#but they have a lot of substance and research behind them

[saessenach]

Lady Anne and her black ballgown in The Lily of Ludgate Hill

Mimi Matthews' Belles of London is a CRIMINALLY underrated romance series, go read it NOW

#belles of london #the lily of ludgate hill #mimi matthews #anne deveril #my art #fanart #book fanart #digital art #artists on tumblr #illustration #procreate #i loved this series so much esp books 1 & 3 #the third one in particular REVIved me and if my muse is kind to me i'll be back #loved the romance between anne and felix and the vibes are impeccable #wish more people would read them bc THEY'RE SUCH FEEL GOOD NOVELS #but they have a lot of substance and research behind them #anyway i love goth anne and her idiot peacock of a man #might do a matching portrait of him in his evening black

[viv-hollande]

The Internet Historian plagiarism debacle is kind of uniquely funny to me. I'm "a fan" of Internet Historian, by which I mean specifically The Cost of Concordia, which is an excellently paced recounting of a personal interest of mine and is thus video crack for me, especially in the first half. While I did register some of his more 4chan opinions, I mostly ignored them because those videos generally weren't as tightly scripted and didn't hold my interest. ADHD brain y'all.

Even before Man in Cave I had mostly drifted away from his channel. The Area 51 video was the start of this. I only watched it once when it came out, but I vaguely remember it being sluggishly paced and packed with internet reference humor, especially that of the 4chan variety. I don't remember if I saw Man in Cave when it first came out or only saw the worse, rewritten version. Given that the original plagiarized article is excellently written, and that I don't really remember Man in Cave having that much of an impression on me, I probably never saw it, or only saw it one.

The really funny thing for me, though, concerns The Cost of Concordia. You see, because nautical stuff is of interest to me, I can attest that The Cost of Concordia is an exquisitely researched, extremely accurate retelling of the Costa Concordia disaster. Internet Historian was so committed to accuracy that he intentionally made the dialogue worse by using direct translations of the transcripts of the Costa Concordia's data recorder. A lot of it sounds slightly stilted and repetitive because of that direct translation, and because Captain Schettino kept asking the same questions over and over again.

In the Q&A for The Cost of Concordia, Internet Historian also goes into some of the creative process behind making the video. He talks about some of the ideas they had for the project, many of which actually had a lot of work put into them and later had to be scrapped. He talked about scrapping title cards, specifically because they broke up the flow of the video. Thank fuck he did, because again. Video crack.

It's just so funny to me that unlike iilluminaugtii and Somerton, who were all plagiarism, no substance, with just a tiny little heaping bucket of shitty personality, Internet Historian and his team are clearly capable of doing actual research and making well animated, well written, accurate videos. Even more strangely, he readily admitted to a few factual errors and misrepresentations in the Q&A, so he clearly doesn't mind admitting minor goofs for the sake of accuracy. What happened here? Did he get bored or something? Was he just assuming he could get away with it?

#internet historian #james somerton #iilluminaughtii #hbomberguy #plagiarism #adhd

[mysticstronomy]

COULD THERE BE A 'DARK MIRROR' UNIVERSE WITHIN OURS??

Blog#378

Saturday, February 24th, 2024.

Welcome back,

What if the world of dark matter was a mirror of our own, just with a broken set of rules? That might explain why dark matter appears to be so abundant yet invisible, a new theory suggests.

Dark matter is the mysterious, unknown substance that seems to make up the bulk of all the mass in the universe; for every 2 pounds (1 kilogram) of regular matter, there's roughly 10 pounds (5 kg) of dark matter. It doesn't interact with light or normal matter.

The only way scientists can detect it is through its subtle gravitational influence on normal matter, such as the motions of stars within galaxies and the growth of super-large structures in cosmic time.

It might be easy to think that because matter and dark matter operate with different rules, one would be totally dominant over the other. But despite having wildly different properties, the amounts of normal matter and dark matter are still in the same ballpark. That seems like a strange coincidence.

To explain this, scientists proposed there could be some sort of hidden link between them. They published their research Jan. 22 on the preprint journal arXiv.

The researchers posited that for every physical interaction in normal matter, there's a mirror of it in the world of dark matter. This would be a new kind of symmetry in nature, connecting the normal and dark matter worlds, the researchers said.

This symmetry would help explain why dark matter and regular matter have roughly the same abundances.

In the paper, the researchers point out another strange coincidence. In the physics of normal matter, a neutron and proton have almost exactly the same mass, which enables them to bind together and form stable atoms. If a proton was just a little bit heavier, it would be totally unstable and decay in only a few minutes, making the formation of atoms impossible. In this imaginary scenario, the universe would be left with a sea of free-floating neutrons.

Perhaps, the researchers suggest, this imaginary, broken cosmos may be a reality in the dark matter mirror version of our universe. A special combination of physics led to a proton having roughly the same mass as a neutron; perhaps in the dark matter mirror, that combination of physics played out differently, causing the "dark proton" to evaporate and leave behind a sea of "dark neutrons" — what we identify as dark matter.

While this proposed mirror model allows for the possibility of rich interactions among dark matter particles — dark atoms, dark chemistry and a dark periodic table of dark elements — there can't be too much interaction, the researchers noted. If the dark matter interacts with itself a lot, it would tend to clump up far more than scientists think it does. So most of the dark matter has to be relatively simple — a sea of free-floating, neutral particles.

These additional interactions, which would be a dark mirror of our chemical world, may enable future scientists to test this theory. In the early universe, normal matter underwent nucleosynthesis, when the first elements formed in a nuclear plasma. If this new idea is correct, then there was a mirror nucleosynthesis also happening in dark matter.

In those chaotic early days, channels may have opened up between the two worlds, enabling them to affect each other.

By carefully measuring the rate of element formation — something that the next generation of cosmological observatories hope to do — scientists may be able to find evidence for one of these channels and get a glimpse into the mirror dark universe.

Originally published on www.livescience.com

COMING UP!!

(Wednesday, February 28th, 2024)

"THE OLDEST BLACK HOLE IN THE UNIVERSE!!"

#astronomy #outer space #alternate universe #astrophysics #universe #spacecraft #white universe #space #parallel universe #astrophotography

[c00kietin]

thank GOODNESS I could finish this- beneath the cut's a profile for them!! :D

buckle up, because it's a lot of information-

TENEBRIS!!!

Goes by they/them pronouns :D

Don't ask them for their age. Even I don't know how old they are.

The one and only leader of the Obitus Cult/Cult of Obitus!!

A very egotistic and anti-social being that has utterly devoted their loyalty to their "god" Obitus.

Can be quick to anger as well, lashes out on their members if they're really frustrated.

Of course, they're nothing like this around newcomers. Needs to somehow convince them to join, right?

Well, they can just force people if they wanted to with spells.

The magic they're capable of involves more chants and recitals, as well as making very strange substances and potions.

Their shopping list looks very strange, as you can imagine.

Kind of tying in the shopping thing, they get all of their resources delivered to their temple. Tenebris very rarely leaves the premises, and the members aren't allowed to leave at all.

They hate children. And chocolate.

And bright lighting- all the rooms in the temple are very dimly lit and all their clothes are darkly coloured.

This is their voice claim!

Their hair is quite heavy (and well taken care of) so you can guess that they're very slow.

MORE THINGS ABOUT THE CULT ITSELF!!

You can call it either the Obitus Cult or the Cult of Obitus- Tenebris calls it the latter.

This group made up of almost 100 people places their faith and loyalty to Obitus.

According to Tenebris- who claimed to have witnessed them in their sleep one night, starting up the cult the next day- Obitus plans on completely obliterating the Earth of humanity and civilization and told them to prepare for the end of the world. basically.

When this will happen?....Tenebris wasn't told that.

They also do not know what this otherworldly overlord looks like- however, they know an eye-shaped symbol (on Tenebris' hat and necklace) is very important as that appeared in their dream too.

The temple is located in a very secluded mountain range- Tenebris was simply told to go there by Obitus and it was already there. Convenient.

As pictured above, members have to have the eye symbol engraved into their wrist (or palm)- after this, they happen to be almost under a trance or brainwashed.

When praying to Obitus, they expose out the arm with the marking and their other arm behind that one, raised up to their face. Like this:

I hope that makes sense sjkksjks- while they do have lengthy prayer times and different types of prayers, a short and simple one they use is "We place our faith in Obitus."

The temple is full of many different rooms, including a dining hall, summoning room and bunkers (Tenebris gets their own room, obviously.)

They also follow a strict schedule- They must be asleep by 8 p.m. and awake and ready for the day by 4 a.m. They have two food breaks- one for breakfast and one for dinner. Once a month, they also hold a summoning ritual in order to attempt communicating with Obitus once more.

Members have their own jobs as well as worshipping Obitus though- cooking, cleaning, assisting Tenebris; that's all done by them as well.

While Tenebris mainly targets lonely people or those who don't have a social life, they are happy to accept anyone in! Well, that is if you're over 18.

I'm afraid teenagers (and children) are not allowed to join. However, Tenebris does take note of minors who do want to join and if you're REALLY nice, may let you visit the temple if you do some errands for them.

EXTRA FACT STUFF ABOUT TENEBRIS:

I based them more off of what first comes to mind when you think of cults- and, unintentionally, they also partially remind me of the cult in Spooky Month which I forgot existed ;-;

Because, after researching real life cult leaders, I felt like their stories weren't really what I was going for with Tenebris.

I guess the Peoples Temple founded by Jim Jones and the Family Cult by Anne Hamilton-Byrne were partial inspirations- oh, and religious experiences I've had, Catholic-Christian ones that is. (this is in no way meant to portray anything bad about that religion- or any at all- I just wanted to make the cult-y side of this more interesting by basing it off of what I know.)

My sister nicknames them Tenny and I (as well as others hee hee) nickname em Tennis, so you might see that often lol

I'm pretty sure they're the first oc I posted about on here! Although I think the post got like 7 notes-

When I first drew them, which was a while ago, they were more like a triangle shape and had larger eyes- my sister likes this version more but I think it just looks goofier- might post it once I find it :D

Tenebris means Darkness in Latin (according to translators) because I couldn't think of a name for them and just thought "think of something kinda edgy, then make it Latin to sound cool >:D"

Obitus means Death in Latin (according to translators once more I can't speak Latin-)

Thank you for reading this far!! I'm going to just tag @night-terrorzz @lobotomize-d n @gummy-worms-in-my-brain since you lovely people seem to like this cult leader :>

#my art #my oc #oc art #art #Tenebris #have a nice day/evening

[geddy-leesbian]

SERRENNEDY POKEMON CROSSOVER AU FOR SERRENNEDY WEEK!!

As you can see above, this is very angsty. Leon and Luis both have a lot of trauma and Baggage. Luis almost has a panic attack and does some trauma dumping.

While there's no explicit smut on screen, there's a moment that gets kinda steamy and a fade to black/implied sex scene.

(oh and personally I feel very awkward swapping things out with pokemon terminology, like using "Arceus" instead of "God" so there is normal swearing here)

“Dr. Serra Navarro?”

“Well, yes, that is me, but typically I prefer Professor Serra,” His eyes wander all over Leon. “Though for someone as pretty as you, I prefer just Luis. Is there something I can help you with?”

Leon was afraid that he was going to go all the way to Alola only to find out it was all a complete waste because Professor Serra actually was just a professor unfortunate enough to share a name with a Team Rocket scientist. But that outcome is already ruled out. Either this guy is the lead he's been seeking for years, or he's an innocent professor that Leon will ask out on a date.

Due to excitement over finally finding a new lead, this trip was hastily put together, and Leon didn't realize how young Dr. Serr– Luis was. Once he confirmed that Luis was from Johto, he didn't go any deeper. He did see a couple pictures, but didn't pay much attention, and assumed the youthfulness was because they were older pictures. His assumption was very wrong. Luis is about his age and way too good-looking. The length of his grayish pink hair is braided, and the loose bangs are fluffy. His tinted glasses are a little too big for his face, but in a cute way. He's taller than Leon. And his outfit is fucking stupid. Shirtless under a lab coat. So stupid. It's hot.

A date with him will make this trip more than worth it.

“I just have some questions for you.”

“About? Are you a parent, or..? I don't think I've seen you around before, but I don't usually get anyone else dropping in on me like this…”

Shit. Leon really should have thought of a cover story beforehand. But in addition to not thoroughly researching Luis enough, he was also too high on the excitement of finally finding something after years of searching to bother thinking through what he'd say.

“Just heard about you, found your past interesting. From Johto originally, was wondering how it affected you. If you had any run-ins with Team Rocket.”

And it looks like Leon will not be going on a date with a handsome professor tonight. This is the guy. He recovers quickly, but for a split second, the phrase ‘Team Rocket’ invokes some panic in his expression.

“No. I was fortunate enough to never have encountered them.”

“You know anything about Mew?”

“Yes, of course? What kind of a professor would I be if I didn't? Mythical pokemon from deep in jungles in South America. Believed to be the ancestor of all pokemon.”

“What about Mewtwo?”

“I've heard the rumors, yes. A clone of Mew that was heavily genetically modified. But I believe that those are just that, rumors. There is no real substance to the claims.”

“Cinnabar Island. That's where you worked when Team Rocket captured and imprisoned Mew. You cruelly experimented on Mew. You helped create Mewtwo.”

“Who in the hell do you think you are, showing up at my doorstep to accuse me of such insane things?!”

“International Police!” Luis starts to shut the door, but Leon blocks the door with his foot. While he wasn't wearing his full uniform, he did bring his badge and takes it out to flash to Luis. He sees some purple fur coming up behind Luis. Must be an espeon, coming to protect its trainer. “Put that in its pokeball and open the door. Now.”

“I will do no such thing! I'm not proud of what I did back then, but I've done my best to leave it all behind, build a new life for myself. I will not allow you, or anyone else, to rip all of that away from me.”

“Not proud of what you did back then? So you admit it?”

“It doesn't matter. Arrest me if you really want, but it won't be anything more than a waste of time for the both of us. I'll maybe spend a night or two in jail, then be let go without charges being filed because I have a good reputation here and you have no evidence. If you try to tell anyone I confessed to involvement with Team Rocket, they won't believe you. You'll ruin your own reputation.”

“I do have evidence! Documents connecting you to the Mew experiments and the creation of Mewtwo.”

Luis actually starts laughing.

“You don't know as much as you think you do then. You find my name on a scrap of paper in the crumbling ruins of a lab, and think you know my life story! So arrogant! Yes, I did work at the Cinnabar lab, but I did not contribute to the creation of Mewtwo. I did not experiment on Mew. I have never had the privilege to even see the legendary Mew in the flesh. Mewtwo had already been created and Mew had already escaped before I was even hired. I can prove that your supposed timeline of my work history is impossible in court, so good luck getting a conviction!”

Leon moves his foot and lets Luis shut the door, and slinks away from his house with his tail between his legs.

…

Leon checks into a motel. He turns the TV on, but he can't focus on it. His mind can't stop wandering back to the conversation, analyzing every word. He fucked up.

“I'm not proud of what I did back then.”

He really fucked up. That could have been a very good angle. Tell Luis that this is his chance to atone and right his wrongs by telling Leon everything he knows about Team Rocket. Maybe even offer some kind of immunity deal if he still seemed hesitant.

But he had to get hot headed and fuck it all up. His first lead in years, and he blew it.

Not ready to admit defeat quite yet, he decides to give himself a day to cool his head off, before trying again. At least Alola offers plenty of distractions. He's not one for most of the tourist trap shit, but distracts himself with hikes through some scenic, and more importantly, rugged terrains. Pushing his body always helps him get his mind together. It's isolated enough that he can let all of his pokemon out too.

Something else Alola offers is a brutal sun. Leon didn't think to buy any sunscreen, and has a bad burn across his face by the end of the day. He's been through far worse, the pain is nothing to him, but he is annoyed at himself for being so stupid. His pokemon were quite happy with the exercise and exploration though, and his head feels clearer, so overall it was a pretty successful day.

…

A knock at Luis's door again. Rattled by yesterday, the knocking gives him a spike of anxiety. Still, he gets up to answer it, in case it's a student or parent that needs something.

He looks through the peephole and sees the same pretty International Police agent that came by yesterday. Luis really doesn't want to open the door. But he's worried it'll be worse if he doesn't and the man busts the door down. Besides, Espeon seems at ease with the situation, not alarmed and protective like she was yesterday. So he opens the door a bit, keeping the chain lock secure in case he tries to get in. (He would certainly be able to break the chain, but at least it would buy Luis a few extra seconds to try to think of a desperate plan.)

“Hello, officer! What are you here to threaten me with today?” Not wanting the agent to know how shaken he is, he turns up the sarcasm in an attempt to mask any nervousness. “Going to accuse me of experimenting on Arceus?

“No. No accusations today. Sorry, about yesterday. Wasn't polite to you. Can I try to make up for it, buy you dinner?”

“You can't seriously believe I'm going to just walk right into whatever kind of trap this is?”

“It's not a trap. Just feel bad about yesterday, I swear. I'm Leon, by the way. Think I forgot to mention it before.”

Luis goes to shut the door, but Espeon seems determined that Leon should be heard out, and telekinetically lifts the chain and nudges the door open. Leon smiles, and it cuts right through Luis's fear.

“I don't like you, and I don't trust you. But…” The prettiest man that Luis has ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on is trying to buy him dinner. (The angry red sunburn on his face does make him the tiniest bit less pretty, but he's still incredibly pretty.) Whether it's a date or something else, turning him down goes against everything Luis believes in. “I suppose I'm willing to put that aside for a free meal.”

“Look, you have every right to feel that way. But I really regret yesterday, I swear. It's just this subject… My parents were Team Rocket. Died on a mission,” Leon hates talking about this. With anyone. Back in his pokemon trainer days, before deciding to join the International Police, he'd had some time in the limelight. First as a rising star gym challenger, then as a champion. He always sidestepped questions when interviewers started asking about family. He especially hates talking about it to a member of Team Rocket. But this is the price he pays for fucking up yesterday. If he wants Luis to trust him and give him what he came for, he needs to give something himself. “Never knew details until I started investigating some stuff related to Team Rocket, found out they died on one of the expeditions looking for Mew. So this whole topic just gets me hot headed and dumb and I say things I don't mean and regret.”

“Well, it sounds like you shouldn't be an International Police agent then, if you can't separate your own personal issues from the job.”

“Yeah, maybe I shouldn't be…” Leon says, because what else is there to say? Luis isn't wrong. “C'mon, dinner. Walked past a restaurant on the way here, you know if it's any good?”

“Yes, we can eat there. By the way, are you aware that your face is extremely sunburned? I have stuff I could put on to help it.”

“Food first. Maybe after.”

“Suit yourself. I'm going to change, I'll be out in a minute.”

Luis ditches the lab coat and comes out with a top on, something that disappoints Leon more than it should. At least it's just a vest that shows off a decent amount of his chest. His hair is down today, and it somehow makes him look even better.

Leon regretted the way he approached Luis yesterday, but initially it wasn't because of guilt. Even if it wasn't Mewtwo, there was something Luis was involved in. He only denied experimenting on Mew and creating Mewtwo, he admitted he was a member of Team Rocket. Luis deserved the harsh treatment, he had only regretted it because Luis could be useful to him. But he does feel a small twinge of guilt for demanding he put his espeon in its pokeball when it follows Luis out the door and he sees that it has a service pokemon vest on. Maybe Luis would have felt safe and opened the door if he could keep Espeon out.

“I can walk there fine,” Luis says, noticing Leon looking at the harness. “I have an injury from a long time ago that flares up from time to time, but Espeon can sense when I'm going to have problems with it, gives me warning, and helps me not fall on my face when it does act up and I struggle keeping my balance. But it is fine most days.”

They sit across from each other, Espeon laying under the table by Luis's feet. Leon has to keep reminding himself that this is not a date. This is an attempt to get Luis to move past yesterday's harsh treatment so Leon can have a second chance at interrogating him. Despite his attempts to not ogle Luis, Leon can't help himself, and notices something very interesting. Scars. The biggest one is on his chest, and another on his cheek.

Being in a public place seems to put Luis at ease. Somewhat, he's at least smiling and looking more relaxed. As it probably should. Leon is dying to grill Luis about the “injury from a long time ago” and the scars he's noticed since sitting down. But this isn't the time or place.

“So… Small talk time?” God. This is actually a fucking date. “How long you been a cop? And why are you still poking around with Team Rocket? They're not a problem anymore. Disbanded twice, no activity in years. One would think the International Police might have some, ah, you know, actual problems to deal with, eh?”

“Been one for a few years. There's not a lot of resources being used up for it anymore, but it still matters to me personally,” There's actually no resources spent on it. Leon isn't here on official International Police business. The Team Rocket hunt is just vigilante shit Leon does on his own time. “Just because they've stopped doesn't mean they shouldn't be brought to justice for the past. Their leader slipped away, it just doesn't sit right with me. I'm trying to nail as many members who slipped away as possible,” Luis's smile disappears. “As far as justice goes, I'm mostly concerned about the big fish. Leader, executives. Finding small fish is just a good way to get leads on the big ones.”

“So if I understand, you help the small fish, they help you? They tell you everything they know about the big fish, and in exchange you don't come down hard on them?” Leon smiles and nods. It'll probably take longer than it should have because he'll need to build some trust after freaking the fuck out their first conversation, but Luis will play the game and give him what he came for. Luis's smile comes back. “Well, interesting… How have your investigations been going?”

“I've made some good leads,” That's a complete lie. Finding Luis's name in the ruins of Cinnabar Island is literally the only lead he's had in years. But telling Luis that will make him feel empowered. “William's out there somewhere, just a matter of time until I find him. Or until he gets tired of licking his wounds in secret and re-emerges on his own, something I'm hoping to at least make harder for him by picking off people he'll need to organize.”

…

“Do you want to come in?” Is Luis trying to have sex with him right now? They did just go on a date, after all. Why doesn't Leon want to say no? “So I can help you with your sunburn.”

Shit. Leon needs to get his mind out of the gutter.

Leon sits on Luis's couch, and Luis drags a stool over by the couch to sit on while he gently rubs ointment across his face with his (gloved) hands. Their faces are so close together. Leon has to stop looking at his face, because he wants to lean forward and kiss Luis. So he looks down. At Luis's neck. A fatal mistake. Before his brain can even process what his body's doing, he's pulling Luis forward, off the stool and onto Leon's knee. His teeth are sinking into Luis's neck.

As soon as he realizes what he's done, he hopes that Luis is going to ask him what the hell he's doing and get up off of him, because he's not sure he'll be able to control himself if Luis is into this too.

Of course Leon isn't that lucky. Luis moans at the first bite. He moans again and grinds down on Leon's knee with the second bite. The third bite has him yanking off the ointment covered rubber gloves and just tossing them on the floor, so he can start exploring Leon's body with his hands.

“I wish I could make some quip about buying me dinner first, but you quite literally did just buy me dinner, so… And really, I would be happy with this even if you hadn't,” Leon just keeps biting as Luis rambles. Now there's a hand in his hair, that clenches around or tugs at it with every bite. There's another hand working the button on his vest, and Leon is quite impressed by his finesse. With one hand and without even looking, Luis quickly has all of them unbuttoned. Though it doesn't get him to the bareskin he's desperately trying to get to, Leon also has a button down undershirt on. Luis doesn't bother unbuttoning all of them, just a couple so he can reach the bareskin of Leon's chest. “Someone as pretty as you doesn't need to buy me dinner, they can just do whatever they'd like to me. You're a cop, you have handcuffs? I'm into that.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Leon pushes him off his lap and gets up, then picks Luis up bridal style. Partially because he wants to give Luis a subtle reminder that he isn't just some small-time cop. He is, in fact, a very well trained special agent in peak physical condition. But mostly because there's a very specific place he wants to carry Luis to. He wasn't lying about someone like Leon being able to do whatever; he readily accepts being picked up, wrapping his arms around Leon's neck. “Where's your bedroom?”

…

“I didn't know I was working for Team Rocket initially. They had things very well compartmentalized. I was hired by a shell company. They had a contract with Devon Corp, so it really seemed like a completely legitimate company.”

In the afterglow, Luis finally starts speaking about his past. Leon briefly wonders if this makes him a whore. He isn't getting money for having sex with Luis, but he is getting information. Something even more valuable to him. The entire reason he's here.

But intent matters, right? Leon didn't start biting his neck because he wanted information. He didn't suck his dick because he wanted information. He didn't put him in handcuffs and sit on his face because he wanted information. He did all of it just because he wanted to. Just because Luis is hot enough that Leon temporarily forgot that he hated him. He was fully prepared to just go back to his motel room after, without any additional info from Luis, and just keep building the trust. So while he's not a whore, he definitely is a slut. Whatever. He's making more progress in his investigation than he has in years, it's fine.

“I was in a research team focused on mega evolution, specifically artificial mega evolution,” Luis continues. “Devon had recently perfected an artificial pokemon line, Beldum. They wanted us to find a way to make Metagross mega evolve. It was no easy task… But we did it. We tinkered around, created an artificial mega stone that metagross would respond to. We researched further, tweaking things to modify metagross's mega form, until we felt it was powerful enough. I was informed that Devon was extremely pleased with the work, and given a promotion, to be the head researcher on a new project my company started…”

“Guessing that's when you started at the Cinnabar lab?”

Luis says nothing, just stares down blankly, frozen. Leon reaches for a pokeball on the nightstand, and lets his sylveon out. It knows exactly what to do, approaching Luis to wrap its ribbon feelers around his arm. Leon hadn't ever wanted a sylveon. He had wanted his eevee to evolve into an espeon, actually. He thought the psychic abilities would be useful in his line of work. But it evolving into a sylveon instead has been a happy accident. Its calming abilities can be surprisingly useful.

“Yes, it was,” Luis answers. He's still wincing at the memories, but Sylveon's soothing aura is preventing him from having a full-blown panic attack and shutting down. “All I was told beforehand was that it was another project related to artificial mega stones. This was when the Alola research about mega evolution being cruel on the pokemon was starting to come out, so in my naivete I assumed we'd be modifying natural mega stones in ways that would make it easier on the pokemon. I knew something was deeply wrong when I was led downstairs. Armed guards. There was a whole maze of hallways and locked gates. As I said yesterday, Mewtwo was already created by this point. It had also escaped once and only narrowly recaptured, so there was much stronger security. I was never alone, there were always at least two armed guards with me at all times. It wasn't just to keep Mewtwo from getting out, it was also to keep me in. I knew it was wrong, it made my stomach churn, but I did the work. I did what was asked of me. We made two artificial mega stones tailored to Mewtwo. Two different stones, two different forms with different strengths.”

Despite Sylveon's feelers, and now Espeon's face rubbing against his other arm, Luis breaks down sobbing.

“You're okay. You're safe,” Leon whispers. Sylveon moves away from Luis's lap, laying down at the end of the bed, so that Leon can wrap his arms around him. As helpful as soothing pokemon like Sylveon can be, sometimes people just need human touch. Leon wants to press for more information right away, but he's not going to repeat yesterday's mistake. He has to go slow, he can't risk pushing Luis away and making him shut down before he's gotten all the information he can out of him. “You don't have to tell me the rest right now. Take all the time you need, okay, sweetheart?”

Jesus Christ. He just had sex with a member of Team Rocket, and now he's calling him sweetheart. At least he's making progress.

Luis just clings to Leon and sobs for a few minutes, before finally speaking again.

“I didn't want to, Leon. I didn't want to. I didn't have a choice. They were forcing me to, they would hurt me if I didn't, and I couldn't get help. Not from gym leaders. Everyone knows that William was the Viridian gym leader, but it went so much deeper than anyone knew. The lab was right by the Cinnabar gym, Wesker was the gym leader and heavily involved in all of the Team Rocket science research. Alexia, Saffron's leader at the time, was quite involved too and came to the lab regularly. The ones who weren't involved were getting paid off to look the other way. The police were paid off too,” Leon entwines one of his hands with Luis's and squeezes it, presses chaste kisses onto his neck, trying to encourage him to keep talking. This is a goldmine. He's long suspected there was a lot of corruption in Kanto and some intentional incompetence during the initial Team Rocket investigations, but could never get anything solid. And the fact that there were other gym leaders directly involved is actually news to him. “It was so screwed up what we were doing, I lost sleep over it, I barely ate because I had no appetite. Until one day…”

A loud, choked sob.

“Mewtwo got out again. All the new precautions weren't enough. It attacked all of us, we deserved it… It was a lab, there were scalpels, lots of glass to break, so many sharp objects that it lifted with its mind to hurl at us. That's how I got all my scars. The worst wound was in my back. It almost killed me, if it had pushed the bone saw in even just a little bit deeper, I would have died. I only survived because… It wasn't luck, it didn't make a mistake, it chose not to wound me fatally, because… Because I think it got in my head, it didn't say anything but it made eye contact with me, and saw that I wasn't a willing participant in its torture. The room after, blood… So much… I was the only one spared, it killed all the others.”

Luis untangles himself from Leon and lays down, closing his eyes. Seems like that's all the information he's getting tonight. Which he isn't upset about, it's a lot, far more than he was expecting. He'd like to know more about Mewtwo, where it ended up after this, and of course he needs more details about Wesker and Alexia.

“Stay?” Luis asks quietly, when Leon starts getting dressed. “Please?”

“Yeah,” Leon does still reach for his pants, but doesn't put them on, just fishes out his notepad so he can write everything down while it's still fresh. “Okay, I'll stay.”

It's dangerous. Leon is so close to liking this guy. Something he needs to not do, because Luis very much has the potential to be dangerous. The main reason Leon had been so hot headed and harsh to him initially is because he thought he got away with everything. He thought that Luis was a monster, and, instead of paying for his crimes, just walked away completely unscathed. Just moved to a new region, was completely accepted, became a pokemon professor, a pillar of the community. A role model.

But that's been shattered. While it may not have been in the traditional route, Luis has paid for his crimes. Is paying for them. Leon is cynical enough that he might have believed everything was just bullshit to manipulate him under other circumstances, but there's enough that it's undeniable. There's more than just faded scars that could have been the result of anything, he has an actual service pokemon. Years later, his injuries are still problematic enough for him to need that assistance. And clearly, he is genuinely traumatized. No one is that good at acting, Team Rocket is truly a trigger for him.

The issue is that Leon doesn't know why it's a trigger. Even injured and traumatized, Luis could be dangerous. The best case scenario is that he's been completely with Leon, and truly hates what he did. The worst case scenario is that he doesn't feel any guilt for his actions, and his near death experience was the only source of the trauma, without any emotional side to it.. Even injured and traumatized, Luis has the potential to be very dangerous.

“Hey, Luis?” Leon whispers after he's done jotting down notes about what Luis said, hoping he's not already asleep. His eyes flutter open. “Is it fine if I let my growlithe out? Usually sleep with it.”

“Go ahead. Just don't leave me. I don't want to wake up alone.”

He should leave. Luis is dangerous. Luis is Team Rocket. And Leon might already be a little bit in love with him, and needs to get the fuck away from him before he falls in even deeper.

But he doesn't. Instead he lets Growlithe out, turns off the lamp on the nightstand, and spoons Luis. He falls asleep with his arms wrapped around him, face buried in his fluffy hair. Espeon sleeps on the floor in its own little bed, while Growlithe and Sylveon lay down by their feet.

#serennedy week 2024 #serennedy #serrennedy #luis serra #leon kennedy #luis sera navarro #leon s kennedy #resident evil fanfiction #resident evil 4 #re4 remake #re4make #re4

[arcielee]

Interview With a Writer

Thank you again @inthedayswhenlandswerefew for continue the Maggie's Suffering Sundays tradition with a behind-the-scenes on her latest story! As always, here is masterlist to my Interview With a Writer series and the other talented individuals who allow me to continue this self-indulgent series! 💜

Name: inthedayswhenlandswerefew

Story: Napoleonville

Paring: modern Aemond Targaryen x female!reader

Warnings: 18+ mature themes. Be mindful of chapter warnings.

What inspired the plotline for Napoleonville?

I’ve always thought that bayou country (and the Deep South in general) has a fascinating, slightly unnerving, ancient sort of beauty, and I had a vague idea that I’d use it as a setting for a fic one day. I actually wrote a short story in college that took place in rural Louisiana (it involved fraternities and murder, sounds like me, right? 😂) and really loved the experience of mentally living in that setting for a while.

One day I was thinking about this preoccupation I have with Louisiana while listening to You’re Wrong About, a podcast I really love. They have a 5-episode miniseries about Princess Diana that is super informative and also hilarious, and I go back and re-listen to those episodes a few times a year because I enjoy them so much. So the plot of Napoleonville was a marriage (pun intended) of these two seemingly random, disconnected inspirations!

I think I imagined the story as taking place in the 80s primarily because of the Princess Diana connection, but also I’m super obsessed with 80s music and fashion, so I’m sure that was a contributing factor. 😁

My Pinterest board for this series was called "Swamplands" and featured a LOT of retro 80s photos, as well as plenty of alligators and baking recipes, of course!

I sadly did not yet exist in the 80s, so extensive research was necessary.

Explain your interpretation of Aemond. What drives him? Why is he the way he is in Napoleonville?

To me, Aemond seems a lot like Prince Charles in the 80s. He’s very image-conscious and dutiful, but also deeply insecure and unhappy, and he has a secret scandalous life that serves as his escape from the emotionally devoid reality that has been chosen for him.

Aemond is at peace when he gets to feel like he’s in control, but he’s also just fundamentally starved for genuine affection, and those are things that he needs—even in secret, and even in small doses—in order to survive the stifling, relentless demands of being the heir to the Jade Dragon Energy dynasty.

Did you already have an idea of how you wanted the Targaryen family dynamic to be in Napoleonville?

In most of my fics, Viserys is either dying/dead or super distant, so I liked being able to get a sense of how the family would function if Viserys was alive and well and at least somewhat present.

He’s this dark cloud of a patriarch whenever he jets into town from his latest business trip, reminding every member of the family how they’ve disappointed him: Alicent is an unlovable wife, Aegon an embarrassment of a son, Aemond an overlooked middle child always trying to prove himself (at the risk of both his mental and physical health), and then Helaena and Daeron are barely even on his radar.

When Viserys is away, the family seems a bit happier, lazing around the pool and distracting themselves with a variety of hobbies and substances. I think the fact that Aemond picked up smoking Marlboros from Alicent—and then she shared them with Christabel as well—is very indicative about how a dynamic like this is generational. Parents suffer, and then their children develop maladaptive behaviors to survive in that environment, and then they grow up to recreate it because that’s all they know.

With Viserys still around, Otto became a different character, and this version of Otto Hightower was really fun to write. I imagined him as someone who was once a determined social striver and now—burned-out and somewhat aware that all his ambitions led to nothing but misery—has become a bit of a nihilist and is content to spend what remains of his life on a beach in the South Pacific.

Can you give us the "dad dynamic" comparison of Aemond and Willis?

Aemond, while emotionally kind of clueless, is definitely aware that he had a bad childhood and doesn't want any other kids to have to feel that way.

Also Aemond, unlike Willis, is socially open-minded. He has this fascination with scrappy underdogs who manage to take bad circumstances and make something meaningful out of them, undoubtedly because that’s deep down how he’s always felt: like someone harmed and overlooked, yet a constant striver.

When Aemond first meets Cupcake, there is a level of chemistry and attraction that he didn’t expect (although he certainly has always hoped for it), and he realizes almost immediately that this will be more than a one-time hookup and treats Cupcake accordingly. Then as he begins to learn more about her, his admiration and affection grows.

Cupcake is unassuming and yet nontraditional and defiant in the face of adversity, exactly the sort of person that Aemond respects most. He feels that—like himself, although in very different ways—Cupcake was also robbed of the agency she deserved and wronged by people who should have had her best interests at heart. Viserys was responsible for Aemond’s lost eye; Willis—in Aemond’s mind—was responsible for Cupcake’s loss of control over her body, and the loss of her educational opportunities as well. Aemond doesn’t hate Willis because he used to be married to Cupcake. He hates Willis because he consigned Cupcake to a life that was less than she deserved.

Aemond gets along so well with Cadi because, simply put, he treats her like a human. He is intrigued by her obstinate personality and pays attention to her interests, even if she’s just a kid; Aemond remembers being chronically ignored as a child, and he sees children as being fully sentient in a way that a lot of 80s parents didn’t. Since he isn’t much of a traditionalist, Aemond doesn’t care if Cadi has short hair or dresses primarily in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles t-shirts. Similarly, Aemond is not fazed that Amir is gay, and I’m sure the fact that Aemond is European has a lot to do with that. Aemond is definitely not a rural Louisianan at heart!

Willis, by the standards of the time and place, is actually a relatively decent dad; he cares about spending time with Cadi and has negotiated a schedule where he has custody three days a week, which is (sadly) way more time than a lot of dads spend with their kids! We learn in Chapter 10 that a huge source of anxiety for him has been his fear of Cupcake meeting someone who will take her and Cadi far away from Napoleonville, and thus from Willis. He also invests in certain activities that he and Cadi enjoy doing together, like boating/fishing. Willis may have a very traditional, conservative view of gender roles—and life in general—and he doesn’t always take Cadi’s interests seriously, but he isn’t an awful guy.

Although his mullet is definitely awful.

What was your favorite moment of this series?

The first vivid scene I envisioned for Napoleonville was Aemond asking Cupcake to marry him under a massive southern live oak after abandoning his wedding to Christabel—the Princess Diana of this story—but I’m not sure if I can call that my favorite moment. I was really excited to write Chapter 6 because of Aemond jumping into the alligator-filled water to rescue Cupcake, but as much as I loved it I don’t think that’s my favorite scene either.

My favorite scenes tend to be small, quiet moments, probably things that don’t stand out to anyone else. I think my absolute favorite scene of Napoleonville is in Chapter 7 when Cupcake is in bed with a migraine—sad, stressed, missing Aemond but also furious with him, reflecting on never feeling chosen, fearful of Cadi one day leaving her—and Aemond shows up and is just super gentle and kind and apologetic for the way he was the last time they saw each other.

They’re two people who are both in a lot of pain, both physically and emotionally, and they desperately want to help each other even if they aren’t sure how.

Speaking of Chapter 6, do you have an idea how it went between Aemond, Aegon, and Willis on the boat once they realized Cupcake was overboard?

Oh yeah! It all unfolded within a few seconds, so it was super quick. How I saw it happening is that Cupcake goes overboard, and all three men hear the splash and then turn around to see she’s gone.

Aegon is thinking “RIP cake lady,” because he certainly has no idea what to do about it and would sooner chew off his own arm than jump in that water. Willis scrambles to grab ropes, etc. to at least try to help her back into the boat. And then Willis starts giving Aemond orders and as he’s shouting, Aemond just dives into the bayou and Willis and Aegon are left staring at each other like “???” 😂

Aegon was so much fun in this story. I loved the relationship between him and Aemond.

I think we all know by now that I'm an Aegon girlie, and so of course Napoleonville Aegon had to have an opportunity to shine!

This is the first series since my HOTD debut (Have You No Idea That You’re In Deep?) that Aegon and the protagonist have no romantic relationship, but they still develop a friendship and fondness for each other that I think is really healing for Aegon. He has resigned himself to being the failure of the family, and is an afterthought in the Targaryen household (and to his wife, Princess Stephanie of Monaco).

Even Aemond, who Aegon loves and admires (even if Aegon is not very good at expressing this), is oftentimes preoccupied and emotionally closed-off. But Cupcake remembers Aegon and tries to make him feel included when she starts showing up at the mansion. She can't resist a sad, maligned outcast!

Were there any other characters in your story that you enjoyed writing?

Of course I loved writing Amir, Willis, and Cadi, but I think the character I grew the most unexpectedly attached to was Christabel.

She's so young and idealistic, and although she is Cupcake's rival of sorts, she is pretty impossible to hate because she never does anything wrong. Christabel is an Aemond fangirl who expresses emotions openly, even when no one around her does. She wants a real relationship with him and does everything in her power to please her fiancé and make him proud of her. And Christabel is aware on some level that things aren't right, but everyone else in her life is trying to gaslight her into thinking that all courtships and marriages are like this.

All these details are true for the real Princess Diana as well. Even years into her marriage when things were clearly dire, Diana would still choose outfits based on what Charles might think she looked good in. She spent so long trying to earn her husband's love, but it was an impossible (and agonizing) mission. Fortunately for Christabel, she didn't have to endure 15 years of torment before breaking free.

Do you feel Reader and Aemond complement one another well?

Absolutely! On a superficial (and kinky) level, Aemond likes being in control and Cupcake likes being able to rely on someone else to make trustworthy decisions, so in that sense they're a perfect match. But they also just genuinely get along well and are able to understand each other.

From the very first meeting, Aemond can tell when Cupcake is nervous, and she can tell that he's wearing his authoritative confidence like armor, and they both adjust to try to make the other feel at ease. Furthermore, Cupcake might be a high school dropout, but she is not dumb. She lacks academic training (and is often self-conscious about not knowing certain words or references), but she's a naturally clever person who can keep up with Aemond intellectually and pick out inconsistencies in his logic (as there are MANY!).

Finally, the life Cupcake has built for herself in Napoleonville is simple but has true warmth and love, something that Aemond needs.

Was there anything in specific that inspired your Reader portrayal?

So I very rarely write a Reader with a specific inspiration in mind, but I do have one for Cupcake. You'll probably think I'm insane at first, but Cupcake is inspired by my grandma.

My grandma was born in rural Western Maryland in 1945, and her family was so poor they didn't even have indoor plumbing. She was considered very beautiful and very clever and she had all these dreams about what she wanted to do with her life. Then when she was sixteen, she got pregnant and had to drop out of high school and marry my grandfather, because that's what people did back then. She wasn't given any other options.

They ended up moving to an urban area and my grandma became a real estate agent, and by any outsider's perspective she had a normal, happy, all-American existence. But my grandma also endured decades of domestic violence, substance abuse, and profound dissatisfaction with her life. This environment was not good for the children, both of whom (my aunt and dad) developed severe mental illnesses that they still struggle with to this day. My grandma was a very tenacious, passionate person and open with me about how she felt she'd never been treated right by a man, and I was a little too young then to fully understand what she meant. She passed away in 2018 after a long battle with cancer, and I think about her a lot, and I wanted Cupcake to be someone who broke free and got the fairytale ending that my grandma (and so many other women) never had.

What is next for Maggie's Suffering Sundays?

I am delighted to say that there is a new series on the way soon!

I'm not sure EXACTLY when it will be ready, because I want the rollout to be a little different this time (you'll see what I mean... 👀), but I've already begun writing. I believe there will be 12 chapters total, and 12 is a significant number! In terms of vibes, I think this new series is most similar to Now I’m Covered In You.

I hope you love it. 🥰

#interview with a writer #iwaw 22 #bts #of their brilliant writing #writing community #writing stuff #writers on tumblr

[thecurioustale]

Art Begets Art and the Law Should Respect This

I believe in the tradition of folk art, which is to say: Borrow liberally and lovingly.

It's a practice we've been mostly sterilized from embracing in our modern corporatist society, where all of the big-name, commonly-recognizable "IPs" are imprisoned behind layer after layer of obnoxious lawyers with nothing better to do than torment the innocent. It's a terrible thing, a deprivation of our cultural oxygen—a crime against art and ethics.

As an artist myself, I often have to thread the needle of building upon the inspiring works of others while still remaining within the letter of our outrageous IP laws. It's something I think about a lot.

In Galaxy Federal, for instance, I mentioned last time that the name "Galaxy Federal" was inspired, among other things, by the mention of the "Galaxy Federal Police" title screen of the original Metroid game. When I was settling on this title for my series, I also found that Galaxy Federal is the trademarked name of a bank. I spent considerable time and mental resources, years ago, to determine to my satisfaction that it is permissible under the law for me to use this title.

I have to do way too much of this bullshit, and I know it'll still be for naught: If I ever do become an even remotely successful author, I'm sure I'll be sued anyway, probably for something I never even realized was an "infringement" despite all my vigilance. Because, at the end of the day, for big corporations and for IP trolls, our IP laws are just a racketeering scheme—a side hustle. I mean, Best Western trademarked the word "seniority." If someone wants to sue you, they're gonna find a way.

I am not really a "from scratch" writer. I don't sit down at a blank page and just come up with prose from first principles. My art is almost always inspired by things that I experience in my life, or by the ideas that result from those experiences. Sometimes—frequently, even—my inspirations come from things that are copyrighted or trademarked. I have written in the past about the influence of the video game The Secret of Mana on me as a kid. Among many other inspirations, that game has a neat sandship in it, and that's why the desert easts of Relance are prevalent with sandships.

Over the years I've become a pro at reinterpreting IP-blocked inspirations into usable, original ones—both in terms of the legal research I've done and the skills I've developed at transforming an IP-blocked inspiration into something usable. I've also become more knowledgeable about what I can get away with quoting directly: Certain things cannot be copyrighted, and trademarks have a finite zone of applicability.

It's all a very needless and skill-intensive ballet to achieve something that should be directly accessible. Obviously, there do need to be limits. As an artist myself, I am keenly aware that I wouldn't want to have no special claim to my own work. But if I were to rewrite our outrageous IP laws—and over the years I have amassed considerable material for a book on this—I would make it vastly easier for artists and the public in general to "borrow liberally and lovingly" from the sources that inspire them. Our current IP laws are like a crime-ridden police state: The security is in all the wrong places and just doesn't work. We could relax the laws considerably without hurting artists, and potentially even tighten them in other respects to better combat trolls and thieves.

But in the meantime, here's my advice: Don't let it daunt you. Dance the friggin' ballet. Get good at transformation. Liberate intellectual property from its prison in spirit if not in substance. And, when you're fearless and/or sufficiently obscure, just straight-up pirate. I think society has a duty to reject unjust laws through word and deed.

I don't usually don my pirate's hat, but I do sometimes. When I published the Prelude in 2015, for a limited time I also published a free companion soundtrack consisting entirely of, gasp, copyrighted music. Nowhere is the horror of our modern IP laws more evident than in the realm of music. What I did was basically create a curated playlist, to help set the mood of the story. I don't know if anyone even availed themselves of that soundtrack, yet for me to license all of those pieces to make my limited-time links lawful would have cost me thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars! All for something that it's possible nobody other than me even listened to. That's a crime against art. And it's a crime against artists. Our draconian IP laws hurt small artists the most. If I had had thousands of fans, I'd have been able to pay to play—and I would have done so, or perhaps I would have spent the equivalent money to hire composers to write an original soundtrack. But, as a nobody-artist and a poor person, whose own Curious Score musical compositions are long in the making, the lawful avenues are all unassailably closed off to me. This too is an injustice, of another sort.

Doing the companion soundtrack was the right thing to do in the tradition of folk art. None of those other artists (or, let's be real, the corporate goliaths that hoard most of this "content" in their treasure-vaults) was deprived of a single penny; in fact that's one of the great lies of the IP lawyers and their corporate masters: Cultural interchange usually improves income for people whose work is quoted by others. Borrow liberally and lovingly—and give credit where credit is due.

That's the way it should be.

And, one day, that's how it will be again.

#IP law #IP law is a fucking joke and painfully Orwellian and we should all be praying to the Bermuda Triangle to disappear these corporate lawyers #Prelude to After the Hero

[bucky-h0e]

A/N: Sort of a re-write of the first part of what was called 'what if Bucky met Alpine in Bucharest' but it is only a slight recap of those events with a bit more of their relationship introduced.

Enjoy!

You Feel Like Home Masterlist

Warnings: Events of abuse/neglect, Alpine is locked outside of her house, angst, Alpine being too trusting in strangers, mentions of substance abuse, Bucky in denial about how much he cares, Bucky dreams about Alpine being in danger, Alpine is hurt

Bucky and Alpine's Small Interactions

Bucky knew about Alpine's existence - he made sure to do some sort of research/check on his neighbours, to make sure that they wouldn't pose a threat to him

considering the business they ran from their home, he knew that his dear neighbours wouldn't be too willing to bring armed forces to their complex

he's seen Alpine around, skinny, frail, looking a lot younger than her age (a solid 12 years - how she'd managed it in her living conditions Bucky didn't know)

he noticed she was always on her own, he never saw either parent with her

maybe this is why he felt something towards her, they were both forced into a life of solitude.

having lived in it for 80+ years, Bucky was used to it

but watching this girl be forced to live it for no other reason than simply existing, his heart ached for her

but he had rules

and he had to stick by them in order to stay settled in Bucharest

and he managed to stick to those rules for all of 2 months

Alpine had been locked outside of her flat, either by accident or on purposed Bucky didn't care to question (that was a lie, he cared very much so)

he went to bed, figuring that if he were asleep, he wouldn't be focused on the young girl out in the corridor sleeping on the hard, cold ground

oh how wrong he was

his dreams of his sister had slowly turned into a nightmare, ending when Alpine appeared, lurking behind the crowd in his mind

a shadow, always there, watching him, begging him to do something, anything

his dreams called for him to act, his sister begging for him to do so, as they prepare to ice skate in his slumber

it was peaceful, for a short time, until it wasn't

chaos ensues, the ice under their feet cracking, his sister falling in and him diving in after her

he'd managed to pull them out, but rather than answer the question of if she were okay, his sister, Rebecca, begs him to help the girl stood by the hole in the ice

no one noticed as she took a step forward

no one tried to stop her as she plunged into the icy depths

no one but Bucky

but he was too far, the world seemed to stretch back as he ran and reached for her

until suddenly he was awake, panting and nervous, thinking of the young girl in the corridor.

he gave in, looking through the peephole to see her still sat there and slowly opened the door

either she was a light sleeper or she just had not slept

she bolted up right, chest rising in small, quick bursts. he could practically feel the vibrations of her heart pounding against her chest

he calmed her, asking her name

she hesitated

she didn't know it

Bucky could feel his anger rising, how does a child not know their own name?!

Bucky offers his own to her after she asks for it, wanting to know what a name was supposed to sound like

for bucky, it was the first time using his name since his escape

she choses her own name, Alpine

it's strange

but he tries to smile at her and nods approvingly

she lights up at the endearment

he gives her an option that night, either he gives her pillows and blankets (his own because he didn't have any spare)

or she comes inside and sleeps on a bed with his pillows and blankets

she chooses the latter, scared of the germaphobe neighbour down stairs

it's awkward at first, but soon her adrenaline runs out and she's half asleep on the couch from where he'd left her whilst he sorted out the bedroom for her

he lefts out an apologetic hum, gently rousing the poor girl

"I know kid, I know. You can sleep soon, just gotta get in bed okay?"

it doesn't take long before she is out like a light, snuggled into the blankets, safe and sound in Bucky's bedroom whilst he sleeps on the couch

in the morning, Bucky wakes to the sound of the door and he bolts up

who the fuck was that

he checks the bathroom and kitchen, peeking into the bedroom to see nothing

it was probably Alpine leaving

checking the peephole, he sighs in relief at seeing her sat on the floor in front of her door

he's about to lock the door once more and get some more shuteye before he spots two 'regulars' come up the stairs

they glance at Alpine with sick grins, knocking on her door and slowly stepping closer to the poor girl

oh fuck no

Bucky is surprised he doesn't rip the door off its hinges with the force he opens the door with

it makes the men flinch but not Alpine, instead, she looks up and smiles at him

soon after, Alpine's door opens a crack, closing again and then opening once more after the bolt and chain is removed.

as much as he hates it, Alpine could now get inside.

he supposes he should be grateful

but he can't shake the awful feeling in his chest as he watches her enter after the men

perhaps he just needed more sleep

The next time they meet, a fire alarm had been pulled in the building, causing a mass evacuation

he had waited for her to leave her apartment, following behind her as they joined the crowd on the stairs slowly but surely making their way to the front of the building

he practically growls at everyone

they're pushing a shoving, terrified that it may be an actually fire

bucky knows it's not, he can't smell the smoke

in their haste, they keep pushing Alpine into the railing, causing her already aggravated coughs to worsen

what's worse, they're forcing her down two steps at a time, something her little legs couldn't quite handle due the the spacing

she's tripping and stumbling, holding onto the railing when a particularly hard shove causes her to fall forwards without a chance to catch herself

Bucky's hand reaches out automatically

gripping the back of her collar and pulling her back up.

his grip remains on her baggy shirt, squaring up his body and sticking close to her so that no one could push her again

they hit him and are stopped in their path as they collide with the sturdy body of an ex-assassin instead on the weak one belonging to his neighbour

when they get downstairs though, Bucky leaves

if there was a fire then emergency services would show up

he didn't need that

he'd circle back to make sure there was no fire, no police involvement

if there was then he'd grab everything he needed (if anything survived) and leave

he couldn't help but hope that there was no fire and he could continue living here

at least for short while

an hour later, he came back

no fire

no sign of police

no danger to his location

sighing, he begins the journey up the stairs to his floor

imagine his surprised when he gets halfway up and Alpine is clinging onto the banister, coughing up a lung and gasping for breath

surely, she should have been upstairs by now

her breathing is ragged and croaky, she'd obviously been struggling for a while now

he kicks a stone on the stairs, making a noise to let her know someone was coming up behind her

when she turns, there are tears in her eyes

"You good, Alpine?"

"Hi Bucky... just can't... catch my breath..."

he winces at her wheezing

he can't just leave the poor kid

he wasn't a monster

was he?

with his metal fist clenched and hidden away in his pocket, he offers her a hand - a flesh one, which she takes

bucky is surprised how tight her grip is

she tries going faster with his help, but he slows her down and tries to smile at her

"take your time kid. I'm here."

"You don't have to wait for me Bucky"

"I'm not going anywhere. Take your time."

When they eventually get up there (they had to stop a couple of times and Bucky had seriously contemplates just picking her up), he waits until he is absolutely sure that she can get into her own place and that her parents hadn't locked her out once again

if they had, he'd just take her back into his place again

he was sure that it would be the better alternative despite the sparce furniture

she did and the pair bid goodnight to each other

he decided that night that the next time the opportunity showed itself, he'd get her some sort of inhaler

he knew a couple of people who could help, he'd just have to make sure they wouldn't reveal anything

easy enough to do when the majority of their customers are underaged kids and when Bucky knew exactly who gave them their supply

but that was a job for another day

or maybe tonight

he had a feeling that it couldn't wait

especially when all he could hear through the walls was her coughing and her parents shouting at her to be quiet

yeah, he'd get it tonight

he doesn't see her for a couple of days, but he knows she got the gifts of three inhalers he'd left in her mailbox

she was the only one to actually use it - her parents didn't seem to care for the piles of bills and threats of eviction, simply suggesting that 'If we don't see it, they can't kick us out'

he feels relieved about the fact she got the inhalers, but still finds himself worrying about the amount of food she was eating or the clothes she war, the layers of dirt on her skin and her matted hair which was unsalvageable at this point

he hates that he is so caught up in his worries for her

he's on the run for the love of god

but she's alone in this world, and so young

it picks at his heart until the wound it leaves behind is a gaping hole, wanting to be filled with the slightest chance to look after her and protect her like she were family

which is why, when she gets caught trying to steal from a market stall, he reacts quickly.

he grabs the stall vendors hand, which in return tightens the grip on Alpines arm, her own hand holding a bruised apple

"what's going on here?"

"mind you're own business."

the vendor pulls her towards him, shaking her body aggressively in the process, calling her a thief

"I wasn't stealing! I was picking it up off the floor, I swear!"

"Filthy liar!"

this man has the audacity

THE AUDACITY

to try and hit her

Bucky sees red

all he wants to do in the moment is send this vendor into the back of his stall, or through the table. anything to get him the hell away from the girl and make his reconsider ever trying to do that ever again. bucky didn't know if she was stealing. he didn't need to know.

he did know that causing such a scene would not be a wise idea

he grabs the vendors raised hand, shocking the man enough for him to release the grip on Alpine's arm

"How dare-"

"You'll have to forgive my daughter, here, I'll pay for it now. And I'll take a punnet of plums and a couple oranges too."

the man seems to calm down at the sight of Bucky pulling out some cash, Alpine hiding behind the man

"She's your brat?"

this fucking guy

"Yeah."

he feels her grip onto the back of his jacket, looking down to see the dreamy, dazed look on her face, her eyes watching the fruit be moved and placed into a plastic bag

"Teach her not to steal. And give her a bath for fuck sake, her stench is scaring away my customers."

with that, the man attends to his other customers

sparing a glare at the man, Bucky decides that human interaction can wait today, instead turning and walking away from the market place

bag full of fruit in one metal hand

Alpine's in the other, flesh hand

he's fuming

how dare that man not only attempt to hit her, but then insult her to her face? as if she wasn't a human being? when had humanity fallen to such a level

right about the time they experimented on people and turned them in super-soldier weapons to be used for whatever they wanted

so always.

he's too in his own thoughts to realise that Alpine had been speaking to him

that is until he feels a weak tug on his hand

he looks down and his glare is replaced by a concerned frown

stopping, he kneels down to her height, gently running his thumb over the back of her hand

her arm is bruising and bucky has to stop himself from marching back to the marketplace and getting some revenge for the girl

"...I'm sorry..."

he glances up at her and his frown deepens

"I thought... it was on the floor... no one would want it anyway... i just.... i'm so hungry and i though he wouldn't notice..."

Bucky is pulling the fruit out of the bag as soon as she finishes speaking

he didn't care she was trying to steal a bruised apple

he rips open the netting surrounding the fruit and thrusts two plums into her hands

"Eat."

"but-"

"No. Eat."

for someone so hungry they would steal, Alpine is hesitant to bite into the fruit

but as soon as she does, she relaxes, sighing happily as she munches on the fruit, Bucky gives her two more when she's finished

"I don't care what you were trying to do. But if you're hungry, you come to me. I won't let you go without, I promise, so just ask me."

why was he making these offers and promises?

he barely knew the girl and yet he was going out of his way to save her?

maybe it was because she reminded him of his past

maybe it was because Steve pulled him from the darkness

he wasn't sure

in all honesty, Bucky doesn't think he'll ever understand his instinct to protect this sick little girl

but he can't argue with the feeling he gets when she sends him one of the brightest smiles he thinks he's ever seen, fruit juice dripping down her chin

shaking his head, hip lips move on their own to form a smile back at her, his hand reaching up to wipe the juice from her chin and rub it on his jeans

"Nice?"

"Mh! I love these! Thank you so much Bucky!"

bless his heart

he will buy her as many plums as she wants just so long as she keeps smiling at him like that

once again, he helps her up the stairs and waits for her to go in before

once again, it feels like a punch to the gut hearing her parents shout at her through the walls

he sees her again the next day, trying to climb up the stairs whilst carrying two shopping bags full of food

Bucky was sure she wouldn't get a chance to eat any of it before her parents go to it first

their so heavy that the plastic is stretching and threatening to break as she tries with all her might to get up the stairs

the one of the bags break, letting loose a wave of cans and packets down the stairs towards Bucky

he manages to catch a few before they get too far, placing them in his pockets as he goes to retrieve the rest

Alpine is close to tears, frustrated and just exhausted from the day she'd had

"Hey, hey, don't cry Alpine, it's fine. Look"

he gently takes the bags from her, re-organising the haphazardly thrown in items so that there was a bit more structure

some of the heaviest items he pockets until they can get upstairs to prevent the bag from breaking

he ties the bag that the handles had broken with a few of the left over items and offers Alpine an awkward smile

"All done."

he only gets a little sniffle in response

his heart breaks at her tear filled, tired eyes

she definitely wouldn't be able to make it up the stairs in this condition

he's have to try and calm her down

so, he kneels on the steps and gets her so sit a couple of steps ahead so that they were face to face

"What's wrong kid?"

her response is a mumbled mess and Bucky has never before been so grateful for the serum running through his veins than he was now

"It's so stupid. i just wanted to sleep but they made me go shopping because i ate some stale crackers last night and i didn't have enough money and they didn't tell me what they wanted they just gave me this and i can't read it so i couldn't get anything, they're gonna be mad at me!"

he frowns and gives her knee a gentle pat, taking the 'shopping list' she'd pulled out of the bag in the middle of her little ramble

it was ineligible

honestly if bucky had been given this he wouldn't know what to do with it

so it was a wonder that Alpine even managed to do any sort of shopping

he could make out a few things, but definitely not all of it

"Hey, you did good considering. Not even I could read thi-"

"I can't read."

"That's what I'm saying, i can't even make out-"

"No Bucky. I can't read. Or write. I can't do anything right! I'm so stupid and useless and-"

Bucky stops her by gently grabbing her hands

"You can't read?"

she looks so sad as she looks down, ashamed of admitting that she couldn't do what the other kids her age could do

"never been to school..."

bucky can't compute it

he always knew she didn't go to school

but he just didn't even consider the fact that she wasn't given a basic education

she spoke just fine

then again, she grew up with two adults who couldn't seem to stop scream at each other and god knows how much tv

he is furious at them and himself

why? he wasn't sure

but he knows he's close to his breaking point with this kid and the treatment she receives

he's angry and Alpine can tell

"...I'm sorry..."

he can't believe she's apologising for her own mistreatment

shaking his head, he moves his hand to give her head a little pat

"You did well kid, look at what you did. Can't read, but you got a whole lot of shopping for your family. You should be proud of yourself."

she's tearing up again and Bucky is panicking

"Really?"

he nods quickly, patting her head once more

"Really."

it takes a little time before she's ready to stand, she's still crying but it's calmed down

Bucky stands, wanting to get her home so she can rest

he picks up the shopping bags and glances down at Alpine as she stands and wipes her eyes, taking a few steps up, even more tired after her breakdown

he could just pick her up

it would be easier for them both

she looks so tired

but he doesn't want to over step

but she's exhausted

gently, Bucky leans forward and wraps an arm under her legs

she gives a little squeak as she's lifted, but sits quite comfortably on his arm

her small arms wrap around his neck, resting on his shoulders as he walks up the steps a lot faster than she's ever been able too

he's not surprised by how light she is

but he's terrified that even the slightest tense of his muscle would break a bone

despite that, he can't help but be tense, that is until she leans on him

the light weight on his chest gives him a sense of relief he can't describe

like a weighted blanket

Alpine can't help but relax in Bucky's arms

she's never been carried like this before

lifted sure, when she was in the way

but being carried like someone cares is a completely different feeling

and she relaxes for the first time in years, her head laying on his shoulder

tears fall at the overwhelming feeling

bucky assumes it's because she's tired - kids cry at stuff like that after all

he shushes her gently as he makes his way up, bumping her temple with his chin

"You're okay Alpine."

"You did good kid."

"Almost there."

it's nice, comforting

neither are ready for it to disappear but soon they find themselves on their floor

before bucky puts her down, he's shocked when she gives him a tight squeeze

what is this?

the answer: a hug

Alpine gives him the biggest hug she can muster before he puts her down gently

he is in shock

who knew the human touch could be so gentle

he smiles awkwardly at her, placing the shopping bags down letting her get inside and close the door before walking to his own

it opens just as hers does once again and he looks back

her parents throw her out

she's crying again as falls down against the railing

"Stay out of our sight for a while. Useless piece of-"

the door slams shut and the sound of the bolt locking in place echoes in the hall

her eyes are on her door and Bucky's remain on her

he's getting real sick of her parents

slowly, he steps towards her, slowly, carefully

as if she'd run away at any sudden movement

when he gets to her, he lifts her into his arm again, she resumed the position she'd been in not even three minutes ago

she's still crying as he takes her into his apartment

still crying as he lays her in the bedroom and covers her with a blanket, moving her matted hair out of her face

still crying until she falls asleep twenty minutes later, drained of any and all energy she had

he stays there for a while, brushing through her hair with his fingers, seemingly distracted by brushing a knot out

he only moves when it's getting dark and his stomach groans in complaint from the lack of food

he wakes her when it's ready, she barely manages a few bites of the meal he'd prepared before she's falling asleep again

he lets her, happy with the amount she'd eaten

he'd put the leftovers in a Tupperware box for later before letting her sleep again

when he was sure she was sound asleep once more, he moves to the living room to sleep on his couch

in the morning, he wakes to Alpine still asleep in the bedroom and begins on breakfast

it's nice

having someone to look after

he could get used to it

and when she shuffles out of the bedroom, rubbing her sore eyes that lighten up when she spots the food for them both he decides that yes, he definitely could get used to it

and that day, he starts the tedious job of working the matts and knots out of Alpine's hair - content with the look of pure joy on her face

The final straw for Bucky is a month later

he hadn't seen his neighbour in a month, but he'd heard her

heard her crying coughing

heard the slam of doors and shouts of her parents and their customers, all aimed at her

he's come close to knocking down their door before now

but he can't risk it

its not like he could just take her with him on the run

it wasn't fair to her

but would leaving her here be fair either?

it was all he'd been thinking about for the past month, holding himself back from waltzing in like a knight in shining armour

but Bucky Barnes wasn't a hero

he was an ex-assassin, hiding from people all over the world

he was destined to be alone

he needed to be alone

it was just safer

so why is it, that when he makes his way up to his apartment to find Alpine sat at his door, crying hysterically, all of that goes out the window

he hadn't seen her in a month

the last time he saw her, he'd managed to work out all of the knots in her hair and got her to take a bath, she looked healthy and happy

now though?

now, she was hunched over, face red, hair knotted and wild once again, covered in dirt and dried blood on the bottom of her feet, bruises covering her head to toe

the only thing stopping him from getting to her parents now his her reaching out for him

she whispers his name and he takes her into his arm instinctively

they don't say anything as Bucky brings them into the apartment and sits her on the couch, she whimpers at the loss of comfort

he grabs the first aid kit and wash cloth and bowl of hot water, sitting in front of her

he washes the dirt off of her, looking at new and old bruises which are healing

she seems happy just to have him near

slowly, he works his way down to her feet, worried about what he'd find

the cuts aren't deep, nor are they new

they seem to be healing okay - except one which still had broken glass in it

when he tries to pull it out, he realises she hadn't done it because of how much it had hurt

he shushes her gently, letting her squeeze his hand as he takes the glass out of her food and begins to treat it - easier said than done one handed

once he manages to wrap her foot sighing to himself before he sits in front of her and offers her a smile, asking what happened as he wipes her face with the cloth

"They don't want me anymore... I don't know what i did wrong... but they kept shouting at me and pushing me... father broke a bottle on the floor and I stepped in it by accident, tried to get it out but it hurt... it all hurts.. i don't want to go back."

she starts crying again and Bucky shushes her, pulling her into a hug which surprises them both

"he said i was selfish... that i was dirty... he- he said he was sick of my coughing but I can't-"

"It's okay... it's okay, you-"

is he really about to do this?

"you don't have to go back."

yes, yes he was

"You'll stay here with me from now on."

she looks up at him with wide, hopeful eyes

"Really?"

"Yeah... Yeah you stay here, and I'll- I'll look after you... if you want."

his heart stops when she smiles at him again, reaching up and hugging him

"I want to stay with you."

he wasn't sure what the future would hold for them

but as long as he stuck to his remaining rules, he's sure he'd be fine

that they would be fine

if they had to leave then they'd leave together

Alpine was light, he could carry her as far away as they needed to go

if needs be, maybe he'd tip off the Avengers himself, get Captain America to take care of her

that was a plan for the future though

for now, he'll look after this girl who for some reason decided that he was the one to trust

even if he didn't trust himself

he'd make changes to the apartment, safety measures for her to use should the worst happen

but for now, he'll give himself a chance to be happy

even if it's for a short while

#bucky imagine #bucky barnes imagine #bucky fanfic #bucky barnes #james bucky barnes #bucky and alpine #alpine #bucky fluff #mcu bucky barnes #james barnes #mcu alpine #human!alpine #human alpine #james bucky buchanan barnes #platonic bucky #bucky barnes found family #found family #captain america civil war #bucky angst #mcu angst #bucky barnes angst #angst with a happy ending #mcu james barnes #recovering bucky barnes

[dinoburger]

i keep thinking about your brief criticism of how australia is portrayed in tf2 and you cant imagine the feeling of comfort and reassurance that i felt. i always thought it was just me fixating on the comics too much, but no yeah australia (and also new zealand) definitely do have issues in terms of wasted potential and iffy writing. i suppose it could be from the team being more familiar with american stereotypes, but, still. it got me thinking, and i do apologize if this is a bit much, but how else would you change the australians in tf2?

(btw the comment about how the emu should've been the queen instead is one of the smartest things i've seen in a while. love that)

HEH - oh, I've been thinking about that...

I've mentioned how I think that in being a parody, TF2 becomes quite a scathing criticism of capitalism and the American war machine, I think British imperialism too if the Mann family is anything to go by

TF2's Australia could definitely form a scathing criticism of colonialism, if handled right.

So, I come from European immigrant families on both sides, my grandparents talked about how Australia had literally been described as streets "paved with gold", but you also get like, the town my paternal grandmother lived in still had a blacksmith up until the 1960s

there's a lot of clashing ideas about seeking prosperity there versus just how badly some of the first settlers struggled to actually get their footing, white colonists had great trouble growing non-native crops in a hot, desert country like ours. A lot of ships came in with passengers diseased, starved and dying.

Simultaneously, poor families could go from being impoverished to being fairly well off and eventually middle class, as with my family. By virtue of being white immigrants, of course.

to me, it IS the contradiction of Australia that makes it interesting, how it can be percieved as both an untapped resource and a hostile, barren waste just to suit the fantasies of the outsider.

maybe it's not a futuristic fantasy land, but people speculate and circulate these increasingly absurd stories. Maybe indigenous folk have always known about the presence of Australium but knew better than to fuck up the land by harvesting obscene quantities of it.

The Hales have glutted themselves on a resource that never belonged to them and thus elevated themselves to the same depravity of rich British folk, like the Manns.

I like this kind of contradiction of like, Barnabus is a wild man of the harsh Australias, but we only ever really see him in the context of posh English Zepheniah and his family. He's just one lucky bastard who survived long enough to take advantage of what was available to him.

Australium is a genuinely valuable substance, but the further it gets from its home soil the more it gets bastardized and exploited. Rather than researched for its medical properties or anything else, it's used to paint stuff, as a vanity item.

...Barnabus also being an illegitimate child to a convict and a settler is something I think I like, he's a traitor to the poorer side of his lineage. Another of his contradictions. There is struggle in his past, but a lot of it he was willing to put behind in favor of working with a man like Zepheniah, who ruthlessly exploits the working class.

Australia is supposedly a savage, wild country, but a lot of the men who claimed to have "tamed it" are in bed with the English and their ilk.

I'm sorry this partially became a rant about Barnabus but I guess like, I more have general ideas about what I would want to glean from TF2's Australia than anything concrete...

#asklies

[bl0w-m3]

𝓑𝓞𝓡𝓓𝓔𝓡𝓛𝓘𝓝𝓔 𝓟𝓔𝓡𝓢𝓞𝓝𝓐𝓛𝓘𝓣𝓨 𝓓𝓘𝓢𝓞𝓡𝓓𝓔𝓡

Side note: if you are not diagnosed with this disorder but relate to any/all of the symptoms, please do further research and speak to a personal mental health provider! (I know medical diagnosis is out of question for some people with certain healthcare, but please do a lot of research before self-diagnosing!)

Borderline Personality Disorder, commonly abbreviated to BPD, is a cluster B personality disorder characterized by unstable mood, behavior and relationships. Stemming from long-term abuse, BPD affects how one sees themself and others to the detriment of that person. It sounds very clean cut and simple, but it’s far from.

With BPD comes severe emotional instability and fluctuation of self-image. Unlike people with Bipolar (a chemical disorder with symptoms very similar to BPD) who’s mood fluctuates over longer spans of time, people with Borderline’s self image and emotions can change from minute to minute. People with borderline feel emotions at a much higher intensity than those without. Not just sad, but suicidal. Not just happy but euphoric. There is no “gray” in emotional states. These emotional scan fluctuate from minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day or week to week. Emotion is also highly dependent on environmental factors such as friends and family. Whether one feels as if they have a “god complex” or so depressed they are suicidal, there is usually an external factor causing the stress or euphoria.

An extreme example of this, and another trait of BPD, includes having what the community like to call a “Favorite Person (FP)”. When somebody with BPD has a FP, they center their entire sense of self around that person. That one person become their emotional world, and often times need constant reassurance from this person due to fear of abandonment.

Fear of abandonment plays a very important role as well. People with Borderline usually have a very intense fear of being left behind or “thrown away”. This usually stems from the trauma that caused the BPD itself. Unfortunately, abandonment can happen more often for people experiencing BPD due to their nature to jump in and out of relationships (both platonic and romantic) and they’re extreme emotional needs that other often cannot meet.

Another part of BPD is known as “mirroring”. One of the reasons Borderline persons have an unstable self image is because it often changes based on who they’re around. Likely due to the fear of abandonment and the already unstable self image, and person with BPD can slightly or drastically change their personality, mannerisms, and even interests depending on who they’re in contact with.

As far a unstable relationships, people with borderline often find it hard to maintain safe and stable relationships, often viewing them as “completely good” or “completely bad”, also known as black-and-white thinking, also known as “splitting”.

Impulsivity is another characteristic, with sufferers often making impulsive and irrational decisions. This impulsiveness is usually towards things that cause harm such as Self Mutilation, Eating Disorders, and substance abuse. This all contributes to the person trying to manage their feelings of instability.

The disorder is also accompanied by intense feelings of anger, paranoia, dissociation/derealization, and stress.

Many in the community describe having BPD as the emotional equivalent of having 3rd degree burns over your entire body. It’s an extremely intense disorder that many don’t make it through.

If you’re experiencing symptoms and feel alone, please reach out. Somebody would rather hear your story than go to your funeral.

More information:

Borderline Personality Disorder - The Mayo Clinic

Borderline Personality Disorder - NLM (Box 2 for Diagnostic Criteria)

Borderline Personality Disorder Forum!

#bpd #actually bpd #mental health #bpd shit #actually borderline #mental illness #bpd shitposting #bpd problems #bpd mood #bpd meme #bpd fp #bpd diagnosis #borderline personality disorder #borderline personality traits

[deathmetalunicorn1]

Ok so au single dad centaur Jack and his tiny daughter fall through a portal from there world right into the arena while a match is going on in the RoR world. Chaos ensues since of course centaur Jack doesn’t know what’s going on or if anyone here is an enemy or ally and he’s trying to protect his daughter or however you think he would react. RoR people postpone the fight to try and get the familiar centaurs out of the arena. The daughter gets separated from her father and try’s to get back to him but is caught then gets away, runs, and then jumps up into the stands and runs around in fear and confusion reeking havoc. Jack and Hlokk’s reactions to seeing all this on her tv. And somehow Jack and Hlokk meet the centaurs.

Jacks daughter a fast runner, with her long legs she can out run her father if she really books it, but doesn’t have a lot of stamina. She’s also strong for being so young. She’s young enough to still need breast milk so he has her suckle from a special fruit that instead of juice, produces a milk like substance that is a bit sweet and has all the nutrients she needs without having to much like cows milk. He keeps a sack of them on hand. It’s shaped like a giant strawberry the size of an adult human head and every part is edible. I made up this fruit. Jack found her after her mother was killed buy a wild animal right after she was born so he adopted her.

-You had been walking around with your father, gathering milk berries, large strawberry shaped fruits that had a milky based nectar, your main source of food at the moment since you were still so young, so small, needing the extra calcium and nutrients.

-Your adopted father, Jack, was a thinner centaur, but very strong and very fast, despite his looks, had found you only a few months after you had been born, your mother killed by a bear, and he took you in, raising you to be his precious child.

-He did his best raising you, teaching you things as you grew, how to track and forage, but you were never far from his side, afraid to leave him, not wanting to be alone again.

-You were very petite for your size, even compared to other centaurs who were younger than you, so Jack did his research to locate milk berries what would help your body.

-A bright magic light surrounded the two of you as you stepped into the shallow river, to cross it and you could feel your father grabbing your hand.

-After being momentarily stunned there was such a loud noise that you were instantly startled, you and Jack finding yourselves in the middle of a massive stadium, two warriors instantly laying their weapons down, seeing the sudden centaurs in the center of the arena.

-Zeus had felt an unknown magic and was stunned to see the two centaurs, one of them looking very familiar while the other was only a child.

-The fight was immediately called off as several gods, including Zeus, were all quick to enter the arena.

-You clung to one of your father’s back legs, hiding behind him as he stomped, giving them a warning, “Stay back!”

-Zeus was quick to approach, but stayed a respectful distance back, “I know this may be unnerving, but may I ask where you came from?”

-Your papa spoke, telling the god that you and him had been walking through a forest and tried to cross a shallow river when a bright light blinded the two of you and you both woke up here.

-Zeus stroked his beard, a hum leaving him, “I’m not sure what type of magic called you here. We can provide some accommodations while we look into this.”

-Jack went to agree, mainly as he could tell you were scared and he wanted to get you some place quiet where you could calm down, but froze when you let out a squeak, as one of the fighters approached you from behind, asking if you were okay, as he could see that you were shaking.

-You got spooked and instantly took off running, not even hearing your papa, “Y/N! Y/N wait!!” and instantly the crowds went into panic mode as you managed to leap up from the arena into the stands, running to where it was dark, as that meant a hiding place!

-Zeus was quick to shout out orders, “DON’T CHASE HER!!” many were surprised by this before they quickly realized that if they chased you, you would be more scared.

-Hlokk and Jack, watching from her room, had seen the new guests arrive, and Jack could only stare, seeing that the older centaur looked exactly like him.

-Once backstage, Zeus asked Papa Jack where you could have gone and the older centaur, while worried, kept a level head, as he knew that wouldn’t help anything, “I’ve taught her to find dark places, caves, thickets, places where she hide, but she likely won’t be anywhere nearby, despite her small size, Y/N is very fast, faster than me.”

-With this information, Zeus and Odin sent out a search party, pairing up gods and humans to search for you, while putting out the word to anyone they could to keep an eye out for you.

-Brunnhilde received a call from Hlokk only about ten minutes later, “Big Sis! Jack and I have her here, she’s safe but she’s having a bit of a meltdown over here!”

-Zeus, Brunnhilde, Odin, Papa Jack, and Goll quickly went to Hlokk’s room, where sobbing was heard and your papa was quick to rush forward, “Y/N!”

-You were in the lap of a human man, who looked exactly like your papa; the two Jack’s froze, looking at each in stunned astonishment as you turned, hearing your name and your eyes went wide, seeing your papa and you were quick to stand, without hurting Jack, and rushed into your father’s arms, “You didn’t lose your back legs!!”

-Chuckles went through the room, Hlokk allowing them all to remain as she explained that you had seen the human Jack and rushed to him, thinking that was your father, before realizing he had lost his back legs and had a meltdown, lamenting his loss.

-Many found it amusing, but neither Jack nor Papa made you feel foolish as they were trying to make sense of it themselves on how there were two of them.

-The two of you were welcome to Valhalla, given your own quarters while they tried to figure out what was going on, and how you both came to be here.

-The two of you came to love Valhalla, as it was safe, there were no predators, no hunters, no threats to your lives and Zeus welcomed you both warmly to stay, as you and Hlokk had become friends and the two Jacks were enjoying time together as well, learning how they differed from each other and how they were similar.

#record of ragnarok #ror x reader #ror jack the ripper

[curiouslycaffeinatedcephalopod]

entry 03

do not be afraid to use technology if using paper based methods of note taking, planning and scheduling and journaling.

when i first started my research project i was afraid of using only applications and software such as Notion, drives for storage, Microsoft Word AI grammar assistance etc. I was afraid because i was told (and anxious about it myself) that i could lose my data and information if i didn't have a backup on paper.

this resulted in me not quite meeting my weekly deadlines with tasks and goals because i was spending time "backing up" all my data, planning, schedules, meeting notes, everything.

Whilst i definitely agree with others that you should have a back up, a lot of these applications and software are so well developed and have really well functioning servers, there is such a minimal chance of just losing everything. it would be more logical to make back ups on other storage platforms/drives than keeping everything in paper AS WELL. this is so time consuming and sends you in a panic every time you need to upload data, write notes, prepare documents, edit documents, review data and leaves you with notes you made hastily (and anxiously) which often times never even helped me as the notes were illegible because i was in such a rush.

of course, a paper based method for laboratory notes is a good idea as devices are not recommended in the labs if you're working with biological matter/chemical substances - pencil down your notes and then you can go home if you have the time and the need to write it onto a notion page or type up a document so that you can review the protocol and how you performed during and the outcomes, any changes you may need to make etc.

you can use notion for your research scheduling and planning and just keep a very simple bullet journal/notebook for day to day notations and planning. i had been told to make sure i have a paper based record of everything i wrote on my notion but i think you can keep an abbreviated version and rather keep a copy pasted document of this and/or screenshots and store that across multiple drives (or one if you're not an anxious academic like me, haha).

if anyone tells you how you should do something so intricately personal to each student/researcher because they do not like the interface you use (yes, i was told i should not use the one thing that has worked for me because it was too difficult for the other party to understand or review), it is obviously nice and kind to try and provide things a format they understand, but do not stop doing the thing you enjoy and that actually helps you reach your goals.

context for number 3:

i found notion through various content creators in the research realm, with mixed recommendations ranging from yes it works well to no not for me. i struggle with planning and procrastinating and academic challenges so i decided to give it a go. honestly, the fact that it was aesthetically customisable was a big plus. that is just simply something that makes me want to work. the next thing was its cross compatibility with other apps and software i used, primarily google. it helped me keep track of upcoming meetings, events and urgent tasks and provided a way for me to visually see my progress. but someone i was wokring with, whose opinion mattered very much to me, had mentioned that they were not a fan and that they did not have the time to use the interface, even though the interface was not our primary mode of communication regarding my research project, it was simply a way for them to see how i was spending my time or planning to as a student of theirs. needless to say, i gave up because their way took way too much time already. it is not a problem or a topic that requires someone to blame, i just was in the midst of an already overwhelming time in my project and had to just do what i needed to survive (lol).

anyways, the lesson i learnt was, after falling a couple months behind because of poor planning and compatibility with how i was going about my most important component of my research was that you really need to prioritise the thing that works for you. whether that is paper based or digital.

but you cannot spend every moment fearing that notion will drop off the face of the earth with all your notes and plans along with it. i wasted so much time stressing and creating paper and digital back ups of EVERYTHING. i have now had to spend essentially a month organising things across multiple emails and drives just to get a start on my next big project. the most important lesson will definitely be that you need to train and teach yourself to know what are things that require a back...

you do not need 17 backups, paper and digital of plans passed and plans to come, you will quickly be reminded or be able to recall most such things as they will stress you out and haunt you so much anyways.

however you certainly do need a sufficient back up of data that belongs to the university as part of your project, or any personal methods of tracking such things.

anyways, sorry for the long rambles i post, i am using tumblr as a way to have a blog until i can actually get a website and publish better and more concise posts. i hope you still enjoy reading or at least find some solace or advice in between it all!

#academia #post grad problems #post grad advice #researchers #stem academia #university #academics #scientific research #science #sciencenature #marine biology #marine research #marine biology research #biology #biology research #notion #studyblr community #studying #studyblr #academic

[ominous-auburn-orbs]

More Tadc Gotham Rogues AU

I've finally figured who I want the whole cast to be, so now I can get this all out of my system. Well, not all of it, I still need to draw Zooble, but that will take a bit as there's a lot I have to figure out for them.

I promise the next thing i post will be writing, I'm so sorry about my tiny attention span, I just needed to do this.

After a lot of debating, I've decided to make Kinger Poison Ivy. He's a lot less 'crazy old man' here, although he is still insane. He just looks a bit cooler while doing it.

Kinger Isley was studying to be a botanist, his future in the profession looking rather bright. One day, some fellow scientists reached out to him, asking for his help with an experiment that could greatly benefit mankind. While their lack of specification was suspicious, when they mentioned that they needed his expertise with plants, he couldn't say no.

When Kinger arrived at the location he had been given, he was apprehended and held captive there, being used as a guinea pig for various plant toxins, some of which had been altered to have different or worse effects. He endured this for several days, until he gained a sudden sense of far more people being in the room.

There were many potted plants on a table nearby, and it felt as if they were looking at him. Speaking to him. They spoke of a way to help him, only if he gave the command. When next the scientists went to inject him with something else, thick roots sprouted from the pots, strangling them. Under threat of their life, the last person freed Kinger, only for him to manipulate the plants to stab deep into their body with thorns.

The experiments had managed to work like a vaccine of sorts, making Kinger immune to plant toxins. They had also allowed him to communicate and control plant life, leading him to become a dangerous eco terrorist. The plants told him of what they wanted, of how humanity needed to fall for what it had done to nature. They wanted to watch it suffer and die, just like what had happened to their brethren.

Kinger is more than happy to avenge them, being able to feel and share their rage. He has made his own personal greenhouse, filled with large and deadly plants. Authorities have tried to enter it before in an attempt to stop him, but none of them ever left. Since his face is typically hidden behind his floral army, Kinger is able to go out in public to better find victims who have mistreated nature. His research and study as a scientist has helped him invent many a new toxin, some of which he has put into lipsticks to kill and manipulate more subtly.

He has no real sides, save for what the plants tell him, making him a terrifying enemy, but a brilliant ally if you're careful. No matter how careful you are, though, the plants are bound to become displeased eventually.

Next up, we've got Jax as the Creeper. While this version of Jax is less of an asshole to everyone, as a version of Creeper, he doesn't actually end up joining the Justice League like the original. He was deemed too insane and chaotic. He didn't really want to join, anyway. Too restricting, not fun enough.

Jax started out as a journalist and news reporter, typically delving in the criminals of Gotham City. While he was fueled by curiosity, the fame he could and did get from his stories influenced him to take risks with his research. Risks that could take his life.

Whilst he had covered many a villain, he wanted to aim higher. He wanted to cover a story on the Joker, Gotham's most dangerous inhabitant. Bribing a camera man to come with him, Jax went to the facility where Joker originated from, intending to find clues about who he was.

Once he got the camera rolling, Jax began to inspect the area, using a projected voice to narrate throughout as he intended to publish the recording later on. As he ventured further in, he came across the vat that Joker had fallen into, making him who he was. Strangely enough, though, there was substance in it. Last he had checked, the facility was no longer being used, which was how he had managed to sneak in.

Gesturing for the camera man to follow him, Jax got closer to the railing that separate the elevated walkway he was on from the vat. He stared at the acid-like liquid inside, going silent for the first time in the last hour or so. So enamoured was he that he was only pulled from his thoughts when the camera man let out a scream. Only turning fast enough to catch a glimpse of white skin, green hair and red lips, Jax was pushed over the railing and into the vat, the sound of manic laughter filling his ears.

He wasn't sure when he came to, but he ended up being washed up in the gutters outside near the river. Scrambling to get back up, the world seemed much brighter to his eyes, despite it being the dead of night. Everything was so bright it hurt. For some reason, he found it funny. His laughter rung out in the empty area, until it reminded him of why he was here to begin with. Joker.

Going back into the facility, Jax scanned the area for any sign of the clown, but only found the mutilated body of the camera man. He dramatically put a hand to his head in a way of paying respects, before reaching into the man's pocket and pulling out the money he had initially bribed him with, a giddy smile on his face. At least there was a silver lining to this. His altered skin did look pretty amusing too. More laughter echoed around the large building. Everything was just so much funnier now. Jax could get used to this.

Becoming the Creeper, he is a very unpredictable rabbit, all of his actions simply obeying his sense of humour rather than any morals. He's actually one of the less murderous criminals in Gotham, finding more joy in 'slapstick comedy' than just outright killing someone. If that wasn't the case, then he may as well be stealing the Joker's act, and he just couldn't have that. He would never become that horrid clown. As much fun as he has as the Creeper, his life was still stolen from him. And vengeance was always so entertaining.

The only person I have left now is Zooble as the Penguin, although I will have to remake the whole aesthetic since, y'know, Zooble's not a bird.

I will probably do something with these characters at some point, but for now I just wanna share all of their separate stories because I've wasted too much time on it.

#tadc au #batman #gotham rogues #tadc kinger #tadc jax

[heartlilith]

Mini Solar Return Chart Reading (example reading)

Mini Solar Return Chart Reading for HeartLilith (example)

(Using Placidus House System)

Solar Return Sun in the 12th house:

Solar Return Sun in the 12th house is a year of isolation in order to heal and release past wounds. This will most likely be a behind the scenes year because you will desire more alone time, even if you don’t desire alone time, you’ll get it. The Sun, which represents the self and the ego, in the 12th house, which represents the hidden and unconscious, means you could have some sort of ego death or go through something that completely changes the way you view life. Be cautious of substance abuse, addictions, and taking chances with your resources. Avoid people with substance abuse problems and addictions, your emotional sensitivity is extremely heightened and you tend to take on others behaviors unconsciously. Maintain your integrity, any actions that build negative karma will be faced with immediate repercussions. You’ll be more drained this year, your relationship with sleep isn’t the best and lack of sleep is evident. Maintain a positive attitude in the face of tests and challenges, don’t fall into emotional holes or deep bouts of depression because the 12th house is a slippery slope as it is. Take responsibility for your actions and be honest with yourself, it will do you good. Get involved in something that serves others; charity work, volunteering, or helping people when they need it without anything in return. You may receive more attention from others or you’ll be talked about more behind your back this year. Everything that no longer serves you will be shed; you may feel lonely and sad because of it but its for the best… don’t take it to heart (remember, slippery slope). You have to get rid of the old to let in the new. Being in 0 degrees, the energy you feel here is prominent and significant, especially without planets in your natal 12th house. The 0 degree is a critical degree and even though the 12th house rules endings, it’ll be a year that is completely different from the rest in every aspect. I hope you’re not too attached to things and people because the more attached you are, the harder it will be. 

SR Sun square SR Jupiter:

Tendency to be overly optimistic in what you can handle this year. You might bite more than you can chew. You have high hopes this year and a lot of enthusiasm. You could be met with success or embarrassment. Your perception of your abilities this year is warped. 12th house Sun square 9th house Jupiter let’s us see in more depth. 12th house ruled by Leo can indicate that your weaknesses, inflated ego or lack of confidence, can hinder your ability to learn and broaden your horizons.

Solar Return Aquarius Moon in the 6th house:

In combination with your SR Sun 12th house placement, the need for emotional and physical space is evident this year. You have a more detached disposition emotionally which will help you immensely with the endings associated with the 12th house. You will need and crave constant stimuli in order to avoid boredom in your day to day routines. Speaking of day to day routines, this could be a big stressor for you this year because it will change a lot. Your day to day will change constantly so don’t get too comfortable. Use learning, researching, and whatever else you like as a way to ground yourself. Restlessness and research are prominent. You are more concerned with the future than with the past this year and will be more unpredictable and likely to make sudden unexpected changes. Your relationship with coworkers is detached and distant, you’re too unpredictable to make meaningful connections with them now. You may be gone from work for a month and back the next. You may have a detached relationship with your mother this year, or fluctuating from being close to distant then back to being close again. This placement puts focus on progressive health practices in terms of mental and emotional wellbeing. You may try different forms of medicine and/or therapy which will probably be more holistic (think herbs, eastern medicine, rapid eye movement therapy, acupuncture, reiki). Self care is super important here because you’ll need to ground some of that unpredictable energy. 

SR Moon square SR Uranus:

The need to break free from perceived limitations is strong now. Feeling weighed down in whatever aspects will make you impulsive and even reckless just for some excitement. 6th house Moon square Uranus in the 10th house - you may feel trapped in your everyday life… eating breakfast, going to work, coming home, having dinner, sleep and then all over again the next day. You may want to break free from this which could cause some serious upheaval, moving homes is also indicated with this aspect.  

SR Leo Ascendent:

You’ll be approaching the year with confidence, creativity, and a fun-loving attitude. On the flip side, you could be selfish and only think about how things affect you, ignoring others and how your actions affect them as well.The desire to create and express yourself is strong especially through physical attributes. Expression through fashion, hair, make up, or attitude is likely and people will notice the changes you make. You’ll want to differentiate yourself from others this year by solidifying your identity in some way; think tattoos, a new haircut, piercings, or anything alternative. You’ll want to bring more joy into your life and focus on things you love. You may find yourself in the spotlight this year whether it’s comfortable for you or not and receiving attention from those around you, positive or negative depends on the whole chart. Since you have Sun in the 12th house of the SR Chart, you’ll be getting more attention behind your back as well. Situations are going to happen that launch you into the focus of conversation. Think of a celebrity that’s on the front page of a magazine because they got too drunk at a party or because they changed their hairstyle, now everyone is talking about it. Whether the talk is positive or negative doesn’t matter, either way people are very interested in what you’re doing. Your reactions to things this year can be grand and dramatic, but with your ASC lord in the SR 12th house, this definitely tones things down. You may do things that grab people’s attention but hate the attention at the same time. You’ll be saying “Can I dye my hair rainbow in peace? Jeez”.

SR Virgo Mercury in 1st house:

This very well could be a busy year ahead. You’re more to the point when expressing yourself and expect people to cut to the chase, no beating around the bush. You got shit to do! You’ll probably cut people off in conversation a lot this year cause you’re just trying to move on and get shit done. All gas no breaks. People notice your sharp intellect and clear cut communication, how could they not? Lol. They also notice your thirst for knowledge and your desire to learn more. This will go over well at work anyway. You want to talk to people about things you’re interested in and teach them their interests. You’ll want to share your ideas and people will like them. SR Aquarius Moon in the SR 6th house plus SR Virgo Mercury in the SR 1st means your ideas will be prominent in your work, you will be rewarded for them. You’ll be able to communicate your ideas clearly and Aquarius here adds that little bit of creativity while Virgo keeps it grounded. Trust yourself and these ideas! Don’t be shy! You’re most likely thinking in terms of your identity as well and can be extra critical this year in terms of who you are and where you want to go. Write things down this year; your goals, your ideas, your plans and interests. You come across as bright and intellectual and see the world more logically and grounded this year. 

SR Leo Venus (R) in 12th house:

Leo Venus (R) in the 12th house can show hidden enemies/admirers that take on Leo traits; charming, confident, outgoing, selfish, dramatic, or lazy. You may hide feelings toward others or your natural lovey dovey nature is much more distant this year, like you can’t access those feelings. You could get involved in another relationship or be the 3rd party yourself, either way some hidden things could come to light in regards to love on either side and cause drama. In the 12th house, this will probably cause some sort of ending as well. Your love life will be very difficult this year and you may feel the need to keep parts of it hidden, or all of it hidden. You may want to hide! Venus themes will be smoky mirrors so take your time and decide on things after you think them through. See people for who they are, not who you want them to be. Ask for advice when you’re unsure. You’ll be thinking a lot about internal happiness and with Leo on the 12th house, you're being asked to give attention to yourself this year and what you need to be happy. Evaluate your morals and what you expect out of yourself and partners in relationships. People may say nice things about you behind your back or your relationship may be a topic on conversation. You could have secret admirers or women that are envious of you and your beauty/relationship/material things.

SR Venus conjunct SR ASC:

You’ll more than likely have a "glow up" this year with this aspect. With Venus in the 12th house, you may not even notice it but it’s happening - you’ll grow and mature and be more at peace/confident in yourself this year. All that change will be worth it. Now is the time to experiment with who you think you want to be. Trust the process and be yourself because you’re very likable and popular this year anyway. People will be talking about your change in appearance in a positive way, own it! 

SR Virgo Mars in SR 1st house:

Virgo Mars in the 1st house gives others the impression of an ambitious, organized, precise, observant individual that’s full of energy and vitality. With Mercury in the SR 1st house as well, you’ll be full of ideas and energy and this will go far in the workplace and for your hobbies. Mars here gives you the energy to carry out these ideas. You are demanding with the expectations of yourself and others - very high expectations that many will fail to meet including yourself. Relax that nervous energy by doing something physical like exercise, walking, stretching, etc. Watch how much you complain and try to knock that habit. You are a quick learner and you may have a temper during this year or in any case you are very reactive and cold which can make for a volatile person, beware. You’re more logical and less emotional this year, as in, you’ll think with your head and silence your heart. If you were affectionate in past years with people, you will not be affectionate in the slightest this year with so much Virgo influence in the 1st house and Leo energies in the 12th, people could take this personally. Your love language and energy will go to acts of service, You’ll be getting shit done.  You could gain muscle this year or look better physically. You have more self confidence and self respect which in turn makes people trust you. You have a lot of energy which can turn into nervousness/restlessness if you don’t channel it somehow. You could have injuries to the head this year or the tendency to worry.

Most Beneficial Placement in 2023 SR Chart - SR Venus conjunct SR ASC 

You’ll more than likely have a "glow up" this year with this aspect. With Venus in the 12th house, you may not even notice it but it’s happening - you’ll grow and mature and be more at peace/confident in yourself this year. All that change will be worth it. Now is the time to experiment with who you think you want to be. Trust the process and be yourself because you’re very likable and popular this year anyway. People will be talking about your change in appearance in a positive way, own it! 

Most Challenging Placement in 2023 SR Chart - Lilith in the 10th house:

You’ll have tendency to set people off this year just by being yourself. This creates a lot of disturbance in the workplace; people either love you or hate you but either way their reaction to you is extreme. Male authority can either sexualize you or belittle you making the workplace very uncomfortable this year. Lilith being Lilith here, you may use this power to their advantage and climb the ranks so to speak. Rumors about you will swirl around the workplace and it won’t stop because people are just obsessed and/or jealous. 

Mini Solar Return Chart Readings will be 4-5 pages long using size 12 font and will be single spaced

[djpumpkinsoda]

OOOOOOK when i was in school i wrote a big ol dump of random theremind biology headcanons written in this sorta scientific observation soooooo imma copy it HERE and hope you guys like! nothing is written in a particular order, i just made this up as i went. Since Psychic Island is in space, naturally it gets very cold. This makes it rather strange that Thereminds have absolutely no hair or fur. The only known, and the most obvious, adaptation they have for this is the thick layer of fat under their skin. It is thickest on their abdomen and thighs, and thinnest on the top of their head and their arms. They are also able to regulate their own body temperature (warm-blooded). While lacking the Cold element seems like a plausible explanation for their smooth skin at first, this does not hold, since there are quite a few furry monsters that do not have the Cold element; Scups, Whaddle, and Flum Ox being the most notable. It is possible that, due to the presence of the Water element on Psychic Island and the Theremind's affinity with water, that they were once aquatic; evolving more fat instead of fur.

Now, you might be wondering how they fare in warmer climates. Once again, they can regulate their own body temperature, but it is a bit harder to cool down than it is to warm up. This is more evident by the fact that they do not sweat. What has been observed is that they drink lots of water, likely to keep their brain hydrated. Their tongues are very strange, almost resembling a chameleon's but with a small hole in the front that goes through the entire muscle. They use it to drink, and they can also eat by picking food up with their tongue and quickly swallowing it. Their lack of teeth and small mouth limit them to soft foods or small bites, but they manage. The most interesting thing, though, is the straw-like properties of their tongue. It is theorized that the way their tongue is shaped allows the water they drink to cool down the blood inside it, which then makes its way around their body. They have also been seen bathing in small pools wherever permissible when visiting islands outside of the climate they're used to. If you're wondering why they need so much water even though they don't sweat, the water seems to evaporate directly through their skin rather than coming out first and then evaporating. Obviously there are other ways they get rid of water, but that's for my good friend known as the Fucker of Minds to talk about.

As for other bodily functions, their eyesight is terrible, on account of their pupils being spiral-shaped and constantly spinning. Instead, they rely on both hearing and small psychic waves that they send in front of them, almost like echolocation. The psychic waves create a mental image of what is in front of them, allowing them to effectively "see" their surroundings. Their mouths are peculiar as well. They are very small, toothless, and almost sealed shut with just enough room for their tongue and whatever they are swallowing. Interestingly, their mouth is not part of their respiratory system whatsoever, and it is theorized that their flat noses and large nostrils are to allow easier access to the lungs, since that is the only way they breathe. While there is not much evidence behind this, they may also be able to absorb oxygen through their skin when wet, making them technically amphibious despite spending their lives on land. This may explain their affinity with water. However, contact with oily substances does not seem to hinder this. Very intriguingly, research has led to the discovery of vocal cords in their throats, hinting that at some point during the evolutionary process, they could speak and breathe with their mouth. Currently, they are considered vestigial parts, but an occasional, otherworldly squeak may be heard from them when they are caught off guard, suggesting that quick, sharp breaths are enough to make a sound.

The mouths that they summon with magic are solid for some reason, which may be a testament to the strength of their psychic power. They can perform almost every function of a normal mouth, with the only exception being eating and breathing since they are not connected to the body. However, they are primarily used for projecting the Theremind's inner voice, useful when singing or speaking to groups of people. When they are in a private conversation, they are more inclined to use telepathy since it uses less psychic energy. Keep in mind psychic energy is not the same as physical energy; a Theremind can still use their powers with ease after physical activity. After extensive use of their magic, however, they will need a break and may stick to just using telepathy. Levitating themselves does not require as much psychic energy as levitating an object or another monster, but a Theremind drained of their psychic energy may stick to walking against their wishes. It is unknown why they prefer levitation over walking, and the shape of their feet does not seem to be a hint.

To allow as much brain growth as possible, a Theremind's skull does not have a neurocranium (the part that protects the brain) and instead tapers off at the top of the head, just barely cupping the brain. The brain is not exposed, but rather there is a thin layer of fat (that somewhat obscures its shape) and a thin, sensitive skin, similar to the skin on the inside of their ears. While it does not grow much throughout their lifetime, they have physically adapted this as a result of their knowledge and psychic power growing stronger over time to the point that their brains could no longer be contained in a skull. The shape of their skull is rather interesting; it has a similar shape to a human skull (besides orifices and cranium) but their head appears rectangular due to the amount of fat and muscle obscuring what would be their neck. They can still look up and down, but their movement is limited. Their "chin" is made of muscle rather than being part of the skull, allowing more complex facial expressions in lieu of eyebrows. It is currently unknown how they keep small particles from entering their eyes, since they completely lack eyebrows and eyelashes. [soda note: yes i know i give them massive cartoonish eyebrows in my art but that's just to make their expressions easier to see, they don't actually exist]

But now for the question you've been waiting for: Without any bone protecting the brain, how do they protect themselves from head injuries? The answer is the psychic waves, the same ones that help them "see". Part of helping them observe their surroundings is detecting anything that might harm them in their immediate vicinity. The most intense waves are in front of them, but there are many all around the body, completely invisible but there thanks to the Theremind's psychic power. If there indeed is something in the way, these give them time to either move out of the way or use psychokinesis to stop a moving object. Psychokinesis is just one of their powers; they have quite a few different abilities (that have been observed). Some they use everyday are telepathy, summoning their outer mouths, reading others' thoughts and dreams, and self-levitation. They are constantly hearing others' thoughts due to their sensitive hearing, but most have the strength to tune it out and limit their focus to one or two monsters at a time. There are reports of Thereminds hypnotizing people and manipulating memories, but the often-malicious nature of these actions makes them rare to see. Contrary to popular belief, they do not use their eyes for hypnosis; that is entirely their mind. However, it has been proven that making eye contact with a Theremind for too long will cause a person to pass out. It has not been tested with monsters, and the people who have experienced this did not have any issues otherwise after waking up.

#theremind #theremind my beloved #msm #my singing monsters #episode 2 of soda yapping about her fave #headcanons

[littlebear1537]

Bear Chimera Transmutation Circle for Sam

I wanted to go into more detail on how I created the transmutation circle for Sam!

Here is the transmutation circle! I am thinking of cleaning it up but this is the first one I drew!

Below the cut is my explanation of how I created this circle! (It's pretty long so I suggest reading it if you have the energy too, or just skim through it! There are helpful links and explanations on the process I did to create one!)

Before I get into my explanation, the link below is the basics of alchemy in the show!

Alchemy Fullmetal Alchemist

First off, I started researching what goes into a transmutation circle. I stumbled across a couple of sites but one helped me in particular! Click here vvv

Analysis on Riza's Tattoo

This helped me understand what goes into the research behind transmutation circles. It uses science, art, and belief! Thankfully, science is a strong suit for me so I quickly grasped onto the idea of alchemy - So I am here to explain it!

Next, I stumbled across alchemy symbols! This helped me understand how a transmutation circle worked. Using different symbols within the circle can lead to different things happening. For example, the flame transmutation circle on Roy's glove uses the alchemy symbol for the element fire. I used Wikipedia for different symbols and what each of them mean!

Alchemical Symbols

From here, I was able to gather different symbols for the transmutation circle above! Each symbol that goes into a transmutation circle will do different things. Now I am not an expert on how to create a transmutation circle, but looking at the symbols, the transmutation circle explains what it should hypothetical do.

If I was doing basic alchemy, I would use a lot of the elemental symbols in my circle. However, a chimera is a branch of bio-alchemy which means I will be looking more at the processes instead of using elements such as copper (unless those elements had some sort of connection to them that would make sense of bonding two souls together and creating one entity)

Using the Alchemical process symbols, I was able to see which one would make the most sense in a chimera transmutation. In this case, I used the symbol for "cancer" which is a zodiac sign!

Cancer is the symbol to show the alchemical process of "Solution". A solution is a type of mixture that has the appearance of one substance, yet is a combination of multiple. For example, a mechanical mixture would have multiple substances that you are able to see with your bare eye (ex. A salad). However, a solution would be something that you would believe to be one pure substance, yet actually has multiple substances within it (Such as Salt water).

The cancer symbol can be seen in the transmutation circle (Highlighted in green):

I used this symbol since Sam was supposed to merge with a bear and create one entity. So, they would be similar to a "solution" .Since there are two entities (Sam and the bear) and they would become as one.

Next, I used the symbol for Mercury (or spirit). This means fusibility. Fusibility is how likely two or more substances are able to connect and become one.

The symbol for Mercury can be seen here (Highlighted in Pink):

This symbol was used because Sam was going to fuse with a bear. These two souls would fuse to create one which would be used in chimera transmutations.

And then! with a bit of artistic liberty plus the knowledge of a basic transmutation circle, I was able to create this!

I am no expert nor don't know if this would even make sense with the fma universe, yet this is what I came up with! One thing I did notice about other transmutation circles, is that every symbol was connected somehow. I am thinking of doing that and create a more polished one, yet these are the symbols I would use and even the structure itself!

#fmab #fma #fma transmutation circle #transmutation circle #fullmetal alchemist #helpful #my oc #fmab oc #sam wister #little bear explains #the more I see the word “alchemy” - the more it looks like I spelt it wrong #AUTISM RAMBLINGS #PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS!! #This is just my basic understanding so some things may not make sense!!