#numbers and dates

[carpboy3000]

lionfish.... gem....

[mckitterick]

I once had to spend weeks researching total radiative energy plus physical mass blown off every day for a star about the mass of our Sun, then had to calculate how much total propulsive force that could provide (assuming most of that flared-off mass could be mixed with antimatter to add more energy), then had to calculate how fast that thrust could propel said star over 15,000 years

which was not nearly enough, it turned out, so I then had to come up with additional energy... stars are HEAVY AS FUCK, like waaaay more massive than one can intuit, because the zeroes all spelled out - even in megaton-miles rather than the prosaic pound-feet we humans use for Earthly force - took up much of a notebook sheet

so, with the help of a physicist friend, I spent weeks more researching a way to find magnitudes more energy (to accelerate some 2×10^30 kilograms to a dangerously fast velocity relative to another star system)

finally, after much more research I came up with an engine that could produce and direct such unimaginable energy

so in the end - to sell this story - I ended up inventing what we're calling a "Class D Stellar Engine" (because it's the fourth proposed method of moving a star)

all this because I used dates in the story, plus even very long-lived people only live so long. and the editor who wanted the piece said he'd only buy it if I worked out the math. and he has like three PhDs in physics and related sciences, so it had to be accurate

oh, and what appears in the story is only about an additional paragraph or two (though I did end up revising it into a much better story along the way)

if only I'd used vague times and distances instead, I could have found that story a home months sooner

on the other hand, "Ashes of Exploding Suns, Monuments to Dust" (the story) ended up winning the Analytical Laboratories Readers Award for best novelette that year, so perhaps all the work was worth it (that's what I tell myself, anyhow)

if you'd like, you can read it free on my Patreon!

speculative fiction writers i am going to give you a really urgent piece of advice: don't say numbers. don't give your readers any numbers. how heavy is the sword? lots. how old is that city? plenty. how big is the fort? massive. how fast is the spaceship? not very, it's secondhand.

the minute you say a number your readers can check your math and you cannot do math better than your most autistic critic. i guarantee. don't let your readers do any math. when did something happen? awhile ago. how many bullets can that gun fire? trick question, it shoots lasers, and it shoots em HARD.

you are lying to people for fun. if you let them do math at you the lie collapses and it's no fun anymore.

[voiold]

Incase anyone didn’t know…. I love barbatos….

A sane amount btw

HEHEHE HSHAHAI I LOVE BARBSTOS!!! HASASHH

[chokoyin]

I feel like, as a fandom, we moved on too quick from the fact that Lucifer gets drunk often when stressed and starts hugging inanimate objects? Like? Someone please hold the avatar of pride??

[morgan-squeezy]

I DIDNT EXPECT MAC TO BE SO... FREAKY??? (it makes me want mac even MORE)

[tartarusknight]

Based on this tik tok

Famous Eddie AU, where he's known for going out into the crowds during performances. It has led to a few security risks and freaks out his manager, Chrissy. So, when they get to the next venue, Chrissy goes up to the security crew and tells them about Eddie and that nothing but brute force would stop Eddie. Because Eddie always says that he needs to be in the heart of it to show that he loves his fans as much as they love him.

The venue manager, Robin, tells them they have it covered because she has a secret weapon. That secret weapon is Steve, who dresses up like he's just a fan, but everyone knows his face well enough that they will see him and know better than stop him from saving Eddie.

The only thing they don't take into account is Eddie in between two songs, singling him out. "We alright?" Eddie asks, and Steve freezes before dumbly nodding. The people around him are staring. "You're good?" Eddie asks again, a growing smile on his face. He tilts his head all cutely, and Steve forces himself to stay formal with another nod. "You're like an important security guy, though," Eddie says, looking at the other security man whose shirt obviously says staff. Unlike Steve's own plain outfit.

"What's going on? You're like CIA in the middle of the whole crowd." The crowd laughs, and Steve can feel his face heat. "You sent him out there undercover! This is weird!" Eddie cackles, looking towards the other staff member who is now trying to keep it all under control.

"So are you coming out or are you staying?" Eddie asks, and he crouches down by the edge of the stage.

Steve raises an eyebrow. "Are you coming out?"

Eddie sighs with a shrug, "I am going to come out into the crowd at some point in this song." He admits, and Steve can't help but grin as the crowd erupts into cheers. "And that's why you're there?" Eddie asks and laughs slightly as he says, "You're doing too much." The other members of Corroded Coffin are laughing now. "I'll be careful, I promise," Eddie says, like he can control the entire crowd.

He cocks his hip as Eddie goes on, "who's going to beat me up when I come out there." The crowd cheers, and they all raise their hands. Steve's sure it's a joke, but it has him straightening up despite that. Soon enough, Eddie's giving the crowd instructions along with Steve to part and make a pathway towards Steve when Eddie starts making his way into the crowd during the song. It puts Steve on edge to go far from the stage, but he lets himself be corralled into it by the fans.

Eddie grins at Steve, "And I want you to stay right where I put you. And I'm gonna point right at you, and you're gonna be my security. But you're not gonna be man, cause you're gonna go fucking hard with me for that whole rest of the song, okay?" Eddie smiles, a dimple showing, and Steve just dumbly nods.

The band starts up and Eddie rocks around the stage. Steve watches him with rapt attention, his own fondness for the band's sound growing. Until Eddie points at him and walks off the stage into the crowd. Steve jerks forwards but stops when the crowd actually parts. Eddie appears easily in Steve's view and the singer's finger points him out.

He begins to wave Steve forward and Steve's hesitant. Hesitant enough that Eddie, during a small break of lyrics, grins at Steve, "Come to me papa." Someone in the crowd shoves Steve forwards and he moves towards the singer who dances over to him. Fans are reaching out to brush Eddie as he passes, but no one is grabbing and pulling.

And suddenly Eddie's there, and he's pulling Steve to dance with him. Steve wants to shake it off and tell him his job is literally just to protect him, but Eddie's smile is wide, and Steve can't help it. He bounces along, following Eddie's lead in the middle of the crowd. Eddie's hand grazes his chest and Steve knows Robin is going to give him so much shit, but he doesn't care. How can he when Eddie's focus is on him, and he's just dancing the crowd dancing with them?

Then the song slows ,and Eddie reaches out, running a hand on Steve's cheek. The crowd roars and Steve takes a step back but Eddie gently, not forcefully stops him. "Don't go anywhere." He says and Steve nods on instinct. Eddie's grin brightens, "Catch me," he orders and Steve tenses up.

"Wait-"

But Eddie's singing, looking back at his band. The song begins to pick speed back up. Then the drums are clashing and it hit a crescendo. Eddie's arms shoot up, and he looks at Steve before running and jumping towards him. Steve stumbles slight but manages to hold onto him. Lifting him up above the crowd. Eddie laughs and squirms until Steve places him down.

He's even pretty up close, and Eddie moves to place a kiss on Steve's lips before he's dancing back towards the stage as the next song starts up. The roar of the crowd makes Steve wish he was deaf, and he knows his face is bright red. As Eddie gets to the stage and lifts himself to sit on the edge, he looks right back to Steve and does the phone motion with his hand that has fans shaking Steve in excitement like they are happy for him.

[lovelylittlegrim]

I really love the idea of a supportive Wayne Munson buying books and zines on bisexuality to give to Eddie. And Eddie who mistakenly thinks that Wayne is trying to come out to him when all Wayne was trying to do was show Eddie that it’s okay to like girls and guys and that maybeee Eddie’s friendship with Steve Harrington isn’t as platonic as the two young men think.

So now Wayne’s just accepting a big hug from a supportive Eddie. And listening to Eddie tell him how proud he is for coming out and asking if Wayne has found someone and if maybe that’s why he’s decided to tell Eddie now and Wayne is just flummoxed on what he’s supposed to do now.

“Now wait just a minute,” Wayne is trying to say.

“Dont even worry about it,” Eddie claps him on the shoulders. “We’ll have you a boyfriend in no time.”

Eddie does take the books though because he wants to be “the best ally” for Wayne.

(Eddie Bursts into Wayne’s room like a week later all wide eyed and frantic, holding one of the books and is just like ‘is being gay hereditary?’ Because holy shit Eddie’s pretty sure he’s bisexual too and half in love with Steve Harrington)

[doessilksonghaveareleasedate]

Day 2,239

Silksong has a release year.

Silksong was shown during today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. The tagline says "Hollow Knight: Silksong 2025" with "Team Cherry" as a subtitle. No further information was mentioned during the Direct.

[valentinebugzee]

Boom!Stone one shot where Stone and Eggman have a fight (pre relationship) and sonic tries to hook Stone up with other villains as their assistant because he truly thinks that he's overqualified to be Eggman's, it just looks like he's going on a bunch of unpleasant dates.

Meanwhile Amy and Knuckles are trying to talk it through Eggman's thick skull that he should be more appreciative of his assistant and make it up to him, through a 16 step "how to please your assistant" montage that definitely looks like a dating course.

[andstuffsketches]

Cass should try dating impulse next, just to complete as much of the yj core four set as she can (and annoy tim)

I love bart allen a lot but i think it would never happen lol

[ringozilla]

Avpol day

[that-bitch-kat3]

james: not to be dramatic but i want remus and sirius together happy and in love more than i want the war to be over.

[parasolladyansy]

DxP REWRITE - Connection

I wonder who that could be…>u>

Now that I ended this chapter on a cliffhanger lol, DxP REWRITE is gonna take a 3-4 week break. While Chapters 1-2 pretty much wrote themselves, & I have a pretty good plan for Chapter 4 onward, I have some extra work & prep to do for Chapter 3. ;u;

However, I won’t be leaving you empty-handed - I have an intermission to take up the Sun / Wed slot in the meantime:

Yes! I made a short series for Mizumi’s journey through Hisui! I figured it would help better acquaint me & all of you to Hisui & our past trio, setting up Chapter 3.

I’ll give the cover its own post on Saturday, then start us off on Sunday. See you in the new year! 🩵

🔼 Diamond x Pearl REWRITE 🔽

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[tattedlilthiccy]

Honestly I surprise myself on the weekends💁🏻‍♀️✨

[morgan-squeezy]

oh god i need to twist their cables so frickin bad its not even funny

[evellynssocbrainrot]

Kaz during Six of Crows: Nina, you go with Matthias over there. Jesper, you go with Wylan over here. And Inej, you come with me. Why? Because I said so.