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tswwwit · 3 months ago

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Here's a thing!

Containing: Bill as a widower, a surprise reincarnation, and dire threats of matrimony.

Despite how things turned out, Dipper has no regrets.

Okay. There is one: Getting caught in the first place.

But other than that, he’s lived his life the way he wanted to. Everyone told him joining the resistance was a terrible idea. That he had a bright future ahead of him, that he was smart, to not throw it all away for a useless, impossible task.

Like he could ever do anything else.

Even at the end of things, Dipper’s proud of what he accomplished. He helped so many people. He picked his fights carefully and mostly had them work out in his favor. He did the best he could, pushed himself to the very limits of his abilities, and it worked so well.

Bright future his ass. Fighting got him further than anything could. When you think of what he’s done. Where he’s clawed back territory. Who he’s saved-

A pang goes through his chest. Dipper ducks his head, hissing against the gag between his teeth.

Okay, second regret: Not saving more people. And not avenging others. Three regrets isn’t so bad. Right?

God, what else could he have managed, if he hadn’t been stupid. If he hadn’t slipped up this one time, if he could have escaped. If he could have-

“NEXT!”

Bill Cipher’s voice rings through the room. Two claps punctuate the statement, and the line moves forward.

Claws dig into Dipper arm, tighter than before. While they still don’t break the skin, the way he’s dragged forward has him hissing again. His skinned knees burn as they slide against stone, and the pain reminds him not to let up his guard.

Not here, in the Fearamid. There’s no worse place.

In a way, he’s kind of lucky. The massive pyramid that makes up Bill Cipher’s headquarters and fortress has never before breached. No member of the resistance has made it into the command base of the terrible demon who rules the west coast.

Dipper never thought he’d end up here, ever. The closest he’d imagined was in vague daydreams. The impossible kind where he had amazing powers, spouted cool one-liners, and could smash through the entire awful fortress to kick Bill Cipher right in his angles.

“Ugh.” Bill’s groan resonates through the room. “Why the hell would I need gold? Real crappy offering.” Another clap, then, “NEXT!”

Being tribute wasn’t exactly on Dipper’s bucket list.

So here he is. Dragged along by his captors to be one more present for the Nightmare King himself.

Demons try to slake their master’s insatiable greed with an endless parade of presents. The raiding never ends. The looting, the theft, the bribes - everything, everywhere gets poured into the coffers of this monster. Nothing is enough for him. It never will be.

So it’s pretty weird that Dipper’s here. By himself.

A hundred humans at once might provoke a passing interest. A few tons of liquor or - apparently not gold, no wonder that assassination attempt failed - could also catch his eye. Only the most elaborate, creative gifts might gain a bit of his favor, which is hard to get on a good day.

One human who really made Bill’s day worse, though? That might get a second look. Dipper didn’t think he was that big of a deal, but it would be kinda cool.

Or he wasn’t, and his captors will twist him into a new flesh configuration once they reach the front of the line, like performance art. Or he has been a pain, and when Bill finally gets his hands on him and can do whatever he wants to him, he’ll do unthinkably horrible -

No. Dipper can’t think like that, not now or ever. Fear won’t help. It never helps.

Terror one of Bill’s tools. He thrives on mortals cowering before him, and Dipper won’t do that.

He shakes his head to clear it, and gets the hood shoved further down for his efforts. The thin string around his neck draws tighter as a demon adjusts the cloth. Then it plucks at it, in an apparent attempt to make its captive look more ‘presentable’.

“You sure it’s-” One of the demons mutters above him. Another pluck at his hood pulls it upwards, and he hears a smack.

“Shh! Don’t show everyone ‘til we take credit,” insists the leader. Tension makes his voice rough. “You saw it. Just like in the pictures. Boss’ll love it.”

Sounds like they’re trying to reassure themselves rather than actually thinking this will go well. Dipper snorts. Amusement on the gallows.

All four demons shush him. He can practically picture them holding fingers to their mouths in unison, hissing at their captive. It makes him snort again, and a hand shoves his head down.

Shushed, of all things. The sheer absurdity makes him want to laugh.

Being captured was bad enough. All his hypervigilance turned out useless when it really counted. Everything he’d taken notes on, the plans, the studies - none of those mattered when he was dangling by his ankle from a snare in the woods like a helpless animal.

But the way he was taken captive? That was notable. A realization that only hit once he was stuffed into a box and had nothing to do except think - but an important one.

For one, most demonic traps leave their victims in multiple pieces. And for another, he wasn’t devoured afterwards. There was an odd amount of caution involved in his handling for a human with so little magic. Almost like they were frightened of doing it wrong.

And after that, he should have been smacked around and beaten for his defiance. Hell knows he didn’t take this bullshit lying down. But instead of ending up with open wounds and a broken jaw, there’s a bag over his head and rough cloth gag to shut him up.

In fact, aside from a few bruises and scrapes, Dipper’s perfectly fine. By all demonic standards, his entire kidnapping makes no sense.

Unless you know what Bill Cipher likes to do to humans.

Dipper tries to swallow past the lump in his throat. He hadn’t wanted to think of it. Now the idea won’t stop popping up, cold grey swimming through his thoughts.

There aren’t many pictures of Bill’s ‘sculpture’ garden. Most aerial shots just get the gist of it, a field spotted grey against green. Stone hands reaching for the sky or clutching their faces, thousands of bodies screaming for their life or hunkered down to the ground -

Swallowing again doesn’t help. His mouth is too dry, even when the gag is damp between his teeth.

Soon he’ll be one of the thousands of ornaments Bill makes of human lives, instead of killing them nice and clean. Another trophy.

Maybe it won’t hurt? Dipper hopes it doesn’t hurt. He hopes that that’s what he’s here for, rather than anything more creative. But it’s the only fate that makes sense.

A bit of cold comfort, then. He might not be mutilated. If he’s ‘just like the picture’ - whatever that means - then Bill will want him to stay exactly as he is.

It sounds absurd. But who knows? Odds are Bill Cipher has a type, and Dipper will make an exceptionally pleasant sight once he’s permanently a part of his estate. Maybe he’s got a thing for rebellious, fashionless nerds having the worst day of their life. Whatever goes on in that triangular brain is too weird for Dipper to fathom.

He hopes that being a statue is peaceful. Or at least not too painful. That it happens in a flash, like he’s seen in video. And if he’s lucky, the company he’ll keep for the next… forever might include his -

“Bo-ring,” Bill interrupts the next offering before the demon gets three words into their speech. “I’d say do better next time, but guess what?”

Two claps this time. Something explodes with a splatter, close enough that Dipper and his kidnapping coterie all flinch back.

“There won’t be another.” Bill finishes. He pauses for laughter at his dry semi-joke, then claps once more. “NEXT!”

The line of supplicants moves forward. Dipper’s knees skid across the floor as he’s dragged forward, sliding to a stop as his captors pause in their line.

They must be pretty far at the front by now. The group of demons in front of Dipper’s speaks excitedly to an unresponsive audience. He swears he hears a yawn.

Impressing Bill Cipher is difficult at the best of times. Doing it with one single human seems reckless even by Dipper’s limited knowledge, but excited murmurs keep darting over his head.

Either they know something he doesn’t, or there’s another factor in play. And hell, considering the tributes Dipper’s overheard, they could hardly do worse. Nothing’s impressed Bill so far. At best he’s waved off their offerings to be piled up with all the, quote, ‘other crap’.

The latest batch doesn’t fare any better than the previous one. Like last time, Bill groans and something goes ‘splat’. A sprinkle of unknown fluid hits Dipper’s knees, soaking into his jeans.

“Ugh,” Bill groans, low and extended. It seems like it’ll go on forever, until he hears, “NEXT!”

Dipper’s shoulders tense. His jaw clenches, arms and legs pressing against their bindings. None of which stops him from being pulled along in his kidnapper’s wake.

This is it, then. Facing the lord of dreams himself, eye to… cloth, Dipper doubts he’s going to get a real look at him.

Which might be for the best. Word is that Bill can manage terrible things to the human psyche, given the chance. Dipper’s very human, and he doesn’t have enough magic to defend himself even if anyone knew how to manage it.

So maybe it’s okay that he’s a little terrified, because it’s natural. And even more importantly, Bill won’t see it.

“My lord,” The demon that captured Dipper speaks in a gravelly voice. He’s a green-gray lizard creature, with several eyes, and his sheer amount of muscles belies a sharper mind than usual. Anyone who fought him might have made that mistake. “I found you somethin’ really cool.”

He sounds strangely excited about presenting a single mortal to his king. A hint of pride, maybe, that he kept it so intact? It could be difficult for demons, because Dipper’s sure never heard of it before.

His thoughts are interrupted by a slow push, sliding him forward across stone. Careful force, that lets him keep his balance instead of planting on his face. At least he’ll face his fate upright.

One more tribute. Sitting in front of a king, in a crowd of monsters, Dipper has his pride. And he will not bow.

And the response from Bill Cipher is… probably not what the leader wanted.

Dipper hears another groan, followed by a heavy sigh. “Wow. A human. Never seen one of those before.”

Ah, great. Sarcasm. Bill Cipher sounds as impressed with Dipper as he was with the dozen tributes before him - bored, tired, blase.

Dipper straightens his back, oddly offended. Wait, he doesn’t suck as tribute, right? Part of his pride hinged on his captor not being an idiot. It made losing less embarrassing.

“Ugh. Seriously getting tired of this crap.” Bill’s voice has a tinge of annoyance to it. Kind of a whine, even. “Like I don’t have enough in the rock garden already. The shine rubbed off that apple a while ago.”

“Er,” The lizard demon hesitates. “Uh, well. Nah, see, there’s-”

“Eh, whatever.” With another sigh, Bill snaps his fingers. “Alright, one statue, coming u-”

“Wait!”

The crowd hushes. A few gasps, a couple whispers at the sheer audacity. Even Dipper twists to look at his captor in sheer surprise. A useless gesture, he still has a hood over his freakin’ face. But, like. What?

That gruff voice burst out so quickly that it sounded almost defensive, and - what the hell is going on?

The too-busy hall has gone eerily quiet. Even the mad Nightmare King doesn’t speak, probably surprised at this act of open defiance.

“I- sorry, sorry, my lord. But, like, you’re gonna really like this one.” The demon continues, rapid like he’s on the verge of panic. But insistent, too. A tense excitement runs through his words. “You gotta take a look.”

Dipper blinks in a fruitless attempt to clear his eyes. Stupid fabric over his face. He’s flying blind here.

He wishes he could see everyone’s reactions. Mortals bore Bill at best. Aside from making them into decorations, he barely bothers interacting directly. One young human shouldn’t make a demon yell at Bill Cipher. He shouldn’t matter, or be important, or even register as anything. What the hell?

The crowd stays deathly silent. Bill doesn’t speak. A slow tapping of fingers thuds like a drum in the quiet, a slow contemplative beat.

The Lord of Nightmares holds his own counsel as he judges this outburst. Weighing his options.

“Huh,” Bill says, a second after Dipper thought everything would explode - “Got a lotta confidence in your prize, I see! Guess that’s kinda interesting.” His voice grows louder as he approaches, but there aren’t any footsteps. This monster floats. “Whatcha got there?”

“Well, he was runnin’ about messing up some stuff, and, well, we saw him and - y’know.” The lead demon continues babbling, voice rising to a squeak. Bill must have closed the distance, meeting him eye to multiple eyes. “And! And we made sure not to leave a mark or anything, we was real careful.” A beat of pause; presumably Bill giving him an askance look. “Aside from tying ‘em up, yeah? He woulda run off otherwise.”

“Huh.” Bill says, again. More thoughtful now.

The same thing Dipper might have said, if he wasn’t gagged. True, he hasn’t been beaten up for fun, or toyed with, or devoured. But he’d guessed it was to leave him a more presentable statue.

Said Nightmare King must be very close by now, intrigued by the semi-sales pitch - or maybe because there’s a secret. Dipper can feel warmth in front of him, radiating from an unseen source.

Another drumming, fingers on metal. Then, with a hint of a shrug. “Alright. Show me.”

The hood whips off, and Dipper gets a dizzying look at a massive room, black stone bricks and red lines, demons everywhere. Adjusting to the light takes a second, until his eyes land on the shape in front of him.

Dipper blinks a few times - then glares at this jackass.

Bill Cipher, King of Nightmares, conqueror of half the country and weird goddamn asshole, blinks right back.

Dipper’s seen this monster before, though not in person. Cipher’s always on the news. Appearing on TV and in print, whenever he conquers another piece of territory. His pictures are in magazines, photographs in articles, he has a few intimidating ad spots online - he’s everywhere, even on some forms of cash. It’s impossible to avoid this stupid shape.

And wow, none of that is photoshopped, huh. Turns out Bill’s exactly as weird as advertised. Polygonal and golden. Noodly limbs, top hat, everything.

A total, monstrous asshole.

Dipper strains at his bindings, rising up on his knees. Unfortunately, the gag’s still in place, so instead of cursing this jackass out like he wants to, it’s all muffled shouting.

Bill Cipher goes perfectly still. He hovers in place, a motionless midair shape.

His single eye has a split pupil, and it meets Dipper’s own without moving. Or blinking, either, even though it’s been long enough that Dipper gave up trying to match it.

He’s just. Staring.

Which is… honestly getting eerie. The motionless focus, the impenetrable gaze. Not intimidating, of course. But weird.

Dipper drops back with a huff. Great. He’s having zero effect on this guy. Not even annoyance, and he hoped there’d be some.

As a last ‘fuck you’, he lifts his bound hands in Bill’s direction, and flips him off.

Bill’s pupil narrows to a single thin line. He makes a strange, back-of-the-throat sound without any visible neck. Like he’s choking.

“So, uh,” The lizard demon rubs at the back of his neck. Greenish sweat pours down his scales, and he wipes it on his tunic in short swipes. “Do you-”

“Shut up and gimme.” Bill interrupts. He darts forward in a blink of motion, making grabby hands in the direction of Dipper’s face. “Gimme gimme gimme!”

Neither Dipper nor his captor have time to react. Bill simply seizes him by the shoulders, hauling him away from his captors and onto his feet so fast his shoes leave streaks on the floor.

“Mh!” Dipper yells against his gag, stumbling to catch his balance. It isn’t the most eloquent protest, but he hopes the ‘you jerk’ gets across anyway.

While Bill’s hands are relatively small, they’re impossibly strong. His grip on Dipper’s biceps feels close to bruising, slightly shaking in its intensity.

Bill tugs him closer. The bizarre pupil flashes through a series of shapes too rapid to parse. A second later it flips horizontal, sweeping a beam of light up and down Dipper, head to toe.

While it doesn’t feel like anything, Dipper does his best to wriggle away. He hopes it messes with whatever scan this bastard’s doing. He hopes it’s as annoying as this demon is. A kick aimed at one of Bill’s floating legs didn't land, but it was worth a shot.

Bill ignores his struggles. He laughs at the kicks, which deserves more kicking. He wraps those horrible noodle arms around Dipper's biceps like ropes and giggles when Dipper growls at him, flickering side-to-side in weird, glitchy glee.

The sound of his stupid laughter makes Dipper want to fight him all the harder - useless, of course, those arms only look noodly. They’re super-magically powered. But that doesn’t mean he won’t try.

“Oh.” Bill says, lower than before. He draws Dipper close, bringing him almost within headbutting range. “Oh, now this is beautiful.”

“Mh?” Dipper tries to glare to poor effect. Confusion and anger keep jockeying for space in his head, and he’s pretty sure it shows.

And Bill starts laughing, high and loud and wild. He’s glowing now, surface lit from within with a bright golden light.

“Well! Gotta say this is interesting!” Bill pushes him back slightly, at a human-ish arm’s length. Though he still keeps a solid grip on Dipper’s arms , squeezing tight. “But man, this wrapping’s crap! What happened to ribbons on presents, guys?” His eye rolls. “Lemme fix that.”

With that said, he grows a third arm from one of his sides and snaps his fingers.

The cloth of Dipper’s gag parts like it was clipped with scissors. The bindings on his wrists cleave open, the chains on his ankles explode off his socks, and it’s only because Bill’s still holding him upright that Dipper doesn’t fall over out of sheer surprise.

He wipes at his mouth - spitting out threads in the process, he’d really been trying to chew through the gag - and coughs. With his wrists untied, he can flex his fingers and drop his arms to his sides, hands clenched into fists.

Because now he’s… free-ish. For some reason. With Bill holding onto him there’s zero chance of getting away, but still.

Dipper works his jaw a little, to loosen it. Rubs his wrists to ease the low ache. There’s a huge crowd of demons in this immense hall, so. No escape routes, not when the place is packed with monsters like a can of sardines.

Eventually he has to admit he’s wasting time. The big problem is right in front of him, if he can just. Face it.

Taking a deep breath, he turns his head to look at the worst creature in the entire goddamn world.

Bill’s lower eyelid has risen up in a curve, kind of like a smile. Still laser-focused on Dipper’s face, boring into him as if he could see into his soul. Or maybe plotting a laser course through his prefrontal cortex.

But there isn’t any mockery. No taunting or yelling or stupid puns. None of the typical theatrics that you’d see on a news report. Just… more staring.

Dipper clears his throat. He tugs at the collar of his shirt.

The whole room has gone so, so quiet. He didn’t think it could get quieter than before, but that was people glancing at each other, waiting for a chance to leave the crime scene. A hush littered with bits of gossip and gasps, warnings passing between the crowd.

This silence is an indrawn breath. Held in anticipation.

So. Here he is. In front of the greatest, most powerful monster in history, and instead of being a cool dramatic confrontation, with like. Action, or a witty back-and-forth - it’s just awkward.

“Well, sapling?” Bill prompts, eye narrowing. He releases Dipper’s arms only to point directly at his face. Like he's accusing him of something. “Got anything to say for yourself?”

Dipper breathes in deep.

Okay, then. Space to talk? A chance to say whatever he wants?

Yeah. That he can work with.

“Fuck you, Bill.” He spits out the words, putting all the hate in his heart into the venom of his tone. He steps forward, getting right in this asshole’s… face? Surface? Whatever. “I hope you die. In a fire. And that your ugly-ass pyramid falls on you, and you get crushed in the rubble, and - and that your exoskeleton gets melted down for scrap, because you just suck that much.”

Bill… says nothing. No magic twists Dipper into a terrible shape. No pain jolts through his body.

And when Dipper dares to look him in the eye, his face reflects back from the infinite depths of Bill’s pupil, blown wide from the tiny slit of seconds ago. By this point it’s nearly a circle. Which is weird, and kind of intimidating -

But he’s not made of rock yet. Bill hasn’t retaliated, probably because he’s too stunned to react. And fuck him.

“And another thing,” Dipper continues, less steadily now. He didn’t have a speech prepared. But since he’s not dead, hell, might as well make the most of it. “You’re dumb as hell, and I hate you. So much. You’re the worst thing that could ever happen to m-”

Something goes ‘splat’ just beside him, making him flinch. Another wet sound lands nearby, followed by another, and another. A slow patter that builds in pace, rapid and thick.

Dipper stares in horror as literal, throbbing hearts pop up and circle around Bill Cipher’s top hat, spinning in a rapid circle. As more manifest, old ones fall to the floor like the world’s worst rainstorm, spattering red across the stone. Even his pupil is that same friggin’ organ now, pumping away in silhouette.

“Aha. Ha ha!” Bill’s voice raises in pitch with his laughter, and his fingers wiggle in anticipatory glee, just before his arms extend and coil around Dipper’s body, pinning his arms to his sides. “HA HA HA HA HA!”

Dipper opens his mouth to protest. Rather pointless in retrospect, though he does get out a “Hey!” as he’s lifted off the ground.

That stupid heart-rain has stopped, at least. Now it’s just Bill, glowing incredibly bright and giggling like the complete madman he is.

Dipper kicks out in protest, swearing and struggling. Bill’s dumb noodle arms have some give to them, but they’re wrapped tight enough that it doesn’t matter.

“YOU!” Bill’s voice was already loud, but now it resonates. Filling the hall with a boom, ringing against the walls. His eye has blown out to a circle again, and in the depths a few strange, starlike dots glimmer. “Of course it’s YOU! Nothing was gonna keep you away, was it? And now you’re back!”

This is the point where Dipper would protest again. Or threaten, or question or - something.

But it’s pretty hard to get words out when an insane demon is spinning you around like a carnival ride, complete with fireworks overhead.

Below him the crowd cheers, a raucous chorus. He could swear more demons are pouring in by the second into an already packed hall. Lights are going off and on in a strobe, with the pop of fireworks ringing overhead. Music blares from one corner, then another as stereo sound kicks on.

Between the explosions, the lightshow, the noise - Dipper would try to figure out what the hell is going on, if he weren’t trying not to be sick from the spinning.

Bill doesn’t seem to notice any of this, focused on the human he’s captured. Eventually he slows, letting Dipper touch solid ground again Dipper with a glimmer in his eye that instantly makes him wary. Something is up, and he doesn’t know -

“I know just what to do with you, kid.” Bill says, eye narrowing. Two hands come up and cup Dipper’s cheeks, strangely warm - “C’mere!”

Watching Bill’s eyeball drop back into its socket, and the huge, sharp teeth emerge from the mouth where his eye should be, Dipper knows immediately that this. This is how he’s going to die.

Then the eyelids purse into lips, and Bill hauls him in face-first.

“Mmmmwha!” A long, exaggerated sound. Pretty dramatic, really. Bill draws back, eye smiling at Dipper as he squeezes his cheeks with both hands. “Oh man! You have no idea how long I’ve waited for that!”

“Whuh.” Dipper says, intelligently.

Bill cackles, chucking Dipper under the chin, then tickling it with a couple fingers. “Ha! Did one little smooch rock your world?” His eye wiggles, with horrible, terrible implications. “Don’t worry, there’s way more where that came from!”

Dipper reels from the sensation of having his whole face - not eaten, or rearranged, but - His legs totter, but the arms around him keep him upright.

A million questions whirl around. None of them have answers. They simply spin and spin and spin until Dipper’s brain feels blank, like -

Oh. Okay.

Intellectually, Dipper knew that Bill could break minds. He just thought it’d be more gory and torturous. For some reason.

��And as for you-” Bill turns towards the cluster of demons that brought Dipper here, to this weirdo showcase. Under his gaze, even the most terrible monsters cluster together with nervous smiles. “Who’s in charge of your little outfit?”

Tentatively, arm shaking, the leader raises a hand. Bill’s eye snaps to it and he floats in, right in front of the lizard demon’s sweating, scaly face.

Then his lower eyelid rises in that strange emulation of a smile, and he gives him an incredibly hard high-five.

“Alright everyone, listen up!” Bill proclaims, turning towards the crowd. Grabbing the lead captor’s wrist, he raises it up like a winning prizefighter. “These guys get free drinks for the next two millennia!”

A cheer rises up from the crowd. The lizard demon’s mouth purses in a ‘o’ of delight, hands fluttering at his cheeks like a human winning a gameshow. Dipper spends a moment staring at the frankly bizarre site of a group of demons clutching each other like giddy highschoolers, bouncing in a circle.

“You heard it here first, guys! The boy is back!” Bill shouts. He whirls in a full circle, nearly giving Dipper a heart attack. It feels like any moment he’s going to fall, even when he’s wrapped up - “And you know what that means?”

Gasps bubble up from the gathered demons. A susurrus of voices starts, fluttering back and forth in the crowd.

‘Party’, is whispered from one corner. Another careful voice ventures to ask, ‘Party?’. The word repeats, flickering in and out of hearing as it spreads through the crowd. Off in the back a single voice lets out a loud ‘Wooo!’

“That’s right!” Bill is so, so loud, and so, so pleased. He holds Dipper overhead, bouncing him up and down. “Iiiiit’s PARTY TIME!”

An explosion of confetti covers the room. A disco ball drops from the ceiling, music bursts from unseen speakers, and Bill sets his captive down on the floor next to him. His arms uncoil, spinning Dipper around like a top until he thinks he’ll fall-

As the room reels around him, Dipper reaches out for the closest solid surface, leaning on it until the room stops whirling around him.

If the surface happens to be the worst asshole ever, well. He didn’t have any other options.

“Hell, free drinks for everyone tonight!” Bill shouts, to a huge, monstrous cheer from the crowd. Part of the room has transformed into a long bar, and a good third of the demons are already rushing towards it. “Get while the getting’s good, guys!”

Watching the stampede, Dipper’s too surprised to move, until the demon under his elbow does it for him.

“Stick close, sapling. These guys can get pretty rowdy!” Bill says. His metallic surface is warm, not quite hot to the touch. The corner pressing into Dipper’s side, though, that’s annoying. “Don’t want you getting lost again.”

A tight belt wraps around his waist and makes him startle - but it’s just Bill again. A small black hand pats his stomach twice before taking hold of his shirt.

And Dipper’s standing here, not dead. Not a statue, not an experiment. Kind of an offering, maybe, but a weird one. He’s just…

Standing beside Bill goddamn Cipher, unharmed by the most unhinged creature in the universe. And why the fuck is that?

An explanation has to be nearby. A reason. For everything.

Why he’s here. Why he got this reaction. Why this Bill is so not like the Bill on the news, and maybe even why demons are chanting ‘chug chug chug!’ to a monster bodysurfing the crowd, drinking from a bottle the size of his arm.

Dipper feels a glass pressed into his hand, cold with a slender stem. He holds it absentmindedly, glancing around the room and the raucous party kicking up, trying to find sense in the nonsensical.

The hall is huge, so. Fits a party atmosphere, he guesses. Bill himself has one ropy arm warped around his waist, with a grip on his shirt so tight he’s pretty sure it’d tear if he took off running. Behind them is the dais where Bill reigned over the tributes, making each and every decision from his throne -

Dipper does a double-take, glancing back over his shoulder.

A second throne sits next to Bill’s on the dais. Way harder to spot, though; it lies in shadow, unlike the brightly lit rest of the room. The dark grey blends with the shaded light until it nearly matches the black walls. A seat too small for any human-sized person, and too human-shaped for any different kind of person. Instead of either, a painting rests on the seat.

Easing out of Bill’s grasp is impossible, but with effort Dipper manages to twist around for a better look.

The painting is set in a gilded frame with elaborate designs - mostly triangle based, no surprise there - but the picture itself is of a human.

Sitting in the smaller throne is a portrait of a young man. Messy brown hair and a lean build, wearing casual clothes and a faint half smile. His head tilts towards the viewer, as if they just caught his attention. His expression looks like he heard a dumb joke and is ready to retort, amusement shining in his dark brown eyes. Beneath his bangs a series dots and lines in pink stands out, like a strangely shaped… birthmark.

Dipper’s hand flies to his chest. His heart feels like it’s stopped for a second.

No, wait. That can’t-

He whips around, getting a ‘hey!’ from Bill who nearly spills his martini at the motion. Dipper smacks him out of the way, his hat is blocking the view.

Now that he’s spotted them, they’re impossible to miss. One portrait hangs out to the left of the throne, sleepy-eyed and cowlicked hair blinking in the viewer's direction. On the right a shirtless human lounges on a couch, jeans slightly undone. Another hangs from the ceiling of all things, glaring down at Bill’s throne from above like an annoyed god.

Shit. The pictures.

They all look exactly like Dipper.

“Geez, aren’t you squirmy? Ha! Figures!” Bill says, floating closer. When one of his arms loops around Dipper’s neck and he tousles his hair, it meets a man gone still as a statue. “You’re always a pain in the angles! It’s adorable!”

“What the fuck is this.” Dipper can’t even make it a question. His voice is too tense to rise at the end.

Bill’s eye swivels from his face, to the portraits, then back again. It rolls in its socket so far back it comes around again. “You. Duh.”

“How-” No, that’s not the right question. “What- Wh- huh?”

Not his best showing. Words aren’t working right; they fail him along with his usually organized thoughts. Dipper can’t concentrate. His mind filled with too much weird and why and - in an insane section of his brain - an incredulous, really, Bill?

“Oh, that.” Bill says, flicking away dismissively. He gestures over the portraits, the party, and then at himself. His arm makes another loop around Dipper’s neck, loosely draped. “What’s to wonder about? It’s simple!”

“Is it.” Dipper says, flat. He stares forward, even as the arm snakes around and around his torso in two loose loops.

“Absolutely!” Bill’s voice drops as he closes in. Not quiet, but muted enough to not be heard over the party crowd. “See, you got away from me once, kid. And fair enough, that’s what mortals do!” The stem of the martini glass shatters in his grasp, and he drops the remains with a casual flick. “They die on ya!”

Dipper glances at the portrait on the throne, then back to Bill. Tries to swallow, though his mouth feels dry with a sudden, looming realization.

“But there’s no escape this time. Never again.” Bill's eye narrows, so close to Dipper's face it's nearly touching. “Prepare for happily ever after.”

#This is not a oneshot #I actually have a whole plot for this and everything #God help me #Do I have to come up with a title for this? Maybe I'll wait on that #In my docs it's called marrying the grief-mad demon scourge but I'll probably pick something Punny #As is my fashion

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pillowfort-social · 2 years ago

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ChatGPT Bot Block

Hey Pillowfolks!

We know many of you are still waiting on our official stance regarding AI-Generated Images (also referred to as “AI Art”) being posted to Pillowfort. We are still deliberating internally on the best approach for our community as well as how to properly moderate AI-Generated Images based on the stance we ultimately decide on. We’re also in contact with our Legal Team for guidance regarding additions to the Terms of Service we will need to include regarding AI-Generated Images. This is a highly divisive issue that continues to evolve at a rapid pace, so while we know many of you are anxious to receive a decision, we want to make sure we carefully consider the options before deciding. Thank you for your patience as we work on this.

As of today, 9/5/2023, we have blocked the ChatGPT bot from scraping Pillowfort. This means any writings you post to Pillowfort cannot be retrieved for use in ChatGPT’s Dataset.

Our team is still looking for ways to provide the same protection for images uploaded to the site, but keeping scrapers from accessing images seems to be less straightforward than for text content. The biggest AI generators such as StableDiffusion use datasets such as LAION, and as far as our team has been able to discern, it is not known what means those datasets use to scrape images or how to prevent them from doing so. Some sources say that websites can add metadata tags to images to prevent the img2dataset bot (which is apparently used by many generative image tools) from scraping images, but it is unclear which AI image generators use this bot vs. a different bot or technology. The bot can also be configured to simply disregard these directives, so it is unknown which scrapers would obey the restriction if it was added.

For artists looking to protect their art from AI image scrapers you may want to look into Glaze, a tool designed by the University of Chicago, to protect human artworks from being processed by generative AI.

We are continuing to monitor this topic and encourage our users to let us know if you have any information that can help our team decide the best approach to managing AI-Generated Images and Generative AI going forward. Again, we appreciate your patience, and we are working to have a decision on the issue of moderating AI-Generated Images soon.

Best, Pillowfort.social Staff

#pillowfort.social #chatgpt #ai #pfstaffalert

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fallout-lou-begas · 1 year ago

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Not sure if you’ve been asked this before, but what are your favorite/essential mods for new vegas? I’ve only ever played it unmodded so I’m curious

Good question! I definitely have answered this before, but that was so many years ago. It's only now that I've taken the opportunity to overhaul and modernize my own mod set-up that I've been figuring out the answer to this question myself. But I can definitely talk you through the most important parts of my new load order.

First, however, every single person modding this game in this day and age absolutely needs to start with the Viva New Vegas modding guide, and follow every step to the letter. The recommendations are air-tight and the instructions are written and presented as if you, the reader, have never even seen so much as a computer before. It's amazing. The "Base" of VNV contains nothing but bugfixes, lightweight unofficial patches, performance optimizations, and other under-the-hood stuff designed to remedy FNV's infamous stability issues while maintaining a completely "vanilla" feel. This makes it absolutely necessary, in my opinion, even for people who don't actually want to play with any (other) mods. Especially crucial to this guide is its mandate to use Mod Organizer 2; if you're using Nexus Mod Manager, Vortex, or Fallout Mod Manager any time since Biden got elected, you are shooting yourself in the foot plain and simple. The best endorsement that I can give of Mod Organizer 2 is that it mods you game completely virtually, meaning that if you fuck your mods up beyond repair, you can just go to your actual FNV launcher in your root folder and boot up the vanilla game like nothing ever happened.

And the "Extended" section of Viva New Vegas consists of more modding tools, quality of life tweaks, content restorations, and a curated list of strongly recommended gameplay modifications that nevertheless all come down to your personal preference (though deviating from their provided list may make you use your brain a little bit when choosing the right compatibility patches, and so on).

This isn't going to cover every single thing that I play with, but here's everything that I would think to suggest to anybody who asked. With that said, here's Fallout "Lou" Begas's Mod Recommendations, 2024 Edition:

Viva New Vegas Extended: Lou's Preferences

VNV Extended recommends several gameplay modifications that come down to personal preference. I installed just about all of them, with a few exceptions (I don't care at all for B42 Optics, for example). Here's some specific details:

Just Assorted Mods has a hell of a lot of features but I actually enable are breath-holding, the vanilla sprint, and the loot menu (though I flip-flop often on using JAM's Bullet Time in place of V.A.T.S.). If you install VNV and boot up the game and wonder "what is all this fucking shit on my HUD," it's probably some of Just Assorted Mods's components. Just disable the ones you don't want in the in-game Mod Configuration Menu, which you will also have available if you followed the instructions for VNV Base.

Vigor is a modernized fork of JSawyer, the mod that was originally created by FNV's own director after the game's release that tweaked a lot of under-the-hood game settings and statistical balance to his personal preferences. JSawyer Ultimate Edition a more faithful modernization of the original JSawyer whereas Vigor is "a more lightweight alternative" that dials back some of the more drastic features of JSUE. Your choice of these, or none of them, is purely personal preference, and my preference is for Vigor. Any form of JSawyer is strongly recommended if you play in Hardcore Mode.

Simple Vigor Config is used in conjuncton with Vigor and is an intuitive and easy way to overwrite Vigor's gamesetting changes with your own preference. I use the config to adjust carry weight to a much more punishing (25 + 5*STR) formula that incentivizes the use of backpacks, mindful inventory management, and companion inventory space; and to increase the starvation, thirst, and sleep Hardcore Mode rates to 10, 5, and 14 respectively.

Desert Natural Weathers is the weather mod to end all weather mods, in my view, and it includes configuration for customizing the darkness and visibility of nighttime. This effectively obsoletes former dinosaurs like Darker Nights Ultimate Edition. Refer to the post that I made on DNUE's Nexus page here for a copy of my settings to darken those dang nights with DNW.

In AIStewie's Tweaks's nvse_stewie_tweaks.ini file, I set bCustomSpecialPoints = 1 and iNumPointsToAllocate = 35. This slightly reduced starting stat spread forces you to make tradeoffs in your character creation, because it starts with a perfect middle 5 in every stat. Every addition above average will require a subtraction below average. The "Essentials" INI included with VNV Base is all that most players will ever need, so this is my one specific personal tweak that'll keep you from scrolling through every single option in the whole damn thing (though I also recommend enabling the tweaks that hide all of your skill check tags in dialogue for more immersive and less gamified roleplaying in conversation: set bNoSkillTags, bRemoveFailedSuccessText, bRemoveRedOutline, and iRemoveTags to all = 1. )

Lou's Personally Valuable or Sentimental Tweaks and Fixes

Better Pause Menu Screen (Simple Blur). I play with an ultrawide resolution and the vanilla pause menu filter doesn't actually extend past 1920x1080. So this is really vital, lol.

Vanilla Animations Weapon Scale Fix. This mod will fix a common issue with custom weapons and animation mods where your weapon will become invisible because its scale has gotten stuck at 0.

Companion Carry Weight Fix. All companions in the game have an invisible attribute called "companion suite" that, among other things, halves their carrying capacity based on their actual stats. If you play with a super low carry weight formula like I do, you can see how this is a problem. Here's the solution.

Miscellaneous Tweaks Collection includes a few files that I get great use out of: No DLC Recipes Early (great unless you integrate DLC crafting ingredients into your base game somehow) and Vendors Have Throwables (why the fuck are throwing weapons so hard to find in vanilla!). There are others that I use as well but I recommend these two the most generally.

Lucky 38 Suite Upgrade Terminal Tweak is a very cute little mod that removes the ugly wall-mounted terminal and makes you purchase your suite upgrades from the actual computer on the desk in the master bedroom instead.

I Fought the Law - Simple NCR Start finally gives you a good reason to check out NCRCF if you're not siding with the Powder Gangers.

Hire Cass Early was my "dream mod" for the longest time, and thanks to some help, it's finally a reality. Simply pick up the letter that this mod adds to the Mojave Express office in Primm and you can recruit Cass right away (through the usual persuasive requirements) without ever stepping off the road from Goodsprings to the Mojave Outpost. Part of my ongoing "make @ikroah real" project.

Harder Strip Access. Getting into Vegas to finally confront Benny should feel like a tremendous accomplishment. This mod makes it so. Better pony up the caps or call in one hell of a favor, kid! With any kind of tougher economy mods, especially, this mod makes it wonderfully Herculean to just buy your way onto the Strip.

Balance Tweaks

Pseudo-Realistic Carry Weight - No Weightless Item Overhaul and Realistic Bottle Cap Weight. The former is actually an optional file; the main file just implements the the carry weight formula that I was coincidentally already using. The latter just forces you to think strategically about how much money you're walking around with. Can you tell that I love inventory management? Note that if you give bottlecaps weight, you should definitely let yourself drop them when necessary by editing Stewie's Tweaks (bShowCurrencyInContainers = 1).

Carry Weight Affects Speed, Med-Tek Trauma Kit (Lou's Version), and More Conditions to Fast Travel. The first appearance of my own mods on this list! These three mods in conjunction tie your encumbrance and your overall health to your mobility far more strictly. I love the balancing act of packing enough supplies for an excursion while leaving enough room for loot that I can still fast travel with, and the choice to get greedy with more loot than I can comfortably carry and just hope to not run into danger on my slow walk back toward a merchant. My tweaks to the classic Med-Tek Trauma Kit mod apply this level of emergent gameplay and resource management to your limb health, though it makes the game much more difficult unless your character specializes in Medicine. I haven't tried it myself, but Simple Healing System is fully configurable, modern mod that I've had my eyes on and that might be better for most general playstyles, and it might even be compatible in conjunction with my Med-Tek mod for extra intensity!

Better Charisma (Charisma Affects Dialogue Skill Checks) and/or Charisma Affects Reputation. I've always been very frustrated with how much of a meaningless dump stat Charisma is, and the phenomenon of the 1 CHA 100 Speech player character in general. These two mods, which you can use just one of or both together, give Charisma much more meaningful and palpable functionality.

Terrifying Presence (Lou's Version), speaking of Charisma, changes the requirement for this perk from Level 6 and 70 Speech to Level 2 and 6 CHA, making it much more accessible to more types of intimidating characters. This same mod includes alternate options to take it as a trait instead, with the drawback(s) of either tanking your Speech and Barter and/or increasing your addiction chance. See also: Less Snarky Terrifying Presence.

New Vegas Karma Rebalance is a great under-the-hood mod that makes FNV's nearly vestigial karma system less nonsensical without removing it or its effects on the player entirely. Thanks to this and Mass Ownership Tweaks, which is already included in VNV Extended's recommendation of Essential Vanilla Enhancements Merged, Cass won't hate your guts just for stealing a few things from Caesar's Legion at Cottonwood Cove, especially not after you've already killed them all.

Damage Multiplier solves the sluggish damage sponge problem that plagues Bethesda engine combat by simply multiplying all damage dealt globally, both by and to the player, by a factor of your choosing. I use 2.5x, which is usually enough to kill any level-appropriate human being with a single shot to the head. 2x should be the minimum. Combine with Combat Enhancer NVSE and NPCs Use Ammo for overall faster but much more ferocious and intense combat engagements.

Visuals and Animations

Third Person Camera Overhaul. Though I'm still getting used to its extremely specific configuration settings, this is vital for a third-person enjoyer like myself. It obsoletes any and all "dynamic camera" or "shoulder swap" mods of the past. Once you figure out how it works and what you like, you're set for life.

Realistic Movement and Dramatic Inertia. Although a little goofy, it has never felt better for me to physically move around in the game than it has before. I like the weight and get-up-and-go that this mod has for me as a player, but it's especially significant in firefights and other combat situations where, now, your targets can't dodge bullets by shifting direction instantly or stopping and turning on perfect dimes. For a single, less heavyweight alternative, try 360 Movement and Diagonal Movement together instead. Each pair of these mods is incompatible with the other pair, however.

B42 Loot, B42 Interact, and B42 Inject. I recommend a lot of the B42 family of animation overhauls in general (except B42 Optics, lol) because I just love seeing my character actually do the things they're doing. For B42 Loot, I use the included config file to disable the "force pull" effect, and for B42 Interact, there exists compatibility patches between it and its more third-person oriented counterpart Animated Ingestibles, but I'd only look into that if you know what you're doing (though, I do).

Character Kit Remake is a mod that I was turned onto recently. For a long time I have scoffed at character appearance overhauls out of nostalgia for those classic gamebryo engine potato-faces and what I thought was, to be blunt, the tasteless ineptitude of the actual overhauling. But I do really like this one, even if the showcase of screenshots do a really bad job of selling it. It looks a lot better in motion and in game, I promise. i think that these people are just not good digital photographers.

Height Randomizer. It's funny how much you can get attached to a minor character when they are, for whatever reason, especially tall or short. This lightweight mod just adds some height variance to all NPCs in the game that don't already have a non-normal 1.00 height setting in vanilla.

The Strip Groove. Dance on command. Endorsed.

Items, Economy, Crafting, Survival, Repair, Etc.

Gloves Galore (Lou's Version), Power Armor Gloves, Combat Armor Gloves, and White Glove Society Wear Gloves. Anyone who has followed me long enough on here should know that I have strong, totally normal feelings about gloves.

Armed to the Teeth Redux and literally any backpack mod. I've used this duffel bag forever, for example. I love these ones because I personally love when you can physically, literally see the things that a character is supposed to be carrying.

Flashlight NVSE. Another piece of Agnes Sands's arsenal, this is the one "old" mod that I can't quit. Even if it is a little janky, I've yet to find a better directional flashlight mod. Only install this is you think you can handle wrestling with it a little, and make sure your "Exterior" flashlight settings are all on the lowest quality regardless of computer specs (or else it causes flickering). It's a must-have for darker nights, too.

Famine is the last "loot scarcity" mod you'll ever need. Combine it with Harder, Barter, Faster, Stronger from the VNV Extended recommendations list for a really tough time affording even basic necessities without tailoring your build for mercantile success... which is just how I like it.

Cheaper Repair Costs. The vanilla formula for determining the cost of weapon and armor repairs at merchants is, in a word, fucked, where it literally costs twice the weapon's base value to repair it from broken. This mod lets you adjust that proportion so that you won't be better off literally selling and buying another gun in every single case. I play with a rate of 67% (which means that paying a merchant to repair a completely broken weapon from 0% health to 100% health will cost 67% of the weapon's base value).

Alternative Repairing does too much cool, practical shit to the base repairing system to even get into here. To keep it short, it intuitively incentivizes actually scrounging for all kinds of formerly useless junk that you can now scrap for spare parts. Check it out.

Water Overhaul. Ever play with a Universal Water Bottling mod and find things suddenly far too easy? Water Overhaul combines all the convenience and sense-making of bottling water anywhere with the much-needed tradeoff of truly purified water being much rarer. All that convenient H2O is now just radioactive enough to keep Goodsprings Source from singlehandedly breaking the survival economy of the game (not to mention the literal economy).

Cowboy Coffee and Coffee Grounds, my own mod that adds brewable coffee to the wasteland. While mostly just created because it's cute, it's really nice to have a reliable and palpable source of sleep deprivation relief when playing in Hardcore Mode.

Gun Oil From Animal Fat, another mod of mine that provides a cheaper, craftable, and less demanding but less effective repair option to complement Weapon Repair Kits. I patched this one recently to fix some old issues, and it's great for incentivizing emergent gameplay (since you need to hunt for meat, and cook the meat for fat, and combine the fat with loot to make the gun oil).

Sound

Less Constant Music and Passive Combat Music Tweaked do exactly what they say on the tin and are perfect for people who like to get immersed in the natural sound of their environment, especially if you're a chronically stealthy player like me and you've trained yourself to constantly listen for enemy footsteps. I do recommend keeping Less Constant Music disabled when you first start a game, though, because until I can figure out how to add an exception to it myself, it will remove the background music from character creation at Doc Mitchell's house more often than not, and I really like that music.

SPEAKING of Doc Mitchell's music, Try Not To Get Killed Anymore is one of the first mods I ever made and it has never left my load order. It simply replaces the musical sting that plays when you die with an emphatic, tolling bell and the refrain from Doc Mitchell's theme, plus an optional version that includes his ghostly voice telling you to try not to get killed anymore. Two of my other personal sound replacers are the Mysterious Stranger Level-up Theme, Simple Snap Sound Effects for Quest Updates, and Mechanical Camera VATS.

#fallout #fallout new vegas #fnv #mods

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mysteryshoptls · 1 year ago

Text

SR Ortho Shroud - Apprentice Chef Vignette

"Master Chef"

[Cafeteria – Judging Venue]

Master Chef ― Ortho Version ～Let’s Make Loco Moco 1～

―A short while before cooking begins

Ortho: ―Energy inspection complete. All functions, including the cooking and processing units, are operating normally.

Ortho: Everything activates without a hitch, great. I tried to make my exterior look similar to my brother's outfit when he took the class, does it look weird at all?

Azul: It looks fantastic on you, Ortho-san. However, I never expected to see you take an interest in cooking… I'm a little taken aback.

Ortho: It's only recently piqued my interest. Sometimes I hear my classmates swapping kitchen horror stories, you see.

Ortho: When someone said, "cooking is way too high level for newbies," it suddenly made me want to try to win against it… Which resulted in this gear being developed.

Azul: I see. And if you are to do a trial run of that gear here, the Master Chef course would be the best opportunity to do so.

Ortho: Exactly! I knew you'd get it, Azul-san.

Ortho: Not only can this gear cook food, but it's built with many other functions to manage proper nutrition or count calories and the like.

Ortho: I plan on getting the expert chef to check out my functions and test out what all would be useful for cooking!

Azul: I can see you're raring to go. Then, I'll wish us both luck.

Ortho: Yeah!

[Kitchen]

Ghost Chef: We'll have you make the "Loco Moco" dish for us today, Ortho-kun.

Ghost Chef: First, we'll have to prep the onions that'll be mixed into the hamburger meat. Do you know how to mince?

Ortho: Okay, I got this!

Ortho: ―Begining cooking procedures. Activating the Cooking Gear's Food Slicer Unit.

[whirrr… fsshhh…!]

Ghost Chef: H-HUUUUUUUUUUH!? HE TRANSFORMED!!?

Ortho: First, I need to adjust the shape so it will be easier to prepare. I need to swing vertically over the onion and… slice it in half!

Ortho: Great, looks like my knife is sharp enough! Umm, since this is for mixing in with hamburger meat…

Ortho: ―Executing command: "Target ingredient: Onion / Processing Method: Mince / Configuration: 3mm Squares"

Ghost Chef: W-Wow… The onion was finely chopped up in no time flat…!

Ortho: …Whew, I've finished with the onion. Will these be sufficient?

Ghost Chef: Y-Yeah, it's cut expertly, but… What exactly is that round blade that came out of your glove…?

Ortho: I took an industrial-grade cutter and downsized it so it could be used in cooking.

Ortho: It releases water as it cuts. This removes the necessity to clean both the blade and the ingredient.

Ghost Chef: You've sure come up with something interesting. But this is just too far removed from traditional cooking methods… Hmm.

Ortho: Different tools shouldn't cause any deviation from the recipe, though… Or should I have used a knife?

Ghost Chef: Well, I guess for your case, you have to cook like that… So I'll make an exception this time.

Ortho: Yay～! Okay then, I'm ready for the next part of the class!

Ortho: ―Activating Heat Sensor Camera. Calculating the temperature of the stir-fried onions… 38.2°C. Current temperature is 41°C lower than last measurement.

Ortho: According to my database, the best temperature range to continue cooking at after letting the dish simmer down is between 38～44°C. Chef, can we continue with the next step?

Ghost Chef: Sure, that's fine. So, next, take the ground meat, onions, and spices to form your hamburgers.

Ortho: Understood! ―Executing Command: Deploy Hand-Coating Gloves.

Ghost Chef: Woah! And now suddenly there are gloves attached to your hands. Is this another one of your technological applications?

Ortho: I'm using something similar to shrink wrap for this. It'd be pretty tough to do maintenance if my joints got dirtied.

Ghost Chef: Ah, that I can understand. It's just like how it's troublesome to have to wash everything that climbed up inside of an eggbeater.

Ortho: I thought as much. In the future, I'd like to equip some functions that would handle this effectively, but… This time, I want to try to knead it by hand

Ghost Chef: And why is that?

Ortho: It sounds like when my brother took this course, he didn't like this specific task.

Ortho: So I thought it'd be good to know the source of his stress, so I could factor that into the eventual kneading function…

[squish…]

Ortho: Hmm, maybe he didn't like how it felt when he touched it? Probably means if I can automate this task, everything'll be solved!

Ghost Chef: Sounds like you've figured out your answer, Ortho-kun.

Ghost Chef: By the way, your brother is Idia-kun, right? Has he changed at all since taking the course?

Ortho: Hmm, I don't think anything changed. He still doesn't really care about food at all…

Ortho: …Oh yeah! Maybe I can use this Cooking Gear to help improve his eating habits.

Ghost Chef: Eh!? You made all these functions without actually knowing what you'd use it for in the first place?

Ortho: Ehehe, so actually… I just made this because I wanted to "win at cooking!" So I didn't really have a particular use for it in mind.

Ghost Chef: Well, I guess that's a good enough reason to start. Also, even if it is an afterthought, I'm glad that you have a goal to strive for now.

Ortho: Yeah. Alright… Now I have to start improving this gear so I can make food that my brother'll want to eat!

[Kitchen]

Master Chef ― Ortho Version ～Let’s Make Loco Moco 2～

Ghost Chef: While we wait for the hamburger to cook, you can prepare the toppings. We'll garnish with cabbage and mini tomatoes for this dish.

Ghost Chef: The cabbage needs to be shredded, so… Are you able to adjust your cutting size in 0.1mm increments?

Ortho: By design, I should be able to. I would like to test it for myself, so could you tell me the specific size you're looking for?

Ghost Chef: Then, if you can, slice at 1.6mm.

Ortho: Got it!

Ortho: ―Executing command: "Target ingredient: Cabbage / Processing Method: Slice / Thickness Configuration: 1.6mm"

Ghost Chef: Woooah, very good! It was surprising when I first saw all this, but now it's really nice to see how quick and accurately you can cut.

Ortho: Simple tasks like these are a machine's strong point, after all! …Okay, I'm done! I wonder how the hamburger is coming along?

Ortho: ―Activating Heat Sensor Camera. Frying pan is holding steady at 16°C. Hamburger internal temperature: 34.5°C.

Ghost Chef: That's a pretty handy function, too. You don't need to take the lid off the frying pan to check how it's cooking, so there's no drop in temperature.

Ghost Chef: …Ah, oops. I let myself get a little too distracted watching your really neat functions.

Ghost Chef: Normally, it would take more time to prepare the toppings, but you're moving along smoothly.

Ortho: Ah! Then, while we wait for the hamburger to cook, can you explain to me more about the toppings?

Ortho: Cause toppings are kind of like power-ups from a video game, right? You don't really need them but it's better to have them.

Ortho: That's why I bet if I could know which toppings are the most filling, I could make my cooking even more efficient.

Ghost Chef: Hmm, that's a difficult question. It can vary depending on what you have on hand, and what you feel like using.

Ghost Chef: For example, I wanted to make sure there was nutritional balance, so this dish uses vegetables as a topping.

Ortho: If we were to remove the vegetables from this recipe… The vitamin intake would be reduced by 75%. It really would lose that nutritional balance.

Ghost Chef: In the past, I would serve it as a salad on the side, but there were so many kids who wouldn't even touch it, because they didn't want veggies.

Ortho: I get it, you revised the process fundamentally to help resolve your problem. I think that's a very reasonable method.

Ghost Chef: Haha, thank you. Yes, I'm glad I changed it up like this.

Ortho: Changes, hm… If I want to be able to add that as a possible function to the Cooking Gear, I'll have to gather a lot more data.

Ortho: If I can learn to swap out ingredients, it might help in dealing with my brother's bad eating habits.

Ortho: The more I learn about cooking, the more I can see all sorts of possible challenges, just like in a video game.

Ortho: ―And finally, I set the egg on top… Done! It's made to look like the dish I saw as the top hit in an image search.

Ghost Chef: Nice, you've plated it so beautifully and deliciously. I guess it's time for you to take it to the judging venue, then.

Ortho: Okay! I can't wait to see how the judge will react～

[Cafeteria – Judging Venue]

Leona: Ughh… What a pain. Why do I need to be a judge for this Master Chef thing…?

Ortho: Sorry to keep you waiting! Oh, I see you were the one to order this dish, then.

Ortho: Here you go, this is the Loco Moco you requested! Please, enjoy!

Ortho: I want to use your assessment of the dish to help improve my Cooking Gear, so please be as candid as possible.

Leona: …Hey. Why're there vegetables in this loco moco? There wasn't any last time I ordered it.

Ortho: I heard this was a change made to help people eat their veggies. Great, right?

Leona: …Tch, way to do something completely unnecessary.

[bite, chew, chew, chew…]

Ortho: I followed the recipe exactly as it was written, so there shouldn't be any issues with the flavor… What do you think?

Leona: The hamburger and the gravy sauce taste fine. But because of all the veggies you threw in there, it shouldn't even get a single point.

Ortho: Ehhh, why!? I made sure to follow the recipe and throw in the right amount, size, and cooking time for all the ingredients!

Leona: Why should I care? All that matters is the judge's opinion, yeah? The recipe means nothin' if it don't suit my taste.

Ortho: …So without considering any of the general judging criteria, this dish "doesn't taste good" to you?

Leona: Basically. But hey, maybe you coulda gotten high marks if you'd just left the veg out like it's always been made.

Ortho: By adding the vegetables, it gave the dish a better nutritional balance. But Leona-san would have preferred no vegetables…

Leona: Geez, can't believe you'd just ruin a good meal like that. Since the judging's over, I'm outta here.

Ortho: Ah, he left… I can't really understand how someone could say a dish that satisfies nutritional needs "doesn't taste good."

Ghost Chef: Leona-kun must really hate vegetables, if he couldn't get past even this small addition.

Ortho: Ah, I should have asked why he hates vegetables to help me with figuring out how to change up recipes!

Ghost Chef: Ortho-kun… Are you actually happy with that result?

Ortho: Yes! The more data I can gather on any issues, the better I can improve my Cooking Gear!

Ghost Chef: Well, I guess I'm glad you're not sad after hearing that, but… Why does that make you that excited?

Ortho: Leona-san was already unhappy with the dish even before tasting it. That means he had already decided it wouldn't taste good just from looking at it.

Ortho: The challenge rating just shot up, now that I have to keep an eye on visual aesthetics, taste and nutrition… Of course that gets me super pumped up!

Ortho: I might be a long way away from being able to tackle my brother's bad eating habits, but… I'll definitely do my best to make my Cooking Gear even better!

Requested by Anonymous.

#twisted wonderland #twst #ortho shroud #leona kingscholar #azul ashengrotto #twst ortho #twst azul #twst leona #twst translation #twst masterchef #mention: idia

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riddle-me-ri · 1 month ago

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a/n: so…trying my hand at something a teeny bit different. this isn't a x reader (even though the temptation of putting my self insert there was incredibly strong), shocking I know, but stick with me…I've always wanted to like…write for a fan version of the Rogues…but I was never close enough with anyone to inquire about doing it(or if i did they were too nervous or werent sure which i totally get)…but I finally got to know a beloved mutual @illustratedartist AANNDDD now we're here lol. I know this is a little different–I hope you guys still enjoy it!

Context/Image for her Mad Hatter Here (please check out the rest of her art, can't recommend her stuff enough!)

Word Count: 816

Content Warning: brief mentions of mind control, spiked tea, hallucinations

Mutual Made Mad Hatter - A Mad Lonesome Man Named Jervis Tetch

“The sun was shining on the sea,

Shining with all his might:

He did his very best to make

The billows smooth and bright —

And this was odd, because it was

The middle of the night.”

A hushed voice muttered the nonsensical poem softly as the owner of the voice tinkered away at some machinations.

To any passerby the abandoned warehouse on the docks was just that, abandoned.

Rusted, dilapidated, it’s a miracle the walls are still up–or that the warehouse has any functioning lights…perhaps some homeless folks managed to generate some electricity from a nearby generator…

“The moon was shining sulkily,

Because she thought the sun

Had got no business to be there

After the day was done —

“It’s very rude of him,” she said,

“To come and spoil the fun!”

The man chuckled gleefully as he continued the poem.

He had them all memorized…they were the only words he could say without stuttering or sputtering like a buffoon. Something he was always conscious about–something that always embarrassed him back when he–he wasn’t like this.

“Do you really think it will work?”

The man scoffed. “Of course, it will! It’s worked before–”

“Ah, yes, before the Bat showed up anyhow…” To the right side of the man’s work station lounged a purple cat with darker purple stripes down his body. His eyes a bright sky blue, his teeth stained yellow much like the man he was speaking to.

The man groaned. “That flying rodent just got lucky! He-He…”

The lanky man slumped in his chair. “He drove my Alice away…now she’s hiding some place! I must find her!”

Somehow remembering the woman he once knew and was utterly enamored by–he was reinvigorated just as quickly as he was discouraged to continue working.

“Who's to say she isn’t hiding from you?” The cat’s grin got wider–it didn’t budge when the man slammed his fists on the wooden desk, knocking over tools and microchips to pitter patter all over the floor.

“She wouldn’t–she wouldn’t! I didn’t frighten her! I wouldn’t harm her–”

“Oh, but you have…you have dear Hatter, scared the poor girl out of her wits…”

The Hatter angrily waved his hands near the cat’s vicinity–its form quickly dissipated into hazy purple smoke.

Only to take shape on the Hatter’s shoulder.

The Cheshire Cat snickered. “LIke a weed I always grow back…”

“Will you please just leave me–”

“Of course I can, but you have to let me leave…you know I only show up because you want me too…or your mind wants me to…however, it’s never because I want to be here…”

The Hatter brought up his gloved hand, his index and middle finger pinching the bridge of his long sharp crooked nose in frustration.

“Speaking of here…you certain the other villains that plague Gotham would entertain your…rigged cosmetic configurations?”

“Even if they don’t…” The man’s eyes furrowed in determination. “They will…I will make them…like I made the others…”

There was another desk on the other end of the room–vials, beakers and tubes all contained a sort of brown liquid…if not for the contraption it was being held in, some would suspect it was merely tea.

“Many become more…agreeable once they have a sip of tea…”

“Well, if they’re willing to drink from a mad man’s teapot I suppose anything is possible...” The cat mused.

The Mad Hatter attempted to press on with his work.

He had to make sure these masks were to the proper proportions of his assigned guests or else the chips won’t affect the brain–besides it’s also not proper to wear a misshapen mask, akin to wearing a hat that’s too big or too small.

Perhaps if he didn’t entertain the vexing feline it would go away.

There was a beat of silence–the Hatter’s shoulders felt lighter–

“You are an awfully mad lonesome wretch Jervis Tetch…” The cat sat haughtily once more on top of the man’s desk.

Jervis’ motions stilled but he didn’t retort.

“But I suppose, if these masks work…you won’t be alone…but your madness will remain.” The cat grinned from ear to ear.

“After all, what’s a mad city like Gotham without its Mad Hatter?” The feline chuckled.

Jervis lifted his head up–finally to snap back at the cat–but it was gone as quickly as it materialized.

The man clenched his fists, his palms likely would have bled if not for his gloves. He was real–he was present…tools on his desk…masks near completion…his spiked tea bubbling warmly by the other wall.

The air wasn’t suffocating for once, the Cat was truly gone and wouldn’t return until Jervis ran himself ragged once more…or he was going through a particularly harsh mental episode.

The only thing he had close to a companion (for now) and a figment of the lonesome mad man’s hallucinations.

While it wasn’t ideal, Jervis supposed it would do for now–but he won’t be lonely, not for long.

#ri writes #dc the mad hatter #dc jervis tetch #dc fanmade rogue #ngl I don't know how to tag this lmao

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blueeyedrat · 2 days ago

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Steam Next Fest, summer 2025. It's the yearly "everyone announces a bunch of games" season, so there was plenty to try out. Further comments under the cut.

The Gecko Gods has been sitting on my Steam wishlist for years, so it was nice to finally get a demo. The visuals and audio are top-notch. The movement is nice and fluid, and even the small area covered by the demo gives you a big open space to get lost in, for better or worse. If you enjoy exploration for exploration's sake, you'll like this one a lot.

By contrast, Hirogami has only been on the Steam wishlist for about a week. There's some charm to this one, and the origami style is well-realized. I wish the demo had a little more to it, though — unless I missed something, there's only a single level to play. Looking forward to the rest of it, all the same.

And on the subject of demos I wish were longer: hey, Zachtronics is back! Sort of. Kaizen: A Factory Story seems like it'll have that same satisfying mechanical process as Infinifactory and Opus Magnum, but also it feels like the demo ends right before you get into the meat of it.

Assorted puzzle games: PANIK and One More Button have simple core concepts that look like they'll be expanded on in some interesting and/or mind-bending ways. A Little Perspective is Monument Valley sokoban, which works well enough as a selling point.

Puzzle-adjacent miscellany: A Week in the Life of Asocial Giraffe is a charming point-and-click adventure about avoiding conversations (mood), with some clever puzzles therein. The Trolley Solution is a comedic piece about stuff getting run over by trains — one particular segment in the demo runs a bit long for its own good, but otherwise I think its humor lands. Henry Halfhead is a cute sandbox about interacting with anything and everything in your path, Mario Odyssey-style. And as far as Dorfromantik-likes go, Isles & Tiles has a few neat ideas, like resource management and being able to configure your "deck" of tiles between rounds, but beyond that I don't know how much it'd hold my interest.

While we're on the topic, though, the Dorfromantik devs are making a new game and it was one of the highlights of the ones I tried this week: Star Birds is a charming logistics sim about hopping between asteroids and building supply lines. Similarly, ISLANDERS: New Shores is pretty much what you'd expect out of an ISLANDERS sequel, which is fine by me. Both games hit that satisfaction in placing all of your puzzle pieces just right, and are both games that I can see myself losing many hours to optimizing… or building complete nonsense. Either works, really.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is another one I'm torn on. It's another 'vania in the vein of Ori and Hollow Knight. The music and visuals are fantastic, and the movement feels pretty good. It reminds me of those other games at their best… but also at their worst. The combat eventually becomes fun, but in the early segments before you get any tools or upgrades, it's a pain. How the game handles checkpoints is my biggest gripe, particularly when a boss fight could take several attempts — even with all the locked doors and shortcuts opened, the runback gets tedious after the first few times. Even with those complaints, I still think there's a lot of potential here, and I hope it sticks the landing.

I find bullet hells and Vampire Survivor-likes more enjoyable to watch than play — a little overwhelming for my tastes. So I'll probably have to give BALL x PIT a pass myself, but if you do like those sorts of games, this seems like a worthwhile entry to the genre. A bit of base building, a bit of Breakout, and a lot of bullets.

Flick Shot Rogues, on the other hand, is definitely up my alley. We need more carom-likes in games, and this one shows a lot of promise. All three characters in the demo are pretty different, so the five in the full game should be a lot of variety. One more gem from this particular Fest. (…also I should play Beast Breaker again one of these days.)

#star birds #islanders game #flick shot rogues #mio: memories in orbit #a week in the life of asocial giraffe #gecko gods #hirogami #kaizen: a factory story #ball x pit #bryan writes about games

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stuarttechnologybob · 1 month ago

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Which tools can help speed up the Android app development process?

Android App Development Services

In today's modern digital world, the businesses seek for quick time turnaround, without compromising the app's quality and standards as the best alternative. To meet this challenge and face them with extreme care, developers and coders tend to be reliable on specialized tools that streamline each phase of Android app development. Resources tends to aid and boost up their overall operating efficiency, reduce the bugs, and speed up the current development lifecycle.

Essential Tools for Android App Development -

1. Android Studio:

The official and reliable IDE for Android app development, the android studio offers and assist with everything the developers need in one place. With a brilliant code editor, real-time previews, and built-in emulators, it efficiently speeds up writing, testing, and deploying apps.

2. Kotlin and Java Development Kits:

Kotlin kits is one of the commonly used PL for Android apps due to its concise syntax and full interoperability with Java as it supports ease in operations and functioning. As the Kotlin kit in Studio makes the app development process cleaner and quick, minimizing common code errors and usual flaws that rise.

3. Firebase:

Firebase offers a complete backend solution with expertise, including authentication, database, crash reporting, and performance monitoring. As it simplifies the building process from server-side logic and helps speed up the development stage without managing the infrastructure.

4. GitHub & Bitbucket:

Version control tools like GitHub and Bitbucket allow and grant permissions to multiple developers at a time to collaborate efficiently. As these platforms assure smooth code integration and help the teams to detect issues early in development.

5. Gradle:

Gradle tool is one of the powerful build automation tools that helps manage dependencies and automate the build process with its implementation or adaptation into the system. As it is a process to lower down the build times is considered to be vital, which is essential for quick Android app development and smooth operations as the best process.

6. Genymotion:

Genymotion offers fast Android emulation with various device configurations. As iIt's perfect for testing and checking the app's performance across all the different screen sizes and Android versions without any physical devices presence or requirement as its consists features that are made to adaptable and flexible for that too.

7. LeakCanary:

This tool helps detect memory leaks in real-time. By integrating and merging out it early into your project, the developers can maintain the app's stability and reduce the time spent debugging issues later with its implementation.

Expert Support for Efficient Development -

Top companies like Suma Soft, IBM, Cyntexa, and Cignex leverage these tools to deliver high-quality Android apps faster. Their deep experience in Android app development ensures your app is built quickly and performs reliably across devices and user conditions.

#it services #technology #saas #software #saas development company #saas technology #digital transformation

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build-apps · 2 months ago

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React Native Auto Code Application Development: The Smart Way to Build Mobile Apps

Introduction to React Native Auto Code Application Development

React Native auto code application development is changing the way mobile apps are built. Developers now use intelligent automation tools to generate code quickly and accurately. This speeds up development, reduces errors, and improves the overall quality of applications.

Auto code development with React Native is ideal for startups, agencies, and enterprises aiming to deliver high-quality apps fast.

youtube

Benefits of React Native Auto Code Application Development

1. Speed Up Development Cycles Automation tools handle repetitive tasks instantly. Developers can focus on building unique features rather than wasting time on boilerplate code.

2. Maintain Consistent Code Quality Auto-generated code follows consistent standards. This consistency improves code readability and eases future maintenance.

3. Reduce Human Errors By automating setup and structure, auto code tools minimize the chances of introducing bugs during the initial stages.

4. Enhance Developer Productivity Developers spend more time solving real problems and less time writing repetitive components.

5. Cost-Effective App Creation Faster development with fewer mistakes leads to lower project costs. This allows businesses to scale faster without ballooning budgets.

Popular Tools for React Native Auto Code Development

Ignite CLI Ignite offers pre-configured templates and plugins, making it easy to set up scalable projects instantly.

Hygen Hygen is a simple yet powerful code generator that helps teams maintain consistent coding standards with minimal setup.

Plop.js Plop.js allows developers to create custom generators for components, screens, and more, saving hours on manual coding.

Draftbit Draftbit provides a visual builder for React Native apps. Developers can create screens visually and export production-ready code.

Steps to Implement Auto Code in Your React Native Project

Step 1: Select the right auto code tools based on your project size and complexity. Step 2: Install and configure the tools within your development environment. Step 3: Create templates for commonly used components and screens. Step 4: Generate code structures automatically with simple commands. Step 5: Customize and enhance the generated code to meet unique business needs.

Following a structured approach ensures that automation becomes an asset, not a liability.

Challenges of Auto Code Application Development

1. Initial Learning Curve Some auto code tools require initial time investment for setup and training.

2. Over-Template Dependency Too much reliance on templates can sometimes limit creativity and flexibility.

3. Need for Regular Updates Auto code tools need constant updates to stay compatible with the latest React Native versions.

Developers can overcome these challenges with proper training and proactive tool management.

Best Practices for React Native Auto Code Development

- Use Automation for Repetitive Tasks Only Rely on auto code tools for repetitive elements but custom-build critical business logic manually.

- Keep Templates Updated Ensure all code generation templates are updated regularly to match new coding practices.

- Conduct Regular Code Reviews Even auto-generated code should undergo strict code reviews to maintain quality standards.

- Train Developers Continually Keep teams updated with the latest automation practices and tool updates for maximum efficiency.

Future of React Native Auto Code Application Development

The future points toward more AI-driven automation. Smart assistants will suggest code, build UI components, and even test functionalities automatically. React Native developers who embrace automation today will gain a competitive edge tomorrow.

Innovation combined with automation will define the next era of mobile app development.

Conclusion

React Native auto code application development offers a smarter, faster, and more efficient path to building world-class mobile apps. It helps developers minimize repetitive work, deliver projects quicker, and ensure consistent quality across platforms.

By integrating automation thoughtfully, businesses can create better apps and reach the market faster. React Native auto code development isn't just the future—it's the present.

Ai Auto code

AI Wave maker

Rapid low code application development platform

Low code platform Enterprise software for application development

Low code application development platform or Low code platform for application development

What is Low code app development platforms

Composable low code isvs

Java-based low code platform

Composable isvs

RAD studio-Rapid application development software platform

APAAS-application platform as a service

Cloud Low code application development platform

Legacy application modernization solutions

React-native cross-platform mobile application development platform

Compare Wavemaker vs Outsystems vs mendix vs power apps — low code alternatives and its pricing

New and fast application development platform

Rapid application development model or RAD model

Low-code for consumable Banking and financial Low-code platform solutions

Internal api vs external apis

Rapid application development vs SDLC Platform

Custom Enterprise low code application development platform

Legacy enterprise application Modernization Platform

Embedded banking and Finance, Low-Code and the Emerging Face of Adaptability

BAAS- Low code Banking as a service

Composable Low code banking solutions

Telecom low code platform

Alternative to Xamarin and Cordova

Wavemaker Low code

Legacy application modernization platform

Cross-Platform React Native Mobile App Development Platform

#software #app #app development #business #technology #reactnative #Youtube

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esperchallenge · 5 months ago

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Deck 8 - Dungeon Sprint

The Commander

Sefris of the Hidden Ways was first printed as the face commander of the Dungeons of Death precon, printed alongside Adventures in the Forgotten Realm. She rewards finishing dungeons by reanimating something. She can be built as a dungeon deck, a reanimation deck, a self mill deck, among others.

(more under the cut)

The Decklist

The goal of my list is to set up an infinite combo, venturing through The Lost Mine of Phandelver repeatedly and draining my opponents out via the Dark Pool. I decided to completely ignore The Initiative, as it encourages your opponents to attack you, and we'd rather be ignored until it's too late. The key piece of our combo is Radiant Solar - we can go off without it, but it's far easier if it's involved.

The Standout Cards

Hama Pashar and Dungeon Delver both double your room triggers, netting you more value on each venture. Phyrexian Delver and Metamorphosis Fanatic are great targets for reanimation, as they bring a friend along.

The Win Conditions

As I said above, the goal of the deck is to infinitely venture into the dungeon. This can be a complicated combo, but the actual composition of the combo can change wildly.

In order to pull this off, you need: at least one way to venture into the dungeon on etb, and a method of repeatedly triggering that venture. The easiest form of the combo is Acererak the Archlich and Rooftop Storm, but there are much more convoluted toutes you can take if need be.

Radiant Solar is our best venturing tool, letting any nontoken creature etb take us one room deeper. With radiant solar, we can combo with gravecrawler, rooftop storm, and carrion feeder (rooftop storm making gravecrawler free). Or we can swap the rooftop storm out for pitiless plunderer or phyrexian altar for the same effect.

With our commander involved, we can get sillier with it. Sefris' second ability means that if we can reanimate a creature and have it instantly venture 4 times, we can sacrifice it and reanimate it again on the next trigger. This is where the clones and panharmonicon effects come in—with enough copies of radiant solar, other etb venturers, sefris (we can make nonlegendary clones), or etb doublers, we can venture infinitely into the dungeon, draining everyone out via the Dark Pool.

Final Thoughts

So funny enough, you can actually pull off a version of this combo with the default precon. Using Sefris, radiant solar, phantasmal image copying radiant solar, karmic guide, and plaguecrafter. With this configuration, you have to go through the tomb of annihilation in order to be able to put both plaguecrafter and karmic guide back into the graveyard, as it doesn't have any sac outlets.

I, of course, somehow managed to piece this monstrosity of a combo together blindly the first time I played the Sefris precon. Good times.

#mtg #magic the gathering #mtg commander #esper #sefris of the hidden ways #decklist #long post

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howzitsa · 4 months ago

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MSI H610M-E PRO Intel LGA1700 M-ATX Motherboard MSI PRO series motherboards help users work smarter by delivering an efficient and productive experience. Featuring stable functionality and high-quality assembly, PRO series motherboards provide not only optimized professional workflows but also less troubleshooting and longevity. MSI motherboards feature tons of convenient and smart designs for DIY users, and countless system tuning and troubleshooting tools are at your disposal to push your system to new heights and satisfy even the most demanding tweaker. This makes it so easy to install your own motherboard without any issues. MSI motherboards let you manage speeds and temperatures for all your system and CPU fans. Total Fan Control allows you to check your primary system characteristics in a simplified graphical interface. You can also set up to 4 temperature targets for CPU and motherboard, which will adjust the fan speeds automatically. Detecting CPU & GPU temperatures and automatically adjusting fan duty of system fans to a proper value by adopting MSI AI ENGINE. The most important thing about DIY is expandability. MSI PRO series motherboards feature plenty of possibilities for prosumers’ needs. Stable LAN, faster storage and USB transfer speeds and other expandable connectors are ready to enlarge your flexibility. Stay connected with Intel® LAN, optimized for stable internet throughput and ideal for championship-level online playing. MSI PRO series motherboards are designed to satisfy any professional workflow. Elevate your listening pleasure and enjoy the extreme sound quality. Moreover, with years of experience in creating performance-enhancing tools that are easy to use, only the highest quality applications are at your disposal. The extensive features let you fine-tune your system to deliver reliable maximum performance. MSI lightning Gen 4 PCI-E is the latest and the fastest PCI-E data transfer solution with 64GB/s of transfer bandwidth that has doubled compared to its previous generation. PCIe 4.0 maintains both backward and forward compatibility with older and newer specifications. Optimized by steel armor design, your motherboards can support the weight of heavy graphics cards. MSI conducts thorough memory testing with the most popular memory brands under extreme conditions to ensure your system runs stable no matter what. Our memory partners include brands like Corsair, Crucial, Kingston, G.Skill and many more to optimize memory modules and configurations. Core Boost technology combines MSI’s premium layout and optimized power design which allows for faster and undistorted current delivery to the CPU at pin-point precision. Not only supporting multi-core CPU, also creating the perfect conditions for your CPU overclocking. FEATURES: Supports 12th Gen Intel® Core™, Pentium® Gold and Celeron® processors for LGA 1700 socket Supports DDR4 Memory, up to 3200(MAX) MHz Core Boost : With premium layout and digital power design to support more cores and provide better performance Memory Boost: Advanced technology to deliver pure data signals for the best performance, stability and compatibility Lightning Fast Experience: PCIe 4.0 Audio Boost: Reward your ears with studio grade sound quality Steel Armor: Protecting VGA cards against bending and EMI for better performance, stability and strength. SPECIFICATIONS: Socket: 1700 CPU Support: Supports 12th Gen Intel® Core™ Processors, Pentium® Gold and Celeron® Processors up to i9 Chipset: Intel® H610 Chipset DDR4 Memory: 3200(MAX) / 3000 / 2933 / 2800 / 2666 / 2400 / 2133 MHz Memory Channel: Dual Channel DIMM Slots: 2 Max Memory (GB): 64 PCI-E x16: 1 PCI-E x1: 1 SATAIII: 4 M.2 Slot: 1 TPM (Header): 1 LAN: 1x Realtek® RTL8111H Gigabit LAN controller USB 3.2 ports (Front): 2(Gen 1, Type A) USB 3.2 ports (Rear): 2(Gen 1, Type A) USB 2.0 ports (Front): 4 USB 2.0 ports (Rear): 4 Audio ports (Rear): Realtek® ALC897 Codec VGA: 1 HDMI: 1 DirectX: 12 Form Factor: mATX Operating System: Support for Windows® 11 64-bit and Windows® 10 64-bit WHAT’S IN THE BOX: MSI PRO H610M-E DDR4 Intel 1700 mATX Motherboard – Black x1 SATA Cables x2 EZ M.2 Clip x1 I/O Shield x1 Quick Install Guide x1

#COMPUTERS #DESKTOPS #DESKTOP_COMPONENTS #MOTHERBOARD #ATX #INTEL #INTEL_MOTHERBOARD #MSI #PROH610M_EDDR4

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khariscrypt · 4 months ago

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The Ultimate Developer’s Guide to STON.fi API & SDK Demo App

In the fast-paced world of blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi), efficiency is everything. Developers don’t have time to manually configure and troubleshoot every feature from scratch. What they need is a plug-and-play solution that simplifies complex integrations while maintaining flexibility.

That’s exactly what the STON.fi API & SDK Demo App delivers. This tool isn’t just a sample—it’s a fully functional blueprint designed to help developers seamlessly integrate STON.fi’s token swap functionalities into their projects.

Whether you're an independent developer, part of a startup, or working with an established blockchain project, this demo app can save you hours of coding and debugging while ensuring a smooth user experience.

Let's break it down into why this tool matters, what it offers, and how you can make the most of it.

Why Every Developer Should Pay Attention to This Tool

Building DeFi applications requires precision, speed, and reliability. You’re dealing with real-time token swaps, liquidity pools, and user funds—there’s no room for error.

Developing a decentralized exchange (DEX) or any other blockchain application means working with smart contracts, APIs, and SDKs. The STON.fi API & SDK Demo App eliminates the complexity by providing a ready-made environment that demonstrates how STON.fi’s swap function operates in real-time.

Rather than starting from zero, developers can study, test, and integrate working solutions—accelerating their workflow and reducing risks.

Key Features That Make a Difference

The STON.fi API & SDK Demo App isn’t just a basic code snippet; it’s a structured, well-designed tool for developers looking to integrate token swaps efficiently. Here’s what makes it stand out:

1. Full-Scale Swap Functionality

The demo app provides a complete token swap system, showing exactly how transactions are executed. It includes all the necessary elements, such as price calculations, transaction confirmations, and seamless execution on the TON blockchain.

2. Clean, Modular Code for Easy Integration

Well-documented and structured code allows developers to adapt the swap function to their own projects. This modular approach makes customization straightforward, ensuring that developers don’t have to modify complex backend structures.

3. Real-Time Data & Execution

Blockchain transactions happen in real-time, so any delay or miscalculation can impact the user experience. This demo app mirrors actual trading conditions, allowing developers to test how their systems will function under real-world circumstances.

4. Compatibility Across Different DeFi Platforms

Whether you're building a DEX, a liquidity management system, or a DeFi dashboard, this app is flexible enough to fit into various use cases. Developers can integrate the swap function without restructuring their entire application.

How Developers Can Use This Tool to Their Advantage

1. Speed Up Development Time

Instead of writing swap functionalities from scratch, developers can focus on building unique features and optimizing user experience while leveraging STON.fi’s ready-made framework.

2. Reduce Errors & Improve Security

Errors in DeFi transactions can lead to financial losses or security vulnerabilities. Since the STON.fi API & SDK Demo App is already tested and optimized, integrating its features helps developers avoid common mistakes.

3. Learn & Implement Best Practices

For developers new to blockchain integrations, this demo app serves as a learning resource. Studying how STON.fi’s swap function is structured provides valuable insights into writing efficient, scalable, and secure blockchain applications.

4. Scale DeFi Projects Without Hassle

As blockchain projects grow, they need scalable, efficient, and user-friendly solutions. The STON.fi demo app ensures that token swaps remain fast and seamless, regardless of transaction volume.

Who Should Use the STON.fi API & SDK Demo App

This tool is built for a wide range of developers, including:

Blockchain Engineers – Those integrating token swaps, liquidity pools, and DeFi features into their projects.

DeFi Startups – Teams looking for efficient solutions without spending months on development.

Crypto Enthusiasts – Developers exploring blockchain functionalities and testing real-world DeFi integrations.

Tech Entrepreneurs – Anyone looking to build scalable financial applications on the TON blockchain.

Final Thoughts: A Must-Have for Blockchain Developers

For any developer working in the DeFi and blockchain space, the STON.fi API & SDK Demo App is an invaluable resource. It streamlines the process of integrating token swaps, saves development time, and ensures that applications run smoothly and efficiently.

With clear documentation, real-time execution, and a flexible framework, this tool isn’t just a demo—it’s a blueprint for success. Whether you’re building your first DeFi project or optimizing an existing platform, this resource is designed to help you get the job done faster and better.

For developers who prioritize efficiency, security, and scalability, this is a game-changing tool that simplifies one of the most critical aspects of DeFi application development.

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kiaantechno · 6 months ago

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Unlock Seamless Ad Monetization with Our Comprehensive Ad Tech Solutions

In the ever-evolving world of digital advertising, monetizing your ad inventory effectively is the key to driving revenue. But the real challenge lies in setting up and maintaining an infrastructure that’s both scalable and efficient. At KiaanTechnology, we specialize in offering comprehensive ad tech solutions that unlock seamless monetization opportunities, empowering publishers, advertisers, and businesses to maximize their ad revenue.

Whether you're looking to streamline your Ad Server setup, enhance your Ad Network configuration, or optimize SSP (Supply-Side Platform) and DSP (Demand-Side Platform) integrations, we provide you with the tools and expertise needed to turn your advertising operations into a revenue-generating powerhouse.

Why Seamless Ad Monetization is Critical for Your Success

Monetization is the ultimate goal for any digital advertising strategy, but achieving it requires a robust infrastructure that delivers high-quality, high-paying ads. Here’s why seamless ad monetization is essential:

Maximized Revenue Potential: A well-optimized ad tech ecosystem ensures that your inventory is always filled with premium ads, enabling you to get the best return on your ad space.

Improved Ad Delivery: Effective ad delivery means your ads reach the right audience at the right time. Proper configuration of your Ad Server and Ad Network maximizes both the quality and quantity of ads served.

Streamlined Operations: With the right tools and setups, you can automate the management of your ad inventory, campaigns, and monetization strategies, making your ad operations more efficient.

At KiaanTechnology, we provide comprehensive solutions that help you not just manage ads but also optimize every aspect of your ad infrastructure, driving revenue at every step.

Comprehensive Ad Tech Solutions: Unlocking Maximum Monetization

At KiaanTechnology, we understand that each business has its own unique goals and challenges in the advertising space. That’s why our Ad Tech solutions are tailored to provide you with the highest level of efficiency, scalability, and revenue generation.

Here’s how we help you unlock seamless ad monetization:

1. Ad Server Setup: The Foundation of Seamless Ad Delivery

An effective Ad Server setup is crucial for delivering the right ads to the right audience. At KiaanTechnology, our expert team configures and optimizes your Ad Server, ensuring it’s capable of handling traffic at scale while maximizing revenue potential:

Advanced Targeting Capabilities: With features like geo-targeting, device targeting, and audience segmentation, we ensure your ads are reaching the best possible audience.

Cross-Platform Compatibility: Our setup ensures that your ads are delivered seamlessly across all platforms—web, mobile, video, and OTT—enabling you to reach a wider audience without sacrificing performance.

Real-Time Analytics: We provide real-time reporting tools that allow you to track your ad performance and make data-driven decisions to boost ad monetization.

2. Ad Network Configuration: Connecting to the Right Demand Sources

Maximizing ad revenue isn’t just about serving ads; it’s about filling your ad inventory with high-paying, premium ads. Our Ad Network configuration services ensure that your network is connected to the right demand sources, driving up your revenue potential:

Maximized Fill Rates: We connect you with top-tier DSPs, ad exchanges, and direct advertisers, ensuring your ad inventory is filled with high-quality ads that command top-dollar rates.

Real-Time Bidding (RTB): Our solutions leverage RTB to ensure that your inventory is sold to the highest bidder, allowing you to maximize the value of your ad space.

Seamless Integration: We make sure your Ad Network is integrated with all the right platforms, so you can deliver ads efficiently and at scale.

3. SSP & DSP Integration: Boosting Revenue Through Programmatic Advertising

When integrated properly, SSP (Supply-Side Platforms) and DSP (Demand-Side Platforms) can be powerful tools for maximizing ad revenue. At KiaanTechnology, we help you integrate these platforms into your ad stack, enabling you to take advantage of programmatic advertising to fill your inventory and optimize pricing:

SSP Setup: We configure your SSP to connect to demand sources like DSPs and ad exchanges, ensuring your inventory is always in front of the best advertisers.

DSP Setup: Our DSP configuration helps you manage your ad buys more effectively, enabling you to purchase inventory from multiple sources and target audiences with greater precision.

Maximized Ad Revenue: With SSP and DSP working together, you can access a larger pool of buyers, improve competition for your ad space, and achieve the best possible monetization.

Why Choose KiaanTechnology for Your Ad Tech Solutions?

At KiaanTechnology, we don’t just set up your Ad Server or Ad Network; we provide a comprehensive suite of solutions that are designed to optimize your entire ad infrastructure. Here’s why you should partner with us:

Customized Solutions: We offer tailored ad tech solutions that meet your unique business needs, ensuring maximum ad monetization and performance.

Expertise in the AdTech Space: With years of experience, we bring deep knowledge of Ad Servers, SSPs, DSPs, and Ad Networks, ensuring that your ad infrastructure is built for success.

Full-Stack Service: From setup to ongoing optimization, we provide a full suite of services, ensuring that your ad operations remain streamlined and revenue-generating at all times.

Proven Track Record: We’ve helped numerous clients improve their ad revenue and performance. By working with us, you’re partnering with a team dedicated to driving results and maximizing your ROI.

Get Started Today: Unlock Seamless Ad Monetization

If you’re ready to unlock the full potential of your ad inventory and maximize revenue, KiaanTechnology is here to help. Our comprehensive Ad Tech solutions—from Ad Server setup to SSP and DSP integration—ensure that your ad operations are optimized for success.

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