#MS Access Development

[skunkes]

can we just get one good life sim game please. and Soon instead of 10 yrs from now.

[tofupixel]

⭐ So you want to learn pixel art? ⭐

🔹 Part 1 of ??? - The Basics!

Edit: Now available in Google Doc format if you don't have a Tumblr account 🥰

Hello, my name is Tofu and I'm a professional pixel artist. I have been supporting myself with freelance pixel art since 2020, when I was let go from my job during the pandemic.

My progress, from 2017 to 2024. IMO the only thing that really matters is time and effort, not some kind of natural talent for art.

This guide will not be comprehensive, as nobody should be expected to read allat. Instead I will lean heavily on my own experience, and share what worked for me, so take everything with a grain of salt. This is a guide, not a tutorial. Cheers!

🔹 Do I need money?

NO!!! Pixel art is one of the most accessible mediums out there.

I still use a mouse because I prefer it to a tablet! You won't be at any disadvantage here if you can't afford the best hardware or software.

Because our canvases are typically very small, you don't need a good PC to run a good brush engine or anything like that.

✨Did you know? One of the most skilled and beloved pixel artists uses MS PAINT! Wow!!

🔹 What software should I use?

Here are some of the most popular programs I see my friends and peers using. Stars show how much I recommend the software for beginners! ⭐

💰 Paid options:

⭐⭐⭐ Aseprite (for PC) - $19.99

This is what I and many other pixel artists use. You may find when applying to jobs that they require some knowledge of Aseprite. Since it has become so popular, companies like that you can swap raw files between artists.

Aseprite is amazingly customizable, with custom skins, scripts and extensions on Itch.io, both free and paid.

If you have ever used any art software before, it has most of the same features and should feel fairly familiar to use. It features a robust animation suite and a tilemap feature, which have saved me thousands of hours of labour in my work. The software is also being updated all the time, and the developers listen to the users. I really recommend Aseprite!

⭐ Photoshop (for PC) - Monthly $$

A decent option for those who already are used to the PS interface. Requires some setup to get it ready for pixel-perfect art, but there are plenty of tutorials for doing so.

Animation is also much more tedious on PS which you may want to consider before investing time!

⭐⭐ ProMotion NG (for PC) - $19.00

An advanced and powerful software which has many features Aseprite does not, including Colour Cycling and animated tiles.

⭐⭐⭐ Pixquare (for iOS) - $7.99 - $19.99 (30% off with code 'tofu'!!)

Probably the best app available for iPad users, in active development, with new features added all the time.

Look! My buddy Jon recommends it highly, and uses it often.

One cool thing about Pixquare is that it takes Aseprite raw files! Many of my friends use it to work on the same project, both in their office and on the go.

⭐ Procreate (for iOS) - $12.99

If you have access to Procreate already, it's a decent option to get used to doing pixel art. It does however require some setup. Artist Pixebo is famously using Procreate, and they have tutorials of their own if you want to learn.

⭐⭐ ReSprite iOS and Android. (free trial, but:) $19.99 premium or $$ monthly

ReSprite is VERY similar in terms of UI to Aseprite, so I can recommend it. They just launched their Android release!

🆓 Free options:

⭐⭐⭐ Libresprite (for PC)

Libresprite is an alternative to Aseprite. It is very, very similar, to the point where documentation for Aseprite will be helpful to Libresprite users.

⭐⭐ Pixilart (for PC and mobile)

A free in-browser app, and also a mobile app! It is tied to the website Pixilart, where artists upload and share their work. A good option for those also looking to get involved in a community.

⭐⭐ Dotpict (for mobile)

Dotpict is similar to Pixilart, with a mobile app tied to a website, but it's a Japanese service. Did you know that in Japanese, pixel art is called 'Dot Art'? Dotpict can be a great way to connect with a different community of pixel artists! They also have prompts and challenges often.

🔹 So I got my software, now what?

◽Nice! Now it's time for the basics of pixel art.

❗ WAIT ❗ Before this section, I want to add a little disclaimer. All of these rules/guidelines can be broken at will, and some 'no-nos' can look amazing when done intentionally.

The pixel-art fundamentals can be exceedingly helpful to new artists, who may feel lost or overwhelmed by choice. But if you feel they restrict you too harshly, don't force yourself! At the end of the day it's your art, and you shouldn't try to contort yourself into what people think a pixel artist 'should be'. What matters is your own artistic expression. 💕👍

◽Phew! With that out of the way...

🔸"The Rules"

There are few hard 'rules' of pixel art, mostly about scaling and exporting. Some of these things will frequently trip up newbies if they aren't aware, and are easy to overlook.

🔹Scaling method

There are a couple ways of scaling your art. The default in most art programs, and the entire internet, is Bi-linear scaling, which usually works out fine for most purposes. But as pixel artists, we need a different method.

Both are scaled up x10. See the difference?

On the left is scaled using Bilinear, and on the right is using Nearest-Neighbor. We love seeing those pixels stay crisp and clean, so we use nearest-neighbor. 

(Most pixel-art programs have nearest-neighbor enabled by default! So this may not apply to you, but it's important to know.)

🔹Mixels

Mixels are when there are different (mixed) pixel sizes in the same image.

Here I have scaled up my art- the left is 200%, and the right is 150%. Yuck!

As we can see, the "pixel" sizes end up different. We generally try to scale our work by multiples of 100 - 200%, 300% etc. rather than 150%. At larger scales however, the minute differences in pixel sizes are hardly noticeable!

Mixels are also sometimes seen when an artist scales up their work, then continues drawing on it with a 1 pixel brush.

Many would say that this is not great looking! This type of pixels can be indicative of a beginner artist. But there are plenty of creative pixel artists out there who mixels intentionally, making something modern and cool.

🔹Saving Your Files

We usually save our still images as .PNGs as they don’t create any JPEG artifacts or loss of quality. It's a little hard to see here, but there are some artifacts, and it looks a little blurry. It also makes the art very hard to work with if we are importing a JPEG.

For animations .GIF is good, but be careful of the 256 colour limit. Try to avoid using too many blending mode layers or gradients when working with animations. If you aren’t careful, your animation could flash afterwards, as the .GIF tries to reduce colours wherever it can. It doesn’t look great!

Here's an old piece from 2021 where I experienced .GIF lossiness, because I used gradients and transparency, resulting in way too many colours.

🔹Pixel Art Fundamentals - Techniques and Jargon

❗❗Confused about Jaggies? Anti-Aliasing? Banding? Dithering? THIS THREAD is for you❗❗ << it's a link, click it!!

As far as I'm concerned, this is THE tutorial of all time for understanding pixel art. These are techniques created and named by the community of people who actually put the list together, some of the best pixel artists alive currently. Please read it!!

🔸How To Learn

Okay, so you have your software, and you're all ready to start. But maybe you need some more guidance? Try these tutorials and resources! It can be helpful to work along with a tutorial until you build your confidence up.

⭐⭐ Pixel Logic (A Digital Book) - $10 A very comprehensive visual guide book by a very skilled and established artist in the industry. I own a copy myself.

⭐⭐⭐ StudioMiniBoss - free A collection of visual tutorials, by the artist that worked on Celeste! When starting out, if I got stuck, I would go and scour his tutorials and see how he did it.

⭐ Lospec Tutorials - free A very large collection of various tutorials from all over the internet. There is a lot to sift through here if you have the time.

⭐⭐⭐ Cyangmou's Tutorials - free (tipping optional) Cyangmou is one of the most respected and accomplished modern pixel artists, and he has amassed a HUGE collection of free and incredibly well-educated visual tutorials. He also hosts an educational stream every week on Twitch called 'pixelart for beginners'.

⭐⭐⭐ Youtube Tutorials - free There are hundreds, if not thousands of tutorials on YouTube, but it can be tricky to find the good ones. My personal recommendations are MortMort, Brandon, and AdamCYounis- these guys really know what they're talking about!

🔸 How to choose a canvas size

When looking at pixel art turorials, we may see people suggest things like 16x16, 32x32 and 64x64. These are standard sizes for pixel art games with tiles. However, if you're just making a drawing, you don't necessarily need to use a standard canvas size like that.

What I like to think about when choosing a canvas size for my illustrations is 'what features do I think it is important to represent?' And make my canvas as small as possible, while still leaving room for my most important elements.

Imagine I have characters in a scene like this:

I made my canvas as small as possible (232 x 314), but just big enough to represent the features and have them be recognizable (it's Good Omens fanart 😤)!! If I had made it any bigger, I would be working on it for ever, due to how much more foliage I would have to render.

If you want to do an illustration and you're not sure, just start at somewhere around 100x100 - 200x200 and go from there.

It's perfectly okay to crop your canvas, or scale it up, or crunch your art down at any point if you think you need a different size. I do it all the time! It only takes a bit of cleanup to get you back to where you were.

🔸Where To Post

Outside of just regular socials, Twitter, Tumblr, Deviantart, Instagram etc, there are a few places that lean more towards pixel art that you might not have heard of.

⭐ Lospec Lospec is a low-res focused art website. Some pieces get given a 'monthly masterpiece' award. Not incredibly active, but I believe there are more features being added often.

⭐⭐ Pixilart Pixilart is a very popular pixel art community, with an app tied to it. The community tends to lean on the young side, so this is a low-pressure place to post with an relaxed vibe.

⭐⭐ Pixeljoint Pixeljoint is one of the big, old-school pixel art websites. You can only upload your art unscaled (1x) because there is a built-in zoom viewer. It has a bit of a reputation for being elitist (back in the 00s it was), but in my experience it's not like that any more. This is a fine place for a pixel artist to post if they are really interested in learning, and the history. The Hall of Fame has some of the most famous / impressive pixel art pieces that paved the way for the work we are doing today.

⭐⭐⭐ Cafe Dot Cafe Dot is my art server so I'm a little biased here. 🍵 It was created during the recent social media turbulence. We wanted a place to post art with no algorithms, and no NFT or AI chuds. We have a heavy no-self-promotion rule, and are more interested in community than skill or exclusivity. The other thing is that we have some kind of verification system- you must apply to be a Creator before you can post in the Art feed, or use voice. This helps combat the people who just want to self-promo and dip, or cause trouble, as well as weed out AI/NFT people. Until then, you are still welcome to post in any of the threads or channels. There is a lot to do in Cafe Dot. I host events weekly, so check the threads!

⭐⭐/r/pixelart The pixel art subreddit is pretty active! I've also heard some of my friends found work through posting here, so it's worth a try if you're looking. However, it is still Reddit- so if you're sensitive to rude people, or criticism you didn't ask for, you may want to avoid this one. Lol

🔸 Where To Find Work

You need money? I got you! As someone who mostly gets scouted on social media, I can share a few tips with you:

Put your email / portfolio in your bio Recruiters don't have all that much time to find artists, make it as easy as possible for someone to find your important information!

Clean up your profile If your profile feed is all full of memes, most people will just tab out rather than sift through. Doesn't apply as much to Tumblr if you have an art tag people can look at.

Post regularly, and repost Activity beats everything in the social media game. It's like rolling the dice, and the more you post the more chances you have. You have to have no shame, it's all business baby

Outside of just posting regularly and hoping people reach out to you, it can be hard to know where to look. Here are a few places you can sign up to and post around on.

/r/INAT INAT (I Need A Team) is a subreddit for finding a team to work with. You can post your portfolio here, or browse for people who need artists.

/r/GameDevClassifieds Same as above, but specifically for game-related projects.

Remote Game Jobs / Work With Indies Like Indeed but for game jobs. Browse them often, or get email notifications.

VGen VGen is a website specifically for commissions. You need a code from another verified artist before you can upgrade your account and sell, so ask around on social media or ask your friends. Once your account is upgraded, you can make a 'menu' of services people can purchase, and they send you an offer which you are able to accept, decline, or counter.

The evil websites of doom: Fiverr and Upwork I don't recommend them!! They take a big cut of your profit, and the sites are teeming with NFT and AI people hoping to make a quick buck. The site is also extremely oversaturated and competitive, resulting in a race to the bottom (the cheapest, the fastest, doing the most for the least). Imagine the kind of clients who go to these websites, looking for the cheapest option. But if you're really desperate...

🔸 Community

I do really recommend getting involved in a community. Finding like-minded friends can help you stay motivated to keep drawing. One day, those friends you met when you were just starting out may become your peers in the industry. Making friends is a game changer!

Discord servers Nowadays, the forums of old are mostly abandoned, and people split off into many different servers. Cafe Dot, Pixel Art Discord (PAD), and if you can stomach scrolling past all the AI slop, you can browse Discord servers here.

Twitch Streams Twitch has kind of a bad reputation for being home to some of the more edgy gamers online, but the pixel art community is extremely welcoming and inclusive. Some of the people I met on Twitch are my friends to this day, and we've even worked together on different projects! Browse pixel art streams here, or follow some I recommend: NickWoz, JDZombi, CupOhJoe, GrayLure, LumpyTouch, FrankiePixelShow, MortMort, Sodor, NateyCakes, NyuraKim, ShinySeabass, I could go on for ever really... There are a lot of good eggs on Pixel Art Twitch.

🔸 Other Helpful Websites

Palettes Lospec has a huge collection of user-made palettes, for any artist who has trouble choosing their colours, or just wants to try something fun. Rejected Palettes is full of palettes that didn't quite make it onto Lospec, ran by people who believe there are no bad colours.

The Spriters Resource TSR is an incredible website where users can upload spritesheets and tilesets from games. You can browse for your favourite childhood game, and see how they made it! This website has helped me so much in understanding how game assets come together in a scene.

VGMaps Similar to the above, except there are entire maps laid out how they would be played. This is incredible if you have to do level design, or for mocking up a scene for fun.

Game UI Database Not pixel-art specific, but UI is a very challenging part of graphics, so this site can be a game-changer for finding good references!

Retronator A digital newspaper for pixel-art lovers! New game releases, tutorials, and artworks!

Itch.io A website where people can upload, games, assets, tools... An amazing hub for game devs and game fans alike. A few of my favourite tools: Tiled, PICO-8, Pixel Composer, Juice FX, Magic Pencil for Aseprite

🔸 The End?

This is just part 1 for now, so please drop me a follow to see any more guides I release in the future. I plan on doing some writeups on how I choose colours, how to practise, and more!

I'm not an expert by any means, but everything I did to get to where I am is outlined in this guide. Pixel art is my passion, my job and my hobby! I want pixel art to be recognized everywhere as an art-form, a medium of its own outside of game-art or computer graphics!

This guide took me a long time, and took a lot of research and experience. Consider following me or supporting me if you are feeling generous.

And good luck to all the fledgling pixel artists, I hope you'll continue and have fun. I hope my guide helped you, and don't hesitate to send me an ask if you have any questions! 💕

My other tutorials (so far): How to draw Simple Grass for a game Hue Shifting

[s1eepy-bear]

‧୨🌿୧ ₊˚ 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥・𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐

pairing: robert 'bob' reynolds x ex shield agent! f!reader

summary: it's your first day on duty and you bring donuts for the team. a silly morning encounter reveals bob's hidden vulnerabilities. you quickly developing an unexpected connection with him.

content: MDNI!, no y/n, silly, fluffy, cute, slow burn

warnings: not proof read, bob's abs lol

a/n: i finally thought of a title for this series! i wonder if i'm getting too hung up on everyone else's interaction with the reader, should i focus more on her interactions with bob? let me know <3 Chapter 1

That night, a soft, balmy breeze billowed your open curtains, bringing with it the faint, persistent pulse of New York's distant hustle and bustle. You lie in bed, soft sheets enveloping you as you try to drift into sleep. Behind your closed eyelids, a persistent image gnawed at you: Bob’s red, shy face. 

A sliver of guilt hangs heavy in your chest for having flustered him so abruptly. You now have a level of access to those in the spotlight that SHIELD had never granted you, and the excitement of your new proximity to the New Avengers had entirely swept you away. You must remain professional.

Just two years ago, Bob slowly inked New York City away into darkness, turning people into shadows one by one, causing severe damage to the city and resulted in numerous injuries.

With this in mind, flirting feels frivolous and irresponsible when confronted with the ghosts of his past. And if he is in a vulnerable head space, you don’t want to be the one to take advantage of it, even if it's unintentional. This isn’t the kind of crush you can afford to have.

With these thoughts plaguing your mind and the heavy exhaustion from the busy work day, you slowly drift off to sleep.

༉ ✧˚₊

The following morning, the sun drenched the landscape, laying a shimmering, almost translucent veil over everything it touched. A gentle breeze dances through the air, making it a little chilly since the sun is still low on the horizon.

You woke up extra early to drop by the charming donut shop you frequent to grab breakfast for the whole team. You opted for something simple, sugar donuts, until you learn everyone’s preferences.

You walk into the tower from your car, the bag of donuts in hand, thoughtfully greeting the other workers maintaining the tower along the way. The light above the sensor in the elevator beeps green when you touch the access key to it and whirs into motion, swiftly bringing you to your desired floor.

The common area where the team welcomed you yesterday is now dark due to the curtains being drawn. The space is quiet, spared from the steady, low hum of the air conditioner running. You check your watch: only 6:10. Most of them are probably asleep.

You decide to take this time to brew some fresh, actually hot, coffee. While the pot gurgles, you tidy up various spots in the common area and kitchen: throw pillows on the floor, a bag of Goldfish crackers left open, a few books and magazines scattered around, dishes in the sink, cereal pieces that didn’t make it to the mouth, expired things in the fridge.

The smell of the fresh brew fills the space as you continue to busy yourself with noting down numerous items, food, and snacks for restocking. You silently note to yourself to get everyone’s phone number so they can get ahold of you if they ever need something.

“Oh, good morning,” Yelena says as she walks out from a corridor, which you learned from her yesterday, leads to the gym. Her face shiny from a thin sheen of sweat as she makes her way toward you, wiping the sweat off with the towel around her neck. Her short blonde hair is pushed back with a headband.

“Good morning, Ms. Belova,” you greet her back with a mellow murmur, the sound soft enough not to disturb the early morning quiet. 

“No, no, none of that,” she plops herself down on one of the leather bar stools by the kitchen island, the stool legs scraping faintly against the floor. You tilt your head, a question forming in your head. The coffee maker gives a final satisfying beep, its brewing cycle complete.

“Just Yelena,” she clarifies. 

 You smile at that, “Well, Yelena, would you like some coffee?”

“Yes, please.”

You collect two mugs from the cabinet, the ceramic cool beneath your fingers, and fill them both with fresh coffee. Wisps of steam rose lazily from the dark liquid. The rich aroma blossoms in the air as you set one mug before her. She nods appreciatively.

“So, you think Bob is cute, huh?” Yelena inquires, a playful glint in her eyes, just as you raise your cup to take a sip. The unexpected question catches in your throat, forcing a sharp, spluttering cough.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” your initial serene expression crumples, replaced by a deep flush rising to your cheeks. You lower your cup to press your fingers between your eyebrows in a flustered manner. Yelena laughs, a low, throaty sound, propping her elbows on the counter.

“Come on, you wouldn’t have said it if you didn’t mean it.”

“It’s not that I didn’t mean it, it’s just…it was unprofessional,” you avert your gaze, suddenly the bleak marble counter looks very interesting. 

“Who cares!” She lightheartedly rolls her eyes. “We’re hardly a professional organization. You just said what was on your mind.”

“Still,” you insist softly, tracing the rim of your mug with your thumb, the ceramic now warmer due to your body heat and hot beverage.

The Watchtower's dormant systems hummed—a low, almost imperceptible sound that seemed to amplify the awkward quietness. Your downcast eyes catch the wrinkled paper bag of donuts—your saving grace.

“Anyways…care for a donut?” You ask as you hold up the bag. “I settled for something basic since I don’t know what everyone liked. Let me know if you have any preferences,” Yelena gives you a knowing look, taking a deliberate sip of her coffee to hide her lips twitching with suppressed amusement. She is letting you off the hook, for now.

Yelena reaches for the bag, her fingers lightly hover as she carefully chooses what must be the perfect one. She takes a huge bite and lets out a genuine, drawn-out groan of pleasure. “Mmm! This is good, actually good, better than whatever dad tries to make.” 

You let out a quick exhale of a laugh. The tight knot of tension in your chest finally loosens. You pluck a donut for yourself, not bothering with Yelena’s meticulous selection process.

Even with her teasing about Bob, a warm wave of relief washes over you. You've found a genuine connection with at least one person on this team. Well, there's Alexei too, but Alexei is friendly right off the bat, like a big, boisterous golden retriever.

As you and Yelena enjoy your donuts, a quiet murmur of conversation and two pairs of footsteps draw steadily louder. 

“Wow, looks real tidy out here,” Walker’s voice announces from just around the corner. He steps fully into the kitchen, Bucky Barnes following close behind him. They both are in athletic gear, ready for a morning workout. “Smells real good too.”

“Good morning, Mr. Walker, and nice to finally meet you, Mr. Barnes.” Your lips curve upward in a polite greeting. Bucky simply returns it with a nod and a small smile of his own, while Yelena tosses a casual, “What’s up, losers?” their way.

“Some coffee and donuts?” you offer, holding up the bag. Both of the super soldiers accept enthusiastically. While they chat with Yelena, you busy yourself with coffee and mugs.

"Maybe this secretary thing is awesome after all," Walker remarks complacently with a smirk, his eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine amusement. He works away at his donut.

“Walker,” Bucky lectures, his voice a low, warning rumble.

You smile as you set their coffee in front of them on the kitchen island. "Just part of the job,” you can’t deny that it feels good to have someone acknowledge and appreciate your work, even jokingly. 

༉ ✧˚₊

After a quick breakfast, the others begin to disperse. Yelena leaves to go take a shower, and Bucky and Walker make their way to the gym. 

You inhale your donut in a few quick bites and retrieve your company-issued tablet from your purse, flipping through various tabs, reviewing the team’s schedule today. Although each person on the team is sent their own schedule, you keep everyone’s, so you can locate someone if you are looking for them, or if someone doesn’t make it somewhere on time, it’s your duty to check on them.  

A quick glance confirms the mission briefing for tomorrow: the whole team, minus Bob. It seems like Val is utilizing the new support staff—you, to keep him company while the team is deployed. While your role for most of the team is to respond when needed, your duties for Bob involve a slightly more active form of oversight. You have to make sure that he wakes up before noon and eats all his meals. 

For now, you sit in the common area with the curtains drawn open, as you review what would be stacks of paperwork if it weren’t digital. The Watchtower is brighter but not much more lively. Today is everyone’s day off; therefore, some go their separate ways to take care of business. You would usually find the quietness relaxing, but the lack of structure is unnerving. It’s not the kind of stressful, rigid work environment you're used to.

You officially met Ava Starr when she strolled past the common area on her way out. Her movement fluid and silent, as if gliding. Her ethereal, pale blue eyes remind you of a fairy.

With your introduction, she simply mutters, “finally, another girl.” A faint smile tugging at her lips.

“Want a donut?” 

How many times have you said the word ‘donut’ today?

“How thoughtful, don’t mind if I do,” Ava says, giving you a nod of thanks before she disappears.

A moment after Ava leaves, just when the air has settled, a soft padding of bare feet against the tiled floor catches your attention. Bob’s eyes are half closed, still lost somewhere in sleep, as he wobbles slowly across the common area toward the kitchen, oblivious to you. Strands of his brown hair stick out in different directions, appearing golden under the sun. You would alert him, but there’s something so captivating about watching Bob just existing, devoid of nervousness or uncertainty. 

He rubs his eye as he yawns tiredly, reaching a hand up under his shirt to scratch his stomach. The fabric rides up, revealing his abdomen. Your eyes widen, and your heart jolts against your ribcage. His baggy clothes make him look unassuming, even scrawny, but the reality is anything but. Beneath the fabric lay an expanse of taut, defined muscles that spoke quiet strength—a sharp contrast that stole your breath. You swallow thickly.

Fuck.

Still unaware of your presence, Bob's eyes finally open fully, drawn by something in the kitchen. His gaze falls on the last donut remaining on a plate. He absentmindedly grabs the pastry and starts feasting. Mid-chewing, he turns, locking eyes with you, and freezes.

“Oh shit,” he says incoherently, you almost didn’t make out his words. He swallows his bite, his eyes wide from surprise or panic, you’re not sure which, “uh, hey…that wasn’t yours, was it?”

You sputter, a fit of laughter hits you all at once, and you can’t seem to take a full breath. Maybe it was because of how carefree he was the second before, but reverted to his usual self in the snap of a finger, or the fact that there’s sugar on the side of his mouth.

Your laughter evokes a bashful smile from Bob, “So, was that a 'no, it wasn't yours,' or do you just enjoy my cluelessness?” He says, his tongue darts out briefly to lick away the sugar on the side of his mouth. 

“Maybe I do, and the donut is for you,” you say, still breathless from laughing. “You’re lucky that I’m here to make sure no one grabbed two.” 

“Thanks,” Bob lets out a sigh of relief, clearly still a bit embarrassed but grateful. "I…I didn’t know that you were going to be here today.”

“Well, Bob, I have a job here,” you tilt your head with an amused smile as you make your way to the kitchen, to him. “And I’ll be here every day.”

“Right, that makes sense…” His voice trails off. 

A quiet elation blossoms within him in your presence, like a breath of fresh spring air. You, with your gentle smile and disarming frankness, are a stark contrast from those who walk on eggshells around him, wary of rattling the Void. He doesn’t hold that against them, but it felt good being treated like he’s a normal person—no serum, no Sentry, no Void.

A tingly, warm feeling spreads across his chest, a feeling he didn’t even realize he missed. His bashful smile softens further, and his gaze, usually a little distant, settles on you with a warmth that matches the new feeling in his chest. He clears his throat gently. "So," he begins, “what exactly is your job with us…I mean, I know you are our uh, assistant or secretary, but what does that entail?”

“Well, just about anything, I can cook for you guys, get groceries, manage paperwork, clean, be good company,” you list, but pause, “speaking of groceries, you guys are very out. Would you come to the store with me? I’m not sure what everyone likes.”

“Oh, um…” Bob's face falls, his blue eyes clouding with sorrow. "The team doesn't like me going outside," he explains quietly. "Because the Void might come out, you know. And that's... not good."

“So you just…stay here all day?”

“Pretty much.”

You soften your gaze, speaking gently. "Val actually mentioned you're allowed to leave the Tower with a companion. You can't conquer the Void by being cooped up all day, Bob. Besides, we're only going to grab groceries, we'll come straight back if you'd like, and I'll be right there with you." You suggest, being careful not to pressure him into something he's uncomfortable with.

“Are you sure?” Bob fiddles with the sleeve of his sweatshirt—you learn that it’s a nervous habit of his.

“I believe in you. Do you believe in yourself?”

Bob seems to ponder it over in his head and eventually takes a deep breath. “Okay…I will at least try.”

“Alright,” you beamed, unable to stop the big smile spreading across your face. “That’s all I ask.”

Your smile lightened something in Bob, drawing a soft, answering smile to his lips.

Bob nodded, his gaze softening as he held your smile, “yeah…”

You tilt your head, a playful glint in your eye. "So, are you flying us or should I drive?"

button divider by @/bernardsbendystraws

[globalnewscollective]

Elon Musk vs. The Institute of Peace – A Real-Life Thriller

DOGE vs. USIP: A Detailed Account of the March 17, 2025 Confrontation

On March 17, 2025, a significant confrontation unfolded in Washington, D.C., as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, sought to assert control over the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). This incident has ignited debates concerning governmental authority and the autonomy of federally funded institutions.

Background on USIP

Established by Congress in 1984, the USIP is an independent, nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting conflict resolution and peacebuilding worldwide. Although it receives federal funding, the institute operates autonomously, maintaining a distinct separation from executive branch oversight.

Timeline of Events: March 15-18, 2025

Friday, March 15: Initial Attempts to Enter

On Friday afternoon, DOGE officials first attempted to gain access to the USIP headquarters, just off the National Mall, but were turned away by institute representatives. Later that evening, around 7:00 PM, Musk’s team returned, this time accompanied by two F.B.I. agents. They presented a document signed by remaining board members that removed the institute’s acting president. However, after USIP’s lawyer informed them that the institute was an independent agency outside the executive branch, they left without gaining entry.

Weekend: Legal Threats and Escalation

Over the weekend, tensions escalated as the F.B.I. allegedly threatened institute employees over their refusal to grant access. On Sunday night, Jonathan Hornok, the newly appointed chief of the criminal division of the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia, contacted USIP lawyer George Foote. He reportedly made requests on behalf of DOGE officials to gain access to the institute’s “books and records.” When USIP resisted, Hornok allegedly threatened a criminal investigation.

Monday Morning: Signs of Resistance

By Monday morning, signs were posted on the doors of the USIP headquarters, hastily printed, warning against trespassing and stating that the building was “closed until further notice.” These signs appeared to be an effort by institute officials to prevent DOGE’s forced entry.

Monday Afternoon: Standoff and Police Involvement

On Monday afternoon, Musk representatives arrived in a black S.U.V. with government plates, escorted by private security in separate vehicles dressed in street clothing. Initially, they struggled to find an open entrance, circling the building before stopping. Two USIP lawyers, including George Foote and Ms. Lin, emerged and approached the vehicle, leading to a windowside negotiation.

During the exchange, DOGE representatives, including a man who identified himself as Kenneth Jackson, the newly installed agency president, invited the lawyers to enter the vehicle. Ms. Lin declined, jokingly expressing concerns about where they would be taken. Instead, she suggested taking a walk outside. The discussion ended with an agreement to hold a meeting over a video call.

As rush hour traffic backed up behind the stalled vehicle, drivers honked impatiently. Eventually, DOGE’s team did not gain entry until officers from Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department arrived. However, rather than removing DOGE officials, the police cleared USIP leadership from the building.

Monday Evening: DOGE Takes Control

By 5:00 PM, DOGE officials had fully entered the building, with Kenneth Jackson assuming the role of acting president. Inside, DOGE representatives took control of key offices, while USIP’s previous leadership was escorted out. Police reports remained ambiguous, with spokesperson Tom Lynch confirming only that officers responded to a call about unlawful entry but did not make any arrests.

Among those present were Nate Cavanaugh and Justin Aimonetti, two Musk officials who had previously forced entry into the African Development Foundation, another government entity affected by the February executive order.

Late into Monday night, members of Musk’s team, known for working around the clock, remained inside the institute. Kenneth Jackson was seen in the office of the president, actively working. Dinner was delivered—Sweetgreen and six pizzas—suggesting they intended to stay for the long haul.

Legal and Political Repercussions

In response to these events, USIP and several board members have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the legality of the board's dismissal and DOGE's intervention. Representative Don Beyer criticized DOGE's actions as an “illegal power grab,” emphasizing concerns over the precedent such a takeover could set for other independent organizations.

Broader Implications

This confrontation underscores the tension between governmental efficiency initiatives and the preservation of independent institutions that contribute to global peace and diplomacy. The outcome of this legal battle may have lasting implications for the balance of power between the executive branch and autonomous organizations established by Congress.

As the situation develops, stakeholders and observers are closely monitoring the potential impacts on USIP's mission and the future autonomy of similar institutions.

[belowheavenrpg]

Good morning, students!

Welcome to your first day at Paradiso Boarding School! I'm Ms. Adler, here to make sure all of you new arrivals can have a smooth transition into what will become your new home for - hopefully! - the next 8 years of your life.

As you are no doubt aware, Paradiso is the premier institution of middle and high level education in the Kingdom of Heaven. You, dear students, are privileged among the privileged. Here you will learn all you need in order to perform your role during adulthood.

Now, most of you were probably homeschooled all your life, and the idea of getting out from under your parents' wings seems very scary! But rest assured - it's an important part in the development of any elf. Your life away from home and your contact with other students and the faculty will teach you self-discipline and how to live harmoniously in society.

In addition to learning about history and the natural sciences, you will be taught a variety of subjects like art and music, as well as combat-oriented skills. Among these is the manipulation of our world's most important resource: Aether.

Aether is the very life force of the world. As descendants of the divine, we elves are attuned to it, and thus are able to manipulate it with training. Aether lingers in the air but cannot be propagated through it, so each student will be tasked with developing their own Aether Focus in order to better make use of it. Your focus is personal and speaks a lot about you as a person - so choose your design carefully.

You have certainly taken notice of the armband on your uniforms. These are personalized and must be worn at all times. The color on the armband identifies your grade, with the ones you all have right now - red - representing grade 1. Further grades will move along the spectrum of visible light - orange for grade 2, yellow for grade 3, and so on. Grade 8, your final year here, is represented by white.

As a safety measure, you must wear your uniforms both inside and outside the school grounds. While you have access to the entire colony, your uniforms will serve as a means of identifying you as students of Paradiso even in other Sectors, and the barcode inside the armband will help others identify you should there be any issue.

That is all for now! Please head back to your dorms and familiarize yourselves with your new dorm-mates. Good relations to those around you are paramount to a healthy life. Classes start later today, so please refer to your personal schedules and don't be late! If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to consult one of the many BN-UU7 units roaming the school grounds. They exist to serve.

We hope this is the start of a fruitful period in your lives. I'll see you all soon. Have a nice day!

[alexbkrieger13]

P interview, I don't have access though

https://x.com/FAZ_Sport/status/1907035534616100993

"Women's football needs to be made 'cooler'"

Pernille Harder, star player of FC Bayern, talks about the tactical strength of the Bundesliga, the better marketing in England and the constraints that make it difficult for men to live open lives.

Ms. Harder, you've won the league title at least once with all your clubs and were named "European Footballer of the Year" twice. Can you get used to success?

I'm not getting used to it, no. It's just in me that I want to win, and I do that every day in training. I give everything I have for the clubs I play for. Fortunately, things have gone pretty well so far, and I've been able to win a lot of titles.

Where does your will to win come from?

The desire to win more titles is just one of the factors that drives me. It's also important to me to see my personal development and that of the team from year to year, week to week. That's what motivates me the most and what I focus on. I think the will to win stems from that to some extent.

After three years at Chelsea, you moved to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. What are the differences between the English Women's Super League (WSL) and the Women's Bundesliga?

It's difficult to compare the two leagues. If you just look at football, German teams have become tactically better over the years. They work hard as a unit. There are English teams that do that too, but in the WSL, the individual quality within each team is more important. That's perhaps the biggest difference to the Women's Bundesliga. I feel like tactical knowledge is increasing in Germany because it's more about team performance within the team.

Compared to the time when you played in England , has the league changed a lot since then?

Is this also the reason why the WSL, like no other European league, has succeeded in transferring the momentum into everyday league life after the 2022 European Championship at home?

They've used the momentum to continue investing in the league and find new ways to develop it sustainably. Other countries have relied too much on this happening automatically – but it's not like that. You have to embrace the momentum and not rest on your laurels. The English league has done that very well.

Why has the development in the Women's Bundesliga not been as steep as in England or the USA?

The marketing and branding could be better. However, since I last played in Germany, the league has become significantly better at getting people interested in women's football. The Bundesliga has developed significantly over the past five years, but perhaps women's football needs to be made even cooler in its external image. In England, clubs are very good at portraying their players as powerhouses.

New attendance records are regularly set in the WSL. Now, an average of more than 7,000 spectators attend a women's game, as significantly more highlight games are played in the larger stadiums.

This could also be the case in Germany. Clubs need to keep working on it, believe in themselves, and invest in women's football. They may not be benefiting financially from it right now, but in the long run, profits will come. That's a big goal.

When the Premier League was founded in 1992 and became the most lucrative league in the world, many fans lost authenticity, community, and closeness. There are fears that women's football could follow the same path.

When more money is involved, there's always the risk that certain values ​​will be lost. I hope that women's football doesn't lose the qualities that make it so special.

What are the core values ​​of women’s football for you ?

Women's football is very open-minded. There's no homophobia and less hostility. It's simply a pure joy to come to our games because it's all about football. Everyone is welcome, regardless of ethnicity or sexuality. These are important values ​​that we must uphold.

Would you like to see more attention given to women's football, even if this means that you can no longer go out on the street without being approached?

That's perhaps the upside: We still have our private lives. For male soccer players, it can be difficult to go to a restaurant in peace and not be recognized. But if that's the consequence of more attention, we have to accept it and learn to deal with it.

The transfer of you and your partner Magdalena Eriksson has not only brought a new dimension to the Bundesliga in sporting terms. Why is there such a big difference in diversity between women's and men's football?

In women's football, we're fortunate that the environment has always been open and diverse. Even as women's football has grown and received more attention, it has maintained this openness over the years. Something has yet to change in men's football, and that makes it so difficult for many players to speak and live freely and openly.

120 openly gay players are said to have participated in the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Do you find it strange that sexual openness is normal in women's football, but not in men's football?

Is men's football ready for a big coming out?

That's difficult to say because we don't know what the reactions would be. It's a personal decision for each individual, and it's important to create an environment where anything is possible. Currently, the fear of negative reactions seems to still outweigh everything else.

Do you also see this danger at FC Bayern?

No, I'm optimistic. There's a very open fan community here, including the queer fan club "Queerpass," which attends every men's and women's game. I was able to meet them a few weeks ago, and the exchange with the members was very inspiring. I hope they continue to have such a positive influence on fan culture in the Bundesliga and in men's football as they have so far.

Denmark will be one of Germany's opponents in the preliminary round of the European Championship. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said after the draw that Scandinavia has been doing excellent work with women's football for decades.

Looking at the longer term, he's certainly right. I can't speak for Sweden or Norway, but at least in Denmark, we were a bit slow at the beginning when it came to the league and the general development of women's football. Now, many clubs also have a women's team, want to invest in training, and get their teams into the top division.

What is possible for Denmark at the European Championships?

I think we're doing quite well with the national team. We're neither one of the best nor the worst teams, but have always been somewhere in the middle of the pack. I feel like we've developed even further in recent years – and in Andrée Jeglertz, we also have a relatively new coach.

[barcodenumber00]

the innies at mammalians nurturable seem to be there permanently. or they seem to be unable to leave.

most of them appear to be unclean, or have no access to personal care or are unclear on how to interact with people. if ms. huang was acquired by the company as a child, or if lumon has no issue taking on children, who's to say at least some of the employees at mammalians nurturable weren't also brought in as children, severed young enough that their memories were split before their minds could fully develop, flocking to the sound of a bell - like a school bell, maybe? (we see in ms. cobel's shrine that the Eagans owned schools)

What if they were the very first to be severed and they were hidden down below as failed experiments on young children? mammalians nurturable is also an interesting name. humans are mammals too.

his outie excelled at stargazing - glow in the dark stars in a child's bedroom.

[omamorens]

a while back you said something akin to “inkblade college au.. (head full of thoughts)” !! would you be so kind as to open your head and share them? i am begging you on my knees…. spare inkbkade college au.. pls…

dear anon you dont have any idea of the floodgates im about to open but!!! im imagining two main routes for this college au. bear with me with this long answer!!

the ‘met-again at college’ au:

In this version of the events, the Rat Grinders probably broke off to do their own individual thing after finishing junior year and their redemption quests.

Oisin would probably distance himself away from Elmville but still pursue wizarding school elsewhere. Probably at the Bastion City University.

This time, he does it correctly with no cheating.

Though if he was being honestly, still having access to the full benefits from the school of conjuration was probably an unfair advantage.

So he always pushed himself to do harder, to excel beyond expectations. He’s a chronic over-worker and just wants to do things right for once.

Oisin never gets into another adventuring party again and instead studies to be some type of wizard scientist, developing new spells and technology probably.

Adaine, by this time, is already a world-renowned adventurer and top divination wizard of their age, in her own right.

She’s already established somewhat of a mark to history at the young age of 24? 25? probably younger, honestly.

Oisin hears about her from time to time— they do occupy the same wizarding circles and its kind of hard to avoid mention of the Elven Oracle.

But she was a famous figure now, literally beyond reach from a lowly college student like himself.

Imagine his surprise when he sees her walk into his class one day, but not as a student, no.

Adaine was a guest speaker and was about to discuss to them the very interesting topic of the Cosmology of Extraplanar Realms and Studies of Divinities

Oisin blanked out most of it.

Too starstruck from seeing Adaine again and oh… his chest was hurting again, phantom-pains from the shatterstar that never really left his mind.

Or is it?

Before he knew it, the session has ended. He thinks it ended too soon but the topic was actually discussed for two hours.

But his professor has an announcement to make? He stayed back to hear it out.

“Miss Abernant will be conducting research in the university for some time, and she has graciously granted the Wizard Department the opportunity for a student to take up an internship role for the duration of her team’s stay. Interested students may submit a form to me and the decision will be passed to Miss Abernant’s team after careful deliberation. That is all, thank you.”

Oisin has spaced out again, reeling from the thought that their paths would probably cross even more now that she’ll be at BCU indefinitely.

“Mr. Hakinvar? Oisin Hakinvar?” his professor called for him, and he addresses her, snapping out of his thoughts.

“Ms. Abernant, this is the top student of the Wizarding course, Oisin Hakinvar. I would speak highly into considering him for the role…”

Oisin has drowned out the noise again, because Adaine was staring at him, a twinge of familiarity setting in on her features. And of annoyance.

“Oh, I know of him.” she says tersely, “Top student, you say? No unfair advantages to speak of?”

Oisin’s brow twitched at that, answering the question himself, “None at all. I’ll make sure to send in my form for the internship role.”

Because he was prideful more than anything, and the subtle mocking comment made at him was baseless.

Adaine doesn’t know him, not the way that he is right now. Not after he’s pushed himself over and over to prove that he is worthy to be here.

“Very well! I’m sure Miss Abernant will be pleased to review your form.”

“Trust me, I am very good on both paper and practical application.”

Adaine shouldn’t even care for him at all, but she was curious. After Oisin and his adventuring party disappeared off Elmville, she always wondered what they were up to. Maybe more evil plots? Maybe they died somewhere off Spyre? Who knows.

Now she does, and the kindling of curiosity was highly-flammable, the worst of all motivators she could have.

And yet.

“I’ll be the judge of that.” she says to him, like a challenge. Oisin was set on meeting her to it.

This AU is definitely tagged as “Enemies-to-Lovers”, constant bickering and challenging looks, academic rivalry too because thats always nice. Maybe a bit of mystery because I do love the allure of putting them in a dark academia setting.

the ‘they got close during senior year and went to college together’ au:

This one is definitely sweeter and idyllic.

If you’ve ever heard of Sabrina Carpenter’s new song “Please, please, please” this is the general theme; its what Adaine would feel like.

Because in this AU, Adaine finally gives Oisin the chance to date her during college.

They’re always together anyway; with both being wizards pursuing academe, their schools of study interact in much more ways than anticipated.

Lots of cute dates in between classes too!!

Going to the newest cafe to try out their menu.

Amusement park dates!! Museum dates!!!

Bastion City is filled with things to do.

And even when they don’t, just studying together was already a date.

Oisin would always have some part of his body in contact with her.

Maybe his tail wrapped around her calf under the table, his free hand on her knee when they read together side by side, or just letting her lean on to him if she gets too tired to sit upright.

Adaine, on the other hand, was a little more paranoid of their relationship.

Was she just lying in wait for Oisin to fuck up? Hopefully not, but the chances are never zero. And she hates thinking of that, because at some level, she does trust and love Oisin, wholeheartedly.

But the past has always been haunting her in some way or another.

And it’s hard to relax when danger has been everything you knew your whole life.

But Oisin was soft with her, caring and understanding, frankly a little possessive and obsessive, but it was just the healthy amount that makes her want to drag him to bed every night and assure him that she is all his.

And Oisin proves to her that he is all hers.

Just imagine. Domestic Inkblade. never thought i would live to see the day that both words are in the same sentence.

Lots of late night cuddles, of assurances, of future plans togethers.

Unending conversations of “i love you” said in the most unconventional ways.

AND OF COURSE this is college. you cant expect me to think of college au without having Adaine live up to her “Party Wizard” title!!!

Adaine definitely lets loose at parties. She has her friends with her, a loving boyfriend, and her life has never been better.

But god she has the worst alcohol tolerance known to mankind.

Oisin is definitely watching over her, excusing himself from drinking too much just incase Adaine goes wild again.

And oh she does.

Thank god Oisin is there to [i will not elaborate what happens here, but god is it in my head; just guess].

And then she wakes up with a raging headache and Oisin is more than happy to care for her (making her hangover food, massaging her sore spots).

Like I said, domestic. Fluff and comfort and so much healing. LIKE SOOO MUCH. this is the answer to the “we could’ve had it all” tag because in this AU, they have it all.

Good for them… good for them!!

Will I write this? Not anytime soon but God would I kill to read it. Someone… anyone… save me inkblade college au save me…

[cripplecharacters]

Hello! There was original character who I drew a lot as a young child who was a cane user and also wore a leg brace (there was a character in a book I liked at the time who had a cane and I thought they were cool. No idea where the leg brace came from- I was seven). I recently found the sketches and wanted to develop him more as a character, since I still like his design and the small bit of story I managed to come up with as a 2nd grader. However, I feel that I should do some research into cane users and disabilities that can cause someone to use a cane. I’ve been attempting to do this, but I’m having trouble finding information on specific conditions that can cause the balance issues/muscular issues/etc that could cause cane use. Could you point me in the direction of somewhere to find this info, or some key terminology to research? Also, would it be offensive for me, as a non-physically disabled person (I am autistic), to have a physically disabled character and/or potentially use him in roleplay scenarios? If I ever used him in a roleplay capacity, I fully intend on doing thorough research first.

Thank you!

Hello!

Canes can help with a lot of different things such as chronic pain, instability/weakness in one or both legs, balance or coordination issues, and general mobility issues.

Braces can help by supporting the joints, preventing hyperextension of the joints, compressing the joints, and easing pain. They can also be worn temporarily or only during sports or other physical activity.

Some conditions that come to mind for the cane and brace use include:

Arthritis

Chronic Pain Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

Fibromyalgia

Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD)

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Muscular Dystrophy

A past injury, such as an injury to the area where the brace is.

As for roleplaying a disabled character, that's something that's a bit harder to answer. There are a lot of disabled people who find it offensive or insensitive while many others don't mind it.

Personally, I don't have a problem with it if the person is doing their research and portraying it accurately and fairly. I think it encourages people to do their research and learn more about disability. It's also a good way to get people thinking more about accessibility and certain barriers that able-bodied people may not encounter in their day-to-day lives.

Cheers,

~ Mod Icarus

[fujocoded]

Event Announcement!

Join FujoCoded at Escapade, the original slash slumber party with three decades of fannish history, in Los Angeles, CA from Jan. 31st to Feb. 2nd! Come chat with us about fandom, join our panels, and maybe even buy an exclusive new Fujoboard...

Want to attend in-person? There's still time to sign up!

You can also register for the upcoming online-only Escapade 35.5 or donate to help out this long-standing fandom tradition directly ($20 gets you access to the Escapade 35 Discord!)

@essential-randomness will be hosting 3 panels this year, all about a better fannish internet:

What's up with BlueSky (and decentralized social networks)?

The Fujoshi Guide to Web Development - Building a Fandom from Scratch

Personal Fannish Websites (co-hosted with Elf)

Finally, Escapade needs your help! Even if you can't attend, there are still tons of ways to chip in and help secure the future for this piece of fandom history. Spread the word, tell your friends!

And here's the exclusive Escapade FujoBoard.... under the cut!

See you in the vendor alley for this, our other merch, and maybe some more "exclusive merch" from Ms Boba's personal stash of samples!

[abrthephantomq]

Soooo....

Turnabout Storyteller.

I had already vaguely known about Uendo having DID due to me not necessarily avoiding spoilers when reading fanfic, but...

I have so many thoughts on this as someone who HAS the disorder they're representing here.

Like, one, I definitely appreciated the way they revealed it -- during a Mood Matrix session. Having multiple sets of feelings and having them switch on and off like that is def a thing. I've/we've experienced that before.

But also -- before that, when Uendo was switching between his "characters" and everyone thought he was just putting on a performance? Yeah, see. They did that really well considering that like -- yes, the way alters hold the body/the face can be really different. They certainly felt like different people, which was really cool to see. I liked the different poses they had because as I played I was like, "Huh... is he the character with DID...? He is, right?"

The thing is, I'm like 80% certain that Uendo is the murderer, and THAT annoys me -- but I'm not done playing through the case, yet. I just started the second half of the trial, so.... I'll comment as I go.

But if I'm right and Uendo IS the murderer, I'm gonna have to roll my eyes because soooo many pieces of media use my disorder to show HEY SOMEONE WITH THIS COULD BE A KILLER AND NOT KNOWWWWW and I hate that. Because like.... no.

OH THANK GOD. Like 3 seconds into the send half of the trial and it's NOT Uendo. Yay. Yayyyyy. I'm actually really glad they did that subversion of the person-with-DID-is-the-killer trope. Thank fucking GOD.

SIMON GRABBING ATHENA when she starts to doubt she can prove Bucky's innocence is just -- fuck. Okay. Yeah, I see why the fandom loves that particular moment. (I love Simon so much omfg).

I am honestly loving this case and I actually really like the way they've presented Uendo -- it's simplified a bit for the sake of the audience, but at the same time, switching DO be like that. And you can certainly be co-conscious and share memory.

Like.... that's legitimately how our System works -- there's usually 2-3 of us up front at any given time, with someone generally more forward, while the other(s) listens / watches. Sometimes others push to the front. And there are 4 of us who more or less have access to the continual life happenings even if we don't always recollect specific details (or what we were feeling) later.

Also Owen being a LITTLE makes so much damn sense? Fuck, idk man, I love it. I kinda adore them.

I really really really got weary when Uendo's diagnosis was revealed because, y'know, the whole oh God pls tell me you're not the murderer even if it was kinda looking like you were.

That fucking balloon girl did it, didn't she? Jesus fucking Christ. I love that, but I also hate that. Also it's so unfair they made this chick so goddamned pretty.

Also man can I also say just how like.... they legitimately refer to Owen as a child, and Kisegawa with Ms., and -- that's actually a nice little piece of the writing here. Like... is it absolutely perfect? No. It's not. But let me tell you -- as someone with this disorder? Writing it and showing it for an audience is hard.

That whole, "everyone is unique" thing applies here -- every System is different. They all develop ways of functioning in order to blend in and protect themselves. Uendo may not have the denial bit that comes with this disorder (do you know how many times I find myself asking if I'm sure I'm not faking this thing? do you??? because like, it's a "rare" disorder, right? and was my trauma REALLY bad enough for me to have alters???? etc) -- but considering the confident way he, Patches, and Kisegawa speak about their experience with the disorder, I would imagine they've been in therapy for it for a while, now.

But also -- the three of them not being aware of Owen? Or denying his existence, at least? Well, they were either protecting him because he's so young, or they legitimately did not know since apparently he may only come forward when the body is drunk.

idk I love that Uendo et al was not the killer. Like so much. Thank FUCK.

Also that was a really fun case even if it was like, not entirely relevant to the overall story happening here in SOJ. I definitely enjoyed it.

[lawbin-archive]

Hi kokonut

First of all, I'd like to thank you for your analysis and recaps on Lawbin interactions and similarities.

I enjoyed them so much. I SHIP THEM HARD.

I started reading One Piece because of Ms All Sunday at the time. You know she looked so badass with the outfit, stoic/stern luck, and her DF abilities. I was Luffy and his nakama's age at the time and when she joined I was like: "Wow, Robin's so much older and mature, a woman in her late 20s. How does it feel to be that mature?"

Now, I am even older than her :))). (I'm old, I know)

I'll try organizing my thoughts chronogically. This might be long as NR and One Piece and I go way back to my adolescent years.

- So yeah, I have been a Robin fan since way back. One Piece wasn't as popular and access to manga was not easy. I saved One Piece chapters on floppy diskettes of 1.44 MB capacity (those were the dark ages). I had nobody around me to talk about One Piece and Nico Robin even searched for a mailing list and sent a cold email to a stranger just to search for someone to talk about Nico Robin/Miss All sunday lol.

- I was much younger so what I cared about mostly was just badassery and her being cool and strong. I got really worried and sad when Robin was frozen by Aokiji and she was a "burden" to her nakama. But then came Water 7 and Enies Lobby arc which were Robin's arc and full of Robin which made me really happy. Robin's outfit from back then is still the best Robin outfit for me.

- I was not very much and is still not into character ships. I've seen some Zoro x Robin and Franky x Robin ships since back then. I read the reason why people match them but I wasn't convinced. I just didn't see it. (We'll get to Law and Law x Robin later)

- When the supernovas were introduced in Sabaody archipelago pre-time skip, Law stood out for me immediately upon his introduction. Most probably cause he was the only one that was directly mentioned by Robin to Luffy :)) Oh, and cause he had a unique name that made me curious.

- And then came the time skip. I was kind of "disappointed" when Robin was sent to Tequila wolf. You see all the straw hats went to unique islands and we knew what they were doing there (e.g. Luffy with the amazon lilies, nami studying weather) while Robin went to I am sorry be a slave at a random bridge??? And what the hell was she doing with the Revolutionaries? We know what the other Strawhats were doing during the timeskip but what she did during the timeskip was always vague.

- I was also rather disappointed with her design post timeskip in Sabaody archipelago :/ Where was the cowboy hat? Why the much "softer" clothes? Where was the full body leather dress as in Enies lobby?

- The last time I followed the chapters real time was at the beginning of Punk Hazard, Law hasn't even reappeared at that time. And then life happened: uni and work and life in general. I had other hobbies and interests too, I had minimal time to follow chapters per week with less motivation fueled by my "disappointment" about post timeskip Robin .

- So, I had around 10-12 years of One Piece hiatus. Now OP is VERY mainstream and accessible, so different compared to when I first read them 20 years ago. I decided to pick up where I left: beginning of Punk Hazard.

- Now that I am much older and mature with more of the story revealed, everything about Robin's character development makes sense to me:

How she's much more relaxed, and how it felt to not want to be a burden for others, how it's okay to ask for help (and that it's a very courageous thing to ask for help), and how she felt so happy Sanji asked her for help :')

- My disappointment about how she was sent to Tequila Wolf (and The Revolutionaries) has evaporated: Oda has tied her even further to the One Piece lore after all

- I mentioned that I've seen Frobin and Zorobin since way back then. Now I have a perspective of both a teenager me and much older me reading Nico Robin interact with other characters. I still do not see the appeal to those pairings. But when I read her interactions with Law, I immediately got: AHA!!! WHAT'S THIS?

- Now that I've caught up to all chapters (up to 1133 as of now). I SHIP THEM HARD. I'm squeezing years worth of Law x Robin obsession/admiration/hope in these recent weeks LOL. So glad that I found your blog so that I know I am not crazy and not alone in seeing the appeal of Law and Robin. Damn shipping in the fandom is so toxic these days.

- I agree with your writing about why you ship Law x Robin. Back in my younger days, the idea of opposite attracts appealed to me. But now that I'm much older and much overwhelmed with life, the meshing of personalities such as Law and Robin's what appeals and what makes sense to me. Both are introverts with quirks (both are nerds in their own field) and both can engage in intelligent and analytical discussions.

Ah well I blab a lot. Sorry for the long post. I hope we can see Law (and Robin) interaction again soon. I might write to you again next time. Hope you're not bored. :)))

Hi, thank you so much for the long message you sent me. I feel so heartwarmed whenever someone shares their lawbin experience with me. I’m sorry it’s taken me a few days to get back to you, I’ve been busy lately :(

I’m glad you enjoyed the analysis, even though I wrote most of it late at night when I was supposed to be sleeping, so my writing was probably a mess. And OMG I’m a baby one piece fan—I only got into it last year. It’s so nice to know someone has been in the fandom for so long! I’m happy that one piece has grown so much that it’s now easier to find people to share your one piece thoughts with!

I also really wish we could learn more about what happened to Robin during the time skip. I think one piece has grown with its audience, when you read it at different stages of your life, your interpretation changes. I’d say I’m lucky because I got into it pretty late, so a lot of things have already been revealed, and I didn’t have to wait for them haha I’m also super happy that you’re back and shipping lawbin too. The more lawbin fans, the merrier!

I do also ship them so hard, and I’m thrilled to have met so many lawbin shippers who share my obsession. The shipping fandom can get pretty toxic nowadays, but as long as we focus on our ship and find happiness in it, I think we can ignore all the hate :)

I know a lot of people believe that opposites attract, but my personal experience tells me otherwise, and that’s one of the reasons I ship them. I’m so happy my blog has reached you, and I want you to know you’re definitely not alone!!

If you’re interested, you can always join the lawbin discord (shamelessly promoting) https://discord.com/invite/NRE3hheBPA

There are even more Lawbin shippers there, and we can delulu haha :D Thank you so much again for sharing your thoughts! <3

[fbfh]

Okay I just read your post on thee stark tower and I was amazed by the amount of research you've done I absolutely loved it

Please hit us with any more facts you have (I'm also planning on making an essay on the stark tower and you've saved me literally)

actually me right now. smooches you.

BABES. ACTUALLY SCREAMING AND SOBBING. I DO IN FACT HAVE A FUCK MORE INFO SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO YAP ABOUT MY NICHE BORDERLINE NEUROTIC OBSESSION WITH THIS!!!!!! read more bc this is going to be a long post lol

quick disclaimer!!:

while I try to make this info as canon compliant as possible (and I'm p sure I'm doing a good job with that aspect so far) please keep in mind that I am using some creative liberty to bridge certain gaps in terms of realism!!

that being said if there's anything you don't like or vibe with you can ABSOLUTELY headcanon it as something else. infinite realities infinite stark towers yk.

my goal with this is to give us all a concrete BASE for fics, shifting, visualization, maladaptive daydreaming, or just obsessive curiosity

tldr take this with a grain of salt and please feel free to use it as a jumping off point!!

ps specifically for sweet lovely anon here: HELL YEAH HELL YEAH STARK TOWER ESSAY THAT SOUNDS SICK AS FUCK!!!! (also if anyone does use this info in fics or use the images for stuff that is okay just PLS drop credit and or link back to my blog/these posts so if other people want unnecessarily detailed info on stark tower they too can fall down the rabbit hole of my obsessive research!!)

recap of stark tower's structure:

construction/remodels of Stark Tower started around december 2010, so Tony presumably bought and planned out everything some time before that

I've estimated the bottom 1/3 of the metlife building is in tact, and Stark Tower (the iconic part we see in the movies) was built on top of that

breakdown of stark tower floors/sections

I already briefly covered the basement levels, which I'll link to here

metlife building section (Floors 1–23) - elongated octagon shaped building (like a rectangle with the long sides curved out a little), first 23 floors are for Stark Industries corporate business stuff, broken down below.

1 (Ground Floor) →

Grand Lobby (30-ft ceilings), Reception, Guest Check-In

Heavy Security Checkpoints, Screening Areas

Express Elevators to Executive Levels

2–3 → Public/Corporate Relations, Press Rooms, Investor Relations

4–6 → Legal, HR, Internal Affairs, Compliance Departments

7–10 → Stark Financial Divisions (Accounting, Treasury, Economic Analysis)

11–15 → Business Development, Tech Licensing, Global Expansion

16–18 → R&D Administration, Patent Offices, Scientific Coordination

19–23 → Advanced Tech & Defense R&D, AI Research, Cybernetics

also included in these floors are several bathrooms on each floor (men's, women's, gender neutral, and ADA/wheelchair accessible), employee entrances and exits, public and employee elevators, and security checkpoints. Also yes there is a stark industries/iron man/tony themed gift shop on in the lobby. more on that later. also shout out to reddit user Hamton52 for pointing this out AND whipping up a nice lil ms paint visual aid!!:

Stark Tower (Floors 24–73) – this is the iconic part we all think of when we hear Stark Tower. yk, the swoopy glass part that sort of looks like a llama or smth. floors broken down below

24–28 → High-Security Stark Tech Labs (Exosuits, Nanotech, Arc Reactor Projects)

29–31 → AI & Robotics Labs (J.A.R.V.I.S./F.R.I.D.A.Y. Core Servers)

32–35 → Secure Weapons Testing, Energy Development (Repulsor Tech)

36–39 → Private Research Labs (Medical Tech, Sustainable Energy)

40–43 → High-Tech Storage (Iron Man Suit Vaults, Prototype Armors)

44–46 → Tony’s Personal Office, CEO Suite, Executive Lounge

47–48 → VIP Conference Rooms, Stark Board Meetings, High-Level Negotiations

49–51 → Penthouse Guest Suites (For Avengers, SHIELD VIPs, Personal Guests)

52–55 → The Party Floors (Entertainment Areas, Bars, Lounges, Dance Floors)

56–58 → The Vehicle Hanger (Flying Cars, Suit Deployment Platforms)

59–62 → The Workshop (Full-Scale R&D for Iron Man Suits, Flight Testing)

63–66 → Tony’s Personal Living Quarters (Bedroom, Private Study, Relaxation Areas)

67–70 → Stark’s Private Arsenal (Emergency Weapons, Suit Deployment, Backup Systems)

71–73 (Top Levels) →

Helipad/Rooftop

Emergency Escape Pods

Power Generators, Communication Arrays

ceiling heights and square footage per section - maybe unnecessary to some but very helpful for me lol

Ground Floor (Lobby) → 30 ft

Corporate/Office Floors (MetLife, Floors 2-23) → 12–14 ft per floor

Stark Tower Labs & R&D (Floors 24–45) → 15–18 ft per floor

Tony’s Private Areas (Suit Vaults, Living Quarters, Workshop) → 20 ft per floor

Vehicle Hangar & Rooftop Facilities → 30 ft+

Floors 24-40 (Lower Stark Floors) maintain a larger footprint (75,000 → 64,000 sq ft, 16 ft ceilings).

Floors 41-60 (Mid Stark Floors) taper gradually (62,500 → 48,000 sq ft, 18 ft ceilings).

Floors 61-73 (Upper Stark Floors & Penthouse) shrink more dramatically (47,000 → 28,000 sq ft, 20-30 ft ceilings) due to the tower's artistic design and Tony’s luxurious penthouse.

The Penthouse (Floor 73) has the highest ceiling at 30 ft, making it the most open and spacious level.

so yeah, there's your ref for the floors n stats we're working with!! pls expect several more posts in the next little bit about the employees in stark tower, visuals for each floor (i've done all the basement floors so far, and the first 2 or 3 above ground floors so that might need to be broken up into multiple parts lol) anyway yeah!!! more infodumping coming as fast as my little fingies can type it up!!!

DISCLAIMER: the lists of floors and their content were partially generated with chatgpt, everything else was organically written by me without the use of ai

[scriptstructure]

About & Guidelines

About the Blog:

In the fashion of ScriptMedic and cohort, this blog is here to answer questions about how to structure your story, and develop your narrative, and themes. If you’ve got your research, and you’ve got your plot, and then you’re stuck on how to make it fit together, or how to use your awesome research, then this is the blog for you!

This blog can provide assistance from simple tips regarding writing itself, through to recommendations for further reading and research. If I’m able I will provide links to relevant texts, or at least attempt to provide ways to find them.

Guidelines for Asking:

FIRST! An important note: I will not read your manuscript!

MS reading is time-intensive and is the sort of thing better left to dedicated beta readers or paid editors, please do not submit part/ all of your MS, and ask me to ‘tell you what’s wrong with it’ or ‘help fix it’.

Sending your ask:

ask box is preferred! Submit box is available if you absolutely can’t fit your question into the ask

I’ll be keeping messenger open in case I need to ask clarifying questions, but I would prefer that initial questions NOT be sent via messenger.

You’ll probably need to put 1-2 sentences of context about your story, and ask about the specific issue you’re having difficulty with

Generally speaking, the more specific your question is the better I will be able to help you – figure out the area that you’re having difficulty with and ask about that in particular. Sending a long rehash of your MS and then simply asking how to make it work is impossible to answer. Tell me what You think the problem you’re having is, and we can work from there.

As this blog grows, there will no doubt be posts related to troubles you’re having, I’ll be making sure to keep up a consistent tagging system so that all previous posts should be simple to find, simply head to the navigation page and look to see if your question has already been answered. If it hasn’t? Then ask away! If I’ve answered something similar to the question you have but haven’t quite hit the nail on the head? Ask away!

Also, you might notice that I’ll often advise people to read certain texts, or recommend stories, shows, films, novels, etc that are similar to what they’re working on. Reading is the best practice for writing, you’ll learn a lot about writing by reading attentively, and it is a process – all writing is a process! There’s no quick fix or cheat sheet that will work for everyone.

If you must send a question longer than the ask box allows, use a browser to access:

www.scriptstructure.tumblr/submit

About the Blogger:

My name is Mason and I’m all about character and narrative development, I’ll be doing my best to try and work through the thorny problems that come with the writing part of writing!

I have a degree in Creative Writing, a minor in English Literature, and an honours degree in Creative Writing (thesis focused on character structure and narrative). I’ve lectured on Character development in adaptation, and I’ve taught general creative writing, as well as writing for the stage.

I have several short stories published, as well as a self published novella, you can find my personal/ author blog [HERE]

[terraterrafunki]

Blog Building Update!

So the Meet the OCs page is more or less set up, at least for my OCS! Just Dolly and Ms. Lavender are missing some art and a Toyhouse page.

Now you can learn about my OCs for the AU!

There is also a section about my friends' OCs in the AU, which is slowly being added with permission as they fill out information about their OCs and provide art

In Addition! If you are accessing the blog via PC, you will be able to view an updates tab where I'm keeping track of developments for the blog.

It lists new stuff/completed stuff and stuff I plan to add.

That's all for now, Thanks for reading!

-Terra

[meret118]

How Americans Are Surveilled During Protests

https://www.wired.com/story/uncanny-valley-podcast-how-americans-are-surveilled-during-protests/

Internet Sleuths Slam Trump for Photoshopping MS-13 Tat on Deported Dad’s Hand

https://www.thedailybeast.com/internet-sleuths-slam-trump-for-photoshopping-ms-13-tat-on-deported-dads-hand/

DOGE Is Just Getting Warmed Up DOGE has tapped into some of the most sensitive and valuable data in the world. Now it’s starting to put it to work.

But in theory, an API for all IRS data would make it possible for any agency—or any outside party with the right permissions, for that matter—to access the most personal, and valuable, data the US government holds about its citizens. The blurriness of DOGE’s mission begins to gain focus.

Even more, since we know that the IRS is already sharing its data in unprecedented ways: A deal the agency recently signed with the Department of Homeland Security provides sensitive information about undocumented immigrants.

. . .

The Washington Post reported this week that DOGE representatives across government agencies—from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Social Security Administration—are putting data that is normally cordoned off in service of identifying undocumented immigrants. At the Department of Labor, as WIRED reported Friday, DOGE has gained access to sensitive data about immigrants and farm workers. And that’s just the data that stays within the government itself.

This week NPR reported that a whistleblower at the National Labor Relations Board claims that staffers observed spikes in data leaving the agency after DOGE got access to its systems, with destinations unknown. The whistleblower further claims that DOGE agents appeared to take steps to “cover their tracks,” switching off or evading the monitoring tools that keep tabs on who’s doing what inside computer systems. (An NLRB spokesperson denied to NPR that DOGE had access to the agency’s systems.)

What could that data be used for? Anything. Everything. A company facing a union complaint at the NLRB could, as NPR notes, get access to “damaging testimony, union leadership, legal strategies and internal data on competitors.” There’s no confirmation that it’s been used for those things—but more to the point, there’s also currently no way to know either way.

www.wired.com/story/doge-is-just-getting-warmed-up-data-immigration/

Trump Is Still Trying to Undermine Elections

Now that Trump has installed election deniers throughout his Administration, he has been busy dismantling the guardrails protecting voting and voters.

. . .

As Marc Elias, an elections lawyer who litigates on behalf of Democrats, told me, “When Donald Trump says that he does not believe there should be voting machines, you should believe him. When he says there should only be voting on Election Day, you should believe him.”

. . .

“In claiming to fire a commissioner of the Federal Election Commission, the president violates the law, the separation of powers, and generations of Supreme Court precedent.” He added that the F.E.C.’s commissioners “are confirmed by Congress to serve the vital role of protecting the democratic rights of American voters. As the only agency that regulates the president, Congress intentionally did not grant the president the power to fire FEC commissioners.”

Less than two weeks later, Trump issued an executive order that states, “No employee of the executive branch acting in their official capacity may advance an interpretation of the law as the position of the United States that contravenes the President or the Attorney General’s opinion on a matter of law.”

In plain language, this mandate cancels the independence of independent agencies and, in the context of the F.E.C., gives the President the ability to make and adjudicate campaign rules to his advantage. The Democratic National Committee, along with the Democratic Congressional and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committees, is now suing Trump and Bondi’s office, on the ground that the order violates federal law, but for now it stands.

More at the link.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/trump-is-still-trying-to-undermine-elections

The Battle For American Thought If Trump can control what ideas are allowed to be discussed, he can reshape American life as we know it.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-control-american-thought_n_6802a7e9e4b0afffe5e780bf