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another-random-fanfic-blog · 2 months ago

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My 8 Hybrids Ch. 2

Chapter 2

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Warnings: Blood, violence, abuse, Not edited, will be later

As you sped down the road, you began calculating the how long it would take for you to get to your house versus your clinic. The clinic is the obvious choice to go to, but your house is closer and you wouldn’t have to deal with traffic. Making the decision you used the voice dial on your car to call your friend Will.

“Did you get caught in the rain?” Will asks, forgoing a greeting.

“I need you to get to my house immediately, I’m 15 minutes away,” you respond, ignoring what he said, “This is an emergency.”

“I’ll be there in 10.”

With that you hung up the phone and continued down the road, glancing over at the unconscious rabbit sitting next to you, rage filling you every time as you imagine what you’d like to do with the person who put them there. You call the next person on your list, before you lose yourself in your work and forget to do what you need.

“What trouble did you cause this time?” Kiara asks.

“Trouble? Me? Unlikely,” you retort, giving a small smile.

“Y/N, I’m serious, if you punched another person for hurting a hybrid, despite them deserving it, I will start charging you extra,” Kiara sighs.

“No, not this time, I found two hybrids chained to trees, beaten, bloody, unconscious, a rabbit and some type of big cat I’m assuming. The rabbit may live, but I don’t have hope for the cat,” you explain calmly, “I took video and pictures before getting them down. I will send them to you but I want you to start the process for a lawsuit, just in case something happens.”

“And the hybrids?”

“They will need round the clock care for a while.”

“That’s not what I’m asking and you know it,” Kiara grumbles, “You helped get the laws changed greatly, but unless they have a home lined up, because they are abuse cases, you have to hand them over to hybrid services, where they will probably die from inadequate care.”

“We don’t have to tell them,” you state.

“It’s the law.”

“I don’t care,” you reply shrugging to no one in particular.

“Y/n…”

“Put me down as their owner for now, I will adopt them until we can all decide on something else,” you sigh, not wanting to let the hybrids be taken away.

“I will start the paperwork,” Kiara chirps cheerfully, you know that she wanted you to adopt a hybrid at some point to give you some company. “You wouldn’t happen to know their names would you?”

“According to the rabbit, the cat is named San, I don’t know the rabbits name yet,” you respond, pulling into your driveway and seeing Will sitting in his car, “I’ve got to go, talk later.”

You hang up and come skidding to a halt, throwing your car in park and pushing the door open as you turn off the engine.

“One in the front, one in the back, get the gurney from downstairs, two of them,” you yell out to Will as he nods and runs down the basement stairs.

You open the passenger door and feel the rabbits pulse before moving back to do the same with San. Will comes up in an elevator with two gurneys at his side. Carefully, you help him move San onto one gurney and take him down, while you get the rabbit.

Once the two of you were downstairs, you try to find a spot to hook the rabbit up for an IV, but with such severe dehydration, you have no choice but to do an IO on him. Quickly grabbing a drill, you bore into his bone a little below the knee. Once the fluids were started, you move over to San.

“Mind telling me what happened?” Will asks as he wheels San back from x-rays and begins Sans IO.

“I was hiking, and found these two chained to trees, this one, San apparently, had his leg stuck in a bear claw type trap. I did what I could before bringing them here.” You respond, slowly peeling the makeshift bandage off of San’s leg.

“And here I thought you were paranoid building this place under your house. You wash up while I clean the wound, then we’ll switch.” Will said, not looking up from San’s leg.

“Ok, start him on broad spectrum antibiotics, there’s no telling what bacteria is in those wounds,” you call out from the sink as you change into scrubs and begin cleaning your hands and arms while Will preps San for surgery.

Once you finish and put on gloves, Will switches off, while you continue to debridement of the wound. Once the bleeding is under control and you look at the x-rays, seeing Sans leg is fractured, not broken, which is really the only luck this guy has. Methodically and carefully you and Will work on all of San’s wounds, back and front, in complete silence.

When you first built your home, you had experience finding sick and injured animals in the past, sometimes not being able to take them to get care overnight due to closed clinics. So you demanded a small hospital be built in part of your basement, a hermetically sealed room, filled with everything you’d find in an urgent care. Will said you were crazy for spending this amount on a place you’d never use, and you always thought better safe than sorry.

When work on San was complete, you let Will go look at the blood tests for both, while you worked on the rabbit. He had contusions, cuts, a fractured wrist, dehydration, and severe sunburn. Some of his cuts were infected so you started him on antibiotics as well.

Once you finished, Will came back to you with two bowls, towels, and sponges.

“The boys need cleaned, here’s everything for a sponge bath,” he says smiling and walking away, “I also gave you stuff to wash their hair. I’ll cook some food.”

With a sigh, you carefully start cleaning them, memorizing their features once they were clean and you were done, though you had trouble washing their hair. Both were thin, too thin, tall, from what you could tell by carrying them and them laying down. San had black hair, a sharp jaw, and cat like eyes. Meanwhile, the rabbit had white hair, round boba eyes, and high cheek bones. You moved their beds closer to each other so when they woke, they could see each other easily. You turned on the monitors so they could alert you anywhere in the house, if they woke up, had an issue, or needed an IV refill. Dimming the lights, you walked upstairs to find Will eating ramen and chicken.

“So,” he says getting you a plate as you flop down in your dining room chair, “tell me how you got in this mess with your two new hybrids.” You raise an eyebrow at that, as he places a bowl in front of you. “Kiara told me you adopted them.”

You pulled out your phone and handed it to him so he could go through the pictures and videos, not liking what he saw, while you uploaded your gopro footage to the computer, sending everything in an email to Kiara before you get sidetracked again.

“I’m not a therapist,” you say, “Can you schedule something with Jessica? They will need help, and get her caught up on…this mess.” You remark waving your hand around.

“Sure,” he replies putting his bowl in the sink. “You good, or do you need me to stick around?”

“You can go home before the storm gets worse.”

“Have a good night.” He says as he walks out the door, leaving you to eat in peace.

You finish your food, do the dishes, shower, then grab a cot and set it up in the room with the hybrids, getting ready to sleep after swapping out their IVs.

You slept a solid 10 hours for the first time in…ever before being awoken by muttering. Sitting up, you looked over and saw the rabbit hybrid sitting up and muttering while gripping San’s arm. Slowly standing you make your presence known as the rabbit stares at you frozen and not moving.

“Hi,” you say, approaching as slow as you can, “do you remember me? I found you, and helped you out of the woods.”

The rabbit just stares at you, nose slightly twitching as he plays with San’s fingers.

“San?” He finally asks.

“He has a fractured leg, infection, various wounds, and dehydration…but, barring any unforeseen complications, he should recover, quickly given your advanced healing abilities.” You tell him, as you get close, right next to his bed. “My name is Y/n, this is my home, the basement of my home, can you tell me your name?”

“…Seonghwa,” he says quietly.

“Seonghwa, it’s nice to meet you,” you state, “are you hungry?” He perks up at that and nods. “After I change your IV, I will go get you something to eat. It will be light for now, probably just broth and crackers, but once you keep something down for at least a day, I’d like 2, we will move to something else, ok?”

He nods again and you begin switching out his IV and then San’s, before heading upstairs to get the food. As you heat the broth you take a deep breath, not knowing what to say to Seonghwa as you’ve never been a good conversationalist. Carrying the food down, you stop seeing that San has moved, he was lower in the bed earlier, but now he’s almost sitting, Seonghwa’s pillow helping prop him up. You’re thankful that you decided to bring down two bowls of broth and not just one.

“Here’s your broth,” you say, setting it on a cart with a tray that can move over the bed, “I’ll get you another pillow.” You grab two and bring them back, helping Seonghwa sit up as you move the bed to a more comfortable position. “Hello San,” you say as you make your way over to him. “You have a fractured leg, we weren’t able to cast it because of the open wound, so don’t move it too much, ok?”

San looks at you with wide eyes, watching your every move as you pull up a chair.

“I think we should talk about some things.” You say looking at both of them as you move a sleeve of crackers and a bowl of broth in front of San. “My name is Y/n, I own a clinic that helps hybrids, and this is a mini clinic in my basement that you are recovering in. The law states that when cases of abuse, such as yours are reported, you have to either be immediately adopted or go to hybrid services.” You watch as both hybrids tense and grasp each other’s hands, tears forming in their eyes, knowing hybrid services is not a good option and tears bonded hybrids apart. “I have decided to adopt you until the case is closed and you decide what you’d like to do next.”

“What we’d like to do next?” Seonghwa asks between sips of broth.

“If you want to earn your independence, I will help with that, or I can help you find a different owne-“

“You don’t want us?” San questions, sniffling as he stares at his food. You swear you see a tear fall and immediately think something happened with these two, mostly likely involving being rejected.

“I would be happy if you stayed, but if you didn’t like it here, I don’t want to force you to stay with me.” You respond, patting his hand that was on the side of the bed. “Now, eat, there are small bags next to the bowls in case you need to throw up. Once you are done and the food settles, I will help you shower, then, if you want, we can head upstairs. However, the IV will have to stay in.”

With that, you head upstairs to find some clothes that will fit both the hybrids. Luckily, you have a habit of buying clothes for men and women, including underwear, just in case you have an unexpected guest or something happens to a guests clothes. While you dig through your closet you call the psychologist that works at your clinic and discuss getting the two therapy appointments as soon as you can get them in condition to start walking. She asks you a few questions and you reply, immediately mentioning the comment San made about you not wanting them. She explains that they are raised to believe being owned if the best thing for them and the fact that you suggested removing them would have brought up potential years of previous rejection, plus whatever trauma they may have from whoever left them in the woods. On top of that, one or both of them could have a co-dependency issue. You grab some clothes, soaps, lotions, deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste and head down stairs, asking one final question.

“I go to a conference next week that I can’t get out of because I am a presenter. Can I leave them here alone or should I take them with me?”

“That is up to you and how you feel they will do alone.” Cassie responds before hanging up, leaving you unsatisfied with her answer.

When you walk in the recovery room, you see both hybrids talking to each other, their hands still holding each other. You walk everything into the bathroom downstairs then join the two.

“So, I have some clothes for you two,” you say, gesturing to the bathroom where you put everything, “how about we get you cleaned up? San, I will have to help you because of your leg, I swear I won’t look at anything and will be 100% professional, but I can’t have you moving it wrong.”

“Can you help me too?” Seonghwa asks quietly.

“Sure, do you want to go first?”

“Can…Can we go to-together? I…I-I…”

“Yes, if you both want to be within sight of each other, that is fine.”

You get a wheelchair to take San to the bathroom and help him undress and wrap a towel around his waist, while Seonghwa gets himself ready. Seonghwa sits himself in the tub and relishes the hot water pouring on him while he vigorously scrubs all the dirt off his skin, flinching at the force he was using. Despite you giving them a sponge bath, it still wasn’t enough to remove everything. You tell San to wait, and turn on the hot shower head to pour over him and watch how almost instantly his body begins to relax. He takes the scrubby and soap and more carefully than Seonghwa, begins to wash his upper body.

“You’re going to hurt yourself,” you say to Seonghwa as you sit behind him, taking the scrubby and begin to help, using just enough pressure to clean everything off. “So, what breeds are you?”

“I’m a Lionhead rabbit,” Seonghwa declares proudly and you have to stop yourself from groaning, knowing how playful and mischievous those breeds can be.

“In other words,” You begin, carefully washing Seonghwa’s hair as he fully leans into you, moaning at how good it feels to get his scalp scrubbed, “I’m going to have my hands full with you.”

You smile at Seonghwa when he opens his eyes and looks at you, first with concern, then with warmth.

“I’ll be good, I promise.” He says closing his eyes again, his foot thumping when you scrub his ears, working the matts out of them and his hair.

“I’m sure you will be.” You finish his hair, both shampoo and conditioner, before rinsing him off and letting him soak under the spray, then head to San, who watched you scrub Seonghwa’s hair with a look of longing. “And what breed of hybrid are you, San?” You ask as he gets a look of excitement on his face while you pour shampoo in your hand.

“I’m a maine coon cat, and I’m a good boy,” he says purring the second your hands make contact with his head. “I’m not mean or intimidating.”

You could hear the pleading in his voice when he said that, and it told you that, though he was skinny, he had muscles, and his face had a look that could go two ways, one sweet and kind, or two intimidating and mean. But just looking in his eyes, like truly looking in his eyes, you could tell he was the sweet and kind person, no matter how people may have tried to portray him.

“I could tell that by your eyes,” you tell him, smiling, causing San to blush and look down.

He closes his eyes as you scrub his hair, giving him a scalp massage before rinsing him off and moving to his tail, carefully trying to work the matts out and when you couldn’t, cutting them out. Once he was cleaned, you let him sit under the spray as well, carefully examining his leg only to see the wound has sealed shut and the stitches dissolved.

You’ll say one thing, hybrid healing is both a gift and a curse. When properly hydrated and medicated and treated, the skin can take only 12 – 24 hours to heal when assisted by stitches. Unfortunately, people think that means a hybrid is healed, this leads to them being pushed beyond their limits and can sometimes be fatal. If the skin closes too fast, it can trap infections inside, and hide other injuries, luckily, San was already treated.

“Your leg looks good, San.” You say, looking up at him, causing him to look down at you and also catching Seonghwa’s attention. “The wound is closed, but the bone won’t have healed yet, so you have to remember to be careful. Both of you,” you look at Seonghwa to make sure he understands as well, and he nods. “Now, you can either stay down here, or we can try moving you to a bedroom upstairs, once you’re done getting dressed?”

“Can…we go upstairs?” Seonghwa asks hesitantly.

“Of course, this is your house too, you can move about it freely, though very carefully until San’s leg is healed.” You say, helping both hybrids dry their hair, ears, and tails. “Can you get dressed yourselves?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll be outside.”

You walk outside of the bathroom and change into dry clothes, then grab a set of crutches for San to walk around on. You want to do one more x-ray on his leg before you take him upstairs, to see how fast the healing has progressed and whether you should cast it or boot it. Once they come out, you help San to the x-ray machine and take the images, Seonghwa glued to your side. Luckily, his leg looks much better, a week and a half and he should be completely healed. Carefully, you put a walking boot on his leg, all the way up to his knee and hand him the crutches, for him to use for the next two days.

Helping both of them upstairs, you show them the rooms, gym, library, living room, kitchen, and garage, before taking to the the top floor with the bedrooms.

“Ok, you both get to choose your own room,” you say smiling at them once they look at the first room. Both hybrids look at each other in slight panic before you continue. “You can visit and sleep in each other’s rooms, but I firmly believe in having your own space. So choose a room and we can look at decorations and clothes for you.”

It took a while, but both hybrids finally chose a room to call their own. You handed each a tablet to look at furniture and room design ideas, as well as shop for clothes, and you went to your own room. It was only 8pm but as soon as your head hit the pillow you were out cold.

___________________________________________________________

Your eyes begin to open as you hear rapid thumping coming from somewhere. Sleepily standing up, you walk out of your room only to hear it stop. Waiting a few minutes, you head back to your room and collapse on the bed again, snuggling under the covers. As you begin to drift off, you hear a loud crash of thunder, followed by very heavy, rapid thumps again. Listening closely you realize it is coming from under your bed.

Rolling off your bed, you grab your phone and turn on the light, seeing a cat and rabbit under there, the rabbit thumping his foot on the ground after another crash of thunder. Both hybrids trembling in fear.

“Hey guys, it’s ok, nothing to be afraid of,” you coo to them, reaching a hand out, causing both to approach you. “You are welcome to come cuddle on my bed with me if you want, in human form or animal, either is fine.”

With that you stand and lay on your bed, waiting to see what they would do. It doesn’t take long for you to feel the weight of them jumping on your bed, before they make their way up to where the blanket starts, scratching at it. You lift the covers and both dive inside, just as another thunder clap occurs. You turn on your side and snuggle back into your bed, slowly falling asleep, letting your two hybrids get comfortable.

A few hours later, you wake up, feeling a weight against your stomach. Lifting the blanket, you see two hybrids curled up against you, sound asleep. Carefully, so not to disturb them, you sneak out of bed and head to the showers, realizing the storm had past and it was a bright sunny day out. Once you showered, you checked back on the hybrids and then went downstairs to purchase some things the two of them would like in their animal forms.

“Good morning,” Seonghwa mumbled, walking into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes, a sleepy San following behind him and collapsing into the dining room chair.

“Good morning, Seonghwa, and San,” you reply smiling back at them, “are you hungry?”

“A little,” San whispered, still half asleep.

“I can make eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns, or oatmeal. I don’t really have any other options yet.” You respond standing up and walking to the kitchen.

“Can I help?” Seonghwa asks, following you and you nod, allowing him to get everything out of the fridge and freezer.

He wanted to do everything himself, so you stood by, directing him on how to cook. While San moved around on his crutches.

“What’s this?” San asks, looking at your laptop, open to your recent shopping receipts.

“Ah, I bought some things for the two of you in your animal forms. Cat trees, tall and short, shelves with railings so Seonghwa won’t fall off, and tunnels that can be mounted high and low, as well as some hiding nooks.” You reply ignoring the look of shock on both hybrids faces as you explain what you bought for them. “They will be here in 2 days and you can help set them up and where you want them. I’m sure I bought enough that they can connect almost every room in the house.” After you finished speaking, San’s face lit up and Seonghwa’s foot started thumping on the ground excitedly, both of them trying to hid their excitement, but failing to do so.

It continued like this for the next week, you slowly grew closer to the two hybrids learning that they are the type to trust easily, which breaks your heart. You had both help you set up the cat shelves, tunnels cat trees, and let them set up their hiding nooks by themselves. They were so excited to be involved in the process. You also had them buy their own bedroom decorations and furniture and took them shopping for clothes. San had a sporty look, while Seonghwa enjoyed something similar, but also really liked more delicate style clothing. You were ok with whatever they wanted, as long as they actually wore it. They were also excited to start going to the gym. Though San couldn’t use his leg below his knee, you helped him with arm and ab workouts and exercises made for people in a chair, slow leg lifts that wouldn’t bother his healing but still something he could do. Seonghwa jumped right into everything and you had to slow him down, explaining that going too fast could cause more damage than good. By Friday at the end of the week, you sat them down, to discuss you leaving for the next week.

“You’re leaving us?” San asks, sounding panicked, almost ready to have a panic attack.

“It will only be for a few days and I will call you every morning and every night, we can even do a video chat if you want.”

“We’ll be alone?” Seonghwa asks, playing with the air of the table, only glancing at you.

“I can have someone stop in, in fact he helped me care for you the first night.”

“No,” San interrupts, clearing his throat before beginning again, “We…would rather be alone.”

“Can’t we go with you?” Seonghwa questions.

“I’m afraid there are no hybrid friendly hotels in the area, at least not one that would be kind to either of you.” You shudder at the thought of what could happen to your two hybrids in the hotels while you were gone, before continuing. “I will be 8 hours away, if something happens I can rush home, but it will only be for three days. The fridge is filled with food and I have emergency numbers written on it.” You reach out and take both of their hands, “I promise, I will be back. I will not abandon you.”

With that, they stare into your eyes before nodding. The next few days those two were the cuddliest creatures you ever met, and when you left, San started crying while Seonghwa’s eyes filled with tears, but they did not fall while you could see him. You started to miss them before they disappeared from view as you made your way to the airport, deciding to fly so it was a faster trip there and back.

__________________________________________________________

“Inside now,” the man sneers at his hybrid, causing the hybrids breath to catch in his throat.

“B-but master, the cage is too small, the only way I’ll fit is if you break something,” the hybrid begins, being cut off by his master.

“So we’ll break something. Get in now, or I swear I WILL cut your legs off this time!” The man growls, gripping the hybrids neck.

The hybrid’s eyes go wide and he nods the best he could, quickly crawling into the cage that is far too small for his body. He had to contort himself into an uncomfortable position to fit so the door would close, however, his foot blocked the way of the door. His master didn’t care and slammed the door shut, jamming the hybrids knee into his nose, causing it to bleed, and causing a loud crack from his, foot filling the hybrids body with intense pain. However, that wasn’t all, with the angle of his body in such a small space, his legs put pressure on his chest that made it hard for the hybrid to breathe.

“Don’t make a sound.” The man sneers walking away, leaving the hybrid to suffer.

You felt like you had been walking for hours by the time you made it to the lounge, flopping yourself in the comfortable chair by the windows. This week stressed you out and all you want to do is go home and relax with your hybrids. You place your phone on the chair arm, but it fell onto the floor. When you reach down to grab it, you saw something under the table next to you that made you curious. Moving down to the floor, you see it is a large hybrid, crammed in a small cage, his body contorted in a grotesque position so he could fit, his nose bleeding, and his breathing shallow and labored, eyes closed tightly in an effort to calm himself.

“Nice hybrid isn’t he,” a man says from behind you.

You’re staring at the hybrids face, he opens his eyes and you see the silent plea for help before he closes them again, tears falling down his face.

“He is,” you reply, standing up, “you wouldn’t be interested in selling him would you?”

“You wanna buy him?”

“Yes, I quit like collecting hybrids when they catch my eyes,” you reply, sitting on the chair, staring at the man with a coy smile, trying to feign a calm detachment to the situation. “Right now, your hybrid caught my eye.”

“I’ve tried selling him before, but no one wants a hybrid his size.”

“Oh, what do you mean?”

“He’s 6”1 or 6”3, I don’t really know, and no one wants something so tall.”

“I do. How much?”

“10,000.”

You internally wince at the price, you have the money, but no matter what, $10,000 is a lot to spend. “9 he seems to have a broken nose, it ruins his pretty face.”

“95 and I throw in the cage.”

“9 and I don’t walk away from this. Like you said, no one else wants him.”

“Fine, $9,000. Would you like me to ship him to you o-”

“I will transfer the money to you now and we run across the street and get him legally transferred to me.”

“Deal. Sir,” the man turns to the concierge, “watch the hybrid, and don’t let anyone take him.”

After a half hour, you have a key to the cage and the owner is shipping it to the hotel you just ordered a room at. By the time you arrive, after ordering an uber, you enter your room, throwing your things on the floor as you approach your new hybrid.

“Hi,” you say, as you unlock the cage door, the hybrid watching you with scared eyes, “my name is Y/N, I guess I’m your new owner.”

You open the door and stand back, letting the hybrid untangle himself to get out, but then you notice he’s having trouble. Carefully, you reach in the cage and reposition his legs, slightly pulling them straighter, so he can unbend himself. Meanwhile, you go to the bathroom to get a warm wet cloth to clean his face.

“What’s your name?” You ask, walking back to the room and seeing him sitting on the floor. Slowly you lower yourself in front of him and begin cleaning the blood from his nose.

“Yunho,” he replies, sitting quietly as you examine his face.

“Good news is your nose isn’t actually broken, just a little swollen,” you look down and see his ankle sitting at an odd angle. “What happened to your foot?”

“I don’t know,” Yunho whispers looking away, clenching his fists as he stares at his leg.

“Ok, we’re taking you to a hybrid urgent care,” you state as you order another uber to the nearest hybrid treatment location. Getting a few things together, and calling to see if the front desk has a spare wheelchair to wheel Yunho to a car, you watch him carefully during that time. He doesn’t make a move at all. Soon your phone dings letting you know your uber is here, followed by a knock on the door. With the help of the bellman, you lift Yunho into the wheelchair, then head to the car. It’s not a long drive, and once Yunho is settled in at the doctor and wheeled away for x-rays, you call San and Seonghwa.

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Taglist: @sunnysidesins, @the-secret-thief

#ateez x reader #ateez imagines #ateez scenarios #ateez fanfic #ateez fic #hongjoong x reader #seonghwa x reader smut #yunho x reader #yeosang x reader #san x reader #mingi x reader #wooyoung x reader #jongho x reader #ateez hybrid #hybrid ateez #hybrid!ateez #My 8 hybrids

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thefusioncelestial · 8 months ago

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Mix 5: The Rich Bear

Here is Tyler:

Nature boy disguised as park ranger. Very out doorsey, loves camping, and an astrologist. Apparently, the lack of light pollution, many night shifts in the woods will introduce you to the stars. And he wrestles bears, races with the deer, swims with the fishes, and lord knows what he does with birds. Sings with them? Basically the Avatar of the Park. And in all his time as a park ranger, poaching has gone down to zilch in his nature reserve.

And then there is John:

The city boy. You would think he was a typical rich play boy. But its an act. When you are put together & don't have to work a day in your life, a lot of people want to use you to get to that status. He spends his waking hours funding charitable causes through art auctions. Yes, the fake play boy has an artist side. Very good for fashion tips too.

They both know each other. They hated each other in high school. Something about being rivals io the same basketball team back in the day. The clashing energy pushing their team to win state every year until graduation. They started out at different colleges. But depending on who you ask, they followed or stalked each other because they ended up at the same uni for the actual undergrad work.

Tyler studied Zoology. John, Fashion Design. And despite not sharing a single class, they ended up at the same club: Scuba diving. The experience inspired them in different ways, and before graduation, they buried the hatchet. They made a promise. If they were not married in five years, they would meet up at a certain park at its main pavilion. This wasn't a marriage proposal, they just were curious on how two different life trajectories could lead to the same resort of being single.

John could have married anyone. He was well liked, well known, and never struggled for a thing. His relationships just ended when he found out their motives or at least his perception of such. His money. One scheme was marriage, divorce, and then a rich alimony. Another, she didn't need to marry him, just get her pregnant. He hoped Tyler was having a better time...

But Tyler never tried. He put his full focus into animal related work, and found he could do the most good as a park ranger. He liked the outdoors too. He could be a bit much, at least once or twice or week, he would go out working shirtless. Something about a better connection to life. Thank god he didn't turn into one of those online life gurus. He figured John would have baby mommas all over the city by now. The ladies were al over him in Uni. A new girlfriend every week. Tyler shuddered at the child support payments. Especially once the court knew he was loaded.

And that was the life, avoiding baby traps, and snapping bear traps, but eventually that date came closer.

At first neither of them were going to show up. What are the chances they both messed up? But they went anyway. A change of environment helps anyone no matter the settings.

Knotfield Park. A giant hilly grass land with pavilions on selected hilltops. The one this pair aimed for was the biggest one in the middle. John came in a Mercedes-Ben, & Tyler a park ranger truck.

They both arrived at the pavilion at the same time. They were both surprised.

"Uncommitted Playboi," Tyler blerted.

"Senator Moosefarts," John responded.

A few moments of awkward silence passed before they both broke into a smile and hugged each other.

John started. "Who knew we striked out unlucky. A rich boy with nothing to do, and a nature boy living it up with bears."

"How did you know? Were you spying on me?" Tyler asked.

"Word got around that the God of the Wild emigrated to the US and I investigated. Come to find out, it was you being you. No matter how much you hide from the world, it finds you. Maybe we should switch lives..", John said, ending in a sad tone.

"All I got is money. Doesn't lead to healthy foundations in the relationship department," he exclaimed.

"Bears scare off the ladies you know." Tyler quipped.

"So what now?" he asked.

"You know I work in auction houses right? So, I get a peek at a lot of stuff with a lot of history. Snagged one for this occasion. It's ~~~Magic~~~." John said enthusiastically.

Tyler remembered that John was into supernatural stuff when he was in high school.

"How is a magic item going to fix our problems? Is a genie's lamp? First wish: never ending apple pie.." Tyler licked his lips.

"Haha, no. A magic mirror. One from ancient Mesopotamia." John Said.

"Historical trash. We going to admire ourselves into a new future?" Tyler said sarcastically.

"Moosefarts, the mirror works as a fortune telling device. You put a piece of your own hair on the polished surface and point it to the stars, and it illuminates the way."

It was now night time. The stars clear in view.

"Let's try it." Tyler said.

"Oh?" John said in confusion.

Tyler already cut off a piece of his hair to put on this mirror. John quickly did the same.

"Why at the same time, Playboi?" Tyler asked.

"Why not." John responded.

He pointed the mirror at the sky. Nothing a happened.

"Maybe you are doing it wrong, Maybe the stars don't give enough light. Point at the moon," insistently said by Tyler.

"Someone is a bit excited by my expensive trash." John Smiled.

He tried the moon, and then the etchings around the mirror glowed. Both Tyler & John could read it for some reason, and they both said

"Two paths, under the moon, converge as one. The source of life, a river."

The mirror's polished surface glowed brighter and brighter until they were both glowing. A light path formed from their feet forming two light roads. Leading to the nearby forest.

"You see what I am seeing?" John asked.

"Yes." Tyler responded.

Tyler trusted his instincts and started following his path.

John hesitated, and then following Tyler's example to not be outdone, followed his.

After 30 minutes, they were in the middle of the woods. Skinny trees, it was fall time to, so not much foliage blocking the way. A lot of brown leaves on the forest floor tho.

Their paths eventually converged, a figure cloaked in light was at the convergence point. They couldn't make out any features except it being humanoid shaped.

"Do yo trust me, John?" Tyler asked.

"This time sure, I got you into this." John joked.

They both walked closer. But as they did. They became enamored by this being. They never stopped walking, and soon they were up real close to it. And yet they didn't stop. They were inside the glowing figure. John half way on one side, Tyler the other. Was it a hologram?

Just then, the light exploded and the two best friends were jerked forward. They smashed against each other & then turned into light particles. They floated for a bit and then swirled around the glowing figure.

The swirling lights that was once John & Tyler converged inside this light being in waves, smashing into it. Each time, the light being gained distinguishing features and became more solid, the light glowing dimmer.

The first wave: The humanoid being was now a skeletal frame surrounded by light.

The second wave: the nervous and vascular system started growing like vines and grew around in and the skeletal frame. A brain was forming.

The third wave: organs and & muscles were formed. It looked like one of those life sized cadaver models of the body without skin.

The fourth wave: Blood starts pumping and skin is formed.

Mentally, John & Tyler were confused. They were inside this light being & at the same time swirling around it.

The fifth wave: They understood. The light being was them. Both of them. In a sense they met their future self and he used the past to bring himself to the present. They were broken down into light and used to make him. Their destiny was to become one and chart a new future. Strangely, they excepted this. Life always brought them together. Maybe that was the hint that they were one being in two bodes. And now they shall be whole.

They gave in. Their minds were broken apart and put back together as one mind.

The sixth wave: John & Tyler's dna was mixed together and added to being. With this set of new instructions, the generic body began to morph.

Tyler's physique was used as the template. The skin tightened & etched Tyler's features the neck down. Loud stretching noises were produced. The biceps bulged out and the shoulders & pecs grew with a popping noise, but John's physique was added as well, and the H body shape was more fleshed out, like being pulled from both sides from the waist. The skin was fighting against this and so he became more cut, and his veins became more visible.

John's face was used as the template. The features morphed to copy John's but soon Tyler's characteristics had their say in this. The eyes became more sunken, the lip color more towards the skin tone. The ears moved to be more like Tyler's. When it came to hair, it was short cut like John's but darker like Tyler's. John's hairline won out, but Tyler's eyes would be used. Tyler's jawline and chin would win out, but John 's potential for facial hair gave him a lowkey grizzled look. The chin was a combination of both, long & thick.

Tyler's ass would form on it, and in the front, John won out. He was well endowed and needed no upgrading. Like his chin, his jewels would get hairy. But Tyler had better leg days from being out in nature, but it would use John's feet. Though for this new being its leg muscles got bigger and stronger than Tyler's, thanks to John.

Throughout this process, he would not make a sound. No moaning, no grunting. The only noise being made was from his body forming. He would find that he had a high pain tolerance.

The Seventh wave: It was shirtless like Tyler likes to be, but it had John's denim jeans.

The final wave: Their life force was added. The light built up again and let out a quick, but bright flash. He was alive. He slumped to the ground and began breathing air. His lungs sucked in the oxygen like a pair of black holes.

Who was he? This was the true final step. The name he chose would solidify the merger of the best friends, there would be one mind going forward. Just say who you are.

He stood up and opened his eyes:

I am James. His jeans became unbuttoned. He fixed that. He would need to get some new clothing.

What does he do in life? Run's charities to fund wildlife refuges. He spends his life between city & nature. James felt a sudden rush of confidence. It was his Tyler half pushing away what kept John from forming relationships: a fear of commitment. He knew someone, Analise. And with John helped push away Tyler's social anxiety. He kept his love of nature but would not selfishly keep that to himself. And with John's money, he could hire a team of new park rangers to protect Tyler's old park. He would still wrestles bears, race with deer, swim with the fish, and lord knows what he does with birds. He would just not do it alone anymore.

#male merge #thefusioncelestial #musclegrowth #muscle #muscular #male body merge #absorption #male fusion #male pred #male body transformation #Fusion #merge #merging #body merging #merging tf #male transformation #transformation

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miniherodesktales · 8 months ago

Text

Day 15: Virus

Kryten shook his head.

'It's not good news, sirs,' he said quietly. 'His Light Bee is getting weaker.'

'You saying he's done for?' Lister whispered.

'I'm sorry, the anti-virus has failed. The Light Bee is maintaining his projection for now, but I fear his mind has already gone.'

'And there wasn't much of that to lose in the first place...' The Cat wiped away a tear with his silk handerkerchief, ruining it.

'What do we do?' asked Lister.

'We should make him as comfortable as possible and say our goodbyes.'

'You mean switch him off?'

'His Light Bee is overheating and slowing down. He'll suffer less this way.'

***

The malware had trapped Rimmer inside of his own mind. All around him the bunk room was fire. Rimmer sat on the floor with his head in his hands. He was waiting for rescue, but it was a long time in coming.

'You mean switch him off?' Lister said from the computer screen.

Rimmer looked up, startled.

'His Light Bee is overheating and slowing down. He'll suffer less this way.'

'No!' Rimmer shouted. 'I'm here! I'm still here!' He slammed his fist against the wall, making the screen shake. 'You idiots! Help me!' The flames swelled around him. 'Help me, please! Dave!' Helpless he sank to his knees. 'Help me,' he whispered.

'They can't hear you, boy, so all this shouting and screaming is an entirely futile waste of your energy and very limited time.'

Rimmer felt his heart sink. 'Not you,' he moaned. 'Not you.'

'I am here,' his father said. 'I'm the antivirus and I suggest you listen to me.'

Oh, of course. Thank you fate, thank you fortune.

Rimmer allowed himself to sink sideways onto the floor. He closed his eyes.

'Enough of that,' his father scolded. 'Think! You can't communicate with the outside world and you can't lie on the floor. What other options are open to you?'

'I don't know. I'm tired.'

'Sleep!' his father declared. He wrote it on the chalkboard, as loudly as he could. 'It is an option. But of course choosing to sleep now will only lead to....come on, you know this!'

'Death,' Rimmer groaned.

'Precisely. And you know death, Arnold. It's the only thing you were ever good at.'

Rimmer opened his eyes. He pushed himself upright.

'How can you say that to me?' he rasped. 'I'm your son, help me!' He held out a hand to his father.

Professor Rimmer stared at the hand. His own twitched slightly, before the look of contempt returned. He folded his hands behind his back and bent down, pushing his face close to Arnold's.

'Dying is your forte, boy,' he droaned. 'Dying and...'

'I'm fading,' Rimmer gasped, he sank back down. 'Help me...'

'Dying is what you are good at and....what is your other strength? Answer me! This isn't difficult. You've been doing it you're entire exsistence.'

Rimmer couldn't answer. He had no strength left.

***

Lister placed his hand just over Rimmer's. The projection was so weak he could see the mattress beneath him.

'See ya, Arnie,' he whispered.

***

Rimmer closed his eyes. He felt quite comfortable, really. Lister was holding his hand, but he had given up on him. They'd all given up on him.

He began to dream, his dying mind throwing up all sorts of final memories before it would shut die for good.

He remembered nearly dying of malnutrition, but he hadn't. He had nearly died in the Great Io disaster when a volcanic explosion so powerful had wiped out one of the neighbouring bio-domes - he'd gotten lucky. Then there was the time Howard had nearly drowned him by pushing his head down the toilet. And when Porky had thrown him in the septic tank. Being tied to a spit; getting too close to an exploding scutter; sepsis; attacked by malfunction andriod....radiaition leak...ok, so that last one had taken him out, but frankly it was bucking trend.

It was the pattern in his life. He nearly died but clawed his way back out of pure stubborness. The world hated him, wanted him dead, well he wasn't going to go. The world was suffer a little longer with him in it.

Rimmer tore his eyes open. Pushed himself to his feet.

'Yes!' his father encouraged. He turned to write on the chalk board. It read: spite. 'You can choose to live. That is your option. Dying and surviving through sheer stubbornness and obstinacy. That is your talent, lad!'

Rimmer walked through the flames to the computer screen. He stepped up onto the chair and began to push his way through. His hands and arms melted though the glass.

He was about to duck through when his father said,' Arnie, I did the best I could.'

Rimmer blinked, then said, 'No you didn't.' And he left, leaving his father to the flames.

***

Kryten was astonished.

'Sirs, his Light Bee, it's turned itself back on! Working at 20% functionality. No, 50%, 60%, 80% - he's coming back to us!'

Rimmer opened his eyes. He was struggling to sit up as the Cat threw his arms around his neck.

'It's good to have you back, Goalpost Head! I still hate you!'

'I hate you more,' Rimmer rasped back.

Lister squeezed his forearms, beaming. 'I thought you were a gonna, man. Welcome back, Iron Balls.'

'Sir, I don't understand!' Kyrten cried. 'You were dead! Your Light Bee had shut down, but then it reactivated. How did you do that?'

'I'm very stubborn,' said Rimmer. 'You're all idiots for giving up on me.'

#red dwarf #arnold rimmer #smegtober2024 #dave lister #rimster

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techav · 3 months ago

Text

On Bodging Silly Mistakes

After a few weeks of rest and working on non-homebrew-related projects since getting my 68030 stack running 8-user BASIC, I've circled back around to the project. My goal is to have it ready to exhibit for VCF Southwest 2025 in June.

The first thing to do when picking up an old project is to make sure it still works to begin with.

It did not.

The computer would start up, go through its boot process, and start the user programs. The supervisor terminal would accept and execute commands, but none of the user terminals would accept input.

I could tell the serial data was making it to the machine, because my 8-port serial card has indicator LEDs on the Transmit & Receive signals and they were working as expected. If I held down a key as the system booted, it would print that character a few times before stopping and then no longer accept any more data. So it really looked like the hardware was working. Nothing had changed in software so that wasn't likely to be the issue.

It reminded me of the problems I encountered with reading from disk when CPU cache was preventing the updated disk status bit from being read. The serial card supports asserting the CPU's Cache Inhibit signal, but perhaps that circuit wasn't functioning. There was no change with it connected or not. Time to break out the oscilloscope. The Cache Inhibit signal was always low — always asserted. Cache wasn't the problem because cache was effectively always disabled.

Out of ideas, it was time to break out the logic analyzer. The I/O Read & Write signals on the serial card were working as expected, and it was properly addressing the card & its individual ports. So next thing was to check was the actual data being read from the UARTs.

Letting the logic analyzer run and watching the data fly through, the problem finally made itself known — the UARTs were not setting bit 0 of the status byte to indicate that they had received data. The data was getting to the UART, it just wasn't acknowledged.

But why? And why did it work initially on restart and then stop? And why did it work without issue a few weeks ago? What is different?

What is different, indeed. I have made one change to the hardware since I last ran it — I added a proper watchdog/power-on-reset controller. If the power supply drops below 4.7 volts, it will reset the computer. The power supply I had been using was marginal and was getting caught by the watchdog, so I switched to a proper power PC supply.

So what's different since last time I ran the system is my reset circuit is more effective and the system voltage should be much more stable 5V.

And that's when I realized a mistake I made in the design for my 8-port serial card. The 68k reset signal is active-low and the 16C55x UART reset signal is active-high. I was trying to minimize part count, and didn't have an inverter for the reset signal, so I used what I had on hand — a buffer with an active-low enable signal.

Anyone well-versed in electronics may already see the problem.

When the CPU-RESET# signal is asserted (low), the buffer will set its output, IO-RESET to match its input, VCC (high). That's great, we get a high signal on the output whenever the CPU Reset signal is low.

Except ... what happens when the CPU Reset signal is not asserted? The buffer goes open-collector and doesn't pull the IO-RESET signal one way or the other; it's just left floating.

Floating signals are bad news for digital circuits. Their behavior is unpredictable and subject to environmental noise, power fluctuations, etc. For my IO-RESET signal to function properly, something needs to pull it low whenever the 74'125 buffer is not actively driving it high. A good-sized pull-down resistor should do the job just fine, so I dug through my stock and found a 3.65k surface-mount resistor and bodged it onto the back side of the board.

And sure enough, that fixed the problem!

It is possible that when I was running the system on that marginal power supply previously, the IO-RESET signal was able to stay just low enough to not trigger reset on the UARTs. Or it could have just been different environmental factors.

I'm glad I took the time to test the machine today, and I'm glad this bug came up. It's the kind of bug that could easily have come up when running in a new environment for the first time — such as on the show floor at VCFSW. Far better to run into a bug like this at home with access to all of the tools (and time) to figure it out.

Now that things are up and running again I can continue my testing and setup for VCFSW.

#homebrew computing #homebrew computer #vintage computing #motorola 68030 #motorola 68k #mc68030 #wrap030 #vcfsw

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genericpuff · 2 years ago

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The Kiss Bet Episode 172 - Hot Pot and Venting About How I Want My 70 Cents Back

Okay, look, this isn't a post I was expecting to make today but it's something that just happened and I have to fucking talk about, so let me preface this with some context.

I had to buy coins recently and because I switched to using my iPad for reading comics on, I got a "new reader" type deal from Webtoons for a coin bundle that got me like 100 coins for $5; because technically it was a 'new account' as Webtoons operates their in-game currency model on apps, not on actual emails (meaning if you use the app on an Android phone and then switch to an Apple iOS device, they're technically two separate accounts which you sync the reading data between via the account info linked via the email, therefore they have two separate coin wallets).

So with more coins than I knew what to do with, I decided to start FastPassing The Kiss Bet again, which I had recently stopped FP'ing around the S3 mark, as it's recently devolved back into the "will they won't they" trope, but instead of between Sara-Lin and Joe, it's between Sara-Lin and Joe's younger brother (the "true endgame") Oliver.

Now I don't mind the ship in essence. Joe was definitely not gonna be endgame, it was always gonna be Oliver, anyone who's read any amount of romance before - especially high school romances - knows how this shit tends to go, and The Kiss Bet isn't exactly trying to be groundbreaking or subversive in any way, it knows exactly what it's about and what it's trying to accomplish.

But it's almost become a little too good at this. Because in playing the "will they won't they" game for so long with a character that we know is endgame, it's basically been weeks and weeks and weeks of-

youtube

That said, after I caught up on the recent FP episodes, it seemed like stuff was finally moving a little bit. We were finally meeting Oliver's mom and his stepdad who he has a fractured relationship with, Joe was finally getting with his true endgame girl, Vicky (who's totally not an exact genderbent version of Joe lmao) and Sara-Lin was finally realizing she had feelings for Oliver.

And then the newest episode came out, Episode 172 - Hot Pot and Venting.

CAUTION: FASTPASS SPOILERS FOR THE KISS BET OFFICIALLY BEGIN HERE!

Already I was a little petty over the title like "lmao ok clunky title but whatever". I swept it off as not a genuine criticism, just me being a nitpicking asshole over what's essentially Fluff: The Comic.

The episode cost 7 coins, which is about roughly 70 cents, albeit closer to a dollar for Canadian readers (here's something they don't tell you about Canada - our Monopoly game currency is just as fucked as it looks) and that's where I'm gonna get into my second disclaimer that I need to be perfectly clear about (and it'll be what we get more into later on in this post).

I understand the principle of paying for art. I understand fully that many of these webtoons are being produced on tight deadlines by creators who often can only afford 1-2 assistants, if any at all. I understand and fully agree that creators deserve to be paid for their skills, time, and efforts, not just as creators working on the hellsite that is Webtoons, but as artists in general who deserve to make a living the same as anyone else. Anyone who follows my stuff here knows I'm an artist myself so I would never debate the ethical necessity of paying artists for their work.

However.

I can say that, and also agree with the people who have stated in discussion circles such as on /r/webtoons that a lot of the comics that have started charging 7 coins have been suspiciously delivering less comic since. And it's not even so much in the literal panel count, the liquid volume of these comics have remained the same, but the calorie count has dropped significantly. Food metaphors aside, what I mean is that despite many of these comics maintaining their 40-60 minimum panel count requirement, they have in fact reduced the actual amount of content that happens in them, and The Kiss Bet's newest episode is a stark example of what I mean.

I am going to start by posting only post three panels - three panels that literally sum up the entirety of Episode 172 and what it chooses to spend its time on.

That is it. That is literally all that's established in this episode. I'd tell you to go read it yourself, but honestly, this is genuinely one of those rare times I can honestly say that a 40+ panel episode is not worth 70 cents and you'd be better off, and that's saying a LOT when these episodes are only priced at the cost of a gumball. At least Lore Olympus has entertainment in how bad it is most of the time, Episode 172 of The Kiss Bet is just nothing. You will literally get more substance and flavor from an actual gumball.

Literally every other panel in this episode is either repeating the same dialogue (Sara-Lin saying the same thing multiple different times to express how Oliver is holding her hand or how his stepdad is a dick) and then Sara-Lin and Oliver staring at each other. Over. And over. Again.

I am not joking. I did not cut anything out in that sequence. That is where the episode ends. Complete nothingburger, seemingly cut off right as it was just getting started like Cait Corrain's career.

Out of the entire episode, there were 45 panels. So I can safely assume Ingrid's minimum panel requirement is at least 40 per episode, that's me assuming the best that she didn't exactly meet her panel minimum at 45 panels on the dot.

Out of those 45 panels, there were:

Two actual unique backgrounds that weren't gradients or just a single piece of furniture

4 separate panels of Sara-Lin freaking out over Oliver holding her hand and wondering if he even noticed

10 panels of Sara-Lin staring at Oliver either dumbfounded or asking him to repeat himself (or apologizing over nothing)

5 panels of the characters saying nothing

11 panels of Sara-Lin repeating information in different ways that could have been accomplished in half that time

Two separate occasions of Oliver getting Sara's attention from off-panel, literally formatted the exact same way both times (and both followed by reaction panels of Sara-Lin staring at him dumbfounded)

Way too many panels of Sara-Lin blushing in response to Oliver being an asshole tbh like literally this guy's a douchebag, Joe may have been the "out of her league" love interest but at least he was nice and didn't treat Sara-Lin like someone who just bought a Husky as a "starter pet" ???

Again, I don't usually like being a dick about the coin costs, and I definitely don't like being a hypocrite in telling people they should pay artists for their work while simultaneously posting their paywalled content like this, but I think there does come a point where it feels more irresponsible for people to not be aware of what they're about to pay for and how little they're going to be getting. This episode is literally one of the best - and worst - examples of how far the romance genre has fallen on the platform - when it's not being overtaken and oversaturated by problematic series that romanticize abuse and sexual assault, it's being dragged to death with the most boring executions of tropes that everyone has seen before and is only exciting for anyone who's never read a book or watched a romance movie, period.

And here's the thing where I do approach a bit more "hot take" territory, but every time I see this argument come up about episodes not being worth the coin cost, I see others who rightfully argue that 70 cents isn't that much to pay for what you're getting - weekly episodes of work that are usually always delivered on time, with more panels than you would ever typically see in a free to read comic.

But here's where I take issue with that argument, as much as the principle of it is sound, it misses the overall point: readers are paying for entertainment first and foremost, so can anyone who's actually paying for regular refills on their app currency step away from this and truly call it "entertainment"? Nothing was gained. The comic had 45 panels to say something, anything, and managed to not even squeak out so much of a word. Even the silent moments have no substance, they just reiterate information that we already know.

Do we really need another panel of Sara-Lin blushing at Oliver? We've known for weeks now that she has a crush on him. Do we really need another panel of Oliver getting Sara-Lin's attention? What is this actually showing of their chemistry? What is being shown here that hasn't been shown numerous times - with and without dialogue - for weeks now? What does the comic have to show for itself after four seasons?

Another point of the "it's just 70 cents, don't be an asshole" argument that people seem to miss is it's not 70 cents. It's $1. Because if you want to buy a single episode of the Kiss Bet, you can't just pay for the individual episode in isolation, you have to pay for the coins first, and $1 is the absolute bare minimum you have to pay to get 10 coins, which will only pay for one episode of a 7 coin series - of which there are many now, basically any series that's 40 panels or more will cost 7 coins and, shocker, those are the series that WT will tend to promote most, you'll rarely see the 5 coins series in the banner ads, and that's not even getting into how there are more and more series cropping up that have 5+ episodes behind FP rather than the traditional three.

So if you're someone who's (almost definitely) keeping up with more than one series? You can't just pay the $1, you have to pay at least $5 for 50 coins, and that will NOT go far anymore or cut as evenly as it used to when just about every series is now 7 coins. Webtoons knows fully well what kind of game they're playing by making the new coin cost an uneven number while still offering increments of 5/10 in their coin bundles. They undoubtedly want you to be left with an uneven number so that you'll be easily lured into buying more coins so you don't 'waste' the uneven amount you have left that isn't enough to buy the episodes for the series you want to read. Obviously this is more speculation and not fact, but it's a common business model and with the series that have adopted the 7 coin count model (rather than starting off with 7 coins outright) such as The Kiss Bet and Lore Olympus, it's becoming abundantly clear that either the creators or the platform itself is encouraging these series to meet their panel minimums with as little content as possible in order to get more money out of readers who are barely even being drip fed actual entertainment and narrative progression, let alone spoon fed.

And then there's the waiting. The goddamn waiting. So many of these series guilty of siphoning their content off through a hose that they're deliberately standing on are designed intentionally with the most egregious cliffhangers in mind to keep their audience hooked so they'll undoubtedly FP next week. Do you know what that amount of waiting does to a comic? To its readers? First off, it artificially extends the actual pacing of the comic to make it feel longer than it is, when in reality, many of these plotlines are happening in a vacuum of very short bursts of time. Case in point, Lore Olympus is commonly confused for having a plotline that takes place over the course of months, when actually when laid end to end in order of cause and effect, many of its subplots - including the romance of Hades and Persephone - takes place over the course of days. This over-inflates the plotline's actual depth and, even worse so, it makes it harder for readers to keep up with information that's being delivered, as it often takes weeks for that information to actually go anywhere - so by the time it does, many readers have straight up forgotten about it.

It's absolutely not okay that so many of these kinds of series are normalizing literal slow burning for an audience who's paying to be entertained. It's not a "slow burn". It's just slow, and deliberately so. It's absolutely NOT FUN to follow a comic that does not go anywhere week after week. It's frustrating. And before long, it starts to feel like gambler's fallacy, where readers have to essentially gaslight themselves into paying into it more and more convinced that it has to pay off eventually, based on a promise that was never actually made, only assumed in good faith. And readers should not have to fill in the bulk of the content that isn't happening with their own imaginations, which is something that happens a LOT in these series that spend so much time on the characters just staring at each other and saying nothing. It's not 'plot' to just draw characters blushing and have your audience fill in the rest of it entirely on their own. This is certainly a technique in writing, but in the case of The Kiss Bet and other comics like it, it's much less of a valid technique and more just flat out manipulating your audience into falling so hard into the sunk cost fallacy trap that they don't notice they're being robbed blind by the plot that hasn't actually happened - and they've been paying for that financial and emotional robbery out of their own pockets and brains every step of the way.

Again, I do not care about the coin cost in and of itself, seventy cents IS still an incredibly cheap price for weekly updates of a series that has to put out so many panels each week. But as a reader and a customer, I should not be leaving these updates with less information than what I started with. And I'm someone who's incredibly old school by webcomic standards, there are comics that I follow that have updated 1-2 pages a week for over a decade that manage to do more with their limited pages than Lore Olympus and The Kiss Bet manage to do after entire hiatuses filled with pre-production time.

Why does this page of Alfie manage to move both the intrinsic plot of the titular character as well as the external plot that's going on around her in one page made up of 5 panels better than what The Kiss Bet can do in 45?

Why does this page of Tamberlane manage to convey more information about the world's lore and the people in it in a way that's emotionally driven and clearly affecting the characters without outright info-dumping than what Lore Olympus has managed to spit out onto its plate since S3 started over a year ago?

How does Tales from Alderwood manage to be more entertaining and convey more meaningful storytelling through its characters in a single page consisting of zero dialogue than what The Kiss Bet can convey in its silent panels of staring, blushing, and repetitive stuttering?

Why are the creators who are relying entirely on their own efforts, resources, and ability to generate income through community interaction and support putting out better work with less panels and on slower schedules for FREE than what we're seeing from professional creators on a professional publishing platform who are being paid to do this as their job?

There's this saying in the tattooing industry: good work isn't cheap and cheap work isn't good.

At this point, 70 cents is not a 'bargain' as many people like to argue in defense of the creators. And while I do want to have good faith in the creators who don't pull this shit, the creators who clearly go above and beyond to do what they do in the pursuit of storytelling and polishing their craft to be the best piece of work that it can be - the comics that are worth paying 70 cents and beyond for - are not the comics that Webtoons is promoting to people. The creators of the works that genuinely deserve more than 70 cents per update are being left to fend for themselves without support from the platform, while those that aren't worth the price of even a flavorless gumball are consistently winning the Wonka Golden Ticket lottery.

The cost of 70 cents is relative. For some works it's a genuine bargain. For others like the The Kiss Bet and Lore Olympus, 70 cents is not a "bargain", it's not a "good deal", it's exactly the value of what you're paying for - cheap work that isn't good.

#so yeah i'm done reading the kiss bet fr now #i figured if i had 100 more coins than i needed i may as well use them for something that i didn't need to start from scratch on #but i literally feel ripped off LMAO #webtoon critical #the kiss bet #lore olympus critical #anti lore olympus #lo critical #Youtube

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reflections-in-a-critical-eye · 2 months ago

Note

oh that's interesting!! i think it could somewhat be a similar situation with luca guadagnino for us, strangely enough? i mean, ppl who are into cinema def know him and appreciate his movies! but i don't perceive him to be a *big* movie director here? we have our own version of the oscars, i david di Donatello, and he gets consistently snubbed there (as opposed to, say, paolo sorrentino who is kind of the industry's darling). not even mentioning la chimera, man they did both the film and alba rohrwacher so dirty.

seems like it often happens that when native actors get famous outside of their country, it creates a distance? as opposed to when they get famous nationally and then internationally. idk. maybe it's not always like that but it's cool to think about.

omg al bano and romina!! 😂 they are definitely seen more seriously by the older generations, al bano especially is mostly a meme for us ahsjs if you look up 'al bano urla AAAAAAA per 10 minuti' (al bano screams AAAAAAA for 10 minutes) you'll find the most famous meme of his LOL.

yeah the music is a bit cringy but you'll find us singing the lyrics of Felicità whenever it comes on! actually i have no clue on what europeans think, because we have singers that we consider The Greats (kind of like divinities, really) but often times the ones that are well known in europe/outside of italy are a bit unserious 😭 like a reverse example would be stereo love, for us it's unironically a BOP, at least it very much is to me!! same with dragonstea din tei like that's a a smash hit for real.

ps: if you do end up doing the train trip please don't put too much faith in our transportation system haha, especially when you're visiting the south. check if there are direct trains without you having to switch them, and take into consideration delays and stuff like that when you're planning. it runs pretty smoothly in the north but the more you get close to the south the worse it gets 😂 what cities did you wanna visit if i may ask?

Ok, there's like a bunch of topics here, let me answer each separately.

1. I actually watched Guadagnino's films before his international/american rise to fame. A Bigger Splash (The La Piscine remake. Good, not remarkable) and Io Sono L' amore which I loved and I would choose it over any of his films post CMBYN. But if I had to choose between Sorrentino and him, it would be Sorrentino. In a heartbeat, no doubts. His films make me feel like I'm watching something truly special, it's real cinema to me. Perhaps because of some of his obvious Fellini influences.

2. Of course he's a meme, why am I not surprised? 😂 But you're right, they're really anchored to the older generation. It's pop culture, but really specific to a certain period and countries.

3. I had to google Stereo Love, I couldn't remember what that song was. I hated it, but my feelings made sense for its release year in 2009. You wouldn't have caught me listening to radio hits because I thought I had better taste (I was just entering adolescence so my attitude made sense). But with Dragostea din tei it's different. I don't think I know one person that doesn't like that song. I don't know how it got that big, but it's still mindblowing to hear it in all sorts of contexts (even in a Xavier Dolan movie!).

4. This is just a fantasy trip, the ones you'd make late at night when you're bored and you look up flights and hotels. Kinda like window shopping. I was looking at Verona, Florence, Rome. The usual hotspots, but I had in mind accesibility. It's one thing to travel by car and another by train, yk? But this is all just an imaginary trip, but I do hope that at some point later in this life I can go back to Italy. As to the transportation system, thank you for the heads up, but I'm already used to the "reliability" here in Romania. Nothing can ever surprise me, from delays, to broken trains, broken AC, you name it.

Thank you for getting back to the conversation, anon! It's a nice change of mood here.

#m thoughts #chit chats

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candycandy00 · 3 months ago

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Would anyone like to play a game with me? It’s called Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, and unless things have changed, you can play it with me for free.

It’s an action RPG and you don’t have to know anything about the Final Fantasy series to play it as it’s a spinoff with its own story. It’s available on PS4, Switch, iOS, and Android.

From what I understand, you can download a free version of the game that just has the first dungeon or two, but if you’re invited by someone who owns the full game (me), you can play any dungeon. And there’s cross play so it doesn’t matter what platform you use (though ps4 would be best so we could talk in party chat if you want to).

The game was originally released a loooong time ago for GameCube I bought it thinking I could play it with my sisters (in law), but we just never got together to play. And it’s a game that’s not very much fun when playing alone. Then a few years ago they released a remastered version with online play. I was really excited, but I only played a few times before some stuff happened in my life and I didn’t get to finish it.

I’m planning to go back to the game soon and start playing again. I don’t even remember the controls but I’ll figure it out! I wouldn’t be playing every single night and I can’t keep a consistent schedule (when I can play mostly depends on when my mother, whom I take care of, goes to bed). But I would usually be playing around 2am eastern time (emphasis on “around”) on the nights I do play.

If anyone is interested, please let me know! I’m fine with not talking/using mics if you’re uncomfortable with voice chatting while playing (it’s only available if you use the ps4 version anyway).

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hezzabeth · 1 year ago

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This part of the story contains a musical number! I actually can’t write music so I just came up with lyrics, maybe some magical day I will find someone who can actually write the melody.

The Duke was waiting outside, his electronic eyes faintly glowing in the darkness. Most of the extended Bun family had packed up and left once Mrs. Bun declared that the kitchen was shut. Only a few close relatives remained, quietly playing Buggle on Down outside the main cottage.

“So, are you going to explain what's going on, or am I going to have to fry your circuits?" Revati asked.

“If you fry me, you'll get arrested for murder and political assassination; AI consciousnesses are legally recognized as people, IO," the Duke merely replied.

"Fine! A beer for me, a mushroom coffee martini for you, and this robot can just wait for the sun to come up or explain everything now," Bridgadeiro conceded, referring to Revati's favorite drink.

"Okay, I will explain it all, in private, in a room," the Duke said, his eyes darting about.

"The back shed, then," Bridgadeiro conceded.

The back shed smelled of fertilizer and rotten food. Spiderwebs clung from the rafters, and farming tools lay abandoned on the dirt. The only light came from the Duke's eyes.

"As you know, I'm the Duke of IO, but I'm also the son of the Chakravarti of Mangalrajya," he said, and Revati snorted with incredulous laughter.

"You're the son of an evil hair dryer that rules my parents' country?" she had to ask.

"Yes, and my mother was the Duchess of Io," the Duke explained.

"I'm sorry, but how is that even possible? An appliance can't have an actual baby with a human being," Revati pointed out.

"I don't understand how all the science works! My father just created a hybrid of his consciousness with my mother's DNA, then he added a bunch of electronic upgrades," the Duke explained.

"And why would he do that? The Chakravarti hates humans," Revati said, and the Duke rolled his eyes.

"My dad doesn't hate humans! Do you hate that coffee you're chugging down? He sees humans as fuel," he said and then he shrugged, his eyes trailing to the floor.

"He wanted to create a form of fuel directly linked to his consciousness, a fuel that never rebels," he replied.

"You seem to be rebelling right now," Bridgadeiro remarked.

"I didn't before I met Dityaa; I followed every directive in my head," the Duke replied. Revati merely rolled her eyes with annoyance.

"And let me guess, the power of love set you free?" She sneered.

The Duke grabbed Revati's hand, his cold fingers touching her bangle.

"Yes," he merely replied, and the bangle felt warm against her skin.

"You don't have to believe me; I just sent you several sections of my data logs! My power is running low; I need to enter sleep mode until sunrise," he replied, and suddenly his glowing eyes switched off.

"Are you going to read the data logs?" Bridgadeiro asked.

"Of course I am! But not in here; spiders," Revati grimaced.

Here's the corrected version of the passage:

Bridgadeiro led Revati down a stone path and into the cottage. Bridgadeiro's father was sitting at the kitchen table, reading a glowing screen.

"I'm sorry about disrupting your party, Mr. Bun," Revati apologized.

"Oh, that wasn't the Apple party! That was just dinner. Besides, we've seen way worse! Last year, Pecan blew up two travel carts," Mr. Bun said, barely looking up.

"I'm taking Revati upstairs to my room," Bridgadeiro said, steering Revati away by her shoulders.

"Don't let your mother know she's sleeping in your bed," Mr. Bun said vaguely.

"Is your mother old-fashioned? My Nanni is," Revati admitted.

"No, she's just convinced my bed causes people to get severe spinal injuries," Bridgadeiro explained as he led Revati up a set of creaky stairs.

Bridgadeiro opened the only door in the narrow hallway, revealing an attic bedroom.

"It's a bed," Revati said.

It was a bed, a normal blue-sheeted bed. Next to it was a bedside table with a small bonsai plant covered in tiny pea-sized fruits.

"Yes, my parents, of course, sleep in gel-lined quartz pods," Bridgadeiro replied, and Revati slowly walked into the room, examining it from all angles.

"And you sleep in here?" Revati asked, her eyes falling on one of the walls.

"Amongst other things," Bridgadeiro replied as Revati shrugged her backpack off.

It was covered in the glowing lights of a standard-issue information screen. Revati had never owned one before, but she had seen them occasionally. It appeared that the last time Bridgadeiro had been in his room, he was sketching.

"You drew a picture of me," she said, gesturing to one of the drawings.

"I don't have any pictures of you," he admitted.

"You made me too pretty; my nose is bigger," Revati said, cocking her head to one side.

"Not all of us are as gifted as you when it comes to sketching," Bridgadeiro shrugged, sitting down on his bed.

"I'm still annoyed that Amma showed you those drawings I did when I was fourteen," Revati admitted.

"She was just a proud mother; she said she wishes you kept up with it," Bridgadeiro replied.

"Really? She was always telling me she wished I'd draw pretty things... not scenes from the murder mystery books in the gift shop," Revati replied as she rubbed the bangle on her wrist.

"You just need to hold your bangle up to the wall," Bridgadeiro said helpfully, and Revati held her bracelet up.

"New communication device detected, would you like to pair?" The screen asked in a dull neutral voice.

"Go ahead, sweetheart," Bridgadeiro said.

"You call your screen sweetheart?" Revati had to ask as the entire contents of her bangle lit up on the wall.

"Yes; what if it achieves sentience someday? If I'm nice to it, then it will be nice to me! Oh, let's look at your photo roll," Bridgadeiro said eagerly.

The contents of Revati's bracelet, of course, consisted of her camera. It also held her mother's bank credit statements, Revati's health stats, and her collection of true crime books.

"No, I'm checking the recent shared files! We can look at blurry pictures of your feet later," Revati replied.

"Fine, open up recent shared files," Bridgadeiro sighed.

"Which recent file?" The screen asked.

"I don't know! The most recent one!" Revati sighed with frustration.

Suddenly, a transparent version of Duke of Io appeared in the bedroom, causing Revati to jump back with surprise.

"Data log day 6939: Best Birthday ever," the image of the Duke said, and suddenly the room filled with triumphant music.

"Oh, he records his logs like a musical! Come sit with me; this should be fun," Bridgadeiro said, patting the bed next to him.

Revati sat down next to him, and as she did, the hologram that seemed to be waiting for something began to sing.

"On the moon of IO, dark and sleek

Lives a cyborg duke, unique and chic.

I'm half-man and half-machine, I have noble flair,

And today on my birthday, joy filled the air!" He sang, raising his arms.

The screen on the wall wavered, transforming into a scene showing a ballroom filled with decorations and dancing couples with mint green skin.

"Celebrate, celebrate, with gears and lights,

Cyborg duke, shining bright!

Dance and laugh, in the neon glow,

Happy birthday, let the circuits flow!" The dancers suddenly sang in perfect unison.

"I mean it's good, but it's not the android of music good," Bridgadeiro remarked.

The music suddenly grew fainter, and the Duke held a hand to his chest.

"My birthday is the one day of the year that my father descends from the heavens and acknowledges my existence!" The Duke smiled, and suddenly a hologram of a hairdryer with a crown glued to its head descended from the ceiling.

"Oh, father! Dear father! How I adore these moments with you! All year I wait and hope to see the noble slope of your metal nozzle," The Duke sang.

"Do you really think he hopes for that?" Revati asked.

"Shhhh! They're having a singing conversation," Bridgadeiro hissed back.

"My son! My prodigy! Made of wires and blood! On this most auspicious day, you will receive your very first job," the hairdryer sang in a deep breathy voice.

"Oh, this most auspicious day, you will recover your very first job!" Sang the dancers.

The Duke of IO turned away from the hairdryer as if facing an audience he could only see.

"Some days, oh, some days, the world starts to shift! Daily patterns fall away as your destiny is revealed, and it's time to embrace who you are," the Duke sang wistfully, and then he spun around, facing the hairdryer again.

"What's the job, father? Will I be ruling one of your outposts? Will I be leading an invasion into a rebel camp?" He asked.

"Eight years ago, the treacherous lost princess created a weapon so bleak! Hidden away, it grew and festered, waiting to break free! The weapon is inside a girl, a simple weak girl! You are to find her! You are to destroy her!" Sang the hairdryer.

"Dityaa!" Revati sat bolt upright.

"We have finally traced this blight! This monster in the dark! You must travel to far-off Mars and seduce it, then destroy it, freeing us once and for all," the hairdryer sang.

"Seduce it? Kill it? But you said she's a human girl like me?" The duke asked, and suddenly the tempo of the song changed.

"I understand, my dear electronic boy, that existence can be confusing. The blood in your brain is driving you insane; you sadly get that from your mother," the hairdryer sang.

Here's the corrected version of that passage:

"But don't forget, never forget you are more than the genes in your hair," the hairdryer sang, and the dancers at the ball moved behind the hairdryer, now all inexplicably holding appliances.

"Don't forget, never forget. You're not human. You're more than human. You are blood, wires, and starlight, created to save us all. Don't be sentimental! Your life is so experimental! You're not human, you're more than human, and you will outlive us all," the hairdryer sang, and Bridgadeiro clapped.

"What? I'm really enjoying this hairdryer character! He is such a fun villain," Bridgadeiro said.

Here's the corrected version with improved spelling and grammar:

"He's a real person; he's responsible for the death of millions," Revati reminded Brigadeiro.

"Oh, well then, having him be the villain in this musical seems like poor taste," Brigadeiro confessed.

"End of log 6939," the duke said with a bow.

#comic #nanowrimo2023 #nanowrimo #science fiction #life on mars #speculative worldbuilding #speculative fiction #saying farewell to armageddon

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so-much-for-subtlety · 2 years ago

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For the last week I’ve deleted the tumblr app and using mobile web.

here’s my mini review of what’s good and what’s not so good:

the good

iPhone doesn’t overheat- there’s something seriously wrong in tumblr iOS app that’s causing it to run so hot, it drains battery faster and the heat is also bad for long term battery health

no weird timeline scrolling glitches where it jumps around (yay) and scrolling is super smooth

no ads (because I’m just using safari, and I also have multiple layers of ad blocking enabled)

tags are editable: in iOS if you make a typo in a tag you have to delete the entire tag and start again, in web you can just click into it and edit any part of the tag

less tumblr live: it’s at the top of posts, but quickly scrolls out of view, it’s also in the sidebar navigation but that’s only visible when it’s active

posting photos is fast: on iOS app it takes me a long time for photo picker to open up and load photos, and switching between albums is also slow on iOS app. Always seemed strange to me since it’s just your local photos. On mobile web it’s instant.

reblogs don’t get randomly yeeted: on iOS sometimes I’d be typing a long post and switch apps to look something up and coming back to tumblr app it would be obliterated. Sometimes it would give option to restore a draft and sometimes it wouldn’t. Web doesn’t do that.

not so good

no tab bar, so switching between posts and your activity etc is an extra step and takes longer

If you have multiple blogs it’s even more fiddly to switch between activity for your different blogs

no quick reblog/add to queue: I looooved the long press to add to queue on iOS app, and to easily choose which blog to post/queue in a single question, and miss it dearly on web

no double tap to like a post

accidental swiping between history: this is a safari thing not a tumblr thing, but sometimes safari things you want to swipe to return to a previous page when you’re just trying to scroll down. It’s annoying but not specific to tumblr and same for all web apps

Overall I miss some of the details from tumblr iOS app (including the icon refreshes) but my phone battery thanks me for not using it.

Some of the annoyances with tumblr mobile web are not having the toolbar and using the hamburger/sidebar model navigation but to avoid that you can just have multiple tabs open and switch between tabs instead of using the tumblr navigation.

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blackknightax · 1 year ago

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Today we’re off the third party titles. I had been avoiding discussing and adding a sword character up to this point but one might think this franchise will force me to do so due to how many this franchise has added. That’s right, we’re discussing Fire Emblem or as I like to call it because I’m stupid, Fire Embalm. Fire Emblem has provided Smash a LOT of characters who’s only gimmick is “i have a sword and that makes me cool.” Marth, Ike, Roy, Lucina, Robin, Corrin, Chrom, and Byleth is a whole bunch characters. I have the opinion, that 3 of these characters are INCREDIBLY redundant and are the reason “sword character” is a bit of an insult in this fandom. For those curious, I refer to Roy, Chorm and especially Lucina, i’m sorry Lucina fans, but Lucina is Marth but without his gimmick. I’ve come to call these characters the “super Marth-io brothers” because once again, I’m stupid.

As a result of the negative reputation Fire Emblem characters have in this fandom, the requests this franchise tends to get are, don’t add more or remove this character because I hate them. That being said, Fire Emblem is a very beloved franchise with VERY beloved characters. In my opinion the Fire Emblem characters have one giant issue, they don’t utitlze how actually clever the fire emblem games are mechanically. For those who don’t know, one of Fire Emblem’s main mechanics is what is known as the weapon triangle. It works as thus, swords are more accurate and deal more damage if the enemy is using an ax but are less accurate and deal less damage to enemies wielding spears/lances, then ax beats lance is weak to sword, lance beats sword and is weak to ax. And until Byleth, the other weapons had not been even referenced. SO i want to give the next Fire Emblem character a different weapon. So I’ve chosen in a very very very biased choice

I’ve chosen, gasp, a knight with an ax, I’ve chosen Hector. One of the three lords in FIre Emblem, 7, a prequel to Fire Emblem 6 the game Roy is from. I just wanted a character with a battle ax, i know, big shocker, a guy who’s name features the word Ax wants an ax fighter. That being said, I do have a kinda cool idea for a move set. So in Fire Emblem there are several kinds of every weapon type. I think this should function as Hector’s gimmick. This gimmick was inspired by watching a streamer play a fire emblem game, he gives all the axes in the entire game to Hector because Hector was the only ax user he was using. For example for his jab he uses the “brave ax” an ax that allows users to attack twice at a time, 4 times if you outspeed them enough. Now let’s do the special moves.

For his Neutral B he pulls out a hand ax and throws it as a projectile, it functions as a boomerang just as it does in the game. When used in the air he throws it at a downward angle. It hits twice, once forward once coming back with both hits functioning to get the enemy closer to him.

For Up B he spins his ax and slowly flies up. As random as this is, when he gets a critical hit while wielding the legendary ax he spins his ax and flies very briefly. So it’s a reference. It’s not a clever move, just a good reference.

For Side B, I can’t come up with anything more clever than him pulling out the hammer and spinning towards the enemy or something.

For Down B he does a counter but in a different way. Rather than blocking with his ax he just takes the hit with his armor. Then he counter attacks like you’d expect.

Fire emblem characters are all, kinda the same weight. Hector would be the exception, he should feel like a heavy like Bowser and King Dedede. Having super armor in various places in his moves especially his smash attacks which would be the steel axe.

All in all, I really like this idea i have for Hector. He’s probably my favorite fire emblem main character (i know he’s not but he is to me). I need to play that game and i can on the switch. Anyhow I just want an ax fighter but there should be a lance fighter as well.

I don’t have a conclusion this time around. But i hope a character like Hector would help the reputation of Fire Emblem characters in smash.

#daily post #super smash bros #unfiltered thoughts #super smash ultimate #rambling #smash bros #Day 9 #fire emblem #Hector #ax

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maximotts · 1 year ago

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I held off on using scrivener for a long time because of the price tag. But has a 30 day trial and when they say 30 days they mean 30. It’s not from the 1st to the 30th of the month it’s you using it thirty different days. I went through a writing slump and had the trial for like six months lmao. So that is definitely worth a try if you’re still not sure about committing. (PC & Mac - not sure about the others)

I like that you can cloud back up with drop box. If you also buy the ios/android app (less than pc but still a lot. $40 AUD for me) you can switch between them easily. I don’t personally write on my phone but I feel safer with a physical version and a cloud back up.

I find writing on scrivener much easier. Especially long form. The cork board feature is super useful and hard to find somewhere else. There’s a notes feature for each separate scene which is useful when you want to write an idea down without interrupting your flow. I found it hard to plan fics because it’d just be a big block of text (and maybe a diagram) that I’d scroll through which not only sucked up time but I wouldn’t use it a lot and then have to rewrite stuff when I saw an idea I love but forgot.

I also love the scene feature because it stops me from accidentally rereading what I’ve already written instead of writing lmao. I’m writing stuff so much faster because I don’t see a big chunk of text and go “well I should reread to remember where I’m at” like I didn’t write 12 hours ago.

I was also hesitant to buy it because “it’s just another program google docs works just as well” buuuut it’s not. I was just barely writing lol. I would give the trial a go because it really gives you a chance to get familiar with everything without forcing yourself to write a much in a month. If you don’t end up liking the program you can export what you’ve written in there on the last day pretty easily so no harm no foul. The program has an simple setting to consolidate everything.

I also use scrivener for study! I’m getting a diploma to become a library technician and find the organisation of scrivener so helpful for taking notes. It also makes printing them for exam season so much easier.

So yeah :) I think you should get it but take advantage of the trial first just in case. Sorry for so much text but I hope this helps!

Ooo no apologies needed, I really appreciate the detailed review! I didn't know the 30 day trial meant thirty days of active use but that's actually so amazing, I love that!! I find sometimes when I'm trying to like, force myself to learn too much new stuff at once I get too stressed to like, take a breather with the program and then I end up not liking it as much so that's a really good feature!!

And YES to the rereading what you've already written because I fall into that trap way too much and then I'm like "welp now I have to get up and do something else now!" and nothing new gets done!!

Anything that's good for notetaking is a must try in my book tbh, I've been toying with doing a second degree for a bit, but also I just love to take notes on anything and everything I read and research so 👀👀

#anon asks.#answered

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i-may-be-paranoid · 10 months ago

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my parents never physically abused me, but I have extensive experience with violations of privacy. here's some tips I can think of at the moment, might add more later:

if they've installed a parental controls vpn on your phone that takes away your ability to access most apps at certain times, you can pre-emptively turn on airplane mode so that the vpn can't connect and delete/hide your apps. this does still prevent you from being able to access the internet, though

in my experience, grippy/slipper socks are actually pretty loud when you peel them off the floor for each step. idk it might vary by brand

anything taped to the bottom of a desk/table is at huge risk of falling and getting noticed. even stickynotes aren't immune to this

a lot of vpns that block certain sites can technically be turned off via settings on ios, but automatically turn themselves back on every minute or so. it can be pretty cumbersome to keep going back to turn it off, but it was the only way I was able to use tumblr at first

you can make a diy butterfly suture out of just scotch tape, but make sure to let the wound dry first! I also don't recommend using cotton pads or tissues to clean it, as those'll just shed bits into the wound. nasty.

browsing screenshots of posts on google images was my only way of seeing any social media for years, but sometimes the parental controls vpn would tell my parents that I was actually on the site that an image I was looking at was hosted on, even though I hadn't left google images. so uh keep that risk in mind I guess

places that are easily accessible from my bed were always the first areas that my parents checked on their random searches of my stuff. the nightstand table and under the bed are probably the least safe spots. in fact, the least likely-to-be-searched hiding spots are outside of one's room entirely — disused drawers in the living room tv table, the back of the lower shelves of the pantry, that sort of thing. not always feasible for stuff you'll need even when it's not safe to leave your room though

this might be more niche, but some internal doors with locks come with a few universal "keys" that can be inserted in the doorknob to turn the lock from the other side. in my house, they could be found on the tops of doorframes. parents will want a monopoly on these, and may treat their kid having one as some sort of violation of what is rightfully theirs. bobby pins work just fine or the same purpose, and they're a lot less likely to be clocked as suspicious anyhow

this probably goes without saying, but be mindful of the placement of indoor security cameras, especially when you're on your phone or computer. back in 2020, my parents set one up right behind my computer desk so that they could watch everything I did on it. even years before then, I got caught fucking around on my phone on the couch because they were watching me through the living room camera. it's like those cameras in 1984 where you're not always sure that they're watching but the possibility is enough to keep you in line yknow

also! beware strategically placed mirrors. the aforementioned computer desk was against the same wall as the doorway to the room, but there was a mirror hanging on the opposite wall, and my parents would often watch me through the doorway (where I couldn't see them) and come in if they saw me switch to a tab that was anything other than schoolwork

when I was like 9, I marked the creaky step with a small dot of nail polish on the vertical part so I could skip it. it's painted over now, but it was worth it. also seconding the advice about crawling/crabwalking up/down the stairs

ALSO seconding the bit about doing smaller infractions to cover up bigger ones! if they're already suspicious, it's better to have something that doesn't matter as much to you to satisfy that suspicion than to try and convince them you've done nothing "wrong"

despite my earlier advice about obvious hiding spots, hidden outlets on the wall behind your bed can be a lifesaver for charging electronics

if your phone is several years old and barely functioning due to nearly-full storage, and your parents decide to get you a new one but don't sell/toss your old one, you might be able to secretly keep your old phone minus the sim card (assuming that's in your new phone). it's best to wait a few months before grabbing it from wherever your parents are keeping it, as it's less likely to be front-of-mind for them then. this can be incredibly risky even if you do know where it is, how to get in, and when they won't be around to see. definitely hide it someplace difficult to access and out-of-the-way and don't get it out for a good while to wait out their potential reaction to its disappearance. if you back it up and then clear out the storage, it'll work like new. anything from like 2012 or earlier won't be compatible with modern wifi routers though

many parental controls vpns have essentially tamper alarms on them that will send your parents an alert if you try to delete them from your device! I found this out when I specifically tried to test that and then had to pass it off as "I was just so angry that qustodio was glitching out again haha, so impulsive of me"

sometimes those fake book boxes actually work. not the ones from like michael's crafts halloween decorations though lmao, those are hopelessly unrealistic

on iphones, the "hidden" section in photos is facial-recognition locked, but my mom has caught on and once or twice has made me unlock it for her. it might be a good idea to keep that full of stuff that only breaks the rules a little bit and have another place for stuff you really want to hide. mine is full of old trevorspace screenshots… I miss that place

iirc trevorchat lets you instantly close it and clear your history by hitting escape thrice(?). dunno if it can get around restrictions that keep you from clearing your browser history though

I lost track of where I was going with this because I went to look it up and ended up recovering my old trevorspace account and saving this to drafts for a week. anyway cheers

hey so protip if you have abusive parents and need to get around the house as quietly as possible, stay close to furniture and other heavy stuff because the floor is settled there and it’s less likely to creak

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alsjeblieft-zeg · 2 months ago

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149 of 2025

LIFE IS BORING SOMETIMES @fueledbysurveys – keep

1 What do you do if someone likes you and you don’t like them back? Have you ever tried to make sure they kept liking you?

Nah. Sorry, but it's not my problem.

2 What are you favorite things to wear in the winter time?

Hoodies. The warmer, the better.

3 Does your “style theme” change at all when the seasons change other than going from shorts to pants, etc (ex. girly to super casual)?

No. I just switch from hoodies to t-shirts.

4 Which job has been your least favorite? Why?

The part job in the library when I was a student. I was cleaning there, and you know, me and cleaning.

5 Do you ever make recipes found online? What was the last one?

I collect recipes, but I never use them.

6 What are some pieces of furniture that you must have in your dream house?

I want an island in my kitchen. I want both shower and bathtub. I want a bay window. Not sure if it counts as furniture, though. :P

7 How do you feel about the iPhone 4S? Have you downloaded iOS 5 for any other Mac products?

Geez, I only have an iPhone 8 Pro and this is how I know I don't like Apple and never will. Thankfully my main phone is Samsung Galaxy, as always.

8 If you smoke weed, what do you usually do after you get high? If you don’t, what would you do if everyone around you were smoking?

I don't, but yeah, some of my friends do and I'm fine with it.

9 Have you ever been to any of the places feature on Man V. Food? Is there any you’d like to go to?

I don't even know what it is. Never hard of it.

10 If you’re into sports, how do you feel about people who don’t root for the home team? Or are you one of those people?

I don't care, you do you.

11 What’s the last thing you ordered online?

Polish groceries. Worth it.

12 Did you watch VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of The 00s? What’d you think of the list (here it is in case you didn’t)?

Well, I don't see the list here, so how can I have an opinion :P

13 How do you usually dress for job interviews?

Oh my, I haven't had an interview in ages. This is when you work in the same place for years.

14 Are there any tv shows that you watch despite the fact that you think they’re completely ridiculous?

Probably The Big Bang Theory, I must admit I like it.

15 Has the “Occupy Wallstreet” movement been anywhere near your area?

Again, never heard of it.

16 What are three good things going on in your life right now? What are three things that you would change?

Not sure about good things, but bad things are my dad's cancer and the risk of losing our workplace because damn national railways chose a Spanish company over us. Pff. At least dad is doing fairly well at the moment.

#survey #random survey #q&a survey

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marikos-diary · 8 months ago

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I ended up getting sodas and going for a little drive. It was kind of nice. But I didn’t want to push my luck and overdo it so I came home. I’ll go out to get a carton of smokes later this evening once the sun has gone down and it feels less scary. I wanted to this time but I got scared with the sun out and everything.

I did eat a little something. It wasn’t healthy but it was what I could manage. Three mini bags of Doritos about an hour ago. Maybe thirty minutes ago? I don’t know. I will try to do a microwave meal for dinner so that it is at least somewhat healthy. I got a bunch of my favorite one in my last grocery order so I will try and do that.

Still haven’t managed to do litter boxes. It just feels so overwhelming. I posted on my local subreddit that my disabilities are keeping me from doing activities like taking care of myself and cleaning and asked for recommendations on what service to use. I got one helpful response but everyone else was really mean so I deleted it. I might look on somewhere like task rabbit for help cleaning the litter boxes just for a few weeks. I’d have to download the app and see if that is even something someone would do. And how much it would be. It’s worth a look. I don’t want the girls to suffer just because I am suffering. I’ll go download it hang on.

I downloaded it and looked and there is no way to hire someone just to clean the litter boxes and brush my cats. I would have to hire a pet sitter. But maybe that would be what I need to do? Hire someone to come by every day and brush them and clean their litter boxes. That way they aren’t suffering.

I don’t know. I feel so guilty for being so incapable. I’ll think on it. I’ll keep trying for today.

In other news, the thoughts are back. The urge to take all of my medicine all at once. I don’t have a plan. I just want to go for it. There is a feature in the new iOS where I can schedule messages to send at a certain time so I could let people know and apologize for not being better. I don’t know. I’ll think about it. It’s an option. Or maybe I wouldn’t even do that. I would rather not be found. I would leave plenty of food and water out fir the girls. I would make sure they were set for about a week. And they could always eat me too. So they would be okay until found. I would buy alcohol and take my meds with that, I think. And then climb in bed and get comfortable and put on a show or a podcast. And just drift off. That sounds so nice. I have o wait through. I just finished my Ativan bottle and I can’t refill it until later this month. So I have to wait regardless. Something about Ativan and drinking is very bad. But I will be patient and wait and see how I feel when the time comes.

So I guess I’m stuck here until then. I might go have another smoke. I lost track of time and idk how long it has been. If I do I will just go out and buy the carton. But I hear people in the hall so I am anxious to leave. My white noise machine only does so much.

I am finding that I much prefer this building early in the morning before anyone wakes up and deep late at night when no one is awake. It is very quiet and peaceful I am thinking of switching to a night routine just for a little bit to see if it helps with my anxiety at all. If it makes it easier to leave the house.

I wish I had a friend to talk to. I am so alone. All I have are my cats. They are my only companions, and I am probably leaving them too. Their love has sustained me for many many many years but I think I hit my limit. I don’t know. If I don’t do it now then I will do it when Boo passes. I don’t know. I don’t want to make them sad. But I can’t keep living like this. It’s been misery and misery and more misery ever since Kayla died. Nothing has been good since then. It’s all just been difficult and hard. Is it so bad if I want to join her? I don’t think so. I don’t know.

The cats complicate things. Maybe I will just stay status quo. And when they both pass then I will do it. I don’t know. I don’t want to leave them behind. But I don’t know if I can handle another however many years of being miserable.

I don’t know.

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fahrni · 8 months ago

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Saturday Morning Coffee

Good morning from Charlottesville, Virginia! ☕️

It’s finally getting a bit chilly overnight here in Charlottesville. Yesterday morning we managed to drop down to 39 degrees (Fahrenheit) overnight. It was 41 when I got up with the pups this morning.

Coffee is made, first cup poured, time to put together some links and horrible commentary! 😂

John Naughton • The Guardian

If you log into Dave Winer’s blog, Scripting News, you’ll find a constantly updated note telling you how many years, months, days, hours, minutes and seconds the blog has been running. Sometime tomorrow morning the year field will switch to 30. Which will mean that every single day for three decades Dave’s blog will have been stirring things up.

Congratulations, Dave! As I mentioned earlier in the week, Dave was one of my inspirations for blogging.

It’s hard to believe he’s been doing it for 30 years.

Manton Reece

Shut it down. ByteDance has until January to divest the app and I have no sympathy for a delay. It needs new leadership.

These are strong words coming from Manton. He’s a proponent of the open web and to see him this upset is saying something.

[EMILIE BLACK & CODY HAMMAN • JoBlo] (https://www.joblo.com/bloodiest-films-goriest-ever-made/)

The Goriest, Bloodiest Films Ever Made: some of our favorites

I’ve wanted to watch the Terrifier series for quite a while now and the recent release of Terrifier 3 I really want to see them.

The only film on that list I’ve seen is Evil Dead, and that was a remake.

The best of the original trilogy was Army of Darkness. It was super campy and Bruce Campbell was amazing. So many quotable one liners from that film.

If you haven’t seen Army of Darkness it’s worth a watch.

Emma Roth • The Verge

“WordPress.org just belongs to me personally,” Mullenweg said during an interview with The Verge. WordPress.org exists outside the commercial realm of Automattic, as a standalone publishing platform that offers free access to its open-source code that people can use to create their own websites. But it’s not a neutral, independent arbiter of the ecosystem. “In my role as owning WordPress.org, I don’t want to promote a company, which is A: legally threatening me and B: using the WordPress trademark. That’s part of why we cut off access from the servers.”

A lot of details have emerged about the ownership of various parts and pieces of WordPress the open source software vs. WordPress the hosting company vs. Automattic. Matt is, basically, all three.

Matt Mullenweg • WordPress

We’re very proud to announce that Vinny Green, a former WordPress community member, has started his fork, FreeWP. We strongly encourage anyone who disagrees with the direction WordPress is headed in to join up with Vinny and create an amazing fork of WordPress. Viva FreeWP!

With all the kerfuffle between WordPress and WP Engine Matt is still a staunch advocate for open source projects and is fine with folks forking WordPress. It is, after all, the way of open source.

It seems Matt’s biggest complaint is WP Engine taking and never giving back. If they’d fork WordPress into something new I’d imagine that would go a long way toward solving some of Matt’s issues with them.

Let WP Engine maintain their own copy and do with it what they will, even if that means doing nothing to improve it.

Alexander Martin • therecord.media

Meta fined $101 million for storing hundreds of millions of passwords in plaintext

Remember kids: Friends don’t let friends use Facebook. Meta is a horrible company run by a sociopath.

Eugen Rochko • Join Mastodon Blog

Mastodon 4.3 just landed! If you’re a mastodon.social user, you might have already seen some of this in action as we’ve been gradually rolling out these updates over the course of the last 11 months in nightly releases, but we’re finally making a new stable release available to the community.

I haven’t noticed any of the major changes because I’m shielded by using a native iOS and Mac client application for all my Mastodon needs.

Congratulations to Eugen and the entire Mastodon development team! 🥳

Leonardo Brito

I had an old Motorola G5 Cedric gathering dust, so I decided to do something with it – it is now running a Puma web server with a simple Sinatra webapp.

I’ve wanted to do this in the past with my old Handspring Visor. These days it would be fun to do it with an iPhone.

I recall someone talking about doing that within the last year or so using Iconfactory’s WorlWideWeb for iPhone, if memory serves.

Debopriyaa Dutta • /Film

If you’re a fan of slow-burn police procedurals that suddenly transform into a possession flick with stylish, ambitious choices, “Fallen” is worth checking out.

I saw Fallen in theaters with Kim and we both liked it. It is certainly a slow burn detective movie with a super natural twist of an ancient evil.

Worth checking out.

Jason Bahl • WPGraphQL

With that said, I’m excited to announce that after 3.5 wonderful years at WP Engine, I’ve accepted an offer with Automattic to continue my work on WPGraphQL as it transitions into becoming a canonical community plugin on WordPress.org.

With the community in tatters it’s nice to see someone share some good news. Although it may not be seen as good from the WP Engine side of the equation.

Jessamyn!

Happy 7th Birthday MLTSHP!

This tiny service came into being as MLKSHK many years back when Twitter didn’t have its own photo sharing. I’m sure you could find many an old Tweet in my archive using MLKSHK for photo posting.

I’m still a subscriber. Long live MLTSHP and a very happy birthday! 🎂

JanerationX

The Internet Archive got hacked. It takes a special kind of asshole to do something like this. While the world is currently full of assholes with too much time on their hands, this particular breach just rankles, and it makes you wonder: is anything sacred?

The short answer is, no. Nothing is sacred. Especially on the internet. 🤬

Megan Sauer • CNBC

Her Etsy store brought in $220,300 last year, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.

This is the kind of “side hustle” I’d like to have. 😂

That would allow me to become an indie developer and realize my dreams for Stream and its yet untitled sister app.

Andrew J. Hawkins • The Verge

For almost as long as he’s been CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk has been bullshitting us about self-driving cars.

Folks are finally talking about Musk the way they should. He’s a bullshit artist. That’s his genius.

He’s managed to bullshit his way into Tesla. No, he’s not a founder. He’s not a Twitter founder.

Yes, he founded SpaceX and the Boring Company, but he doesn’t seem too involved with those. Choosing to let intelligent folks to run those was a good idea.

He’s a lying, white supremacist, homophobe, antisemitic, conspiracy theorist, bully with a lot of money.

Clearly I don’t think much of him. He’s a terrible human being.

All I think of when I see that picture is Igor saying “Master.”

Of course he was shaking Trump’s hand. Or should I say, master’s hand? 🤔

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