#THIS WAS PURPOSELY MODELED TO LOOK LIKE THAT. AN ENTIRE NEW VISION MODEL FOR A SKIN

[kaeyachi]

About Kaeya's vision on his new skin:

This new vision is fascinating. It looks so beautiful! A fusion between a Khaenri'ahn star and a complete-winged Mondstadt vision.

But how was this possible? I would have taken it as a "correction" if they just added the missing wings to his vision, but based on the groves around the circumference of the vision, they specifically modeled it with the Khaenri'ahn star in mind

#kaeya skin #kaeya skin spoilers #kaeya #kaeya alberich #its so pretty #im going feral #but also my theorist brain is going insane about this detail #THIS WAS PURPOSELY MODELED TO LOOK LIKE THAT. AN ENTIRE NEW VISION MODEL FOR A SKIN

[emo-batboy]

I’m 1000% certain there’s a file of test videos (for research purposes ofc) of Battinson trying all of his fancy gadgets. These include but are not limited to:

Flying right into walls with his grappling hook

Jumping and falling like dead weight in his gliding suit prototypes

Just staring at himself in the mirror with his new contact lens and muttering, “I swear I can still see it”

Bruce watching over Alfred’s shoulder and scribbling frantically as Alfred tests out the bullet-proofness of the suit and cape

Crashing the Batmobile with his various turbo engine prototypes

Tossing differently-shaped batarangs at a target to see how it affects their trajectory

(Getting yelled at by Alfred because he decided to put the target right next to the elevator and almost killed him)

Submerged in a big tub of water for ten minutes to see if the rebreathing apparatus he made works then realizing he forgot to bring down towels then looking like a drowned rat as he waits for Alfred to come down

Raising his eyebrows several times under the cowl before deciding that he needs to make it bigger because it’s still obviously him

Injecting himself with different doses of his adrenaline shot (Alfred rips him a new one for trying it without supervision)

A random video of Bruce spinning in his chair and mumbling along to Mitski while he thinks of his latest case (how did that get in there)

Eating shit every time he makes another attempt at handheld rocket boosters

Eating shit every time he makes another attempt at rocket boots

Cutting off power to the entire building after using an early model of his EMP gun

Pouring over footage on the bat computer, grease paint and all, while a little baby bat just nestles in his hair (how did that get in there)

Smacking himself in the face with a nunchuck while trying out a new technique (he was incredibly sleep-deprived, like 62-hours-without-sleep-deprived, Alfred confiscates the nunchucks)

Coughing up a lung while testing out his new smoke pellets and immediately regretting it because this is literally a sub-level basement, what was he thinking

Dick complaining about how annoying and heavy his first Robin suit is “How can I do cool flips off a building if I can’t even touch my toes?” “You are not flipping off of buildings.”

Testing over 200 prototypes of flexible bulletproof fabric for the new Robin suit. (Dick spends this time practicing flips off of high places. Just for fun.)

Breaking his new night vision lens by turning off the lights, realizing he forgot to turn the lens on first, and immediately walking into a chair

Trying out an audio frequency jammer, but when he turns it on, all of the bats in the cave swarm him and he freaks the fuck out (Dick starts calling it the Bat Beacon, Bruce refuses to acknowledge its existence)

Pouring over footage on the bat computer, grease paint and all, while Dick cuddles himself into the back of Bruce’s sweatshirt, fast asleep (how did that get in there)

Doing donuts with the Batmobile using its new remote controller while Dick cheers him on from a safe distance

Landing on his ass after shooting his net launcher without planting his feet first

Dick doing various flips and other skills in his new Robin suit while Bruce takes notes

Testing different skin-safe adhesives for Dick’s domino mask

Slipping on ice after using their new freeze grenades

Adding a parental lock onto the computer because Dick keeps playing Roblox on it when Bruce is gone

Installing a new entrance to the bat cave because Jason said he totally missed the opportunity to have a secret entrance behind a bookcase and now they’re all in agreement because it is much cooler than a boring service elevator

Cutting through random materials with their new set his collapsible knives and swords, including his table which he did not mean to break

Dick and Jason screaming bloody murder when they walk in on him testing a cloaking device prototype and appearing out of literally nowhere

Jason messing with the taser Bruce gave him and immediately getting it confiscated

Pacing in circles to perfect the tracking devices he installed in Dick and Jason’s utility belts

Pouring over footage on the bat computer, grease paint and all, while Jason is in his lap, rambling about what he did in school today (how did that get in there)

Bruce, Dick, and Jason in a puppy pile on Bruce’s office chair, despite there being two perfectly functional chairs right beside that one. They’re all fast asleep

#battinson #bruce wayne #batman #the batman 2022 #the batman #batman 2022 #dc universe #gotham #soft bruce wayne #dick grayson #jason todd #give battinson a child 2k23 #battinson needs a hug #look at him #being a parent #alfred pennyworth #batmobile #funky little guy

[lyss-sketchbox]

if u saw the new trailer whats ur opinion?

im very excited for skirk,,,,

OH BUDDY YOUVE OPENED THE FLOODGATES CUZ IVE BEEN SPAMMING MY FRIEND WITH THEORIES LIKE HFJDJDJDJ I WAS SCREAMING THE ENTIRE TIME

Obvious spoilers for the fontaine archon quest in general for my thoughts and interpretations

Okay FIRST OF ALL NEUVI SENTENCING FURINA TO DEATH.

Okay so refer to what neuvi said at the end of Act 4 where 'all sovereigns are not im full dragonhood and it can only happen IF THEIR ARCHON DISAPPEARS'. I was hoping that Furina would somehow relinquish the gnosis or her godhood to Neuvi to let him be full dragonhood and stop the flood and WELL THIS LINES UP.

1) arlecchino did say furina was not archon like or has something wrong with her, 2) her playable character model HAS A VISION!!!!!!! 3) Iirc but her promo art, the one with the white bg with nation symbols on it, people say that it didnt have the symbols an archon would.

She's DEFINITELY losing her godhood here somehow and man. MAN IM SO EXCITED TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT

Second of all FURINA or should i say the HYDRO ARCHON as a whole

She sounded MAD when she stated she wanted to use her own trial to show the world the true meaning of justice. This leads me to believe that focalors DOES have some sort of multiple sides/personalities to her. Especially with her announcing HER OWN TRIAL through the 3rd person.

And well one of these sides is either Egeria's manifestation or furinas actual 'TRUE lady justice' side. A bit of a stretch but one of the official art in the livestream is multiple depictions of furina so it can be a lil nudge ya know.

NEUVILLETTE!!!! NEUVI NEUVI NEUVI!!!

MAN ID KILL TO SEE THIS MAN IN ACTION FULLY ANIMATED, LET HIM BE FULL DRAGON AND KICK ASS!!!!! IM BEGGING YOU HOYOVERSE LET HIM BE MORE AWESOME!!!!

Okay this man definitely was acquainted to Egeria in some way and this extends to Furina as well (BECAUSE HE LOOKS SO SAD LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO CRACK THIS MANS FACADE). I like to believe that Egeria and Neuvi might have a sort of Mentor/mentee/passing of the torch relationship. Because in so far everytime we hear Egeria, she talks to neuvi as if to hope that he will learn to understand humanity or learn his purpose or find SOMETHING (i forgot exactly what she says). But yeah he clearly holds her to high regard and that sentiment might extend to furina either because Egeria entrusted Neuvi with Furina, his loyalty to Egeria and Fontaine, or Furina just reminded him of Egeria and regardless of the trial still didn't want harm to come to his archon.

Okay a step back, we know that neuvi has holes about his past when he came to the world as the sovereign successor. And his line (i think its his idk) 'i seem to remember now... this trial is...' could be a call back of something Egeria told him from the past.

I firmly believe that this prophecy was actually a trial for NEUVILLETTE and not FURINA. It could be a final trial for him and his understanding of his position as chief justice and humanity. WHICH would tie into Egeria's line

and neuvi's line

Finally the GNOSIS

Okay the most obvious place is in the Oratrice. I feel like because Egeria isn't truly dead (from the who Amrita thing), it's possible that she lives in the Oratrice where she guides Neuvi and Furina. That's why it seems like it has its own conciousness and agenda. It's why it falsely accused Childe (and presumably Furina too). It might be why neuvi i think says this.

Anyways theres NO WAY the gnosis is staying in the oratrice lmao. There's bound to be a power transfer, the oratrice might be dead or dismantled because of its previous 'wrong' accusation for childe. And well im very much hoping it goes to Neuvi where he'll finally have his own meaning of Justice and no longer needs the assistance of the Oratrice to make judgements

I dont have much to say about Skirk, im most certainly looking forward to skirk childe interaction. Im guessing shes there at the abyss side either for the Narssizkruenz (fack spelling) ordo relation or well.. the gnosis. Im taking a random guess that she and the abyss might take away the gnosis to prevent celestia from descending early because fontaine is giving back the power they stole from a sovereign back to him.

ANYWAYS IM HYPED IM SO INSANE WAAAAAAAAAA

#long ass theory rant #genshin spoilers #fontaine

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: Horror VR

( Please come see me on my new patreon and support me for early access to stories and personal story requests :D https://www.patreon.com/NiqhtLord Every bit helps)  

Transferring to another school was never going to be easy, but transferring to another school on an entirely different planet had been terrifying to Tral.

His mother had obtained a position at the consulate for their people on the human homeworld. It paid better, got a lavish new home, and meant that her job was secure for the next three decades; but it also meant that they would need to leave their homeworld behind along with everyone they had ever known.

Tral had initially protested the move, as he would be leaving behind all of his friends and family for strange aliens that he had only scene pictures of during their science class. Naturally his mother was not swayed by these protests and promptly packed all of their belongings while he had been away at school. The next thing he knew he was on an outbound charter ship to the human homeworld, watching his previous home shrink off into the vastness of space.

That had been over six human months ago. Since then he had settle into his new home rather nicely, even making several human friends along the way. Apparently having an alien friend was a rather popular concept among humans and he had been beset by potential friends the moment he had entered the school.

One day after classes had finished one of his new friends, Markus, and a group of his friends asked Tral if he would join them for some after school fun. Initially he just wished to go home and relax but his mother had told him to try and fit in with the other human offspring to make their time on this planet more comfortable. So Tral agreed and asked what exactly they had in mind. They merely smiled and said they were heading to the “Arcade”.

Tral had no idea what this “Arcade” was and so Markus and his friends elaborated that it was a place one could go to for enjoyment through electrical and physical devices. When Tral arrived at this arcade he saw many cabinet like devices showering their users in bright lights and sounds. Near the back were sloping ramps with holes in the top were the users rolled balls into for different scores.

Frankly all of the devices before him seemed rather childish in nature and nothing caught his fancy until he spied a strange large cube structure in the back of the facility. Markus and his group of friends were already in line for the attraction and ushered Tral over. It was here they expressed their true intention for inviting Tral to join them as this attraction in particular needed a group of five to participate in.

They would not elaborate further other than “This will be amazing.”

When the time came for their group to enter the cube they were each given a set of goggles and a unique pair of gloves. After an embarrassing struggle Tral was able to fit the apparel just as the door into the cube was closed behind them.

The darkness startled Tral for a moment as his vision went black. He could hear the rousing shouts of excitement from his group as the darkness was suddenly replaced with the entrance to a very expensive human home.

The walls around them were of a lavish wood while an ascending red carpet staircase presented itself before them. There were a set of large windows just above the staircase which were being battered by heavy rains and wind.

Tral looked around at all of this before something dawned on him and he looked down at himself. Through the goggles he could see in place of his school uniform he now was wearing a military uniform of some sort. There were a dozen or so pouches and pockets on his front each holding a metallic rectangle of some kind or a green sphere with a pin hanging out of one end. In his right arm he was surprised to see that he was holding a human firearm, though of older make and model judging by its design.

“What is the purpose of this game?” Tral said as he looked up and saw the rest of his group in similar attire jumping up and down like fools. One of them, Markus Tral thought based on their voice, turned to him and said “Stay alive.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth did a loud thud sound like splintering wood come from behind Tral. He spun around to see the door to the room had been burst open violently and standing in the doorway was a nightmare Tral.

The figure was clearly human, but in the worst shape Tral had ever seen. Their clothes were torn from head to toe showing a pale greenish grey skin underneath. Their hands were soaked in blood and twitched every now and then as a trail of blood ran down their right arm in a thick stream that pooled at their feet. Yet worst of all was the face. Eyes as pale as the moon looked at Tral as a mouth with too many teeth clenched open and closed slowly.

Its head turned in jerks to look at Tral as if finally noticing his presence. It opened its mouth larger then should have been possible before emitting a horrific scream.

The creature lunged at Tral who stammered backwards to keep out of reach but tripped and fell to the ground. It was mere feet away from him when the roar of a weapon and the creature erupted into bursts of gore and blood before falling backwards.

“You alright?” Tral heard from behind to see the one he believed to be Markus holding out a hand to him.

Tral uneasily took that hand and was lifted to his feet.

“The first time you see one it can be a bit startling.” Markus said as he patted Tral on the shoulder.

“What was that thing?” Tral stuttered, his feet feeling like jellywood. Markus pointed his gun at the rotting corpse on the floor and replied “That’s a zombie; a body that has been brought to life as a monster.”

Tral could not put his thoughts to words at what Markus’s explanation. “You find it enjoyable to see such nightmarish monsters? Are you not terrified?”

Markus was about to answer when the other members of the group began firing into the doorway. Tral looked back to see several more of the monsters rushing through the broken doorway. The stream of automatic weapons fire greeted them and one by one they fell to the ground dead, but more just came on and crawled over the corpses.

Tral continued backing away to the stairway as the rest of the group continued firing. Each time one would run out of ammunition the horde would inch closer before they reloaded and bit by bit the group was being driven back into the room until eventually all of them were backing up the staircase. As he looked on he could feel himself locking up in a trance.

“Tral what are you doing?” Markus called out and brought him back to the present. “You got a weapon, use it!”

Tral looked down and too his surprise he still was holding the weapon, though he could have sworn he had dropped it earlier.

Holding the weapon up against the oncoming horde he pulled the trigger. The leading zombie was struck in the head and collapsed to the ground. He watched in disbelief with how easy it was and strangely felt some of the fear he had been feeling begin to slip away.

Straightening up he pulled the trigger again and sent another burst into the horde, this time knocking several enemies down at the same time. The rest of the group let out a rallying cheer at this and Tral felt himself lose the last vestiges of his fear and fully embrace the moment.

With no more hesitation Tral held down on the trigger and let out a barrage of death into the monsters. “Now you got it.” Markus said joyously as he reloaded, “Nothing like facing down your fears to get your heart pumping.”

Tral would have told him that his people technically did not have heart organs like humans, but he was too lost in the moment to correct him.

He slapped in a fresh clip when the windows burst in from behind them and more zombies began swarming them in.

“How do we win this game?” he said getting anxious as he was now back to back with his group on the staircase firing in both directions.

“Just last as long as you can.” Markus replied.

Tral was about to ask what that meant when he looked over to see a zombie drop down on Markus from above and bite his head off. He didn’t need any further explanation after that.

#HUMANS ARE WEIRD #humans are insane #humans are space orcs #humans are space oddities #scifi #story #writing #original writing #niqhtlord01

[blueberry-fiction]

Picture Perfect

Sheriff Hassan x fem!reader

Waves lapped loudly at the edge of Garry Point Park Beach and, in the same fashion, retreated back into the ocean whence they’d come, leaving behind a thick coat of sticky foam spat up from the darkened, choppy water that was only now coming into view on the horizon. Some mornings, when the wind blew in just the right direction, the smell of sizzling bacon and fresh brewed coffee would drift down to the shore from the diner a few blocks over and mingle deliciously with the salty ocean air, blanketing the scene in the warm aroma. This morning was not one of those mornings. No, today the chilly autumn air was thin, crisp, and carried with it the threat of a storm that was scheduled to hit Crockett Island in just two days' time.

The alarm on Y/n's wristwatch chirped twice to signal the time, but she looked down to confirm anyways out of habit. 6:28 AM. Perfect. Not even a moment later, as if summoned by the chirping of her alarm, thin wisps of golden sunlight began to creep out from their slumber and peek out over the wave caps on the horizon. Bright streams of yellow and orange danced across the dark, watery landscape and gleamed brightly into Y/n's eyes from where she watched on the shoreline, her worn leather boots settling a little further into the damp sand beneath her.

Transfixed completely by the technicolor display jumping to life before her, she’d all but forgotten all about the camera dangling from around her neck and her entire purpose for being at the beach this early on a Saturday. As quickly as she could, Y/n carefully removed the old camera from its weathered pouch, slid the lens cover aside, and found her frame. “Now if I could just focus the damned thing...” she mumbled quietly under her breath.

Y/n considered herself a semi-professional photographer, but this particular camera was new to her. Until very recently it had belonged to her mom and, much to her frustration, it had an extremely sensitive focusing ring. Unlike Y/n, her mom had been a fully professional photographer, teaching herself almost all of what she knew about the art from this very spot on Garry Point Park Beach. Also unlike Y/n, her mom had been one of the few life-long islanders that the shopkeepers in the center of town liked to remember so fondly whenever Y/n stopped for a few groceries or to fill up her gas tank- A couple even went so far as to hang a portrait of her mom up on their walls after the funeral. Most importantly to Y/n though, her mom had been a loving role model and an incredible mentor. Her old camera, on the other hand, was not so loving.

To familiarize herself with it, Y/n made a habit of waking up early to snap a few pictures of the sunrise from a sleepy cove at the southern end of the beach near her mom's, er-her's now, house. She'd found a photo of the cove in the house on her very first day here and scouted it out the next morning, camera in hand, attempting to capture as many shots as possible while simultaneously avoiding any potential onlookers that may distract her from her learning process. Lately though, Y/n's artistic progress seemed to have plateaued thanks to her especially sensitive camera and, even worse, four days ago she realized she'd been noticed by someone.

In his defense, Hassan was one of the least threatening island residents who could have witnessed Y/n’s new early morning routine, but even from a distance he could sense that she didn't welcome his presence there by the way she positioned herself just outside his line of vision now.

Four mornings ago, when Hassan had been running a few minutes ahead of his typical schedule and, by chance, caught a glimpse of her making her way toward the mouth of the cove through the hazy morning light, she'd looked up toward the road in time to notice him there, leaning comfortably against the side of his car, and stopped dead in her tracks. Hassan's usually stern face had broken into a small smile and he'd lifted his hand to offer up a friendly half-wave as a sign that he meant no harm, a gesture Y/n hadn't returned.

Instead, he'd noticed the way her body went completely rigid when his eyes lingered curiously on her shadowy figure in the moments that followed. His smile faded, lips settling into a hard line. "She must have known she wasn't the only person out here" he'd thought then.

Had she not realized that this too had been his morning ritual? Albeit, not to fiddle around with a camera, but just to carve out a few solitary moments of tranquility from his day before hurling himself back into playing Sheriff on Crockett Island. And now here she was on a Saturday, too?

Hassan shoved his hands deep into the front pockets of his blue jeans and, looking down, clumsily kicked at a pebble on the side of the road where he’d parked his car only a half hour earlier to watch the sunrise himself. If anything, he thought, he should be the one annoyed with her, not the other way around. After all, he had been visiting this shoreline most mornings for the last two years since becoming the town's new Sheriff, whereas Y/n had just moved onto Crockett Island three weeks ago. He should be annoyed by her sense of entitlement, he thought.

Curiously though, he couldn’t bring himself to feel anything but quiet fascination at the sight of the new photographer in the morning's dim yellow light as she slowly climbed the grassy path that led toward the road where he stood leaning against his car, a smile gently tugging at the corners of his mouth.

X

#sheriff hassan x reader #sherrif hassan #midnight mass x reader #midnight mass #midnight mass fic #fanfic #f!reader #x y/n #self insert #sheriff hassan fic #should i turn this into an entire fic #fem!reader #x fem!reader #Hassan x fem!reader #sheriff hassan x fem!reader #fem! reader #flash fiction #fantasy fiction #hassan

[lostplay]

Game 7: Psychonauts 2 (Jan 2023)

Like Alice traveling through Wonderland, so to does Rasputin travel through a mystical adventure in Psychonauts 2. It really is astounding just how much imagination, creativity, and humor went into this project to make it the way that it is. It honestly does feel like a parallel to Alice in Wonderland on so many levels that it will leave you with that same sense of whimsy and awe. Perhaps what is most striking about it all is that it just doesn't really fumble on any of it's elements.

Graphically Psychonauts 2 looks amazing, it's basically just using an upgraded version of the previous models and characters they had on top of giving us these wonderful landscapes and worlds to go across. Both the worlds you explore both in and outside the brain-scape are interesting and filled with purpose and history. Sound design is wonderful too feeling satisfying on any given beat. As well the soundtrack for this game really helping elevate the wackiness and absurdity of any given situation you find yourself in.

Platforming is still the basic bones of what helps make Psychonauts entertaining, and the sequel doesn't stop on the hits there. You're given plenty of interesting and neat worlds to explore on top of a bunch of new mechanics to either travel or interact with it. Each world both has this nice sense of familiarity while having it's on motifs and platforming obstacles. In a lot of ways just traveling through the worlds gives you plenty of story and character without any real dialogue needed. So each platforming challenge you come across both ends up a bit like a story while at the same time providing entirely different experiences and challenges. Add on the additional fighting elements they gave to not only make combat interesting, but challenging as well really helps boost Psychonauts 2 into just a bigger, better version of it's previous self.

Then the story? Oh my goodness, the story is just amazing, and the way they are able to set this all up with little need to explore either of the other games really just helps set the mood for it's own adventure. Each beat to the story not only helps introduce new characters, but also gives plenty of context for the older ones introduced in the first two games. You are just given so much interaction, and insight to it's massive cast of characters that honestly it feels like a circus act with the way Psychonauts 2 juggles them around. Then you have the ongoing mystery plaguing the main story that slowly gets wrapped up into a world climax that just feels like a wonderful form of vindication for the series. There is definitely more for this series to explore, but for this outing it really helped set Psychonauts 2 as a proper world that feels lived in and realized.

Really Psychonauts 2 is just an outstanding display of vision coming out in full force, and keeps me in awe with how much it impressed me. It absolutely uses everything it can to it's advantage to give any player out there some wonderful worlds that are challenging , funny, and super interesting. And honestly I can't see Psychonauts 2 being in any other median because of how well it uses everything. If you ever need a game to show how it's art, Psychonauts 2 makes a great candidate.

#Psychonauts 2 #Psychonauts #lost reviews #Xbox game pass #Great Platformers #My friend didn't tell me about a certain person being in here #I WAS SO SURPRISED #Legit that's when I knew this game was special #It's also just consistently funny throughout #AND GAY RIGHTS #LETS GOO #FINALLY WOKE Psychonauts #mainly because that's what you are trying to do for the majority of the game #is wake people up #lmao #Can't wait for Psychonauts 3 #But this is kinda that right? #Still need to 100% this @w@

[angelofrainfrogs]

Spend the Night: Ch. 29

~Coauthored by @zeitghest~

Fandom(s): Five Nights At Freddy’s: Security Breach

Description: The familiar melody of Grandfather’s Clock chimes through the echoing halls of the Pizzaplex…

Charlie wakes up in her Puppet’s vessel yet again with one goal in mind: to stop William Afton’s reign of terror for good. She enlists the help of Glamrock Freddy, the emphatic leader of the newest iteration of the Fazbear Band. But there seems to be more to this bear than meets the eye—and the same goes for the mysteriously familiar kid the duo find tinkering with animatronics down in Parts & Service.

With some help from friends new and old, Charlie’s journey into the bowels of the Pizzaplex will unravel mysteries none of them ever expected. 

Rating: T

Read on Ao3

Constructed in the 80s

With the purpose to perform

Mechanic animals powered by

Children’s souls reborn

With the revving of an engine And the grinding of their gears They can make you fall in love with fear

~Built in the 80s by Griffinilla~

Tuning back into the conversation at the mention of his hollowed-out human body, Michael caught sight of Gregory’s confused face before looking over his shoulder at Lizzie. He let out a small, strained laugh.

“Hey, if you guys can forgive me, I’ll let that go, too.” His mouth twisted into a smirk. “Besides, Lizzie, you scare the crap out of Ennard and that’s a big plus in my book. I’ll explain later, Gregory.”

“Oh, is Ennard here, too…?” Evan questioned, a hit of nerves puncturing his voice. He wasn’t necessarily scared of the weird clown amalgamation, more so just... disturbed. Cassidy would never let it get close enough for Evan to interact with, so he could never be sure of its true intentions.

“They’re outside,” Michael responded, jerking a thumb towards the door they’d come through. As he did so, a flash of brilliant orange stuck out in the corner of his eye. With a little gasp, he moved to Freddy’s side and took the bear’s hand. He waved his other across Freddy’s vision, a little concerned the robot was suffering from information overload because of how still he was. “Oh geez, I’m sorry, big guy… Are you still with us?” 

“Yes, I am present and accounted for,” Freddy responded, almost looking like he went through a mini-restart by the way his facial joints suddenly flipped from their lax, watchful pose into his trademark smile. He squeezed Michael’s palm, allowing the man to pull him a few inches closer to the group.

“Lizzie, Evan, this is technically Glamrock Freddy… but just call him Freddy,” Michael informed his siblings, releasing the bear’s hand when they stopped walking. “He’s cool, don’t worry.”

“It is a pleasure to finally meet you,” Freddy said honestly, looking between the lopsided clown and equally lopsided golden bear on the floor.

In his excitement, Evan’s suit had slipped to the side as it was want to do. He’d long-since made peace with the Freddy Fazbear models, and since this one was so different than all the prior versions Evan had a feeling he’d like Glamrock Freddy regardless. Quietly, he piped up: “Your design is rad, Freddy!”

“Thank you,” the animatronic replied with a soft chuckle, running a claw through Gregory’s hair. The gesture was meant to self-soothe more than anything, though he knew Gregory didn’t mind the affection.

Elizabeth stood nearest Evan, gazing at the large Freddy animatronic. She’d noticed him before, though she’d been most concerned with scouting for her brother. Now she could fully appreciate the design choice.

“You? Hanging around with Freddy? Wow, Mike,” Elizabeth remarked mirthfully. Cassidy told them how Freddy was a part of the group. Though from her understanding, it was mostly in mutual benefit for the only surviving kid.

“It's nice to see you both getting along again,” Elizabeth finished almost wistfully, the sound of circus baby's slightly worn voice making her sound somewhat far away. She was happy that her brother hadn't been on his own the entire time—though admittedly a bit jealous that Charlie had let Michael be the first to go into an android body. It annoyed her greatly, but she’d bite her tongue; why let that bother her when she could be happy with her brothers?

Gregory was happy to stick by Freddy, leaning into his dad's leg as he watched the reunited siblings meet again. After scanning Freddy inquisitively, Elizabeth trained her gaze back on the mysterious boy from earlier. She was fixated on something—Gregory could see it in the way her eerie green irises stared directly into his silver ones. When he remembered what Vanessa said, he flicked his vision away self-consciously.

She probably already knows, he thought, biting the inside of his cheek before scooting in closer to Freddy.

Michael caught this interaction and tried to deflect, rubbing the back of his neck with a laugh as he told them: “I kind of unintentionally possessed Fredbear here for a while, so he and I had lots of time to get to know each other.”

He glanced at the bear and Freddy smiled back, the memories of their first encounter now more endearing than anything else. Michael then returned his attention to his original siblings, patting Gregory's shoulder as he did so.

“Anyway—last formal introductions: Lizzie, this is Gregory. Evan, you've clearly met. He's been a big help through all of... this.” He made a vague hand gesture not wanting to speak their current troubles aloud just yet.

“I know you can't tell right now, Gregory, but from what I remember you do like just like me!” Evan piped up, pinprick eyes locked onto the boy again. Instead of shock or fear, his voice held nothing but avid fascination.

“Yeah, we're... not really sure what that's about,” Mike admitted with a laugh, ruffling Gregory's hair until the boy shoved him away. “Charlie's doing something right now, but she's going to be stoked when she finds out you and Lizzie are here! I'm sure she'll get you out of those things the second she sees you—then Evan and Gregory can really freak all of us out with whatever cosmic twin thing you've got going on.”

Evan giggled both at Michael's claim and the thought of finally being out of this rotting bear he'd been trapped in for decades. He'd gotten used to it, sure, but that didn't mean he liked it.

Gregory finally cracked out a giggle at the twin comment, glancing now to the moldy golden suit. Geez, he had a bear for a dad, a brother who’d possessed said bear, and another ursine doppelgänger he hadn’t even known was still around!

It was a good sign Freddy and Evan were both obtaining human suits—from the clues he'd gathered, it was better than him ending up in a Freddy costume next...

“We could get matching sunglasses and no one would be able to tell the difference,” Gregory pointed out, avoiding the self-depreciative side of his joke and instead focusing on the excitement of having a potential twin. Maybe Gregory could convince Freddy to adopt both the vagrant Aftons along with Michael and Charlie… Or maybe he was getting too ahead of himself.

A little gasp escaped the golden Freddy suit, the matted, moldy head shifting up slightly with excitement at Gregory's suggestion. “Ooh, yeah! That'd be so funny! We've gotta get matching outfits too, though.”

Oh boy, they're already plotting, Michael thought amiably, listening to the boys get along like a house on fire. 

“—I miss Charlie so, SO much! I hope we can see her soon,” Lizzie said, the faintest smile in her quiet voice.

Michael nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets. “We're not sure how long Charlie's going to be, so you might need to hang tight for a bit; she's trying to get some information to help us deal with you know who.”

“...Hey Mikey—you're a robot too, right?” Evan asked after a moment of silence, pinprick eyes locking onto the eldest Afton. “Uncle Henry said something about making you and Charlie new bodies, but he didn't give us a lot of info... Liz and I guessed they had to be some kinda robots, though.”

Michael nodded again, figuring that Henry probably kept information to a minimum so as to not get their hopes up in the off-chance they wouldn't get to see Charlie again to free them from their supernatural bonds. Why taunt Evan and Lizzie with “human” bodies they might never get to use?

“You bet,” Michael replied, waving his hand in a flourish from his head to his toes. “Charlie and I are bonafide androids now. Pretty cool, huh?”

God, it felt so natural joking around with his siblings like this. Michael had worried they'd never be able to get along again, but despite everyone's physical states, it almost felt like old times... Almost.

Lizzie reached forth, gently grasping Michael’s mechanical arm and poking it experimentally. After looking from the arm back to his face a few times, she raised her mangled eyebrows. “An impressive ruse. You even fooled me!”

She let go of her brother after the praise and glanced down to Gregory, who still seemed somewhat wary of the weaponized clown. “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

Well, unless they were alone; that might be a different story, the compulsion still lingering in Circus Baby’s coding after all this time. However, she had a feeling Glamrock Freddy and Michael wouldn’t leave his side for now. In any case, it was the last thing on Lizzie’s mind as she offered Gregory her more human hand.

Timid, Gregory reached out. He wanted to get along with the Afton siblings—so snubbing Lizzie’s offer would be too rude. His smaller hand slid into her rough metallic grasp, where she would loosely curl her fingers around his palm. It was an odd fit, but a fit nonetheless. When Gregory turned a smile up to her, she gasped quietly.

“Oh he DOES look like you, Evan…”

“I told you!” Evan insisted, a golden paw lifting up for a brief second before flopping back onto the ground in a mildly exasperated gesture. “It’s weird, but also kinda cool—”

His words were cut off by a faint yelp of surprise from the hallway Michael and co. had entered from. This was followed by a slightly nervous laugh and a low voice stating: “Oh! Sorry, Ennard; I didn't notice you there. You’re unusually quiet tonig—is that carpet?!”

The thickening tension in the room released in a swift burst when, as one, Michael and Evan exclaimed: “Uncle Henry!” Their eyes met and they shared a chuckle, before Mike moved to meet Henry at the door.  

“Michael!” the bearded man greeted warmly, pulling his nephew into an embrace. It seemed that no one in this big, extended family would ever take hugs for granted again. “I knew I recognized your voice! Cassidy and I heard some commotion, so I volunteered to check it out.” Henry’s smile was almost giddy, the corners of his eyes crinkled in happiness. “I see you found your siblings.”

“I did,” Michael confirmed, releasing his uncle and beckoning him further into the room. “We’ve had a good talk… thanks for watching over them until I got here.”

“I did what I could,” Henry answered, his response both honest and humble. He stopped a few feet away from the group, acknowledging Evan and Lizzie with a wave before his attention was pulled to the animatronic bear and the child clinging to his side.

Henry’s eyes widened in surprise and he adjusted his glasses, taking in Evan’s doppelgänger. This was so startling that at the moment, he failed to notice the other interesting detail about Gregory’s face. Regaining his composure, Henry offered the pair another smile, thrusting out a hand for whoever wanted to approach him first.

“You must be the infamous Glamrock Freddy and Gregory I’ve heard so much about; I’m Henry—Charlie’s dad. It’s good to finally meet you both!”

For Gregory, it was nearly impossible to tell that Henry was a ghost. The sight of a normal looking human had finally put Gregory at full ease. He approach Henry and reached out to shake his hand. The closer he got to the palpable specter, the more he saw Charlie in him.

“Hi, Charlie’s dad! I expected you to look a lot…” Gregory paused to think about his words.

Deader? Like a mechanical bear himself?

“Spookier!” Gregory settled on, sending the man a well-meaning smile.

“Honestly… I kind of did, too!” Henry admitted with a hearty laugh, soon releasing Gregory’s hand.

It was then he caught a flash of distinctive silver in the boy’s eyes, causing him to tense up—but only for a split-second. Having much more tact then Vanessa, Henry chose not to acknowledge this disturbing feature just yet, though he did shoot Michael a look that promised, we’re going to talk about this later.

“I am honored to make your acquaintance, Henry,” Freddy piped up, grasping the man’s still outstretched hand with a beaming smile.

To him, this was akin to meeting a celebrity—the creator of Fazbear Entertainment, the reason for his very existence, was standing right in front of him. It was with reverent admiration that Freddy shook the ghost’s hand, and Henry’s expression seemed to match the bear’s in pure fascination.

“Wow… look at you!” Henry breathed, eyes roaming over the animatronic before looking between Freddy and Gregory with a raised eyebrow. “I’ve been told Freddy here is amazingly sentient, even for the Glamrock line—no offense to your counterparts, Fred.” He gave the bear an amiable pat on the shoulder, causing Freddy’s grin to widen.

“None taken—the realization was a surprise to us all,” Freddy replied with a soft chuckle.

The way Freddy brightened quickly at the sight of old Henry Emily brought a full smile to Gregory’s face. Freddy was so excited to meet the only good person that brought him to life—oddly juxtaposing to witness one of the biggest children's entertainment icons around nearly giddy at the sight of the man who helped create him.

“That's because Freddy's the best one—” Gregory said, suddenly feeling a cold chill running down his back. Gregory recognized that feeling of being watched, and he felt as though he couldn't move. A deep, bone-chilling laugh crept over his ear, catching Gregory by surprise.

“Har... Har... Har!”

When he whipped around, there stood the ghost girl from Charlie's séance. He jumped back, letting out a gasp as Cassidy's less distorted, more childish laugh came into focus.

“I've been waiting for you dorks to show up!” she chuckled, popping Gregory in the arm playfully. He rubbed the spot and rolled his eyes at her attempt to scare him, even if it had been pretty effective.

“Cassidyyyy!” Evan whined, already sounding like he'd been through this many times before. “If you keep scaring him, he's not gonna want to be friends!” When Cassidy simply stuck her tongue out at the rotten bear suit, it raised an arm and fell forward to shove her off-balance as she was just within his reach. “You're so rude!”

Gregory watched as Cassidy came over to Evan, playfully bumping into Ol' Goldie's leg with her hip.

“He knows I'm just messin'!” she said, sticking her tongue out at Evan.

In turn, Gregory shoved his hands into his cargo shorts and flipped her off subtly. If his dad and Henry weren’t standing right there, he wouldn’t have hidden it.

“We've been busy,” Michael said in response to the ghost girl, moving to help Evan sit up straight again. The feel of that molding death-trap of a suit nearly made him recoil at first, but Mike pushed through and managed to get his brother back into an upright position before gently patting his shoulder in response to Evan's quiet thank you. Turning to Cassidy, Michael shoved his hands in his pockets and added: “We don't have your prize right now, but we're working on that. We just came for a quick visit before everything goes down.”

“It's definitely happening tonight?” Henry asked tentatively, a slight frown creasing his brow.

He wasn't nervous, per se—at least, not at the thought of seeing William again. That he was quite looking forward to; he had some things to get off his chest. Henry just hoped this plan he and Cassidy cooked up would finally work... He didn't know if he or any of the other souls could handle another weekend like this one.

“It is,” Freddy confirmed with a resolute nod. “By dayshift, the threat of William will be out of the Pizzaplex for good.”

There was no room for argument with this statement; if the animatronic bear said it would be so, then it would.

Cassidy wrung her hands as she leaned against Evan's suit. A diabolical smile then spread over her braces. “I wanted to torture him for a little, but Henry told me that we'd probably accidentally release him again. So I'm gonna smash him instead!”

Elizabeth had scoffed indignantly, resting her hand over a rusted hip joint. “Why do you get to smash him?" It was a fair point even if pedantic or fussy.

“Who cares?! He'll finally be dead! I wanted the bastard gone forty stupid years ago!” Cassidy spat back, elbowing Evan slightly. “Back me up, Evan!”

“Whoa, whoa—first of all, what do you mean 'smash him?'“ Michael chimed in before Evan had a chance to respond. “And second, if anyone gets to do that, I should get the first turn!”

“Alright, alright!” This was Henry again, now physically stepping in-between the pair glaring daggers at each other. He gave them each a stern look to chill out for a bit. “The smashing aspect doesn't come in until the end, so let's not worry about that now. Besides, I promise we'll all get a turn—hell, I'll even give Freddy a go if he wants.”

Henry jerked a thumb towards the bear, who was staring at the group with a look of confused alarm. Notably, he now had both paws on Gregory's shoulders just in case they needed to step back from the vengeful ghosts for a moment if they got too riled up with a few decades-odd years of rage.

“I will reserve my decision to, ah... 'smash him' until I see the end result of this plan, if that is alright,” Freddy responded slowly, and Henry's face relaxed into a sympathetic smile.

“Sorry, we're probably just freaking you out, huh?” he asked, looking to the bear. “You're from my legacy of animatronics, so I'm sure you're not programmed to hurt a fly.”

“Oh, I think Freddy might surprise you,” Michael murmured, thinking back to all the times the bear had proven himself quite capable of holding his own and causing some major damage—intentional or not. “Trust me, he'll help us kick Father's ass without question.”

“He wrestled an alligator and won!” Gregory proclaimed with nothing but admiration in his voice. In retrospect, now that the danger was far away he could look back and see how freaking cool his dad is. He could even remember the time his father pushed Monty off him time to avoid the break in the catwalk without wincing now.

“The original plan was to break the whole animatronic cage Father locked himself in,” Elizabeth said, starting the rolling ball of explaining the plan. “But we have to extract him into a new vessel, or risk him still infecting Bonnie's parts.”

“Right—and as much as I've grown to tolerate you guys, I'm so tired of William dragging us back here with him,” Cassidy said with a perturbed glower, picking up the ends of a pigtail and twirling it around her finger. “We need Charlie's help to move your crappy dad into an arcade game. Then we crush it... You know, after you guys unpack your rage at him.”

She gestured towards Gregory. “I know you've only been here what, like, three days? But I'm sure you wanna rage a little, right?” Cassidy's anger might be a bad influence on Gregory, because he was just a little hyped up.

“—I was hoping to set him on fire, if that's possible,” he said in a completely serious manner. William’s demise was possibly the one topic he and Cassidy could come together over.

“Nope—tried that twice, didn’t work either time,” Michael said with a quick shake of his head. “Honestly, this arcade transfer thing sounds like it just might work…”

“I appreciate the rousing vote of confidence, Mike,” Henry laughed, patting the android’s shoulder roughly. Michael grimaced, not meaning to discount the plan by any means, but Henry continued before he could get a word out. “It’s fine—I completely understand your hesitancy. William’s a stubborn bastard, I’ll give him that much…”

Henry’s eyes grew unfocused, recalling his last failed attempt to keep the child murderer down. He couldn’t risk that happening ever again.

“…If it is any consolation, from what I understand of William, I also think this is a good plan,” Freddy piped up softly, unsure if he was fully welcome in this discussion yet. When all eyes turned to him the bear pressed on, his smile growing more confident the longer he spoke. “For our part, Michael and I are going to lead him down here by pretending that we are after Gregory—or, I should say ‘Evan.’ William is convinced that Gregory is his youngest reincarnated.”

There was a beat of silence, before the real Evan piped up in a tiny, shaky voice: “Dad… Dad can’t even t-tell that’s not me?!”

Of course the youngest Afton was disgusted by his father’s actions and could never condone or forgive him for all the torment he caused. But out of all William’s kids, Evan harbored the least pure, unadulterated hatred towards him. However, for William to be so deluded he couldn’t even tell his real son from a doppelgänger?

Now that made Evan mad.

The golden Freddy suit trembled slightly, though it was impossible to tell whether this was from the ghost trying hold back his tears, his anger, or both.

“H-Hey, don't take it so hard,” Gregory attempted to console. He touched Evan's grimy leg in a gentle pat. “He's old and crazy... Probably senile. You know?”

Lizzie completely understood Evan's anger. Being forgotten about and misremembered by your own father couldn't be pleasant to go through. She recalled a day after Evan died, when William called her three different names before snapping his fingers in frustrated surrender. Lizzie had to remind him on who she was. So reaching over, Elizabeth sighed and rubbed at Evan's shoulder with the blunt portion of her claw.

“He's a jerk, Evan,” Cassidy reminded him, being the first to hug his leg—the fact that so many of those around him actually comforting him hopefully helped, she thought. Cassidy remembered how Evan used to be ignored plenty of times when he was upset. Perhaps the influx of emotional support would do him some good.

“He's a shithead,” Michael clarified, placing a hand on top of the golden bear's head in consolation. He was seeing red now, wanting nothing more than to punch his father right in his stupid rabbit face. However, he resisted the urge for his siblings' sake. “And we're going to take him down for good—don't you worry.”

There was a little sniffle from inside the suit. “Y-Yeah... yeah, he's going down.” The pinprick eyes flicked to Cassidy. “I definitely want a turn when you smash the game, okay?”

Cassidy had no fear of the various moldy or bare spots on the Freddy suit. She rubbed her cheek into its fabric affectionately in an attempt to cheer up her old friend.

“Evan, I'd be so proud if you hit him first,” she admitted. Evan had spent so long being sad that his dad went crazy from the deaths of his family. It took decades of reminding him that his father was, as Michael put it, a shitty dad for Evan to finally start believing it. William embodied the saying, 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions.'

While the kids were consoling Evan, Henry had taken their distraction to study Gregory from afar. Those piercing, silver eyes and pale complexion were unmistakable: somehow, the boy had been given Remnant. So young, his body was already forever changed, cursed with immortality that Henry was certain the boy didn't understand. The fact that William thought Gregory was Evan added the missing context of why it'd happened.

Just like Henry wanted to preserve his daughter after her death, so too did William want to preserve his own children. However, Henry had taken the route of creating lifelike androids while his old friend chose a much darker path involving sacrificing innocent lives for others—and for that, Henry would never forgive him.

Henry clenched his fists and looked to the floor, for a moment seeing Gregory as yet another failure lost to William's madness. If only he'd stopped the crazed man earlier, maybe Gregory would still be a normal boy...

It wasn't long before Gregory caught the stare of Henry Emily. The glower aimed at the state of his appearance was clear: he recognized what happened to him. Gregory realized maybe his appearance was far graver than he previously thought. He was probably going to find contacts after they leave this stupid place.

Oh crud, Henry thought when Gregory finally caught his gaze. The last thing he wanted was to upset the traumatized kid who'd undoubtedly been through things Henry couldn't even dream of.

“Hey, Michael,” Henry murmured, subtly gesturing for the man to join him as he walked a little farther from the group. Michael did as instructed, leaning in so they wouldn't be overheard when they were a sufficient distance away. Henry bit his lip before speaking again. “Okay, no judgement on whatever happened, but I just need you to tell me... was Gregory injected with Remnant?”

Michael winced, the blatant fact a stab of regret right through his heart. He nodded, eyes cast to the floor as he explained: “He was literally alone for five minutes—William rigged an old Fredbear plush with needle that sprung when it was squeezed, and Gregory picked it up.”

“Fucking bastard,” Henry hissed, and Michael's eyebrows shot up at hearing such pure, unadulterated rage from his uncle. Ignoring this reaction, Henry gripped Michael's arm with a heavy sigh. “Alright, well, just... keep watch on him, okay? I'm sure you know by now what that stuff can do.”

“Already on it,” Michael responded, now looking over to Gregory. As his eyes fell on the fatherly bear next to him, Mike gasped as an idea struck. “Hey, Uncle Henry, can we take Freddy's body up with us? Just so we don't have to worry about it later?”

“Of course—actually, you should do that soon.” Henry lifted his wrist to check his nonexistent watch, giving a strained chuckle at the instinctive gesture. “We want to make sure we get this whole thing done before daybreak.”

“Agreed—be right back.” Michael flashed Henry a grin, then hurried over to the group again. “Alright guys, as much as I hate to cut this reunion short, we should really be getting back to check on Charlie and drag you know who back down here.” He paused, turning his eager expression on Gregory and Freddy. “We've got a detour to make first, though.”

“Where are we… OH!” Gregory remembered the present promised to his father. Gregory’s hands were quick to grasp Freddy’s arm in an attempt to tug him forward. Much to everyone’s surprise, the kid actually managed to shift Freddy’s weight a slight degree.

“Come on, Dad!” he exclaimed before waving to the Afton siblings and Cassidy. “It was nice meeting you! Let’s hang out after we beat up that rabbit!”

Cassidy shot Gregory a wry smirk and Elizabeth pressed her hand over her chest. She was touched by his words, no matter how minuscule. The Afton daughter never thought she’d make a new friend after all these years alone and looking the way she did.

“Take care, you guys!” As Michael walked past, Lizzie grasped him by the back of the shirt to pull him in for one more hug. “You especially, little brother.”

“Har har—laugh it up while you can, sis,” Michael said with a roll of his eyes, turning to slip his arms around the large animatronic’s waist without question. “Charlie will get you out of there in no time. You too, Evan.”

The promise was firm and honest as Michael moved from one sibling to the next, crouching down to hug the golden Freddy suit around the neck. It only took a second for an oversized paw to raise up and pat him on the back.

“Okay, Mikey; see you soon!” Evan said, much more cheerful that he’d sounded earlier. When Michael stood again and made his way over to those by the door, Evan raised his paw in a wave. “Bye!”

The group waved in return, then headed out in the door they’d come in with Henry in the lead. As they walked he looked around curiously, squinting in the shadows.

“It’s not too far from here—just some pathways that are easy to get lost in. I swear Ennard was around though—ah!” Henry gripped at his heart, jumping slightly when the hulking figure suddenly shifted towards them at the mention of their name.

Henry had long-since come to terms with Ennard’s presence and its weird quirks of obsessing over Michael while simultaneously being unnerved by Elizabeth. Honestly, Henry was probably the one who actively tried to speak to Ennard the most out of everyone in the basement… although it wasn’t necessarily often he tried to converse.

Glancing side-long at Michael to see him tensed and glaring at the mass of wires, Henry asked tentatively: “I’ve got to know… what’s with the carpet?”

“I told them to be quiet if they insisted on following me around,” Michael muttered after a weary sigh.

Ennard raised a lurching appendage to give a jaunty wave to the group. They were happy to see them again, all while Gregory sought to help Michael explain. “Ennard tore of a bunch of the carpets to make a stealth skin…”

With a deep and distorted breath, Ennard pneumatically hissed out: “IT WAS THE PERFECT CRIME…”

Besides, it seemed that since then they and Michael were becoming fast friends!

Or that’s how Ennard saw it, anyway.

Together through the narrow passageways and maintenance rooms they would return back to Henry’s personal workshop. Those special storage cabinets sat closed, preserving the sanctity of Elizabeth, Evan, and Charlie’s extra android forms. One cabinet with an unfamiliar face was soon opened for Henry’s guests to view. The made-up man with soft, neutral features and shut eyes leaned sleepily behind the glass, patiently in wait of a personality to pilot him.

Gregory let go of Freddy’s hand. When they were powered down, the androids had an uncanny feel to them—lifeless and still like a corpse.

“Is that...?” Gregory begun to ask, but was unsure on how to phrase the question.

Freddy’s gift? Freddy’s new body? Was this Gregory’s new father?

“I didn’t have a base model for this one so… I hope it’s to your liking,” Henry said, wringing his hands together nervously. Michael lingered next to him in the doorway, giving Freddy and Gregory an opportunity to examine the android on their own. There was every possibility for the pair not to like the body Henry had so painstakingly created, and Mike could feel his uncle’s anxiety spiking in tandem with his.

“It is… That is to say, I…” Freddy seemed to be at a loss for words as he gazed upon the sleeping face that was to be his own.

The concept that he would actually have to leave the body he’d known since being powered on in favor of one completely unfamiliar was something that’d crossed his mind earlier, but it hadn’t quite hit him until this moment. He reached out and ever-so-gently cupped the android’s cheek, amazed at how human it felt—just like Charlie and Michael, anyone looking upon Freddy in this form would have no idea his insides were metal and wires.

“This is astounding, Henry,” Freddy eventually managed to say, moving his hand to twirl one of the striking orange locks of hair between his fingers. It would certainly be a huge adjustment, the full ramifications of which Freddy didn’t have time to dwell on right now, but he knew he’d be happy in this body when the time came.

However, in the bear’s mind his opinion on the matter came second. Glancing down at his son with a questioning expression, Freddy placed a paw on Gregory’s shoulder. “What do you think, superstar? Does it suit me?”

Gregory realized that Freddy may not even want to change. If he didn’t, Gregory would find a way to stay at his side regardless; the two of them worked out worse problems before.

But when he witnessed the sheer astonishment cross Freddy’s face, Gregory reached forward and held onto the false human’s hand. He lifted it gently and watched it flop back to its side when he let go. It felt real. If he squinted, he could even say that people might assume they were potentially related—though this might be wishful thinking on his part.

After a short moment of inspecting it, Gregory let out an encouraging laugh. “We could put a top hat on him. I don’t think I could tell the difference then!” He turned back to Freddy, wide-eyed and eager. “I think what matters most is if you like it or not.”

Gregory didn’t want to influence him too much. Even if the creation of Mr. Emily was everything he wanted in a dad. Strong and kind in appearance—though Freddy’s personality alone was all of that and more.

Ennard, standing silently behind the group, quietly clinked their hands together. They would likely never express this out loud, but the amalgamation would be happy to take this android for a disguise should Freddy reject it.

“I think it is perfect,” Freddy answered truthfully, giving his son a bright smile that he soon turned on the others by the door. “Thank you, Henry. I do not think I can ever fully express my gratitude for this…”

“Don’t say another word, Fredbear,” Henry said with a chuckle, his whole body visibly relaxing. He liked to think he wouldn’t have taken it personally if they didn’t approve, but he probably would’ve. However there was clearly no need to worry, and he walked over to Gregory and Freddy with a pep in his step.

Upon reaching them, Henry carefully tilted the powered-down android’s head forward just enough for them to see the back of its neck. There was a thin, barely-visible line at the base of its skull that looked like nothing more than a faded scar. Henry pointed to this, telling the group:

“The control panel is here; just peel back the skin to get to it.” He winced apologetically, realizing how gross that sounded. “The data cable is in the back of the thigh so you can plug Freddy in when you’re ready. It should just be a simple data transfer, which I know Michael’s done dozens of times.”

“Gregory and I will get you all sorted out,” Mike reassured, amiably patting Freddy on the back. 

“Yeah! Mike already taught me so much about you guys,” Gregory assured Freddy in a giddy voice. He was excited for his dad, and couldn't wait to see how he'd react to his latest upgrade. After pressing a hidden compartment on the android’s leg, the exterior panel popped open to reveal a wound up and thin cord. He took stock of this before closing the hatch. At least this one came with his own data transfer link. Older models like the Puppet would have to find a separate one.

“You're in good hands, Dad,” Gregory assured. He looked up to Michael, eyes and smile wide. Everyone at the foster home would be appalled by their own jealousy, Gregory thought. They wouldn't even be able to stomach the fact that his dad was a cool rock star robot, potentially exploding their minds.

“ANYONE... CAN B-BE-BE BECOME AN ANDRIOD..?” Ennard cautiously asked Henry, their carpeted arm brushing against the shorter man as they came to stand beside him.

Henry glanced side-long at Ennard with a slight crease in his brow. He then looked to Michael, who’s android had been made based on the last time Henry saw him “alive”, which wasn’t long before he’d gotten scooped—meaning this was essentially the body Ennard had piloted around for a week. Henry couldn’t stop a shiver as he tried hard not to think about how the fuck this hulking mass next to him fit inside an average, early-20s human even with all its organs removed...

Trust William to make a creature with such a horrible purpose as capturing children to extract their Remnant, yet all it really wanted to do was be free. Watching Ennard now as they stared at Michael and his friends with a palpable sense of longing, Henry just felt… sad.

“Anyone,” Henry replied, offering Ennard a tiny smile. It seemed like he already had his next project decided on, though he’d keep this one under wraps. Henry had a feeling his eldest nephew would not appreciate it, no matter how good the intentions were.

“Henry said we can take Freddy’s new body upstairs and stash it in his charging pod in the back room,” Michael was explaining to the pair next to him. He raised an eyebrow at the bear, gesturing to his “sleeping” android. “Mind carrying it?”

“Not at all,” Freddy replied, and Michael helped him get the body situated. Freddy ended up carrying it piggy-back style, the arms draped loosely over his chest as the head rested on a shoulder pad. The legs were gripped tightly in Freddy’s paws to ensure the precious robot wouldn’t fall during transport. “Alright, I am ready. Gregory, please stay by Michael’s side as we travel.”

It was true: Ennard was lonely. Despite having three different personalities to intermingle inside one body, after a while even that gets lonely as well. They couldn't entertain children—not after what they’d seen Circus Baby do to Elizabeth. With no purpose and no friends, Ennard was alone...

Then Michael showed up!

He said he wanted to help them. Mike fixed their sparking wires. He cleaned their dusty casings and tried hard to refrain from shocking them.

He did help them. Coming back each day with his promise nearly fulfilled…

And they even kept their promise to him: he didn't die.

Eventually, his hospitality wasn't enough, and Ennard could tell Mike's neighbors knew something was terribly, horribly wrong. So, it was best if people forgot about Circus Baby's Rentals, prompting Ennard to slip into the shadows for years.

When Henry admitted anyone could have an android, Ennard clasped their hands together, looking at Mike, Gregory, Freddy and his new body with a sparkle in their mechanical eyes.

“Hey Ennard!” waved Gregory, garnering the robot's full attention before grasping Mike’s hand for safety. “Can you lead the way for us?”

“ENNARD CAN HELP...” they replied slowly, meticulously attempting to make themselves sound softer and heartfelt. They wanted to help so badly.

“We appreciate your assistance,” Freddy was sure to tell the amalgamation, offering them a smile as he adjusted the limp body on his back.

Michael shot Ennard a warning glare, though this could've meant anything from “If you mess this up I will personally decommission you” to simply “I hate your mechanical guts.” He then turned to Henry, his face softening into an appreciative smile.

“Thanks so much for everything, Uncle Henry.”

“Please—it's really the least I can do,” the bearded man replied, adjusting his glasses in mild embarrassment—he'd received more thank you's and praise over the past three days than he'd heard in years. He pulled Michael into a brief side hug, then released him and crouched to Gregory's level, arms resting casually on his knees. He smiled at the boy, though it didn't quite reach high enough to crinkle the corners of his eyes. “You be as safe as you can, alright, Gregory? Don't take after Michael here and do reckless things just for the hell of it.”

Mike rolled his eyes in fond annoyance, though he couldn't argue with his uncle's words. He admittedly wasn't the best influence, especially when it came to taking risks.

Gregory hadn't had the heart to explain that one moment of having his guard down had already cost him his humanity. While he wasn't entirely sure what the Remnant would do to his body in the long run, Gregory would try to live cautiously—even if he could potentially heal himself faster. Gregory met Henry’s eyes with a stare before giving him a tight-lipped nod.

“I'll be extra careful for us both, Mr. Emily,” Gregory said, his tight smile relaxing into something more genuine the more he spoke. “Thank you for giving my dad your robot!”

Moving for the exit, Ennard looked into the hall for any rogue robots. The strange patterns on their body was sure to distract as much as confuse. This hardly mattered anyway, as it worked to scare off anything willing to hurt the found family that had been working to destroy their evil master.

Despite their cautious pace, the group arrived back in Freddy's room in record time. Thankfully, they hadn't encountered any wayward bots along the way, and the only issue they'd had was trying to squeeze everyone in the elevators despite Michael's insistence that Ennard really didn't need to join them. Still, they made it out alright even if Freddy nearly got smacked in the face by Michael's flailing hand when Ennard tried to “hug” him around the waist again.

Before long they were in the storage area behind Freddy's room. The bear reverently set his new android in the charging pod, making sure it was secure from falling over before closing the door. With only a porthole's width of view, the body looked like it was in some sort of sci-fi cryo-sleep, waiting to be woken up as soon as the danger had passed. Really the group supposed that wasn't too far off from their current situation.

“We should check in with Charlie,” Michael stated as the group moved back into Freddy's room. He flopped down on the couch, laying across it and taking up as much space as possible as he unclipped the walkie-talkie from his belt.

While Michael fiddled with the device, Freddy turned to Ennard who was lingering in the corner underneath the vent. He tilted his head questioningly, asking the robot in a tone that implied no ill-will: “Are you staying in here with us, Ennard?”

“Ugh, Freddy!” Michael groaned, pausing with his hand over the button to call Charlie as he shot the bear an exasperated look. “Give me a break...”

“GLADLY,” Ennard replied with as much enthusiasm as three uncoordinated hosts in one body could muster. “WE COULD WATCH THE VENTS... MAKE SURE NOTHING IS TRYING TO GET IN...”

Ennard mentioned the very real danger that things could be lurking in the shadows tonight for them. The stakes were higher than ever, and there plan would be just to sit and wait outside Freddy's own air duct until it was time to head back downstairs. Nothing would get past them!

“Actually—that's a good idea, Ennard,” Gregory praised, noting Michael’s utter annoyance with the obsessive clown. “We'll be right here. I'll call for you when we're going to start the plan!”

Ennard nodded, feeling dizzy with the positive attention they were receiving now from the group. “GOODIE.”

They were on the verge of shouting, their voice somewhat grating like nails on chalk before thick tendrils lifted the heavy body inside the ventilation shaft.

“Thanks, kid; that should keep them busy for a while,” Michael muttered once Ennard was out of sight, turning his head to flash Gregory a sideways grin. Laying on his back on the couch, he held the walkie-talkie close to his mouth and clicked the microphone on. Harsh static instantly emitted from the tiny device until Michael's voice cut through. “Hey, Charlie? Come in—just checking on you guys.”

***

Previous Chapter ~~ Next Chapter

Looking for more? Check out the Chapter Masterlist on Tumblr!

Or check out the entire Wires that Bind Us Series on ao3!

#fnaf #five nights at freddy's #fnaf sb #fnaf security breach #fnaf au #michael afton #glamrock freddy #ennard #henry emily #evan afton #elizabeth afton #gregory #cc afton #crying child #fanfic #fanfiction #ao3 #angelofrainfrogs #zeitghest #spend the night #the wires that bind us au

[songoftrillium]

🌼

So, what may come as a surprise to many is I consider Dead Mountain first and foremost to be what I'm calling an eldritch love story. Love comes in many languages, both good and absolutely terrible, and this transcendental gorechord explores that notion.

I won't bore y'all with more bars from the Song of Trillium, but I will share an excerpt from my rewrite of Ways of the Wolf I'm working into the Character Creation chapter of Dead Mountain. I am proud of this section and think it is quite evocative of beautiful imagery:

The Change

When earth breaks up and heaven expands, how will the change strike me and you in the house not made with hands? — Robert Browning, “By the Fireside”

A Wolf-Born will often grow up knowing they are somehow different from the other wolves, but are wholly unable to articulate it. They can go through all of the motions of mimicking the behavior of other wolves, only partly aware that a feeling, thinking person is developing behind that wolf. Feeling, reasoning, planning, and decision making, but all doing it as the other wolves around them do. There may be times they look around themselves, wondering if the other wolves see and feel the way they do.

It's not until the First Change that Garou finally become aware of the human within themselves. Human-born Garou often describe the same sensation when describing the way they now comprehend the spirit world and the new world awaiting their heightened senses.It is not that the Wolf-Born Garou’s mental abilities become greater, per se. Indeed, in no form do any mental attributes change. You face the world with what Gaia gave you. Rather, the Wolf-Born has noticed the inner human intellect that has sat quietly, waiting to be noticed. Bit by bit, the Wolf-Born begins to foster an awareness that emerges by way of paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally to the unfolding of life around them.

A yearling Wolf-Born is the very model of an enlightened child, finding small thrills and a deeply profound love of the living things around them. Galliards call this Anamae at its heart, every Wolf-Born’s spiritual bond and love of Gaia, a literal ‘soul-friend’. They watch the butterflies emerge, birds hatch, and hear wind in the trees. They sit and watch and clouds move across the sky, and sit out and feel the rain hitting their fur. Perhaps in a perfect world, a Wolf-Born would live their entire life in this blissful period of dawning love for existence, of life, and being alive.

When the Wolf-Born cub fully manifests her Garou powers, she is in for somewhat of a shock. As the cub shapeshifts into more intelligent forms, she communes with her human intellect for the first time, and makes a new kind of decision. Some say this is conscious, others instinctive, but in this moment, the Wolf-Born intervenes on Gaia’s behalf. The process is akin to having a great deal of written material but poor vision. Imagine seeing the colors orange, purple, and red for the first time. Finally the young Garou has a pair of “Glasses” to see. And what the Garou sees is something that comes with an understanding of the fundamental forces that made this thing. It dawns on this wolf in degrees of creeping, eldritch comprehension from which they will for the rest of their lives use to pull forth from a deep well of Rage. The concept of cause and effect, which the Wolf-Born may have figured out on their own growing up now has a name and an application, like a new intellectual chew toy to shred to pieces for Mother Wolf.

Newly gifted Wolf-Born Garou must also deal with walking on two legs. For some reason, Wolf-Born have a much more difficult time moving about on two legs than human-born do on four. Some Wolf-Born elders have insultingly claimed that human-born have an easier time yielding to Gaia’s will than Wolf-Born have fighting it by shifting to an unnatural form.

Wolf-Born view the forms of the Garou in a different manner than the human-born or Crinos-born. The other breeds are much more strategic in their use of which form is best suited to what occasion. Many of these two breeds have become quite skilled in picking the right form for a particular occasion.

A typical human-born may maintain its human form to speak with an old man at a gas station, then shift to her wolf form to follow a car to a mansion. From there she might assume Hispo form to leap a fence, then Glabro to jimmy a locked door, then Crinos to shatter a barred cell. Wolf-born, on the other hand, prefer the wolf form. She rarely sees anything awkward or handicapping in her wolf form, and remains in that shape. It is not that Wolf-Born are reluctant to shapeshift, rather, she simply sees her wolf form as adequate for most purposes.

To parallel the above example, the Wolf-Born remains in wolf-form, and uses her heightened senses to track the car in question. She leaps over the fence, and uses her body mass to burst open the locked door and the cell.

#world building #world of darkness #dead mountain #werewolf the apocalypse

[gadgetsboy]

Could we See Gemini AI on iPhones Soon?

As far as the smartphone industry is concerned, "AI" has been one of the biggest go-to buzzwords in recent years, having imbued itself in just about every nook and cranny of the consumer electronics landscape. Everything from smartphones, computers, wearables, and even cars nowadays come with some additional AI software features, which are designed to improve user experiences in otherwise "standard" smart electronics. Which is why it's kind of a mystery as to why Apple hasn't tapped into this growing market yet - the Cupertino giant was one of the very first companies to introduce a smart assistant with Siri (although Siri has since been surpassed by rival assistants), and its resources for R&D are undoubtedly vast. Additionally, the launch of the Vision Pro is a sure indicator that Apple isn't afraid to tap into current tech trends. With that in mind, it looks like things might change soon, at least according to some new reports online. More specifically, the folks over at Bloomberg report that Apple and Google have been in talks regarding the potential for Apple to integrate the latter's Gemini AI model in upcoming iPhones and iOS software versions - it's even speculated that we could see this as early as iOS 18. Google has slowly been bringing its Gemini AI to Android phones by way of an app, which so far has had a rather lacklustre debut. As stated in the Bloomberg report: "The two companies are in active negotiations to let Apple license Gemini, Google’s set of generative AI models, to power some new features coming to the iPhone software this year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. Apple also recently held discussions with OpenAI and has considered using its model, according to the people." In addition to this, Bloomberg's sources also indicate that Apple is currently at work on developing its very own AI models; one thing to note is that these are designed to run features that will be capable of working locally on-device, instead of through the cloud (like what Google is currently doing). Gemini will still come into play here, particularly for generative AI functions such as writing and composing documents, and rendering images based on user prompts. At the moment, Gemini isn't exclusively used on Google's Pixel smartphones - Samsung's entire lineup of Galaxy S24 series devices are also capable of running Gemini software, so much so that Google has recently come under fire for purposely excluding the base model Pixel 8 from running Gemini Nano (which the company blames on 'hardware limitations'). With all that being said, it's also rumored that Google isn't the only company that Apple has consulted with regarding on-device AI on iPhone and iOS - it's reported that Apple has also been discussing things with the folks over at OpenAI regarding possible plans for AI. In any case, such big announcements from Apple are most likely to be unveiled during the company's WWDC event, which is still a few months away. Read the full article

[grandparkdowntown]

6 Reasons to Visit Vancouver’s Central Library

For visitors staying at Downtown Vancouver Hotels like the Grand Park Hotel & Suites Downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver Central Library is an architectural and cultural landmark worth exploring. From its stunning shelves that appear to float to beautiful rooftop gardens, the library offers experiences beyond just checking out books.

In this blog post, we will outline 6 top reasons to spend time at the library during your stay in the city, such as unique architecture, events, art exhibits, gardens, quiet spaces, and vast collections. Whether you're interested in design, entertainment, relaxation, or discovery, the Vancouver Central Library has something for every type of traveler.

Unique Architecture

The Vancouver Central Library has a truly unique and striking architectural design that makes it a standout building regardless of its purpose. Designed by architectural firm Moshe Safdie, it features a series of angular overhanging shelves that appear to defy gravity. These iconic geometric shelves are meant to inspire visitors by exposing the books to better promote browsing and discovery.

The entire design gives the impression of a forest of crystalline books, with sunlight filtering through in a beautiful display. Safdie's vision transformed what could have been an ordinary civic building into a modern marvel. The structure attracts as many architecture enthusiasts as it does casual readers. Its one-of-a-kind and innovative design cemented the library's status as a landmark in downtown Vancouver.

Rooftop Gardens

The Vancouver Central Library offers a lush green escape even in the heart of the downtown concrete jungle. Visitors can discover a variety of beautiful rooftop gardens spread across five levels of the building. Wander among flowers and plants while taking in picturesque views of the city skyline and surrounding area.

As one of the few spots in the downtown area with outdoor green space, it's a relaxing oasis just steps away from the hustle and bustle.

The Library are perfect for those staying at nearby Downtown Vancouver Hotels looking to enjoy some fresh air and nature during their visit. Taking a stroll through the rooftop gardens provides visitors with a tranquil respite and new perspectives above the busy downtown streets below. It's a unique feature offering a peaceful break from urban life.

Events and Art Exhibits

In addition to its book collection, the Vancouver Central Library hosts a variety of interesting events and art exhibits throughout the year to draw visitors from all over downtown Vancouver. From guest speaker discussions to live music and dance performances, there is always something new happening.

Many of these cultural offerings provide entertainment options for guests staying at Downtown Vancouver Hotels. Additionally, the library regularly features thought-provoking art instillations in its gallery spaces that are free to browse. This makes it a one-stop destination for those looking for things to do during their stay in the city. The diverse programming ensures there is an exhibition or event on almost any topic. Upcoming schedules are shared online, allowing hotel visitors to easily plan visits around intriguing options they don't want to miss.

Inspiration Lab

The Inspiration Lab at Vancouver Central Library offers visitors a unique, hands-on space for creativity and exploration. Located on the third floor, the Inspiration Lab provides tools and technologies that allow people of all ages to express themselves and develop new skills. People can get training in digital photography, learn graphic design techniques, try their hand at 3D modeling, or experiment with music production software.

There are also programs on coding and web development. Staff are available to help guide projects and answer questions. The lab provides an enjoyable atmosphere for tapping into one's imagination. It's the perfect destination for curious minds seeking inspiration and new hobbies. Whether wanting to develop a lifelong interest or just dabble in something different, the Inspiration Lab delivers fun, educational experiences.

A Quiet Place to Relax

After a busy day of sightseeing around downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver Central Library serves as an ideal quiet sanctuary to unwind. Whether one needs a place to study without distraction or simply wants to nestle into a comfy chair with a good book, the library provides a relaxing atmosphere. With its policy of silence on certain floors, visitors staying at the nearby Grand Park Hotel & Suites Downtown Vancouver can come here to escape the noisy hustle of city life.

Several large and welcoming reading rooms offer tranquil spaces perfectly suited for downtime. Complimentary Wi-Fi allows hotel guests to check emails or catch up on work if preferred. Meanwhile, others may prefer exploring the catalog of materials and leaving feeling recharged. Overall, the library differentiates itself as one of the most serene places to unwind in the urban core.

Explore the Collection

Beyond just books, the Vancouver Central Library houses a vast collection that visitors can spend hours digging through and discovering new interests. With over one million items spanning books, newspapers, magazines, manuscripts, maps, and more, there is a wealth of knowledge and stories waiting to be uncovered. Guests staying at the nearby Grand Park Hotel & Suites Downtown Vancouver can easily spend a morning or afternoon browsing the collections across different languages, topics, and formats.

Librarians are always on hand to help patrons locate materials or recommend related works. Popular sections draw readers of all stripes, while quieter locales reveal hidden gems. Those curious to learn more about the city, country, or almost any subject can lose themselves exploring this incredible repository. The collection underscores why the library remains such a popular destination for both pleasure and research.

Conclusion

The Vancouver Central Library is a one-of-a-kind civic space that truly has something for everyone. From architecture enthusiasts to readers to those simply looking for a quiet respite, the library delivers unique experiences that make it a top attraction for visitors staying at Downtown Vancouver Hotels. With its artistic exhibitions, programs, gardens, and enormous collection, you could spend days discovering new corners and insights. Most importantly, the architecture itself is a wonder to behold and helps transform a typical library visit into an inspiring adventure. For those interested in culture, creativity, education or simply beauty, the Vancouver Central Library is an unmissable downtown destination.

#Grand Park Hotel & Suites Downtown Vancouver #Downtown Vancouver Hotels

[performance-enablers]

Top team as the growth accelerator

As we get set to enjoy the year end break, here is something radical to mull over.

(The last week is usually a vacation or at least an easy week. And a few minutes of reflection -call it work if you like😊, can be refreshing when you have a long break).

If you are prioritizing which lever of growth to focus on, do look at your executive team first.

Why do I say this?

Not because executive team members are not as competent as others in the organization. They are naturally among the most competent. That’s why they are there at the top. (And I never forget that it is this group that gives work to people like me😊)

Yet, I say this for two reasons.

One is more in the form of an analogy that you have probably heard.

It was our first Prime Minister who had famously remarked: “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. However, if you educate a woman, you educate a whole family”.

My view is that when you enhance the effectiveness of an executive team member, you enhance the effectiveness of his whole team.

When an executive team member is at her best i.e. she can engage and inspire his team; excels in leading execution; can think long term and strategize etc., her entire team / division benefits from this, in terms of performance, engagement and inspiration.

If he faces any challenge in aligning his team, keeping it in the best shape, that’s when the help of others- internal or external to the organization, will produce real value as the team can see the leader as a role model and his keenness to raise their effectiveness.

Now take the executive team as a collective, an entity by itself.

When the whole team is truly aligned on the mission of the organization, it’s vision, the strategy and the core value it wants to live by, the spirit gradually percolates down to the rest of the organization. Over a period of time, the whole organization mirrors the way the executive team is functioning (#SteveJobs). And the results are spectacular.

Lest you should think that I am only sharing a personal view point, take a look at some of the studies.

First, the impact of an executive team member when he/she operates as an effective leader.

Besides what we see around, here is the excerpt from the research by Heidrick & Struggles on 3000 leaders drawn from diverse industries and functions, worldwide:

“ …Furthermore, leaders’ ability to inspire meaning and purpose in others not only affects their own effectiveness and the effectiveness of the organization but also has a notable positive effect on their team members’ effectiveness and ability to think about the future, which also builds organizational capacity.” (Karen R. West & Megan Herbst, April 2020).

Gallup ‘s research over 25 years has brought out that 50-70% of the employee’s perception of the work environment is driven by the actions of their managers. And organizations that take care to provide positive work environment, see improvements in customer satisfaction, greater innovation, and generate 25% higher profits than organizations that do not provide a positive employee experience.

The research by Vantage Leadership Consulting g ( Jacqueline Ackerman , 2023) on 50 executive teams found team performance to be highly correlated to the leader performance i.e. when team leaders are more effective, their teams are more effective.

And there are more.

Now look at the executive team as a unit.

New York Times best-selling author and an acclaimed management consultant Patrick Lencioni had remarked way back in 2002 “Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and rare.”

Again, Jacqueline Ackermanof Vantage Leadership Consulting avers “…In over 45 years of consulting, we have found that high-performing teams are indeed rare.  Many teams underperform or are average (at best), and while there are myriad of reasons for this, the role of the team leader in creating high-performing teams is worth exploring.

The leadership team has a significant impact on an organization's performance. Effective leadership styles that align with organizational culture and values can foster a positive workplace environment and enhance organizational performance (Gomathy, Karthikeya, Sirkar and Sai, @International Journal of Scientific Research on Engineering and Management, May 2023).

And there are more.

Hope this is enough to establish that the top team needs to be right on the top when it comes to the growth levers for an organization.

The top team members being small in no., organizations can afford to pay personalized attention to them, as individuals and as a team.

Organizations can craft learning journeys that best cater to their learning needs – be it mentoring and coaching, on-the-job learning / action learning projects, workshops and courses to build right perspectives etc.

Learning activity has always been challenged for its #ROI. This approach may well have some of the answers.

Your thoughts are always welcome.

#executive team #growth and development

[unrealperson14]

The Emergence of Fake People in the Digital Age

In a world where technology and reality increasingly intertwine, the concept of 'fake people' or artificially generated faces has become both a technological marvel and a subject of ethical debate. The ability to create lifelike yet entirely fictional human faces using artificial intelligence (AI) is a testament to the advancements in machine learning and computer vision.

Understanding Fake People Generation

The Technology Behind Artificial Faces

Fake people are created using sophisticated AI algorithms, primarily Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs). These networks use two models: one to generate images (generator) and the other to evaluate their realism (discriminator). The result is hyper-realistic images of people who do not exist.

Applications and Implications

Fake faces have found their place in various domains, from creating virtual models for advertising and gaming to anonymizing real individuals in sensitive footage. However, the technology also raises significant concerns, particularly in the realm of deepfakes, where such faces can be used for misinformation or malicious purposes.

The Influence of Fake People in Media and Entertainment

In the media and entertainment industry, the use of AI-generated faces has opened new avenues for creativity. Filmmakers and video game developers can now populate their worlds with diverse and unique characters without the constraints of casting real actors. This technology also allows for the resurrection of historical figures or late celebrities in films and documentaries.

Ethical Considerations and Challenges

The Deepfake Dilemma

The most prominent concern with fake faces is their use in deepfakes—videos in which real people's faces are replaced with AI-generated ones. This poses a threat to privacy, security, and the integrity of information, as deepfakes can be nearly indistinguishable from actual footage.

Addressing Privacy and Consent

The generation of fake face also brings up questions about privacy and consent, especially when these faces resemble real individuals. There is a growing need for ethical guidelines and regulations to navigate these challenges.

The Future of Fake People Generation

Looking ahead, the technology behind the fake people generation is expected to advance further, with even more realistic and diverse outputs. This progression, while promising, necessitates a parallel development in ethical standards and legal frameworks to ensure responsible use.

Conclusion:

A Glimpse into the Future with UnrealPerson.com platforms like UnrealPerson.com offers a window into the capabilities and potential of AI in generating fake people. These websites showcase the stunning realism that AI can achieve, underscoring both the opportunities and challenges posed by this technology. As AI continues to evolve, it is crucial to foster a balance between innovation and ethical responsibility, ensuring that the creation of fake people serves to enhance our digital experiences while safeguarding societal values.

[polhmemphis]

Aws fargate startup time

AWS FARGATE STARTUP TIME FULL

AWS FARGATE STARTUP TIME WINDOWS

Prices are showing as of just now in $/hour, on a basis of the listed 0.0506 vCPU/h and 0.0127 GB/h: Fargate Let’s compare with on-demand EC2 pricing in the us-east-1 region. Right now, the pricing model doesn’t seem to support this. you’re running a standard AMI with no further setup - you should be looking at Fargate, let Amazon solve the bin-packing problem, and don’t pay for an entire EC2 instance just to run a single container/task. The AWS vision for Fargate basically seems to be if you don’t have custom requirements for your EC2 instance - i.e. One interesting new service just launched is AWS Cloud9, a “cloud based IDE” which runs on top of an EC2 instance to build, run and debug your code, maybe not fit for all purposes but with some nice AWS integration, a handy tool.

AWS FARGATE STARTUP TIME WINDOWS

Of course there were plenty other announcements relevant to EC2/ECS users, like updates to RDS Aurora, windows server containers, etc. Just as with serverless, of course there are VMs under the hood (just now this sits on top of ECS, but later will introduce an EKS option), but in this case AWS takes care of them for you, so you can focus on the container(s) you want to run, and let AWS worry about allocating them to an EC2 instance. Run containers without managing servers or clusters Azure Container Service), on AWS you were previously left managing your own Kubernetes cluster.įargate on the other hand is something a bit different, a bit more novel. One is EKS ( Amazon Elastic Container Service for Kubernetes), in a way a means of remedying AWS’s first-mover disadvantage in container orchestration - while they have had a capable platform in ECS for some time, Kubernetes has emerged as an industry standard, and while other cloud providers can offer managed Kubernetes solutions (e.g. With the recent deluge of announcements, AWS have included a couple of key compute novelties. Lambda is containers in disguise with elastic scaling (and the mask slips when you start to look at caching and container reuse - e.g. EC2 is at the root of it all Batch is a way of firing off EC2 instances for batch workloads ECS is running containers on EC2.

AWS FARGATE STARTUP TIME FULL

AWS has a bewildering array of services, so much so that the full page service dropdown now has a scrollbar, but when it comes to compute, these effectively all boil down to different flavours of VMs and containers.

#Aws fargate startup time

[cre8ivemind]

How to make my workforce HR Transformation ready?

According to a report published by a renowned consulting company, 79% of CEOs worldwide stated that a lack of critical skills in their workforce threatens their business growth. For example, finance organisations like banks and insurance companies need data visualization experts, while retailers need employees with customer experience. This debate also holds for digital HR transformation in an organisation.

While it may ‘seem’ easy to hire the workforce you need, upskilling existing employees and tapping their potential is a more affordable and practical option. When organisations are ready for a digital HR transformation, they must bring onboard all their employees and make them transformation-ready!

Apart from upskilling, organisations, especially the digital HR teams, must also consider redesigning workflows, reworking the organisational structure, and getting creative and innovative during recruitment, acquisitions, and partnerships.

As an organisation that is ready for the digital HR transformation, here are eight ways that may help you build your workforce for the future:

Have concrete business outcomes

Before you communicate with your employees about the change, you must tell them what you expect them to deliver with the digital HR transformation. Whether you are using digital tools and technology to upgrade your existing business model or you are looking to have an AI-enabled strategy that you would like them to execute, boost productivity and profitability or others, you must create a clear list of goals that you would like your employees to achieve and provide them with the required insights so they can take the first steps towards preparing themselves for the digital transformation.

With business outcomes and goal alignment, you may also require to restructure or combine roles as some of them become more important than others while others may be eliminated due to task automation. Organisations must clearly articulate the vision and business outcomes to all employees and other stakeholders before embarking on the digital HR transformation journey.

Emotional commitment

When bringing employees on board a new idea or plan, there must be a good balance of strategic and emotional commitment from them. For employees to be emotionally committed to the impending digital HR transformation, they must be excited, inspired and deeply connected with their own goals and the organisation’s larger purpose. Performing a survey to understand what excites and motivates your employees besides their paycheck is a good place to begin.

Compelling pilot experience

Most organisations run major transformation-related initiatives in a pilot format before going all out. This holds even when digitally transforming your HR. When you achieve significantly high employee experience scores in your pilot phase, not only is it an affirmation for expanding it to others, but the employees who participated in the pilot help bring others onboard with greater amount of trust.

Several aspects can improve employee experience, such as:

An improved interface on the mobile or desktop applications

Improved workspace design

The flexibility that offers a healthy work-life balance

Manageable workload

Learning experiences and development opportunities

Organisations looking to bring their employees onboard the digital transformation wave must design employee experience keeping this in mind.

Begin with high-impact roles (Top-down approach)

Though digital HR transformation will ultimately reach the entire organisation, some influential people and high-impact roles are who you should focus on first. These individuals are already in leadership roles or have skill sets critical to achieving your highest business priorities.

This activity may also involve reassigning people with these skills to essential roles or helping them upskill. According to a report, only 10% of an organisation’s workforce is at immediate risk of losing their jobs to automation. If you target this population and help them move to new roles, you are sure to garner more support from them.

Stimulate the development of new behaviour

When aiming at any form of workforce transformation, you must design the effort to instil new behaviours because what people do changes what they know! Though behavioural change takes time, you can develop several initiatives and incorporate them into training courses.

Avoid a top-down approach for a behavioural approach

A top-down approach is vastly preferred when working on bringing employees on board a transformation journey like this one. However, using the same approach for behavioural change fails. Employees today wish to be active participants in any change that affects them. They are also close to customers and actively participate in the day-to-day business execution. So, always promote grassroots efforts to encourage behavioural change in employees.

Plan and commit to the journey

Once you have decided to bring about digital HR transformation in your organisation, you must have a phase-wise plan for implementing it. Workforce transformation does not happen in just a few pockets of the company but extends throughout. Since the successful implementation of your digital transformation may take two to three years, you must plan and prepare for it without losing focus.

Align with company culture

Any workforce transformation exercise must be aligned with the culture of the organisation. When digital HR transformation resonates with the culture, employees are more likely to trust and believe it. It is essential to send the right signals to employees so that they are not anxious about how the new change will affect their livelihood and roles

While incorporating diversity and inclusivity in your digital HR transformation exercise, you must include all employees, regardless of their religion, caste, gender, or sexual orientation. Employees who are unwilling or excessively resistant are the ones who require more support. Understanding their views and what they have to say is recommended before deciding their future in the organisation.

Key Takeaway!

Employees are the backbone of any organisation and form a vital factor in the success of digital HR transformation. To ride the winds of change, all organisations must strategize about the way forward. To ensure your organisation’s successful digital HR transformation, making your workforce transformation ready is indispensable.

#HRMSImplementationinIndia #DigitalHRTransformation #learningintheflowofwork

[blogemmawatsonstuff]

Workshop and Training in Georgia and Programs for Women in Leadership

In every organization, some skilled people work who can quickly adapt to the influx of changes – almost every workplace is facing. A person in your organization can be anyone and at any level. They are skilled and capable enough to empower to engage meaningfully with their work, inspire one another, and challenge themselves to seek innovative solutions that may elevate the entire organization. There is no denying the fact that organizations are facing unprecedented levels of change and challenge due to technological innovations, evolving work models, and increasing global competition.

The most crucial thing is to keep pace with the competition and overcome the obstacles of today and tomorrow. For this, organizations need to take a different approach to leadership – mainly equal for everyone like women in leadership in Georgia. For this change and to get the best of team members, it will be better to pay attention on workshops and training in Georgia. It will be truly an ideal way to transform your organizational goals and help you in achieving your targets successfully.

Find a Recognized Platform for Workshops and Training in Georgia

If you’re looking for proper workshops and training in Georgia or looking for the right platforms to join mini courses in Georgia, you will have some better options to fulfill your requirement by going online that is counted as one of the convenient ways to enhance your experience. There are a number of recognized names in this domain working for organizations and even for individuals to move on the right track of success. They are also arranging varied programs for women in leadership in Georgia. Find the right one of your choice, go through the details, and make a contact.

Online search is all that will surely help you in getting what exactly you are looking for. You have to choose the right one of your choice, check all details, and get the right solutions.

CPDFS’ Doris Offers Workshops and Training in Georgia and Mini Courses with Programs for Women in Leadership

CPDFS is a bespoke platform managed and run by Doris, an empathetic and compassionate, executive coach and program evaluator – helping non-profit organizations, small businesses, corporate leaders, and teams – leveraging diversity and inclusive leadership practices to analyze markets, customers, ideas, and talents that results in customer centricity and organizational sustainability. Doris is well-aware of the importance of business mentors for any organization, the key to success. They give each of you the time and guidance you deserve. Doris is consulting and coaching practice – focusing on extending the conversation on increasing leadership voice creating a balance between moral imperative, vision, leading by example, with power, purpose, and passion.

You have to join a new session for the workshop and training in Georgia or to join mini courses in Georgia that are the right ways to secure the way to success.

So, what you are waiting for, join programs for workshop and training in Georgia, mini courses in Georgia, and programs for women in leadership in Georgia.

Summary: Workshop and training Georgia, mini courses in Georgia, or programs for women in leadership in Georgia are some of the best programs that will surely enhance your experience and provide your organzaiton with a better way of achieving your goals.

Workshops and Training in Georgia, Mini Courses in Georgia, Women in Leadership in Georgia

Reference Url: https://emmawatsonnn011.blogspot.com/2022/08/workshop-and-training-in-georgia-and.html

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The Innovative Upsell App to Bring More Flexibility to Your Store

Ecommerce software development like Best Shopify Plus Apps can allow digital enterprises to maximize the bottom line. Even as eCommerce should preferably be looked at as a vital component of a multi-channel sales scheme, several business leaders and managers tend to make the error of looking at it as a separate vertical. This incorrect vision of business leaders as well as managers leads to a succession of errors in business strategy formulation as well as execution, the procedure of technology, as well as business processes. It has to be bear in mind that while business leaders consider eCommerce as a vertical they think technology as well as systems to be the exclusive drivers of growth. 

The selection of technology as well as its alignment with business goals is forgotten. Most prominently unwise investments are done into processes, resource engagements, as well as technology. Alternatively, enterprises that favor eCommerce to be a constituent of the multi-channel system understand the balancing relationship between conventional models of business by new-age digital off-shoots; one of them eCommerce. Ecommerce web development, as well as mobile applications for eCommerce, is not a magical wand. These require to be used sensibly with an amalgamation of several factors to stay applicable in business as well as then maximize profits. The conventional concept of software development is to produce a project with well-defined parameters as well as then start work on it with exclusive resources, expenditure, as well as time commitments. This slows down the tempo of execution of new technology in operations in increasing the moment to market. The smart way is to integrate new eCommerce app development like the Best Upsell App for Shopify by operations on a small scale within a real-time business environment intended for a pilot project. 

Software development brings a Product Recommendation App that enables the organization to make changes to the expertise as issues are spotted. By development operation, a company can decrease the expenditure of development as well as a faster time to market lets further price rationalization as well as high returns on investment as of technology. Your customers underline the core value of your business and you require prioritizing their interests, selections, or other options concerning their likes & dislikes. Never leave several questions that possibly will harm your app's user retention as well as therefore, you must ensure to analyze your customers' preferences precisely from the starting your app development procedure. Whether you would like to sell specific products or help customers with exceptional services; it's entirely up to you. You already be familiar with that marketing for all-time rules in the corporate world and therefore, ensure to transform your app idea purposely intended for business promotion. Just focus on your message to adorn your app with something precise and original. Try to add applicable content that can inform your customers and sponsor your brand using promotional blogs on top of popular social media channels.

#Best Shopify Plus Apps #Best Upsell App for Shopify #Product Recommendation App