#you really need to understand how STEEP a learning curve this is

[cleolinda]

I have never played a video game and I am training for this like a Couch to 5K

I've started attempting to play Silent Hill 2 and it is... going slowly. I wanted to record gameplay with voice commentary and that is going even slower (slowlier?). I am still learning how to use various software(s) and get a borrowed mic attuned to various volume levels and also the aspect ratio of the game is off no matter how I try to match the screen dimensions but that is simply one more tribulation in a long series that I have endured. My mom's motto is "Work the problem." If nothing else, I have gained new skills. We persevere.

ANYWAY I was in the parking lot (of the game. Not just, like. Here) just trying to learn the controls and I started shouting so I grabbed my phone and turned on Voice Memo and now we have some rough audio (my voice only) of Baby's First Video game. If you would like to hear those (with artisan hand-formatted transcripts. Sometimes I use sPonGeBoB case), they're over at Patreon, free for members. (I'll post the whole set in a public post later this week.) Today I'll upload Baby's First Combat over there, which... honestly involved the least screaming? I lost my absolute shit struggling with the sprint command, but I just calmly started trying to monster-whisper a Lying Figure. The duality of gamer.

[blueskittlesart]

Do you have any advice on how to format and print books? That’s my biggest obstacle in my work. What do you use to format them? What’s your favourite way to bind a booklet?

well if you're anything like me you're not going to like this but the answer is indesign. adobe is evil but unfortunately their products really do work. indesign is the only program i have EVER used that actually makes formatting easy, and in the newest version you actually don't even need to adjust for print formatting yourself because there's a setting that will auto format your pages into a booklet when you print. it allows you to adjust the page size, create style guides, manage really large files with a lot of links, and is just. generally convenient once you get past the initial learning curve. Honestly, if you're planning on going into any field even publishing-adjacent you should learn how to do at least a few different things in indesign, because it's the industry standard. learn how to lay text, insert images, create style guides, and format whatever it is you specifically are making, and you're golden. there are a lot of settings that can help you with your specific niche--for example, I have my version set to always display my pages in spreads unless otherwise specified because i'm almost always working with spreads in mind. I am NOT an adobe shill i SWEAR and i will admit indesign has a pretty steep learning curve (as do most adobe programs) but it really is worth it because once you understand it it makes everything SOOOO much easier.

[pixelartpeach]

Something websites (*cough* Tumblr *cough*) need to learn is that what retains an audience isn't an abundance of new bells and whistles to play with, it's a coherent experience overall.

When someone joins a website, you don't need to grab their attention and hold it. They're already testing the waters. They've agreed to sign up. You've won on that front, and they're there for something specific you already have that they're hoping works well.

What drives them away is frustration.

Frustration, frustration, frustration.

Learning curves are going to be a part of any new website experience; they're something the user comes to terms with, in their own time. But broken or bad features are going to make them jump sites.

On top of that, constantly adding new features makes them feel like all the hard work they've put in to learning what you have isn't worth it; your website looks unstable and your staff looks incompetent, because it gives the impression that you don't know what you're doing.

You are floundering. It makes your new users nervous. It makes your old users hesitate to bring anyone else on board. And why should they? Why should they put effort into it if you're going to throw that effort away next Tuesday? Why get used to a UI that you're not going to bother to keep? Why customize anything if you're going to whittle that customization away?

Between that and the broken, unattended features of this site—the tag organization failing, the inability to look up posts word-for-word, the video player either refusing to play or yanking you to the top of the dashboard, images taking forever to load, advertisements blaring at full volume when you scroll past, you have your problem.

You have the reason why your numbers are failing.

It's not that you're not interesting enough.

It's not that you're too difficult to understand.

It's that you aren't improving what you have, yet you keep adding more half-broken things and unwanted copycat features to the pile.

It's that you're losing your identity in pursuit of a hypothetical perfect customer.

It's that you are actively telling your user base that you prefer those hypothetical customers over them. And your user base, your real people who make you happen, are smart enough to know where your priorities lie.

The bulk of this post talks about Tumblr, but other sites have gone the same way. Twitter is dead and its corpse is decaying in the street. Reddit has sabotaged any trust its users had in its management. If you'd like a really old example—I used to use Fanfiction Net. It's not the most intuitive website in the world, but it was the first one I called home.

I used it to host my works. The adware now on it makes it a hassle to navigate. The bots make comment sections and private messages a dread rather than a joy. So I moved on.

I also used to use it to collaborate on stories with my now-roommate. The message limit was 300 a day. When you're writing dialogue between characters, that's nothing.

So I moved on. We started messaging on Facebook. It was better, it didn't have a limit. But then I learned Discord existed, and I could edit messages, make dedicated channels, etc. So I moved on from Facebook to Discord. And Discord had a steep learning curve, especially if you're trying to make your own server rather than contribute to one. But, most importantly, the payoff was worth it.

If Discord changed its layout every other month while I was learning it, and broke how its reactions worked, and kept shifting what it meant to create a channel? If it opted me into servers I didn't sign up for, in hopes of engagement? If its text never formatted correctly, or its search function only went back a day or two?

I would have gone right back to Facebook. Even if it's a more basic experience, basic is always preferable to unstable.

Figure out what you want, websites.

Slow growth, or a gamble?

You're paying for your magic slot machine in users.

[new-tella-us]

I got a sms ask. I think it's safe to assume that the relationships with Mika x her incubus isn't smooth sailing immediately after the confession scene in the game. How do you think those first few weeks or so are like for each boy, and do you think it's harder for some to adjust to having a relationship than others? (All kinds of answers are welcomes, any kind of bickering, awkwardness, discomfort, or more fluffy things. Anything you want!)

Oooooh this is an interesting ask. I do agree that some boys would have an easier time adjusting than others. Sorry for the late answer, I was contemplating this for a while.

I'll go from the easiest to adapt to a relationship to the hardest.

Of all the boys, I think Matthew would have the easiest time adjusting to a relationship as I feel like he would understand that nothing about their dynamic has to change. So their relationship would just be friendship+. His major struggle would be his own insecurities against James putting some strain but the strain is minor and they fix it pretty quickly with some good old fashioned communication.

Next would be, surprisingly, Sam. Now I wouldn't rank him this high if we were just talking about relationship dynamics as Mika's stubbornness and Sam's anger issues make a fiery match however, the question was about the transitionary phase and Sam would be good at that. Like Matthew, he is a subscriber to the "Just continue doing what you did before" mindset, making the transition smooth and painless. It's only when they really get comfy that their flaw rear their ugly heads.

Up next is James. I feel like his major hiccup would be overthinking some aspects along with some self doubt thanks to dear ol' mummy and daddy's tumultuous relationships. He might over compensate, making things far more complex than it has to be but the learning curve isn't too steep for him once he gets the hint that he's being a bit much.

Then there's Damien. I'd say he's pretty equal to James in the sliding scale of who would be best at smooth transitions in their love life. The reasons are different though. It's far more on the insecurity and trauma than overthinking. Damien has a lot of issues that he needs to work out before he can be in a healthy relationship.

Finally there's Erik. He is a god at the ways of pleasure but an absolute fool at romance. He is pretty lost on how to act especially being in the middle of a "learning about yourself" arc. He might need some time to learn who he is before he can truly work out this whole "dating" thing.

[phantom-thieves-official]

I beat strikers finally so I'm gonna put all my final thoughts under a cut (so, spoilers)

First and foremost, it was fun! I had a good time. There was a steep learning curve for me (never played anything that wasn't turn based before) but getting the hang of the combat was really satisfying. That said, I did feel a bit like there were too many characters. I ended up kind of overwhelmed with so many characters to try and learn. This is an issue I don't think the turn-based persona games run into bc each character gets one action per turn, rather than bringing four characters to a fight and then only playing as one. In the end I used Joker and Ryuji most of the time, usually Ryuji. I also liked how Haru, Ann, and Zenkichi played but I only played them small amounts. I typically ran Ryuji w an accessory to increase crits + deathbound, and then used Joker when I needed to hit a weakness/ran into something resistant to phys. Ryuji's bulk also saved my ass a lot esp early on, I had multiple fights where everyone else died and he was neutral to the boss so his damage wasn't stellar but his bulk alone got me through.

I understand why everyone likes Sophie. She's not among my favorites of the cast but I totally get it. HOWEVER I did not like her final persona's design. I didn't care for her combat, either, but I think that's bc I already had such a steep learning curve and her combat seems kind of technical.

I enjoyed the more lighthearted tone compared the regular p5. Obviously this game had similar stakes at the end but overall it had a much lighter tone and I think that allowed for the characters to shine, esp Ryuji. He's already a pretty laid back guy so the lighter tone allowed that side of his character to be really forefront. It was fun. I liked seeing the thieves all being friends and hanging out, it's something you don't see a lot of in the original p5 due to the dire stakes and tone of the back half of the game.

I liked the approach to the monarchs where each on mirrors one of the Phantom Thieves in some way. I think it allowed for some really poignant and impactful character moments. My favorite example is probably Yusuke's final speech to Natsume after defeating him, but there were a lot of good moments in this regard.

Biting and tearing about how the whole 'monarchs mirror members of the thieves' thing was absolutely FUMBLED w Ryuji and Konoe. I've already made a lot of posts about it but come ON. They're both characters who suffered parental abuse and lashed out in violence in a desperate bid to end that abuse. They both like to think themselves heros who are helping people like them. Konoe's guardian and the boss himself are both weak to electricity. Ryuji didn't get a single line about this. He didn't get anything during the trauma room scene where we see Konoe's father abusing him. He didn't get to say anything when Konoe was going on his monologue about how changing everyone's hearts is actually helping. He didn't even get to tell Konoe 'Hey, I grew up with an abusive dad, too. That doesn't justify all the people you've hurt.' He didn't get to have a serious heart-to-heart with Konoe after the boss fight, which is something every other character was afforded with their respective mirrors.

I also think they could've done more with the Zenkichi/Makoto parallels. As it stands they have a conversation about how Makoto felt about her dad, but between that and Zenkichi working in the field Makoto is striving for and clearly having a negative opinion for the job (and himself, and his coworkers) idk it felt like a missed opportunity to explore Makoto's ambitions and Zenkichi's jaded opinion of the police.

The final boss was easy as hell. I liked that it forces you to split up and use every member of the team, so everyone is a part of it. Not only was that satisfying narratively, to see the whole group come together for a common goal, but I liked that it meant you had to have spent some time using each character through the game (even though I spent most of my game using Ryuji and Joker, I still appreciated the attempt at forcing you to diversify and try each character)

I also liked that you could leave jails to get your hp/sp restored, visit shops etc. The sp recovery saved my fucking ass ngl.

I liked all of the jails well enough. I think the Shibuya jail was my least favorite bc it felt a lot like it was just the regular shibuya imo. My fave was.... Konoe's, maybe? I also liked the third one (Hyodo's.)

I also appreciated the requests you can do w your friends in each new city, and that you can walk around and talk to them in each place. It helped add to the 'friends hanging out' vibe and I like that.

Some minor gripes: the loading screens took AGES on the switch. I didn't particularly like that fusions had required levels for the personas being used in the fusion, even with the option to level them in the persona enhancement menu.

Okay that's all!! I had a good time. Ryuji remains the goat.

[stevenbasic]

Growing into the Job, Post 424: The Big Day, p2

“Hiiii hunny I have a surprise for you!” sang Melissa Monroe, in her last day as Office Manager of what was at the time still Far Horizons Medical Associates. She not only had a surprise, a gift, but also very big news. The gift could come first.

“Oh, wow, o-okay..!” Dr. J replied, immediately unable to resist getting caught up in his gorgeous girlfriend’s ebullient excitement, aided along by the peals of perfume that overtook his oxygen. He’d just been escorted to Melissa’s spacious office by two of his front desk girls, Brittni and Bobbi. Their grip on his shoulders seemed unusually possessive, and his mind couldn’t help but swirl with what he’d been learning this morning. A lot of these girls, possibly even ‘the twins’ that had just marched him down the hallway, were not only growing taller but developing abilities that were difficult if not impossible to rationalize. It wasn't only Melissa anymore. His thoughts, as he’d been ushered down the hallways and past some of these nascent superhumans’ coos and “good mornings”, became more fearful as he eyed them in this new light of understanding. He could not get past what he and Aubrey had been discussing at the front desk, where he’d opened up to her probably more than he should have. He’d admitted his weaknesses for physically dominant women, and now he was surrounded by them. The anxiety had started to grow overwhelming. What was to come of him?

But, as he stood in the doorway of her office, steeping like a wet tea bag in his boiling worries, Melissa took his hands, and he started to feel better. 

“Come in,” she beamed, already pulling him in and shutting the door behind him, “come in come in come in!” She noticed how his eyes rose immediately to her cleavage, and that with his shortness and she in her power heels, he needed to look up even to see underboob. A good deal of her chest was on jiggly display in her plunging pink top, now a signature look on her that she’d worn for the news interview - the recent piece that had started to gather her a growing flock of admirers and fans from the viewing public. 

She’d been told - and had seen it herself on her social media - that some people from the local broadcast area had begun to become downright obsessed with her. And this is only the beginning, she’d thought, when she’d chosen to wear this top again this morning. Instead of the jeans that she’d worn for TV, though, today her shapely legs were sheathed in a long, tight, bodycon black skirt with a high slit up the side, one that highlighted the womanly curves of her hips and magnificent rear end. At more than seven feet tall in the custom, ultra-high Louboutin pumps that Evolution had bought her specifically for today, she towered over his 4’7” frame almost comically. “I missed you!”

“M-missed me?” he chuckled. It had been barely a half hour since she’d driven him to work, with Josie and Lakshmi.

She reached out, slid her hands under his shoulders and - in a <whooosh!> of movement - picked him up under the arms to spin him in the air. “I miss you any time we’re not together!” she sang, and then spun him around again like an overgrown girl playing with a treasured doll. She laughed ravingly, sounding more than a bit unhinged. The power of it made her office windows rattle. 

His vision swam, but he was unable to take his eyes off her huge, brilliant smile. His jaw hung. 

She loved the attention, and how riveted he was on her. And even more, she loved that this man loved her. “Omigod I can’t wait to show you off today!” she trilled, “I want the world to see my adorable little boyfriend and how good we look together!”

“W-wow,” he finally stammered, still unable to fight back this infectious glee of hers taking hold of him too, despite the fact that he was picturing how he’d look on the news standing next to this Amazon, “y-you’re in a really good mood?”

“Haha yeah!” she crowed, having started to step them over towards the plush white couch in the corner of her office, “I just got some really good news. But first - your present!”

Next thing he knew he was sitting on the couch, slumped back, his feet dangling high off the floor. She then was atop him, straddling his withered legs in the too-long pink scrub pants he’d borrowed from one of his MA’s. Her legs were massive, her hips were massive, and the chest that now hovered up in the sky above him was absolutely massive. Perfume blanketed him, and one large hand of hers, suddenly tender, came to hold his cheek.

Her demeanor had abruptly softened as the intimacy washed over him. “Hey, was there something on your mind, when you came in?” she asked, in earnest empathy. Before she gave him his gift, if there was something bothering him, they should talk about it. 

“No, I, uh…” he struggled. Why was it so hard to remember? Why did he care so much about…uh…whatever it was he’d been thinking about before?

Looking up at her, over the monumental swell of her bosom, he smiled peakishly. He had already begun to forget that he’d forgotten anything. Whatever it was, he was sure it was fine. After all, he thought, taking another breath filled with the perfumes from her warm body, everything is getting better now.

“Good,” she intoned, staring intently down at him. Her gaze was even stronger than her scents, suddenly overwhelming to him. She seemed to be able to look into him and see things he didn’t even see himself. It made him shiver, but when he went to look away she grasped his chin in her fingers. “Hey, up at me,” she directed. 

Whenever he looked into her eyes, he knew his worries always seemed to melt away. After all, what do I have to be worried about? Everything is great.

“That’s right, that’s right hun,” she agreed with his silent thoughts. And, as if to prove his point, she wrapped her strong arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her. “Come here…” she purred, as her tremendous underbosom immediately smothered his face and he had to fight just to get his nose and mouth free enough to breathe.

Though unable to even see him under there, she was smiling down at him sweetly. “Comfy?” she asked, and giggled as she gathered her breasts together around his small, hidden head.

Without answering he just wrapped his arms around her waist - and sank his face up deeper into her soft cleavage as his reply, giving in to his instincts and letting himself indulge. The silky skin of her breasts was everywhere, as was her warmth and perfumes. 

“That’s my little sweetheart,” she mused, and nestled herself around him even more firmly, “you just enjoy this while you can. We have a busy day ahead of us.”

Dazed, he could only grin stupidly, his face enveloped by her huge breasts. This is what life should be, he thought, always and always. He felt her purr around him, as if in response, and listened to the rumble of her lungs, the strong beat of her heart. He breathed her in again. Can’t we just stay like this forever?

“I know. I love holding you,” she said, even as she was now backing off, just a bit, so she could see him again, “It makes me get all hot…” She then leaned way down for a kiss, tilting his chin up towards her. Her mouth gently sucked at his, tongue swirling around.

Blinking softly, he squirmed a little in her grip as she easily kept him captive. Her larger tongue was in his mouth, pressing his down as handily as her heavy hips held him to the couch. Her kiss became more envigored, as she tried her best to begin sucking his face off and make his thoughts start to wander. But - he was thinking - were they here to have sex, or was there something she needed to give him?

“I know what you’re thinking…” she growled at last, into their kiss.

“Oh you’re a mind-reader now?” he joked back lamely, before he could really consider his words. He kissed her again, but then she broke away. 

She laughed in answer, softly, and he distantly realized she hadn’t given a denial. He shivered a little, and she studied his face. 

“So, yeah…what did you call me here for?” he finally asked. 

Her smile curled, the possibilities filling her mind. It could be amazing, she could just fuck him right here like a doll. She could blow his brain, make his eyes roll up into the back of his head like she’d done many times before; he wouldn’t complain. She also,couldn't help but think back on the manifestations she’d been working on. Self control, Missy. You are the boss of your own body. The fuck could wait. 

Melissa sat up over him, stretched out her long, well-muscled  arms and settled herself. She put her hands into her thick, dark hair and fluffed it out, aware of how he watched her shoulders and biceps flex. She had his gift, and her news. “So curious, such a curious boy,” she mused, as she fished her hand into her top, under the strap over her right breast. “I have a little something for you…” She found what she was looking for and pulled out-

“A phone?” he asked

She had pulled it from her top, red and glossy. It looked almost like an ancient flip model, and not a very big one. 

“For me?”

“Mm hm,” Melissa answered, handing the sleek new piece of technology down immediately to him, “Marisela was a peach, getting this for me so quickly, getting it all set up.” She watched as he inspected it, and clicked it on by flipping it open. “It’s the new Mazafon.”

Mazafon. He’d heard of the brand, but didn’t know much about them. A newish product from a female-led Japanese tech company that marketed exclusively to women. Their stuff was hard to get in the States, and there were strict rules the company kept over who could use their products. “I thought they only made these for women?”

“This is their new thing,” Melissa explained, watching as he watched the words appear on the glass screen, which spanned both inner surfaces of the flipphone: Bebihon. 

Marisela had said it would scan his face the first time he turned it on, recording and start taking readings immediately. In fact, he seemed to notice something. 

“Wh….What’s it doing?” he asked, as he noticed something he felt strange happening with the blinking red lights of the screen. It seemed like an elegant, impressive little piece of tech.  

“It’s just, like, getting to know you,” Melissa answered, feeling the pleasant buzz of her own new Mazafon  - which she kept under her other tit - as it notified her what was happening.

“Hm okay,” he mused, watching the screen go through several exercises. It had asked him to keep his eyes centered on the smiling emoji face it presented, then to track it as it moved. Most phones these days had some sort of limited AI on them; he figured this one did as well despite how rudimentary its design looked. 

“With everything that’s going on, these people out there trying to take you away from me,” maybe even use you against me, “the girls and I thought it was best we got you one of these.”

“The girls?”

“Well, yeah,” Melissa answered, watching as he continued to follow the phone’s onscreen instructions: turning his head side to side, opening his mouth, sticking out his tongue. “The girls, me, Sheryl…”

“Sheryl?” he asked, a bit incredulous but still doing what the phone was telling him: Blink. Blink. Smile. Make Mad Face.

“Yes of course,” Melissa answered, “She doesn’t want to see you get hurt, just like the rest of us.”

“Okay…” he conceded, unsure of how to feel about that. For as much torture as Sheryl was putting him through - the terms of the divorce, her diminishing his position here at the office, taking nearly everything he had in recompense for his, uh, indiscretions - it warmed him a bit thinking she still had some feelings for him. At least enough to care about his safety and get him a new phone. “So, what does this thing do?” he asked, as what looked like a home screen appeared. He moved his finger around the upper screen as a small selection of apps had appeared, loaded on by someone. They looked mostly like games. It obviously also already knew his name, as it had greeted him. 

“Marisela already has it set up for you…and me,” Melissa began, “It kinda works like a regular phone, it lets you make calls and texts to me and-”

“Just to you??” he immediately blurted, brows raising. 

“…and some other people, any of the girls,” she continued, patiently. “There are buttons for each of us right down there”, she explained pointing at the small bottom screen. “Mine is the big red ‘M’ right there in the middle.” She knew he would bristle at some of this but he had to be made to know that this was all for his own good. “It also has built-in things that lets me listen in using the receiver and look around with the cameras whenever I want. There’s an alert feature that can monitor your life signs and let me know how you’re doing, how you’re feeling, where you are.”

“So this is like a fancy baby monitor...” he said dryly, becoming slowly less enthusiastic about the prospect of finally having a phone again. “What are you, my mom?”

Suddenly his breathing hitched and his eyes went wide, a warmth traveling through him.

Oh shit I shouldn’t have said that. 

Oh shit he shouldn’t have said that. Breathe, Missy, breeeeathe…

She settled herself, after a moment of wanting to pull him back to her breast. “No…no, honey, I just want to make sure you’re safe,” she answered, as evenly as possible. She figured she should play this cool, though, get done what needed to be done. Then I can show you just how ‘mom’ I can be. 

“I’ve wanted to give you one of these for a while, but I know it’s asking a lot of you,” Melissa conceded, sensitive to the way he must feel, knowing he’d be under constant surveillance, “It’s like -’ helicopter girlfriend alert’, right? But it makes me feel so much better. For my peace of mind would you please sacrifice just a little part of your privacy?”

He held the thing on his palm, weighed it…and his options. Even in his child-sized hands, it wasn’t big, with a small screen. Glass though it was, it was nicely warm. And he understood Melissa’s concerns, even if he thought she’d gone a bit overboard. Plus, at least he had a phone again…with someone else paying for it. Melissa? Sheryl? The practice itself? Evolution? Some woman, for sure.

“Sure,” he answered. 

She bit her lip, felt warm between her thighs, and continued explaining how this thing worked.

“Marisela says it’ll listen for certain keywords or noises that will send me an immediate alert,” Melissa next explained, “like, in emergency.”.

That made his brow furrow. “What kind of keywords?”

“Oh, I dunno? Like: ‘Freeze!’ ‘Put em up!’ ‘Give me your wallet!’” A light buzzing continued at her breast with every phrase. 

“You’re worried about me getting mugged?”

“Well, yeah, that, and other things,” she answered, knowing she shouldn’t tell him all the keywords they’d put onto his phone. Though she should tell him other things. “Like, if you yell ‘Fire!’ or just sound really upset or scream, it’ll let me know.”

“Okay…” he nodded, still exploring the screens and apps that the girls had set up for him. It seemed pretty limited. He saw social media, email, and the weird looking things from before…the games?

“I also want to create an emergency, like, alert phrase,” she explained, “Something that if you say - even if you whisper it - that I’ll know you’re in danger and to come as quick as I can.”

“Like…what would I say?”

“I dunno, something like: ‘Oh Melissa, please help me’, or something?”

As soon as the words left her, she felt her insides flutter. Melissa recognized that normally people called upon God using such a line. She bit her lip again, watching his face, looking for his reaction. That he didn’t immediately reject her suggestion made her feel even more excited. She hoped that he’d accept her request, and that they could build even more key phrases - Marisela actually did call them ‘prayers’ - into the phone.

“That…works…I guess,” he further conceded, not sure if he was being emasculated, infantilized, or subjugated…but not feeling as upset about it as he thought he should. She is just looking out for me, he figured. He also saw that the phone must have been listening, and was looking for him to speak the alert phrase:

“Melissa please help me,” he said into the phone. The screen blinked, and smiled. It asked him to repeat it. He did.  “Melissa please help me.”

The sound of that made Melissa’s nipples harden and, also under her top, her phone buzzed again: the alert telling her than he needed her. “Ooo that was exciting..!” she giggled, bringing her hand over her left breast, to cup her phone through the fabric of her top. It was like she was feeling him, right there, all safe and sound. “Right over my heart!”

He nodded, feeling the flutters himself. He was slowly giving himself up, in little pieces, to her. It made him feel small, dependent and weak, but nothing about it felt as wrong as it should. 

“Now you can just call out to me whenever you need my…inter…mission?”

“Your…intervention?”

“Yeah, that..!” she giggled, reaching out now to cup his cheeks in her hands, “You just call out whenever you need Melissa’s Intervention..!”

“Uh, sure..?” he answered, seeing the excitement starting to build again in her eyes. 

“We can put in more little prayers!” she continued, “‘Melissa, please, I need you’, ‘Melissa, please, I want you’, ‘Melissa, please, I’m hungry.’ We can have our own little language!”

He didn’t love exactly what she was implying…and did she just call them ‘prayers’? When he opened his mouth to object, though, she merely laughed and wrapped an arm around him and pulled him in closer to her in a celebratory hug that also just happened to smother any response. The massive woman’s body easily dwarfed his, and he knew any chance of resisting her decisions died then and there between her two titanic tits and under her colossal strength. At first he seemed to be trying to push her away, but soon enough it was difficult to tell. He may have been struggling, slowly being swallowed by her bosom, or perhaps now he was trying to bury himself more deeply into the warm, inviting embrace of her cleavage. Either way, he was accepting what she was telling him, and finally settled in. 

“That’s right sweetie, get comfortable in there,” Melissa purred, already looking forward to some time, maybe this weekend, when they wouldn’t be so busy. Some time where he could spend hours like this. It’s good practice for the future. 

She heard him moan, and giggled again. She couldn’t lose him just yet. There was still more about his phone she had to tell him. 

“So, there’s some access to social media on there, like your Instagram,” she began again, talking down to the man in her cleavage, “but we don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be able to, like, post.” She paused, and - though she felt him pause too - that suggestion didn’t seem to bother him enough to complain. Good. She figured, though, that she should still explain. He was still confused. It was important to tell him why they’d be restricting him. 

“You’re getting very popular,” she continued, reminding him what Randi had explained yesterday: his follower count, after the video of him and the girls went viral, was up in the thousands. He was like the perfect little vulni man for the changing age, and women were beginning to flock to him. She pet his head tenderly. “Your accounts should be handled by a professional...”

A professional? You mean like…Randi? She’s n-

<giggle!> Melissa chuckled as she squeezed her bosoms playfully tighter around his head and squished his impish thoughts. “She’s doing a good job so far of keeping away all the little hussies that are interested in you, want to talk to you, want to meet you,” she said. There are also the men, she thought, though she knew she shouldn’t mention those, Angry ones. Disrespectful ones. Some that want to use you against us. “We had to turn off your DMs. So many girls asking for DPs.”

DPs?

He doesn’t know what that is. 

“Dick pics,” she explained plainly, feeling him freeze. What did he think about that, knowing that women around the world wanted a look at his cock? To see how it stood out like a totem pole from his shriveled little body? He was perfect, Melissa knew that, becoming everything a man should be. Women everywhere, with these new urges of theirs, wanted him for different reasons. “But nope this is mine!” she giggled, and grabbed his shaft through his pants. He was hard as steel for her, of course, and she squeezed him categorically, so there was no mistaking to whom he belonged. 

His body jolted, sparked at her grip, and she released him. I can’t have you mess another pair of pants haha! She also, slowly, gently, began to pull his face out from between her breasts. His whine was endearing, and made her want to just pull him back in again and forget the day, but there was more she had to tell him about the phone…and otherwise. And a grand opening event to which they had to attend. Even though I know you’d rather just stay in there.

“Shhh, sweetie, it’s okay, you can go back later,” she promised tenderly, tilting his gaping, ashen, clammy face up to her. She smiled down at him munificently. “So…what do you say?”

”uhhh…” wh-what do you mean?

“For the new phone I got you..?”

He blinked, unsure of what she meant.

“What do you want to say to me?”

“oh, uh…” he managed, finding his voice again, “thank you? Melissa?”

MMmmmm…she liked that, and the unmistakable shiver she felt in her bones. Even that sounded like a prayer. 

“Say it again.”

“Thank you, Melissa,” he repeated.

Better this time - more properly grateful. 

“You’re welcome,” she replied, her voice generous and deeper than he’d heard it.

He shivered. What was happening here? What was becoming of their relationship? What was becoming of her? He was confused.

Missy smirked down at him, enjoying the way his mind seemed to have stalled. She caressed his cheek, and thought of their future together as she absently stroked his cock through his thin scrub pants.

“Now,” she continued, “back to what  your new phone can do. You’ll have your email back again, but first we need to talk about some of the messages you’ve been getting…”

================================

thanks to Beetlebomb for the base image in the IG post, and to RiF for his help in edits

[tewwor]

general wishlist & interaction kickoff .

* will be adding / rbing this as i go — yes, i know this is an extensive list ( thank you for taking the time to glance over it! ) likes will be taken as interest for me to jingle my way over and yap about what specific point(s) interest you!

MINSOO .

more undercover plots and/or situations where he has to actively work with someone ( he may not initially like ) to achieve a common goal.

hey, someone talk to him about why he's so into folks that are mean. maybe even ... break through his constant observation of another's intentions and have him trust fully — idk i just think it'd be good for him maybe.

instances where he intercepts and takes a devastating blow that should've been for your muse. he shouldn't transmute himself anymore to heal either, so ...

situationships / one night stands that turn into something more :o)

alternatively, enemies to friends and/or lovers :o) he can be narsty when he wants to be

NANA .

someone take care of him. be it when he's sick or anytime post-canon where he has a long road of recovery ahead of him.

more threads in his villain verse. i know i'm a bit slower with these, but i promise the plots will be juicy.

i also need more threads in his vampire verse. if you want some tension — look no further. also all of my vampires default to a numbing / paralytic venom / able to be out in the sun / has magical attributes that align with their main canon power(s) / has both top and bottom fangs .

run normal, every day errands with him. go grocery shopping. cook with him. sort laundry. pick out new plants for him to buy and care for.

get him to retire post-canon. he's going to try and continue to work as a sorcerer. while it is possible for him to reach the same level of efficiency as before, the learning curve is steep and who knows if he'll be able to get the hang of things before being met with another untimely demise. also, he'd do very well as an assistant manager or teacher.

threads that revolve around him dabbling in being a food content creator. while he debates what path to go in life, he starts to make cooking videos — mostly to help keep his mind off of things. his face is never shown and he doesn't talk, but his videos gain a lot of traction. the option to go full time that way is also present.

SUHYEON .

detectives / private eyes: could be one of the few that were involved in his murder. it's been closed for a few years, but maybe it left an impact with how harrowing the details were. could be interesting if suhyeon learned about their involvement and see how he reacts.

crime aligned muses: supernatural themes or not, there's a very real possibility that your muse might know / still be in contact with suhyeon's brother, kyong ( who now leads the byun jopok ). this could even open up some avenues pre-death where suhyeon was aligned to inherit everything instead of kyong. also, it's important to note that suhyeon does not harbor any ill will towards his brother despite knowing how his murder had been orchestrated by him. so revenge plots aren't his schtick unless someone else he cares about is involved.

aslan vc 'ride me' except it's 'wield me'. someone form a contract with this goober so he can shut up and quit eating other blades out of spite.

USAMI .

requesting someone stubborn enough to stick around despite how god awful he is during the binding vow or implanted tracker/trigger days. doesn't even have to be an active thing either. just knowing / occasionally interacting with him to then contrast how he acts once the higher ups are killed ... i just need folks to understand the burden of his suffering and maybe offer a hand when he's convinced he needs to shoulder everything himself.

more mission threads. doesn't matter the timeline, i love writing action and the nuances of his technique.

more threads in his uwabami verse. he's just a giant snake yokai that likes to eat ( and gets wrongfully pinned for causing so much chaos when it's really not his fault ). totally cool and normal and fine — you get to interact with a lil' snake?

crime muses: haven't written anything in this verse yet! there's a lot of potential for usami to work against other orgs, though. perhaps even work together under a strained alliance.

more interactions in his curse verse. either as someone that actually helps him grow past being a curse womb ( just a tiny snake that eats a bunch of people ), or general interactions of seeing a once sorcerer & potentially hearing his truth for once.

[hungriesttable]

if the Sinners got a dog

(below the cut because I actually have a decent amount of thoughts on this)

Outis: one of the only (and possibly THE only) sinners committed to disciplining the dog. She’s a bit perturbed that the dog won’t reliably sit/stay on command because it tends to jump at random intervals instead (Don Quixote’s influence).

Has some belief that if she speaks in a voice that’s authoritative enough, the dog will understand what she’s saying. Is displeased when that doesn’t happen. “Why are you trying to sit on me? No.” “It’s because the dog likes you” “If she likes me she will sit politely on the ground as she is supposed to”

Rodya: She was the one who named the dog, and probably rescued it off of the street, insisting that they should keep the dog at least for a little while. Feeds the dog a bit of whatever the Sinners are having. “That’s not good for dogs!” “A little won’t do her any harm~”

Sinclair: He wasn’t sure what to make of the dog at first (it’s probably not vaccinated, and he only became sure it didn’t have rabies after a couple of days), but he’s pretty fond of it. Whenever he’s in need of company, the dog appears without him needing to say anything. It’s warm, soft, and close, and he definitely thinks of it as a family member. That being said he personally has a steep learning curve of “how to take care of a dog” (if he had one in his previous years then there was probably a butler to take care of it)

Heathcliff: I recently read Wuthering Heights. This gives me reason to suspect that Heathcliff would not be a big fan of the dog, at least at first. He’s fine with it from a distance, but protests to having to touch it (and to having it touch him). I’d imagine that it gets on his good side eventually, though, and he’d probably be one of those people who wants the dog to love him the most out of everyone.

Ryōshū: They weren’t really sure how she would react to the dog at first. She’s currently trying to teach it how to sic. Given the opportunity, she’ll examine the dog’s body. Her efforts of questionable motivation led to the discovery that the dog is missing a tooth.

Gregor: After 5.5, I think it’s safe to say that he’s the “dad with the dog he didn’t want”. He notices that the dog is repulsed by the smell of cigarettes and doesn’t smoke as actively when he’s around it.

Don Quixote: She wants the dog to be her sidekick. She’s taught the dog how to hug (ie how to jump and put its paws on her chest/shoulder), and is hoping to teach the dog how to do some advanced stunts. “Move forth, my companion, and fetch mine lance!” (Dog does nothing)

Yi Sang: The dog is his buddy. He’s a bit concerned about the idea that the dog could be involved in Limbus Company’s business, but has no problem with the idea of teaching the dog some more simple stuff (eg how to track scents and find lost people/things).

Faust: If there’s a City equivalent to a Wikipedia page on dogs, she probably read it. Several times. She wouldn’t say it, but the dog’s capriciousness often confounds her. In lieu of a microchip, she made a tracking collar for the dog.

Meursault: He and the dog share a certain special bond due to his willingness to walk, clean up after, and generally take care of the dog when others don’t feel like it. He’s not necessarily a fan of the whole “spontaneous tackling” thing, but he’s big enough to avoid being pushed over and has few other complaints about the dog. With the lack of interest in training the dog on the bus, he doesn’t see the use of disclosing what he knows about training dogs.

Ishmael: She likes the dog. Walking the dog often brings her mixed feelings, since it reminds her of the other experiences she’s had with being on the end of a guiding rope. She’s figured out that she can derail Heathcliff’s train of thought by invoking the dog, either physically or in name, and she’s greatly enjoying this ability.

Vergilius: He was dubious about the whole “dog on the bus” thing. Since Charon seems to enjoy the dog’s presence, however, he sees no point in objecting to it. He doesn’t dislike dogs, but the fact that anything bad happening to the dog could have catastrophic consequences means he’s always a little on edge around it. If the Sinners weren’t planning on doing their best to take care of it before, they certainly are after receiving some Red Gaze-brand reminders to be responsible pet owners.

Dante: Rewinding dog scratches is a small burden, but please, can SOMEONE cut the dog’s nails? They like the dog, but their clock head doesn’t seem to win them any canine popularity points. They’re both disappointed and relieved that the dog doesn’t count as a thirteenth Sinner.

[quirkwizard]

Expansion on the quirk Bookkeeper? I loved your idea, I was looking for something for a character to "summon", and this Quirk is PERFECT!!! I remember you also had a Quirk called Claymation. Could you tell me which of the two is better in terms of "summoning" creatures?

Expansion for Bookkeeper? I like how it works, Quirk really embraces the idea of creating a "magical" summon.

Love Bookkeeper! Any expansions, costumes, training and evolutions?

To be honest, I don't care to compare my Quirks on which are "better". It's more about which one you prefer more. I'm also confused about "Claymation" as an option. It's not a bad choice. But you'd think "Incubate", the sci fi cousin Quirk of "Bookkeeper", would be more fitting.

Training "Bookkeeper" is going to require a lot of trial and error. It'd be a lot of the user designing a minion, throwing in whatever items they feel are needed to make it, and sending it off to complete whatever task you made it for. Repeat until you see real results from your minions and general improvements. And a lot of the Quirk will require that kind of experimenting to figure out what items work best for what they are trying to accomplish. They really need to learn how to command their minions as well. Spreading out different minions to different tasks could help them divide their attention and help them learn how to control them.

Evolutions would be more about the user understanding the full depth of what the Quirk can do and how best to apply the immense depth of the Quirk. The learning curve for this Quirk would be pretty steep. So getting to understand everything it is capable of with the basics would be pretty great. Still, it could expand in other ways. The main one I could see the user evolving the Quirk is effectively quick creating a bunch of their smaller, ineffective minions. Just to make them less defenseless in a pinch. They'd also be able to make and maintain more minions at a time, reducing the hassle of trying to make up more on the spot.

Because of the set up and risk involved with it, it's hard to imagine the user really fighting with it like any other hero. If the user could, they'd be sending out their minions like a Power Rangers villains. Ideally, the user could have a van where they can safely use the book, full of random items from floor to ceiling they can use for their Quirk. They should also have those some of those items on their person in case they need them, like having various pouches on their person for them. And of course, you need to go with the wizard look. Preferably a dark warlock or cultist with some horned skull mask and robes covered in eldritch patterns.

[bookshelfdreams]

Hey, probably a question you have heard a thousant times. But what is the best way to get into any of the fiber arts? Books? Youtube? Actual people teaching you? (and if so how in the hell do you find them)

I started crochet and knitting but I pretty much can't get out of the basics, I can't managed to finish something that I have started cuz I always get frustrated that it's starting to look bad...

Hi! That's actually a really good question. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, depending on how u look at it) the only way to get any better at fibre crafts, is to keep doing them. Practice really does make perfect. There is no book or video tutorial or in-person teacher that holds the one ultimate secret that will make you Good At Crafts. All of these can be valuable resources if you struggle to understand how to do a specific thing; you can be taught stitches, and how to read charts, and such things. But the only way to really learn is to practice.

This is because there are more skills involved in crafting than just knowing how to do certain stitches. Confidence, patience, frustration tolerance: you can't learn that from tutorials. These are essential skills that you need to build. And the best way to build them, I'm afraid, is to actually finish the damn thing. Even if it has mistakes. Even if it "looks bad". You need to learn how to tolerate imperfections, if you ever want to get anything done.

Now that doesn't mean you should bully yourself. If you get easily bored and frustrated, leave the scarves and sweaters for now, and start small. Potholders, dishcloths, scrubbies or coasters are all projects that finish up quickly and yield usable objects, even when they are not perfect. If you never allow yourself the dopamine rush of Fuck Yeah I Made That, how do you expect yourself to build up the resilience to stick through the parts where it is slow and difficult and makes your fingers hurt?

Here are Ravelry searches for free dishcloth and potholder patterns.

Of course that doesn't mean you should only do those projects. You can do whatever you want. The most important thing is to teach yourself that you can have success, and the only way to do this is to successfully make things.

Also, it should always be fun. If it's not at least a little bit fun, maybe the technique isn't for you. This is also an important skill to develop: To learn when to stick through a bout of frustration, and when to abandon something.

There is a very steep learning curve. But you can and you will get there. I believe in you, and I also believe that what "looks bad" to you is perfectly fine.

[tobiasdrake]

There's a lot of conversation going around about how Sparking Zero is insanely hard.

And.

Yeah. I was surprised too.

It's not so much super hard as it has a steep learning curve. Once you've got the hang of it, things go more smoothly. But it's a lot to get the hang of.

The thing about Sparking Zero is that its melee, its direct hand-to-hand up-close punch-a-thon fighting, is extremely complicated. It doesn't seem like it would be. Punch. Ki blast. Guard. But it's the game's evasion and counter system that makes it complicated.

What it boils down to is that there are four entirely separate inputs for entirely separative defensive maneuvers, only one of which is applicable in a given situation and the correct one of which needs to be inputted in the eighth of a nanosecond you have to react to the latest attack you're about to receive.

This is why people are reporting that live human players in PVP are easier to fight than the game's AI. Because the defensive system requires an advanced degree in quantum physics to understand and, new as the game is, all of the human players are still struggling with it. But the AI has all the game's rules and inputs memorized, and so it's able to defend and evade and counter far better than human players at this current level of play.

This will probably change once the game's been out more and the more dedicated fans have had a chance to master the game. But it is a stunning brick wall to walk into, going into the first couple of matches and realizing that the game will mercilessly break you if you don't know the difference between a Perception counter, a Revenge counter, a Super Counter, a High-Speed Evade, a Perception counter to a Revenge counter, etc. and how to execute them all flawlessly.

Because the AI absolutely does.

Similarly, this is not one of those games where you can fire off a Kamehameha from across the map and the AI will stand there and take it. If you don't know how to stun your opponent with a quick melee combo before letting lose your Super or Ult, odds are it's probably not landing. The AI will not permit those attacks to hit it if it can be avoided.

So. Yeah. It's hard. A lot of players, myself included, have had to spend a lot of time bashing their heads against the brick wall going, "Hang on, which button is Revenge and which one is Super Counter again?" while Raditz was doing infinite combo flawless victories off their faces. I've seen more than one person call it the Dark Souls of Dragon Ball fighting games.

But the AI is not without chinks in its armor. Once you've figured out how to land your Supers and Ults, it is very easy to cheese the AI with Ult chains. Getting hit with an Ult causes a player (AI included) to lose lock-on and have to spend some time figuring out where the hell the other player is at.

If you can land your attacks, you can literally Ult off the enemy, and then fully charge up your next Ult before they figure out how to get back in the fight. This is a really easy way to break through them without even having to do too much melee, which is where the AI supremely dominates. Stun, Ult, charge, stun, Ult, charge, etc.

It's still better to learn how to do the melee. But it will get you through in a pinch. I try only to do this for time limited missions or truly punishing events, like the infamous "Fight the entire Ginyu Force consecutively with only one health bar and no healing" fight.

Sparking Zero is... shocking in its learning curve.

But it's still a whole lot of fun.

[dangermousie]

2023 brought us two epic, excellent dramas about devastating invasion of period Korea by foreign armies - My Dearest and Goryeo Khitan War. Watching Injo "handle" the Qing invasion and watching Hyeonjong handle the Khitan invasion makes me think of those old Goofus/Gallant kids' magazine lessons. My mind breaks imagining Injo showing one hundredth of smarts, selflessness and care for his people and his country that Hyeonjong does. In both cases, the country is overrun, the odds are grim, and the ruler blamed by some and protected by others. But the difference between how the two kings handle the disaster is stark. But then, this is the danger of absolute monarchy - it's a pure luck lottery, isn't it? You may get My Dearest's Injo or GK War Hyeonjong or anything in between and you have no choice.

Hyeonjong's reaction on being attacked by armed peasants on his escape to the south, and watching his soldiers and "his" peasants kill each other pointlessly, as the peasants try to capture him on orders of local lords who want to give him to Khitan to curry favor, is pretty amazing. The man has no fighting skills and very little in the way of protection, but he is insanely brave. But also - compassionate. His soldiers would probably win against the rabble but it would be his people who'd die, either way. Unlike vast majority of drama rulers, Hyeonjong (perhaps innately, or perhaps due to his monk outside palace upbringing) seems to get that loyalty and devotion are supposed to go both ways. (He is, ironically, the king the scholars in My Dearest wished and believed Injo was, and the king the Crown Prince could have been if he wasn't murdered.)

I love this! The narrative shows that he is not perfect, that he has a steep learning curve and that behind the walls of his capital, he had little knowledge or control about what went in the provinces (and bigger emergencies, tbh) but the crucial thing is when confronted with new information, he learns and he understands and he accepts when he's at fault and wants to do better.

He has a quality almost unique in a fictional absolute ruler (and likely real ones also) - empathy.

This is AMAZING.

This is pretty much unimaginable for a royal, and one who rules by a divine right equivalent of sacred royal blood etc. I love him!

But the thing is, he's not a soft person, not really - not against people he believes he needs to take down. That display of royal arrogant temper against the traitor lords is DELICIOUS!!!!

The thing is, with all of this, he never comes across as a preachy patterncard, he just comes across as a truly good human being. Kudos to the writer!

[xkuja]

you are aware of how i feel about them but some kind of 💗 💕 💋 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 💜 ✅ 🌈 lol

|| RELATIONSHIP TYPES ||

💗 💕 💋 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 💜 ✅ 🌈

Yes just throw all that in a blender and mix it into some sickly sweet and tragic concoction and its exactly what it is. Was there ever a burn slower? A pine more mutual even though they don't really understand it?? ; v ;

Kuja is navigating uncharted territory here-- he's only just learned how to properly act as Terra's friend. Each interaction with her becomes a dance most delicate, a careful balance he has only just begun to grow accustomed to. Every step forward they take, every genuine connection they forge, is going to be closely shadowed by Kuja's tendency to deliberately take a step back. Not for lack of desire for Terra's company-- quite the opposite. It's an unfamiliar need to prioritise her well-being over his own desires and need to hurt other people.

For Kuja, who has long lived in his own little world of self-interest and ambition, managing these kinds of feelings is a very steep learning curve. Just because he cares about Terra, he knows himself well enough to be plenty aware that doesn't necessarily make her immune to his own selfish and cruel behavior.

But he's never been very good at resisting his wants forever, so... We'll see how that goes.

[nmietbbsr]

How to Decide If BTech Computer Engineering Is Your Path

Choosing a career path is never easy—especially when it comes to a field as vast and dynamic as Computer Engineering. If you're reading this, you're probably someone who’s curious about how software works, fascinated by technology, or wondering whether this stream will help you build a meaningful and future-proof career. That’s a good place to start.

Let’s walk through some key considerations to help you figure out whether BTech in Computer Engineering is truly the right fit for you.

What Is BTech Computer Engineering, Really?

At its core, Computer Engineering is about designing and building systems that combine hardware and software. It’s the bridge between Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. This means you’ll learn not just how to code, but also how microprocessors, embedded systems, networks, and security frameworks work together to form the devices and applications we use every day.

If you’ve ever wanted to build your own app, create intelligent machines, or understand what powers your phone or your favorite website, this branch gives you all the tools to do that—and more.

Assessing Your Interests and Strengths

Here’s a simple truth: you don’t need to be a coding genius to start with Computer Engineering. What you do need is logical thinking, curiosity, and a problem-solving mindset. This field is ideal for students who enjoy:

Solving puzzles or logical challenges

Thinking in structured ways

Creating things from scratch (apps, websites, devices)

Staying updated on new tech like AI, cybersecurity, and blockchain

That said, the learning curve can be steep at times. You’ll deal with complex algorithms, mathematical models, and architecture-level understanding of systems. But if you’re the kind of student who enjoys connecting the dots and digging into “how things work,” you’ll likely find this journey fulfilling.

The Career Opportunities Are Broad (And Growing)

One of the biggest reasons students lean toward this stream is the sheer diversity of career options. With a BTech in Computer Engineering, you could become:

Software Developer or Web Developer

Systems Architect or Cloud Engineer

Data Analyst or AI Engineer

Network Security Expert or Cybersecurity Analyst

Embedded Systems Designer or IoT Engineer

And this is just scratching the surface. Tech companies are always expanding, but other sectors like finance, healthcare, agriculture, education, and even government now rely on computer engineers to innovate and optimize their operations.

What Kind of Colleges Should You Look For?

Your environment matters. A good program will teach you theory. A great one will give you real-world exposure, hands-on projects, and opportunities to connect with the industry. When researching institutions, explore the best engineering colleges in Bhubaneswar. Many of them are evolving rapidly, building digital labs, AI and ML research hubs, and working closely with industry leaders to align their syllabus with what the job market demands.

One college that comes to mind is NMIET, especially because of how they integrate live projects, internships, and mentorship into their curriculum. I’ve interacted with a few students there who were already contributing to open-source projects or preparing for competitive hackathons before completing their third year.

Will You Be Industry-Ready?

This is a question you must ask yourself before choosing any engineering stream—not just Computer Engineering. The industry today values skills more than just degrees. So you’ll need to not only study hard, but also apply what you learn through projects, certifications, or internships.

The best engineering colleges in Bhubaneswar usually have placement cells that connect students with top recruiters. Companies like IBM, Capgemini, and BYJU’s often look for candidates with both technical ability and the mindset to learn quickly and solve problems independently.

At places like NMIET, the focus on employability is quite visible. They emphasize training in high-demand skills—like Python, AI, cloud computing, and DevOps—and encourage students to pursue internships early on. That kind of proactive preparation makes a real difference in campus placements.

Final Thought: What Are You Building?

Computer Engineering isn’t just about learning to code or finding a stable job. It’s about building. Whether you’re creating a better app, a faster system, or a smarter solution, this stream empowers you to design things that impact real people.

So ask yourself: Do I want to be part of shaping the digital future? If your answer is yes, then Computer Engineering is likely your path.

Make sure to explore different programs, talk to alumni if possible, and visit campuses to see which environment feels right for your learning style. Bhubaneswar has emerged as a strong educational hub, and if you’re serious about this stream, you’ll find options that align with your goals and help you grow in the right direction.

[jamesmiller555]

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[brocoffeeengineer]

Beginner’s Guide to Animation: Start from Zero and Create Like a Pro

There’s something magical about animation. It can transform simple lines and colors into compelling characters, emotions, and entire worlds. And the best part? You don’t need to be a professional artist or tech wizard to enter the field. In fact, many successful animators today began with nothing more than a fascination for moving images and a willingness to learn. So, if you’re starting from zero, don’t worry—this is your roadmap to begin your animation journey with confidence.

Begin by Understanding What Animation Really Involves

Before jumping into tools or tutorials, it’s important to grasp what animation actually entails. Animation isn't just drawing cartoons—it’s the art of movement, emotion, and timing. It's used in movies, video games, marketing, education, mobile apps, and even UI design.

From traditional hand-drawn styles to computer-generated visuals, the field includes multiple approaches like 2D animation, 3D modeling, stop-motion, and motion graphics. What ties them all together is storytelling—animation at its core is about communicating ideas through motion.

Getting Comfortable with Animation Concepts

You don’t need to master drawing to become an animator. What you really need is an understanding of how things move and behave. Start by studying real-life motion—how people walk, how a ball bounces, how fabric flows in the wind. Observing life closely helps build the animator’s eye.

Alongside this, you’ll encounter the 12 principles of animation. These time-tested rules—like squash and stretch, anticipation, timing, and exaggeration—are essential. Every beginner should spend time learning and experimenting with these concepts, no matter the software or style they aim to pursue.

Start with Simple Software and Hands-On Practice

It’s tempting to dive straight into advanced tools, but that can lead to confusion and burnout. Beginners should start with beginner-friendly animation programs like Pencil2D, Krita, or Adobe Animate. These tools help you focus on timing and movement without being bogged down by 3D complexities.

When you’re ready, you can graduate to platforms like Blender for 3D animation, which is free and used by professionals worldwide. But in the beginning, less is more. Your priority should be creating short animations that help you apply core principles—like bouncing balls, walk cycles, or facial expressions.

The learning curve may feel steep at times, but consistency is key. You’ll be amazed at the progress you can make with just 30 minutes of daily practice.

Learn from Real Animators and Communities

Animation is one of those fields where mentorship—even informal—can make a huge difference. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone. The internet is rich with tutorials, courses, and community forums where animators of all levels share their insights.

Following professionals on platforms like YouTube or Instagram can expose you to real workflows. Creators often break down their process, show timelapses, and offer critiques. Sites like ArtStation, Behance, and Reddit threads like r/animation can also serve as a source of feedback and inspiration.

In cities like Bengaluru, where the digital and creative industries are expanding rapidly, animation communities and workshops have become quite accessible. If you’re looking for formal instruction, enrolling in an Animation course in Bengaluru could give you access to mentors, internships, and networking that fast-tracks your learning curve.

Build a Portfolio from Day One

Even when you’re just starting out, think like a creator. Save every mini project—no matter how basic—and slowly build a portfolio that reflects your progress. You don’t need flashy visuals to get noticed; what matters is your understanding of motion and timing.

A simple bouncing ball or a looping animation can demonstrate that you’ve grasped key concepts. Over time, aim for short character animations, facial expressions, or storytelling scenes. These can be used for freelance pitches, internships, or even just sharing on social media to grow your presence.

Don’t wait to become “good enough.” Share your work early and often—it’s the best way to get feedback and grow.

Keep Up With Industry Trends

The animation industry isn’t standing still. From feature films to mobile games, demand for animation is evolving—and fast. In recent months, global streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ have ramped up investments in animated content, with particular focus on international stories and culturally rich narratives.

Interestingly, ed-tech platforms are also driving demand for animated learning content in India. Explainer videos, storytelling modules, and gamified apps all rely on smooth, engaging animation. This has led to a surge in job openings not just in media companies but also in startups, SaaS firms, and marketing agencies.

In India, Bengaluru stands out as one of the fastest-growing hubs for digital and creative industries. The city’s ecosystem—rich in tech startups and multimedia agencies—has made animation a sought-after skill. This is particularly true for those trained in 2D and motion design, which are widely used in digital advertising and e-learning products.

Stay Inspired and Trust the Process

Animation is a long game. It’s a craft that rewards patience, experimentation, and a keen eye for detail. You might not get the perfect character rig or walk cycle on your first try—or even your tenth. But each attempt brings you closer to understanding how visual storytelling works.

Set small goals. Create five-second animations before trying full scenes. Watch your favorite animated films and break them down shot by shot. Most importantly, remind yourself that every animator you admire once started where you are—curious and completely new.

Conclusion: Your First Step Is the Most Powerful

Animation is one of the most inclusive creative fields for beginners. Whether you’re a student, a working professional exploring a new hobby, or someone looking to pivot careers, there’s space for you here. The key is to start, stay curious, and stay consistent.

As the animation industry grows across India, Bengaluru in particular has become a destination for learners and creators alike. Opting for a 2D animation course bengaluru can help you bridge the gap between foundational skills and real-world application, especially in a city where storytelling meets technology every day.

So if you’ve ever watched an animated scene and thought, “I wish I could do that,” this is your sign to begin. You don’t need years of art school or expensive gear. You just need curiosity—and a single frame to start.