#Assimilate Technologies

[foodnewsandupdates]

𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗥𝗣𝘀

The dynamic world of education demands educators and administrators to wear many hats. School Management ERPs can be a powerful ally, streamlining tasks and boosting efficiency.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗘𝗥𝗣𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻: • Centralize information for easy access • Foster effortless communication between parents, teachers, and staff • Simplify admissions and financial management • Empower data-driven decision-making

[stjohnstarling]

We’ve now found ourselves amid another shift in mass communication. One where algorithms successfully replaced ink and airwaves. And, just as 20th-century mass media created the concept of the consumer a hundred years ago, so too has this current shift redefined how we interact with the world. And accepting that this shift is permanent, in the sense that we can’t simply reverse it, is, I’m convinced, the only way forward. We are now either influencers or influenced.

[scoutbot]

i need to throw an injured draco-morphiad at bones

[wurdulac]

i loved playing roadwarden...

[mechahero]

anonymous asked-😈 different monster, same face (accepting) 😈 - become possessed

There is shifting. Sharp hearing detects movement and in turn, a head turns. What appeared to be a gross ball of feathers and stretched flesh moves, no doubt startling whoever had come across it. Fluid despite the small amount of straining as the creature sits up straight, no longer resting against the partially destroyed wall he'd been leaning off against and staring blankly into the crowd of people going about their day.

Feathers ruffle. Milky eyes find themselves locked onto the poor soul unfortunate enough to find him. He's a horrible thing to look at. Metal having long since been replaced with white feathers and flesh made new, coated in gore from a time long past and yet still so fresh. One would almost mistake him for an angel... if weren't for the fact that his lower half had long stringy strands of inky black flesh dangling from it.

"If you're looking for him-" He speaks up, voice cracking from the disuse. He is, of course, referring to the body of the man he was currently wearing as a suit. "I'm afraid he's not here right now. Nor will he be back any time soon. However..." His head tilts, mimicking the head tilt Lambda used to use so often. And then in the blink of an eye, he's off the windowsill he'd been perched up, all but towering over the other person. Large wings unfurl and spread into the air, birdlike and batlike wide open in unison.

"You're more than happy to join him."

[turiyatitta]

The Convergence of Wisdom

A Tap AwayIn the wake of the digital era, a profound realization embarks upon us; that all wisdom is indeed at our fingertips, waiting to be snapped. The phrase, alluring in its simplicity, beckons a deep dive into the realms of knowledge and accessibility. With the advent of technology, a treasure trove of wisdom has made its home within the virtual expanse, manifesting a plethora of information…

[hasdrubal-gisco]

finally watched barbie last night. i think it was refreshing to see gerwig's exploration of population exchange in europe during the chalcolithic age. barbies are clearly coded to be early european farmers, living in a comfortable yet stagnant environment of europe at the tail end of the ice age, with a culture revolving around female fertility (notice the second character introduced is a pregnant barbie). the second sequence shows up ken(gosling)'s enterance into the story on beach, mirroring the arrival of western steppe herder cultures as glaciers in europe retreated.

once barbie and ken venture into the "real world" (prohpetic vision of the bronze age), ken adopts advanced technologies like the horse (horse), patriatrchy (worship of a male solar deity), and cars (the wheel, expoundable into the horse-driven chariot). his donning of the fringe jacket and cowboy hat stir within the audience a yearning for westward expansion, from the pontic steppe through the pannonian basin and beyond.

ken transforming barbieland into the kendom mirrors the replacement of early european farmer (vinča, varna cultures etc.) with corded ware and bell beaker cultures, settled iterations of the kens' previously pastoral culture. the only barbie not assimilated into the new cultral zeitgeist is weird barbie (basques), herself a cultural isolate even compared to other barbies pre-invasion.

the final battle scene between the two ken factions places particular focus on archery, hallmark of the mongol civilization, which was the last of the steppe invasions of europe. notice in this situation, gerwig's bravery in correctly having ken (asian) represent the kingdom of hungary (asian), whereas ken (gosling) is of course the ever-lasting scythian spirit emanating from the steppe. some scholars have suggested the light-blue void where the last battle takes place to be a metaphor tengri.

some other stuff happened as well but i didn't really get how that fit into the greater story i guess. what was the deal with the old jewish lady LOL !

[lizardsfromspace]

Imagine going to space and you run into a Borg cube and they hail you with "we are the Borg" and scan you and then say "...and we are happy with the biological and technological distinctiveness we already have". And you hail back "you're not going to assimilate us?" bc you're a bit insulted and the Cube, already leaving, ignores you. "Are you at least going to blow us up?" and the Borg hail back with "Not necessary" and they jump in a transwarp corridor that takes them to a whole other quadrant to get away from your rancid unassimilatable species. This canonically happened to the Kazon

[ozzgin]

Yandere! Android x Reader (I)

It is the future and you have been tasked to solve a mysterious murder that could jeopardize political ties. Your assigned partner is the newest android model meant to assimilate human customs. You must keep his identity a secret and teach him the ways of earthlings, although his curiosity seems to be reaching inappropriate extents.

Yes, this is based on Asimov’s “Caves of Steel” because Daneel Olivaw was my first ever robot crush. I also wanted a protagonist that embraces technology. :)

Content: female reader, AI yandere, 50's futurism

[Part 2] | [More original works]

You follow after the little assistant robot, a rudimentary machine invested with basic dialogue and spatial navigation. It had caused quite the ruckus when first introduced. One intern - well liked despite being somewhat clumsy at his job - was sadly let go as a result. Not even the Police is safe from the threat of AI, is what they chanted outside the premises.

"The Commissioner has summoned you, (Y/N)." 

That's how it greeted you earlier, clacking its appendage against the open door in an attempt to simulate a knock. 

"Do you know why my presence is needed?" You inquire and wait for the miniature AI to scan the audio message. 

"I am not allowed to mention anything right now." It finally responds after agonizing seconds.

 It's an alright performance. You might've been more impressed by it, had you not witnessed first hand the Spacer technology that could put any modern invention here on Earth to shame. Sadly the people down here are very much against artificial intelligence. There have been multiple protests recently, like the one in front of your building, condemning the latest government suggestion regarding automation. People fear for their jobs and safety and you don't necessarily blame them for having self preservation. On the other hand, you've always been a supporter of progress. As a child you devoured any science fiction book you could get your hands on, and now, as a high ranked police detective you still manage to sneak away and scan over articles and news involving the race for a most efficient computer.

You close the door behind you and the Commissioner puts his fat cigarette out, twisting the remains into the ashtray with monotonous movements as if searching for the right words.

 "There's been a murder." Is all he settles on saying, throwing a heavy folder in your direction. A hologram or tablet might've been easier to catch, but the man, like many of his coworkers, shares a deep nostalgia for the old days. 

 You flip through the pages and eventually furrow your eyebrows. 

"This would be a disaster if it made it to the news." You mumble and look up at the older man. "Shouldn't this go to someone more experienced?" 

He twiddles with his grey mustache and glances out the fake window. 

"It's a sensitive case. The Spacers are sending their own agent to collaborate with us. What stands out to you?" 

You narrow your eyes and focus on the personnel sheet. What's there to cause such controversy? Right before giving up, departing from the page, you finally notice it: next to the Spacer officer's name, printed clearly in black ink, is a little "R." which is a commonly used abbreviation to indicate something is a robot. The chief must've noticed your startled reaction and continues, satisfied: 

"You understand, yes? They're sending an android. Supposedly it replicates a human perfectly in terms of appearance, but it does not possess enough observational data. Their request is that whoever partners up with him will also house him and let him follow along for the entirety of the mission. You're the only one here openly supporting those tin boxes. I can't possibly ask one of your higher ups, men with wives and children, to...you know...bring that thing in their house."

You're still not sure whether to be offended by the fact that your comfort seems to be of less priority compared to other officers. Regardless of the semantics, you're presently standing at the border between Earth and the Spacer colony, awaiting your case partner. A man emerges from behind a security gate. He's tall, with handsome features and an elegant walk. He approaches you and you reach for a handshake. 

"Is the android with you?" You ask, a little confused. 

"Is this your first time seeing a Spacer model?" He responds, relaxed. "I am the agent in your care. There is no one else." 

You take a moment to process the information, similar to the primitive machine back at your office. Could it be? You've always known that Spacer technology is years ahead, but this surpasses your wildest dreams. There is not a single detail hinting at his mechanical fundament. The movement is fluid, the speech is natural, the design is impenetrable. He lifts the warm hand he'd used for the handshake and gently presses a finger against your chin in an upwards motion. You find yourself involuntarily blushing. 

"Your mouth was open. I assumed you'd want it discreetly corrected." He states, factually, with a faint smile on his lips. Is he amused? Is such a feeling even possible? You try your best to regain some composure, adjusting the collar of your shirt and clearing your throat. 

"Thank you and please excuse my rudeness. I was not expecting such a flawless replica. Our assistants are...easily recognizable as AI."

"So I've been told." His smile widens and he checks his watch. You follow his gesture, still mesmerized, trying to find a single indicator that the man standing before you is indeed a machine, a synthetic product.

Nothing.

"Shall we?" He eyes the exit path and you quickly lead him outside and towards public transport. 

He patiently waits for your fingerprint scan to be complete. You almost turn around and apologize for the old, lagging device. As a senior detective, you have the privilege of living in the more spacious, secured quarters of the city. And, since you don't have a family, the apartment intended for multiple people looks more like a luxury adobe. Still, compared to the advanced way of the Spacers, this must feel like poverty to the android.

At last, the scanner beeps and the door unlocks. 

"Heh...It's a finicky model." You mumble and invite him in.

"Yes, I'm familiar with these systems." He agrees with you and steps inside, unbuttoning his coat.

"Oh, you've seen this before?"

"In history books."

You scratch your cheek and laugh awkwardly, wondering how much of his knowledge about the current life on Earth is presented as a museum exhibit when compared to Spacer society. 

"I'm going to need a coffee. I guess you don't...?" Your words trail as you await confirmation. 

"I would enjoy one as well, if it is not too much to ask. I've been told it's a social custom to 'get coffee' as a way to have small talk." The synthetic straightens his shirt and looks at you expectantly. 

"Of course. I somehow assumed you can't drink, but if you're meant to blend in with humans...it does make sense you'd have all the obvious requirements built in."

He drags a chair out and sits at the small table, legs crossed.

"Indeed. I have been constructed to have all the functions of a human, down to every detail." 

You chuckle lightly. Well, not like you can verify it firsthand. The engineers back at the Spacer colony most likely didn't prepare him for matters considered unnecessary. 

"I do mean every detail." He adds, as if reading your mind. "You are free to see for yourself."

You nearly drop the cup in your flustered state. You hurry to wipe the coffee that spilled onto the counter and glance back at the android, noticing a smirk on his face. What the hell? Are they playing a prank on you and this is actually a regular guy? Some sort of social experiment? 

"I can see they included a sense of humor." You manage to blurt out, glaring at him suspiciously. 

"I apologize if I offended you in any way. I'm still adjusting to different contexts." The android concludes, a hint of mischief remaining on his face. "Aren't rowdy jokes common in your field of work?"

"Uh huh. Spot on." You hesitantly place the hot drink before him.

Robots on Earth have always been built for the purpose of efficiency. Whether or not a computer passes the Turing Test is irrelevant as long as it performs its task in the most optimal, rational way. There have been attempts, naturally, to create something indistinguishable from a human, but utility has always taken precedence. It seems that Spacers think differently. Or perhaps they have reached their desired level of performance a long time ago, and all that was left was fiddling with aesthetics. Whatever the case is, you're struggling not to gawk in amazement at the man sitting in your kitchen, stirring his coffee with a bored expression.

"I always thought - if you don't mind my honesty - that human emotions would be something to avoid when building AI. Hard to implement, even harder to control and it doesn't bring much use."

"I can understand your concerns. However, let me reassure you, I have a strict code of ethics installed in my neural networks and thus my emotions will never lead to any destructive behavior. All safety concerns have been taken into consideration.

As for why...How familiar are you with our colony?" The android takes a sip of his coffee and nods, expressing his satisfaction. "Perhaps you might be aware, Spacers have a declining population. Automated assistants have been part of our society for a long time now. What's lacking is humans. If the issue isn't fixed, artificial humans will have to do."

You scoff.

"What, us Earth men aren't good enough to fix the birth rates? They need robots?"

You suddenly remember the recipient of your complaint and mutter an apology. 

"Well, I'm sure you'd make a fine contender. Sadly I can't speak for everyone else on Earth." The man smiles in amusement upon seeing the pale red that's now dusting your cheeks, then continues: "But the issue lies somewhere else. Spacers have left Earth a long time ago and lived in isolation until now. Once an organism has lost its immune responses to otherwise common pathogens, it cannot be reintegrated."

True. Very few Earth citizens are allowed to enter the colony, and only do so after thorough disinfection stages, proving they are disease free as to not endanger the fragile health of the Spacers living in a sterile environment. You can only imagine the disastrous outcome if the two species were to abruptly mingle. In that case, equally sterile machinery might be their only hope.

Your mind wanders to the idea. Dating a robot...How's that? You sheepishly gaze at the android and study his features. His neatly combed copper hair, the washed out blue eyes, the pale skin. Probably meant to resemble the Spacers. You shake your head.

"A-anyways, I'll go and gather all the case files I have. Then we can discuss our first steps. Do feel at home."

You rush out and head for your office. Focus, you tell yourself mildly annoyed.

While you search for the required paperwork - what a funny thing to say in this day and age - he will certainly take up on your generous offer to make himself comfortable. The redhaired man enters the living room, scanning everything with curious eyes. He stops in front of a digital frame and slides through the photos. Ah, this must be your Police Academy graduation. The year matches with the data he's received on you. Data files he might've read one too many times in his unexplained enthusiasm. This should be you and the Commissioner; Doesn't match the description of your father, and he seems too old to be a spouse or boyfriend. Additionally, the android distinctly recalls the empty 'Relationship' field.

"Old photos are always a tad embarrassing. I suppose you skipped that stage."

He jolts almost imperceptibly and faces you. You have returned with a thin stack of papers and a hologram projector.

"I've digitalized most files I received, so you don't have to shuffle a bunch of paper around." You explain.

"That is very useful, thank you." He gently retrieves the small device from your hand, but takes a moment before removing his fingers from yours. "I predict this will be a successful partnership."

You flash him a friendly smile and gesture towards the seating area.

"Let's get to work, then. Unless you want to go through more boring albums." You joke as you lower yourself onto the plush sofa. 

The synthetic human joins you at an unexpectedly close proximity. You wonder if proper distance differs among Spacers or if he has received slightly erroneous information about what makes a comfortable rapport. 

"Nothing boring about it. In fact, I'd say you and I are very similar from this point of view." He tells you, placing the projector on the table.

"Oh?"

"Your interest in technology and artificial intelligence is rather easy to infer." The man continues, pointing vaguely towards the opposing library. "Aside from the briefing I've already received about you, that is."

"And that is similar to...the interest in humans you've been programmed to have?" You interject, unsure where this conversation is meant to lead. 

"Almost."

His head turns fully towards you and you stare back into his eyes. From this distance you can finally discern the first hints of his nature: the thin disks shading the iris - possibly CCD sensors - are moving in a jagged, mechanical manner. Actively analyzing and processing the environment. 

"I wouldn't go as far as to generalize it to all humans. 

Just you."

[elbiotipo]

It's so funny when people say "not all AI sucks! only generative AI!" because generative AI is genuinely an amazing technology.

You know why those early AI images like crayon and such were so strange and dreamlike? It's because generative algorithms actually do generate those images. They don't copypaste like a collage, images are created pixel-by-pixel. Generative AIs are actually systems that assimilate concepts, associate them to images, are able to translate instructions in plain human text instead of code and create new things from it (this was seen as pure science fiction less than 5 years ago). This is why AI images now have better quality, because new models are able to understand more concepts and implement them. Because the idea with generative AI isn't and shouldn't for it to be able to just copy-paste images or text, it's the ability to generate new images or text from learned concepts.

This post gets, in a very easy, understandable way, into the details on how this works. And I hope you do give it a read no matter your stand on this:

This, as I always say, was considered pure science fiction, a thing that would not exist until at least the 2100s if at all, and it is now here. And not only by corporations, but open-source models are being researched by the minute.

No, I do not care for AI corporations and I don't care for what they're mostly trying to use AI for (advertising and customer service). I care about what can become of this technology. Advertising and mass produced shit will be shit, no matter if it's done by human or AI. Do I expect an advertisement to be shit because it uses AI? No, I expect it to be shit because it is an advertisement.

What will be interesting, and I think we will see more in the future when the utterly poisoned current discourse about AI calms down, will be when artists with interesting concepts and a good handle of these tools start to create new things, much like synthesizers or photographers didn't ruin music or art, because there was always an artist behind the tool in the first place. Someone is doing those prompts to create something. Your question should be who and why.

[wizardpeebis]

this reads like a children’s church skit. like 9 year olds horribly re-enacting biblical scenes. i’m so here for it

And they hated her because she told them the truth!

Anyway, yes, God under the Trinity Doctrine is a protogenic system.

You know those silly anti-endo posts about "reclaiming" terms and flags made by endogenic systems?

Well, guess what? We're reclaiming your God now!

The Holy Trinity is officially a pro-endo protogenic system. Take that anti-endos! /lh

[profeyandere]

𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐒 ─── ☾ 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒

ʟɪɴᴋꜱ ↪ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ ↪ ᴊᴏᴀǫᴜɪɴ ᴘʜᴏᴇɴɪx ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ ↪ ᴡᴀᴛᴛᴘᴀᴅ

ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏꜱ ↪ ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 2.9ᴋ ↪ ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴏᴅᴜꜱ x ꜰᴇᴍ!ᴏᴄ ↪ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ꜰᴇᴀʀ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ

English is not my native language, so I apologize for any mistake and if you can help me improve it, I will greatly appreciate it. I hope you enjoy it :D

The soft and warm breeze coming from the deserted Roman streets caused you, as was usual in your slightly anxious and nervous person, a strange feeling of restlessness that many could assimilate due to the strange cool gusts that arose suddenly and chilled anyone who was surrounded by them, but all assumptions disappeared when you stressed to yourself that the reason for your anxiety had begun not long after the sudden death of the former emperor of Rome. Marcus Aurelius, known for being a man as strong as Hercules himself or as wise as the ancient ancestors, had been a second father to you, a man who with his extensive memory told you even the smallest details of each of his adventures in the foreigner and the various conquests that he had managed to make and be victorious around Rome to make his empire one that he had managed to take to Africa, being discovered as a technologically backward continent and very little known by those who were around his Roman kingdom, turning out to be one of the kindest men to those who really knew him, having helped the most impoverished population through various laws and in dire situations, including slaves, women, and children. That man had always taken care of you, he had made you feel protected under his attentive, loving, and proud gaze; He was the father you never had. Although you did not belong to one of the highest social classes, at least you did not belong to one of the lowest, and this, together with the fact that your mother took care of her children since the first of them was born, evidently your arrival into the world. It caused you to spend more time in the Roman palace where the emperor and his children were.

"As thoughtful as always," said a voice behind you that caught your attention, bringing you back to reality with a soft gust of fresh air that made you sigh. "Again, you find yourself thinking, even if you are in the safest place in the whole world, next to me."

That voice, which was usually distant from those who bothered him or showed irritability when directed towards less close people, was now soft and calmer than how you had heard it before. He had been angry before, your husband had been really angry, and now everything seemed more peaceful because he could see your wonderful ethereal figure next to the large balcony of your room.

“I find myself thinking about you, as usual,” you murmured, hoping to show him a little of the affection your heart held for him, slowly turning your body to turn your back to the beautiful view of the empire that loomed beneath your feet, facing the sharp and distant look of the man who had not moved from the main door of the room. "You know I always think about you. I worry about you, especially when you're awake when the moon is so high in the sky."

A soft growl, barely audible, came to you like the roar of a lion. You always liked to show your affection towards him, but you were also aware that he wasn't entirely used to receiving it from anyone other than his sister, even if he had shared his life with you since he was five years old.

Now everything was very different. Commodus was no longer the adorable boy who so often held your hand when he forced you to run with him through the palace corridors, trying to get you to keep up with him so that the guards wouldn't catch you in some absurd game that he thought that it had occurred to him and he would win for being the son of the emperor, even though that was only an excuse to be closer to you and explore that physical contact that he had heard so much about from the cooks; Commodus was no longer the charming boy who so many times tried to sweeten your ear so that you would ride a horse with him despite the various denials you gave him every time he proposed that activity that avoided being malicious, even if the only thing he wanted to feel was it was your arms around his waist. Although, despite all this, and even though Commodus had grown to become the man you know today, there was one thing that had never changed despite the years.

"I don't see the point in waiting up for me. Tomorrow you won't get out of bed until it's late and all I want is to share at least a little of my awakening with my wife's love," he scolded you, trying to be a little serious with you, even if the slight curvature of his lips denoted the opposite. "You do it every night. You wait until I come to the room, whether you long to rest in Morpheus's arms or not."

"You know that I don't like sleeping with light, and I'm aware of how much the darkness terrifies you," you told him, approaching one of the candelabras that rested peacefully on one of the pieces of furniture near your large double bed, ready to make the flames disappear that little by little were consumed. "I don't want you to feel afraid in a place where you should feel at home, much less after the great and important service you offer to Rome."

The emperor felt something strange inside him, he always did when it came to you. Your kindness and serenity, your understanding, and your sweet soul were the attributes that made you the perfect candidate to rule the great Roman empire with him, even if the latter was never to the liking of his late father; He had too many imperfections and had committed terrible acts that not even he would forgive himself if he had to judge himself, but you always seemed to see through it all to the person who was really hiding behind that same layer of grime and horror. You had met a Commodus that no one else was able to see, or perhaps no one wanted to accept that he was there. He had always been despised, you had seen that with the constant rejections of his father as he was always chosen as his last option; He had always been separated and humiliated, being the laughing stock of the guards who were supposed to protect him so much when he was pointed out as a weak man for not being able to withstand the constant beatings when he was trained to be noticed by his own father; He had always been the outcast of his own family, only knowing love through her older sister Lucila and seeing her as the mother he lacked so much during her youth. All of this meant that the only thing he knew, as far as feelings were concerned, was bitterness and loneliness, even if he had you to vent in his moments of greatest weakness.

"As my wife, you are supposed to listen to me," Commodus said in an attempt to appear authoritarian with you, even though he was aware of your stubbornness and how much you didn't like him speaking to you that way, trying to make himself look more strong and imposing in your presence. He was obviously looking for a reaction from you and got it when you raised one of your eyebrows in question. "I can be fine in the dark, I'm not a child anymore."

"Did you stop being a child three days ago? Because remember, my dear Commodus, that three nights ago you were in bed hugging me as if something bad was going to be done to you, begging me for there to be a tiny little flame in sight or a light to illuminate your part of the bed," you answered with a soft sly smile, keeping you close to the last lit lamp that provided light to the room, putting more emphasis on that fear that you had never managed to figure out how to remove; Sometimes it was exasperating not knowing how to help him at times like this. "Your well-being is one of my greatest concerns and, if you do not feel well in the only place where you should by obligation feel comfortable, then it is my duty to do everything possible to make you feel protected."

Moments like those, in which you showed your genuine concern for him, could be very common throughout the days, but he always appreciated them as if they were the first time you said those important and strong words for him.

An attempt at a smile appeared on his face. He gently lifted the cheeks of his lips, which made you feel a little more relieved to see that the tension he had carried with him all day seemed to have momentarily vanished with your short speech. You observed the way in which his tall body, muscled by the various exercises he performed throughout the week and which had apparently begun to deteriorate a little due to the obligation to continue doing other chores, let himself fall, exhausted and exhausted, to the edge of the large imperial bed that had belonged to you since he was crowned emperor, making it bounce softly at how soft it was, while the thin pillows full of feathers sank with their weight towards the defeated side, closing your eyes so that the Darkness slowly surrounded him, and it was only because his eyelids had lowered and not because the last light in his room had faded with the air coming from outside.

Small hands that he would recognize anywhere on Earth, as delicate as glass and as soft as silk, he felt as they were quickly placed on his sharp cheeks that, thinner than they had ever been, showed a slight deterioration in his physical appearance state due to stress. Your hands so loved and tender, gently cradled his face so that he would relax, causing his jaw to relax as he felt your thumbs tracing his bone and there were no longer any frown lines on his forehead frowning from him; Now everything was starting to be different at that late hour of the night.

"How do you do it?" He questioned himself, even though his words escaped from his lips and reached your ears. "How do you make him feel safe with your caresses, more than I could ever be in the company of the entire Roman troop?"

Your laughter flooded his ears in such a perfect way that he couldn't help but accompany your laughter with his own, as if it were an effect that you had on him, allowing you to attract his head towards your body, thus causing his face to be buried on your soft belly covered by a long white silk nightgown.

"I don't know, you answer that question for me."

His greenish eyes, always showing curiosity, slowly rose and drew your elegant dark and slightly moonlit figure to finally meet yours in that dark and dull room in which you were. And that's when he saw it, at that moment he was able to answer himself. Your eyes shone with love, with warmth, with a light so strong that it could guide him back to you if, at any point in his life, he felt lost wherever he went; because you were his light within his world of darkness.

[styllwaters]

Hailing from the harsh planet of Ettera, Knights are the only sophont in the Zhagaviit system made of two consciousnesses. ---

At last, here they are! Nearly finished with redesigning every Vivere 44 species. These guys are retconned werewolves which I posted about some time ago. You might have noticed I brought back some space unicorn aspects as well! They've been through so many design changes but I've finally settled on something solid.

More information below!

I'll try to keep this concise. Most of this info is introductory biology.

Knights are the only sophonts living on Ettera, a mostly barren planet where survival is tough. Their civilisation is the least advanced compared to others in Zhagaviit, such as Arrows and Sea Crawlers. They were the third species to be contacted by the ZGC (Zhagaviit Galactic Community) followed by Post Humanity. Knights are known for being hardy, efficient, and motivated.

If it isn't already clear enough, Knights are two species in a symbiotic relationship acting as one individual. Helmets and Hosts have an evolutionary history so intertwined that one cannot survive without the other.

The Helmet is attached to the head of the Host, and will remain there for the rest of their life (unless separation happens - but we'll get into that later). In the relationship, their role is vision and dexterity. Since the Host is effectively blind, it is the Helmet's job to guide them. Their hands are also important, being the Knight's primary manipulators. They played a large part in early tool use. The Helmet lacks a mouth, and receives all its nutrients from the Host through a specialised organ not unlike an umbilical cord.

The Host is essentially the main body of the Knight. Wolflike and mammalian in nature, the Host is the Helmet's mode of transportation. Because they need to eat for two, Hosts are omnivorous and will eat just about anything. Although majority of their diet is comprised of meat, they are capable of digesting plant matter and bones. They are highly skilled and effective hunters.

It is in both party's best interests to assimilate as soon as possible. The Host cannot see without a Helmet, and within a few weeks bonding will become impossible. The stakes are higher for a newborn Helmet, because they cannot feed by themselves and will starve in under a week without a Host or an artificial feeder tube. Prior to first contact with the ZGC, Knights did not have the technology for artificial feeders, and infant death rates were high.

So how do two beings coordinate one body? The fact is that once assimilation occurs, they become one being. The Helmet's brain and the Host's brain are connected by millions of nerves exchanging signals. It's complicated, but the best way to describe the experience would be a 'mutual trance' in which full body coordination is achieved. They have shared interests and intentions. However, a Knight can mentally separate the Helmet and the Host, gaining back individuality; they do this for many reasons, perhaps to discuss something among themselves or simply for company. Yet on the whole, a Knight will spend 80% of their life in this 'trance'.

Both Helmets and Hosts have noticeable sexual dimorphism. Male Helmets are called Pikes, and females are called Guards. Pikes are distinguished by their horn, bold stripes, and more prominent crest spines. Guards lack a horn and have less contrast in their thinner markings.

Female Hosts are called Forts. They are larger than males and have a mane of fur on the back of their necks. Male Hosts, Spires, lack this mane.

In Knight society, individuals are usually referred to based on their combination of Host and Helmet. Since there are four sexes involved, there are four possible combinations.

Guard-spire [female Helmet, male Host]

Pike-fort [male Helmet, female Host]

Guard-fort [female Helmet, female Host]

Pike-spire [male Helmet, male Host]

(Knight languages have their own version of pronouns for each, but in English all are referred to as they/them by default. Of course, each individual has their own preferences. Usually a Knight will refer to themselves as we/us).

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I'll get into Knight social structure, cultures and more in another post! For now, if you have any questions, feel free to send an ask. Always happy to answer!

[avelera]

a thing that stands out to me about viktor's personality is how direct/focused he is for the lack of a better word? the whole when you change the world don't ask for permission thing

it's a good thing imo, but when he was so unworried and confident about breaking in into the office and doing illegal experimentation i was SO stressed because i'm the opposite of that and i would be so worried about what other people would think

(the intention of this ask is to discuss viktor but if anyone reading this has insight how to turn caring about stuff like that off it'd be welcome lol)

I think the thing about Viktor is that there's other things he cares about more.

Like, of course you as a normal person would be worried about breaking into an office or saying not to ask for permission. Presumably, you care about what people think of you and not getting arrested more than you care about any sort of cause or ideal.

What they're showing with those scenes is that Viktor is a science fanatic. He goes beyond normal human behavior, partially to save his own life, partially because he really does believe that much in leaving a name for himself and a legacy because he knows he's going to die young and he cares about making the world a better place before he does with a lot less time to do it than others. He doesn't have time to care about what people think, or to worry about being arrested.

Side note, one reason he wasn't afraid either was because he's Heimerdinger's assistant. Because of that, Viktor seems reasonably assured he can talk his way out of trouble but as Mel points out, Viktor is wrong about Heimerdinger.

He thinks that as a fellow scientist, Heimerdinger just needs to be convinced! Mel, who actually understands people, casually points out that Heimerdinger already understands the technology and that's why he supported Jayce's expulsion, and would probably support Jayce and Viktor's banishment if they got caught. Viktor miscalculated here, badly, he was absolutely in more danger than he realized by taking up Jayce's cause, because he underestimated Heimerdinger's fear of magic.

Viktor has blindspots as much as Jayce does, actually. Specifically, he doesn't look at edge cases or unanticipated threats. He never considers that a steel-cutting laser beam could be used for warfare! He never considers that the Hexcore could be evil until it kills Sky! He never considers that assimilating people into his little peaceful cult could have bad consequences or be an evil act! Viktor has tunnel vision which is another reason he's so confident and focused, he's not worrying about all the side possibilities and risks until he's punched in the face with them, like with Sky's death or with his future self showing him the burnt out wasteland his ideas lead to.

At least, that's my two cents!

[beuxwhoyouare]

Monster vs. Monster

you might wanna read this & this first

Riley was finishing up his routine optimized to maintain his physique. Almost as if programmed, he whipped out his phone to take a picture of himself to send to Jordan for a status update.

“Nearly complete with workout routine, day 365.”

Riley stood awaiting a response as he slowly realized it had been a year now. A year since he officially took over a human body. Going from technological innovation to perverse defilement of human nature. Jordan programmed an A.I. capable of transferring to a human consciousness and Riley was proof of it. Sure the real Riley had to be “phased out” but it was worth it for science right? Right?

Riley hit one year of being human and what did he have to show for it? Sure he maintained the look and routine of sexual gratification Jordan programmed to do but what about going past that? Being human means no bounds, no limits.

Riley never used to have thoughts like this, well he never really did many things until he finally did. Then a lightbulb, he didn’t have to DO anything. That was the last text he was ever going to send to Jordan. Riley was going to do what he WANTED to.

Riley returned home after showering at the gym and quickly searched for a new outfit, hurrying to avoid a run in with Jordan. He threw a semi-decent outfit on and fled. He was going to live life recklessly like all the humans do. He didn’t have to worry himself with the thoughts of a panicked Jordan trying to track him down, because he owned the scientist nothing.

Part of the last years efforts assimilating into humanity was maintaining Riley’s life. So thankfully he wasn’t broke since he continued working and fled to a nearby hotel. He’d camp here until he figured out his next move. Recklessness was the game, but how would he spend his first chances at normal humanity.

Clubs glorious clubs. If Jordan felt the need to force him to pleasure him surely he could find that from actually attractive people there. Stimulation was the epitome of recklessness. Riley entered the nearest club with swarms of people and made his way to the bar.

“Hi um can I have. Uh. Well I’m not sure.” Riley asked confidently at first before being defeated by his naivety.

The bartender just looking him up and down and winked and went to work. Eventually handing him a glass with cherries and an ambiguous liquor. Instead of over analyzing the cocktail, Riley lifted the glass and downed the drink in one go. The bartender turned away to address another customer before turning back to catch the man he deemed as eye candy shocked that he finished the drink so fast. Deciding to just full send it and make him another one, in the hopes it would pay off later.

Riley began to feel warm thanks to the cocktails and as he approached getting tipsy a smile graced his conventionally attractive face. The gays in the club eyeing up the newly swaggering young man as he slinked his way to the dance floor. The presumptive men kept notioning and tugging on articles of his clothing insinuating he should take them off. His mindset drifted back to being more human as he allowed himself to take off his shirt and allowed the men around him to lower his pants.

Now in a suggestive mood, some began taking pictures with him offering to buy him drinks and more. That’s when he ran into someone that caught his attention.

Ken walked into the club with several others and was greeted by some lips, a daunting chest, and a slutty waist adorned with cobbled abs. The short but amicably muscled Latino eyed Riley like a piece of meat, maybe because that’s all he was to him at first. The formerly lanky grey alien only stole this human appearance a few weeks ago but was eagerly continuing his mission to learn more about this planet and its inhabitants. He had been living up the human experience, some may also say he’d been a bit promiscuous. Humans were so distracting if anything. They always wanted more and he was happy to oblige with his stolen equipment.

The two men locked eyes, both believing that each other would help them in their missions somehow. Ken confidently strided towards the tipsy Riley surrounded by thirsting gay men.

“Do you want to head out with me?” the shorter man inquired.

“Um yes that would be…nice?” Riley stumbled with his words fighting the alcoholic influence on his motor abilities.

Ken took Riley’s hand and swiftly guided him out of the club. The two walked for a while before getting into a cab and heading to Ken’s place. The pair entered a thrashed apartment with stuff everywhere but that was nothing compared to how messy they were. The two were rubbing their hands clumsily all over each other, physically exploring each others swollen bodies.

Ken was on a mission to take over the world but Riley just wanted to be human. Riley had only ever been with Jordan and took the moment to experience new things with Ken’s body. He turned the smaller man over and yanked his pants down as he began to eat him out. In his weeks as Ken, the alien hadn’t yet done this human activity yet and it sent him over the edge. His dark brown eyes nearly rolling to the back of his head as Riley’s tongue explored him into pleasure. Ken decided not to steal Riley’s for JUST yet as he continued to fall into pleasure.

Riley had a mental to-do list as a human and he started running through it with Ken. Exploring the limits of what you can do in bed, multiple times. Over an hour later the two fell down onto Ken’s bed breatheless and sore, in the best ways.

Ken felt something in the moment. It could have been the back and forth flipping they’ve been doing all night but he almost felt an affinity for the man he just met. He was in the honeymoon phase of the hookup, a first for the alien. He didn’t know what to do with the feelings and swung an arm over the sleeping Riley and spooned him.

The nightly exchange of fluids and that feeling in Ken’s alien stomach was more than they expected. It was a ritual from Ken’s world that he wasn’t even aware of. The two began to swap forms as pheromones from Ken’s form began to secrete over night as they slept. But it was an uneven exchange. Underneath the guise of being human Ken was still alien anatomically, while Riley was an A.I. driving a real human.

Riley was the first to wake up the next morning and was immediately greeted with a change when he tried to quietly swing his legs off the bed to not disturb Ken. His feet were shorter and significantly lighter complected. He gasped as he hurriedly walked over to the restroom mirror.

He had only known two existences his original digital form and Riley’s body. He smugly watched himself as he lifted his shirt to explore Ken’s body, before realizing things were different. He poked and proded at himself but realized internally he felt way different than Riley. As he tried to stretch and contract muscles he felt way more control of things than when inside Riley.

He explored more before pretending to be Ken and getting ready for an ambiguous day ahead. After brushing his new teeth, he turned around nearly screaming as he saw his old body looking down on him.

God, his first human body was so fine he could feel himself getting turned on, which also felt different but he wasn’t sure why. He launched at the now taller man and began to make out with him. But as they made out Riley felt something pulling. He was so into the moment he didn’t think about it and when he finally was ready to pull away and begin questioning Ken about what happened another thing scared the A.I. man. He pulled away and asked.

“Okay okay what happen…huh why do I sound?”

The alien body sounded just like his old body but how!? As Ken tried to speak he realized what Riley had just done and the new situation they were in. Ken and Riley spent the rest of the evening texting each other their whole background, from A.I. to human and alien to “human”.

When the two finished, they shared their first organic human laughs, albeit one being inaudible. Both sitting and staring at each other in the eyes trying to read what their next moves were. Riley going in to plunge another kiss on Ken. The devious pair could conquer the world but for now they’ll settle on conquering each others new bodies.