#world's shortest starter

[angusbyrne]

LOCATION: The music room DATE: Monday, September 5, 2005 (midday-ish) Closed starter for @nurturercelia

Time ticked by slowly. Angus had found a couple ways he thought would help it pass faster throughout the morning. But after every interaction—every activity—he would push up the cuff of his sleeve, take a look at his watch, and marvel at the hour. It was never as late as he hoped. The damned scavenger didn't seem to help matters, so long as he continued on unsuccessful, though he couldn't quite find it within himself to begrudge it.

He loped a little aimlessly, having checked all the old spots where he'd found clues in the past and come up with nothing. His next stop was the Music Room. And he was pleasantly surprised by who was already there—though maybe he shouldn't have been surprised at all. This was the room where he'd spend much time with Celia, after all. "I don't think the both of us have stood in this room together since I harangued you into practicing that Boccherini piece with me."

[atvrvxia]

&. @lithelusts​

a not-quite SURPRISE STARTER ( 1 / 4 )

                          “I’M AN idiot.”

[night-dazai]

Imagine reader who has big tits but is insecure about them, like she’s a E cup?

Since the character is not specified I will go with Ranpo, for some reason I can just see this man being in love with them. 

Ranpo X Reader

Tags: tit slapping, food play, female reader pussy and tits

Ranpo and Thoughts about Cups: 

This living man-child has everything he needs, food, love, sex and the agency to fool around. 

There is not a day that goes with him not touching your boobs, “ they are my cute suckers ‘ he would say in a pouty voice like a kid crying for candy. 

You had big tits, E cup and it was not easy to avoid the starters you get if you wear a tight dress or short top “Wow…” “Is that real ?” you could hear people say without even caring about your feelings. 

But the moment you started dating the world's greatest detective it all changed, The man would hug your chest even before hugging him “They are lovely why not wear this ?” he would hold out the shortest top you had ever seen when you go shopping with you.  

You would say it's odd and that people would stare at you but then he would tilt his head confused “Of course they would, it's lovely and they are jealous “ he said and would force you to buy the top

If anyone ever made an inappropriate comment he would glare at them while pulling you close to him, even if his words were not the best sort of comfort his actions were enough. 

Sex was mostly you bouncing on him as he sucked your nipples making them red “Ran..po it hurt..” you whined moaning holding his hair and trying to peel him off your chest. 

Getting a smack you yelped “Don't disturb my meal “ he said licking off the chocolate syrup on your chest “Please let me cum..” you whine. It has been how long you had no idea but he had cum twice while stopping his moments the moment you were about to cum. 

“ Then “ he said peeking with his bright emerald eyes from your chest “ will you complain ?” he asked landing another smack and this time it was your tits. Whimpering you nodded “No I won't “. 

Not satisfied with the answer he landed another slap making you sob out choked sorries “I am sorry …” you said. Seeing you sob made him hard and feel bad at the same time yet he choose to be mean “Good, no you won't cum while I get to cum “ he said pinching your nipples and shooting his load him “These are mine and they are lovely . No one talks bad about them not even you “ he said fucking your pussy through his cum leaking down your tighs.

[alexanderwales]

My early impression of Factorio: Space Age are extremely positive, though it's much more geared toward veterans than I would have expected. I guess sushi belts aren't entirely mandatory, but I don't know how you would get by without them. They are easier now, but there are other mechanics that take things up a notch.

Mild spoilers follow, but it's not really a spoiler kind of game, and the UI seems very ready to give you all kinds of information about places you haven't been and things you haven't seen.

It's got a ton of content, the game design is overall fantastic on several levels, the music has been great, and in general I'm just a huge fan of it.

I am curious how well it holds up on repeat play, since a lot of doing a blind playthrough is figuring things out, and after you've figured them out, a lot of the gameplay is gone.

One slightly negative note, at least for me, is that the early game felt much too longer when I just wanted to get to space, and I kind of wanted … I don't know, an accelerated start option, not necessarily something like Faster Start, but a few technologies researched and maybe a tiny starter base or something. Setting up a furnace stack by hand is not something that I feel like I really need to do again, but I did it for the first SA playthrough, because I wanted the default expansion experience. I did kind of regret it in the end though.

I made it to deep space science in SE, so that's the point of comparison for me, and this is far far less of a grind, along with far more interesting challenges. The cheap rockets that can't carry a lot really incentivize building up a proper base on each planet, one that can make its own buildings and infrastructure, which is neat, and thankfully on all but Gleba (and Nauvis) you don't really have to set up permanent defenses against enemies, which can be a bit of a pain if you want to get on to the next thing. I set up defenses on Nauvis, and that was a time sink, but with the enemy expansion mechanics it was very very necessary. I think next time, rail world setting might be better, but I don't know how that would change the other worlds.

I think the thing that I admire most about it is that they really worked hard on making sure that each planet was very very distinctly different from the others, that each planet had some kind of new threat that was very different from the others, that each planet had gameplay mechanics that were very different from the others ... and it all works wonderfully, at least so far.

There are a few things that I wish were in the expansion, which aren't (at least as far as I know), and some of those are a matter of creative vision, some are a matter of development time taking forever, and others are just engine limitations. The spaceships are ... I mean, they're fine, but it's very clear that they're using the "surface" class, which is what I would have expected, but still means that there's none of the cool space stuff like docking procedures and ships that split apart and spinning up for artificial gravity. It's another interesting challenge in terms of game mechanics, but it's definitely aesthetically the worst of the new things.

The spaceships do not particularly look like spaceships, an issue which I think could have been partially solved by having new spaceship wall sprites and requiring the spaceship to be enclosed. The rocket engines look incredibly cool when they fire up, but then you look up at the gun turrets just sort of clinging onto this platform, and it seems a bit jank. But it's also the thing you probably spend the least amount of time on overall, since the ships get built a few times and then never looked at again, moving between planets without much intervention once the design works well.

(The space map is also a bit of a disappointment. I wasn't expecting orbital mechanics, but ... actually, I think I would have liked some kind of simulation of it. Launch windows for shortest time between planets would have been cool. Some circuit-readable calculation of how much thrust/time it will take, which rises and falls with the motion of the planets?)

But yes, overall, very positive on the expansion. I think there are a few kinks that aren't quite worked out, but in my opinion they're nothing major, just some features and mechanics that aren't signposted or a few wonky UI elements.

[magickkate]

Hey, lovely witchlings! As the sun reaches its zenith and the earth is in full bloom, we come to Litha, the summer solstice, a time of abundance, vitality, and celebration. This Sabbat marks the longest day of the year and the peak of solar energy, when the sun's power is at its strongest.

A Briefing on the History: Litha, also known as Midsummer or the Summer Solstice (Northern hemisphere: June 20th or 21st; Southern hemisphere: December 20th or 21st), is a magical time when the sun reaches its zenith in the sky. It’s the longest day of the year, and the sun seems to pause, bathing the earth in its warm glow. Our ancestors celebrated this pivotal moment with fire and water, acknowledging the balance between light and darkness. Stone circles like Stonehenge were oriented to capture the rising sun on this sacred day. Early European traditions included lighting large wheels on fire and rolling them down hills into bodies of water. The Romans honored this time as sacred to Juno, goddess of women and childbirth, giving us the month of June.

History:

Ancient Roots: Litha has ancient origins and has been celebrated by various cultures and civilizations throughout history. It is often associated with sun worship and the celebration of light, fertility, and abundance.

Solar Phenomenon: Litha occurs around June 20th or 21st in the Northern Hemisphere when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, resulting in the longest day and the shortest night of the year.

Symbolism: The Summer Solstice symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, as well as the peak of growth and vitality in the natural world. It is a time of celebration, joy, and abundance.

Correspondences: -> Symbolism: Life, fire, rebirth, transformation, power, purity -> Colors: Red, gold, orange, yellow, white, green, blue -> Herbs: St. John’s Wort, lavender, rose, peony, vervain, chamomile, chickweed, chicory, sunflower, lily, thyme, and more -> Crystals: Lapis, diamond, tiger’s eye, emerald, jade, and other green stones -> Animals: Butterflies, wren, horses, stags, robins, cattle, phoenixes, dragons, faeries, satyrs

Here are a few ways to honor the magic of Litha:

Rituals and Activities: - Bonfires: Light a bonfire to honor the sun’s power. - Sunrise/Sunset Greeting: Greet the sun at its highest point in the sky. - Create an Altar: Decorate it with sunflowers, oranges, and yellow candles. - Cleansing Herb Bundle: Make your own bundle for purification. - Sun Tea: Brew tea using sun-infused water. - Burn a Bay Leaf: Write intentions on a bay leaf and burn it - Fertility Ritual: Litha is a time of fertility and growth, and rituals may focus on promoting abundance, creativity, and prosperity. Some practitioners may plant seeds or perform fertility rites to symbolize the fertile energy of the Earth.

Modern Celebrations:

-> Community Gatherings: Many Wiccan and pagan communities host public rituals and gatherings to celebrate Litha, inviting people of all backgrounds to join in the festivities and honor the sun's energy. -> Altar Decorations: Altars are adorned with symbols of the sun, such as gold or yellow candles, sunflowers, citrus fruits, and solar symbols like the sun wheel or the Celtic solar cross. -> Feasting: Traditional foods associated with Litha include fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, bread, dairy products, and grilled meats. These foods celebrate the abundance of the summer harvest and nourish the body and spirit. -> Nature Walks: Taking a nature walk or spending time outdoors is a simple yet meaningful way to connect with the energy of Litha and appreciate the beauty of the natural world during the height of summer.

Recipes: 1. Mead: A honey wine enjoyed by our Celtic and Norse ancestors and many to this day. It is easier to support local experts in the craft of making this than starting up a whole kit of making mead. Choose wisely. (I included a basic starter recipe for those brave enough to venture into the fermentation game. I'll stick to supporting my local businesses!) 2. Sun Tea: If you are unable to drink alcohol or prefer not to, sun tea is a great alternative or a great addition to your Litha celebration! They are called "sun tea" because it is tea brewed from the warmth of direct sunlight! If the weather is cloudy, sun tea may not be the best recipe to try. Common sense <3! 5. Sunflower Seed Pesto Pasta: Cook pasta (such as penne or fusilli) according to package instructions. In a food processor, combine fresh basil leaves, garlic cloves, sunflower seeds, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Blend until smooth. Toss the cooked pasta with the sunflower seed pesto, cherry tomatoes, and sliced summer squash or zucchini. Serve topped with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. 6. Summer Solstice Salad: Mix a variety of fresh greens, such as spinach, arugula, and butter lettuce. Add sliced strawberries, blueberries, and orange segments for a burst of color and sweetness. Sprinkle with toasted almonds or walnuts and crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese. Drizzle with a dressing made from olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and a pinch of salt and pepper. 6. Grilled Vegetable Platter: Slice a selection of summer vegetables, such as bell peppers, eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, and red onions. Brush the vegetables with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and your choice of herbs (such as rosemary or thyme). Grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred, then arrange them on a platter. Serve with a dipping sauce made from Greek yogurt, lemon zest, garlic, and fresh herbs. 7. Honey-Lavender Lemonade: In a saucepan, combine water, honey, and dried lavender buds. Heat gently until the honey is dissolved, then remove from heat and let the mixture steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain the lavender-infused honey mixture into a pitcher and discard the lavender buds. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to the pitcher and stir to combine. Serve the honey-lavender lemonade over ice, garnished with fresh lavender sprigs and lemon slices. 8. Berry Galette: Prepare a simple pie dough or use store-bought dough for the crust. Roll out the dough and transfer it to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. In a bowl, mix fresh berries (such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries) with sugar, cornstarch, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Spoon the berry mixture onto the center of the dough, leaving a border around the edges. Fold the edges of the dough over the berries, pleating as needed. Brush the edges of the dough with milk or beaten egg, then sprinkle with coarse sugar. Bake the galette in a preheated oven until the crust is golden brown and the berries are bubbling. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Remember, Litha is a celebration of the sun’s abundance and the Earth’s fertility. Embrace the warmth, dance, and honor the cycles of life. Blessed be! 🌻🔥🌿

Note: This post is a brief overview. For more details, explore the rich traditions and make Litha your own! 🌞🌙

[wilcze-kudly]

I've seen your AU posts about Bolin as the Avatar, but here is another interesting thought experiment for you: what if Suyin was the Avatar?

[Disclaimer: Not making up a new timeline, so let's roll with some AU where the current Suyin we know is simply discovered as the Avatar at a really late age.] So, some of what often defines an Avatar are these common prerequisites: the world tour, learning the elements, spirituality, and approach/practicality. I'll give my thoughts on how I feel Suyin would fare and/or adapt in these categories, but everything said here is really just for fun discussion and is always up for your and everyone's own interpretation. World Tour: Suyin already has one foot in on this side of things as she's already been noted on traveling some parts of the world, seems relatively well-traveled, and has met a variety of people in her travels.

As the Avatar, I don't believe this aspect would be very hard for her. However, I could see her wrestling with the difficulty of hardly ever having the opportunity to enjoy any private time in her home for the sake of ushering peace and stability in the world. It's possible she could have someone act as an interim matriarch over Zaofu or possibly even step down permanently. Oh, who are we kidding? We all know she's a certified workaholic and will collapse trying to do them both at once. Learning the Elements: I also believe this should come easier to her as well. Her fighting style, for starters, is already very reminiscent of airbender movements in how nimble and mindful of her surroundings she is than most other earthbenders. Or, as Aang would say, "being quick or clever"

However, she thinks like a waterbender; how she redirects metal and earth thrown at her and redirect them to her opponent is a sight to behold. The one element I could see having an issue with as the Avatar is fire as it requires a mind of inner peace and tranquility (and she has definitely had some lingering issues in her past). She is also reasonably emotional (under the right circumstances) and impulsive which can cause lapses in her judgment or behavior. Lightning is a possibility as a skill, I suppose, but I definitely see her redirecting it more than generating it much. Oh, and traveling to find masters? Screw that. Nope, they're all getting an extended deluxe stay at Zaofu until she's mastered all the elements. Non-negotiable.

Spirituality: This is the shortest one as we don't know much of what Suyin thinks of spirits, the spirit world, or even how spiritual she actually is. She comes off as a bit materialistic, though, so that might affect how she interacts in those kinds of such matters but it's all very vague, to say the least.

Approach & Practicality: I think this aspect is the most interesting because I think it really hinges on how charitable one wants to be to Suyin's character. For all I've mentioned, she could very well be a Szeto-type of Avatar that mainly prioritizes the progression and safety of only Zaofu and any surrounding territories under their banner. There's enough precedent for that mentality given her response to the Earth Kingdom situation in Book 4. On the flip side, I could also see her acting with a sort of dual persona. One, that operates as sort of a "mother hen" kind of figure that over-compensates for the world's needs, albeit in her own fussy and systematic way with the best of maternal intentions. The other persona is more discreet and handles problems behind the scenes. Given that she had someone like Aiwei in her ranks and wasn't afraid to assassinate Kuvira in the dead of night, this is another possibility of how she would operate as the Avatar. Honestly, I envision her as a slightly more domineering Yangchen, with occasional flashes of Kyoshi if things REALLY hit the fan. But, hey, who is gonna piss off the cool mom, right? ....Right?

Oh my god I love this idea! I think a show following an older, more established Avatar would be very interesting.

One can actually put forth a theory that Suyin's travels have already kinda lead her through all three elements to some extent.

She spent time sailing on a pirate's ship, surrounded by water. That's waterbending down.

The circus she performed in looks incredibly similar to the one Ty Lee had performed in. This can also be backed up that Suyin also has a painted lady doll, a dragon mask, and some other thing (perhaps a flute? Or a pin?) With a dragon motif. So that's firebending also down.

Her connection to Airbending is a little bit less pronounced, but she did spend a lot of time in a sandbender commune. Now, while sandbenders are earthbenders, their bending methods are incredibly similar to airbending, to the point where they can propel their sandgliders with it. The commune could also be similar to Air Nomads and their communal lifestyles.

I can see her connecting very strongly with the healing aspects of waterbending. She seems to have a bit of medicinal knowledge, or at least enough of an instinct to get most of the metal out of Korra's bloodstream. We really don't talk about that enough man that was cool as fuck.

I could sort of see Suyin making Zaofu a bit of her home and "base of operations" like Aang seemed to fo with Air Temple Island. Also the idea that instead of a traditional Team Avatar, she has her gaggle of feral ninja children is really funny to me.

The more I think about Suyin as an Avatar, the more wonderful symbolism I can see there.

The Earth Kingdom is still probably suffering massively after the damage done to it by the Fire Nation. And who better to herald it's rebirth than the metalbender Avatar daughter of a renowned war hero.

Suyin is all about progress and people growing. And I can certainly see her wanting to spread that to others. As the Avatar, doing so wouldn't be seen as her subjugating others (which was one of her main reasons to not help during the whole earth empire thing) but by acting as a Spiritual Guide to others.

So yeah this is an amazing concept. Honestly i need to gather my thoughts on it but I may revisit this concept.

[wardencommanderrodimiss]

Apropos of rereading old asks, I wanted to know what Toshiro's deal was.

I love the way this question is phrased. What is his deal. He's got nonsense on a metatextual level. He's got nonsense on a character level. All of it's intertwined though so I will give you. the shortest possible summary. It will be long. His arc is also pretty tied up with Zoe's in the early days, so you get to hear more about her too.

Toshiro and Zoe grew up in Castelia City and were basically the only friend the other had. They go to Nuvema Town to get starter Pokemon from Professor Juniper and meet and become friends/rivals with Cheren and Bianca that way.

Zoe and Toshiro keep traveling together after they get their starters. Toshiro starts challenging gyms with his team; Zoe doesn't. Neither of them really have their minds set on a goal or a lofty dream. Toshiro's collecting badges because that's what you're supposed to do, right? Zoe isn't collecting badges because she's too afraid of failing to even try.

They're both starting to crack by the time they get back to Castelia City, and everything falls apart by Nimbasa (4th gym). Toshiro's been thinking a lot about what Team Plasma preaches, and he's begun to project his own apathy for Pokemon training and battles onto his Pokemon. He's worried he's hurting them, he's worried that he's dragging them into something that neither they or he actually want to be part of. He's worried they'd be better off without him. He loves his Pokemon, but he's got a mental block that he can't get around to really understand them. He loses to Elesa and drops everything there. He releases his whole team (including a Watchog that Zoe traded him) and goes off to find out where Team Plasma keeps their sign-up sheets.

Zoe, meanwhile, is having an entirely opposite realization. She's figured out that she's doing her Pokemon a disservice by not challenging gyms and collecting badges, - they clearly enjoy battling, and she realizes they're not getting enough stimulation and enrichment with the low amount of casual battles she's doing. She throws herself into preparing to take on Elesa and finds that her Pokemon seem a lot happier now that she's understanding them better, and now that she's not letting her own fears get in the way of what's best for them.

Then Toshiro ditches her without a word, and him releasing his Pokemon leaves Zoe suddenly having to take care of his Oshawott, who did not want to be released and did not want to go and makes its way back to the last place where Toshiro was. Except he's not there anymore, so Zoe just picks up Oshawott and keeps on her way.

Toshiro isn't really any happier or more fulfilled in Team Plasma, either. He's still letting other people tell him what to do and he still doesn't know what he wants. He misses his Pokemon and feels guilty that he misses them, and he regrets letting them go and feels guilty about that. He accidentally joined a cult. He's still miserable. He doesn't even have an Oshawott to snuggle to feel better. I haven't decided whether he leaves Team Plasma before or after everything really blows up.

Anyway, so everything does really blow up at the Pokemon League, Zoe's got a legendary dragon, Ghetsis' world-domination plans have failed but he escapes jail, N flew off into the sunset with his legendary dragon, and Toshiro goes slinking back to his friends with his tail between his legs like "hey guys I really fucked up there huh". Zoe's pissed at him at him for a while but Oshawott is just happy to be reunited.

Toshiro ends up spending the interim years working as an assistant to Professor Juniper, together with Bianca, who eventually encourages him to start over and try again. He takes Oshawott and heads to Asperita City with Bianca, because she's got a starter and Pokedex to drop off with Hugh, and because Cheren is the gym leader there, and Toshiro figures the best place to start over is by challenging someone who knows him. And after having fucked up a bunch and taking the time to screw his head back on straighter, Toshiro finds that he...does kind of enjoy Pokemon training and battles. He puts together a new team, works hard to understand their wants and needs, challenges not just gyms but the Battle Subway too, where he meets and befriends a girl named Violet, and they take on multi battles together.

Things would be pretty good if Neo Team Plasma wasn't kicking up shit in the background!

But they are, and Toshiro can't stand for that on a number of levels, so he ends up tangling with them more and more. Everything blows up again in Opelucid City, Toshiro encounters the legendary Pokemon Cobalion, who indicates a desire for a partnership to put things right, and off they go to kick ass and take names all the way through the airship and the Giant Chasm, until they get to Ghetsis, and N shows up, and Ghetsis fuses Zekrom and Kyurem, and Cobalion one-shots it. Cool.

Toshiro is familiar with N, of course, both from having been part of Team Plasma and because of Zoe; N met Toshiro once in Accumula Town, but N was more interested in what Zoe's Purrloin had to say. N does remember Oshawott (now a Samurott), though, because every time Zoe and N ran into each other, Oshawott also had some words for N.

I didn't finish playing Toshiro through to challenge the Elite Four and the Champion. I'll have to get around to that sometime, but the most important part of his character arc was him going out and learning to work with and understand Pokemon again, and he doesn't need to beat the League or whatever to do that. Actually the most important part was kicking Ghetsis' ass.

After everything calms down, I think he quits his job as Professor Juniper's assistant and ends up working with Rood, Concordia, and Anthea, in their efforts to take care of the Pokemon that were displaced by all of Team Plasma's bullshit.

--

On a meta level, Toshiro wasn't really a game protagonist when I first created him. Like technically he represented the Pkmn White version that my brother was playing, but Toshiro's team was made up for story purposes. Zoe was the protagonist I played Black with, and her team is the team I used in-game.

When Black 2 came out, my brain was scrambled by clinical depression, and I named my protagonist Violet but never actually had a story or character for her. I played the game and then forgot most of it because, again, clinical depression, and though when I played X I did give characterization to my protagonist there, it wasn't still Sun that I really got, in earnest, back into my Pokeverse. Violet was basically a non-entity, despite how much I loved Unova, and eventually I just decided to push Toshiro into the role of Black 2 protagonist and replay the game as him. Since I was doing runs in the Battle Subway, and the protagonist of the gender you didn't pick shows up there - well, her name is Rosa in-game, but that became Violet, so that my forgotten protagonist could still get her own place in the story.

For thematic and narrative cohesion when considering the whole Black-Black 2 story arc, I think Toshiro works really well as the sequel protagonist, and I'm happy with how it all comes together for my 'verse. But considering a number of my Pokemon OCs originated directly as the protagonists I played the game with, Toshiro's whole deal is. weird. Who is this boy. How did he get here. He's simultaneously the equivalent to both Hilbert and Nate.

--

Also on a meta level it was really funny playing Black 2 where the rival, Hugh, is going off about how much he hates Team Plasma at every turn, and how even ex-Plasma members should not be forgiven in his eyes, and he doesn't understand why Clay is letting the ex-Plasma house keep operating in Driftveil and Toshiro is there sweating his ass off the whole time like "I hope no one mentions to Hugh about how I am an ex-Plasma member." Hilarious.

[a-land-lacking-sleep]

Electric Trains are the Future Extra: Akari's Team post-PLA

After gaining the Champion spot in the Sinnoh Pokemon League, Hikari Mifune worked to defend it for over 2 years from aspiring challengers, trainers who thought she had won on a fluke, and even the previous Champion. So it came as a heavy surprise when she disappeared suddenly in the fall of 2021, leaving her Pokemon behind.

In the year 1871, Professor Laventon meets with a young girl who claims the name "Akari", and over the course of several months, she forms a team that solidifies her as the Champion of the Almighty Sinnoh.

Ember - The starter that she helped Laventon recapture, Ember has been a constant companion to Akari. Even before her evolution to a Typhlosion, she acted as a mediator of sorts within the team, being the one to remind everyone of their common goals and keeps friendly squabbles friendly. She also has been a major help in keeping Akari calm through her time in the past. As with the next two Pokemon, Ember is named after a challenger that Akari had met as Champion, who was a Fire-type trainer. (In real-life, I purposely stole the name from @waywardstation. She has yet to forgive this transgression)

Skylar - The most Bird that has ever Bird, Skylar was the second Pokemon Akari caught in her time in Hisui. A caring but assertive personality, Skylar is known to perch behind people and preen their hair and clothes to her liking, a habit she's had since being a Starly. As with Ember and Iona, Skylar is named after a challenger during Akari's time as Champion, who had a shiny Staraptor on his team.

Iona - A Gardevoir that Akari had met in the Mirelands fully evolved while having a rough day. The Pokemon had stuck close to her, and worked to make her day easier by removing obstacles, soothing agitated Pokemon, and even helping to calm Akari's mood. Iona has done similarly since, doing her best to help this lost child that she found and befriended. Iona is named after a repeat challenger that Akari got to know outside of the League due to school.

Yama - Oddly for a Snorlax, Yama is notably the runt of his litter. With a shiny blue pelt and 4'3 standing height, Yama is the second shortest on Akari's team. Akari had met him in the Fieldlands taking a nap, and decided to lay down next to him on a whim and napped with him. When the pair awoke, she asked to capture him and he didn't say no. Conscious of his own height issue, Akari decided to name him Yama to remind him that while he may be physically short, he still has the strength of a tall mountain.

Oroshi - If Yama is the world's babiest Snorlax, Oroshi was the world's most monstrous Magikarp, seemingly larger even than other Alphas of the species, with the temperament of a Gyarados before he even evolved. By the time he evolved, though, Akari had worked with him on his temper and he's able to move through Jubilife Village without moving a single person out of his way. Akari decided to name him after a strong downward wind due to his ferocity.

Kuu-chan - Somehow, Kuu-chan is even more of a baby than Yama. Being caught almost the minute Akari arrived in the Mirelands, just like Zeal before him, Kuu-chan decided not to evolve for several months. In his case, he evolved the day that Volo requested to meet Akari on the mountain. Originally, Akari was calling him "Kumaru", a portmanteau of "Kuma" and "-maru", but the longer he stayed a small Teddiursa, the less she called him his full name and more a cutesy nickname, until it finally stuck.

Akari caught plenty of Pokemon outside of these six, but outside of specific needing of research tasks, or the Creation Trio, these six are the Pokemon she carries around with her. Once she returns home, she makes sure to prioritize integrating them into her team and her daily life, giving them the same love as her old family. After all, these too are her precious friends.

[merrock]

HAPPY MARCH !

The shortest month, plus its little extra day, has come to an end. And March is here! A springy, fun month. We have a lot of little mini events to help you do some plotting and get some fun interactions going, plus two big events happening in town. And it's a great time to get out and (hopefully) start enjoying warm temperatures and sunshine. Happy March!

ON THE CALENDAR !

March 1 -- World Candle Day (mini event) -- from 9AM to 7PM, head to Collab for candle-making demonstrations, not to mention lots of sales from local vendors!

March 2 -- Read Across America (mini event) -- do a little reading at the Memorial Library, Community Center or Children's Museum! Donations also accepted.

March 8 -- International Women's Day (mini event) -- a day to honor the women in your life with a little bit of kindness.

March 12 -- National Plant a Flower Day (mini event) -- plant a flower! By the time you can put it in the ground, maybe it will be ready to bloom.

March 17 -- St. Patrick's Day -- INFORMATION HERE!

March 19 -- First Day of Spring (mini event) -- just get out and enjoy some spring, whether it's a walk, or tending to some flowers!

March 20 -- Day of Happiness (mini event) -- a day to be happy and to make everyone around you happy, too. Basically? Smile as much as you can!

March 21 -- Day of Forests (mini event) -- head over to the Merrock State Park to take a long walk in the woods, led by the park rangers to keep you safe.

March 25 -- Waffle Day (mini event) -- free breakfast at the community center for anyone and everyone who wants to come out and enjoy!

March 30 -- Easter Egg Hunt -- INFORMATION HERE!

IMPORTANT STUFF !

FRESH MONTH, FRESH START -- every month is the chance to start fresh and dive in with a clear head! if you feel like you've been needing to get yourself into a good headspace, get back to writing... take the first of March and make it your goal to do that.

GRAB STARTERS -- remember that one of the easiest, most fun ways to get interactions going is simply writing up and replying to open starters. please make sure to check the page when you log in, or keep an eye out for starter alerts!

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY (part 1) -- while roleplay absolutely is just for funsies, remember that when you join a group, you agree to be a part of that group, and that others rely on you for activity. everyone can handle different activity levels, and that's okay! but people are still dependent on one another to be able to be active and contributing, please keep that in mind.

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY (part 2) -- and ooc, it's just as important to remember that we're a little family here. be kind to one another, even if it's just a nice word on an ooc post, or messaging one another, or reaching out to those who are asking for plots. we've always been a tight-knit, close group, let's work on that! and remember: building a good, happy morale? that's on all of us to work together to do.

GOALS FOR THE MONTH !

ADMIN -- add some new locations to our town.

ADMIN -- post a new task this weekend!

PLAYER -- get organized; find one way to help yourself get more organized when it comes to replies, do a little spring cleaning to get things tidied up and easy to handle!

HAVE A GREAT MARCH !

[ask-zoroark-n]

Hey Rosa! What do you know about the other champions?

"Huh? Oh! Well I know lots of them! First up is Kanto. Kanto and by extension Johto's champion is the legendary Ash Ketchum. He single handedly defeated Team Rocket and is said to be the most powerful champion! Second is Hoenn's champion is May Emerald. She used to live in Olivine City with her family until her Father, Gym leader Norman got a new job in Petalburg. She also defeated both Team Magma and Team Aqua, and even stopped an end of the world scenario! Woah! That's so shocking! Next up is Dawn Platinum. She used to be the champion of Sinnoh. She stopped the evil Team Galactic and defeated champion Cynthia... Although... I heard she went missing all of a sudden one day... I hope she comes back soon. And lastly for the last champion before me, and Iris is my cousin. Champion Hilda White. She, and N holds the record for the shortest active champion in history. She was an amazing trainer who stopped Team Plasma 3 years ago... She went missing after telling everyone she will try to search for N after he flew off... Since then N has finally reunited with Ghetsis and even tried to stop him himself... But Hilda was no where to be seen during Team Plasma's return... Even if she's missing... I will do my best in finding and reuniting her!... Even if people gave up on searching for her."

Motochika noticed his trainer being sad and upset, as he makes worrying sounds.

"Rott...Samurott...?"

Rosa sadly smiles and gently pats her starter Pokemon.

"I'll be alright Moto....even if everyone gives up on Hilda... I'm not one of them. I still believe she's alive out there somewhere... Waiting to be found.

[doyl1st]

Tired Sentence Starters // No Longer Accepting @carbondated said: "There's nothing worse than bad coffee."

For once in his life, Isaac wasn't trying to be the world's shortest drama queen. He'd meant to steel his expression, to face the terror head on and swallow this entire goddamn cup of hot tar like a big boy. Instead, he's spat a mouthful of it onto the nearest tree and now currently stands with his mouth open and his tongue out like a congested child.

"Fucking bullshit. Goddamn battery acid in that cup. No sugar, no creamer, not even a half decent fucking roast! It should be against the fucking law. Do you know how horrible it has to be for me, a criminal, to say it should be illegal?"

[palaeoiris]

NEW IN OUR STORE - Planulina T-shirt! Available in dark and white print, with a big bold look that is sure to be a great head turner and conversation starter. ;)

Print-on-demand is a great way to combat overproduction and fast fashion. Our designs will be perpetually available, and T-shirts will only be printed once you place an order. Our print-on-demand company choices were also made considering that they work and fulfil from all around the world, choosing the closest factory to you to print and fulfil your order. This way they are taking the shortest route possible to reach you.

Right now you can choose between buying this shirt in our Etsy store or Teepublic. They offer different T-shirt colours, but also fulfill from different parts of the world so you can choose one which has a preferable shipping option to your region.

As we expand to other print-on-demand platforms, we'll be choosing those that offer ethical brands, and renewable energy to power their printing and fulfilment centres and are (working on) replacing their packaging with plastic-free and recycled materials. This way we believe Palaeoiris can share love and art with everyone in a sustainable way. "

[chaosmortem]

//I spent 5 hours doing the world's shortest assignment today LMAO my meds are kicking my ass

BUT I'll try getting some replies done and send out some asks/possible starters now that my responsibilities are mostly done!! I've been waiting ALL DAY to have some writing fun

[suturcd]

@66yfze said: “I don’t need their names. The world doesn’t need to know their names. These fools wanted notoriety and I’m going to make damn sure they never get it.” i know their tea spilling sessions crazy...

BONES (SERIES) SENTENCE STARTERS // accepting.

     Fran is reminded anew of the double-edged sword that is capturing Melone's attention. Her gaze lifts from the splay of medical textbooks in front of her to the swift, borderline-vindictive flash of his fingers jabbing at the keys. She cannot put a name to the tight line of his mouth, but it's as sharp as the gleam to his more visible eye as he speaks, zeroed in on the screen.

     Frankly, she isn't sure how to respond. Fran has long-since approached the anger within Passione as a bomb to either be defused or swiftly distanced from, depending on the situation. There are times when Fran can calibrate a matter-of-fact statement that jabs just so at someone’s pride to cow the raging, grandstanding bulls of the gang's lower ranks without redirecting their ire to her, but someone like Melone is another beast entirely, and one unlikely to fall to the sort of infighting the less specialized ranks are prone to. Melone has a certain stability--at least within his squad, from what limited understanding she’s gleaned from some sparse interaction. This means that she needs to approach his laser-focus with caution so as not to ally herself against it. If she does, Melone will remember it. Frankly, it might already be problem enough that I’m memorable to him at all, but we've already crossed that bridge...

     "...Mhh. You're right that for people like that, the greatest indignity is death without legacy. An irrelevant existence..." She thumbs absently at her page, smoothing and straightening an errant sticky-note attached to the side, then closes it completely. She preoccupies herself for a few moments with stacking the books from largest to shortest, aligning them just so as she mulls over how to word what she's about to say. "...There have been plenty of fringe groups like that, though, and they usually burn out on their own since they lack strong hierarchy or structure. I have to wonder what this group in particular did to make you so interested, Mr. Melone...” So I can avoid it, myself.

     "...Well, it's not like you have to answer me, since it's none of my business."

[nobully]

Like every other day, Wang Yi wakes up and checks his phone first. There are no messages or missed calls, but the date does give him pause for a few long seconds.

July 27th.

"Hahah, what the heck."

"Why am I remembering you in a place like this."

It sits in the back of his head as he goes through his morning routine: cleaning, brushing, and tidying up before heading out the door towards one of his nondescript part-time jobs (he would find something more substantial, but it was hard to squeeze that in with the uni courses he'd picked up along the way).

It nags at him during lunch as he's chewing idly through his panini at a local bakery, eyes drifting to their sweets and desserts cabinet;

It finally gets to him after his last class in the afternoon, when he takes the train to the grocery store instead of back home and stocks up on all the ingredients he needs.

In the kitchen, Wang Yi spends the shortest time possible to make the simplest cake he can think of. There's barely any decoration except the sparkler candles on top and a ring of leftover chocolate frosting lining the borders like some fancy trim. He sets it in the middle of the dining table, lights the candles, and sits down staring as they fizz and sparkle.

When they've burnt down a bit, Wang Yi sighs and props his head in his hands to glare.

"Hey, how're you doing? I don't know how time works between worlds but...today's your big day. Not that I've been allowed to celebrate it or anything."

Stupid OOC rules.

"But since I'm here, I don't think anyone cares. So take it as you will." He winced. That sounded pretty lame, even to his own ears. "I mean...look, I'm sorry for treating you like crap, all right? Both in the first world and the next one. You've helped me a lot and someday I'll make it up to you, so don't kill me too hard when the time comes—"

【Wang Yi, I'm back!】

A familiar voice cuts off Wang Yi's monologue, and he quickly blows out the candles before swiping them off the cake. The next minute, Sao Ling pads into the kitchen before leaping (with some difficulty) straight onto the table to peer at the curious display.

Wang Yi side-eyes him. "Where have you been all day?"

【Pestering Eiden,】 the kitty System responded before sitting on his haunches.

【You've been practicing your baking skills again? Looks pretty good.】

"Uh-huh. You want a slice?"

【If it's good, I'll even take two!】

"Yeah, yeah. What's a cat like you doing eating ice cream and chocolate anyways?"

【I told you before, I'm a System. Even if I look like a cat, I'm different on the inside.】

"What, won't that sugar tangle up all your wiring or whatever?"

【Don't classify me with such archaic technology. Now get the knife!】

"Fine, fine..." Hiding his hands behind his back, Wang Yi sweeps into the kitchen, conveniently dumping his candles into the trash before grabbing some plates and utensils. "Hey, how about I just cut you a double slice and you won't have to ask me for seconds later?"

【My mouth isn't big enough to swallow something like that!】

"What, haven't you heard of teeth?"

【My fur will get dirty!】

"Sheesh, so picky..."

But fine, he gets the knife, cuts Sao Ling's portion into cat-friendly bite-sized pieces, and sits down with his System to enjoy a spontaneous after dinner dessert. Belatedly, Wang Yi realizes he forgot to make a wish before blowing the candles out.

Well, I don't think he'd want me to wish anything for him in the first place.

【Wang Yi,】 Sao Ling licks his mouth, oblivious. 【Use milk chocolate filling next time. The dark one's too bitter.】

He casually flicks the cat on the butt. "You're just not mature enough to appreciate the flavors."

【Mrreow! I'm a lot older than you, for starters!】

"I'm talking mental age, you clueless System," Wang Yi goads, and expertly dodges when Sao Ling leaps at him to smack his face.

Well...Happy Birthday wherever you are, Qin Xian.

[artshineaura]

mlp:fim halfway point thoughts

so i just finished MLP season 5, which means im just over halfway through the entire show, so i thought itd maybe be neat to give my thoughts on the show so far. ill go through season by season, giving each season a rating out of 10. warning this is,, a *long* post so i dont blame anyone for not reading through it all xd

season 1 (6/10)

a pretty,, alright starting season. theres plenty of good episodes and a fair few eh boring episodes. the first 2 parter is a neat intro to mlps characters and world, although i dont remember too too much from it since i watched the 2 parter a month or so before getting really into the show more recently.

season 1 isnt amazing but its not bad at all, you can definitely tell, like many other shows, that the show was still finding its footing during the first season, i specifically remembered being confused by big mac talking perfectly fine in episode 3 or 4 and then past that point almost always just saying "eeyup" or "nope"

also season 1's ending is,, odd. the gala episode they end it on is fine but it just feels like any other normal season 1 episode.

season 2 (7.5/10)

season 2 is definitely where the show picks up quite abit, theres definitely less boring eh episodes and more good episodes, and ontop of there being more good episodes, the good episodes are much better than season 1. both of the 2 parters here are really good, discords introduction as a villian in the first 2 parter is great and immediately made discord one of my favorite characters. the last 2 parter a canterlot wedding is really really good aswell, the first part is abit boring and slow by itself, but when you put part 1 and 2 together the slow pace really doesnt bother me too much.

also i really started to like the cutiemark crusaders in season 2, i started off thinking "ugh another episode based around these ponies?" and ended off the season knowing any cutiemark crusaders based episode would be for sure atleast good.

season 3 (5/10)

season 3 is a,, weird one. for starters its the shortest season, and unlike season 2 (and future seasons after season 3) it only has one two parter, that being the first 2 episodes, rather than the final episode, which is abit of an odd choice.

this season has many more boring not so great episodes than the previous seasons do. to make up for it some of the good episodes here are *really* good, babs seed, the discord reformation episode and the final episode come to mind. but those episodes dont stop most of this season from feeling very eh.

not even the two parter here is good, its a pretty unmemorable boring adventure to save the crystal kingdom (which just kinda shows up????) from a boring villian which barely even feels like a villian. plus a big thing here is that twilight and spike struggle to just let spike save the crystal kingdom because twilight would fail her lesson then? i dunno about you but in a high stakes situation like that where its possible me and an entire kingdom is about to die, i wouldnt care about some assignment.

thankfully the season pulls it together right at the very end with a pretty awesome music filled finale episode, its not a 2 parter which again is odd, and it definitely means the episode feels kinda rushed, but the idea of the mane 6's cutiemarks being mixed around and needing to be restored to their original ones is fun, plus twilight becoming an alicorn at the very end was great to see, i felt twilight after all shes been through really deserved it.

season 4 (9/10)

the best season so far. the season starts out with a pretty good, even if slightly unmemorable 2 parter. after that, the episodes start out pretty good and start to become really *really* good. some of the best in the show kind of good. theres very few bad episodes.

the season i will say felt slightly off at the beginning, even if the first few episodes were still good, im not even sure why it felt somewhat off, it just did.

this season also seems to somewhat try to be more story based, with this rainbow thing that each main character gets after going through a certain lesson, and that helps them find out a certain thing thatll help unlock a chest with 6 keys found at the beginning of the season. its a cool idea but i feel like the season doesnt commit enough to the story focused stuff for it to really feel substantial.

the final 2 parter here with tirek is amazing also, my favorite episodes in the show. it legit got me to tear up at some moments, specifically the ones where discord has to face the mane 6 after betraying them and losing his powers, with him feeling very sorry and such.

each episode in this season really got me excited to watch more, it was genuinely so good

season 5 (7.6/10)

this season starts off with alot of the momentum season 4 had, but kinda starts to fizzle out near the end. this season seems to focus a decent bit on cutiemarks, with the first 2 parter here being focused on starlight glimmer and her town of ponies with all the same cutiemark, making them all equal, so that their differences cant interfere with anything. of course starlight glimmer gets stopped and the citizens of the town get their cutiemarks again, but starlight does show up again later in the season. i really love the first 2 parter with starlight, shes a really good villian and the first two episodes of season 5 shows it really good, but the last 2 parter, when it comes to starlight is kinda lame. i love the time travel stuff with getting to see multiple entirely different versions of equestria, seeing chrysalis and the changelings again specifically was great, im kinda surprised it took this long for them to return at all. but starlights redemption is very rushed feeling and it feels very,, artificial? i dont think thats the right word but it just feels too easy. it doesnt feel nearly as well done as discords redemption or smth.

overall thoughts or whatever

i absolutely love this show, its definitely become one of my favorite shows ever, its atleast in my top 5, maybe even top 3. the show makes me rlly happy just watching it, as odd as it sounds. i dont know entirely how to describe it but like, it kinda makes me feel younger, except now in a fem nonbinary not a boy this time kinda way. i really do regret not watching this show ive been interested in for like, forever, just because of gender.

cant forget all of the fan content ive watched and such during my watch through of the show. i genuinely dont get why so many people find the fandom so weird, theres just so many awesome fan songs and animations and fanart, etc.

anyways uhh idk how to end this lol idk i just love the show