as well as your other Obsessions and drives, I doubt you will seek such solitude in the next few millenia at least,” Frostbite replied, echoing Danny’s own thoughts.  He removed the probes from Danny’s skin.  “You will probably be relieved to know that, once you have learned how to control and regulate your Primordial Core, you will not feel the same hunger you do now, or at least, not with the same urgency, and your Core will still be bounded by your own intent. You will have to be careful interacting with your mortal loved ones, but you already do quite well interacting with them, and I have all the faith that you will manage.”

“Now!” Frostbite clapped Danny on the back, nearly knocking him off the examination table. “Let’s get you some food, and then we’ll send you off. The sooner the better, judging by your Core’s energy patterns.”

Food sounded wonderful, and Danny couldn’t help but feel relieved by the news that this was just… yet another power development.

Sure, he was going to spend a few centuries away from everyone he knew and loved (Did it really need to be centuries? Surely he could manage the powers in a year or two. How hard could it be?), but they would be waiting for him when he got back (from space!), and no time would have passed for them.

Of course, it would have passed for him…

Huh.

It was a long time to be away, alone…

But he didn’t want to risk harming anyone. It was better to stay away, at least long enough that he knew he wasn’t going to accidentally consume anyone with the black hole apparently seated within his chest.

Maybe when he got back, he could let some astronomers take a look and be included in a scientific paper!

The mood at dinner was jovial, as the word of Phantom’s new power development spread amongst the Yetis. They seemed relieved that he was leaving to learn this new power, instead of attempting to practice it there in the Far Frozen, memories of him learning his ice powers keen on everyone’s minds.

All too soon, the meal was finished and Frostbite was leading him to the cave in which he stored the Infimap. A slip of paper rested beside it, a string of numbers written on it in a sweeping script Danny recognized as Clockwork’s hand-writing. Beneath that, it read: “I will come meet you in due time to bring you home.”

Cryptic, but reassuring.  Danny would not be lost in space with no way back.

“The numbers are a set of coordinates,” Frostbite explained. “They will take you to the place and time we decided upon. There, you will be able to wander as you wish, and Clockwork will bring you home when he deems it Time.”

Danny nodded, reaching out to the Infimap. It hummed under his fingers, as if recognizing him.

Frostbite reached out as well, holding on so the Map would take both of them. “I’m going to bring it back after dropping you off this time.”

Danny chuckled. He couldn’t blame Frostbite, after the last time he had borrowed the Map. Holding up the slip of paper, he requested the map to take them to the listed coordinates.

Frostbite did not linger after the Map dropped them off. He gave Danny a hug, wished him well, and then asked the map to return him to his own home and time, leaving Danny alone.

Danny found himself in a star system that was not Earth’s. The star was the wrong color, for one, and the planets he could see were definitely not the ones he was familiar with.

The star itself was more red, large and heavy with the weight of higher elemental fusion.

He found his gaze riveted to it as he floated, watching the way its surface swirled and danced, tracing the movement of flares and slightly-cooler patches of relative darkness.

Danny flew closer, barely registering as the star, looming impossibly large next to him, seemed to reach out to him, a faint strand of hot gas and light pulled toward his Core.

He flew around the star, wanting to circumnavigate it. His body grew as he flew, absorbing stardust into the growing infinity within his chest.

Phantom danced as he flew, pulling a larger thread of light and matter from the star, testing how far away he could get and keep pulling the matter in a steady stream to his Core.

He spread great, nebulous wings after the second circumnavigation, soaring in a wider and wider orbit from the star.

The first planet was a tiny, scorched thing, not unlike Mercury, and the dragon curled around it a few times before devouring it and returning to his orbit.

The other planets were explored and consumed in turn, until finally Phantom turned back to the center of the star system.

He returned to the star, bathing in the heat of its atoms as the pulled strand of fire followed him, forming a swirling accretion disc and illuminating his vast, twisting, void-dark body beneath the nebulae of his wings.

Eventually, the star dimmed and destabilized, too much consumed to continue thriving, and the dragon coiled around it, pulling it into himself, and finally, the loose, swirling gas and dust that had been trailing around him collapsed inward as well.

What had once been a star system grew dark and still, and the dragon Phantom, sated, slept.

[teddy06]

I just finished reading (and then watching) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead for the first time and holy fuck

I have so many thoughts and no one to ramble to so if your interested it's all under the cut

I have a lot of love for stories that explore nihilism, absurdism and existentialism through such a personal lens as a character who is slowly coming to realize that they are just playing a role (or who's understanding of their role is changing) especially when it's done in such a way that gives room for comedy and confusion

I've been looking for a story that match's the vibes of Wes Andersons Asteroid City for a while now and I think this play has finally done it for me.

As someone who has already done a lot of work processing Shakespeare and spent a good portion of my last semester going through and understanding not just Hamlet as a play but Hamlet as a character, I had a lot of insight and understanding going in.

Even in the original play Hamlet, every character, not just Hamlet, who was marked for death, is already dead going into the show. They are dead simply for being doomed by the narrative. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead takes this idea a step farther and presents the whole play (or at least the parts that R and G witness) through their eyes, all while they struggle to remember and retain their own identities, and how they fit in to this whole ghastly situation.

The play is absolutely incredible, and was even enjoyable to read, which, anyone who has read traditional Shakespeare knows is rarely the case. The 1990 movie starring Tim Roth and Gary Oldman was equally as amazing, as even while to keep a standard run time, some things are cut, it adds a great amount of back ground details and moments that are nonexistent in the original text, but certainly add to the story.

It is safe to say that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead has now been added not only to my list of shows I would love to see, but also to direct or even take part in.

[hibernationsuit-remade]

14. Overgrown :)

Overgrown Patience visits a bureaucrat to get some information on an asteroid her target is staying at. No warnings here hehe Some of the text may have already appeared in yesterday's tag game

It's been a while since Patience had spent so much time in an office.

The bureaucrats walking in the hall seemed all busy, lost and tangled in the red tape. She did miss her old job sometimes, especially for the benefits, but looking at all of this really proved that she made a right choice.

She knocked on the door once more, louder than before. She could've been on the asteroid already. But one doesn't want to risk their life not knowing anything about the place they're going to, especially if it's a classified one.

Finally, the door opened and a blonde secretary quickly walked away, without the folders she had with her before walking in. Maybe it's the information she asked for. Patience shrugged and entered the room.

"So, how much are you ready to pay for this information?" The woman behind the desk stared at her. "This is not something you can easily find."

"Aw, come on, Al," Patience picked a few purpleberry candies from the box on the desk, "you owe me, remember?"

"I thought that one dissolved after we broke up."

Patience felt her lips frown a little and quickly hid it by laughing. "I don't think it works like that.

"Fine, alright. What do you want to know, exactly?"

"The usual. Who does it belong to, why is it abandoned, good places to hide. Stuff like that."

Alicia opened one of the folders. "Well, it may be abandoned on the paper, but there's certainly people there," she handed a paper with some text and photos to Patience and leaned back in her chair. "Gorgon belonged, excuse me, still belongs to Spacer's Choice, but doesn't have any ongoing operations on it right now. They left five years ago after some...problems with their research."

Patience looked at the photos. Some researchers standing in front of a facility, some living quarters, photos of nature. "Seems like the plants are living the best time of their life there."

"Definitely, it's overgrown with weird glowing grass." Alicia took the paper back and put it back into the folder, carefully moving it to make sure it wasn't sticking out. "Now, if I may continue. While Spacer's Chooce isn't there anymore, it still has people. Sublight people, you know? The salvagers."

"Of course. I take it they've taken apart all the pretty facilieties you previously showed to me?"

"Oh, no. They're all locked down," Alicia shook her head and reached for a post-it note and a pen. "I think you could ask a few people to grant you access to the facilities, though. If you need it." She quickly wrote a few names on the note.

Patience always loved watching her write. Sometimes Al had to take work home and finish writing memos and notes for her reports while they were watching some serials. The way she moved her hand...

"Patience, are you there?" Alicia's voice snapped her out from daydreaming about the past. She was holding the note in front of her face.

"Um. Yeah, definitely." Patience took the note and placed it into her pocket. "Can you tell me anything about the facilities?"

"Research-oriented, mostly. There's one for human testing, one for manufacturing, a research lab-"

"Hmm, the guy I'm after is a scientist. A biochemist, if I remember right. Which one do you think he'd be most interested in?"

"Interesting people you're after. What did he do, spill a liquid from a test tube on some manager's suit?" Alicia chuckled, "CHEM lab, I'd say."

"Great, thanks." Patience was almost out of the door when she stopped and turned back to Al. "He's wanted for lots of things apparently. could tell you, if you want to grab a drink later?"

"I...maybe later."

[nonstandardrepertoire]

i think for me the scene that really defines the failure of season 3 of Picard is the scene where Picard and Crusher have Vadic in custody and have i guess finished interrogating her and then go off to the side a little bit and are like "so do we just kill her now? i think we just kill her now?" and at first you're like "haha this is a tactic to get inside Vadic's head and shake some more information out, right?" but then no they are actually just deciding to summarily execute a prisoner of war that they have in captivity and uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh has anyone writing this show watched a single episode of a single Star Trek at any point? oh no they only watched "Tuvix" didn't they, i guess that explains it

anyway, further thoughts:

but seriously, folks, one of Picard's defining character traits is that he sticks to principle even when it is morally questionable to do so. an asteroid is on a collision course with a pre-warp society? Prime Directive means there's nothing we can do, we just gotta stand by and watch them perish. a treaty requires forcibly relocating a bunch of space!Native Americans? gosh, that's rough, he hopes they can convince them to leave voluntarily, but he's not just going to Not abide by a treaty

Crusher, likewise, is very strongly committed to preserving life. she gets kidnapped by terrorists at one point and is like "yes, sure, they have blown up a bunch of civilians but also, consider, they need medical attention, so i'm going to give it to them"

so to have?? these two specifically be like "time to execute a prisoner without trial!" is???????? i do not believe it of them. these are not the characters i care about from The Next Generation. they simply?? are not????? and this scene doesn't play as a like, "holy shit this is fucked up can you believe this war crime these people are about to commit what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck something has gone Wrong here Yikes", instead it feels like it's treated as more of a "haha, yeah, Star Trek is gritty and edgy now B)", which. why any of this. what are we doing here. i would like to be somewhere else

In General, tho, it feels like basically every other TNG character except for Worf and Data and Geordi sometimes is just. wildly off the mark? i simply Do Not Believe that Riker is that terrible a father and family man? S3 feels like it has given up any pretense of doing anything original and collapsed entirely into TNG nostalgia, but then it also insists on mangling every single legacy character it brings back, so like, again, what are we doing here. why any of this

further on the collapse into nostalgia and giving up on any premise of original ideas: what the heck happened to literally anything set up in the season 2 finale. we have an entirely new kind of Borg petitioning for entry into the Federation. we have a Big Mysterious Portal that shoots Destruction Beams just. floating in/near Federation space. none of this is ever mentioned again! i guess Jurati is still just. vibing

this is like, the fourth or fifth Definitely Final End To The Borg For Real This Time we've had, and like. i get that they are iconic TNG villains, but also bringing them back like this continues to feel So stale. please i am begging you: have a single new idea it has been 30 years

adding to the sense of Giving Up, thematically this season feels all over the fucking map. like, on the one hand: Vadic was a prisoner of war tortured in a black site by Federation scientists and now out for revenge. this has a lot of potential for a plot that is about chickens coming home to roost. the Federation made some really questionable choices during the Dominion War, and now they have to deal with the consequences of their own cruelty and destructiveness. that's an interesting set of themes! it doevetails kind of nicely with Picard having a kid he didn't know about with Crusher, and now they both have to Deal With That since fate has pushed them back together. but then it . . . switches to being a plot about The Borg Trying To Assimilate The Federation Again, which isn't at all about consequences of bad choices and is instead about "there's an evil sneaky outside force trying to destroy us because they're eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeevil and we have to be Strong and Vigilant against them". what are we doing here!!!!!!!

similarly, the alliance between the Borg and the Dominion (? or just the sect of rogue Changelings? the geopolitics of this is a little unclear to me, ngl) is strategically unclear to me. why do the Changelings need the Borg for this plan? it doesn't seem like they have a shortage of operatives, and it's hard for me to believe that the Borg would . . . share power? and not just try to assimilate or destroy the Changelings once the Federation is out of the way (and i don't get the sense that the Changelings are naive enough to not know that). again, what are we doing here

when Section 31 is introduced in DS9, it's clearly a shadowy operation that almost no one knows about, and even fewer will acknowledge. now, it seems like literally everyone not just knows what Section 31 is, but is also like "oh, their secret base? yeah totally, it's right over there, i have the schematics and a good understanding of the security system". are they a secret unit that calls into question the entire moral foundation of the Federation, or are they a known branch that everybody just accepts? these are different things!!!!!!!!!!

what the fuck is going on with Raffi Musiker. the show seems to want her both to be an unstable drug addict with a checkered past and a fraught relationship with Starfleet Command (cool, great, love this for the most prominent Black woman in the cast /SARCASM) but also a highly decorated officer in good standing entrusted with sensitive and delicate missions who has done no wrong. she is both paranoid and delusional and also right about every single conspiracy she imagines. it doesn't feel like she's doing well in her career despite considerable mental health challenges, it just feels like her standing flip flops wildly depending on the needs of the plot in a given scene

also like, idk, but i feel like finding out that the family member who abandoned all of their obligations to you for years and years and years in pursuit of a conspiracy theory was right about that conspiracy theory doesn't like? immediately and miraculously make up for the . . . abandonment? i just struggle with turning from "quite frankly we never want to hear from you again because we are so hurt by how you treated us vs your obsessions" to "wow wait you're decorated because your obsessions were correct? that's so cool, please come be our Cool Relative now" on a dime

why is Picard still blanket recommending Starfleet this place clearly has severe organizational and philosophical issues what are we doing why are we doing this

this is really not limited to this show, but it just Grates on me that in the first episode we see an entire large city building destroyed and while we're told that it's a great tragedy, we never really? get to feel the weight of it. like, all of those people died, and their deaths literally do not matter on an emotional level. we are not asked to sit with the grief of this destruction. it is solely there to inspire Raffi's guilt and prove that the Big Bad means business. just a very callous approach to life that i am noticing more and more in media — you see it also in Crusher just straight-up killing a guy in the opening scene — and that always makes me think about that Le Guin quote where she talks about heroes using exactly the same methods as villains and that being something that should perhaps trouble us morally more than it often does

i just don't understand how you can do an arc involving the Borg Queen and not?? address the New Borg Queen you made in the past season with her New Borg Collective. has Jurati always been The Borg Queen in this new timeline, or has she just been . . . secretly out there doing Borg stuff entirely unrelated to the main collective? how do any of these pieces fit together oh wait they don't this show hates itself and does not want you to have watched it

i'm sure that's not Actually everything but im Tired and i have Covid im going to Bed goodBYE

[mit]

The first asteroid sample returned to Earth

Richard Binzel describes how asteroid dirt and dust delivered by OSIRIS-Rex, with help from MIT, may reveal clues to the solar system’s origins.

Jennifer Chu | MIT News

On Sunday morning, a capsule the size of a mini-fridge dropped from the skies over western Utah, carrying a first-of-its-kind package: about 250 grams of dirt and dust plucked from the surface of an asteroid. As a candy-stripedparachute billowed open to slow its freefall, the capsule plummeted down to the sand, slightly ahead of schedule.

The special delivery came courtesy of OSIRIS-REx, the first NASA mission to travel to an asteroid and return a sample of its contents to Earth. Launched in 2016, the mission’s target was Bennu, a “near-Earth” asteroid that is thought to have formed during the solar system’s first 10 million years. The asteroid is made mostly of carbon and minerals, and has not been altered much since it formed. Samples from its surface could therefore offer valuable clues about the kinds of minerals and materials that first came together to shape the early solar system.

OSIRIS-REx journeyed for over two years to reach Bennu, where it then spent another two years circling and measuring its surface, looking for a spot to pick a sample. Among the suite of instruments aboard the spacecraft was an MIT-student-designed experiment, REXIS (the Regolith X-ray Imaging Spectrometer). The shoebox-sized instrument was the work of more than 100 MIT students, who designed the instrument to map the asteroid’s surface material in X-rays, to help determine where the spacecraft should take a sample. REXIS is a joint project between the MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), MIT Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AeroAstro), the Harvard College Observatory, the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

On Sunday, OSIRIS-REx released the capsule to fall through the Earth’s atmosphere, as the spacecraft itself set off on a new course to the asteroid Apophis. The capsule has been transported to Houston’s Johnson Space Center, where Bennu’s dust will be examined and distributed to researchers around the world for further study. The sample’s successful return is a huge milestone for the mission’s members, including MIT’s Richard Binzel, a leading expert in the study of asteroids, and a professor post-tenure in EAPS and AeroAstro. As an OSIRIS-REx co-investigator, Binzel helped lead the development of REXIS and its integration with the spacecraft. MIT News checked in with Binzel for his first reactions following the capsule’s landing and recovery, and what he hopes we might learn from the asteroid’s dust.

Q: First off: What a landing! As someone who’s studied asteroids in depth, and from afar, what was it like for you to see a sample of this asteroid, returned to Earth?

A: I was holding my breath just like everyone else! The parachute opening was a huge exhale, and the soft landing was a release of joy on behalf of the entire team. You work with these people for so long, you become like family, so you feel everything together. Kind of like watching your kid finishing off their balance beam routine and sticking the landing. While I wasn’t at the landing site, many of us were “together” online watching the timeline and all the procedures. What a journey it has been, more than two decades in the making, starting with our telescopic identification of Bennu as a scientifically rich and easily accessible sampling target, and then with the many evolving designs of the mission. MIT student involvement with the REXIS instrument began in 2010. It took six years to reach the launch pad and now, finally, we are seeing the mission literally come full circle in returning the sample to the Earth.

Q: The instruments aboard OSIRIS-REx made measurements of the asteroid while in orbit. What did those measurements in space reveal about the asteroid? And what more do you hope scientists can uncover, now that a sample is back on Earth?

A: Spacecraft instruments, no matter technologically advanced, cannot accomplish nearly as much as the power of laboratories on Earth. Our instruments aboard OSIRIS-REx told us that Bennu is carbon-rich, likely containing some of the earliest chemical records of the ingredients that made the Earth and even life itself. But how do we know that the spacecraft instruments making measurements while flying above the surface are fully correct in what they reveal and how we interpret the data? We can only be sure by securing the “ground truth” provided through actual samples being brought into Earth’s laboratories. The laboratory analysis of these samples, confirming our preliminary findings, will verify our ability to interpret data about asteroids from both telescopes and orbiting spacecraft. Then the laboratory analysis will take us to even greater depths about the chemistry, conditions, and processes for how our own planetary system came to be.

Q: Let’s give a shoutout to all the students who helped to put an instrument aboard the mission. Going forward, how might this asteroid sample — and the spacecraft’s continued trajectory — relate to the work at MIT?

A: It’s a reminder that the sky is no limit for what we do at MIT. MIT’s REXIS instrument represents MIT’s motto, “mens et manus” [“mind and hand”], extended hundreds of millions of miles out in to space, with actual hardware the students both designed and built, that was flown farther into space than any other MIT student project has gone before. I feel it is simply a privilege to have engaged so many students in learning and experiencing the depth of hard work, teamwork, and dedication that it takes to be successful in space exploration.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr!

[cupidsbower]

Debrief on the novel, The End of Happiness

A few days ago, I posted my Venom novel, The End of Happiness. It's been a pretty wild journey, so I wanted to decant it all from my brain. The EddieVenom BigBag came across my feed on Tumblr, right at the end of the sign up period in mid-March this year. The minimum word count was 10,000, and that seemed a bit of a stretch goal given all the real life stuff I had on, but doable. I had to make a quick decision, and so I kind of went -- I'm doing Health Stuff and it's getting me down, and I have that idea about the Symbiote Emperor kicking around, and it would be awesome to get some art! So I signed up, planning to write 10,000 words of silly space opera and get a bit of art, and finally explore the idea of the Symbiotes having names alluding to something other than murder and mayhem. Nice! I couldn't start writing straight away, as I had another project I needed to finish first -- The Star Trek story I wrote for Space Swap in April: When sorrows come. I'd already been writing that for a while, so I hammered out the end, and was kind of amazed it ended up being 6,000 words long. As soon as I posted it, I started work on Happiness, at last. The BigBang rule was that 80% of the work had to be completed, with an outline, by the check-in, in order to be assigned an artist. I managed to get around 8,000 words done, I think, and then put together the outline for the rest -- cool, cool, another 4 scenes, so it'll come in at 12,000 words. THAT'S FINE, I hammered out some more words and just squeaked by on the 80% rule. Phew. And then I put Happiness aside for a bit so I could made my VidUKon premiiere, Mind Fight. I needed a break from writing, and it was so worth it. I cackled the entire time I was making that vid. It still makes me laugh now. By the time I'd done that, I was put in contact with my artist, and I got so lucky, because ifer put their hand up for my story. Win!!!! That really put a spring in my step! I wrote another chunk of words off the back of my excitement for art, and realised I STILL had three of the four scenes in my outline to write. Hmmm. Maybe it was going to come in at 14,000 words. The project was starting to be a bit more than I'd planned on, but I could still do it. EVERYTHING WAS FINE. By this point it was June, and I had promised to run a mid-year Venom fest, so I put together Venom: Let There Be Chocolate, created the Ao3 community, set up the rules, advertised it a bit, etc etc.  And then realised - belatedly - that I needed to create something for my own fest - because the first year of a fest never has many entries. I cracked my knuckles and hammered out As the Asteroid Turns in about three weeks, which wasn't bad as it came in at 7,500 words. I'm super pleased with it too - it's another story I'd had in mind for a while and it was fun to get it written. I also used it to try out some of the techniques I wanted to use in Happiness, like Galactic Universal Sign Language, so even though it was a detour, I still felt like I was making progress. Through all of this, ifer was a trouper! Put up with my shenanigans and half written first draft with holes in it everywhere, and was full of enthusiasm for all the aliens. I hammered out the "turning point" scene so ifer could illustrate it -- the one with Eddie and Venom in the underground pool. I thought... Nearly done! and was so pleased with myself. LOL. Then I woke up in the middle of the night realising there was a scene missing, and went back and filled it in... and as a consequence realised that there was a whole B plot I needed to make the A plot work. FINE, EVERYTHING IS STILL UNDER CONTROL. Then I wrote the actual turning point scene -- the one between Eddie and Xan after the pool, which kind of came out of nowhere. My story-brain just does that sometimes and I've learned to go with it. It always makes the story better. ANYWAY, AT LEAST NOW I KNEW WHAT MY OWN STORY WAS ABOUT. Everything was FINE! Don't look at me like that! I was a little worried, to be fair. The draft was at 20,000 words and I still had 3 of the 4 scenes in my outline to write. But I figured things were properly on track now, and it would be a straight run to the end. And then. *internally screams* THEN... I realised I needed a C plot, to make the A and B plots work. Friends, at that point I was NOT FINE. The fic was officially out of control. It was not a fun little novella coming in at 10,000 words. It was a freaking full-blown novel. I'd be lucky if it came in at 30,000 words. I had birthed a monster, and poor ifer had done all that art, and I had to finish the fucking thing by the deadline because I could not let them down! I panicked a bit, read a bunch of Witcher fic to take my mind off things for a while, got sidetracked by my actual job and had to do a bunch of marking. And then realised the deadline was HORRIFYINGLY CLOSE. I was at around 28,000 words and still had two of the four scenes in my outline to write. I knuckled down and wrote 11,000 words in a week. NOTHING WAS FINE, EVERYTHING WAS TERRIBLE. But I had finally, at last, written all the scenes in my outline. Thank fuck for that. ifer swooped in and did the first pass beta and I submitted the darn thing for final check-in. For those of you paying attention, you'll realised there is still a pretty big discrepancy in my numbers. The actual word count of the novel is 46,000 words, not the 40,000 submitted for final check-in. Because, you see, I asked the wonderful maharetr to beta during the gap between submission and the posting deadline. This was a very good decision, as she looked at the final third - written in that whirlwind at the end - and immediately started whipping it into shape, which was sorely needed. The rough bits got smoothed, the jumps in logic were made sensible, the missing emotional beats were added. A few thousand words were added in the process. Great. Good. Things were once again fine. And then... I said, hey, maharetr, do you think there's a hole in this one place? Yes, maharetr agreed, there really was a hole where I had suspected there was a hole. Bugger fuck shit. I mean, no worries, 300 words would fill that hole. Piece of cake. LOLOLOLOLOL. The best part of a chapter and 3,000ish words later, the hole was finally filled, and the novel had gone up a rating from Mature to Explicit. Also, I had officially written some of the kinkiest sex of my entire fanfic career. A notable achievement to be sure. With that done, there was only one writing task left -- the epilogue wasn't quite right. The final changes to that were made on 6 October, literally the day before I had to post the fic. Thank you so much, maharetr, for holding my hand through that final terrible writing session. All the hugs in the world. It took me two days to get the post ready on the Ao3, with all the images, fake links, and other formatting. I was doing that in parallel with making final changes. I finished getting the draft ready at around 3am on the 7th October and pressed post. Then I collapsed into bed and slept like the dead. And here we are. Seven months later, a lot tireder, having written a 10,000 word novella in 46,000 words. FOR FUN. Don't forget that bit. I did it FOR FUN. It was a lot of work, but I'm super proud of my kinky romance-in-space novel. I know it's blowing my own trumpet, but my god it is really fricken good. You should definitely go read it. ;)

[If you’d prefer to talk over on Dreamwidth, this post is also there: https://cupidsbow.dreamwidth.org/467690.html]

[everygame]

Super Breakout (Arcade)

Developed/Published by: Atari Released: 8/1978 Completed: 27/07/2023 Completion: Played all the modes. Still didn’t clear a screen. Version Played: Atari 50 (Nintendo Switch) Trophies / Achievements: n/a

One of the most fascinating things in history is how often something was invented, some idea was realised, and… someone else had come up with the same idea at the same time. Known as multiple discovery, simultaneous invention, even (appealingly) “railroad time”--Alan Moore has hypothesised that there exists a plane called “ideaspace” where we visit to bring back ideas, and sometimes people come home with the same thing in their bag.

It’s what makes me think that had Tomohiro Nishikado not designed Space Invaders in 1978, someone else would have. Not exactly the same game, no, but something essentially similar. The history of video games is littered with rip-offs, but it’s also interestingly littered with almosts and not-quites, like people took a trip to idea space, tried to bring home the excalibur of ideas but only came home with a broken off bit of the hilt.

We’ve seen it already. Avalanche… isn’t Space Invaders. Air-Sea Battle, an Atari 2600 launch title features a few modes that… aren’t Space Invaders. But they’re not a world away.

I suppose that’s what makes Super Breakout so interesting. Nishikado was so obsessed with the original that in many ways Space Invaders was his “take” on Breakout, and when Ed Rotberg tasked with making a sequel to Breakout he would, mere months after Space Invaders was released in Japan, release a version of Breakout where in one mode, Progressive Breakout, the bricks slowly move down the screen towards the paddle.

(Heck, it’s starting to sound like Tetris, actually.)

Now, I can’t say for sure that Ed Rotberg hadn’t seen Space Invaders; but dates don’t line up with enough time for him to have seen it (very early) and to incorporate it into Super Breakout; it’s more likely to have been inspired by Avalanche if anything–tearing off the same bit of idea space.

It’s really with Super Breakout that you can see the genius leap that Tomohiro Nishikado made. He didn’t need the intermediate step of “bricks moving down the screen” or “falling rocks” he went straight to enemies marching forward, shooting lasers.

By comparison, Super Breakout feels every bit the incremental improvement, if you can call it that; of the three modes here only Progressive Breakout has the spark of anything, with the other two extremely nothingy ideas. Cavity is just Breakout, but there are two extra balls held captive in the brick formation, and when you release them you can try and keep them alive. Doubles is… well, you’ve got a second paddle further up the screen which matches your first paddle’s horizontal movement, and there are two balls straight away.

That’s it. Really both are things that would barely be interesting as temporary power-ups in a later clone, and the things you might expect (different block patterns, etc.) are nowhere to be seen–not that it particularly matters, the game is as brutal as ever with it’s tiny paddle (although I was able to get blocks to bounce off the top row in Progressive Breakout, so that’s something. I mean my score has reached the hundreds, now!)

Will I ever play it again? I’m less interested in playing this than I am the original, honestly.

Final Thought: The weirdest thing about Super Breakout was chosen for Kid Stuff Record’s “The Story of Atari” book and tape/7-inch sets, which recounted the stories of Atari games such as Asteroids and Star Raiders. Apparently written based entirely on the cover of the Atari 2600 version which features an astronaut. Seems like the kind of thing that probably should have stayed in ideaspace, but what do I know.

Support Every Game I’ve Finished on ko-fi! You can pick up a digital copy of exp. 2600, a zine featuring all-exclusive writing at my shop, or join as a supporter at just $1 a month and get articles like this a week early.

[friendly-neighborhood-imbecille]

i shudder before the bee....

Analysis Conclusive! Asteroid composed entirely of unique anti-ghost element, Ecto-ranium! Negative effects of which can only be felt by ghosts.

It would be most effective in making anti-ghost weapons and to ease Masters' takeover of the Ghost Zone.

And I shall be the one to tell him the good news!

No, I shall!

I shall!

Your resolution is much too low and your bandwidth is far too large!

Why, you HOLOGRAPHIC-!

What a glorious morning. Defeating Frostbite and pilfering the all powerful Infi-map. If this keeps up, I should be ruling the galaxy by lunch.

Kitchen's closed, Plasmius! Give us back the map! 

Ahh!

Let's rock!

3... 2... 1... Punch it!

I know you're a lost guy, Vlad, but no map is going to help you find your way. You need therapy for that.

Uhh...

Seriously, dude. 

Therapy.

The fusion reactor! If the flames reach it, it will explode!

Taking my map, destroying my satellite, mocking my mental health, it's time I finally finished of Danny Phantom once and for all.

Ah, home sweet home. Nothing like good ol' solid terra firma.

I thought you liked being in space, Sam. All that infinite darkness everywhere.

Yeah. Well, I like my darkness with a little more oxygen and a lot less asteroids.

Still, it's cool we were able to help out Frostbite. I bet he'll be glad to get his map back.

Yeah. We'll return it to him as soon as we can. But right now, though, I'm with Sam. It's good to be back to where things are normal. 

Attention, Amity Park! The Fentons are on patrol! Rest assured the streets are safe! Uh, city water supply A-Okay.

Yep, normal.

Nothing like a lazy day of shopping, lattes, and terrorizing minimum-wage workers. Boo. 

I'm going ghost! 

Well, look on the bright side. At least I'm not downloading them illegally. 

Next register, Cyber-jerk!

Behold, Ghost child!

The perfect combination of technology, past AND present! 

The Car-Puter!

"It will drive you... to your DOOM!" 

Great. My first car accident and I'm not even driving yet!

Hey! Tucker! Sam!

Huh?

Yo, I got it Vid!

Awesome Thrash! Take it Download.

Downloaded. Shaw.

Uh, who are those guys?

I don't know, but those are the coolest jumpsuits I've ever seen! Uh, except yours, of course. Black is very slimming.

Adolescents! How dare you? And another thing, the high tech look is my bit! 

Ghost guy gone, area's safe. Have a righteous day.

Masters' Blasters stop disasters!

Greetings, citizens. I hope you've enjoyed this presentation of Amity Park's newest teen ghost fighting team, Masters' Blasters.

Masters' Blasters?

As mayor, I provided city funding for this top notch troop. Equipped with the latest teen technology, they're going to stop ghosts and succeed where Danny Phantom has so obviously failed.

Teen ghost fighters?

Teen technology?

Where Danny Phantom has so obviously failed?

My plan is very simple, out with the old and in with the new! And the old should give up now now if he knows what's good for him.

If Vlad's funding them, then they're definitely up to something.

Hmm, they can't fight ghosts if there are no ghosts to fight, right?

Uh, right.

So you just fight ghosts like crazy.

Yeah, remind everyone in this town how there's no better ghost fighter than Danny Phantom.

You're right. I'll just show 'em who's boss around here. Buckle up guys, Operation: Danny Phantom Rocks is about to begin!

Hmm, 3 news photos of you in your underwear, 9 more and you can have your own calendar.

This is serious, Tucker. As far as this town is concerned, Vlad's goons have totally replaced Danny Phantom.

Did you say Danny Phantom? He's wonderful!

He's my hero!

But he's yesterday's news! Masters' Blasters gave us cool stuff!

Masters' Blasters stop disasters!

Cheer up, Danny. All you have to do is make everyone see you for the hero we know you are.

You can do it, dude. And try a cool slogan. "Danny Phantom stops..." uh, nothing rhymes with "Phantom"

Keep working on that. I'm goin' ghost!

Haha. Check this out, everyone. There's not a ghost anywhere that can stand up to Danny Phantom, the original teen ghost fighter!

Yes, as you can see, Amity Park is in much cooler, safer hands, thanks to Masters' Blasters.

I always knew that Phantom kid was a menace! Not only did he nearly kill Sam and Tucker, but he destroyed a perfectly good parade balloon and that's just plain un-American.

But, Dad. It was just an accident. I for one am glad there's someone out there protecting us. 

Me, too. And they're called Masters' Blasters. Vladdie's team has style, guts, acne, and they're humans, plus they gave my this zippity-keen-o poster.

Why are your folks messing with the Fenton Portal?

Dad's breaking it down to stage one so he can update the software. He says this way, He'll be able to catch ghosts and download songs faster.

Isn't science awesome?

It kinda looks the same way it did when you first got your ghost powers, Danny.

Can we stop talking about my powers, please? They're causing me nothing but problems, lately. I'm starting to think that maybe we'd all be better off without 'em.

Okay, that's enough for today. Come on Maddie, I'll let you rub my feet and remember, I have bunions.

Thank goodness I'm wearing gloves.

This thing gave me my powers. I wonder if it could--

Danny, what are you thinking?

Name one good reason why I should keep my powers.

You're the target of hundreds of evil ghosts. Oh, wait, that's a bad one. I'll go back to rhyming "Phantom".

Danny, think of all the good you've done and our doing. If you took your powers away now--

Hey, Masters' Blasters, remember me? The old orange guy, I --

Jack and Madeline Fenton, our readings indicate an ectoplasmic entity on the premises.

By order of the mayor, you're both under arrest for harboring a ghost.

That does it! I'm goin' ghost! Can't catch ghosts anymore, almost hurt my friends.

Now my parents are arrested because of me?

Danny, stop. This isn't the way.

You're a hero, Danny. We can talk about this.

Don't do it, dude. We'll find something that rhymes with "Phantom".

Sorry, guys.

Danny, can you hear me? How do you feel?

Human.

Danny. Danny, can you hear me?

Did he just do what I think he just did?

You mean step back into the Fenton Portal, remove his ghost powers and revert his DNA profile back to that of a normal human?

I was gonna say go un-ghost, but that works too.

Greetings, dudes. We're here to, like, police the premises for signs of any spectral activity.

Just go about your business. We're not even here.

There you go, dude. And remember, your mayor, who watches constantly, loves you.

Wha- what happened? Did it work?

You didn't register on the blasters' scanners.

So that means... I'm goin ghost! I said goin' ghost. Haha. It worked! I don't have my ghost powers anymore! I'm normal again. Isn't that awesome?

Yeah.

Great

Thrilling

Oh, come on, you guys, don't you realize what this means?

Yeah, that you're just an average, every day not special human again.

Oh, come on, Sam. think of how great this is gonna be. I won't have to fight ghosts anymore. Now we can all just be normal teenagers and hang out as much as we want.

Yeah. Normal rocks.

Hey, if it's what you wanted, then I'm glad for you, man.

It is, thanks.

Looks like we'll have to find other things to occupy our time, huh?

Looks like.

There's this new Masters' Blasters video game we can play. It's cool. You hunt ghosts. See ya.

I really can't believe you did that. It feels like a lost a good friend. Someone I was just starting to get to know.

Why is everyone but me bummed about this? Danny Phantom's not needed anymore. From now on, Danny Fenton is just a nice, normal kid from a nice, normal family. Now let's go get Mom & Dad out of jail.

Thanks for getting us out of jail, kids. I knew there must have been some sort of mistake.

I was never worried. I was this close to tunneling us out of there with my trusty ice cream spoon, but then they served ice cream, so, well... you know.

By the way Danny, I think it's cute what you've done to your hair.

Yeah. Kinda reminds me of the band I was in back in the 80s. The Skunk Punks.

The Skunk Punks Stink?

Yeah we walked right into that one.

Um, you guys head on home. It's such a nice normal day that I thought I'd kinda walk around and be, you know, normal.

Alright. Just be normally careful. Bye bye.

Don't worry. I plan on being careful for a long, long time.

And it's been another busy day for Mayor Master's Masters' Blasters, who are now charging a small fee to cover their growing expenses.

Yes, quality ghost fighting is getting very expensive these days. Time, equipment, storage, it all adds up. And since that cowardly Danny Phantom disappeared, not that he ever was helpful, there's no one else in town to assist us. Oh there are certainly a few crack pots out there, who think they have what it takes, but they only get in our way. It seems that when it comes to fighting ghosts we're the only game in town. And I do so love games. I-I mean...have a nice day.

Ah this is the life. Just sitting around, not fighting ghosts with my totally ordinary pals. Could you pass me a corndog? Sam. Wait! There's no reason to get mad the corndogs are made of tofu.

I'm not mad about corndogs. You're not you anymore. You're just a normal kid. And a selfish one at that.

How am I selfish? Because I don't want to endanger the people I care about the most?

Danny don't you get it? Your powers gave you a chance to change things. A chance that no one else had, and I was thrilled to help you. But now you're just one of the crowd again.

What's wrong with that?

Everything. You got to fight ghosts after school while other kids fought acne. And you don't seem to care what you gave up.

I care. I just care about you and my family more.

When you had your powers I knew that this town was protected from evil. But now, who knows where we're headed. I'll always be your friend Danny, and I'll always be there for you. But I can't live life just sitting on the sidelines. I'm surprised you think you can.

Blech. Tofu.

How dare they serve veggie burgers today?! And how dare you students eat them?!

Aaah! Somebody help!

No more sitting on the sidelines. Hang on Dash-

Masters' Blasters stop disasters.

Chill dude.

What's with you, Fenton? Who do you think you are? Danny Phantom. You guys are the coolest ghost fighters ever.

Thanks dude. That'll be three hundred bucks.

I'm going ghost! 

There, there dear. So the ghost portal exploded. It's not the end of the world. You can always make another one.

I don't want another one. That portal and I have been through a lot together. And all because I wanted to download music faster. Oh curse me. And my impatience.

We interrupt this program to bring you breaking news from the universal observatory.

Earlier today our stellar readings indicated that a massive asteroid is hurdling across the solar system.

Where its trajectory will send it crashing directly into the Earth.

If immediate action is not taken our entire planet will be completely destroyed.

We estimate we have one week before impact.

The fate of the human race is at stake. One week. Use it wisely.

News of the approaching asteroid, which some are now calling the Disasteroid, circulates around the globe. Countries are combining their greatest technologies to stop the oncoming threat. Sadly it appear that our best may not be good enough. And speaking of not good enough, let's go live to Fenton Works.

Thanks, Shelly. I'm here ringside where a privately funded mission to stop the Disasteroid is underway.

I can't believe I'm just sitting here at a computer console when I should be out there stopping this. And I really can't believe we have to do this with him.

We would have never been able to get this mission up and running so fast if he hadn't paid for everything. So at least until the world is saved, chill.

How's it going young man?

Uh. My dad Jack Fenton is piloting our new--

--My new.

Fenton Rocket. And is on his way to destroy the asteroid.

He looks very serious about his mission.

You'd be serious too if you had to eat this freaky astronaut food. Freeze dried yam smelt surprise. What the heck is that?

With me now is Amity Park's mayor Vlad Masters. I understand you've sent in your own team of experts.

Oh yes. Seeing as the world is in jeopardy, I felt that the Masters' Blasters presence was an absolute necessity. Plus, think of how well their action figures will sell.

Dad. Mission status?

Reading seismic drill charges. Now!

Detonation in three. Two. One.

Everyone cheers.

Ha! I knew we could do it. There isn't a rock anywhere that could outsmart Jack Fenton.

That's the Disasteroid. You had us blow up the wrong one, you idiot.

But I-I couldn't have. Vladdie punches in the asteroid's coordinates for me. Yam smelt surprise?

That…that was our last chance.

Oops. Looks like I set the wrong coordinates. Silly me. You know how bad I can be with computers. Looks like your father has failed once again, and when I time needs a hero the most.

At least he tried, Vlad. What have you done except send others to do your work for you?

And where are you Danny Phantom? It looks like my plan to shame you into hiding was even more effective than I could have hoped.

I'm just getting word that scientists now know that the Disasteroid originated from the rings of Saturn two weeks ago.

Saturn? Your satellite exploded. That's what moved the asteroid. You're the one who caused this catastrophe.

Defeating you was just the first act of my little show. Get ready for act two.

Tell me again, why are we here?

Because we've got to see what Vlad's up to. He says he's got new that will impact the entire world.

Citizens of the Earth. I have news that will impact the entire world. Though every attempt at destroying the Disasteroid has failed, I come to you today offering an alternative solution. One I think you will find most surprising.

No!

I did not see that coming.

Yes, though I use my human half to walk among you, it is obvious that I am a far superior creature.

Who are you?

Though the world has come to know me as Vlad Masters billionaire mayor of Amity Park, I prefer you call me by my chosen slightly more evil name…Vlad Plasmius.

Vlad's a ghost?

I have a proposition to make. The nations of the world must agree unanimously to pay be five hundred billion dollars and make me absolute ruler. In return I shall use my ghost powers

To destroy the Disasteroid?

No. To turn it intangible.

Evil. But ingenious. That way it'll just pass harmlessly through the Earth.

It's your choice world. Be destroyed or me saved. Oh, and ruled by me. I eagerly await your decision.

What happens now?

Looks like we either change the name of the Earth to Vladsylvania, or I somehow figure a way out of this mess.

And that concludes act two of what I like to call one nation under Vlad. On to the finale.

How could you hold the world hostage like that Vladdie? And after the good fortune you've had in your life.

Good fortune?! You infect me with ghost DNA then steal the love of my life and you call that good fortune?

I infected you? You mean…

Yes fool. It was your bumbling that made me what I am today. But, I suppose I should be saying thank you. For without you I wouldn't be moments away from becoming ruler of the Earth.

I never meant to hurt you. What happened was an accident. I'm your friend, Vladdie. I've always been your friend. I even voted for you!

I'll remember that when I steal Maddie from you and make her my queen.

Asteroid contact in five hundred meters oh future ruler of the Earth.

Ah. No. No. No! What is the meaning of this?

Asteroid composed entirely of the unique anti-ghost element ecto-ranium. Ecto-ranium. Ecto-ranium.

Ecto-ranium? Then I can never touch it. No ghost can. That means…the Earth is doomed. And even if it wasn't I could never go back. I've revealed…my true self. I'll be forever hunted. Jack, you have to help me. You wouldn't turn your back on an old friend, would you?

An old friend? No. You? Yes.

Jack!

What are we gonna do?

What if we don't make the asteroid intangible?

Then it would obliterate the Earth

Not if we made the Earth intangible.

The whole Earth? Intangible? Are you kidding?

Yeah you'd need like a bazillion ghosts to do that.

Behold…the addresses of a bazillion ghosts.

Now that's the Danny I know. So much for sitting on the sidelines, huh?

But how are we going to get into the Ghost Zone? Your portal is ruined and we're never gonna get near Vlad's place now that everyone knows who he really is.

I've got it covered. Come on. The Infi-map can lead us into any entrance into the Ghost Zone anywhere on the Earth. And according to the map one's about to open right here.

Now I know how my chili fries feel.

I-I don't believe--

Believe it Jazz. Welcome to the Ghost Zone. Sort of a Ghosts R' Us.

But all the shelves are empty. Where the heck is everybody?

What's going on?

Foolish of you to come here in your human form ghost child. Seeking refuge in the Ghost Zone like all the others?

What others?

All these ghosts! They returned here because you humans put your world in danger. Now the Ghost Zone is bursting at the seams.

But it's the flip side of our world. If the Earth gets destroyed, the Ghost Zone goes, too.

You guys get into the escape pod.

But Danny…

Activate cloaking.

It's not enough you destroy your own world, now you have to destroy ours, too?

Wait. You don't under--

Fire!

You just made a big mistake. Well gang, there's good news and bad news. Good news my powers are back. Bad news…my powers are back!

Danny! It's you! Well, it was always you, but…

I know what you mean Sam. Thanks.

Those ghosts are going to come back and something tells me they're not gonna be too happy about helping us.

You're right. We better get out of here until we've got this thing figured out.

If we went into the billboard's mouth I don't wanna know where we're coming out.

Danny Phantom is back. After a strange absence the teen ghost fighter has returned with a message for the world.

Uh, hello there. I have a plan that could save us all from the asteroid. And this one is absolutely free. How great is that?

If ghosts can't touch the asteroid, then how are you gonna stop it?

Because we're not gonna turn the asteroid intangible, we're gonna turn the Earth intangible.

Ahem. Ladies, gentlemen, various nations and stuff. My name is Tucker Foley and I…am a Techno Geek.

Hi Tucker!

Dudes. The new plan is very simple. With a strong enough ghostly power source and a big enough transfer device, we can send the ghost intangibility across the entire planet. This way the Disasteroid will pass harmlessly through.

That's the plan. Who's with us?

They never put that much effort into their school work.

Tucker Foley will lead the construction team in building the transfer device while Jack and Maddie Fenton's team will spread the transfer cables across the globe. If we all come together, not as separate nations but as one world, we can do this.

Not bad, huh? Now all we need is a massive ghost power source. You sure you don't want us to go with you?

I'm sure. I can move faster on my own. By the way, where do mom and dad think Danny Fenton is right now anyway.

With them. I redressed the Tuckbot 9000 to look and act like you. They'll never know the difference.

Nothing like saving the world with your old man, eh Danny?

Comment does not compute.

Your voice is changing already? Man they grow up so fast.

Gotta go. According to the map a portal is gonna open up over the pole any minute now.

See ya back here soon little brother. And thanks.

It's the ring you were gonna give Valerie. You asked me to hold it, remember? Something tells me it was really meant for me. Take it with you, but promise to bring it back. If you promise, then…then I know I'll see you again.

I-if we make it through this.

When we make it through this.

Right. When we make it through this. I have a few things I need to talk to you about.

I think I'd be willing to listen. And no matter how this thing ends, this whole ride we've been on together, I wouldn't change it for the world. Not one bit.

Me neither. I--. Wow. Remind me to save the world more often.

Go.

Right on cue. Atomic batteries to power. Turbines to speed. One ghost power source coming up. Okay. One down. Ninety six bazillion to go. Awesome! I think this is gonna work.

Auto eject.

What?

We warned you once, ghost brat.

Wait let me explain. Our worlds are linked. If mine goes yours goes, too. I have a plan. Look, I know you hate my world and wouldn't lift a finger to help it, but I thought you might care about saving your own.

He's coming back!

Danny. No.

He…he can't be.

It's coming!

Listen, I just want you all to know that…I love you. And I'm so proud of each and every one of you for trying your best.

We love you too, dad.

At least we're all together.

I…oh mom. There's something you need to know.

A robot? Where's Danny? Jazz where's your brother? Jack, where's Danny?

Look! The portal!

I still can't believe you guys agreed to help me. Looks like there is a heart under all cyber armor.

Don't get too sentimental. We're not here to save you, we're here to save us.

Let's just get this party started. Tucker. How. Much. Longer?

Now!

Where's the asteroid?

Phew.

Awesome.

Nice job, little brother. Or should I say…hero.

I don't know what to say other than, thanks Skulker.

Don't get too mushy on us, ghost child. Remember, I'll never stop hunting you. And now that you've saved your world, you're a much more valuable prize.

Nice job, Danny. Or should we say, Danny...

What? Uh. Sorry citizens, but I have no idea what you're talking about.

Isn't there something you wanna tell us?

It's okay, Danny. They know.

Citizens of Amity Park and of the world. As the youngest mayor in Amity Park history, it's my great honor to present this commemorative statue honoring the hero who bravely saved us all, Danny Phantom. An exact duplicate of this statue stands proudly in the capital of every nation of the world. And each will stand for as long as we have our world, because thanks to Danny Phantom, we still have one.

I still wonder how Danny was able to fool us for so long.

Good question, but I gotta admit, he was good. After all, it's nearly impossible to fool me. Isn't that right, Danny?

Affirmative, father.

That's my boy.

Where the heck are Danny and Sam?

I don't know. He said he had some unfinished business to attend to.

I can't believe you didn't want to attend your own ceremony.

Eh, you know me. I kinda like sitting on the sidelines sometimes.

And your folks are cool with knowing your secret identity?

Yeah. The time for secrets is over. The world is safe, time for new beginnings. My dad says he even wants me to team up with him now. Says I can be his sidekick.

You're a big star now. Probably the biggest in the world.

Yeah. It's weird, huh?

You'll probably get pretty busy.

What else is new?

And I probably won't see much of you anymore.

Oh, I wouldn't count on that. Sam, I could never have done any of this without you. And I don't care what's coming next I just hope that whatever it is, you're there to share it with me.

I will be. I just have to warn you, I'm no push over you know. I still have my own way of doing things.

That's what I'm counting on.

Actually, being a free roaming space nomad isn't half bad. At least it's quiet and I--

What do you say, wanna go for a ride? See where the future takes us?

Why not? Cool statue. Personally I would have made it out of recycled materials but, you know, that's just me.

[universestreasures]

@crimsonkaiser​​ (Plotted Starter)

“With a boost from Bicorn, go Barking Cerberus! Finish him off!” 

The command from the assassin springs the holographic images from the units projected from the helmets of the motion figure system to life, the multiple-headed beast charging force and striking Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion straight into the chest. A smirk doesn’t leave her face as the sixth and final damage is dealt successfully, it growing larger as it is placed into the Damage Zone. Not even a heal trigger could have saved Toshiki Kai at this point. She still had her Nightmare Doll Alice and a Skull Juggler standing in her right Rear Guard column, both having been powered up by a double Stand Trigger, ready and waiting to attack.

She completely decimated him, decimated the guy who she constantly had to struggle with for Ren’s attention. It was a shame Ren wasn’t here to witness such a triumph. Surely she would have praised her for taking down the Narukami user, especially considering her win rate against Toshiki Kai was slightly lower than his victory rate against her. The struggle between the two for who was the third member of the team or the alternate continued on, but Asaka is happy she once again showed him that she is a force to be reckoned with and deserves her place on this team.

And yet...her victory felt...somewhat hollow. The teen had noticed it during the game, the lack of Kai’s usual striking intensity. He didn’t misplay or anything of the sort. To the other Asteroid members who spectated the match, or those who would watch the recording later to analyze their fight data, he seemed to be playing normally. But to Asaka, who has battled him on the surface of the Planet Cray plenty of times before, he definitely wasn’t putting his all into it. 

And she had to know why. Ren’s didn’t need any weak links that could bring the whole team down and thus potentially compromise their next National Championship victory or whatever plans Ren had for the team. That’s why she walks over to him after removing her helmet, grabbing him by his black jacket collar aggressively and bringing him towards her.

“What was that?” Her voice is low and cold, but true flames of anger could be seen seeping behind Asaka’s icy hues. The intensity in the air was so much that the other Asteroid members could be seen leaving the room, knowing well to get out of the way unless they stay to face the wrath of The Assassin. “You put no effort into that game. It was like you weren’t even trying. Such a piss poor performance, even in a practice game, is a disgrace to Team AL4. You’re lucky Ren wasn’t here.”

And Asaka fully planned on telling Ren the results of her little investigation. It was her duty to make sure her leader stay informed about things, especially regarding Toshiki Kai since she didn’t trust him since the second they. Was it because she was envious of the attention and favor Ren gave him? Perhaps, but there was always something about him that didn’t fit right with the culture of this place. It...It was almost like he wasn’t meant to be here and was meant to be somewhere else. 

“So, what’s your deal? You’ve been acting different since our last match of the first day of this years Nationals, since we battled those weaklings Team Q4. The others might not have noticed it, but I sure have.” Her grip tightens as she gets closer, Asaka fight into the face of the taller teen. She may not look it, but she had become pretty observant over the years. She sort of had to be when you had people like her teammates who were all hard to read, the situation forcing Asaka to learn to read subtle changes in body language or facial expression. And she can tell just from how he’s been that he’s been acting different, and she has a hunch as to why that may be. 

“Don’t tell me that decimating that Q4 twerp at the Nationals to the point where he cried like a baby in front of the entire world is throwing you off. Since when have you ever cared about your opponents? I thought you were rather incapable of it considering you lack a heart.” She takes the chance to strike more blows, the ever opportunistic Assassin making sure that what she is going to say will sink in. “If you don’t shape up real quick, you might see yourself getting kicked from this team. We have no need for weakness on Team AL4, and we both know Ren would agree.”

After all, losing a single official match was enough to evict someone from AL4. That was the high standard she, Kai, and Tetsu had been held to for years. Loses were unacceptable to those who were at the highest level of the organization, no matter if they had been childhood friends with the leader or not. Everyone had to fight for their place here, Toshiki Kai included.

~

[cjhbooks]

IF TOMORROW DOESN’T COME BY JEN ST. JUDE

“There is no one so broken they are completely unsalvageable. There is no life so hopeless tomorrow can’t be at least a little better. ”

By the time I finished this book—fully in tears at my work desk—I finally understood why people highlight the shit out of their books. 

Avery Byrne’s story is not a feel-good story. The book opens with Avery preparing to take her own life, when she is interrupted with news that a large asteroid is headed for earth, predicted to take everything down with it. How do you handle the impending end of the world, when you feel yours has already ended? How do you handle your closest loved ones facing a future you had already decided for yourself?

Her life is intertwined with religious trauma, homophobia, and tense familial trauma, and this book doesn’t shy away from the hard topics. From the continued discussion of religious trauma and how it feels to be hurt by something that used to provide so much hope, to the raw accuracy of suicidal depression and the way it warps your thought processes and rational thinking, to the description of the crushing loneliness that college can bring when you’re isolated. One of the hard topics that struck me the most, is the presence and protection of children throughout tragedy. Avery’s nephew is far too young to understand the utter tragedy before him, and how the family wants more than anything to protect him and his innocence of the situation. 

I promise, this book is going to mean the world to so many young queer people, who feel like they have nothing left. They do. They have the whole world, even if they don’t know it. 

[themovieblogonline]

The Acolyte Season 2 Cancelation: What Went Wrong?

In a galaxy not so far away, The Acolyte hit Disney Plus screens with all the force of a hyperspace jump. But just as quickly as it came, it’s now gone—canceled after just one season. Let’s break down why this Star Wars spin-off fizzled out faster than a lightsaber on low battery. A Strong Start That Couldn’t Hold the Line When The Acolyte debuted on June 4, it came in hot—no pun intended—with 4.8 million views on its first day. That’s a solid launch for any show, let alone one tackling the final days of the High Republic era. For a series diving into the shadowy secrets and dark-side shenanigans of a galaxy far, far away, this was a promising start. Fans were hyped. The Force was strong with this one—or so we thought. But here’s the thing: what goes up must come down, and The Acolyte’s viewership numbers plummeted faster than the Millennium Falcon in an asteroid field. After a decent run in the Nielsen Top 10 for two weeks, the series disappeared from the charts in Week 3. It returned briefly after the finale, but the 335 million minutes viewed was the lowest for any Star Wars series finale on Disney Plus. Ouch. Why The Acolyte Couldn’t Sustain the Hype So, what happened? For starters, The Acolyte had the unenviable task of living up to the massive expectations set by its Star Wars predecessors. The Mandalorian and Ahsoka had already carved out their places in the Star Wars pantheon, and The Acolyte had some big boots to fill. Critically, the show did okay, with a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But “okay” doesn’t cut it when you’re dealing with a budget that would make Jabba the Hutt blush. Disney Plus has a high bar for renewing big-budget series, and while The Acolyte started strong, it just didn’t have the staying power. Let’s not forget that The Acolyte divided the Star Wars fanbase like no other. Some fans loved the fresh take on the galaxy, while others felt it strayed too far from the traditional Star Wars vibe. When it comes to Star Wars, it’s not just about making a good show—it’s about making a show that pleases the die-hard fans. And The Acolyte struggled to walk that fine line. The Legacy of The Acolyte So, where does this leave The Acolyte in the grand scheme of Star Wars lore? Well, it’s now the series that dared to explore the darker corners of the galaxy, only to get lost in the shadows. The show had potential, but potential doesn’t always guarantee success. Creator Leslye Headland had pitched ideas for a second season, but Lucasfilm decided to pull the plug. It’s a tough break for Headland and the cast, which included big names like Amandla Stenberg and Lee Jung-jae. But in the world of streaming, it’s all about numbers, and The Acolyte just didn’t have the consistent viewership to justify another season. What’s Next for Disney Plus and Star Wars? While The Acolyte may be gone, the Star Wars universe is far from finished. The Mandalorian is still going strong, and Ahsoka has already secured a second season. Disney Plus isn’t backing down from its Star Wars commitments; it’s just making some strategic adjustments. As for The Acolyte fans, this is a tough loss. But in the immortal words of Yoda, “The greatest teacher, failure is.” Maybe Lucasfilm will take the lessons learned from The Acolyte and apply them to future projects. So, while The Acolyte’s story ends here, the galaxy far, far away continues to expand. And who knows? Maybe one day we’ll see elements of The Acolyte resurface in another form. Until then, may the Force be with you—always. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF6V64kupEo Read the full article

[briankolbgamedesign]

Post Mortem: Asteroid Survivors

I felt like this game actually earned the follow up, unlike Combo Jam. Overall after some tweaking I think the game is a decent baseline, but there's a few concern I would have pressing onwards with this prototype.

The upgrade system. For the sake of simplicity the upgrades were simply up to the player but for the final game, the goal would be a pool of various upgrades (with varying rarities). The issue is making enough unique upgrades to add a good amount of variety would be taxing both on the ideas side and the coding side.

Enemies. The game would need to have more enemies with better AI to pose a challenge to a player who is getting exponentially more powerful with upgrades. Although my current shooter AI does make 'life-like' movements, I have no clue if the technique I used would scale up to other types of enemies such as a sniper enemy or an enemy with rapid fire

The ending. The game eventually has to come to an end, ideally with a boss around the ten minute mark. The issue is making the boss impactful, something that doesn't feel like a normal enemy. My thought was having them spawn on top of the screen and fire off attacks, but would that even work? It leaves a lot of questions as I haven't even started tweaking it.

There are a lot of unknowns and it definitely leaves me nervous.

It is what I will likely be pushing forward with for my final project however as a lot of my experimenting in Combo Jam was a failure and (spoiler warning) I don't really have much passion for the racing genre, at least not enough to create a satisfying pitch for. I do also believe that this game has the most interesting conflict (of the games that I think I can actually finish) as players have to focus on numerous things such as their score, their health and their build. It also has numerous decisions that players need to make on the both the fly and in moments of relief and the randomness would theoretically give it replayability too. The space aesthetic also makes it very easy to create somewhat convincing sprites which helps create an immersive play experience.

[game-dev-progress]

Castle Defenders Postmortem

Well, my Castle Defenders prototype is now finished! I’m much happier with my progress on this game compared to Cat Burglar, as I actually had time to implement each mechanic that I designed to some extent. Since the last update, I made goblins drop coins and food spawn randomly around the map and added three additional structures which can be built with a combination of food and gold. I didn’t have time to add the economy structures like treasure rooms, orchards and gold mines, but I think the idea is pretty well presented in the prototype. 

My main criticism is that the core gameplay loop is weak in comparison to Cat Burglar. It isn’t as fun to be running from the goblins, playing defensively and slowly amassing enough gold to create an unbreakable fortress, compared to dodging past guards and nimbly wall jumping up ventilation shafts. Whilst creating the game, I felt like it wasn’t as enjoyable, but thought that being able to build up stronger and stronger defences would improve the player’s experience over time, however this ended up being less enjoyable as I didn’t get the balance of the goblin spawn rate quite right to always keep the player engaged as their defences improved. In The Game Design Workshop, Fullerton stresses the importance of playtesting early to uncover problems like what I experienced, stating that “By that time in the process [beta release], it is really too late to make any fundamental changes to your game”. Unlike my last project, I didn’t get anyone to playtest my game before finishing it, which was my biggest mistake this project. 

I don’t have any concrete ideas on what I could have changed to improve the core gameplay loop, but have looked at other games of a similar style, especially tower defence games. One main takeaway I got from looking at these games is the importance of the wave system. Currently in Castle Defenders, the player has to block incoming goblins while also trying to pick up gold and food AND think about what upgraded defences to build and where. It’s too much for the player to balance at the start, but once the player has some upgrades it becomes a game of dodging goblins to reach the gold and food until your defences are so deep that goblins can’t make it through anymore.

This brings me onto another point. I never really thought about an ending to the game. I felt that since Asteroids was an infinite game where the player just tries to survive for as long as possible, the same would happen in Castle Defenders. However, it is possible to slowly push your walls out until there is basically no way you could get overrun by goblins, yet the game doesn’t end.

Despite all this, I still am happier with this game than Cat Burglar and enjoy playing it more, but I can’t see myself playing this game again in my free time in its current state. If I could remake the game differently, I would make goblins spawn in waves and add a final goal somewhere around the map. Taking inspiration from the Kingdom games, the final objective could be some sort of portal/device that keeps summoning the goblins, which the player has to build a special structure next to and defend for a certain amount of time. This would be a good final challenge, as the player would have to defend both their Keep and the new structure.

Sources:

Fullerton, T. (2019). Game design workshop : a playcentric approach to creating innovative games. Crc Press.