#Modern robotics skills

[tudip123]

Top Tools and Technologies for Advancing Your Robotics Skills in 2025

As the field of robotics continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead of the curve requires not only passion and creativity but also a deep understanding of the tools and technologies shaping the industry. In 2025, aspiring engineers and seasoned professionals alike must harness cutting-edge advancements in robotics to stay competitive and innovative. Whether you're developing autonomous systems, enhancing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, or creating novel robotic applications, the right tools can significantly enhance your skills and accelerate your projects. This article will explore the top tools and technologies for advancing your robotics expertise, offering insights into software, hardware, and emerging trends that are set to transform the field in the coming years.

The Role of Tools and Technologies in Robotics:

Robotics relies on advanced tools and technologies to design, build, and program robots. These tools simplify complex tasks, making it easier for developers and engineers to create efficient and intelligent robotic systems. In 2025, new robotics tools will enhance how we approach robotic system development, driving innovation across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics.

Top Robotics Tools in 2025:

1. Simulation Software:Simulation tools like ROS (Robot Operating System) and Gazebo are essential for designing and testing robots in virtual environments. These tools help engineers troubleshoot problems and refine designs without physical hardware, saving time and costs.

2. AI-Powered Development Platforms:Platforms integrating AI in robotics are becoming more accessible, enabling robots to learn from their environments and make smarter decisions. OpenAI’s GPT for robotics and TensorFlow are excellent examples of tools that combine AI with robotic programming.

3. Machine Learning Libraries: With the rise of machine learning for robotics, libraries like PyTorch and Scikit-learn are critical for developing algorithms that help robots adapt and improve over time. These libraries simplify the creation of intelligent robotic systems that can perform complex tasks.

4. Hardware Prototyping Tools: Advanced prototyping tools like Arduino and Raspberry Pi continue to be vital for building and testing robotics hardware. They allow developers to experiment with sensors, actuators, and other components easily.

5. Collaborative Platforms: Collaborative platforms such as GitHub and cloud-based robotic development environments are transforming the way engineers work on projects. These platforms enable seamless teamwork and integration of various technologies.

Emerging Technologies in Robotics:

AI in Robotics:Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing robotics, making robots more autonomous and efficient. AI allows robots to understand complex scenarios, recognize patterns, and interact naturally with humans.

Machine Learning for Robotics:Machine learning takes robotics to the next level by enabling robots to learn from data and adapt their behavior. For example, robots in warehouses can learn to optimize routes based on past delivery data, improving efficiency.

Advanced Robotics Technologies:Innovations in sensors, materials, and actuators are driving the development of advanced robotic systems. Flexible robots and soft robotics are becoming more common, opening new possibilities in healthcare and delicate manufacturing processes.

The Future of Robotics Skills:

The future of robotics skills is heavily tied to staying updated with the latest tools and technologies. In 2025, robotics professionals will need expertise in programming, machine learning, and system integration. Familiarity with robotics platforms and hands-on experience with prototyping tools will be crucial for success.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, mastering the top tools and technologies for robotics in 2025 is key to unlocking new potential in the field. As AI, machine learning, and automation continue to influence the design and operation of robots, staying informed about the latest software platforms, development environments, and hardware systems will empower you to innovate and lead in the industry. By incorporating these tools into your workflow, you��ll not only advance your own skills but also contribute to shaping the future of robotics. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or industry professional, embracing these technologies will pave the way for breakthroughs that will redefine the boundaries of what's possible in robotics.

Tudip Learning aims to "Elevate Learning" by offering a comprehensive range of foundational courses in critical areas of technology, including Robotics, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence and more. Build essential skills and step into the future of robotics. Start your journey into one of the most innovative and rapidly growing fields! Know more: https://tudiplearning.com/course/master-advanced-robotics/.

[windydrawallday]

Robot anatomy-character design practices circa 2022.

There's A LOT you can do after you learn the rules!

[presswoodterryryan]

Personalized Learning: How AI is Changing Classrooms

By Ariel Have you ever wondered what classrooms will look like in the near future? Will robots be teaching math? Will kids explore ancient Egypt using virtual reality? What if AI could customize every lesson to match a student’s strengths and weaknesses? Well, the future isn’t just coming—it’s already here! In 2025, education is evolving at an incredible pace, transforming how kids learn,…

[localfandomenjoyer]

Does the golden apple incident stay the same?

Potentially even if Perse wouldn’t want to, to reduce the chaos or just not wanting to be involved

If she’s married to Zeus she’d be THE QUEEN and it might look bad if she doesn’t try to fight for the title even though objectively it would be Aphrodite.

Hephaestus forcefully injects himself into that myth to argue on her behalf because he loves his mum. Ares does too, but he's married to Aphrodite, so it's a conflict of interest. This makes for a rather amusing encounter for Paris.

Athena: Pick me, I will give you wisdom and skill in war.

Hera: No, pick me, I will make you king of Europe and Asia.

Aphrodite: They're both wrong. You should pick me, I'll give you the most beautiful bride in Greece.

Paris: Um, okay *sees Hephaestus beside the trio* and what about you?

Hephaestus: Pick my mother, I will craft you a huge bronze robot that you can pilot around.

Paris: Hmm...

Every modern reader: Dude, it's a magical fucking Gundam suit! Pick the Gundam suit!

Paris: I choose Aphrodite.

Every modern reader: This idiot...

The Trojan Gundam suit becomes a meme in the modern age. Each year, Paul Blofis must grade at least three essays that go into excruciating detail about why Paris not picking the coolest thing ever ties into the themes of the Iliad. He low-key agrees with them.

[holylulusworld]

Skilled fingers

Summary: Art meets Steve

Pairing: Steve Rogers x ArtModel!Reader

Warnings: injured reader, mentions of an attack, kind of love-struck/obsessed Steve

Steve doesn’t know what brings him back to the community college every Thursday night. No, that’s a lie. He knows what draws him in like a moth to the flame.

In the beginning, he only wanted to find out if he could turn his talent into more than a hobby. Steve longed for more than the next battle or to get used to the modern world.

He signed up for a drawing course at the community college to have something outside of the Avengers and fight for justice.

It started as a distraction but turned into something more when the teacher introduced the new art model to the class.

Steve tried not to look at you for too long. His cheeks were red, and his hands were trembling when he glanced at the swell of your breasts.

With time, his look wandered further, to your thighs, stopping at your knee. No one else saw the tiny scar on your left knee or the scratch from your cat on your calf. Steve did.

He discovered every scar, every mole, and every blemish. Not only because of his higher senses, but because he wanted to know every detail about you.

Today, he studies your feet, especially your little toe, the one you painted pink. Steve smiles as you try not to give away how nervous you are. If not for his super-soldier abilities, he’d never have known your heart is beating wildly whenever you sit in front of the class.

“That’s all for today,” the teacher says too fast for Steve’s liking. He’s not a creep wanting to see you naked.

Some would call it an obsession. Steve calls it dedication. He wants to catch every little detail of your body for his drawing.

“Thank you, class.” You are quick to put your robe on and quickly avert your gaze. For half an hour, every person in the room saw you naked. “Have a good night.”

“You too,” Steve is the only one to reply. All the other students hurriedly leave the room, not wanting their object to be more than a body they can draw.

You glance at Steve, nodding before you, too, leave the room. Mrs. Rollins, today’s teacher, accompanies you. She doesn’t want anyone to bother you on your way to the changing room.

Steve sighs as he looks at the drawing. It’s still unfinished. Something is missing. “The expression isn’t right.” He concludes and looks at the drawing one last time. “Maybe I’ll get it right next time.”

“A drawing? That’s Capsicle’s secret.” Tony scoffs. After their turbulent past, Tony got suspicious when Steve disappeared on Thursdays without a word. “He’s drawing little bunnies.”

“Uh—it’s not bunnies,” the agent hands Tony the pictures he took of Steve’s drawing. “He’s got talent.”

“Oh, I see. That’s keeping Capsicle awake at night and away from his teammates.” Scoffing, Tony looks at the pictures. “A girl, I see.”

“Tony, leave him alone. He’s had a rough century,” Natasha sasses. “Let him have something nice. You have your robots, and Steve has…well…whatever he does when he draws. It’s called having a life outside the Avengers.”

“He can have hobbies here, at the tower. Not go out there to draw naked women.” Natasha laughs at Tony’s excuse for being nosy.

“Steve can’t just run around and draw naked ladies. This is…not what we stand for.” Tony is adamant about his opinion.

“It’s called art, Stark,” the redhead bites back. “Steve is not some creep drawing naked girls. He captures their beauty and whole being in his drawings. Now stop playing the overprotective dad.”

Another Thursday evening comes, and Steve patiently waits for you to show up. He wants to get your expression right and is more than disappointed when a new model takes your place.

“Uh—where’s the other model?” He hears himself say. “I-I was almost finished with her expression.” Steve hates how disappointed he sounds, only because you didn’t show up today.

“Unfortunately, Y/N won’t come back,” the teacher explains before turning toward one of the students.

“Why?” Steve asks.

“Why what?” The teacher sounds annoyed but tries to be polite. She doesn’t care Steve is Captain America. To her, he’s just another random student she’ll forget about sooner rather than later.

“Why won’t Y/N return? I was almost finished with her portrait, and now it’s a waste of time. I have to redo it with a new model.”

“Listen, I don’t know why she doesn’t want to sit on a chair, naked and vulnerable, while people stare at her. She called, told me that she won’t come back, and that’s it. I didn’t ask.”

“Oh—okay.” Steve turns his attention toward the unfinished portrait, sighing deeply. If he hates one thing, it’s unfinished business. “I think I’ll call it a day. If I can’t finish today, I’ll start anew next time.”

He grabs his drawing and utensils, already planning not to come back. Steve wanted to finish one drawing, and now it was all for nothing.

“What are you doing? Does Tony know you are using his equipment?” Natasha looks over Steve’s shoulder, smirking as he tries to find out where you are living. “I see, you are stalking your art model. What did she do?”

“Nothing.” He hastily says. “She didn’t show tonight, and I was worried something could’ve happened to her. Y/N was always reliable, and I know she wouldn’t just bail on us.”

“Alright, let me handle this,” Natasha playfully pushes Steve off the chair to take his place. Her fingers fly over the keyboard, finding the information Steve needs within a few seconds. “I hope you won’t make me regret helping you. If you turn out to be a creep, I’ll end you…”

Steve knocks at your door, still unsure if coming here was the right decision. He doesn’t know more than your name and the shape of your body. If it comes to interacting with you, it was limited to hello and goodbye.

“Y/N, hi. It’s me, Steve from the art class. I was worried because you didn’t show up today,” Steve nervously stammers. “Crap… I didn’t want to appear to be a creep. I only wanted to make sure that you are safe and sound. I’ll leave now.”

“Steve,” you murmur behind the door. “Thank you for checking in on me. It was just…a bad day to go out, you know.”

“I get it,” Steve says and nods. “I’m glad you are alright. I’ll be leaving now. If you ever need help…uh…here’s my card.” He slips his card under the door.

“Steve…wait.” You unlock the door, poking your head out. “Hi.” You nervously rub your left arm, hissing as the bruises all over it still hurt.

“What happened?” He carefully reaches out to touch your swollen face. “Y/N, who did this to you?”

“One of the guys in the art class didn’t want to take no for an answer. He asked me to come home with him so he could finish his drawing.”

Steve winces. One of the reasons he came here was to ask you to be his model again. He wanted to finish his drawing too. “I’m so sorry, Y/N.” He runs his thumb over your cheek. “Did he get arrested?”

“They arrested him, but I’m still worried he’ll show up here.” You give Steve a weak smile. “You found me too, right?”

“How about you come with us?” Natasha asks. She silently followed Steve, not trusting him to not do something stupid. “We have guest rooms at the tower. Tony and his lawyers can look into the case, and maybe you can give Steve the chance to apologize for showing up at your place uninvited…”

Part 2

[bird-in-the-space]

The Mysterious Painter of Cybertron

Imagine being reincarnated as a transformer on Cybertron and becoming a painter.

Warnings: death, reincarnation, mentions of cybertron's caste system, a bit of discrimination, a bit of lazy writing, and mentions of the war.

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

- Imagine spending the last moments of your life in the hospital, listening to the beeps of the life support and watching life pass by through the window. You already bid your goodbyes to your family and friends, who grieved and hugged you for the last time. After years of fighting cancer, you decided to put an end to it and admit defeat. You rather fall into endless sleep than spend more time of your life in a hospital, bedridden, and going through chemo after chemo. It was sad, but you were at peace with your impending fate. 

- You have spent your time wisely before coming to the hospital. You experienced everything you wanted. You drew and painted the last of the art pieces you could and witnessed firsthand the people’s joy and awe at seeing your art. Your life as a painter had come to fulfillment. There was now nothing else you wanted to do. You were content and ready to travel to the unknown. 

- You close your eyes, feeling the warmth of the sunlight on your face and smelling the scent of the flowers near your bed one last time. You took your last breath, feeling yourself pass, unable to open your eyes any longer. 

- You imagined many things you might face when your soul finally left your body and you wandered into the unknown realm of the dead. However, you did not expect to hear sounds and open your eyes to a completely different world, filled with mechanical beings, in a body of a giant robot. 

- You barely had time to process what was happening. You and many others were greeted by another robotic being, who welcomed you as a new generation of transformers on Cybertron. 

- It clicked sometime later that you had reincarnated or been born into a new life. But strangely, you still remembered your previous life as a human. 

- However, you were not frightened by the new situation. You decided to take your previous name as your designation and embrace your new life in this strange world. 

- You marveled the strangeness of this new world. It was unlike anything you had seen in your life as a human. Everything was mechanical and you had a unique ability to change shape. It was beautiful. The culture, the history, everything was new and you wanted to explore all of it. But like all beautiful things, there were ugly sides to this world. 

- You found out Cybertron operated on a caste system. You were given a job based on your alt-form, and though you did not end up with a bad profession and were treated well by your new colleagues, you could not help but feel sadness and watch how the lower-class bots were treated. You saw how they were forced to work in dangerous places and how they were treated like lesser beings, even if their professions were one of Cybertron’s vital sources of energon, the sustenance, and the lifeblood of transformers. 

- It reminded you how humanity used to operate, and unnoticeably still did even in modern times. 

- You wished you could do something to change that, but due to your own status in the system— your options were limited. Even if you were not part of the lower class, you weren’t part of the higher class either. You were somewhere in the middle. 

- You utilized your skills and knowledge from your previous life, which earned you a safe position. You learned new necessary skills to survive in the system, helping the less fortunate whenever you could. 

- You made many friends, even a few from the higher class, who did not view the lower class the way most did. 

- After some time, you began to yearn for your previous home and the beauty of organic nature. Cybertron was beautiful in its own way, but you did not deny your desire to share the beauty of organic fauna and flora, especially when these transformers knew very little about them. 

- It made you think of your previous passion for arts, so you began sketching and painting during your free time, using supplies your credits allowed. 

- You painted whatever you could from memory, painting flowers and landscapes you painted before. You considered applying yourself as a student to a research institute, but due to your status – you couldn’t. 

- Your friends were enamored with your art pieces. Even your friends from the higher class were intrigued. They suggested you try selling them, and the idea appealed to you. Perhaps you finally found an opportunity to support the bots in the lower class. Unfortunately, you had to drop the idea when you failed to sell even one of your art pieces. The idea of a nameless middle-class bot painting such pieces simply did not gain any attention. 

- It was a low blow to your esteem, but you then found a way to overcome that through one of your friends, who was a higher-class bot. By putting their name on your paintings and claiming to be the artist behind them, your art finally gained attention and started to sell. Wanting to help the lower class, you and your friend agreed to donate the funds to support charities and the less fortunate. 

- They did feel bad taking the credit for your work, but you did not mind, since you finally found a way to help the lower-class bots. It also provided you with more art supplies, allowing you to continue painting and making new art pieces. 

- Even if your friend was the one who gained the fame and the marvel for your art, you were happy. Some researchers even became interested in organic life, which was a win for you. 

- You sometimes wandered into the sectors and levels where the lower class lived, painting portraits of flowers and landscapes into the empty walls of the streets. It was your way of giving the lower class something beautiful to look at. They would look at you with suspicion whenever you came, but then gaze in wonder when you painted something they had never seen before.

- Whenever some of them mustered the courage to come and talk to you, asking about the paintings, you would happily tell them what they were and their meanings, which would leave them even more in awe. 

- You were considered strange and even your name felt unusual. However, you were then regarded with respect, for your artistic skills and kind nature toward others. Some thought you were some kind of researcher due to your knowledge of the organic flora, but even so, the paintings you created on the walls and concerns of what they considered slump were left untouched. 

- It was silent appreciation and you even noticed some of them chase away vandals who attempted to ruin your work. It warmed your spark, even if not all of them appreciated your small gifts of art. 

- Unknowns to you, your small paintings would last even when the war between Autobots and Decepticons arose. Some of your artwork could be found left untouched even if everything else around them lay in ruins. No one would know what happened to you, the strange artist behind them. Your name and figure would become things of mystery, but those who still remember them and you would leave them alone and even mark them as a zone of neutrality.

[tinytablepodcast]

Help Us Choose Our Next Game!

We received so many wonderful submissions from the indie ttrpg community of games to play next on Tiny Table. We need your help to narrow them down! We will be taking the top 3 games to Patreon for our patrons in the Mini and Micro tier to vote on.

Reactors and Romance: Reactors and Romance is a rules-light RPG about flirting while piloting a giant robot. You only have one stat, and that is your HEAT 🔥. Your HEAT measures how hot your mech's reactor is getting, and how hot of a pilot you are 😉 Will you fight or flirt your way through battle? Can you keep your mech from overheating? What will it be hotshot?

To Infinity...: Inspired by Alien and The Thing, "To Infinity..." is a tabletop social deduction game where up to 4 players and 1 GM need to escape on a spaceship from an alien monster who killed the rest of the crew. What none of the survivors know is that this isn't just a monster, the alien could be any one of them...

Hellborn Descended: Hellborn Descended is an infernal TTRPG set in a modern Hell, inspired by comics and shows such as Hellboy and Helluva Boss. In Hellborn, players take on the role of sinners, demons, and fallen angels, working together as mercenaries to attain wealth, fame, and power, or gloriously die trying. Check out their kickstarter!

Darkest Hour: Darkest Hour is a horror tabletop game inspired by horror movies of all kinds, featuring a group of monster hunters attempting to put a stop to a malicious supernatural entity in a single night. Over the course of six rounds, known as the Hours, the hunters must use their abilities to establish benefits that will aid them even as the haunt grows in strength and the hunters become less effective. As Blackest Night envelops them, the haunt feels insurmountable -- will the hunters find the haunt's true weakness and destroy it for good, or be whittled down until only a Final Girl remains? Featuring six haunts, six locations ripe for the haunting, and six unique hunter archetypes, Darkest Hour is perfect for one-shots for 2-5 players, and can either be run by a GM, or communally without a GM.

Dawn of the Orcs: Dawn of the Orcs is a GMless dark fantasy worldbuilding and roleplaying game. Play the magical technocrats who create the first orcs as living weapons and tell the story of how the Orcs become their own people. It can be played seriously as a fantasy transhumanist Dr. Strangelove, or as a wacky game of Saruman by committee.

The Trains of the Glorious Republic of the People: The Trains of the Glorious Republic of the People is a tabletop RPG where players take on the roles of a train crew in a fictional 1930s totalitarian state. Your mission is simple: get yourselves and your unique train from point A to point B though things are never that easy on the tracks of the Glorious Republic. The game requires only d6s, pen, paper, and, above all, your loyalty to the party.

Paratype: Paratype takes place in the aftermath of an apocalypse where giant bugs have reclaimed the earth. For humans survival is a challenge-one helped by the invention of a device that grants strange new buggy abilities. Paratype is a game about survival, humanity and so, so many bugs.

Broke Wizards: Broke Wizards is a light, silly game about working class sorcery. Play as students of the prestigious Audment's Academy of the Arcane who must go delving for treasure in order to pay tuition. To cast magic, wizards must use items found around their dormitory as makeshift spell ingredients - and then use their real-life argumentative skills to convince the living force of magic that yes, actually, a dirty shot glass is a great ingredient for casting a spell of water breathing, thank you very much.

RiskTaker: RiskTaker is a GM-less system built around players making big moves with big risks. Each sessions revolves around "The Scene," a climactic event like an episode's final battle in a superhero TV show, or the aftermath of a heist gone wrong. Players take turns either doing exposition scenes to give context to The Scene and built character relationships, or Influencing The Scene, which means they take a decisive action and decide how effective that action will be. But watch out - the more impactful your action, the more things can go wrong, and the more likely it is that they will. But what's a good story without a few Risks?

'til it kills us: in ‘til it kills us, you play as a group of young, reckless queer activists fighting to make a difference in the world. you’re angry, and you’re scared, and rightfully so. not to mention, you’re all a little bit fucked up. whether you’re dealing with issues at home, struggling with mental illness, or just learning to stand on your own two feet, life isn’t easy. but you’re also in love with the world, and with each other, so you keep fighting anyway. it’s the only thing you can do. the only problem is your magic. sure, it protects you. sure, it helps you fight. but you can feel it – feeding on the most unpleasant parts of you. and the longer you have this magic, the more you fear by those feelings. you worry it might be powering but you keep fighting. what else is there? remember what you always said: we’re going to keep on fighting ‘til it kills us.

If you submitted a game to us and don't see it on the list, don't fret! We will be hosting many polls like this and your game is still in consideration. If you game is on here and isn't chosen to move on to our next poll, also don't fret! We may add it on to the next poll again.

[jellyfishsthings]

Family Redesigned

WARNINGS: I guess my bad writting

An: Decided to take a spin with the DC Fandom and write for my favourite... not quite well if I might admit...

navigation

requests are open

In the bustling halls of Wayne Enterprises, where marble floors gleamed and the scent of strong coffee lingered in the air, a young woman was about to redefine what it meant to be a modern pioneer. Her project, a cutting-edge programmed nanotechnology that would apply to the neurons of injured people that lost a member of their body to work with a robotic substitute. She and her team had fascinated not only the attendees of the annual science gala but also caught the attention of none other than Bruce Wayne himself. With his signature charm and a penchant for philanthropy, he had decided to fund their ambitious endeavor.

Little did she know, their project was not only stirring excitement among investors but also causing an unwanted stir in the hearts of the Wayne family. Dick Grayson, Bruce’s charming and light-hearted adopted son, had just mustered the courage to express his feelings. Whenever he bumped into her while delivering coffee or visiting the lab, his confident smile often accompanied a playful quip.

“Are you sure you’re not an engineer? Because you’ve clearly engineered a way into my heart,” he quipped one afternoon, leaning casually against the doorway as she adjusted the settings on her prototype.

“Very smooth, Grayson,” she responded, feigning disinterest but unable to suppress a smile.

“Oh, come on,” Dick continued, taking a step closer. “With this project of yours, you must have some serious chemistry skills.”

She rolled her eyes, her cheeks slightly pink as she returned her focus to the project. Flirting was hard for her to deal with when she was neck-deep in wiring and graphs. Still, there was something charming about Dick, a knack for making even the dullest moments seem vibrant.

Their first encounter was the most memorable.

It started innocently enough one day when she was deep in thought, surrounded by scattered papers in a bustling Wayne Enterprises lounge. Suddenly, she collided with a tall body, scattering her carefully organized notes like confetti.

“Watch it!” she grumbled, looking up to find a charming yet roguish face stifling a laugh.

“Sorry about that. But in my defense, you were like a tornado going through your notes,” he said with a smirk. “Dick Grayson, at your service.”

She raised an eyebrow, judging by his look of mischief that he was trouble wrapped in charisma. “Thanks, but I prefer my tornadoes to be slightly less charming and a little more focused.”

“Touché,” Dick said, taking a seat across from her. “What’s the project about? Saving the world, I hope?”

“Something like that,” she said, her competitive spirit sparking. “It’s about harnessing neurotic energy using nanotechnology. Bruce always has an eye for the future.”

“Very ambitious! Perhaps you’ll save the planet, then?” Dick leaned closer, the playful glint in his eyes suggesting he wasn’t just flirting with her project.

“Or get a decent grade. Much less glamorous, I know,” she chuckled, feeling the conversation warming up. A hint of blush crept onto her cheeks, an odd reaction she hadn’t expected.

“Who said grades can’t be glamorous? I once did a project on the benefits of pizza," Dick confessed, to which she burst out laughing.

As their banter continued, she unwittingly inspired Dick. He began to hover around her lab more often, throwing out quips and jokes, but every time she flipped the script and tossed back a rebuke, he felt an exhilarating challenge.

Meanwhile, in another part of the Wayne manor, the youngest of Bruce’s million children, Damian Wayne, was busy brooding over a math homework that seemed more challenging than his usual sword fighting practice. She, having spotted the little assassin frowning at an open book, had selflessly offered her help. Miraculously, Damian had absorbed her explanations, hanging onto her every word as if they were the last pages of a thrilling novel. “Why do you care about this so much?” Damian asked, eyebrows furrowed as he struggled with a particularly difficult algebraic equation.

“Because everyone needs a little help sometimes,” She replied earnestly with a gentle smile.

Somewhere between deciphering equations and sharing small laughs, something unexpected happened. The stoic young assassin found himself blushing under his usual grumpy demeanor. This made his heart race—a feeling he had never quite felt before.

“I… appreciate it,” he finally muttered, this surprising show of gratitude softening his usually cold exterior.

Back at the HQ of the Wayne enterprises, Bruce Wayne was having his own crisis. Normally known for his unreadable expression and laser-focused business sense, he found it exceedingly hard to ignore her enthusiasm when she discussed her project during one of their weekly meetings. She was bright, driven, and utterly disarming, diving into topics like neuroscience and computer science, while Bruce sat at the edge of his seat, hanging onto her every word.

“Her project is admirable, I mean if you look at the prototypes and the coding or the engineering sketches she and her team had made,” Bruce said, inadvertently leaning forward in his chair. “That’s… brilliant.”

“Uhhh, Dad?” Dick nudged him, eyes glinting with amusement. “Slightly creepy how you’re hanging off her every word like that. Just a bit.”

“Shut up, Dick,” Bruce shot back, too distracted to notice the amused laughter of his other children.

But the chaos didn’t end there. Jason Todd, the rebellious older sibling participating in a book club as part of his community service, came home one evening with surprising news. With mischief lighting up his face, he proclaimed, “You guys will never guess who I met at the book club. Dick's godess that accidentally fell on earth is a member! Can you believe it?”

“Yeah, right,” Dick replied, crossing his arms with a smirk. “You must have a real knack for screwing things up, Jay. She wouldn't join anything that would put her with you.”

“Oh, she totally did,” Jason insisted, grinning. “In fact, we bonded over a mutual disdain for the ending of the last Batman novel.”

“I’ll pretend you didn’t just say that,” Damian deadpanned, though his intrigue was evident.

The realization hit Dick hard, and it came with an overshadowing sense of protectiveness. The thought of his family all being smitten with the same woman—his girlfriend no less—was an unwelcome twist. As she began to flutter into their lives more and more, he felt his shield of vigilance slip away amidst the chaos of her radiant energy.

The day of the big presentation arrived, and she stood behind her booth, butterflies in her stomach. The Wayne family, now a blend of supportive allies, stood gathered, every one of them uncharacteristically eager. Bruce, Dick, and even the usually unimpressed Damian sat side by side, eager to see her shine.

She began speaking about her prototype, detailing the mechanics and the purpose behind her project, each word pulling the audience deeper into her passion.

When she spoke of miscalculations and victories, Bruce nodded in agreement, making direct eye contact with her. Dick watched with a mixture of admiration and mild jealousy, while Damian listened intently, his mind processing the logistics of her project.

“Thank you all for supporting me,” she concluded, now beaming with excitement. “I genuinely believe we can make a difference, one person at a time.”In that moment, something snapped. Bruce, usually so guarded, smiled genuinely and exclaimed, “That’s fantastic ! I’ve never heard anyone articulate the importance of neuroscience and engineering so well.”

Her blush was immediate, and the warm glow in her cheeks competed with Dick's growing admiration. Just when all seemed to settle, Dick leaned over softly towards her, whispering, “Now that’s quite the power move, mind if I take you out to celebrate your big win?”

“Maybe after you help solve some math problems for Damian,” she teased, laughter spilling from her lips as realization struck the brothers.

“Maybe both,” she added cheekily, eyeing Damian, who was trying to maintain a grumpy expression despite the spark of joy in his eyes.

With the evening coming to an end and plans being made amidst shared laughter, she found a place in the hearts of the Waynes, her project becoming more than just science. It was fueled by the chemistry, unpredictability, and warmth of family and specifically love.

[simsdaughters]

GOTH LEGACY CHALLENGE

Making this for myself and any of you guys who wanna tag along to this little experiment with me!

The goal of this challenge is simple: get to 10 generations, with each one representing a different goth subculture and fashion, starting with the Goth family. I hope that through this, you guys can see the love I have for the goth culture :)

For extra drama: none of the Goths of the main family line may die of old age.

RULES PER GENERATION BELOW:

GEN 1: Aristocrat Goth

The founders of the Goth legacy, their aristocratic air lends credence to their importance. Drawing from historical periods such as the Victorian and Edwardian eras, this subgenre of goth fashion features tailor suits, cravats, waistcoats, corsets and hats.

Master the piano and violin skills.

Reach 500,000 simoleons in savings.

Master the business career.

Make enemies with at least one Landgraab.

GEN 2: Witchy Goth

Drawing inspiration from their parents' lifestyle and beliefs, Cassandra and Alexander adopt a more spiritual approach to the goth aesthetic. This fashion subgenre is characterized by esoteric and spiritual elements in the outfit, such as moons, stars, skulls and maybe black cats if you want to be on the nose with it, while the cultural approach to it is inspired mainly by, of course, witchcraft.

Become a spellcaster.

Master the medium skill.

Learn all potions.

Reach lvl 5 in the gemology skill.

GEN 3: Traditional Goth

The "original" goths, who find their roots in gothic rock born in the post-punk era, the traditional goths are what you first think of when you hear the word goth: ripped, black clothes, dark makeup and wild hair. As a punk offshoot, traditional goths prioritize self-expression, individuality and challenging traditions.

Join any artistic career, and reach lvl 5 in it.

Master the guitar skill.

Volunteer at least once a week.

Befriend any occult.

GEN 4: NU Goth

A slightly controversial subgenre in the goth culture, NU or "new" goth is a more modern approach to the goth genre. More lenient in their view of what "makes" a goth, they are known to be more welcoming to mall goths and baby bats than trad goths (though that does not mean traditional goths are hostile to the two, simply that there is a prominent debate in the goth scene on what consists "a true goth"). This fashion type is what you'd probably find on pinterest or tiktok, with the more current fashion trends influencing the style.

Sell at least 5 thrifted outfits.

Join the social media career.

Film fashion tutorials at least once a week. (Get Famous)

Have at least 500 followers on any social media.

GEN 5: Cyber Goth

The cybergoth subculture and fashion mixes industrial, 2000s and rave aesthetics in one, featuring leather, neon colors, futuristic looks and a love for electronic music. They embrace philosophical discussions and imaginations of a dystopic information society future.

Master the DJing skill.

Reach lvl 5 in the dancing skill.

Go clubbing at least once a week.

Master the programming or robotics skill.

GEN 6: Pastel Goth

Mixing the kawaii aesthetic with gothic ideals and themes, pastel goth makes it's mark by ... well, being pastel. Often seen dipping into lolita or fairy kei fashion, this style can accessorize with sometimes cutesy details. This style is more focused on the fashion and aesthetics of the gothic look rather than the music, and on having fun with their self-expression.

Have an all-pastel home !

Join the Style Influencer career.

Make 5 friends.

Thrift clothes at least once.

GEN 7: Romantic Goth

As expected, romantic goth subculture focuses on romanticizing death, the macabre and the dark. They find beauty and appreciation in things like withered roses, skulls and more. Their fashion is characterized by flowy, ethereal silhouettes, and a feminine touch to their outfits. Its the embrace of beauty.

Have a gothic wedding ceremony.

Master the writing skill.

Have a cemetery.

Romance a vampire at least once.

GEN 8: White Goth

The white goths reverse the traditionally dark and ... well, black palette of the gothic genre for white, and other such colors you shouldn't wear at a wedding. Their clothing taste often includes silks, ethereal garments, ornate jewelry and parasols.

Master the organ skill.

Master the painting skill.

Serenade someone at least once.

Wear white at a wedding.

GEN 9: Victorian Goth

The Victorian Goth subculture pays homage to the elegance and refinement of the 19th century. Their fashion sense borrows from the Victorian era, with silhouettes evocative of the era, top hats, lace and corsets. They mix the aesthetic of a bygone era with the ideologies of all goths, that of individualism and self-expression through art and fashion.

Do not own any electronics, lights included.

Master the writing skill.

Own at least one horse, and travel to lots with it.

Paint at least 20 paintings.

GEN 10: Vampire Goth

Inspired by vampire lore and horror, the vampire goth fashion scene includes elegant, intricate designs, corsets, capes, vampire fangs (real or otherwise) and bloody, macabre themes. Like the romantic goths, they find beauty and allure in the dead and the deadly, and would probably love owning a fainting couch.

Master the charisma skill.

Master the vampire lore skill.

Turn at least 5 sims into vampires.

Become a Master Vampire.

[changingplumbob]

Second Round - Day Ten (BB) 2 of 2

@belsasim, @corrienteallita, @cawthorntales, @hashimasims, @ravingsockmonkey, @pixeldistractions - Sim creators and co-writers

Results based on charisma skill level.

Mariela (1.88)

Dee (2.12)

Kaye (2.36)

Harmony (2.61)

Billie (3.10) - Wins the date

Sarah (4.30) - Bonus points!

Dee: All that fuss for nothing, huh

Mariela: Ooof, I got rocked!

Dee: No jokes to cover the situation?

Mariela: Umm... Not really. I haven't had a date this round so I guess my nerves are just having a moment

Dee: There's still the group challenge, whatever that is. And you always talk to Deanna even if you're not on a date

Mariela: Hmm

Harmony: It was worth a shot and I did make something cute.

Kaye: Maybe I should hang out at GeekCon some more and get some pointers from the cosplayers for next time

Harmony: You looked so lifelike

Kaye: Thanks! I mean there's magic in the bloodline so I had some insider knowledge of how things should look. I think you should be applauded for standing in all that fire though

Harmony: *laughing* I was so worried I'd just fall face first into some of it

Sarah: Whatever happens, you can't fall in love with me *hands you a flower*

Billie: Game reference?

Sarah: Game reference

Billie: I feel really good. I finally won a date with Deanna doing something I really, really enjoyed. I wish I could wear my costume to the cafe!

Sarah: I wonder if we can take our costumes...

Billie: I'll distract them, and you grab

Billie has chosen the cafe for her date this round. It is her first time getting a date with the bachelorette, will things go well?

Deanna: I'm glad you liked the challenge

Billie: It was a lot of fun. I hope there's more artistic challenges in future

Deanna: Do you think you're mostly lucky or unlucky?

Billie: I consider myself pretty fortunate, but probably the biggest thing I need to work on is comparing myself to other people and wanting what they have

Deanna: Jealously can be tricky

Billie: Like at art school there was this girl who got everything, but her art was so derivative! My friends said 'Don't worry, she's on her own journey,' but she was in all my classes! It was hard to look at it from their perspective, but eventually I got my own art show, too

Deanna: Congratulations

Deanna: Can we get deep for a bit? My family believe in the watcher but I know not everyone does. Do you believe in fate, you know, destiny? Or do you think we're all at the mercy of some watcher?

Billie: I do think we're born to be certain things

Deanna: Like callings?

Billie: Exactly. I was probably destined to be an artist from the time I was small. I didn't like stacking my blocks, but I liked organizing them by colour, so I was probably always going to be an artist and not an engineer!

Deanna: *laughs* Definitely a good career choice for you then

Deanna: Say you can live anywhere. Where would you live?

Billie: I love Evergreen Harbour

Deanna: Never wanted to try anywhere else?

Billie: I'm a bit more laid back than cosmopolitan, but I think I'd probably enjoy an urban environment with a thriving art scene, like San Myshuno or Del Sol Valley. Probably. Maybe the traffic would be too much for me

Deanna: *laughs* Devin is always complaining about traffic

Deanna: I have to say I like being in Tartosa because it's close to my family. I could be persuaded to move if it was to somewhere stable, not constant packing and unpacking

Billie: I think Tartosa is beautiful, but the classical art isn't really my style. Don't get me wrong - I appreciate classic art forms, but grittier or more modern style is much more me

Deanna: *smiles* I can see that

Billie: If you couldn't do your robotics work in a place like Evergreen Harbour but wanted to be with me, I could be persuaded to move anywhere. All I need is an easel, right?

Deanna: I'm pretty sure I could build my robots anywhere *smiles*

When everyone is back at the villa it's time to work on their skills. While some challenges are more up to luck, there are some that are influenced a lot by skill. This is the last chance they have to study before the group day challenge, and the next round if they advance.

Today the popular choice appears to be… logic! Harmony, Billie and Sarah all choose to work on it, and wonder what challenge they'll need logic for if they make it to the next round. Dee channels her anger into studying rock climbing, yeah she's still annoyed about her loss the other day. Mariela meanwhile branches out with fitness, feeling like it's a sensible option to cover bases. Kaye decides to move about and work on her nectar making. She does want to be a master maker after all and it's been a while since she crafted.

Devin: First date with Billie then?

Deanna: It was. I'm glad people that didn't get them last round are getting a chance. I don't want to send someone home without having spent any solo time with them you know

Devin: How did you find it?

Deanna: She's such a creative soul, it was great to properly chat

Devin: Any sentiments?

Deanna: *sighs* Not today sadly

As it's the groups last day together before the group challenge, final dates, and commencement ceremony, we again head to the spa. Reece (Deanna's best friend) welcomes everyone and escorts them to the meditation area in the back garden. There he leads a guided meditation

Reece: Close your eyes and become aware of your breathing... picture a place that makes you feel calm. It might be the beach, the woods, behind a beloved screen or in front of one...

Reece: Repeat to yourself after me... whatever happens I am worthy of love and joy

The meditation wraps up and the group gets a shock. Sarah got so deep in the meditation that she... floats? Reece assures them all he's done it to, it's temporary and on the soft ground out here there's nothing to worry about.

After yoga it's time for dinner, grilled by Deanna herself. The group moves to the picnic area.

Deanna: Fruit cobbler! Get your fruit cobbler!

Reece: And you made fun of me for being domesticated

Dee: Dessert for dinner?

Kaye: Sounds good to me *tucks in*

Harmony: It looks nice, thank you Deanna

Deanna: *smiling* You're welcome

Harmony: You sure you don't feel... weird?

Sarah: If I was "floating" and I don't believe I was, I don't feel any different

Mariela: You were 100% floating. High in the sky. Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's Sarah

Billie: I always love how colourful berries are

Kaye: The advice is to "eat the rainbow"

Deanna: We talking skittles or vegetables?

When the food is finished the group get to experience the main reason for the spa trip - a chance to relax and let go of stress or tension from the competition.

Everyone gets a face mask! Some get massages, some steam in the spa and other relax in the massage chairs. Autonomy is set to full and Deanna always starts in the massage chairs, since those relaxing in the spa normally start chatting pretty quickly.

For some reason I can't explain Sarah's hair changes when she's in the sauna... pretty sure it's temporary? Once Harmony and Dee are finished in the massage chairs they strike up a conversation about the latest episodes of The Adventures of Skunkbert that Dee and Kaye have watched.

It would appear that the spa has been breached today, with over eager fans taking the chance to talk to contestants and Deanna (I cropped out a sim interrupting Mariela as she was trying to relax).

Following her massage Billie is still deep in reflection on her date today and doesn't seek anyone's company. There is company upstairs though as Deanna talks to Dee and Harmony.

Dee: I'm telling you, season one episode five, hilarious

Harmony: *smiling* It's so nice to hear that

Deanna: I'd love to watch some but I don't have a lot of free time at the moment. I'm filming every day

Dee: No wonder you make them take us to the spa

While Sarah fights off sleep in the sauna, Kaye goes in and chats to Mariela.

Kaye: I think you're really good at diffusing awkward situations

Mariela: Thanks! I'm only so good at that because I specialise in making awkward situation though...

Kaye: *chuckles* We have to hang out in the city sometime

Harmony: Are you feeling better now?

Dee: For sure. I just get worked up too much but I'm mellowed now

[planefood]

OKAY actual serious lore drop now

Robots essentially all have interests they dedicate their lives to to an extreme degree. Outside of flexing an engineers skills the main reason robots are created by humans is for this reason. Robots usually have motivations artificially programmed into them and humans believe they can then be easily trained to be professionals in almost any subject they want with little distraction.

Some robots are built with no pre programmed motivations and go down their own path. These are self motivated interests. but most robots have predetermined motivators added in by the person who built them. Usually to help humanity in some way, help a company or simply help or follow in the footsteps of their creator, these are artificial interests.

While artificially programmed motivations are handy to the humans around them, it’s been shown that robots artificial interests can cause them significant mental strain if pushed. Robots themselves rarely know if an interest they have is programmed or self determined which also causes a bit of distress on top of it.

Individual modern robot creators will sometimes leave robots as complete blank slates, usually hoping it’d make them more “generalists” in topics. But robots usually just attach themselves to a subject instead.

Many robot creators also implant interests believing them to be beneficial to the robot, eg: “robots motivation is to be nice!” without fully understanding what the full implications of the interest could be, how extreme they can be and how it could conflict with the robots personality.

For a character example: Lithiums creator put socialisation as an artificial interest hoping it would make him a fun and extroverted robot. It backfired a bit when it made Lithium crave any form of attention whether it be positive or negative just to fulfill that motivation.

Artificial motivations can be harmless if the robot is put in the right conditions. Being surrounded by people who are interested in the subject and not being put under significant pressure to fulfil tasks helps.

Some interests explained:

While some are self explanatory others are more general so

Caretaking: typically given to a robot by a creator that needs help with things in general, sometimes elderly or lonely creators. They’re programmed to be invested in other peoples emotions and help around with chores. Infant care, elder care and child care fall under these but are more specifically programmed. Although this doesn’t automatically make them sympathetic to other people, just sensitive to the feelings of others around them.

Organisation: Can be anything from organising papers, keeping on top of dates or organising social events. Usually for robots destined to work office jobs or be someone’s personal secretary. Robots with organisation as a motivator tend to have good memories but it also has a tendency to make robots really uptight or strict. Also has a tendency to give robots obsessive behaviours if artificially programmed.

Helping others: similar to caretaking but just focused on the social aspect. Wanting other people to be mentally well and happy is their motivation

Socialising: usually just makes the robots extra extroverted. Though like I said with Lithium it can backfire

[weirdmarioenemies]

Name: The Grand Master

Debut: Tetris: The Grand Master

Whoops-de-doo, gang! We have a bit of a mystery on our hands here. You see, I was playing Tetris: The Grand Master, expecting to be welcomed by the titular Grand Master themself, but the darn guy is nowhere to be found! I see the Tetris, but no The Grand Master! Is this okay? Is this allowed? Is this equivalent to breaking into someone's house? I sure hope not!

I guess as long as I'm here, we might as well comment on this apparent Grand Master's taste in interior decorating. This game was before The Tetris Company had standardized the colors of the Tetriminos, so there is a bit of non-standard character design going on! O, L, and J are all their modern colors, but we have purple S, red I, cyan T, and most interestingly, green Z! Green Z is the most dangerous of all. That's S's color! If Z wanted, it could use its green appearance to impersonate S by simply turning 180 degrees along (fittingly) the Z axis, and commit all the crimes it wanted. But it wouldn't, because S and Z are best friends! Often cheeky and mischievous to us as the players, but their bond is unbreakable!

So you might be wondering, what IS Tetris: The Grand Master? What makes it so different from every other Tetris? What makes it different from Tetris Green (2007)? Well, this is basically a Tetris game that hates you, or SEEMS to hate you, like a teacher who's really hard on you because they want you to be the best that they know you can be. It is not long before the Tetriminos start appearing instantly at the bottom, giving you mere frames to adjust them into place! It's hard, it's stressful, but it's oh so rewarding to get it right. Also, each Tetrimino has a sound effect when it's up next, providing a unique audio cue for them! I like that a lot! A new sense that can help with Tetris strategy. I look forward to the implementation of Taste in Tetris.

Even after this discussion, I have not figured out who this fabled Grand Master is... oh? A mirror? The Grand Master is me? It's all of us, if only we prove our mettle and hone our Tetris skills! I see. I thought it might be the robot voice that does the countdown at the start of each round, but ok! How interesting... but no thank you! I will settle for being "okay to pretty good" at Tetris instead. Someone else can be the Grand Master. I do not mind one bit! Good By!

[aliesbienish]

Love at first swipe

Benedict Bridgerton x fem reader. Modern Au.

Warnings: Cheesy AF. Innuendos.

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Cute smile. Check.

Kind eyes. Check.

Well written profile with no misogynistic undertones. Double check.

This guy must be to good to be true. Definitely a bot. Or married and cheating on his poor wife. Plus what girl hasn’t been screwed over by a ‘Ben’, maybe he’ll be yours.

Still against better judgement you swiped right on Mr. cute smile, and then called it a day. Closing tinder and setting down your phone, reluctantly getting up to make yourself dinner. Honestly having a partner to share the cooking load was just as appealing as the romance at this point.

Basic spaghetti made and glass of wine in hand you plopped back onto the couch to continue your next rerun of pride and prejudice, the tv show of course. At least you could always day dream of life with Mr Darcy, and if he was always looking like he just emerged from the lake then so be it.

Grabbing your phone to enter into some simultaneous mindless scrolling you saw a notification from Tinder pop up. Oh boy a new match. Maybe you needed more wine.

Of course you couldn’t help being intrigued, so you opened it up to see a new message from the definite robot himself.

Ben: Good evening [y/n], to what do I owe this pleasure?

You: Bit early to determine I’ll be a pleasure isn’t it?

I’m actually only here because I am convinced you are a bot and honestly chatting with a bot is almost guaranteed to be more exciting than chatting with a man.

Ben: I’m nothing if not optimistic. I promise I am not a bot. And before you say it; I know that it’s exactly what a bot would say but it’s also exactly what a human would say.

You: Touché. Alright Ben, prove it.

Ben: Do you interrogate all your matches or am I special?

You: You’re special. But don’t get sappy about it, I’m just suspicious that your profile doesn’t have a photo of you fishing or in front of a car.

Through many years of observation I’ve hypothesised that each human man must show one or the other.

Ben: And have you hypothesised why that may be?

You: It’s almost certainly something to do with their hunting and gathering skills. That or compensation.

Ben: And how was this concluded?

You: Well fishing is obviously a modern (and frankly boring) man’s hunting and gathering.Least amount of work and blood involved. These men want to prove they can provide, but will likely never actually do the real hunting and gathering ie. Grocery shopping.

Ben: Science seems sound. And cars?

You: Well that’s obvious. The bigger and shinier the car the smaller the 🍆.

Ben: I quite agree…but that might be because I own a mud covered beetle.

You: Haven’t you heard it’s best to keep expectations low?

Ben: And risk losing out? No thank you.

You: If you’re real, which the jury is still out, I’m sure that’s not an issue.

Ben: Still? I’m flattered. And while it may not be an issue let’s say why would I settle for bronze when I can have gold?

FYI that’s me saying I think you’re gold

You: thanks for the clarification. You’re really into calling this early aren’t you? 10 minutes and you’re obsessed.

Ben: It’s actually been about thirty minutes if you count when I first came across your profile and haven’t stopped thinking about you since.

You: That is either incredibly honest or an amazing line.

Ben: Oh it’s both. But first and only time I’ll use it, cross my heart.

You: So what next?

Ben: Coffee, tomorrow hopefully if that’s not too soon?

You: Tomorrows great. Meet in the city? Say Leicester Square at 11am?

Ben: Done. I look forward to it.

You: You’d better be real or I’ll hurt you.

You were standing in the square outside of the cinema, your agreed meeting place. Despite the anxiety in you wanting to call the date off you’d made it. It was likely a good thing you only had 24 hours or so to think about it. Ben had been funny and endearing and so damn sure he wanted to meet you. He seemed so lovely that it defied belief, but you were willing to suspend reality.

You felt a hand on your shoulder, and you spun around to come face to face with Ben. In the flesh, as handsome or in fact even more so than his profile photos.

You meet his eyes and suddenly you felt lost in them.

“Hi,” You muttered, a goofy smile plastering your face. “I’m [y/n]”.

“Hi back. My real names Benedict. But Ben is fine. Long story. It’s lovely to meet you properly.”

“Thank god we’re both real,” you laughed.

“To be honest I never had any doubt. When you know you know.”

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Maybe I’m just trying to manifest my own luck on the dating apps 🤷🏻‍♀️

[p5-apotelesma]

anyone else kind of put off by how they write makoto scaring her friends? idk maybe its just me

like, okay, in tactica especially there are multiple "comedic bits" where they mention how strong makoto is and that she does martial arts. like, they're praising and admiring her skill, or just commenting on it in general. but at one point someone (morgana, i think. and later futaba) specifically say she is "scary" and "terrifying" and it shows them being scared of her. when she reacts to most of their comments like this:

and you know how theres that bit where joker can imagine what it would be like to marry a phantom thief of their choosing? and the makoto in his head gets angry at him for a conclusion she jumped to about joker having someone else? and when joker comes out of the daydream he backs away from makoto and she says he looks pale.

theres a lot of these bits in tactica, but strikers and even the base game isnt saved from this altogether. theres that god damn 'peeping at girls in the hot spring trope' that comes up in every modern mainline persona game. its meant to be funny? apparently? but after the 5th time we see it we're not like. haha dumb teen boys get beat up by angry teen girl over a misunderstanding. we're like. oh. this again.

(i feel like this same 'girl beats up dumb boy' trope spawns from the same place the 'girls beat up ryuji after he almost dies for them' scene comes from. and maybe thats part of why it makes me do the frowny emote.)

ANYWAY

p5r dodged the obligatory hot spring scene, but Strikers did it instead. and makoto beats up the guys even though it was a honest fuck up and they tell the girls they weren't peeping and we the audience know they weren't but makoto beats them up anyways?? and exclaims "fist of justice!!!" ("HAHA MAKOTO SCARY LOL" ???????)

meanwhile she gets annoyed in any other instance when her friends try and reference her fists of justice?? (ryuji tells toshiro to watch what he says if he doesnt want to get pummeled, when he tried to compare makotos punching power to fist of the north star and she gets pissed) sigh. what is this writing. why would she having issue with it? this is a girl who gets so excited watching Yakuza movies that she sits on the edge of her seat with her fists clenched. shes started reading action manga more and actually enjoys it.

even if makoto wants to come off as being serious and put together, and even if she naturally is (moreso than her other friends) she is not immune to the sillies of teenagerhood. she would compare herself to it gladly and wouldnt hit or scold her friends if they did either. because its fuckin awesome. because shes awesome.

like. i'm not the biggest fan of makoto. she's got the lowest blorbo status in my brain out of the whole squad but i don't hate her. there is a good character there, its just. the writers. make. decisions.

makoto spent so long being alone and feeling isolated and like. she says during her confidant that a lot of people just thought she was some kind of cold. robot. so i certainly don't think she would want her friends to think she was in any way unapproachable. or unable to handle the bits.

and i dont think she would want her bit to be 'lol violence funny' (at the very least not to this extent.) i don't think she would want to give her friends any reason to think that she would hurt them. making a "strong woman" character does not mean this character. has to crack her knuckles at her friends and imply shes going to hit them if they say something a little too silly. and play it off as a bit??

like. idk. maybe im thinking about this too much or not explaining this with the right words. but its just one of the many things about the writing choices that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. to me this is completely different from them making her serious about studying and having her get on her friends asses if they dont do well. and her friends not wanting to get a makoto lecture. like oh we better study because if we fail we'll have to face Militant Academic Makoto Niijima because she will organize a tutoring/study session like it's the fuckin navy.

when ann and ryuji first say 'oh man shes scary i dont want to get on her bad side' right after makotos awakening, makoto seems more embarrassed than anything else. and i feel like this is. more true to her character. she lets her anger out in the metaverse and she can do amazing things with it as her drive but shes embarrassed about expressing it. but she comes to embrace this about herself. that shes powerful. and shes proud of it. but that doesnt meant she leans into being someone her friends think is. genuinely scary.

makoto is a terrifying fighter and brilliant tactician in the metaverse but in real life she is not all serious business! she is capable of fun!! makoto is a nice girl!! makoto is a girl who had to grow up too fast and mask her way into the good graces of the adults in her life! so she's awkward around kids her age!! and in situations that arent serious business (that she cant script as well) she isnt always sure how to best interact with her peers! but shes growing! shes going out of her way to experience new things! she wants to better embrace her anger because it means freedom for her!! after a childhood full of holding her tongue!! but she doesnt have a temper that makes her friends the victim of her misplaced aggression! and shes not a buzzkill!

[rea-grimm]

Android Buggy

It was one of those ordinary afternoons when you walked around town looking for something to distract you. You were wondering what you could do and what new things to do when you passed an out-of-the-way alley. 

There you noticed a pile of garbage that had been dumped in a messy manner. This wouldn't have surprised you if you hadn't noticed one particular box among the old furniture, boxes and junk that caught your eye.

You had no idea what exactly about the box caught your eye, but it certainly piqued your curiosity. You walked over to see what was in it. 

The box was labeled with just one word: "Buggy." It was covered in dust and had torn corners, as if it had been tossed from place to place for years.

You carefully opened the box, only to find it was filled with lots of robotic bits. Inside the box were parts of an android. You could see the arms, legs, torso and even the head. But all the parts were in a very worn state.

Still, you got the urge to try to assemble the android and try to repair it. That might be something you could spend more time on and have some fun. 

You took the box of android pieces home, where you spread its contents out on your workbench. The body parts were numbered, which made your job a little easier. Although the android didn't look too modern, its construction was more complex than you expected. 

Some connections were equipped with magnetic contacts, while others required delicate work with tools you had to borrow from a neighbor. But you got along great with him, so it wasn't a problem. 

The whole assembly took longer than you expected. You spent all night putting the parts together and connecting the wires. Every connection was a test of your patience, and several times you felt like quitting and throwing the android out the window.

But through it all, you persevered, hoping you could get it to work. You'd be pretty sorry if you spent all that time on it and it didn't even turn on. 

When you finally made the last connection, you hooked it up to the cable to the charger. You weren't surprised it was completely dead. When he was sufficiently charged, you pressed a button behind his ear and the android's eyes lit up bright blue. His head moved slightly and then he spoke up, unexpectedly loud for your style.

"Finally! I thought I was going to stay dismembered forever!" He shouted so loudly you thought the neighbors would hear him. 

"Who are you?" you asked him, since you couldn't find his name or serial number anywhere, even though you suspected it was Buggy. The android tapped his chest, which was now firmly attached to his body.

"I'm Buggy. One of the best android models ever made. I mean... I used to be, until someone took me apart and left me in that damn box..." he added the last sentence rather dejectedly and angrily at the same time. At one point, he looked like he wanted to take his anger out on you. 

"Well, I could have left you there too," you said, folding your arms across your chest. You certainly didn't expect an android with that personality. Buggy threw his arms around dramatically, surprised he didn't fall to his knees. 

"Please! Don't throw me out on the street. I have so much to offer. I can... I can help you with the housework, be your companion, maybe even protect your house. I have excellent skills!" He began to sell himself like a teleshopper.

"Fine, but if you get annoying, you'll go back in the box," you finally said. It gave you a hard time to put it down after all.

"Deal!" He cheered, rising from the ground with an ease that didn't match his rusty appearance, despite the fact that you'd given his knuckles a good greasing. Once he was firmly on his feet, he did a little dance move as if to show that he was fully functional. It was so comical that you couldn't suppress an amused smile.

Buggy spent his first day in his new home talking constantly. He commented on everything you did, from cooking to cleaning. He said his model was originally designed for military missions, but then adapted to the civilian market.

"See these joints?" He pointed to his arms. "360 degrees of mobility! Not every android can do that."

"Yeah, you're a marvel of technology," and you just rolled your eyes at that. He'd been saying things like that all day and it was making your head spin. 

"I'm glad you recognize that," Buggy smiled.

The evening seemed calmer to Buggy, and you took the moment to sit down at your laptop and work on your project. The calm didn't last long, however. Meanwhile, Buggy was exploring his new home, and occasionally there was a light clink or thump as he dropped something.

"You have an interesting collection of books here," he said, picking up one that had fallen to the floor. "Or rather, you had one."  You just shook your head at that, counting to five and hoping nothing had happened to your books. Especially your favorite ones. 

All of a sudden, a strange sound came from behind you - like something metal snapping. When you turned around, you saw Buggy's body literally start to fall apart. His arm dropped to the floor, his leg came loose from his hip, and his head fell onto the workbench.

"What the...?" You exclaimed in shock. Sure, you'd given his knuckles a good greasing, but this didn't make sense to you. I mean, you were so careful when you put him together. 

"Don't worry! This is my special feature," Buggy's head moved and his eyes lit up.

"Function?" You blinked in incomprehension. 

"Right! Watch." He raised his voice dramatically. 

At that moment, every part of his body began to float. Arms, legs, torso and head levitated in the air as if controlled by an invisible force, flying through the air around you. Then they slowly began to join together until Buggy found himself whole again, standing firmly on his feet.

"See? I can unfold and reassemble as needed. Levitation is part of my model. Impressive, isn't it?" he said proudly.

"Right, Buggy. I'm just glad you're not broken," you sighed tiredly, at one point worried you wouldn't put it back together again. Just when he'd grown on you. But then again, that shouldn't have been a surprise.

"That's the right attitude!" Buggy chimed in. 

As you watched Buggy do more experiments, or rather performances, with his function, you had to admit that you hadn't seen anything like this before. Buggy showed you how he could disassemble his body into dozens of small parts in a matter of seconds and reassemble himself without having to touch the ground. 

He explained that the technology he was using was once considered a breakthrough in android design. Yet it was now barely used and you had no idea why. This was quite useful. 

Despite all the annoying comments, shocks and such, the android was starting to grow on you. It was loud, a little annoying, and perhaps overly proud of its outdated features, but it was also cute and occasionally useful. But only occasionally, when he wanted to be.

Buggy Masterlist

[mdhwrites]

The Mis-Projections of Odalia

Odalia's fanon versus canon characterizations are fascinating to me because at every turn, the fandom takes what is actually a reasonable trait of Odalia and cranks it up to 11, even to the point where it's entirely incongruent with both the facts and the spirit of the show. Consider this a continuation of me questioning how bad a parent Odalia is. I will also say upfront here that I have point, beyond just bashing fandom's ability to remember what the show is, for why this matters but I need to get through the rest first.

So, how does the fandom, or most of them at least, characterize Odalia? Well, they make it that she is the root of all evil, abusive, racist, classist, doesn't care about anyone or anything but herself and is a capitalist who only ever sells snake oils and lies.

In the show... She's very few of these things and many of the rest are actually her being a part of the Isle's culture. Not its nebulous culture that's bad but like the ONE element of its culture that is ever consistent. We'll get to that though.

Is she evil? Honestly, by the metrics of the show, not really. She isn't an slaver like the publishing lizard. She doesn't kill people just for fun like the bounty hunters. She doesn't scam people (we'll get back to that) like Tibbles. She isn't entirely good mind you, she's scrupulous and is willing to break her own beliefs when emotions run high but compared to like ALL the other villains in TOH, she's weirdly tame. Now mind you, the villains of TOH are all charicatures based out of the 90s so the bar is ROCK FUCKING BOTTOM but rather than fantasy levels of evil, Odalia is boringly modern and constrained. Put her in the human realm and literally nothing of what she does changes, including making a killer robot. She is not the worst person on the Isles though.

How about being a bigot of any sort? Well, Dana is correct that as far as we see, Belos is the only bigot on the Isles. The closest that ever comes to it otherwise is Boscha scribbling Round Ears on Luz which as far as bigotry goes is the equivalent of calling a kid with glasses four eyes. No, instead, she is, like all of the Isles, merit based in how she treats people. Period. No ifs ands or buts.

I say this so firmly because people don't seem to understand that. Boscha is liked because she is strong and gets results. Amity was popular because she was top of her class and got results. Willow was disliked not because of any racial, religious, gender, etc. element, it was ENTIRELY from the fact that she fucked around, caused trouble and was entirely unskilled. By her own society, young Willow was an abject failure. She wouldn't listen to rules, even simple ones like 'go to class' in the flashback we see with Amity, and her skill with magic was genuinely abysmal until she swapped courses at which point she excelled and became popular.

So, who does Odalia dislike? Gus, Willow and Luz. One of these fuckers doesn't want to follow what he's a savant at and instead wants to chase cryptids by their societies standards, and also got his ass put into detention before breaking detention to get out, the next already had a history of fucking around and is associated with two troublemakers already meaning she is still trouble, and the third... The third is the apprentice to the OWL LADY. She practices WILD MAGIC. Everything about Luz is illegal WITHOUT getting into all the times Luz has broken the law, rules and just general common sense. By a meritocracy, what the Isles is, these three are the bottom of the barrel. It'd be like saying a parent was unreasonable for not wanting their kid to hang out with the sixteen year old drug dealer behind their school and skipping class to do so. She's pretty fucking valid honestly for not wanting Amity to associate with these people.

Is she abusive? This one is more up in the air but besides Escaping Expulsion, we never see consequences for disobeying her, minus when her kids break the law and try to sabotage their own family in Clouds on the Horizon for which they're ONLY GROUNDED instead of way worse. We also never really see her kids worry about punishment outside of, again, Escaping Expulsion where the twins mention not telling mom they're helping but also they don't try to stop Amity out of fear for her own safety. You know, like people who are used to strict retaliation for mistakes should be. Amity quits the covens and seems to have literally no repercussions from that. She can also just keep telling her mom to go fuck off about her hair. This is not the attitude of an abused child. Oh and on the side of Odalia gives zero shits about her family, first I'm going to say I'm entirely ignoring Clouds on the Horizon's bullshit of "I knew about Belos' plan" because there's no reason for her to have been told that, no need for her to have been told that and is such a needless escalation of her character being cartoonishly evil, ratcheting back into being at home with the rest of the villains of TOH, that it it is just a transcendentally bad piece of writing that should only be mocked. HOWEVER. The first time we literally ever hear about Odalia is a moment of kindness and care. She sends the twins to bring Amity her lunch to make sure she eats. That's... Caring. She didn't send them to scold her or punished her by not letting her eat, she sent her troublemaking twins to the library to feed her and probably in hopes that the twins might study a bit. That's a fine mom move. Without more that is clearly abuse, I see it as neutral at worst. The necklace is the same way. It's more secretive than sending her daughter texts but they all have cellphones, she can just text her and that's really all she ever does with the necklace. She never actually controls Amity with it. Without more to sustain allegations of abuse, I don't see it as anything particularly nasty.

And finally: Is she a scammer? I won't say she isn't a capitalist but TOH never tears down the whole economy and the Isles appears to be by volume 80% scammers or criminals of some sort when it comes to their shopkeeps so capitalism is still absolutely a thing. Is Odalia one of these though? No. The worst she does is exaggeration and that's just marketing. It's not false advertising, it's just painting your product the best you can. She never says the abomaton can take down an Emperor's Coven guard so a trained, albeit young but also top of her class, abomination witch being able to take down the abomaton 1.0? Yeah. that's not lying. It still would do a plenty good job protecting your home and kids from things most people want out of their home defense systems like burglars. It also factually can do everything else Odalia promised. We're shown that. Whether it does it well is up for debate but it DOES do everything legitimately with Amity up until she's supposed to feign being in danger which like... Did you want her to be actually in danger? Actually have her life at risk? Because that would be irresponsible especially to do to your OWN DAUGHTER. She only removes essentially the safety constraints once it's someone she gives no shits about and sees gain in their removal (and also is pissed.) That's not scamming people, that's a product demonstration. It was still able to grab Amity and lift her in the air with one arm, showing its strength. Also, everything else Odalia shows off as Blight Industry tech is legit, much to Luz's detriment.

SO. As you can see, the fandom is essentially dead wrong when it comes to Odalia. They took kernals of truth, that she's a strict mom, capitalist, judgemental, etc. and blew them up to be as bad as they could be. Why did they do this though? Why is this even important?

Well, it's because the show WANTS you to take her that far. Amity doesn't actually do much to redeem herself, especially to those she wrongs. She NEVER does anything but a bare minimum apology to Willow for YEARS of bullying that Odalia didn't ask her to do. Odalia just asked her to stop being friends with Willow. But hey, since all Amity does is an apology, that Willow only kind of accepts, literally stating they're not friends still... What do you do about that? Standing up to Boscha is for Luz after all. Standing up to her mom is for Luz. She never even bashes the ideologies she used to have to show her change, just that she was nebulously wrong but she's better now without any real sacrifice or meaningful acts of redemption. So... As a viewer, what the fuck do you do with that?

Edit: Someone pointed out that she doesn't actually apologize. She does say she was wrong when she was younger which is actually good for redemption BUUUUUT she claims she'll make Boscha and everyone else stop bullying Willow. Then Winging it Like Witches happens where Amity doesn't give a fuck about what Boscha is doing until it is focus fired on Luz making her whole speech there just a bold faced lie. Good job Amity.

Well, you do what the show did and scapegoat people. Why is it okay that Amity abandons her friends like she did Willow so many years ago? Because they're evil and bad people, or Boscha is at least, despite Boscha doing nothing Amity hasn't already in the show. But she was only like that because of her mom. Her awful, abusive, controlling, classist...

Wait a second. Do you dear reader see the problem?

This is why the projection is required. TOH actually is really bad at redemption arcs, namely that it doesn't know what redemption means besides no longer being a dick, and so you actually no way to forgive the characters for what they did by what they do. As such, you need excuses. The people the fandom hates the most are usually those scapegoats, especially for Amity. Why is Boscha worse than Belos when all she is is a bully? Because people claim she was the reason Amity was a bully and shift the fact that Amity was Willow's main bully to Boscha, despite all evidence to the contrary. Why do they make Odalia worse than all other villains in media combined? Because otherwise, their blorbo, the lesbian that helped make TOH as popular as it was, the one who was endlessly praised for having a transcendentally written character arc... Is never redeemed nor actually has much of an arc or depth to her character. She NEEDS to have all these serious elements put upon her through her mom or else... She's just a mean girl who fell in love and decided to care about one person and be a LITTLE better to other people. Remember, at the point of Labyrinth Runners, an entire season after Understanding Willow, Amity does not recognize that she was wrong that Willow is weak despite Willow's entire character for the past season being defined by how overpowered she. Amity very clearly has not been paying attention or caring about anyone about Luz and that's not what a good person does? You care because caring is the correct thing to do.

And I care because I would like her to be written better. I would like her to be more than what she was. I would like the whole show to be. But... Odalia isn't what you think she is and that matters because it means Amity isn't either. The show isn't either. See you next tale.

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