#multi-touch attribution

[manmishra]

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[arouravis]

✳︎ 𝟶𝟹 𝙰𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙾𝙻𝙾𝙶𝚈 𝙾𝙱𝚂𝙴𝚁𝚅𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂: 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎!

✿: 𝚖𝚢 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝚋𝚘𝚡 𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜e 𝚛𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐, 𝚒𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍!

𝚂𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝟷𝟸 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 / 𝙲𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛 𝚂𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝟷𝟸𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎:

These people have probably grown up with their mother/father, being their biggest bully in life. Or their parents have made them feel inadequate to a subconscious level. These people could also have religious trauma tied to their parents, or feel a sense of guilt for not continuing to believe in said religion, and the parents do not like that. I feel for these people, their parents' approval and blessing are something they either take very seriously or don't.

Like I said before, their parents' approval can be deeply ingrained within them, and they can have a hard time getting out of their system. They can do many things to try and feel as if the matter to their parents, but no matter how hard they try, they genuinely don't feel good enough.

These people can also have issues regarding tapping into knowing about their divine feminine attributes, or unlocking a more profound and emotional part of themselves that is lost within them. They are usually individuals who deeply yearn for the feeling of parental love, and tend to try and give that love to others because they know that everyone is deserving and entitled to it.

𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝟷𝟶𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎:

Made for success, everything they touch is gold. Effortlessly good at what they do.

These people are absolutely made for success, someone you would definitely like to have by your side within business ventures. Usually, the type of people who like to go solo on creative projects, everything that they do is curated specifically to their name, and they know that the presence and style they give out to the public is authentic to them and only them, and is something unique that no one has ever seen before.

They are very hardworking and driven to finish any project they get their hands on, and can be known to be multi-faceted individuals. They have their hands in as many projects as they once did. Good leaders who are passionate about what they believe is not only the best for them, but the best for the team/company overall.

𝚂𝚞𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝟾𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎:

Soft spoken individuals who are known to be quite shy and timid. Usually, depending on other placements, these people can be absolute sweethearts! Deep down very caring individuals who only wan the best for everyone around them, a great team player.

On the other hand, these people may have deep-rooted issues within themselves that they are scared to/will come to light. Or, they have a strong yearning to be someone else entirely from who they perceive themselves to be. They might feel as if they have a hard time finding a crowd that is for them, or having a hard time facing the other person who looks at them back in the mirror.

They feel as if the person that they want to be, or the person that they are, is deep within them, and that may or may not be able to come out.

For example, think of the genie from Aladdin, whose purpose was to serve others and be trapped inside a rubbing lamp for all of eternity until said otherwise. But deep down, the genie knew that his purpose in life wasn't to serve others; he knew he was all-powerful and knew he deserved to act like it and had desires of leaving the lamp and exploring the world from his own point of view.

These people must understand that they will only seek pleasure in life once they face the desires that they wish to have within the physical world. And once they desire to understand the depth that they mirror within themselves.

𝚅𝚎𝚗𝚞𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝟷𝚜𝚝 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎:

Known to be naturally beautiful at face value, but at times this is the only thing they are valued for. Sexual assault.

These people are known to be very conventionally attractive individuals. Effortlessly attracting people from left to right with ease, platonic or romantic... doesn't matter. But, the people they attract aren't always good. These people are known to only be valued at physical-face value. Sadly, some of these individuals have been known to go through some sort of sexual assault within their lives.

I feel that when people have this placement, they can be heavily fetishized and only seen within a sexual lens. Only being people who can be pressured into doing sexual things that they do not want to do, only being their person that they potentially engage in sexual acts with, only wants to try out their sexual fantasies/kinks on them.

For example, a friend of mine has this placement, and she is a poc, the guy that she was in sexual relations with suggested they do raceplay, and other kinks that she wasn't too comfortable doing. And she felt pressured to do them because her partner wouldn't let up on trying to do those things to her.

𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝟷𝟸𝚝𝚑 𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎:

These individuals were meant to seek spiritual clarity and do deep introspection within their spiritual journey. These people are most likely individuals who have sought religion for a higher sense of clarity and purpose within their lives, and this religion is something that is deeply ingrained within their natural ways of life. They are the type of people to actually go out of their way to truly understand their religion/spiritual practice instead of blindly accepting it for what it is.

These people truly understand what the spiritual journey is, and know the journey of the spirit is a lifelong venture that should be implemented within out lives in a certain manner. If they are not religious, these people are very much into the magical and occult. Very devoted to the spiritual aspect of life.

[contacthigh520]

dante kiss data

how were kisses counted? kisses are counted by animation (when the lips meet and part). text is also counted (ie, the text says someone kissed the another). this is specifically because in icy equilibrium room 5, eiden kisses dante but the camera pans away because they didnt make an animation for eiden leaning up. (which is fair enough. this (probably) contributes to why dante is always kissing eiden.)

this also means entire conversations can occur during one ‘kiss’; a kiss operates on the same rules of a blowjob in nu carnival. even if an individual has their mouth full of cock or tongue, they're still pretty articulate.

it's funny that after dante got his first kiss, he immediately went for one million smooches. (this is partially bc icy r5 is pretty focused on kissing but still.) the reason i ended up noting all this down is because i was rewatching his H-rooms and noticed there was a lot more kissing than I remembered. (i usually press-and-hold through the H-rooms so i tend to miss stuff in them;;)

it should be said that i don't really know how if this is a lot of kissing relative to the clan? im not super aware of the kiss rates in other clan member's rooms. so if anyone else has kiss rate knowledge, hit me up... i want to compare our tongue tango data and also catch up on other clan member intimacy stories.

other fun reoccurring bits (h-rooms tend to focus on one kink/situation so whatever repeats is extra noteworthy. (i might have missed some)):

dante playing with eiden’s nipples (blazing coliseum r5, icy r2, infernal r2, circus r5)

biting (blazing colesium r5, eternal hanabi r5)

dante’s cock growing bigger/harder mid-sex (sometimes multiple times) (multi-phase boss type of penis) (eternal hanabi r2, eternal hanabi r5, sunburst r2, cowboy r2)

dante telling eiden not to give him orders or not to move (Story H-Room, SR H-room, OG SSR r5, eternal hanabi r2, eternal hanabi r5, icy equilibrium r2, icy equilibrium r5, sunburst r5, cowboy r2)

other dante takeaways

he fucks pretty hard lmao… eiden’s shoulders/hips/back tend to take the brunt of his thrusts. dante also has a tendency to thrust as much of himself into eiden at once (as opposed to easing into it)

given the chance and the right mood, he seems to enjoy marathon sex (eternal hanabi r2, cowboy r5, circus r5)

he’s quite sensitive to being touched (<— touchstarved), overtly sexual or not (SSR r2, eternal hanabi r1+2, icy r5, cowboy r1)

other notes (that are also about mostly dante)

for the some of the rooms w/o kissing, some of them i attribute to positioning. blowjob dante (beach r2) was unlikely to get a kissing animation with eiden for a number of reasons. same with circus spanking eiden (circus r2). still!! there was kissing even outside of h-rooms which surprised me. icy r4 wasn't surprising since that's The EnEi Kiss (ie, Dante's first kiss). but scorching sun surprised me and so did cowboy dante! i kinda thought they'd limit all the kissing to being animated. i appreciate the text kisses. an arc that i wasn't sure how to quantify is dante's control arc? we kind of see it in the number of times dante tells eiden not to order him or not to move. it's very common for dante to also try to order eiden around or express general frustration with eiden doing confusing, sexy things that wrest his body's control from him. he's most comfortable when he's controlling the movement and positioning (like eternal hanabi r5 or icy equilibrium r2). this is probably part of why he doesn't get his cock out in a lot of rooms. (this is most notable to me because they always mention that his cock is hard in the rooms. it's just that... it stays packed away for a rainy day.) he seems into overwhelming eiden (which probably started in eternal hanabi r2 where he got all flustered about eiden moaning after dante tried to 'push him to his limits'). we get to seem him get most flustered when eiden is 'in control' (like in OG SSR r2 or maid r2). this is why eiden has to basically ask him for control when he rides him in beach r5 (u may have seen it mentioned around). its a switch up in their dynamic! the fact that dante lets eiden control the pace (for a little) shows his trust in him. another motif that i didn't quantify is how their sex is usually framed! frequently, it's framed as an exchange of some kind: reward, punishment/retribution, competition, trade, etc. they're usually having sex for a reason (rather than having sex for fun). this makes sense because dante doesn't really believe in fooling around or having fun for the fun of it. there are a few exceptions to this of course such as beach r5 and scorching sun r2. he's really warmed up to eiden so he's probably more amenable to casual sex than him or eiden realize. dante has hardcore fallen for eiden. and eiden has also really warmed up to dante! but, as to be expected with how tsundere dante is, there are a few missed signals. for example, eiden tends to assume dante doesn't want to play when dante is ready to have fun (kleinmas r3, cowboy r4) or eiden missing when dante's supermoon sized crush on him is showing (the threelegged race in the beach event + the small story after). after the circus event, i'm very excited to see their relationship develop. they're at a funny stage where they try to one-up and fluster the other. sex IS something you win

[karatekels]

Fresh Start February #3

Just a little bit more fluff before we move onto the fun stuff!

Previous parts here: Part 1 | Part 2

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Reunion - Chapter 3

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The candles adorning your table had shrunk considerably over the course of the evening. Terry’s chef had prepared a divine array of sashimi in addition to a light, multi-course meal of the freshest ingredients followed by a decadent chocolate mousse that had you contemplating licking the beautiful dish it had been served on.

You’d spent the hours chatting with Terry about anything and everything – he’d left no stone of your life unturned, thorough as always, and you’d tried your best to learn as much about him as possible. And he had been right; it did feel something like a first date, more romantic than your outings in the summer and more formal than the couple of days you’d spent at his home with him at the end of your trip. It felt like you were falling in love with him all over again, but this time it was slow, and meaningful, with no looming pressure of a flight home and a return to normalcy.

Seeing the way that Terry is looking at you now, the candlelight dancing in his darkening gaze, you can safely assume the feeling is mutual.

“What are you thinking?” he asks quietly, with a slight twinge of desperation to his voice, as though frustrated he can’t just search inside your mind and find the answer for himself.

You smile at him, finishing your glass of wine before answering to give you a moment to consider your words.

“Just that it’s wonderful how… relaxing this is,” you begin, and he cocks his head to the side while waiting for you to continue. “There’s no rush, no deadline… I can just enjoy being in the moment with you with no worries.”

You feel yourself start to choke up, attributing it to the wine and the long day you’ve had. “I can’t believe this doesn’t have to end…”

In the moment it takes you to blink your tears away Terry has moved to the table to kneel before you, cooing softly as he wipes the tears away with his thumb, his other hand taking one of yours in his warm, sure grip. You were trembling.

“Oh, Y/N,” he murmurs your name gently, lips brushing against your cheeks to kiss away any remaining salt from your skin. “My sweet, silly girl. I love the way you get so swept up by your heart.”

You give Terry a shy smile, laughing at yourself until the beaming grin he gives you makes your throat close up as you’re overwhelmed by your emotions once again.

Taking your hands in his own, he pulls you to your feet, his hands resting comfortably on your waist.

“Sorry,” you apologize with a quiet hiccup as you get your breathing back under control. “I wish I didn’t get so –”

“I love you exactly the way you are,” Terry interrupts you in a fierce whisper, his gaze intense as he bows his head to touch his forehead to yours. Your heartbeat thuds loudly and painfully in your chest at how serious his expression is, how desperately he seems to be trying to convey his feelings to you.

“I only wish I could show the depths of my love for you in the same way, Y/N,” he continues. “Because rest assured that I feel the same way, just as much, just as deep. And I’ll spend forever proving it to you.”

He captures your lips in a sudden, scorching kiss that has you gasping into his mouth, your toes curling in your shoes. You reach up to twine your arms around his neck, pulling him down closer to you even as you press yourself up and against him, needing more. You don’t think you could ever get enough of Terry.

He breaks the kiss eventually, leaving you panting as he plants a chaste kiss to your lips, looking at you with such complete adoration that you nearly burst into tears all over again.

“You’ve been patient with me tonight,” he admits with a bashful smile, looking uncharacteristically nervous. “But may I ask for one more thing before our first official date comes to an end?”

“Anything, Terry,” you breathe, trusting in him completely.

“Dance with me?” he asks, still looking adorably vulnerable. Your heart clenches at the sweet request.

“You’ll have to give me a lesson,” you joke, though you’re already looking down at your feet, worried about stepping on his with your heels.

He lifts your chin with a knuckle until your eyes meet his own.

“Oh Y/N,” he says with a soft chuckle that has you leaning towards him like a flower to the sun.

“I plan to give you everything.”

Terry’s POV:

Dancing with you makes Terry feel like he’s on cloud nine, like he’s finally reaping the rewards of a life built on pain and resentment. It had also served to ground you again, to help you calm that powerful whirlwind of emotions you kept contained within your small frame, just as he’d hoped it would.

God, how he loved you.

“Well, what do you know? You’re a natural,” he murmurs into your hair. You’ve leaned your head against his chest as you sway to the music, and he’s sure you can hear the steady thrum of his heart through his shirt and over the music.

“It’s all in the leading. Just one more thing to add to your ever-growing list of talents,” you tease, turning your head to lay a kiss on his chest.

“Oh, shit!” you exclaim suddenly, and he looks down to see the imprint of your stained lips on his tie. “I’m sorry, that was really stupid of me.”

His lips quirk as he decides how best to preserve the mark on his new favourite tie.

“You’ve already left your mark all over me, silly girl,” he says, lifting your chin so that you look at him instead of the mess you’d made. “I think it’s about time I returned the favour.”

“Terry, look at me!” you say with a laugh, gesturing at your outfit. “I’ve got ‘Terry Silver’ all over me!”

He practically purrs at the thought; he’d love a way to brand his name across every inch of you.

“I’m sure I’ve missed a couple of spots; I’d better check you over thoroughly,” he muses, his voice dropping an octave and remaining deceptively soft. The hand under your chin moves to your hair, running his fingers through the strands tenderly but firmly, his other hand tracing patterns over the sensitive skin of your spine where the low back of your dress leaves you exposed.

He’s rather glad he decided to host tonight in your home; the thought of how other men would stare at you, especially the way you look tonight, would definitely test his patience. And how could he blame them? You were a goddess.

“Let’s go to our bedroom for the evening, hmm?” he suggests, turning his focus back on you where it belonged.

Your eyes sparkle with joy as he refers to the house as your shared space, even as your pupils dilate with desire.

He’d been quite the gentleman this evening, all things considered, and everything had gone exactly as he’d hoped. But the time for propriety was over; he needed to have you in all of your beautiful, wild passion, and claim you as his own.

He pulls you flush against him, lifting you off your feet the few inches necessary to lock your lips together, pouring all of his devotion and lust and need for you into the kiss. It’s not rough, but it is demanding, and it clearly takes you aback as he feels you gasp into his mouth before gripping the lapels of his jacket tightly and hanging on for dear life, giving as good as you got.

“Terry, p-please!” you moan against his lips, and he can’t repress the shudder that courses down his spine at the sound. He releases his hold, save for taking one of your hands in his, intent on leading you to the master bedroom to have his way with you.

“Wait!” you cry softly, tugging his hand in resistance. He pauses, turning back to look at you, and sees you stooped over, trying to take off your shoes with one hand, the other still clinging to him. “These shoes were already giving me a hard time, there’s no way I can–”

You shriek as he scoops you into his arms in a sudden fluid motion, hastily throwing your arms around his neck to secure yourself – as if he’d ever let himself drop you.

“Terry! Put me down!” you squeak through breathless giggles, but he merely tightens his grip, pressing you more firmly against his chest. He doesn’t plan on letting you get much more space from him than this tonight.

He carries you through the hall and up both flights of stairs, the weight of you not even registering in his movements, and only returns your feet to the floor just outside of the bedroom door. You’ve got a pretty blush dusting your cheeks as you look up at him, some of your hair having escaped its elegant styling, and he thrills a bit at how relaxed and happy and perfect you look here and now, with him in the home you now shared together.

“I love you, Y/N,” he tells you seriously. “I need you to know that with complete certainty.”

“I…I love you too, Terry,” you reply, seeming a bit taken aback by his intensity. “And of course, I know that you feel the same.”

“Good,” he says, keeping his eyes locked with yours as he blindly reaches for the doorknob, his other hand gripping you firmly by a dainty wrist.

“Because at some points tonight I’ll be treating you like I don’t.”

Your laughter turns into a yelp as he tugs you inside, the door shutting behind you and cutting off any sound in the bedroom from the rest of the house.

^ just giving y'all another peek at next time ;)

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WOOO, CLICHES! And more importantly, next time (the final chapter for this little spinoff) will be smut! Smut smut smut. More smut than we know what to do with! I don’t even know what they’re going to do yet, but if you have any suggestions feel free to leave a note or send an ask or DM!

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Fresh Start... starts here! Other chapters, sequels, and stories linked on my Masterlist!

Support my unhinged smut here!

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee

The Ultimate Muscle Car of its Time

When it comes to legendary American muscle cars, the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee stands out as an iconic symbol of power, speed, and style. Despite the challenges faced by the performance era during that time, this rare gem emerged as one of the most exceptional vehicles of its generation. In this article, we delve into the remarkable features and unique attributes that make the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee a prized possession for muscle car enthusiasts.

Rarity and Authenticity

In the realm of automotive rarities, the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee holds a special place. Among the limited production numbers, this particular model is one of only nine factory 4-speed Hemi Super Bees manufactured in 1971. What further adds to its allure is the fact that it was sold new through Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge franchise in Chicago. Documentation is key to verifying its authenticity, and this Super Bee comes with an extensive array of records, including the window sticker, invoice, retail order form, Bill of Sale, shipping document, and record envelope. This comprehensive documentation adds an extra layer of credibility to the vehicle’s rich history.

1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee

Unparalleled Options and Performance

As one of the most highly optioned 1971 Hemi Super Bees known to exist, this Dodge masterpiece offers an array of features that elevate its status to a league of its own. Let’s explore some of the standout elements that define its exceptional performance:

Engine and Transmission

At the heart of this Super Bee lies the mighty matching-numbers 426 Hemi V-8 engine. Equipped with dual 4-barrel carburetors and hemispherical cylinder heads, this powerplant delivers raw power and exhilarating acceleration. What sets Chrysler apart from its competitors is its unwavering commitment to performance, as evidenced by the unchanged 10.25 compression, forged internals, and the adoption of a hydraulic camshaft. Paired with the A34 Super Track Pak, which includes the 18-spline Hemi A833 4-speed manual transmission and a 4.10-geared Sure-Grip Dana 60 differential, this Super Bee offers an unrivaled driving experience.

1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee

Braking and Cooling

Safety and reliability are paramount in any high-performance vehicle, and the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee doesn’t disappoint. It features power brakes with front discs, ensuring quick and efficient stopping power when needed. Additionally, the car is equipped with extreme cooling equipment, a vital component for optimal performance during intense driving conditions.

Exterior and Interior Styling

The exterior of the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee is a sight to behold. Adorned in EV2 Hemi Orange with striking black striping, it exudes an aura of power and aggression. The premium optional concealed headlamps add a touch of refinement to its overall appearance. Other notable exterior elements include hood pins, color-keyed racing mirrors, and front and rear spoilers, accentuating its muscular and aerodynamic design.

1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee

1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee

Inside the cabin, the Super Bee offers a comfortable and stylish environment. The black vinyl bench seat interior provides a classic and timeless look, while the Hurst Pistol Grip shifter adds a touch of sportiness. The car is also equipped with a pushbutton Multi-Plex AM/FM radio, a Rallye dash cluster with a tachometer, and woodgrain-style trim, all contributing to an enhanced driving experience.

Wheels and Tires

Completing the Super Bee’s striking aesthetics are the premium Rallye wheels and Goodyear G60-15 Polyglas GT tires. These wheels not only enhance the car’s appearance but also provide excellent traction and handling capabilities, ensuring an exhilarating ride on the road.

Conclusion

In the realm of American muscle cars, the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee holds a special place. Its rarity, authenticity, and exceptional performance make it a highly sought-after collector’s item. As the only year that the ‘Bee was built on the Charger platform, this Super Bee stands as a testament to Dodge’s commitment to creating top-of-the-line vehicles that capture the spirit of the muscle car era. Whether you’re a die-hard enthusiast or simply appreciate automotive excellence, the 1971 Dodge Hemi Super Bee is a masterpiece that continues to inspire and captivate generations of car enthusiasts.

[frostfires-blog]

My Top 15 Favourite Anime (& Donghua) Female Characters 2024

[Before I get started, I'd like to point out that making this list was quite challenging considering I have watched quite a few anime. So please don't be too offended if any of your favourites aren't included; just because they aren't here doesn't automatically mean I dislike them. Feel free to leave your constructive thoughts and own lists in the comment section since I appreciate amicable discourse. Also, I decided to use the "keep reading" feature to make it easier to scroll through the long posts on my blog, so the official list is under the cut.]

-> Honourable Mentions:

-> My Top 15:

“If you’re helping someone and expecting something in return, you’re doing business not kindness.” Shirayuki is incredibly empathetic and emotionally aware as evidenced by her drive to ensure that the people around her feel cared for and supported. Even if it involves sacrificing her time and energy, she is always eager to help others. At times this is her greatest strength—as it enables her to build strong connections with others. However, on occasion, this trait makes it difficult for her to establish boundaries and prioritise her own needs.  This struggle is something I think we can all relate to.  I greatly admire her determination, optimism, compassion and resourcefulness. Her integrity, patience and consideration for others is something I aspire to emulate in daily life. Her passion for plants is something I have in common with her.

"I won't lose to myself!" Given that she has become somewhat of a meme in the fandom, I'm sure some of you may be surprised by this, but she was one of the first female anime characters I resonated with when I was young. Although she lacks presence in the overall series, her strong-willed and independent yet easy-going and relatable personality endeared her to me. Even in stressful situations, she is renowned for her diligence, discipline, practicality, and reliability. Her character serves as a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit as well as the value of perseverance and hard work. Her fear of failure sometimes causes her to doubt herself and her capabilities which highlights the struggle we all face with balancing our concerns and our obligations. Her fighting style and character design remain one of my absolute favourites, making me annoyed that Kishimoto didn’t do more with her character. Also, nejiten is my Roman Empire.

“This is a cruel world. And yet...so beautiful....” In all honesty, I'm still miffed by the ending of Attack on Titan, which had me contemplating whether to include her on this list, but I realised that would be petty and short-sighted. Mikasa was one of the first female characters I saw who not only stood with male characters on the battlefield but also outperformed them—which made me look up to her. Mikasa's greatest attributes are her inner strength and innate sense of responsibility to defend her loved ones and fight for justice, as well as her intense loyalty and devotion, especially to Eren. Aside from her strength and fortitude, she also possesses compassion and gentleness towards those she cares for—which I admire considering many female characters in shounen anime are pressured to sacrifice these qualities to be strong and respected.

“Why didn’t I try to get to know him better?” Since Frieren is the newest character on this list, I’m sure she’ll continue to grow on me in due time. As the protagonist of a show centred around the value of life, the importance of goodbyes and the passage of time; Frieren is an incredibly complex, multi-faceted character. Her journey to understand the depth of human relationships and emotions—after losing someone she failed to realise was important to her—is an incredibly touching and insightful one. Watching her experiences serves as an important lesson: to value every moment and to take the initiative to build connections with others—which is something I often struggle with. Frieren is best recognised for her composed demeanour. She demonstrates qualities such as an affinity for independence, a keen sense of introspection and a preference for logical reasoning—all of which allow her to serve as a voice of reason for their group. Her sharp mind and unrelenting curiosity propel her to continually expand the limits of her knowledge, enabling her to innovatively tackle challenges from a unique viewpoint—making her an engaging and dynamic character to watch.

“A-xian is my little brother…When others insult him it is no small matter to me.” While often overlooked due to her immense kindness and amiable personality—her determination, selflessness and fierce protectiveness of her loved ones are admirable. Although not a major character in MDZS, her influence over its more central characters is evident. Her lack of hesitance in sacrificing her life for her martial brother, Wei Wuxian—even though he unintentionally contributed to her husband’s death—endeared me to her. Her determination to rise above her difficult upbringing and grow into a caring, mature and reliable figure is praiseworthy along with her capacity to find common ground in seemingly immutable situations. Her character design ranks among my favourites as well and complements her personality well. She taught me that despite being in a society where one is harshly rebuked or pressurised it is important to stand firm in your beliefs and desires.

“If you must cling to something in order to yield, why not pick up that which you have tossed away and hold it in your hands anew?” While initially, she doesn't appear to be very noteworthy because of her limited role in the series, the brief time she gets presents her in a positive light and her backstory is notably well-developed even among more prominent side characters. Despite her reclusiveness; her compassion, forgiveness and humility are noteworthy—especially when contrasted with the majority of other Heavenly Officials. Given that characters like Xie Lian and Hua Cheng respect her, while Jun Wu and Pei Ming are cautious of her proves that her strength and significance should not be undervalued. Her ascension story—which earned her the moniker “The Princess Who Slit Her Throat”—is a prime example of her incredible selflessness as she willingly laid down her life to protect her family and country despite being ignored and mistreated for most of her life. She remains very grounded despite her status as the God of Rain and Agriculture and is always willing to help others, even if it means defying authority. She possesses no ill will towards those she has had disagreements with and doesn't hesitate to save them.

 "Even if it's a short life, burn hot and bright and overtake the moment. That's my way of life." Kagura is best known for her quick wit, tomboyish personality and fighting spirit which often manages to steal the spotlight in the Gintama series. She is an ardent and fierce fighter who doesn't hesitate to express her opinions. Beneath her brash exterior, she is compassionate and caring, frequently using her keen intuition and empathy when interacting with others. She often takes risks, facing challenges directly which can be seen as impulsive and abrasive—however, this behaviour stems from her need for control and security amidst a chaotic world. In a sense, we all struggle to assert ourselves in difficult situations and could benefit from approaching things with a little more of Kagura's zeal. Kagura also enjoys helping others and is incredibly devoted to the people she loves. She is also not afraid to voice her opinions or act when she sees someone in need. By virtue of her strength, humour, and charm, she has not only gained popularity among fans but also established herself as an iconic figure in the shounen genre.

"If you don't hold a rose carefully, you'll get pierced by its thorns." Tsukuyo is best known for her unique fighting style, sharp wit, caustic humour, and compelling backstory which has allowed her to become a fan favourite and a key part of many serious arcs in the series. In many respects, her design and backstory serve as a parallel to that of the protagonist—Gintoki—which adds to her depth. Furthermore, her name and personality are based on Tsukuyomi no Mikoto—the moon god in Shinto and Japanese mythology—accentuating the cool aesthetic of her design. Contrasting her rough exterior, Tsukuyo is shown to have a tender side, exhibiting an innate sense of empathy and sensitivity. Although her reserved attitude often conveys an impression of aloofness and distance, this is just how she processes things and expresses concern, which is something I can identify with.  Her most admirable quality is her strong sense of duty and loyalty towards her loved ones, as well as her inclination to prioritise the needs of others over her own. Although she struggles with insecurity and anxiety—leading her to hesitate and over-analyse—she is resolute in overcoming these issues when crucial matters are at stake, which is a valuable message.

“I once believed that the road of happiness continued forever and ever into the distance. When it was destroyed, I realized for the first time that it lies upon a thin sheet of glass. And just as we were saved, there were those whose happiness that haven't yet been destroyed. So, I wanted to get stronger and protect them.” Shinobu is a multifaceted and captivating character who stands out—even amongst Demon Slayer's eclectic cast—largely due to her distinct fighting style, striking design, tragic backstory as well as her nuanced personality and motivations. Shinobu's strongest assets are her insight, and compassion, which enable her to support those in need. She usually has a relaxed smile on her face and generally exhibits a bright, amiable, and joyful demeanour. However, it soon becomes apparent that this outward disposition is a façade masking her profound anger and relentless desire for vengeance. This dichotomy in her persona is foreshadowed by her conflicting roles in the series as a healer and a poisoner. Her desire to cater to those close to her is the primary motivation for her outward façade, which is primarily modelled after the mannerisms of her deceased older sister. Considering we all conceal certain parts of ourselves to appeal to others, this aspect of her character is very impactful and relatable. She also often struggles with feelings of inadequacy stemming from her physical limitations. However, she overcomes this obstacle by employing poison to kill demons, showcasing her resourcefulness, fortitude and tenacity. Although we all feel envious of the talents of others, Shinobu's character is a reminder that we all have our strengths and should face obstacles head-on never giving up on our objectives.

“Although our thoughts are changeable and difficult to understand, the actions we take don’t change, no matter how much time passes.” As a consequence of her seclusion in the Yamei Palace and her mystical abilities, Jusetsu is quite enigmatic and detached. While she is often perceived as haughty and aloof due to her bluntness, impatience and lack of social experience; she is shown to have a tender and vulnerable side. She possesses an inherent sense of justice and doesn't disregard those in need, even if they have offended her in the past, which is incredibly admirable. Although her position as the Raven Consort demands her to live alone, she quickly finds herself surrounded by people, leading her to feel guilty considering her deceased predecessor remained isolated. Her heart begins to soften as she lets others in, but she often struggles to comprehend others, causing her to inadvertently offend them—which is something that most of us can relate to. However, she is quick to mend things once she realises her misstep and comes to learn that it's necessary to confide in those who care about you. She frequently exhibits guilt about seeing her mother die, which leads her to feel that it's preferable to be by herself than to lose anyone else. Her struggles with guilt and constant introspection not only add to her complexity as a character but also make her very relatable. To a degree, we all worry that opening our hearts to others will result in us being irrevocably hurt but constantly have to take that risk to live a fulfilling life—thus making Jusetsu’s journey an incredibly empowering and compelling one.

“I'll definitely overtake you, and it'll be my turn to worry about you.” Misaki is best described as bright, diligent, pragmatic, and disciplined. As the student council president, she is committed to improving her school's reputation, even if it involves challenging the expectations of her male teachers and peers. Before Misaki's father abandoned their family, she was noticeably more tender-hearted and compassionate, but she subsequently developed a bias against males based on her conviction that they were inconsiderate and unreliable. She possesses a rigid sense of justice and sets high standards for herself and everyone around her. Consequently, she often struggles with her emotions, particularly when it comes to maintaining her composure when her private life is disrupted. Misaki is particularly embarrassed about her part-time position at a Maid Cafe, believing it contradicts her strong, uncompromising image, and consequently takes great effort to establish a rigid boundary between her public image and her private life by keeping this job hidden from others. Misaki's best quality is that she never veers off course and gives her all in everything she does, inspiring others in the process. Misaki exemplifies the value of resilience and diligence when it comes to achieving one's goals because, despite facing countless hurdles, she remains committed to her ideals. Conversely, she is overly self-sacrificing and frequently overworks herself due to her inability to trust others. Through the course of the series, she learns to accept her femininity and fragility while remaining assertive and self-sufficient. As she navigates her growing romantic feelings for Usui, she learns the value of having faith in others, as well as the significance of respect, communication, and acceptance in relationships. This process of self-discovery moulds Misaki into a multifaceted character who is exemplary and relatable.

“If history repeats itself, and moves in a circular path, then believing that whatever force is turning it is perfect, is all we can do as we move ahead. Pushed along by forces beyond our control, waiting, for the blade to be swung." Rukia’s best attributes are her altruism, modesty, strong moral compass and sense of duty. Her journey throughout the series centres around self-acceptance and belonging. Initially, she feels worthless and out of place yet longs to be recognised and accepted. Given that she finds it difficult to reach out to others, she never expresses these desires and lives a lonely life under continual strain. After meeting Ichigo and his friends, in the World of the Living, she begins to open up but quickly backtracks after she is taken back to the Soul Society to be executed. Despite enduring tremendous hardship, she never forsakes her ideals or blames anybody else—but instead faces and overcomes everything alone. This demonstrates her immense fortitude, resolve and integrity. Her strength lies in the fact that her heart never fluctuates. Upon the moment of her execution, she does not display fear or regret but is instead grateful for having lived an ample life. However, this is the turning point, as she is saved by Ichigo and is thereafter rewarded for her resolve and steadfast convictions. She finally alleviates herself of the guilt and grief she had been carrying by allowing herself to rely on others for emotional support. She can now confidently confront and overcome her greatest challenges because she is certain of who she is. In this way, Rukia's character serves as an example that no matter what you are faced with, your efforts will be recognised so long as you remain resolute and virtuous—which is incredibly commendable and compelling.

Her enduring and incomparable bond with the series’ protagonist, Ichigo is one of my favourite aspects of her character and the series as a whole. Throughout the story, she is a continual source of both physical and emotional strength for him. In several respects, Rukia's character is a parallel to his as she understands Ichigo's feelings better than anyone else considering she has gone through similar experiences. The quote "The rain drags the Black Sun down, but the rain is dried by the White Moon" perfectly encapsulates their dynamic—with Ichigo representing the former and Rukia representing the latter. Throughout the series, the rain is a potent metaphor for Ichigo's despair, while Rukia is constantly seen guiding and consoling him—effectively drying up “the rain”.  She acts as a "ray of light" for Ichigo—despite her problems—who in turn does the same for her. Rukia's symbolism as the "White Moon" also pertains to her technique—specifically her bankai, which transforms her into a veritable ice princess. This symbolism furthers her development, influence and prominence in the series.

"Before I question the gods, there are questions I should ask myself!" Yona's remarkable development from a pampered princess to a courageous warrior is precisely why she is one of the most recognised and respected shoujo heroines of all time. This development begins after her privileged and idyllic life in Hiryuu castle is upended when her beloved cousin, Soo-won, murders her father and seizes the throne. After witnessing this traumatising event, she is forced to flee the castle and is forced to adjust to a harsh and perilous life on the run. She is momentarily overcome with fear and denial thus depending entirely on her bodyguard and childhood friend Hak for protection and care. However, after recognising that the people who were sheltering her would suffer as a result of her incapacity, she began to pull herself together. Empowered by her newfound resolve, she and Hak journey across the kingdom in search of the legendary Dragon Warriors and through these fateful encounters, they cultivate a revitalized sense of purpose and camaraderie. It is on this journey that she begins to realise that her father’s pacifistic reign came at the cost of weakening their kingdom, leading to widespread strife and corruption. Her overwhelming guilt regarding her ignorance causes her to develop a genuine sense of responsibility towards her nation's people. With the support of her allies, she travels around the kingdom to improve the lives of the common people, having abandoned the prospect of revenge. Yona's fundamental strength is shown to derive from her emotional fortitude, compassion and capacity for forgiveness. Additionally, her adaptability, willingness to learn, and strong sense of conviction are all admirable. Although she continues to grow stronger throughout the series, she has always been incredibly kind and compassionate. She is inspiring because she demonstrates that true strength comes from within. It is her immense compassion that not only motivates her to protect her nation and change the lives of those around her but also draws people like Hak and the four dragon warriors to her. Her ability to forego her desire for vengeance in favour of forgiveness is not a show of weakness but is one of strength, selflessness and maturity. She realises that her desire for revenge is outweighed by the kingdom’s need for a radical and strong ruler like Soo-won —leading her to choose to work from the shadows to uplift the common people.

“It’s not always easy to see the good in people. In some people, you might even doubt that it’s there at all. But if you can somehow, find a way to believe…sometimes that’s all it takes to help someone, to give them the strength to find the good in themselves...” “No matter how cold it is now, spring will come again...” Tohru is best described as optimistic, hard-working, patient and open-minded. She is also modest, caring, and gentle-spirited. She constantly strives to seek out the good in everyone she encounters and is always willing to assist those in need—bearing no resentment against those who have harmed her. Her benevolent and amiable disposition effortlessly attracts people to her, making them feel accepted and valued, as demonstrated through her interactions with the zodiac members of the Sohma family. In comparison to the series' vast ensemble of colourful, quirky characters, Tohru is frequently perceived as being too perfectly kind and hence bland—nonetheless, this is completely misguided. In actuality, Tohru is equally as emotionally broken and thus the Sohma family heals her heart in the same way that she heals theirs. Her character is an exemplary subversion of the typical "kind-hearted" heroine given that she faces several genuine hardships that result from her gentle and charitable nature. She is not a perfect saint, but rather a girl who prioritises the struggles of others over her own as she attempts to find her place in the world. Her greatest strengths are her immense compassion, innate empathy and sincerity. Given that she expects nothing in exchange for helping others, her generosity does not originate from a position of entitlement, which is incredibly admirable. Tohru has a strong desire to be needed by others and thus often puts the needs of others before her own. She craves validation and assurance, hoping to be acknowledged as essential and irreplaceable to those around her. In response to the terrible treatment she received from her paternal relatives, Tohru has developed the notion that she might burden those around her, so she rarely expresses her desires. Consequently, she is inclined to internalise any unpleasant emotions and feelings rather than express them externally. However, as time passes, Tohru gradually learns to be more assertive and to accept help from others. Tohru's relationship with Kyo is another facet of her personality that I find endearing. Despite having similar backstories, they have developed divergent perspectives on life. Kyo finds it hard to recognise the positive in other people, while Tohru finds it hard to perceive anything negative in them. They strike a perfect equilibrium as he teaches her that being too unselfish and not sufficiently assertive is detrimental to her well-being, while she helps him realise that there is hope in trusting others. While Kyo is not the only one who sees through Tohru's façade, he is one of the only individuals who can help her face her issues as she becomes especially transparent around Kyo, confessing all her concerns and anxieties to him. Tohru demonstrates the power of forgiveness, love and friendship and exemplifies what it means to be a good person. Her journey towards overcoming her fears and attaining true happiness through strength and determination is heartwarming and inspiring. She embodies hope and compassion in a cruel and unfair world. Her growth demonstrates that being kind is not synonymous with being powerless or meek. She demonstrates that no one is completely perfect—that kindness is a choice rather than an innate gift, therefore we are all capable of making the effort to be kind and compassionate to others.

“If I should die, I'd want to die of poison.” Maomao's story is kickstarted when she is kidnapped and sent to the Imperial Palace as a maidservant. Maomao’s extensive knowledge of poisons and medicine, along with her aptitude for unravelling mysteries ensnare her into the intricate web of political intrigue despite her attempts to remain inconspicuous. She is mature, sharp-witted, composed, and pragmatic, in large part because she grasps her expendability in the Rear Palace. Being raised in the Red-Light District has shaped her into a resilient and adaptive person with a thorough awareness of society's complexities, which she uses to traverse the Rear Palace. Consequently, she has developed a highly practical and pessimistic mindset on life, centred around avoiding trouble and adjusting to her surroundings—which has enabled her to tolerate circumstances that many would deem traumatic or distressing.  Ironically, her insatiable curiosity, along with her strong sense of justice and empathy, frequently counterbalances her self-reservation; leading her to become involved in problems that affect others. Maomao is intrigued by poisons and medicinal plants, and she often investigates their effects on her own body. This passion is her primary motivation for her actions considering the mere prospect of savouring poison or studying a rare medicinal component kindles a fervent fire within her, resulting in a riveting shift in demeanour—which is naturally perceived as astonishing and insane by many characters, particularly the series' deuteragonist, Jinshi. Maomao’s name is derived from the onomatopoeia of a cat’s meow “貓” and fittingly she is often depicted with cat ears, which act as a visual metaphor for her ardent curiosity. This feline motif, combined with her proclivity for pushing herself into risky situations and her dangerous fascination with poisons, makes her the epitome of the phrase "curiosity killed the cat". Despite her exceptional competence and charisma, Maomao is not flawless; in fact, her flaws add to her appeal. Although Maomao's distrustful and inquisitive nature makes her an excellent detective, this same quality—coupled with her distorted yet starkly reliable perception of human connections—occasionally renders her socially inept. Maomao tends to shy away from forging strong, intimate bonds or attachments with other people, causing her to be wilfully oblivious of the obvious concern or affection others have for her, regardless of whether it is in a platonic, romantic, or professional capacity. Furthermore, she is sceptical about the notion of romance, feeling that it is more likely to cause ruination than to provide happiness. This scepticism and detachment are probably traumatic responses to being brought up in the red-light district, where someone's genuine affection alone does not guarantee that they will not discard you if needed.

Another aspect of Maomao’s character that I find intriguing is her dynamic with Jinshi which develops gradually and is multi-faceted due to their opposing traits, social statuses, and backgrounds. Despite her pretence of indifference, Maomao's actions—specifically her attentiveness and concern—gradually disclose her growing interest in him. Maomao's development demonstrates her progressively becoming less closed off emotionally as she processes the intricacies of her feelings. Similarly, Jinshi had no intention of growing attached to her—as he merely wanted to capitalise on her skill set and intellect. Nevertheless, he fell for her fairly quickly, with his feelings progressing from possessive attachment to ardent, selfless love. Their partnership is defined by mutual respect, trust, and their resolve to overcome obstacles of the aristocracy together. The series’ willingness to address feminist themes within a historically misogynistic setting adds another layer of complexity to Maomao’s character; since her intellect, competence, independence and boldness defy the gender expectations of the era. Even amidst the competitiveness of the Red-light district and the complex balance of power within the imperial harem— which were settings devised to pit women against one another—Maomao continues to advocate for camaraderie between women. As we continue to witness women supporting and empowering each other; their enduring strength and tenacity is exemplified. Maomao's journey is thus an embodiment of progressiveness reflecting a refreshing standpoint on female empowerment. Maomao's exceptional charm and vibrancy are profoundly compelling, instilling an enduring sense of inspiration and empowerment.

[Congratulations and thank you if you made it all the way to the end. I fear I rambled too much…. oh well… If anyone has any suggestions on what to do next, then let me know. Otherwise, I'm just going to be working on a few asks…]

[imma-soft-beeboy]

Could you do a Fulcrum x Human GN Reader? Please 🥺

A/N: Buckle up for a multi-part slow burn because Fulcrum's disgust for humans borders on a phobia in my opinion. So this man is gonna need some time to warm up. Also, you're in luck, I try to write all my readers GN.

WARNING: This series might be overall triggering for some people who struggle with body image issues. Fulcrum will make several poor decisions & comments at the beginning of this series due to you being an organic/human. I in no way condone or believe these to be right. And just know your body is beautiful because it keeps you alive ♡ (Angsty frienemies to lovers in coming)

*Specific Warning For This Part: Fulcrum is Xenophobic towards humans, mild panic attack depiction, Fulcrum's inner monologue about human bodies & food intake habits may be triggering to some

[ You Make Me Want To Set Myself on Fire ] Fulcrum x Reader - Word Count: 1.1k

Fulcrum had seen Krok and his human companion many times around the ship in the last few months. Something about their unabashed affection for each other struck him as wrong. How could Krok love something so fragile and squishy? Then again, organic life had always disgusted Fulcrum. Many Decepticons had shared similar viewpoints towards organics during the war; most Cons had a distaste for humans. But post-war, he found even they didn’t understand him as well as he thought they did.

Most Decepticons were swayed to at least tolerate humans now that the war was over. Some, like Krok, even came to like organics. Fulcrum, on the other hand, found that no matter what he tried, he couldn’t bring himself to like or even get along with organics. He really did try, but he could never convince himself to be interested or curious about them in the slightest. Personally, humans were just… gross to him. That sounded awful, but it was the truth. Their bodies were constantly squishing and stretching, able to bend in half, with thousands of pores secreting slime over their soft skin covering. He wanted to crawl out of his plating just thinking about it. 

Humans were not for him, and he had come to accept that.

Despite his issues with humans, Fulcrum had learned to at least play nice with Krok’s human. He had fallen into an uneasy truce with them. Coexisting under the condition that they never touch him, keep their distance, and eat in a separate room. (How could humans just casually mush up food in their mouths and swallow it?!) With these conditions, he had learned to tolerate Krok’s human specifically. In fact, he would say they were friends, but only because Krok’s human was understanding and didn’t push boundaries. They understood when he needed extra space and when he was too tired to coexist. He greatly appreciated these attributes. It made their strained friendship less challenging for him, and he respected them for that. 

Sometimes, he found himself vaguely enjoying their conversation on a good day. These good days are what deluded him into thinking that maybe, with enough interaction between him and Krok’s human, he could heal himself slowly. Maybe, thanks to them, he could get over his distaste towards humans. 

However, all progress was lost the moment another human was brought onto the ship. Fulcrum almost lost it. This wasn’t part of the conditions. This hadn’t been talked about or agreed upon. In fact, he hadn’t even been warned. Spinister had simply boarded the ship with a human after one of their meet-ups with Swindle. Fulcrum felt that he had been more than tolerant, more than polite, to the existence of one human; he should not be expected to endure another. Why must they test his patience? 

As if that wasn’t bad enough, this second human seemed to be more interested in him! 

The new human wouldn’t leave him alone, constantly badgering him for conversation and appearing suddenly far too close to him. He wanted to slap the human like a bug, but knew better. ‘Humans were a life form to be respected,’ as Krok would say, ‘can’t risk hurting them or their feelings.’ So instead, he always stayed on edge, ready to dart away into his personal quarters if needed, because running was better for him. Better than painfully pretending he liked this new human.

“The others tell me you have something against humans,” your voice sounded from beside him, breaking him from his thoughts. Fulcrum turned to find you had climbed up the ship's bench he was sitting on to stand beside him. Somehow, he had missed you doing this (too lost in thought), and now you were just mere feet away. Jumping up, he paced a few steps back, scared of how easily you were able to catch him off guard. Space, he just needed space.

“Y-yeah… it’s a… thing,” his eyes darted around the ship, trying to find anything to look at besides your small, organic form. Something to ground him as he tried to find neutral words that wouldn’t offend you, he couldn’t risk another lecture from Krok about being nice. “I just –humans are… weird.” Weird? He internally kicked himself; he was for sure getting another lecture now.

“So, you think I’m weird,” you laughed, walking along the bench's surface to close the distance he had created between you two. Your words were more of a playful accusation than a question. The dwindling gap between you two panicked him further, and soured any light mood you had tried to make, however.

“Yes,” Fulcrum groaned as he took another step back, his optics short-circuiting momentarily in panic. As they flickered, you moved closer. Why were you moving closer?!

You were curious about this band of alien robots who had saved you from the other robot, Swindle. He had treated you like a possession, but this group had adopted you into their makeshift family. It was refreshing. But, you were especially curious about the orange-goggled one who was seemingly terrified of humans. Something about him struck you as handsome in an alien way (Did that make you a xenophile?), and you were determined to at least befriend him. But his flighty tendencies had made it almost like a game to you.

Every time you tried to interact with or even talk to Fulcrum, he ran away. No matter what you tried, it seemed he wanted nothing to do with you. And like a stray cat, that just made you want to try harder to earn his affection. You wanted the reward of his attention and admiration. So here you were, desperately trying to earn any type of acknowledgement from him.

“Wow, you really know how to hurt someone’s feelings,” you shot back once his optics were done cutting out. He stared down at you like you were a bug… and maybe you were to him, but you could be a charming bug! You would charm the pants off him! (Metaphorically speaking.)

“I–I gotta go…” Fulcrum stuttered before pivoting on his heels away from you and taking off down a nearby hallway. He paced himself as fast as he could without running, fists clenching at his sides. Why did you have to be so pushy? Couldn’t you just accept that he didn’t like you and move on?

You watched him recede down the hallway as long as you could before he turned a corner out of sight. He couldn’t hate you forever; you were sure of that. You would just have to try again later.

[beautflstranger]

Thoughts about submission:

Anyone can kneel and bow.

Anyone can be bound or cuffed.

Anyone can scene.

But you are not just anyone.

You have within you something very profound.

Your submission.

Which attributes make an attractive submissive?

Strength, selflessness and self respect are the foundation. To which one would add patience, grace and intelligence.

These qualities combined, create a highly attuned woman who will stimulate her Dominant mentally, emotionally and physically.

Not challenge, but stimulate on all those levels.

You are both embarking upon a journey.

The development of submission takes time.

I like to use the metaphor of a stone which begins with rough edges, and through time and the effects of wind and rain becomes a thing of sensual tactile beauty.

And so it is with a submissive. Through time all those edges become polished and so sensuous, that another will wish to admire, touch and hold you forever.

Cherish who you are, and with whom you share yourself, and with whom you bestow your submission. Make your choice wisely and carefully.

Your submission will be earned through trust, love, communication and understanding.

When you come from a place of love, the level of your submission is so much more profound and with greater depth.

When you come from a place of trust and communication, a foundation is constructed for a solid relationship.

When you come from a place of understanding, you will come to know yourself and in doing so, will come to understand your Dominant richly.

How you choose to live your submission is entirely up to you.

Once you and your Dominant have established a highly attuned, trusting and loving relationship, you will be fully secure in the fact that you will never be placed in any harm, either physically or emotionally.

No one should expect you to abandon your limits immediately.

No one should expect you to give up what is inherently you.

No one should expect you to become a doormat.

No one should demand of you.

It is not just about submitting. It is about to whom you choose to submit to.

Your devotion, love, and admiration are treasured by a Dominant.

Your patience and strength are your most enduring virtues.

What you are sharing with your Dominant is the beauty of your submission.

There has to be a foundation of mutual love and respect to truly bond in this relationship.

To hear your Dominant tell you that he has waited a lifetime for one such as you, is the ultimate for a submissive. His words, thoughts and actions will further reinforce that.

You are multi-layered.

Develop who you are, on every level.

Nuture your mind. Read and read some more. Develop interests, have thoughts, opinions, ideas, be your own person.

Live a healthy lifestyle through exercise and foods chosen.

Expand your spirituality. Believe in something.

Attune yourself to nature, and stand in awe of the wonder of it all.

Be curious about the world, and every beautiful facet of it.

Be that woman of quality.

Be that woman held with high regard.

The most attractive submissive is a woman who holds herself with poise, self respect and dignity and wears her submission with powerful grace.

Be that woman.

- beautflstranger

(I wrote this originally in 2012)

[brawlingdiscontent]

Forces beyond my control have compelled me to write this musical meta-analysis of Supernatural season 8, episode 17, "Goodbye Stranger", the one where after Dean's beautiful pleading breaks through Naomi's brainwashing, Castiel flees the crypt and absconds on a bus with the angel stone while the titular track plays.

Quick links – link to full song - song clip in the episode - Dean and Cas crypt scene

"Goodbye Stranger" is an archetypically Dean song: the narrative seems to be a roving man leaving a fling after trying to make a go of settling down, severing ties but wishing her unconditional happiness -- but the show positions it as Cas'. While there are other resonances with song within the episode (Meg dies, Cas and Naomi's sudden estrangement), it most aligns with the bittersweet parting of Cas leaving Dean. And I'm absolutely tickled pink at the implication that that 'love 'em and leave 'em' Dean Winchester has been one-upped in this regard by his gay angel boyfriend. (I imagine Dean going 'oh. So that's how it feels'--though we all also know that he’s never as Bad as he pretends to be.)

The song is multi-layered and complex, and for me the clincher is in the small details. Beyond its surface of upbeat orchestrations, the possibility of the singer’s callousness emerges, that his seeming consideration towards his lover(s) is a front. But then you have these hints—the little clutch of the key change towards the minor in the piano vamp before the chorus; the plaintive, possibly wistful note in the question, 'will we ever meet again?'—that suggest that the callousness, too, may be a front. And is this not Dean to a T?? A big blustery facade of affability and/or detachment hiding a vulnerable, squishy interior, a bleeding heart? And the song’s attribution to Cas also suggests a similar state of mind in Cas in the departure scene that it underscores.

I argue the song is the key to the episode. Before it plays, Dean's pleas of "We're family... I need you!" reach Cas through Naomi's brainwashing and break the spell of her compulsions. His mind newly freed, Cas tells Dean he has to hide the tablet and protect it from Naomi, but also somewhat inexplicably, from Dean—or perhaps not so inexplicably.

Things have changed for Cas regarding Dean. When Cas first rebelled in S4 it was for the cause of Team Free Will as much as his feelings for Dean, and only since his recent stint as a human has he begun to examine these feelings. (As he notes a few episodes later, "The ebb and flow of human emotion. Dean, I've been on earth for a few years and I've only begun to grasp it" - (9.6)). Furthermore, the angels have drawn his attention to Dean's impact on him. Hester accuses Dean (in front of Cas) in 7.21: "The very touch of you corrupts. When Castiel first laid a hand on you in hell, he was lost." In his new state, Cas can see the parallels between Naomi and Dean as people who have influence on him; Naomi through mind control, Dean through love.

This influence of Dean’s is conveyed via the “Goodbye Stranger” theme. The Dean vibes and classic rock form suggest that Dean is rubbing off on Cas (so to speak). And just as the narrator of the song claims settling down is not for him—love and romance are not supposed to be the purview of angels.

This is where we can pull on the song lyrics, particularly those that appear in the specific clipped portion of the song in the episode’s closing scene. Towards the end the singer croons, "Sweet devotion, it's not for me." We could read this two ways: - one is that Dean certainly poured out some sweet devotion in his plea to Cas in the crypt- but two, is that perhaps the sweet devotion is something being felt by Cas, and that he's running from. One of the messages of the song is freedom (including from romantic entanglements) which very much resonates with Supernatural’s overarching theme of free will. This is a major concern of Cas’ as he gave up everything for free will (and Dean) so he must contemplate anything that might challenge it—including his love for Dean.  We must also consider Cas' atrocity-related feelings of unworthiness (mirroring Dean's in S4) which made him stay behind in Purgatory - perhaps he doesn't feel worthy of Dean's love.

When Cas says he has to protect the tablet from Dean, he means he has to protect it from his feelings for Dean and the way they've fundamentally changed his nature (“knowing you has changed me”). Freshly freed from Naomi’s power, he needs time to sort out for himself what these feelings are and the influence they have on him. (When Cas tells Dean he doesn’t know what broke the connection in the crypt, at best he's still processing and confused, at worst he’s lying.) Not to mention that Cas still feels the need to atone for massacring all those angels—this is not the time for selfish feelings, no matter how much he may want to indulge them.

The song at the episode’s end confirms Dean's influence and also reveals that though Cas is fleeing, he's now (and always going forwards) carrying a part of Dean with him.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk justifying my listening to “Goodbye Stranger” 178 times on loop - sponsored by the power of doing a little reading!

A little postscript on lyrics-based joy — One of my absolute favourite things is reading break-up songs through the lens of Dean and Cas’ frequent enforced separations: I would absolutely sob to hear Cas tell Dean: "Feel no sorrow/ Feel no shame/ Come tomorrow/ Feel no pain." Within the context of “Goodbye Stranger” one might read into the potentially more callous side of the lyrics—the flippant and inadequate advice of one escaping commitment—but in Dean and Cas' world (where they’re most likely to be tied to one of Cas’ eight deaths) they read as a true benediction. And is this not the message that Cas would most want to leave Dean with?? Be still, my heart!!

[autisticsupervillain]

FTF: How Powerful Is...?

A prolonged breakdown on a character detailing all their scaling, powers, stats, skill, and abilities to determine exactly how powerful they are.

This Week's Character...

Sollux Captor!

Scope:

I'm going to be skipping past the usual rundown kn the character's personality and history in order to primarily focus on their power scaling applicable attributes. In Sollux's case, I'll be primarily focusing on explicitly canon materials. Dubiously canon sources such as the Epilogues, Homestuck^2, Pesterquest, Hiveswap Friendsim, and so on will be ignored. Not that any of them should really effect Sollux's scaling anyways. He's barely even featured really. I just despise modern canon and will happily take any opportunity to completely ignore it.

I'm basing this analysis entirely on Homestuck proper. As Hussie has given free reign to either regard or disregard the Epilogues and everything pertaining as canon at audience discretion, I'm disregarding it completely. Paradox Space has a similar thing going on, but I'm ignoring that less out of contempt and moreso it just.... doesn't have any material that would effect Sollux's powerscaling to begin with. They're effectively just comedy skits/short stories in the Homestuck universe.

With all that out of the way, let's start with stats.

Attack Potency and Durability

For starters, all of the abilities Sollux displays with his powers should scale to his physical durability. While I certainly don't think Sollux could do half of his feats with, say, his fists, it it pretty consistent that he's tough enough to tank what he dishes out. Basic laws of physics dictate that Sollux would have to be durable enough to withstand the energy of his own optic blasts to some degree, or else he'd be blasting himself apart.

Conversely, Sollux is tough enough to survive blasts from Eridan even after Eridan explicitly overpowers him, even if he was K.O'd. Both Kanaya and Feferi meanwhile were oneshot by him.

Let's go through stats in extending order of impressiveness. Sollux hits Multi-Continent Level as a baseline pretty easily. An Alternian Warship on auxiliary power is capable of accelerating to near light speed, generating a kinetic energy equivalent to 303 Petatons of TNT.

As goldbloods are routinely exploited for their powers to be used as the main batteries on ships, common goldbloods should upscale this. Sollux, meanwhile, is decended from and inherits the powers of the most powerful goldblood who'd ever lived, The Psiioniic, so he upscales even further.

He was forced to serve as

the Helmsman for Her

Condescension's imperial

battleship. Psychics of his

kind were exploited for

interstellar travel, and

his abilities made her ship

the fastest in the fleet by

far. She grew so enamored

of her Helmsman and his

power, she would use her

touch to extend his

lifespan to match her own.

-Doc Scratch about The Psiioniic

Surrounding him on his rise

to infamy and throughout

the rebellion were the most

trusted elites among his

devoted. The viioniic was a

mage of unequaled

telekinetic ability, who

upon hearing the words of

the Sufferer was inspired

to free himself from the

sort of slavery typical of

his mentally gifted class.

-Doc Scratch

Similarly, Sollux can redirect meteors brought down by the Reckoning.

These meteors can consistently output 3 Exatons of kinetic energy.

And, finally, Sollux can assist Aradia in pushing the meteor to outspeed Jack Noir, a 2 Exaton feat.

ARADIA: i can help with

that!

ARADIA: sollux do you

think you can lend me a

hand?

SOLLUX: huh?

ARADIA: theyll need the

biggest push we can give

them

SOLLUX: 0h.

SOLLUX: yeah sure.

KARKAT: WHAT, SO JUST

ONE "PUSH" IS GOING TO

LAST THREE YEARS?

KARKAT : LEt ALONE OUTRUN

JACK?? BULLSHIT

SOLLUX: calm down kk, it

sh0uld be fine.

SOLLUX: yOu won't sl0w

down.

However, it's actually remarkably easy to hit much higher levels of power when scaling to his fellow SBURB Players. John, for example, performs a feat the puts all of the above to shame, creating a tornado that covers half of his planet in an instant, generating 4 thousand exatons of TNT.

Sollux's highest scaling thus far, however, comes from a feat he not only scales far above, but comes from characters he completely curbstomps. During he fight with the Condescension, Aranea mind controls several Damaras into throwing a planet, generating kinetic energy equivalent to 273 Ninatons of TNT. Enough to destroy a dwarf star.

Damara is a member of the Alpha Trolls, who battled fruitlessly in their session for three years before ultimately being defeated. Doc Scratch would note that their relatively peaceful upbringing compared to Sollux's left them completely unprepared to beat SBURB, prompting him to turn Alternia into the hellscape it is to prepare them to beat SBURB.

As was true of the bellicose world we know, there came to be twelve heroes on this peaceful planet. These heroes too had twelve ancestors whose fortunes were entwined with theirs. These twenty-four figures of legend were not of this world but sent from the sky, delivered from a reality not yet conceived.

On the eve of their race's extinction, the twelve heroes would begin playing a game. They would make an admirable effort, but they would fail. Their civilization had not prepared them for the rigors of this game, and the ultimate reward would fall shy of their grasp.

[...]Though I was delivered well before history even began, before the dawning of life on their planet. This time around, I would oversee its development, and thus fulfill the mother's promise of an aggressive, ruthlessly prepared group of heroes. One that would not rest until victory was secured.

-Doc Scratch

By comparison, the Beta Trolls were able to beat their game in only 25 days, signifying the Betas solidly scaling above the Alphas.

FCG:

IT WAS ALL PRETTY

MUCH LIKE CLOCKWORK.

FCG: A 600 HOUR CAMPAIGN

TO COMPLETE A GAME LIKE

THIS IS PRETTY GOOD IF

YOU ASK ME.

-Karkat Vantas

Sollux's most impressive scaling, however, comes from Gamzee, of all trolls.

Sollux pretty definitively scales backwards from Gamzee, but to an extent where he would still be comparable. Eridan, fresh off of his fight with Sollux, was considered an equal threat to Gamzee and a God-Tiered Vriska during their three way showdown before a newly undead Kanaya beat them all down. Sollux was the only one Eridan had fought up to the point who both survived getting hit and matched him briefly. See above.

This scaling his further supported by Sollux's relativity to Aradiabot. Not only did Sollux survive Aradiabot literally exploding in his face, but both of them were essential in wearing down the Black King. See the meteor feats above.

Vriska jas confessed that Aradiabot would still kick her ass, even after she went God-Tier.

VRISKA: Hey dead girl! How's 8eing dead treating you?

ARADIA: cOuldnt i ask yOu the same thing

VRISKA: Yeah, sure! If you wanted to 8e technically inaccur8

still 8urn though, so touche!

ARADIA: its really weird that yOu keep antagOnizing me

ARADIA: i cOuld snap yOur neck with a twitch

VRISKA: Yeah 8ut you won't!

ARADIA: Ok

Don't get me wrong. Sollux absolutely isn't equal to Gamzee. There are about a dozen quotes to that effect, not least of which being that alternate timeline where Gamzee solo'd the entire rest of the trolls by himself. But Sollux is at least comparable enough to scale backwards from Gamzee’s most impressive showings.

Those would include surviving the Black Hole created by Lord Jack, which would have a GBE equivalent to nearly 3/4's of a Foe.

Gamzee can also take hits from Caliborn, who himself can survive a black hole the size of the entire solar system. Roughly 38 billion foe. This means, in order to hurt Gamzee, you'd need to be packing power comparable to Solar System destroying levels of energy and Sollux point blank is comparable to people who can.

Speed

Speed is a lot more clear cut. Simply put, everyone and their mother can move faster than light in Homestuck. From Hussie being able to count down the nanoseconds on a clock to several characters moving interstellar distances.

For instance, the Psiioniic was described as being able to push the Condescension's ship from across the edges of the Galaxy back to Alternia very quickly, crossing light years in hours.

She ordered all fleets to

return to Alternia. But

such was her empire's

expansion and

interplanetary occupation,

few could make it in time

to provide any meaningful

defense. She instructed her

Helmsman to pilot the ship

faster than he ever had,

and he did so through

extreme physical duress. He

was able to leap across

thousands of light years in

a matter of hours. The

exertion likely would have

killed him, if the Glub

didn't get to him first

Her touch could extend

life, but never restore it,

to her lament.

-Doc Scratch

This feat by itself easily reaches the millions of times FTL range, but we can go much higher than that.

Comparing the size of the Incipisphere relative to Trollkind's 52 billion year old universe and we find that it is a structure that is several trillion light years in diameter. Meaning not only would Sollux be deflecting meteors traveling at 27 quintillion times faster than light, but even common Kernelsprite's would be traveling at 77 quintillion times faster than light when traveling to Prospit and Derse for Prototyping.

Even the weakest of Players can keep up in combat with their Kernelsprites, at least, at first, and Kernelsprites are generally at their absolute weakest when this process first starts. Since Gamzee is capable of moving so fast that Karkat can't even tell he's in the same room, this means Sollux can speed blitz people who move at these speeds.

For reference, that scaling chain is 1x Prototyped Kernelsprite = Karkat <<<<<< Gamzee >> Sollux.

Immeasurable Feats

Oh, boy, here we go. Sollux, in terms of speed and possibly even strength, can genuinely be argued to reach levels that are impossible for 3-D mathematics to calculate. Let me explain.

Firstly, we must discuss the nature of the Furthest Ring itself. The Furthest Ring is completely untouched by all forms of time and space in the universe. All twelve of the Aspects are described as being physically indistinguishable from each other within the Furthest Ring.

JADE: how long do i have

to wait HERE in order to

wake up?

CALLIOPE: the

correlation between the

passage of time in the

furthest ring and any

given physical location

is tenuous

CALLIOPE: the

measurement of time here

is inseparable from the

physical passage through

its knotted space.

CALLIOPE: those two

aspects are closely

woven together here, to

such an extent that they

are barely separable

CALLIOPE: all aspects

are.

JADE: really?

JADE: all of them??

CALLIOPE: yes.

JADE: i understand how

this place has time and

space of course.... even

if they work together

weirdly

JADE: but

JADE: i dont see any of

the others

CALLIOPE: one doesn't

see abstractions

CALLIOPE: not directly

JADE:

JADE: oh

CALLIOPE: each opposing

pair is in balance

throughout this field so

as to form a stable

canvas.

CALLIOPE: though the

canvas becomes less

stable with each crack

in the field, ordinarily

one would never directly

observe its constituent

forces.

CALLIOPE: the canvas

would seem smooth from

afar, but up close, as

it were, the tapestry is

circuitously woven.

CALLIOPE: the aspects

while remaining in

balance, interfere with

each other. they

interlock and

intertwine.

CALLIOPE: so neither

space nor time functions

linearly, nor are they

conventionally

measurable.

JADE: wow

JADE: i am not sure i

totally understand.

JADE: but that is pretty

interesting!

CALLIOPE: you are

predisposed to find the

nuances of space

intriguing.

CALLIOPE: and since its

opposing aspect is more

related than you perhaps

have realized, the

challenges of

understanding it are

more compelling to you

than you realize as

well.

JADE: yeah i guess so

JADE: physics are all

about space and time and

such which are fun to

think about

JADE: i like all that

stuff!

CALLIOPE: yes.

JADE: so youre saying

space and time... and

all other aspects i

guess... are more

closely related here

than in like

JADE: umm.

JADE: more stable

places, like my

universe?

CALLIOPE: they are less

distinct from each other

here, yes.

JADE: you said passage

of time is inseparable

from.

JADE: traveling through

space?

CALLIOPE: yes.

JADE: so if we were

holding still

JADE: time wouldnt be

moving either?

CALLIOPE: that is

correct, in a way.

CALLIOPE: though motion

itself is not the

absolute process it is

in a more conventional medium.

CALLIOPE: the

measurement of motion

requires stable features

for comparison.

CALLIOPE: of which there

are very few in the

furthest ring,

typically.

CALLIOPE: the more

cracks that appear,

ironically, the more the

ring begins to

stabilize, at least in a

spatial and temporal

sense.

JADE: i see

JADE: so

JADE: if the cracks

werent there

JADE: how..

JADE: how would we be

able to tell if we were

moving?

CALLIOPE: motion through

the twisted space is not

gauged by passing

landmarks, but anchored

to a particular

destination.

CALLIOPE: destination is

an idea maintained by

the traveler.

CALLIOPE: ideas are

subtle composites of

various aspects.

CALLIOPE: without clear

understanding of

destination, motion

becomes less

discernible.

CALLIOPE: with less

discernible motion,

passage of time becomes

less measurable.

CALLIOPE: at a

standstill, time loses

meaning, and can seem to

stretch on forever, as

all events throughout

reality gwirl around you

in no particular order.

CALLIOPE: one becomes

isolated from all else.

imprisoned by inertia.

A realm in which the very abstract concepts of time and space are indistinguishable from each other and ideas are the fundamental measurement of any kind of motion would be, if not blatantly higher dimensional, than effectively beyond dimensional by design. And Sollux was specifically called out by Aradia to help her push the meteor through this realm. A realm that has been, on mamy occasions, described as a realm of pure nothingness. Of Void.

VRISKA: John, tell me

what you see here.

JOHN: um.

JOHN: where?

VRISKA: Right here.

VRISKA: What is this?

This thing I'm holding?

JOHN: a black piece of

paper?

VRISKA: No, John.

VRISKA: This is 8ULLSHIT

is what it is.

JOHN: oh.

JOHN: yes, clearly.

VRISKA: This is what a

map looks like in the

furthest ring.

VRISKA: This is what ALL

maps look like out here.

VRISKA: Turns out

plotting the relative

geographical features of

an infinite 8lack

expanse of pure void is

every 8it as moronic as

it sounds. 8ut that

didn't stop some ancient

eldritch chucklefuck

from doing exactly that.

VRISKA: For the longest

time, this is all we've

had to go on when it

came to deciphering the

clues and figuring out

the coordin8tes of the

legendary treasure.

VRISKA: Do you have any

idea how hard it is to

pin down the physical

location of something

out here? Never mind the

fact that physical

location in the furthest

ring is already a

mallea8le concept. Just

imagine what it's like

giving someone

directions! What do you

tell them?

VRISKA: Proceed in a

str8 line shaped like a

perpetually shifting

torus knot until you

feel a sense of despair

transcending all mortal

comprehension, then hang

a right at the next

octopus?

VRISKA: There's nothing

static out there. No

landmarks, no points of

reference. Nothing!

[...]

VRISKA: The guy who's

8een fucking shit up is

the 8ig 8ad himselfl

VRISKA: Every time he

destroys another dream

8u88le, he does a little

more damage to the

furthest ring,

inexplica8ly shattering

the essence of all-

encompassing

nothingness.

VRISKA: As the cracks

spread across the void,

new points of reference

show up on our maps!

The push Sollux and Aradia gave to the meteor sent it flying through this infinite expanse, where time and space don't matter. That would be a feat of completely immeasurable speed. You can't measure speed if the things you use to calculate that, time and space, are completely indistinguishable from each other. Hell, Sollux would later give his life to give the meteor a solid push through the Furthest Ring closer to its destination, likely his most impressive direct feat in the series.

Now.... there is an argument to scale Sollux to this Outerversal level of power as well.... but I'm of slightly two minds of the situation.

Sollux scales to Gamzee who scales to Terezi who can hurt John.

John is one of the legendary heroes destined to defeat Lord English, who is currently ripping the hell out of Paradox Space. Similarly, God-Tier Aradia specifically asked for Sollux's help to push the meteor to outspeed Bec Noir. And Aradia herself can fight Lord English too.

The problem? John can fight Bec Noir.... who was seen as completely invincible to the Beta Trolls throughout most of Act 5, with Vriska's attempt to fight him getting everyone killed.

Now, to be fair, John is also instant killed by Noir during their first fight and while Vriska considers him to be far less of a threat than Lord English, she also considers him a very big threat in his own right....

But on the other hand... it is something if a plot hole for Bec Noir to be such a massive threat that the Beta Trolls had to hide from him for all of Act 5.... and for them to have several characters in the same tier as him as well.

I'm leaning towards a no to outerversal Sollux because of it, but you could just make the argument that Bec Noir is simply much farther into Outerversal. Terezi just knocked John into the wall after all, she didn't pile drive him through the floor and steal his lunch money. But, personally, I lean towards Solar System Level Sollux with Immeasurable speeds as his highest possible peak. It doesn't contradict the established plot as much. Which, by itself, would clear a lot of franchises frankly....

Abilities

Now comes the easy part.

Sollux has the standard kit that everyone in the Homestuck universe has. He has a Specibus, a video game inventory system, and an Echeladder, a video game leveling system. Neither of which are particularly helpful. Sollux doesn't use weapons so inventory is of limited help, and he's already maxed out his mortal echeladder. He'd have to become a god to get any stronger.

More relevant is his telekinesis. His continent shaking psychic powers that can reach you from a completely different universe. Universes contain infinite timelines in Homestuck and psychic powers, Sollux's included, can attack you from different Universes all together. From Rose blowing up Eridan's computer to a universe away to Tavros mind controlling Bec all the way from his reality. No need to respond to assholes online when you can mske their computers explode from anywhere in the world!

Wait, if Tav can control Bequeral, why didn't he just do that to Bec Noir? Sollux can also control animals, but not to the same extent as Tavros. Largely just putting himself or other animals, like bees, to sleep. And his optic blast eye lasers are powerful enough to blow apart buildings.

Unfortunately, some of his powers are more a curse than anything else. Thanks to his ties to the Aspect of Doom, he can hear the last words of the soon to be dead from anywhere in the world, which, when mixed with his bipolar disorder, results in crippling depressive episodes.

He's also a master hacker, proficient in the ~ATH programming language. This allows him to alter the code of reality itself, letting him create curses that follow you for the rest of your life or alter reality until the universe ends. This is more of a prep time thing, though, and not really relevant in a one on one.

Resistances

....Does the Medium count as space? Because if so, he should resist the cosmic radiations present in space. Nothing else really though and he's pretty explicitly weak to getting mind haxed.

Skills and Intelligence

Putting aside the supergenius hacker with reality breaking code, thing, Sollux is skilled enough in a fight to repeatedly stalemate Eridan and overall skilled enough to crush the Kingdom of Derse in 25 days with the rest of his team. Derse being a Kingdom that has been at war with Prospit since the beginning of the universe, locked in eternal stalemate. Not bad.

Conclusion

I'll be honest, I've been planning this post for awhile and this all took me a few weeks to throw together. Even still, I could never have expected Immeasurable Sollux to come up as a possibility in my research. Homestuck somehow gets more overpowered the more I go picking through it.

That aside, where would you power scale Sollux? Do you agree with the above? Or would you rank him a bit lower?

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 17, 2024

Computational mechanisms underlying latent value updating of unchosen actions. Ben-Artzi, I., Kessler, Y., Nicenboim, B., & Shahar, N. (2023). Science Advances, 9(42).

Associative learning or Bayesian inference? Revisiting backwards blocking reasoning in adults. Benton, D. T., & Rakison, D. H. (2023). Cognition, 241, 105626.

The value of mere completion. Converse, B. A., Tsang, S., & Hennecke, M. (2023). Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 152(11), 3021–3036.

Stable sound decoding despite modulated sound representation in the auditory cortex. Funamizu, A., Marbach, F., & Zador, A. M. (2023). Current Biology, 33(20), 4470-4483.e7.

Differential attentional costs of encoding specific and gist episodic memory representations. Greene, N. R., & Naveh-Benjamin, M. (2023). Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 152(11), 3292–3299.

The scaling of mental computation in a sorting task. Haridi, S., Wu, C. M., Dasgupta, I., & Schulz, E. (2023). Cognition, 241, 105605.

Simulations predict differing phase responses to excitation vs. inhibition in theta-resonant pyramidal neurons. Kelley, C., Antic, S. D., Carnevale, N. T., Kubie, J. L., & Lytton, W. W. (2023). Journal of Neurophysiology, 130(4), 910–924.

Attention preserves the selectivity of feature-tuned normalization. Klímová, M., Bloem, I. M., & Ling, S. (2023). Journal of Neurophysiology, 130(4), 990–998.

An approximate representation of objects underlies physical reasoning. Li, Y., Wang, Y., Boger, T., Smith, K. A., Gershman, S. J., & Ullman, T. D. (2023). Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 152(11), 3074–3086.

Associative and predictive hippocampal codes support memory-guided behaviors. Liu, C., Todorova, R., Tang, W., Oliva, A., & Fernandez-Ruiz, A. (2023). Science, 382(6668).

Same but different: The latency of a shared expectation signal interacts with stimulus attributes. Lowe, B. G., Robinson, J. E., Yamamoto, N., Hogendoorn, H., & Johnston, P. (2023). Cortex, 168, 143–156.

Model-free decision making resists improved instructions and is enhanced by stimulus-response associations. Luna, R., Vadillo, M. A., & Luque, D. (2023). Cortex, 168, 102–113.

Infants’ sex affects neural responses to affective touch in early infancy. Mariani Wigley, I. L. C., Björnsdotter, M., Scheinin, N. M., Merisaari, H., Saunavaara, J., Parkkola, R., … Tuulari, J. J. (2023). Developmental Psychobiology, 65(7), e22419.

Action planning and execution cues influence economic partner choice. McEllin, L., Fiedler, S., & Sebanz, N. (2023). Cognition, 241, 105632.

Parallel processing of value-related information during multi-attribute decisions. Nakahashi, A., & Cisek, P. (2023). Journal of Neurophysiology, 130(4), 967–979.

Extended trajectory of spatial memory errors in typical and atypical development: The role of binding and precision. Peng, M., Lovos, A., Bottrill, K., Hughes, K., Sampsel, M., Lee, N. R., … Edgin, J. (2023). Hippocampus, 33(11), 1171–1188.

Mediodorsal thalamus-projecting anterior cingulate cortex neurons modulate helping behavior in mice. Song, D., Wang, C., Jin, Y., Deng, Y., Yan, Y., Wang, D., … Quan, Z. (2023). Current Biology, 33(20), 4330-4342.e5.

Metacognition and sense of agency. Wen, W., Charles, L., & Haggard, P. (2023). Cognition, 241, 105622.

Sensory deprivation arrests cellular and synaptic development of the night-vision circuitry in the retina. Wisner, S. R., Saha, A., Grimes, W. N., Mizerska, K., Kolarik, H. J., Wallin, J., … Hoon, M. (2023). Current Biology, 33(20), 4415-4429.e3.

The timing of confidence computations in human prefrontal cortex. Xue, K., Zheng, Y., Rafiei, F., & Rahnev, D. (2023). Cortex, 168, 167–175.

[roleplayfinder]

☢️Funny radioactive skelly man... Looking for 18+ writers interested in writing for Creature Commandos, more specifically a Doctor Phosphorus for my non-binary original character. I'm willing to double, though my canon repertoire is a bit limited - Nina and The Bride live in my head rent free and I'd love to write them. I'm open to discussing canons outside of CC for my end of the deal though! The OC in question, simply dubbed the Metamorph, is a strange, alien-looking metahuman with the rather neat ability to inherit the physical attributes of whatever or /whoever/ they touch. Of course, given Phos's strange condition leaving him nigh untouchable, there's potential for some decent banter. Plus their backstory (which I'll elaborate on upon connection so this isn't like, a wall of text) means they'd mesh rather well with this family man-turned-sadistic cynic I think! Open to a lot of plots, mainly looking for some sort of tension/romance, mayhaps some smut as a treat. Open to writing and tackling darker topics given the nature of the source material. I mainly do multi-para or light novella, and only really write on discord. Like or reply to this post and I'll reach out to you!!

.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

World's darkest and clearest skies at risk from industrial megaproject

On December 24th, AES Andes, a subsidiary of the US power company AES Corporation, submitted a project for a massive industrial complex for environmental impact assessment. This complex threatens the pristine skies above ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile's Atacama Desert, the darkest and clearest of any astronomical observatory in the world.

The industrial megaproject is planned to be located just 5 to 11 kilometers from telescopes at Paranal, which would cause irreparable damage to astronomical observations, in particular due to light pollution emitted throughout the project's operational life. Relocating the complex would save one of Earth's last truly pristine dark skies.

An irreplaceable heritage for humanity

Since its inauguration in 1999, Paranal Observatory, built and operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), has led to significant astronomical breakthroughs, such as the first image of an exoplanet and confirming the accelerated expansion of the universe. The Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020 was awarded for research on the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, in which Paranal telescopes were instrumental.

The observatory is a key asset for astronomers worldwide, including those in Chile, which has seen its astronomical community grow substantially in the last decades. Additionally, the nearby Cerro Armazones hosts the construction of ESO's Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), the world's biggest telescope of its kind—a revolutionary facility that will dramatically change what we know about the universe.

"The proximity of the AES Andes industrial megaproject to Paranal poses a critical risk to the most pristine night skies on the planet," said ESO Director General, Xavier Barcons.

"Dust emissions during construction, increased atmospheric turbulence, and especially light pollution will irreparably impact the capabilities for astronomical observation, which have thus far attracted multi-billion-Euro investments by the governments of the ESO Member States."

The unprecedented impact of a megaproject

The project encompasses an industrial complex of more than 3000 hectares, which is close to the size of a city, or district, such as Valparaiso, Chile or Garching near Munich, Germany. It includes constructing a port, ammonia and hydrogen production plants and thousands of electricity generation units near Paranal.

Thanks to its atmospheric stability and lack of light pollution, the Atacama Desert is a unique natural laboratory for astronomical research. These attributes are essential for scientific projects that aim to address fundamental questions, such as the origin and evolution of the universe or the quest for life and the habitability of other planets.

A call to protect the Chilean skies

"Chile, and in particular Paranal, is a truly special place for astronomy—its dark skies are a natural heritage that transcends its borders and benefits all humanity," said Itziar de Gregorio, ESO's Representative in Chile. "It is crucial to consider alternative locations for this megaproject that do not endanger one of the world's most important astronomical treasures."

The relocation of this project remains the only effective way to prevent irreversible damage to Paranal's unique skies. This measure will not only safeguard the future of astronomy but also preserve one of the last truly pristine dark skies on Earth.

IMAGE: The dark skies above ESO's Paranal Observatory, home to ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), yield breathtaking views so clear and so full of stars that you could almost touch them. Standing atop a platform at VLT, ESO Photo Ambassador Petr Horálek reaches towards a standout object in the sky. You may assume this bright body, like many others in the sky, to be a star, but it is in fact a planet in our solar system: the gas giant Jupiter. Closer to Earth, the four Unit Telescopes (UTs) that comprise the VLT can be seen in the background. Each UT features an 8.2-meter mirror and they operate synergistically to produce some of the sharpest views of the universe. Accompanying the four UTs are four smaller, movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) which have 1.8-meter mirrors. The Chilean Atacama desert once again proves its value as the ideal location for ESO's VLT. The remoteness of the observatory means that there is very little to no light pollution, which is vital for astronomy and also yields such breathtaking views. Credit: ESO/P. Horálek

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[prpfz]

☢️Funny radioactive skelly man... Looking for 18+ writers interested in writing for Creature Commandos, more specifically a Doctor Phosphorus for my non-binary original character. I'm willing to double, though my canon repertoire is a bit limited - Nina and The Bride live in my head rent free and I'd love to write them. I'm open to discussing canons outside of CC for my end of the deal though! If you're keen to sticking to DC canons, I can offer Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Bruce Wayne, and I've been tempted to pick up Edward Nashton/The Riddler. The OC in question, simply dubbed the Metamorph, is a strange, alien-looking metahuman with the rather neat ability to inherit the physical attributes of whatever or /whoever/ they touch. Of course, given Phos's strange condition leaving him nigh untouchable, there's potential for some decent banter. Plus their backstory (which I'll elaborate on upon connection so this isn't like, a wall of text) means they'd mesh rather well with this family man-turned-sadistic cynic I think! Open to a lot of plots, mainly looking for some sort of tension/romance, mayhaps some smut as a treat. Open to writing and tackling darker topics given the nature of the source material. I mainly do multi-para or light novella, and only really write on discord. Like or reply to this post and I'll reach out to you!!

Leave a like, and anon will get back to you!

[fiberturkey89]

Ninjago Spirits' AU

Alright, so I know I've posted a couple of images here and there of dinosaurs, specifically with the Ninja/with their colors. I thought doing an actual post would be better overall instead of random blurbs here and there.. so... here we go. (For like the hundredth time - yeah).

Before I start, some credits to the source material that caused this to rot my brain for so long: This AU is HEAVILY inspired by the multi-author book series Spirit Animals and Digimon: Digital Monsters. With some aspects even taken from both to create this AU, I very much recommend checking out the source material that this AU is using!

Now, on to the explanation for this AU- this one will be the main post for it.

The realm of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals was created by the consequences of the Oni and Dragon war in the First Realm.

This realm, it is the sibling realm to both the Departed Realm and Cursed Realm - albeit it has a weaker connection to the Cursed Realm than it does to the Departed Realm. It is known as the "Realm of Remnants." A sort of afterlife realm that could be entered in by the living or left.

Just like its inhabitants, the Realm of Remnants was made upon the Elemental Essences of Creation and Destruction. How this happened was that the spirit of the Elemental Essence that resided within the deceased Oni and Dragons would be separated by the Ethereal Divide as they attempted to follow their bodies souls to the Departed Realm or Cursed Realm.

As mentioned earlier, all the inhabitants are made of Elemental Essence that has combined to birth them. The animals themselves are either Creation leaning or Destruction leaning much like the bodies the Elemental spirits used to share a soul with.

This realm is also the birthplace or Mala-Wohira, her original home realm.

Much like in the book series Spirit Animals, humans from Ninjago summon spirits saurians/ familiars - its very much imbedded within the culture as at the age of twleve to thirteen, a child will preform a ceremony to summon their lifelong partner. Without them, the child will eventually fall sick from the rest of their life if something isn't done about it.

The Summoning ceremony is odd in its ways. It's very particular on who it responds to and what it doesn't. For example; Shintarins and Cloud Monks can not summon a spirit, nor can the First Realms peoples or Imperians. This is because humans from the realms are different.

Shintarins and Cloud Monks have wings that come in at the ages of 17-18, First Realms peoples are the strongest "human" type, and Imperians.. are a mystery as to why they don't need one. However, the most common speculative theory is that they are surrounded by Dragon Energy for so much of their lives that they don't need a spirit to fill their soul.

As for the other humanoid races out there: Formlings and Ice Fishers are already in touch with the spirits within the Never Realm, so they're fine. Geckles and Munce are similar to First Realms peoples to simply having more physical attributes. (Speed, Strength, Stamina).

Chiman animals simply don't need one. This includes the Serpentine. The Oni and the Dragon do not either - Skeletons and ghosts have already departed, so theirs are fine.

The people who do, however- are the people who reside in Ninjago City, Stiix, Jamanakai, Ignacia, and any village that doesn't have humanoids. This is because as the First Realms peoples so long ago entered the elemental flux that was Ninjago, it began to weaken them to the point they needed a second half to sustain life.

A key difference between Elemental Masters and Non-Elementals is that whereas EM's share their power with the spirits, NE's gain gifts from their familiars. E.g Harumi is able to unleash a roar that can be used as intimidation or distraction, Arin's gives him faster speed and more jump power, Misako is able to feel objects/vibrations in the ground.

And for Elementals: Umber, Skylor's spirit- can absorb EP and output it(this includes Spinjitzu torandos), Karloffs can coat itself in metal just like he can, and the Ninja's can essentially become smaller Dragons due to them blasting it from their mouths predominately.

Humanoids still can take in spirits who are without their original summoner(the bond between the summoner and the spirit has to be broken. This is usually most common via death). These are often referred to as "orphans." So, for example, if Cole were to die, Geo or one of The Finders could take his in.

Albeit, humanoids can also raise wild ones to the point where a bond forms. Wu, Garmadon, and Lloyd are both the biggest outliers for this one, as they grew up with theirs(Garmadon went and got the egg for Lloyd when he was an infant). Another example is Euphrasia, who found hers as a hatchling and took it in post Merge.

Before The Merge, however, the only way somebody could get to the Realm of Remnants was via the Spirit Coves in Ninjago or Dragon. The Realm Crystal never functioned in trying to open it up. This made The Summoning a Ninjago locale thing only- and here's how:

When the Oni invaded Ninjago in one final push to either kill or convince the FSM to join them, he had opened a thinspot to the Realm of Remnants within a cave entrance- and from there "Legendary Beasts" were called forwards to help aid him against the Oni.

These creatures would anchor themselves to Ninjago's continent. The battle ended with there being three to four groups of them for locations across Ninjago. The groups themselves are the Ninjago City's Phantoms, Jamanakai's Wisps, Ignacia's Embers, and Stiix's Echoes. These beasts were entrusted by the FSM himself to keep the balance of Creation and Destruction at peace.

As time went on, much like the First Realms peoples who had crossed over seeking refugee from the war, the Legendary Beasts began to produce plants alloted to them by their lifestyle that would produce a substance called the nectar. It would be the very thing that would pull spirits from the Realm of Remnants and bond them with the humans of Ninjago.

Some of the Legendary Beast would even go on to entwine themselves with human society, becoming "demi-gods" in a way. Or, rather, pillars of power that represented different things. Sea, Land, Sky- Life and Death. Others simply remained forces of nature.