#Creative Chessboard

[noisycowboyglitter]

Chessboard Funny Cute DIY: The Perfect Gift for Chess Lovers

A Chessboard Funny Cute DIY project combines the classic game of chess with whimsical creativity, resulting in a unique and personalized board that's both functional and entertaining. This crafty endeavor allows individuals to reimagine the traditional black and white squares and chess pieces with a humorous or adorable twist.

Buy now:19.95$

The DIY aspect encourages makers to use unconventional materials and themes. For instance, one might create a food-themed chessboard where pawns are cupcakes, knights are ice cream cones, and kings are towering layer cakes. Another idea could involve turning the board into a miniature landscape, with forest creatures as pieces or a cityscape where skyscrapers serve as rooks.

Crafters might use a variety of mediums such as polymer clay, painted rocks, or even repurposed household items to bring their vision to life. The board itself could be made from wood, fabric, or even drawn on a tabletop with chalk.

Buy now

This project appeals to chess enthusiasts looking to add personality to their game, as well as crafters seeking a fun challenge. It's an excellent way to introduce children to chess, making the game more approachable and engaging.

The result is a one-of-a-kind chess set that serves as both a playable game and a conversation piece, reflecting the creator's sense of humor and artistic flair.

Buy now

Halloween Costume Men Women refers to a diverse range of outfits and disguises designed for adults to wear during Halloween celebrations. These costumes cater to both men and women, offering a wide variety of options to suit different tastes, body types, and comfort levels.

Popular choices include classic characters like vampires, witches, and zombies, as well as pop culture icons from movies, TV shows, and video games. Some costumes are designed to be scary, while others are humorous or sexy.

Many Halloween costumes for adults come in couples' sets, allowing partners to coordinate their looks. Options range from simple, ready-to-wear outfits to more elaborate ensembles with accessories and makeup.

Buy now

These costumes enable adults to fully embrace the spirit of Halloween, express their creativity, and temporarily transform into different characters for parties, trick-or-treating, or other festive events.

[fulgurbugs]

im at that point where i have so many things i want to draw or start working on that i get choice paralysis and then end up just bedrotting. hate this.

[ebmmedia]

[afterdarkmysweet]

[iris-qt]

𝚌𝚊𝚗'𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚐𝚊𝚐𝚎 / 𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚙𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚔

ꜱʟʏᴛʜᴇʀɪɴ ʙᴏʏꜱ ʀᴇᴀᴄᴛ

I. Mattheo Riddle

Mattheo freezes mid-bite of his chocolate frog, giving you the kind of look someone reserves for a talking cat. "You can’t pay the what now?" he says, mouth still half-full.

When you repeat it, his eyebrows shoot up so high they practically disappear into his curls. "Wait, wait, wait. You’re telling me you’ve been paying the rent this whole time? Babe, what rent? Where are you sending this money? Do I need to send the lads to go 'talk' to someone?"

You insist you’re serious, and he bursts into laughter so loud it echoes around the room. He’s clutching his stomach, tears forming in his eyes. "Oh, this is rich! Next, you’ll tell me you’ve been working overtime at Flourish and Blotts to afford my ‘extravagant lifestyle.’ What’s next, huh? Selling cauldron cakes on the side?"

When you try to keep a straight face, he leans forward, his expression deadpan now but his voice dripping with sarcasm. "No, seriously, though. Should I sell my broom? Start knitting scarves for a Galleon a pop? Maybe I can busk on Diagon Alley…play the ukulele or some crap. People love that."

By now, you’re wheezing with laughter, and he just shakes his head, smirking. "Merlin, Y/N, if your acting career doesn’t work out, at least we know you’ve got a future in comedy. But seriously…rent? That’s cute.”

By now, you’re gasping for air, struggling to hold it together, and Mattheo’s smirk only grows wider as he watches you. He leans in a little closer, his voice dropping to a softer, almost teasing tone. "You know," he says with a glint in his eye, "If you really need help with the rent... maybe I could offer you a private lesson in how to make some extra Galleons."

II. Theodore Nott

Theo looks up from the chessboard he’s been meticulously studying for the last half hour, an eyebrow raised in mild confusion. "What do you mean you can’t pay the rent?" he asks, his tone calm but with a dangerous edge of skepticism.  

You repeat it, adding a dramatic sigh for effect.  

He blinks slowly, as if trying to process whether you’ve gone mad or if he missed some critical detail in your relationship. "You’ve... been paying the rent? Since when? Because I distinctly recall handling all of that."  

When you insist, he leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers like he’s analyzing a particularly tricky potion. "Alright, either you’ve been scammed by an exceptionally creative con artist, or this is your latest attempt to distract me from beating you at chess."  

You pout, staying in character, and he sighs heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Y/N, do you even know where the rent money comes from? Because I can assure you, it’s not your side gig selling those questionable potions on Etsy.”  

The corners of his mouth twitch as he fights a grin. Finally, when you can’t hold back your laughter anymore, he rolls his eyes, muttering under his breath, "Honestly, I need to start charging you rent for all this nonsense. At least make it worth my while.”  

As you finally break into laughter, Theo sets his chess pieces down with a dramatic sigh, his eyes softening just a bit. He leans in, brushing a stray lock of hair behind your ear with surprising gentleness. "You’re impossible," he mutters, his voice a little quieter now, though there’s still a teasing glint in his eyes. "But you know, I wouldn’t have it any other way."

He gives you a small, almost shy smile, then leans back in his chair, his usual cool demeanor returning. "Now, let’s see if you can distract me enough to win this game."

III. Draco Malfoy

He would look at you like you’ve gone MENTAL

“Haha funny joke, y/n,” he rolls his eyes, going right back to reading his book and munching on his green apple.

When you reiterate it, Draco squints at you, lowering his book slightly, the crunch of his apple freezing mid-chew. "Excuse me? You what?" he says, a hint of incredulity creeping into his voice.

When you repeat it again, this time with extra drama, he sits bolt upright, his apple rolling forgotten onto the table. "Wait, wait, wait…you pay the mortgage? Since when? Did I suddenly get amnesia and forget we’re Muggles now? Because last I checked, the Manor doesn’t even have a mortgage!”

He grabs his wand, waving it theatrically. "Accio sense, because clearly you’ve lost yours!”

You keep the act going, insisting you’re serious, and he just gapes at you like you’ve declared you’ve taken up dragon wrestling as a hobby. Finally, he narrows his eyes.

“Y/N, love, if this is about that handbag you wanted last week, just say so. No need to concoct elaborate tales about rent payments. Merlin’s beard, you're ridiculous.”

When you burst into laughter, he leans back in his chair, scowling but unable to hide the faintest smirk. "I’m marrying a lunatic," he mutters, reaching for his apple again. "At least the lunatic has good taste in handbags."

IV. Blaise Zabini

Blaise looks up from his cup of espresso, one perfectly arched brow lifting as he tilts his head at you. "I’m sorry, darling. Did I hear that correctly? You can’t pay the rent? You mean the rent that I, Blaise Zabini, the man with seven vaults at Gringotts, didn’t even let you look at, let alone contribute to?"

You double down, trying to sell your story, and he exhales slowly, setting his glass down with the exaggerated care of a man trying to keep his composure. "This is new. Tragic, even. Shall I sell the antique Italian sofa to keep us afloat? Or, Merlin forbid, cut back on the imported silk sheets?"

When you keep insisting, he leans back, crossing his arms and giving you a slow once-over, his lips twitching with amusement. "You know what? You’re right. It’s all gone. We’re destitute. Better start knitting socks and selling them on Knockturn Alley. Maybe I’ll start charging Draco for advice. He’s overdue for paying his mate tax.”

Finally, when you burst into laughter, Blaise smirks, shaking his head and snaking an arm around your waist, pulling you close. "You’re lucky you’re cute, Y/N. If anyone else tried this nonsense, I’d have them banned from my flat and my life. But you? You get away with everything.”

V. Regulus Black

Regulus doesn’t even look up from his book, clearly too absorbed to even register your words at first. But when you repeat it, his eyes flicker briefly to you, a quizzical expression crossing his face. "Wait, what do you mean you can’t pay the rent?"

You try to explain, going for maximum drama, and he sighs, setting his book down with a soft thud. "Y/N, darling, I pay the rent. I handle everything. You’re telling me you’ve been struggling to pay it all this time?" His tone is flat, not even slightly concerned, just bemused. "I’ve already transferred the payment for the month. Did you forget?"

You continue the joke, and Regulus glances at you again, narrowing his eyes. "Are you seriously trying to convince me that you…you…have been paying the rent? Did you somehow think I’d believe that, or did you just want an excuse to create drama?"

He picks up his book again, unfazed. "You’re lucky you’re charming, because if anyone else tried this, I’d seriously reconsider their grip on reality." He sighs with exaggerated patience, "Don’t you remember? I’m the one who handles the bills. The whole thing is already sorted. No need to panic, love."

When you can’t keep it going anymore and laugh, he glances up once more with a slight smirk, rolling his eyes. "Honestly, Y/N, your attempts at theatrics are as bad as your cooking. At least make the drama more believable next time.”

As you laugh, Regulus's serious expression softens just a touch, and he leans over, brushing a strand of hair from your face. "You’re impossible, you know that?" he mutters, but there's a warmth in his voice. "If you ever do run into a problem, though... just tell me."

You smile, and he sighs, shaking his head with a hint of affection. "I swear, you’ll be the death of me." But there’s a small, barely noticeable smile tugging at the corners of his lips, the kind he only gives when he’s not trying to be all stoic and mysterious.

VI. Tom Riddle

Tom Riddle doesn’t even flinch when you announce that you can’t pay the rent, simply pausing for a moment before his sharp, calculating gaze turns to you. "What are you on about?" he asks, his voice smooth but laced with a hint of annoyance. "You’ve been paying the rent? Since when did you even have the opportunity to pay it?"

When you repeat it with exaggerated seriousness, he leans back in his chair, narrowing his eyes, clearly trying to make sense of it. "I’ll admit, you’re certainly creative...but no. I’ve always taken care of the bills. I don’t recall a single instance where you were involved in such matters."

You continue the joke, and he chuckles darkly, though it’s clear he doesn’t fully buy it. "If this is your attempt at gaining attention, it's a poor one, darling. Do you think I’m so easily fooled?" His tone softens just slightly, a flash of something that could almost be affection in his eyes.

He stands and steps toward you, leaning in just close enough to make you feel his presence, but not too close to be truly comforting. "Next time you need a distraction, don’t go around pretending to pay rent," he murmurs, his lips brushing your ear ever so slightly. "It’s beneath you. If you need something, ask. But don’t insult my intelligence."

When you finally start laughing, Tom smirks, his eyes glimmering with something softer, though it’s well hidden behind his usual cold demeanor. "You’re insufferable, Y/N. And that’s probably why I... let you get away with it."

A/N: Thank you to @fanfics4ever for this idea ♡

[bitchy-craft]

PICK A CARD: compliments given behind your back

Hello and welcome to this reading! Here I will tell you some compliments people give behind your back. I hope you enjoy this reading!

Masterpost > Paid Readings > Patreon Masterlist

The extended version of this reading can be found on my patreon, the link of which is here

Pile 1:

"You always see the bigger picture, even when others get lost in the details."

"Your ability to stay calm and find solutions makes you a true problem-solving genius."

"You never just hope for the best—you make the best happen."

"You have a way of making people feel safe, even in the middle of chaos."

"Your mind is like a chessboard, always thinking a few steps ahead."

"You inspire confidence in others because you always have a plan."

"Your balance of logic and kindness makes you a rare and valuable person."

"No matter how difficult the situation, you always find a way to make it work."

"You give the best advice—practical, honest, and actually helpful."

"You're proof that optimism isn’t just wishful thinking, but a powerful strategy."

extended reading

Pile 2:

"You make life feel like an adventure, even on the most ordinary days."

"Your energy is contagious in the best way possible."

"You always know how to bring a little magic into everyday moments."

"Your ability to find joy in the smallest things is truly inspiring."

"You have a heart that sees and understands people in a way that words can’t explain."

"Being around you feels like stepping into a world where anything is possible."

"Your creativity knows no limits—every idea you have is bursting with originality."

"You remind people that it’s okay to be imperfect and to enjoy life as it comes."

"Your laughter is like sunlight—it brightens everything around you."

"You don’t just live life; you feel it, and that makes you unforgettable."

extended reading

Pile 3:

"You walk into a room, and people just feel your presence—in the best way."

"Your confidence isn’t loud or forced—it’s effortless and inspiring."

"You have a way of making people believe in themselves just by being around you."

"Your passion is like fire—it burns bright and lights up everything you do."

"You always speak your mind, and somehow, it’s always exactly what needs to be said."

"You don’t just talk about things—you make things happen."

"People trust you because you always back up your words with actions."

"You don’t settle for mediocrity—you push yourself and others to be the best they can be."

"Your strength isn’t just in your confidence but in your kindness and fairness."

"You prove that being bold and being kind are not opposites—they’re powerful together."

extended reading

[sweetromanova]

Off The Record: Part Seven🖤

Natasha Romanoff x Criminal Defense Lawyer!Original Female Character

Summary: She’s built a career on keeping secrets and defending the worst with nothing to lose. That changed when Natasha Romanoff showed up on the other side of the courtroom.

Warnings: descriptions of violence, psychological manipulation, implied child abuse and trauma, emotional abuse, mentions of torture, human and sex trafficking, war crimes and murder, implied coercion, legal corruption, gun violence, secondary character deaths, power imbalance, blood and injury depiction

A/N: not the happiest with this editing but we move, pay attention to the warnings for this one!

Chapter Seven

Abandoned Warehouse, New York

April 3, 2022

The sack was pulled off.

Sienna blinked hard against the low fluorescent glare, pain blooming hot and sudden at her temple. The floor beneath her was concrete, cold, dusty, reeking of oil and metal. Somewhere nearby, a pipe dripped like a broken clock counting down.

Then she heard it.

“Blake.”

That voice. Honeyed and sharp.

Luka.

She turned her head slowly. Same lean build and that same hawk’s gaze. But something was off, he looked scrubbed clean, surgically calm. Like he’d sterilised every part of himself that used to feel.

He crouched beside her. “Had to pull you off the chessboard for a bit.” He said. “You’ve been making… creative moves.”

“Don’t pretend this is a check-in.” She rasped. Her throat felt raw. “You dragged me off the street. Lost my number?”

“You were wandering.” Luka reached out, brushed a strand of hair from her face like a parent soothing a child. “I needed to reorient you.”

“Bullshit. You needed control.”

His smile widened, just slightly. Something darker flickered beneath. “You always say that when I remind you who you are, where you’re from.”

Sienna pushed herself upright, hands sliding against the grit as she rose on unsteady legs. “I’m not yours, Luka. We might be family but I’m not your weapon. Not your project. You lost that right years ago.”

He took a step closer. Deliberate. Patient. His voice stayed soft, but every word landed with edge. “You forget how many times I saved you. If anyone found out who you really are... they’d tear you apart. You still work for me remember that.”

She let out a bitter laugh. “You don’t save people. You break them before anyone else can.”

A twitch at his jaw, barely there but real. The only crack in the mask.

“We were good together once.” He reminisced. “You were sharper then, more focused.”

“I was twelve.” She shot back. “Orphaned and clinging to my ‘big brother’ like he was the only thing keeping me from drowning.”

He didn’t reply.

So she pressed. “You trained me, no, you groomed me. Wrapped it in loyalty and called it love.”

“It was love.” He murmured. Sienna didn’t miss the ‘was’.

“No.” Her voice cut like glass. “It was a cult. A cult of violence and fear. I stayed because I didn’t know better, because I thought I was honouring my parents.”

Luka exhaled hard, turned his back briefly. His composure faltered, just for a moment.

“You’ve been slipping.” He repeated. “Losing the thread. Maksim’s been concerned.”

She stilled. “Maksim’s been lying.”

“Maybe.” He shrugged. “Maybe not. But even the whisper of betrayal? I can’t wait for the storm. You know that, little sister.”

He crossed the room, grabbed something behind a crate and dragged it across the floor with a low scrape.

A body, slumped, bound and hooded.

Sienna’s pulse surged.

“Luka…”

He didn’t answer her, he didn’t even look.

He just pulled the hood off.

Antonia.

“Antonia…” Sienna choked out. “Oh my god.”

Luka stood calmly between them, a wall of cold authority. “She’s been playing both sides.” He told her. “You didn’t know this but she helped us move a case through Vienna last year. Information. Names.”

Sienna stared at him, breath catching. “She didn’t know it was you behind this case, Luka! You’ve hid behind Anton’s networks. You used her. How was she meant to know?!”

“She made a choice.” Luka shrugged, his voice hardening. “She gave me what I needed. Then she gave the court what they needed.”

He stepped closer to Antonia and his voice dropped, quieter and noticeably more deadlier.

“That makes her a liability.”

“No.” Sienna took a step forward. “Don’t. Luka, don’t do this.”

But he wasn’t looking at her anymore. 

His eyes were on Antonia, studying her like an old regret. “She wanted out. Just like you. But she came back. And there are only two ways that ends.”

A flick of his wrist.

One of the guards stepped forward, offering him a knife, long and clearly familiar.

He crouched beside Antonia, brushing her hair back in the same tender gesture he’d once used on Sienna, back when she was too young to know what he was preparing her for.

“Luka!” Sienna dropped to her knees beside him, eyes wide with desperation. “Please. Don’t. She doesn’t deserve this.”

“This is mercy.” He shrugged.

“It’s murder.” She whispered, shaking. “It’s murder to someone who doesn’t deserve this.”

“You’ve changed your tune. People like her will never be out of this line of work, it’s only a matter of time before she kills for money again.”

“No! She wouldn’t do that, not to Nata- Please Luka.” Sienna cried but she knew it was already too late to convince him. Not that she ever could.

Antonia stirred. Her body twitched, breath catching as she began to wake.

“Wh–”

“Antonia, look at me.” Sienna reached for her, voice shaking but steady. “It’s okay. Just look at me.”

“Sienna?” Her voice was rough, accented, thick with confusion. “What’s- what’s happening?”

“Shh. Keep your eyes on me. Stay with me.”

Luka didn’t flinch. “This is what happens to double agents, Sienna.” He said. “To soft hearts.”

And then he struck.

The blade slid across Antonia’s throat with a terrible, practiced grace.

She gasped, once. Her hand jerked toward Sienna, fingers stretching for something that would never come. 

Then she stilled.

Her blood spilled across the concrete like dark ink.

Sienna didn’t scream.

She didn’t cry.

She just froze.

Her hands clenched, her body trembled but she never looked away.

Luka stood, calm as ever. He wiped the blade clean on a cloth pulled from his coat. “She would’ve gotten you killed.” He said, as if that excused it all.

Sienna didn’t respond. She couldn’t.

He looked at her then, head tilting with mock sympathy. “You’ve been slipping, sister. I needed you to remember how this works.”

Then he turned, barking a quiet command to his men. “Take her home.” Luka murmured. “Let her think it over.”

They moved in but Sienna didn’t resist. She knelt there long after he was gone, eyes locked on Antonia’s body.

And something inside her broke.

⋆⋆⋆⋆

The Avengers Compound, Upstate New York

April 3, 2022

Natasha was pacing.

Something had been wrong since dusk.

Sienna’s tracker had gone dark. Not just the main signal but every backup was redundant, encrypted, virtually impossible to jam. And yet it was gone.

The others tried to dismiss it. “She’s probably hiding out. Laying low. Taking space.”

But Natasha knew better.

She always knew better.

⋆⋆⋆⋆

Undisclosed Safe House, Upstate New York

April 3, 2022

They dumped her on the edge of her street like trash. Blood still painted her hands, her blazer was torn, streaked with grime. Her breath came in shallow, frantic bursts. She hit the pavement with a thud and stayed there, unmoving. Eyes unfocused. Hair clinging to her face, matted with blood, not all of it hers. The blood still felt warm from where she had pressed her hands against the throat of Antonia, like with enough pressure it would just seal back up and she’d open her eyes again.

A car passed.

She didn’t flinch.

Then a flash of red blurred her vision.

“Sienna?!”

Natasha.

Boots pounding the sidewalk. She dropped to her knees beside her, fury and fear warring in her face until she took in the state Sienna was in.

Her voice broke. “What happened?”

She gripped Sienna’s shoulders, gently at first then more urgently. “Sienna. Look at me.”

No answer. Sienna’s eyes were glassy, distant. She looked through Natasha, not at her.

“You disappeared. We lost your signal.”

Sienna blinked, slow and almost mechanical.

Her lips parted then closed again.

Natasha’s gaze dropped to the blood. The blankness in her expression. The eerie stillness of her body.

She knew.

Without another word, she slid her arms around her carefully and steady. And this time, Sienna didn’t pull away.

She let herself be guided across the street, her feet dragging like they’d forgotten how to walk.

For Sienna, the world had tilted, not just from grief but from the terrifying clarity anchoring itself in her chest.

Luka was gone, he wasn’t ‘Luka’ anymore.

And there was no one left to protect her from what came next. Even worse, she didn’t know who she was now that she wasn’t protecting him.

⋆⋆⋆⋆

The safehouse was too quiet.

Not just silent but weighted. The air felt thick with things unsaid, grief and guilt pressing into the walls. A kettle hissed faintly from the kitchen, the only sound in the hollow space.

Sienna sat on the edge of the couch. Her blazer hung off one shoulder. Blood had dried into the seams of her shirt. Her hands lay still in her lap, palms open like she didn’t know what to do with them anymore.

She hadn’t spoken since Natasha brought her in.

She looked like she’d clawed her way out of something. Her eyes were too bright, vacant but burning. Like whatever fire had once fueled her had devoured everything else on its way out.

Natasha knelt in front of her, moving slow, deliberate. She placed a mug of tea in Sienna’s hands.

“Drink.”

Sienna didn’t look at her but after a moment, she whispered. “I didn’t know he’d go that far.”

Natasha went still. “Who?”

A shake of the head. “She went so cold.” Sienna murmured, voice fraying.

Natasha leaned closer, her voice gentle. “Who, Sienna?”

Sienna’s eyes squeezed shut, tears slid down her cheeks, soundless.

“I tried to stop it.” She said and this time her voice cracked. “It’s my fault.”

Natasha sat beside her, close but not touching. A steady presence.

“Sienna.” She said, quietly. “Tell me what happened.”

Sienna stared down at her stained hands. “I don’t have a choice.”

Natasha’s jaw tightened. “You do. You always do.”

Sienna finally looked at her. And this time, she saw her.

“Then help me.”

⋆⋆⋆⋆

The water pounded against Sienna’s skin, hot enough to scald but she didn’t turn it down.

She stood motionless under the stream, forehead pressed against the cold tile, arms braced on either side of her head. Her body trembled, even in the heat.

She hadn’t slept. Every time she closed her eyes, Antonia’s blood bloomed again across her hands. She heard the ragged breaths, felt the weight go still in her arms.

The sob she hadn’t let out then burned at the back of her throat now but it stayed there. She always kept it in.

The water slowed to a trickle. She reached blindly for the towel and stepped out, steam curling from her skin as she padded barefoot into the bedroom of the safe house.

Her phone buzzed on the dresser.

She nearly ignored it, already half-expecting another check-in from Natasha, who adamantly stayed alert in the living room. Refusing to leave Sienna in this trance-like state.

It wasn’t.

[Unknown Number] You let her die. Don’t make me kill another Widow. Tick tock, Sienna.

She stared then her breath hitched, once. The phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor.

“No.” She whispered, barely audible. “No…”

She took a step back, towel slipping from her fingers, heartbeat hammering in her ears.

Not Natasha. Please not Natasha.

Her knees hit the edge of the bed and she sat down hard. Shoulders hunched, hands gripping her skull like she could press the panic out of it. This was her mess. Her family. Her ghosts. 

Not Natasha.

Her breathing turned shallow. Her body stiffened, rigid with the effort of not falling apart.

But still, a low whimper escaped. Not quite a sob but something cracked. She bowed her head, jaw clenched, eyes burning.

Then the door burst open.

Natasha froze in the threshold, taking in the steam still hanging in the air, the wet footprints on the floor, Sienna half-dressed and hunched on the bed, trembling. The phone on the carpet, still lit.

She was at her side in two strides, wrapping a fresh towel around her shoulders without a word. “What happened?” She asked quietly but firmly. “Sienna.”

Sienna didn’t answer. She just held out the phone.

Natasha took it. She read the message once. Then again.

“Who sent this?”

Sienna opened her mouth but closed it and shook her head.

“I don’t know.” She managed, voice barely above a breath. “But they know what happened.”

Natasha didn’t press. She slid down beside her, one hand steady on Sienna’s back while her other already reaching for her own phone.

“You’re not staying here.”

Sienna looked at her, hollow-eyed. “I can’t protect anyone from this.”

Natasha met her gaze. She looks undetermined and fierce, Sienna almost had to admire it. “Then we go where we can fight.”

She stood, already moving. “Get dressed.” She instructed. “We’re going to the Tower.”

[divinit3a]

✸basics

call me pom! o _ u ☆ ☆ they/he & an adult 👍 ☆ artist & writer, full of silly schemes ☆ @divinitea-cafe for spam reblogs & tomfoolery - this blog is in queue jail ☆ ao3 for my crimes against fnaf ☆ kofi, artfight ☆ taller than you (lying voice) ⚠️⚠️⚠️ fun fact alert! i made my mascot a pomeranian bc that was the first icon i made for my ao3 years&years ago. any pom gets wifi fans left out there?

✸the wares i peddle

art #pom draws || writing #pom writes || memes/goofs #sillies rambles/asks #pom yaps || fic/AU recs #cafe menu

✋🛑 Hold on, Friend. 🛑✋

Here there be goblins. AKA, There will be elements of robot gore, horror, body horror, and eye-strain in my work. I'll always tag it as such, but if that is not your cup of tea, here's your "get out of jail free" card!

✸ ☆ ✸ ☆ ✸

✸ AUs

🎭 just keep playing along (JKPA) || #playing along au horror!sun & moon ☆ horror!eclipse ao3 link to fanfic (in progress, updating)

❄️ frost bites || #frostbite au yeti!sun & moon ao3 link to fanfic (in progress, updating)

💫 chimera cosmic aliens || #chimera cosmic au alien!sun & moon

🎣out of character || #catfishing au mer animatronic!sun & moon ao3 link to fanfic (in progress, on hold)

💘 l♡vesick (collab with @soupdweller) || #l♡vesick au sun ☆ moon ☆ eclipse

☕ dad moon. i guess || #dad moon au here he is

❤️ livewire || #livewire au

‼️ do not repost my artwork! do not use my art/writing for AI! ‼️

Beyond that, I am ok with folks using my artwork as icons/banners with credit! 💚💚💚 If you like what nonsense I get up to, (aww thanks!!) I'd love to see your take on whatever meme, AU, etc it is! I always enjoy being @'d for anything related :D

asks are open and I am always down to yap ^-^ 💚

✸lay down the law

I understand that minors will follow/interact with this blog, though its contents are intended to be (16+) while im happy to encourage young creatives on their artistic journey, we cant be friends if you are a minor. please unfollow/block me if you need to!

i dont personally draw/write explicit nsfw, but artwork/writing may be scary or spicy.

Reblogs and fic recs will be marked as nsfw/sfw.

Blog is intended for FNAF!! sorry, i dont know the webseries... but feel free to still treat my art as whatever u fancy :3 i aint the fun police!!!

✸my cup of tea

i love horror, looove, and absolute tomfoolery. silly, surreal situations are perhaps my favorite ones to orchestrate. y/n is simply another barbie on the chessboard ^-^ ;; lets play toyce?

focusing on the robotics. waiter give me ten more please

i adore everyone's AU's and renditions of the DCA!! every time i find a new one i am amazed by ppls creativity!! i am eating every single cake deliciously. i hope to draw fanart of the all the au's & fics i love, but i fear there are many. so many.

✸thanks for havin' me!!

[amyhayanora]

KHOC WEEK 2024 Day 2 - Past

the things for my OCs are now the only ones I do, so, off with the annual @khoc-week appointment.😂

The protagonist of this post should have been Aspis, my little Anguis kid, but since Aspis is deeply connected to another character, it's probably better that I start with some headcanons I have about the Foretellers. Between those and the designs, at this point they feel a bit like OCs too. even tried to do a Nomura-esque version for the occasion.

The assumption is that the Foretellers were one of the many attempts on the chessboard of the Master of Masters to face the Darkness. He gathered under his protection a group of lonely and desperate kids, with a tormented past, acting in the grey area more than out of affection. He bet on them. He sought out children who possessed specific flaws of distinct deadly sins, trained them, and made them his apprentices on a journey designed to make them overcome their "sin" and use it as a virtue that will be essential to their future "roles." For example…

Gula, who lived on the streets as a feral child, has known hunger, and food is also how MoM attracted him. Gula suffered from bulimia and nervous hunger for years, before managing to direct his anxiety towards logic and study, becoming an analytical boy "hungry" for knowledge.

Ava, sold away by her once rich family fell in disgrace, wanted EVERYTHING back. everything she had lost, or that she wanted but could no longer afford. Mom was the one who has bought her, she's too young to understand the extent of the family tragedy. that's why she later was the perfect one for the task of choosing any wielder she desires or attracts her eye, without limits, collecting the Dandelion.

Aced has always used his muscles to win easily, alone, without effort and without ever really try to improving himself, until carelessness cost him his tribe and an eye… he is now a loyal follower and uses his strength to defend the group, the arm of the law under Ira.

Ira, balances strength in combat and intelligence, which are also the qualities of his union. stubborn and rebellious, as an angry teenager he ran away from home, losing his path. He was the first one found by Mom, and he owes him his life. He learned to control his anger because of him, obtaining determination, willpower and the courage that made him choose as Leader.

Luxu carried the burden of being an unwanted child, the result of an affair, from an early age he felt cursed by that because of a big birthmark on one eye that vaguely resembles an X. shy, insecure and reserved, people pleaser, until life with his apprentice companions brought out his mischievous and creative personality. His being a people pleaser made him incredibly attentive to the behavior of the people around him and the ideal candidate to infiltrate among people and live their lives, one after the other.

Finally, Invi.

like all the other foretellers, her name is more of a title. Her real name is Nivea, and she was isolated from her village because white hair was considered a bad omen. The resentment of having to survive alone, with a little brother to support, he too with lighter hair than was welcome, soon turned into Envy, gnawing at her insides every time Nivea stopped to observe the normality of other families, lurking and hating everyone but her brother Aspis.

MoM saved both, proposing a deal to Nivea: he would take care of them, they would have a roof over their heads, education, a future, as long as she studied under him.

With no other real choice, the children accept out of desperation.

Nivea and Aspis initially lived together, but as they grow older she is forced to uphold her end of the bargain, spending more and more time at the clocktower. Aspis and Nivea's relationship is ruined irreparably, as Invi begins to enjoy her studies and the company of her peers, spending less and less time with her brother "for a higher purpose".

On the other hand, Aspis, who has always remained silent about a subtle hostility from the inhabitants of Daybreak Town due to his bad temper and sharp tongue, is left almost alone. His only wish was not to be a burden to his sister, who therefore always believed everything was fine and let him go without regrets. Aspis is full of resentment towards Mom, blaming him for brainwashing his sister, now obsessed by Light and darkness, when she clearly only wanted a better life for them.

Aspis and Invi do not hate each other, but the lack of communication makes it difficult to make peace, they will miss their chance before the War.

Aspis eventually made some friends along the way, that made his loneliness bearable. he is in a sort of trio with Lupe and Leonna, and a little girl who for some reason adores him like a big brother, Velcia (she's @alchemist-of-thebes 's oc). he'll never admit it, but he would die for her.😂

concluding this post with some old foretellers art dump xD

[milunalupin]

hi hi hi! so many congrats on a 100 followers, what a deserved accomplishment, love!!

you can obviously ignore this if you're uncomfortable writing this/or this doesn't hit your creative spot. because this is so cliched uggh.

okay so i was thinking maybe a little grumpy!reader x sunshine!sirius, friends to lovers trope? (it makes so weak in the knees 🫠.) feel free to take the plot literally anywhere your heart desires, because you'll serve either ways!!

love you, make sure to drink water and eat good. hope you have a great day/night ahead.

--🍁autumn

hi hi my love ! thank you for you patience <3 and adding more sirius to my blog

— sunshine

sunshine!sirius x grumpy!reader ★ 1.2k words

"Sirius Black if you don't stop tapping your finger against the table, I will not hesitate to hex you."

You sent a glare towards the raven haired boy from across the table. History of Magic was your worst subject and you had a big exam coming up. "Why aren't you with the other boys anyways?"

It's not like you two weren't friends, but Sirius wasn't usually the one to seek you out. It was usually Peter since he was the one who introduced you to his friends, then Remus who at times also enjoyed his peace and quiet. You spent quite a bit of time with the girls too, especially since you all roomed together. James and Sirius had always been friendly with you, but it wasn't like you would stay up in the common room sharing secrets, although Sirius had recently been around you more than than normal.

"Well aren't you just a ray of light." Sirius sent you a lopsided grin, setting his elbows on the table and resting his head on his hands. "They're out somewhere with Prongs looking for Evans, and I wanted to see my favorite girl."

Your quill froze over the parchment. Sirius was such a flirt, you couldn't take anything he said to you to heart, because he didn't mean it, right? You lowered your head and tried to focus on your notes, pretending like you didn't hear him.

"Anyways," he chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "You know about his problem with Evans, and you're a girl, could you give me some advice to relay back to him?"

"Thanks for noticing. What kind of advice?"

"Well, what sort of things do girls like to receive?"

"I don't know Sirius, I don't regularly receive gifts from boys." You rolled your eyes and scoffed, glancing up at him to see his eyes on you, waiting for an answer. "but I supposed I would quite like it if someone brought me my favorite drink, or book. You know, it shows that they've paid attention to the little things."

"So how would you- girls-" he let out a shaky laugh, his cheeks tinged pink. "How would girls like to be asked on a date?"

How would you know? You didn't want to speak negatively of yourself but there had to be some reason as to why boys never came up to you. You would never guess that it was because Sirius had already warned the whole male population at Hogwarts to back off his very pretty friend.

Groaning quietly, you rubbed your hands over your tired face. "Sirius, I don't know, can you please let me review my notes in peace?"

"That doesn't count, you're not being fair." Peter whined, pulling on his hair as he looked down at the chessboard. You shrugged and stuck your tongue out at the boy, getting up and taking a seat on the carpet by the fire next to Lily.

It was the night before your exam and as much as you wanted to hole up in your room and cram, your friends had convinced you to spend time with them. Lily was painting Marlene's fingernails while Remus took your place playing against Peter in chess.

"Who wants hot chocolate!" James called out, Sirius and him walking towards you all with trays of steaming mugs. The two passed out the sweet beverages,

"Thanks Sirius." you thanked him softly, his gaze softening as you wrapped your hands around the warm drink and blew gently on the top. Your eyes brightened as you took a sip and tasted a hint of peppermint.

The rest of the evening was spent playing games, dancing to Remus' new records and sharing Peter's surplus of sweets from Honeydukes. You felt your shoulders relax as you looked around at your friends having a good time, catching Sirius already looking you. His eyes darted away as soon as you saw him, the corners crinkling as he laughed as some joke James had made. You felt a nudge in your side, turning to see Lily cocking her head towards the dorms asking if you were ready to go. Nodding, the three of you girls stood up and waved goodnight to the Marauders and shuffled up to your room.

You flopped into bed with a blissful sigh. "Thanks for tonight guys, I needed this."

Marlene waved her hand in dismissal. "You've studied hard, you needed a bit of a break."

"The peppermint hot chocolate was just the thing I needed, it's my favorite."

"Peppermint hot chocolate?" Lily's nose scrunched with disgust, but then her eyes widened with realization, her and Marlene sharing a knowing grin. "Right, the peppermint hot chocolate."

You turned your head to squint at them. "Why do you two have that look on your faces?"

"We don't know what you're talking about, goodnight!"

You're going to pass the exam, you're to going to p—

"Watch it, you half-breed, or I'll turn you into the little mutt you are." Lucius Malfoy spat at you as you ran into him, pulling out his wand.

"Oh sod off, why don't you put your daddy's money where your mouth is?" you scoffed, reaching for your own wand. He sneered at your comeback, taking a step closer to you.

"Hey sunshine, I was looking everywhere for you! Let me walk you to class." Sirius appeared next to you, taking your school bag and slinging it over his shoulder, shooting a grin to Lucius, canines on full display. "Thanks for watching her for me Malfoy but next time, don't."

Sirius steered you away from the fuming Slytherin, arm around your shoulder. He ducked his head down to speak to you quietly. "You alright?"

"Fine, boys are just jerks." you grumbled, your mind now focusing on your exam as you two turned into the hall where your classroom was located.

"Not all of us though, right?"

The corner of his mouth lifted, your smiled mirroring his own. "Yeah, Pete's alright."

"You're killing me doll." He threw his head back dramatically, his smile slipping as yours did, now standing in front of the History of Magic classroom. "Hey, how about we made a deal?"

"Huh?" you pulled yourself out of a daze, looking up at him. "What's the deal?"

Sirius coughed to the side and straightened his posture. "You get an Outstanding on your exam, and I'll take you out."

A flush crept up your face, not believing your ears. As annoying as he was, of course you had thought about Sirius romantically before, who hadn't? You really hoped your studying paid off, your smile and voice coming out shy. "What if I don't get an Outstanding?"

Sirius lit up like the Great Hall during the holidays, smiling ear to ear. "Then I'm still taking you out to cheer you up. I also have just been dying to take you on a date, sunshine."

An hour later you left the classroom with a giant smile on your face and a big 'O' on your parchment. Sirius immediately took your hand in his and dragged you to Hogsmeade for your first date, the twinkling sound of your laughter letting him know it wouldn't be your last.

[a-french-coconut]

Malconnor

Nobody has ever beaten Malcolm at chess.

It's something he's quite proud of, maybe even a little too much.

But how could anybody blame him ? He won against all his challengers, the white king always falling to his flawless strategy.

So when Connor Stoll comes knocking at his cabin's door asking to play, he accepts quickly, confident in his ability in winning.

"Aren't you bored of playing chess the traditional way ?" Connor asks, lazily resting on one of the beds while Malcolm searches for the chessboard.

"There's only one way to play chess, Connor."

Malcolm frowns, still looking for the chessboard. He always put it in the same place, did he store it somewhere else after his victory against Miranda ?

"Only if you lack creativity," sings Connor from the bed.

"Fine," Malcolm sighs, abandoning his search, "what do you propose ?"

Connor smiles and gets closer to him, his blue eyes glinting.

“I suggest we play in our minds. No real chessboard, all will be happening up there,” he gives Malcolm a light tap on the forehead, “do you accept ?”

Malcolm hesitates. Connor’s idea definitely seems more challenging and fun than virtual chess but…

“What’s with that troubled pretty face of yours ?”

Connor gets even closer than he already was and with an infuriating smile taunts him :

“Scared you’ll lose ?”

For one second, Malcolm cannot get past the pretty face of yours.

Does he really mean it ?

Or is it just an expression the friendly son of Hermes uses ?

Then, he registers the taunt.

"Don't be ridiculous, Stoll." He scoffs, consciously ignoring the blush spreading on his cheeks. "I'll win either way."

"If you say so" The other boy snickers before taking a few steps back, allowing himself and Malcolm to concentrate.

He closes his eyes and visualize perfectly the chessboard and its pieces.

“Closing your eyes is not allowed though.”

Malcolm jumps at the voice’s closeness and when he opens his eyes, Connor is standing impossibly close to him, those blue eyes still sparkling and now looking right at him.

“We have to play the whole game looking in each other’s eyes. Otherwise you lose.”

“I don’t remember agreeing to those terms.”

“You agreed to play.”

With no mercy for Malcolm's heart, Connor gets even closer to him, to the point where he can the freckles dotting the other boy's face.

"You can still back out if you want."

Ah, it's nothing more than a calculated strategy then. A plot to make him flustered in order to win. Ignoring the pang of disappointment in his heart, Malcolm steels himself and looks right back at the son of Hermes.

"I'm not, now quit your little games and let's begin."

Connor cackles, allowing Malcolm to push him away.

"You take white and I'll play the black pieces, timer ?"

"Nah" Connor says with a smile, "I don't want to rush our time together."

The son of Hermes is sprawled on a chair, the definition of a cat bathing in the sun.

Except for those eyes, bright and sharp, pointed at Malcolm.

"Shall I ?"

Malcolm nods, trying his best to concentrate despite feeling so seen.

"Okay, let's see... Knight to C3".

---------------------------------------

Malcolm lost tracks of how much time they have been playing.

All that matters is that he's losing.

Terribly so.

He makes stupid moves, place his bishop in front a rook defenceless, doesn't picture Connor's queen taking his knight.

It's not his fault though, it is Connor's entirely.

It's his fault he's sweating, that his throat is dry no matter how much he drinks.

It's his fault for getting so close, his hands brushing Malcolm's and then putting distance between them, for making him suffer a brain malfunction when he licks his lip while concentrating, for

But mostly, it is the constant eye contact, the vibrant blue of Connor's eyes, the burning intensity that drives him mad, making him lose all focus.

It's a miracle he never adverted his eyes, he's sure he is blushing mess, a sight Connor seems to find particularly amusing.

Of course he would, his damned strategy is working with grandiose efficiency.

"Earth to Malcolm, do you copy ?"

"What ?" He says started, Connor way too close for him to function properly.

"I said checkmate, and I don't think you have any way out."

He's smiling, a horrible smug smirk that suits his face very well.

He tries to picture the board but all he sees are Connor's eyes looking at him with the glint of victory.

"Fine" he sighs, "You win."

Immediately, he looks everywhere else but Connor, the other boy clapping and praising his own victory.

"Well, there goes my winning streak." He plops down on his bed, eyes facing the ceiling.

Only to almost have a heart attack when Connor's face appears in his vision.

His breath hitches, his heart's rate going crazy when he realises Connor is right next to him, laying on his bed and looking at him like he wasn't actively trying to kill him.

"If it is so important to you, we can say you won," he shrugs, "My goal wasn't to beat you anyways."

He turns his head so fast he almost snap it.

"Then why did you act like that ?" He asks bewildered.

"Like what ?" Connor looks at him innocently, his face the definition of an angel. But his eyes are definitely the house of a demon, they way they shine mischievously.

"Like-", he feels his face reddens. Had he misinterpreted ? Maybe Connor was just acting normal and he read too much into it. Oh Fates, kill him now please.

"Did it bother you ? The way I acted ?"

For the first time since he entered the cabin, Connor's voice is unsure, his hands fidgeting and his voice coated with nervousness.

Malcolm's brain is going to fry and he is going to die.

Or maybe his heart will give up before his brain.

Either Connor is still playing, a frankly cruel game is that the case, or he is trying to make Malcolm understand something.

He dearly hopes it's the latter option.

"No, hum, it didn't." He gulps, his hand reaching Connor's, "Actually, I kinda liked it."

When he brushes his fingers, he waits for the cry of surprise, the "woah, what are you doing ?" but none of that comes.

Instead, Connor intertwines their fingers together.

He then props himself up with his other hand, his face hovering on Malcolm's.

He must be the colour of a tomato and Connor can probably hear his heart pounding.

"Can I kiss you ?" Connor whispers, those blue eyes looking straight into his grey ones.

"Yes." He answers breathless.

He has kissed people before.

A girl named Laura when he was twelve and it has been tasteless, only the feeling of his lips touching hers and nothing more.

The one with Rafael before the battle of Manhattan had been filled with some kind of frenzy, the one you get when you think you won't live to see another day.

But this, this is intoxicating.

When Connor kisses him, Malcolm instinctively grabs his neck, pulling him closer.

He doesn't want this to stop, he wants to kiss Connor until he can't breathe, until his lips are swollen and red, until-

"Wait, wait, I need to breathe."

Connor gently pulls himself off Malcolm, contently resting against him.

"By Athena, that was amazing."

"Please don't mention you mom just after we kissed."

"Right, you're right. But still, amazing."

Connor laughs, a sound full of mirth that Malcolm wants to hear until the day he dies and hopefully after too.

"Can I presume we will be doing that again ?" He asks, twirling a strand Malcolm's hair with his finger.

"You presume right."

They stay silent for a minute, basking in each other's presence and proximity.

"Does that mean you're not telling anyone that I lost ?"

"Sorry, can't do that."

"Why ?"

"Because I won darling."

The blush comes back with full force when Connor calls him darling, making the other boy cackles.

"Everybody know what was my goal when I entered this cabin. Right now, I think they are waiting for us outside to throw us in the lake."

He gets up, beckoning Malcolm to do the same.

"Shall we, boyfriend ?"

Connor's lightens up when he calls him boyfriend, happiness literally glowing around him.

He is the most beautiful boy Malcolm has ever seen.

"Yes, we shall."

Indeed, the second they step out they are swarmed by the other campers.

"To the lake !" Cecil screams.

"That's my line."

"Not when you're the one whose about to take a bath, brother."

All the way to the lake, Malcolm holds Connor's hand and when they get thrown, he doesn't let it go.

"Wanna ditch them and take a trip to New York ?" His boyfriend whispers in his ear, "I know the way."

"You're going to be a very bad influence on me."

"That's not a no."

"Chiron is going to be furious."

"We're not the first lovesick demigods to pull this kind of trick."

"We are both counsellors."

Connor kisses teasingly his neck and Malcolm's entire body short-circuits.

"They'll be fine. Besides," He gives him another kiss, on the jaw this time "I know a great restaurant that I'm sure you'll like."

"Okay," his voice comes out strangled and way more high pitched than usual, "lead the way."

"Excellent choice !" Connor says, excited, "we are going to have so much fun !"

When they come back, Chiron is indeed irritated, scolding them about how dangerous and reckless they had been.

Malcolm doesn't miss the fond look in his mentor's eyes when he shoos them away, letting them go without any kind of punishment.

What a better way to start Pride Month than Malconnor ?

[scribeofmorpheus]

big brain thoughts going on about the evanuris, their corruption, the maker, andraste and shartan! but i need to sort through them first!

my first big brain thoughts (scrambled as they are) is that the evanuris formed a war council:

at the top we have elgar'nan; command, the will of self-realisation, resolution, the first 'born'; the first to possess the strength to go where none have ventured before: change.

command cannot rule by issuing orders alone, the people would need a symbol to rally behind, someone to inspire and have faith in, someone to bring meaning to the losses suffered during the war. enter: benevolence. enter: justice. enter: mythal.

so if you have the ability to command and inspire from righteousness, you now have the king and queen of your chessboard. now you need a bishop.

falon'din/dirthamen was meant to be their bishop, their right hand, their advisor, but i think them later on fracturing is reflective of how divided elgar'nan and mythal had gotten by the end. I think of them in the capacity of a "left hand/right hand of the divine". a soundingboard, a proclaimer of change, a tactician, a dichotomy (spirit of choice--which makes their fracturing poetic: forking paths)

andruil was their knight, their general, their hunter, their god-killer, their weapon (determination/valor/gallantry to chaos?)

june was their stronghold, they forged their weapons, was their blacksmith (spirit of creativity turned to destruction/fire?)

sylaise was to be their healer, (compassion to ??)

thinking about them as chess pieces, and their dragons as the utmost corruption of their original purpose!!!!

[randomlywanderingmoth]

Part of the problem with Fate Grand Order is the core gameplay is fundamentally flawed, and it's very difficult to restore "a fun game" around a flawed core.

Quick and Buster and Arts were all interesting notions, and could have mapped into action gameplay (if we were to merge FGO's ideas with FSR's gameplay I would equate them to fast attacks, heavy attacks, and weaker attacks meant to charge your special bar, but I digress).

As it is, though, it just makes for unpleasant feelings in gameplay, demanding optimizations (I would point out that in the international release we only recently got the ability to combo all three together, and made Quick chains strong enough to consider independently). Those optimizations rise up around every aspect of the game; only a select few Servants have the ability to AoE without accessing their Noble Phantasm, and they haven't even made it to international. There's a wide range of Craft Essences, but only a few that ever matter. Creativity in builds is tamped down around increasingly narrowed build notions as the devs design with over-optimized teams in mind.

The end result is a game that, optimally, advises you to use your super rare fully powered optimized support, your friends' identically super rare fully powered optimized support, and a high power damage Servant, and repeatedly fire the damage dealer's Noble Phantasm to either clear waves or kill bosses.

Speaking of which, from a lore perspective, this is also completely messed up. By the lore of the Nasuverse, a Noble Phantasm is a Servant's super secret ultimate move, only meant for the final hour. This is fully incongruous with the gameplay, where you typically throw the same world-ending mythology-defining techniques three times in a row and call it a day. (Entertainingly, in the International release, we've also made it to Traum, where we see faceless Servants fire their Noble Phantasms like simple artillery, but that's its own commentary.)

Like, it's so effortless to imagine better systems than this! Servants deployed on a chessboard-like map, heralding back to the themes of Fate Apocrypha; suddenly we don't need anything as mechanically obtuse as Class Advantages when we could organically differentiate each Class by how they navigate the board or how they fight each other (Riders can leap over enemies like knight pieces in chess; Archers can attack at range without moving; Lancers do really well on Attack but have poor Defense; and Berserkers can be the units of terror that lore implies!)

Alternatively, the Grail Battlefronts we've already seen- rework the entire game to operate more organically like that; maybe Servants can use skills without entering combat, but it exhausts their actions. Then different forms of gameplay can exist beyond just "mulch the enemy"; like "defend this location" or "collect these resources" or "defeat This Particular Foe".

Or, even if we had to work with just the system we have! Change THAT! Rather than select three cards from a set of five, have it go down the list; each Servant gets One Action to either pick from "Quick, Buster, Arts, Use A Skill".

As for Servant Customization, walk it all the way back, all the way back up to the Attack/HP boosting. Make it so that players can individually optimize Servant performance in different ways- this Servant has better output in Arts, that Servant has higher Crit Star generation. And for folks who'd already spent their Fous, you could just say "right, so anybody with Fous spent can now allocate those points into these new Stats! No harm done!"

Of course, in order to do this, they would likely need to construct a whole new framework for their game, whilst preserving the progress people have made until now.

Then again, they are presently building castles in the sand during the rising tide with one hand and bandaging bullet wounds with the other, so maybe a long shot like that is what they need.

[teaandcheckmates]

You don’t happen to have any tea on hand do you, Percy? I have ran out and would really care for more

~Sincerely, Annabel Lee

Ah—! Miss Annabel! Of course! It would be an honor to assist in your time of desperate need!

(Heaven forbid you suffer the cruel indignity of tea withdrawal. No soul should endure such torment.)

As it so happens, I do have some tea on hand! I keep emergency sachets in my coat pocket, my desk drawer, my nightstand, my boot, the hollowed-out copy of Macbeth on my shelf, and—if times grow truly dire—strapped to the underside of my chessboard in a weatherproof envelope.

(You may mock, but you try being caught in a thunderstorm with nothing but a wilted chamomile bag to your name and then tell me it’s excessive.)

What blend would you prefer? Earl Grey? Rosehip? Hibiscus and existential dread? (That last one I steep myself—it has a rather bitter aftertaste but is excellent for creative writing and wallowing.)

I will hand-deliver it to you at your earliest convenience. Or sooner. Or now. Would now be good?

Your ever-devoted supplier of tea and trembling hands —Percy

[tangibletechnomancy]

The AI Boom and the Mechanical Turk

A hidden, overworked man operating a painting, chess-playing robot, generated with the model Dreamlike Diffusion on Simple Stable, ~4 hours Created under the Code of Ethics of Are We Art Yet?

In 1770, an inventor named Wolfgang von Kempelen created a machine that astounded the world, a device that prompted all new understanding of what human engineering could produce: the Automaton Chess Player, also known as the Mechanical Turk. Not only could it play a strong game of chess against a human opponent, playing against and defeating many challengers including statesmen such as Benjamin Franklin and Napoleon Bonaparte, it could also complete a knight's tour, a puzzle where one must use a knight to visit each square on the board exactly once. It was a marvel of mechanical engineering, able to not only choose its moves, but move the pieces itself with its mechanical hands.

It was also a giant hoax.

What it was: genuinely a marvel of mechanical engineering, an impressively designed puppet that was able to manipulate pieces on a chessboard.

What it wasn't: an automaton of any kind, let alone one that could understand chess well enough to play at a human grandmaster's level. Instead, the puppet was manipulated by a human chess grandmaster hidden inside the stage setup.

So, here and now, in 2023, we have writers and actors on a drawn-out and much needed strike, in part because production companies are trying to "replace their labor with AI".

How is this relevant to the Mechanical Turk, you ask?

Because just like back then, what's being proposed is, at best, a massive exaggeration of how the proposed labor shift could feasibly work. Just as we had the technology then to create an elaborate puppet to move chess pieces, but not to make it choose its moves for itself or move autonomously, we have the technology now to help people flesh out their ideas faster than ever before, using different skill sets - but we DON'T have the ability to make the basic idea generation, the coherent outlining, nor the editing nearly as autonomous as the companies promising this future claim.

What AI models can do: Various things from expanding upon ideas given to them using various mathematical parameters and descriptions, keywords, and/or guide images of various kinds, to operating semi-autonomously as fictional characters, when properly directed and maintained (e.g., Neuro-sama).

What they can't do: Conceive an entire coherent movie or TV show and write a passable script - let alone scripts for an entire show - from start to finish without human involvement, generate images with a true complete lack of human involvement, act fully autonomously as characters, or...do MOST of the things such companies are trying to attribute to "AI (+unimportant nameless human we GUESS)", for that matter.

The distinction may sound small, but it is a critical one: the point behind this modern Mechanical Turk scam, after all, is that it allegedly eliminates human involvement, and thus the need to pay human employees, right...?

But it doesn't. It only enables companies to shift the labor to a hidden, even more underpaid sector, and even argue that they DESERVE to be paid so little once found out because "okay okay so it's not TOTALLY autonomous but the robot IS the one REALLY doing all the important work we swear!!"

It's all smoke and mirrors. A lie. A Mechanical Turk. Wrangling these algorithms into creating something truly professionally presentable - not just as a cash-grab gimmick that will be forgotten as soon as the novelty wears off - DOES require creativity and skill. It IS a time-consuming labor. It, like so many other uses of digital tools in creative spaces (e.g., VFX), needs to be recognized as such, for the protection of all parties involved, whether their role in the creative process is manual or tool-assisted.

So please, DO pay attention to the men behind the curtain.

[thatonefatgumsimp]

alr ykw

liveblogging my reaction to tadc episode 3, let's

Goooooooooo!!

So ready to get autistic over my blorbos /sillyyyy

under the cut for ease of scrolling past :p

"and Zooble turns straight" I CAN'T, I'M- 💀 NAHHHH BRO HAD TO HAVE KNOWN WTH HE WAS DOING WITH THAT ONE

"What do you, the viewers, think it is?" You scrunch into a tiny bunny ball and get short. Final answer.

THE WAY CAINE'S FREAKING EYES NO CLIP THROUGH HIS TEETH, I'M- 😭 CAINE WHY /lhsilly

AWEHHHH GHOSTLY 🥺

✨z o o b l e g o e s t o t h e r a p y✨ /sillyyyyyy

That's a cool bee, you're doing great sweetie (probably still listen to Zoob tho)

Pomni really said let me innnn LET ME INNNNNN!! /sillyyyyy

"I love that it's locked ):<" me-core

"Do not let the head out of your sight" OH SHI-

THE 2D ANIMATED EYES!!!!! /POS I'M GOIMG TO EXPLODE

AUGH THE EYES!! THE CREEPY EYES BEHIND THEM! POMNI! POMNI TURN AROUND!!! POMNI IT'S RIGHT BEHIND YPU POBNI!!!!!

"Any torment I inflict is 100% accidental!! Just like any good war criminal." LMAOOOOOOO, CAINE- I'M- YOU'RE KILLIBG ME HERE, BUDDY- literally iconic line frrr, he acknowledges his warcrimes. We love a self-aware king /sillyyy

"I'm trying my best to remember what you and my brain won't tell me!!" He's so real for that tho...ADHD gang rISE UP! /sillyyyyyy

"What…what you're saying is that…I could be bad at the only thing I'm good at…and…that'd be…" It's OK to have a mental breakdown, bud, let it all out. There there...

Caine existential crisis arc while Kinger and Pomni are going through the horrors™ smh…/sillyyy

"How's about we take his gun?" KINGER GUN ARC POG?????

"Looks like we've got two shots…let's make it count" What if Kinger with a gun kinda scares me a bit /lhsilly ...like, he sounds so calm and composed, it's...unnatural for him...kinda unsettling...fits with the spooky vibes of the ep tho

"Which is what I would be saying if it wasn't one of God's angels" WHAT. WHAT. WHAT???!! BI- WHAT?!????? THE FREAKING PLOT TWIST- I'M- My brain is melting

"And your bodies will be my only means of doing so" HOLD UP. WAIT A MINUTE! SOMETHIN AIN'T RIGHT-

"I HATE THIS STUPID ADVENTURE!!" real…✊😔 Honestly a fair reaction given the current situation...although mine woulda been worse I think-

Awehhhhh 🥺 girl's tea party ✨, so real for that actually

"You know how men are…always having the silliest priorities" "don't I know it" *turns to Jax tied up* I WOULD say 'free my boy, he's done nothing wrong', but we all know that's a lie, he's a war criminal just like his dad Caine /SILLYYYYYYYY

"I wonder how long that'll be" probably a while, Gangle…

"How could I not be in literal hell right now???!?" First digital hell, now this smh…/sillyyyyyy

FRICK! NOOOOO MY GIRL'S BEING POSSESSED!! NOOOOOOOOOO- POMNI-! 😭

"YOU GET OUT OF HER, YOU DAMN EVIL SOULS!" 🗣️🔥🔥 YOOOO HE SAID DAMN, THAT'S ALLOWED HERE??? LET MY BOY COOK!! 🔥🔥🔥

"HOW'S YOUR WIFE, KINGER?" THAT'S EEEEEEVIL D: WTH, BRO HE'S ALREADY DEALING WITH THAT BUZZ OFF-

O.O wait...the breath holding from the beginning of the ep…QUICK, POMNI, BECOME RGB KEYBOARD!! KINGER, BECOME FLASHLIGHT!

"Why have you been acting so different lately?" NO, CUZ THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYINGGGGGG /lh

NOOOOOO- CHECKMATES (idk their ship name, shhhhhhh edit: it previously said chessboard, changed BC of the socks iykyk) ANGST NOOOOOOO- GOOSE. GOOSE HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME- I'M- 😭

"She was funny, creative, really into entomology" STOPPPPP I'M CRYING, THE WAY HE TALKS SO LOVINGLY ABOUT HER, I'M- HOLD ON, I NEED A MOMENT…WAITWAOTWAITWAITWAIT- I'M-

…CHAT I NEED TO WRITE AND OR DRAW AND OR READ SOME CHECKMATES FLUFF, THIS IS KILLING ME /lhsilly

"I used to hate bugs, but…she somehow got me to like them" AWEHHHHHHH-! 🥺 GOOSE. GOOSE WHAT THE HECK, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME CRY- /pos Chat, I'm melting into a puddle, help-

"But it's not. Not if you have people who care about you." I'M- GOOSE STOP 😭 SOBBING- I WAS PROMISED PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR, NOT THERAPY /sillyyyyyyyy

"In this world, the worst thing you can do is make people feel like they're not wanted or loved" OMG REAL!! 🗣️🔥🔥 ...and on that note, ily, moots and followers 🫶💖

"Maybe we can get through if we don't breathe!" CHAT. CHAT THEY FIGURED IT OUT!! KINGER, MY BOY!!!! YOU'RE SO SMART!!!!!!

AUGH KINGER GIVES SUCH DAD VIBES /POS I NEED A DAD-FRIEND LIKE THAT IN MY LIFE FRR-

OMG WAIT- KINGER HOLDING HIS BREATH IS THAT ONE MEME

THIS ONE-! QUICK, SOMEONE GO EDIT THAT!! /SILLYYYYY /NF

"Hey, Ragatha…I just wanna say…thanks for always being concerned about me" EXPLODING RN, CHAT- CERTIFIED BUTTONBLOSSOM MOMENT????? /SILLYYYY

"Did you remember to get my comedy mask?" "…F**K-!" KINGER SWORE??????? OMG???? REAL, LET HIM COOK- LET HIM COOOOOOOK!!

CAINE IN THERAPY LMAOOOOOOO REAL

"quick, pretend we weren't having a therapy session!" LMAOOOO?? CAINE IS SO SILLAYY-

"Wwwwwelcome back, my meowing milkmaids!!" "…don't ever call us that again." Lmaooooo Jax-

...

Screaming

Crying

Clawing at my cage

That was so good- I'm-

Hold on, chat, I'm going feral rn /sillyy