#true cone community

[phenixa]

A FloRid Analysis using science (but only at the beginning)

I would like to preface that post by saying that I am not a biology -or scientific- expert at all. I am a humanities major -more specifically a foreign languages one- who just happen to have developped a huge hyperfixation on Twisted Wonderland, its story and characters. And it so happen that FloRid is my OTP. So, brainrot happened.

The hyperfixation and brainrot went so far that I started to hoard facts about octopodes and eels here and there, reading scientific papers written by biologist when the last time I had a science class was like... In first year of high school (en 2nde, pour mes amis francophones)

Okay, so. FloRid. Floyd and Riddle. One of the most appreciated ships in the twst community, being the 4th ship with the most fanfics on Ao3 (with 727 fanfics when I’m writing these words), just behind KaliJami, MalleYuu and RookVil (in this order). I saw a lot of people discussing these two with varying degrees of media literacy (I see you, who claims that this ship is “problematic” because it is a bully x victim ship.). And while I really like to read all of those takes (except the bully x victim one. You’re missing the point sweetie by saying that) and I wanted to add my two cents on that matter.

A while ago, back in September 2024, I stumbled on a twitter thread on FloRid. I can’t find it again, too far back, sorry for that. Basically, what the thread was about, was that Floyd’s interest in Riddle spawned in the fact that Riddle is red, and red doesn’t exist underwater.(see photos below)

It isn’t really that red doesn’t "exist" in aquatic environments, moreso that the wavelength for that colour is absorbed by the environment not that deep (around 6 metres underwater for those (like me) who use the metric system). Oh, by the way, if someone has an explanation of why the hot pink is still as vibrant that deep, I would love to hear that !

So basically, red starts to "disappear" around 6 metres deep, and is completely black around 24 metres deep. It is, let’s be honest, not that deep, especially when we compare to the depths of the ocean.

In fact, red "disappears" in what is called the epipelagic zone - or sunlight zone - the first level of the ocean (see photo below). Which is interesting since, in our world, all species of moray eels live in that zone. And, as it is well known, the Tweels are based on moray eels (possibly Green Moray Eels if we follow the colour scheme of their characters), so, in our world, they would live not that deep below the surface (at depths down to 40 metres (130ft)). Which isn’t true in the game, as it is mentioned multiple times that the Coral Sea is deep below the surface.

As we can see on the picture, the Sun won’t go deeper than 1,000 metres (3280ft) below the surface, and the Octatrio mentions once or twice that there’s no sunlight where they come from. On the wiki, we can read :

"It is said to be very dark and cold and has a smaller population than countries primarily inhabited by humans"

Twisted Wonderland wiki, World, Locations, Coral Sea

So, where am I heading with that ? Well, did you know that Moray eels can’t see colours ? Indeed, in a research done in 2011 by researchers of the Tawain Ocean Research Institute as well as the Sensory Biology Laboratory of the Academia Sinica in Taiwan, simply named "A comparative study on the visual adaptations of four species of moray eels" , the researchers have proven that the four species of moray eels studies are colourblind. They, in fact, can only perceive green and its shades/tints, meaning that, even if it was possible to perceive the colour red underwater, Floyd, in his eel form, wouldn’t be able to see it.

There is a technical side, one that shows that moray eels only have one type cone cells (cells present in our eyes to process colours) in their eyes, to explain this colour blindness (in comparison, human beings typically have three types of cone cells : red, green and blue). The only type of cone cells moray eels possess, as I mentioned earlier, is the green one. The closest example we, as humans, can have regarding this sort of colour blindness is the red-green colour blindness (here, "protanopia"), or the complete bolour blindness ("monochromatism")

(if you can’t see the difference at some point, I have some news for you...)

Basically, in the aquatic world, everyone has protanopia since red isn’t perceived, but moray eels are monochromastics since their eyes can only process greens. (Can I add that the colour palette for tritanopia is really pretty ?)

In the game, it is mentioned multiple times that Floyd couldn’t perceive red at all before coming on land. And the best example is the Stitch event (aka the FloRid event. There’s so much content on these two inside) where Floyd explicitly says that red looks black underwater.

"Colours look a lot different underwater. It only sticks out ‘cuz it’s on land. A red like this would look black in the deep sea where we’re from. You’d barely be able to tell it apart from a rock."

Twisted Wonderland, Stitch’s Tropical Turbulence chapter 3-2-3 "Sparkling in the Sand"

Here, Floyd only presents the fact that the wavelength for red is absorbed by its environment. He says nothing on the fact that he and Jade are supposedly completely colour blind (and just. Basically blind since moray eels are famously known for their shitty vision) before taking their potions. And we have seen time and time again that both twin’s vision and perception of colours on land is pretty good. Just the fact that Floyd can note how red Riddle is, as well as how he was able to see him in a crowd during their orientation (or just how he is able to see small details here and there), is a good indicator of that change between their life in the sea and their life on land. Would it have been funny, and really interesting to make the Tweels colourblind on land ? Yes. Yes it would have been amazing. But alas, I love my two chaos junkies the way they are and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Where did I want to go with that ? Well, if it wasn’t obvious already, I think that Floyd’s interest in Riddle spawns from the fact that Riddle represents something inherently new for Floyd.

When you think of the colour red in regards of twst, you would think of Riddle at some point. I mean, the guy is in the red dorm, his hair is red, he gets red from rage really easily (and the colour usually associated with rage is red), he’s based on the Queen of Hearts, the red queen... Oh and his element in his dorm Uniform card is fire. Red (even if we can completely debate over the fact that fire IRL tends to be more orange than red). That’s a lot of red for a 160cm tall guy, don’t you think ?

Oh, and Riddle was the first person to send Floyd flying, as highlited in Floyd’s Beans Camo vignette.

"Y’know, back at my orientation, a guy way tinier than me used magic to blast me through the air. All I did was razz him a little, and he just SNAPPED. His face was so red, it was almost like he was on fire"

"There weren’t many guys stronger than me under the sea. But here ? This school is crawling with people like that."

Twisted Wonderland, Floyd Beens Camo Vignette,"Nowhere Near the Best" Part.3

If it isn’t said outwradly that the "guy way tinier" than Floyd is Riddle, is it easily understandable from the whole Beanfest event, with Vil telling Epel that Riddle and Floyd had been at each other’s throat ever since their orientation (while adding that every orientation he lived had something disrupting it. What happened during your orientation Vil ? I want to know !), we can also undertsand that the guy was Riddle with Epel’s reaction, stating that "Vil wasn’t kidding about what he said before", referencing Vil’s words.

Oh, and, wan we talk just a second about the groovy of that card ?

In the vignette, this scene happens between the two quotes I used (the tiny guy sending Floyd flying and the fact that Floyd’s pretty strong). Let’s be true five seconds, trying to not look with a shipping lense through that.

WHO LOOKS LIKE THAT WHILE TELLING THAT KIND OF STORY ???

I mean, even while taking Floyd’s persona and character as a whole into account, that’s just the face someone makes when sharing a good memory with a loved one, or someone they’re proud of (my own twin makes that face when they talk about their -adopted- children).

And I even went to ask friends of mine about that face, without telling them the context just "okay, what do you think is happening right now ?" and (without taking into account that one friend who made a lousy joke) the majority of them just answered "he’s ogling his crush". And I mean. Yeah... Yeah that’s definetly the face someone would make when watching their crush. (after telling the whole context, the first answer I got was "Yeah no, he’s masochistic" and I can’t really go against that...). Most of those convo where in French and in between is littered more private convo so I won’t give you any screenshot of that, just know that my friends -some of which aren’t even in fandom spaces- are just as unanimous than I am. That eel is down bad.

On my first draft for that document, I spent a whole 10 paragraphs on their orientation, going as far as trying to explain that Floyd’s interest in Riddle wasn’t firstly based on his hair colour, nor really on his size, but on his strength. I won’t go as deeply into details as in my first draft, but let’s just be clear on that point.

It is said multiple times -as well as shown- that students are expected to wear their hoods during orientation. We see that during the prologue as well as during most Ceremonial Robes vignettes that takes place during (or diretcly after) orientation. For example in Epel’s vignette, we see him and Vil wearing their hoods up, and it is mentioned once or twice by the Savanaclaw guys that they have to keep their hoods up during orientation (which brings them a lot of problems, seeing that the hoods aren’t made for their ears). So, in no world would have Floyd seen Riddle’s hair colour before his altercation with Riddle. His interest first spawned because of Riddle’s magical strength. And the fact that our little guy became housewarden only one week after orientation cemented that interest. I mean, someone that strong ought to be interesting, no ?

Oh and, I won’t go into details here, since it’s not on NA server already, but during Floyd’s dream section, and from what I understand from a reddit post explaining the Octatrio dreams, Floyd starts to remember reality after Silver mentions what really happened during their orientation, with Riddle sending him flying. Ooooh I can’t wait to see that part on the eng server ! More info pleaaaase.

Another point of interest of mine is Floyd’s nicknames. They are based on people’s characteristics, whatever that characteristic may be. For that, Vil is Betta since betta fish are renowed for being beautiful, Ruggie is sharksucker since he’s (literally) sucking off of Leona. And Riddle is Goldfish(ie) (in the sense that officially Floyd calls Riddle "Goldfish" but everyone in the fandom ended up calling him "Goldfishie").

Some points on Goldfish here. First of all, despite their name in English, Goldfish in the modern world tend to be more red than gold-coloured (in French they are called "poisson rouge", literally "red fish" for that fact), but they also are an invasive species once released into the wild. Oh and they are mostly kept as pets by humans.

And, who was kept as a "pet" most of his life by someone, is famously red, and once he was "released" into the world acted somewhat invasive in the life of other people ?

At the time of giving Riddle his nickname, Floyd wouldn’t have known what was going on behind closed doors (or maybe he knew, with Jade fetching information on anyone and everyone for Azul, it’s a possibility) but I find that really funny that Riddle’s nickname suits him on more points than him being small and red (I’m putting once again the screenshot of Floyd saying that, but it’s the exact same one as the one I put at the very beginning of the analysis)

(to think that I took this screenshot a when I first started playing...)

I’d like to point out that this is the first -and only if I’m not mistaken- instance of Floyd explaining the reasoning behind one of his nicknames. While I saw him name other characters here and there (with this specific card, he names professor Trein at one point in his Home Taps) he never goes to length to explain the reasoning behind a nickname. And to be honest, the reason behind this screenshot was to go scream at my friends that he’s completely unpromted. Riddle just spawns in the conversation out of the blue. And, I mean, when you’re interested in someone/something, you usually find a way to include them/it into the conversation. Especially when you’re neurodivergent.

And we come to my next point : Floyd’s neurodivergence.

The boy has ADHD. Is it canon ? Well, it’s not said clearly but it is shown in some points. ShoujoISM made a really good video on that matter some time ago, and that video explains my own point of view on the subject really well, so I won’t go into that many details here. But, if you’re not really interested in watching a 52 minutes long video essay (which, let’s be honest, with the attention span of our generation, would be completely fair), I’ll try to summarise as fast as possiblie with just that sentence : Floyd checks most of the points of diagnosis for ADHD in the DSM-V-TR.

As a fellow ADHD-er with a huge hyperfixation on mental illnesses, I tend to have fun seeing if some characters check the boxes for some diagnosis I headcannon them to have. And, after watching that video, I opened my version of the DSM-V-TR (yes. I have a pdf of that book.) and checked myself every criteria for ADHD and... yeah, no, he fits into the boxes so well. And with the prevalence of neurodivergence in the cast (especially depressive characters), it wouldn’t be extrapolation to say that when Yana created Floyd, she had ADHD in mind.

One of the main points of ADHD is hyperfixation (aka, what is driving me to write fanfic and analyses of those characters) and hyperfocus. And Floyd is shown having periods of hyperfocus. Like that time he hyperfocused on learning how to dunk for 2 days straight. Azul even makes note of that in Floyd’s Tropical Wear vignette.

"My word... When you put your mind to something you want to do, your focus is incredible. I wish you could maintain that attidute when you’re on the clock"

Twisted Wonderland, Floyd Tropical Wear vignette, "Flying Jellyfish", Part.1

Usually, a period of hyperfocus can be a relatively "short" period of time, but it so happens that in people with ADHD, who usually struggle with this exact perception of time, hyperfocus periods can be counted as pretty long for neurotypicals, or neurodivergent people that don’t experience them. As someone who has lived through hyperfocus periods, time seems to just. Not exist, so for Floyd to spend two whole days trying to master a dunk just because it looked fun ; it doesn’t seem that long for me (as a personnal experience, I was once so engrossed and hyperfocused on a paper for uni that I spend more or less a whole week on that paper, skipping classes and everything else...)

And for me, Floyd has a sort of hyperfocus on Riddle. Not really in the sens that he can spend days thinking of him and do nothing else, but more on the sense that he can find the other in a crowd easily, and is just looking for Riddle really often. In Floyd’s School Uniform vignette, it is implied that Floyd looking for Riddle in the library is a common occurence, and it is shown multiple times in the game (in the main story as well as in events) that when confronted to a crowd, Floyd will find Riddle first. For example, in the scene at the beginning of Book 4 where everyone is in the Mirror Chamber, the whole Heartshackle gang is discussing, surrounded by literally the whole school, Floyd makes a beeline towards our group and the first person he talks to is Riddle. Same at the beginning of the Stitch event, when Floyd comes into the library and comes across our group, the first person he talks to is Riddle. Keyhole vision, this is what I call this.

And hyperfixation. You would mostly know what this is is you’re chronically online or in the mental illness side of social medias (especially tiktok). From what I experienced and what I saw with my ADHD friends, sometimes, hyperfocus is caused by a hyperfixation. And in the case of Floyd and his "I really want to learn how to dunk" mindset at that time, we can quite easily conclude that that state of hyperfocus was born from his hyperfixation at the time on basketball.

It is mentioned at some point in the game that Floyd’s interest is fleeting, meanning that even his hyperfixations don’t last that long (once again, from a neurotypical point of view). He kinda abandonned basketball at some point, still going to his club activities when he deems them to be interesting. But do you know what kind of activity he has deemed interesting for quite a while now ? Bothering Riddle. It has been a whole year (at the beginning of the game) since their first meeting, and this dopamine addicted eel is still looking for his Goldfishie. Because Goldfishie is interesting. Riddle keeps on being interesting to Floyd, the same way that Azul is. And, I mean, from what we can see when we see Azul and Riddle’s interactions with Floyd, they don’t seem to go out of their ways to entertain him, and act mostly "in character" for them (Azul being overly calculating and mumbling about the problems that Floyd causes and Riddle being quick to enrage). Yet, Floyd keeps finding things interesting with them. I mean, outside of Jade, Floyd stuck himself to Azul (and Riddle to some extent) the longest. So they must have something in them that makes them so interesting to him (I have a whole lot of rambling on Riddle and Azul since they’re my fav characters (along with the Tweels) so I get you Floyd. They’re really interesting).

And, in a way, Floyd seems to care on a deeper level only to the people he deems intereting (aka. Jade, Azul and Riddle). We can see his care for his brother in multiple ways, his care for Azul in Book 3 before Azul Overblots (really well depicted in the manga btw) and his care for Riddle is littered here and there.

First of all, begining of Book 4. Floyd (and the rest of the Octatrio) comes to meet us in the Mirror Chamber and... Proposes to Riddle to stay with him over the winter holiday ? My boy you’re really down bad you know that ?

Seriously, we can easily understand that Floyd realised that Riddle was hesitant to go back to his mother for the break, and his first reaction is not "well, you can always count on your friends, and go to them" (Trey even proposed !). No. His first reaction was like, welp, you can always stay with me. The way the chapters are made, Book 4 chapter 3 ends with Floyd’s interjection.

"What’sa matter Goldfishie ? Don’t wanna go home ? Then, there’s an idea : don’t. We’re not. C’mon, you can join us in the stay-at-school club. Heh heh !"

Twisted Wonderland, Book 4 "Schemer of the Scalding Sands", Chapter 4 "A Sendoff from Morays"

It’s literally the first two dialogues of the chapter. I didn’t go further, but Riddle gets irked by Floyd sticking his nose in his business and Jade chimes in to temperate things between the two. Floyd then retorts something quite interesting for me  :

"Aw, c’mon Jade. It’s boring spending every new year with the same old suspects. Besides, Goldfishie’s so teeny, I’m sure Azul would love to keep him as a pet !"

Twisted Wonderland, Book 4 "Schemer of the Scalding Sands", Chapter 4 "A Sendoff from Morays"

Riddle answers by becoming all red from rage and is really close to trying to collar Floyd. The rage is defused by Trey and the rest of Heartslabyul, but I’d like to point something quite interesting. In the end of chapter 3 (after having discussed with the Savanaclaw trio), Riddle is shown to be out of the loop, Ace and Grim making remarks on that note :

"Huh, he’s soundin’ kinda defeated."

"Oh, right. The housewarden’s got an extreme case of helicopter parenting waiting for him at home. No wonder he’s not enthused about heading back."

Twisted Wonderland, Book 4 "Schemer of the Scalding Sands", Chapter 3 "Leaving for the Holidays"

We can more or less see the Heartshackle gang trying to cheer up their friend, but nothing seems to work. Until Floyd appears, makes a beeline for the redhead and angers him. And I mean, a reaction, even as "bad" as that one is still a better outcome than whatever he was feeling before. Even Trey notices it.

"Good grief. Well, at least he’s got his moxie back."

Twisted Wonderland, Book 4 "Schemer of the Scalding Sands", Chapter 4 "A Sendoff from Morays"

It is quite easy to see, with minimum media literacy at play, that what Floyd was doing was trying to ellicit a reaction -any reaction- from Riddle, in a convoluted way of, not cheering him up per say, but making him concentrate on something else, something that is not what hell would be waiting for him at his house. And he succeded. Any punishment he would have possibly faced hadn’t Riddle been stopped by Trey and Cater would have been fair game in his book (and he would have defused the spell either way).

I’m probably over analysing that but I can’t remember a moment in the whole game (in the parts I played at least) where Floyd is shown caring that much for someone. I mean, his words are the literal reason why Azul overblotted (I’m pretty sure that if Floyd hadn’t say what he said to Azul at that time, the overblot would have happened, yes, but a bit later if not at all). Floyd is the exact definition of not really caring outwardly for people ! But here, he is shown caring -in some convoluted ways once again- for Riddle who is clearly distressed about going back to his mother. And I found that the jab of keeping Riddle as a pet is somewhat sarcasticly funny. I mean, Riddle’s mother is treating her son like a doll, or a pet to train and show off. It shows, in some ways, that Floyd is aware of what happens in Riddle home life at that point in the story. Was it through rumors after his overblot, or did he piece the puzzle himself after havig seen Riddle’s reaction to going back to his mother’s during their first year ? We will probably never know.

What I also want to say by that, is that Floyd is deeply intelligent. Not just academically, but emotionally too. He’s probably the most emotionally intelligent guy in the whole cast, contrary to what he lets on (reminds me of Perceval in Kaamelott in some ways). He also possesses a really good sense of ebservation. Once again, in his Beans Camo vignette, he realises that if he lets Epel grow freely, the little guy might become a worthy opponent.

"I was gonna let him get a little roughed up to remind him who's boss, but hey. If I let Guppy keep swimmin', he might grow into a meal worth eating one day. I'll lay off him for now. After all, it'll be way more fun to crush him when he's strong and all sure of himself. Aha ha."

Twisted Wonderland, Floyd Beens Camo Vignette,"Nowhere Near the Best" Part.3

And I’m not sure if, at the time of the vignette happening, Epel has developped his unique magic. It’s possible, but not of good use since the use of magic is prohibited during Beanfest.

Anyway, his ability of perception (which I find quite funny since eels are famously known for having shitty vision) is also highlighted in my previous point. He realised, on his own, that Riddle wasn’t doing quite alright. No one told him "hey, your favourite ‘victim’ isn’t doing well", he just went to make sure that Riddle as okay on his own volition. And it’s not the first time something like that happens. Indeed, in the first halloween event, at the end of it, we can see Floyd caring for both Jade and Riddle. He forces the first one to stop working and sit down for a while, and he pushes the other to eat more. Here, it’s Floyd’s reaction towards Riddle that interests me, not because that post isn’t on Jade and Floyd, but more because it is prompted before Floyd’s entrance in the scene that Jade has been working a lot, while it’s never mentioned once before that Riddle hasn’t eaten enough.

"Psh. Teapot tyrant, meet kettle. You haven't had more than a couple'a nibbles yourself, Goldfishie. Even a real goldfish eats more than that. Aren't you a growing boy?"

"I'll have you know I consume my recommended caloric intake every day, without any excess or deficiency!"

Twisted Wonderland, "Twisted Halloween : Terror is Trending", chapter 5-7

A bit farther, at the very end of the same chapter, Floyd grabs Riddle and brings him to the buffet,       forcing him to eat.

"You got it! C'mon, Goldfishie!"

"I told you, Floyd— Would you stop tugging?! Argh!"

Twisted Wonderland, "Twisted Halloween : Terror is Trending", chapter 5-7

It is easy to understand that Floyd is used to Eating Disorders, especially considering he is friends with Azul, who is the reference in EDs in the cast (I mean, just see his backstory and read through Book 3 and you’ll have the big picture). Riddle’s ED isn’t the same as Azul’s, in the sense that it isn’t self inflicted, but ingrained in him. And for the sceptics, EDs aren’t just anorexia or bulimia. The fact that Riddle counts his calories and takes notes of every intake of food is very much a symptom of an eating disorder (this is another proof of Madam Rosehearts’ abuse on her son btw). And what does Floyd do ? he takes care of bringing Riddle with him to the buffet. Especially after seeing the reaction the boy had when cake was mentioned. Again, no one mentioned Riddle before Floyd intevened, only after that did Ruggie make a comment on that fact. (I also would like to point the change made to the idiom "pot, meet kettle" here. It’s funny as hell and shows a form of intelligence, because, being able to modify an idiom to one’s whims asks for a deep undertsanding of a language and its codes).

It was the last bit of trivia I had to analyse for the time being. At the time when I write these words, we only have 116 chapter of Book 7, so we haven’t encountered the dreams of the Octatrio yet, and even if I keep myself updated on what happens on the jp server I am not aware of everything that happens in details (I can’t read japanese for the life of me so I won’t play on jp server at all).

I realise that I have gone away from my first point of trying to analyse Floyd’s interest in Riddle using only biology and ended up doing a full-on analysis of FloRid moments... Oops...

So, let’s conclude once and for all that lit- *checks the word count* that analysis, shall we ?

While I think that Floyd’s interest in Riddle first spawned during their orientation (and his dream sequence gives us a hint on that matter), I think that Floyd’s continually renewed in Riddle isn’t just some sort of simple interest, but some form of infatuation. I mean. The anthology manga is there for a reason (even if its canonicity is debatable). We can see in various examples that Floyd cares for Riddle to some extent, the same way he cares for Azul (or Jade, but it’s not really the same form of care), and that his neurodivergence makes him hyperfixate on Riddle for some reason or another. I didn’t delve into my "theory" that Floyd might have some form of Bipolar Disorder because it hasn’t as much proof that it is here than the ADHD theory/headcanon, and it’s more a headcanon of mine than a fully fledged theory I have. Either way, it is clear that our moody eel is deeply attached to the teapot tyrant, and I think I was quite clear on that matter.

Now, and before I save this document and post it, I would like to talk about something. The "bully x victim" trope that opposants to the ship see. While I can understand the idea, I think it is not taking into account the numerous events where Floyd and Riddle are together. Sure, in the main story it is easily seen that Floyd has a favourite "victim" to his overly excitable moods, but a bully x victim would imply that Riddle isn’t able of defending himself. And he is. He just lets Floyd act that way because, whatever he will do, nothing would deter the eel. He is literally the guy that sent Floyd flying on their first day, for Samael’s sake ! And, I mean, Beanfest and the Stitch event do tell us a different story than "Riddle is a damsel in distress, victim to the whims of evil evil Floyd". Even in the halloween events  we can see that they -at least- tolerate each other. But, I get it, when the game fist came out in english (because I see that discourse more on western fandom spaces (thank you to my friend who acts like a translator for me to scroll through the jp side of the fandom)), people didn’t have any access to the second Beanfest event, even less to the Stitch event, and were only privy to Floyd’s School Uniform vignette and their interaction in Book 2. But right now, with everything we have for us, I think that this argument is just plain media illiteracy. You can say that I’m over analysing Beanfest, sure. But don’t come at me for things that are clearly said in the game (like the Stitch event or Halloween events). And please, by Demon’s law, let people enjoy their silly ships however they like. I’m not coming at you for liking a ship I don’t have a particular affinty to, to come at me and call me deranged for shipping what is just basically a Red and Blue ship.

Oh, and, last point before I close that document. At one point, Jade says something that stuck with me.

"Heh... As long as you’re enjoying yourself, Floyd."

Twisted Wonderland, Floyd Halloween Vignette, "A Big Fan of Pirates"

And we see Floyd having fun in most of his vignettes. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what this is. (Yes, it has nothing to do with FloRid, but I wanted to put this here since I love the Tweels and their bond.)

Welp. This is the end of that analysis. Thank you for reading all of that, it’s more than 5k words, and I did most of that at work. I have a lot of things to say about the Octatrio and Riddle (as people who follow me on my private instagram has been victims to. I literally yapped about twst for 3h30...) as well as on other characters.

If you’re interested in reading what I write, here is my Ao3 link : https://archiveofourown.org/users/Phenixa. At the time I’m writing these words there is only two twst fanfics (being FloRid) and a small dozen of Kingdom Hearts fanfics, but more twst is coming in the future. I’m currently working on a college!AU if you’re interested ^^

I finished vomiting my analysis, it is time to say bye !

[eve-ate-the-right-fruit]

Black people did not need to go to seminary and study theology to know that white Christianity was fraudulent. As a teenager in the South where whites treated blacks with contempt, I and other blacks knew that the Christian identity of whites was not a true expression of what it meant to follow Jesus. Nothing their theologians and preachers could say would convince us otherwise. We wondered how whites could live with their hypocrisy—such a blatant contradiction of the man from Nazareth. (I am still wondering about that!) White conservative Christianity's blatant endorsement of lynching as a part of its religion, and white liberal Christians' silence about lynching placed both of them outside of Christian identity. I could not find one sermon or theological essay, not to mention a book, opposing lynching by a prominent liberal white preacher. There was no way a community could support or ignore lynching in America, while still representing in word and deed the one who was lynched by Rome.

- James H. Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Elements of Art

The elements of art are components or parts of a work of art that can be isolated and defined. They are the building blocks used to create a work of art.

LINE A mark with greater length than width. Lines can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal; straight or curved; thick or thin.

Horizontal lines suggest a feeling of rest or repose because objects parallel to the earth are at rest. In landscape paintings, horizontal lines help give a sense of space. The lines delineate sections of the landscape, which recede into space. They also imply continuation of the landscape beyond the picture plane to the left and right.

Vertical lines often communicate a sense of height because they are perpendicular to the earth, extending upwards toward the sky. In a church interior painting, vertical lines may suggest spirituality, rising beyond human reach toward the heavens.

Horizontal and vertical lines used in combination communicate stability and solidity. Rectilinear forms with 90-degree angles are structurally stable. This stability suggests permanence and reliability.

Diagonal lines convey a feeling of movement. Objects in a diagonal position are unstable. Because they are neither vertical nor horizontal, they are either about to fall or are already in motion. The angles of a ship and rocks on the shore convey a feeling of movement or speed in a stormy harbor scene.

The curve of a line can convey energy. Soft, shallow curves recall the curves of the human body and often have a pleasing, sensual quality and a softening effect on the composition. The edge of a pool in a photograph may gently lead the eye to the sculptures on the horizon.

SHAPE A closed line. Shapes can be geometric, like squares and circles; or organic, like free-form or natural shapes. Shapes are flat and can express length and width.

FORM A three-dimensional shape expressing length, width, and depth. It is the basis of sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts. Balls, cylinders, boxes, and pyramids are forms. They can be seen from more than one side.

Geometric shapes and forms include mathematical, named shapes such as squares, rectangles, circles, cubes, spheres, and cones. Geometric shapes and forms are often man-made. However, many natural forms also have geometric shapes. Example, a cabinet decorated with designs of geometric shapes.

Organic shapes and forms are typically irregular or asymmetrical. Organic shapes are often found in nature, but man-made shapes can also imitate organic forms. Example, a wreath uses organic forms to simulate leaves and berries.

SPACE The area between and around objects. The space around objects is often called negative space; negative space has shape. Space can also refer to the feeling of depth.

Real space is three-dimensional; in visual art, when we create the feeling or illusion of depth, we call it space.

COLOR Light reflected off of objects. Color has 3 main characteristics:

Hue - the name of the color, such as red, green, blue, etc.

Value - how light or dark it is.

Intensity - how bright or dull it is.

White is pure light; black is the absence of light.

Primary colors are the only true colors (red, blue, and yellow). All other colors are mixes of primary colors.

Secondary colors are two primary colors mixed together (green, orange, violet).

Intermediate colors, sometimes called tertiary colors, are made by mixing a primary and secondary color together. Some examples of intermediate colors are yellow green, blue green, and blue violet.

Complementary colors are located directly across from each other on the color wheel (an arrangement of colors along a circular diagram to show how they are related to one another).

Complementary pairs contrast because they share no common colors. For example, red and green are complements, because green is made of blue and yellow.

When complementary colors are mixed together, they neutralize each other to make brown.

TEXTURE The surface quality that can be seen and felt. Textures can be rough or smooth, soft or hard. Textures do not always feel the way they look; for example, a drawing of a porcupine may look prickly, but if you touch the drawing, the paper is still smooth.

Texture depicted in two-dimensions. Artists use color, line, and shading to imply textures. In a painting, a man's robe may be painted to simulate silk. The ability to convincingly portray fabric of different types was one of the marks of a great painter during the 17th century.

Surface texture. The surface of a writing desk is metallic and hard. The hard surface is functional for an object that would have been used for writing. The smooth surface of a writing desk reflects light, adding sparkle to the piece of furniture.

Principles of Design ⚜ Writing Notes & References

[yearning4star]

I’ve recently just joined sturniolo tumblr within the last couple of months or so, and its safe to say that I’m not a huge part of it yet as I haven’t really posted anything of my own work or really made my mark on the community in regards to customizing my page and making it truly mine, so i know a lot of people within the community dont know me and have never even seen my name within the community but I have some thoughts about the current situations, and I’d appreciate if anyone who sees this took the time to read this!

First off, in regards to the tripouts situation: I’d just like to say that as a member of the LGBTQ+ community (I am pansexual and asexual, if thats important whatsoever), I am not in favor of posting slurs, especially if it is being used in a derogatory or offensive way. Obviously we all know that the f slur has been used against us (us being members of the LGBTQ+ community) in the past and has been “reclaimed” by many people within the community. While that may be true, I personally don’t think that it’s appropriate to be posting that type of language on any form of social media, regardless of your personal experience with it. It’s the same thing with the r slur. While I am not sure exactly how others feel in regards to the r slur, as I am not an individual who has intellectual disabilities or anything to do with that. But what I can say is that at this point its just basic human empathy. It doesn’t matter whether or not you’ve “reclaimed” said slur, i’ve seen many people speak out about how offensive these things are and that should be enough of a reason for you to stop and think for a moment. I’ve also seen many people speak up about the fake apologies and just the overall lack of responsibility. I may be younger to some people, as I am still a minor (not that it matters in this context), but even I know that what you’ve done is wrong. Like I said before, it is basic human empathy and respect.

(TW for the mention of self-harm and suicide! - no descriptions or anything too vulgar) Second, in regards to that one anonymous account (i forgot the name im so sorry): I personally have sh addiction and has attempted suicide multiple times, saying these things about another person who has opened up about their own struggles is NEVER okay. It WILL NEVER be okay. Everybody goes through their own shit in life and everybody copes differently - you have absolutely no right to downplay or insult the way someone else has coped. I hope you take some time to yourself and reconsider everything. I mean this in the most respectful way, but I really do hope that you get help. Whether that’s talking to a counselor or just writing your thoughts down to prevent yourself from contributing more hate into an already unnecessarily toxic community, please just take some time and reflect - work on yourself to become a better person for the love of everything good in this world.

Lastly, a note to anybody who is actually reading this (probably nobody but still). The world is already so divided and filled with hate, I know it’s easier said than done and this may be super corny but please just be kind. Especially with the current world news and everything going on in current events, we all need some love and hope in our lives. I’m not saying you need to befriend anybody you meet, you’re going to cone across people you don’t like in your life, and thats okay - but what is never okay is spreading hate and negativity. It doesnt matter what your past looks like, we all come from different backgrounds and everybody has a completely different story, you never know what someone is truly going through. Please take some time to yourself, just find some time during your day to reflect and let go of any hate or negativity you may have been holding in.

Some things that help me:

going for a walk

journaling/writing

talking to my friends

reading

watching a comfort show/movie

playing with my dog (or any other pet you may have, if any!)

going to counseling/therapy

taking care of my body (eating enough, self-care, sleeping enough, etc.)

[wall-legion]

Fan Tree Concept: Shiverpeaks Tree

So a few days ago I was consumed by the idea of "to be loved is to be changed" and started developing the idea of a seed being carried to the Shiverpeaks and taking root there, resulting in a coniferous Tree (and by proxy, sylvari). More information under the snip!

So the basic facts about this tree are as follows:

Like the Pale Tree in the Tarnished Coast, this tree has an avatar: it is male presenting and has been named Pinefather. (I think he sounds like Patrick Page but that may change!)

The seed was planted by a Shining Blade human monk named Laird, after he was separated from the rest of the Shining Blade and nearly died from frostbite/exposure. He was saved from this fate by a norn warrior named Sif, and in the process of her helping him to recover the two fell in love. Laird planted the seed he had taken from the same cave Ronan had found the Pale Tree's seed outside the abandoned haven where Sif cared for him, and the Shiverpeaks tree has grown through the remains of that same haven.

The sylvari from this tree have body patterns and "hairstyles" more akin to the trees you would find in the Shiverpeaks: think pine cones or tassels, maple leaves, birch bark, etc. Less tropical and more "humid continental".

Unlike the Pale Tree, the sylvari from this tree only drop four times a year and thus are sorted by the time of year that they are "born": Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter.

Because of Sif's influence on the seed and their proximity to the norn, these sylvari have their own version of the Spirits of the Wild. They are the Spirit of Rain, the Spirit of Wind, the Spirit of Sun, and the Spirit of Earth. Instead of the Dream, the sylvari commune with these spirits before they awake into the season they're "born" into, and the spirits inform the sylvari of what to expect of the world they're about to join: for example, a Winterborn sylvari might hear "I am Earth. I am frozen and the seeds sleep within me."; "I am Sun. I stay out as long as I can, but I must be fair to the season."; "I am Rain. I fall as snow this time of year and blanket those sleeping within Earth."; "I am Wind. I shake the snow from Pinefather so you do not catch a chill before you awake." Finally, the season the sylvari awakes into is equivalent to the Pale Tree's time of day. And while these are not true for every sylvari born in these seasons, these descriptions are fitting for most sylvari from the Shiverpeak tree.

Springborn sylvari are said to be naive but charming, the kind who will ask a thousand questions about something and then have a thousand more by the time you've answered the first set.

Summerborn sylvari are thought to be naturally gifted at the arts and entertaining other, and there are stories that the first Summer child climbed down from Pinefather's branches by dancing.

Autumnborn sylvari tend to be caretakers: they care for the crops, they care for the sick, or they care for the animals who help them survive. Because of this, Autumnborn are thought to be more serious than their siblings.

Winterborn sylvari seem to be the most shy of the Shiverpeaks sylvari, as they tend to be quieter or more secretive. So there's what I have so far! If I figure out anything more, I'll post it by reblogging this post!

[littlebitsalt]

Lies

Yandere (former) friend x reader

Summary: you meet your school friend again.

You write for a living. You travel across the world and make stories out of them. You had enough money to do what you want, enough friends to keep company, enough readers to keep you motivated.

You worked in a company a few years ago. You woke up early and got ready for a hard day's work back then. Work was stressful, and the people around you were a burden. You had no one to express your feelings back there.

So you stopped working for the company after 4 years. You decided to pursue your dreams as a writer. Your friends and family were worried that you weren't going to make a living out of writing, but you succeeded. Your work wasn't the best out there, but you appreciated your life as a writer.

You finished a sequel for your first book a week ago. Your friends called you for celebration. You and your friends had fun, singing, drinking, and chatting about some personal stuff.

One of your friends, Jamie, brought up middle school while talking.

"Hey, do you guys remember Ray from middle school?"

You nodded. You remember him very well.

"I heard that he is a son of a well known company's owner!"

Your friend said.

"So the rumor was right all along?"

Your other friend, Alex, was surprised.

"Yeah, those rumors were true! Didn't you work for the company Ray's father owns?"

Jamie asked.

"I did, but I've only seen him in the elevator or hallways. We were in different departments. How did you know about this anyway Jamie? I haven't seen this in news."

"Well... I work in a magazine company.. and a friend of mine told me."

You picture Ray walking around, alone. He was never with someone. He isolated himself from everyone. People from the company often tried to start a conversation with Ray, but they never got his attention. It wasn't that Ray couldn't communicate with others. Ray didn't need anybody. Doing something without any company was possible for him. In fact, Ray was good at it.

You didn't have any interactions with him. You didn't even try to. Plus, he is too busy to hang around with people.

You woke up from your recall and focused on the conversation.

"Is he still a loner?"

Alex asked.

"I think he is. But he does his work very well, that's for sure."

"He wouldn't be Ray if he wasn't the best, and alone."

Alex snorted.

"Hadn't Ray and you have something going on in middle school? You were basically Ray's stalker in middle school."

Jamie smirked at you. Jamie was always well informed with the latest news, even in middle school.

"What do you mean? You know that I talked to almost everyone at that time!"

"Jamie has a point. You literally followed him everywhere in middle school. I'm surprised Ray hadn't reported you."

"Just tell us the truth!"

Jamie looked at you with sparkling eyes. You knew that Jamie wasn't going to lose this chance.

"Just admit it, it was more than 10 years ago!"

"Okay! Well.. Maybe I had feelings for him. But it was just a phase."

You blurted out how you felt. Your face got red, and your friends all laughed their head off. It was quite embarrassing. People turned their heads to see what made two friends laugh.

Your friends went on teasing you. Jamie knew all your crushes' names and was excited enough to call all their names out. Even Alex, who was relatively calm teased how you fall in love very easily. You tried to explain that your number of crushes wasn't that much, but your friends didn't listen.

You parted with your friends when alcohol kicked in a little. You went into a nearby convenient store to buy something to eat next morning.

You bought finished products and a icecream cone. You sat down on a bench just outside the convenient store.

You thought about Ray.

At first, you asked questions to Ray and tried to talk to him out of curiosity. But as time passed, you began to really enjoy time with him.

Ray didn't talk much. He just listened, and that did help you. He listened attentively to your words. He didn't measure you like others did.

You were upset when Ray left without a word. You felt devastated when you realized you didn't even have his phone number. You hadn't doubted your friendship(maybe a little more...?) with him, but after him disappearing without a trace, you figured that the friendship was one-sided.

You assumed this unpleasant feeling would go on forever, but you realized these kind of feelings fade off surprisingly fast. You had other things to consider in your life, and thinking about Ray wasn't as important as before. As time went by, Ray become somebody who would be mentioned only when your friends and you had time recalling middle school days.

"Are you (y/n)?"

Someone asked.

You looked up. A familiar face looked at you.

"Do you remeber me? I'm Ray."

"Oh.. of course!"

An awkward silence began. You didn't know what to say. You didn't want to go on rambling about random stuff like you used to.

"Do you live close to here?"

Ray asked.

"Yeah, I moved here after I left the company. Do you live here too?"

"Not really, but I live close."

"That's great! It's nice having a friend that lives close."

"Remember when we were close in middle school?"

Ray asked. You were quite surprised. 'Close' was not a word that you expected.

"I remember. I hope you had a great time with me. I was a burden back then, right?"

Ray was definitely saying you were close to him just to be nice.

"I enjoyed conversations with you. You were fun to hang out with."

"That's a good thing to hear, thanks. I think I should go home now, I have work to do tomorrow. Deadline is close."

You lied. Feelings for him faded off years ago, but talking to him gave you an unpleasant feeling.

You also had this kind despicable mind off lying and leaving him on a conversation. You wanted to give back what he done in spite of knowing that it would be a rude thing to do.

Maybe you were lying to yourself when you thought about Ray and realized Ray wasn't as important.

You still were conscious of him.

"Oh.. okay. Can I take you home? It's getting late."

"No. I'm sorry, but I'd be better alone. We could talk sometime later."

"Alright."

You got home, and went straight to sleep.

After that day, you met him often in your town. He didn't even try to hide that he was solving his everday life in your town to meet you.

"Hi again (y/n)"

You met him at a grocery store.

"Oh, hi. Nice to see you again."

Ray joined in with noticing.

Casual conversations went by like middle school days. But now Ray was the one talking eagerly. You weren't quiet like Ray in middle school, but Ray now was more invested into this small talking. It was very unlike of him.

"(y/n), do you have plans this Sunday?"

"No, I'm free on Sunday, why?"

"I was wondering if you can have dinner with me."

"Okay, do you have any restaurants in mind?"

"I do. I'll pick you up at 6"

You were convinced Ray was asking you on a date. You didn't have feelings for him, but you decided it wouldn't hurt to go on a date with him.

It was Sunday morning, and you got a call from your friend, Jamie.

"(y/n), do you have time? I really need you today!"

Jamie sounded desperate.

"What's the problem?"

"I have a date today. A colleague introduced him.. But I can't go today!"

"Why? He couldn't be that bad.."

"I have a important thing to do today. My favorite singer actually drops his album today, and I have to go buy the album to see him. He is coming to the bookstore today! I can't miss this chance. I'm very sorry, (y/n), I'll do anything if you ask me to."

You knew you had promised Ray for dinner today. You also know that Jamie has other people to go on a date instead of her.

You knew certainly that Ray would be upset. His expressions directed he was looking up to this dinner.

"Alright. I'll do it. But you'll have to pay for our meal if we hang out again."

"Of course I will! Thanks! I really needed someone to go on a date with this.. what's his name..? Oh, Liam. You can meet him at 4. I'll text you the details."

"Okay."

You hung up the phone. You texted Ray right away you couldn't have dinner with him. You texted him you had to help out your friend, which was technically not a lie. You felt bad, intentionally hurting him. But it really didn't matter.. You had no means of dating him. Surely.

It was childish of you to treat someone like this. You knew this very well. It was okay though. It was better than making someone feel one sided in a relationship.

You felt you were putting too much energy in thinking, so you slept until it was time for a date.

Dressed decently, you waited for Liam in front of the restaurant Jamie texted you. After a few minutes, Liam arrived.

"Hi? You are (y/n), right?"

"Yes. Is it okay if I'm here instead of Jamie?"

"Well.. It's disappointing that Jamie couldn't come. But meeting someone like you is luck to me."

Liam was very out forward and energetic guy. His words were very honest, and he made you feel comfortable.

"What are your interests?"

Liam asked.

"I like writing.. I never knew I had fun writing when I was is school. I found my hobby just a few years ago."

"That's a cool interest. I travel when I have the chance. I watch a lot of traveling channels..."

"Can.. can I go to the bathroom real quick?

You saw Ray walking into the restaurant you were in, alone.

You ran straight to the bathroom, hoping Ray didn't see you. After a few minutes, you scanned the restaurant and found Ray sitting at the opposite side. Relieved, you went back to Liam.

You finished your dinner with Liam. Liam wanted to spend more time with you, but you declined. You wanted Ray to not notice you hanging out with Liam.

You bought some snacks at the convenient store and sat on the bench. You nibbled on a chocolate bar you bought. You felt the breeze touching your skin. Feeling the wind is a good thing to do when you're mind is full of useless thoughts.

"(y/n)"

You instantly knew it was Ray.

"Oh Ray.. Hi."

"I didn't expect you to be here."

"I finished helping my friend.. so.."

"Do you mind if I sit next to you?"

"I don't mind! You can sit here."

You could hear your heart thumping.

Did he find out?

You could tell by his face that he wasn't feeling good.

"(y/n), did you miss me when I left?"

Ray asked. You couldn't answer.

You told yourself you forgot about Ray, and it was right, you actually nearly forgot Ray and you were a thing.

But that was until Ray entered your life without your will. You told yourself that you weren't conscious of him although your actions told otherwise.

"No... umm.. I was busy studying and doing other things, so I didn't miss you, that much. "

"Oh"

Ray didn't talk for a while.

"Do you want to know why I left without a word?"

You wondered if you should focus on the word "left" or "without a word".

"Well um... Everyone in school was curious about your disappearance at that time. People asked me where you've gone. All I could say was 'I don't know either'.. In fact, I was the one who wanted to know why you left the most!"

You tried to brighten the mood. It didn't work.

"Nothing special.. I left because my parents had business in other cities."

"That explains your disappearance. I guess it would've been better if you told me."

You felt awkward. You desperately wanted to leave.

Ray didn't say anything. He looked at the ground.

Silence began. You couldn't handle the long silence anymore.

"Ray, I should go. I'm really tired today."

You stood up and tried to leave, but Ray grabbed your hand.

"I love you."

"I don't think this is the time for jokes."

"It's not a joke."

Ray grabbed your hand harder.

"I.. don't know what to tell you."

You quickly set your hand free from him. You walked away as fast as you can.

You didn't come out of your home after Ray's confession. Ray could be anywhere you go, and you weren't ready to answer him.

Liam tried to text you, but you didn't respond. You didn't feel like meeting someone new. You just wanted time alone.

You focused on writing your next book to pass time. You weren't planning to, but you had nothing else to do. Your friends can't hang out with you all the time, your connection with Liam has practically ended, your family lives far away, and you most definitely did not want to meet Ray.

What was he thinking when he confessed? Did he really think you'd say it back? You were confused. You thought you gave him hints by answering his questions in a cold way and even cancelling a date.

You knew very well you were thinking of him more than anyone in your life, but that doesn't mean you have to be in an intimate relationship with him.

Ray wants to be a special someone to you. But you don't.

It would be a nuisance to both you and Ray if you accepted Ray. Your emotions sway a lot. An hour ago, you would think of Ray as a person that creates a great impact on your life, and an hour after, you behave in a cold way to Ray.

You prefered organizing your emotions to one. But with Ray, organizing was hard. Emotions can't go on forever, it changes, and you couldn't stand your complex emotions. What's so different about Ray that causes you to feel complicated emotions?

Now you wanted to leave. It was foolish of you to live close to a company you got out from.

You contacted your family. Since you aren't working in a company, you didn't have any reasons to stay in a crowded town. Not hanging out with Jamie and Alex would be a shame. It didn't matter though. You wanted your mind off of this town.

All of this might be a rush of emotions. You might regret this. But your desire of leaving was bigger.

You went to a small restaurant you liked to go. Since you would leave soon, you thought visiting your favorite restaurant was a good idea.

You sat at the corner, where many can't see you. You ordered your favorite dish and called you mother while waiting.

"Mom, I was wondering if I can live with you and dad. I hope to see (sibling name) if it's vacation."

"Why? I thought you were good there."

"Uhh... I want a break.. I guess. I don't have anything to do here either."

"Alright then. If you want. We always have a spare room. But think more carefully! What about your friends? Or Ray.. did I say his name right? You said Ray was in the same company as you."

"Oh... Alright. I'll call you later."

You finished the call.

A familiar voice called out your name. It was Ray, as expected.

"(y/n)! I didn't know you knew this restaurant too."

You felt irritated.

"I didn't know you had an interest in stalking people."

"It's a coincidence, I swear. I'm friends with the owner of this restaurant and I come here often to visit my friend."

"Oh.. okay."

"Did you think about it?"

"I did."

Ray was pretending he didn't listen your call. You knew it.

"I'm leaving. I don't know what I'm doing here, wasting money, time, and emotions. I'm going home."

Ray was quiet.

"I'm sorry Ray. For treating you badly and .. uh.. lying to you. I ordered something.. you should eat it. I really don't feel well and I should just go home."

"Can you think about it again, please?"

Ray looked like he was going to cry, or go mad.

"You shouldn't go cling on to one person.. you know.. I know there's a ton of people who wants to be friends with you. We .. uh.."

You paused for a second. Was this right? It would've been better if you ran straight to your house.

"You can text me though. I'm pretty much jobless .."

You ran out of the restaurant.

You ran to your home, and noticed men outside of your house.

You turned back. Your instincts told that those men would only cause harm.

You headed to the convenient store. The store would be safe. There are people there.

Unfortunately, the store was closed. You headed for another store close by.

It was no use. A man waiting for you hiding grabbed you.

"Be quiet!"

The man pushed you into a black car. After that, you could see only pitch black.

After some time, you woke up somewhere unfamiliar.

A voice welcomed you.

"Ray, what are you doing here?"

"This is my house, (y/n)"

"Did you really kidnap me?"

"I just wanted you to realize you're lying to yourself."

Ray came close. Your heart wouldn't stop thumping out loud.

"What do you mean I'm lying to myself?"

"You're lying to yourself. You wouldn't admit I'm important to you. I know that feeling, (y/n). When we were in middle school, I only thought you as a classmate who has a big interest in me. I didn't realize what you meant to me when I left."

"I need to go home."

Ray ignored you and went on.

"I lied to myself all this time that I don't need you. But I do.

"You're the only one who could truly be with me. Others don't want anything from me. They just want to use me.. But you aren't. You're kind (y/n). You've never really hated me. You always listen to me..

"I'm just sad that you're lying to yourself like I did all these years.. But it's okay. I love you, and I'll help you."

"That's such a misunderstanding."

"Either way.. you can't leave.. until you stop lying to yourself."

Ray didn't care what you said. Ray hugged you and whispered how much he missed you and needed you in his life.

Ray is mad. You're now just regretting spending time thinking of him.

You couldn't assume the time you would spend with Ray from now on. You wanted this whole thing to be a lie.

[sonic-takeover]

Omega...I know Alice has good intentions but I'd be a little wary about following her advice to the letter. 😅 I think Sticks might like help with her tunnel or something more than a strange compliment. I'd wait until you see something about her you genuinely want to compliment her on for that. 😅

That is true. But I do find Sticks to be attractive when she is sharing information about her conspiracy theories. Is it not proper to communicate this to her? I will proceed with caution. *He stops at the edge of the hole Sticks has been digging. It's pretty deep, and there's a pile of bones, shells, and scrap metal just outside of it* ... Sticks.

Nyeh? *Sticks looks up from her digging to look at his backlit form towering over her mini burrow. She squints at the sunlight coming from behind him. Her fur is full of sand and her dress is torn and covered in sand too* You here to scold me for messin' up my dress? Rouge already did that! I'm wearin' shorts! Why's everyone assume I don't own shorts??

No. I am here to... *He considers his options* ... Assist you in your activity.

You wanna dig? Welll... Those claws do look pretty useful for diggin'.. Sure! Come on down, robo boy!

*Omega slides down into the hole, not using his rockets to soften his fall in case he hurts Sticks. He lands next to her. The space is much smaller than it seemed before. He looks down at Sticks* ... Observation: There is minimal room to move.

Yeahhhh, for you, yeah. Let's dig it bigger!

Affirmative. *He uses his claws to start digging one side of the hole while Sticks does the other side* ... Inquiry: What are you digging for?

I started with bones, but then I started findin' cool stuff like cone snail shells! I can use 'em for my traps!

What do you trap?

Y'know, like intruders, critters, gogobas, aliens and government agents, the occasional lost tourist.

I see. Have you caught any aliens?

Sure! But they always get away. Not this time! Now I got the snail shells. Once we dig back to the bigass house, we can take them to my burrow and start settin' 'em up!

*He pauses. She invited him to her home? Is that a success?* ... Affirmative.

[canmom]

I just read A Summoning! I really liked it. I’ve been told authors enjoy long-form comments, so if that’s true for you then here’s a reflection that got quite personal:

The use of second-person made me feel like I was looking in a mirror and the mirror was speaking into existence what it saw in me. I don’t think I’ve ever read something like that from a trans fem perspective. My social context (skewing heavily trans masc) is very invested in this sort of “listening and learning” approach, conspicuously uplifting and deferring to the sociopolitical opinions of trans fems because how could we possibly presume to understand their experience? Reading this knocked some sense into me about how alienating that must be from the other end. I don’t happen to be a trans girl, but why would that mean their experiences aren’t relatable to me? It seems absurd and unhelpful and dehumanizing and dangerous and just mean to reject that fact. Maybe this is just a painting of my own shortcomings, but I’m so glad that your story gave me an opportunity to connect better.

Some parts I found compelling and relatable:

- The self-shrinking, both physically and by the narrowing of memory. Painful but relatively brief experiences consume and overpower the narrative of self.

- Unwanted and painful bodily changes, and contending with the potential of taking agency to make further changes that are painful but (more or less) wanted.

- Plurality of the body, especially related to pain or division (dismemberment). This one hit me once for being bigender, and the a second time for chronic pain and old injuries.

I also greatly appreciated the intention and good research you put into describing the clothing. Historical costuming is a big interest of mine, and it always warms my heart when artists share that priority with me.

Also the esoterica cum gore (Latin pun intended) was delicious.

Thank you so much! This is exactly the sort of thoughtful comment I really appreciate getting <3

I think that 'how could we possibly understand' is a trap (hehehe... sorry). It's something that tended to get pushed very hard in the 2010s, this sort of standpoint epistemology thing, taken from a matter of courtesy (along the lines of don't talk down to people) to this kind of presumption of the intrinsic unknowability. Which is self-defeating! You've gotta believe communication is actually possible!

I plan to go into this more at some point but one thing I really perceived when I was on LSD a few weeks ago was a separation of the different faculties or parts of my mind; how much even different parts of the brain have their own spaces of concepts, like a sense of conceptual, image-like thinking that was being interpreted by the linguistic part of my brain; how all these elements work in concert to make 'me' happen. this was in part inspired by learning more about how artificial neural nets such as LLMs work, which encode concepts as vectors in high-dimensional spaces.

anyway the point being, communication within the brain and communication between brains, it's the same problem. we are attempting to map information that has meaning in one space to a corresponding meaning in another. and the way we do that is language. when I say 'red', it excites the various associations that my net of neurons has with certain sensory perceptions, a signal from my cone cells and so on. those are unique to my brain, unique even to different parts of my brain. but, by associating that word with a common experience, it's possible to excite the corresponding, analogous (or as I became convinced was a word when I was tripping, analogistical) set of associations in your brain. I think of it with a physics metaphor: thoughts are a lot like oscillations, normal modes and so on.

so we may not have had the exact same experience, the pattern of thoughts that get excited in your brain when I say 'red' are in no way identical to the ones in mine. but we are able to use the word as an anchor point, to excite oscillations in our respective brains that allow a back-and-forth to happen. if you talk about redness, I can imagine what you might be seeing by invoking my experience of redness, and vice versa.

so, for example, I haven't personally experienced what it is like to, say, live under anti-black racism, any more than you have experienced what it's like to be a trans woman. in fact, I haven't experienced a good many of the infinite contradictory things that one would consider to be part of The Canonical Transfem Experience(TM) either. but, if you're willing to listen, it's possible I can bring up analogous experiences and say, this is what my life's been like, and what other people told me they experienced, and these are some theories I find relevant, and perhaps excite some memory in you of what your life's been like that you can use to imagine what I'm on about.

the skill of a really good artist is to find the words, images, symbols, expressions, sensory effects, etc. etc. that can get across some of that inner world, that particular set of experiences, and let you construct something analogous in your own head. it will never be exactly the same, it is a limited channel and how you interpret it will be specific to your particular set of thought-resonances, but that doesn't matter. it's close enough to be meaningful.

thomas nagel famously asked if it's possible to know what it's like to be a bat, equipped with a sense that we humans lack. well, we don't know exactly what it's like to be a bat, but we can try to imagine it based on what we know about bats and what we do know. we can construct experiments in human echolocation, or use or knowledge in the differences between sound and light to imagine what echolocation would 'look like'. and we can build up a more detailed sense of bats by closely observing them (another @baeddel post: the amateur ethology one), so we can get a sense of the different ways bats act in different contexts, the nuances of specific bats, etc. etc. unfortunately we can't tell the bats what we've come up with and have them confirm or deny it! we are very limited in our channels of communication with most animals.

humans, on the other hand, have this absolutely insane invention we call language. we don't know exactly what it's like to be another person, but we can tell each other through the shared protocol, and that's a feedback loop, which will tend to bring our internal resonances more into concordance with each other. so the more we talk, the more curiosity we engage in, the better we understand each other.

(maybe the hippies were onto something with all that vibrations talk.)

so, all in all, I'm glad that my story made my experiences more comprehensible to you! in fact that's maybe the highest compliment you can give me, so thanks very much :3

and just to confirm your thought there - idk what it's like in your scene, but personally, I never want deference. I want friends. I want someone to meet me halfway, and take me seriously, but that also means if I'm talking shit, I don't want anyone to be like, ah, this sounds like bullshit but it must be mysterious transfem deep knowledge, inaccessible if you don't belong to this specific canonical demographic. like lmao what is that. even if one person is more knowledgeable about a thing than another so the information goes mostly one-way - a good teacher pays attention to and listens to their students. it's never only one-way.

(social media fucking sucks why are we on it)

long tangent aside, thanks for reading my story <3 i am super grateful for every engaged and thoughtful comment that anyone ever gives, that is absolutely the best thing you can ever get when you make an art. I have thought this and that about whether this story was any good, but hearing this makes me glad i wrote it and glad I finally released it. I can't wait to send out some more more freaky shit from the inside of this brain.

[stay-with-wonder]

The Mantis Shrimp: Nature’s Marvelous Boxer(The name is misleading. They are neither mantis nor shrimp)

In the mesmerizing world of marine life, the mantis shrimp stands as an extraordinary creature that captivates researchers, scientists, and nature enthusiasts alike. With its kaleidoscope of colors, fascinating behavior, and unique set of abilities, this small but mighty marine marvel has earned a reputation as one of the ocean’s most intriguing inhabitants. Join me as I take you into the captivating world of the mantis shrimp, exploring its incredible features and astonishing capabilities.

The Master of Color:

A Formidable Hunter:

The mantis shrimp’s exceptional hunting prowess makes it a force to be reckoned with in the ocean’s depths. Equipped with appendages resembling a praying mantis, these crustaceans(Crustaceans are a diverse group of arthropods that includes familiar animals such as crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and barnacles. They are characterized by having a hard exoskeleton, a segmented body, and jointed appendages.) are skilled predators that employ two distinct hunting strategies:” spearers” and “smashers” *

-Spearers: Some mantis shrimp species have spear-like appendages that they use to impale and capture prey with lightning-fast precision. They strike so swiftly that the prey has little time to react, making them highly effective hunters. (Do you get the pun now?)

-Smashers: Other mantis shrimp species boast club-like appendages capable of generating an incredible amount of force. They use this power to deliver devastating blows to their prey or even shatter the hard shells of crabs and mollusks, enabling them to feast on well-protected creatures.

Unmatched vision:

The mantis shrimp’s eyes are nothing short of extraordinary, possessing one of the most complex visual systems in the animal kingdom. Unlike humans, who possess three types of color receptors (cones), mantis shrimp have up to 16 different types of cones, enabling them to see colors that are beyond human comprehension. This remarkable visual system allows them to perceive polarized light,(Polarized light refers to a type of light in which the vibrations of the electromagnetic waves are confined to a single plane. This means that the electric field vectors of polarized light oscillate in a specific direction, perpendicular to the direction of propagation.) a phenomenon that helps them navigate, communicate, and hunt effectively.

A Creature of Beauty and Brawn:

Despite their striking appearance, mantis shrimp are relatively small, ranging from a few centimeters to about 15 inches in length. (38.1 cm) They typically inhabit shallow tropical and subtropical waters, often hiding in burrows or crevices within the coral and ambushing unsuspecting prey.

Remarkable Communication:

In addition to their incredible vision, mantis shrimp have developed a unique form of communication. They use body movements, color changes, and even gentle taps to convey messages to other individuals, signaling territorial boundaries or courtship interests. Their complex communication methods contribute to the fascinating social dynamics within their communities.

In the enigmatic world of marine life, the mantis shrimp stands as a true wonder, embodying nature’s ingenious adaptations and remarkable capabilities. From their awe-inspiring colors and exceptional hunting techniques to their unmatched visual system and intricate communication methods, these marine marvels continue to amaze and inspire those who dare to explore the secrets of the ocean. As we uncover the mysteries of the underwater world, the mantis shrimp will undoubtedly remain an enduring symbol of nature’s marvels and evolutionary wonders. Stay With Wonder!

[slipping-is-doing-things]

After some much needed time here are my Sampo Koski headcanons! There are a few people in the community I take heavy inspiration from like Feroluce and Sorrin so please go check them out. You'll definitely see where their work gave me much needed inspiration.

Word count: 1,102

Trigger warnings: weapons, murder and implied death

Fandom: Honkai star rail

Primary headcanons

Sampo is an emulator, but not currently active in his role. He started as an actor that became director with his innate skills to work a crowd and more, it only was natural for him to step into the role as director while still partaking in the performance as a background character or side to keep the story moving flawlessly.

It's physically impossible to unmask Koski, Sparkle might be in possession of his original mask but he still has one. The mask Sparkle has is the one seen in her light cone ‘it's showtime’ mixed with the predominant mask in Aha’s artwork in the simulated universe with the gem. The mask he uses while she has his original is a half face mask that hides his eyes.

One of the odder effects from being an emulator, his eyes work oppositely. His eyes naturally have the appearance of being dilated while when they actually do they become more snake/cat like. A very long time ago this wasn't the case and his eyes worked how they should but this isn't isn't the case anymore with how long he's been an emulator.

The name Sampo Koski isn't his original name. The name was chosen for his performance on Jarilo-IV, his whole character at that. Though, one could say Sampo Koski is as much him as it isn't. Such facts are heavily true when the script for this performance was heavy up to him to build an believable character for.

The type of elation Sampo follows is more close to the original Aha used to be. elation comes in many forms, sometimes even extreme emotions that drive people to overjoyed almost manic laughter or overwhelming sorrow. Elation that's paraded by the tavern and the followers disgust Sampo to a degree. To him the Mourning Actors follow a more truthful yet sorrow filled path of Elation compared to Sparkle and the others.

The one oddity the Mourning Actors and Sampo share are extremes. While the Mourning Actors live in sorrow and anguish, Sampo in some situations feels extreme emotions that don't always outwardly show properly. True sorrow is shown by sobs broken by laughter he can't fully control while euphoric happiness can leave him laughing in such a way fitting of the Aeon he is an emulator of.

Having people willingly be friends with him outside of business or the work he does is something Sampo isn't used to. He's the background character, the comedic relief or one off side character. The idea of someone genuinely wanting to be friends with him, not including children, doesn't seem real to him. He isn't the likable character after all, none of his roles ever have been.

Aha is aware that Sampo follows both them and IX. The paths are similar in nature with both holding disregard to existence as a whole. If Aha didn't approve or find it entertaining Sampo would have exploded out of existence in a burst of confetti and the soft sound of bells ringing in the distance.

Koski has multiple safehouses across Jarilo-IV, from the underground, over world and outside the walls. His favorite and safest is deep into the blizzard outside the walls, far enough were determined Silvermane’s wouldn't go and away from the more aggressive fragmentum. At one point he had an apartment in the administrative district until it was burned down. It was the only place he actually paid legally while using his persona Brughel Poisson.

Interchangeable headcanons

Route ≜ - Sampo is a creation of Aha’s. He appeared one day on an forgettable planet around the age of Thirteen to stir up trouble for shits and giggles at Aha’s direction. Overall his creation by Aha was for shits and giggles just to see what would happen.

Route ≗ - (While unlikely, this idea scratches my brain delightfully!) Sampo was a part of the Mourning Actors and broke away once they were looked upon by Aha to embrace the path while starting to follow IX. He was the director before becoming an actor in the tavern, he doesn't believe in the Elation the Tavern does due to its naturally harmful nature he can't bring himself to follow.

Weapons

The smoke bombs Sampo uses hold very little effect on himself. He would have to inhale more than what it takes to knock out ten people to pass out. The smoke bombs he uses are harmless in that regard, unless one has asthma the only danger is being knocked unconscious.

Sampo does have two different kinds of bombs, he very rarely brings out his truly dangerous ones that rather than showing a happy expression have a sorrow filled one. He would never use those against people, he much rather smooth talk his way out of things or disappear in a burst of smoke.

Backstory mixed with open ended ideas

Sampo had found out about Aha’s origins through Aha themself. During his time as an active Emulator regardless of path he spoke with Aha on multiple occasions, primarily about scripts and similar subjects before it naturally came up in conversation. He was put at ease knowing the path he walks is true even with the push back and slight distrust from other followers of Aha.

In all of Sampo’s acts he won't kill. He's only done so once and was sick with himself afterwards even though it had been in self defense. He has no issue killing Fragmentium and similar things but another human isn't up for discussion, he rather take a beating if he can't escape in his usual methods. At worst he can use his power as emulator to push the act in his favor to avoid such things.

It takes a lot to make Sampo break character, very few have been able to genuinely upset Sampo enough to get a truly raw response. If one somehow does, Sampo has his ways to make the memory feel fake.

While most wouldn't know it, Sampo is genuinely a good cook be it sweets or savory meals he's good at cooking and enjoys getting to do it! He makes the Silvermane guards breakfast for a reason even if the guards don't know it's him.

Depending on the performance Sampo is taking part in the character he is acting as usually ends with them passing away. It's a peculiar way that helps him abandon his previous persona and personality. If he knows the persona will be useful later on he tends to simply vanish without any reason or make up an elaborate lie to make his disappearance believable until he steps back into the role.

[sincerely-sofie]

I'm struggling to name my own charmander, do you have any tips?

I want the name to sound natural for a pmd environment (aka not a human name)

Smol bits of character I have are:

- likes to fight

- acts first, ask questions later,

- bit of an airhead

- nerd

Oooh, this is a topic I love. Names are such a joy to tinker with when creating characters. I'll start out with a preamble on naming characters in general before getting into specific names I'd recommend for this charmander in particular!

Something to keep in mind about characters when you're naming them is who in the story is doing the naming. What is their relationship with the character? What is their opinion of them? What is their personal background? All of these things will influence the types of names your character might be given. The same is true if your character is naming themself. 

(You can ignore these things if you want to free yourself up as you name your character, of course! I just find it helpful in narrowing down my miles-long lists of names I end up with.)

In the case of Twig, I knew Grovyle was going to name her, and that he was going to come from his grass-type background with most names he had been exposed to. He named her Twig because that's a common name amongst grass-type communities that implies smallness, youth, and on the namer’s end, a devotion and determination to protect the one being named. 

Note that there's no such real-world implications in the English word Twig. It's more often used as a way to call someone scrawny and weak. The beauty of writing a story is that you can do what you want in it, and if you want the pokemon language to have a whole plethora of implications and connotations in their naming system, go for it! Just try and communicate it in the narrative somehow so that readers can enjoy it in full. 

Alright, preamble over. Let's get into the names I've found after searching up “fire related words” and exhausting every online thesaurus known to man. I'm going to assume that your charmander character is named by a fire-type, likely a family member, which will center most of them around literal flames and heat, but I'll throw in some less obvious connections as well

Hearth. This name implies a more cozy, homey setting along with a tame sort of fire. However, it may be fun as a contrasting name for a hot-headed character. 

Ember. A classic fire name, and one with a gentler sound than some of the harsher names below. 

Spark. This might be a good name if your character has moments of brilliance despite their airheadedness— like if their nerdy streak has applications that seem to give them sparks of genius. 

Pepper. An indirectly fire-related name, which may be given by a grass-type or its botanical root or a character who enjoys cooking. 

Illumina. A name describing light— again, something that might be fun for emphasizing a nerdy streak!

Fizz. An onomatopoeia of a campfire hissing and crackling. It might be good for a character that surged up in their temper, but is quick to fizzle out. I think this one is really fun, but that's just me!

Wick. Like a candle wick. I love how this sounds. 

Halo. This name emphasizes light and purity, and might not make much sense with its Christian implications in the PMD world. However, it could be used to refer to halos of light around the sun and similar things, which would negate that issue!

Aurora. I see this as being a name popular among both ice-types and fire-types. 

Sol / Soul. Depending on how you spell it, this name is a reference to either the intensity of the sun or your character’s shining spirit. Or both, if you use some fun worldbuilding shenanigans!

Pine. A bit of a stretch, maybe, but I like the idea of referencing pine cones which release seeds amidst forest fires. 

Mallow. Like the above, a reference to bush mallow and baker's globe mallow, types of plant that thrives in the aftermath of fires. 

And finally, Lychee, at my little sister's recommendation!

[archivalofsins]

Oh yeah the funniest shit ever-

Mahiru being entirely disinterested in Shidou-

2023/10/24 Shidou's birthday

Mahiru: Shidou-san, you have a family...right? Having family, having children, how does it feel...?

Shidou: ...Yes, it's a wonderful thing. Children are... Well, they're hope itself. When you have children, growing older becomes enjoyable. The more you age, the more your children grow.

Mahiru: Ah...how wonderful. It was my dream to become a bride. It may be a little old-fashioned but, I wanted to make it come true...

Shidou: It's not too late. I will keep you alive, Shiina-kun. Let's get out of here and make that dream come true. ...You still have your whole life ahead of you.

Meanwhile, with Futa-

2024/01/17, Mahiru's birthday

Futa: ......Hey, Mahiru. Are you...doing alright? Isn't there any way you can get better...?

Mahiru: What's wrong, Futa-kun? Yeah, I'm not feeling great... But Shidou-san has been taking care of me all this time. I'm sure if I keep getting treatment like this, I'll get better...

Futa: I see. Continue the treatment, huh... How can you truly be saved, I wonder?

Mahiru: Saved...?? Are you worried about me? ……That's nice of you, Futa-kun. Just thinking that way... Mahiru feels saved already.

Despite Shidou constantly helping her- She has a more positive response to Futa showing concern for her. When he tries to give encouraging words with an undertone of flirting. Since he said let's get out here and make that dream cone true crickets. Again probably because he's not her type and she's stayed this.

20/06/08

Mahiru: Shidou-san…… you’re really good-looking. Personally, I think you’d be better if you ate a bit more, but you’re slim and tall and well put together to boot…… You must’ve been super popular up until now, right?

Shidou: ……yeah, that’s true…… I did my share of fooling around in the past.

Mahiru: Oh~? That’s not the sort of answer I’d expect from you. I’ve got it! Somebody told you that if you replied like that people wouldn’t resent you so much, right?

Shidou: Haha, I’m surprised you guessed. ……it seems that no matter what guise I put on, it’s meaningless against a woman’s insight.

You know who's good with kids reportedly liked by Amane? Mahiru. You know who is a good communicator and on good terms with most in the prison? Mahiru. You know who was able to guess that what Shidou said was due to advice from his wife that helped him because he's usually careless when it comes to personal matters- Mahiru!

"Let's get out of here and make that dream come true."

Meanwhike despite that clear come on when Futa shows comcern someone whom she complained about as no good for being a bully. Well, she started really giving-

"I’m going to start relying on you if you’re kind to me, so please forgive me, thanks!"

Energy if I'm being honest.

"That's nice of you, Futa-kun. Just thinking that way... Mahiru feels saved already."

Meanwhile, Shidou proposing to start a new family like there's still time. Their are lives that need saving mine. I've accepted I can't bring back the dead but maybe I could just start a new family. Meanwhile, Mahiru is just here like "Sorry, I like reciprocity. I want to receive too. So, no... You're still too thin for me on top of that. Meaning I'm just going to politely ignore your advances." And going I already feel saved just from your concern alone to Futa.

These timelines have so many funny implications.

[alidravana]

I am so confused right now...lots of BT critics are taking the cone comment as a sexual one (to indicate puppy play) and are somehow:

a. mad at 911 writers for 'lazy writing' and tying these kinks to mlm ships

b. but then somehow are also saying that 911 is kink-shaming

c. meanwhile they are the ones actually kink-shaming?

Honestly, y'all sound like teenagers learning about sex for the first time and calling it yucky. It's time to grow up.

Take the time to learn and do better. Talk to your local queer community supports to find resources about BDSM and kinky sex that are not 50 Shades or fanfiction.

Go to the library and take out some books on queer sex resistance and liberation. It wasn't that long ago (and is still true in many instances) where queer sex was considered deviant. Kink and queerness are intertwined for a reason.

And lastly, "your kink is not my kink, but your kink is ok”.

[jumpnbounceus]

Cool Down in Style: Orange County’s Best Water Slide Rentals

When the California sun blazes overhead, there’s one surefire way to keep your guests cool, thrilled, and smiling all day long—water slide rentals. For party planners and families in Orange County, Jump N Bounce offers an unbeatable selection of inflatable water slides that turn ordinary events into splash-tastic celebrations.

Why Water Slides Are a Must-Have for Summer Events Water slides are more than just inflatables—they’re the highlight of any outdoor party. From backyard birthdays and church events to summer camps and school fun days, a water slide adds excitement, energy, and hours of fun for all ages.

With an incredible lineup of slides ranging from gentle options for toddlers to massive dual-lane thrill rides for older kids (and even adventurous adults), Jump N Bounce makes it easy to match the fun to your crowd.

What Makes Jump N Bounce the Go-To in Orange County Jump N Bounce is a trusted, family-owned party rental business serving all of Orange County. Known for high-quality equipment and outstanding service, they’ve earned their reputation by delivering clean, safe, and visually impressive inflatables on time—every time.

Their focus on customer satisfaction and event success shines through in every rental. With years of experience in the industry, Jump N Bounce knows exactly how to bring fun and reliability to your next gathering.

An Incredible Variety of Water Slides What sets Jump N Bounce apart? The variety. Their inventory is packed with unique water slides that cater to different preferences and party themes:

Tropical Slides: Bright colors, palm trees, and island vibes—perfect for beach-themed parties or backyard luaus.

Double Lane Slides: Great for races! Let friends and family compete side-by-side.

Combo Bounce & Slide Units: Want more than just a slide? These inflatables combine jumping, climbing, and sliding all in one—available in kid-favorite themes like Disney Princesses and superheroes.

Water Obstacle Courses: For those who love a challenge, these slides combine splashy fun with adventurous climbs and twists. The Ninja Obstacle Course is a show-stopper at any event.

No matter what you’re planning, there’s a slide that fits your space, age group, and party energy.

Clean, Safe, and Stress-Free Safety is never optional—it’s a priority. That’s why Jump N Bounce follows strict safety and sanitation guidelines. All inflatables are cleaned and sanitized between rentals, and their team is trained to set up each slide securely and professionally.

Fully licensed and insured, Jump N Bounce is also PTA-approved, making them a top choice for schools, parks, and public events throughout Orange County.

Hassle-Free Booking Right from Your Screen Planning a party should be fun—not frustrating. Jump N Bounce offers an easy online booking system that shows real-time availability. You can select your water slide, confirm your rental, and get instant email confirmation—all within minutes.

Prefer to speak with someone? Their friendly staff is just a call or email away, always ready to help with suggestions or special requests.

More Than Just Water Slides While their water slides are a summer favorite, Jump N Bounce provides a full suite of event rentals. Need extra tables and chairs? Tents for shade? Popcorn, cotton candy, or snow cone machines? They’ve got it all—making them a true one-stop shop for everything party-related.

You won’t need to juggle multiple vendors or stress about coordination. With Jump N Bounce, everything comes together seamlessly.

Great for Any Type of Event Jump N Bounce’s water slides are a hit at:

Birthday parties

End-of-school celebrations

Daycare and summer camp events

Church gatherings

Fourth of July parties

Neighborhood block parties

School fundraisers and carnivals

Whether you’re planning something small and cozy or a major community event, their team has the resources and expertise to deliver exactly what you need—on time and with a smile.

Local Experts, Community Focused Jump N Bounce knows Orange County like the back of their hand. They’re familiar with local regulations and park requirements, which means less hassle for you during the planning process. Whether your event is at a public park, a school, or your own backyard, they’ll ensure everything is set up for success.

Reserve Your Water Slide Today Looking for the best water slide rentals in Orange County? Jump N Bounce is the name to trust. With a broad selection of slides, unmatched service, and a reputation for safety and fun, they’re your ultimate partner for warm-weather events.

Visit Jump N Bounce’s website today to explore their inventory and lock in your favorite slide before the summer rush hits. Don’t wait—your next party could be the one everyone remembers as the event of the season!

[mackonestevie]

[nonbinary, she/they] Welcome to Aurora Bay, [STEPHANIE 'STEVIE' MACKONE]! I couldn’t help but notice you look an awful lot like [KAITLYN DEVER]. You must be the [TWENTY-EIGHT] year old [DELIVERY TEAM MEMBER AT FIRED UP PIZZERIA]. Word is you’re [CONVIVIAL] but can also be a bit [NEUROTIC] and your favorite song is [YUCK BY CHARLI XCX]. I also heard you’ll be staying in [OCEAN CREST APARTMENTS]. I’m sure you’ll love it! 

@aurorabayaesthetic

Full Name: Stephanie Antoinette Stevie Mackone (Mac-cone-knee)

Pronouns and Gender: she/they + nonbinary

Birthday: March 8th (age 28)

Hometown: Provo, Utah

Current Residence: Ocean Crest Apartments

Length of Stay: 1 Year

Occupation: Pizza Delivery Team Member

Sexuality: boy we wish we knew

FAMILY

Mother: Viktoryia Mackone (50)

Father: Kristoff Mackone (55)

Siblings: One (1) half-sibling, name unknown (10)

PERSONALITY

Born on the promise to be something bigger, Stevie is known to be very one-track minded and brazen. Often the first to put herself in harm’s way, she has been called ‘feral’ by some and 'fierce’ by others. As someone without much true-world experience, she is constantly going above and beyond to prove herself as a normal person.

+ : Determined, Scrappy, Convivial - : Volatile, Puritanical, Moody

BIOGRAPHY

tw: themes of religious extremism/cult-like worship, emotional abuse, homelessness

Folded hands. Head down. If they saw where you were now, running around a brand-new city making the most of life without the fear of the outside world – it’s a fantasy that keeps Stevie Mackone up in the early hours of morning, a broken record that repeats over and over.

Growing up, they vividly remember the framed photos of religious figures lining every room of her dilapidated childhood home in Utah. How they were dusted daily with intimate worship, before the family retired for the night for their prayer session. See, the Mackone family had a vision. A belief, that their child would one day be some sort of divine entity. Every prayer, however, came unanswered: their child was just a normal kid with normal wants and dreams, hoping to one day see what outside of their commune walls.

When Stevie was considered an initial disappointment, her parents tried many times for a second child, but it was never meant to be. They tried to adopt, thinking they could get lucky with another, but were denied twice. As Stevie grew older, the window started closing: only a few more years for something, anything, to manifest into a sign that they were special.

Until something special did happen. Their mother became pregnant; an unexpected joy for them, but a nightmare for Stevie. They had no use for the child who couldn’t make their dreams come true, so a week before her twenty-fifth birthday, they gave her a gift early: a backpack of clothes, a box of food, and well wishes to survive in another town just as she always wanted – alone.

For years, Stevie spent her time navigating different cities, backpacking and hitch-hiking until she'd eventually end up in Aurora Bay. Mystified by the idea that there could be a second chance outside of those walls, they chose not to waste anymore time: to live life to the utmost, no matter what that looked like.

Currently working as a pizza delivery biker (can't drive!) Stevie thinks every minute of life is freaking awesome -- though there is always a setback or two that creeps up their neck in the middle of the night.

BONUS ROUND

stevie is like an instagram reel: years behind on all relevant trends but still acting like they're brand-new discoveries worth posting about

just got her driver's permit but doesn't have a car to practice in

her yellow huffy bike is in fact not hers

takes a lot of jokes literally

has a habit of putting temporary tattoos on their body in order to look hella cool but is too chickenshit to try the real thing

extremely superstitious and hates ghosts

somehow survived hitch hiking for like 2 years

WANTED CONNECTION

anyone stevie could have met in their years-long travels!

a roommate bc who can afford a place in this economy

flingz and thingz bc everything has to be 100 with her

friends

bad influences

neighbors

people who order pizza a lot

someone who modifies her bike? idk are you a smartie

literally every messy thing in the world pls

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

roommate of @drewohara and @andyacostas

next-door neighbor to @thebellamyxcalvert

pals/eventual driving pupil of @jokangmin

co-worker of @sleeaze

former situationship of @atlasnolan

drinking / party buddies with @carter-harris

friends with @cricketcampbell , @thegillyxliang , @roxdelrosario

abandoned by family buddies with @shilohsharma

acquaintances with @emersonxcassidy , @vanessagable , @heyits-asher , @macaulaymontgomery , @darcyxanthonyx (people stevie has threaded with, tbd on connects! )

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

CONNECTIONS TREE.

friendly.

childhood friends idk maybe you had a neighbor cult / co-workers / former co-workers from any of their many jobs / ride or dies / pseudo-siblings / long-lost biological half-siblings / friends / good influences / beach buddies / new friends / maybe someone who helps them learn their passion???

romantic

ex-flings / friends with benefits / one time hook ups / tinder matches (if she can learn how to use a dating app) / unrequited crush (can be either way) / flirtationships

antagonistic.

literally enemies for no reason other than vibes / actual enemies / former (best) friends / former friends / exes on bad terms / frenemies / rivals / maybe they messed up ur pizza a lot / negative influence

[literatureloverx]

Can I say moving on too fast seems like a red flag? But anyway, she should still take and not let her feelings control her, and I say shake his hand, but still...he should make the first move, anyway. So she should wait and see how he greets her, but nevertheless, a handshake and keeping some distance is better. And tell her to be careful. You can never be too careful when things are moving this fast. And tell her to NOT in any way, let him kiss her or invite her back to his house for at least the first three months or vuce versa — yes, I said what I said —. And tell her to be careful, keep some things to herself, not spill her guts to him, and not let him see her drunk. And tell her to not make him the center of her world, to still make time for herself because no one deserves her time or energy more than herself and she's the only one who'll stay by her side in the end, she'll regret it eventually and he'll take advantage of her and get bored easily. Anyway, tell her goodluck, and she can never be too careful, and to take care of herself first and foremost, and then the rest cones later. My apologies if I came on a little too brutally honest, but being a girls girl, I'd never want for any lady to lose herself for anyone, especially a guy, because that will be her biggest loss.

Hello, my dear.♥️

First of all, thank you very much for this thorough message to my friend! I showed both of your messages to her before her date, so rest assured—she saw them. She asked me to thank you, and I thank you as well. You truly put in the effort. I will divide my response into two parts to address both of your asks.♥️

She does not know that I have Tumblr, and when I asked you for her on here, I simply told her I would consult my community if she wanted me to, and she did. She will not see what we discuss here, but I still would not want to betray her trust. That said, I can share quite a lot within the bounds of what I am allowed to speak of.

First off, she is not exactly the type of person one would easily worry for, though I appreciate your concern—it is very sweet of you.♥️ Rather, she is the one who tends to be feared, haha. One might almost assume she stalked him beforehand, but truthfully, everything played into her hands, so we cannot really call it stalking. They are from the same village in their homeland, and their families were loosely acquainted. She even joked that they might be distantly related, and he panicked, haha. Poor thing.

Now, he is certainly a man who can make plans, stick to them, and lead situations, which is why he earned extra points from me personally. From what she told me, he seems very uncomplicated and sincere and he knows what he wants. (A huge green flag in my book, and I will elaborate on this in another post regarding a certain character.)

The only thing that raised some concerns on my part was that he seemed too enraptured by her outer beauty, if you will. I assume this is because they do not know each other yet, and he had never seen her in person before—perhaps he did not expect her to be so pretty? Though he had seen pictures…

Anyway, from what I gathered about the date, I believe he wants to determine whether they are compatible in terms of future goals and expectations before fully investing himself in getting to know her on a deeper level. At least, that is my interpretation.

Now, picture this: they are both blonde, okay? And, in the middle of a conversation about future family prospects, he casually drops that he wants blonde babies. Just like that.😭

Also, my dear—he was a true gentleman. According to her, he did not try anything inappropriate. It seems she has him firmly in her grasp, though. While recounting the date, she even said, “A man who yearns is a man who earns.” 😭 Truly, such a queen. She is the cold one here, so there is truly no need to worry about her well-being when it comes to him.

For their date, they had some expensive, non-alcoholic drinks, and then he took her to the cinema—the luxury version, might I add. We love a man who puts in the effort (and the money *giggles maniacally*).

And no, you did not come off as too brutal. In my opinion, one can never be too brutal when it comes to honesty. I find the points you raised absolutely valid.♥️

Thank you again for putting in so much effort! ♥️