#need me more games with this level of polish and expressiveness

[phantom-sleuth]

I think one of my favorite details in pizza tower has to be the tv screen in the corner of the screen that has no other purpose other than to show peppinos completely deranged expressions.

This game has such an unhinged art style I love it.

#pizza tower #indie games #peppino #need me more games with this level of polish and expressiveness #eye strain

[changingplumbob]

York Household: Chapter 9, Part 7

Deanna expresses her feelings while Joey tries to be supportive. Kelly does not try to be supportive.

The Yorks are Italian so if you see them using words that don't look like English it's Italian, or what google assures me is Italian. Caro/Cara: Dear Buongiorno: Good morning Piccolo: Little one Tesoro: Treasure Nonno: Grandfather Nonna: Grandmother Si: Yes Grazie: Thank you Per Favore: Please Buon Compleanno: Happy Birthday

Deanna moves inside forlornly, hardly looking where she’s going. She feels sadness and anger swirling inside her.

Joey: Come here sis

Deanna: Joey?

Joey: Pa thought I should stay. He’s gone to buy cheese

Deanna goes and throws her arms around her big brother, hugging him close. Thank the watcher for her family. The tears in her eyes flow freely now and she couldn't say how long she stood there sobbing into Joey's jacket. Eventually she manages to slow down the sobs to speak.

Deanna: I just got dumped *sadly* I didn’t see it coming

Joey: Come and sit, we can talk

Deanna: No. I need to block that… I need to block my ex. She’s left, she doesn’t get the luxury of seeing my life anymore

Joey: I mean… straight to block? I thought you loved her

Deanna: I do! I mean I did *sighs* it’s complicated Joey

Joey: Thank the watcher I don’t get romantic feelings

Deanna: I’m sorry, if that's you trying to be helpful I'd rather face it alone

Joey: I just wonder, if you loved her, why aren’t you fighting for her

Deanna: She thinks I loved what she was more than who she was

Joey: What does that mean

Deanna: Nevermind. She was wrong

After Kelly has stayed on the second floor patio long enough to see Paris fade into the distance he goes to join his siblings in waiting for dinner.

Kelly: Woah you look terrible

Deanna: Shut up goblin, I’m not in the mood

Kelly: I thought saying you’ve looked better was a compliment for all those other times you didn’t look like this

Deanna: It isn’t and you know that

Kelly: Hey Joey, are you coming to my birthday party tomorrow

Joey: Am I invited

Kelly: You’re my brother, of course you’re invited. I’m evil but family get a special pass

Deanna: You literally insult me daily

Kelly: Do I? Or do I prepare you for the harshness of the world

Deanna: Look, I just got dumped, I’m not in the mood for your mind games

Kelly: Good riddance. She was clearly a peasant

Deanna: Look, you may be too young to understand-

Kelly: I’m 13 tomorrow

Deanna: Whatever. Point is if you love someone it’s hard to lose them

Kelly: But… she… was… a PEASANT. Sooner you accept that the happier you’ll be

Joey: That kind of made sense

Deanna: *scoffs* Don’t encourage him Joey

The oven needed a quick scrub but Aaron manages to cook some excellent level Mac and Cheese.

Kelly: YES! De you should get dumped more so we get greasy food

Deanna: *sighs* Pass me a plate then troll

Joey: Home is where the good pasta is. Grazie pa

Aaron: You’re welcome

Deanna: Grazie pa *sadly moves food about*

Aaron: You’re welcome *long silence* Kelly?

Kelly: Si pa?

Aaron: Do you have something to say

Kelly: Si... Wombats poop squares

Aaron: Do they now

Kelly: Si

*phone noise*

Aaron: Joey, it’s still no phones at the table

Joey: But I’m running some tests on my mini game. It’s like blicblock, but forget everything you know about blicblock

Aaron: Do you think the main game will be ready for release soon

Joey: I hope so but I’m trying to grind at work so I’ve only got pockets of time. Plus Alfred and Rilian like to show me their toys. I want it polished before I release it, start strong

Before everyone is finished eating Calista gets home from her shift.

Calista: I do love mac and cheese

Deanna: Mama… Paris left

Calista: I’m so sorry cara (Aaron has already text her a heads up of the situation so she’s not caught off guard)

Deanna: And she accused me of not loving her. Can you believe that?

Calista: So she said “it’s not me it’s you”

Deanna: Not exactly. She kept going on about wanting to find herself and needing to go out into the world. I offered to keep in touch but… she didn’t want that. She didn’t want me

Kelly: She was a peasant *leaves table without being excused* I vote for the watcher to delete her

Deanna: *sadly* What am I meant to do now

Joey: Whatever you feel like. Have a day of mourning if you want. Eat ice cream and drink nectar and watch films until you cry. Then tomorrow, after a good night’s sleep, you dust yourself off and carry on. You understand robotics De, don’t let this mess up your study because I think you could be a pioneer one day

Deanna: You really think that?

Joey: Of course I do. And you have to listen to me, because I’m a genius

Deanna tucks into the last of her food with the most energy she’s had all meal while Calista mouths grazie to Joey.

When the table is free Kelly grabs out his trusty diary. There’s the normal entry start, who’s on his hitlist today and why. Then comes a more thoughtful paragraph wondering about teen life. Will it be what he expects? Will he be what he expects? Will people treat him differently? Can he still keep the evil mantle with more personality? At least Mantis is immortal and can never leave.

Deanna is lounging in her cottage with the comedy channel on but she's paying it no attention. She's scrolling through photos on her phone when a familiar sim bursts through her door.

Devin: De! Joey told me what happened! Come here

The two kiss on the cheek and hug. Even though Devin has already heard the story she lets Deanna tell it again to get it off her chest.

Devin: Oh my! Clearly we need to make some changes

Deanna: What do you mean

Devin: *gently* Cara you are not going to heal with photos of the two of you in your face

Deanna: But *sniffles* she’s in most of my friend photos

Devin: Come to your room, I’ll work my style magic on your walls

Devin: There. Now she’s not in your room. The friend photos with her are not where you’ll be trying to sleep

Deanna: Thanks Devin

Devin: Of course. Now sleep, tomorrow after classes we’re going shopping

Deanna: But I hate shopping

Devin: I know but I used my status as favourite to convince the watcher she needs to change your skintone to fit the rest of us, may as well get a style over. Nothing says I’m newly single like changing your hair

Previous ... Next

#sims 4 #the sims #the sims 4 #simblr #my sims #ChangingPlumbobStorytime #R0901 #DeannaYork #JoeyYork #KellyYork #AaronYork #CalistaYork #DevinVillareal

[mindyco]

AHAHAHA, Mammon's was the most fun to write. I can just imagine you and Mammon both just struggling and Mammon making it even more confusing even though he's just trying to help. What a chad. Artwork credit: @myt_s3

Scenario: The brothers' reaction to you asking for some help with your homework

You gather your materials and muster the courage to knock on Lucifer's office door. The grandeur of his office instantly captures your attention as you step inside.

Lucifer, seated behind his imposing desk, raises an eyebrow as he sees your frustration. He sets aside his paperwork, his expression shifting to a mix of concern and curiosity.

"What seems to be troubling you, my dear? I can sense your frustration from a mile away."

With a calm yet authoritative demeanor, Lucifer gestures for you to take a seat across from his polished mahogany desk. He listens attentively, his piercing gaze focused on the reader's every word.

The room is adorned with shelves of meticulously organized books and antique artifacts, creating an atmosphere of knowledge and authority. Lucifer offers guidance, occasionally referring to the books in his office for additional resources and examples.

As you begin to grasp the concepts under his patient tutelage, Lucifer's stern expression softens into a small smile of satisfaction.

"Ah, I see the gears in your mind turning now. Remember, with determination and guidance, you can conquer any academic challenge that comes your way."

You timidly enter Mammon's room, finding him surrounded by stacks of textbooks and papers. Posters of action-packed movies and video game characters decorate the walls.

Mammon, initially engrossed in his own notes, jumps up with a mix of surprise and delight upon seeing your struggle. He scrambles to tidy up his workspace, making room for you.

"Oi! What's with that face, huh? Don't worry, the Great Mammon's here to save the day!"

Mammon's enthusiasm to help quickly gets the best of him as he dives headfirst into your homework. However, his own struggles with the subject matter begin to surface, resulting in a hilarious spiral of confusion and frustration.

He groans dramatically, clutching his head in mock agony, and says, "This homework is like an unstoppable demon! It's trying to steal my brain cells!"

Mammon's attempts to simplify the concepts lead to hilariously exaggerated explanations that confuse you even more.

"Alright, listen up! Think of equations like treasure maps, and numbers as those shiny gold coins. We just need to find the X that marks the spot!"

Despite their shared struggle, Mammon's determination remains unwavering. His cheerfulness creates a soothing place to study.

"Don't worry, human! We'll finish this homework together. The Great Mammon doesn't back down from a challenge!"

Seeking refuge in Leviathan's cozy gaming den, you enter the room, instantly captivated by the colorful LED lights creating a soft glow. The walls are adorned with posters of fantasy worlds, and plush bean bags provide comfortable seating.

Leviathan, absorbed in his own gaming session, looks up with a mix of surprise and curiosity upon seeing your struggle. He sets aside his controller and shifts his attention to them, a mixture of empathy and excitement in his eyes.

"Whoa, what's got you in such a bind? Let me guess, math? It's math, isn't it?"

With a reserved yet genuine demeanor, Leviathan offers his assistance. He invites the reader to sit beside him on the plush bean bags, the sound of virtual battles faintly echoing from his gaming setup.

Leviathan's extensive knowledge in the subject matter becomes evident as he engages the reader in a discussion. He provides relatable examples and connects the homework problems to his favorite games, making the concepts more accessible.

"See, understanding math is like leveling up your character. Each problem you solve is a new skill point earned!"

As you begin to grasp the concepts and gain confidence, Leviathan's reserved smile grows wider.

"Hey, you're doing great! Don't stress too much. Just remember, you're not alone in this. We'll conquer the homework battlefield together."

You seek solace in the library, where rows of bookshelves line the walls, filled with volumes of various subjects. The smell of old parchment fills the air, creating a comforting atmosphere.

Satan, engrossed in his own reading, looks up with a mix of surprise and concern upon seeing your struggle. He closes his book and sets it aside, his expression shifting to one of genuine curiosity.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Homework troubles, I presume? Let me take a look."

With a scholarly and inquisitive demeanor, Satan offers his assistance. He guides you to a cozy reading nook, where a table is piled high with textbooks, notebooks, and reference materials.

As you and Satan delve into the homework, it becomes apparent that he possesses a vast amount of knowledge across various subjects. He methodically explains concepts and provides insightful explanations to help you understand.

"You see, the key to solving these problems lies in understanding the underlying principles. Let's break them down step by step."

Satan's passion for learning and his love for books shines through as he guides you through the intricacies of the homework.

"Ah, fascinating! I always enjoy unraveling the mysteries of academia. Together, we'll expand our knowledge!"

As your understanding improves, Satan offers words of encouragement and a proud smile.

You seek solace in Asmodeus' lavish room. Mirrors line the walls, reflecting the soft glow of scented candles and the sparkle of jewelry displayed on vanity tables.

Asmodeus, engrossed in his beauty routine, turns towards you with a mix of surprise and curiosity. He sets aside his beauty products, his expression shifting to one of concern.

"Oh, darling, you look positively stressed! Let's see what we can do to turn that frown upside down, shall we?"

With a sharp and intelligent demeanor that contrasts his usual focus on beauty, Asmodeus offers his assistance. He invites you to sit beside him on the vanity chair, where books and notes are scattered among the makeup brushes and palettes.

"Now, let's tackle this homework and show you another side of my brilliance. Beauty is not my only area of expertise, you know."

As you and Asmodeus delve into the homework, it becomes evident that he possesses a wealth of knowledge across various subjects. He effortlessly explains complex concepts and offers insightful strategies to approach the problems.

"You see, my dear, beauty and brains go hand in hand. Just as I understand the art of aesthetics, I also understand the art of problem-solving."

Asmodeus' intelligent guidance helps you navigate through the challenges with newfound clarity and confidence.

You seek refuge in the kitchen, where Beelzebub is preparing a mouthwatering feast. The aroma of delicious food fills the air, and cabinets are stocked with an array of ingredients.

Beelzebub, momentarily pausing his cooking, looks up with a mix of surprise and concern upon seeing the reader's struggle. He sets aside his cooking utensils, his expression shifting to one of determination.

"Hey, you look like you could use a break. Let's take a moment from books and fuel up!"

With a hearty and caring demeanor, Beelzebub offers his assistance. He clears a spot at the kitchen table, which is adorned with various cookbooks and food-related magazines.

"Alright, let's tackle this homework with a full stomach! Food always makes everything better!"

As the reader and Beelzebub sit down together, surrounded by the delicious aroma and the sight of food being prepared, Beelzebub starts piling plates high with scrumptious dishes, completely forgetting about the homework.

As they indulge in the mouthwatering feast, Beelzebub and you engage in a lively conversation, sharing funny anecdotes and laughing together.

In the midst of the delightful meal and laughter, the homework becomes a distant memory, and Beelzebub's contagious joviality lightens your spirits.

"See, a full stomach and good company can solve anything. We'll tackle that homework later, but for now, let's savor this moment of delicious distraction!"

You find Belphegor curled up in his cozy bedroom, surrounded by fluffy pillows and soft blankets. The room exudes a calm and serene atmosphere.

Belphegor, initially half-asleep, stirs awake with a mix of surprise and curiosity upon seeing your struggle. He props himself up, his expression shifting to one of mild annoyance mixed with concern.

"Ugh, can't even get a decent nap around here. What's got you all worked up? Let's get this over with so I can go back to sleep."

With a laid-back yet caring demeanor, Belphegor offers his assistance. He gestures for you to sit beside him, where a mountain of soft pillows and a cozy blanket provide a comfortable study space.

As you and Belphegor dive into the homework, Belphegor offers occasional humorous commentary and unconventional shortcuts to make the process more relaxed.

Despite his nonchalant attitude, Belphegor's guidance and occasional hints help you navigate through the challenges.

"Hey, not bad. You're making progress, even if it's as slow as a tortoise. Just a little more, and we can both go back to our beauty sleep."

～𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪

#Obey me #obey me headcanons #beel obey me #satan obey me #asmo obey me #obey me belphie #lucifer obey me #obey me mammon #headcannon #cute #fluffy

[littleredsonja]

New Spell: Silenzio!

Update notes:

25-03-2023:

Added Simplified and Traditional Chinese translations (Thank you Mina!)

14-03-2023:

Updated for patch 1.96.365

Translations: Added Polish (Thank you Krzydkowy) and German (Thank you Crashdown117).

You can use it in Batuu now (Sorry Chewy your growling is too annoying).

Sims under the effects of Silenzio will avoid other noisy activities such as playing videogames or listen to music.

Fixed tome description not visible.

Optimized code for best performance.

Are you tired of all those sims constantly babbling? Do you need some peace to study that new magic tome? This is the spell for you!

Cast Silenzio! on those annoying sims and they will lose their voice, they will not be able to talk or sing for a few hours and they will become quite stressed because of that. Sims under the effects of Silenzio! will still try to communicate using hand gestures and movements, body language and facial expressions, but their social interactions will fail more often.

It is a level 2 Mischief magic spell.

I hope you enjoy it! If you have suggestions for how to improve the mod or if you find issues please contact me here or in Discord (@LittleRedSonja).

LANGUAGES:

English

Polish (by Krzydkowy 💜)

German (by Crashdown117 💜)

Simplified and Traditional Chinese (by Mina 💜)

COMPATIBILITY:

This mod does not overwrite any game resources and has no incompatibilities with any other mod.

REQUIREMENTS:

Packs: Realm of Magic, Seasons

Spellbook Injector: Utility mod that loads custom spells into the game. These spells won’t override any EA tuning, which ensures that creations from different modders will be compatible. To install it extract the zip file, and put the files inside your Mods folder (no more than one 1 folder deep). You only need to install this once, and it will work for any other custom spells you add to your game. If you are using other custom spells, including mine, you should already have spellbook injector installed in your mods folder (no need to download it again)

LINKS:

LittleRedSonja_ROM_Spells_Mischief_Silenzio

Spellbook Injector

#sims 4 mods #spellcasting

[curiouscompanions]

Entry #1 Greetings, Reader. Is it truly necessary to mention my name in these entries? After all, people have bestowed upon me numerous names, but none of them has truly stuck. Alright, to avoid unnecessary editing, I'll provide only one pseudonym — "The Observer." Nothing more. Yes, let it be so. They call me The Observer. And I am one of many Protagonists... if one can express it that way, because my role in the Parable was entirely unimpressive and didn't even merit any significant mention anywhere, except for a couple of lost office papers. My job is interesting. I observe what's happening inside the Office, record data from surveillance cameras, then sort and send them to the Upstairs. Sometimes I have to make additional entries, using the old-fashioned method of pen and paper. There are quite a few of them, my handwriting leaves much to be desired, and so digitizing them will be quite a headache. Shouldn't have skipped penmanship lessons in college. But it's not like I could have known I would need them, right? Where should I begin? Does this experiment even have a beginning? It appeared long before ideas were formed into words, and those, in turn, were transformed into lines of endless code, which then evolved into—... I suppose it's not that hard to guess what happened next. The Stanley Parable happened. Well, I'll start from the very beginning.

Once upon a time, very long ago, a place called the Office was designed and simulated. Essentially, it wasn't even a full-fledged building, just a network of long, chaotically assembled corridors. And this Office was very young, yet it looked surprisingly old and mediocre. Minimal lighting, walls wrapped with some unimpressive poorly done texture in brownish-dirty beige shades, with a dark swampy carpet as the final touch of careless cheap assets downloaded from one of those annoyingly popular videogames. I never understood this strange human attachment to pixels on the screen… but, of course, my opinion was never heard. So, the first test version of the Office appeared, operational and surprisingly stable despite its limited functionality. What happened next? Right. Staff was hired. Only a few hundred employees, most of whom simulated work activity, pretended being all busy if I may add. A gray mass, statistics to fill in mandatory reports. Only five of them received real instructions, eventually survived, and reached an entirely new level of the Game. The test version lasted only a few months. Following it came an update that changed everything; starting from improving those robotically dull Announcer's comments and ending with polishing lamps for the ceiling. They even delivered and placed potted ficuses next to several employee desks, almost like real ones. In general, the experiment was going so successfully that it received additional funding, and our work soared fast ahead, heralding a new era of technological development and ways of interaction among the citizens of our diverse and vast country… I would like to write it that way, but it would be just a vague word play on what actually happened back in 2̴͓̈̎̒̔0̸̢͓̯̐̒͊̂1̸͇̗̳̏̀̅3̸̻́̓̕. The new Office resembled the old one, but only in the chaos of its long corridors and the multitude of doors. It was, after all, entirely different. First and foremost, there was finally an opportunity not only to start over but also to choose a Save Point. Now, how can I even describe everything in simple language without picking excessive officialese and overly comlicated words...? Well, I'll start from the very beginning. The thing is, the Office is located in the so-called intersection of the real and digital worlds. Or in an area with anomalies exceeding the approved norm. You might think, what's so special about a basic high-risk zone? It turns out that it's the perfect place for all sorts of tests and experiments. Somehow, it happened that the death of subjects while being here ceases to be something permanent and becomes a temporary inconvenience lasting from eight to thirty-six seconds. Yes, like in a video game, but with the presence of several side effects like phantom pain and exacerbations of neuroses or psychoses ...or both, it all depends on the condition and luck of the "restarted" person. I don't know all the details, it's the scientists who conducted direct field research. My job is to observe and record. And never interfere. I remember the investors soon came up with the idea of closing the Office and isolating all the staff with subjects inside it… and placing bets on people; who will kill whom first, and who will keep their sanity intact and try to escape. I won't go into unnecessary details, I'll just say that only a few people managed to survive, yes, those very five participants and your humble Observer. End of Entry #1

.... Why are you still reading this? This text file finishes itself with End Of Entry #1. You were supposed to press that cross on the right side of its top. It's an X right next to an [ ], can't you see? You ... don't actually see it, do you? Is it ...not there anymore? It wasn't there from the start, was it? This is not right. Scroll it away and close your browser. This text file is corrupted, it is spreading all over your dashboard and through. This text file is going to infect your computer with a horrible virus if you keep reading it. This text file is going to destroy your hard drive any moment now. ... Okay, fine. I was wrong. This text file is harmless. In fact, the other text files are corrupred instead it. Great. Wonderful. Why can't anything go according to my plans in the perfectly accurate way? Wait, no, I didn't mean to say that! I haven't been plotting anything this time! Even if I were trying to come up with some schemes, they would still not be happening anywhere, except my own mind. I am the Observer, remember? I don't do things, I observe them. Sometimes, especially in my personal case, doing and observing are antonyms, they just never work together.

Are you still reading, aren't you? Why? There's literally nothing else here! It was just the very beginning, my Entry #1. Why didn't you close it and open Entry #2? Oh right, it's one of the corrupted ones… well, why didn't you close it and run your antivirus or whatever tool you got in your possession? There's nothing disturbing in other text files, I promise. Really, they are just my casual observations, just some foggy memories of a simple individual you have never met before but decided to poke this curious nose of yours into his personal business anyway. Good lord, what is it to you? Are you actually still hoping to read more about my unnecessarily detailed backstory? Well, I have already done it, I have digitized my papers, I have typed everything I could decipher into those last three text filed that ended up getting corrupred. Can't you just, you know, uncorrupt them? I suppose not, since you are still here instead of trying that.

...

Alright, I think you have tried to read me for long enough by now, Reader. I... I should just be honest, then.

My memories, they are fading away day by day. Writing them down was a mistake, the more of restarts I faced, the more of my papers became empty, the more I have filled them with the same words again and again and again. So I decided to save a few that remains by making it digital. However, as you have noticed, it's pointless too. Soon I'll become no person but mere pixels on your screen. Just like him, like her, like them. You are the last observation I have made in my entire career, Reader. Now it's over. It's over, right?

Why are you still reading this?

#corrupted entries #unreliable narrator #drabble

[woethehero]

Wyrd RPG Blog Post #1 !!! - Introduction to my Project

Hey Hero (: Thanks for taking a look! If you'll have me, I'd like to share a TTRPG (tabletop roleplaying game) project I've been working on for a bit after finally taking a plunge, and I wanted to document it in a fun way. So far, it's been about 2+ weeks of brainstorming and prototyping with my partner, so we're talking super early stuff.

Quick important foreword please read, I don't want anyone confused! I am exploring designing an RPG as a way to express my art, but I am not a professional game designer and can not promise this will become a full, polished, amazing new RPG at the end of the process. That'd be super sick, but this is primarily just a creative way for me to document exploring my interests of game design and writing alongside my art. I've wanted to do something more long term and dreamed of playing an RPG in my own art world, and no ones gonna try to make it but I.

TLDR: No promises of an actual game. Exploring for fun, documenting to share. Yay!

Now on to the post!

In this first post, I wanted to talk about my design goals, scope, expectations, and what I'm looking forward to so far!

Major Design Goals:

A singular core dice system of d12's being the most used die to determine the success of actions and their outcomes.

Player Characters take on the roles of Aspiring Champions, adventurer-types that wish to make a name for themselves. You are what you do. Your actions, the skills you focus on, and the people you walk with all have an impact on who you become as you grow in power and status.

Asymmetrical combat for GM's and PC's. Player Characters have a much deeper experience

Provide the tools needed for GM's and Players to create custom "home brew" content for their games based on templates so they grounded to the system but unique to the player.

Encourage GM and Player collaboration as much as possible

Classless Characters, characters comprised of Skill Levels and Traits that make up their core identity and capabilities. No EXP, No Levels. Character progression is awarded through play and during the Downtime Phase.

Different modes of play to break up the pacing of a game, examples being Combat, Exploration, Downtime, Social, and Meta.

Quick and lethal combat experience. Fighting directly isn't always the best solution, clever action to shift the odds more in your favor should always be preferred.

Dang Woe, that's pretty ambitious.

Uhh yeah lol. I tried to imagine my dream game for my art and it came out huge. I think it's just gonna be fun to try and explore a lot of different things and learning how to "gamify" things. Digital game dev has just too many barriers for me to explore, but I know my way around a TTRPG! I can't imagine having all these ideas written into mechanics and tested and everything flowing perfectly, but it's gonna be fun to try.

d12 System Yeehaw

The biggest thing I want to cover right away in this post is explaining the d12 action die pool system and how they work. Every Player Character will have a pool of d12s that make up your Effort.

What is Effort? Effort is your "action points," your Stamina, your Energy. You can give something your all, but you can't do it all the time. Effort is broken down into Regen, Stored, and Exhausted, which will be explained later in this post.

Internalize this now before moving on, in the context of rolling dice, 1 is good. 1 is the new slay. 1 is best number. You now love small numbers. When you come to a WyrdRPG post you will be pavloved into remembering 1 is best ever.

Your skills come into play when rolling your Effort. They determine what numbers on the dice count for successes and which do not. Skills lie on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being an absolute beginner and 10 being a renowned legend. Skills are displayed as "Skill #".

ex. Small Blades 8 is a decorated Knight known for their sword and shield mastery. They strike reliably and true.

ex. Small Blades 4 is an amateur or a young mercenary. They are competent and can cause deep wounds, but are far less reliable and strong, and thus require more effort to do the same damage.

Actions in this game have their outcomes determined by how many successes turned up in an effort roll. The max amount of successes you can get is up to how much effort you put in. As a brief example, if you want to swing a sword and have Small Blades 4 as a skill, every die you roll needs to have a 4 or lower to count as a success towards the outcome.

The fun part, 1's are Crits! They count as two successes!

You roll 5 Effort dice. You get 1-3-4-6-10. 1 counts twice, then 3 and 4, for a total of 4 successes. Gonna be a big hit!

12's aren't critical failures. They don't count against you or anything, unless something says otherwise. I'm currently thinking if you use a tool or item that's "broken" or "malfunctioning" then maybe that could apply. Could be cool idk!

Effort Explained More

Last important piece of this heartbeat is Regen, Exert, and Exhausted, the 3 states of Effort. Regen will show up like Regen 3 or Regen 4, meaning you have that number of Effort dice that cannot become Exhausted. You always get these back.

Exert is exhaustible Effort, that if used in addition to your Regen die as all must be used first, will be moved to Exhausted. You cannot use these dice until they are restored. In order to restore Exhausted dice, you have to underspend your Regen dice. For every Regen not used during a round, one exhausted is returned to Exert.

The idea behind this neutral-exert-rest flow is to give more long winded battles a chance to shift and provide risky opportunities to gamble a rest or full-sending an attack with more effort than you probably should, but you really wanna be sure you get this guy.

I appreciate you reading, I'm really curious to hear some of your thoughts as things are moving along. I have a lot of ideas for art and I think regardless of how this goes there's going to be something cool from it!

Okay bye hero!

Yours,

Woe

#fantasy #digital illustration #artists on tumblr #ttrpg art #ttrpg #rpg #indie rpg #illustrative art #woelock #woecore #WyrdRPG

[veebs-hates-video-games]

I think once I do Ys 8 I'm basically caught up, but first Dragon Quest 11 for a bit.

I played the demo on my computer a couple years ago and was really impressed. I spent at least a dozen hours on just the demo and still didn't run out of stuff to do, and I was enjoying the retro vibe in a more modern and polished package.

Then I decided to wait for it to go on sale at an arbitrary price I decided I was ok with. And then I kept waiting for multiple years because it just keeps never hitting that point on Steam.

I ended up actually paying slightly more than that for a used physical copy for the Switch instead, so good job Squenix, you got $0 out of that instead of like 10% less than what you would've if you'd dropped the price slightly more over time.

The problem with that is that now I have to redo all the stuff I did in the demo, and the beginning of the game is slooow. Painfully so. And on top of that the game is just painfully slow in general. It would be instantly improved by speeding up literally everything by 20%, even without redoing anything to fit the slightly faster pace.

The default camera speed takes a full five seconds to do a 360, and even at the max speed it takes at least like three. This is a recurring problem for me in a lot of Japanese games, and less often in games from other places (who tend to screw up their cameras in different ways). If the maximum speed isn't too fast for me to comfortably use your range of speed settings is too narrow.

Unsurprisingly to go along with that the walking speed is also really slow compared to what I'm used to. It has separate speeds for indoors and outdoors, and really the outdoor speed is how fast the indoor one should be while the indoor one should be reserved for stealth/sneaking sections (and those should stay in games I don't play because they're just not fun for me). It's especially painful coming directly from Ys 8, where the slowest walking speed is faster than the fastest one in DQ11, plus it has a run button to go faster, plus you can equip an accessory to turn it into a run even faster button.

There's a setting to change the combat speed, but really that wouldn't address most of my problems, and also it makes the animations look weird, which is a shame because there's a lot of excellent animation work in the game, like every different enemy has their own set of animations, and they're all extremely expressive and charming.

Unfortunately it tends to make you wait through the entire animation every time, including the full transition to their idle animation, when normally most games would move the camera or start accepting input again somewhere in the middle of that process. Also if there's a musical jingle that plays for any reason (e.g. winning a battle, leveling up, a new party member joining, saving your game) you have to let the whole thing finish playing before you can do anything (and anything includes mashing buttons to skip through stuff you've already seen dozens of times), which is also an extremely long delay compared to what most games do.

I swear if the camera and run speed were more reasonable and all the little things that make you wait around extra time doing nothing were tweaked a bit the game would instantly go from 100 hours to 60-70 and feel much better too.

Also while we're at it can we get some menus that suck less, especially the terrible inventory? I know a lot of the weird quirks in the game are things that were inherited from the older ones, but sometimes you just need to change them to make them actually functional, and you can reference the old ones with visual design or something.

It's a great game in a lot of ways, but it sure does manage to suck in others at the same time. I wish I'd just paid the extra five bucks and finished the game in 2021, because redoing all this stuff at the beginning is painful.

#dragon quest xi #dragon quest

[zarazmnie-cos]

hello, welcome to my INTRO POST !

WHO AM I ?

good question! i don't know either. but for now on here i go by NESS! i use SHE/THEM pronouns! i am 20 yo, being a 03 LINER! i live in POLAND! i know few languages and i'll tell you about them in a sec!

do you want to know more??? [check my carrd]

OTHER BLOGS ?

this one is MAIN

@jikjinz is for KPOP NSFW WRITINGS (minors for the love of the god do not interact with that blog or i'll beat yo ass)

@cosmic-expressions is for ANIME/GAME NSFW WRITINGS (minors plz begone)

@nusquam-cordis is for KPOP SFW WRITINGS (everyone are welcome there !!)

more to be added!

TAGS !

#poliszcore -> for polish language stuff, memes & basically for poland-related stuff

#randos -> shitpost, loose thoughts, etc

#gamer ness -> for ask, tag, or other such games

#smol tolk -> for random asks or replies, basically me talking to other people lmao

#me likey -> for recommendations and stuff like that

#damn gurl, you wrote this??? -> for my own writing stuff because i need to hype myself as well

#infor dump -> infos, updates, etc

LANGUAGES !

as a university student of english-russian linguistics, i know english on B2 level, and russian soon-to-be B1, though also french (A1) and some german basics. unfortunately, polish is my native language so let's go.

idk what else to write in here so send an ask if you wanna know something more about me!

#infor dump #is it my redemption arc #or villain arc #dont know dont care #we will see

[narratingvoice]

You may have heard the kerfuffle going around on Twitter in regards to Grand Theft Auto 6. Essentially, someone leaked the code for this very unfinished game, and some... shall we say ignorant Twitter users are already lambasting it for not having polished graphics yet. Again, this is a game in the alpha stages of development and not set to be released for at least two years, but some people think they can judge the quality of the finished product already because, and I quote, "visuals are one of the first things done".

This is not remotely true, and this blanket assertion irks me to no end. So I thought I'd join the many developers on Twitter countering this argument and share some of my personal development process, and the order in which things should be done. (Hint: graphics come near the end!)

Story

The story is of course the first and most important part of any video game. You should have the entire story committed to paper before you ever touch a computer. Treat it like you would a novel, with a full editing process to get your idea from first draft to a polished final form. Figure out what the passion deep within your soul is, convey your profound message to the world. You should also know every detail about your protagonist's life, from their favourite colour to the name of their first crush. Even if it never comes up in the story, it's vital to making them a well-rounded, believable character. Don't worry if writing takes a long time - this should be the hardest and most harrowing part of the process. Personally, I had the inspiration for The Stanley Parable as early as 2005 and worked on it off and on for years. It was an incredibly painful time in my life and I went through over 150 revisions before I was satisfied.

More secrets of game creation under the cut, because this got a little long even for me.

2. Gameplay

The next step is deciding what kind of game you'll be making. The style of gameplay you give your players will determine how they experience and absorb your story, so it's crucial that you choose the correct genre. My story is centred on the alienation of the common man within the modern workplace, so I went with a simple walking sim control scheme with no combat or puzzles to distract from the core theme. This will likely not be appropriate for you. If your story is, for example, a romantic tragedy between star-crossed lovers, it should properly be expressed as a platformer with a lot of collectibles. Writing a bildungsroman? Make it a Metroidvania. Science fiction dystopia? That should be a match-3 puzzle game.

3. Coding

Now that the idea work is finished, it's time to get to actually building the game. All video games, on their fundamental level, are made out of bytes. AAA game studios these days make games in the range of hundreds of gigabytes which they get from industrial suppliers, but if you're an indie developer, it's likely your game will be much smaller, in the range of several megabytes. I highly recommend buying fresh, locally grown bytes if at all possible. Check your local farmer's market to see if anyone has them for sale. If not, there's no shame ordering bulk packages from electronics shops; we all have to start somewhere. Once you have rinsed and dried your bytes, pour them into your computer and hit the "grind" button on your keyboard. Now they're ready to be built into all the assets your game will need! And if your project gets bigger than intended, you can always buy more.

4. Engine

Next you need to create the objects you want and put them all together. This is the step that the GTA6 code appears to be in, and it can take several years depending on how many objects you want. You'll need to pick an engine to work in, or if you're really ambitious, build your own custom engine. Popular engines such as Unity come with tools that let you create 3D objects by sculpting your code like clay. I personally hand-sculpted every corridor, door, and room in The Stanley Parable, and I don't even have an architecture degree! You'll want to practice making assets quickly, just in case you need to improvise and build new rooms after the game is finished. Because some people are nosy and just have to see what's beyond a door you didn't finish.

5. Orbs

I don't really have to explain this one, do I? It should be pretty obvious. We all know you can't make a game without orbs somewhere in the code. That's what holds the whole thing together.

6. Graphics

At last we come to the fabled visuals. You see how much work must come before this? You can't paint a house before you've constructed it, after all! And your graphic style really is like a coat of paint to make your game shine. Back in the 1980s, state of the art graphics looked like this:

But blocky sprites don't cut it with modern gamers who demand a sense of realism. (I still look like this, which is one of the reasons I don't show my face in game. It would clash with the vibe.) If you want your work to be taken seriously and win lots of awards, you must make it look as much like reality as possible. That means detailed skin and hair textures on all your characters, a perpetually dark sky, and lots of shiny metal objects everywhere just so you can show off how well they show reflections. Oh, and lots of little easter eggs that are barely readable unless you extract the texture and enlarge it. Your players will thank you for that.

7. Soundtrack

This honestly isn't that important. Just buy some royalty-free Creative Commons tracks and throw them in. Your players should be so engrossed in the story that the music hardly registers.

8. Beta Test

The final step, once everything is complete, is to play through your game a number of times to make sure it runs properly. Think of it like a rehearsal. In this stage you can catch any major bugs in the code and hopefully fix them. And if you find something unexpected happening, like for example your protagonist exhibiting sentience and free will, you can be prepared so you're not caught off guard on launch day. How embarrassing that would be. Of course no one is perfect, which is why patches exist.

And that's all there is to it! I hope this post was edifying. Now I'm going back to Twitter to laugh at people.

#tsp #the stanley parable #original #ask me anything #image descriptions in alt text

[coda-blue]

Update: Collab VNs

(This is a crosspost from my Patreon. To explore more, click here.)

**********************************************************

Belladonna's Flight — A demo is RELEASED! Belladonna’s Flight by Night Asobu is a poison-dealing fantasy romance, inspired by the historic case of an uncovered poisoner network in 17th century Paris, France. Made for both the Otome Jam and newly-formed sister jam, Josei Jam, Belladonna's Flight takes place in the fictional French city of Solroy, where you follow Catherine Auclair, a witch who makes her living selling lethal wares under the table. But once word lets out that the law is coming to execute every last one of her criminal ilk, Catherine has to call upon untrustworthy business rivals to try and work out a safe escape. Will her wit and wiles help her succeed, or will she get what's coming to her in a fateful betrayal?

I voice Marie Chaligault, a sharp-tongued fortune teller and potential love interest who keeps in the good graces of her noblesse clientele. I had a blast during the live sessions in bickering and boasting as Marie with my fellow voice talent, so I hope you enjoy it too! And hey: no matter who your favorite character is, Belladonna's Flight is continuing development! So be sure to keep up with Night Asobu, as you'll hear more from us moving forward! Until then, please play, rate, and share the demo!

Hello Counsel — Version 1 is RELEASED! Created by miseri accordion for Otome/Josei Jam, Hello Counsel is a short romcom visual novel that follows criminal sensation, Poise, who just got arrested! She's not talking to the cops unless her lawyer (and boyfriend) Salem is present, but when he swings by, can she keep herself from flirting too much and distracting him from giving good counsel?

I was the Character Artist for this visual novel! I was in love with the premise and the character refs presented in miseri's recruitment document, and I also I hadn't drawn character sprites for a published game in a good while. This ended up being a great opportunity for me to flex my ol' drawing muscles, in a more expressive and cartoonish style than my darker personal projects allow. I love the outrageous world and petty banter of this story, so this was honestly a breath of fresh air for me, style-wise. Please go play, rate, and share the game!

My Reflections

I push myself in my roles if it means in the end, I produce something that I am proud of. But as I don't constantly produce a specific style of product, I tend to overestimate how much work I can get done in, say, an hour. It's interesting to me because these are specialty skills that have taken years for me to train and cultivate, so what I personally can get done in an hour has all that history behind it, compared to someone else who may be much earlier in their own journey. Yet still I feel... slow. But I'm not sure if I'm "slow" so much as I'm underestimating my average output for a work I deliberately intend to look, read, or sound a certain level of polished. At the end of the day, I need to have more realistic—or perhaps, forgiving—expectations for myself. I also need to permit myself to be able to make certain executive decisions in the creative process that speed up the process because of my years of experience already informing my judgements. I trust myself to find that balance, and this latest jam experience has been a great help in reminding me of my strengths and points of which I ought to improve.

That's a Wrap

Thank you for reading! If you dig my stuff and where I'm headed, don't be afraid to show your support by sharing this post, interacting, or sending a tip my way.

#devlog #visual novel #interactive fiction #game development #indie game dev #Belladonna's Flight #Hello Counsel

[dragonsinkwell]

Hihi, Rae! I'm here to ask you the following: #1, #4, #8, #11, #12, #14, #20, #21, and #23, please and thank you! Cheers, hon! ☕

Do you prefer writing one-shots or multi-chaptered fics?

I can't say I prefer one or the other, I just rarely have the drive these days to consider a multi-chapter. My heart's a little dim because the audience is so quiet that I don't even know who I'm writing for, and why bake a cake when there's no one to eat it? But I wish I could and had written more chaptered pieces over all my little one-shots.

Link your three favorite fics right now

Control - by you, b/c it slaps and it's never leaving my top 3

A Warlock's Magic by @aunclassynerd b/c it also slaps and has sat in my head recently

distraction - by one flintstrike on Ao3 (@suguwu) and damn, got me thinking Things for the first character in a while to have me thinking

How does receiving or not receiving feedback/support impact you?

Honestly??? It's not like no feedback sends me into some spiral but like, go out and make things you think are nice and take some considerable work and have no one bat an eye at any of them. Do it for days, weeks, months. It's hard and it's not very fun any more. I can just daydream my ideas to myself with no effort at all, it's not as much but why bust ass for something that honestly feels unwanted?

Everyone talks about that 'two cakes' comic but like, what good is a cake when no one wants it? I can go buy a cupcake at the store instead and not have to clean up a whole bunch of dishes if it's just myself. No one ever giving back feedback just sounds like the work's not worth it and I'm best just daydreaming and giggling on Discord with the two people tops who have any interest in it.

If you want cakes, then you have to buy them and convince the baker that the work is worth it for them, and all it costs is a little feedback from enough people, aka entirely free.

How do you write emotional scenes? Do you ever feel what the characters feel? Do you draw from personal experiences?

It's hard to explain, I feel. In the age old 'Architect/Gardener' split I'm at least 90% gardener and just sorta... let things happen. I let the story speak to me, let the characters act as they would and I simply polish up what is given to me by the muse.

I can't say I directly feel what the characters do, but I know the feelings are there in most every case in one way or another, and I try to draw on those to help ensure some level of empathetic accuracy, so that the readers can feel at least some of what I hope to convey.

Have you noticed any patterns in your fics? Words/expressions that appear a lot, themes, common settings, etc?

I can't say that I have? But then I also don't super re-read a ton of my own pieces, either, so perhaps therein lies the issue.

Would you ever collaborate with another writer for a story?

Oh my gosh yes. I know I tried here once, many moons ago for a Spooktober collab, and I'd so gladly try again. I'm one to really love working with people, even just as someone to bounce ideas around with.

Best writing advice for other writers?

Find yourself an honest audience. Obviously, you ought to be in it as Numero Uno, but the outside voices help more than you know, especially if you want to improve. Find yourself co-conspirators who can give honest critique in the voice that helps you the most, people who can point out what your style is lacking and needs, where its slips are, but also what it has to its benefits, what your strengths are and where you're hitting all your home runs.

Critique isn't always this list of failures, it ought to also be laced with its praises too, so you can compare the two and see, yes, what you need to improve upon, but also where you're ahead of the game. It's good company for that, people who can give you both while enjoying your work that are worth more than their weight in gold.

#chatter #thehuggamugcafe #thank you for asking dearie

[morelknov]

The Underneath Case One: Rusalka

Just did this one for a Greed Island Challenge but I hated the ending so I redid it. This story introduces Palm as a rusalka, a vengeful spirit out of Slavic mythology. I had a lot of fun with this, and hope you enjoy!

I also wanted to write Knov and Knuckle interacting because I like it and it amuses me.

Knuckle laid upside down on the couch, playing a fighting game. Dirty dishes, takeout containers, and beer bottles littered the coffee table. Forgotten laundry draped over the couch, a pile of unpaid bills stacked on the table. His phone lit up with another text. A few more missed calls.

He wondered for a moment when he’d last run the vacuum over the crumb-plagued, threadbare carpet. Came up blank and decided not to worry about it anymore.

If I beat this level, Knuckle told himself. It’ll be my big accomplishment for the…week? Fortnight? Month?

Goosebumps prickled across his bare arms as the temperature plummeted. Phoenix, his hellhound, dove under the couch with a puff of ash and the smell of sulfur. He pushed the buttons with greater urgency.

I’m so damn close! If I can just beat this level before—

The toe of a black boot, polished to an otherworldly shine, poised over the switch on the power strip.

“Don’t do it,” Knuckle said. “Don’t you dare!”

Knov crossed his arms and gently tapped the switch. The screen plunged into darkness with a click and a loud pop.

“I didn’t invite you in,” Knuckle spat, irritated. His legs flopped across the stained couch cushions. “Haven’t you heard of knocking?”

“I need no invitation, I am not a vampire, and I suggest you change your tone,” Knov said in a clipped, even voice.

“I have a phone,” Knuckle replied as he sat up. “You should’ve- oh.” He sucked air through his teeth at the number of texts and missed calls. “Whoops.”  

“You seem to be allergic to answering the phone these days. So I decided to drop by, make sure you’re still alive and well. And while you’re quite alive, “well” is not the other word I would use for this…situation.”

A precariously placed stack of pizza boxes chose that exact moment to topple into the floor. Knov looked over at Knuckle, an unreadable expression on his face.

“…Please don’t tell Morel.”

“A bit late for that, I’m afraid,” Knov said as he pocketed his phone. “He asked me to check on you in his stead. He’d come himself, were it not for the business at the Summer Court.”

“What’s going on there?” Knuckle rolled his shoulders, realized how long he’d been playing the game when everything gave way to a series of cracks and snaps. He sighed in relief when his neck popped.

“The summer solstice approaches, so the usual politics and power plays. No need to worry. Morel is quite capable when it comes to such matters.”

“If it’s almost the summer solstice then…what’re you doing out? Your power decreases this time of year. Isn’t it dangerous for you?”

“Morel doesn’t trust anyone else to look in on you. And the thought I could ever lose enough of my power to be bested by common riffraff…impossible.” Knov glanced at the watch on his wrist. “I want you to help me with a job.”

Knuckle opened his mouth to object, and realized he was in no shape, financial or otherwise, to do so. “All right. Just lemme. Shower and get dressed.”

—

Snow crunched underfoot as the two of them made their way through the Winter Garden; one of the few places where winter lasted forever in the Underneath.  

“What’re we dealin’ with again?” Knuckle narrowed his eyes and looked out across the landscape.

“A rusalka,” Knov replied, the word rolling easily off his tongue. “She’s taken up residence in the main pond.”

“Ah.” Knuckle adjusted the bag on his shoulder and wondered what such a creature required. Iron? Bread and salt? “Lots of things live in the seasonal ponds. Why is this…rusalka such a big deal?”

“Rusalka are vengeful dead, and highly territorial. She’s already tried to drown multiple people. It’s nothing short of a miracle she hasn’t killed anyone.” Knov parted some silver-leafed bushes and the branches of a willow in eternal slumber. “We’re here.”

Ice floated on top of the pond, riven with deep cracks and gouges. The weak winter light turned the ice a bright blue-green.

“Stay alert,” Knov said as he walked to the left. “Whatever you do, do not let her drag you into the water. Do you understand?”

Knov clicked his tongue when he realized Knuckle was no longer there.

—

Knuckle heard the sound of weeping under the bridge, and though he understood mentally many monsters mimicked human cries, he found himself standing beside a dark haired woman.

She wore a beautiful wedding gown with lace overlay and long sleeves and fur trim. Her lacy veil was trimmed with seed pearls.

“Hey there,” Knuckle said, even as unease rose within him like a tide. “What’s wrong?”

“I lost my husband,” the woman said. “Right after we were married. The ice was supposed to hold, you see. He…he would have saved me if he could. I know he would have.” She rose to her full height, and Knuckle realized she stood in a pool of ankle deep water. The train of her dress floated behind her.  

He swallowed. Tried to step away and found himself rooted to the spot.

“But it’s okay now,” she said with a sharp-toothed smile. “We’ll get married, and you can come with me. Down to my home at the bottom of the pond.”

The touch of her cold, clammy hand brought Knuckle back to himself.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he backed away. The squelch of cold mud up to his ankles made him cringe. “I can tell you’re sad and lost and lonely. But I can’t go with you.”

The smile disappeared. “I wasn’t asking. You will marry me!”

—

Knov made it to the bridge over the center of the pond.

He heard Knuckle cry out, jumped over the side and willed more ice to form, for it to stabilize enough for him to run across. He watched Knuckle bite down on the rusalka’s arm and heard her let out an ear piercing shriek as she pulled away.

“Are you all right?” Knov placed himself between the two. The rusalka moved back sluggishly, and took on a more monstrous appearance.

“Yeah.” Knuckle spat a brackish substance onto the dry grass and wiped the blood off a series of slashes on his cheek. “Her blood, or whatever it is, tastes awful.”

“At least you regained the presence of mind to bite her. I doubt she’ll be fully paralyzed, but it should hinder her.”

“You,” she said in a slurred whisper. “Beautiful. I want you instead.”

“What is your name?” Knov asked. He stopped the repulsion that threatened to flicker across his face. She cannot help how she died and what she became in death.

“Oh,” she replied with a smile as she turned back into her more human form. “It’s Paloma Siberia. You can call me Palm.” She looked away and squeezed water out of her black hair. She produced a fish bone comb and ran it through her tangles.  

She hasn’t been here long enough to learn not to give her name, Knov thought. Or to gain any shred of immunity to Compulsion.

“Paloma,” he said. He glanced behind him and noted Knuckle had moved higher, to dry ground. Good. “I’m afraid you cannot remain here. You need to go somewhere else and be among your own kind.”

“But we’re getting married,” she replied. “I don’t need anyone but you.”

Shit, Knov thought. I can’t Compel her anymore.

At least, not through the usual means.

“I apologize,” Knov said as he removed his suit jacket and unbuttoned the cuff of his shirt. “But I am already bound to another.”

Paloma lunged, teeth bared, and tore into the flesh of his arm.

—

I can’t move fast enough, Knuckle thought as he reached for the rusalka. Paloma, she’d called herself.

But why isn’t Knov trying to get out of the way?

He watched as Knov let her bite into the flesh of his arm. Managed to grab Paloma and pull her away, although the damage was done. He heard her swallow and snarl, showing bloodied teeth. He wanted to gag.

Cold and dread crept up Knuckle’s spine, and he realized—

She’s not the only monster here anymore.

Knuckle wanted to drop her and run, but forced himself to remain. Forced himself to look and attempt to understand.

Most beings could only Compel with regular magic, and even then, it was more a suggestion than a command.   

Blood Compulsion belonged only to half-fae with a human parent.   

“I am Knov, Knight of the Winter Court, granted dominion over the slumbering and the dead. You will hear my words and heed my commands, Paloma Siberia.”

She went limp in Knuckle’s arms, her stare vacant. Expectant.

“You can no longer remain in the Winter Garden. You must live with the rusalka colony in the borderlands, between the Underneath and Above. There you must remain until I say otherwise.”

“Of course,” Paloma said, nodding.

“You will do no harm to my kith and kin, nor to the one I love. If you attempt to do so, I will destroy you without mercy.”

Knuckle could see Knov’s bloodshot eyes, the pallor of his skin. The silver of his veins, like scars across his features.

“Now sleep, and remember when you wake.” Knov said.

Knuckle laid Paloma down and caught Knov before he collapsed.

—

Knov woke in an unfamiliar bed, sat up, and immediately regretted doing so. He flopped back and looked up at the textured ceiling, trying to puzzle out where he was and how exactly he’d gotten there. 

Knuckle and I were at the Winter Garden, the rusalka bit me and I used Blood Compulsion…explains why my head hurts and I feel so drained. Knov rubbed at the fresh bandages on his forearm; his skin itched and he resisted the urge to pull the bandages off. 

The door opened, and Knov sat up once more, the ache in his head not as severe this time. He found his glasses on the nightstand and put them on. 

“Oh good,” Knuckle said as he bit into an apple. “You’re awake. I don’t have to sleep on the floor anymore.” 

Knov sighed. “I’m not even going to ask when you last changed the sheets.” 

“Oh, right before I put you in the bed,” Knuckle said. “Didn’t have time to clean off the couch before I laid you there so. Sorry.”  

“How long was I asleep?” Knov realized he wasn’t wearing his suit, but a t-shirt from an animal shelter, the print cracked and faded. “And are you all right?”

“Three days. Your shirt was all gross and bloody and I know you hate that, so I changed you out of it. Everything else was mostly okay.” He took another bite out of the apple and pointed to his cheek. No sign of a wound. 

“I assume you got the payment and put it in your account,” Knov said, eyeing the fruit in Knuckle’s hand. The scent made his stomach growl. He pushed the blankets aside and stood up slowly before reaching behind him for a blanket to wrap around himself. 

“Yup, paid all my bills, got the place cleaned up, and bought groceries. Palm–the rusalka–did what you told her to do. The solstice is past its zenith so Morel should be here any time now. Oh, before I forget–” Knuckle pulled an envelope out of his pocket. 

“What’s this?” Knov asked as he turned the envelope with a quick flip of his wrist. 

“Your part of the bounty–” 

The envelope was back in Knuckle’s hand before he could finish his sentence. 

“Keep it and put it in savings. You need it more than I do.” Knov moved past him and into the living room. 

“I–okay. You sure? You did most of the work.”

“Absolutely certain. I will, however, take some soup if you have it. Then you can consider our transaction complete.” 

“Just a can of soup?” Knuckle said with a laugh as he followed Knov. “I owe you way more than that.” 

—

#urban fantasy au #knuckle hxh #knov HxH

[servin-up-surveys]

survey #048

(from yesterday, my b)

Do you drink more or less water than is recommended? Way, WAAAAAAY less. I drink practically none; I'm literally only alive because of the water in food, haha. Do you like taking walks? Sigh, I used to love walking. In my school years back when we lived in the woods, I would walk outside usually at night with my iPod for literally hours on end. I seriously worn down a path in my front yard at night, back yard during the day. Now just walking to the bathroom directly beside my room is incredibly painful because of muscle atrophy. Do you remember The Land Before Time movies? Who was your favourite character? Oh god, of course, I was OBSESSED. I even had a computer game based on it. Littlefoot was my favorite. It's even a possibility that I'll get a tree star tattoo in remembrance of my mom when she passes. Are you one of those people who texts back instantly? Usually, yes. Assuming money wasn’t an issue, what car would buy right now, given the chance? Ugh, I wish. Whatever Mom wants; I don't need my own car. It'd be a fucking dream come true if I could get a nice, new car for my mother. What she has now is hanging on by an actual goddamn thread. Do you think going to college/university is the best option after you’ve left school? This varies person-to-person. Do you buy your lingerie at Victoria’s Secret? No, that shit is way too overpriced. I don't know how big their undergarments go, either, but I highly doubt they reach my size. Do you have a large dog? We have literally the smallest breed of dog, haha. Mom's not a massive fan of small dogs, but Cookie just worked for us. Have you ever been to Europe? No, but I'm going to Germany one day. Do you like breaded chicken sandwiches? Love 'em. When was the last time you bitched someone out? Idr. I actually think the only time I truly did that was on this one occasion with my sister's fucking abusive ex-boyfriend. Maybe. "Bitched out" implies being aggressive and merciless to me and Dustin fucking got it, idk about anyone else. What does your ex look like? "The" ex is your average height for a guy I think, an olive sort of tan with his Italian blood, underweight (even though he could EAT this mf never gained a goddamn pound), brown eyes, thin black hair (though in some light it looked more dark brown) that was kinda long for a guy, and last I saw a picture of him, he had a full (but not necessarily long) beard and mustache. What is your heritage? German, Irish, and Polish. We don't know Dad's side, though, other than his last name being Irish. Is your best friend a virgin? No. For two million dollars, would you pose for Playboy? Ugh... that would be life-changing but I just really don't think I could. I hate my body so, so much. Would you accept a boring job if it meant you would make mega bucks? Probably not, because I'd be very depressed. My brain is very bad at confusing boredom for depression, so. Have you ever used your parents’ credit card before? Not without their express permission. Are you afraid of plane rides? Not especially. Turbulence can make my heart speed up for a bit, but I'm not terrified. Have you ever made a turkey dinner all by yourself? Hell no. Do you have a gay friend? Yep. How many sex partners have you had? Names? Well I didn't/haven't gone "all the way" with either of them, but I've had two sexual partners, Jason and Girt. I guess maybe Sara, but to be totally honest I'm not sure if I'd count her here. Nowhere near on the level of the other two. Do you ever feel like people get tired of you? Oh god yes. Are you good at hiding your feelings? Nope. I feel too strongly and am just too expressive of it at like all times. Would you rather sleep for 3 days, or stay awake for 3 days? Eugh... I guess stay awake for three days again, even though last time I did that it had a very negative affect on my body. My nightmares are just SO frequent nowadays that THREE STRAIGHT DAYS of sleeping with those going on... oh god kill me. Whose bedroom were you in last? Besides mine, Mom's. Are you watching TV? What’s on? No; I don't even have a TV in my room. Ever made out on a rooftop? Can't say I have. Would you date anyone you met online? Probably not again, but who knows. Have you ever made your parents cry? Mom, oh yes. Sadly. I THINK the night I called Dad and made up after the divorce, his voice was shaking/kinda choked, but I don't know if he was tearing up or anything. If the last person you kissed invited you to a family dinner, would you go? Of course. Is your hair longer than your shoulders? No. When’s the next time you’ll be drinking? I don't know, but I want to in a rare instance. Did you sleep alone the last two nights? Yeah; well, if you're only counting human company. My cat cuddles with me pretty much every night, haha. Are you dressing up as anything for Halloween? Idk. Most likely not. Have you met the last person you kissed’s parents? Mom, yes. Dad's dead. Who is the first person you see in the mornings? Mom, seeing as she's the only one I live with. Have you ever fallen asleep with the last person that kissed you? Yep. Are you one of those people who just don’t care? God no, I care too much. I mean, about most things. When is the next time you will kiss someone? I absolutely hate questions that assume I'm a psychic. But if things go the way I want them to, the moment Girt next steps through my doorway, whenever that'll be since he's kinda sick. Who was the last person you were in love with for more than a year? Jason. Do you have a secret life? I guess you could say that, as hardcore of a secret I keep me being an RPer ss. Who was the last person to call you baby? Girt. When shopping at the grocery store, do you return your cart? omg yes I FUCKING HATE when people leave their goddamn shopping carts randomly about the parking lot. I can barely walk and I'm not even that fucking lazy. If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive? There's no way. If your house was on fire, what would be the first thing you would do? Is my mom out? If so, get Roman out, then Venus. I hate hate hate picking between them, like I want them both out IMMEDIATELY, but... Who was the last person you shared a bed with? Girt. Where was the furthest place you traveled? Illinois. Do you like mustard? Yes. Do you look like your mom or dad? I've heard both, idk. How long does it take you in the shower? Not even 10 minutes. Can you do splits? Hell no. Was your mom a cheerleader? Oh god I could NEVER picture her as one. I don't think she played any kind of sport growing up, but I could be wrong. Do you like Care Bears? I think they're cute, but that's the extent of it. Do you wear your seatbelt? Yes, WEAR YOUR GODDAMN SEATBELT. My own sister would be dead without one. Seatbelt burns ARE worth your fucking life. Anything big ever happen in your town? Maybe? I dunno. Nothing THAT big. Is your tongue pierced? Not anymore. :( It was damaging my teeth. Snake eyes were my favorite piercing I've ever had, though, they were SO cute. Ever been to L.A.? No. Whose house did you last spend the night at besides your own? Sara's. Have you ever seen somebody get shot? No, thank fucking god. Have you ever taken a picture in a bathroom mirror? Ha, yeah. Have you ever hated someone, but ended up being friends with them? Lmao hi, Rachel. Sara was once this situation too, but we're not friends now. What are you listening to right now? "Cowboy" by Lindemann. What’s worse: a headache or a stomach ache? STOMACH. I CANNOT handle stomach pain. Have you ever drank sweet tea? Did you like it? Living where I do, of course I've tried it, it's like, THE staple drink here, but I hate it to the point I refuse to drink it. Anybody ever tell you that “you could do so much better” about a person? I feel like someone mighta said this about Jason at some point... Have you ever kissed an ex after you two have broken up? No. When was the last time you talked to your most recent ex? Months ago. Ever kissed someone who smokes? No; someone who smokes kissed ME, but I went full statue. Do you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat? I STRONGLY prefer window. I've actually noticed that while taking off and getting the plane in position and all, I get fairly dizzy if I can't see outside/the surroundings. Do you ever wear boots with skinny jeans? UGH I used to love wearing my tall, leather black boots with them in high school, like that was THE LOOK, but I don't wear jeans anymore. Have you ever showered with someone? Only as a child. Are you racist to any race? Nope. What are/would you like to go to college for? I'm never going back to college. I dropped out three times; I can't afford to keep doing that. What kind of tea do you prefer? None. Have you ever intentionally hurt an animal? I've given like dogs a mild pop when misbehaving and shit, but nothing beyond that. I never would. Have you ever read all night long? I don't believe I have, actually, but maybe. Have you ever "done it" in a hotel room? No. Y'know, I've never even been to a hotel with an s/o. Have you ever peed in the woods? I'm quite certain no. I remember I really, really needed to once when fishing on the boat with my dad and sister, but I'm pretty sure I didn't/wasn't able. What’s your favorite love movie? The Notebook. Do you have any magazine subscriptions? No. Magazines have never been my thing. What kind of mom are you? Not one. Where are you ticklish? Like... everywhere. What hurts your feelings more than anything else? Probably calling me weak. Do you believe you’ve had a past life? No. Has a family member ever hit you? My mom has with the excuse of "spanking" when growing up. When you look back, do you think your life story will be a good one? Who fuckin' knows. Ever had any drug addictions? No. Do you have any anniversaries coming up? With Girt in less than a month, yeah. Who is the most shallow person you know? *shrug* What was your first intimate experience with a person? That woulda been with Jason in high school, but if I'm being completely honest, I can't really remember the first time we went beyond making out, oddly enough. Like I remember a lot, just... not the first. Did you ever play Frogger when you were a kid? BITCH I LOVED THAT GAME. I sucked at it except for the first level, but it sure was fun, haha. When were you at your lowest in your life so far? When my first real boyfriend Jason left me and I was in a constant state of literally wanting to die for over a year.

#survey #surveys #random surveys #random questions

[thej320]

Week 4: Masculinities in Sports

Exploring toxic masculinity and its prevalence in sports

You’ve probably heard the saying “men don’t cry”, "tough it up" or “be a real man.” In sports, these harmful phrases are omnipresent. Hearing these things from a young age can cause men to feel the need to hide their emotions. This can result in hyper masculinity or toxic masculinity. It can also lead to men expressing their emotions in unhealthy ways and feeling insecure. The strong presence of masculinity in sports has also made being a female athlete very challenging. Women are often compared to men in sports because of the difference in their physical ability. They are looked down upon for not having the same levels of engagement or interest in professional sports. At the same time, female athletes are also criticized for not being womanly enough. Masculinity in sports has set an impossible standard, even for women. Hearing "don't throw like a girl" is equally as harmful for women to hear. They have to work harder to go past these stereotypes.

We will often see male athletes have moments of aggression in sports. This “tough guise” can lead to athletes getting injured while they are taught to play through the pain. It can also be mentally upsetting. Athletes undergo a lot of pressure and stress. On top of this, they experience the hardships of life just like everyone else. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, experienced a lot of hardship. His brother committed suicide and his mother was battling cancer (Gordon). He opened up about feelings of depression and emphasized the importance of being vulnerable. For many men, it can feel impossible to talk about mental health because of the fear that it is not “masculine”. This fear is real because of the discourse and backlash that professional athletes face on a daily basis. Skip Bayless, a sports commentator, discussed Prescott’s depression in an insensitive way. This shows how the media aids these stereotypes and supports unhealthy expectations.

However, some male athletes are resisting this. Two great examples of this are NFL quarterback Caleb Williams and college basketball player Jared McCain. Conventional ideas of masculinity are put to the test by the existence of non-traditional gender identities in sports. These two are both known to paint their nails, which in male sports is extremely uncommon. This simple act is a great reminder to express yourself in whatever which way you choose. These are both amazing athletes, who are just as good with their nails painted. It should not diminish their masculinity or their image as amazing players. Williams received backlash after being seen crying in the arms of his mother after he just lost a big game. People do not like to see these things because it goes against stereotypical “masculine” acts. When we see someone step outside of this bubble, media viewers can get uncomfortable because it does not match their idea of “American Football.”

It is extremely important to put these stories into light and show people that there is not one thing that makes a man. Jared McCain recently signed a deal with a nail polish company, Sally Hansen. McCain says, “Everybody should do self-care. For me, it’s nail painting. I’m sorry if that offends any of you guys. My favorite nail polish to use is the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri because it only takes 60 seconds to dry. There’s no crazy reason I (paint my nails). It helps me not bite my nails. I went to a salon one time, picked out a color, and thought it looked nice. Many people disagree and don’t like it, but I’m going to be myself and do what I think looks nice (Thornton).” Having this representation is necessary-It is imperative that we keep pushing for more inclusive and wide-ranging depictions of masculinity in sports media. Promoting stories that defy clichés and present a more comprehensive understanding of what it means to be an athlete is one method to do this (UNESCO). 

Sources:

#masculinity #Youtube

[creative9blogs]

Latest Nail Extension Design Trends in 2024

Hey gorgeous readers! Who's ready to up their nail game to the next level this year? 2024 is bringing some incredibly fresh and exciting nail extension design trends that are taking the beauty world by storm. this year's nail looks are all about making a statement and expressing your unique personal style. Let's dive into all the hottest nail trends you need to try. Trust me, after seeing these, you'll be rushing to the nail salon!

Hottest Nail Trends You Must Try

Nailing the latest trends has never been more fun! 2024 is the year for creativity and self-expression through gorgeous nail Extension designs. Get ready to be inspired by these must-try looks that will instantly elevate your mani game. Let your nails embrace the latest nail art innovations and prepare to be showered with compliments!

Neon Brights Nail Extension Design

One of the biggest manicure movements making waves is fun, vibrant neon shades for nails. We're talking about electric, almost glowing tones like zingy limes, punchy pinks, and walloping blues. These eye-catching neon hues are the perfect way to add a huge pop of youthful, energetic color to any look. You can go for a full neon mani, or even try out neon accent nails combined with other shades. Neon nails instantly give off a cool, trendy vibe whether you pair them with casual everyday looks or dress them up with other bright pieces for an eye-catching ensemble. Get ready to stop traffic!

Mirrors and Metallics Nail Extension Design

Another huge nail trend is mirrored and metallic finishes that give your nails the most luxurious sheen. We're talking ultra-shiny chrome polishes, molten metallic lacquers in shades like rose gold and gunmetal, and even special glass nail effects that create the illusion of a tiny mirror on each nail. These glistening, glossy looks are super sleek and modern, and make your nails look like precious gemstones! Metallic nails are a surefire way to add a touch of glamorous shine to your styles this year.

3D Designs and Embellishments Nail Extension Design

Why just paint your nails when you can add some cool 3D texture and flair? Embellished and decorated nails involving studs, gems, charms, rhinestones, and other materials are becoming a must-have nail art technique. You can add a few simple accented accent nails, do an entire set with different designs, or even create intricate looks using multiple textured materials. It's a fun way to get creative and show off your trendy, artistic side. Some popular takes include classic studded or gem-encrusted French tips, bold cheetah print nails with 3D spots, and even nails topped with tiny trinkets like stars, flowers, or butterflies. For brides, decorated nails with pearls and crystals are a major bridal beauty trend. The options are endless to make a statement!

Minimalist Nudes Nail Extension Design

While bright, bold colors and embellishments are huge, there's also been a rise in more minimalist, natural looks for nails. Soft nude and milky polishes, sheer tinted glazes, and even nude metallics give nails an ultra-clean, sleek finish. These natural-looking mani styles are perfect for work, formal events, minimalists who prefer low-key styles, or just an overall more laidback, low-maintenance vibe for casual days. You'd be surprised how much a simple nude mani can pull an outfit together and look polished! Popular versions include opaque beige and soft pink nudes as well as sheer off-white and ivory-tinted glazes with just a hint of shine. This nude trend also extends to nail designs, with lots of barely-there designs using fine lines and muted tones.

Hand-Painted Artistry Nail Extension Design

With all the wildly creative and talented nail artists out there, hand-painted nail designs and mini masterpieces on each nail are rapidly gaining popularity as a major trend. You can find designs ranging from simple line art and graphics to incredibly intricate and detailed designs like miniature paintings. Some of the most popular themes for hand-painted nail art include floral motifs and landscape scenes as well as abstract designs, geometric patterns, and even tiny painted portraits! This trend allows your nails to become a canvas for true artistry and self-expression. Whether you keep it simple and chic or go avant-garde, hand-painted nail designs are so hot right now.

There you have it - the top 5 biggest Nail Extension Design 2024! Whether you love the look of vibrant neon brights, luxe metallics, decorated and embellished designs, minimalist nudes, or tiny hand-painted works of art, there's something for everyone to try this year. The nail world is seeing so much creativity and innovation, allowing you to truly express your style through your mani. So have fun playing with colors, textures, and designs to create fresh, fierce nail looks you'll adore! Get ready for your nails to be the star of the show. Latest Nail Extension Design Trends in 2024

#nail extension for bride #nail studio #nail extension pics #simple nail extension designs #red bridal nail art designs #nail extension images #red nail extensions

[anything-viva]

Africa, You Spin Me Right Round, Eye of the Tiger, & Like a Virgin for that 80's ask game

africa: favourite 80s music video?

as much as it's memed nowadays, take on me has such a cool concept!

you spin me round (like a record): favourite modern cover of an older song?

ooh this is hard... house of the rising sun by lauren o'connell is so haunting, i like it

like a virgin: share a controversial opinion.

ok i'm going to put this under a readmore bc it got wayyy too long, rambly, and disorganized. it's about ai art lol

im going to leave the ethical issues of data collection and copying art styles out of this. those are two other whole cans of worms... instead im going to tackle the "ai art isn't art!"

imo "art" is communication: you need an idea and to interpret how to convey it. any stricter of a definition cuts out too many other things that we know are art. the solution isn't to raise the bar of what is considered "art", it's to have taste. does that mean ai art has inherent value? NOPE! i don't think art has inherent good or bad value, it's just another means of expression.

i think the genesis of ai art is like the rise of photography during then late 1880s. photography was similarly demonized as cheating. instead of mixing the paint yourself, it "let the machine do all the work" (sound familiar, digital artists?) but as we know now it takes a LOT of effort and artistic interpretation to make a good photograph. it just uses a different skillset. to make a good piece of ai art requires a lot of phrasing and writing. like if someone spends a lot of time crafting a prompt, then yeah i'd say that's decent. HOWEVER!! just typing in, idk, "princess peach" to dall-e is roughly the artistic equivalent of a stick figure or a blurry photo of the moon you took on your iphone. (tbh... the ai example i used is even less art than those.) you still have to construct the stick figure's lines and arrange them the way you want. you still have to decide how to hold the phone when to snap the photo. and with ai, you you still have to choose to depict a subject and how to do it. it's not very good nor original, but it's still interpretation on some level. does that make it good? FUCK NO. even if the result is technically impressive, i'd still consider it basic.

i think the "if you ask a subway worker to make a sandwich, did you make the sandwich?" argument doesn't apply to ai art bc another human made that sandwich. ai isn't human, it's just a tool. imo, the subway worker is a human, so they made the sandwich. but does the camera own the photo you take?

ai art is eventually going to become respectable like photography. and when photography got popular, yes a lot of artists (particularly realists) lost their jobs, but the craft survived because artists adapted! since ai art is so polished nowadays, artists are going to have to do the opposite. they're get weirder, messier, and most importantly more original. like i said, anyone can type "princess peach" into dall-e and get a million bland results. in order to survive, we're gonna have to figure out what makes our perspectives unique and push that to its limit. we'll make things a machine can't dream up on their own. this isn't the death of art... at least, not yet.

#deadmail