#experimenting with nail designs.. and press on visuals

[new-bein]

[captainjamster]

Underrepresented!Reader Series

Pairing(s): Ghost x vision impaired!reader Warnings: Mentions of dogs and ducks :) Wordcount: 2.9k Summary: A gentle, domestic morning with Simon and your dog as an individual with vision impairment. AO3 Link: Right here <3

AN: Reader has been written with vision that is limited to distinguishing only the outline and colour of items. A good visual example would be these shots from The Experience Unseen Campaign showing the Australian bush through a visually impaired perspective.

As I recognise the possible interpretations of the scene, I want to clarify that Simon is not infantilizing the reader in his insistence to make breakfast and general servitude - I just think that his primary love language is acts of service and he wants to do what he can for you, vision impaired or not!

Full fic is under the cut <3

When your eyes flutter open, breath speeding up as life begins to seep into your muscles, the world is a familiar, colourful fogginess that you know you can’t blink away. A warm square fills your vision, the sunlight speckled across your face as it peeks through the window behind the rippling curtains. The room is quiet with the gentle hum of electricity, buzzing from the electrical appliances just down the hall, and the gentle patter of water droplets echoes from just further along. Rolling away from the luminous sight, the spot next to you is cooling to the touch, the heat of the sun’s rays intermingling with the last remnants of your lover’s warmth.

“Phone, time?” You yawn, pressing a palm against your eyes, watching the pale morning colours disappear into a blackness. A tinny voice from your phone announces that the hour has just turned eight, the day seems clear but cool, and wishes you a good day before falling silent.

You lay there, fading in and out in the silence, bathing in the last tendrils of sleep until a leathery, wet nose pushes itself underneath your hand spread out against the mattress. The sensation draws a sleepy giggle from you, exciting the nose which begins wriggling underneath your palm as a furiously wagging tail drags through the air loudly, thumping against the bedpost with each swish.

The large shape of your german shepard perched on the bed fills your vision, and based on the whines he exhales with each breath, you assume he’s giving you a look that Simon calls ‘the saddest puppy in the world’.

“Yeah yeah, I know, you’re hungry sweetheart,” you croon, rubbing the bridge of his head affectionately. Riley nuzzles into the pat with a happy pant, pulling himself off the bed as you sit up and swing your legs over the edge.

The slippers are cosy on your feet, shielding them from the air far colder than the haven of body heat underneath your blanket, and Riley jumps excitedly as you finally right yourself up off the bed. He keeps to your left as you shuffle sleepily to the door, a soft barrier of fur between your knees and the bedframe, having learnt after listening to you curse the thing out in pain more than once when you were becoming accustomed to the new flat.

The smell of soap is clearer in the hallway, drifting from the slightly cracked bathroom door that allows the soft sound spotting of droplets to spill from the room. Riley brushes past you to sit himself in the hallway with a huff, acting as a very determined blob of a barrier between you and the bathroom, the outline of his head just distinguishable enough to see it pointedly stuck towards the archway to the kitchen. He pants happily as you bump his head playfully, nudging at your leg as you grab his food from the fridge in its designated bottom draw, listening to his nails click against the tiles with his gleeful tapping.

“This what you’re after, handsome?” You laugh, tipping his food into the bowl as he gives a loud woof before his muzzle is deep in the dish. Washing your hands to make a start on breakfast, the water splatters uninterrupted by dishes against the sink basin, and the kettle is chill to your touch as you tentatively tap it. Simon’s mug is right where you expect it to be, still hanging on the wall from last night’s dishes.

Grabbing the cool ceramic and popping the kettle on, the frigid chill has you regretting not grabbing something to wrap around yourself. The desire to escape its grips drives you to reach for the default, everything needed for Simon’s usual breakfast.

Different shaped containers are scattered against the wall on the counter, your fingers skimming the lids until you feel the curve of the sugar pot and the metal of the tea container. You fish for the teaspoon lingering inside the pot, dumping in the respective amounts – just one sugar for Simon – and two teabags, putting the pots back as you reach for the liquid level indicator hanging neatly off the hook Simon installed for you. It slots on the side of the mug as you fill them up, waiting for the tempo of the beeps to increase as the water nears the rim, before topping it off with milk and repeating it again for Simon’s mug. The kettle’s heat faintly stretches to the handle, warming the inside of your hand as you tilt it back up right, cutting off the stream of water.

Between your preoccupation with making breakfast and the low rumble of kitchen appliances, the absence of running water going unnoticed as you bustle about. It isn’t until you hear Riley’s paws scrabbling against the cold kitchen tile from where he was laying down, bounding to the entryway with happy growls, that you realise Simon has finished in the bathroom.

The tag on Riley’s collar tinkles as Simon rubs at him aggressively, deep thuds as he slaps his hind with affection, charging the pup up with a shower of love that has him whining and squirming in enthusiasm. You can hear Simon rumble soothing affection as he makes his way across the kitchen to you with padded footsteps, pacifying Riley back down to a lively bouncing buzz as he comes up behind you.

You turn in Simon’s arms as you feel them trap you to the counter, resting on each side of you. The pout you give him is smothered by the kiss he plants to your lips, soft and minty with the taste of lingering toothpaste, and he pulls away.

“Our boy got you up?” He mumbles into your shoulder, a smile in his tone while his lips graze against your skin, his hot breath washing against it.

“Yeah, thought I’d get started on breakfast ‘til someone interrupted me. Not hungry this morning?” You query, bringing up a hand to run through his soft, still damp hair.

“Jus’ wanted to shower first, didn’t think you’d be awake before I finished.”

You grunt in response, closing your eyes and relaxing as his arms embrace you. His hand dwarfs the side of your head, pulling it against his clothed chest as the other slips around your back, rubbing it gently. The soft patter of his heartbeat lulls a sense of sleepiness back into you, and just for a moment, it’s easy to forget you’re not back in bed. The tranquil trance is broken as Simon pulls away, arm still around your back. “Want a cuppa?”

You chuckle, detaching yourself from his embrace. “Already made one, made yours too.”

His socks rub gently against the tiles as he turns to the counter, letting out a rumble of appreciation as he walks over to grab one. “Didn’t even notice. Too good to me, poppet.” He hums, sipping at the steaming tea before returning the mug back to its spot. You return his affection with your own happy hum, grabbing the spatula from where you left it on the bench before your arm is stilled by a firm grip.

“Didn’t you say you made a cuppa already?” He teases, taking the spatula from your hand as he gently bumps you to the side. “Go sit down, let me.”

You cross the kitchen to the little table pressed up against the corner, placing your hand flat against the wood to feel for the edge before you put the mug down and take your own seat. Running your thumb along the ridges and bumps of your mug, you listen to Simon’s movements as he works in the kitchen.

“Want everythin’, full plate?” He asks, stirring the content of the pan.

“Yes, please.”

It falls silent again as you sip at your drink, taking in the wide shape of your man blocking the light of the stove’s overhead. His figure is dark today, even in the light of the room, but from being within them, you know the only thing wrapped around his arms is the extensive, intricate ink he’s described to you.

“Got plans for today?” His voice carries over the sizzling, interrupting your thinking. You hum thoughtfully, leaning back in your chair before responding.

“Yeah, actually. Wanted to go for a walk to the park, got some fruit scraps for the ducks. What shirt is that?”

The clank of Riley’s tag announces his captured attention at the word walk. He trots from his place of hovering at Simon’s feet in hopes of stray scraps, moving to sit next to your chair and nudge your thigh with his nose, and Simon snorts at your question before he answers. “Was hopin’ you wouldn’t ask that. S’the one Johnny got for me, skeleton on the front with the extra bone.”

He emphasizes the last words in a mocking Scottish accent, huffing playfully as you laugh against the rim of your mug at the memory. “That was a good one. I know I heard Price chuckling at that one, I don’t care what he says.”

The hinges click as he pulls the cupboard open, grabbing plates out to serve up the food. The metal of the cutlery clinks against the plate as it hits the table with Simon’s delivery, taking a seat across the small table. Finding its home tucked behind your ankle, his foot rubs the back of your calf, a gentle up and down. You give your thanks with a smile as you pick up your utensils and dig in, taking time to savour the food as Simon’s figure hunches over with each bite into his toast.

“You want to go right after?” He questions, voice thick with a mouthful of food.

“I think Riley wants to go right now,” you giggle, and Riley whines with a huff at his name, tail sweeping across the floor as he presses his muzzle against your thigh.

“Comprise with right after,” Simon affirms fondly, pulling off a piece of meat to offer Riley who gobbles it down with a series of dramatic slurps. You rub his muzzle affectionately as you finish the last of your plate, and the big pup returns to your thigh in hopes of extra feedings. He huffs when your fingers only deliver apologies, moving away to scratch noisily at the metal of his collar. Simon scoffs as he reaches for your plate, stacking it on top of his as he rises from his chair. “Reckon ‘e’d eat until ‘e was sick if we’d bloody let ‘im.”

You stand up with him, brushing off your gown and pushing your chair in. “Well, let’s go before he gets any more excited, or he won’t last until we get our shoes on.”

Simon laughs quietly, putting the dishes in the sink before following you to the bedroom. His clothes ruffle as he shucks them off, chucking them into the laundry basket as you open the closet. Running your hands through the orderly fabrics, Simon slips behind you, hands on your hips.

“Something loose, nice to walk in,” you hum, answering his silent question as you feel Simon’s arm brush across your shoulder as he reaches for something.

“The blue one?” He suggests, pulling away to redress himself, and your hands trail to the one he’s talking about. “Looks good on you.”

The compliment sways you, your hands sifting through the rack of fabric and tugging the clothing off the hanger before letting your dressing gown fall to the floor. Before you can fully pull the cloth over your head, the gown brushes against your feet as Simon grabs it, grazing against you again to return it to the closet. He already has socks in hand, giving them to you as he calls Riley out the room, who scrabbles from his bed to follow. You pull the socks on, grabbing the bag hanging from your doorknob as the sound of Riley’s whining grows louder with each step to the front door.

Simon’s form grows as he rises from the floor, and you can hear him nudge your shoes across the floor to you. Sliding them on, you reach for your cane on the wall as the click of the leash connecting to the harness sends Riley onto another cacophony of excited yips. “Ready, love?” Simon’s face is obscured moreso than usual, hiding behind his cap as his mask slightly muffles his words.

“Ready!” You chime, wrapping the strap of your cane around your wrist. The breeze is slightly cool against your face as you step out the door, waiting for Simon to lock it. Riley sits with restrained excitement, tail sweeping as you reach down for his harness to double-check it’s secured into the lead. When you stand up straight, the rough callous of Simon’s hand grazes against your inner arm, feeling for your hand, and you allow him with a small squeeze as your fingers intertwine.

“Got the fruit.” He shakes the bag as you walk into the street, the click of your cane setting a comfortable rhythm. “Thank god,” you mutter, “or it’d be a short time at the park.”

The walk is tranquil, only interrupted by Riley’s pauses to sniff around eagerly or mark his territory at each streetlight and fire hydrant. The familiarity of the path you walk frequently aids your confidence, easily navigating each rise and dip in the pavement and avoiding the bins that’ve been put out for collection.

Peals of laughter and squeals echo through the fresh morning air as you near the park, the faint quacking of ducks punctuating each pause of audible joy. The high-pitched, youthful clamour grows with each step of your feet against the pavement, and by the time you’ve reached the park’s entrance, there’s a much busier buzzing than usual from the playground.

Simon’s grip on your hand tightens just noticeably as Riley leads the way, well accustomed to the routine as you move away from the noisy children. The walk is slower with more people to avoid, though Simon’s inherently insinuating nature often creates a wide berth that you’re silently thankful for, leaving you to focus on avoiding any sticks or rocks that have found their way onto the path.

The clicking of your cane dies as you veer off the path, replaced by grass squeaking under your feet as you head for the bench overlooking the lake. Instead of letting the cane graze across the ground, you raise it to tap from left and right to minimize the chance of getting caught on the uneven dirt and jabbing yourself in the ribs.

When the bench becomes more defined, you retract your cane, tucking it into the holder of your bag. The sturdy wood of the structure is smooth under your fingers, well-kept with maintenance as you reach for it, and your bag thunks heavily next to you as you sit.

Simon takes his seat a moment after, tying Riley’s leash to the armrest before settling next to you, thigh pressed up against yours. He fiddles with the knot in the bag, the rustling of plastic combined with a grunt as he tugs it open. Extending your hand expectantly, he grabs a handful of fruit before giving it over, sitting it in the palm of your hand.

The presence of humans has attracted a few braver duck who waddle up with a noisy swish and a shake of their feathers, quacking cautiously at the big, furry dog parked almost on top of your feet. Simon coaxes them in with friendly grumbles, throwing cuts of apple that hit the grass with a quiet thump and send the ducks into a flurry of feathers as they fight to peck it first.

A few slices of fruit later and the ordeal has drawn in more ducks than you can distinguish the noises from, crowding around the bench without getting too close to Riley. Simon describes each funny-looking duck, teasingly insulting them or characterising them in silly ways that make you giggle. “Got a big arse, that one, talk about fuckin’ boyant. An' this little fucker keeps pushin’ in. Y’know what – oi, back of the line, you – there y’go, someone take ‘is spot.”

With the sizeable group of eager beaks to snap up the food, the bag quickly empties, leaving you with nothing but plastic to stuff back into the draw. The crowd of ducks disperses as they realise the feeding has come to an end, disinterested in your friendly, waggling fingers or the hungry way Riley licks his lips. The pups’ patience has worn thin, which he makes clear with his gentle whines and huffs as he licks impatiently at your leg. When Simon unties his leash to give Riley more room to walk around, clinking against the metal legs of the bench, Riley bounces up to stretch with a dramatic yawn, digging his nails into the ground and tearing at the dirt.

Simon’s amused snort makes you smile, and you assume he catches the way his reaction tugs at your lips, as his hand slips into yours again. “Glad I have you,” he murmurs into your ear, planting a soft kiss against your head.

You turn your head to press a kiss into his shoulder, taking in the smokey smell of his jacket as you prepare to get back up again. “Glad I have you too.”

[mkliota]

Alt Nail Art Latest: The Edgy Evolution of Nail Trends in 2025

If you're tired of mainstream manicures and craving something with more edge, welcome to the ever-evolving world of Alt Nail Art. In 2025, this boundary-pushing trend continues to thrive, blending punk, grunge, cybercore, and avant-garde aesthetics to create bold statements at your fingertips. No longer just a subculture favorite, alt nail art is now firmly in the spotlight—and it’s louder, darker, and more creative than ever.

What is Alt Nail Art?

Alt (short for "alternative") nail art breaks away from traditional beauty norms. Forget pastel pinks and French tips; this is about self-expression through unexpected colors, textures, and themes. Think matte blacks, chromatic silvers, 3D piercings, flame designs, chain links, goth-inspired symbols, and asymmetry. It’s the visual language of rebellion and creativity.

2025’s Hottest Alt Nail Art Trends

1. 3D Embellishments and Hardware: Nails are now canvases for mini sculptures. Piercings, metal studs, rings, and even zipper decals are turning ordinary acrylics into art installations. These elements give off strong industrial, punk, or cyber-goth vibes, aligning perfectly with the alt fashion movement.

2. Chromatic and Holographic Finishes: Shiny but make it edgy. altnailart latest Iridescent finishes with purples, blacks, and greens give a futuristic touch to nail sets. Paired with jagged shapes or sharp edges, these nails echo the Y2K revival with a dark twist.

3. Grunge-Inspired Texture: Textured nails are in—especially with matte finishes, distressed designs, and layered polishes that create a worn or "burnt" effect. Think of nails that look like torn denim, cracked leather, or molten lava. It’s all about giving off that raw, gritty aesthetic.

4. Alt Symbols and Iconography: From occult and spiritual symbols to band logos and barbed wire, artists are painting personal statements onto their clients' nails. These micro-designs are often paired with lettering, spikes, or contrasting tones to amplify their statement.

5. Negative Space and Asymmetry: Perfect symmetry is out. Instead, artists are experimenting with mismatched nails, abstract layouts, and negative space for a chaotic yet intentional feel. One hand may be fully blacked out while the other flaunts detailed linework or graphic flames.

Who’s Wearing It?

Alt nail art isn’t just for the underground anymore. Celebrities like Doja Cat, Grimes, and Rico Nasty have helped bring the aesthetic to the mainstream. Paired with cyberpunk fashion or streetwear, these nails complete a fully expressive, high-impact look.

Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are buzzing with content creators showcasing their custom designs. DIY nail artists are also hopping on the trend with at-home gel kits and press-ons designed to mimic high-end alt styles.

Alt nail art in 2025 is more than just a beauty trend—it’s a form of rebellion, art, and self-expression. As beauty norms continue to shift, this movement embraces individuality over perfection. Whether you're into soft grunge, industrial punk, or futuristic cybercore, there’s a version of alt nail art for you.

So ditch the neutral tones and embrace your inner chaos—because alt nails are here to stay, and they’re sharper, louder, and more powerful than ever.

[lakshay-gaur-sas]

Blog 3: Hyperrealism in Red Dead Redemption 2: Crafting Believable Open-World Experiences [Depiction]

As a gamer I have always been a fan of Rockstar Games from classic games like GTA, Max Payne, Man Hunt and Red Dead Redemption. I have spent an unhealthy amount of hours exploring the world of Red Dead Redemption 2. I have been inside the world of RDR 2 so long that I somehow memorized the routes to certain locations. I will give credit as well as blame to the hyperrealism in RDR2 for making me stay in there for a questionable amount of time. Juul (2005) suggests that “Games achieve immersion when rules and representations combine seamlessly,” in Red Dead Redemption 2 the environments are not just empty worlds but also play an important role in story narration.

One of the elements that made me love Red Dead Redemption 2 is its use of environmental storytelling. From stumbling upon abandoned cabins that hint at untold tragedies to observing the evolving behaviour of non-playable characters (NPCs), also a fun fact Rockstar brough in around 700 voice actors, 300,000 animations, 500 motion-capture actors, 500,000 lines of dialogue and the most important and fascinating thing was music 192 mission tracks, 110 musicians. Jenkins (2004) emphasizes that “environmental storytelling creates spaces ripe for player exploration ” and I saw this coming alive in Red Dead Redemption 2. Every interaction that being from observing NPC behaviors to finding remnants of old conflicts enriches the world-building and invites personal engagement.

The realism doesn't stop there. The game's dynamic weather and environmental systems are incredible. I've found myself slowing down during a storm just to be amazed at how the rain affects the visibility or how snow crunches underfoot which affects how you navigate around the world. Manovich (2001) talks about sensory coherence in digital environments and Red Dead Redemption 2 nails that so well. It’s not just about aesthetic visuals but it’s about how every detail comes together to create a world that feels alive and believable.

Through the course of me playing RDR 2 I got to observe how RDR2 uses traditional cinematic elements. Use of simple camera angles and beautiful plus right compositions sets apart the RDR2 from other games. I got to see really classic camera shots but that was executed so beautifully making the character moments really intense. Bolter and Grusin's (1999) concept of "remediation" explains this situation in a perfect way. They discuss how new media like games will adapt to techniques originally derived from older form of cinema. I have to say that RDR 2 wasn't just a game but a whole cinematic experience. I felt as if playing as Arthur Morgan gave me eyes inside this character's life and surrounding making me immersed into this game.

For me the real magic of Red Dead Redemption 2 is how it makes you feel. There's a weight to its world a sense of wonder and melancholy that sticks with you even after you've put down the controller. It's not just about exploring a beautifully crafted game its about living in its world shaping its story through your choices. That's what makes the hyperrealism so impactful. It's not just thee to look good it's there to make you care. By pushing the boundaries of what games can achieve Red Dead Redemption 2 sets a new standard for immersion and storytelling. I want to achieve that someday. (Fingers crossed x100)

References:

H.Jenkins (2004). “Game Design as Narrative Architecture,” in First Person: New Media as Story, Performance, and Game. MIT Press. Available at: https://direct.mit.edu/books/book/2789/first-person (Accessed: 13 December 2024).

J. Juul (2005). Half-Real: Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds. MIT Press. Available at: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262101103/half-real/ (Accessed: 12 December 2024).

J.D. Bolter, R. Grusin (1999). Remediation: Understanding New Media. MIT Press. Available at: https://direct.mit.edu/books/book/2783/remediation (Accessed: 12 December 2024).

L. Manovich (2001). The Language of New Media. MIT Press. Available at: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262632553/the-language-of-new-media/ (Accessed: 12 December 2024).

[boothconstructor]

How to Make an Impactful Presence at Automechanika Frankfurt 2024 with Booth Constructor!

The auto world buzzes with excitement about Automechanika Frankfurt. As the trade fair is around the corner, companies beam with excitement to dazzle crowds with cutting-edge technology-enabled booths. Want your booth to stand out? Team up with a pro like Booth Constructor GmbH - we ace it with our eye-catching exhibition stands in Frankfurt. Here are some tips to help you prepare for an impactful presentation at Automechanika Show 2024.

1) Plan Ahead- Preparation is Key!

Know Your Goals & Do Your Homework

First things first: figure out why you're there. Chasing leads? Unveiling a game-changer? Boosting your brand? Nail down your aims - they'll steer your whole game plan. Scope out who you're trying to impress and what your rivals are up to. This intel helps you tailor a killer presentation.

Craft Your Presentation

Clear goals? Now shape your content. Aim for a message that hits home with your crowd. Grab their attention with cool visuals real-life stories, and snappy talk. Keep it punchy! Rehearse till you're smooth - you'll need that swagger to field questions like a pro.

Spread the Word

Get the hype train rolling for your Automechanika 2024 Frankfurt spot way ahead of time. Blast it on social media, fire off some emails, and cook up a juicy press release to get folks buzzing about your booth.

2) Booth Design and Construction

Partner with an Expert Booth Builder in Frankfurt

The design of your booth plays significant role in attracting visitors. Booth Constructor a leading Exhibition Stand Design Company in Frankfurt, can help you create a stunning. And functional booth. Here is how you can make the most of their expertise

Focus on Visual Appeal

Your booth should be visually appealing and reflective of your brand identity. Use bold colors. Incorporate attractive graphics and interactive elements to catch the eye of passersby. Ensure your brand logo is prominently displayed and key messages are easy to read.

Optimize Space and Layout

Work with Booth Constructor to optimize the space and layout of your booth. Ensure there is enough room for demonstrations. Have adequate space for product displays and visitor interaction. A well-organized booth not only looks professional but also makes it easier for visitors to navigate. Engage with your offerings.

Incorporate Technology

Incorporating technology can enhance the visitor experience. Consider using linear anamorphic displays or kinetic walls for better engagement. AR and virtual reality to showcase your products and services in a different light. Interactive technology can make presentation more engaging and memorable.

3) Practical Tips from Booth Constructor

- Optimal use of lighting: Use lighting to your benefit and draw focus to the key areas of your exhibition stand and highlight your products in the best way possible. This will help you to draw visitors attention towards your trade show booth.

- Choosing the most appropriate furniture: It is one of the most crucial part, you will have to choose furniture that goes well with the aesthetics of your exhibition stand. Also, happens to be functional and comfortable at the same time.

- Shine with your branding: Branding plays a key role to create brand recall, so that’s why it’s essential to ensure that your branding is consistent throughout your booth. It will help you in drawing clients towards your brand.

4) Post-Event Analysis Measure Your Performance

It is of utmost importance to analyze your performance after the event. Pay due attention to it and take your time in evaluating the number of leads generated, visitor engagement and overall feedback. Analyze what worked well for you this time and what could have been better, identify those areas and work on it for your next trade show.

Implement it The insights you must have gained from thoroughly evaluating everything. Put it in practice and see your brand shine. It will in return help you in maximizing your investment, create a captivating presence in the future and see which booth designs align perfectly with your brand’s vision.

Partnering with an established Exhibition Stand Design Company in Frankfurt like Booth Constructor GmbH can help you create an impactful presentation that attracts, engages and increases visitor impressions. By following these practical tips, you can maximize your presence at Automechanika Frankfurt 2024 and help you attain your exhibition goals!

[unfathomablenihlist]

I think this design is really cool and visually striking! But as a bio girlie, I have some design notes that might help with future fauna concepts.

The dorsal fins are noted above as aiding in collecting heat and sunlight (specifically UV), but everything about their design prevents this! Thin fans with high ratios of surface area to volume absolutely tank attempts to conserve heat. Structures like that exist in desert fauna to do precisely the opposite of what's intended here: radiating as much heat as possible to keep the animal cool. You can see this when you compare foxes that live in the arctic to desert dwellers. The Fennec fox lives in the sahara and has got these big adorable bunny ears, while their arctic fox counterparts have these tiny little nubs. If the helioceros is at all concerned with maintaining body temperature, you would expect nature to strongly select against structures like those fins.

Further, the fins and skin tone are entirely the wrong color for light collection! The pine trees in the background are that striking dark color for good reason! Chlorophyll on earth looks green because it absorbs lots of blue and red light and reflects a lot of yellow and green. The color of an object depends mostly on all the wavelengths of light its not absorbing. Black objects absorb just about everything, while white and transparent objects absorb just about nothing. If a major source of calories for the helioceros is photosynthesis, you would expect it to be the same color as the trees behind it. You would also expect it's main light collection organs to look a lot like the pine needles on those trees: small, dark and waxy. Those pine needles are specialized to trap water, resist cold temperatures and absorb as much of the sparing arctic sunlight as possible!

White coloration like that is an expensive adaptation! Especially in cold climates where every bit of sunlight is precious. Looking like the winter snow is only useful for animals who need to hide from predators or unsuspecting prey. In tundra biomes, you'll often see seasonal changes in coat coloration specifically for this reason! The arctic fox is once again a great example of this.

If I were visiting an alien planet and I saw the sight you've drawn, I would assume that this animal was a large male herbivore who's primary concern was reaching nutritious nuts/leaves in a taiga that experiences big seasonal changes in temperature. I would think that the helioceros' coat coloration and fins served only as a mating display, as they'd make winter survival harder. Maybe when the snow starts to fall, all the veins running through the fans close up and they become something akin to big flexible horns or finger nails. Females shed them early and the males keep them in this colorful dead state to show how healthy and breedable they are. When mating season ends, the fans fall off and then regrow in the hot season to help with regulating body temperature. I wouldn't expect this guy to photosynthesize, not only because he'd be hard pressed to get enough nutrition to support a big moving body, but also because the coloration doesn't support it. If he was an autotroph, or not a male-esque reproductive variant, and DID use those fans to conserve heat, I'd probably sue the UT bio department for educating me wrong as a joke.

In any respect, this critter looks really cool and you have a lot of technical ability for spec bio illustration! Thank you for sharing this big cool fellah.~

Here's my entry for the spectacular #Refugium2024 contest, arranged by @simon-roy on the occasion of his comic Kickstarter!

Because there were five different clades to choose from, I ultimately picked the photosynthetic "pentaped". It wasn't my first choice, though, as I love the idea of the crustacean-like "skilloids", but the five-legged plant animals seemed like they could be a hell of a challenge. So here is the Helioceros (aka Cherubic Pentaped), an alpine species that stores and uses sunlight as an energy source and for displaying behavior.

Hope you like it! And hey, do not forget to support the Refugium comic! Not every day do we come across projects as cool as this!

[revelnail]

The Glamorous Revolution: Exploring the Latest in Press-On Nails and Top Coats

In the ever-evolving world of beauty and fashion, one trend that has taken the industry by storm is the rise of press-on nails. These convenient and stylish alternatives to traditional manicures offer a quick and easy way to achieve salon-worthy nails at home. Paired with the right top coat, press-on nails not only provide a flawless finish but also ensure long-lasting glamour. In this article, we delve into the world of new press-on nails and explore the importance of a top-notch top coat for the perfect manicure.

The Press-On Nail Phenomenon:

Gone are the days when nail enthusiasts had to spend hours at the salon for a meticulous manicure. Press-on nails have emerged as a game-changer, offering a hassle-free solution for those seeking an instant and customizable nail transformation. These adhesive wonders come in a myriad of designs, shapes, and colors, catering to diverse tastes and preferences.

Advancements in technology have elevated the quality of press-on nails, making them more durable and realistic than ever before. With materials ranging from acrylics to gel-like substances, these nails mimic the appearance and feel of salon-crafted extensions, all while allowing users to change their look at a moment's notice.

Top Coats: The Ultimate Finish:

While press-on nails offer a quick fix for fabulous fingertips, the importance of a high-quality top coat cannot be overstated. A top coat serves as the finishing touch, enhancing the overall look, and ensuring the longevity of the manicure. The market is now flooded with innovative top coats designed specifically for press-on nails, catering to the unique needs of this trend.

Benefits of Using Top Coats with Press-On Nails:

Extended Wear: A good top coat acts as a protective layer, preventing chips and cracks, and ensuring that your press-on nails stay intact for an extended period.

Added Shine and Gloss: Top coats enhance the visual appeal of press-on nails, providing a glossy finish that rivals the shine of a professional salon manicure.

Quick Drying: With busy lifestyles, waiting for nail polish to dry can be inconvenient. Many top coats for press-on nails boast quick-drying formulas, allowing users to get back to their routine without the worry of smudging.

Strength and Durability: Press-on nails, while convenient, can be delicate. A top coat reinforces the nails, adding strength and durability, so they withstand daily activities without losing their charm.

Sealant for Nail Art: For those who love experimenting with nail art, a top coat acts as a sealant, preserving intricate designs and preventing them from fading or chipping.

[bettycora]

From Beachy to Bold: Summer Toe Nail Inspiration for Every Style

Summer is here, which means it's time to show off your toes in the latest and greatest nail designs. Whether you're heading to the beach or just rocking sandals around town, there are plenty of ways to add some flair to your toes this season. Here are some summer toe nail inspiration ideas to suit every style:

Beachy Vibes

If you're spending time at the beach this summer, why not embrace the theme with some beach-inspired nail art? Think palm trees, waves, seashells, and sand dollars. You can even add some glitter to mimic the sparkle of the ocean. These designs are perfect for those who want to keep things light and fun.

Bold and Bright

For those who love to make a statement, bold and bright nail colors are the way to go. Think neon pinks, electric blues, and vibrant oranges. You can also experiment with patterns like stripes, polka dots, and chevrons to add even more visual interest. These designs are perfect for those who want to stand out from the crowd.

Classic and Chic

If you're all about timeless elegance, classic nail designs are the way to go. Think French tips, neutral shades, and simple stripes. These designs are perfect for those who want to keep things understated but still stylish.

Floral Fun

Flowers are always in style, and they make for some of the prettiest nail designs around. Whether you opt for dainty daisies or bold sunflowers, floral designs are perfect for adding a touch of femininity to your toes. You can even mix and match different flower patterns for a more eclectic look.

Artsy Accents

For the creative types out there, why not try some artsy accent nails? Think watercolor splatters, abstract designs, and even miniature paintings. These designs are perfect for those who love to experiment and aren't afraid to stand out.

No matter what your style is, there's a summer toe nail design out there to suit you. So why not experiment and have some fun with your toes this season? From beachy to bold, there's no shortage of inspiration out there.

[millionairebusinessarticles]

Black Nail Designs: Timeless Elegance And Versatile Style

When it comes to nail designs, black is a classic choice that exudes sophistication and versatility. Black nails have become increasingly popular in recent years, offering a wide range of options for creating unique and stylish looks. From simple and sleek designs to intricate patterns and embellishments, black nail designs are a canvas for self-expression. In this article, we will explore various black nail designs and provide inspiration for creating classy and elegant manicures.

Classic Black Manicure

A classic black manicure is a timeless choice that suits any occasion. Whether you opt for short or long nails, applying a coat of high-quality black nail polish creates a sleek and polished look. Black nails are versatile and complement any outfit, making them a go-to option for both casual and formal events. To enhance the longevity of your manicure, consider using gel nail polish for a chip-resistant finish.

Different Black Nail Designs

Black Nails With Sparkles

To add some flair to your black nails, incorporating sparkles is an excellent option. Glittery accents can elevate a simple black manicure, adding a touch of glamor and excitement. You can achieve this look by applying silver glitter nail polish or strategically placing rhinestones on your black nails. The sparkle adds a captivating dimension to your manicure and makes it stand out.

Matte Black Nails With Glossy Tips

Matte black nails have gained popularity for their chic and contemporary appearance. For a modern twist, try combining matte black nails with glossy tips. This style creates a stunning contrast, with the matte black base and the glossy tips offering a unique and eye-catching effect. Consider experimenting with different nail shapes, such as square, almond, or coffin, to enhance the overall aesthetic.

Black Nails With Rhinestones

Rhinestones are a perfect embellishment to enhance the allure of black nails. By strategically placing rhinestones on your black manicure, you can achieve an elegant and luxurious look. From a single rhinestone accent to intricate designs, there are countless ways to incorporate rhinestones into your black nail design. Experiment with different patterns and sizes to create a personalized and glamorous look.

Black And Gold Combination

The combination of black and gold is a classic pairing that exudes opulence and sophistication. Incorporating gold elements into your black nail design adds a touch of luxury and creates a striking contrast. You can opt for gold accents, such as gold glitter nail polish or gold foil, or experiment with nail art techniques to create intricate designs. This black and gold combination is particularly suitable for special occasions or formal events.

Black Nails With Accent Nail

Using an accent nail is a great way to add variety and visual interest to your black manicure. An accent nail can feature a different color, pattern, or embellishment that stands out from the rest. For example, you can apply silver or gold nail polish on one nail as an accent to your black manicure. Alternatively, you can use nail stickers, decals, or press-on nails to create a stunning accent nail effortlessly.

Black French Tip Nails

French manicures are a classic choice, and adding a black twist to the traditional French tip creates a contemporary and edgy look. By replacing the white tip with a black one, you can achieve a sleek and modern version of the French manicure. This black French tip design pairs well with various nail shapes, including round, square, and almond…Read More

Source: Millionaire Business Articles

[angelhairpastawithherbs]

About guitars

Lots of antique places have a lot of them although it does depend on area

Thrift stores also have them sometimes although theyre not as common and make sure it has furniture and not only clothing because ones with only clothing arent going to have anything more than that and furniture is a good indicator that they have other stuff, but again make sure its not only furnitute either

Solid colors tend to be a lot less than ones with patterns

You can always add patterns later

As long as youre not redoing the entire thing you can draw on little designs and stuff with a little paint or nail polish and put a clear coat of something on top to protect it

Dont freak out over them having broken or damaged strings unless youre getting it retail because if its new then it should be ready to play

Getting it restrung is easy to do and can be done at most stores that also sell or rent instruments and isnt that expensive and most of the price is spent on the new strings

Using an app to tune is absolutely fine and means you dont need another thing to worry about

Fender tune is what i use and it has a few other things but you have to pay although the tuner is free and works well with a good and easy to understand visual

About the extras

You will need an amp no matter what

You can get a small one to plug directly in but i would recommend a small floor amp so you can get used to it and because it sounds better in my opinion

You dont need all the fancy dials

If youre just starting get a very basic one

You can get a converter for headphones if needed and that way youre the only one who can hear it so this is good if volume is a problem for other people in the building

Two input chords and no less you need at least two in case one breaks or gets lost because if you dont have a way to plug in then you literally cant play

A small pack of thin and slightly wide picks, its know as the beginner size and makes it much easier to hold, obviously make sure its not breakable but you really only need a thick pick if youre playing acoustic or certain kinds of heavier music

Guitar straps are a fun way to express yourself even in a small way this is the one thing i would say making a little splurge is worth it although they generally arent that expensive

They get twisted incredibly easy though and make sure that the holes arent stretched out because if they are then its more likely it will fall off

That being said you can get something to put on after that will keep the strap from falling off

A guitar case is a must make sure its padded and has straps that also have plastic slideys on them so you can adjust where they are to add padding when you carry it

And also general

Electric guitars are very heavy

Most people start on an acoustic but you dont need to its just something a lot of people do because it build up callouses and doesnt need amps or the other stuff

Strings are thinner on electric so make sure you get the right one and dont accidentally get ones made for acoustic most workers at music stores are happy to help and can easily tell you which ones you need

It takes a while before you can do good as you want to be and will not come easily without experience

It will hurt at first because your fingers are made of nerves and what youre doing is literally pressing them on metal so it will hurt although if its too bad you cant stand it then you should stop

Using a bit of lotion every not and then so they are kept moisturized is a good way you can treat them and make sure you take care of them without ruining all the work youve done on building callouses

Lots of people eventually get several others especially when they do it professionally because different ones have certain talents and sounds although this isnt something you should worry about until you learn what you play best and what you like

Guy

Guys I need an electric guitar so bad

[herrlindemann]

Rock Hard - September 1999, Interview with Oliver and Richard

Rammstein-mania and no end.

Just returned from their first headlining tour in America, Germany's currently most successful noise producers are back with a live album and a video.

But that's not all: production of the third album, which is supposed to hit the charts worldwide in spring 2000, begins in autumn.

« Ask us how it was in America » beams guitarist Richard Kruspe.

"Yes! Come on, ask us that», bass player Oliver Riedel also messes up the interview preparation.

Hello Ramstein! How was it in America?

« Great! Haha. » (Lord in heaven! Can it get any hollower? - Red.)

Somehow Richard is almost in a good mood. He laughs and shines continuously like the dear sun. Something must have happened there...

« First we had Skunk Anansie in the opening act, then Soulfly. We are now friends with Skunk Anansie. Great band, great people! »

That means you're now friends with Skin too...

« Yes, of course! Why not? »

Well, they say the front woman is incredibly politically correct...

« Aren't we? Hihi », giggles Mr. Kruspe.

« Skin was approached by others like: How can you with them… », adds Oliver. « But she has convinced herself with her own eyes that we are not as we were sometimes portrayed in the press. »

Did you have the impression that convinced Rammstein fans came to your concerts, or was it more of a mixed audience that generally listens to heavier acts?

Richard: « The fans are mostly younger than our audience in Germany. Many came in Rammstein shirts and sang along to our lyrics. »

Oliver: « On average, 2,000 to 3,000 fans came. »

Richard: «By the way, we didn't really warm to Max von Soulfly. He almost never got off his bus. »

Oliver: «He had four kids and his wife with him. Max's band was totally annoyed and always wanted to come with us. »

Max's wife Gloria is said to be an extremely demanding person...

Oliver: « It also looks very tiring, hihi. I can understand why Sepultura distanced themselves. »

But enough chattering about other people's family affairs that are none of our business. Your album "Live aus Berlin" will be released at the end of August, and the corresponding video for the concert that took place in Berlin's Wulheide last summer should follow in mid-September. In view of the fact that I think nine out of ten live videos suck, I have to say: respect! The film is a real experience.

Richard: «At Rammstein, I always wished I could look at this band and their performance from the outside. When we watched the video on a big screen with the distributors and label people, I had a great time. We've been doing this show for two years and I didn't find it boring. We watched a lot of live videos beforehand - Ministry, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, U2... I see us as the front runner compared to the other films. »

How long did you work on the two shows in Wulheide? And what did this fun cost you?

Oliver: «I estimate that we paid about 500,000 marks. That means if it wasn't for the record and the video we would have had to pay a lot because the tickets for those two shows weren't that expensive. »

Richard: « Live records are usually boring. When you make an album like that, you have to involve the people. We wanted a record that people could hear themselves on. And we tried to capture that visually. For each piece, the video shows the fans, and very often individual people, singing or playing. The shows were shot by 16 camera crews. »

Oliver: «The question of how we should design the light show was very difficult. The entire preparatory phase took half a year. »

How about the liveness of the album?

Richard: «There are no overdubs. We left everything as it was. »

But not in the video...

Richard: «Yes. »

No. In the first track, 'Spiel mit mir', Till holds up the mic during the chorus — but his voice comes through with full force.

Richard: "Really? You got us there, haha. »

Oliver: «Two shows were recorded. It may be that the picture is from one concert and the sound from the other. »

Did anything go wrong during the concerts or during the shoot that the fans didn't notice?

Richard: «We had a big dress rehearsal, where everything went haywire. »

Oliver: « And at the concerts, the big anti-aircraft searchlights went crazy. They should focus the light into a large roof. Of course, things didn't do that. Suddenly three lights came on in the back and another didn't work at all. »

Were there also situations in which the musicians, glaring at the audience, had to hold back their laughter?

Richard: « Yes, whenever Till's big dildo squirts. »

Oliver: «There is always a guy behind the stage who has to pump the artificial sperm to Till. And on stage you can hear the pumping noises pretty loud. I could throw myself out laughing every time. »

Did you also have plans for the two shows that couldn't be realized at all?

Oliver: « Actually, the concerts were supposed to start with helicopters flying in, enveloping everything in a huge sea of lights. We had already organized the helicopters. But since the things have to fly at least 200 meters above the audience, we had to do without it because the effect would simply be missing. »

On the one hand, you appear strict, martial, almost militarily disciplined on stage. On the other hand, your keyboarder Flake breaks this framework by inserting an ecstatic, wild dance interlude. And Oliver edits his bass almost Kornlike. Is this done by arrangement, or is spontaneity allowed with you?

Oliver: «We only have rough guidelines. Of course nobody goes on stage with a red carnival costume. This is where spontaneity has its limits. And as far as our movements go, anyone who tours regularly with other bands is influenced by them. I don't rule out that another musician influenced me to play the bass in a stooped position. »

Richard: « It's funny that during our tour together, the Ramones bassist suddenly stood on stage, crossed his arms and glared at the audience. Who do you think he got that from? »

When you stand in front of more than 20,000 people, as happened in Wulheide, do you feel power?

Richard: «I feel bigger than I am in normal life. But it is not a feeling of power, but a feeling of glory. »

Oliver: «I concentrate too much on the concert and on what I have to play. That's why I don't really get the audience's attention. I don't feel that people are looking at me. »

Richard: «It's different for me. I always look for one or the other fan and make eye contact. I need it. Otherwise concerts would have no value for me. For this reason, we also attached great importance to the fact that individual fans and their facial expressions can be seen in the video. »

You are a phenomenon in two ways. On the one hand you have sold around four million records worldwide with German-speaking music. On the other hand, you became famous in Germany with a musical concept that, with its main ingredients — metal combined with electronics — is not exactly considered promising in this country. How do you explain your success?

Richard: «I've always been looking for the ideal guitar sound and at the same time I asked myself: Why can't you hear great guitars on the radio? Mostly pop songs. I think some of them are pretty cool, but they would be even cooler with great guitars. So we combined pop songs with guitars and the experiment worked. »

Oliver: «We don't really have anything to do with industrial. Bands like Ministry are worlds apart. »

Oliver, you used to be the bass player for the alternative/folk group The Inchtabokables. And although you're more of a quiet, reserved guy, your stage name at the time was Orgy-Olli...

Richard: « Orgy-Olli? Haha, I didn't even know that. Olivier? Report to us! »

Oliver: « Haha! There's a nice story about that. After the concerts, my fellow musicians always stormed into parties - in the hope of meeting women. Something like that wasn't really my cup of tea, and so I usually went to the hotel alone. Once again it was such an evening. I walked into the hotel and suddenly found myself surrounded by ten screaming female fans. My band was partying somewhere, but I had the women around me. What to do? I went up to the room with them and didn't know what to do with them. I'm just not that pick-me-up. I turned on the telly, but that was kind of boring. So I grabbed ladies and took them to this party where the others were already partying — no women, of course. When we snowed in, my bandmates couldn't believe their eyes. Olli, the secret philanderer — the orgy-Olli. »

Richard: «Another secret revealed, heh. »

But now you have to reveal the last secret: Please tell us everything worth knowing about the next studio album.

Richard: « We're going into the studio in October and hope that the record will be out in spring 2000. Sometimes the guitars will sound even heavier. We also want to use the keyboards even more effectively and broadly. We are also thinking about a new role-playing game for singing. It cannot be ruled out that another voice will be heard on the next record. By the way: we will produce the album in New York, hehe. »

Something doesn't seem right about you, or seems almost too right. You are laughing happiness personified...

Richard: «I'm in seventh heaven at the moment because I'm madly in love with a New Yorker. We're getting married in the fall. That means I'll be in New York very often in the future. »

Actually it's a pity that - except for the official press photos - it's not allowed to take snapshots in situations like this. A blissfully smiling Richard would also be a cool picture for our readers.

Richard: «I'll send you a wedding picture. Deal? »

Deal.

[fablepaint]

My plein air excursions were in sore need of an upgrade (because of my arms...being sore...aha...anyway yes very badly needed) so I adapted James Gurney's sketch easel into a sketch easel of my own under the educated mentorship of Rich Roland (@biliouskaiju' dad)

Started with a sketch of roughly what I wanted. There were a few deviations from this in the final design as features were discovered to be redundant, but the core concept remained the same.

Measure 5 times, cut once

The maple boards were a little flimsy at a quarter inch and embedding magnets would be difficult in something so thin, so Rich opted to laminate them together. Liberal amounts of wood glue applied before we clamped everything together. You'd never know they were separate sheets now.

While we waited for the glue to dry, Dennis the tuxedo cat decided I was the TASTIEST thing she'd ever met. Insistent grooming for like 15 straight minutes. This cat used to be a half-feral stray. Now look at her!

Hinges and bolster. We could've countersunk them, but the bolster provides a ledge for the back side that will be good for signs and there's nothing interfering with any surfaces now. Also provides a handy grip when carrying.

These hinges were tough to research for. They're adjustable torque/lockable hinges from JWWinco and while they're very expensive compared to what Gurney recommends, they're of much higher build quality and don't require an external tool to tighten. Great when you're an artist on the go and easily forget tiny things.

again, measure 5 times and cut once. The lamination process done, time to cut the wood. I opted for a 9 by 14 sized sketch easel because I intend to carry this in a satchel or a backpack. Given the average laptop is about 9 by 14 inches in size, I thought that would be a sufficiently large amount of surface while also being plenty portable. (account for the the hinge handles. they add a half inch either side. A satchel can still handle that but if ur planning on copying me, don't go any wider).

Embedding the magnets seems simple, but can be a bit of a hassle. The drill press fought Rich a bit and it required a LOT of experimenting before we dared bore depressions into the final piece. These magnets need to be absolutely flush to the wood to match our high minded desires.

I was very insistent these magnets be arranged appealingly. I have trypophobia, so a lot of randomly placed little holes/circles would make me avoid the easel. There are 10 magnets, 5 to either side, arranged as two symmetrical triangles. That way they could hold palettes while not being visually off-putting.

Bolsters now glued and nailed to the boards, there's mostly sanding and sealing left to do.

Rich insisted on taking a photo of me while I worked too. Maybe it was revenge? Or maybe he just, similar to me, likes seeing people at work and enjoying what they do.

Here I'm applying "special walnut" stain to the wood. I considered a more inventive color, but opted for something darker and neutral to avoid any possibility of bounce light like impacting the images I'd be creating.

(CONTINUED....)

[spiritus-sonne]

Being Blutpir

It occurred to me after reading parts from my past vampirekin and monstrosity writings that I have never written a more straight-forward piece about what it is like for me to be vampirekin and that’s something I want to do (so thus this writing). Specifically, I refer to my vampire ‘type as a “blutpir” since that’s the ‘species’ name I’ve chosen for it and my original concept of fictional vampires that it aligns with. They are, in essence, fictional humanoid vampires that have a notable amount of ‘animality’ to them mentally and behaviorally. There are various renditions of vampires that I connect to in some sense but none I’ve yet come across align as well as my concept of blutpirs that I had been slowly developing starting about a decade prior to consciously realizing I am vampirekin. Blutpirs are kind of cat-like, mildly shapeshifting humanoids, so it took me awhile longer to figure out my vampire ‘type from the time I came across therianthropy and otherkin as I knew very early on at that time that I have a cat theriotype. My cat ‘type kind of overlaps and blends with blutpir, so it’s not like I can always draw a distinct line and say more definitively “that is just a cat experience” and “that is just a blutpir/vampire” experience.

I think part of my eventual realization to blutpir is that there were seemingly cat-like experiences and aspects to me that didn’t fit my cat theriotype, or my other three theriotypes, and upon further investigation, I couldn’t manage to attribute just to my monster-heartedness. Now, I will say, my monster-heartedness does kind of sing through my vampire ‘type, especially since the monsters I connect to the most are animalistic humanoids, including some kinds of vampires. Honestly, when I get down to it, though, I think my main self-concept is actually that of a blutpir--it is how I see my human(oid) self in my mind’s eye. Plus it was actually a very rough concept of an original (blutpir) vampire called Sonne from where I came to eventually take on the name for myself and it’s stuck to the point of being about as close to a “true” name for me that I’ve ever had (the “Spiritwind” part always feels more like a last name, an extra specifier to better designate that is is me online). Sonne was a vampire character that I really looked up to in some sense for her power, charisma, and confidence, and for her being a blutpir. I never really fleshed out the character much, though I did early on write a poem about/inspired by her. The vampire connection, plus the connection to the sun (as sonne is the German word for sun), which is a strong point of my spirituality and theism, really allowed the name to become a seemingly permanent self-identifier for me.

I have a certain visual self-concept in my mind of what I look like: black hair (my real hair is dark brown), amber (sometimes greenish) colored eyes, a little darker skinned, and a thinner build than I actually have. Along with this is mild shapeshifting abilities like shifting claws or claw-like nails, shifting eye color (to an inhuman one, either glowy amber or all black, including the sclera (white) part), and shifting or retractable fangs on the top of my mouth. Those aspects have been rather constant for a long time in how I internally view myself, even though it’s really taken me until now to realize I’ve probably been seeing myself as a blutpir for all that time. This also doesn’t mean that I was wrong about my cat ‘type because I still experience aspects of it that I find to be or resonate with specifically a cat rather than a blutpir (including phantom parts, like my pivotal cat ears, fur, feline feet/legs, and having body-oriented thought of my feline body doing things, such as curling up to sleep). Yet perhaps, I will admit, maybe I developed over time a vampire ‘kintype and blutpir-specific self-concept in part from aspects of my cat therianthropy mixing with my humanness and my monster-heartedness until eventually I ended up with a blutpir ‘kintype and self-concept.

It’s unfortunately been years since I’ve felt more strongly like blutpir and I miss it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still there, still present within me and I do still experience aspects of it actively, but because of depression, it’s not like I used to (yet I hope that will change over time now that I’m on medications that seem to be significantly helping me emotionally and psychologically). One of the ways in which I used to strongly experience blutpir was during sex (whatever kind of specific sexual activity). It got me feeling rather vampirically shifty, which I won’t get into details but it involved a more vampiric mindset, phantom claws and fangs, and a desire to bite and tear my partner (though I never did it beyond what my partner was okay with). Over time I lost that shiftiness and anhedonia took hold during sexual activity. I used to feel so free and euphoric during sex, not so much from the sex itself but instead from the vampire and cat shifts I had during it, which after I lost the shifting, I also lost the ability to much at all enjoy sex. I want to have that back, in part for my own sake and also because I think it would be healthier socially with my partner for me to enjoy having sex again, to actually be able to feel euphoric during it.

Certain movies and TV shows will get me feeling vampire shifty, mainly if there is a vampire or other animalistic humanoid in it. I’m kind of particular about it though--most vampire media just doesn’t do it for me and often times they are depicted as too human or not humanoid enough, the former often being vampires that seem like mentally and behaviorally just humans that happen to drink blood. Fangs on vampires is a much preferred thing for me to see and I get disappointed when I see fictional vampires without fangs. I also prefer to see them with claws or claw-like nails and extra points if they have (shifting) inhuman eye color. These three physical traits are the physical aspects of vampires I keep coming back to; being so drawn to and resonating with them, time and time again. They are consistent with that self-concept I have that I mentioned in this earlier. And when I do watch something that gets me feeling vampire shifty, I sometimes will get a pleasurable but strange rolling, contracting feeling in my abdomen that I only experience when reading or watching certain fictional humanoid creatures, particularly when they are shifting. I’ve wondered if it’s the same as the “butterflies in your stomach” response, but I’ve felt that during anxious times and know it doesn’t feel the same way.

One of my favorite depictions of a vampire in media is Colin Farrell as Jerry Dandrige in the “Fright Night” reboot in 2011. I don’t really connect to some of the more stereotypical aspects of the vampire like his weaknesses, but what I do strongly connect with are his animalistic behaviors along with his appearance with fangs, claws, and black eyes. One scene in particular I love is when he can’t get into a house to attack someone because he has to be invited in, and he acts cattish at the door, like an anxious caged cat pacing as it can’t get to the food/prey it wants. He manages to display some (of course not remotely all) of the behaviors and physical embodiments that I resonate with as a vampire, so I love being able to see that. I also rather like Henry from the TV show “Blood Ties”, mainly when he’s shifted because of how I connect with him in that state. In contrast, I’ve seen media that shows a character that looks like a bipedal, anthropomorphized creature/monster, even in a horror sense, or any range of looking like an animalistic humanoid and connect very little if at all with them because *behaviorally* and/or mentally they aren’t animalistic enough--they’re just a human mind in a nonhuman body, which kind of bores me, to be honest.

The list of typically vampire-associated things I don’t relate to is probably long, but I’ll mention some of it. Foremost is that blutpirs aren’t harmed by sunlight anymore than most humans are--that’s always been kind of an annoyance to me in vampire media, and it’s unfortunately a very common trope. Secondly, they aren’t undead at all, they are living beings, albeit with some supernatural aspects including longer-lived, reduced signs of aging, mild shapeshifting abilities, and ability to ‘breed’ via supernatural means rather than sexual (essentially blood transfer in a more typical vampire trope kind of way). They also aren’t adverse to religious symbols nor need to be stabbed through the heart with a wooden stake in order to kill them (or poof into ash when killed). There are others I can’t think of right now, but that covers at least some of them.

Sometimes I get phantom shifty with claws and/or fangs and I am fond of the feeling. I can at times feel my fangs gently pressing up against the inside of my lips, which leaves me pursing my lips just a little bit in response to them. I get, more uncommonly, a strange phantom feeling in my eyes that I’ve come to associate with maybe a shifting feeling to them, like they are (phantomly) turning to an inhuman state. These phantom parts can combine with other phantom parts of whichever of my theriotypes, usually cat (especially since I have constant phantom cat ears). I may feel defensive with eyes wide and flared, claws ready, and fangs bared (with me tending to feel only top fangs as a vampire, I think, and more pointed teeth on top and bottom as cat, but again, cat and blutpir are kind of blurred at times). At those times I will also want to hiss and growl and have ears back and hackles/fur on neck and back bristled. There’s also a certain ‘cattish’ grin or smirk I have sometimes when feeling vampirey, which I doubt looks nearly on my physical body like how I see it in my mind; and it’s something that the Jerry Dandrige character I mentioned does oh so well. When I’m feeling myself doing a ‘vampiric grin’ (whether internally or externally), I also mentally feel more confident, charismatic, and predatory, so it’s a mental shift and not just a phantom sensation or body-oriented thought. Comparatively, I’m usually docile, meek, submissive, and passive, so it honestly feels different but enjoyable to have that kind of shift in mindset (no matter how fleeting it may be, which it always is). I still feel like myself, to clarify, just a different sort of version of who I really am. It really captures what I felt Sonne-the-character was like.

I will say that I do have a distaste for the fact that the term “vampirekin” has seemingly become (at least on Tumblr) synonymous with vampirecore, I assume from the ‘kinning-for-fun’ people. It just reminds me of years ago when the Tumblr vampirekin tag was hardly even used, though even then what bit it was used was mainly not by people identifying as vampires in an otherkin-sense, but I like the *concept* of the tag potentially being used to help vampirekin find other vampirekin. Honestly, I’ve only come across a few or so people who actually identify as serious vampirekin, though I haven’t talked much with any of them about either of us being such, unfortunately (I guess, really, I’m just more apt to talk about this stuff in my longer writings and sometimes on forum posts for some of the shorter stuff). I’m thankful for those who have actually made it a point to denote vampirekin as not being the same as ‘energy vampires’ (or whichever term to call them, since there are a few; I mean the psi/sang vampires). Recently I came across a Discord server which does make that distinction and welcomes a wide variety of people in connection with vampirism of some sort. However, the description of the group noted that vampirism is about the practice of leeching another being’s life force or vital energy which I feel I can’t relate to in the way I experience my vampire otherkinity, but I do see that it would ultimately fit with my vampire ‘kintype itself with it being, of course, a blood-drinking vampire.

This is something that’s interesting to me in how I experience this otherkinity: my lack of a desire, let alone a strong, nagging urge, to drink blood. I figure it’s for the same reasons that I don’t experience the desire to eat grass (for horse), or arthropods (for mongoose and erdenvogel), or raw meat (for cat). Those urges for consuming foods of my ‘type-specific diets just have never been part of me and my experiences, for whatever reason. So why would it be present in my vampirism when it isn’t present for my four theriotypes? That makes sense to me, but whomever else may not understand it since I experience *being* (non-physically) a vampire in this life without the cravings for blood (or other life-force substance, yet my vampire ‘type is specifically a blood-drinking one). In the lore that aligns with my vampire ‘type, it doesn’t survive solely on blood--it eats like any other human--just needs to consume blood periodically to stay healthy and functional and may die without it.

They, from what I’ve come up with in my personal lore of blutpirs, don’t tend to go into (let alone on a frequent basis) strong, deep cravings for it, but that those urges can at times come up if they are starting to basically ‘wither away’ in health and such from going too long without blood, or if they’ve lost a lot of blood and haven’t had it replenished via transfusion yet. Those scenarios haven’t been applicable to me, especially since I’m living life in a human body that doesn’t need to drink blood to be healthy, functional, or to survive in general. It’s not that I’m mentally adverse to drinking blood, it’s just that I literally never have a craving for it and see no point in me trying to find a way to get a hold of either another person’s blood (safe donor) or another animal’s blood (like pig’s blood). Although it’s kind of funny to me that I have always preferred well-done meat and generally dislike the taste of meat that’s any below well done or sometimes below medium doneness (like roast beef for the medium level; steak and ground beef I dislike pink at all). Most people I know prefer their steaks rare to medium-rare, so I’m the ironically odd one out in that.

So yeah, being a blood-drinking vampire-identified person who doesn’t crave blood at least *sometimes* makes it more difficult for me to relate to other vampirekin along with most other people who have a connection with vampires, are energy vampires, or vampire lifestylists since so much of these vampire things tends to focus on the *need* and *cravings* for blood or life-force that defines vampires. Though when I really stop to think about it, despite that being definitive of describing or categorizing vampires, maybe even a fictional vampire species doesn’t *have* to be so much about that. It’s like thinking that a theriotype of a certain animal is heavily defined in being that kind based largely on what that animal’s diet is and that they would be odd if they didn’t, during this current human-body life, experience strong cravings for the theriotype’s food. Now granted, yes, most animals are not defined by their diets in our vocabulary: we don’t define a horse as a horse because it eats grass/vegetation, for example, but my point is that I don’t experience being a vampire as “a being that feasts on blood to survive”. I experience vampire as an animalistic humanoid that has various physical aspects and adaptations that came about over time, in part for predatory reasons to gain the sustenance (blood, especially from humans) that it needs from time to time to function and survive. Being vampire for me is much more about being a nonhuman, animalistic humanoid than it is about “I *must* drink blood”; it’s a much more diverse experience that I shouldn’t think has to boil down to such an oversimplistic concept of what a vampire is or should be.

For comparison purposes, it’s kind of like my domestic cat theriotype and how it is similar to actual domestic cats. Now, of course, I can’t know what actually goes on in the brains of cats, but things can be inferred from their behaviour. Domestic cats, like other felines, are evolutionarily built to *kill*, to be predators, mostly ambush predators. However, when we keep them inside and well fed, they are allowed to experience a life that isn’t mostly about “when will my next meal be” or “I need to hunt now” in order to survive. Instead, although they are still very food motivated and frequently are preoccupied with getting or wanting to get food (if they aren’t totally free-fed with a constant supply of food available all the time), they express a variety of other behaviors that include other aspects of their lives and selves (like social aspects, grooming, play, etc.). My experience in being vampire is kind of like that--although I do think often about wanting food, I’m fortunate and thankful to be able to be well-fed and not have to worry about obtaining my next meal for the most part. My behaviors and my mindset don’t end up involving me needing or feeling I need to obtain blood, especially since I don’t possess the physiology for that need to be present. Yet I do experience desires for attacking or biting as a vampire, even though those have been reduced for the past few years due to my depression (which I cover in a different writing).

It is thus not a sense of a need for blood that could connect me to other vampirekin and other vampirism-related people, as it is instead a sense of humanoid animality (albeit a very particular kind) that connects me to some concepts of vampires. And so even as a fictional humanoid vampire I still find more sense of similarity among therians than I do for most people who use the term “vampire” for themselves. I would like to find more animalistic vampirekin to share thoughts or writings with; to read of their similar and contrasting experiences in being a vampire. I want to read more thoughts about their vampirism “beyond the blood need” and into the diversity of other experiences they have related to being vampire. So here I am, trying to share my own pieces of vampirism for others to see and maybe relate to.

[wolfewritings]

My Cyberpunk 2077 Hot Takes (Spoilers for first 5ish hours of gameplay)

It was “in development” for 8 years, delayed multiple times in the final release year, and is still so poorly optimized, buggy, janky, and so obviously not fully tested on release that it is so unplayable on consoles that both Sony and Microsoft are offering refunds on digital copies regardless of hours played. And on PC you could have built and updated a desktop just to play only Cyperpunk on as high a setting as possible and you still would have to turn of features to get everything to load in properly. The game needs a full year delay working a standard 40 hour week to be even playable, and that's accounting for the features available as of Dec. 11th 2020 aka launch features. They forced the devs to work 100 hour work weeks just to launch a game that's technically playable in the loosest sense of the phrase.

TLDR: The game in-general needs to be redesigned like the RPG it was initially marketed as instead of a different flavor of near-future Ubi-sandbox. It also should totally embrace the full depth of customization cyberpunk as a genre and transhumanism as an ideology allows and envisions. And bugfixed and optimized, like seriously. There’s also almost no reason for anything to be as remotely bad as it is, if I’m remembering correctly the only “pressure” they had was from “fans” and that’s because they thought Gamers(tm) would be sensible and not send fucking death threats because they thought they had a release date.

This might be a GOG only gripe (or cpu) but that makes it even worse if it is: patching takes literal hours to complete no matter how small the patch is. The only game that might take longer to patch is Baldur’s Gate 3 which is a whole separate fuck-fest but atleast that is early access.

It has less gameplay options than vanilla Skyrim, just in general and in specifics.

Melee combat is clunky as hell and not satisfying.

I think driving is bad, and vehicle combat is god awful with almost no onscreen indicators if your hitting enemies or even correctly aimed at them.

The lifepath opener sucks. It literally ends with a montage of scenes and interactions that should have been playable and greatly added to the dynamic of Jackie and V. It also would have helped established literally every part of gameplay without requiring a literal in-game diegetic tutorial to break the flow of a scene leading into the 2018 gameplay teaser. It also so far only affects dialogue options, no ability increases, no skill increases or passive experience buffs. It doesn’t even effect how V speaks, just what they know prior to meeting Jackie.

Character creation is meh at best. Unless you choose the more techy looking eyes that change everything about the eye, the iris color barely appears to change. Pronouns being tied to voice is a very weird choice, especially when the choices are literally just male or female. Available hair styles are alot right off the bat, especially since you have to remember which numbers you like with no option to preview or change later in anyway aside from apparently forced hair styles hard designed with various head gear, especially apparent on femme V where they grow and fully style their hair on contact with ball caps etc. Tattoo options are generic “nothing or your skin is over 30% tattoos” no pure back or pure limb tattoos. Facial cybernetics are serviceable but there should have also been an option for purely cosmetic body cybernetics. Facial hair is both meh and almost too indepth at the same time. Visually bland but also having too much to customize and compare with each beard selection having seemingly 3 barely different versions and mustaches having essentially every type aside from pencil (i think, i didnt care too much to look at all of them).

In-combat weapon selection is clunky. The lower right icons for unarmed is the exact same as if you were wielding a gun. The only way to know for sure you have only fists is to use the weapon selection wheel and try to get the cursor to show you hovering unarmed even if you have weapons in 2 out of 3 slots. And im fairly certain having no weapon in the first slot breaks hotkey selecting weapons. There have been several times where I pressed 1 to only use fists and it kept my katana or gun out despite them clearly being in the 2 and 3 slots respectively.

Hacking is weird as you need direct line of sight and the game to register you’re actually looking at what you want to hack, meaning you can’t really stealth hack in enclosed areas without almost guaranteeing you’ll be spotted.

Randomized loot doesn’t really make sense, especially when the randomized tier determines if you can install components like scopes, silencers, etc.

Thats all I can remember off of the top of my head as of initial writing.

Now for some praise, but still with some complaints and ideas for improvements.

Gender and sex being separate is a great idea but could have been implemented alot better. Pronouns should have been an actual choice between he/him, she/her, and they/them. In my opinion, voice options should have also been expanded to include masc/fem or masc/fem/”yeah thats a generic ‘X’ voice” for both male-voiced and female-voiced V. Genital selection being both “which do you have?” and “do you go commando?” is just questionable. It should have been genital type as one selection and default underwear as another (maybe some people want schlonged V to wear panties and vagina’d  V to wear men’s boxers or tighty-whities). I personally find the nipple and pubic hair customization almost too much for almost no reason especially since there is no practical way to even be naked to be funny without being one-shot because you have literally zero armor aside from maybe shoes, hats, and face covers.

Tattoos should be broken down into subcategories like limbs (divided into the different parts of each limb/full limb), torso (chest, stomach/full), back (shoulders, mid, lower/full), hands/feet (maybe including fingers/toes) with an extra option to mirror limbs and hands to streamline creation time if the player wants.

Hair should also be broken down between pre-styled, and customizable pieces like top, sides, and back. Hair style should also have custom gradients or full palette selection.

The nail paints were a nice surprise, but again would have been better with color customization (I managed to settle on the one that looked kinda like the demisexual flag, which was nice surprise).

Lifepath selection should have some effect outside of just the occasional dialogue option (so far only on the main story path). At the very least it should offer bonuses to atleast one associated ability (like Nomad offering a +1 to tech and associated skills gaining bonus experience). At the far end it should affect what words or slight accent uses during dialogue and maybe have some NPCs know which lifepath you chose based on that.

Melee combat needs to feel more impactful. From what Ive used so far (katana and fists) the katana barely has any reaction from enemies unless you trigger the passive bleeding skill and fists barely register outside of heavy attacks and guard breaking. Dare I say, Dead fucking Island has more impactful melee combat (probably because it wasn’t seemingly designed as an after-thought outside of skills).

Make it so that once you’ve marked a target you can hack it through walls so you can actually be somewhat stealthy or atleast give you an advantage before combat.

Make the overworld hub-based (like in the 2010s Deus Ex games) but still the same size so that its (theoretically) easier to load while also getting the same amount of detail or even more. 

Add seemingly basic things in open world action-adventure games like toggle walking, keybinding, and maybe more than less than a handful of quick-select slots.

Make sure the game actually runs as it ideally should on the platforms you sell it on. Like that really should be step fucking two after can you launch it without causing a fire.

Enemies (and predetermined killable NPCs) should have set gear that is dropped and gear should have set designs for if they can be customized or just sold for money. Iconic gear should probably be better than just “ ’X’ weapon but named”.

[leam1983]

Cyberpunk 2077 Thoughts

Having perused Dark Horse Books’ The World of Cyberpunk 2077 over the past few days, I’ve gotten a better feel for the various basic hooks that structure V’s inception as a protagonist. The short of it is the Polish wizards are on the right path to nailing Pondsmith’s treatment the same way they nailed Sapkowski’s works.

Consider the following as half a brain dump, half a series of prospective spoilers, and also half projection, so either skip this, find some other entry to read, or come back to this come late November.

I know I mentioned three halves, but it’s late and I don’t give a shit.

I’m serious - DO NOT PRESS ON IF YOU’RE THE TYPE TO BLOW A GASKET IF YOU’RE INADVERTANTLY SPOILED. 

The latest Night City Wire as of August exposed three incipient “life paths”, or starting branches of V’s path. I’ll tackle my personal narrative approaches to them in the order of my choosing.

Nomads: CP2077 is set in a world where much of what we understand to define a family has been blown up, tossed around by climate change and nuclear fire and then stitched back together using grit, resourcefulness and the last dying embers of human decency. Nomads are less a group of people defined by blood relations and more a cadre of individuals that share something more significant than mere genes. It might be a common history, a set of shared hardships, a yen for similar automotive and engineering-related projects - whatever it is, that something pulls people together in ways Corpo rats and street kids will never experience.

This seems to define even the average Nomad’s degree of education. Surprisingly, Nomads are the most well-read group in Coronado Bay’s greater area, some caravans reportedly including entire RVs packed with books. Nomads generationally elect teachers and record-keepers and seem to care for those cultural remnants of the old world, before Pondsmith’s paranoid alternate sixties kicked off more than a century’s worth of technological progression and rampant dehumanization. To a Night City native, a Nomad’s speech patterns appear precious and uselessly florid, while they might appear almost normal to us - maybe slightly touched by the fact that Grandpa Joe or whatever really wanted you to have your Greek classics down before you were old enough to repair your first CH00H2 carburetor on your own.

That new, mega-clustered version of family matters immensely to the Nomads. You identify to yours the same way Orcs in Shadow of War might refer to their clan, or the same way a Scottish clan might design specific visual cues identifying its members. In normal circumstances, Nomads live, thrive and die in service to the clan - and the opening segment for V’s Nomad origins suggests that something happened to his clan. They’re gone, or so the narration says, without going into further detail. Is V responsible? We don’t currently know. As it stands, however, he is a lone Nomad in a clan of one, and soon finds himself pushed out of the Californian wastes and into Night City’s neon-drenched streets.

Seeing this, I considered the narration as an admission of guilt on V’s part. He feels responsible, and hopes that grinding his way to success will in some way atone for what he’s done. Consequently, my Nomad V would be as gruff as could be, but as moral and upstanding as the setting allows. He considers himself as having been invested with an example to set, and would intend to set his sights on more than just filthy lucre. Honest filthy lucre is what matters to him, if that concept even is possible: he might deal in unsavory types and illicit activities, but he always does so with a certain moral rectitude - as a tough and gruff, lean and stringy type you can occasionally catch in his battered Thornton pick-up truck with his feet up on the dashboard and a dog-eared copy of Plato’s Republic in hand. Jackie honestly wonders how he can put up with that Greek pendejo’s endless words and the lack of scrolling animations, while V keeps his Kiroshi optics’ News ticker locked onto grassroots Leftist RSS feeds that stoke a bit of an ignored Rockerboy ethos in him. Quoting Marx in Night City might feel like trying to teach lab rats in the finer points of string theory, but it at least feels genuine to him, compared to the predigested sociopolitical pap Militech, Arasaka and their ilk are more than happy to spew on the airwaves. 

There’s a lot to be pissed off about in Richard Night’s failed utopia, a lot of fat cats to gut and buildings to burn. Still, he leaves the glowering act and the churning rage to Johnny Silverhand’s imprinted ghost. Being more of a down-low, gun-toting choomba than a classic Street Samurai, Vincent “V” Carson thinks first and strikes second.

Vinnie isn’t much for electric guitars and anarchy in the UK, much less in the Free State of Southern California; but he does love the occasional Leonard Cohen ballad or the occasional shot of Johnny Cash’s melancholy. Having picked up something of a Northern Texas drawl while cruising, he might feel like Harry Dresden’s Good Ol’ Boy cousin, magic tricks here pushed aside in favor of a measure of dermal plating and a good ol’ fashioned twelve-gauge and revolver combo. Not being much of a techno-fetishist, he considers his optics and his skull jack as being begrudging concessions to an era that looks down on fully “ganic” types. Having grown up with TV serials and the occasional visor-based Braindance all depicting cyberpsychosis as something vile that utterly dehumanizes its sufferers, he’s naturally wary around anyone who seems a little too giddy with the prospect of taking a few scalpels to perfectly decent muscles and bones.

His Thornton is where most of his Eddies go, and yes, he’s named his truck Suzie. Suzie’s done right by him, and he’ll do right by her - unless someone else with a pretty smile and a working moral compass makes him swoon.

Street Kids: if you weren’t taught on the highways or in corporate arcologies, odds are you became a positive blip in an otherwise grim statistic, one of the myriad fucked-up kids raised by other fucked-up kids with more seniority than you. With no roads and paid-for nannies, you survived off of grifts, grit, violence, deceit, smarts and gumption - and that, in its own screwball way, creates its own blood ties. You’re wise by Heywood’s standards - streetwise, that is - and you speak the back-alleys’ lingua franca of threats, insinuation and casual intimidation like no other.

If only Jackie hadn’t fingered that Rayfield, huh? This beaut could’ve been paydirt! Well, at least for a week or so, judging by the fact that hundreds of car thefts are reported across Night City on a daily basis. At least, Dean - who also goes as “V” - got to make a new friend while out in the pokey, and managed to shake a few proverbial trees... They’ve got a short-lease in with Trauma Team’s frequency and could maybe hook themselves up with a sweet finder’s fee for anyone who’s on the verge of death at the hands of the city’s Scavengers...

Little does V know, that’s selling Trauma Team as well as their clients painfully short. Shows of gratitude don’t mean anything if you’re not packing the right social status. He barely remembers his birth parents as it is, and grew up the fifth grubby prospect of one of the Valentinos’ “school clubs” (hence the nickname) - where the points of study refer to the proper observances to be held in Jesus Malaverde’s presence, intensive Chicano and Spanish immersion, as well as the handling of common types of weaponry.

Vincent and Dean would be likely to shoot one another, if placed in the same room. One clings onto nearly-lost value systems, while the other commodifies what can be discarded like so much flesh - only inasmuch as his efforts to pacify his unofficial five or six abuelas force him to forego extensive modifications. His knives and wrist-mounted data port are his main tools of the trade, although Dean keeps his hacking creds along the bare minimum. Why bother, when melting an ATM’s ICE wall and whacking the cops with a baseball bat is all you need? There’s a type of gun for nearly anything else, if someone knows where to look...

Dean has no last name, and is consequently registered as “Dean Smith” in the city’s Census records. That doesn’t suggest, however, that he wouldn’t want to make one for himself. As he’s less focused on the city’s legends than on its kingmakers and pawn-movers, Dexter DeShawn strikes him as someone to emulate, watch and learn from - all with a decent degree of caution.

Being on top matters a little less to him than eventually pulling Heywood’s stings. With a little fear and a lot of persistence, Dean “V.” Smith knows that one day, he won’t go hungry on a weeknight. To that end, he’s certainly a hearty eater, here paired with extensive free-weight training regimens and the use of anabolic stimulants. Oh, sure, he’ll speak of family and blood like the best soldier festooned in Santa Muerte visual codices, but his friend Jackie’s got a mind like a slow and steady steel trap.

Either Dean blows his new fellow Street Samurai out of the pond, or he does. Unlike Jackie, however, Dean isn’t realistic about it. Friendships are a rare gift in Heywood, if not the rest of Night City, and Dean’s convinced that Jackie could conceivably look past his final betrayal.

Corpo: nowadays, we’re mostly familiar with the idea of one-percenters creating a bubble of affluence for themselves. Boarding schools, private villas, prebooked vacations across the globe’s priciest spots, access to the hottest trends on the minute of their inception - what this tends to forego is the level of social disconnect that’s required in order to stay relevant. We’re only just waking up to the consequences of letting an aging, crusty first-generation Yuppie be crowned the ruler of the free world, and even someone who’s behind on their Bret Easton Ellis could tell you that Donald J. Trump is a sociopath and a narcissist.

Take that mindset, and cultivate it into an ethos that’s taught to children from a very early age - children who live, eat, shit and breathe in accordance with their parent corporation’s tenets. The more placid, mid-tier lifers in the genre are called sararimen, in reference to William Gibson’s use of the term to designate low-level company workers in Chiba City. A bit like Shenzhen’s factory workers and execs, everything in a corpo’s life is in service to the corporation.

In Night City, as of 2077, two major players have installed this culture of total obedience in their roster. Their names are Militech and Arasaka. One is a juggernaut in the field of military-grade personal defence, the other has a wider grasp and reach, but is more fragile. Arasaka owes that fragility to the last fifty years having involved its re-establishment and reconstruction. Fifty years ago, Night City’s Corpo Plaza was blasted open by a thermonuclear discharge that sent the Japanese giant packing. The charges had been set by three Edgerunners: Rogue, Morgan Blackhand and Johnny Silverhand - accessorily a well-respected Rockerboy and front-line member of the band SAMURAI. Only Rogue survived that fateful night, or so the street lingo goes, having gone on to start a legitimate consultation business as well as a fruitful career in the hospitality business. Her bar, the Afterlife, is Night City’s hotspot for every techie, script kiddie and accomplished cyber-spelunker.

Our gal Vivian knows this. She knows this, because Vivian “V.” Banks lives two lives.

In one of them, she’s a lean and hungry Junior Executive in Arasaka’s Counter-Intel division. In that line of work, you either fuck someone’s prospects or protect your own, or ensure that no up-and-comer just out of the company’s Law School program manages to push you off the board. She knows full well that in centuries past, corpo-speak was made up of mild euphemisms that at best referred to destroying a rival’s prospects or lifelihood. Taking a life was something that required careful deliberation, especially when tossing a fat severance bonus into an aging CFO’s three-piece pockets and letting your erstwhile rival snort cocaine off of the rolling hips of Tahitian dancers was so much cheaper...

Nowadays, zeroing someone is commonplace.

You’re born for Arasaka, and chances are you’ll die for Arasaka just the same. Viv’s killed, lied, cheated and even stole her way to her position, remorse being this vaguely churning sense of coldness in her gut that keeps one-night stands coming in and out of her bedroom. She only remembers her parents as being credit-chip enablers and personal enhancement drug addicts, cutting ties with them so completely on the day of her official hiring that it felt more like a tacit understanding.

On most days, sex and booze keep the cold at bay. On most days, Vivian Banks is a class-act of a sociopath. The stronger she gets, however, and the more paranoid her targets become - which reinforces her own paranoia. Before long, playing the part of one of Arasaka’s several poisonous flowers won’t work anymore.

Unfortunately, she trusts no-one. No Fixer could put her in contact with any hacker she’d trust, no rando fresh off the street with a retro-tinted National Arms plinker would satisfy her. To climb up the ranks and maybe share tea with Old Man Saburo himself, she needs a spotless performance record. She needs skills.

More importantly, she needs a reputation. That means leaving Arasaka Tower and mingling with the experts in their own field - and it means filling out her back book of successful hits. The drinks at the Afterlife are decent enough, but what she’s after is an official in.

If she can get to Rogue, or maybe even hook up with a ripperdoc not bought and paid for by the company, she might be able to score both new skills and increased performance...

If it were as simple as slitting Janet’s throat in HR and diving her way to an orgiastic performance review quite innocently left on the department’s server, she would’ve done that already. Viv is my obvious Pure Stealth build candidate, my main-line hacker and would-be engineer with a thing for black power skirts and designer offensive augments.

With that said, we’re months ahead of schedule, all the good shit’s already come out, so we’re stuck playing the waiting game...

What are your own character or build ideas for Cyberpunk 2077?

[ranger-report]

Thoughts On: Mortal Shell  Open Beta

I want to start this off by stating up front that I am not a fan of Dark Souls in any way, shape, or form. Don't get me wrong, I don't think Dark Souls is bad per se. I actually really like the world the games have built up. I watch videos on the lore, the environments, the bosses, and I find it all thoroughly fascinating, it's just that when I play video games I like to enjoy playing them, and playing Dark Souls is like bashing my head against a wall repeatedly because I'm using my forehead in lieu of a hammer and these goddamn nails just won't go in the wall. Oh, I've tried to get into it; I've put in two separate six-hour runs, along with diving into Bloodborne because I'd heard that game rewards players who are more aggressive vs the measured style of Souls, but no matter what, I just don't have the patience to be punished over and over again by a game that actively hates me. So imagine my surprise when I not only got into Mortal Shell, but actually persisted to play through the entire demo.

Mortal Shell, developed by Cold Symmetry, is a Souls clone and proud of it. Currently, the open beta is available to download via the Epic Game Store. Pre-purchase is up and running for $29.99. The first trailer was released on April 1st of this year, but make no mistake, the game is no joke. Far from it. For those coming in late to the party, Dark Souls's gameplay revolves around slow, methodical combat in which the player has to read enemy patterns in order to know when to strike, parry, dodge, etc. Any enemy in the game can potentially be a bad time, meaning that if the player gets a little too cocky and impatient, a solid run can so south pretty fucking quickly if they're not paying attention to timing. That's literally what the game is: a massive, calculated game of timing, fueled by trial and error. If you die – and you will, frequently – you're sent back to the last checkpoint you camped at or visited or lit up. You'll have one chance to forge your way back to the point where you died, and reclaim all the currency you worked so hard to accumulate, but if you die again before you do, all of it is lost. So essentially we're working with a complex risk and reward system, in which any fight could be your last, any moment could turn ugly, and your character is having the worst fucking day they could imagine.

Mortal Shell takes this formula and puts a bit of a spin on it. Sure, you've got the health bar, the stamina bar – which depletes any time you attack, dodge, or run – the quick items, and the ability to parry and commit heavy attacks if your timing is right. But what it does differently is the character system itself. Most Souls games involve the player creating a character and slowly leveling up as time goes by. You could become a super beast depending on what you choose to invest in. Shell puts you in charge of a Foundling, basically a nameless/faceless lost spirit, who can inhabit the bodies of fallen warriors it comes across. Each warrior – called a Shell – has different attributes which can be leveled up. Some Shells are faster, some are tougher, and each one has their pros and cons to fit your play style. In the beta, we get two, named Harros and Tiel. Harros is a well-rounded fighter, your basic bitch knight class, while Tiel is more of a rogue, which a much higher stamina bar but can be hurt a lot quicker. Regardless of which Shell you choose to inhabit, you're carrying around what has to be one of the most badass swords I've seen in a video game in quite some time. Called the Hallowed Sword, it's two handed and looks like it could ruin pretty much anything if you put your mind to it. It has a secondary attack where it turns into a goddamn spear for massive damage. There's another weapon in the beta, a hammer and chisel, but I somehow missed that in my playthrough. I'm eager to dive back in and find it, but for now we'll focus on the sword. Sweet Jesus, that sword. If a fantasy game had the equivalent of a double-barreled shotgun, it would be the Hallowed Sword.

There's also a catch to hitching a ride in the Shells: if you take too much damage, the Foundling will be knocked out of the Shell, vulnerable and weak. You'll have an opportunity to get back into the Shell, and if you do, it's an instant HP refill and you're back in the fight. Your Shell can die twice, but if you're knocked out of the Shell a second time, it's game over and back to the checkpoint. This is inventive because dying isn't immediately a punishment, and it's also neat because the Foundling can still carry the Hallowed Sword while trying to get back to the Shell. I have a feeling YouTube is going to be full of No Shell Runs in which players go hard as only the Foundling, chopping, parrying, dodging, somehow escaping damage. And make no mistake, the naked Foundling will die in one hit without a Shell. Having a safety net like this automatically makes gameplay more forgiving and also more intense. Say you fuck up and get knocked out of your Shell early on, leaving you with just one more chance to get through to the next checkpoint knowing if you get knocked down again, you're done. That's a rush unlike many I've played in video games. Also the frantic panic of running and dodging as the Foundling, surrounded by enemies, trying to get back to your Shell, desperate to stay alive, is shockingly effective.

However, there's another weapon in the Foundling's arsenal: the ability to Harden. Pressing the left trigger instantly turns the Foundling into a rock solid statue, unable to move, but also unable to take damage for one single hit. Once the hit lands, the Harden goes away and the Foundling starts moving again. What is absolutely wild about this are the potential combat tactics that can arise. Because if the Foundling is moving or attacking when the Harden goes into effect, they will immediately resume what they were doing when the Harden is gone. So say you're going in for a light strike, followed up by a heavy strike, and before you can land the heavy strike the enemy goes into attack animation. You hit the Harden, freezing mid-swing, and the enemy connects – and then your heavy strike animation resumes, smashing into the enemy, staggering them, freeing you up to either dodge away or get in another attack. Some enemies will be staggered just from hitting your Hardened form, so even if you're not mid-swing, you'll have a window of opportunity to get in and sucker punch. But Harden has a cooldown period, so if you use it at the wrong time, you'll have a wait a minute before you can use it again. And come out of it at the wrong time, you could be facing the business end of a bad day.

What initially drew me to Mortal Shell was definitely not the concept of a Souls game, but rather that Cold Symmetry cited old-school first person shooter Quake as one of their influences on the game. By and large this comes across in the aesthetics: browns, grays, armor textures, otherworldly pagan imagery, skulls and bones and dark caverns, it's all over the place, and it's lovely. Grimy industrial atmosphere permeates everything. Enemies range from brutish bandits with swords and pikes, to imp-like creatures that poison you when they strike. And the monster design is a visual chef's kiss, craggy and awful and menacing. My personal favorite is the Pincushion Warrior, which I've dubbed because it looks like a goddamn pincushion. Walking around with an eyeless helmet and multiple fucking swords sticking out of its torso like, well, a meaty pincushion, when it notices you from afar it will pull out one of the swords and throw it you. It'll keep doing so until you get into melee range, at which point it pulls out two swords, one for each hand, and come at you fast and hard. Do enough damage to it and it will attempt a kamikaze maneuver, in which it rips off its fucking head to throw at you and release a poison cloud which does massive damage over time. Seriously one of the most metal things I've seen, and I cursed the fuck out loud when I saw it the first time. But the showstopper, the truly most outstanding beast in the beta, is the Enslaved Grisha, a lumbering monstrosity that looks like a combination between Silent Hill's Pyramid Head and BioShock's Big Daddy. You fight it in an icy cave, and its attacks are so thunderous it will shake loose stalactites from the ceiling which can fall on top of you for damage. It's fast, brutal, mean, and intimidating, and beating it was such a terrific rush that it made me wonder why I've never gotten into this style of game before when it feels this rewarding to win against a tough enemy. Maybe it's because Soulsborne games are vicious and unrelenting in their assault on the player as they slowly attempt to crawl their way through the environment. Here, it seems like there's just enough stacked in the player's graces to save them that it's simultaneously more forgiving and more brutal. With the Harden ability and the different Shells as combat style options, the choices presented to the player are unique enough to offer a deep challenge, but one that players themselves can modify depending on how they want to play.

There's a couple other mechanics that I want to touch on briefly while I'm here: Resolve, and Familiarity. Resolve is essentially a limit break with multiple uses. When you're attacking enemies, you're building Resolve, and can keep track of how much you're gaining via the meter above your health. But while it builds through attacks, it slowly goes away unless you fill a whole bar, and each Shell will have a different number of bars to fill. For example, Harros has four bars, Tiel has only two. Once a bar is filled, you'll be able to use the Resolve in one of two ways. The first is parrying; you can attempt to parry if you don't have resolve, but in my experience it worked better when I had a bar built up. If you've got the Resolve when you parry, you'll do so with greater success, but it'll also open up a window for you to hit the attack button immediately after. Time it right, and you'll do a powerful strike which will regain a large portion of health, which is handy as fuck when you don't have healing items, but also uses up a lot of Resolve. This can hinder you a little bit if you want to use your special strike. Remember how I said the Hallowed Sword has a super strike where it turns into a spear and does a fuckload of damage? Yeah, you need to fill up at least one or two Resolve bars in order to use it. I'm not sure if you need one bar, two bars, or a full load, haven't done as much experimenting with that as I'd like. Some things in the game are still obtuse, relying on trial and error to discover, which brings us around to Familiarity: picking up items in the game world at first gives only a brief guess at what the items will actually do, so you have to use them to figure out what their effect is. This can be positive, or negative, but the more you use said items the more familiar the Foundling becomes with the effect. Each item has a different number of times you need to use it to become completely familiar with it, but once you do, it'll unlock bonus side effects. For example, the weltcap mushrooms restore 40 hit points over the course of 60 seconds (the regen shrooms I mentioned earlier). But use them often enough, and the Foundling will get a bonus effect of being able to dodge once without using any stamina to do so. Meanwhile, using the tarspore mushrooms – which infect poison damage – will eventually make the Foundling immune to poison damage for 120 seconds. For me this is one of the more revolutionary parts of the game, which requires the most amount of trial and error and experimentation. Of course you're not going to want to use the poison mushroom again after it killed you with poison, but if you take it enough, next thing you know you're immune to poison for two minutes? This is wild when confronted with Imps that deal poison damage with each strike they land, or the fucking Pincushion Warriors and their suicide poison bomb. But at the same time, this could be a bit frustrating when the player gets rare items that are hard to come by, which may have huge bonuses, or massively negative effects. I love it, but also kind of hate it, though where Harden and Resolve add complementary aspects to the combat, Familiarity throws in the gamble of figuring out whether a consumable will do you harm, or make your day.

Mortal Shell has already impressed the hell out of me simply by being a Soulsborne game that I can play and not feel vandalized by, but also through sheer innovation and attention to detail. The atmosphere is thick and luscious, the combat is deep and so are the RPG elements, and there's a genuinely terrifying obtuse story being played out. I did have a few issues with my playthrough, notably the two times the game crashed, one of which forced me to force restart my desktop. A few other ragdoll glitches notwithstanding, the beta is a resoundingly solid experience which is promising great things for the full game. Something which, to my unending surprise, I have already pre-purchased based on this demo. May wonders never cease.