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syrena-del-mar · 1 year ago

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Selfish Desires and the Class War: Dead Friend Forever

Ever since @nyxelestia's great additions to my tags about how Phee has been able to process his grief in comparison to Tan, and succinctly stated how class theorists regard poverty as a type of violence, I can't help but take a bit of a socio-economic look at the DFF's group of friends. Particularly, episode 10 really served to solidify my theory on the underlying commentary DFF is making regarding selfishness and the different abilities to skirt punishment dependent on class.

For this one, I'm going to break this down in a couple of categories: first, I'm going to explain Hobbes' theory on human nature and Marx's theory on class wars. Then I will be listing out the 'class types' each one of the DFF boys are in (sans White). Finally I will be analyzing the THC gang with Non, then Phee and New.

Keep in mind that here I will be defining 'selfish desires' as to the innate human inclination to prioritize one's own needs, wants, and interests over that of others. Meanwhile class war/conflict will be in reference to the societal divide into different classes dependant on their relationship to their means of production and value.

Human Nature According to Hobbes

In Hobbes' 'Leviathan', he delves into understanding human nature. His conclusion is probably best summarized by his most known phrase, "'the state of nature." In this state of nature, where Hobbes hypothesized about a life where there is no government, no laws, or state of order, just simply individuals that are able to live without constraints. Hobbes found that life would be "solitary, poor, nasty, short, and brutish."

Hobbes' comes to the conclusion, that absence of societal constraints, humans are driven by desire to secure their own survival and fulfill their desires. Hobbes states that there is an universal, fundamental drive for self-preservation that leads to a state of equality among humans. Yey, instead of being able to live in harmony, the equality, particularly in vulnerability to harm and death, breeds competition since it is human nature to scrounge, secure, and vie for resources— even when it means taking advantage of one another.

Central to Hobbes' theory of human nature is fear—fear of others, fear of harm and fear of uncertainty. Without structure, humans are trapped in a perpetual state of insecurity, creating a 'war of all against all'. Hobbes acknowledges that individuals have natural rights, particularly the right to self-preservation but with a lack of governing authority, the enforcement to this right is essentially meaningless.

Tldr; there are four main components to human nature: self-preservation, fear and insecurity, equality and competition, and natural rights.

Theory of Class Wars

Now, enter Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and we have the theory that a society is divided into two classes: the bourgeoisie and the proletariats. The bourgeoisie, own the means of production and are able to explore the labor of the proletariat for profit, which ends up leading to human alienation and inequality.

When it comes to the relationship of selfish desires and class war, at its core, the idea instills that a capitalist system incentivizes and rewards the selfish pursuits among the bourgeoisie. The accumulation of wealth and exploitation of labor and the quest for profit are the driving forces between constructing and maintaining class inequalities.

Dead Friends Forever: The Intersection of Social Class Divide and Selfish Desires

The thing about Dead Friend Forever is that there is a visible class division between Por and Non, which drowns out the undercurrent class differences between the rest of the DFF gang.

Por: He is born into power and higher class. His mother ever states "Do you think I'll be in trouble for kind of thing?" He is born into awareness of his status and the privilege.

Jin: Just from the house that he lives, you can tell that he is relatively well off. The finishes in the house both interior and the exterior show that his family, while not as rich as Por, are likely more than financially stable.

Phee: His dad is a police inspector, which likely provides decent money, as he is able to send his son to a private school on a single household income.

Fluke: We're given enough information that we know he wants to be a doctor and make his mom proud, he's attending tutoring classes and there's no mention of money issues.

Top: No mention of struggling for money, can safely assume that he lives comfortably.

Tee: Struggling, has a lot of debts to Uncle Joe in order to keep his dad alive.

New/Non: Their whole family is struggling even before Non went missing. What little money they had was sent over to New, even taking on debts to be able to provide for him abroad. They were one paycheck away from losing everything, which they eventually did.

Non and the THC Gang

Aside from Tee, the main group are all born into various levels of wealth and privilege, whether it be purely monetary or with the jobs of their parents, so they're able to navigate their life with an air of entitlement. Their desires are all shaped by the comforts and opportunities that their status affords them. Por's family alone was able to get their high school film reported on and with a viewing, merely with the mother's flippant mention of the project. Not to mention that Por's mother explicitly sets the tone of how she would be treated compared to Non's mom. It's a stark contrast, Non stands out as the outsider, not only due to his lack of friends in the school, but also marginalized by his lack of wealth and social standing in comparison to the rest of the gang. And in an odd way, it's likely why he felt a certain degree of kinship with Tee, who is the only other individual visibly struggling to survive, even if he mostly keeps his money troubles away from his group of friends.

The whole reason Non even gets involved with the group is because the group, particularly Por and Fluke, are driven by their hunger for success and recognition. Por likely wanted his parents to find some pride in him and Fluke needs it to round out his resume when applying to medical school. They desperately want to win the sponsorship, so they need and use Non— not as an equal but as a means to an end. They exploit his talent in scriptwriting and they use him as a pawn, not even inviting him to the presentation when its Non's script their using. Hell, they barely could stand being close enough to take a picture with Non. They quite literally use him as a pawn, an easy exploit, reminiscent of Hobbes' notion of self-interest as a driving force.

As the show continues on, the exploitation of Non takes on darker shades, echoing Hobbes bleak depiction of the state of nature. The initial bullying, that is rooted in class-based prejudices, transforms into a calculated campaign of cruelty. While Tee might be struggling financially, he's actually the true leader of the group. Sure, Por may have the money, but the guys only follow what Tee wants. Top and Tee use Non's marginalization against him, almost as if vultures feeding on the weaker. Top doesn't have to pay for the camera and Tee is able to find Uncle Joe's next victim for the horse accounts, a complete parallel of Hobbes' description of the strong dominating the weak in the absence of a social contract. In doing so Non, the 'marginalized' becomes fodder for the selfish desires of Tee and Top, initiating a chain-reaction event to Non's detriment.

While Por, Tee, and Top have the more obvious benefits with how Non is treated, so does Fluke. Fluke, in the hierarchy of status within the group, is at the bottom rung. With Non there he's able to be treated better and he no longer is the scapegoat. He admits it in this episode. He needed Non to be mistreated, because he feared being targeted by the rest of the THC gang, and having Non around kept everyone else's attention off of him. He was no longer the one being harrassed. He's able to sacrifice Non for his own benefit.

The thing about Fluke is that he doesn't overtly try to harm Non, not in the same way that the others do. No, his covert damage that he causes Non is in his silence. He sees Top destroy the camera, Tee come up with the idea to target Non, he sees Jin film Non and Kru Keng, he even questions Jin's intentions to film, but he's spineless. He cares more for himself, he prioritizes his self-preservation. He maintains the status quo and utilizes Non's weakness so that he isn't the next target.

Initially, Jin's treatment of Non seems to defy the expected narrative of class exploitation, since out of the group he's the one that is the most compassionate and understanding. From a Marxist perspective, this initial compassion could be understood as an acknowledgment of the inherent inequalities that exist between the affluent and the marginalized. Jin's actions might suggest a fleeting moment of solidarity, recognizing and acknowledging Non's humanity beyond his status. However, his demeanor shifts dramatically when he realizes that Non doesn't reciprocate his romantic feelings and worsens when he sees him with Kru Keng.

Hobbesian human nature, which is driven by the pursuit of power and self-interest, comes to the forefront as Jin's wounded pride and sense of rejection fuel his actions. In Hobbes' state of nature, individuals are driven by their desires and fears leading to betrayal and conflict. His change in behavior to Non reflects this as he seeks to assert dominance and control in the face of perceived rejection by punishing Non. Jin's betrayal of Non's trust and kindness underscores the harsh realities of class divides, where compassion can quickly give way to exploitation. Hobbes argued that individuals in the state of nature are in constant competition for power and self-preservation, here Jin's realization that Non does not reciprocate his feelings leaves him feeling vulnerable and exposed.

Non's role as a commodity within the framework becomes clear as filming continues. His talent is valued solely for its ability to bring profit and success to the friends. Yet, despite his contributions, Non remains alienated from the fruits of his labor, he's always the worker and never the leader. Continuing this trend of being a pawn in group's quest for recognition. Marx's concept of false consciousness is evident, since Non remains unaware of the true nature of his exploitation until its too late.

The group needs to get rid of Non, because he's become a lose cannon. Tee needs him delivered to his Uncle, so that he can survive and continue to receive the payments he needs to keep his dad alive. The depths of their depravity are laid bare and echoes both Hobbes' and Marx's grim assessments of human nature intertwined with class conflict. Non becomes a victim to their cruelty, to their selfish desires, and the stark reality of coming from a poor family. He disappears into the abyss of the mafia, while the rest of the group continue to live their lives unperturbed, shielded by their wealth and privilege.

Interestingly enough, every single one of the guys that come from a better socio-economic status have begged for Non's forgiveness while under the influence of New's hallucinogens. The only one who doesn't is Tee. Yes, he is under the distress of confessing his crimes since Fluke is holding White hostage, but he's the only one that is willing to admit fault and ask for forgiveness without having to hallucinate Non's face or his voice. All this leaves me asking, what depths of betrayal and exploitation were the THC gang willing to sink to in their quest for dominance? Did Tee's penance begin when attempted to help Non escape his Uncle Joe? Was Non actually able to escape or had they sent him to his death?

2. Phee and New/Tan

Even through Phee and New, we can see Hobbesian and Marxist themes in their different versions of grief they experience over Non's disappearance.

New embodies the the essence of Hobbesian human nature, bringing around the idea of 'war of all against all'. His relentless pursuit of revenge becomes a primal instinct for survival, since he has lost everything good in his life. His brother, his childhood home, his education, his mother, and finally his father, in that very order, over the span of three years. New's grief over the disappearance of Non becomes a consuming force that propels him into a world of darkness. In Hobbes' state of nature, individuals are typically driven by self-interest and the pursuit of power, which New's quest of revenge reflects this fundamental aspect. His quest against the friends responsible isn't solely about revenge, but it's a desperate attempt to assert agency and justice in a world that has denied his family both.

Marx argues that in a capitalist society, the bourgeoisie will exploit the proletariat for profit, perpetuating class struggles. Non was exploited for his script, but New represents the proletariat, the oppressed working class fighting back against the forces of oppression. His revenge is a revolt against the oppressive structures of class inequality that have marginalized his whole family. In Marxist terms, his journey is a symbol of the proletariat struggle against exploitation and injustice, which echos the revolutionist spirit of Marxism.

On the other hand, Phee, who is financially well-off and still has his father, represents the privilege and the detachment from the struggles of the proletariat. He never fully understood why Non wasn't receptive to his help, similarly he's not completely understanding New's own thirst for revenge. While Phee is initially driven by a desire to uncover the truth about Non's disappearance, and while he still loves Non, it's mostly driven by guilt and grief within the context of privilege. Phee has things, people, in his life that still matter outside of Non. Yes, he loved Non, but he's able to move on from his grief, reflecting the detachment and apathy that can settle in with privilege. Under Marx's critique of the bourgeoisie, who exploit the proletarian, it's because Phee still has his Dad and other things he loves in life that he is able to move on from the type of anger in grief that New finds himself overwhelmed in.

It's going to be interesting where Phee and New's friendships heads in the last two episodes. Will it New and Phee collide in a violent confrontation that mirrors the clash between the oppressed and the privileged? Is DFF trying to make a comment on the class war where New's relentless pursuit of revenge against the THC gang represents the proletariat's revolt against exploitation, while Phee's detachment echoes the bourgeoisie's indifference to the plight of the marginalized? Or it will show that Phee and New are able to put their social status aside in order to find revenge against the true bourgeoisies, in this case the THC gang, that exploited Non for all his worth until ultimately destroying him.

Final Thoughts

While this episode may feel significantly weaker in comparison to the last five, I think it's providing us with the necessary exposition as we head into our final two episodes. We're seeing the destruction of the 'bourgeoisie' by their own hands with just a little nudge from the sole proletariat. As Hobbes would likely agree, it's a dog eat dog world in that cabin. It always had been with Top, Por, Tee, Fluke and Jin. There was an equality between them, but now with an outside force, their bonds are breaking and they are willing to kill each other just to survive.

Dead Friend Forever is going beyond the standard slasher genre, even beyond horror. I truly think it's making social commentary regarding the classes and human nature. It's going to be interesting to see who comes out the survivor of this party from hell, if there is anyone.

Tagging @slayerkitty for DFF's meta round up.

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ichiwashername-o · 7 months ago

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What Are Friends For Ch. 26

An Undertale fanfiction.

Written by ichiwashername-o

Summary: Undyne, Sans, Papyrus, and Gaster travel to the past in one last desperate effort to save their timeline.

Rating: Viewer discretion advised. Contains swearing, trauma, and psychological horror

Cast: Undyne, Papyrus, Sans, W.D. Gaster, and others

Chapter 1

AO3

Chapter 26: Final Gambit

There was no time to think.

Undyne charged straight ahead. She didn’t have a plan, but she didn’t need one! All she had to do was stop herself from hurting Papyrus! She’d kick her own ass if she had to!

Or at the very least, stall herself long enough for Sans and everyone else to take care of that kid.

It hadn’t really quite hit her how she was literally going to be fighting herself. It was like in those animes she watched, where the main character was forced to fight an evil twin/clone, usually created by the super evil villain to thwart them! Because what was a better enemy to face than themselves?

And now in the most brain-scrambling twist of fate, she was the future coming to beat some sense into her past-self.

Time travel is BULLSHIT! she thought.

But this was good, she reasoned with herself! All those late weekend nights binge-watching anime shows with Alphys was going to pay off in spades! She was going to exploit every trick and trope at her disposal to keep her past self from making that horrible mistake.

Her first mistake was trusting that stupid talking flower. She and Papyrus needed to have a talk about Flowey when all this was over, but that was for another time.

Right now, she needed to focus. She bull-rushed straight to the passage between Snowdin and Waterfall where, thankfully, it warmed significantly and Undyne was able to shrug the chill off her body. She slowed her mad sprint to a steady jog, waiting in anticipation. This was the only way to get to Snowdin, other than by boat, and she knew she’d run into her past self in mere moments.

She summoned a spear to her side, her claws tapping incessantly on its shaft as she braced herself, waiting for the battle ahead.

–

Sans, Papyrus, and Gaster cautiously approached Snowdin, where everything was dead silent. There was no one around; no patrons loitering outside Grillby’s bar, no neighbors having lively conversations on their front porches, no monster children frolicking in the snow. It was a practical ghost town as all the lights in the surrounding houses had been shut off.

“Seems everyone’s hunkered down already,” Sans observed quietly. They moved out of town, towards their house, where the Papyrus of the past was undoubtedly waiting for the human.

But Sans was torn on what to do. He made a promise to that old lady to protect the human if one should ever emerge from the Ruins, but, well, maybe some promises were meant to be broken. Maybe if he had never made that damn promise to begin with, none of them would even be here right now.

But that was in the past, and now here they were, in the past, trying to undo the one mistake that ruined everything.

Sorry, old lady, but if you knew what this kid was going to do, you’d understand, he thought to himself.

Papyrus turned to study him. “Are you alright, brother?” he asked.

Sans shrugged. “M’fine,” he waved off. “Just . . . thinking about what we need to do.”

“We’re going to stop the human,” he said resolutely. “And we can do that without hurting anyone.”

Even now, he was such an unbearable ball of optimism. But Sans didn’t respond. It wouldn’t do any good to start another argument.

Gaster lingered behind a stride or two, giving the brothers their space, but his movements were labored and slow and his expression was a perpetual grimace. He wasn’t looking well, seeming more and more unstable with every step. And of course, Papyrus noticed that as well.

“And are you ok?” he asked the doctor.

I̺̮ ̉wi̙̯ll̾ͅ ̄̃̄mǎ̙nā̊g̮ͬȇ, he insisted, his voice much more static-y and garbled than before. J̻͖͙ust ̺ạ͈͓ ̦̙lit̳̻t͍̙͈le̦͉̦ ̼͉̦l̻̪̦oṋ̞g͕̦̼ḛr . ̥.̬ ͖̜̪.͍̝̠ ͖͉͍I ͎jus̱̗͔t neẹd to ͚̜h̙o̫̻͕ld͎̫̖ on̺̪ ͕̬a̗̣̹ ̼l͔̤it̪͔tle ̗̩lon͖̗̫g̭er̰.͙̥ I͕͙ ͔̣m̳̪ust̺͉͚ s̹̫͈e̮̯͖e t͖̼ẖ͔̳is̻ t̯h̭̟̯ro̺ug͈h̫.̼̖

Papyrus and Sans exchanged a look. Gaster’s warning still rang in their heads. This journey was a literal death sentence for the doctor, and it showed with every step and wince of pain on his face. It was a miracle he was still here.

“We’ll do this quickly, then,” Papyrus promised, picking up his pace.

N͓̱O,̹̜̓ͬ ̏̄̾WAĬ̦T͇ -͇̑-̈́̅̄ Gaster said suddenly, reaching out to him.

Without warning, vines erupted from the earth, spraying snow everywhere. Papyrus threw an arm across his face as one of the thorny vines wrapped around his arm, yanking him off his feet–

A thunderous roar and whine sounded behind him as a sudden flash of blue light exploded, blinding Papyrus for a moment but releasing him of the vine’s grip. Papyrus fell hard but jumped back on his feet, madly scrambling to make sense of just what happened.

Gaster loomed behind him, his expression fierce and focused, a Gaster Blaster skull hovering at his side as he pointed at something past Papyrus. Papyrus followed his gaze.

There, right in their path, stood Flowey, vines lashing as he grinned, his insane gaze locking with Gaster’s. The little flower let out a delightfully devilish cackle.

“Howdy, Doc!” Flowey said gleefully. “Long time no see!”

Asr͙ỉ̫e͑̏l͍̯͚, Gaster hissed.

Papyrus did a double-take. “Wait, WHAT?!”

Gaster ignored him. Ge̹̘̗ṱ ̥̬out ͎̤o͖͈f̞ͅ ou͕̻͈r͙̝ way͉. This̠ ̥̫̯i̦̙͖s ̤t̠oo̦̹̘ i̤m̪p̫̦͖ortant.

“Aww, is that any way to greet an old pal?” Flowey crooned. The wall of vines waved threateningly behind him. “I just wanted to say hi, that's all!”

Gaster turned to Papyrus and Sans. Y̙̤o̮u ̯t͉wo͖ ̲ͅgo͓,͙̣ ̻̼̭g̖ọ͇ ̥̫ṉ̱o̞̬w.̯ ̼͈ ̬I̫ ̪̩will d̠̜i̪st͖racͅt ̤h̲im̰.̣̮

“No one goes anywhere!” Flowey said, his vines darting forward to strike at the skeletons.

Sans didn’t let himself think. He just grabbed Papyrus, and teleported away.

“Wait, no, NO!” Flowey said, growing angry. “You don’t get to barge in here and ruin all my fun!” But he turned back to Gaster, that manic glee returning. “But I suppose I can have plenty of fun with you, can’t I?!”

Gaster closed his eyes, resigning himself to his fate. Yes. This would do just fine. He will distract Asriel–Flowey. He will buy enough time for Sans and Papyrus to do what needs to be done.

And if this final fight should be the end of him . . . so be it.

He just needed to hold out as long as he could.

He summoned another Blaster, and with a furious whine, a beam of pure energy blasted the wall of thorny vines as they descended upon him like a plague of serpents.

–

Undyne was racing as fast as she could to Snowdin, the Thorny Whip in her hand. She knew what she had to do–Flowey had warned her what would happen, and however much it broke her heart, she knew she had no other option–

Then she stopped dead, coming to a screeching halt. Standing right in front of her, right on the passage to Snowdin–

Was herself!

Undyne gaped, not trusting what she was seeing. “What–what sort of sick trick is this?!”

The Other Undyne was standing ready and braced, a spear in hand. “Look, I know this is gonna sound crazy, but I’m from the future and I’m here to stop you!”

Undyne ground her fangs together, steeling every muscle in her body as she swapped out the whip for her more tried and true weapon, her spear. “If this is some sort of practical joke, it’s not funny!”

“It’s not a joke! Look, if you hurt Papyrus, you’ll turn him into an uncontrollable beast and he’ll kill the human and you are going to ruin his life–!!!”

Undyne had heard enough from the impostor. She didn’t know why she had even bothered to stop, she had a mission and she needed to get to it! She charged forward, screaming with rage and determination and brought her spear crashing down.

“GET OUT OF MY WAY!!!”

The Other Undyne leaped backwards, bringing up her own spears and fending off her attack. She countered Undyne’s attacks with her own ferocity, her yellow eye glinting with the same determination.

They were both fighting for their friend, and they were both going to give it everything they had.

Despite the severity of the situation, Undyne couldn’t help but grin. She had always been dying for a match against a true opponent, someone who matched her skill in every way to push her to the very limits of what she was capable of. And fighting an evil impostor/clone/whatever was the perfect match!

She had done her homework. She had watched countless animes with Alphys and fighting an evil doppelganger was a common trope in those shows. And so she would use every trick and counter she knew of to defeat this evil version of herself and save Papyrus.

Undyne screamed, raining down an endless torrent of spears. The Other Undyne dodged nimbly out of the way, bringing up a green shield to block the attacks she couldn’t outmaneuver. She retaliated with a similar volley, ferocious and unending.

The Other Undyne was grinning, too, but there was fear and panic and desperation.

The same fear, panic and desperation that Undyne was feeling right now.

If she didn’t get to Papyrus soon–

She was wasting time here! She had to get around the Other Undyne–

She jumped high into the air, using her spears to catapult herself over the doppleganger. Once her feet touched the ground, she took off running as fast as she could towards Snowdin.

“Oh no you don’t, you BRAT!”

Undyne felt herself lurch to a stop as her soul glowed brightly with green energy freezing herself in place, she spun, scowling furiously at The Other.

“Well, seems the only way to get away from you is to kill you! So let’s make it quick!” Undyne snarled.

That was just fine with the Other Undyne. She just needed to keep stalling.

–

The world blinked back into focus with a flash of blue and a zap of ozone.

Papyrus blinked blearily, trying to get his bearings. They weren’t too far away from their house, it was just over the hill. All he and Sans had to do was exchange a look, give a nod, and begin their approach.

Papyrus . . . really didn’t have much of a plan. Not a solid one. Which probably wasn’t a good idea. He was mostly winging this. But he felt that he’d know what the right thing to do would be when the time came.

“Do you think Gaster’s going to be ok?” he asked suddenly.

Sans was surprised by the question, but he sighed, shaking his head. “No idea,” he admitted. “Flowey’s a real piece of work.” Papyrus frowned at that, and Sans, seeing his dejected expression, gave another sigh and added, “Then again, so’s the doc. He’s . . . strong. And smart. If anyone could put up a fight against Flowy, it’d be him.”

That got Papyrus a little more hopeful. “But how did Flowey even know we were here–”

“Flowey’s got his own influence on the timeline,” Sans reminded him. “So he’s more tuned in to abnormalities than normal monsters. Us popping in here? Yeah, might as well set off a fireball to announce our arrival to him.”

Papyrus winced. “I admit, I didn’t think about that.”

“Nothing to do about it now. Come on, let’s get moving, I’m not about to take any bets on how long the doc can stall him.”

They approached their house, cresting a distant hill and coming to the edge of the surrounding forest. And there, right in plain view, standing and waiting . . .

Was Papyrus.

Him. His past self.

Papyrus froze. Hm. He had no idea how surreal it would be seeing . . . himself. He was stunned for quite a while, just . . . staring. Sans noticed and gave him a soft elbow to jar him from his thoughts.

Papyrus started. “S-sorry. It’s just . . . weird.”

“Tell me about it.” Sans more than sympathised. “But this is good. The kid’s not here yet. We’re early. We can head back into town, cut the kid off.”

Papyrus nodded. Even he knew that it wouldn’t be the best idea to just go waltzing up to his past self and try to explain everything. That’d be way too confusing. Best if they tried to avoid running into themselves.

The exception was Undyne, of course.

They snuck back through the woods, back to town, and began their careful skirt around the perimeter to see if they could spot the human.

It took them longer than they liked. Papyrus thought that the town being so dead and deserted would make things easier. But they must have been really early because the kid was nowhere in town. They were about to head further out of Snowdin, across the bridge, when Sans stopped him.

“Wait,” he whispered, gripping Papyrus’s arm. Papyrus froze, and saw Sans pointing across the way. Papyrus followed his brother’s gaze.

There they were. The human child, clothed in their signature striped shirt, a red bandana tied around their forehead and their hand adorned with a glove. They were hunched down low behind a building, carefully scanning in the direction where the brother’s house was.

“What are they doing?” Papyrus whispered.

“They’re waiting for something,” Sans muttered. A lightbulb went off in his head. Of course, how could he be so stupid? “They’re waiting for you.”

Papyrus’s head snapped in his direction.

“They’re waiting for you to change.”

–

Undyne could feel her pulse pounding in her ears, sweat gleaming off her scales. This evil doppleganger from the future was giving her one hell of a beating, but she never lost sight of her objective.

She needed to get to Papyrus, and she needed to get to him NOW!

She defended every attack sent her way with the green shield, but every moment she could, she strained to break out of the stranglehold of the green magic binding her in place. It couldn’t last forever, both she and her evil clone knew that, but every second she was here was another second Papyrus was closer to danger!

But the second she felt that green energy fade, she knew exactly what she needed to do.

“I doubt you’re gonna listen to me, but dammit, it’s worth a shot!” the evil clone shouted over the roar of battle. “Flowey’s tricking you! He wants you to use the whip on Papyrus! It’ll make him lose control! Don’t make him go through that! Don’t let that stupid flower use you!”

“I’m not about to get brainwashed by an evil clone!” Undyne snarled. “How stupid do you think I am?!”

“Pretty damn stupid, apparently!” Future-Undyne snapped right back.

They clashed, spears flying in every direction. One spear grazed her arm, but she managed to land a solid blow on the clone, sending her reeling, her single yellow eye widening in shock.

Undyne grinned. The blow was hard enough to snap the other’s concentration on her green magic, allowing her to move freely once again.

Undyne did not hesitate. She reached forward, and pinged her evil clone’s soul with green magic, locking her in place.

The Future Undyne, momentarily surprised, took the maneuver in stride, grinning right back at her.

And then Undyne spun right around and sprinted as hard as she could, towards Snowdin, leaving her evil clone in the dust.

She could hear her clone scream in anguish and rage behind her.

She blocked out the sound.

All that mattered was getting to Papyrus.

She needed to save him.

–

Vines lashed wildly through the air, their thorny limbs whistling through the ice-cold air as they seared towards their target. Gaster only blinked before he disappeared from view, apparating mere meters away and out of the vines’ wild swing.

“Hold still!” Flowey seethed. Vines erupted from the earth, serpentining around the doctor’s fragmented form, but he again disappeared from view, evading the attack.

“You are such a filthy CHEATER!”

Y̘͈̹our͓ͅ ̳̲̳fi̭rst̫ m̖i̺sta̠k͍̻̱e ̘w͍͚͕as ass͖̤uming̥̭ I͎ ̹ͅwo̝u͚͇ḽ̪͎d̺ f̱igh̯t ̝̲̙f̤ͅa̜̪̭ir̰̬.̱̩ Gaster said coldly.

Flowey gritted his teeth, redoubling his efforts. More vines came crashing down, more razor-sharp leaves sliced through the air, a hail of bullets pounded the entire field they found themselves in. Gaster responded with a flurry of bone attacks and several of those hellish skulls blasting him away with their powerful breath attacks.

But despite his frustrations, Flowey found himself utterly fascinated by this recent development. The long-forgotten Dr. Gaster, brought back to life?

Well, perhaps life was a generous term. Even now, Flowey could see the glitchy form of the skeleton monster strain with effort, his breaths haggard and labored. Though he remained cool and focused, there was no masking that look of sheer agony that occasionally crept across Gaster’s shattered face.

But why was the doc so intent on stopping him? He must know about his plan with Papyrus, but what caused him to care so much to come back and fight him?

Flowey gleamed. Oh, his plan must work most marvelously if the doc was this determined to stop him!

Which meant that Flowey had to ensure his plan came to fruition by any means necessary.

“Well, this has been most invigorating, the best fight I had in a while,” Flowey crooned. Gaster paused, catching his breath. “Really, way to get the blood pumping! Well, not like I have any of that, hee hee hee! But you know what I mean!”

I͚̮ cann̫̙͓o̦͇̩t̜͔ ̫̪͖l̪et ̭̺̜yo͚u̘ h̪̼̞a̩̙rm͉͖̘ ͈Pa̖̟̼p̞͈̹yru͚s̙͕̳. Gaster said in a low voice. E͈v͈e̲̝̗ṉ ̥you ̘̭̫wi͔ll͚̞̯ c̹̬o̠̮̭m̩e ̖̩to̼̮ ̟regr̦͓͇e͇̭͕t ̥͓̙it͔.

Flowey laughed indignantly. “Because you’re such a paragon of virtue, aren’t you? No, I think I’ll very much like having my own bit of fun! And I’m not letting you stop me!”

Gaster’s hand shot up, pinging Flowey with blue magic, preventing him from escaping. But Flowey anticipated such, hence why he taunted the doc to begin with. Vines appeared behind Gaster and shot right through his body, running him through and tearing him apart.

A static cacophonous scream of pain ripped through the air, but Flowey was already gone.

–

Undyne breached the border of Snowdin, the winter chill hitting her like a frozen slap across the face. It sucked the air right out of her lungs, but she pressed on. Papyrus’s house wasn’t much further–

Suddenly a little yellow flower popped up right in front of her. Flowey! She screeched to a halt before she accidentally ran him over.

The flower looked up at her, panicked and out of breath. “More are here! More came to stop you!”

Undyne blinked. “What?!”

“It’s too hard to explain right now–but you can’t trust anyone you see! It’s a trick! They want to stop you! They want Papyrus to die!”

Undyne clenched her fist. “So, I’m not the only one with an evil clone here, am I?” Flowey’s only response was a miserable nod. She didn’t bother on the how and why of the matter, that wasn’t important. “Then I need to get to him right now!”

“Hurry!” Flowey urged. “I’ll try to stop the evil Papyrus and Sans for as long as I can!”

Undyne balked. Both an evil version of Papyrus and Sans were here, too?! One was a handful on their own, but if both of them were fighting together, they would be a nightmare. “Are you sure?”

“We don’t have a choice, and we don’t have time, now go!” Flowey urged, and Undyne took off without any further encouragement.

Flowey turned, letting a sinister smile creep across his face.

No one was going to ruin this.

He disappeared, taking off to search for the time-traveling skeleton brothers.

–

Papyrus stood at the outskirts of Snowdin, not too far from the entrance of Waterfall, anxiously awaiting for the arrival of the human. It had been so dreadfully, hauntingly silent when he walked through the town. Everyone was inside, behind locked doors and shuttered windows. Everyone who was lucky enough to escape the human’s path of destruction, he thought bitterly to himself.

He steeled himself. The human was coming. And they were going down a very dark and dangerous path. For a moment, he had been conflicted between his duties as a Royal Guard and what was right. But he arrived at a conclusion he could be proud of: he needed to help this human find their way, even if it meant going against the Royal Guard’s orders. The human needed his help and guidance! Who was he to turn them away?

He heard footsteps rapidly approaching behind him, crunching through the snow. He quickly spun around, his eyes lighting up with recognition.

“Undyne–!” he said. His best friend’s arrival was a surprise but not an unwelcome one–

She reared back her fist and cracked him as hard as she could across the face, tears streaming from her singular golden eye.

–

“Something’s wrong.”

Papyrus heard it, too. There was a faint muffled sound of some sort of commotion, too far to make out any details but they could hear voices and what sounded like some sort of fighting.

The kid heard it, too, and they emerged from their hiding space and approached the sound.

Sans gritted his teeth. Did Undyne fail to stop her past self? No time to find out, he wasn’t letting the kid take another step forward.

He reached out his hand, glowing with magic. Papyrus’s own hand snapped out and snatched his wrist, pulling it downwards.

“No!” Papyrus protested in a hoarse whisper.

“Paps, we don’t have time for this!” Sans snarled in frustration. “We talked about this, we have to stop the kid, no matter what!”

“And we can do it without hurting them!” Papyrus insisted. “Watch!”

Papyrus raised his own hand, glowing with blue magic. He targeted the snow covering the roof of a nearby building and with a simple flick of his wrist, the telekinetic magic caused it to come loose, falling to the ground in a cascade of snow right in front of the human.

The human jumped, just barely missing the wall of snow. They glanced around, looking for the cause of the disturbance, but shrugged and tried to trudge through the mound of snow now blocking their path. It was hard work, with snow so loose, but they pushed through with sheer determination.

Papyrus reached out and pinged the next house, causing the snow from that roof to fall right in front of the human once again.

The human stopped. They squinted suspiciously.

Sans couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, I gotta admit, that’s pretty funny.”

The stalling wasn’t enough, even Papyrus was aware of that. But how to get the human away from . . . from him?

Suddenly, a vine lashed around his mouth, gagging him. Papyrus let out a muffled scream of surprise before he was dragged away. More vines wrapped around him, binding him in place. Papyrus tried to thrash and wriggle himself free, but could barely budge an inch. The thorns on the vines scratched painfully against his bones, causing him to wince. Sans was similarly trapped, his eyes flashing blue and yellow. He was trying to teleport away, but somehow the vines were preventing him from doing so.

And away they were dragged, away from the human. Papyrus could see them crest the last snow mound and make their final approach.

Papyrus tried to scream. But his muffled voice barely reached his own ears.

Flowey appeared before them, that menacing smile greeting them once more.

“Honestly, I’m flattered!” he giggled. “I’m flattered you traveled all across space and time to stop little ol’ me! Which means just one thing: my plan must be something REALLY special!”

In the distance, a scream broke through the deathly silent air.

–

Undyne watched in horror as her friend’s body twisted and convulsed. She had watched Papyrus transform dozens, if not hundreds of times. But this . . . this was different. More violent. More visceral.

The changes were different. The spikes running along his back weren’t that long, they weren’t serrated–his tail didn’t have spikes on the end–his horns were different–

What was HAPPENING to him?!

“What have you DONE?!”

That was her voice. Did she say that?!

But no. Behind her was her evil doppleganger, quickly approaching but her steps faltered when she saw the state Papyrus was in.

Undyne could see the horror and pain and regret on her clone’s face. That expression . . . it was unlike anything she had ever seen before.

It was harrowing.

Her clone snarled with rage, turning on her. “Do you see now?! Idiot!!!” She summoned a spear to her side, resolution dominating her features. But still, there was that pain, that regret, that haunting sorrow. “We don’t have a choice now. We have to stop him!”

Undyne shuddered. Another scream erupted from Papyrus as his body continued to change, growing larger and far more monstrous with every passing second. “But Papyrus ca defeat the human–”

“THAT’S NOT PAPYRUS ANYMORE!!!”

Undyne stared. She couldn’t believe it . . . but the proof was right in front of her. That feral gleam in the dragon’s eyes right in front of them . . . there was nothing left of her friend in that thing that now stood before her.

The dragon let out a death rattle as the final changes overcame it. It rose to its full height–far taller than he was supposed to be, far more feral, far more dangerous, far more deadly. And those blazing orange eyes snapped right to them.

Undyne felt her blood freeze.

As fast as a viper, it lunged forward, those terrible jaws gaping wide to snap down on her–

There was a sudden flash of blue and a crack of ozone. Undyne blinked. They now found themselves in the Hotland labs?! She spun around, seeing her (maybe not so evil?) clone by her side and . . . Sans?

Sans was staring up at the both of them. His expression was shocked, understandably so, but Undyne could detect a hint of anger. But it was mostly shock as he glanced back and forth between the two of them.

“Well.” Sans said. “No one told me Undyne had a twin sister.”

The other Undyne began to rattle off at full speed. “SANS! I know this sounds crazy but I’m from the future and I came back in time with Papyrus and you to stop myself from hurting Papyrus–obviously that didn’t work but right now we need to make sure Papyrus doesn’t kill the kid because if he does, he’s going to screw up the timeline forever–!”

Undyne stared at her doppleganger. She didn’t know what to believe. But what she did know was that Flowey lied to her. Or at the very least, horribly manipulated her. And because of that lie, she hurt her very best friend in the worst way.

So now she was very angry.

Sans was still staring at the doppleganger, the shock wearing off and replaced by an unreadable mask.

“Well, that explains the anomalies I just saw . . .” he muttered.

“Oh, Gaster’s here, too, he’s helping us, so don’t kill him,” the other Undyne added quickly.

That proved to be the worst thing to say as both Sans and Undyne froze, stiffening in rage.

“Gaster’s here?” Sans asked. His eyes were completely empty, his voice low and dangerous.

The future Undyne mentally kicked herself. She should have kept that little tidbit to herself–

“He’s the only reason we were able to get here,” she said quickly. “Look, be pissed at him all you want, but we need to get back there and save Papyrus! Now are you going to help me or what?!” Undyne asked furiously.

But both Undyne and Sans knew that Gaster was undoubtedly the cruelest monster to ever live. He was the one responsible for what was happening to Papyrus, after all.

The two of them turned on the future Undyne, spears and bones summoned to their sides. Future-Undyne wanted to scream. Her and her big fat stupid mouth.

“I don’t know what sort of trick you’re pulling but it’s not gonna work!” Undyne snarled.

“You wanna ask him yourself?! Go for it!” Future-Undyne cried. “But we’re wasting time! We have to move!!! NOW!!!”

Undyne and Sans exchanged a look. If Undyne was lying, a lot of monsters were going to be hurt.

But if she was telling the truth, their entire existence could be in jeopardy.

Sans glared up at her. “If you’re lying–”

“You can kick my ass to kingdom come, now let’s GO ALREADY!!!” Undyne said, stomping her foot impatiently.

Sans gripped both Undyne’s hands and teleported away.

–

Flowey dragged Papyrus and Sans away from the imminent battle, feeling them both struggle in his grip. He let out a mad cackle. Their desperation was just so delicious! Perhaps he could indulge their worst fantasies and force them to witness the battle for themselves! Personally, he wanted to see the monstrous Papyrus rip that little brat to bloody shreds!!!

L̥̣EŤ͆͆ ͔̀TḪ̤͌̀̊ͅE̮̼ͮ̓M ̟̰G̭̻͌̓O̠̎!̲̪͒̽!!

Two Gaster Blasters appeared at the brother’s sides, their jaws snapping down on the vines and freeing them from their grasp. Papyrus jumped to his feet and helped Sans to his.

Gaster had come to their rescue! But the doctor was on the brink of turning to dust. His body was barely there as it was glitching in and out of existence like static on a television, his expression one of pain as he struggled to stay present. But underneath all that, his eyes glowed a bright and brilliant blue as through brute determination alone he hung onto existence.

Papyrus gaped. “Gaster–!”

Ḡ̰Oͮ̽ͣͫ͋!̦̬̰͕̾̎̆̚!̓! ̼͔̜͔͙͍̄̆͑͑͗̓N̹͒Ô̳͖͕̖͉̦ͬͪ̓̎͌W!̗͍͕̮!̟͔̭̲̓̏̍̓!͉͙̼̱͎̼ͦ͋͛͗̉ͤ

Sans gripped his hand and tugged him along, leaving Gaster alone to fight Flowey. He tried not to think how this was undoubtedly the last time they’d see Gaster alive.

They had to make this count. They charged forward, towards the battle.

They arrived at the clearing just in time to see the skeletal draconic Papyrus finish his shifting, turning its hellish gaze upon the two Undynes standing before it. It leaped into the air, ready to sink its teeth and claws into the two fish-monsters, before they inexplicably zapped out of existence with a familiar blue spark of magic.

Sans managed to snatch them away at the brink of time.

But they weren’t done yet. They could see the human approach, their eyes lighting up with eager anticipation as they saw the monstrous dragon before them.

And the dragon saw them.

It let out a furious roar, ready to pounce.

“NO!” Papyrus cried. He rushed forward, and using all his strength, he encompassed the dragon with blue magic. The dragon let out a shocked yelp as its body crashed to the ground as if struck with an immense invisible weight. It roared and thrashed viciously, fighting back against Papyrus. Papyrus gritted his teeth, using every ounce of his strength to keep the dragon–himself–pinned.

The human stared back and forth between the two Papyrus-es, one draconic, one humanoid, in complete bafflement.

“Human!” Papyrus called out. The dragon opened its jaws, ready to let out a deadly blast. But Papyrus shifted his focus, forcing the jaws to snap closed. “Y-you cannot fight this! It’s too strong! You will be destroyed!”

The human paused, almost considering it. Then they charged forward, fist raised, ready to engage the dragon. Papyrus winced. No! This wasn’t what he wanted!

“I’m sorry, bro,” Sans said regretfully. “But if the way to stop it is to put you down–”

“No! No one has to get hurt!” Papyrus shouted. He diverted some of his magic to the human, freezing them in place. “We–we just have to exhaust it–him–me!!! He can’t keep it up forever! Just tire him out!”

Sans could have slapped him. Even now, he was so stupidly optimistic.

But he reached out, and used his own magic to pin the dragon down. It again let out a furious roar, but it was strong. Even with the brother’s combined efforts, they could feel the dragon slipping from their control.

It also didn’t help that the human was so determined to fight the dragon themselves and was fighting Papyrus’s control just as fiercely. They managed to break free, and charged forward, swinging their fist and landing a heavy blow against the dragon’s skull.

The dragon’s head snapped to the side from the impact, but didn’t appear the blow itself did much damage. But it enraged the beast and with a surge of incredible strength it broke free of the brother’s control and lashed out with its wicked claws.

Papyrus was at the ready and caught the limb mid-swing, slowing it considerably. The human managed to duck mostly out of the way, the blow glancing off their side and shredding the hem of their shirt. They winced from the impact but it was a miracle they hadn’t been torn to pierces. Gritting their teeth and steeling their resolve, they attacked again.

“Please stop!” Papyrus shouted. “You’re just making it worse!”

Sans was right by his brother’s side, carefully weighing his options. He shouldn’t have been surprised his brother was so steadfastly resolved to fix this whole mess with pacifism. Sans had to find a way to fix this around Papyrus’s impediment. Realistically, if Sans went full-bore like he did when he typically fought the human at the end of the palace corridors, he could take them out. The human’s LV was still relatively low right now. But attacking the human outright would make Papyrus turn on him and he’d try to stop them.

So the best thing he could do was keep the dragon pinned down and let the kid finish him off. It was . . . brutal, and he hated the idea of helping the brat kill his own brother.

But if it saved their timeline, if it ensured their future remained intact, it was the only thing he could do.

“I’m sorry, bro,” Sans said as he focused all his magic on the dragon. It thrashed, its orange eyes wild and wide as it tried to attack, managing a slow and stuttering swipe once in a while, but for the human, it was like shooting a fish in a barrel.

And for that reason, the human was left unsatisfied.

“Don’t help me!” the human shouted.

That got Sans and Papyrus to start. The human barely spoke, and now they were glowering warningly at them.

“I want to fight him! You’re ruining it!”

Sans could have blasted that kid if he could. “Kid, this is a fight you can’t win. This thing is specifically designed to eat little freaks like you.”

“Then let me try!” Then the brat had the audacity to lunge at him! It was enough to cause Sans’ concentration to slip, causing the dragon to finally wrestle itself free of their control. The dragon roared, completely enraged and snapped around, going right for the kill.

Papyrus dove forward, wrapping the kid in his arms and shoving them away just in time. But the jaws snapped down hard around Papyrus, and the skeleton let out a cry of pain. He winced, bracing himself, but he had just managed to grip the dragon’s jaws, preventing them from closing around him completely and snapping him in half.

He then forced the jaws open just enough for him to worm his way out, falling clumsily to the ground. Papyrus cradled his side, wincing in pain.

“Human! Are you alright?!” he called out.

But the human wasn’t paying attention to him. They just charged right forward, fist raised, landing another blow on the distracted beast. It reeled for just a second before twisting around, its tail lashing out to swipe at them.

Papyrus once again used his blue magic to stop the tail dead in its tracks, allowing the human to easily dodge, but they were angry at Papyrus’s interference. Sans regained his footing and summoned a Gaster Blaster and the blast from the skull construct knocked the dragon off its feet.

“Why are you helping me?!”

“Because you can die!”

“I don’t care.”

“Die for GOOD!!!”

That got the kid to stop and stare at him. Papyrus latched onto that moment of hesitation for dear life.

“If I–if that dragon kills you, you won’t be able to come back!” Papyrus warned. “That’s it! No more do-overs! No more resets!”

The human’s eyes went wide. And Papyrus desperately hoped the human sensed his sincerity, or at least his desperation.

The human swallowed, staring down the draconic beast. It was back on its feet, shaking itself off, and ready to attack again.

“Fine. We’ll fight it together.”

“I was hoping you’d just–run away and let it tire itself out!” Papyrus called out feebly.

But the human wasn’t so eager to throw away such an exhilarating fight. Their approach became far more defensive, reacting to incoming attacks instead of bull-rushing straight on. Papyrus didn’t like that approach any better! They still wanted to kill him!

And worst of all, Sans was in on it. His entire focus was on stopping the dragon at every turn, impeding its attacks by freezing it in place. Then the kid could wail on it to their heart’s content.

Papyrus moved to stop them, but more commotion caught his eye behind him. Arriving at the scene was Undyne! Actually, two of them! Along with another Sans!

The human blinked, rubbing their eyes. Papyrus didn’t blame them if they thought they had started seeing double.

“Come on! Take him down!” Undyne cried out, throwing a volley of spears at the dragon. Papyrus couldn’t tell if that was past or future Undyne. He supposed it didn’t quite matter at the moment.

Now everyone was on the dragon, pummeling it with magic attacks. It tried to fight back, tried to bite and claw at anyone that got too close, even tried to blast them with its devastating laser attack, but the two Sans-es worked together to keep it immobile as the Undynes and the human unleashed their full strength against it.

Papyrus watched, horrified. This wasn’t right! This isn’t what he wanted! He didn’t want anyone getting hurt! Not even the dragon!

And then it got worse. Vines whipped into the fray, gripping everyone and pulling them away, even pinning the dragon under a cocoon of thorns. Papyrus turned to see Flowey emerge from the forest.

And in one of his many tendril-like vines he gripped Gaster–or whatever horrific remnants there was left of him.

Papyrus gasped.

“Now, now!” Flowey said in a sickly sweet voice. “I don’t think we should spoil all the human’s fun, should we?”

He dropped Gaster unceremoniously to the ground where he splattered like tar, his form incomprehensible. Papyrus could barely make out his face.

Flowey pulled both Undynes and both Sans-es away, leaving the kid free to approach the dragon. He loosened his grip on the dragon as well, letting it rise to its feet for one final fight.

The dragon had been significantly weakened, but it had more than enough ferocity left in it to cause devastating harm.

And Papyrus saw the future play out before him. He saw flashes of red against the snow. He saw the human’s body torn to pieces. He could hear the tortured, agonized wails of pain and grief.

He felt every crippling moment of pain and sorrow he experienced tenfold. He felt it all in that one moment, and he knew that he NEEDED to stop it from happening ever again.

The dragon’s jaws snapped open, a terrible whine building in its throat as its maw glowed a bright and blinding blue. The human hunched over, ready to strike.

Papyrus rushed forward, screaming.

”STOP!!!”

He threw himself in front of the human, his arms stretched out to his sides.

The blast hit him full-force, all that magic searing his entire body like fire. It consumed him in a terrible pain, pain so complete he thought he would rend to dust right then and there.

It was over as fast as it started. Papyrus collapsed to his hands and knees, every bone in his body shaking. But he looked over his shoulder, seeing the human was unharmed.

The human was in shock. Their mouth was dropped open, their eyes wide, their hands hanging limply at their sides.

Papyrus turned back to face the dragon, who had also paused. It let out a low continuous growl, but . . . it wasn’t attacking them.

The skeleton shoved himself to his feet. He forced one foot in front of the other, limping towards the dragon. Every step was agony. Every move took every ounce of his concentration and will.

Everything hurt.

But it was nothing compared to the hurt the dragon–himself–was surely experiencing.

He wasn’t aware of everyone else behind him, who were watching, stunned and frozen in place, waiting with bated breath.

“It’s ok . . .” Papyrus whispered, raising a hand to the dragon.

The dragon flinched away from him, letting out a louder warning growl.

“I know . . . I know,” Papyrus said, stepping closer still. The dragon didn’t move. Those orange eyes were locked firmly on Papyrus, still letting out a steady growl like thunder. “You must be so angry and so scared. I know. I too was hurt. And . . . I did something so very terrible. And whatever hurt you’re feeling now . . . it doesn’t come close to the hurt I felt then.”

Behind him, Undyne winced with guilt.

“None of this should have happened. And I’m so very sorry it did happen. But it can stop. All of this can stop right now. No one has to hurt anyone anymore. Not them. Not you.”

Papyrus was so close now, so close he could reach out and touch the dragon.

He raised his hand. The dragon flinched away from him.

“It’s ok,” Papyrus said softly. “I’m not going to hurt you. And I won’t let them hurt you anymore, either.”

Flowey let out a snarl, ready to show that stupid skeleton just how wrong he was. But two skeletons and two Undynes simultaneously reached out and pinned him down, preventing him from moving a single inch. Both Sans-es and Undynes glared down at him warningly.

Papyrus stepped closer. The dragon pulled back its head, growling louder, so he stopped, and just held his hands in the air before him. He wouldn’t put a hand on the dragon if it did not want to. He could be patient.

And slowly, very slowly, the dragon’s growls softened to a whimper, and then to a whine. The savage and feral gleam in those eyes faded. And Papyrus could see . . . something within.

Familiarity. Recognition. Pain and hurt.

“It’s ok.”

The dragon closed its eyes. Its body began to shake.

“It’s ok. It’s over. It’s all over.”

Its head extended forward, its snout pressing into Papyrus’s hand. Papyrus breathed a sigh of relief and wrapped his arms around its muzzle.

“It’s ok. You’re ok. It’s going to be ok.”

And he stood there for a long time, just holding the poor tortured creature, whispering soft words of assurance to it. And then the dragon’s body sagged, overcome by exhaustion, and it crumpled to the ground. Papyrus followed it down, kneeling before the dragon, still cradling its massive head in its hands.

Its body crackled with orange magic, and at this, Papyrus pulled away. He recognized this magic. The dragon’s body began to shrink and change, the horns and spikes and tail all disappearing as it became smaller and more humanoid. In moments, the dragon reverted back to its proper shape–Papyrus.

The Papyrus that was once a dragon looked up blearily at himself, and a brief look of confusion crossed his face before the exhaustion of the battle and the transformation consumed him and he fell unconscious.

Papyrus eased himself to the ground, making sure he was ok–he hadn’t quite gotten over how surreal this all was, but that wasn’t important. All that mattered was that he was ok–

They all were ok.

He turned back around to see everyone staring at him, all with some mixture of shock, awe, and admiration, though Flowey mostly looked furious. But the human especially was fixated on him. And Papyrus thought he saw tears in the human’s eyes.

There was silence. No one seemed sure what to even say, certainly not Papyrus.

But then the human, of all people, spoke up.

All they said was one word, thick and choked with emotion as tears threatened to spill.

“Why?”

Papyrus simply shrugged. He knew why, but he too was exhausted, barely able to stand after enduring a single blow from the dragon.

“Because . . . because it was right,” he said. “Hurting people–it never does any good, does it? It just . . . hurts people. It only leads to bad things. You know the old phrase, hurt people hurt people. Which sounds . . . silly when you say it like that. But the pain you inflict on someone, it . . . reverberates. Echoes across everyone they come across. I . . . I didn’t want you–anyone–to have that happen to them.”

The human lowered their head. “I just–I needed to know what happened, and I just thought–” They stopped themselves, shaking their head. “I could always fix things if they went wrong.”

“Not everything,” Papyrus muttered. He grinned. “Why do you think we’re here?”

Again, a heavy silence hung around them. Undyne–the Undyne from the future–came to his side and cast healing magic on him to make sure he didn’t collapse into dust.

“That was unbelievably stupid of you,” she said, biting back tears. “But . . . It was also really brave.”

Papyrus just shrugged in response. What else was there to say?

But once he was feeling marginally better, he pushed himself to his feet. There was one other person he had to see to.

Gaster.

The scientist was reduced to a fraction of his former self. He was leaning up against a tree, barely holding himself together. Papyrus came to his side, desperately struggling with what to do. Did he need healing? Would healing magic even work on him?

Seeing Papyrus’s distress, Gaster raised a hand–a hand that was rapidly blinking in and out of existence.

D͚̖͓on't̙̘̗ wor͉r̘͙̜y ̩̳a̼̯boṷ̘t m̗̹e.̭ I͉ṭ͎̳ ͓̥is ̙o̝v̘̝ͅe͍͖̳r.

Papyrus didn’t know what to say, because he knew what the doctor meant. Gaster closed his eyes, sighing with content.

I̩̠̜ c̠a̤n g̬o̲͕̤ ̜̖̹ịn̖̥ pe͖ac̩e̠ now. A͕̬̲nd̤̳̦ now̹͕̝,̮̦ so̗ͅ ̗̝̠must͚ ̱̠y̘͇̠o͓u.̗

“But now what do we do?” Past-Undyne spoke up. “I mean, I don’t know a lot about time travel and stuff, but doesn’t having two of us around cause a paradox or something? That’s bad, right?”

“It��s easy enough to fix, actually,” Sans spoke up. Which Sans was that? It was hard to tell. “All the kid needs to do is RESET. And everything will go back to normal.”

“Normal . . . how?” Future-Undyne asked. “Are we just gonna disappear?”

“I mean, technically yes? Because our future wouldn’t have happened. So we’ll no longer exist.”

“So we’re just gonna blink out of existence?!” Undyne shouted. “I didn’t sign up for that!”

“You blink out of existence every time the kid resets,” Sans reminded her calmly. “That’s time travel for you.”

Undyne stared. “Ugh. Time travel is bullshit. It’s now my least favorite anime trope.”

Papyrus laughed.

The human looked between all of them, including the glowering and fuming Flowey who hadn’t yet tried anything because one Sans was bad enough and now there were two and Flowey knew those trash bags were begging for an excuse to throttle him.

“So . . . I just go back? And it’s like none of this ever happened?” the human clarified.

“Yup. Same as always,” Sans said casually.

“Then no one’s going to remember anything that happened!”

“No one but you, kiddo,” Sans said. “Same as always.”

The human’s gaze went far away. It hit them rather hard that no one was going to remember this, or at least, not fully. Sans might remember bits and pieces, he always seemed to have some sort of awareness of the resets, but never a complete picture.

But if the human wanted to try this again, nothing and no one could stop them.

Which, for the first time in their life, was horrifying.

It didn’t escape them what absolutely insane and absurd lengths the monsters went through to stop them. Which meant that the future in which they succeeded must have been truly awful.

So awful that Sans and Papyrus and Undyne traveled back in time to stop them.

It hit them hard and pierced deep. This gift they had–this power of DETERMINATION–they had been using it so foolishly, so callously, not paying a second’s mind to how badly it was hurting everyone around them.

Because they thought it didn’t matter, they could just do it over–

But that clearly wasn't the case. It was just like Papyrus said, there were echoes. Even if they couldn’t see it now, their actions still hurt them.

The human collapsed to their knees and sobbed. They felt Papyrus kneel down right next to them, and he wrapped his arms around them in a hug and held them tight.

The human decided they didn’t want to hurt anyone else. No more. Not again. Never again.

“I’m sorry . . .” they said. “I’m so sorry . . .”

“I know,” Papyrus said. “But you still have the choice to make it right.”

The human knew that. To them, there wasn’t a choice. So they wasted no more time.

Their soul filled with DETERMINATION.

And they RESET.

#what are friends for #waff #undertale #fan fiction #fanfiction #undyne #papyrus #sans #gaster #wd gaster #flowey #gaster blaster au #gb au

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ionlymadethissoicouldleaveanask · 2 months ago

Note

I'm really curious about your Star Wars prequels fic you got listed plus the Firefly/Halo crossover one!

Oooooh okay! :D

So it's actually a Sequels fic that's based on an A-Wing pilot (Tallie Lintra) and an X-Wing pilot (Stomeroni Starck) who show up for like thirty seconds in the very beginning of The Last Jedi. Starck taps his cockpit and Lintra smirks at him and it read as flirtatious to me, and I am nothing if not a shipper so....

However! I do have two sorta/kinda stories that are set in the prequels! They're both just batches of oneshots because I have been forced to ship Fox/Riyo Chuchi and Alpha-17/Shaak Ti (by @authortobenamedlater and @dudewhynotthis respectively) that I called Pantora's Fox and Top Shalpha Fiction.

Now, the Firefly/Halo story (called Serenity) is something I will talk for days about! I love it with my whole heart. The basic concept is essentially a What if...? of the Halo universe - what if Xytan 'Jar Wattinree overthrew the Prophets only a few years into the Human-Covenant War and stopped the eradication campaign, instead offering entry into the Covenant to any planet that bends the knee?

In the story I had the UNSC beaten down much faster, given that pro-Earth sentiments weren't exactly a popular thing by the time the HC War started. The story follows Blue Team and a few extra characters in the place of the Serenity crew. I started out rewriting episodes with a different cast, but have since angled for original stories.

Here's an excerpt from an upcoming chapter that I have been working on. Content warning! It involves a character being tortured for information.

---

Fred’s eyes jolted open. His whole body was convulsing, but with both arms and legs restrained there was little he could do but violently buck and shake. Finally the tremors subsided and his body sagged, exhaustedly, in place.

“You live again,” the Elite crowed from a dark corner of the room. “That is the third time that your heart has failed you. Luckily, I am familiar enough now with human anatomy to keep you functional.”

Fred pulled at his restraints, though in truth he barely had the energy to keep his eyes open. “I’d be lying if I claimed that I’d never dreamed about waking up in handcuffs,” he intoned weakly, “but I must confess that you aren’t exactly my type.”

The Sangheili made a strange clicking noise deep in his throat, but otherwise ignored Fred’s response. “I’ve read of your exploits,” he continued, a sick sense of humor in his voice. “The thousands of proud Covenant warriors dead at your hands. Of the incredible feats you accomplished throughout the war.”

Fred panted, his breath labored and his lungs screaming. “Yeah, well,” he gasped, trying to effect an air of casual disinterest, “what can I say? Sometimes I impress even myself.”

The Elite ignored him, silently and slowly circling him. The thing’s mandibles clicked loudly as he continued. “There is one accomplishment above all the others, however, that truly draws my attention.”

“Which one is that?” Fred asked, pausing to spit a globule of blood at the reptilian beast’s feet. “Did I kill your daddy? Maybe it was your best friend. Either works for me.”

The alien chucked. It was a strange, humorless sound emanating from deep within its diaphragm. “I have heard tell of your so-called ‘indomitable spirit.’ Stubborn and fearless to the end… some might even find it admirable.” It paused, tapping its large fingers against its thigh armor in thought for a moment before continuing. “But no, it was no one of particular import to me. Rather, it was those of import to you.”

It paused to look at Fred before emitting that same bizarre chuckle, like large stones grinding together. “Perhaps you already know the mission of which I speak. It was the end of the conflict, mere days before your precious Reach fell.”

“Enough,” Fred growled, the pain of his torture momentarily forgotten as blood and rage surged through his body. He pushed against the restraints, all attempts at displaying a charming disinterest abandoned in a moment. “You better close that disgusting mouth now, before I reach over there and rip your tongue out of it.”

“The great demons, the heroes of the UNSC,” the elite continued dramatically, undeterred. “Entire legions were designated with the express purpose of eradicating your kind.” It rounded on Fred, dropping low enough to look him in the eye. “And yet, we cannot take the credit for your downfall, can we?”

Fred gritted his teeth, pushing ever harder against his restraints.

“In a single, rash movement more Spartans were killed in a single malfunctioning aircraft than in all those years of warfare. All because of you. Even I marvel at the amount of blood on your hands.”

Fred attempted a smile, but it came out as more of a bearing of blood-stained teeth. “Keep talking,” he invited, his voice low and deceptively calm. “There’s about to be more.”

#star wars #halo #firefly #foxiyo #shalpha #my writing #cw torture

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autisticsupervillain · 8 months ago

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FTF: Cosmological Rabbit Hole

The side show where we look at a franchise to determine how big it's cosmology is and determine how powerful all of it's characters are. We'll determine who scales to what and demonstrate all the powers and abilities the characters of this verse have to offer.

This Week's Verse....

Pressure!

The story of Pressure centers around the mysterious corporation UrbanShade, a megacorp that centers around exploiting the supernatural for massive profits. While they do protect humanity from broadly world threatening supernatural forces, their primary concern is their bottom line, with any supernatural entities that they can't exploit for profit either sold or destroyed under their watch. To this end, they built a blacksite at the bottom of the ocean in the Let-Vand Zone, where the ocean pressure is inexplicably much lighter than it should be. It's a perfect place for containing supernatural entities, as any escapees would be immediately crushed to death by ocean pressure upon exiting the Let-Vand Zone.

Like their Wikidot inspiration, the UrbanShade Corporation believes in using death row inmates as free labor, tasking them with building the blacksite. Enter Sebastian Solace, an inmate convicted for nine murders whom the UrbanShade Corporation got their hands on. The subjected him to human experimention, injecting him full of DNA from various sea life both natural and abnormal in an attempt to get humans to breath underwater. The attempt was successful at the cost of turning him into a sea hybrid abomination with three eyes, three arms, a shark tail for a bottom half, and the lure of an anglerfish.

When Sebastian discovered that UrbanShade was both aware that he'd been framed for his crimes and had the opportunity to reverse his new condition but choose not to out of convenience, he elected for some nice cold revenge. Sebastian faked being effected by sleeping darts and broke out during transport, murdering a guardsman before making to unleash every monster the Blacksite has in containment.

You, dear Player, are the latest convict that UrbanShade has grabbed to clean up their mess. Go down to the Blacksite, recover all the data you can, steal the energy crystal supplying power to the building, and get out for a free "get out of jail" card. And if any of the monsters try to stop you, just remember: you can be replaced.

The Convict

The Convict is the low end baseline for every other monster in the game, as every threat can at least hurt them, if not one shot them outright. So, I'll use them as a starting benchmark.

The Convict's scuba gear is custom built to withstand the depths of the ocean as deep as 1200000 studs below the depths of the ocean:

For those that don't speak Roblox, 1 stud is 28 cm. So that depth is 336000 meters below the surface, with 476493.09 psi. 93029455 Joules given the surface area of a human or 93030 kilojoules (Small Building Level)

Do note the draw back of "built in with a collar that shoots a bullet into you if you try to escape" however.

There's some consistency to this scaling, as the Convict can take hits from Good People, an assimilating monster that had up to that point absorbed 108 people.

The average human contains about 125,822 calories. Multiply by 108 then convert to joules to get 56855438784 joules or 13 Tons of TNT (City Block Level). That's how much energy Good People was absorbing by digesting that many people in rapid succession. That many calories being forced into your system would likely make your heart explode.

Yes, I did just power scale Roblox by calculating vore. You're welcome.

Keep in mind, Good People is one of the weaker monsters in the facility, with it being sent back to lick its wounds by UrbanShade security and doing relatively little damage to the Convict.

Speed wise, the Convict doesn't really have anything going for them beyond aim dodging bullets from the Blacksite's turrets, which have been helpfully taken over by P.AI.nter the rogue AI.

In terms of equipment, the Convict can carry various flashlights, key cards, and medkits that do as advertised, along with a few more useful tools. The code scrambler hacks into security panels the Convict isn't authorized for, the Flash Beacon blinds pursuing monsters, the Party Special and Dweller Chunks slowly regenerate health when consumed, the Notebook which grants a random item, and the Monster Tracker that tracks nearby hostiles. Also the Diving Gear does its job letting the Player breath underwater seemingly indefinitely.

Most impressive however, are the revival tokens, disposable items that bring the Convict back to life once each on the spot.

Sebastian Solace

Sebastian himself acts as your begruding shopkeeper, trading the Convict the tools above in exchange for the data they're collecting, which he plans to sell to third parties in exchange for escaping the doomed blacksite.

Sebastian is treated as one of the most dangerous monsters in the facility, as Mr. Shade, CEO of UrbanShade himself instructs his men to "shred your mags until your trigger fingers bleed" when confronting him. When he isn't scrounging for gear to pawn off on Convicts, he's hunting down UrbanShade security personel with relish, taunting them over the speakers all the while. He's stolen a SCRAMBLER device that disrupts communication devices and monster trackers in his presence, allowing him to get the drop on guards unnoticed, while his file describes him as outmaneuvering and speed blitzing guards. Despite his massive size, Sebastian is conspicuously fast, outright speed blitzing the Convict whenever they find a file to steal it for himself.

Sebastian has even been implied to be able to warp and bash down steel doors with his blows, if what we see of the aftermath of his escape is any indication.

Sebastian is so strong that even just throwing the Player around when annoyed with them takes off half their health and if they make the mistake of flashing him twice with the Flash Beacon, he's liable to shoot them dead.

Other Monsters

Most other monsters don't have much going on scaling wise beyond "being able to hurt/kill/blitz the Convict" so I won't waste too much time here.

P.AI.nter:

Initially just an AI made to make auto-generated art and NFTs, P.AI.nter's creator turned out to be too competent a coder for his own good when his bot turned out to be sentient and self aware. Murdering his creator in front of him, UrbanShade employees stole P.AI.nter and set him to work farming crypto currency to maximize profits. P.AI.nter is so miserable in this state he actively overheats his own processors in a slow attempted suicide. UrbanShade is aware of this, but doesn't care, because he can still mine NFTs even in brain death.

When Sebastian set everyone free, P.AI.nter was eternally greatful, as returns the favor by stalling the Player at every turn. Be that shooting them with the Blacksite's turrets, locking them in rooms with monsters, luring them into encountering Good People, or using music to activate the kill switch in their diving gear.

Sadly, his half melted circuits leave him a mood flipping mess. He goes from apologizing to the Convict to bloodthirsty taunting in an instant, leaving him a bit emotionally unstable. Poor guy.

Eyefestation

Sebastian wasn't the only time UrbanShade tried experimenting on "disposable" subjects. UrbanShade wanted to create a way for its agents to kill people with a glance, coming up with a very painful surgery that would allow subjects to shoot radiation from their eyes and melt a subject's brain on eye contact. To this end, they tested the process on local sharks in the area, turning a bull shark into a multi eyed monstrosity, with eyes even inside its own gullet. Naturally, the tortured beast set about killing any UrbanShade staff it could find when set free, telepathically forcing the victim to gaze into its eyes so their brain can melt. Trying to blind it only pisses it off. Keep your willpower about you, resist the pull, and look away. Eyefestation is just a regular shark otherwise.

The Angler (and variants)

The Angler and all of its variations are giant, indescribable monsters with the faces if angler fish who charge down the halls at blinding fast speeds. The signal of their charge is a cry and the flicker of lights above, caused by an EMP pulse they constantly emit.

They kill on contact via absorbing all the bio-electricity from your body and the strongest of them, Pandemonium (a seperate species that nonetheless behaves mostly identical), can bash down the facility's bullet proof doors, taking considerable effort from the Convict to hold back.

Squiddles

No relation to Homestuck. These shadows squid creatures are docile so long as you leave them in the dark and don't shine your light at them. They are among the weaker enemies, doing negligible damage.

Wall Dwellers

Humanoid creatures who, well, dwell in the walls. They use acic spewing holes on their back to burrow their back halves into walls, camouflaging their remain front to ambush prey. If killed by another monster such as an Angler, they're dropped meat grants temporary regenerative properties. They're deadly enough to rip your neck open before you can react and they hunt in groups. Keep an eye out.

Searchlights

Finally, some big game. These whale sized aquatic organisms are over 80 million year old super predators. With impenetrable armor on their tops, they hunt with the search lights beneath them, skewering whatever they see and dragging it up to swallow it whole, killing the Convict instantly if spotted.

Mask of Sadness

The Mask of Sadness is a theater mask that melts the warer into the blobby flesh monster known as Good People, causing it to go around animalistically assimilating people on contact.

I covered some of its scaling already, but there are some things to note still. In the incident in which it was captured, the blob absorbed 725 people in a packed theater, absorbing their souls, and growing so enormous that it accidentally knocked a street lamp down and burnt the building and itself to ashes.

Using the formula discussed earlier, that would be 91220950 calories or 381668455000 joules (91 Tons of TNT, City Block Level+)

Good People is highly flammable and once its body is melted to ash, it will have to start again with just one host. As such, the version the Convict scales to is much weaker than when it was first captured.

Valcula Void Mass

Inarguably the most powerful being in the facility, this extraterrestrial mass of sentient nothingness needs to be constantly evaporated to keep the Blacksite from "becoming nothing but a black smudge on the world maps".

Partially freed during Sebastian's break out, the Void Mass's spawn have spread all over the facility, instantly devouring any who would be foolish enough to enter its hiding place. If another player isn't there to rescue them, the Convict is effectively cooked. Naturally, UrbanShade uses small drops of this deadly, acid like substance as bullet tips to increase their guns killing power.

Given the meteor it arrived on has a radius of about 8.4 meters, it would weigh around 9,930,850 kgs. Moving at 75,000 m/s, it'd hit with an energy equivalent to 6.7 Megatons (City Level). The Void Mass at its smallest tanked that impact without a scratch. It it broke containment now, it could feasibly end the world.

UrbanShade

While Pressure itself is largely a fairly grounded horror game with fairly consistent Small Building to Wall Level scaling (and a City Block Level feat if you count... eating people as a feat.) the lore documents are where most of the verses best scaling comes from.

Just from the above, we've already established that UrbanShade security personel can shot acidic nothingness bullets, shoot radiation from their eyes, telepathically communicate, breathe underwater, and should upscale a disposable schmuck like the Convict in armory. That's plenty impressive enough. But, that's nothing on the tech UrbanShade has waiting in the wings.

There's just a lot about UrbanShade that we simply don't know. The lore makes it clear that we're only experiencing a small part of a much larger mythos, so there's a lot we just don't have the context for. We know UrbanShade has access to the corpse of Thor and has a weapon called the Heavenbreaker, but without context, we don't know how powerful these weapons are. But, even still, there's a lot we can intuit.

The Trenchbleeder's are several stories tall mechanical behemoths built to drain the Let-Vand Zone of all its natural resources for profit. Weighing 220,600 tons and being big enough to flatten a Searchlight with one foot.

At the end of the game, a Trenchbleeder deliberately steps on a Searchlight to save the Convict. Assuming that Searchlight's move comparable to real whales (13 m/s) and the Trenchbleeder would've generated energy equivalent to 4.3 Tons of TNT (Large Building Level+) effortlessly with that step. The Blacksite's external canons should upscale, as they're the things actually protecting the facility and the Trenchbleeders from attack.

More impressive than that, however, UrbanShade was able to contain the Analog Horror Christmas Tree, who killed Santa and replaces him with evil versions every year.

Given that UrbanShade's weapons can shoot down these evil Santas, they'd have to be able to one-shot a man who withstands kinetic energy equivalent to 39.96 Teratons of TNT (Country Level) and move at 3.9% light speed. (Relativistic)

Source:

So, yes. Awe inspiringly powerful. When taken into context with other tidbits of lore (IE. UrbanShade has been to hell and all of their employees are predestined to go there when they die.) paint a picture of UrbanShade as a devastatingly powerful and dangerous organization.

Full Cosmology

The Pressure Cosmology has a higher dimensional realm in it called the Mindscape.

This realm and everything in it is viewed as mere fiction by you, The Player.

The Player is repeatedly addressed by Sebastian and The Convict themself as an independent character on several occasions, with the Convict begging the Player to take their body back to safety when dying or Sebastian referring to various different convicts as the same person. Every time the Convict dies or makes it out alive, the Player just possesses a new Convict. Sebastian even meets up with the Player in between runs to give them information on whatever killed the Convict this time, at the behest of his "employer".

So, Pressure as a whole has the Mindscape transcending a 4D universe and a Player who transcends that, creating a 6D cosmology. Who scales to it? Well, it's difficult to say.

The Multi-Monster is an enigmatic eldritch monster cameoing from Doors who recognizes the Player from that game on sight, implying a shared cosmology. UrbanShade, who know of the Mindscape, consider him so dangerous that they refuse to have any unredacted information on him.

So he's a likely candidate for 5D.

There's also the strange Mr. Lopee. Implied to be Sebastian's "employer" who he gathers information for, Mr. Lopee takes it upon himself to kill the Convict if they ever fall out of bounds or fall behind other Players in the multiplayer. If the Convict dies to Lopee, Sebastian meekly says "he won't let me talk about that" as Lopee stands over him. So Lopee is certainly a major player in the plot, but he doesn't have enough to concretely scale him to anything yet.

Also Gaster is in it, but that's just a cameo. A shout out to an Undertale fan project a friend of the creator did. No Undertale/Pressure crossover scaling today sadly.

Conclusion:

Pressure on its surface is a pretty simple Roblox horror game that gets some comfortable Small Building Level scaling, but under its fascade is a deep lore that gets characters as high as City Block, City, and even Country Level, with some solid Low Complex Multiversal scaling for its God-Tiers.

Not bad. Definitely the most powerful Roblox verse I've ever seen. Not that I've seen very many tbf, I'm not a Roblox guy... City Block Level Sebastian is not something that I ever expected to see....

Now, it is a take in some circles of the power scaling community that the gap needed to definitively one shot a character through raw power alone is about 10x.

With that in mind, here's the final tally.

Weakened Good People, The Convict (and those who scale): 13 Tons of TNT (City Block Level)

Peak Good People: 91 Tons of TNT (City Block Level+)

Searchlights, Sebastian, Puddles of Void Mass: 130 Tons of TNT (Multi-City Block Level)

(Given that Sebastian casually throwing you around deals half your health, he casually slaughters those with better gear than the Convict, and he's generally considered one of the stronger monsters in the building going off how much trouble he gives UrbanShade in his document as opposed to how easily Good People are handled, I'm willing to put him in the one shot range even without his gun. He makes pretty clear you'd already be dead if he had any choice in the matter if you piss him off enough.)

(The Anglers specifically one shot with hax as opposed to raw power)

Trenchbleeder: 1300 Tons of TNT (Small Town Level)

Valcula Void Mass: 6.7 Megatons (City Level)

Analog Horror Christmas Tree and UrbanShade's weapons: 39.96 Teratons (Country Level)

The Mindscape: 5D (Low Complex Multiversal)

The Player: 6D (Complex Multiversal)

#fictional throwdown fridays #pressure #sebastian solace #cosmological rabbit hole #power scaling #death battle #who would win

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vacancyinspace · 1 year ago

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I made a thing. It's a game. it's on DotBigBang. It's a submission for a game jam they've been hosting. You can play it without an account or anything [Here]

One thing I want to note though is that, while the level design is my work, a lot of the components that make up my game world were provided by the devs or others in the community. That said I did create some of my own things for this game and shared said creations with the larger DotBigBang community as well.

I found out DotBigBang quite some time ago from an ad on facebook. I've been since keeping an eye on it because it reminded me of a time when Roblox was.... more fun (to me), and had less child labor exploitation. Early December DotBigBang announced a Winter Obby Jam and I felt compelled to participate since I use to love playing obby's on Roblox as a kid.

Lastly allow me to share some thoughts on DotBigBang's editors and my experience in creating. 1) Their voxel editor has a forced render lighting that made it impossible for me to distinguish different shades of white as the "light" shining down on it made it too bright. 2) DBB allows you to "Remix" (edit) someone else's object and make it your own (provided said someone enabled remixing). I remixed an object to find out it's voxel size as it was around the same scale of something I wanted to make and now that remixed object was mine forever I could not delete it off my profile, I could unpublish it so only I saw it, but that was still gonna bother me. Ultimately, I made the most of it and made an object that was very different but spiritually similar. 3) The voxel and game editor are in browser which is great because its all saved online and in the middle of this my computer had went through some changes and troubles, but also while using said editors there were several instances where I managed to keyboard shortcut my way into opening new tabs and google searching, so that part was less ideal. 4) There is no autosave, which kind of makes sense since currently this whole process is all online and there is only one save instance so it be quite annoying for an autosave to kick in on things you were just messing around with, but man it always made those times where I'd accidentally open up like a new window scary like, did I just lose all my work?? But no it was all good.

#DotBigBang #game design #voxel #obby #game jam

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kaithonks · 16 days ago

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The Hull (Jun 11th)

I've had an exhausting couple of weeks, but it's been refreshing reading what's been coming out as well as picking up some new stuff from the library. With Summer coming around too, there's a bunch more to look forward to. I think that's part of why I like reading so much; it's a task that forces you to slow down. Take a few breaths and just enjoy something. So it's been a busy week, but I've been remembering to breathe.

The Read:

I got around to Lady Killer, and it was a really fun read, and I talked more about it in my last post, but it's another note in my book about the importance of a comic book's art.

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands was an emotional read. Not really unexpected, unfortunately, but it was good, and I really enjoy graphic nonfiction because it forces the question of perspective and bias. Because a comic is drawn and every line is intentional, Kate Beaton realizes this, and even when she's been harassed, she chooses to draw these men still just as men. Humans, whose labor is being exploited. It doesn't make what they do right but shows them as humans who have been told they don't have anything better.

And gosh dang it, I want Tate Brombal to redo the Richard Dragon Kung Fu Fighter. I feel he could make a really fun action series with Richard and the gang. But kind of more to the point, Batgirl continues to be one of my favorite ongoing series right now.

Another of my favorite ongoing Absolute Superman #8 was fun, and the more I read, the more interested I get because while it's picking up its pace, it also seems like they are going to make it the linchpin of the Absolute Universe. Like, I didn't think I'd be seeing the Omega Men here, but I guess it's here!

To the Green Lanterns, I'm still mixed on Absolute Green Lantern. As a Guy Gardener fan, I was peeved in #2, and #3 has not improved that. Of course, we are still missing Kyle, Jess, Simon, and Keli. Look of the Lanterns Hal is like one of my least favorite, and I've never seen him or Jo interact, and I don't see them having too much chemistry as characters. Anyway, the explanation of the yellow weakness is interesting, and I'm not totally sold on the alchemy angle yet in what is this specific eldritch horror. But maybe it just needs to keep cooking. After all, I'm not totally sure Guy and John are gone, gone.

Green Lantern Corps #4, on the other hand, is really starting to cook with gas. Again, I love seeing more Guy, and I haven't read much Simon and Keli, but I'm really happy to see their little adventures. It's finally starting to be more of what I wanted out of a story called "Green Lantern Corps."

The Unread:

So with finishing Lady Killer and Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands, that means a new library run, and with that I picked up Volumes 2 and 3 of Ice Cream Man along with Black Hammer 5, 6, and 7. Both series I was interested in, and I'm following them cautiously, as I did have issues with them.

But with those, I picked up The History of Science Fiction: A Graphic Novel Adventure, so more graphic nonfiction because why not? I'm really interested because I know very little about science fiction and have barely read any.

Lastly, I got New Frontier, which has been on my list for a minute now, but I only just noticed was at my library. I've started it and so far am really enjoying it.

I unfortunately didn't have the time today to hit my local comic shop, but I have Robin and Batman: Jason Todd waiting for me. I am still a little nervous about his giving I liked that first Robin and Batman but didn't like everything about it, which has kind of been my thing with Lemire. I find myself enjoying most of the work, but then some little bit could have been pushed further to really make it great. Which could just be a me thing.

I might end up getting some more things while there. I mean, I probably will; I can't help it. It's been a long week, and yes, I know it's only halfway done, but it will be nice to get more to read and take a breath.

#comic books #comics

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hotcupoteckla · 2 years ago

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1. This is 100% needed for the Video Game industry

2. Video Game people are NOT paid more to work less, unless you happen to mean the producers & corporations who invest in making these games.

I want you to consider traditional story telling roles like acting, writing, dancing/mo cap actors do not get paid as much as they do for the same work in movies, and aren't really given residuals and frequently have their work stolen from other media as a "reference" and get no credit or payment.

I want you to remember that Visual Effects Artists are subject to grueling hours (80+ / week is not unusual) and that the largest chunk of that work is in video games, and how the video game industry is someplace that programmers aspire to go work for, so those companies get away with paying less than what is fair compensation.

I want you to consider the latest patch notes regarding Baldurs Gate III, including the penis rendering notes and how a fully rendered penis will clip through clothing and how all of that was coded by very living human hands subjected to the worst kind of bro-gramming culture rife throughout the industry. "Open Candor" is only a fraction of it.

I want you to know that the standards for this industry are all made up and arbitrary - there is no standard for documentation, most people are expected to train themselves to get into it, or the degree requirements to get in are FUCKING OBSCENE and have Fuck All to do with anything related to making something playable and worthwhile, because Nepotism is Super fucking Rank there.

Do you want to know why the video games keep climbing in price yet are released buggy AF? Because there are arbitrary release dates, multiple expansions added on half assed style because its not worth the money, and a bunch of shitty decisions that boil down to two types of person

1. Middle Management has never programmed a game in their life OR

2. They have done work on games before, but no nothing about being a good leader, or how Agile is actually supposed to work.

All this comes down to say:

Labor in ALL industries has been exploited for far too long. 60 years too long.

Labor in ALL industries should be striking against their industry to force them to adopt green new deals and reduce the carbon footprint of their fucking industry to save the fucking planet.

This isn't about how much each industry is getting paid against others and what labor is worth more vs less - it's about all Capital NOT Giving Back Enough to Anyone.

If they had allowed $15/hr min wage back in 2008.

If they had PAID THEIR FUCKING SHARE IN TAXES at any point, and Publically shunned & shamed their Class-mates for not doing so

If they had coordinated and let Healthcare for All happen

If any of them had pulled their head out of their ass long enough to blink in the open air

Then maybe we wouldn't be striking right now, but the Billionaires* Didn't Fucking Bother to do their part so

Fuck Them.

Strike for the Planet.

*If anyone says "cabal", "elite", or that The Wealthy as a class have any level of coordination, cooperation, or understanding aside from a friend group here or there, take that Antisemitic bullshit out of here.

I have enough genes for the free train ticket, if you feel me, and we can actively see that Billionaires are refusing to rule the world, because if they did, they'd fucking do something about the planet crisis to keep their seat of power safe.

That Billionaires as a class only think in short term gains, and of life as a Zero Sum Game or competition is TERRIFYING ENOUGH, thanks.

GAMES MADE BY PEOPLE WHO ARE PAID MORE TO WORK LESS

#sag strike #writers strike #strike for the planet #strike force five #eat the 1%#fuck billionaires #strike against capitalists #video game industry #sorry for the rant #long post

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cheapsneakers24 · 1 year ago

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The World of Replica Footwear at Coco Shoes

While shoes play a crucial role in making a statement in a world dominated by fashion and style, not everyone can afford to purchase high-end designer shoes. Rep Shoes offers a cost-effective way to stay up to date with trends. This comprehensive article explores the world of replica footwear, examining its origins, ethical considerations, quality, and how to make informed choices.

Rep Shoes' Origins

The history of replica shoes is long and controversial. The Cocoshoes were designed in response to the high demand for designer footwear from brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Nike. At first, they were exact copies of luxury shoes, down to their logos and packaging. Replicas are mostly made in countries with lax intellectual property laws and sold at a fraction of their original price.

Replica shoes have existed in a legal gray area since the market evolved, resulting in the creation of "unbranded" replicas. Due to the changes in the market, replica shoes have been able to exist in an ethical gray area. They mimic the style and design of popular brands without using their logos or trademarks.

Ethics Dilemma

The replica shoe industry has been criticized for encouraging copyright infringement, labor exploitation, and criminal activity, and supporting it raises a lot of ethical questions. It is common for replica shoes to be manufactured in countries with low labor costs, leading to poor working conditions and unfair wages.

Consumers who want to keep up with the latest fashion trends without spending thousands of dollars on designer shoes can find replica shoes an affordable option. Due to replica purchases, high-end brands are being forced to rethink their pricing strategies, which is a form of consumer activism.

A person's decision to purchase replica shoes ultimately depends on his or her personal values and priorities, but understanding the ethical implications is essential.

Quality of Rep Shoes

The quality of replica shoes varies widely, and not every replica is the same. Some replica manufacturers invest in advanced technology and high-quality materials to produce shoes that are as close to the originals as possible in terms of design, comfort, and durability. Those who prioritize cost-cutting over quality, on the other hand, often produce shoes that look good at first but quickly degrade.

You can make an informed decision when evaluating replica shoes by considering the following factors:

When purchasing high-quality replica shoes, you should look for details such as genuine leather, sturdy soles, and well-stitched seams.

Make sure the shoe is crafted carefully. Sloppy stitching, glue marks, and misaligned patterns are signs of poor craftsmanship.

Consider reviews or testimonials from others who have purchased the same replica shoe, if you intend to wear them for a long time. Comfort is key.

Check the overall build quality of the replica shoes to determine whether they will last for a long time. Replica shoes might not last as long as genuine shoes.

Navigating the rep shoe market

The best way to select replica footwear is to understand the market thoroughly. Here are some tips to help you make an informed choice:

Check out replica fashion forums and online communities for recommendations on reputable websites that sell replica shoes.

Replicas may look similar to designer shoes, but they may not be identical. They may differ in the materials used, the craftsmanship, and the branding.

Copyright laws vary from region to region, and some are stricter than others, so you should be aware of what your rights are before purchasing replica shoes.

Explore unbranded replica shoes that mimic popular designs without violating trademarks. This is a more ethical, legal option.

Pay attention to pricing: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of extremely low prices, which may indicate low-quality buy replica Sneakers.

As a conclusion

When it comes to replica shoes, the industry has carved out its own niche, providing an affordable alternative to designer shoes. It is, however, important to research sellers, assess quality, and understand the legal landscape in your area when you explore replica footwear. Make educated choices.

Buying replica shoes is ultimately a personal decision. By considering the factors discussed in this article, you can make choices aligned with your values and budget, and navigate the market confidently. For those who enjoy this fashion niche, rep shoes offer a way to express style and individuality that may not appeal to everyone.

#replica Sneakers

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hoursofreading · 1 year ago

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A number of my blog readers have been asking me to lay out my broad moral framework. Usually I resist this impulse. As David Hume wrote, humans decide on right and wrong based on a confusing and often mutually contradictory jumble of moral instincts, and attempts to fit those instincts into a rigid, internally consistent moral code are generally an exercise in futility. But if I do have one consistent, bedrock principle about the way the world ought to work, it’s this — the strong should protect and uplift the weak. Nature endows some people with strength — sharp claws, size and musculature, resistance to disease. Human society endows us with other forms of strength that are often far more potent — guns, money, social status, police forces and armies at our backs. Everywhere there is the temptation for those with power to crush those without it, to enslave them, to extract labor and fealty and fawning flattery. “The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must,” wrote Thucydides; this is as concise a statement as you’ll ever find of the law of the jungle, both the real jungle and the artificial jungles humans create for ourselves. A hierarchy of power and brutality is a high-entropy state, an easy equilibrium toward which social interactions naturally flow. I believe that it is incumbent upon us as thinking, feeling beings — it is our moral purpose and our mission in this world — to resist this natural flow, to stand against it, to reverse it where possible. In addition to our natural endowments of power, we must gather to ourselves what additional power we can, and use it to protect and uplift those who have less of it. To some, that means helping the poor; to others, fighting for democracy or civil rights; to others, it simply means taking good care of their kids, or of a pet rabbit. But always, it means rolling the stone uphill, opposing the natural hierarchies of the world, fighting to reify an imaginary world where the strong exercise no dominion over the weak. We will never fully realize that world, of course. And my morality is easier to declare than to put into practice; on the way we will make many missteps. We will make mistakes about who is strong and who is weak, punching down when we self-righteously tell ourselves we’re punching up. Like the communists of the 20th century, we will sometimes invert one unjust hierarchy only to put another in its place. And we will be corrupted by the power we gather, mouthing high principle while exploiting some of those we claim to protect; we will tell ourselves that we’re knights while acting like barbarians (just as actually existing knights often did). All these things will happen, and yet it is incumbent upon us to do the best we can, to keep fighting the good fight for a gentler, more equal world. This basic principle obviously informs most of the political views you’ve seen me express on this blog. It’s why I support using American power to help Ukraine defend itself from Russian conquest (and if anyone typified the exact opposite of my moral philosophy, the elevation of pure domineering bully-ism to the level of national guiding principle, it’s Putin’s Russia). It’s why I thought the Iraq War was a crime. It’s why I’ll always support trying to uplift the poor and working class — with welfare benefits, of course, but also with education, jobs, job training, better working conditions, and other policies that give them the power to support themselves and their families. It’s why I believe a just society is one where there is no outgroup. Now, I don’t deceive myself about my ability to produce any of these outcomes. I’m just some guy who writes a blog and hangs out with rabbits. I’m not very powerful by myself, but maybe to some tiny degree I can inspire you to use whatever power you happen to have to protect and uplift the weak. If so, then maybe I’ve done a tiny little smidgen of good with my minuscule allocation of time on this planet. There are so many tiny lives out there. Look out your window at the city around you — there are so many little rabbits living in those little apartments and houses, and so many people living there too. You will never know more than the barest fraction of them. But somewhere in that wild, infinite jungle, there is someone who needs your help. Somewhere there is a princess that someone else thinks is just a hamburger. It’s on you to find them and do what you can.

Why rabbits? - by Noah Smith - Noahpinion

#quote

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stafing5897 · 2 years ago

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Temp Staffing In Toronto, Canada

you're an employer in Toronto, Canada, confronted with the continuous difficulties of fluctuating staffing needs and a profoundly cutthroat work market. How might you track down the right ability to help your business without focusing on long-lasting recruits immediately? The response lies in Temp Staffing In Toronto, a recruiting methodology acquiring prevalence across the region.

This imaginative recruiting methodology goes about as a scaffold, connecting Toronto’s skilled work pool with organizations that are wrestling with capricious staffing needs and a furiously cutthroat market.

Picture the magnificence of this game plan. You, as an employer, can try things out, as it were, with expected workers. You have the chance to evaluate their abilities, hard working attitude, and fit inside your organization culture without the quick responsibility of an extremely durable agreement. It resembles a trial period, yet with not so much strain but rather more adaptability.

This staffing procedure doesn't simply help employers, workers additionally have the opportunity to assess assuming the work and the organization are an ideal choice for them. According to their point of view, a preliminary situation can prompt a really fulfilling and satisfying work relationship over the long haul.

Obviously, no recruiting system is without its difficulties. Temp staffing requires cautious administration and open correspondence to guarantee the two players grasp the assumptions and potential outcomes of the course of action, however when executed accurately, it can change your employing interaction and contribute altogether to your business achievement.

In this blog entry, we will bring a profound plunge into the universe of Temp Staffing In Ontario, investigating its advantages, difficulties, and best practices. By understanding this interesting methodology, you'll be better prepared to explore the constantly changing scene of enrollment and fabricate an effective labor force.

Grasping Temp Staffing

Temp staffing, frequently alluded to as "Temp-To-Recruit," is an employing system that offers a scaffold between temporary business and an extremely durable position. Led by organizations looking for an adaptable and practical arrangement, it permits the two employers and workers to try things out before completely committing.

This technique adjusts well to Toronto's work market elements, giving adaptability to adjusting to changing business needs while guaranteeing an opportune reaction to staffing requests. By exploiting temp staffing, employers can embrace the recurring pattern of their industry, all while keeping up with functional effectiveness.

calgary staffing temp staffing agency

Advantages of Tem Staffing in Toronto

Savvy Arrangement: For organizations encountering occasional or project-based changes, temp staffing offers a practical arrangement. By at first employing temporary ability, organizations can survey their long haul staffing necessities and equilibrium their labor force as needs be, getting a good deal on enlistment.

Assessment and Fit: Social fit is an essential part of any association's prosperity. With temp staffing, employers have an exceptional chance to assess a competitor's fit inside the working environment culture prior to focusing on a stable situation. This kills the gamble of misalignment and guarantees that the up-and-comer's qualities and objectives line up with the organization's main goal.

Admittance to Top Ability: Toronto's serious work market can make it trying to draw in great ability. In any case, temp staffing offers a pathway to get top ability who might be reluctant to focus on stable situations without skipping a beat. By displaying the organization's way of life, workplace, and development potential during the temporary stage, employers can draw in and hold people who might have been ignored through customary recruiting techniques.

Difficulties of Temp Staffing in Toronto

Responsibility Adjusting: Fluctuating jobs can present difficulties to group attachment. In addition to the fact that employers need to guarantee that the responsibility is dispersed really, yet they likewise should keep up with clear correspondence channels to keep everybody educated about the jobs and obligations regarding temporary representatives. Making progress toward open and straightforward correspondence can assist with establishing an agreeable workplace.

Legitimate and Consistency: Temp setting up courses of action accompany lawful and consistent necessities that employers should explore with care. Figuring out work regulations, guidelines, and potential dangers is fundamental to safeguard both the organization and the temporary representatives. MGR Labor force keeps up- to-date with all legitimate necessities for laborers in Toronto. By working with MGR Labor force, you can have confidence that all Toronto business regulations are being followed.

Attempt A Temp Situation Today With MGR Labor force

Temp staffing offers a one of a kind answer for the recruiting difficulties seen in Toronto's cutthroat work market. By embracing this procedure, employers can receive the rewards of savvy arrangements, assess social fit, and draw in great ability.

Keep in mind, temp staffing isn't simply a temporary fix; it is a pathway towards long haul development and achievement. Via cautiously exploring the change from temporary to long-lasting business, organizations in Toronto can fabricate serious areas of strength for a prepared to flourish in a steadily developing business scene.

#staffing agency #staffing agency toronto #canada recruiting #employment agencies in etobicoke #job agencies near me #part time jobs in brampton #employment ontario

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continuations · 4 years ago

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The World After Capital in 64 Theses

Over the weekend I tweeted out a summary of my book The World After Capital in 64 theses. Here they are in one place:

The Industrial Age is 20+ years past its expiration date, following a long decline that started in the 1970s.

Mainstream politicians have propped up the Industrial Age through incremental reforms that are simply pushing out the inevitable collapse.

The lack of a positive vision for what comes after the Industrial Age has created a narrative vacuum exploited by nihilist forces such as Trump and ISIS.

The failure to enact radical changes is based on vastly underestimating the importance of digital technology, which is not simply another set of Industrial Age machines.

Digital technology has two unique characteristics not found in any prior human technology: zero marginal cost and universality of computation.

Our existing approaches to regulation of markets, dissemination of information, education and more are based on the no longer valid assumption of positive marginal cost.

Our beliefs about the role of labor in production and work as a source of purpose are incompatible with the ability of computers to carry out ever more sophisticated computations (and to do so ultimately at zero marginal cost).

Digital technology represents as profound a shift in human capabilities as the invention of agriculture and the discovery of science, each of which resulted in a new age for humanity.

The two prior transitions, from the Forager Age to the Agrarian Age and from the Agrarian Age to the Industrial Age resulted in humanity changing almost everything about how individuals live and societies function, including changes in religion.

Inventing the next age, will require nothing short of changing everything yet again.

We can, if we make the right choices now, set ourselves on a path to the Knowledge Age which will allow humanity to overcome the climate crisis and to broadly enjoy the benefits of automation.

Choosing a path into the future requires understanding the nature of the transition we are facing and coming to terms with what it means to be human.

New technology enlarges the “space of the possible,” which then contains both good and bad outcomes. This has been true starting from the earliest human technology: fire can be used to cook and heat, but also to wage war.

Technological breakthroughs shift the binding constraint. For foraging tribes it was food. For agrarian societies it was arable land. Industrial countries were constrained by how much physical capital (machines, factories, railroads, etc.) they could produce.

Today humanity is no longer constrained by capital, but by attention.

We are facing a crisis of attention. We are not paying enough attention to profound challenges, such as “what is our purpose?” and “how do we overcome the climate crisis?”

Attention is to time as velocity is to speed: attention is what we direct our minds to during a time period. We cannot go back and change what we paid attention to. If we are poorly prepared for a crisis it is because of how we have allocated our attention in the past.

We have enough capital to meet our individual and collective needs, as long as we are clear about the difference between needs and wants.

Our needs can be met despite the population explosion because of the amazing technological progress we have made and because population growth is slowing down everywhere with peak population in sight.

Industrial Age society, however, has intentionally led us down a path of confusing our unlimited wants with our modest needs, as well as specific solutions (e.g. individually owned cars) with needs (e.g. transportation).

The confusion of wants with needs keeps much of our attention trapped in the “job loop”: we work so that we can buy goods and services, which are produced by other people also working.

The job loop was once beneficial, when combined with markets and entrepreneurship, it resulted in much of the innovation that we now take for granted.

Now, however, we can and should apply as much automation as we can muster to free human attention from the “job loop” so that it can participate in the “knowledge loop” instead: learn, create, and share.

Digital technology can be used to vastly accelerate the knowledge loop, as can be seen from early successes, such as Wikipedia and open access scientific publications.

Much of digital technology is being used to hog human attention into systems such as Facebook, Twitter and others that engage in the business of reselling attention, commonly known as advertising. Most of what is advertised is furthering wants and reinforces the job loop.

The success of market-based capitalism is that capital is no longer our binding constraint. But markets cannot be used for allocating attention due to missing prices.

Prices do not and cannot exist for what we most need to pay attention to. Price formation requires supply and demand, which don't exist for finding purpose in life, overcoming the climate crisis, conducting fundamental research, or engineering an asteroid defense.

We must use the capabilities of digital technology so that we can freely allocate human attention.

We can do so by enhancing economic, information, and psychological freedom.

Economic freedom means allowing people to opt out of the job loop by providing them with a universal basic income (UBI).

Informational freedom means empowering people to control computation and thus information access, creation and sharing.

Psychological freedom means developing mindfulness practices that allow people to direct their attention in the face of a myriad distractions.

UBI is affordable today exactly because we have digital technology that allows us to drive down the cost of producing goods and services through automation.

UBI is the cornerstone of a new social contract for the Knowledge Age, much as pensions and health insurance were for the Industrial Age.

Paid jobs are not a source of purpose for humans in and of themselves. Doing something meaningful is. We will never run out of meaningful things to do.

We need one global internet without artificial geographic boundaries or fast and slow lanes for different types of content.

Large systems such as Facebook, Amazon, Google, etc. must be mandated to be fully programmable to diminish their power and permit innovation to take place on top of the capabilities they have created.

In the longrun privacy is incompatible with technological progress. Providing strong privacy assurances can only be accomplished via controlled computation. Innovation will always grow our ability to destroy faster than our ability to build due to entropy.

We must put more effort into protecting individuals from what can happen to them if their data winds up leaked, rather than trying to protect the data at the expense of innovation and transparency.

Our brains evolved in an environment where seeing a cat meant there was a cat. Now the internet can show us an infinity of cats. We can thus be forever distracted.

It is easier for us to form snap judgments and have quick emotional reactions than to engage our critical thinking facilities.

Our attention is readily hijacked by systems designed to exploit these evolutionarily engrained features of our brains.

We can use mindfulness practices, such as conscious breathing or meditation to take back and maintain control of our attention.

As we increase economic, informational and psychological freedom, we also require values that guide our actions and the allocation of our attention.

We should embrace a renewed humanism as the source of our values.

There is an objective basis for humanism. Only humans have developed knowledge in the form of books and works of art that transcend both time and space.

Knowledge is the source of humanity’s great power. And with great power comes great responsibility.

Humans need to support each other in solidarity, irrespective of such differences as gender, race or nationality.

We are all unique, and we should celebrate these differences. They are beautiful and an integral part of our humanity.

Because only humans have the power of knowledge, we are responsible for other species. For example, we are responsible for whales, rather than the other way round.

When we see something that could be improved, we need to have the ability to express that. Individuals, companies and societies that do not allow criticism become stagnant and will ultimately fail.

Beyond criticism, the major mode for improvement is to create new ideas, products and art. Without ongoing innovation, systems become stagnant and start to decay.

We need to believe that problems can be solved, that progress can be achieved. Without optimism we will stop trying, and problems like the climate crisis will go unsolved threatening human extinction.

If we succeed with the transition to the Knowledge Age, we can tackle extraordinary opportunities ahead for humanity, such as restoring wildlife habitats here on earth and exploring space.

We can and should each contribute to leaving the Industrial Age behind and bringing about the Knowledge Age.

We start by developing our own mindfulness practice and helping others do so.

We tackle the climate crisis through activism demanding government regulation, through research into new solutions, and through entrepreneurship deploying working technologies.

We defend democracy from attempts to push towards authoritarian forms of government.

We foster decentralization through supporting localism, building up mutual aid, participating in decentralized systems (crypto and otherwise).

We promote humanism and live in accordance with humanist values.

We recognize that we are on the threshold of both transhumans (augmented humans) and neohumans (robots and artificial intelligences).

We continue on our epic human journey while marveling at (and worrying about) our aloneness in the universe.

We act boldly and with urgency, because humanity’s future depends on a successful transition to the Knowledge Age.

#the world after capital

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