#Add-Ins development

[i4technolab]

VSTO (Visual Studio Tools for Office) web add-ins are a type of Office Add-in that is developed using the VSTO technology and is designed to run in the web version of Microsoft Office, such as Office Online or Outlook on the web.

Traditionally, VSTO add-ins are developed using the .NET framework and are designed to run within the desktop version of Microsoft Office applications, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. However, with the advent of Office 365 and web-based versions of Office applications, VSTO web add-ins have become increasingly popular. This prompted clients to hire .NET developers to meet their Add-in requirements.

Planning to hire a top-rated VSTO Add-in development company? CONTACT US NOW.

All in all, custom Office 365 Add-ins development is a recommended way that offers users with personalized Office experience and streamlined workflows with integrated external services.

[the-joy-of-knowledge]

Becoming an Intelligent Woman

My Dears,

There is no greater goal than being a fine woman who is intelligent, kind, and elegant. As much as we all want to be described with these adjectives, it takes a great amount of discipline to get there. It is very doable only if you are ready to put in the work.

Here are steps you can add to your routine in the next 4 weeks that will make you 1% more intelligent than you were before. This is a process that should become a habit not a goal. It is long term, however, I want you to devote just 4 weeks into doing these steps first and recognize the changes that follow.

Watch documentaries: This is the easiest step, we all have access to Youtube. Youtube has a great number of content on art, history, technology, food, science etc that will increase your knowledge and pique your curiosity. I really did not know much about world history especially from the perspective of World war 1 & 2, the roaring 20s, Age of Enlightenment, Jazz era, monarchies etc but with several channels dedicated to breaking down history into easily digestible forms. I have in the last 4 weeks immersed myself into these documentaries. Here are a few I watched:

The fall of monarchies

The Entire History of United Kingdom

The Eight Ages of Greece

World War 1

World War 2

The Roaring '20s

The Cuisine of the Enlightenment

2. Read Classics: I recommend starting with short classics so that you do not get easily discouraged. Try to make reading easy and interesting especially if you struggle with finishing a book. Why classics? You see, if you never went to an exclusive private school in Europe or America with well crafted syllabus that emphasized philosophy, history, art, and literary classics, you might want to know what is felt like and for me this was a strong reason. Asides that, there is so much wisdom and knowledge available in these books. In these books, you gain insights to the authors mind, the historical context of the era, the ingenuity of the author, the hidden messages, and the cultural impact of these books. Most importantly, you develop your personal philosophy from the stories and lessons you have accumulated from the lives of the characters in the books you read. Here are classics to get you started:

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

Candide by Voltaire

Paradise lost by John Milton

3. Study the lives of people who inspire you: I dedicate one month to each person that fascinates me. I read their biography (date of birth, background, death, influences, work, style, education, personal life) For this month, I decided to study Frank Lloyd Wright because I was fascinated by the Guggenheim Museum in New York. I began to read about his influence in American Architecture (Organic architecture, Prairie School, Usonian style), his tumultuous personal life, his difficult relationship with his mentor (Louis Sullivan), his most iconic works etc. By the end of the year I would have learned the ins and outs of people I am inspired by through books and documentaries. Here are other people I plan to learn more about:

Winston Churchill

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

Ada Lovelace

Benjamin Franklin

Helen Keller

John Nash

Isabella Stewart Gardner

Caroline Herrera

Ernest Hemingway

Catherine the Great

Ann Lowe

My dears, I hope you enjoyed this read. I cannot wait to write more on my journey to becoming a fine woman. I urge you to do this for four weeks and see what changes you notice. Make sure to write as well, it is important to document your progress.

Cheers to a very prosperous 2024!

[batmansbasement]

Fic Idea For Tim Drake And Jason Todd, and the Drake Family Dynamic

TW: Mention of drug abuse, overdose, infidelity, genetic addiction, general socialite behavior

The fics where Jack and Janet Drake are terrible parents who neglect and abuse Tim do make for good found family angst, yes.

However.

I propose to you something new and much much better. Yes, Tim's parents may not be winning any parent of the year awards, but they did teach their son how to be ruthless in the face of insults to their name. Together, Jack and Janet Drake are known as the sharks of the socialite world. You bleed a drop of blood and they'll sniff it out and sink their teeth into it, tearing you wide open.

Janet is a known social climber, she started at the bottom of the food chain and made her way to the top through coldness and apathy, using her mind to snap back at people when they dared to insult her or her family. Jack had been raised in the socialite world, and knows the ins and outs well. He knows that every smile is fake and every person is putting up a mask, and he knows how to see behind them.

This being said, I add in another popular fic trope. Young Tim and Jason meet at a gala, but Janet and Jack do not care that they talk, they actually encourage it. They always taught Tim not to take advantage of the way he was raised, or to think of himself as better because of something he was born into such as his wealth. When the Drakes found out that Brucie Wayne had taken in another boy, and that he was from Crime Alley, they did not believe a single thing the papers said, and promptly did not think much of it.

They were a little confused when their son developed an obsession with the Wayne's boy a few months later, but Tim had always been a little odd, and had always been fascinated by the Wayne's, what with seeing Dick Grayson's final performance, even if it was tainted by the awful events that occurred that night.

Of course a welcoming gala is hosted for the new son, Jason Todd, a couple months later. And of course the Drake's will make their appearance for it would be rude not to do so. They would be seen as prejudiced if they did not show, for they are welcoming this poor orphaned boy who lived on the streets and is now taken in by a rich man! How could you be so cruel as to not welcome him!

(The rich love to seen empathetic and thoughtful. It makes them feel better about how terrible they to those who need help)

(The Drake's, again, do not care much. The boy is just like any other, and they have a lovely son already. However Tim is so very excited, and the couple already knows the cruel things that will be said tonight, so they suppose it would be refreshing for Jason to talk to people who were not faking sympathy for his situation)

That's not to say that the Drake's were not sympathetic, just not in the ways that the surrounding crowd was.

At one point, Janet nearly scoffed after hearing some old bat tell Jason that "she truly felt for him. Truly, his situation was just awful, how could a mother set that kind of example for their child? He must feel so lucky to be living with someone as amazing as Brucie Wayne now. Not living on those filthy, disgusting streets anymore."

The poor boys face had turned so red Janet thought he might blow a gasket, and his expression was one of disgust so plain she felt she had to help him. How people could just assume the way they did, she would never know.

She looked down at her son, who was also watching the entire situation play out, and felt her lips upturn slightly. Tim had taken to watching people like a fish took to water, he was a natural at gathering information and reading people, as well as telling them what the wanted to hear.

Janet squeezed his shoulder and whispered to Tim, "Go, he looks like he needs a friendly face at the moment."

Tim's smile is bright and happy as he bounds over to Jason, and as they strike up a conversation, Jason's face slowly goes back to a normal color and he starts to form a smile of his own. Tim had always been bright and aware, and she was proud to call him her son. He was empathetic without giving pity, something she knew she hated receiving after talking about her own upbringing.

Satisfied with how things turned out, she leaves the two boys be, and turns to the crowd to find her husband. No doubt he's stomping down rumors left and right at the moment, he never did stand for the lies that circled the socialite community, no matter if they were about his family or someone else's.

Jack and Janet are talking to an older couple, Mr. and Mrs. Eldine, when they hear affronted gasps from a small gathering towards the other end of the ball room.

Jack and Janet both seem to realize at the same time that their son is presumably still with Jason. Jason, who has been called many names throughout the night, many unfavorable. And their son, their lovely Tim, who they taught to never hold back when insulted, or when someone he cares about is insulted.

To say they rushed to the center of the crowd was a bit of an understatement.

Sure enough, in the middle was a small clearing, and there stood Tim, shielding Jason with his body, and Eli Barnum, a man who was as sleazy as he was rich. Barnum stood red in the face, looking livid. Tim looked proud and defiant, and Jason looked shocked and worried.

Janet and Jack were at the boys' side swiftly.

"Timothy, could you please explain the meaning of this?" Jack's voice was strict and punishing to unfamiliar ears, but upon hearing it Tim relaxed minutely.

"He-" Tim was cut off before he could even start.

"Your son," Barnum spat, spittle flying from his mouth in his rage, "is the most disrespectful brat I've ever seen. You ought to teach him a lesson in respecting his elders, before someone else does it for you."

Jack tensed, and Janet's nostrils flared dangerously.

"Mr. Barnum, it would treat you well to not interrupt my son when he is speaking. It is impolite and frankly barbaric. Timothy, tell is what happened." Janet sounded every bit as terrifying as the tabloids said.

Tim looked from his mom, to Mr. Barnum, to his dad, to Jason, then back to his mom. He then looked back to his mother, eyes flashing with barely concealed rage.

"He called Jason a street rat. I was merely reminding him of what a rat really is."

Janet Drake smiled down at her son and nodded, while Jack looked back at Jason and tilted his head in question. Jason nodded shyly to confirm that this is what happened.

After the confirmation, it seemed as if the entire Drake family became a stone wall blocking Jason from the putrid man in front of them.

Janet pursed her lips, somehow managing to look down her nose at Burnam while being shorter than him.

"Is this true, Burnam?"

Burnam sputtered, his face turning impossibly more red.

"It's not like I'm wrong! Kids a gutter rat, shouldn't be mixing with people like us. We all know his mom was a druggie! And we all know how that is, runs in the blood! He's bound to end up just like her, useless and doped out by the time he's sixteen! Not to mention the diseases he probably carries from his time on those filthy streets, he's like a stray dog, probably riddles with fleas and pestilence!"

Janet hummed, felt her blood pressure rise beyond what she thought possible, and it worsened when she heard the heavy breathing coming from behind her. Jason appeared to be hyperventilating.

She knew how horrible people could be to those who were raised in less than favorable positions. She'd experienced it first-hand more than enough to last a lifetime, but to see it directed at a child, who had already been through so much at such a young age, sparked an anger in her so bright she felt as of it would burn her alive.

Or she would burn alive those who she directed it at.

She could tell her boys felt the same way. Tim was stiff as a board under her hand on his shoulder, and his breathing was nearly as bad as Jason's. Jack's body was poised like he was bracing for an impact, ready to attack.

"If I do remember correctly, Eli, your mother and father divorced after your mother found your father...ah...how did you put it...doped up? With another woman in his bed, and here you stand. Your hands are shaking, your face is hallow, and your teeth are the most horrendous shade of yellow I have ever had the displeasure of looking at. Perhaps it runs in your blood?"

Barnum's face dropped, paling at a rapid rate. The surrounding crowd was so silent you could hear a pin drop, and Janet's voice seemed to echo off the walls.

Then her son spoke up.

"Oh, right, it must be a familial connection, I'm sure of it, mother. It is his father's business that he inherited. It's the same business that is suspected of 67% of illegal opioid dealings in Gotham! Remember that, mother?"

Janet smiled cruelly, "Yes, Timothy, I do."

Jack clapped his hands with force, "Well then, we must have this man escorted off the premises immediately! How could someone such as him be around our children! What a terrible influence! Security!"

Burnam was dragged out kicking and screaming while a crowd of paparazzi surrounded him, and the Drake's looked down at him like he was little more than scum on the bottom of their shoes.

After all was said and done, Tim turned back to Jason, only to find he was taking to Bruce using wild hand gestures and looking about one breath away from a panic attack.

Then Jason looked up at caught Tim's eye, and smiled widely before dragging Bruce over to The Drake Family.

"Dad. Dad, these people are the coolest people I've ever seen in my life. That was the most insane thing I've ever witnessed. Oh my god."

Bruce smiled at the Drake's, and everyone could tell it was Bruce, not Brucie. They had found a secluded enough corner, and most of the attention was still on the paparazzi and the new gossip, so they were mostly safe from being heard.

"Thank you, for standing up for my son."

His smile was sincere, and Janet felt her heart melt just slightly, but didn't let it show on her face.

"It was stupid to leave him alone like that, Bruce, you know full well what these people are like."

Bruce nodded in agreement, "Yes, that was quite idiotic of me, I must admit, and I can assure you it will not happen again."

"Be sure that it doesn't" Janet snapped, before softening slightly.

Jason watched the conversation like a tennis match, head bouncing back and forth, before grinning up at Janet like she hung the moon.

"You are a total badass, Mrs. Drake."

At those words, Jack let out a loud chuckle, trying to stiffle it but failing, and Janet felt her lips quirk up.

"Jason, laguage!" Bruce admonished, but Jason didn't seem to hear him.

"And Tim! That was so cool, dude! How did you know about the whole drug thing? Even Bruce was shocked when he found out!"

Tim felt himself freeze up slightly. Batman was shocked about something he found out? He was totally going to freak out about that later. But not now. Robin is talking to him.

"It was really easy to put the pieces together after looking at the company stocks. There were too many suspicious transfers to unknown places, and after hacking a couple security cameras, I found out where he was spending his free time. Or, I guess how he was spending his free time."

Bruce raised an eyebrow at the young boy. "You hacked security cameras? Is that not illegal?"

Tim stared him head on, not backing down, ans Janet couldn't help but be proud of her little dragon.

"You've never done anything illegal, Mr. Wayne?" Tim's voice was sweet, his eyes wide and innocent, but the threat was loud and clear.

Bruce froze for a moment, and Jason's draw dropped to the floor. No way this kid new.

(The kid definitely knew.)

Jack shook his head, grabbing Tim by the shoulder and squeezing warningly.

"Sorry, we made the mistake of teaching him about blackmail, and he got a little obsessed. Timothy here probably has dirt on the entire high society at this point, and probably many more people that his mother and I are aware of."

Tim nodded in agreement.

Bruce took this in for a moment. "And you're both okay with this?"

Janet chucked slightly, "Truly, Bruce. I'd like to see you try and stop him."

Tim smiled something feral. "You can try, but I promise you'll fail."

Slowly, Bruce nodded, and Jason let out a laugh.

"Hey, Mrs. Drake, can you teach me that really scary glare you did at that man? In case there's someone else like him in the future?"

Janet looked down at the young man and felt incredibly fond. It was impossible not to, with his gaping smile and his boyish attitude.

She nodded, "Hm, yes, it's best you learn the art of intimidation sooner rather than later. However, for right now, if anyone acts even remotely the way Burnam did tonight, I want you to find Tim, who will find Jack and I, and we'll deal with it, sound good?"

Jason nodded quickly, while Jack looked down at his watch.

"Ah, darling, we should be getting home. It's nearly two in the morning!"

Janet nodded, and looked down at Tim, who looked sullen about the prospect of leaving but nodded nonetheless.

"Well then, it was an eventful night, but I cannot say I'm sad to see it come to an end."

Bruce chuckled at Janet's statement, humming, "No, I can't say I'm too disappointed either. Again, thank you all for tonight. Tim is welcome anytime at The Manor, I'm sure he would fit right in with my boys."

Jack nodded, "Thank you, and of course the same goes for Jason and your other young man, Dick, correct?"

Bruce nodded, "Yes, that's him. I'll see you all around"

Jack and Janet nodded, and Jason and Tim said goodbye to eachother, exchanging numbers and arguing about something, (all the adults heard was something about Wonder Woman and a toaster), before heading their separate ways.

The night all together didn't go as horribly as it could have.

Tim made a new friend, and Jack and Janet felt less worried because of it. They knew their son was odd, and although they loved him dearly, the knew not everyone felt the same amount of affection towards his more terrifying habits.

So all together, it was a success.

As Jack and Janet settled in for bed, they didn't hear their sons window open down the hall, or the sound of him exiting it.

Tim made sure to be absolutely silent, and as soon as he entered the city, he disappeared into the shadows completely.

He had some birdwatching to do, after all.

Fin.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO WRITE MORE FICS BASED ON THIS OR GIVE RECS🙏 I NEED MKRE GOOD PARENT JACK AND JANET PLEAAASSEEE

[windblumewishes]

FIRST LOOK AT THE TWISTED WONDERLAND ANIME!

Watch here on Disney+ JP’s YouTube Channel

Enma Yuuken will be voiced by Azakami Youhei, some may recognize him as Rinne Amagi from Ensemble Stars!! Music.

The main cast in TWST will also reprise their respective roles and the only new addition will be Azakami Youhei as Yuuken.

PLEASE NOTE:

Twisted Wonderland is NOT an Otome Game nor will it be an Otome Anime.

Rhythm Game + Attractive Male Characters does NOT equal Otome.

Rhythm Game where the player, you, get transported to a new world outside the realm of your own does NOT equal Otome.

Otome, by definition means the following:

“Otome” refers to a genre of video games, primarily visual novels and adventure games, marketed towards women, where the female protagonist can develop romantic relationships with male characters

Please note that this game does NOT have any romantic content for the player to the character and vise versa. There is no romance, there may be subtle romance add-ins but it is not labeled as a romance game.

For example: Childe in Genshin Impact has lines with the traveler hinting that he may have a thing for the traveler but it is not outright confirmed nor is it a route we can go to. This making Genshin Impact NOT an Otome game.

In 2025 people should have the common sense to research what this concept is let alone play the game and experience it themselves. Fans should not have to keep repeating themselves over the spread of misinformation that has erupted since the release of this game and the announcement of this anime.

Newcomers to this fandom, please be aware that this game is ongoing, this game released in 2020 and is still going strong. I would also like to encourage you to play the game or at least watch translations (I personally would recommend Otome Ayui on YouTube). Many things for TWST like certain livestreams are region locked only for Japan. To watch ABEMA you need a VPN to connect to Japan and watch.

Storyline/Timeline

The show is already cleared for three seasons, each season will follow the game’s storyline/timeline.

Here’s what we have:

Prologue/Book 1: Heartslabyul

Book 2: Savanaclaw

Book 3: Octavinelle

If we continue this timeline we will likely see the rest in order of:

Book 4: Scarabia

Book 5: Pomefiore

Book 6: Ignihyde

Book 7: Diasomnia

Note: It is unclear at this time as to whether or not the events will receive an anime adaptation. Do NOT go and spread misinformation about the events having an anime episode until it is DIRECTLY confirmed by Disney+ or Aniplex.

For further information regarding Twisted Wonderland or the Twisted Wonderland Anime please see Twitter (X) for more. Specifically follow Disney+ JP and US as well as Twisted Wonderland’s two accounts for Global and JP.

My Discord Server

Please consider following my other blogs @twisted-wishing-well and @heart-aid-cafeteria for character interaction posts for their respective fandoms.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to support me, please see my KoFi!

- Windblume

[dreamgrlarchive]

A Prissy Girl’s Guide to Fall

back by popular demand, i’m here with another prissy girl guide! this post is a bit late for the fall but it’ll allow you to finish the season off in a pretty fashion, and transition to the winter smoothly. i’ll be discussing the look i’ve been adorned in as of late and my fav products i’ll be using for the spirit of fall! 💓

what’s the look this fall?

the look this season is “divalicious barbie.” voluminous hair, tapered square nails and fur details + neutral color palettes. add in a few pops of pink and some sparkly detailz and you got my look this fall. “sexy chic.” i’ve been really leaning into the vibe of a runway supermodel diva emulsion. as you may have seen, my birthday outfit drew from many inspirations, focally the early nineties alaia runway shows. just immense glamour, class and girliness with a healthy dose of sexy.

“it's officially fall bbys. uggs, tracksuits, sew ins are in”

“in are warm scents, fur, leopard prints, brown lip gloss with voluminous blowouts for the fall to enhance my diva essence!”

- @realprissygrl on twitter 🎀

first and foremost…

the weather is turning so a lot of us are catching colds. take care of your health and rest. protect your immune system and dress according to weather. i almost always get sick around late september/early october and its because of the dip my immune system takes due to the change in climate.

preparation

some of you are in school like me. one of the reasons the fall is my fav season is because it’s time to get back to the basics. you should be developing new study routines around this time or perfecting the ones you have already

new school supplies + stationery. pretty girls deserve to stay stocked up on glitter ink and fuzzy pens

start saving money for the holiday season

get a handle on your halloween look early so not to scramble when the day comes

stock up on tea, immune boosters like emergen-c and medicine

start going outside in the morning to get the vitamin D and K you may lose out on as the seasons turn

set new goals and track them in a diary or planner

try to get well rested. the change from fall to winter can cause a lot of mood and energy complications due to lack of rest

essentials

a metallic pink starbucks tumbler or stanley cup

new books to read this season

chai tea and espresso for at home lattes + a pink thermos for travel (mine is a barbie pink micro shimmer one by starbucks)

hello kitty pencil caps and planners

velcro roller kit

super cute straw toppers

juicy couture laptop case for school

dry shampoo and clean paddle brush

pink ipad for productivity

victoria’s secret anything

cute hydrophobic jackets + umbrella

cute planner, i take my corset planner everywhere

clothes and accessories

warm neutrals + pink

layers, layers, layers! i’ve been pairing fur vests/cardigans, and sheer tops

cheetah and leopard print (yes they’re different lol) i’m going for the galleria chanel look this season

preppy looks! tartan, tweed and pleats have been such an essential for me on class days

cute little purses that are only big enough for your phone, lip gloss and keys. they come rhinestoned, fur trimmed or beaded and go very well with preppy lookz

chocolate brown accessories and layers

rhinestones and pearls add the perfect diva touch to any look

hoops 4ever

diamond studs for when your hair is pulled back, the prettiest detail ever

velour tracksuits

shimmery neutral pieces

feathers and gold jewelry to achieve that regine hunter/hilary banks aesthetic

fur trims on sheer tops

fuzzy trimmed half jackets

neutral toned designer tote bags

leopard print totes

blacked out shades

berets

sheer tights including tights with patterns like lace and stripes

ted baker arycon bags. they’re affordable and super freaking cute

fuzzy knitted pieces

knee high socks

cute little pumps + kitten heels

leather booties

uggs… obviously

medium telfar in either ballerina, bubblegum or gold

rubber boots with cute details like metal buttons or fur

furry moon boots

apple watch + charm bracelet stacking

beauty

brown + pink all season. cinnamon strawberry dessert girl

tape ins + sew ins or clip ins for a budget

soft matte makeup. not too matte (winter) and not dewy (summer)

neutral eyeshadow with a pink glossy lip

voluminous side parted hair with velcro roller curls OR

pin straight silk presses with a middle part

adequate moisture in hair is imperative to ensure hairstyles last long and stay sleek. if my hair reverts too fast i know it’s because its dry

sparkly hair clips

deep pink, mauve and berry blushes

lip balms like tree hut, summers friday and patrick ta

high ponies and half up half down stylez

long curly lashes. my favs are by kiss and lilly lashes or sold on amazon in the pink packaging

invest in a metal roller brush (ulta has super cute pink ones omg) OR a round brush blow dryer to add body to hair

makeup by pat mcgrath and patrick ta for sparkly lookz

beauty blender cleanser is my fav for cleaning my brushes

lip glosses + lipstick in nude pink, nude, deep brown, and baby pink

tapered square french tipz and nude nails

eyeshadow palettes with blacks, reds, browns, grays, and creams. my favs rn are naughty nude and new nude by huda, glam palette by natasha denona and the master mattes by mario

claw clips have been my fav for cute updos

warm scents with notes of wood, oud, musk, cinnamon, pastry, soft florals and brown sugar

smoky eyes + smudged liner + wings

[pawborough]

January Check In

Hello, all!

Happy update day, catfolk! We apologize for the late update, but we wanted to share the Beta dates with you in this update. We took extra time to ensure the dates were accurate without risking something not being ready in time or causing burnout for our team. We’ve done quite a bit of internal assessment on the pros and cons of letting ~2,000+ people into the game. 

Our most pressing thought was how to reconcile needing to continue working on key features while getting valuable feedback and play data on all that we already have. There was a lot to consider, in reputation, timeline, and team morale. We did not want to give the wrong impression that we felt anywhere close to a done game, but we have a lot of high fidelity mechanics and playability to share which need high population testing regardless. We’ve finally settled on rolling our sleeves up and opening to testers. At the start, we’ll provide a comprehensive breakdown of everything we’re planning to add over the months of the test, and continue our monthly check-ins on our progress. We’re ready to grind, and we hope you are too! And in many ways, it will be much nicer to get the comprehensive mass testing whenever we have something new to roll out!

We hope you will all agree that this update was worth the wait, as we have exciting news to share with you today, along with our most exciting news yet! :)

Accessory Progress

We are proud to announce that we have 47 unique accessories, altogether with 564 color variations. 

We have just about reached the edge of our odyssey in the first production run of accessories. After 8 months of practice and training for our fledgling team, we’ve improved immensely at our pipeline. What has previously taken us months now takes a matter of weeks. We have one more backer accessory to develop, and any additions in the near future will be small, simplistic items in comparison to our full sets, but I’m very proud of the team for how far we’ve come, and the marvel of quality they produce in good time.

This month’s new progress includes:

Frog Friends

Illustration by Remmie, sponsored by Hag

Protogear Recolors

Recolors by Emma

New decor

We’ve also been busy with decors. 

Argh, matey! 

Macaws by Jersopod, cannon, barrel and newspaper stack by Giulia and Remmie

In addition, style compliant sketches of the original rose decor!

Sketches by Remmie

Archetypes

We’re here to introduce a very exciting mechanic that has been in the works since our initial overhaul. It’s one of my personal favorite concepts, and the primary motivation behind how we’ve structured the cat design system.

Introducing… cat archetypes!

Archetypes are a specific combination of traits which, when fulfilled, mark the cat’s profile with a badge and reward the user as an achievement fulfillment. (If the cat’s traits are changed, the badge will be removed. Cats may fulfill multiple Archetypes simultaneously.)

For example, this badge means the cat fulfills the Ruby archetype, a badge which requires the cat to have the color Ruby in all slots.

Examples of the Ruby archetype include:

To give examples of the specificity, other Archetypes include for example “Leopard,” which must have the following to comply:

A Yellow range Leopard overcoat

Light Greyscale or Light Yellow undercoat

Yellow or Greyscale Claws

None for the second accent

Here are some Leopards!

Owning these cats will give the user rewards, sometimes completely custom to the Archetype. 

What we hope to achieve with this system is a greater incentive to think creatively within the restrictions of our cat builder, and to reward our players for intentioned play in collecting, breeding, and designing a variety of cats. After all, it is the core of the game!

And with each new addition of colors or patterns, we’ll release an onslaught of new Archetypes! We plan to introduce a healthy amount of them, some easy to get, and some harder depending on genetic obtainability and the obtainment method.

This system is already up and running on our servers, and is in its infancy. We’ll get a lot of data from testing it out!

Originally, this system was on the backburner while we focused on bigger picture mechanics, but we’ve fast tracked it so we can bolster and better encourage casual play while the Guild system is still in its preliminary beta state. 

Pelt System

Perhaps the feature we are most excited to see in use and tested is the Pelt System, which we briefly introduced in the 2024 November Check In. There is a frankly insane amount of functionality behind this feature, which includes autonomous user decision and interaction every step of the way. 

First, we were able to implement dynamic layering. This means that Unclipped (top layer) pelts can actually sport layers which are placed behind the cat automatically. Valuable uses for this feature include the inside of sleeves, backs of hoods, and items which you would otherwise always want to go behind anything it’s stacked above.

Users can view their pelts already submitted, see their submission progress, choose to submit more to the pelt, choose to print their pelt themselves, choose to list pelts for buyers to print on demand, and view their pelts on any cat.

There is also a draft system which allows users to store information they aren’t ready to submit yet. 

Users can list pelts as a print-on-demand resource, and are able to control how many copies they will allow to be printed. 

All prints will require a tax which will be dependent on the coverage %, calculated based on the amount of pixels that cover the canvas. This means that small pelts, like a hat or a monocle, will take only a small tax!

AND we have a rudimentary tagging system going as we experiment with this feature! Big news! Once we iron out the kinks, we’ll be able to roll out user filtering and tagging of other content, such as cats or forum posts.

And drumroll please…

As teased at the beginning of this update, we are overjoyed to announce the Closed Beta dates!  Early access launches on February 3rd, with the regular Closed Beta starting on February 6th!

During the Closed Beta, you’ll have the chance to experience many new and polished gameplay features, exciting customization options, and the now refined economy! We encourage all testers to not only find any potential bugs and ui improvements, but also to provide feedback and suggestions on all of our game features and our economy!

All 253 Early Beta, 1940 Beta and Kickstarter codes have been generated, and we will begin sending them out shortly over the next day.

In the coming week, we’ll put out writings on our expectations early on and the features roadmap that we’re currently staring at. We can’t wait to see you all in Kotemara soon!

To summarize: We shared decors, Protogear recoloring, Frog Friends, pelt system showcase, archetypes and closed Beta dates.

What to expect next month: Further asset and development updates. Check-ins for how closed Beta will be going.

[lazyduchess]

[TS2] Sim Bio on Tombstones (Commissioned)

Hi!

This is a mod that was commissioned to me by @IlexVici on Twitter, so credit for the idea and concept goes to her :)

This mod adds a new "About" immediate interaction to urnstones and tombstones if the deceased Sim has a biography, and will display it in a pop-up message when clicked.

Download: SFS

Installation - Important!

Installation is weird as this is an experimental mod, using a modding framework called TS2Hook.

You need Sims2RPC to ins tall this mod.

The zip file contains a "Downloads" folder, the contents of this folder go into your "Documents/EA Games/The Sims 2/Downloads" folder as usual.

However, there is also a "TSBin" folder, the contents of which go into your "Sims 2 Mansion and Garden installation directory/TSBin", where Sims2RPC is installed.

If all went well, you'll see a "TS2Hook (1 script loaded)" text on the top left corner of the screen when you launch TS2, and the interaction should show up in-game.

What even is TS2Hook?

TS2Hook is a tool for creating mods that weren't possible before, still in development. It lets you do things like interaction injection (which this mod does, so it doesn't replace any resources, making it conflict free) and much, much more, even custom cheats!

I thought this would be a good mod to use TS2Hook on, as TS2 normally doesn't actually let you access Sim bios to display them, this was only possible thanks to TS2Hook.

[the-masked-ram]

Fics for Gaza

Here I am taking the plunge. I'm a small blog but fast writer even when it comes to my slower times. So might as well put it to good use.

Planning on joining this fundraiser run by @ficsforgaza and help make everyone happy with some content in the process. Here is my plan of action for my wip and donation costs.

To participate- please make a donation to a vetted fundraiser and send a screenshot/proof of your donation to me in a DM. PLEASE MAKES SURE TO CENSOR ALL YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION. (internet safety and all that jazz). In the message also let me know what fic you are donating to and I will adjust expected word counts. These screenshots are merely for keeping things as honest as possible and will be shared with @ficsforgaza

-I obviously will not be taking the money myself. Please send it to one of the vetted fundraisers mentioned in the link below.

$5.00 per 800 words or a full drabble series installment

Link to vetted places to donate here!

More fundraisers here!

As soon as 50% of any of the fics are sponsored I will automatically start on them.

Drabble series-

Sweet and Sour- Ren Kaji x Fem Reader Drabble Series

Your the new girl in the city. You are tough, sassy, but don't know a lick about the gangs, and if your honest you couldn't care less. But something about Ren Kaji catches your eye. He may snap and bark like a feral dog, but you can see through it and he knows it too. Slowly, you become his sanctuary even though you are the one person he's most afraid won't accept him. And he thought he was past all that. (NSFW)

5.00 for full installment

Read Part One here!

False Immunity- Hiei x Fem Reader Drabble Series

Where Hiei learns the ins and out of human courtship. (NSFW)

Find Part One-Six on my masterlist here! 5.00 for full installment

Multichap Fics-

Flawed Hope- Astarion x OC (BG3)

Brit was a paralegal, someone who had a normal life and enjoyed what she did for the most part. Yet, the only true excitement she felt lately was when she played Baldur's Gate Three. A simple video game brought her more joy than her friends or fleeting romances. One night as depression crushes her she wishes to live one day in BG3. Her wish is granted, however the world of BG3 needs her far longer than her wish had originally intended. And the worst part? She does not get along with her favorite vampire in the slightest. (NSFW)

Read the first four chaps here! WC: 1961/4000

Falling for Frogs- Sebastian x Fem Reader (SDV)

You are game developer about to make their debut into the market. The world you are about to venture into isn't exactly friendly to those of the feminine persuasion and as such you have flown under the radar using a masculine alias online. After a complete mental break down at a very important convention in Zuzu you realize you need to get away from the city for a bit so you can finish your game. Your best friend who runs a farm in Stardew Valley invites you to come stay with her. However as you stay there and get to know the locals, you realize the cute boy you saw at the con is her neighbor. What's even worse is he remembers you and just to add salt to the wound, he's one of your Kickstarters. (NSFW) WC: 309/3000

Read the first three chaps here!

The Unseen and Those Forgotten- Dabi x Fem Reader (BNHA)

The age of the Greek gods is long past. Dabi is one of the few left, his name in the ancient days had been Hades. Now he skulks among the humans, as a deity at half strength. With the old gods dying, the new ones have taken control of the humans’ feeble minds. There is a storm on the horizon though, quite literally, the end of days is nipping at mortality’s heels and the key to unlocking Kronos’s resting place, the only creature strong enough to put a stop to the apocalypse, is you. Sadly you have no idea what part you will play, after all, you are just an office worker who has an affinity for plants.... WC: 0/2000

Find the first three chaps on my masterlist here!

The Hellebore Rift- Hayato Suo x Fem Reader (Wind Breaker)

The town of Makochi has changed and so have all the gangs within it. Gone are the days of allies and rival schools. Gone are the days of delinquents battling for top spots and coming home with happy smiles from good fist fights. Now the world has been ripped apart by rifts that tear the very dimensions in two, spewing forth gigantic blood-thirsty monsters. It has forced the gangs to protect only their parts of town from everyone. Even the civilians, even those they once called friends. With those rifts and monsters, humans were gifted with powers, yet everything good always comes with a fall out. You are one of those few, blessed with the ability to Guide, to save those Espers from the toxicity that their own powers created within themselves when they protect their parts of town. You live in a small section Makochi outside any of the gangs control with a scant few Espers to call your own… or well you did until the day Hayato Suo found you. WC 313/2000

(Chapter one just started)

Oneshots-

Dog Park with Megumi (no title yet)- You don't have dogs but you find yourself at the dog park everyday because you can't have pets. That's where you meet Megumi Fushiguro (NSFW)WC: 0/15000

A Bouquet of Deadly Thorns- Hanahaki Soulmate Gojo x Fem Reader

The world now is riddled with the phenomenon known as soulmates. You don't know yours but before you can even think about finding them, you must get rid of your growing feelings for Satoru Gojo, the only problem is they've grown suffocating and you've started coughing up blood and flower petals. (NSFW) Current WC: 3590/8000 donation additions: 50.00- 8k words

Tetsuro Kuroo bar night (no title yet)- The first night you meet Kuroo he was celebrating with his friends who'd just won their volley ball game. You were drinking away your sorrows yet again from another shitty date. Fate had a funny way of making you forget things when he gets dared to make a move on you. (NSFW) WC: 0/10,000

My name in your mouth- Professional Poker Player!Suo Hayato x CardShark Fem!Reader

Suo Hayato is well known in the gambling circuit, he strikes fear in all his opponents. Terrified that they will lose all the winnings and perhaps even worse to him. You however are a dark horse, a rising star lurking in the shadows among the tables, and you have the arrogance to back it up. You take Suo on and surprise him in more ways then one. But he's desperate to wrest back control from you and the rising sexual tension between the two of you gives him the perfect excuse. (NSFW) WC: 0/7000

Single Drabbles- 5.00 for a full drabble

Jo Togame festival day (sfw) - Link

Jo Togame the baths (NSFW) - Link

Nobara/fem! reader (jjk) (NSFW) shopping day, in the dressing room

Himuro tatsuya/male! reader (knb) (NSFW) pining, street ball rivals

Seishiro Nagi/gn!reader (blue lock) (SPICEY (not full nsfw)) comfort, lazy day, reuniting after long distance for a while

Sebastain/fem! reader (SDV) (nsfw) phone sex

Astarion/male!reader (BG3) (NSFW) dry humping, semi public sex

Suo Hayato/fem!reader (wind breaker)(NSFW) overstimulation

[artbyblastweave]

"If they put more superheroes in Fallout I'll talk about it more."

🔥 The Silver Shroud?

The Silver Shroud falls somewhere on a spectrum between genuinely really conceptually interesting and borderline meanspirited to me. As I've mentioned briefly before, the paradox of superheroes in the Fallout universe is that they aren't a fundamentally weirder class of person than any of the other 1950s genre pastiche archetypes that we're expected to take seriously, but the flip side is that superheroes would match with the rest of the Fallout idiom so perfectly, and are so modular in terms of what other genre elements they can incorporate into their own genre, that they could easily become the most overbearing element of the Fallout setting if steps aren't taken to keep them siloed. Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 share a throughline in that they both silo superheroism by portraying it as the product of arrested development.

Kent Connolly is a sad, sad guy, with good reason. He's been trying to keep his hobby alive for centuries- terminals in Fallout 76 reveal that he's been adjacent to attempts to make superheroes a real thing for over 200 years, and it has never, ever worked over the long haul, and yet he keeps on trucking, trying to make everyone else see what he sees in these characters. The Shroud is a significantly different archetype of pulp hero from the ones who show up in Fallout 3- rather than a pastiche of the bloodless, stakeless four-color capes of the golden age, he's a more directly a pastiche of The Shadow- the 1930s radio-show proto-superhero who was significantly more willing to use gun violence as a conflict resolution tool than his successors would be. This dovetails with the gameplay loop- In Fallout 3, the entire point of the superheroes is that they're engaging in a significantly more limited playfight compared to what the Lone Wanderer gets up to on a typical Tuesday, but the Sole Survivor, when adopting the Silver Shroud persona, doesn't really have to change their MO at all in order to embody the (admittedly somewhat exaggerated and retroactively attributed by later writers and audiences) retributive ultraviolence of the Shadow's pulp archetype. They're doing their normal thing in a funny voice. And the extent to which you're just doing your normal thing is what really puts the screws to the idea that doing it in a costume is actually adding anything here. You are, at best, making a slight detour to slightly brighten a shut-ins day, and that adds a fundamental air of sadness to the entire outing. But at the end of the day, you do briefly embody the archetype. You do kick down the door and save the hostage from the gangsters. And as a result it does end up briefly straddling the line between deeply silly and deeply cool. The other thing about The Silver Shroud is that in a roundabout way it re-enforces my standing theory that Fallout 3 was originally meant to take place within living memory of The Great War. Of the three Fallout games that directly feature living superheroes, two of them- 4 and 76- are associated with characters who were directly enmeshed in pre-war pop culture. The Mistress of Mystery and her cohort adopted the superheroic aesthetic because it would still be legible to a plurality of survivors; Kent Conolly's rock to roll uphill forever is that he's one of the only people left to whom any of this means anything. But in Fallout 3 the two superheroes just sort of....materialize, after 200 years, with their shticks fully formed. Furthermore, in the Hubris comics office in downtown DC you can find a pre war letter to the editor extolling the relatability of the fictional AntAgonizer, and doing so prior to starting The Superhuman Gambit gives you a unique option for talking down the real one. My strong suspicion is that in an earlier draft of the story, The AntAgonizer was written as a pre-war character who sent that letter to the editor herself as a teenager or young adult, and adopted the AntAgonizer persona after living through the war as a coping mechanism.

[i4technolab]

Microsoft Word is often the first name that springs to mind when you think about documentation. A popular content platform renowned for its adaptability and top-notch features. What makes it more interesting is its support for hundreds of add-ins and the ability to seamlessly integrate third parties.

The actual power of Microsoft Word lies in its authoritative Add-ins. These remarkable extensions serve as a reliable companions and provide invaluable assistance throughout the documentation journey. That is the reason businesses prefer to go for Custom Word Add-ins development to focus on what truly matters.

In this blog, we will span across the significance of Word plug-ins and learn the step-by-step process of developing Word Add-ins.

[neixins]

since i'll be posting my massive gijaeha fic, cut to the feeling, later than i'd hoped, i've decided to share the full first scene as a lil sneak peek <3 in case u haven't heard me yap about it already, it's a canon-compliant missing scenes compilation, and the first scene is set after the events of ch 41

(it's also currently in all lowercase bc i subscribe to the shirley jackson school of writing drafts in all lowercase but the final version will be properly capitalized i prommy)

the night is calm, if uncharacteristically cold for the season, and gija is struggling to stay awake.

the fire has burned down to the embers, and the ceaseless trill of nightjars from a nearby thicket, occasionally accentuated by the hoot of an owl, is lulling him to sleep. he slaps himself awake; just because they set up camp in a secluded area far enough from any roads to avoid run-ins with either soldiers or bandits doesn’t mean he can let his guard down. after his disgraceful behavior the previous night, he must prove that he’s still dependable, still worthy of the white dragon’s title and of his place by her highness’ side. even if her highness had been magnanimous enough not to hold it against him, the recollection makes his stomach lurch.

that he hadn’t meant to drink the abominable love potion in the first place, that he’d fought its effects and passed out before anything could happen hardly matters. he could feel his admiration for her highness getting twisted into something gnarled and wrong, a warped reflection of itself, and it frightened him.

what had granny been thinking, concocting and selling something so awful? the elder chief developed that for you, the merchant they’d met had said, all smiles. she’s concerned because you aren’t married yet. it had been intended for him. he’d been meant to drink it. had nobody considered how dangerous the whole scheme could be for her highness? had nobody considered that he didn’t want to marry?

he takes a few breaths to settle down, and focuses on a nightjar resting between the roots of a nearby tree, determined to think about nothing except the intricate pattern of the bird’s feathers, the various shades of gray providing ideal camouflage.

his mind, lightheaded with fatigue, has other ideas, though, and it inevitably wanders to the memory of jaeha’s lips on his neck, his warm breath igniting something within gija that he’s never felt before, his confident hands pinning him beneath his weight, his voice low and sultry; your existence is stirring up my heart.

he rests a hand on the side of his neck, hoping to keep the memory there, safe from the cold breeze.

he doesn’t realize he’s drifting off again until jaeha places a hand on his shoulder, startling him awake. “go get some sleep, gija,” he says. “i’ll take over here.”

gija shakes his head. “i’m fine.”

jaeha settles down beside him regardless. “you look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“i’m not tired.” the words come out sharper than he’d intended, so he adds, “what are you doing up?”

“couldn’t sleep. these little critters are quite loud,” jaeha says, waving a hand languidly to encompass the unseen chorus of nightjars. there’s a restlessness to him that makes gija suspect he isn’t telling the whole truth. he’s been like that all day, glancing in gija’s direction whenever he thought he wasn’t paying attention, worrying at his bottom lip, drumming his fingers. it isn’t as apparent now, but gija can still sense it in the air between them.

“really? i like them. there’s one over there.” he indicates the nightjar at the foot of the tree.

it takes jaeha a moment to spot it. when he does, he remarks about it being cute before falling silent. then, he looks back at gija. “sorry,” he says. “i might’ve gotten carried away with the love potion. i didn’t think you’d take it so seriously.”

“how could i not take it seriously? my behavior towards her highness was unacceptable!”

jaeha stares at him before pinching the bridge of his nose with a sigh. “that’s not what i’m trying to apologize for, gija. that part was hardly my fault anyway.”

“then what are you apologizing for?”

“for kissing you. or whatever.” he looks towards the embers, scowling. “i shouldn’t have done that without asking.”

“oh…” none of the women in his village had ever asked if they could kiss him either, and they hadn’t been under the influence of a dreadful drug, but he suspects that saying that right now wouldn’t make jaeha feel better about the whole matter. “i’m not upset about that,” he says instead.

jaeha turns to look at him again. “you seemed ready to tear me to shreds yesterday.”

“i was…overwhelmed. i-i liked it,” gija admits. beneath the initial surprise and embarrassment he’d felt, there had been an exhilarating feeling like plunging into pleasantly cool lake water before sunrise, while everyone is still asleep. “i just wish you hadn’t taken the love potion.”

the silence stretches out, and jaeha leans back. “right,” he finally drawls, almost like a question.

“if you hadn’t been under the influence, i wouldn’t have pushed you away,” gija adds in an attempt to explain.

jaeha stares at him. “…what?”

“what?”

in the quiet that follows, gija finally realizes what he just said, and more importantly, that it’s true. his face feels hot all of a sudden, and he buries it in his hands. “forget i said anything!”

a beat, and jaeha laughs. gija steals a glance at him; he’s covering his mouth with his hand in an attempt to stifle the laughter so as not to wake anyone, and when he meets gija’s gaze, violet-blue eyes glimmering with mirth and the light of the embers, gija forgets both the embarrassment that seemed ready to swallow him whole moments before, and how to breathe.

“there’s no shame in being wiled by my irresistible charms, gija darling,” he says with a wink and a flip of his long hair, let loose from its ribbon this late at night. gija wonders if his hair feels as silky as it looks. perhaps jaeha would let him reach out and run his fingers through it.

remembering how to speak, gija says, “don’t tease me.”

“oh, but it’s so fun.”

“and i’m not ashamed,” gija adds. if anything, he’s fairly certain what he’s feeling is the opposite of shame, though he’s not quite clear on what to call it.

“good.” jaeha’s voice sounds so soft, and gija wants him to keep talking, wants to be closer to him. however, the fatigue is casting its impenetrable fog over his thoughts, making it difficult to continue speaking.

“gija,” jaeha calls his name in that same tone. “you should go to sleep. i can handle things here.”

he shakes his head.

“what, am i untrustworthy after all?” he clearly intended it as a joke, but there’s a hint of a quiver in his voice. for all his guardedness, he still wants to belong; gija had realized as much the moment he saw the awestruck expression on his face during their conversation back in awa.

“i trust you!” he blurts out, desperate to salvage this new fragile bond building between them. “i just— i want to be useful.”

“and passing out from exhaustion plays into that how exactly?”

the words sting despite the lightness of his tone, but jaeha wouldn’t have said them if he wasn’t worried, so gija announces, “i’ll sleep here, then,” before shifting closer and resting his head on jaeha’s shoulder. he can hear jaeha murmur something in response but he’s too tired to catch it.

[knight-otu]

Toady's Devlog for 04/21/2025 - Dwarf Fortress 51.11 Released

Toady One, from the Dwarf Fortress Development Log:

Fortress mode * People that leave the map no longer lose their room ownership associations * Stopped immigrants from losing their religions and some other affiliations * Added settings to customize keyboard scroll amounts * Turned off underground humanoid invasions until they are fixed * Add grazer text to creatures in unit selectors * Setting somebody to a work detail now properly disables others not in the detail * Removed ramp spaces above non-ramp constructions if the constructions are placed on ramps New graphics * Differentiated metal caps from wood/bone/leather/shell/woven caps in portraits * Images for weapon items that are artifacts / special materials General updates * Stopped certain interaction of ice and constructions from creating void tiles * Made cave-ins happen more reliably with constructions vs frozen liquids * Stopped frozen squares revealed under removed constructions from lingering * Shrubs covered with frozen water no longer lose their species when they unthaw

[specterofyou]

Visual Novel Plug-ins That I Recommend for Newcomers!1!!1!

This post is primarily aimed at first-time visual novel developers! The majority of plug-ins here are Free but I will note when they cost money! (Note: these add-ons are not necessarily aimed at newcomers, but are just ones I recommend before you venture into other add-ons for Ren'Py).

Layered Image Visualizer for Ren'Py by Feniks ($5 or more). Layered images are when a sprite has multiple components that are separate from the base (for example, a separate eyes file from the base). This visualizer lets you see what you're combining and provides the code for it!

Easy Ren'Py GUI by Feniks (free). If the way the default UI is handled is too complicated to use, this GUI template has become a staple of visual novels! This changes the code and images provided to make it easier to create VN GUI.

Lint+ Ren'Py Word Counter by KigyoDev (free with an optional bonus for donating). This keeps track of a variety of text-related components, including how many lines/words there are, the frequency of characters appearing in the script, etc. Ren'Py All-In-One GUI Template by tofurocks (free with an optional bonus for donating). It comes with a variety of features like a built-in image gallery, developer's notes, etc. Any questions? Let me know!

[nellienews]

Random Nellie behind-the-scenes post!

I was looking through some old files, and found some really old versions of Nellie. She's been through quite a few iterations!

This was the very very first Cirinel, before I'd even decided on her eye injury. I remember really liking the amber eyes. I wound up ditching them for yellow because, while all the elven eye colors have a half-blind version, the eye that's blind differs.

Amber had it on the right eye—and that's a problem, because the bandages cover the right on male characters, and the left on female.

So away they went in favor of yellow!

I did a lot to hide that she was half-blind. I wanted that to be a twist that people found out once they downloaded her, and that was back before I'd even touched the Creation Kit. So all her photos had her winking, or angled so you couldn't see her left eye.

This version of her had to go, though. I started looking into permissions for assets, and the mod I used to get that hair for her didn't give permission for people to reuse it.

So I switched it to KS Hair, fiddled around in the character creator for a bit, and made the second iteration of Nellie.

This is when I figured out I wanted her hair to be a bit more vivid, somewhere between red and brunette. Of course, I hadn't quite figured out color contrasts yet, so she looks a bit pale here. This is Awkward Teen Nellie.

I'd tried doing the same "sneakily avoiding showing the left eye" trick again, but I'd turned just a bit too far here:

You can just barely make out her blind eye there.

A mutual of mine, @azures-grace, caught on, and the ruse was up. Not that that was a bad thing; at that point, I was vibrating, looking for any excuse to talk about my daughter and her secrets, so the instant I had the chance, I spilled.

A lot went on between this iteration of Nellie and the modern day version. I started learning the actual ins-and-outs of the Creation Kit. I made my very first mod, just to give her an accessory. I wrote so much dialogue. At one point, I had a draft where she had seventeen siblings.

And then, the worst happened. My computer broke.

I'd just been sitting, watching a video, when the whole thing shrieked at me and the screen went dark. It wouldn't turn on after that.

It wasn't salvageable. I took it into the shop, and they basically tossed their hands up and had no idea what to do. So much of my work on her was gone, and I had to start over from rock bottom. That was a pretty rough year for her development. Nothing kills motivation for something like losing a ton of work. I'd try to pick her up, give up for awhile, then go back and add more. It was very, very slow going. But eventually, I caught my rhythm again.

This time around, I knew a little more of what I was doing.

Enter Beta Nellie. This is her from a few months ago. I'd gotten her new clothes, picked out her unique axe, and settled on her final colors. Her hair changed, too—instead of a crown braid, she now had a messy bunch with hanging strands in the front. I wanted to emphasize that she was trying to look dignified despite her situation, but a prisoner isn't going to escape Thalmor captivity with a perfect updo.

This version of her appearance took a lot of inspiration from Azure's fanart of Nellie here. Azure had taken Awkward Teen Nellie's colors and made them more vivid, and had emphasized the wispy little strands of hair that'd come loose from her crown braid. It really helped cement the kind of vibe I wanted for her.

Honestly, Beta Nellie probably would have been Final Nellie if things had gone to plan. I'd made her face in RaceMenu, saved it as a preset, and later decided to do a quick 3rd person playthrough to get used to seeing her on screen before I attached her model to the stuff I'd written.

I went to open my presets, though, and she was gone. Poof! No Nellie! (Plenty of attempts at making Link and Zelda, though. Curse my crossover rp heart...)

So it was back to the drawing board on her appearance. Except now, I had a reference to look at, and some things to fine-tune.

I took away her red eyeshadow, because I couldn't get it to look nice. I gave her a scar. I picked out a texture that looked like wild freckles. She got a nose that better matched her high elf features, some softer and slightly less angled eyes, a longer face, and (although you can't see them in this pic) ever-so-slightly rounder ears. I messed with the Breton sliders to give her just a little bit of a "not fully Altmer" look.

And with this shot specifically, I knew I had my daughter at last.

Since then, everything about her has been...well, not a breeze. Learning some quest things and how to make idles do what I wanted had me banging my head against the wall, and finding a way to change her outfit with a script had me making the code myself to solve a ten-year-old forum post. I'd messaged my friend @dynamite124 for debug help more times than I can count within a week.

But it had been achievable. For the first time since my computer broke, everything about her had been falling into place. And for the first time since her inception, I knew what I was doing.

The only roadblock left at that point was her voice. I'd decided a long time ago that I was going to try to voice her myself, but I gave it several honest tries, and I just didn't have the vocal range I imagined her speaking with. Being blunt, my voice is better suited to Aventus Aretino than to a High Rock noble. Once I came to terms with that, I put out a casting call for Nellie's voice.

Which brings me to an announcement.

Cirinel now officially has a voice actress!

We're 90% through recording dialogue for her introductory scene, and as soon as that's done, I'll be posting an official video showcasing her and introducing her VA!

I've been in such an Elder Scrolls mood since we got started that I went and shot a bunch of new reference pics with Nellie's final appearance. They're below here, and will be in a separate post immediately after this one goes live.

Enjoy!

[hayatheauthor]

How To Create And Execute Unreliable Narrators

Unreliable narrators are a powerful literary device that adds complexity and intrigue to a narrative. You've likely encountered them in classic novels like "Lolita" or contemporary hits like "Gone Girl." These narrators keep readers guessing, challenge perceptions, and add layers of depth to the story.

Throughout this blog, we'll explore the ins and outs of unreliable narrators, from what they are to how to effectively craft and utilize them in your writing. 

Understanding Unreliable Narration

Unreliable narrators come in various forms, each with its unique charm. To effectively create and execute them, it's essential to understand the different types. Here are the primary categories:

Intentionally Deceptive Narrators: These narrators consciously lie, mislead, or omit vital information to manipulate the reader's perception. They have a hidden agenda, and their unreliability is deliberate. Think of Amy Dunne from "Gone Girl."

Psychologically Unstable Narrators: These characters suffer from mental or emotional issues that affect their judgment and perception of reality. Their unreliability stems from their mental state, like the protagonist in "The Catcher in the Rye."

Naively Mistaken Narrators: These narrators are innocent and well-intentioned but misinterpret events or are too young to fully grasp what's happening. Scout Finch from "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a classic example.

The impact of an unreliable narrator is profound. It challenges readers to question, analyze, and engage more actively with the text. It adds complexity to the storytelling and often leads to a more profound understanding of character motivations and the narrative's depth.

Creating Unreliable Narrators

Now that we've laid the groundwork for understanding unreliable narrators, let's dive into the process of crafting them. To create an unreliable narrator, you'll need to focus on character development and the careful use of narrative techniques.

Character Development:

Establish Background: Begin by creating a detailed background for your narrator. Understand their history, experiences, and personal motivations. Knowing your character inside and out will help you determine what might lead them to unreliability.

Motivation for Unreliability: Consider what drives your narrator to be unreliable. It could be a desire to hide a dark secret, protect someone, or gain an advantage. Their motivation will shape the way they deceive or misconstrue events.

Techniques for Revealing Unreliability:

Inconsistent Narration: Use shifts in perspective, varying accounts of events, or contradictory statements to signal unreliability. Readers should sense that something isn't quite right.

Unreliable Dialogue: Craft dialogues in which other characters react to or question the narrator's claims. This can help reveal the narrator's unreliability indirectly.

Internal Monologue: Offer glimpses into the narrator's thoughts and emotions, revealing their true intentions or doubts about their version of events.

Creating an unreliable narrator is a balance of providing subtle clues to the reader without giving away the full truth too soon. It's like constructing an intricate puzzle with pieces that fit together in unexpected ways.

Executing Unreliable Narration

Crafting an unreliable narrator is just the beginning; executing their character effectively is where the magic happens. Let's dive into strategies for maintaining suspense and intrigue surrounding your narrator's unreliability:

Strategies for Execution:

Gradual Revelation: Don't reveal the extent of your narrator's unreliability too early. Gradually introduce inconsistencies, contradictions, or hints that make readers question the narrator's perspective.

Conflicting Perspectives: Present events from other characters' viewpoints to show the disparity between what the narrator believes and what's happening in reality.

Trust vs. Doubt: Create a delicate balance between moments where readers may believe the narrator and moments that cast doubt. This ebb and flow keeps the suspense alive.

Unreliable Perception: Use the narrator's own perceptions and biases to create an alternative version of reality. Their interpretation of events can be vastly different from the objective truth.

Examples from Literature:

To gain insights into executing unreliable narration effectively, let's turn to literature for inspiration:

"The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins: This psychological thriller employs multiple unreliable narrators to keep readers guessing about the true events of the story.

"Fight Club" by Chuck Palahniuk: The protagonist's unreliability is brilliantly executed as his split personality blurs the line between reality and delusion.

By carefully implementing these strategies and drawing inspiration from well-executed examples, you can keep your readers engaged and invested in deciphering the truth behind your narrator's unreliability.

The Reader's Experience

The beauty of unreliable narration lies in the reader's role in uncovering the truth. Readers become detectives, piecing together the puzzle of the narrative, challenging their assumptions, and engaging in critical thinking. Here's how the reader's experience plays a vital role:

Critical Interpretation: Unreliable narrators encourage readers to question everything they're told. It invites them to look for subtle clues, contradictions, and alternative explanations.

Reader Engagement: Readers actively engage with the story, forming their theories and interpretations. This interactive element can lead to lively discussions and debates among readers.

Psychological Connection: An unreliable narrator often reveals truths about human nature, memory, and perspective. Readers connect with the character's psychological journey on a deeper level.

Personal Discovery: The "aha" moment when the reader unravels the narrator's unreliability is a unique and rewarding experience.

The reader's experience is a fundamental part of crafting an unreliable narrator. It adds depth to your storytelling and encourages readers to become active participants in the narrative.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Crafting an unreliable narrator can be a thrilling creative endeavour, but it's not without its challenges. Here are some common pitfalls to be aware of:

Overuse of Unreliable Narrators: Using unreliable narrators in every story can become predictable. It's essential to employ them when the story genuinely benefits from the unreliable perspective.

Inconsistent Characterization: Be consistent with the narrator's unreliability. Avoid having them switch between deception and clarity without reason. Readers should sense a pattern to their unreliability.

Frustrating Readers: While keeping readers engaged is good, frustrating them to the point of losing interest is not. Balance the revelation of truth and deception effectively.

Overly Complex Narration: Unreliable narration can make the story more intricate, but don't make it overly complex to the point where it becomes confusing.

Revealing Unreliability Too Late: Waiting too long to reveal the narrator's unreliability can lead to reader disengagement. Provide enough hints to maintain their curiosity.

To avoid these pitfalls, remember that the key to successful unreliable narration is balance. Give your readers the right amount of information, trust, and doubt to keep them engaged without overwhelming them.

Now that we've explored the nuances of creating and executing unreliable narrators and learned how to avoid common pitfalls, you're well-equipped to embark on your own literary journey using this fascinating narrative technique.

I hope this blog on How To Create And Execute Unreliable Narrators will help you in your writing journey. Be sure to comment any tips of your own to help your fellow authors prosper, and follow my blog for new blog updates every Monday and Thursday.  

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