#made to be …. versus Chosen to be……

[lanternlightss]

the

[storgicbytes]

EVERY MAJOR BIT FROM THE ALAN Q&A STREAM !!

holy SHIT dude that was so good

---

1) AVA 12 IS PLANNED FOR THIS SUMMER !!!!! (and! there's a possibility ava 13 might come out sooner as well, this year potentially too!)

2) aversus can be played by more than 2 people!

3) alan says that his character just happened to not be on the computer while avm s3 was happening. he usually leaves them to their shenanigans!

4) alan says that purple just happened to ? find a mac during their 7 year period post 2011 after they and their parents came out of their animation. (possibility that purple and their family mightve stayed in the internet for a while?)

5) the team has already made a decision about whether the dark lord is going to come back, but nonetheless — he will be seen in the upcoming video.

6) "the stickfigure site was animated by someone — it's not clear who, but one could theorize its been around for 7~ years before orange broke them out of it" — alan

7) green's socials will be revisited!

8) all of the cg potentially could be miku fans! red most likely more than the others. :)

9) alan could call tsc and tco long-lost brothers that just happened to not know each other — estranged siblings.

10) ava/m will go for as long as death does us part with alan, apparently

11) to alan, cg communicate more "telepatically" with each other. the text in influencer arc could be seen as green translating their communication to something the viewers could understand!

12) interpersonal cg relationships will be explored in the new minecraft season!

13) the mercenaries production names have been officially (although, perhaps by accident) dropped: lasco for primal (referencing the lascaux caves), eztoon for ballista, gui for agent, sign/pedestrian for hazard

14) hazard, corndog guy and red got they/themed. lol

(also! when talking about the mystery white stickfigure, when referred with 'he', muno (the lead developer of aversus) questioned it ("he?"), and the team said its not yet specified if, well. if the stick figure is a "he". please give us a nonmale living character i Beg of thee ...)

15) cg doesn't have an official age, but they could be seen as teenagers-early 20s (thank god)

16) the abteam is considering minisodes proposed by the community! (such as proposed chosen & dark minisodes , rocketcorp slice of life)

17) alan thinks purple's birthday would be in february (no set date)

18) chosen will get more characterization in the future

19) some known artists in the community (such as anglermann, @sushiree, @flareboi, @cindersnows, @ , @ornziy, @itslilacokay, pasteldragon, @comyetani, realvegemite, @wretchedvictim, qr_png, hoodedjelly have been noticed on stream by the team !!! congrats !!! :D

— “ooh that's a nice one, i like that“ (hatena in response to @itslilacokay mercenary art)

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1iR_QZLJip9WsbVVdlNhl-uhbFqtHa4ydajcILszdszI/mobilebasic <- the entire fanart compilation doc, made by novamations :)

20) when the pc turns off, the cube in the interspace goes dark, but stays there.

about what cg does when the pc turns off: "think of it as when the electricity goes out, it's black and cold, they cant use things anymore. they'd probably just sleep.”

21) mitsi will be seen in a future video

22) skim created corndog guy (and has apologized for it)

23) the team has been holding polls on whether the chat wants to see the dark lord, mitsi and gold come back — but said that they ultimately will decide on their fates.

24) king and purple ... were based on thanos and loki.

25) confirmation that green likes udon noodles and listens to daft punk

26) alan says we could come up with little quirks for characters on our own (i.e. blue could be superstitious / be into astrology, yellow getting into rubics cubes)

27) alan thinks red might have adhd !!! :)

28) avchemistry might be real in the future, but it'll be tougher to execute since the person who was behind avmath and avcoding doesn't know chemistry.

29) ava 11 took over a year

30) ava 12 has all the storyboards done, and ava 13 is already in the works!

31) alan said that purple is "that friend that doesn't live at the house but comes over a lot"

32) name for mitsi stuck after the team reversed victim's name

33) alan is excited for the next avm season!

34) skim sees ava 12 and 13 as a two-part

35) its a possibility for new avm characters being introduced — ava as well, but unlikely they'll be major ones in the second instance

36) the team said that there are 4 minisodes in progress , and that hopefully they'll start to release them soon !!!!!

37) "how rich is corndog guy?"

"never rich enough. he's on that grindset"

38) when skim was asked who he related to the most he said it was victim because:

- more withdrawn and quiet

- carrying a weight with him

- prefers to occupy his mind with things hes good at

- not as naturally gloomy as youd expect from him

- struggles to connect with people but good at getting things done

39) when asked about what happens to stickfigures after they die, alan replied that that their code is still there — but it's kind of "disconnected". it'd be impossible for someone in the living dimension to take that code and put it back together (alan (jokingly? half jokingly???) notes: "unless you're the second coming"). "it's kind of like when you're programming, and you change one line and then all of a sudden all of the code is unusable. it's still there, it's just not attached to the right dimension”.

goood LIRD !!!!

[sinofwriting]

Claiming - Max Verstappen (Dark Fic)

Words: 2,231 Summary: In a world where F1 drivers can claim someone as a wife while at a race, here is Max’s version. Note(s): DARK FIC, NSFW. Reader is essentially kidnapped. I’d like to thank lovey on Ko-fi for commissioning this. I had a lot of fun writing this and oh boy did it take a turn I wasn’t expecting. Takes place in 2023. Also, once again thank you to 🦢 anon for this idea and all your thoughts! Claiming wouldn’t be a thing without you.

Charles’ Version

Masterlist | Support Me! 

Since a month ago the emotion she’s felt most is confusion. From the moment a security guard and an FIA official escorted her from the grandstands to the Red Bull garage, to Max Verstappen’s drivers room. From him gently grabbing her hand and kissing the back of it, to the conference room where the FIA official explained things to her and god, she felt like she had only heard every three words, to now.

Max is the source of all her confusion, because he is confusing. He’s aggressive and dominant on track. So clearly hates press and events he’s forced to go to. If he likes you, he likes to make you laugh and make sure you’re happy. He’s attentive in a way she didn’t know was possible.

As soon as they were in Monaco after the race, after he claimed her, and she fiddles with the heavy diamond ring on her finger at the thought, he had taken her to the grocery store, claiming that his fridge and pantry were empty since he’d just come home from a triple header. She hadn’t realized then but as they walked through the grocery store he had watched her closely. Watched what shelves she paused at, what brands and items she put in the cart versus the ones she made small faces at. Making a note of them all.

It wasn’t until a few days later when someone came by to drop off groceries and she saw all that all the groceries were things and brands she likes that she started to realized that it’s quietness in the grocery store, him following behind her, hadn’t been him giving her a bit of space, some grace, but rather him making notes of what she likes.

She’s unable to hide anything from him, which is even more confusing, because he doesn’t know her. Had chosen her seemingly on a whim. When she was told why she got taken his driver’s room by the FIA official, she had thought it was some sort of prank, a joke, but as three different binders had been laid out in front of her and proof of everything had been shown to her, had proved that she had been claimed, that she was now married to Max Verstappen the odd, weird, confusing reality had sunk in.

She had honestly figured as she laid awake next to Max that night that she would be just kept at his place for quick relief. Asked to undress and roll or bend over whenever he needed a quick easy fuck along with someone to keep his place clean and cooked meals in the fridge. She hadn’t expected for him to not even touch her like that.

He did however like to look at her like that. Eyes darkening, just a little narrowed as his jaw would sometimes twitch, deep breaths through his nose. But he never touched her like that which made her more confused because he did touch her.

He kissed her hand in greeting, put his hand on her lower back, would sling an arm around her waist, put his arm over her shoulders. He’d make their legs intertwine in bed or practically blanket her with his body when he didn’t have her cuddling into him, head resting on his t-shirt covered chest. Max hadn’t even tried kissing her on the lips despite clearly wanting to with the way he would sometimes stare at them as she talked.

Max Verstappen is confusing.

—

Max knows that he was supposed to claim a wife much sooner than he did. He could have done so the day of his first win, when they pulled him aside and told him that he could. He knows that’s what they wanted. They wanted him to claim a wife, to calm down, to bring a little less negative press to the sport. Luckily it was up to him to decide and there was no way in fucking hell he was claiming a wife. He made that clear in his celebrations with the team and his private words to people about how the FIA could fuck off.

He was also lucky that Red Bull backed his decision. He was their first driver since Mark Webber to get to claim a wife, the youngest in the history of the sport. The FIA couldn’t pressure him into it or punish him for not claiming anyone yet, but they could try and flaunt options for him to choose from. And they did. They did every year at nearly every race until finally the start of the 2022 season happened and there was a number one on his car.

That didn’t mean they stopped during the 2022 season, it was just significantly less than before. And now in 2023, just a few races away from winning his third championship, they hadn’t bothered him at all. The end of Monza marked them never being able to bother him again, he thinks as he watches his wife look at the clothes he had delivered for her. His now three championship trophies somewhat framing her with how she stands in front of the large couch.

They were all in her sizes, some from brands that she already had clothes from and other’s from more luxury brands that he had to be familiar with. She liked the one a lot, her fingers kept going back to the two tops from there, rubbing the fabric. He’ll have to take her to their store after COTA, he muses. The heat in Qatar had been too much for his poor wife and it had even got the better of him.

“Do you like them?” He asks, wrapping his arms around her from behind, relishing in the sharp inhale she gives, the slight sped up breathing.

“I do. They are all really nice.”

He presses a kiss to the top of her head, making a note to not buy her anymore hoodies, or at least buy them for himself and wear them a few times. She had worn so many of his, he figured she’d want one or two of her own, but the hoodie was the only thing her eyes and fingers had not returned to. “Good. I have some jewelry coming for you tomorrow as well.”

“Oh, thank you, Max.”

“Of course, vrouw.” He smirks at the way her body shivers at the Dutch word for wife.

—

It’s been nearly three months since Monza, since Max claimed her, since she became his wife. Which means it’s been three months since the last time she got off, six months since she last had sex. The sex part she can deal with, but she doesn’t think she’s gone this long without masturbating since she learned what it was and started doing it. And it feels like it’s killing her.

Because Max… Max is handsome. She’s seen tweets and things about how Max is ugly and she can’t even begin to comprehend that. He has some of the bluest eyes she’s ever seen, a nice jaw just barely covered with facial hair, slightly pouty lips and god it kills her that she hasn’t kissed them yet, kissed the freckle that rests on his top left lip. He has broad shoulders, strong arms, large hands, fingers that make her thighs press together when they tap against her hips or press into her. And his thighs. Every time she sees them, whether it’s in shorts or boxers, she can feel herself clench around nothing.

Maybe he wouldn’t affect her so much if he didn’t so clearly want her back. But he does. His eyes more and more frequently watching her, want simmering in them. And he’s never been shy about his morning wood, but instead of tilting his hips away from her, scooting away, or just adjusting her so it’s not pressed against her, now he stays. Lets her choose to move away when she feels him against her.

She never moves away, not until they absolutely have to get up.

She’s reached her limit, however. She constantly feels turned on, a warmth always burning inside of her, sometimes getting stoked to burn a little hotter and she fears that if she doesn’t get off in the next few hours she will jump Max. It’s tempting to just get to it, just lay down and fuck herself quickly, but that won’t leave her satisfied. She needs more than one quick orgasm to satisfy herself and she’s in luck because Max is leaving the house, having been invited to a paddle match.

She accepts the kiss on the cheek he gives her, wishing him good luck and then waits by the front door for a few minutes before turning and nearly rushing to the bedroom. Her arms somehow get tangled in her tank top as she pulls it off and her fingers fumble with her pajama pants and underwear as she tries to push them down. It takes longer than she wants, but finally she’s undressed. There’s an urge to fall onto the bed, but she forces it away, forces herself to take a deep breath as she goes to their closet.

Going to one of her shoe boxes, she lifts the lid, breath shaky as her fingers touch the lace of a La Perla balconette. She had never spent more than seventy dollars on a bra before Max, had privately thought people who spent more than a hundred dollars on scraps of lace and fabric were crazy but as she feels this against her fingers, she understands why people spend so much.

Her fingers are surprisingly steady as she puts on the balconette and matching panties. As she looks at herself in the mirror, hands rubbing at the body, her breath catches. She looked good, hot even. The lace against her skin making her blood rush.

She’s nearly back into the bedroom when she spots the shirt that Max had been wearing to sleep in last night. It’s just barely hanging on the edge of the hamper, about to fall on the floor. Before she can stop herself, she snags it and throws it on, breathing in the familiar and nice smell of Max.

Laying on the bed, she runs her hands over her body, eyes fluttering shut as they go under her shirt. Her breath catches as they trail over her stomach, fingers pausing at the waistband of her panties before moving back. They trace over the lace details of her top, breath catching when the tips of her fingers catch on her pebbled nipples. Moaning as she twists and pulls at them lightly, thighs pressing together.

She continues to play with her breasts, enjoying the feel of them and the lace in her hands. Drawing moans and whines from herself as she squeezes them, pinching and twisting her nipples, grazing her nipples with the tip of her finger. She’s aching for more, her panties damp. Her dominant hand leaves her breast, fingers just about to slip into her panties and there’s a hand clamping around her wrist.

Her eyes fly open, a gasp leaving her. “Max.” Her other hand drops away from her breast.

His grip on her wrist tightens, eyes darker than she’s ever seen them. Her name comes out in a near growl.

Her tongue darts out, swiping across her bottom lip and Max’s eyes fall to them at the motion and she breaks. “Please. Max, please.”

“Please what?”

She takes a shaky breath, “Touch me, kiss me. Please, Max.”

It’s like she blinks and he’s on top of her, his hand no longer gripping her wrist but instead gripping at her hip as he kisses her. She moans at the roughness of it, not even noticing him adjusting her until he’s fully in between her legs, one of them hitched around his waist. She only notices when he grinds their hips together, the friction making her break the kiss, panting as her fingers rake over his back.

“Max. Please.”

“What vrouw? Am I not kissing you?” He presses a kiss to her neck, over the flutter of her pulse. “Touching you?” He rolls his hips into hers.

She throws her head back at the contact. “I want,” a whine leaves her as he dips his head, running his tongue over her still lace covered nipple. “Fuck, Max.”

His hand still gripping her at her hip tightens its hold and she hopes he leaves bruises. “What do you want?”

“I want,” She nearly loses her train of thought again when grinds into her again. “Want you to fuck me. Please, Max, want you so bad.”

He groans, head resting on her chest as he gives a slightly stuttered thrust.

The slight loss of control makes her moan, her other leg moving to wrap around him, encouraging him to grind against her. She wants him. She wants him to touch her everywhere, not leave a single place that hasn’t felt his touch. She wants to feel his breath against her lips, his teeth sinking into her skin. She wants the press of bruises as he holds her tighter than maybe he should. She wants him sinking into her over and over again even though she hasn’t felt it once yet. She wants and wants and she doesn’t think that doing this once, twice, a hundred, a thousand times, will satisfy that want.

[bnyf]

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤnocturnal ♡

╭﹕୨୧﹒ yandere! creepy eldritch monster x female reader

┊ warnings : female reader, dark content, yandere content and themes, unhealthy behaviors, unhealthy relationship and relationship dynamic, sexual content, noncon, obsession and possession, cult, monsterfucking, finger, squirting, size difference, creepy as fuck, tentacles, mentions of death, sacrifices and heavy topics.

╰﹕୨୧﹒authoress note : i lowkey hate this

your soft body laid out on the hard concrete platform, barely conscious but conscious enough to know that your fate had been long decided. your pulse raising, hearing their incohesive impious chants echo in the hallow halls of this cave-like labyrinth. you could only softly sob as your final moments neared you.

skin red and sensitive from the ropes that bind you together intricately, like a turkey, a meal to be served. luckily, you were blind folded, you didn't want to witness them in their black cloaks, faces covered with scary masks, and worst yet, the fire in a circle accompanied by the polygon star as you laid on the blood stained concrete altar... stained with blood from previous sacrifices.

you may just die of heart attack rather than these idiotic fools worshipping some demonic entity they call their 'god' due to how irregular your heart is beating, and so quickly too you can't even breath. you'd been kidnapped and forced to perfume a series of rituals including bathing in milk, eating nothing but fruit and honey for days, dressing in a really pretty all white bridal gown and veil to then be killed here. and to say you've been on edge these past few day was nothing short of a understatement. you were going insane with fear. this was something straight out of a horror movie, it was so surreal... and you definitely do not mean that in a good way.

being locked up in a rusty cage in this brutalist place that seems like a huge maze that's never ending. like you were already in the entity's realm and you could sense it's presence, it's eyes lurking at you. you felt so naked, you felt like time in the outside world versus here was different: one day outside here was one whole week, or at least that's what it felt like.

and these crazed fucks. seriously, what was wrong with them? they didn't hurt you, they kept saying you were the chosen one. that your heart, your soul, was over ripening with purity. you'll bring their god great satisfaction and give birth to half human offsprings who'll be even stronger and take over the human realm, you'll save and redeem them and other bat crazy shit you've never heard of and don't understand.

after a while, the chanting slows down and goes quiet...

you didn't know what to expect, you were sure they'd kill you by now but... something's strange, and it makes you so uncomfortable, not knowing or being able to see. only able to hear your heartbeat amongst the other noises. and boy oh boy, you almost peed yourself when you heard that strange sound, a grotesque cry. whatever made that sound is. not. a. human.

and right about now? can they please hurry up and kill you. you wouldn't wanna be around for when this 'thing', this entity that you're starting to believe isn't just their imagination gets here. you couldn't even tell if they were still around, everything had went silent. fuck. did these fuckers ran off while leaving you here to get savaged by this beast?

and so with each movement, the ominous entity's presence became closer. you'd only realised that the cult members were still there when they all said some weird thing in a language you couldn't recognize,? you pressum it's a greeting or something to their god, you could imagine them bowing straight down to the grown with their heads on the concrete floor like their lives depended on it.

at this point you were trembling despite how badly you tried to keep you composure and stay calm. a wet, long appendage, something akin to a tongue? licked your neck, then your thigh, and by the time it licked your face, you'd realized it was multiple of appendages? you couldn't help the scared whine that left your lips. just what the hell is this entity? and what is happening right now?

slimey drool is left where the creature had licked you. now, so close you could feel it's warm breath tickling your skin. a pair of hands now placed on your body? they're strong, calloused, roughly groping you in a perverted manner. you've never been so flabbergasted and scared in your life, seriously what's going on? you thought you'd be dead by now but instead seems like your capturer has other plans.

you didn't even wanna complain out of fear of aggravating this... person? or thing and end up dying. maybe if you're complaint, you might just be able to plan an explain somehow somewhere or at the very least, learn to adapt- actually escaping would be good cause hell no where you gonna stay in this weird place like a sitting duck.

you're going to get out of this one way or another, no matter what. and just as that thought passes your mind, things only get weirder when it now feels like six arms, 3 on each side, groping you. one even undoing the binds from you but your legs are weak and you dare not run when you could just sense this... thing is wayyy larger than you.

you can't stop the soft whines escaping your lips though and 'it' can't stop making a weird grunting noise, almost like it's heaving from excitement? at this point your guessing this and that but your guessing isn't too far off you think. it really isn't.

two hands holding your legs open, two kneading your breast, and one circling your clothed clit and the last holding the side of your cheek as it sticks its thumb and index in your mouth, resting on your tongue. it tasted weird, like a mix of ashes and metallic, like something dirty that doesn't taste quite dirty but it is? whatever it was, it was feigning human intimacy. this was simply horrid. you could couldn't believe what was happening, this had! to be some sick prank but you really didn't want to take your blind fold of because this shit was too scary and if it wasn't? then you'd had to probably confront a monstrous nightmare and you weren't ready for that!

it was foul. your body is responding quite well to 'it's advancements thus far, creating a damp spot which 'it' gladly soothed with 'it's plush appendage and rough digits, gliding over your clothed pussy like 'it' knew exactly what human girls liked. strange.

your beautiful pure white dress is abruptly ripped into a new fashion which allows your legs to show and for great movement, your panties are also thorn to threads and before you can properly process what's about to happen next, your velvety walls is being comforted by one of 'it's thick, rigid digits. first a confused mewl slips your throat then followed up by an embarrassingly lewd moan. the wet sounds and your ambrosial voice only sounds so loud due to this place being so eerily quiet and spacious, your moans are otherwise soft but rings like a bell in everyone's ear in this concrete brutalistic place.

it's even more embarrassing when you remember the cult members are most likely still around, watching or listening to what's happening.

but it's seriously becoming difficult to not let loose and let your full voice out when your arousal continues to heighten, your hips are shaking like a dog despite your reluctance. your body disobeys you and subconsciously accepts all this pleasure without your control or admission.

so what are you to do next? what can you do next? other than comply for your dear life, for your survival.

when another finger that seems like it belongs to a being no shorter than 7 feet enters you and your clit being rubbed into a pace that alters from rough to gentle enters you, of course it's inevitable that you buck your hips, gripping the fabric of your ruined, now dirty white dress. you can't even reason with yourself anymore, it is what it tis. all the more excuse to ride 'it's fingers like a little merry-go-round.

but... it's seriously not what you want! trust if you were to pick between being fucked by some weird cult entity or resting in your bed safely at home or literally anywhere else you'd picked the safer option. no questions asked. you don't like this one bit, don't want this, you hate that your body's making you look like a liar.

you've been lamenting this whole time, both tears of fear and overstimulation but tears nonetheless. your mind is going numb already and all your g spots are being meet, not before long a feral, low growl, something you'd hear in a horror. it sent chills up your spine as your own voice mixed in with the mesh. girl screaming and shrieking? you'd almost think a murder happened, the thought of a girl squirting on her assailant's appendages and fingers wouldn't cross any oblivious minds.

you're subconsciously grinding onto 'it's fat fingers, breast swaying with each movement and your perky nipples are being teased and tasted by 'it's tentacle like body part, suckling and nibbling on, not only your breasts but all various parts of your body. eyes rolled back and lips slight agap you feel like your seeing white, eyes all teary and drooling like a dumb slut. this is way worse than being brutally killed, cause in a way, your spirit is being weakened.

one thing that caught you off guard though was... your blindfold had slipped a little. like so small, so tiny, it's only so little for you to try and make out one or two things. it was dark and gloomy, you could barely make out anything. especially with your tears being teary and your mind going numb with pleasure.

huh? what... is that...?

you panicked and clasp your hands over your mouth, shutting your eyes but the image still imprinted in your mind making you gasp and hold your chest. now this was just a whole new level of creepy and fucked up. that thing... it really is an entity. it looked you right in the eyes for a split second, 'it's eyes the darkest black you ever seen, you could of sworn you saw literal souls in it, trapped. from what you could make out, it's torso mimicked a male's. it had six arms and tentacles like suckors coming from somewhere in the back. and... the most uncanny valley appearance, with wide dark orbs, a ridiculously sharp pearly white smile, and even darker long hair.

it saw you saw it. and only smiled.

right about now, you were too scared to even move an inch. and your squirting? might as well be you pissing yourself.

everything about this entity aims to mimic humans but fails in the most horrendous and terrifying way possible. this isn't a prank. you don't even think you can escape this nightmare. whatever foolish hope you held in your heart faded into dust. you held your breath and started praying in your head, the only way you know to get out of this at this point. even death would be okay right about now.

surely, this amount of fright wasn't good for your health. you were hoping your heart gave out or something.

'it' removes it's fingers from your soaking wet pussy. suddenly your being rubbed by something even thicker than before, girthy, veiny and your heart flares up again. how's that supposed to even fit? 'it's cock slides up and down your jello-like folds, coating itself in your juices. you can't even protest, too scared to utter a word. you instantly go ridged when you feel 'it's hair tickle your skin, bending 'it's lanky frame down for 'it's lips to meet your earlobes. it's voice a unappealing melody, making you irk at it's distorted speech.

"̵s̴c̷a̸r̵e̷d̷?̷ ̶y̴o̷u̴ ̷s̴h̸o̷u̴l̸d̴ ̵b̵e̷.̴ ̴i̶'̵m̵ ̷y̶o̷u̴r̸ ̶g̵o̸d̷ ̴n̸o̸w̴.̸ ̴a̷n̵d̵ ̸y̷o̶u̵ ̷m̶y̵ ̵g̶o̷d̵d̸e̸s̷s̵.̴ ̶i̷t̴'̷s̷ ̵i̴n̸e̴v̵i̵t̴a̴b̸l̵e̵ ̶t̸h̵a̵t̸ ̴y̷o̵u̴'̵d̶ ̷e̴n̵d̷ ̸u̸p̷ ̵i̴n̶ ̵m̸y̸ ̴g̶r̴a̶s̴p̶.̴ ̴i̸ ̶l̵o̴n̴g̶e̷d̷ ̷f̷o̷r̶ ̶y̸o̸u̴,̴ ̸f̶o̵r̷ ̶a̸ ̸v̷e̸r̸y̷,̴ ̴v̴e̷r̸y̵ ̸l̷o̷n̵g̴ ̶t̵i̸m̴e̵.̸ ̸f̶r̸o̸m̵ ̷n̴o̶w̶ ̵o̷n̵,̷ ̸w̵e̴'̶l̶l̸ ̴c̷r̴e̶a̷t̶e̷ ̶o̴u̵r̸ ̵o̷w̸n̷ ̴w̵o̷r̷l̴d̸ ̵o̶f̴ ̴d̷a̵r̸k̸n̸e̴s̷s̶ ̷a̷n̸d̴ ̵r̸e̴j̵o̸i̵c̸e̵ ̴i̸n̷ ̴i̴t̵.̴ ̸o̵n̴c̴e̶ ̴t̶h̶i̸s̸ ̶r̸i̵t̴u̴a̵l̸'̵s̴ ̴w̷e̵'̸l̴l̶ ̴b̸e̵ ̸t̸o̵g̶e̷t̵h̸e̵r̶ ̵f̷o̷r̵e̷v̷e̴r̶.̴"̶

translation : "scared? you should be. i'm your god now. and you my goddess. it's inevitable you'd end up in my grasp. i longed for you, for a very, very long time. from now on, we'll create our own work of darkness and rejoice in it. once this ritual's over, we'll be together. forever."

[arscorpii]

the way utena held onto wakaba and anthy's hands, trying her best to not let go (even though utena was barely holding onto anthy's hand, i'm sure she never wished to let anthy slip away from her grasp). both shots were lit with soft lighting ⟶ to highlight the importance of the person utena was holding onto and their bonds to utena.

the fact that she reached out to them with her left hand, the hand on which she wore her rose crest ring (the ring being clearly visible in both shots) ⟶ utena believed that she could only save wakaba and anthy by being a prince/playing the role of a prince.

utena caught wakaba's right hand with her left hand; wakaba wasn't holding back. meanwhile, anthy reached out to utena's left hand with her left hand as well. i think the difference in how each pair held hands may lie within the ideals between the pairs in their respective circumstances. with regard to wakaba, she harboured lots of pent-up emotions and thoughts about how unfairly the (ohtori) world treated the people it regarded as "special" and "ordinary," such as utena and herself. wakaba was clouded with feelings of inferiority and wanted to be special, to put it simply. utena didn't understand/wasn't aware of these dichotomous mechanisms/systems at play, at this point at least. these conflicting ideals, as in, awareness versus ignorance, were represented in the way they held hands; the hero/chosen one with her firm grasp on the motionless hand of the underdog/forgettable one.

with regard to anthy, the moment utena cracked open her coffin was the first time the both of them saw each other as they truly were. utena believed in a world beyond eternal pain and suffering anthy had to endure and wanted to share that view with her, wanted anthy to see and experience such a world, to save her from this needless perdition for good. eventually, anthy took the chance on the possibility, given how unyielding utena was in trying to reach her despite being stabbed by anthy herself; anthy hesitantly reached out to utena. both utena and anthy wanted to believe in a world where suffering is transient when they reached out to one another through the coffin opening, and not an eternally all-consuming pain as their fates in ohtori. they shared similar hopes in that moment.

utena reached out to both wakaba and anthy with kindness and love:

in the duel with wakaba, she never drew out the sword of dios or fought her. utena de-escalated the duel carefully by taking hold of wakaba's sword (the sword pulled out of saionji) and cutting off the black rose. despite not understanding the sequence of events that had them facing each other off in the dueling arena, wakaba was one of utena's closest friends and utena would save her. it's a little interesting to note that the audience (and utena, too i believe) didn't get a glimpse of wakaba's face during utena's speech as above. in addition, the focus on their interlocked hands when utena mentioned about not understanding the situation and saving wakaba is also interesting (even though the interlocked hands were due to them struggling against each other). it's possible what utena said at that moment may have reached her heart even while being under the control of the black rose. perhaps the speech may have made wakaba realise that she was indeed special. this "specialness" was emphasised by utena not letting wakaba fall into the outline of one of the bodies like the other black rose duelists; because she mattered to utena. "to not be chosen is to die" but in a way, she was chosen by utena here beyond the presented choice between her or anthy. utena chose wakaba and anthy.

in episode 39, akio used the sword pulled out of utena to break through the rose gate. utena was injured and incapacitated by anthy's stab, while anthy was relentlessly impaled with millions of swords embodying humanity's hatred. akio's futile attempts eventually broke the sword and he gave up on the pursuit. so long as he had anthy, he could try again, as in, try again to gain the power to "revolutionise the world" instead of freeing his little sister. utena tried opening the rose gate with her bare hands; dragging her injured body there, clinging onto the thorny vines of the roses on the gate, pushing through the large stone doors. she only wanted to stop the swords from hurting anthy, to help her. utena's love and care for anthy finally unlocked the rose gate into anthy's coffin. utena steadfastly held out her hand to anthy despite anthy's protests. utena's efforts moved anthy to tears, and she reached out to her. in episode 38, utena chose anthy over akio, and all the way back to episode 11, utena chose anthy over the power to revolutionise the world. utena had always chosen anthy against all odds and choices.

the aftermath:

wakaba wasn't holding back possibly due to being under the control of the black rose while anthy's hand eventually slipped away from utena's hold.

nevertheless, utena's efforts matter, very much so, because wakaba will always be on utena's side no matter what happens and anthy will find utena no matter where she is.

[bridenore]

HD war setting fic recs : more than 30k words

Here are a few drarry wartime fic recs that are more than 30k words. Posted in alphabetical order, as always. Part 1 (recs with less than 30k) can be found here.

9 ½ Days by @magpiefngrl [21k]

After the events at the Manor, Harry and Draco find themselves stranded in the countryside with a broken wand and Death Eaters on their tail.  This is the story of an uneasy truce, featuring faerie forests, seaside  caves, Romani camps, kind old ladies, and a shared bed in an attic. Or how two boys fell in love in the midst of a bloody coup.

All the Answers by Maxine [195k] *Incomplete

Finding himself saddled with Draco Malfoy is just about the last thing Harry expected to happen this year. Too bad ignoring the git is something he’s never been able to do. Horcruxes, war, and teenage hormones – no one ever said this would be easy! 7th year fic. Harry/Draco main pairing…eventually. 

Allegiance and Sedition by SilentAuror [98k]

The war is in its fifth year, and Harry finds himself caught up in the confusion of friend versus enemy, spy versus traitor.

Black, in the Smothering Dark by @lol-zeitgeistic [101k]

Harry Potter is rescued from the Dursleys and spends the summer with his god…father? This is the prequel to The Hush of War. The Hush of War by @lol-zeitgeistic [351k] Voldemort has made a bargain with Harry to stop killing muggles and muggle-borns (when at all possible, of course) in exchange for Harry’s cooperation. While Harry thinks he’s using the time to find a way to defeat the Dark Lord, he will realize that Voldemort is always one step ahead, and so long as he isn’t killing anyone…what’s the big deal? He has bigger things to worry about now, anyway. Includes dementors, pureblood culture, the prophecy, what exactly happened with Lily’s sacrifice, magical breakthroughs, children Death Eaters, and portraits of family. Final pairing: H/D. Sequel to Black, in the Smothering Dark.

Double Edged Sword by @romaine2424 [554k]   

Harry thinks his life has been planned out, but the night he comes of age changes everything.  Now there are decisions to be made and a path to be chosen, and the choices before him will change the lives of everyone he knows.  But when destiny calls, Harry finds himself ready to listen. This is an epic story of the love between Harry and Draco.  Join them as they journey through their life together, through the good times and the bad, facing obstacles both external and internal, and see how they come to be who they were meant to be. (This story was written after HBP.)

Earthbound Spook by cest_what [57k]

Two months after Draco Malfoy was reported dead, Harry and Ron found him tangled in Strangler Ivy on the grounds of Hogwarts.

Eclipse by Mijan [287k]

“You’re dead, Potter… I’m going to make you pay…” Draco swore his revenge on Harry for Lucius’s imprisonment, and Harry all but laughed at him. But Draco is planning more than schoolyard pranks this time. The old rivalry turns deadly when Draco abducts Harry for Voldemort. It’s the perfect plan, guaranteeing revenge, power, and prestige, all in one blow. But when Draco’s world turns upside down, the fight to save himself and Harry begins, and the battle will take them both through hell and back. If they come back.

Faerie Felicities by @quackquackcey  [79k]

Draco dies and wakes up to the emerald drapes of the Slytherin dormitory at the end of 5th year. Thus ensues new possibilities, new choices, a new life, and a new romance(?) Featuring fluffy shenanigans, lots of baking, and a hopefully not-so-bad war (fingers crossed). Or in other words, a somewhat Christmassy canon rewrite fic.

Finite Incantatum by Alysian Fields [153k]

What should have happened after ‘Half Blood Prince’! It’s the autumn after Dumbledore’s death, the Death Eaters are steadily gaining power, and Harry and his friends are desperate to find the remaining Horcruxes. But then Draco Malfoy arrives at Grimmauld Place, traumatised, starved and drained of all his magical ability. It falls to Harry to show the Slytherin how to adapt to his new way of life, never guessing that Draco has a few things to teach him in return.

Hermione Granger’s Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents on the Run by @waspabi [93k]

‘You’re a wizard, Harry’ is easier to hear from a half-giant when you’re eleven, rather than from some kids on a tube platform when you’re seventeen and late for work.

Men Who Love Dragons Too Much by @fencer-x [479k]

[Extensive re-telling of Deathly Hallows] As in Half-blood Prince, Draco is charged by Voldemort with killing Dumbledore—only instead of trying to do his best with the challenge, he realizes he’s been set a futile task and instead focuses on finding a way to save both himself and his parents. He eventually decides to spend his sixth year studying Animagecraft, convinced it’s his best shot at escaping the impossible situation he’s found himself in. But just his luck, his Animagus form turns out to be a dragon, and a rather randy juvenile at that, intent on finding its mate: one Harry James Potter.

On the Last Day of Our World by Sansa [84k]

During a detention, Harry and Draco get locked in a strange room together overnight. When they escape the next morning, they discover they are alone. Love, angst and adventure abound as they struggle to survive in an empty world.

Open Fire by @slytherco [38k]

Once upon a time, in a Death Eater-occupied Britain… A story about the Second Wizarding War, still going on ten years after the Battle of Hogwarts. While the Light Side struggles to keep evil at bay, those who wish to rid the world of Mixed-Blood Wix roam free, growing in power and persistent in their cruelty. In the meantime, in an undisclosed location, a group of rogue partisans works tirelessly, doing one thing, and one thing only: killing Death Eaters. Things complicate when during one of their raids, the Pack captures an old acquaintance who turns out to be a double agent. He can help them change the course of the War but change isn’t something their leader takes in stride, both on the front and in his heart. An AU based on the movie “Inglourious Basterds”

Silenced by the Night by @parkkate [55k]

After a spell goes horribly wrong, Harry has to deal with the loss of his eyesight. It’s such terrible timing, too, because how is he supposed to find out what Malfoy has been up to in the Room of Requirement? It’s not like he can ask the git, not only because it’s Malfoy, but also because the Slytherin has suddenly lost his voice. While they’re both trapped in the hospital wing, however, Harry discovers there’s so much he didn’t know about Malfoy, and it’s highly intriguing, but also a bit alarming. Where did all these confusing feelings come from all of a sudden? And what is Harry going to do about them?

Stars As Bright Spots Only by Slytherincess [66k]

Draco Malfoy is struggling to maintain his sanity while carrying out his duties as a sixteen-year-old Death Eater. Draco tries to take solace in Polyjuice, a loyal friend, and an enchanted hand mirror, and finds there’s more than meets the eye in the Mirror of Erised. The events of Half-Blood Prince as interpreted from Draco’s POV.

Temptation on the Warfront by alizarincrims0n [180k]

Draco Malfoy is forced into hiding with the Golden Trio and dragged into their search for horcruxes. What ensues is a journey of redemption, unexpected friendships and an unwanted, turbulent romance with Harry Potter. Warnings for swearing, sexual content, and dark themes.

A Thousand Beautiful Things by geoviki [104k]

Draco Malfoy struggles with changed fortunes, shifted alliances, an ugly war, and an unusual spell, with the help of a concerned professor, an insightful house-elf, and an unexpected Gryffindor friend. Delicate Sound of Thunder by geoviki [61k] Draco Malfoy has always known that happily ever after is only true for fairy tales.  When someone threatens to expose his wartime past, he risks his life to protect his secrets, but learns he’s not the only one with something to hide. The sequel to A Thousand Beautiful Things.

Tomorrow by @novembersnowflakes [4k]

For Harry and Draco, the dawn is long in coming. (Prequel to “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow”) Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by @novembersnowflakes [57k]  When the long-missing Draco Malfoy turns up at a Ministry field hospital with amnesia, bitter Auror Harry Potter must confront the shadows of  their shared past to shed light on a potentially deadly mystery. Daybreak by @novembersnowflakes [5k]  Harry Potter, Draco knows, has a habit of keeping his promises. (Coda to “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow”)

A Wave in Windless Water by reposoir [57k]

Harry, Hermione, and Ron work together in Godric’s Hollow to find and destroy Voldemort’s horcruxes. With the unexpected arrival of Draco Malfoy, Harry has the burden of both the horcruxes and new worries weighing him down.

Who Will Guard the Door by musamihi [36k]

The day his father is sentenced, Draco takes the Mark and is given his impossible task. Thorfinn Rowle, assigned to be his mentor, is less interested in assisting him than in satisfying his own appetites. As Draco sinks further into failure and watches the war sweep his parents away from him, he takes refuge in the Manor – a member of the family he never knew he had. But the Manor suffers its own wounds during Lord Voldemort’s residency, and the Chosen One may be the only force that can heal them.

I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I did!

[buddierecs]

bobby being buck's parent fics

w/ buddie in honour of the horrors that was today, i figured that we needed a bit more comfort (pain?) to go with it this is a mixed rated list, make sure to check the tags. remember to leave kudos/comment on these amazing works :)

the ordeal of dating your captain's (adopted) son (series) by: polish_amber "The au where bobby adopted evan when he was six years old, and then twenty years later eddie joins the 118 and starts dating buck... and no one initially realises that evan and buck are, in fact, the same person." word count: 307k important tags: bobby adopted buck, miscommunication, team as family, developing relationship

we found love right where we were by: polish_amber "the one where may ensures buck is enfolded properly into the grant-nash clan, which means bobby (and by extension the firefam, because gossip) suddenly gets significantly more insight into the inner workings of the buckley-diaz family, and all roads lead to buddie…" word count: 70k important tags: buck & may siblings, fluff, family feels if it weren't for second chances by: alasse a story about how buck finds a chosen family, and with a few twists and turns, eventually gets to the 118, meets eddie diaz, and maybe finds himself a second and a third (or, an evan nash story). word count: 47k important tags: familes of choice, buck & bobby save each other, slow burn buck being bathena's kid fics (lots of works, check tags for each one) by: smilingbuckley "A bunch of stand-alone fics where Bobby and/or Athena are acting like his parents/are his parents." word count: 533k important tags: bobby & athena being buck's parents, buck, may & harry as siblings, team as family winter prayer by: daisies_and_briars "when a work conflict prevents athena from accompanying bobby to minnesota for the ten year anniversary of his family dying, buck and may offer to go instead. over the course of the trip, they all learn more about each other, and bobby faces his grief." word count: 18k important tags: may & buck siblings, road trips, established relationship, grief, healing words, how little they man when they're a little too late by: polish_amber "the one where buck builds a family and his birth parents get exposed to pieces of it in the aftermath of 6x10: in a flash." word count: 13k important tags: hurt!evan buckley, pre-relationship buddie, pov outsider, team as family catharsis by: rogerzsteven "it only takes one minor inconvenience for buck to have his long overdue breakdown." word count: 5.3k important tags: emotional hurt/comfort, angst, mental breakdown, multiple pov to be loved anyways by: bookworm0303 "buck experiences the unconditional love of a parent for the first time in his life at a five year-old's birthday party." word count: 15k important tags: established relationship, buckley siblings have bad parents, protective!bobby nash bobby versus buddie by: songbvrd "five times bobby tried to gently hold buddie's hands and tell them they were in love, and one time they got the picture." word count: 10k important tags: 5+1 things, mutual pining, idiots in love, bobby nash pov the one with the return of the sex addiction by: buddiefication "bobby can tell that buck has a secret. he’s been showing up to things late, forgetting important information, and getting easily distracted. bobby comes to the most obvious conclusion: buck’s self-diagnosed sex addiction has returned in full-swing." word count: 2.7k important tags: outsider pov, secret relationship, worried!bobby java blues by: ravens_words "eight times buck drank bobby’s coffee, and the one time bobby made it for him." word count: 5.5k important tags: bobby nash pov, fluff

[voyagerscompass]

hi guys who are now interested in petscop because of wendigoons upload; go watch petscop for yourself if you havent, and then go watch mysticetes videos on the series if youre confused (more than likely, as ive rewatched petscop plenty of times and i am still learning and connecting new things), instead!

paul is care, and the story is a wonderful examination of self-transformation, bodily autonomy, chosen family versus assigned family, not meeting expectation, generational abuse, trauma, transness, and dissociation. paul being trans is such a straightforward thing in relation to a lot of the other happenings and events that happen in the series itself, and it feels like 99% of youtubers can't actually analyze petscop without sensationalizing it, or, atleast without making 99% of the happenings in the story into something fantastical instead. if you can, find someone mutually invested in the series, and talk about it together! it's fandom, fandom was made to cultivate engaging + thoughtful discussions, after all! its story lead me to doing a lot of things for myself. most relevant is starting testosterone and actually transitioning for myself. it has literally changed my life

[rhubarbplants]

A psychological analysis of the faction conflicts on The Realm thru the lens of Social Identity Theory

Aka how did the factions lead to the creation of strong in-group identities that have shaped and been shaped by conflict on The Realm.

To understand how social identity theory is relevant to The Realm we must first understand the theory itself. Tajfel et al looks at social identity theory and group identity. In the study participants were randomly assigned to groups and told a trivial reason for the divide. In one iteration of the study (and the one I think is most interesting and relevant) the participants were told to divide points between the groups (points would be converted to money at the end so it matters) There were three ways the money could be divided: The first was awarding a high value to the ingroup but an even higher value for the out group, the next one awarded a smaller but equal amount to both groups, the last option awarded a low number of points to the ingroup but only one point to the out group thus maximizing the difference between the two groups.

The study found that participants were willing to award fewer points to their group in order to maximize the difference between the two groups and wanted to minimize the points of the other group. Even a trivial and short term group divide can inspire mindsets of competition, us versus them, and discrimination.

Strangely enough The Realm can be pretty effectively analysed using social identity theory. I will also look at the factions (and maybe other SMPs) using Hofstede's social dimensions which I will be making and releasing as soon as I can. 

When the factions were first created it was decently random. There were very few plans for lore and many of the creators were pretty unfamiliar with each other. However factions were all sort of chosen with certain traits or roles in mind. The kingdom of fools wanted to make a kingdom and initially wanted to rule the server even though that goal isn’t present in the modern iteration of the faction. The Honey Badgers were originally the Anti-Kingdom, created by Hannah and Bad to oppose the KOF and while this has also taken a back seat its still present in the identity of the group. The Teal Titans were created as the neutral group and I think that remains true for the most part. I will not be talking about the factionless people in this because it doesn’t really fit into the framework. The red faction is also very interesting, they are also another random group with very little in common but they also have a very clear group identity being the hostile faction.

To me Pangi sabotaging the faction tasks of the Kingdom of Fools displays some of the same phenomena as Tajfel’s study. The acts of sabotage do not in any way strengthen or positively affect the Honey Badgers at all, they would get nothing tangible out of the Kingdom’s failure and yet they still did it. This shows how in-group and out-group mentalities developed very quickly leading to intergroup conflict and in some cases prejudice.

Another example of this is Ros destroying her castle. While it did do something good for her it was largely an act to spite the Honey Badgers. She did something that actively disadvantaged her own faction (despite them being ok with it) so that she could get one up on the out-group.

We can also see Social Identification taking place on The Realm. Soon after the factions were formed people started aligning themselves with their factions very strongly. Social identification is when people start to act and think in ways that align with their group and tie their personal identity to their group identity.

This is easiest to see in the Kingdom because they have the most defined group identity but is present in many other places too. We can see it in how Lukey is striving to become more independent as independence is a value of the Honey Badgers. Ros made her membership to the Kingdom a central part of her identity taking on some of the superiority but we also see her start to present a strong facade, be very community oriented, specifically in regards to her faction and she becomes very protective. These are all traits that are considered Kingdom traits and you can see them in most of the members of the Kingdom of Fools, Sneeg being the next best example of this. Self identification also involves the group becoming a key part of your personal identity and this is very apparent in all the factions.

Self Identification within group identity becomes even stronger when that group is under threat. One great example of this is with the Hostile Faction on The Realm. We can see how initially some of the Red Faction members did become more violent but their faction was not defined by a desire for violence but by a duty so many of them also exhibited significant reluctance. Sausage and Scott both exhibited disdain for the faction and eventually left, despite Sausage honoring the work Mocha did for the faction. Mocha actually in some circumstances actually self identified more closely with the Honey Badgers by exhibiting hard working behaviors, a high level of independence, and significant anti-kingdom sentiment. However, self identification with the hostile faction actually grew after Mocha’s death as Krow started calling itself The Red and becoming more aggressive and as Jonnay also became more aggressive and focused on protecting the Hostile Faction as both of them made it a key part of their identities.

After social identification comes social comparison and this is what starts the faction conflict as it exists today. The main players in the faction conflict were constantly engaging in comparison. The Kingdom called the Honey Badgers peasants and viewed themselves as more noble and often looked down on them as being more aggressive and presenting themselves as innocent when the trading of blows and slights were about equal. Similarly the green viewed themselves as humble and the kingdom as self-important and stuffy. They also saw themselves as free and the kingdom as domineering. Social comparison doesn't have to be grounded in reality, in fact it often isn't but is instead based on perceptions of the groups by its members. Also because the Hostile faction and the Honey Badgers were so close though most of the faction conflict much of the comparison actually applies to both groups.

There was also one thing I found interesting which was that Sneeg and Ros also thought that the Honey Badgers weren’t supportive of each other because they were independent and this idea was very persistent. The idea was likely derived from social comparison of her thinking the opposite and rival group would not share the positive traits of her own group. 

These comparisons create rivalries and reinforce prejudices and in this case caused a spiralling faction conflict where neither group could ever see eye to eye. Conflict heightens group divides and creates strong In-group out-group mentalities Especially following the second ball/Foolish’s assassination there was sort of a feeling like the Honey Badgers and the Kingdom of Fools could hardly even speak to each other and mixing between groups was highly discouraged.

Alternatively we have also seen how conflict can unite divided groups if the conflict isnt between the groups but instead an outside threat that poses equal risk to each group. Such as with the Keepers taking Aimsey, Pangi, and Ros which caused the factions to make a treaty, or the corruption which led to cooperation between the factions.

To conclude we can use social psychological concepts to better understand the faction conflicts on The Realm and how they are driven by the social and group identities of the characters. We can understand how characters have been shaped by their factions and how these social mindsets affect how to respond to conflict and threats.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Reference: Pizza

Cornicione

Italian for the cornice, or ornamental molding on the edge of a building. When it comes to pizza, it refers to the outer edge.

Cornicione is a great word for English speakers who are looking to talk about the crust in a fancier way.

The True Neapolitan Pizza Association (Associazione Verace Pizza napoletana, or AVPN) has just as strict rules about the cornicione as it does about every other part of a Neapolitan pizza: it must be about half an inch to an inch tall. Bonus points if the cornicione has small air pockets.

Margherita

A thin dough topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil.

The story goes that it was invented in 1889 by Raffaele Esposito at Pizzeria Brandi for the visiting queen of Italy, Margherita of Savoy.

Tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil were chosen to represent the colors—red, white, and green—of the newly united Italy.

Whether or not the story is true is up for debate.

Neapolitan

Started in Naples, is the most clearly defined pizza thanks to the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana.

The dough has to be made with solely 0 or 00 Tipo flour (a type of finely milled flour considered ideal for pizza dough), water, yeast, and salt.

The Neapolitan pizza is a type of margherita, though topped with very specific ingredients: buffalo mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, and basil.

Finally, it can only be cooked in a wood-burning oven for 90 seconds max.

Mozzarella

Fresh, unaged Italian cheese traditionally made with milk from water buffalos in Italy and Bulgaria. The taste is mild and the texture semisoft.

Strictly water buffalo mozzarella is what true Neapolitan pizzas use—that’s mozzarella made from the milk of a breed of Italian water buffalo.

However, the mozzarella you find in the grocery store is most likely (unless labeled otherwise) a fresh and unaged cow’s milk cheese.

Pizza al taglio

One of the common slices that you’ll find in pizza shops in Rome, the name for pizza al taglio comes from how it’s served: al taglio means "by the cut."

The pizza has a thicker crust and bottom than what you’ll find in a Neapolitan pizza, and it’s rectangular instead of ovular.

The toppings are wide ranging, and there’s a good chance that there’s a set of toppings that fits your liking if you find yourself in a well-stocked shop. When you find that perfect pie, you order by the square slice, similar to New York-style pizza.

Pizza alla pala

This is another style of Italian pizza with a straightforward name.

Alla pala is Italian for “on the paddle,” and sure enough this ovular pizza is served on a paddle.

It requires an electric oven that gets to just under 600 degrees Fahrenheit versus a scorching hot wood-fire oven.

The thick crust is topped with ingredients after it spends time in the oven as opposed to the crispy cooked toppings you’re likely to find with pizza al taglio.

The most surefire way to know it’s alla pala, however, is to look for the paddle.

Pizza al padellino

What’s known as pizza al padellino in Italy is what people in the US know as pan pizza (padellino translates to "pan").

The style is typical to Torino, Italy, where it’s made in a round pan that allows for a thick crust that can be loaded with any variety of toppings.

Grandma pie

Grandma pie is sort of like a twist on a Sicilian pizza with a homey, nostalgia-inducing name.

The rectangular, pan-baked pizza’s main difference is a thinner crust that doesn’t have as much time to rise.

It’s also typically made without a dedicated pizza oven (neither wood-fired nor a specialty electric oven), and the sauce often goes over the cheese instead of having the cheese on top.

New York

The thin-crust pieces are routinely served by the slice (never by the “piece”), which is kept behind a glass deli-style counter and is reheated in a brick oven when pointed at by the next customer in line.

The toppings can be simple or complex, and the slice is always pliable enough to be foldable yet strong enough to hold its own until you have time to finish it.

Detroit

Similar to Sicilian and grandma style.

It’s rectangular and cooked in a pan, and the pieces are square.

The dough is fluffy like a Sicilian sfincione, and the sauce goes on top of the toppings and cheese like some grandma pies.

St. Louis

If the thick Detroit and Sicilian style pizzas had an opposite, it would be St. Louis-style pizza.

The most defining pizza style from Missouri: unleavened crust that has toppings so evenly distributed there’s no crust to hold onto.

It also has what’s deemed Provel cheese, which is a stringy blend of cheddar, provolone, and Swiss cheeses.

Sicilian

Describes the style from Sicily.

Only there, it’s called sfincione, which means “thick sponge.”

The focaccia-like base is topped with tomato sauce, veggies, anchovies, or whatever else you prefer. Instead of mozzarella or another soft or melty cheese, sfincione gets a hard cheese.

Apizza

Apizza (pronounced "abeets”) hails from New Haven, Connecticut, and is a thin-crust pizza that’s made similarly to Neapolitan-style pizza.

The dough, however, is a high-gluten and high-water dough.

To work it into shape, pizza makers use potassium bromate flour and let the dough go through a long and slow rise time.

The resulting pizza is hand shaped, given a few toppings, and then thrown in a hot coal-fired brick oven.

The name apizza is based on the Italian a pizza, meaning “the pizza.”

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[popcandyrainbow]

A (not so) breif rant on Prince Somas skin tone

Im tired of seeing people in the comments of pinterest white nighting square enix and boot licking because theyre just grateful we got more seasons

They have actively chosen to white wash the main character of colour in kuroshitsuji for literally no good reason

dont believe that hes actually been made lighter?

have some hex codes

old seasons:

new seasons:

(i took these from the cheek of the above image to avoid shading, i used the top ones which i thought were actually the most generous)

i feel like were all smart enough to agree that those are not the same colour, and that while your skin can get lighter and darker from sun exposure or lack there of(aka being in the uk for a few years) the undertone of your skin cannot change that drastically (see the blue value in the hex codes, naturally, i am assuming Soma isnt using self tanner because that is ridiculous)

dont believe me that people are saying this?

lemme respond to them

Excuse me what does VA have to do with the fact that he’s objectively paler? yes the anime is brighter - that shouldnt change someones skin colour

isnt your “prob” because youre not impacted by racism bro. were complaining about something important bootlicker. im sorry that your favourite anime can be impacted by racism, welcome to the world sweet summer child.

This one is basically calling the old version of Soma racist? i can barely tell honestly. but it raises an interesting point. Soma is of a higher caste -

Obviously, he is a prince. Im not about to whitesplain the victorian contemporary Indian caste system to you- if youre reading this you have access to the internet do your own research and listen to Indian voices. but the implication of him being made too dark originally is an interesting point. im not sure i agree but its atleast not completely senseless

either way no one should straight up change a characters skin tone like that for no narritive or good reason idc.

and too these two

i took the liberty of checking O!ciels skin tones using hex:

skin (especially paler skin) reflects light, which is why i look super pale outside when i wear black in the bright sun versus when im in the stark light of my all white bathroom and i genuinely look a different race -im not denying skin tone can be flexible (see grid 2 of the hex image, hes in quite dark lighting)

but just look at how consistent it is

im sure you could find screen grabs that make o!ciel look red/green/not consistently white but across seasons he is consistently a pale little victorian boy

i didnt cherry pick these images either, i stole them of pinterest (i am not taking credit but im not giving it either for anonymity sake)

its not just lighting, its not just a new animation style, and the funny thing about micro aggressions is that they dont change if we dont address them and say its wrong.

crazy that i feel the need to cite why racism is bad but fuck it here we are go read a book:

Whitewashing Capitalism: Mainstream Economics’ Resounding Silence on Race and Racism. http://doi.org/10.1177/0486613419873229

Media and Public Culture: Media Whitewashing https://doi.org/10.11588/xarep.00000349

The uses of racism: whitewashing new Europeans in the UK https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2012.692802

(and theyre all free access, no excuses for racists)

i promise you it is this deep, and yes i refuse to spell check

i had more i wanted to share cause im aware im not the first to discuss this, but tumblr has a ten image limit so alas i might have to make another post

[fangatic]

a last note on the ai-fic bullshit

a couple days ago, a person i had never spoken to before shared my call-out post on x with the earnest intention of spreading awareness of the issue. she was attacked and harrassed so harshly by the same group of people who have been dragging my friends and i through the mud that she ended up having to deactivate.

this group of perpetrators then did their very best to turn this whole conversation on its head by accusing the poster of being anti-solavellan, of sharing the post with malicious intentions of dividing the fandom and tearing down amateur writers, and grouping her and i/my friends as antis and what not.

my thoughts on that development aren't any that i can express with any diplomacy or maturity whatsoever, but @drakonmo herself did a wonderful job at gracefully carving out the very important conversation we, as fans, need to have within our communities. whether you observed or participated in the conversation surrounding the silence and the song and the following shitstorm, i strongly urge you to read her post (here) (on x).

tldr/to those who might be in a rush, let me pull out some highlights:

by deleting the evidence and refusing to acknowledge the public claims were ever made, these people who despise me and wanted to foment discourse could succeed, armed with the trust and respect of loyal followers.

suddenly, the entire wall of text of explanations, of signs, of concerns were reduced to nothing but one portion of the whole. people began to attack OP and me and write threads, posts, etc, saying we were insulting all creators everywhere and we were - singlehandedly - the reason people didn't share their artwork.

clearly, these people argued, this insult and injury to all writers everywhere was a sign of these posts being a hate campaign. suddenly people could completely ignore the fact that the OP is a HUGE shipper, and i have been the world's most vocal proponent of shipping the particular character with anyone and/ or everyone.

i saw some people ask questions - what's happening, what's the drama, what's the situation? and they believed blindly the first things said to them without even trying to seek the truth or sources for themselves - and i truly mean this was an issue on both sides, for both people who ultimately agreed with me and people who did not.

the people that deliberately misrepresented what was being said, who nitpicked so that they could justify choosing "us versus them" - i ask that you consider, if you can and you would like to, to internalize and reflect how you may be susceptible to situations like this happening OFFLINE.

if ONLINE FANDOM misinformation can rouse such a level of discourse, hatred, fear, and anger over a fanfiction or ship ...what are the implications for REAL LIFE?

are you possibly reading a headline and believing it without reading the full article?

are your political and personal opinions swayed heavily by your peers, rather than being shaped by information and political education?

are you well informed and checking for bias from your chosen news sources?

do you exist in an echo chamber that has actively harmed your ability to understand other perspectives and worsened your capacity for allyship?

we best fight FASCISM when we recognize how we approach the people and issues around us, no matter how small. supporting artistic integrity in your fandom is a low rung on the ladder, but your approach to a sense of community and how news, conflict, and opinions form and spread IS vital.

thank you for reading, and thank you to those who have stuck by me (and by mo) despite the backlash it might have caused you. this has been insane and i look forward to never discussing that fucking fic again, but that doesn't mean we get to turn our heads on how this all turned to shit in the first place.

as a self-proclaimed safe space often characterised by escapism, we owe it to one another to make sure this community is as safe as can be and remains one where we care for one another despite which fictional characters we think should kiss.

[midnight-mourning]

Birds of a Feather

Bit of writing for @divinit3a's cafe prompts! A little one shot set in @crystalmagpie447's winged dca au. Be sure to check both of them, the prompts, and the au out!

That all being said, enjoyed making this, hope you enjoy reading it ^^

Word Count: 1795

Chosen Words: feathers, flight, clouds, hope, restart

"Thank you for visiting Superstar Daycare! We hope you have a Faztastic rest of your day!" Sun says, shutting the door with a sigh.

You glance up from organizing the drawings from today, seeing he's slouched back against the door, defeated. Not that he'd ever admit it, of course. You're almost tempted to go back to your work without another word so to let him keep up his perceived joyous attitude. But, you desire to be a better friend than that. 

Even if he doesn't want you to be. 

You sort another work of art into the pile for next week's feature pieces. "Long day, huh?"

"Oh, not at all, Sunshine!" You hear his rays spin, and peeking up again his posture is ramrod straight again. "Today was wonderful, just like all the others before it! And before that, and before that, and before that..." Back to that chipper tone, as you had expected, but it never hurt to try. 

Something you don't think Sun realized—likely due to not being created with them initially—is that wing's display an array of emotions as much as any other part of one's body language. When nervous, they quiver and flick and shrink in much like his own rays. When happy, they're bursting with life, shifting not dissimilarly to one's own arms. And when angry, well, you think he might have realized that one. 

Whenever you pressed him too hard, asked too many questions, showed too much care, they would puff up, feathers stifled and quick in their movements. 

You never told him these things, which may make you not so good a friend, but you knew if you let him in on the mannerisms he displayed, he'd do everything he could to stop them. 'Correct' them. You know, because when you'd commented on how his rays spun when he got excited, he was down in Parts and Services all but demanding them to fix his problem. Or at least, his concept of a problem. 

So instead, you let out a quiet laugh. "I'm always here to talk, but if you say so, I'll leave it lie."

"Good. Glad that's settled."

With that, he takes a few quick strides over to the craft tables and begins cleaning them up. You sigh, but let it go. It's not your business after all, that much had been made clear to you. 

As clean up goes along—quiet, save for small talk between the two of you, friendly, but nothing more—your thoughts go back to the Attendant once more. Specifically, his wings. 

Always constantly using them, the both of them. You think that despite having them before you arrived even, they were still in a way a new and exciting feature for the two animatronics. Seeing even the smallest of reasons to exercise them. Be it to flit about the room just a little quicker, play with the children, or to do a survey of the daycare—or the entire Plex in Moon's case—just a quick flap of their wings, and it was possible.

You suppose it's something that can't be helped. Though only every so often, in times like this, where you feel just a little more isolated than usual. A little more lonely. That feeling is what had drawn you here in the first place, in a way. Besides the need for a paying job that is. 

A chance for a restart, a fresh start even. When you first saw the Daycare, realized what a, solo existence, the two attendants had, it had gripped at you. Gripped at a particular part of your own being that you recognized. Despite having wings themselves, they're story was similar to yours. Outcasted from society and those around them for things outside their control. 

An inability to take flight, versus an inability to fly elsewhere. Trapped, in every sense of word. The only difference being the cage in use. 

"Penny for your thoughts, Dragonfly?"

You glance up, seeing Moon perched on the piece of the playset above you. You liked to come up here and sit sometimes, sit anywhere up high, just to get a taste for what could have been. 

You'd accepted long ago the way things were, and for the most part it wouldn't haunt you. It wasn't your fault, wasn't something in your control. It just was. There were plenty of others like you, even, and they held no shame, so neither would you. 

But that didn't control the longing that would ensnare you from time to time. 

Back in the present, you scoff at the lunar animatronic. "Knowing you you'd take more than just a penny from me. Probably my entire wallet if you could get by with it, yeah?"

"Perhaps." Moon snickers, faceplate spinning. "You'll never know until you try though."

You laugh, then shake your head. "Figured as much. Hard pass, Moon-man."

"Hm. Care to just share what's on your mind then?" He reaches over and above you to the opposite edge of the playset, essentially laying horizontal above you, gaze focused down on you. "Free of charge."

You consider the offer a moment, then mimic his pose, going from lean back, to laying back perpendicular to him, face covered in the glow of his red eyes. 

"You think it's silly to want something you can't have? That'll always be out of your reach and never within? Something you'll always have on the back of your mind, no matter how hard you try to live your life free of even a thought about it?"

Moon tilts his head. "What a loaded series of questions. I'm a jester, not a sage, you know." He chuckles, and usually you'd join in, maybe roll your eyes or the likes, but your heart's not in it. 

It's something he picks up on immediately, wings behind him fluttering just a tad. But even in the darkness you catch it. 

He puts a hand under his chin in thought. "Well, I suppose if you'd really want to get into it, yes."

You wait. 

Nothing else. 

"What?" He asks. 

You shrug. "Thought you'd share a bit more as to what. You know, be relatable and all that."

Moon chuckles, it takes on a more sinister edge at the end. 

"Not quite. But I'll listen to your plights if you'd like, Nightingale."

"Sometimes, more than anything, I wish I could fly." Your hands fold across your chest. "It's a silly endeavor, I know. But I still want it sometimes."

He must not have been expecting that, eyes widening just a tad. He asks a question you weren't anticipating. "Have you ever been?"

"A few times, when I was small. With my parents. They'd hold me below them and I'd pretend to be gliding all on my own." You close your eyes at the memories, filled with shrieks of laughter and childish glee. You think if they'd known that would be your only time up in the sky, they'd have taken you more often. 

"What was it like?"

You open your eyes. Looking above you to the former naptime attendant turned security bot. His words were soft, holding a tender curiosity you wouldn't have expected.

You furrow your brow. "What do you mean? You know what flying is like."

"The sky." He rasps, and it clicks. All but confirming one of your deepest beliefs then and there. 

You swallow, hiding the utter elation such information gives you, that hope for connection no longer so out of reach. You give it your best shot to provide an accurate, detailed, description. 

"It's colder than you think it would be. When you get high up. But the sun's warmth usually helps with that. The wind feels lovely on your feathers though." Your hand reaches out above you for a moment. "And the clouds, they're wet. Or well, damp. It was quite a shock the first time my dad dragged me through one." 

"What were you expecting?" Moon hums. 

You chuckle. "I don't know, cotton candy, or pillow fluff, or something like that. I was only like four." Your hand drops back down. "It was a long time ago."

Moon stays quiet. You continue. 

"And my first night flight. What a time. You always think if you could a little higher you'll reach the stars. Or at least that's what I thought, begging my mom to just 'go a little higher, just a little more'. She didn't always oblige me, but when she did, god, the buildings, the cities, the world, all of it felt so small." You shake your head. "And quiet. So, so quiet."

"Was that it then? The last time you were up there?" 

Another head shake. "No. I think I was maybe seven or eight before I got too heavy to lug around." 

Silence again, you think to look up to him again, gaze having become unfocused in your reminiscing. 

He's also somewhere else it seems, faceplate twisting back and forth, optics just a tinge dim. He comes out of it when he notices your stare. 

"I'll take you sometime." He states, nodding once.

"What?"

Another nod. "Into the sky. I'll take you there. You hardly weigh a thing to me."

"First of all, rude. Second of all... why?" You're a bit in disbelief. 

He shrugs. "Why not?"

Moon sits up then, back to his original position and you do the same. 

"Because that's a big thing to offer!" 

"Not offer." He pokes your forehead, eyes crinkling. "Promise."

You bluster. "Even worse!" 

You don't get to pester him further about it, as he flips back over the edge of the playset, landing right as the lights come back on. Sun looks up to you as you peer over the edge of the playset. He tilts his head at you. 

"What's with that look, Busybee?"

"I'm gonna get you out of here one day." You blurt. 

He freezes. "What?"

"I, if, if you want, I mean." You fumble to recover. "If you ever decide you want to leave. If you ever want to get out just for a moment, I'll help you. I promise."

Sun's rays twist, otherwise motionless, even as you take the nearest slide and walk over to him. 

Worried, you reach out for him. "Sun—"

Springing to life again, acting as if nothing happened. "So sorry, Sunshine! It seems I had a bit of a lapse there, won't happen again!"

"Oh. Gotcha. Okay." You turn around to get back to work, your short break now over, when his hand rests on your shoulder. 

You look up, Sun's eyes crinkle as his rays spin. 

"I hope one day I'll be able to take you up on that promise, and return it in kind."

You smile lightly, and nod. "Yeah. Me too."

And there we go! Hope i did the prompt and the au justice! Both were fun to work with. Excited to share more art and writing as the month goes on hehe

Tag list (if you would like added, see this post for more info, you can also dm me!):

@scarletcowboy @beemyhuneybee @fishm0ther @deviouscrackers @elsajoyagent8 @luckyyyduckyyy @zenkaiankoku @jogimote @local-shrub @milosmantis @robinette-green @everlightreader @sinister-sincerely @starredeclipse @dangerva @juukai @crystalmagpie447 @mothgutz236 @lizyxml @divinit3a @amarynthian-chronicles @crystalfay

[meanbossart]

Oit of pure curiosity, would u consider Drow and Orin BIOLOGICAL sibs or more step siblings or something

Like is the whole god blood actually corporeal? Is divine DNA physically there? If not would it still count?

Idk dubious incest aside, their whole thing made me think about the 'science' of God genetics n shit, hypothetical science anyway

I have no idea whatsoever. Orin is Sarevok's and Helena's child, Sarevok is human Bhaal's (???) human child (?????), so that would make him DU drow's brother, which would make Orin DU drow's niece, actually, except not really because him and Sarevok were made in different ways and technically DU drow is more of a "pure" bhaalspawn than Sarevok is, like, DU drow is less of Bhaal's son and more of an extension of him, so maybe he's more like Sarevok's uncle who's Bhaal's genetically identical twin. Also, Sarevok is Orin's grandfather as well, which means, which means... Which means..........

Anyways, my true opinion is that this discussion is really uninteresting because it clearly makes no sense 😅 Regardless of what the biological case may be, roles like "child", "sibling" and "kin" seem to be more like titles that suggest your proximity to Bhaal. Orin and DU drow were supposed Bhaal's chosen, which make them his children - and hence makes them siblings to one another. It seems all very symbolic and instilled to encourage friction within the church as everyone tries to be Daddy's Favorite while also establishing a family-like dynamic that keeps everyone together and creates a us-versus-them mindset against non-followers. Yknow, like real cults!

[heretherebedork]

The contrast of Faifa's desperate need to be loved because his mother has made it very clear that she loves Yotha more than him and only chose him because he loved other people versus Yotha's rejection of love because loving his mother didn't get him closer to her and seeing Faifa come back from living with her so desperate and how they each react to love so differently because of the same choice their mother made is just... so painful.

And the fact that Yotha sees it so damn clearly while Faifa chases after the feeling of someone taking care of him, of being chosen for himself, of being loved by someone who genuinely wants him... by loving everyone the way he wants to be loved, by trying to give enough care to everyone around him and to keep everyone happy enough that maybe he can, for just a fleeting moment, feel like they see him.

[heliza24]

Wow, so much happened and got set up in that episode! I really liked how layers and stakes were added to each PC’s conflict, in a way that made them more complicated than we could have predicted after last week’s ep. There was really an unexpected twist for each character. Adaine’s economic conflict (and by extension, conflict around whether she trusts Aelwyn or Jawbone or neither to help) now has huge consequences for her grades, which she values highly and seemed like a thing that would never be in question. Fig now has an artistic rival, who is challenging her cool kid status and confidence. We knew she had academic trouble, but her standing as a rockstar didn’t seem in doubt— but now it is. We anticipated that Fabian would be dealing with some degree of neglect, but that he would take advantage of his empty house to party (and to maybe get some kisses in, his new crush is so cute) until his teacher specifically tells him that won’t be allowed. We anticipated Gorgug having difficulty balancing his majors, but we didn’t expect him to be barred from multiclassing at all, and possibly being forced to pick between the class gifted to him by his biological versus adopted parents. We knew Riz was going to be stressed about keeping the group together, but we didn’t know he was going to be handed a whole rival adventuring party in the form of the Rat Grinders, and that conversation with Jawbone once again highlighted how much he is refusing to be vulnerable about how difficult this year is really going to be. We knew that Kristen needed to get her academics and relationship with Cassandra sorted, but we (or at least I!) didn’t expect to see her parents and to have her brother back in her orbit at school. (I really loved that scene.)

And of course the biggest surprise, for us and the PCs I would imagine— Kalina is back! I am *fascinated* by this choice. I think it’s another example of Brennan bucking the traditional adventure story format- once you defeat a villain they’re supposed to stay dead. So I’m really interested in how he’s going to weave her in to this story. What’s her purpose when she’s no longer a big bad?

I do really like how all of the conflicts connect both the PC’s home life and school life, and raise questions about their blood and chosen families. I think the most challenging thing about this season— especially if no big bad, driving quest emerges— will be making the whole thing feel thematically cohesive. Even if each of the bad kids are on their own arc, I want to feel like their stories complement and illuminate each other. That feels like a pretty big challenge with all that’s being set up, but I think they can definitely pull it off. I’m excited to see what unfolds next!