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lets-try-some-writing · 2 months

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Friendship and Intimacy

A slight update to my personal headcanon regarding Cybertronian habits and relationships, at least the physical stuff.

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Even before the war, friendships have always had unspoken rules amongst Cybertronians. There are differences depending on city state, function, and caste. But as a general rule, Cybertronians follow the same sets of guidelines when it comes to close connections.

Unlike organics, Cybertronians do not biologically procreate. Yes, they are capable of cold forging and even creating new life from their own spark if they try hard enough. If they truly feel like fighting against the natural order, a Cybertronian can use technology to go through a similar process to create new life. However, as this is not a natural act and considering there is no biological function that allows for reproduction, there is no instinctual need to have close connections. Cybertronians will travel in groups instinctually if certain criteria are met, and they do have pack bonding abilities, to a limited extent. However, there is absolutely no immediate desire to touch one another, not even in the slightest. Touch is a dangerous thing. For a species that is all but functionally immortal, one of the only things that can effectively kill them is another of their kind.

Their coding recognizes this, and thus Cybertronians simply do not touch often. It is not even a high caste or an Iaconian exclusive mindset. All Cybertronians are not fond of being touched unless it is specifically agreed to by both parties. Touching is dangerous, especially with outliers and various frame types having unique abilities that can make touch even more dangerous on any given day. Generally speaking, the only places a mech is allowed to touch if absolutely required are the shoulders. This is due to the fact that the shoulders are one of the most armored locations on the body, and thus touching there can allow both parties to accomplish whatever must be done without invading the other's space more than required.

This makes friendship and interesting subject.

Touch, due to its rarity, has a great deal of symbolism behind it. Co-workers and acquaintances only touch the shoulders and strangers try not to touch at all. Cybertronians, even once they consider each other friends, can still remain at a distance physically for extended periods of time. But eventually, a sign of trust will come into play through touch.

The closer two mechs are, the more touching is allowed. It always starts small, usually with the servos. It is completely normal for two individuals, regardless of weather their relationship is platonic or not, to hold hands. For them it is a show of trust. By limiting themselves to one arm each and allowing the tactile sensors on their digits to touch, they are expressing trust in the other and their belief that their counterpart will do them no harm.

Regardless of relationship type, individuals move from servos to other heavily armored parts of the other's frame when it comes to touch. It is completely normal for close friends to sit close enough to touch shoulders and legs. Rubbing each other's backs is widely accepted as another form of showing trust. Running digits along arm guards and messing with external kibble is all perfectly normal behavior. These things show the closeness of a pair, and usually the type of touches are unique to every single duo. Romantic partners may begin to get a tad more touchy during this phase, but platonic and familial relationships can do the same depending on the situation.

Usually companionships do not progress past this point of general body touching. Even familial relationships can remain in this limbo for vorns upon vorns if neither party feels comfortable making a move. This is largely because the next step is one that most cannot back out of. Protoform is the most sensitive and easily damaged part of a mech. In order to really show absolute trust, a pair must allow each other to have access to said protoform. This is when things can begin looking strange to other races.

Once a pair have moved to this phase of absolute trust, it isn't at all weird to see them behave in ways that would otherwise appear VERY scandalous to species that reproduce organically. Before the war, Megatron regularly stuck his digits into the gaps in Soundwave's hip plating to touch the protoform there. It wasn't romantic at all, merely a way of assuring that they trusted each other. Jazz was very comfortable sticking his servos into the gaps around Orion's vents to prove his loyalty. Ratchet wasn't all that much better and after so many vorns at war, it is totally normal for him and Optimus to be found in a strange cuddle pile with their limbs entangled and digits in places human would see as very much NOT appropriate.

Touching is a sign of trust, and by the Allspark humans simply do not get it. They read everything WRONG when they catch bots interacting in similar ways. Optimus wrapping his arms around Bumblebee and resting his helm on Bee's shoulder is familial. Ratchet randomly sticking his digits into Optimus's hips is just a fact of life. Arcee periodically sticking her little claws into Bulkhead's various kibble is just their way of playing. Wheeljack and Bulkhead are extra open about being touchy. More than once June has ushered the children away when they get a bit too much for the adult humans in the room to be comfortable.

Touching is a way to bond. Nothing more, nothing less. Humans look and see things they shouldn't. Cybertronians witness a pair who are close enough to allow one another to come near their vital systems.

#transformers #maccadam #transformers prime #team prime #optimus prime #ratchet #bumblebee #megatron #arcee #bulkhead #jazz #soundwave #cybertronian culture #cybertronian biology #cybertronian worldbuilding

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writing-with-sophia · 9 months

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Magical/ Superpowers list: General

Part 2 of magical/ superpowers list. I didn't know the readmore function before, so it caused trouble for everyone. I'm really sorry!

Probability manipulation (luck manipulation)

Enhanced healing/regeneration

Phasing (ability to pass through solid objects)

Sonic scream

Super breath (ability to blow strong winds or freeze objects)

Weather manipulation

Teleportation

Super hearing

Super smell

Empathy (ability to feel and understand others' emotions)

Telempathy (ability to manipulate others' emotions)

Energy absorption

Energy projection

Super stamina

Night vision

Holographic projection

Super flexibility

Underwater breathing

Plant manipulation

Gravity manipulation

Camouflage

Astral projection

Dimensional travel

Super luck

Laser vision

Enhanced senses (enhanced taste, touch, etc.)

Dream manipulation

Fear manipulation

Probability manipulation (ability to alter probabilities)

Illusion creation

Enhanced speed reading

Enhanced memory

Body swapping

Enhanced agility

Omnilingualism (ability to understand and speak any language)

Magnetic manipulation

Density control (ability to become intangible or super dense)

Earthquake generation

Super breath (ability to create strong gusts of wind)

Animal transformation

Sonic boom generation

Molecular manipulation

Hypnosis

Elasticity

Force field manipulation

Energy shields

Gravity control

Bone manipulation

Enhanced intelligence

Power mimicry (ability to copy others' powers)

Acid generation

Flight through astral projection

Energy wings

Enhanced senses (enhanced taste, touch, etc.)

Power negation (ability to cancel out others' powers)

Enhanced persuasion

Time stop

Molecular combustion (ability to cause objects to explode)

Animal telepathy (ability to communicate with animals)

Insect manipulation

Dreamwalking (ability to enter and control others' dreams)

Probability manipulation (ability to alter outcomes)

Force manipulation

Healing tears (ability to heal others with tears)

Power absorption (ability to steal others' powers)

Elemental transmutation

Energy constructs (ability to create objects out of energy)

Enhanced senses (enhanced taste, touch, etc.)

Magnetic flight

Reality warping

Flight

Super strength

Invisibility

Telepathy

Telekinesis

Super speed

Healing powers

Shape-shifting

Time manipulation

Mind control

X-ray vision

Super intelligence

Energy manipulation

Elemental control (fire, water, air, earth)

Super agility

Precognition (seeing the future)

Super durability

Super senses (enhanced hearing, sight, smell, etc.)

Immortality

Force field generation

Teleportation

Animal communication

Super reflexes

Elasticity

Pyrokinesis (ability to control fire)

Cryokinesis (ability to control ice)

Technopathy (ability to control technology)

Astral projection

Time travel

Size manipulation

Chronokinesis (ability to manipulate time at will).

Astral manipulation (power to manipulate and interact with the astral plane).

Biokinesis (ability to manipulate and control biological matter, such as healing wounds or altering physical characteristics).

Probability manipulation (power to manipulate probabilities, increasing or decreasing the likelihood of specific events).

Sound manipulation (ability to control and manipulate sound waves, including creating sonic blasts or generating illusions through sound).

Memory manipulation (the power to alter, erase, or enhance memories in oneself or others).

Spatial manipulation (the ability to manipulate and control space, including teleportation, creating portals, or bending space to manipulate distances).

Technopathy (the power to communicate with, control, or manipulate technology and electronic devices).

Dream manipulation (the ability to enter and manipulate dreams, altering the dreamer's experiences and perceptions).

Emotion manipulation (the power to control and manipulate emotions in oneself or others).

Energy vampirism (ability to absorb and feed off various types of energy from other sources).

Probability sensing (the power to sense and perceive the likelihood of specific events or outcomes).

Supernatural luck (extreme good luck that seems to defy probability).

Elemental transmutation (ability to transform one element into another).

Power replication (power to copy and temporarily possess others' superpowers).

Fear manifestation (ability to manifest and control the fears of oneself or others).

Meta-communication (power to communicate with concepts, ideas, or abstract entities).

Astral projection (ability to separate one's astral body from their physical body and travel in astral form).

Reality manipulation (the power to alter and manipulate the fabric of reality itself).

Quantum manipulation (the ability to manipulate quantum particles and phenomena).

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sonicbible · 6 months

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So I've been thinking about Shadow's immortality lately and how it's implied that it works due to his cells being unable to deteriorate. We can infer this due to the fact that Gerald took on Project Shadow in part to find a cure for NIDS specifically. Finding a way to prevent cells from deteriorating would naturally lead to finding a way to protect cells from viruses that kill them, which is what real-world AIDS does to the body.

A lot of fans assume that Shadow will not grow beyond his current physical age (~15), but with the previous information in mind, we can conclude that Shadow will grow into adulthood. His body will just eventually stagnate since it's unable to begin the aging process. In humans, senescence begins sometime in their mid to late 20s, so Shadow will presumably cap off there. This would then make him biologically immortal, which is a state seen in some real-world organisms.

#sth #shadow #shadow the hedgehog

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cantsayidont · 6 months

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October 1966. You can't keep a dead butler down. About two years after killing off Alfred the butler in 1964, editor Julius Schwartz was faced with a problem: William Dozier, the producer of the forthcoming Batman TV show, wanted to include Alfred in the show, and wanted him reintroduced into the comics as well! Schwartz and writer Gardner Fox struggled with this challenge and finally came up with the utterly preposterous story presented in the issue above.

Even for a Silver Age Gardner Fox comic book, this story is exceptionally convoluted, so it's best considered chronologically. We begin with a flashback sequence involving iconoclastic "all-around scientific genius" Brandon "Plot Device" Crawford:

This is already straining credulity a little because the story in DETECTIVE COMICS #328 in which Alfred died (helpfully recapped elsewhere in this issue) showed that he had been crushed to death by a giant boulder. That did not seem survivable at all, and even if it were, this would imply that neither Batman and Robin nor whatever doctor who filled out Alfred's death certificate nor the mortician noticed that he wasn't actually dead! Anyway …

So, Alfred wasn't actually dead, he wasn't embalmed, and he was buried in a refrigerated coffin (that's what the purple cylinders in the last panel previous page were for). A stretch, but we'll allow it. However, upon discovering this, Crawford, instead of calling an ambulance like a normal person, seizes on the opportunity to do some Frankenstein shit with Alfred's maimed, broken, mostly dead body, as one does (if one is a reclusive "radical individualist" who dropped out of college to pursue unorthodox, dubiously ethical scientific experiments, I guess).

One of the initial objects of Schwartz's tenure had been to rid the Batman books of the fantastical aliens, monsters, and bizarre transformations of the 1957–1963 period in favor of something a little more grounded. All that goes out the window here, despite the rather defensive editorial footnote, which says:

EDITOR'S NOTE: Physics professor Robert Ettinger, author of "The Prospect of Immortality," has said that death can only be defined in relative terms. He points to the hundreds of persons revived after drowning, asphyxiation, electrocution, and heart attack. "Biological death depends not only on the state of the body," Ettinger says, "but also on the state of medical art!"

Okay, then. On to the Frankenstein shit:

So, Crawford's experimental cell regeneration machine has restored Alfred's broken body, but in the process transformed him into an unrecognizable, rather hideous-looking being who is also evil. Check! The regeneration effect we see Crawford panicking about then transforms him so that he looks like Alfred, while leaving him in "a catatonic trance." The Outsider, rather ungratefully, puts Crawford's unconscious body back in Alfred's coffin to cover his tracks, and uses Crawford's various machines and his own "increased mental power" in his new quest to destroy Batman and Robin.

This was not the first appearance of the Outsider, who had actually been hounding the Dynamic Duo on and off since DETECTIVE COMICS #334 two years earlier, although he had never appeared on-panel, and his identity had been a mystery. Where Schwartz originally intended to take that plotline is not clear (Schwartz's own account doesn't say, and Gardner Fox said later that he didn't think Schwartz had a solution in mind at the outset), but it doesn't seem likely that revealing the Outsider as Alfred was the plan, particularly since subsequent Outsider stories had shown that the villain had superhuman powers, including the ability to bring inanimate objects to life! In this story, the Outsider really does transform Robin into a wooden coffin, as the cover indicates — it's not a hypnotic illusion or some other such dodge. Fortunately, the effect is reversed after the villain is defeated:

Batman's determination to keep these events secret from Alfred is bizarre, since Alfred's death is a matter of public record: As seen in DETECTIVE COMICS #328, Bruce Wayne started a charitable foundation in Alfred's name, with its own building in Gotham City! Batman suggests that they can rename the charity the Wayne Foundation (as of course they subsequently did), but how he expects to resolve the various problems created by Alfred having been legally dead for months without his finding out is unclear. They do take the time to retrieve Crawford (who has miraculously not suffocated or starved to death in Alfred's coffin) and use his machine to return him to normal, after which Batman suggests that Bruce Wayne will give Crawford a job at the renamed foundation.

If you're wondering, "Wait, does this mean Alfred now had super-powers?" the answer is yes! Since he didn't retain any conscious memory of his death and resurrection, he was normally unaware of this, but Alfred's evil Outsider personality resurfaced several times, and he sometimes spontaneously reverted to the Outsider's form, in which he once again had supernatural abilities:

Notice the background, with the buildings burning like candles? The Outsider did that with his mental powers, along with a bunch of less grandiose but equally impossible feats. Fortunately, they reverted to normal after he split into separate good (Alfred) and evil (Outsider) selves and defeated himself. The Outsider resurfaced once more in 1985, battling the Outsiders and nearly killing Superman by transforming the Batcave's giant penny into Green Kryptonite.

I guess this whole saga did resolve the problem of resurrecting Alfred for the TV show, but in what I think can fairly be called the most ludicrous way possible. (And you thought the PENNYWORTH show spun out of GOTHAM was silly …)

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hayatheauthor · 5 months

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Hello, hope you are having a good day/night

I was wondering if you have any advice for making immortal characters?

I'm making one for a story and kinda stuck on a few things

Crafting immortal characters presents a unique set of challenges for writers. Visualizing the personality and lifestyle of someone who has lived for centuries can be a daunting task. I personally haven't written many immortal characters, but here is my simple guide to writing immortal characters.

Understanding Immortality

Immortality is a concept that has captivated storytellers for centuries. Before diving into the intricacies of writing immortal characters, it's crucial to establish a clear understanding of what immortality means in your story's context. Consider whether your characters are ageless, impervious to injury, or possess an endless lifespan. This foundational knowledge will shape how you approach their characterization and the challenges they might face.

The Appeal of Immortality

Deciding whether to make a character immortal is a significant creative choice. Immortality can add depth and intrigue to a character, but it's essential to weigh the storytelling benefits against potential drawbacks. Consider the thematic elements of your narrative—does immortality serve the central themes of your story? If your story explores the passage of time, loss, or the human condition, immortality can be a compelling tool.

Additionally, immortality allows for the exploration of different time periods, historical events, and changing societal norms. It can provide a unique perspective on human existence and create opportunities for character growth over an extended timeline. However, it's crucial to strike a balance, ensuring that immortality enhances the narrative rather than overshadowing it.

Types of Immortality

When delving into the concept of immortality, it's important to explore the various types that can shape the nature of your immortal character. Immortality isn't a one-size-fits-all concept, and different narratives employ diverse approaches to convey this enduring existence. Here are several types of immortality to consider:

Biological Immortality:

Biological immortality refers to a character's ability to cease aging and remain in a perpetual state of physical youth. This form of immortality doesn't prevent death from external factors like injury or disease but ensures the character won't die from old age.

Regenerative Immortality:

Characters with regenerative immortality possess the ability to recover rapidly from injuries, regardless of their severity. This type of immortality allows for survival in situations that would be fatal to others.

Resurrection Immortality:

Resurrection immortality involves characters who can come back to life after death. This form of immortality often comes with certain conditions or limitations, such as a specific time frame for resurrection or the need for an external force.

Cursed Immortality:

Some immortals might be cursed to live forever as a consequence of their actions or a supernatural event. This form of immortality can add complexity to a character's journey, as they grapple with the burden of eternal life.

Spiritual Immortality:

Spiritual immortality separates the character's consciousness from their physical body. Even if their body is destroyed, their consciousness persists, potentially allowing them to inhabit new vessels or even exist as ethereal entities.

Conditional Immortality:

Characters with conditional immortality can only be killed under specific circumstances or by specific means. This form of immortality often adds tension to the narrative, as characters may need to discover and exploit these weaknesses.

Choosing the type of immortality for your character depends on the themes and dynamics you want to explore in your story. Each type brings its own set of challenges and opportunities for character development.

The Challenges of Writing Immortal Protagonists

Crafting an immortal protagonist comes with its own set of challenges, demanding careful consideration to avoid narrative pitfalls. While the allure of an eternal character might be tempting, it's essential to navigate potential obstacles effectively. Here are some challenges you might encounter when writing immortal protagonists:

Stagnation and Boredom:

Immortality could lead to stagnation, with characters becoming disinterested or bored over centuries. Finding meaningful pursuits or addressing existential ennui becomes a crucial aspect of immortal character development.

Loss and Grief:

Immortal characters often witness the passing of loved ones, raising questions about coping with eternal grief. Exploring the emotional toll of enduring relationships and inevitable farewells adds depth to their narrative.

Maintaining Tension:

The fear of death is a powerful narrative tool, and writing an immortal character requires innovative ways to sustain tension. Introducing other forms of vulnerability or consequences for their actions becomes essential to keep the stakes high.

Relatability to Mortals:

Immortal characters might struggle to relate to mortal experiences, making it challenging for readers to empathize. Balancing their extraordinary existence with relatable elements ensures readers can connect with the character on a human level.

Memory Overload:

With centuries of experiences, memory overload is a realistic concern. Immortal characters may grapple with the weight of accumulated memories, potentially leading to mental strain or identity crises.

Moral Evolution:

Immortal characters must undergo moral and emotional evolution over time. Addressing how their perspectives change across centuries and adapting to evolving societal norms adds complexity to their character arc.

Navigating these challenges requires a delicate blend of creativity and empathy. Immortal protagonists offer unique storytelling opportunities, but their narratives demand careful handling to resonate with readers and maintain a compelling plot.

Character Development and Immortality

Creating a dynamic and relatable immortal character hinges on their growth and transformation over time. While immortality offers longevity, it shouldn't equate to static personalities. Consider the following aspects to ensure your immortal protagonist undergoes meaningful character development:

Learning from Experiences:

Immortality grants the opportunity for characters to accumulate diverse experiences. Showcase how these encounters shape their beliefs, values, and perspectives. Immortal characters should evolve emotionally and intellectually, drawing wisdom from their extensive life.

Adapting to Change:

Explore how your immortal character adapts to societal and technological changes. Their ability to navigate evolving landscapes, both physically and metaphorically, provides opportunities for character development and engaging storytelling.

Embracing Vulnerability:

Despite immortality, vulnerability adds depth to characters. Introduce challenges or weaknesses that resonate with readers, fostering empathy and connection. Immortal characters should grapple with their humanity, despite their extended lifespans.

Exploring Relationships:

Immortal characters can form unique connections across different time periods. Delve into the complexities of their relationships with mortals and fellow immortals. Address the impact of enduring friendships, love, and loss on their emotional landscape.

Personal Growth Arcs:

Craft personal growth arcs that transcend centuries. Immortal characters should confront internal conflicts, flaws, and insecurities, showcasing a relatable journey of self-discovery despite their extraordinary lifespan.

Facing Consequences:

Immortality doesn't exempt characters from facing consequences. Establish a sense of accountability for their actions, ensuring that decisions made centuries ago still reverberate in their present. Consequences provide narrative tension and drive character development.

Remember, immortality shouldn't hinder character growth; rather, it should enhance the depth and complexity of their journey. Immortal protagonists can offer readers a compelling exploration of humanity, time, and the enduring quest for self-discovery.

Physical Changes and Lack Thereof

When crafting immortal characters, the portrayal of physical aspects becomes a crucial element. Consider the following factors to effectively convey the unique nature of immortality in your writing:

Ageless Appearance:

Immortal characters often maintain a youthful or ageless appearance, defying the natural aging process. Describe their timeless beauty or the perpetual state of their physical prime, emphasizing the contrast with mortal characters.

Scars and Battle Marks:

Showcase battle scars and marks as enduring symbols of an immortal's longevity. These physical remnants tell stories of epic encounters, providing a visual narrative of the character's journey through time.

Adaptive Evolution:

Explore the idea of adaptive evolution in immortal beings. Depending on your world-building, immortals might possess the ability to adapt physically over time, gaining new attributes or even altering their physical form in response to challenges.

Stasis and Stagnation:

Delve into the potential downsides of immortality, such as the risk of stagnation. Immortal characters might experience periods of stasis, where their physical appearance and abilities plateau, presenting a unique challenge to their personal growth.

Temporal Reflections:

Use reflections, whether in mirrors or bodies of water, to emphasize the temporal disparity between immortals and mortals. Immortal characters may see reflections that carry the weight of centuries, offering poignant moments of self-reflection.

Symbolic Transformations:

Employ symbolic physical transformations to mirror an immortal's internal evolution. For instance, a character's eyes could change color or exhibit unique features during pivotal moments, signaling shifts in their emotional or psychological state.

Effectively portraying physical changes, or the lack thereof, allows readers to immerse themselves in the intricacies of your immortal characters. Balancing the timeless allure with nuanced details enhances the richness of their existence within your narrative.

Psychological Realities of Immortality

Navigating the psychological landscape of immortal characters adds depth and complexity to your storytelling. Consider the following aspects to capture the essence of their enduring minds:

Temporal Perspective:

Immortals view time through a vastly different lens, witnessing the ebb and flow of history. Delve into their temporal perspective, exploring how centuries of existence shape their perception of fleeting mortal lives.

Accumulated Wisdom:

Immortality often comes with accumulated knowledge and wisdom. Showcase the breadth of their insights, portraying them as repositories of experiences and lessons learned throughout the ages.

Isolation and Relationships:

Explore the theme of isolation that can accompany immortality. Immortal characters might struggle with forming lasting connections with mortals due to the inevitable heartbreak of witnessing their transient lives.

Personal Evolution:

Detail the personal evolution of immortal characters over time. Just as their physical forms may change, their personalities and beliefs can undergo profound transformations, allowing readers to witness the intricate interplay of experience and growth.

Existential Questions:

Immortals grapple with existential questions about the meaning of their eternal existence. Address their struggles with purpose and identity, weaving a narrative that reflects the timeless quest for self-discovery.

Emotional Resilience:

Immortals may develop emotional resilience, adapting to loss and upheaval with a perspective that transcends the immediate pain. Explore how they cope with emotional challenges and form coping mechanisms unique to their enduring nature.

Moral Dilemmas:

Immortality often raises moral dilemmas. Consider how an immortal character confronts questions of ethics, morality, and the consequences of actions that reverberate across centuries.

Crafting the psychological realities of immortality invites readers to delve into the intricate minds of your characters. By seamlessly integrating these aspects into your narrative, you create a compelling exploration of the human—or rather, immortal—experience.

Physical Manifestations of Immortality

The physical aspects of immortal characters can significantly shape their presence in your story. Paying attention to these details enhances the believability of their immortal nature:

Ageless Appearance:

Immortals often maintain a perpetual youthful appearance. Describe how they defy the aging process, showcasing flawless skin, unchanged features, and an eternal vibrancy that sets them apart from mortals.

Healing Abilities:

Explore the regenerative capabilities that come with immortality. Immortal characters can heal from injuries that would be fatal to mortals, adding an element of resilience and invincibility to their physicality.

Resilience to Disease:

Immortality typically grants immunity to diseases and ailments. Consider how your characters navigate a world where mortal afflictions hold no power over them, emphasizing the contrast between their enduring health and the vulnerabilities of mortals.

Enhanced Strength and Agility:

Immortals often possess heightened physical abilities. Showcase their extraordinary strength, agility, and reflexes, allowing them to excel in physical feats beyond the capabilities of ordinary humans.

Immortal Scars and Markings:

Delve into the concept of immortal scars—wounds that may linger as reminders of past battles or significant events. These scars, unlike mortal wounds, serve as enduring symbols of an immortal's journey through time.

Adaptation to Environment:

Consider how immortals adapt to various environments and climates. Whether it's extreme temperatures or challenging terrains, their bodies may possess a remarkable ability to endure conditions that would challenge mortal limits.

Shape-Shifting or Transformation:

Some immortals possess the ability to change their physical form. Explore the concept of shape-shifting or transformation, allowing your characters to adopt different appearances throughout their eternal existence.

Inherent Magical Traits:

Immortality is often intertwined with magical elements. Highlight any inherent magical traits your characters may possess, such as the ability to manipulate elements, control forces of nature, or tap into mystical energies.

By intricately weaving these physical manifestations into your narrative, you create a vivid portrayal of immortal characters that captivates readers and adds a layer of enchantment to your storytelling.

I hope this blog on How To Write Immortal Characters will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks?

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and publishing tips for authors every Monday and Thursday! And don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey!

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dreamofthemaidenless · 1 month

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this is a 100% genuine question: I’ve been studying the anatomy of dreamkin, mainly the ones that appear to be more human, and I need to know when their anal canal ends and where their inner void (for lack of a better term) begins. this would also apply to their throats; if I looked into a dreamkin’s throat would it appear as human anatomy or something eldritch?

dreamkin are protostomes, meaning that the initial invagination of the gastrula forms the mouth and primitive gut. in organic life, this archenteron would eventually tunnel through to form the anus. most dreamkin do not require a complex enough digestive system to necessitate an "end" at all—they are biologically and physically immortal, and consumption has no material benefit. most cannot consume anything not of the dreaming, but they will eat dreamfood regularly, which is quickly and efficiently reabsorbed into the dreaming itself at the dead-end of the digestive tract.

the corinthian is an interesting exception to this, not in the least because of his two distinct digestive tracts. the first is typical, beginning at his primary mouth and ending at the cecum. the second connects both his eyes at a medial trachea that loops around his "brain" and descends the body cavity to his anus. despite having this secondary "complete" digestive system, he still cannot derive meaningful nutrition from non-dreamfood. he may consume eyes in dreams and in the waking and understand, vicariously, the life he has taken, but he finds no satiation in it, only pleasure. i have, perhaps, underestimated how hungry he is.

#the sandman #dream of the endless

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transmutationisms · 11 months

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logan engineering tom as ceo from beyond the grave so that his real grandkid stays in succession....god there's so much to think about here in terms of the family structure (thinking about logan reading iverson the storybook in s3, about logan drinking fertility smoothies....the show called succession was about succession all along!!) I'm so curious for your thoughts!!!!!!

it does work for logan's interests in a certain way, yeah! at the end of the day, i don't think logan ever would have been capable of actually naming a successor, because even though he tried to use his kids as proxies for himself, no one was ever going to be able to measure up. like, what he really wanted was his own immortality; his kids were always going to flop in his eyes, simply by virtue of not being his own literal body. but at the same time, one of the things he specifically punished kendall for was not producing what he considered to be a legitimate heir—a judgment that arose from a combination of logan's misogyny, racism, ableism, and obsession with consanguinity. so it put the board in a position where kendall was not an obvious choice, and matsson perceived tom as a useful puppet.

for logan's posthumous interests, this is a win in the sense that his biological grandkid will now have skin in the game. it's also a loss in the sense that matsson is most likely going to dismantle a lot of the company for scrap. so, the biological legacy survives in some sense; the financial one is pretty much dead. the company has also been represented by, and representative of, logan's physical body: from the beginning of the show, both appeared as these aging relics from a bygone era, controlling the political/corporate arena as well as the roy family; both were ailing, etc. this is also partly why the siblings were ultimately so determined to keep the company, especially roman, who saw matsson's takeover effort as his essentially desecrating logan's body/legacy.

anyway, to return to fertility and offspring, yeah this was always the mechanism by which logan tried to ensure his own survival past his impending death. he wanted a successor who was his biological offspring, who could produce offspring of their own and consolidate an empire around a bloodline. in this way he perceived that he would still be living on through the others (hence also his possessiveness over his children, including their sexual behaviours). but he never accepted iverson and sophie as filling this role for the aforementioned reasons, and even in the one scene where we see him really trying to be grandfatherly with iverson, he disdains him for reading a book he perceives as juvenile, asking kerry for something "with some action" (suggesting logan sees iverson's implied autism as a defect of his masculinity as well).

ultimately the empire logan wanted to create attains a very hollow victory, though of course the individual players are all still wealthy and materially cosseted. kendall's infertility is not the cause for logan's persistent disdain of him, but it sort of symbolises and sums up the way in which kendall could never live up to his father's standards for a male heir, no matter how much he shaped his life and sense of self around logan's demands. connor and roman will presumably never have kids, and shiv's kid won't have much of an empire left to inherit, plus logan would have strenuously preferred the line of succession going through one of his sons. his kids have always been trapped in the family (except connor, who was locked out of it), yet they've still ultimately failed to consolidate the sort of blood-bound empire logan always wanted.

#blood sacrifice

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partywithponies · 6 months

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BEGGING U TO ELABORATE ABOUT THE WHIFFERDILLS

OKAY OKAY listen. listen. I'll give you the brief version.

Whifferdills, originally from the Doctor Who comics, where things can get already get really weird and conceptual, are one of the most alien alien species in the Whoniverse, even by comics standards. They're shapeshifters, right? Nothing new or strange in sci-fi. Except usually when a shapshifting character or species is plot relevant and lore-important, the writer will write in some kind of limitation to their powers. Some kind of set of rules. But when it came to Whifferdills, they just... didn't.

Whifferdills can be anything. Literally. They can be inanimate objects. They can be puddles of liquid. They can be microbes. They can be the size of mountains. They don't seem to have one set default form that they revert back to, they're supposed to be always changing. Frobisher staying in one form most of the time is established to be him just being a little freak by his own species's standards, and even then, the form he stays in is. A penguin. Because he just likes penguins. Whifferdills don't age, at least not physically, unless they actively choose to, because they have conscious control over what their own bodies do at all times. They are functionally immortal. They are almost impossible to kill. Try to throw them off a cliff and they'll shapeshift instantly into something that can fly. Try to drown them and they'll shapeshift into something with gills. Throw them into a vacuum and they'll shapeshift into something that doesn't need to breathe at all. They don't inherently need to breathe at all. Shoot them or stab them and they'll just shapeshift the wound closed. In his first story Frobisher shapeshifts into a burger and survives someone literally eating part of him and is entirely unaffected outside of being mildly annoyed.

All this to say, Whifferdills are weird as hell and OP as shit. There is literally no reason to assume they reproduce sexually or organically. Why would they even? How would pregnancy even work, in a being whose body is by design supposed to be ever-changing? And how can you spend half your existence living as insects or cash registers and still have a concept of gender? Again, why would they even?

And to bring up just a few specific moments: in one comic, Frobisher (in penguin form) mistakenly believes he's laid an egg, and The Doctor (with the air of someone who's had to explain this before) tells Frobisher that this is impossible, because he's a male penguin, and Frobisher still seems a little confused by this. And to be clear, Frobisher is supposed to be highly intelligent. Frobisher is a notorious wanted criminal. Frobisher is a professional private detective. The Doctor sees Frobisher more as an equal and a partner than a companion. Frobisher plays chess against the TARDIS for fun. And Frobisher struggles to remember the difference between male and female penguins, the species he has a vaguely autistic special interest in.

And in the Big Finish audio The Maltese Penguin, Frobisher makes an offhand comment about he finds the humanoid form particularly tricky, because they have all these "odd dangly bits" that he can't see the purpose of.

I put it to you that Whifferdills do not even have a concept of biological sex or gender, because it's just so far outside of their perception of life and the universe. The TARDIS just translates Frobisher as "he" and Francine as "she" for the benefit of us the audience and the benefit of people like Peri, who in return could not even begin to fully comprehend the lived reality of a Whifferdill.

#doctor who

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quitealotofsodapop · 4 months

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Poor Mac, everyone thinking/getting mad he abandoned his baby with Wukong when he had no knowledge of this or was part of the making of it technically... But hilarious 😂

Although wonder how everyone reacts when word gotten out Mac was pregnant the same time (with Eclipse twins mentioned in previous ask), his body was just less obvious.

Does this mean a part of his anger at Wukong during TJTTW is because of pregnancy hormones... 🤔

That feel when you and your ex's fighting leads to both of you getting pregnant XD

Mac's only had buns in the oven since he "died" back during the Journey. Turns out getting physically dragged into the Underworld causes a similar biological trigger to being buried in earth.

Once the gang/wider demon public find out, its all question marks and "What!? TWO!?" and Wukong def takes the opportunity to put all the sappy, congradulatory attention onto Mac for once.

Jiuweihuli even apologises to Macaque for her harsh words. Barely. You know grandmama puts Mac on maternity leave the second he complains of swollen ankles or nausea.

Jin and Yin immediately declare Mac's twin eggs to be their proteges despite the shadow monkeys light-hearted pleas.

Jin: "Its twins bruv! Its like destiny!" Yin: "Yeah. We gots to think of matching names!" Jin: "How about something rough and tumble?" Yin: "Yeah! Like; Maul and Ravage!" Jin: "Or maybe like Noisy and Biter?" Macaque: *sighs fondly as the gold-silver twins continue making up ridiculous names for his babies*

Wukong also likes... caring for someone again? Not being the one carrying an Egg is a fresh feeling for once. XD

But he's also super-worried, cus even if his Moon is his equal in battle, Macaque doesn't have the same layers of immortality Wukong does. Macaque has a more calm outlook on the surface, but secretly wonders if the twins are a way for him and Wukong to make up for time lost when Yuebei was still an Egg - even if it ends with his possible passing...

Yuebei seems to notice a change in her bama, and lies her head against Mac's side the gentlest she can (a great feat given her strength) whenever she senses his emotions spike. Macaque cried the first time the baby monkey babbled at his stomach, convinced that even if Wukong was her sole parent - Yuebei is certainly Macaque's daughter too.

The Eclipse Twins arrive at least an extra year after Yuebei is born. Diyu wasn't the most nutritious enviroment for developing Stone Eggs after all. And they arrive super tiny, but surrounded by adoring family members ready to pitch in.

Jin and Yin's silly name suggestion of "Zàoyīn and Bàoliè" aka "Rumble and Savage" accidentally ends up sticking to the loud little twin girls. XD

#slow boiled stone egg au #stone egg talk #pregnancy tw #shadowpeach #sun wukong #six eared macaque #liu er mihou #lmk aus #lmk #lego monkie kid

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emiplayzmc · 5 months

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Y'know what, frick it - random post to add onto my previous Addison ref sheet with random Addison / Spamton headcanons, complete with worldbuilding stuff as well :D

Long post under the cut, ^^"

Part 1: Body Reference Sheet + Anatomy Headcanons

Part 3: Main 4 Designs

-Addisons are highly advanced AI models based around human / Lightner minds. Because of that, they are VERY social people! It's rare to see any Addison that doesn't have even a single person it considers a friend or family member or SO, and those end up being pretty tight-knit relationships.

-Being robots, Addisons are unable to have any biological relations. However, it's very common for Addisons to have family members - just in a nonbiological sense! Basically, if they form a strong enough connection with someone and spend enough time with them, their CPU's are wired to think 'oh hey. this person is my sibling :)' Sibling relations are the most common familial bond between Addisons, but occasionally there are some with parent/child relations.

-Adding onto the last one, I like to see the main Blue, Yellow, Pink, and Orange Adds as being siblings to Spamton, :D The blue and yellow Addisons are the eldest, Spamton and the pink Add are close in age (Spamton being the younger one), and the orange one is the youngest.

-Addisons all use the name 'Addison' as their last name, along with a first name that reflects the type of advertising that they work in / represent (Examples: Click, Banner, Radio). Naturally, this results in a lot of similar names if there are Addisons who work in the same advertisement field. Thus, Addisons have middle names as well, and those function like last names for them.

-----

-Not all Addisons have the same shade of colour to their casing, so that's a defining feature that many of them have - no two Addisons are the same colour (besides an Addison and their Copycat. More on that later in the post)! (Example image below)

-When stressed, different colours of Addisons have different ways of their systems starting to overcompensate - Orange Addisons overheat, Pink Addisons overfrost, Yellow Addisons produce a lot more static electricity that can occasionally jump to other people and objects, and Blue Addisons are the only ones out of the bunch that can actually perspire! White Addisons / Glitches just overheat.

-Different colours of Addisons are typically glitches in the system - in other words, the Cyber World got confused when making the code for a specific Addison, thus making their colours glitch and mix with two or more Addison colours, resulting in Green (Yellow and Blue mixed colours), Purple (Pink and Blue mixed colours) and White Addisons (all colours at once). White Addisons are the rarest glitches, and only one White glitch is known to exist - Spamton. However, the other glitch colours are still less in population than the other main four colours. There are no other known glitch colours.

-Addisons don’t really age! Physically or mentally. As long as they have consistent repairs and take good care of their bodies, they essentially are immortal. Dented leg? Just get it repaired! Destroyed faceplate? They have replacements available! Faulty CPU? Tricky, but the Ambyu-Lances should be able to get it fixed up properly! They spawn in when the Cyber World creates their code as fully functional adult-minded Addisons.

-Adding to the last one, that only difference between a newly created Addison and an Add that's been around for a while is that new Addis pretty much have a one-track mind - find a job and start working. Over time, their minds develop more of their personalities, life views, opinions, etc. It usually takes about three to four months for an Addison's CPU to be like that of a fully operational adult human.

-When working a job, Addisons usually own their own storefront websites by themselves, but a few other Addisons have employees or work for other people - the ones with employees are usually the more successful Addisons in the city, like 'Big Shot' era Spamton.

-Yellow Addisons are filled with static energy as a result of their electrical magic. Therefore, their magic is a lot more physically damaging than other Addisons’ magic, and it’s quite easy for them to use. And, even without using magic, they can usually use that static electricity anyway like a reserve of power. Basically? Be friends with a Yellow Addison, and you'll never have to worry about losing power again. They can just come over and jumpstart a dead battery or turn the lights back on in your house :)

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-The Cyber World has a Dark Web side to the city - basically, it's a shadier part of Cyber City that's less in population, but the large majority of its residents are scam artists, criminals, et cetera. The Dark Web has its own Addisons as well, though they don't occur naturally.

-The Dark Web Addisons are known as Copycats / Trojan Addisons (though Trojans are a less common term for them). They only spawn in if a naturally spawned Addison enters the Dark Web side of the city. Basically, they're mirror versions of the Addison themself, usually holding most of the same personality traits, advertisement types, and personal styles as the Addison they copied, though in a way that's meant to scam and trick people.

-Copycats usually spawn with the same name as the one they're copying, but some change their names to better fit THEIR OWN purposes (example: an Addison named Click has a Copycat of themselves - the Copycat decides to name themselves 'Clickbait'). Not all Copycats are scammers, but most are.

-The only physical difference between an Addison and their Copycat is a marking on the Copycat's shoulder - they usually have a symbol like the Web Browser (the globe made of blue lines?), but with a neon green eye in the center of it.

-----

The brainrot over these fictional salesmen is enormous right now, thank you for coming to my TED talk

#deltarune #spamton #addisons #deltarune addisons #art #pink addison #yellow addison #blue addison #orange addison #headcanons #deltarune chapter 2 #the addisons #my brain. it is completely rotted with addison hyperfixating.#i have a 14 page google doc that grows by the week with headcanons of these guys

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the-stardom · 11 months

Text

StarDom!Multiverse Star Sanses

OG Dream!Sans by @/jokublog

OG Swap!Sans by [N/A]

OG Ink!Sans by @/comyet & @/myebi

⸻

The StarDom!Multiverse is an alternative Multiverse that follows my own view and head-canon of the characters we all know and love.

He was born 2 minutes before Nightmare, but he plays along on being the younger one because that makes Nightmare happy

Had some suspicions about the abuse the villagers did to Nightmare, but didn't want to jump into conclusion

He himself has been used and abused by the villagers but though it was normal for the guardian of positivity to help

He was 8 when the apple incident happened

It took around 500 years for him to escape the stone prison and developed claustrophobia and PTSD

His first friend was Haventale Sans, although they don't talk as much they used to do nowadays

Biologically speaking he's 500+ years old, but mentally he's only 16 making him hypothetically the youngest of the Stars

Was friends with Ink before an argument, let them apart

He knows that the current Nightmare isn't his brother, but because they share the same body he believes that they are still connected

No one knows, but he's #1 Nightmare fan

Does have a forked tongue due to an "accident"

He has mastered his control over emotions and can release or hold in both positive and negative emotions

[More to be added]

An excellent liar, sometimes he forgets that the thing he said was a lie

He's kind but not a pushover

He also can be mean sometimes when he's stressed

He was about to transform into an error before Error threw him away from his Anti-Void, and that caused him to become invulnerable to Error and obtain new powers

He can hop around the multiverse, create stars as weapons (similar to Asriel's stars) and he's almost immortal but can still die through violent ways

He was friends with Ink before the errorfication but stopped after Ink told him he was replaceable as there are many versions of him

Dream rescued Blue when he was thrown away

Has a scar on his neck caused by Error

Held a grudge against Error for making him unable to go home but got over it

Because part of him is an error, he has become more impulsive

Is insecure about the black bones on his body, therefore his covers it

Very good at manipulation

Uses his reputation as "cute swap sans" to get what he wants (and it works most of the time)

If angered, he can start glitching, especially on his cape

[More to be added]

Often visit Underswap, where he was, indeed, replaced with another Sans

Doesn't cook as often as none of the Stats needed to eat

Hates being in the Anti-Void, even if he can go out on his own

He still believes that everyone can change if they just try

He will prioritize Swap AUs over others

He does have emotions, he just need to activate them with paint

Has a pet snake that he stole adopted named Peppy

The snake species is Terciopelo or Bothrops Asper

Forgot Dream and Blue were no longer friend with him and tried to befriend them again

He can and will ignore the laws of physics

Can grant creatures the ability to hop around the Multiverse

He hates being alone, especially in the Anti-Void

After befriended Dream and Blue again, he has written their information on his scarf (He doesn't remember that they were past friends)

He is quite apathetic and can't understand the emotions of other people very well, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care

Surprisingly, he's the therapist of the group!

Often forget Dream and Blue's name and when he does, he calls them buddy, friend or pal

Hates it when it happens because even with his bad memory he knows that they are someone important to him

[More to be added]

No matter how apathetic he can be, he is more than capable to know when someone is using him

Have never tried makeup until Dream and Blue showed him

Calls Error "mou chou"

⸻

The star badges on their outfit is a tool created with their magic

Blue's magic created its shape

Dream's magic gave a protection and healing overtime

Ink's magic can make them teleport back to base with only a drop of magic

#sans au #undertale au #utmv #utmv au #dream sans #dream #swap sans #blue #ink sans #ink #stardom multiverse #starcase art #starcase references

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bella-goths-wife · 5 months

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Hey, quick question! Sorry if this is stupid question or one that you don't want to answer, which I get, but I'm just curious. For the Father Lost Boys, what if the Reader turned out to have powers? How do you think they would react?

Sorry if I'm bothering you.

Thanks in advance!

Anon no question you ask me will ever be stupid and you are never bothering me!!!!

I love all requests and I just take a lot of time to respond to them because they get eaten or they sit in my drafts as I work on ten million other things because I can’t focus on one task for longer than ten minutes 😭

But back to the post

Dwayne would be super cautious about his child having powers and I believe that he might even seek out something to suppress or get rid of the abilities depending on what they are. If they are something physically (fire powers, super strength, ect.) he would hate it because he sees so many ways it could backfire and hurt the child. Whereas I think mental powers such as mind reading or emotional controlling would be acceptable as long as they didn’t reveal Dwayne manipulative nature.

Marko would delude himself into believing that this is another sign you were meant to be their daughter. Who would take better care of a super powered baby than a group of immortal, powerful vampires. This is an obvious sign that you are meant for them to raise. He would do lots of research into your biological families to see where the powers originated from and see how they are controlled. He would be much more fond of physical powers over mental powers because you’re less likely to escape with physical powers like super strength or speed because they could probably match or surpass you with their vampirism, but mental powers like mind control or mind reading makes it much harder to control or manipulate you. Overall he’s pretty happy with a dash of cautious.

Paul would be curious about your powers and he would most definitely use them to benefit him in some kind of way. Your super speedy? Go steal that couples wallets for him so he can take you out to dinner. You can read minds? Tell him If that girl is interested in him. You can control someone’s emotions? Make David be in a good mood when Paul tells him he fucked up on something. I’d definitely say Paul is the most excited for your powers but only because it benefits him in some way. If you started to use those powers against him in any way like controlling his body to give you the keys to the room your locked in so you could escape or making him hallucinate something from his past, Paul would totally retaliate with his own vampiric powers to get back at you. You wanna give him a bad trip by making him hallucinate an extremely angry David? Guess who’s getting a visit from their dead mommy in their dreams tonight. He’s a petty bitch.

David, as we know, is huge on legacy. He sees his child as an extension of himself so he wants them to be perfect in every possible way. If he was to find out that you have powers he’d see this as his legacy getting stronger because you’re obviously a worthy child of his name. If you have similar powers to his own he’d definitely train you as best he could in how to use them. There is also the chance that if you have the power of immortality that David won’t turn you, it’s a slim chance and you would need to convince him a lot but there is a chance. I think David would prefer you to have a mental power like mind reading or predicting the future because even though it would bite him in the ass so much when your trying to escape, you would also be a huge help if vampire from other territories tried to lay claim to Santa Carla like they have before. He also worries that you having physical powers could harm you in some way, but he doesn’t tell you that as he has no communication skills with his children.

Sorry if this if formatted weirdly but when I get asks I find it easier to just blurt it out into a quick answer rather than making a full fic of it.

Thank you so much for the ask and feel free to leave me asks or requests anytime, just remember that my messages don’t work so you’ll have to communicate with me through asks or else I won’t see it

That’s all ❤️

#slashers x reader #lost boys x reader #lost boys x child reader #poly lost boys x reader #yandere lost boys x reader #platonic lost boys x reader #dad lost boys #yandere lost boys #the lost boys #lost boy x reader

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jamtland · 7 months

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🔥 for the ask game!

Hetalia Emoji Asks

🔥 - Are there any popular/widely accepted headcanons you don't like?

Where do I begin?

I don't remember which ones of these are canon and which ones are headcanons, but I certainly don't like them.

Denmark behaves like or is constantly compared to a child or an animal: In this house, we respect Mathias.

All of the Nordics live under the same roof (even if they don't enjoy this living arrangement in the headcanon): They're immortals who can acquire property in their own countries. Never liked these kinds of forced sitcom situations.

Sweden's children are random micronations: A two in one! I don't like the idea that Sweden's children aren't at least partially Swedish and that he doesn't speak Swedish in his own household. I'll always choose regions with a historical connection to Sweden to be his children. I don't like micronations from a worldbuilding standpoint either. It cheapens nations who were formed by generations of humans who shared a common land, language, values and traditions if I can declare my house to be "The Autocratic Micronation of Jämtlantica" and an immortal personification would be born.

Nation ages scale linearly with the age of their culture: Biologically, aging means that the body is decaying and the person is getting closer to death. Why would a thriving culture like China have a personification that is physically frail and close to death just because Chinese culture has existed for a long time? I don't like the randomly chosen ages in the canon either. Their ages should be tied to their population's health.

Nations interact only with each other and with political leaders: Yuck. Politicians living a parallel existence from the people they're supposed to represent. No, go live with your people. Make friends with them and go to work with them and avoid eye contact with them on public transport.

"Ancient" personifications for large regions that are a single person: There was far more diversity in languages and cultures of pre-recorded history because long-distance cultural exchange is impossible without modern technology. Why would all of these different cultures be represented by just one person?! I believe that there would have been many Ancients who passed on before recorded history and were forgotten, but a few live on in the memories of the personifications they raised.

Forced family relationships between nations: The idea that there is a supernatural bond between some nations that they don't know the origins of and can't oppose. I also whined about how it suggests that there is an objectively "correct" way to interpret historical relationships.

Nations' lives have to literally re-enact history: See the above point about objective historical correctness. Also, isn't this boring? There is no room for personal characterization and you're effectively writing a history textbook, not a character.

This is long, but I am a very passionate Hater. Thank you for your ask!

#hetalia #hws sweden #aph sweden #long post #ask

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pricechecktranslations · 1 month

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Hey price, about Gumilia, I read one post of yours saying her immortality was the same as Elluka's and in another you added it was because of her Second Period soul. Does this mean that all the souls from the Second Period (the 73 who became forest spirits, gods, and/or demons) will have that same immortality if they ever choose to (re)incarnate? Does this also mean that as long as they aren't killed, they can basically live forever? After all, Elluka Clockworker (referring to both the incarnated Levia-Behemo and Ma) lived for 500 years before she had to find a new body. Gumilia survived in the Hellish Yard, a place reserved for deceased spirits, despite being alive the whole time. Also, considering Michaela "died" as a human but then became a sapling (a forest spirit), does this mean that they can be "killed," but they won't die, just return to their previous form like how Michaela returned to being a forest spirit and Behemo returned to being a god? Thanks!

Yeah, pretty much. All the information we have basically states as much, that Second Period souls are functionally immortal in their physical incarnations in a way that regular souls are not.

(I do think there's something that states that Gumillia is dead by the time of the Heavenly novel, but I can't remember where so I might be misremembering. And I don't think it was a "die of old age" thing anyhow).

But as to your last point, no. Michaela didn't just automatically turn into a sapling on death, she was transformed into a sapling so she could take Held's place as the Millennium Tree (also, as a tree, she was not a mere forest spirit, she became a god). When they die, they become souls without a body--this is what happens to literally everyone in the series when they die. It's just that the quality of their souls is different. Behemo in particular didn't "die" so much as get liberated from Elluka Clockworker's body and blown into the Hellish Yard.

I think there is some power difference between the Second Period souls that became "gods" versus the ones that became "demons" and those that are simply marked as "god-kin", but for the immortality bit yes I think they all have that in common. Lich and Eater are another example of this (granted, their bodies were made of the special mud and not biological in nature).

Second Period souls being Special is something that comes up a little in the E.A.T. prologue, too.

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afutureworththinkingabout · 7 months

Text

Appendix A: An Imagined and Incomplete Conversation about “Consciousness” and “AI,” Across Time

Every so often, I think about the fact of one of the best things my advisor and committee members let me write and include in my actual doctoral dissertation, and I smile a bit, and since I keep wanting to share it out into the world, I figured I should put it somewhere more accessible.

So with all of that said, we now rejoin An Imagined and Incomplete Conversation about “Consciousness” and “AI,” Across Time, already (still, seemingly unendingly) in progress:

René Descartes (1637): The physical and the mental have nothing to do with each other. Mind/soul is the only real part of a person.

Norbert Wiener (1948): I don’t know about that “only real part” business, but the mind is absolutely the seat of the command and control architecture of information and the ability to reflexively reverse entropy based on context, and input/output feedback loops.

Alan Turing (1952): Huh. I wonder if what computing machines do can reasonably be considered thinking?

Wiener: I dunno about “thinking,” but if you mean “pockets of decreasing entropy in a framework in which the larger mass of entropy tends to increase,” then oh for sure, dude.

John Von Neumann (1958): Wow things sure are changing fast in science and technology; we should maybe slow down and think about this before that change hits a point beyond our ability to meaningfully direct and shape it— a singularity, if you will.

Clynes & Klines (1960): You know, it’s funny you should mention how fast things are changing because one day we’re gonna be able to have automatic tech in our bodies that lets us pump ourselves full of chemicals to deal with the rigors of space; btw, have we told you about this new thing we’re working on called “antidepressants?”

Gordon Moore (1965): Right now an integrated circuit has 64 transistors, and they keep getting smaller, so if things keep going the way they’re going, in ten years they’ll have 65 THOUSAND. :-O

Donna Haraway (1991): We’re all already cyborgs bound up in assemblages of the social, biological, and techonological, in relational reinforcing systems with each other. Also do you like dogs?

Ray Kurzweil (1999): Holy Shit, did you hear that?! Because of the pace of technological change, we’re going to have a singularity where digital electronics will be indistinguishable from the very fabric of reality! They’ll be part of our bodies! Our minds will be digitally uploaded immortal cyborg AI Gods!

Tech Bros: Wow, so true, dude; that makes a lot of sense when you think about it; I mean maybe not “Gods” so much as “artificial super intelligences,” but yeah.

90’s TechnoPagans: I mean… Yeah? It’s all just a recapitulation of The Art in multiple technoscientific forms across time. I mean (*takes another hit of salvia*) if you think about the timeless nature of multidimensional spiritual architectures, we’re already—

DARPA: Wait, did that guy just say something about “Uploading” and “Cyborg/AI Gods?” We got anybody working on that?? Well GET TO IT!

Disabled People, Trans Folx, BIPOC Populations, Women: Wait, so our prosthetics, medications, and relational reciprocal entanglements with technosocial systems of this world in order to survive makes us cyborgs?! :-O

[Simultaneously:]

Kurzweil/90’s TechnoPagans/Tech Bros/DARPA: Not like that. Wiener/Clynes & Kline: Yes, exactly.

Haraway: I mean it’s really interesting to consider, right?

Tech Bros: Actually, if you think about the bidirectional nature of time, and the likelihood of simulationism, it’s almost certain that there’s already an Artificial Super Intelligence, and it HATES YOU; you should probably try to build it/never think about it, just in case.

90’s TechnoPagans: …That’s what we JUST SAID.

Philosophers of Religion (To Each Other): …Did they just Pascal’s Wager Anselm’s Ontological Argument, but computers?

Timnit Gebru and other “AI” Ethicists: Hey, y’all? There’s a LOT of really messed up stuff in these models you started building.

Disabled People, Trans Folx, BIPOC Populations, Women: Right?

Anthony Levandowski: I’m gonna make an AI god right now! And a CHURCH!

The General Public: Wait, do you people actually believe this?

Microsoft/Google/IBM/Facebook: …Which answer will make you give us more money?

Timnit Gebru and other “AI” Ethicists: …We’re pretty sure there might be some problems with the design architectures, too…

Some STS Theorists: Honestly this is all a little eugenics-y— like, both the technoscientific and the religious bits; have you all sought out any marginalized people who work on any of this stuff? Like, at all??

Disabled People, Trans Folx, BIPOC Populations, Women: Hahahahah! …Oh you’re serious?

Anthony Levandowski: Wait, no, nevermind about the church.

Some “AI” Engineers: I think the things we’re working on might be conscious, or even have souls.

“AI” Ethicists/Some STS Theorists: Anybody? These prejudices???

Wiener/Tech Bros/DARPA/Microsoft/Google/IBM/Facebook: “Souls?” Pfffft. Look at these whackjobs, over here. “Souls.” We’re talking about the technological singularity, mind uploading into an eternal digital universal superstructure, and the inevitability of timeless artificial super intelligences; who said anything about “Souls?”

René Descartes/90’s TechnoPagans/Philosophers of Religion/Some STS Theorists/Some “AI” Engineers: …

[Scene]

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

Read Appendix A: An Imagined and Incomplete Conversation about “Consciousness” and “AI,” Across Time at A Future Worth Thinking About

and read more of this kind of thing at: Williams, Damien Patrick. Belief, Values, Bias, and Agency: Development of and Entanglement with "Artificial Intelligence." PhD diss., Virginia Tech, 2022. https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/111528.

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riplever · 1 year

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Hermaphrodite Angel Aether X [your choice] headcanons

Mpreg, NSFW, alien (aeon) biology, Aether-harem, womb tattoo

I have written two different WIPs using this character bio, one crack (featuring all the ikemen) and one dark (with the honor going to Alhaitham), so I thought I might as well put these notes down for reference.

Superior biology

Aeons are the strongest conquerors in the universe, in no small part due to the direction of their evolution. Their bodies and minds are biologically adapted to facilitate inter-racial breeding, ensuring that either themselves or their progeny can habituate and colonize new homes away from homes. They are a romantic and fecund race of immortal beings.

- Malleable body. Aether can mold his body to take on a female, male or intersex appearance, from head to toe, face to genitalia. These are cosmetic decisions that don’t impact the internal constitution of his biology

- Polyamorous. Aeons believe that all Teyvatian mortals are deserving of their affections. The concept of exclusivity is rather foreign to them. With a curious and benevolent personality, it’s incredibly easy for Aether to feel attraction towards numerous potential mates, and often all at once

- Feathered wings. Soft and hollow cartilage that is easily damaged, a very vulnerable body part. Can be hidden away if the situation demands for it. Alhaitham might have deliberately injured them to keep him grounded. The heavenly principles tore off his wings as punishment for falling in love with a Teyvatian mortal

- Golden vessel. Gold aura, essence, eyes, color of blood (ichor), color of shimmer in tears (star dust), color of sexual fluids, all of which are a manifestation of his solar constitution

- Fair, thin skin. Sensitive to physical touch, easily reddens/bruises/scratches you name it, and stays so for long. Easy to mark, and appears delicate. However, most partners know/believe that he’s far hardier than he appears because of his divinity, so barely any (save for Thoma) would bother to be gentle with him

- Red womb. When impregnated, his stretched stomach skin is peach colored. Under certain light conditions, such as at certain times of days by Teyvatian celestial bodies or in an artificial environment, his skin can become slightly transparent, rendering the developing child briefly visible. The image of this red womb is visceral, grotesque, and has captured many the imagination of poets and painters in Teyvat who’ve had the fortune of witnessing a pregnant Aether. The red color is unique to Aether.

- Singing belly. The description stems from Aranara folklore about “bearings of… strong trees” that “sing in the belly”. The alleged song of his stomach is not audible to most humans, but other elemental creatures can recognize the tune, and thus will worship the pregnant aeon with reverence. The Aranara in particular like to adorn his pregnant form with flowers. Whatever emerges from the aeon’s womb will be a boon for Teyvat [canon reference]

- Self lubricating. Aether produces hormonal fluids that sexually stimulates his partners and eases their penetration into him. His fluids taste sweet, tangy, and are addictive

- Mating pheromones. Aether produces invisible pheromones that arouses and keeps his partners full attention on him throughout the course of his pregnancy. The pheromones encourages constant insemination (to optimize the chances of reproduction) and triggers in his partner’s the instinct to protect Aether and their unborn child. The pheromones are addictive

- High order multiples. Due to the unique laws of attractions for aeons, it’s possible for Aether to be carrying offspring at different stages of growth from multiple partners at any given time, for there is ample space in his womb for everyone.

Womb tattoo

- “Womb”. The earliest indicator of a successful pregnancy is the appearance of a womb tattoo on his lower abdomen. The tattoo appears in gossamer script, and is especially reflective under light of the moon. Written in the oldest language of the universe, the ideogrammatic characters represent the shape and location of his ovaries and vagina, and signal that his uterus has been activated.

- “Elemental”. The first womb tattoo is eventually replaced by a sign that corresponds to the elemental signature of Aether’s partner. It’s a large tattoo the size and half of a man’s palm. It glows unpredictably as an indicator of the demigod child’s developing consciousness even still inside the divine womb.

The womb tattoo will cycle through the different elemental signs if Aether has been impregnated by multiple partners at once.

Eugenical offspring

Celestial DNA from Aether, meaning star dust, divinity, and immortality

Physical traits (except for eye and blood color) from the other father

Stella Fortuna. Aether will birth a human-looking baby, but it only appears as a conventional human offspring on a superficial level. In actuality, this is a capsule of divine essence from Aether to the other parent. The capsule will cry and wail for the first hour before eventually falling into lasting silent sleep. Within the next 24 hours, the capsule will dissolve and return to the universe (beyond) as a star in the sky.

Both phenomena are easily interpreted as infant death. However, the released essence is in fact a divine blessing that will significantly strengthen or empower Aether’s partner, and this is what’s known as a “stella fortuna”. Aether is able to bear his partner a maximum of 6 stella fortunas in the course of their relationship. [canon reference]

It is possible to stop the child from transforming into stella fortuna and have it retain its form as a human offspring, and thereafter complete the life and death process of mortals. To do so, the child must be nursed by Aether’s milk in the first hour.

#pregnant aether #aether harem #allxaether #alhaither #hermaphrodite angel Aether #headcanons

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