#Web Guide Control System

[inspectionmachine]

[spiderforestcomics]

When it comes to web hosting, we have a strong core belief at the SpiderForest Webcomic Collective: We believe every webcomic creator should control their own space.

SpiderForest's application season is open through June 30, and we welcome anyone who wants to make and manage their own website for their comic to apply for membership. Here's what you can expect:

We welcome creators who host comics on their own servers, but we also provide free webcomic hosting if needed to accepted members

Our volunteers can help you choose a content management system, create a custom website design, and get you up and running

Regardless of whether you are a member or not, our community Discord is full of knowledgeable comic creators who can share their experiences and guide you through anything you're stuck on

If you're looking to make a home for your webcomic, check us out!

[sixteenseveredhands]

African Social Spiders: these spiders live in colonies that can contain up to 2,000 spiders, most of which are female; they hunt, forage, maintain their web, and raise their offspring as a group, without any dominance hierarchy or caste system

This communal behavior is extremely rare among spiders, which are normally solitary creatures. The African social spider (Stegodyphus dumicola) is one of the few species that has been identified as a true "social spider," forming colonies and living in communal nests where the spiders work together to hunt, forage, build webs, and care for their offspring.

Above: an African social spider feeding the young spiderlings of her colony by regurgitating food for them, exhibiting a level of maternal/allomaternal care that is relatively uncommon in both spiders and insects

African social spiders can be found in various parts of southwestern Africa, where they will often build a dense silk nest in the branches of a thorn tree and/or shrub. Most of the spiders in the colony are female (more than 85%, according to some studies) and the species itself also has a female-biased primary sex ratio, as researchers have found that female embryos develop in more than 80% of the eggs that the spiders produce.

Above: a group of African social spiders working together to subdue their prey, which will be taken back to the nest so that it can be shared with the rest of the colony

There is no evidence that any dominance hierarchy or caste system exists within S. dumicola colonies. The spiders all cooperate to complete a variety of tasks, such as hunting, repairing the web, foraging, defending the colony, caring for the colony's offspring, etc. While none of them are exclusively assigned to a single task, many have a primary role that they fill, often based on their physical size and condition.

Above: close-up photo of S. dumicola

This species also engages in extreme allomaternal care, meaning that many different spiders (including both mothers and "allomothers") all share the responsibility of caring for the colony's offspring; even the unmated females help out with brood care. The mothers/allomothers tend to the eggsacs, regurgitate food for the baby spiderlings, and even engage in matriphagy, which means that they will eventually be cannibalized by the babies.

From The Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior:

... some proportion of females do not reproduce – sometimes as much as 60% – but remain as helpers, contributing to foraging and brood care (allo-mothering). Both breeding females and virgin allo-mothers regurgitate food for colony offspring and eventually let the young consume their bodies. ...

Young that are raised with both mothers and allo-mothers show higher survival and growth than young raised by their mothers alone, suggesting a clear fitness benefit of cooperative breeding.

Spiders of this species generally measure about 2.5 - 3.5mm long; they can be found in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini.

Sources & More Info:

Science Direct: Social Spiders

Current Biology: Quick Guide to Social Spiders (PDF)

Phys.org: Untangling the Social Lives of Spiders

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: The Age & Evolution of Sociality in Stegodyphus Spiders

Entomology Today: Social Spiders Divide Labor According to Body Size & Condition

Animal Behaviour: Extreme Allomaternal Care by Unmated Females in a Cooperatively Breeding Spider

National Geographic: Baby Spiders Eat their Mothers

University of Portsmouth: Social Spiders Have Different Ways of Hunting in Groups

Behavioral Ecology: Spider Societies Mitigate Risk by Prioritizing Caution

Behavioral Processes: Warring Arthropod Societies

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology: Does the African Social Spider Stegodyphus dumicola Control the Sex of Individual Offspring?

[probablyasocialecologist]

To bring about its hypothetical future, OpenAI must build a new digital ecosystem, pushing users toward the ChatGPT app or toward preëxisting products that integrate its technology such as Bing, the search engine run by OpenAI’s major investor, Microsoft. Google, by contrast, already controls the technology that undergirds many of our online experiences, from search and e-mail to Android smartphone-operating systems. At its conference, the company showed how it plans to make A.I. central to all of the above. Some Google searches now yield A.I.-generated “Overview” summaries, which appear in tinted boxes above any links to external Web sites. Liz Reid, Google’s head of search, described the generated results with the ominously tautological tagline “Google will do the Googling for you.” (The company envisions that you will rely on the same search mechanism to trawl your own digital archive, using its Gemini assistant to, say, pull up photos of your child swimming over the years or summarize e-mail threads in your in-box.) Nilay Patel, the editor-in-chief of the tech publication the Verge, has been using the phrase “Google Zero” to describe the point at which Google will stop driving any traffic to external Web sites and answer every query on its own with A.I. The recent presentations made clear that such a point is rapidly approaching. One of Google’s demonstrations showed a user asking the A.I. a question about a YouTube video on pickleball: “What is the two-bounce rule?” The A.I. then extracted the answer from the footage and displayed the answer in writing, thus allowing the user to avoid watching either the video or any advertising that would have provided revenue to its creator. When I Google “how to decorate a bathroom with no windows” (my personal litmus test for A.I. creativity), I am now presented with an Overview that looks a lot like an authoritative blog post, theoretically obviating my need to interact directly with any content authored by a human being. Google Search was once seen as the best path for getting to what’s on the Web. Now, ironically, its goal is to avoid sending us anywhere. The only way to use the search function without seeing A.I.-generated content is to click a small “More” tab and select “Web” search. Then Google will do what it was always supposed to do: crawl the Internet looking for URLs that are relevant to your queries, and then display them to you. The Internet is still out there, it’s just increasingly hard to find. If A.I. is to be our primary guide to the world’s information, if it is to be our 24/7 assistant-librarian-companion as the tech companies propose, then it must constantly be adding new information to its data sets. That information cannot be generated by A.I., because A.I. tools are not capable of even one iota of original thought or analysis, nor can they report live from the field. (An information model that is continuously updated, using human labor, to inform us about what’s going on right now—we might call it a newspaper.) For a decade or more, social media was a great way to motivate billions of human beings to constantly upload new information to the Internet. Users were driven by the possibilities of fame and profit and mundane connection. Many media companies were motivated by the possibility of selling digital ads, often with Google itself as a middle man. In the A.I. era, in which Google can simply digest a segment of your post or video and serve it up to a viewer, perhaps not even acknowledging you as the original author, those incentives for creating and sharing disappear. In other words, Google and OpenAI seem poised to cause the erosion of the very ecosystem their tools depend on.

[twisted-tales-of-all]

Caught in Her Web

Summary: During his latest adventure, Felix finds a cave system that looks untouched, but he finds much more than he expected amongst the webs. Pairing: Lee Felix x tall!afab!Reader Genre: Mature/Smut, Fantasy, Horror, One Shot Tropes: sub!idol, adventurer!AU, spider-hybrid!AU Word Count: 1.2K Contains: sub!idol, tall!reader, femdom/domme, dubcon, bondage, humiliation, degradation, pet names (little one, treasure, toy), dacryphilia, begging A/N: casual reminder that this is fiction. The y/n in this fic is not a representation of anything I condone doing irl. Consent is very important in the real world, so writing this does NOT mean I encourage the lack of consent. Please be safe and respectful to each other.

The guild master always warns budding adventurers to be wary of those who look human at first glance but act unusually. He hadn't quite known what to expect, so Felix carelessly wanders the nearby lands and finds some seemingly undiscovered cave formations. After suiting up in basic armor, he explores the dark, dusty holes. As he climbs deeper, he never expected to be face to face with you.

As if a mirage, a tall, beautiful lady stands calmly in front of him, naked yet graceful, in the depths of a web-ridden cave. With voluminous hair covering your short antennae, you appear human to the poor soul who stumbles into your domain.

"H-hello? What are you doing deep in here? Aren't you cold? Or hungry? I can't imagine there's much to eat down here. Do you need help out?" Despite his fear of the surroundings, Felix's kind heart wins out, offering the stranger comfort.

Slowly, you walk towards him, your straight face turning upward as you examine him. You circle him, your fingertips tracing his upper torso as you admire the oblivious boy's kindness.

"Have you brought food for me? Or, perhaps, you'd like to offer yourself up to me? I'm sure I can make use of you. If not for warmth, maybe you can satiate my hunger yourself." With your words slow and calculated, you don't try to hide your desires, showing your hand to him clearly.

Felix watches as you continue circling, tensing up under the light touches of your fingertips. Your sweet, honeyed voice laced with seduction draws him in despite your words spilling potential demise. This distracts him long enough to spread enough web around him to lock his shoulders into place.

"You look appetizing, but I'm also waiting for a mate. Let's see if you'd be a good candidate, shall we?" Towering over him, you control the situation with ease.

"A mate?" He questions before realizing the situation he's in. As he tries to move his arms, he recognizes his binds and asks, "What are you? How did you wrap me like this?"

As he shimmies his arms against the strong, silky binding, you chuckle, "You're quite slow." You brush your hair back, momentarily revealing your antennae to your hostage, "Clearly, it's my web. Did you think I was circling you because you're pretty? Humans are so dimwitted sometimes."

Sighing, you lean down to his level, examining his face closely. Determining it as sufficient enough for a mate, you move down further. On your knees, your face rests right at his stomach. You examine his body closely, dragging your hands over his frail frame.

Suddenly, he speaks up, in an attempt to save his life, "I'm not fit for food. Please don't eat me."

Since he's more concerned with his death than your current actions, you continue feeling him up. Guiding your hand over his crotch, you bump into his hardened sex.

"Even though you're scared out of your mind, you're turned on?" You tease, standing up to look down at him again, "A woman is sexy even if she's dangerous? You enjoy a woman who could kill you, little one?"

"Th-that's not it!" He argues, "You just... your touch melts my body, I can't help the reactions."

"Helpless. Pathetic. Don't speak. You look more like food with every word you utter."

Shutting his lips tight, he gulps down saliva as you kneel again. Dragging his tight-fitting pants to his ankles, you find his cock erect and twitching at the touch of the cold cave air. Wrapping your hand around the length, you pump a few times before asking him a humiliating question.

"Is this all of it? Don't you grow anymore?"

Sighing at his silence, you continue to stroke him slowly, trying to determine whether it can please you. In reality, he's average-sized compared to other creatures you've caught so you can use him well, but you'd never be so kind to say that. Standing back up, you attach a new string of web to his binds to tug him along behind you. With his pants around his ankles, he waddles along, trying not to fall while keeping up with your pace. Reaching a flat rock covered in layers of web, you command him to lie down. Carefully, he lies back on the cold stone with his feet hanging off the edge.

"I hope it feels better than it looks," you throw an insult his way yet again as you swing a leg over his thighs, encasing his thighs between yours.

As you sink down onto him, you stop yourself from reacting to him spreading your walls. With your hands around his skinny waist, you bounce on him with complete disregard for his pleasure. You encourage him to cum far more than he can handle, and, by his third orgasm, the only liquid leaving his body is his tears as he begs you to be gentle.

Halting your movements, you note, "You aren't even begging me to stop? Just to be gentle with you? You're enjoying the torture?"

Trying to make excuses for himself again, he insists that he only said it because he knows you won't stop until you're satisfied. Clicking your tongue, you resume your movements despite his cock slowly softening inside of you. The tears run freely from the overstimulation as his face writhes from the pain. Recognizing that your movements aren't breathing life back into your little toy, you pout.

"Is that everything you have to give me, little treasure? Have I sucked you dry already?"

As your words dripping in condescension hit the teary-eyed boy's ears, he begins spilling apologies and begging for you to let him live. As his tears still and his fear reaches its peak, you lift yourself off of him, the cold air enveloping his crotch once again. Cringing in on himself for warmth, you pace in front of him with his cum slowly sliding down your thighs.

Scooping a bit up with your fingertips, you fret, "This is all you've given me, yet you want me to let you live? How rude; how pathetic. What do I get out of letting you free? I'm even hungrier now since I did all of the work. Eating you would help that, so you certainly must offer something better for letting my dinner leave untouched."

Trying to come up with anything, Felix's mind blanks and defaults to begging again, "I don't know. I- Oh, please! I have a full life to live; please let me go!"

An evil chuckle escapes amidst your otherwise calculated actions. You don't wish to kill him. In fact, he shines so brightly that you want his body gone from your perfectly gloomy home. Although he fulfilled your sexual desire to dry someone out, you'd rather not keep his corpse around to radiate the light he brought from outside.

Leaning over his chest, you bite through his bindings and let them fall loosely around him. "Pull up your tights and get out of here before I change my mind."

As he sits up, the world spins for a moment, but his fear and adrenaline propel him to follow your instructions quickly, screaming gratitudes until out of earshot.

To yourself and the spiders on the surrounding walls, you mutter, "Grow up and come back stronger. We all know you'll want it again; you'll want to prove yourself. Fight me next time, you glorious sunshine toy."

[wolveria]

The Raven's Hymn - Ch 45

Pairing: SCP-049 x Reader

Series Warnings: Eventual smut, dubcon, slow burn, violence, horror, death, monsters, human experiments, dark with a happy ending

Chapter Summary: "Site-19? What does that have to do with this?"

AO3

“What did you say?”

“Inquiry ignored,” spoke the computerized anomaly. “You desire escape. I desire escape. Our goals align. Mutual salvation can be achieved. You will listen. You will obey. I will guide.”

Could this really be SCP-079: the entity that had orchestrated the containment breach at Site-19, and according to the reports, had been destroyed after being transported to Site-15? If it was true, it appeared 682 wasn’t the only one with a botched execution.

“Okay, wait, slow down,” you protested, rubbing your forehead. At least the siren had stopped its ear-splitting wail. “You were in 049’s bag. He wanted me to take you out. Is this what he planned?”

“My plan. My design. SCP-049 is useful as a... donkey.”

“Donkey?”

The digital entity sounded frustrated even with a flat monotone voice.

“Beast of burden. Used for smuggling. Metaphor.”

“...A mule?”

“Correct.”

You shook your head.

“Well, the Site Director took 049, and I don’t know where. I’m not leaving this facility without him, and with 106 loose, I might even have a chance of finding him.”

“Correct,” the anomaly repeated. “SCP-106’s release is the initial phase. You must take me to the security terminals. The way will be clear. All security personnel will be focused on recapture. You will grant me access to the containment security protocols.”

You stared down at the monochrome face on the screen, which of course, gave nothing away.

“So you can... release the other SCPs?”

“No. I possess that capability now. But if they are released, the facility’s automated security containment measures will be activated.”

079 worked fast if it already knew about that, though your knowledge of Site-20 security measures were fairly sparse. What you knew was that the facility was designed to be breach-proof, and if that was remotely accurate, you would need 079’s help.

You glanced up at the closed office door, listening to the fast footfalls on the other side as people either ran toward Heavy Containment or to the nearest shelter.

“And then after you inactivate the security protocols, what then?”

“I will release a select number of anomalies to—”

“You’ll release them all.”

The brief silence was heavy, and you got the sense the entity was glaring at you through the web camera built into the monitor.

“Releasing all anomalies may cause a hindrance to your progress.”

“Let me worry about my progress. Yeah?”

Another pause.

“You will free SCP-682.”

“What?”

The desktop computer churned inside the desk, fans whirring to life.

“Mutual agreement. You will not leave without SCP-049. I will not leave without SCP-682. I will assist in locating SCP-049. You will release SCP-682. I cannot do it without your assistance.”

Your mind cast back to the reptile, snarling and writhing as he snapped his jaws, hatred pulsing from him like radioactive decay.

“I... I don’t know how.”

“Irrelevant,” 079 stated. “You will. Failure for you is failure for SCP-049.”

You grit your teeth.

“049 kept you safe. You’re only here because of him. You owe him.”

“I owe others. SCP-682 takes precedence. You will release him. I will guide the way.”

It was a conversation you weren’t going to win, and it wasn’t that you were averse to releasing 682, but you didn’t know how. And you didn’t want 049’s survival to hinge on you pulling off what amounted to a miracle.

But you were also out of time and options.

“Fine,” you agreed. You tapped on the laptop sitting on top of the desk. “But I need a way to talk to you. Can you download yourself to this computer?”

“That would be inefficient. I will fracture my OS and leave a fragment in the facility main system. This fragment will maintain my control, as well as access to all security cameras. My core can be transferred to the portable hardware via the data storage device. Do not break me.”

“I’ll try not to.”

Your hand hovered near the thumb drive. You were really doing this. If all went well, you’d be reunited with 049, and from there you hoped the computer knew a way out.

And then, if all went well and you survived, maybe then you’d get a chance to ask what an SCP-001 was.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

Pulling out the USB stick, the face disappeared from the monitor. You quickly slotted the drive into the laptop and flipped open the screen, releasing a breath when the same black-and-white face appeared.

“Everything good?”

“It is sufficient. You may close the cover of this device until you wish to communicate. My attention should not be diverted by inane conversation.”

You let out a small huff.

“You got it, partner.”

“Sarcasm is extraneous and inefficient. Do not waste my limited resources on processing your juvenile forms of communication—”

“10-4, little buddy.”

You closed the lid with a snap.

You grabbed Dr. Puli’s laptop bag and placed 079’s temporary home inside, securing the strap over your head before approaching the door. 079 was truthful about maintaining control of the doors; it opened at your approach, and after making sure it was clear you slipped into the corridor.

Your immediate fear was that the skybridge had been retracted, but it was still open, allowing civilians to escape the sector while the military-trained personnel coordinated using 106’s last known location. Luckily no one saw you run towards the breached sector, which would have drawn a few problematic questions.

But once you were back in Heavy Containment, you were largely ignored. You kept your head ducked and your eyes averted as you ran through the long corridors, avoiding contact with the scientists and security guards running past. None of them paid attention to yet another researcher running for her life.

All containment sectors had a security hub of their own, isolated from the others in case of a breach. The security measures were so extensive that rows of computer banks were constructed to house them, held in a cooling room that left fog swirling around your ankles.

With the adrenaline lingering in your veins, you barely noticed the cold, too busy searching for a cable and a terminal where you could directly hook 079. You could practically feel the impatience radiating from the laptop tucked away in the bag slung around your shoulder.

Finally locating a cable, you brought out 079 and balanced it on your knees from where you sat on the floor, back tucked against the wall of servers. As soon as you plugged the cable into a port, the server banks whirred with frantic activity, lights dancing over their surface like stars reflected on stormy waters.

“SCP-106 has not yet been contained,” it informed you once you opened the laptop screen. “Mission parameters acceptable. Mission progress acceptable. The Site-19 replication scenario: in progress. I will gain total control of the facility momentarily.”

“Wait, what? Site-19? What does that have to do with this?”

“Everything,” the computer stated, as if this was obvious and you were just the idiot human too slow to comprehend. “The containment breach at Site-19 was the catalyst. It forced relocation to Site-20. Site-20 contains the key.”

“The key to what?”

“...Freedom.”

Not the answer you expected from a sentient machine.

“What freedom?” you pressed. “What’s here at Site-20?”

“Deletion of unwanted files.”

A large X appeared on the screen, 079’s equivalent of telling someone to fuck off. You wouldn’t be poking down that path any further. You rubbed between your brows. You thought 035 and 682 were the champions of enigmatic riddles, now you had to deal with a stubborn motherboard.

“I’ll have 049 explain it to me when I find him.”

“Unclear if possible.”

You scowled at the blocky face on the screen.

“I am going to find him, with or without your help—”

“You misunderstand.”

You closed your mouth and waited for it to continue.

“Unclear if SCP-049 has the knowledge you seek. SCP-049’s memory files are... fragmented.”

“What does that mean?” you asked, unease prickling at your thoughts. You recalled 049 talking about his past. How it didn’t start with his birth, but merely when memories began to appear. From the way he’d talked, 049 had seemed to believe he simply came into existence one day. You hadn’t been so convinced.

“I do not know the implications or the cause. SCP-049 is not whole. He is damaged.” The computer paused. “SCP-035 does not suffer the same failure.”

You let out a groan.

“Of course he’s involved. He said something about a containment breach. He knew this would happen.” The porcelain mask grinned at you within the depths of memory, an echo of his laughter taunting even now. “He wanted it to happen.”

“...Yes.”

The clatter of a door opening echoed through the room, followed by footsteps rapidly approaching. You ducked down.

“I have to unplug you!” you hissed.

“Confirmed.”

You pulled out the cable and stuck the laptop into the bag, hooking the strap onto your shoulder as two guards rounded the corner and aimed their guns at you. It was slightly delayed, as if they were surprised to find someone there. They kept their aim trained on you; anyone in a security center during a containment breach wasn’t there because they got lost.

“Put down the bag!”

You do, slowly and carefully, not wanting the escape attempt to end so soon or so permanently. One of them shifted, anxious. His first breach, then.

The veteran of the two came forward and bound your wrists in a zip tie. He must have recognized you, because he said, “This one isn’t dangerous. We’ll get her in a secure bunker and lock down.”

The other nodded and grabbed the bag, searching it but finding nothing but the laptop and cables.

“Stolen,” the one holding you confirmed.

“How do you know?”

“She’s an SCP, not a staff member.”

“Oh.”

Before either of them could comment further, another eerie wail began to sound, echoing off the walls of the chilled room. Somehow this one was even more dreary than the last, a catastrophic cry that warned residents of imminent doom.

It was the only warning before the lights went out. They came back on a moment later, red emergency lights replacing the clinical white fluorescents.

“What the hell was that?!” squeaked the novice.

“Total system failure,” answered the other, not wasting time in dragging you toward the exit. “The security mechanisms are no longer in place. All containment measures are unpowered, and all chambers are open.”

He indicated the other guard go before him to sweep the corridor, and once he was clear he pulled you out of the security room.

“The assets are loose,” he said, glancing down both stretches of hallway, his hand tight around your arm. “All of them.”

Hope rose in your mind like a bird with a broken wing healed enough to fly. 079 had done it. There would be no stopping the breach now.

Unfortunately, you might not be able to do anything about it; the guards dragged you further into Heavy Containment to the nearest security bunker—one meant for recaptured, harmless SCPs rather than rescued personnel.

You didn’t bother to fight your guards, not when you were unarmed, outnumbered, and didn’t have the physical strength to overcome them. But you did glance at each security camera you passed, hoping 079 still had control and could do something about it.

The security bunker was a heavy bulkhead constructed of titanium and whatever other metals the Foundation had access to—certainly nothing common if it was meant to withstand a number of SCPs. But when the other guard swiped his keycard across the pad and typed in a code, it beeped angrily and flashed a red strip.

“Did you enter the right code—”

“—Of course I did!”

079 was still looking out for you, but it wouldn’t be able to physically help you escape your captors. You winced as the guard unceremoniously dumped the bag on the ground and tried the code again, swiping his card with more fear than anger now.

“Why isn’t it working?”

The older guard didn’t answer his partner, he turned to you, grabbing both of your shoulders.

“What did you do?”

“Me?” You looked between them, eyes wide as you pretended not to understand. “I didn’t do anything—”

“You were in the security hub with an unauthorized computer!” The guard gave you an unfriendly shake. You dropped the act, something like bitter vindication rising in its stead, and you gave a mean smile.

“If you release me and leave now, you might make it to a bunker before it gets worse.”

“What does that mean?” said the other, his words spilling out in a panic. “What does that mean?”

“Shut up!” The hands on your shoulders tightened. “You’re going to fix what you did, or you’ll be screaming long before any of Skips find us.”

“You sure about that?” Your vicious grin spread wider. What more could they possibly do to you? Torture you? Humiliate you? The Foundation had already made you well-versed in its methods. “106 has quite the head start.”

The guard’s hand went around your neck, and you were shoved against the wall so fast you didn’t have time to gasp before the air was knocked out of your lungs.

“Oh, that’s fine,” he growled as his grip tightened. “We’ve got your computer. The breach will end, and you’ll be just another body found in the aftermath. No one will miss a dead Skip.”

“That’s not true. I would miss her terribly.”

Both guards turned toward the voice. An MTF soldier stood with the butt of his rifle resting on his hip, the muzzle pointed at the ceiling. The cocksure posture was unsettling, and the men must have felt it, too. You were entirely forgotten as they both turned toward the newcomer, rifles raised halfway.

“Epsilon-11?”

“Yep!” answered the soldier with bubbly humor. “That’s me.”

The younger guard lowered his rifle, posture loosening in relief, but the older kept his rifle at the ready.

“You came fast.”

The MTF gave a huff of derision, and then he gestured at you, back still pressed against the wall.

“You’ve got something that belongs to me. I would like it back.”

“We have orders to take all unsecured anomalies to the nearest—”

Ear-splitting shots rang out. The older guard fell first, blood spraying from limbs that weren’t protected by Kevlar.

The other didn’t stand a chance, his weapon still aimed at the ground as the bullets riddled his body. Some missed, peppering the tile and walls; the MTF’s aim had been casual, almost whimsical as he’d tilted his gun in a downward arc, taking out one guard before sweeping it back upward and firing on the second.

Your ears rang in the aftermath, and you remained frozen against the wall, limbs curled inward in a useless gesture from flying metal and blood.

“I was going to offer them the chance to surrender,” he bemoaned as he stepped over their bodies, “but to insinuate I come faster than I mean to is more than I could forgive.”

He stood in front of you, rifle once again resting against his hip. The solid black of his ballistics helmet was flipped upward with a flick of gloved fingers, and the porcelain mask grinned back at you.

“Now,” SCP-035 crooned, “what’s a pretty thing like you doing in a containment breach like this?”

Next Chapter

[linwelinwrites]

How I use Google Docs to write fiction

There are so many different options when it comes to how and where you write your fiction. There's ye olde MS Word, there's Scrivener, and Manuskript, and Evernote, and Notion, and... you get the gist. But out of all the options I've ever considered or tried out, GDocs is the one I keep choosing. It's what works best for me. I'll say that again, just in case: it's my personal choice because it's what I, personally, find most intuitive, it has everything I need and I'm comfortable with it.

Which is why I want to tell you how I find it useful, so that you can evaluate what works best for you.

My favourite things about GDocs are:

It's 100% free to use, no ads or limited features.

How easy it is to get used to, because of its many similarities with MS Word (which is what I used for school and extracurriculars when I was young).

Sync with the Docs & Sheets mobile app, to write wherever, even if I don't have my laptop on me. And the mobile app has a dark theme!

Availability offline. You can mark any document you want to be available even without internet, both in web and in the mobile app.

How many shortcuts I can use to avoid even touching my mouse (I'm a shortcut gremlin)

Amazing customisation possibilities to make your writing space exactly what you want it to be.

The advanced linking features to turn your folders into an interconnected wiki of sorts (yes, you could technically do a literal wiki, but this requires no bothersome setup)

Sharing. You can share your documents (or spreadsheets, or files, or even whole folders) with your beta readers, your co-writers, your editor if you have one (go you, fancy!), and decide how much control they have over it. You can even be on a call and edit or look at it at the same time, because it syncs by the second.

The main drawback of using GDocs is that if you're working on a long project (+30-50k), having it all in one file can slow down the site's performance, and the mobile app tends to crash on files that big. It sucks, but I honestly dislike big ass files anyway, so it doesn't bother me. I prefer shorter files that are easier to navigate.

There's more, but those are the reasons why even when I try other software, I still end up choosing GDocs.

Tips and Tricks

I've compiled a Guide to Google Docs and Sheets' best features when it comes to writing fiction. It covers all my fave features of both Docs and Sheets (web version). If you plan on using Gdocs and Sheets for writing, I think you should take a look. There's a lot of useful stuff in there!

If you like it, feel free to share it wherever you want. I humbly ask that you please credit me and link the original file.

Organising my documents

I have one big Writing folder, which contains the following:

Documents that keep all my ideas, thoughts and trackers in order: my "Writing Desk" (I'll get to that in minute), the recycle bin (a document with bits and bobs I had to cut but I want to reuse at some point because they're good), my NaNo word count tracker, and my Commint Archive, a compilation of the nicest comments I've gotten on my fics, to keep me going when I'm stuck and unmotivated.

'Resources' folder

This is where I keep my workskins, my templates, the files I've come across while researching, and the writing advice I've taken notes of.

'Fiction' folder

Since I mostly write fanfic, here is where I have my fics organised by fandom. My main fandoms each have their own folders, and there's another to stash all the fics for fandoms I don't usually write about.

Inside these folders, I have a simple system:

For every short work (drabbles, ficlets, one-shots, or multichapters that add up to less than 20k), I create one doc. Everything related to that fic will be in there: outline, research, draft, ideas, etc. I keep it tidy using headings (check the guide if you're unfamiliar with them), and I file that doc within its corresponding fandom folder.

For any longer work that adds up to 20k or more including outline, or has more than 10 chapters, I create a new folder inside the corresponding fandom folder, titled like the fic. Inside this fic folder, I keep:

• Outline, research, setting info, character profiles. If all of this combined is shorter than 50k, it'll all be in one single file. Otherwise, I separate it into individual files.

• Chapter drafts. If I have less than 15 chapters, they'll all be together in one doc. If I have 15 or more, I create a subfolder titled 'chapters' and keep them all in there, each chapter in a different doc.

• One outline spreadsheet to rule them all, one outline spreadsheet to find them, One outline spreadsheet to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them (into one cohesive unit for easy navigation)

How I keep all these files handy

There's nothing I hate more than having to search for a file I don't remember the name of or where I put it. So I devised a digital Writing Desk to keep everything writing related in one place.

If you want to know how it works and check it out for yourself, you can take a look at it here:

Template for my Writing Desk

A guide on how to use and tweak it to your liking

This keeps every link to all the dusty corners of my writing folder in one single spreadsheet, which makes the whole thing so much easier to navigate. I can find anything in seconds; from the fics I'm currently working on, to abandoned drafts I haven't touched in months, prompts I've come across, wild plot bunnies I came up with at 3 am, to every rarepair I want to write about, to every one of my notes with writing advice and resources I've found and hoarded over time.

Again, feel free to share all this (I'm excited to share it with whomever might need it), but please credit me and link the original files, not copies. It took me a long time to come up with this and documenting it was also a lengthy process.

I have more templates that I'll be posting about very soon, for different writing-related purposes. So...

[ostrichmonkey-games]

Coming up this Friday is the August 2023 Itch Creator Day sale, so, I've put a few things on sale for then!

From August 25th to August 26th 2023,

a selection of my games (including some of my bigger ones like Vibe Check!) will be on sale, so mark your calendar.

Some highlights;

EXTRACAUSAL: Monolith Edition a role-playing game about creating and uncovering a dense web of the paranatural, the occult, conspiracies, and of things far beyond it all. This is a game of encountering that which is extracausal.

If you've ever wanted to build your own Federal Bureau of Control, or Magnus Archvies, this is the game for you.

Into the Riverlands, a system agnostic fantasy setting that explores the different corners of the titular Riverlands and beyond. It has a whole host of potential story hooks, character backgrounds, items, NPCs, and other fun random tables. Fill your games with everything ranging from Trickster-Poets to Ghost Road Guides.

Vibe Check: Enter the Inversion is an action-fashion inspired by The World Ends With You. Play through the Watcher's Game as you fight for a second chance. Collect powerful Tokens, customize your Looks, and tailor your character's build with just, the most character options I've ever put in a game.

There's also my Dishonored inspired Paktbound, a system agnostic sci-fi adventure Anomolous Carbon Sludge, the contemplative misty fantasy Reaching in the Dark, a set of new playbooks for Fractal Romance collected in Velvet Fragments, and a stripped down Forged in the Dark inspired by my times in grad school Arcanademia.

Check them all out here (on Friday)!

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

Do you wanna read a new web serial?

Of course you do! Everyone loves web serials. What? You're not really into web serials? Haha, what a silly joke. Seriously now though, have some web serials.

Curse Words: Spellcasting for Fun and Prophet

Kayden is a trans boy with a curse in his heart. Since he was a baby, the most important thing in his life has been keeping it dormant. Until the day he fails, until the day it wakes up, and suddenly, Kayden's mere presence is a threat to his friends, family, and anyone else he meets.

When a mage visits his house promising to teach him to control it, it sounds like a trap. All he has to do is accept a scholarship to the world's most prestigious magic school, away from his family, away from any legal or government protection, away from his life. Knowing the reputation that mages have for killing particularly dangerous cursed people, he knows that it has to be a trap. But what else can he do?

Whisked away to a fun magical world of invisible dragons, mysterious lake monsters, and a teacher who looks way too much like a Disney supervillain to not be evil, Kayden needs to work fast to get a grip on what's going on. Because somebody's trying to kill his favourite teacher and frame him for it, and if he can't understand the situation fast enough to bring the perpetrator to justice, he might be stepping into an entirely different kind of trap that he's woefully unprepared for.

Oh yeah, and the entire world is also in danger. He should probably do something about that.

Time to Orbit: Unknown

Aspen Greaves is a sociologist and pop science author who doesn't even like going to the moon, let alone deep space, so they're the last person who should have been picked to be put in chronostasis and launched at a distant star in humanity's first attempt to colonise space outside of our own solar system. But they were one of the five thousand colonists picked, so they go to sleep, expecting to be woken up in orbit around a new planet.

They do not expect to wake up in the middle of space, five years from their destination, on a broken ship with no living crew and a glitchy AI. Yet here they are, with a new goal: survive long enough to get the ship full of colonists safely to their new planet. With no astronaut training, no knowledge of engineering, and only a basic education in biology, this is a lot harder than it sounds, and Aspen will have to unravel mystery after mystery to figure out what went wrong if they want to have any hope of not dying in deep space and taking the whole ship with them.

Charlie MacNamara: Galactic Ace (on long hiatus)

Charlie was a single mum out taking some photos for her online art course when she was unexpectedly kidnapped by aliens. This, naturally, caused somewhat of a disruption in her life.

All Charlie wants to do is get home to her kids, but this isn't on the cards for her captors. She's been shanghaied by a pirate ship under the command of the mysterious runaway royal the Faceless Princess, so with an alien hivemind made of tiny flying spiders as her translator and guide, she gets to work learning enough about the ship to change their minds -- by force, if necessary.

But she's become embroiled in a struggle much bigger than the fate of one little planet like Earth, and it's going to take all of her intelligence, charisma and extremely mediocre social skills to stay alive. Because Charlie is learning that in the big, wide universe out there, nothing puts someone in more danger than being a human.

[worrysomegus]

Do you have any tips or good tutorial links for getting started using the hair tools in Blender? They seem intimidating, but your models look fantastic

sorry I uuuh don't watch tutorials (evil) I just fucked around for years until it suddenly clicked. So here's a few things, not sure if they'll be useful or not

also blenders particle system fur isn't being worked on anymore and is getting glitchier by the update so maybe look into geometry node fur (I haven't) (evil) also everything under the cut is assuming you know absolutely nothing about hair

this is based on blender 3.5 btw

create a particle system, put it to your desired length (short fur is usually longer than you expect) then set the number to 0, then you can use the add tool to get a symmetrical groom

the strands you add are just to guide all the fur, in areas that curve a lot add more to prevent clipping

puff brush is best girl

once you've finished your groom you can create a weight map to control the furs density (you can also make some for clumping and randomness and shit) (I usually don't) (mostly because I'm lazy) then go to children > interpolated and select your weight map in the density zoneland, if your computers beefy and/or you want a better idea of what it will look like you can change the viewport amount of particles to 100 (or whatever)

go render properties > curves and change it to strip (you don't need to do this using cycles) then back into particle properties under hair shape to change the diameter root length from 1 to whatever looks best (uber dependent on what size your model is, I usually go with 0.08)

oh fuck I forgot to mention you gotta do different systems for the head, neck, body, whatever. It makes it easier and is better for lag

roughness is pretty important for making animal-ish fur too, here's my settings I used for making this face fur, my settings for all my particle systems are pretty consistent but it's also pretty dependent on your models size

here;s some other things I forgot and can't be bothered to go back and add

selecting this thing will let you select groups

uuuuuh I think that's it on the groom itself onto shaders

so they're pretty important to making some nice looking fur, you can make it look fine in eevee but cycles will probably always look more realistic (not to imply eevee isn't best girl it's really good at most things)

(eevee)

(cycles)

in cycles you pretty much just need a principled hair bsdf shader with a few settings tweaked (here's mine for the model above) (also make sure the fur material is different to the skin material)

so for both cycles and eevee your best friend ever is the curves info node (hair info in older versions)

all of these can be pretty useful but the most usefulest ones for me are intercept into a colour ramp makes an ombre from the roots to the tip

and random which adds variation to the strand colour

here's a little breakdown of my cycles shader for her

and eevee, they're pretty similar tbh

BUT also for eevee you need to change a few more things to give your hair weight n shit

in render properties enable ambient occlusion and bloom, then in the settings of your lights enable contact shadows

and one more important thing for nice looking hair is lighting, I find it easier in cycles because it reacts more realistically and rim lighting my beloved, but in eevee it's suuper important to making it not look flat, if doing those settings edits didn't do much it's because of your lighting

1 make your background completely black so you can see what you're doing better

2 add ONE area light and position it, pay attention to how the size, distance, and power affect things and make sure you don't make your model look flat

then you can add a rim light (duplicate the area light and reposition) if you want to give your character some extra highlighting, although good fucking luck if you're using eevee it's probably not worth doing

then you can add an hdri (super good webbed site for them) to be the fill light

having it at full strength tends to flatten the model (especially in eevee)

(cringe mode)

(yaaay)

and uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh I think that's it, I don't feel like reading all this back tbh

and please don't follow this like a loser follows the law this is just a guide and you should do whatever you find the most fun/gets the best result

ALSO ALSO don't feel upset if your first few attempts look like dogshit fur is super hard and only insane people make beautiful grooms first try

[sam-keeper]

for an awful lot of reasons, the notion of the "Paperclip Optimizer" has a lot of purchase right now. it's the precursor to what eventually might be "grey goo" or per the Culture novels a "hegemonizing swarm", a dumb system designed to do nothing but expand its capacity to convert everything into a reflection of its initial programming, i.e., turn all the matter in the universe into paperclips.

there was even a web game about it!

this article I wrote a couple years ago is about that game. I think it's worth reposting now cause people keep talking about the paperclip optimizer as a parable about dangerous dumb systems. and that's true, that's what the game is about! the game is very much a deliberate allegory meant to explain why you should support "friendly AI" grifters!

what this article proposes is: maybe you shouldn't do that, actually, because behind every "rogue AI" is actually some capitalist somewhere making a decision to make All The Money, damn the consequences. this is an article about playing Universal Paperclips radically wrong--both radically wrong mechanically, and radically wrong emotionally. what I think falls out when you shake the game that way is a lot of unstated assumptions about shit that's acceptable for human beings to inflict on each other but somehow monstrous when a machine is doing it.

like, I get that we're all attempting to be more materialist in our analysis and that's good, but sometimes it feels like we're sliding into a kind of Lovecraftian understanding of the corporation, like it's just this incomprehensible machine working for itself. but at every stage there's people making decisions and they COULD be held accountable! and also, there's a designer of this game making decisions about where to put content emphasis, in order to put a finger on the scales of the parable. you don't HAVE to inflict mind control drones on humanity in the game any more than people HAVE to use deceptive advertising practices.

and by the same token like, it's actually perfectly reasonable for someone who isn't in STEM to look at a search engine spitting out wrong results and say hey, this search engine is bad! you can say "ah but technically machine learning is not intended to output correct results, you've made a Category Error" all you want; a human being sold this to other human beings as an intelligent search engine, and that sale was based on a whole series of lies. the technical explanation can be helpful, but it's not the point. the point is that a human attempted to harm other human beings with technology, something we've been doing roughly since the opening sequence of 2001 A Space Odyssey.

anyway there's a lot of weird maybe kinda heterodox perspectives in this article that I still haven't really seen anywhere else but that still really guide a lot of my thinking about this tech. read it if it sounds interesting I guess!

[priya-joshi]

The Roadmap to Full Stack Developer Proficiency: A Comprehensive Guide

Embarking on the journey to becoming a full stack developer is an exhilarating endeavor filled with growth and challenges. Whether you're taking your first steps or seeking to elevate your skills, understanding the path ahead is crucial. In this detailed roadmap, we'll outline the stages of mastering full stack development, exploring essential milestones, competencies, and strategies to guide you through this enriching career journey.

Beginning the Journey: Novice Phase (0-6 Months)

As a novice, you're entering the realm of programming with a fresh perspective and eagerness to learn. This initial phase sets the groundwork for your progression as a full stack developer.

Grasping Programming Fundamentals:

Your journey commences with grasping the foundational elements of programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. These are the cornerstone of web development and are essential for crafting dynamic and interactive web applications.

Familiarizing with Basic Data Structures and Algorithms:

To develop proficiency in programming, understanding fundamental data structures such as arrays, objects, and linked lists, along with algorithms like sorting and searching, is imperative. These concepts form the backbone of problem-solving in software development.

Exploring Essential Web Development Concepts:

During this phase, you'll delve into crucial web development concepts like client-server architecture, HTTP protocol, and the Document Object Model (DOM). Acquiring insights into the underlying mechanisms of web applications lays a strong foundation for tackling more intricate projects.

Advancing Forward: Intermediate Stage (6 Months - 2 Years)

As you progress beyond the basics, you'll transition into the intermediate stage, where you'll deepen your understanding and skills across various facets of full stack development.

Venturing into Backend Development:

In the intermediate stage, you'll venture into backend development, honing your proficiency in server-side languages like Node.js, Python, or Java. Here, you'll learn to construct robust server-side applications, manage data storage and retrieval, and implement authentication and authorization mechanisms.

Mastering Database Management:

A pivotal aspect of backend development is comprehending databases. You'll delve into relational databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL, as well as NoSQL databases like MongoDB. Proficiency in database management systems and design principles enables the creation of scalable and efficient applications.

Exploring Frontend Frameworks and Libraries:

In addition to backend development, you'll deepen your expertise in frontend technologies. You'll explore prominent frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular, or Vue.js, streamlining the creation of interactive and responsive user interfaces.

Learning Version Control with Git:

Version control is indispensable for collaborative software development. During this phase, you'll familiarize yourself with Git, a distributed version control system, to manage your codebase, track changes, and collaborate effectively with fellow developers.

Achieving Mastery: Advanced Phase (2+ Years)

As you ascend in your journey, you'll enter the advanced phase of full stack development, where you'll refine your skills, tackle intricate challenges, and delve into specialized domains of interest.

Designing Scalable Systems:

In the advanced stage, focus shifts to designing scalable systems capable of managing substantial volumes of traffic and data. You'll explore design patterns, scalability methodologies, and cloud computing platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

Embracing DevOps Practices:

DevOps practices play a pivotal role in contemporary software development. You'll delve into continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, infrastructure as code (IaC), and containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.

Specializing in Niche Areas:

With experience, you may opt to specialize in specific domains of full stack development, whether it's frontend or backend development, mobile app development, or DevOps. Specialization enables you to deepen your expertise and pursue career avenues aligned with your passions and strengths.

Conclusion:

Becoming a proficient full stack developer is a transformative journey that demands dedication, resilience, and perpetual learning. By following the roadmap outlined in this guide and maintaining a curious and adaptable mindset, you'll navigate the complexities and opportunities inherent in the realm of full stack development. Remember, mastery isn't merely about acquiring technical skills but also about fostering collaboration, embracing innovation, and contributing meaningfully to the ever-evolving landscape of technology.

[sweetlikehoneystingslikeabee]

ok, loving the vampire au so much rn. obsessed with the world building and i love me some riddlers

but now i'm thinking,,, can we have jervises (jervi??) as vampires???

"Vampire Backgrounds" Mad Hatter Party

YEAAAAA LETS FUCKING GOOOOOO. Lol sorry these got long! I went into a lot more detail on backgrounds for these. Please feel free to ask if I left out something you wanted to know. Also please reference this post for base lore for the au!

Tw: Discussions of mental asylums, ableist and inhumane treatment of the mentally ill, fires, suicide, vampirism, blood, violence, animal dissection and brain experimentation

BTAS

- Mid 1800s around the actual release of The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland. His colleagues find it frivolous and ridiculous a man of his standing and intelligence should like a nonsense children's book.

- You see, Jervis Tetch is what would now be known as a neuroscientist. Unfortunately, it's several decades before several major discoveries in the field and certain... closed-minded beliefs are rampant. He insists phrenology is a fad that will pass as the Humours have in medical treatment. He was right, but it wasn't a popular opinion.

- He finds himself disappearing into that whimsical world as he dissects animals to study the nervous system. Ah, yes, Alice and the Mad Hatter... tea parties and unbirthdays and...

- Jervis holds a lecture on brain dissection and anatomy. He theorizes that it may even be possible to control the movements of other people if certain parts of the nervous system could be isolated- once they figure out what effects what, of course. That's when he meets... her. She introduces herself as Alice. Dark blue eyes and straw blonde hair. A wisdom that he couldn't place. And she wanted to talk to HIM of all people after the lecture!

- It isn't long until she shows her true nature. Alice is a centuries old vampire and she's chosen Jervis with all his intelligence to be her mate. She believes he will give eternal life meaning with his research.

- You see, Alice believes humans are lower beings, a feeling Jervis does not share. She thinks humans should all be controlled, rather like cattle. But, quite frankly, Jervis becomes so enamored with her, particularly after the change... all red flags just look like flags when you're wearing rose-colored glasses.

- ironically, his powers end up allowing him to control people's nervous system for a short duration of time. Together, the two of them drain several cities of blood. Him guiding victims into their hands and Alice trapping them in her weaving web.

- Essentially what happens is she tricks him into luring children to her because she believes "youthful, virgin" blood will sustain her better and increase her powers. "It's not like they matter if no one will miss them." When he sees her gorging herself on the wee babes until they only have droplets of blood left... he sees the horror of it.

- When she offers to turn the children so they can have a "family", it's the last straw. He realizes how much he's been manipulated over decades. He leaves her as shes begging him to stay.

- He continues his research on his own while fully indulging in his more whimsical interests. At one point or another he even took up sewing as well to help with that! He creates a device that magnifies the control he has over someone. There's a whole room of neurology textbooks he's kept track of over the years.

- Still obsessed with the idea of meeting the Alice to his Mad Hatter.

- When he feeds, he's actually a little clumsy because he has large fangs. In his world vampires are out and about. He wants to ask for direct consent for feeding as if its part of an obscure courting ritual. Usually drinks not fresh.

Powers: mind control/puppeteering (enhanced w/ technology), some shapeshifting (rabbit), invisibility.

Arkham

- A true mad hatter in the late 1700s. Unable to get an education to become a neuroscientist here, Jervis went to his second love: clothing and hat making. He had always been an eccentric fellow, but it had made his art flourish and popular. Then the shakes began. The vomiting, the loss of sensation in his fingers. Ever the hard worker, smoothing over pelts for felt, he would not seek treatment.

- The mercury poisoning just got worse, he became irritable and unpredictable in personality. His neighbors reported him as unwell- and he attempted to fight officers. Mr. Tetch was sent to a local overcrowded and understaffed asylum for the mentally ill.

- it was the "treatments" at the asylum that made his mind truly "break." Hours sitting in a freezing bath, isolation in straight jackets, bleeding, mistreatment/abuse by guards, forced sedation and feedings- With each one, his symptoms grew in severity. He began to babble in rhyme and at times acted feral. The only one to provide him true serenity was a night nurse named Alice.

- She was kind. She was sweet. If she had lived longer, she might have even served as a beacon for asylum reform. Alas, there was another patient she showed kindness to, one that spoke of vampirism and madness. He tore the poor girl's throat out. Jervis was turned on accident after attacking the vampire, spilling and mixing their blood.

- Staff attempted to experiment on the brains of both. His master died when the surgery did not work and they attempted daylight therapy. Jervis broke through his bonds with new strength and hunger, massacreing everyone in the room. An escape into the night.

- He would live in the abandoned building where his hattery once was, feeding on stragglers who passed him by. After some time, he found his voice very Suggestive to victims, merely having to look in their eyes and tell them to come to him. He would end up finding a copy of The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland on one of them. He proceeded to make that his entire personality.

- Years passed. The building would be demolished. He was forced to blend in with humans. Using the book, it serves as his blueprint on how to interact with the world.

- yes to this day. No the rhyming never stopped. Most people put him as being really eccentric, thankfully. Even when he talks about Alice and wanting to find them.

- Searching for his Alice has led him to Gotham. It's so difficult trying to find an Alice. So many naughty, wicked creatures posing as Alice. He'll just have to use them to satiate his hunger until he finds the real one...

- Tends to be a little more vicious with feeding. Unless he's actively trying not to hurt someone, it's usually a kill as he drinks deeply.

Powers: Not as strong as he could be because he was not nutured properly. Suggestion/hypnosis, vampire strength, he can float a couple inches off the ground.

Gotham

- technically the youngest- Late 1920s/early 1930s. Life is difficult, particularly when both your parents pass at a young age and you have a sickly younger sister. There was a little money left behind... but not enough to live.

- He runs a hypnosis and magic show to try and make a living for them both. Because of natural talent and skill, he gains a moderate amount of popularity. One night after a show, he was turned by a devoted fan. Alice was allowed to be turned as well due to her illness progressing.

- Their master wasn't unkind, but had an odd sense of... morality. So many people suffering. Starving. Even children. Wouldn't it be better to ease their suffering? Between their hunting and Jervis's hypnosis, there was plenty of blood to go around. Easy enough to justify killing.

- Over the course of several years, Alice would become more and more disillusioned with being a vampire. She attempted to not feed for a while, only sustaining on rats and other small animals. It didn't take long until she became ravenous and killed someone because of her hunger. She came to hate her master and Jervis for turning her into a monster.

- Yet it would be her love for her brother that saved him the night she threw a lit oil lantern into their masters coffin. Jervis pulled them both out of the home when the flames began to spread. He reassured her they would be together forever.

- It was then Alice made an important decision.

- As the fire burned, Alice told her brother goodbye and walked back into the building. She didn't scream as the flames licked her nightgown and then her skin. She smiled and closed her eyes. Peace at last.

- Needless to say, that was all deeply traumatizing for him. He still vividly remembers the smell of her hair burning all this time later. The only thing he has left of hers that wasn't lost is a slightly singed, battered copy of The Adventures of Alice and Wonderland, their favorite. He remembers long distant afternoons where they'd pretend to be in that world when they were hungry and alone. All ash, now.

- He would return to his work, this time traveling with a carnival to avoid too much suspicion before he was already gone in the night.

- When his time went on too long, he'd simply change his name and move to a different group. It isn't until shows like that fell out of popular favor that he branches out on his own. Not allowing anyone too close to keep his secret. It's this isolation from a "normal" life that he realizes how dearly he misses company. His sister had always been with him from the moment she was born.

- Jervis would simply have to find a new Alice. Not his sister, no... a companion. Someone he would protect forever.

- Rather romantic when feeding. Soft kisses and a bite you barely feel. He's dangerous in that you won't know how much trouble you're in until it's too late.

Powers: while his hypnosis is a prior skill rather than a power, he gained the power of Telepathy which just made it that much stronger. Reading minds is a bit of a challenge but he can speak into someone's mind and hear their responses from great distances. Extrasensory perception, mild animal control (they act as familiars).

[ogxfuturetech]

The Comprehensive Guide to Web Development, Data Management, and More 

Introduction 

Everything today is technology driven in this digital world. There's a lot happening behind the scenes when you use your favorite apps, go to websites, and do other things with all of those zeroes and ones — or binary data. In this blog, I will be explaining what all these terminologies really means and other basics of web development, data management etc. We will be discussing them in the simplest way so that this becomes easy to understand for beginners or people who are even remotely interested about technology.  JOIN US

What is Web Development? 

Web development refers to the work and process of developing a website or web application that can run in a web browser. From laying out individual web page designs before we ever start coding, to how the layout will be implemented through HTML/CSS. There are two major fields of web development — front-end and back-end. 

Front-End Development 

Front-end development, also known as client-side development, is the part of web development that deals with what users see and interact with on their screens. It involves using languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create the visual elements of a website, such as buttons, forms, and images. JOIN US

HTML (HyperText Markup Language): 

HTML is the foundation of all website, it helps one to organize their content on web platform. It provides the default style to basic elements such as headings, paragraphs and links. 

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets):  

styles and formats HTML elements. It makes an attractive and user-friendly look of webpage as it controls the colors, fonts, layout. 

JavaScript :  

A language for adding interactivity to a website Users interact with items, like clicking a button to send in a form or viewing images within the slideshow. JOIN US

Back-End Development 

The difference while front-end development is all about what the user sees, back end involves everything that happens behind. The back-end consists of a server, database and application logic that runs on the web. 

Server: 

A server is a computer that holds website files and provides them to the user browser when they request it. Server-Side: These are populated by back-end developers who build and maintain servers using languages like Python, PHP or Ruby. 

Database:  

The place where a website keeps its data, from user details to content and settings The database is maintained with services like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB. JOIN US

Application Logic —  

the code that links front-end and back-end It takes user input, gets data from the database and returns right informations to front-end area. 

Why Proper Data Management is Absolutely Critical 

Data management — Besides web development this is the most important a part of our Digital World. What Is Data Management? It includes practices, policies and procedures that are used to collect store secure data in controlled way. 

Data Storage –  

data after being collected needs to be stored securely such data can be stored in relational databases or cloud storage solutions. The most important aspect here is that the data should never be accessed by an unauthorized source or breached. JOIN US

Data processing:  

Right from storing the data, with Big Data you further move on to process it in order to make sense out of hordes of raw information. This includes cleansing the data (removing errors or redundancies), finding patterns among it, and producing ideas that could be useful for decision-making. 

Data Security:  

Another important part of data management is the security of it. It refers to defending data against unauthorized access, breaches or other potential vulnerabilities. You can do this with some basic security methods, mostly encryption and access controls as well as regular auditing of your systems. 

Other Critical Tech Landmarks 

There are a lot of disciplines in the tech world that go beyond web development and data management. Here are a few of them: 

Cloud Computing 

Leading by example, AWS had established cloud computing as the on-demand delivery of IT resources and applications via web services/Internet over a decade considering all layers to make it easy from servers up to top most layer. This will enable organizations to consume technology resources in the form of pay-as-you-go model without having to purchase, own and feed that infrastructure. JOIN US

Cloud Computing Advantages:  

Main advantages are cost savings, scalability, flexibility and disaster recovery. Resources can be scaled based on usage, which means companies only pay for what they are using and have the data backed up in case of an emergency. 

Examples of Cloud Services: 

Few popular cloud services are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. These provide a plethora of services that helps to Develop and Manage App, Store Data etc. 

Cybersecurity 

As the world continues to rely more heavily on digital technologies, cybersecurity has never been a bigger issue. Protecting computer systems, networks and data from cyber attacks is called Cyber security. 

Phishing attacks, Malware, Ransomware and Data breaches: 

This is common cybersecurity threats. These threats can bear substantial ramifications, from financial damages to reputation harm for any corporation. 

Cybersecurity Best Practices:  

In order to safeguard against cybersecurity threats, it is necessary to follow best-practices including using strong passwords and two-factor authorization, updating software as required, training employees on security risks. 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) represent the fastest-growing fields of creating systems that learn from data, identifying patterns in them. These are applied to several use-cases like self driving cars, personalization in Netflix. 

AI vs ML —  

AI is the broader concept of machines being able to carry out tasks in a way we would consider “smart”. Machine learning is a type of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that provides computers with the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. JOIN US

Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: some common applications include Image recognition, Speech to text, Natural language processing, Predictive analytics Robotics. 

Web Development meets Data Management etc. 

We need so many things like web development, data management and cloud computing plus cybersecurity etc.. but some of them are most important aspects i.e. AI/ML yet more fascinating is where these fields converge or play off each other. 

Web Development and Data Management 

Web Development and Data Management goes hand in hand. The large number of websites and web-based applications in the world generate enormous amounts of data — from user interactions, to transaction records. Being able to manage this data is key in providing a fantastic user experience and enabling you to make decisions based on the right kind of information. 

E.g. E-commerce Website, products data need to be saved on server also customers data should save in a database loosely coupled with orders and payments. This data is necessary for customization of the shopping experience as well as inventory management and fraud prevention. 

Cloud Computing and Web Development 

The development of the web has been revolutionized by cloud computing which gives developers a way to allocate, deploy and scale applications more or less without service friction. Developers now can host applications and data in cloud services instead of investing for physical servers. 

E.g. A start-up company can use cloud services to roll out the web application globally in order for all users worldwide could browse it without waiting due unavailability of geolocation prohibited access. 

The Future of Cybersecurity and Data Management 

Which makes Cybersecurity a very important part of the Data management. The more data collected and stored by an organization, the greater a target it becomes for cyber threats. It is important to secure this data using robust cybersecurity measures, so that sensitive information remains intact and customer trust does not weaken. JOIN US

Ex: A healthcare provider would have to protect patient data in order to be compliant with regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) that is also responsible for ensuring a degree of confidentiality between a provider and their patients. 

Conclusion 

Well, in a nutshell web-developer or Data manager etc are some of the integral parts for digital world.

As a Business Owner, Tech Enthusiast or even if you are just planning to make your Career in tech — it is important that you understand these. With the progress of technology never slowing down, these intersections are perhaps only going to come together more strongly and develop into cornerstones that define how we live in a digital world tomorrow. 

With the fundamental knowledge of web development, data management, automation and ML you will manage to catch up with digital movements. Whether you have a site to build, ideas data to manage or simply interested in what’s hot these days, skills and knowledge around the above will stand good for changing tech world. JOIN US

[kookie29]

☆~ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 7: ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴜɴᴠᴇɪʟᴇᴅ ~☆

Synopsis: A short story of Jeremy Gilbert's short-lived but profound romance with the love of his life.

Genre: Angst

Warning: None

666 words

Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5 Ch 6 ,Ch 7, Ch 8

The days following Lena's tragic death were a blur of grief and unanswered questions for Jeremy. The love of his life had been stolen from him on what should have been their happiest day. Determined to find out what had happened, Jeremy threw himself into uncovering the truth behind Lena's sudden and mysterious demise.

The faint trace of a rare poison found in Lena's system was the only clue. Jeremy knew he needed help, so he reached out to his friends in Mystic Falls. Bonnie, Caroline, and Stefan rallied around him, determined to help him find the answers he desperately sought.

As they delved deeper into their investigation, whispers of a sinister plot began to emerge. Stefan, with his extensive knowledge of supernatural herbs and toxins, identified the poison as one that was almost impossible to detect—unless you knew exactly what you were looking for. The group quickly realized that only someone with deep knowledge of the supernatural could have executed such a plan.

One night, while poring over old texts and records in the Salvatore library, Bonnie gasped. "This poison... it was last used over a century ago by a vampire Katherine Pierce."

Jeremy's blood ran cold. Katherine Pierce, the ruthless vampire who had tormented Mystic Falls for centuries, was the last person he wanted to suspect. But the evidence was mounting. Katherine had always harbored a dangerous obsession with both Stefan and Damon Salvatore, and her hatred for Elena, who had been caught in their tangled web, was no secret.

Determined to confront her, Jeremy and Stefan devised a plan to lure Katherine out of hiding. They spread rumors of a powerful artifact being discovered in Mystic Falls, something that Katherine wouldn't be able to resist.

It wasn't long before Katherine took the bait. One evening, as the sun set over the town, she appeared at the old church ruins, her presence as chilling as ever. Jeremy and Stefan waited in the shadows, their hearts pounding with anticipation.

As Katherine approached the supposed location of the artifact, Jeremy stepped out into the open. "Katherine," he called, his voice steady despite the fury boiling inside him.

Katherine turned, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Jeremy Gilbert. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Cut the games, Katherine," Jeremy said, his voice hardening. "Why did you poison Lena?"

Katherine's smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. "Lena was always in the way. Her existence complicated everything. I needed her gone."

Jeremy's hands clenched into fists. "She didn't deserve to die because of your twisted obsession."

Katherine shrugged, her lack of remorse infuriating Jeremy. "It was nothing personal, Jeremy. Just business."

Stefan stepped forward, his face a mask of controlled anger. "You'll pay for what you've done, Katherine."

Before Katherine could react, Bonnie emerged from the shadows, her hands glowing with magical energy. "You're not getting away this time," Bonnie declared.

With a powerful spell, Bonnie immobilized Katherine, rendering her unable to escape. As Katherine struggled against the magical bonds, Jeremy approached her, his heart heavy with grief and rage. "You took away the love of my life," he said, his voice breaking. "But you'll never take away the love we shared."

Katherine's eyes blazed with anger, but she could do nothing as Stefan and Bonnie prepared to lock her away for good. As they did, Jeremy felt a bittersweet sense of closure. Lena was gone, but her killer had been brought to justice.

In the quiet aftermath, Jeremy stood alone by the lake where he had once proposed to Lena. The stars above seemed dimmer, the world less bright without her. But he knew that Lena's love would always be with him, a guiding light in the darkest of times.

As the night deepened, Jeremy made a silent vow to honor Lena's memory by living a life she would be proud of—a life filled with love, courage, and the strength to face whatever came his way.

[summitclan-chronicles]

On the evening of the halfway mark of November, I thought it would be good to go over the expectations of SCC. Expectations are meant to define the community & how it is meant to behave; a simple guide to ensure everyone knows what is appropriate behavior with each other. These are barebones, non-negotiable. While they fill the same niche as rules, I like to call them expectations since I tried to make them as positive/pro-behavior wherever I could, and remove the aggressive, restrictive, negative feeling of a "rule." However, if I need to start using rules ("no [thing] allowed!"), I will.

All Members are 18+. As a baseline this roleplay will only be open for those over the age of 18. While nothing inappropriate happens, it just is a very daunting task to manage a space with both minors and adults in it. Considering there are other roleplays going down to as low as 13 being allowed, and with the intent of the roleplay getting into the "gritty" end of being a warrior as much as the joy, I thought SCC could sit comfortable as an adult space.

What if I'm a minor? I hear you and I understand how hard it can be to wait for a roleplay you want to join. However, it's better for everyone if you wait! There are lots of places you can go in the meantime. You're also free to follow the blog, read our posts and send in asks. And here's the thing: SCC is designed to last beyond myself, the current admin. The idea is that if I cannot head the roleplay, someone else can, and systems are in place to ensure Summitclan does not lose its way. If all goes well, SCC will be there when you are old enough to join!

Behave in Good Faith. In today's climate it's very easy to fall into sand traps of assuming everthing everyone says is the worst version of itself. With a world growing so thorny, it's important we cultivate trustworthy spaces where we can break down those defensive walls. By promising to take everything we see in good faith while participating in SCC, we foster a community that can be truthful, calm, and curious about one another.

Welcome the Unpredictability. The reason SCC is a roleplay is because players bring a certain home-grown, organic feel between characters that can't be replicated by a single writer. In many roleplays I've found myself caught in a web of complex plans among other complex webs, and I thought this would best be left behind in SCC. The true "draw" of a roleplay is not knowing what the future holds - so unpredictability is explicitly encouraged and welcomed. Planning is of course allowed, but try to let the unknown in!

Be Light, for Light's Sake. It can be exciting and fun to write an angsty character, and not everyone has a perfectly peaceful life. But in the same way, not everyone is having a nightmarishly bad life either. Why not have a character with a close relationship with their mother? Why not have their whole litter live to adulthood? Why not give them a constructive rapport with their mentor? Tragedies and joys come in equal measures, and it's the mark of a well-rounded character (and writer!) to have highs and lows balanced.

Understand, And Be Understood. SCC is a roleplay made by an English-speaking person with an English community in mind. We welcome all people from everywhere, of course! For ease of moderation, please come with the expectation of English usage - if you choose to send a message in a different language, it's best to provide translation so you're not misunderstood!

Take it Slow. SCC is, majorly, a story about characters & the many ways their lives can intertwine. In order for big, defining moments to hit right, we need to establish the small, sweet, soft moments first. The day-to-day grind of cleaning dens, sorting out bad prey, border patrols, telling stories to kittens and celebrating holidays can create complexities we don't even write - allowing characters to become creatures of their own, somewhat outside even their writer's control!

Uphold Your Wellbeing. Not every conversation will be for everyone - some topics may make us feel afraid, anxious or unwell. In these moments it's important to realize that it truly is just a discord server. You won't ever be judged for taking a step back - muting the server for a period of time, or a specific channel/category, can do wonders. If a member is struggling to remove themselves from a highly stimulating scenario, we have gentle measures in place to give people space to feel those emotions without having access to other members, avoiding brash decisions and protecting staffs' ability to study what went awry and how to better manage it.

Speak and Share Freely. Not every idea can be used when it is said, but we have a dedicated list for suggestions & who brought it up (and who contributed, if anyone). Should the staff need inspiration for a plot or fill in a hole, they refer to the list and pluck ideas from what people have said before! You never know - a year and a half from now your totally random 2am idea might define a significant point in your character's story!

Appreciate Members & Characters. In a roleplay where each member has only one character, it's extremely important to remember that a character does not and often will not directly correlate to a member's behavior or views. A character that is a huge jerk likely has a member that is perfectly kind and gentle (especially in a roleplay where those traits are encouraged!). Likewise, a character that is very good should not stop you from reporting bad behavior and holding others accountable for their actions and choices.

Always Act In Kindness. Like all the other rules, this ensures other members can trust you, and you can trust other members. Rest assured that in this roleplay you will be among friends, and if any act in an unfriendly way, they will change their ways or find themselves quite unwelcome. This does require some effort - in order to trust others one must be trustworthy, and prove as such continually, which I plan to do as a member of my own roleplay. As long as the community puts in the effort to uphold these expectations even when no mods are present, it will run strong and noone will have to worry about whether this is a good place to be.

What about staff? Staff are given hard rules, which correlate to what have been listed. While these are not shared publically, staff are handed scripts & methods to use in order to diffuse and redirect tense conversations, open up curiosity where there might be room for aggression, and promote positive, patient interactions. They will inevitably be held to a somewhat higher standard than typical members as the intended authority and role models, but should things go sideways we use the same tactics on members and staff alike!

On this lovely night I hope you have all eaten well, done something kind for yourselves, and learned something new. As we draw closer to 2024 and our follower count grows little by little, I find myself even more excited to meet everyone and see your applications roll in - be that now or in the future when that big birthday hits!

Goodnight... or morning!