#Lecture active

[help-itrappedmyself]

Liminal Jason part 6

This part feels like a lot of exposition. My bad, but the Batfam does not know how Danny and his life works.

You can find the earlier parts on my masterpost

“And in this scenario, you three count as dead?” Red asked, hoping to get some clarity on this, quite frankly, annoyingly impossible scenario playing out in front of him. Because as much as he can see that they clearly have a way to communicate that is beyond him and knows that they have all died, his brain does not seem to want to compute this information into other conclusions. A glance from Tim to Bruce shows that while he may not be struggling as much with the logistics of this situation, he is still struggling.

That may be because of all the children in front of him that- regardless of current status- all did die at some point. 

“Sort of,” Danny shrugs. “What you have to understand is there are a lot of different kinds of beings from what you would consider the land of the dead, which I call the Ghost Zone, and is more formally known as the Infinite Realms. There is a lot of diversity, and It would be a real sit-down kind of lesson to try and explain them all to you guys. The important bit for right now is that the three of us,” Danny gestures to Red Hood, then himself, then to Robin,”are three different beings, as related to the Infinite Realms, and I am the only one that technically counts as dead.”

Danny is very good at ignoring the side glances being thrown around. “But Ghost Speak can be spoken by any denizen of the Infinite Realms, who falls under any of it’s categories or rulers.” 

“Rulers?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Danny does another hand waving motion. “You know, Hades and Pluto, Lucifer and the Devil, the Ghost King, and other various religions and beliefs rulers. It's all very monarchist. The Infinite Realms are all technically under the control of the Ghost King, but the Infinite Realms are infinite and that’s a lot for one person to control. So various religious leaders all  make up what is essentially Dukes and Lords and Barons and other random titles, and they all control their little Realms and make up what could be considered a council or a parliament or Congress or what-have-you that is technically under the rule of the Ghost King. But the Ghost King really only takes care of the really big stuff most of the time. Unless there’s a tyrant on the throne, like with Pariah Dark. He was a terrible ruler, very controlling.”

Danny was rambling. He was aware of this, but the others seemed too shell-shocked to be able to stop him, and he has never really been able to talk about this with anyone so now that he is he doesn’t think he can stop himself either. 

“He’s not on the throne anymore, luckily. Technically the right to the throne is transferred through single-combat, very old-fashioned. No one could beat Pariah Dark so they locked him in the Coffin of Forever Sleep for a really long time instead. I don’t think the Infinite Realms really need a King all that much, they got by just fine for millenia without one. But now we’re getting into politics. Unimportant. Death Speak, language of the Infinite Realms, totally natural, not at all bad.”

Danny forces himself to take a very long, slow breath. By the time he is done, the others seem at least semi-recovered. 

“If it’s all the same to you, I think I would like that sit-down lesson at some point.” Red mutters, fingers twitching as he pulls out his tablet to start writing down this information. Bruce grunts in agreement.

“If it's all the same to you,” Hood snaps, “I would like to get out of this cell now.” 

“If we let you out, will you stay until we have the results from all of the tests?” Bruce asked. “They’re currently running so it won’t take long.” 

“Why the hell do we need to stay for that? You-”

“Did you take my blood?” Danny interrupted, seeming very concerned.

“It was a precaution, we had to test it. We took some of Hood’s too.” Red tried to explain. It didn’t seem to be helping, Danny’s breathing was getting kind of fast. “The tests are running now, just to look for influences of mind control or magic. And to test for dimensional distortions and integrity, if you were telling the truth about being from a different dimension. And to see if you have an alternate in this dimension that we need to be concerned about you running into.”

“I don’t really care -well, yes I do, breach of privacy, and consent, and-” Danny took a deep breath. “That is not my main concern at the moment. You were safe when handling my blood, right? You used gloves and it didn’t get on you or anything? I don’t know where we are and what you people are like, but just tell me you were safe around my blood.”

The real concern and fear in Danny was starting to get everyone else.

“Don’t worry, we are very safe here. We all have training and we know and use lab and medical safety procedures.” Damian spoke softly, aiming to calm.

“What is wrong with your blood, Danny?” Hood’s concern for him came out in underling Ghost Speak, and between him and Damian, Danny was able to calm some.

“It may be… not radioactive. Not contagious either.” Danny’s voice trailed to muttering for a moment as he figured out how to word what he said next. “My blood has a contaminant in it. Just don’t let it touch you, and definitely don’t let it get inside you somehow. It can also be dangerous if you have prolonged exposure, so make sure to get rid of any samples as soon as possible after the test and keep it away from other samples. And for the love of everything that is holy, try to keep it away from anything that will ever be ingested. Keep it away from food!”

“It can contaminate other samples?” 

“It can contaminate anything given enough time, technology included. But it spreads way more easily when it’s cold for some reason, so really anything put in a fridge with it should be tossed immediately.”

“You said it’s not contagious?” There was concern in even Red’s voice now.

“You’re not ill are you?” Damian eyes Danny warily.

“I’m fine, It’s part of me being what I am. Just,” Danny sighed and ran his fingers through his hair before cupping the back of his neck with both hands and looking towards the ceiling. “Think of it like a transforming agent. I’ve already been exposed, my DNA is altered, the harm is already done. My body actually needs that substance to survive now. Hood and… I’m sorry I don’t know what to call you.” Danny swung his hands back down to his sides as he glanced at Robin. 

“Robin.” Damian stated bluntly. 

Danny nodded and continued. “Hood and Robin have already been exposed so they’re fine for low to medium amounts of exposure. You two,” Danny pointed a finger at Red and then Batman, “Have not been exposed and therefore should avoid it as much as possible. Even a little bit can cause lifelong effects.”

[annasofthe11thdimension]

Pictured: Loop being extremely normal as they lay in their shallow (homemade) grave as they meditate on existence and also if they have annoyed the Researcher enough THIS time for her to murder them and bury them alive.

(Spoilers - they did not annoy her even CLOSE to that much.)

And there is the required reverse image of Odile arriving - she's had a LONG day (i.e. previous loop), and due to this it will take ten minutes before she even acknowledges the shallow grave Loop is laying in, as she was distracted complaining about what Siffrin just did to annoy her.

----

I'd say there's context for all of that, because like...there IS context? Here's the link to the series of fics that HAS that context even! But also...even with context...can't say that it's going to make any of this less weird.

Mostly Odile is looping because due to Loop's wish the universe got rewritten to make Siffrin's repression and emotional issues (the ones bad enough to get him stuck in a time loop in the game) 'someone else's' problem...or at least that's Loop's best theory atm!

Regardless, context or not, I'm quite happy with how the pics came out, and figured I might as well post them here too.

[lucabyte]

been doodling in class so i dont fall asleep in the middle of lectures. here's some of the isat ones so far. love using cheap felt tip pens

[melrosing]

i won't lie i do get annoyed about the sheer amount of romantasy and 'the cinnamon bun cafe by the sea' and 'the japanese cat who read magical books' shit that's pushed at me every time i enter a bookshop these days but otoh i think if books snobs complaining about this stuff spent half as much time searching out and recommending books they actually enjoy then maybe they'd feel better because this stuff IS out there and this romantasy trend isn't terribly different to the obsession all our gen x/boomer parents had with scandi thrillers in the 2000s. literature will survive

[dragonpyre]

Anyone else grow up thinking something’s just normal to know/do only to find out later that your parents just have highly specific jobs/hobbies?

[raspberrybluejeans]

I'm taking a class about teaching (in particular teaching adults) for a requirement for my program and its sort of agonizing but its also like eye opening seeing why we're taught in certain ways

Like oh there's studies showing that active learning is much more effective so that's why I am Tortured weekly with discussion posts

[owmylasagna-blog]

And this stinker

[yourwitchjay]

dude my day is fucking jacked

I've been blasting the vengeance saga since the watch party, my fyp is FLODDED with marauders angst as per halloween, rise of the order starts, I've done a lot of samhain deity work AND I'm doing a bunch of rituals to communicate with spirits with my friends, I get to dress up and it's okay, I get to see a bunch of hot gay ppl in costumes, I'm watching halloween movies

and after allllll of that the set it off remake come out tomorrow!

AND IM EXPECTED TO BE NORMAL AND FUNCTION AND GO TO CLASS?!?!

edit: OMG I FORGOT ABIUT THE NEW HELLUVA BOSS EPISODE I JUST SAW IT BUT IM STILL IN CLASS IMMA LOSE IT

[blvckentropy]

I forgot about the gameplay live....I'm trying really hard to give EA the benefit of the doubt but god

[deservedgrace]

something that i've been struggling to articulate but has been bothering me for a while is how some christians engage and interact with science and what i'm realizing is they have a like... almost love-bombing/discarding relationship with it. and i recognize science isn't a person and that's not literally happening but the christians that i grew up around have this relationship with science where it's real/valid/correct if it supports their side and fake/invalid/wrong if it doesn't. it's this like... engaging with science to get something from it when it can prove their point and condemning it when it doesn't. and this also ties into the belief that you, a layperson with no background in science, are more knowledgeable than actual scientists simply because you have god on your side, and therefore you can use science in whatever way you see fit, which means engaging with it in a way that is ultimately anti-science (but that also doesn't matter because god said it was okay). and it's exhausting engaging with these people for me because it's not that they believe all science bad, it's that they believe most science bad but some science good and they have the authority to determine what is bad and what is good, despite, again, not having a background in science (because what is a "background in science" to an all-knowing god that you have a personal relationship with?). the thing that is so frustrating to me is how these people recognize science is valued and use it to strengthen the validity of their points and to gain credibility while simultaneously refusing to acknowledge the validity of science as a field at all or put in any effort to understand/respect it.

[frank-olivier]

Echoes of the Past: The Silver Bridge and the Mothman Legend

West Virginia's paranormal landscape, marked by the enigmatic Flatwoods Monster and Mothman sightings, is deeply intertwined with the state's complex historical narrative. The region's indigenous heritage, colonial wars, and industrial development have woven a rich tapestry that potentially contributes to its paranormal reputation. The Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774 and the alleged curse by Chief Cornstalk in 1777, following his death, are often cited as precursors to the area's propensity for disasters and unexplained phenomena.

John Keel's theory of "window areas" suggests that specific locations and times facilitate the manifestation of paranormal phenomena due to a thinner fabric between dimensions or realities. The years 1952 and 1966-1967, marked by the Flatwoods Monster and Mothman sightings respectively, are significant in this context. This theory provides a framework for understanding the clustering of UFO sightings, monster encounters, and other unexplained events in West Virginia, potentially linked to the region's tumultuous past.

The Flatwoods Monster, described as a towering, glowing-eyed creature, was reportedly seen by a group of children and adults in 1952, reflecting the anxieties and fascinations of the Cold War era. In contrast, the Mothman, characterized by its winged, red-eyed appearance, was spotted in Point Pleasant between 1966 and 1967, a period of economic decline for the local steel industry. The creature's appearances were often interpreted as an omen, culminating in the tragic Silver Bridge collapse in 1967, which claimed 46 lives and further entwined the Mothman legend with the area's history of tragedy.

Personal accounts, such as Linda Sigman's encounter with the Mothman and a UFO, highlight the profound impact on witnesses, including health issues, psychological effects, and the development of psychic abilities in some cases. The presence of Men in Black, reportedly surveilling and silencing witnesses, adds a layer of mystery and raises questions about the official handling of paranormal events.

Researchers like John Keel have significantly advanced our understanding of these phenomena, despite the challenges posed by fear and skepticism. The Mothman has transcended its origins to become a cultural icon, influencing local identity and economy, and exemplifying the complex interplay between the paranormal, folklore, and community identity set against West Virginia's storied past.

By combining historical context, personal accounts, and theoretical perspectives, we gain a deeper understanding of West Virginia’s paranormal phenomena. This unique blend of factors highlights the state’s intriguing connection to the unexplained, inviting further exploration into the mysteries intertwined with its complex past.

Paranormal Horizons: Mothman Eyewitnesses Speak Out (Small Town Monsters, February 2025)

John Keel Lecture on UFOs (Verschlimmbesserung, March 2021)

Thursday, February 13, 2025

[tokyoteddywolf]

Can you tell/show us anything about the "Crystallized Decomp" stage? Or if you want...Obsidian, have you seen a pokemon reach that stage? What was it like? What did you do about it?

(that is, take this as IC or OOC as you see fit, I'm just curious either way)

Oh I would LOVE to!!! I drew this as best I could :D

CONTENT WARNING: DECOMPOSING BODY, DEAD ANIMAL/POKEMON, BLOOD, IMPLIED PARASITISM

This, my friends, is what crystal decomposition is! Or, Crystal Decomp for short.

This is, or was, an Alolan Ninetails variant that unfortunately scavenged a rotting corpse that had been possessed by a Shadow Stone and subsequently got corrupted itself.

This one was, luckily or unluckily, in an area where there is little energy to consume and died from extreme starvation. Now while this is a more extreme crystallization from being left for so long, you can see in parts of the crystal where limbs, flesh, bones and hair are trapped inside.

What usually happens is after death, the Shadow Stone takes root in the earth to grow, absorbing energy around it. Meanwhile, the corpse is left out enticingly to attract other Pokémon, scavengers and the like, and like the Pokémon before it, if they eat any of the corpse, those scavengers also get possessed and become Shadow Pokémon in turn. You could say this is a reproduction method, but it seems more of a side effect than intentional.

Eventually the entire body is either consumed or absorbed into the crystal, as bones will turn to crystal themselves in a sort of unique ossification! Hair usually returns to dust, though, as in this case of the Ninetails' tails.

Hope this explanation helped! Remember, the entire goal of Shadow Stones is to consume! :D

[solarpunkani]

Y'know someone's probably waxed poetic about this already but it's on my mind so I'm gonna do it again.

When it comes to encouraging people to learn about native plants and habitat and involving themselves and their yards in the wider ecosystem, you gotta meet them where they're at.

And maybe that means they won't go as far into it as you are or would like them to in your wildest dreams. But even small steps count towards the bigger picture and I think we need to appreciate that more.

An example from my own life is my mom and the current gardening project we're working on. We're planning out the garden beds in the front of the yard by the mailbox--my mom's previous plantings for the most part haven't worked out, so I'm taking a crack at it.

I'm a pollinator gardening enthusiast who cares more about attracting as many butterflies bees and hummingbirds as possible than keeping things 'neat' and 'tidy'. However, not only do we live in an HOA neighborhood (though not as intense as some other stories I've heard), but I know my mother--an interior designer who has a deeply vested care for making sure the exterior of the house looks as Nice as possible.

We're still getting a pollinator garden in the front though. How? I'm meeting her where she's at, I'm making some concessions, she's making some concessions, but ultimately we're making something that works for the both of us. She doesn't want the plants too tall and messy? We'll trim them back in fall and winter--the insects can use the backyard garden to nest in. She doesn't want things too wild and bushy and weedy? We'll add a nice mulch to the beds, keep things a bit spaced out until they grow in to their larger sizes. She doesn't know the latin names for the plants I'm asking for, let alone how to pronounce them to ask for them at a garden center? That's fine, I don't know the Latin names for most things anyways, let's just use common names.

Does she care that the garden will attract butterflies and hummingbirds? Not intrinsically--she sees it as more of a bonus, if anything. She just cares about what color everything will be and if it'll be easy to maintain. The fact that they're native plants barely registers as a plus side to her. And honestly? That is fine.

If I approached this problem with a hardheaded attitude on how I wanted it to be just as wild and free as my backyard garden? There wouldn't be any native plants in the front beds. It's not like I didn't teach my mom things, but I didn't lecture her like she was lesser just for not knowing or caring as much about native gardening as I do. And that, ultimately, made her more open to the idea than she would've been if I looked down on her like I've seen too many people do to others.

Not everyone is going to develop a deeply seated care about native plants and Latin names and I don't think it's reasonable to expect that. Meet people where they're at and you just might get a lot more done. Meet people where they're at and you just might find they'll get excited enough to learn more--but if they don't want to learn more, that is fine.

We can't expect everyone on the globe to suddenly become plant experts rattling off Latin names left and right and professionally ID'ing native and invasive plants. In the same way we wouldn't expect everyone to suddenly learn the ins and outs of learning code, or how to synthesize medicines, or how to properly build a house. And that is fine. Because we can lean on those who do know when these things come up.

I lost track of where this was going but. Y'know????

[starpiastri]

my emails do this rlly cool thing where my inboxes merge and i have rpf porn next to Important Uni Documents

[demigod-of-the-agni]

Forgive me, forgive me. I ask, I beg, I pray, but it never comes.

You know I find it incredibly bewildering to see just how much kalki reflects myself in him like YEAH Duh of course he does, he’s my little guy it’s like his full time job. But at the same time he is a fully functional facet of my being and he is at the mercy of my whimsies, and whatever he discovers in his arduous journey of self realisation is ultimately a reflection of what I discover in the real world. It’s also incredibly funny because ffxiv lore for dark knights is really baked into the idea of (re)discovering yourself amongst the bloodshed and continuing to live and love and thrive despite the world working against us. who would have thought such a raw message could come from an mmorpg side quest about edgy emo boys of all places

also adamantite armour of fending i would lay down my LIFE for u

variant + phone bg version + ID below the cut

tch as if you guys are actually going to use artwork of my little guy as your phone background. i know. how dumb. let a girl dream. i should make an alternate version but it's of Fray and Myste

[START ID: A picture with a red background focusing on the character's bust that is placed to the left of the image's centre. He is coloured with a dark blue overlay, contrasting with the red background. He has brown skin, long black hair that falls over his shoulders, and is wearing blue and gold armour and earrings. He is looking at the viewer, right eye dark brown and the left an glowing unnatural red, with an expression that looks determined and angry and yet bitter and forlorn. In the foreground and on the right side of the piece, a miniature version of the character stands coloured in a light blue overlay and wearing the same blue and gold armour, looking as if he is glowing. He is facing towards the left of the piece, or perhaps at the character bust, his expression unreadable. Above the miniature character's head is the symbol representing the FFXIV dark knight, coloured in gold. END ID.]