#What if the force is sentient and is like a separate entity

[monkmain2]

just had a literal shower thought and I need to share it before it goes away

so what if the reason ENA’s name is constantly being mispronounced isn’t because they don’t respect her specifically but because they think of ENAs as one singular entity because racism

Some characters refer to ENAs as a singular being rather than a community

I don’t think this means there’s only one, since the evidence against that is so staggering, I think that’s because nobody cares enough to view ENAs as a species, just a thing that exists in their general vicinity, like a virus. We refer to a virus as a single entity even though it’s actually a species of microorganism. That’s because it doesn’t present itself as a community, it’s just a force that exists like wind or gravity.

I think, most likely, ENAs all have separate ways of pronouncing their names so they’re easier to tell apart. I’d imagine this is a bit confusing for other species, so this rule only really applies to groups of ENAs.

but since nobody actually cares about their feelings, they just say whatever pronunciation comes to mind rather than asking directly.

in the series, you might notice that pretty much nobody actually calls ENA by name. I think this is because they actually respect her there, and they don’t want to disrespect her. The exceptions to this are Shepherd, who obviously doesn’t like ENAs a whole lot, and Moony.

I can think of two possible reasons for Moony not caring about their feelings pronunciation.

A. She’s good friends with ENA so ENA doesn’t mind

Or B. She doesn’t actually care about ENA

I think the latter is likely, since it’s implied that Moony doesn’t really think of ENA as a whole sentient person. She gets annoyed when ENA has a meltdown, she scolds her for throwing up, she even forces her to do things she doesn’t want to do. This, to me, sounds a lot like a person pretending to be someone’s friend and taking advantage of their naivety and/or shyness. I know this because it is extremely reminiscent of something that happened to me when I was younger.

speaking of things happening when you’re young, this would also make the “punishment of the moon” line make sense if we’re going with the “Bbq ENA and Series ENA are the same person” theory. If Bbq ENA is a future version of Series ENA, it would make sense why she would ask for that. She’s older now, and she realizes how Moony took advantage of her and never got any consequences for it.

Anyway that’s pretty much the end of my rant

[i-m-art-ix]

Obi-wan: I feel a disturbance in the force. Anakin: What? Why? I don't feel anything. Obi-wan: Maybe because this plan is dangerous! Wait, have you never felt the force warn you when you're trying to do something stupid? Anakin: ... Half of these ideas are force suggestions to me. Obi-wan:…

(Check tags)

[ghostonmainmoon]

The Weaver

Ancient of Space, Weaver of Creation

I had this idea after literally going through her past posts (I literally went on a binge and read her entire masterlist) and just absolutely falling in love with her work @that-weird-thing-in-the-woods

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✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚ .⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊

Danny's home dimension is destroyed after the GIW decides to try and bomb the Infinite Realms while he is in the Far Frozen for medical help, along with Tucker. They were the only ones to survive the destruction of their planet. Sam didn't survive; She was out of town that day and couldn't go with them. (so no one was there to stop them from doing something stupid), the bombing failed horribly because the Realms sort of just threw it back at them.

The Infinite Realms place is sentient in a way and has its own will. It allowed the portal that initially killed Danny to be created just so she could have her adopted son.

Danny is the Realms Chosen and is practically her baby. There is a noticible difference in the Realms when Danny returns to it from vacation like everything changes.

So basically, Danny has become the Ancient of Space, Weaver of Creation, the Child of the Realms, Father of Stars and Moon, Keeper of the World Tree, Keeper of the Balance, Protector of the Forgotten, Son of Time, The Great One, etc.

He went through a very long period of depression as everything he knew was gone with only a handful still surviving as most didn't. The Ancients or more specifically CW decides enough is enough and he needs to get stuff done

Clockwork has taken over his education along with Frostbite and Pandora and was literally forced feed a shit ton of information about ghost culture, healing, understanding his powers, etiquette, etc.

Time and Space are very closely related but what people don't often remember that this also allows for creation. This is an aspect that Danny never thought would affect him much less become his main job.

Danny's existence is paradoxical in a way that still gets him confused as he is a constant where he existed as the Ancient of Space up until the point of his birth and when he had his accident and became a halfa once again he becomes a baby ghost with CW holding the reigns until he ascends as the Ancient Of Space Weaver of Creation.

Danny spends years creating new universes and creating galaxies upon galaxies, indulging in his obsession and occasionally going on vacations to explore the universes that he establishes -he's never traveled to the DC universe before, or he had a long time ago, like maybe during the Victorian era.

Danny weaves the future, past, and present of the many lives that will be, have been, and are. The Weaving of Creation takes up most of his time; he loves watching his creations blossom. He weaves the tapestry of creation which is later transcribed/ copied and bounded into a giant book that has the story of the entire multiverse in it. Danny as The Weaver his act of creation is reflected in the tree's branches and roots, representing the diverse realms and levels of existence. I want this to suggest that the universe is not just a collection of separate entities but a cohesive system with the Infinite Realms as the glue that holds the Multiverse together, and Danny acts as the orchestrator and the World Tree as his framework. 

Taking care of the World Tree is also one of his duties it is the centrepiece of his haunts as his powers as the Weavers of Creation. It's the representation of his domain. His haunt is a mixture of a space-themed observatory with a library with the universes and galaxies used as the ceiling with the World Tree In the middle with marble/glass-looking floors that reflected the ceilings. His haunt is also a bitingly cold like that of space with fog always crawling and curling around furniture. This is also due to his ice core which plays an important role in how his haunt turned out it is also influenced by his teachers so like a Greek-inspired architecture with subtle frost patterns etc.

The creation of many of these universes and dimensions results in him gaining collections of books and other items that take up space in his library and occasionally the hallways or other rooms of his haunt as decorations

Dan, now Serelio after being reborn and reformed—alongside Ellie, now Eos—goes by Klarion as a pseudonym when he terrorizes the JL and YJ in the DC universe.

Serelio and Eos had been de-aged and incubated by Danny due to them destabilizing as. Dan was put into the body of a clone that survived, and he and Ellie are now twins and have ascended as ancients.

Tim was on a mission to find Bruce who was being dragged through time and ended up finding a lead to Batman's location or how to get him out of the Time Stream in one of the League of Assassins' bases, which he later destroyed after grabbing everything that wasn't nailed down and he could carry.

While on his way to Greece for a new clue, he struggles with his journey after losing his spleen and having to be extra careful with preventing illnesses, with Ra Al Ghul hot on his tail. He somehow finds a pool of Lazarus Water where he promptly gets corned and somehow falls towards it.

Tim is transported to a beautiful, ethereal place that looks like the galaxy had a baby with an observatory and a library and he wonders around until he comes across an ethereal being that is weaving a tapestry while leaning against a gigantic tree with a fur coat dropped over them with ice crystals within their halo head piece.

He tries to be sneaky and find a way out, but he ends up arriving back at the same piece. Danny knows he's there but chooses to keep a mindful eye on him, but otherwise leaves him be and doesn't prevent him from leaving this place, but it seems like CW has other plans.

Tim concludes that he needs to talk to this person who he could get help as he takes stock of his environment. or possibly broker a deal to get help with getting B out of the Time Stream. As he took a deep breath and stepped forward piercing blue eyes looked with star-speckled irises and his breath caught.

The soft ding of a grandfather clock could be heard resounding in the air as it seemed to reach the final second. As Clockwork gazed at the timeline, a soft hum left his lips: " All is as it should be."

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊

I think I went a bit overboard, and I'm not sure if I made it coherent enough, but basically, Tim stumbles- but not really, as CW is basically meddling- upon Weaver of Creation Danny and strikes a deal to have him help with Bruce's predicament after CW time out and convinces Danny that this is one of the better solutions that doesn't end in the destruction of that universe.

Weaver of Creation, Danny is basically creating dimensions and other universes and just leaves them to grow and develop on their own, and records their history and checks on their development, giving a little nudge if it seems like they will do something to end up killing themselves off before their time.

ClockWork and Danny can use some aspects of each other's powers, as Time and Space are needed to balance each other out.

IDK what else to write, I'll probably edit it a bit later on. This was inspired by the lovely @that-weird-thing-in-the-woods blog after reading Frostbite's Child, Ancient of Space, Void & Prism.

[lipstickchainsaw]

Anyway, that's enough talk about thematic parallels, and psychological profiles, and sociological roles, and imagery, and let's instead talk about the cold hard politics of the current moment within Arcane.

Now, the Arcane has taken Ekko, Heimerdinger and Jayce out of the game, and the Black Rose has kidnapped Mel besides, which we'll soon see has a massive impact on how things unfold.

Piltover

In Piltover, Ambessa just made her move to install a puppet dictator, whose martial dominance is very dependent on Noxian troops at the moment. She made a quick switch from Salo, who she was obviously grooming as a patsy, to Caitlyn. Caitlyn will be much more capable in the role, given that she actually has something resembling military experience, and harder to dislodge than Salo would've been, but this is a double-edged sword.

After all, Caitlyn being competent means she has opinions on how to wage the war Ambessa wants her to wage, and it also means that Caitlyn will buck against Ambessa's control if she ever were to find out Ambessa was behind Renni's attack on the memorial. She'll need a lot more careful and skilled handling, and with Mel kidnapped, Ambessa's likely to be distracted...

Here we see the impact of the missing players, because Jayce was on Caitlyn's path (although Mel won the battle for his soul against Ambessa), and a close friend to counsel her against this course of action; Mel would be able to push back against this entire thing politically, even if it wouldn't be as straight-forward as ousting Salo, and Heimerdinger, for all that he was retired, probably has the clout up here to make his resistance to this Noxian coup enough to cause a lot of doubt.

Now, we have no idea how sentient the Arcane is, but the Black Rose definitely took Mel off the board for a reason, given the timing. Now, does that mean they knew about the Caitlyn switch and want this to happen, or were they also of the opinion Ambessa was putting Salo in, and took Mel out so that would happen? How caught off guard by this were they?

Regardless, with the fake 'assassination attempt', and Jinx' last stunt, Ambessa and Caitlyn have enough of a casus belli to start a full-scale invasion. Without Jayce, though, Ambessa won't be getting her Hextech weapons anytime soon, so she's going to have to be managing Caitlyn for a while. How long is it going to take for her to realise what's going on?

Zaun

Yeah, they're two wholly separate political entities at this point. Silco got his nation of Zaun, it just wasn't as clean and peaceful a break as he would've liked. That and Zaun is, uh, kind of a mess. Leaderless, the place is tearing itself apart, and that's not a situation you want to be in when there's an army about to march through your streets.

On top of that, the fragile situation leaves various agents very vulnerable to manipulation from outside forces, like Renni marching to her death on Ambessa's invitation, and Smeech eager to sell Jinx out.

So what options for unification does Zaun have right now?

Chross and Margot, the remaining Chem Barons, have made it pretty clear they're not going to be banding together to form a unified front against Piltover, too busy battling over the scraps Silco left behind, although they are causing enough low-level chaos to be a problem for everyone else. If either of them wins, they'll likely have a lot of the criminal element of Zaun consolidate behind them, and that's an element that's enjoyed a lot of power traditionally.

The Firelights, essentially the main resistance against Silco in the Undercity, might be able to step in and become a more dominant faction. Unfortunately, they're not set up to take on that kind of role, ideologically or structurally, and with Ekko gone, it's unlikely they'll be able to change that in a reasonable timeframe.

Viktor certainly has the potential to build up a power base that could become politically relevant, if he organises the poor and downtrodden into one coherent political block. Yes, his narrative is mostly a prophecy narrative, but religious structures don't exist separate from political ones (unless you make the political choice to enforce that separation). Unfortunately, he's only just starting out, and Zaun needs to get its shit together pronto.

So that leaves the actual inheritors of Silco's legacy: Jinx and Sevika. Sevika is a born second in command, and has essentially played kingmaker in previous shifts of power, so by getting her on board, Jinx has secured an important key to power over Zaun, but she hasn't exactly been thinking of herself as a political actor. So let's do some of that thinking for her.

She's Piltover's most wanted, of course, but what has she really done, from the perspective of the average Zaunite? Killed a number of Enforcers during the Progress Day thing, which isn't great, but Zaunites aren't necessarily sympathetic to Enforcers.

She then blew up Marcus and some additional Enforcers on the bridge. Yes, Marcus had just shot Ekko and was about to shoot Caitlyn, but any 'saviour' spin on that would run into the fact that Jinx tried to kill them both after. Still, the fight over the bridge was a big deal in Vander's day, and the people of Zaun weren't exactly happy with the blockade, so she might even come out ahead in this.

She kidnapped Caitlyn, but Zaunites aren't going to be very sympathetic towards her after her Strike Team, let alone the dictator thing. Yes, this is very much a result of Jinx' actions, but I don't think the people of Zaun are going to see it that way.

She blows up three councilors, and this is obviously a massive escalation, but how many Zaunites have died since? Why do these guys get to be this big of a deal? I feel like the ceremony surrounding this caused more resentment than anything.

Then she saved Isha from Chross' goons, and took out Smeech, one of the chem barons causing so much chaos on the streets of Zaun, both of which will boost her public standing, even before she takes on the Strike Team poisoning everyone.

And then she does her stunt with the paint bombs, mixed with the very toxic fumes Caitlyn's Strike Team was using on the people of Zaun, which we see a lot of people watch with excitement. You put all this together, and you can see why she ends up getting popular support.

There's two problems here. For one thing, she is strongly tied to Silco's regime. People who hated Silco's rule and knew it well enough to know her ties to it will not be happy with her. She can't even frame herself as a rebel against him (even if taking out Marcus would fit that narrative well), because the fact that she killed Silco would threaten her coalition with Sevika, and betray the image of her day, which wouldn't be good for her mental health.

So she could reframe him as a bastion of stability. When he disappeared, things went to shit, so making people think back to him more fondly could work. After all, Silco got a statue for Vander, despite it all.

Her second problem is that the most reasonable faction here will have a serious problem with her, because she killed a whole bunch of them. The Firelights are not going to be happy about Jinx becoming a popular figure, and without Ekko present, they're going to have trouble negotiating that relationship as well. Then again, it might also mean they won't be able to hold back the tide of public opinion.

Then there's Vi, who isn't currently in any mental state to be doing any politics, but could be a dark horse source of legitimacy as Vander's kid, should she be able to find herself again.

Of course, there's also Singed, who has Warwick as, uh, actual Vander for his kids to face. Singed attached himself to Silco for his resources, and now Silco's dead. Is Singed still looking for someone amoral to give him those resources? If so, he might attach himself to one of the chem barons. The creation of Warwick could, however, give him enough of a power base to pursue his own goals, whatever those may be...

[shadowqueenjude]

For @azrisweek Day 2: Familiars

Eris leaned forward on the couch, hand propped beneath his chin as he stared at Azriel in shock. “Don’t tell me you don’t have familiars in Night.”

“No, we don’t,” Azriel grumbled. “What the fuck is a familiar?”

Eris slapped his forehead with his palm. “An animal that attends to you, obeys you, and is in-tune with your emotions. Like my dogs, or Lucien’s phoenix, or Mama’s bunny.”

Azriel scowled. “I don’t like animals very much.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Everyone likes animals.” Eris got up from the couch, threw open his closet, and chucked some clothes at Azriel. “Quick, change into this,” Eris said without looking back. Azriel watched Eris as he stripped his clothes right there, his fine back muscles and ass on display. Azriel had no desire to go out; no, his only desire was to fuck Eris until they were both panting like.

Eris snorted as he began putting on his pants. “Yes, I know I’m glorious Azriel, but quit staring at me and put on your clothes!” Sighhhhhh. Azriel reluctantly turned around and began shucking off his own clothes. Just as Azriel bent over to reach for his clothes, a force came down on his butt with a massive THWACK!

“That’s for ogling me instead of getting dressed,” Eris said casually, practically floating to the door. Azriel glared at him. “Are you fucking serious?” Eris only winked before he waved his cloak and disappeared. Eris and his theatrics.

Azriel sighed as one of Eris’s bloodhounds licked his arm. “Did you have to bring all twelve of your dogs?” Azriel demanded, watching the little runt snoring on Eris’s shoulder.

“Obviously,” Eris replied. “They’re like friends; this one on my shoulder, Maya, she’s my familiar.” As if in response to Eris’s words, Maya barked politely at Azriel.

“I don’t like dogs, and so many? Ew,” Azriel complained. To his irritation, however, his shadows seemed to have a mind of their own. Each shadow has chosen a dog as its steed, his naughtiest shadow curled up beside Maya.

“Seems like your shadows disagree,” Eris retorted. Azriel scowled. His shadows were usually on his side, but they were still a separate entity; they were sentient and had minds of their own; sort of like familiars, actually.

Eris and Azriel scrolled through the animals on display, seeking the ideal animal for Azriel. “How the fuck do I know which one is my familiar?” Azriel asked.

Eris shrugged. “When you know, you know. You get this strange feeling. Like you’ve somehow met this animal before.

Azriel nodded. He hadn’t felt anything like that yet. He cringed away from a lionfish who stared at him with googly eyes. No, he did not like animals. Perhaps he should just stick with his shadows.

Just then, Azriel’s rebellious shadow leaped off of Maya and began running away.

“Hey! Wait!” Azriel began chasing the shadow across the store.

“Azriel! What are you doing?” Eris shouted, running behind them. Azriel expertly weaved between customers, using a beefy man’s shoulders to catapult him into the air and over an aisle as he chased the shadow. Sweat began to bead over his face. At last, finally, he leapt upon his shadow and caught it.

“Naughty boy,” Azriel scolded the shadow. “Don’t run away like that again.” He was just about to leave the aisle when he heard a little sound.

“Meow!” Azriel turned and saw the saddest little orange cat ever. His fur was all matted and there were red lesions all over his body. Tentatively, Azriel reached a finger through the bars. The kitty put two paws on his index finger and began licking it. So Azriel pulled out the cat, cradling him in his arms as he asked the front desk person about him.

“We found him like that,” the three legged faerie said with a shrug. “Worse, actually. He’s only been here a day, but keep him if you want. No charge; you’d be saving us money, actually.”

Finally, Azriel approached Eris, who had opted to walk to the front of the store and simply wait for Azriel. “Let’s go.” Eris raised a brow. “You got your familiar?”

As if in response, the orange kitten meowed again. Eris’s eyes slid down to his. “Oh, you’re so small.” His eyes then turned to Azriel, understanding shining there. “Excellent choice. Time to go home now!”

Eris and Azriel took the best care of that cat, and within a few weeks, his natural fluffy orange coat began to return, his eyes became brighter, and his spirit returned.

[coulson-is-an-avenger]

slides into your inbox do you have any headcanons about the room games? anything you imagine happening outside of what is shown in the games or thoughts in general (im sorry if you have a post abt this but id like to hear you ramble abt these games :D)

HEWWO FRIEND this is such a good question whlskdjf!! ty for asking!!

I actually have Not made a post about my thoughts on The Room because half of my thoughts are just. musings about The Protagonist and the story I've created about them in my head, but I don't really consider those actual thoughts on the game since it's far more of an OC at this point 😅 I have drawn them though, and I did actually make a cosplay, even though I haven't posted that one lmao but here they are:

[ID in Alt Text]

In terms of Actual Headcanons, let's see! (under the cut bc this got long)

Starting plausible/simple, I initially thought about A.S. as a former scientific partner, perhaps from the field of astronomy? His star projector sits heavy in my memory always. In other possibilities, I thought A.S. could be family. Perhaps a father, trying to get his child to follow in his research (they do mention having a bit of a tense history, but The Protagonist still came to his calls and he still dies to save them ;~;) or perhaps a brother. I think it's really poignant either way. Auuuugh I love A.S.

Also, less of a headcanon, but more of a note, I looooove how the victims of the Craftsman still seem to have some agency, even within the mockeries he forces them into. The scene where Maggy writes "HE DECIEVES YOU" on her window even though she's just an animatronic is soooooo dope. This ALSO makes me wonder if A.S. was ever actually captured by the Craftsman because I think I remember something about that before his death in TR2, so.... I wonder if some part of his soul was conscious and active in TR3 trying to help you. Maybe that's where the hints come from. Waaa idk I miss him.

Onto an Actual headcanon of mine that I Know is a long shot: so ok, Abigail Lockwood's survival of Old Sins is one of my faaaaavorite things in game, and I wish we got to see more of her. From this, I always thought it could be fun if she becomes the protagonist of the VR game to keep investigating what took her husband/almost took her.

It is a little ehh to think about Abigail going on to become to a cop lol, and also not very realistic to imagine a woman getting that job in the time period, but I was disappointed to be playing as a cop anyways, so one with lore I liked was a step up. I Also saw the theory on the wiki that Abigail is the Witch, however, The Witch is also one of The Craftman's victims, so it's unfortunate to think that she escaped The Circle and The Null only to be caught by him. It does slay to think that she was smart enough to deceive him and find someone who could save her from that imprisonment though.

I really like her either being the one to save others that The Craftsman entraps, or one who dug herself further in and was Almost caught by him, only to be saved by another woman(The Witch). I do like that consistently, the people who resist The Null and/or The Craftsman the most are the ladies (Maggy, Abigail, The Witch). Even if they don't all make it out, that's always been cool to me.

All that aside, genuinely I feel like there's a lot about these games that I don't understand lol (like girl.... what is the royal institute and how well known even is the Null, what even Is It??) but I kind of enjoy that mystery and getting to learn about it a little more every time I replay.

Like, in terms of what the Null Actually Is - you've been the one to make me ask the questions - is it sentient? What does it.... actually have to do with all those ominous tentacles? Are those manifestations of it or are they separate entities in partnership? Why is it from Mars ? Also. The Circle are worshippers of the Null? How did they find out about it without being eaten by it?? Many questions in the field that I think you have put more thought into than me. So please, by all means consider this a reverse ask if you want 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 I am looking soooooooo normalstyle

[indiestsnake]

okay I know that switching hands has been silent for months but.

I’m thinking of another Worldless work.

I’ve had a few thoughts about if the other transcendent entities weren’t aggressive, like some other aus. specifically I had this big great dramatic idea for yin-yang when originally writing Grace and Fury… that wouldn’t work, cuz the other two were already dead and a few other things.

But what if the Grace and Fury duo, in hopes to avoid absorbing Summum, tried to pacify them? Because they are all sentient, just flawed and very aggressive. Duality is incredibly misled and egotistical. Yin-Yang hates their dark form so much they have actually convinced themself it is a separate entity. And adaptation… uh. I’ll be honest adaptation’s just a complete wimp-

So. Find the bosses. Try to convince them. Fail and be forced to fight until something does convince them.

I have such a good idea for duality. The reason they’re aggressive is because they perceive the duo as non-transcendent, because they don’t have a concept of union. But if the duo, say, showed some massive display of transcendent power… maybe they’d be convinced.

Idk. Still busy with life and To Find Warmth. But maybe you’ll see it at some point :)

[thelongestway]

The Nameless Fanfic (4/5 stories written, 5th in draft): Masterpost

The Nameless Fanfic is a series of crossover fanfics for Time to Orbit: Unknown and The Murderbot Diaries. I post the rough drafts here as I write them, then edit them and post them on AO3. As of right now, I have four stories written and edited completely, out of which S1-S3 are up on AO3, and S4 is currently about halfway through being posted. S5 (or maybe a standalone short that will be a prelude to S6?) is being written and posted right now. There are also standalone short stories from OC and other canon characters' perspectives, with plans for more.

The series begins post-canon for TTOU and just after Fugitive Telemetry for TMBD, but spoiler-wise it's extremely heavy spoilers for the end of TTOU (of the "you should probably read the original first" variety), and light spoilers for Fugitive Telemetry for TMBD. As of the story 3 time skip, we've entered post-canon territory for TMBD as well, with extremely heavy spoilers for NE and SC.

Most of the rough drafts for these stories can be found by going down The Nameless Fanfic tag, but as this has already grown... Unwieldy, below the cut you will find AO3 links and blurbs. Enjoy!

Story 1: Connection Test Start (AO3 link)

SecUnit has told Senior Indah it is open to further work, but only if the work is really weird. So when a research transport from an unfamiliar non-corporate political entity called Trellin arrives at Preservation Station and starts throwing strange errors within seconds of contact, SecUnit is tasked with figuring out what the hell is wrong with that ship. (A lot. A lot is wrong with that ship. One, it’s not ART. Two, it’s kind of an asshole anyway. Three, it has feelings. And morals. And that last one might be the worst.)

Story 2: Formless and Vanquished We Shall Travel (AO3 link)

One Public Universal Friend runs a corporate blockade with a shuttle full of refugees, fully expecting to die in the process. Instead, it wakes up on an unfamiliar ship, with a bot pilot that informs the Friend that it is well aware of the Friends' existence and has helped it escape pursuit. In the Corporate Rim era, the Friends have been forced into becoming an underground operation, and they have few allies. Stranded, disoriented, and hounded by a corporation in possession of an anti-terrorism mandate, the Friend must deal with its situation and not sink its entire organization in the process.

Direct continuation of Connection Test Start.

Story 3: The Worst Movie Night (AO3 link)

The alien remnant contamination did far more damage to Perihelion's wormhole drive than anyone had initially realized, and the PSUMNT researchers are at a loss with how to solve the problem. But SecUnit and its Preservation humans have seen “super fast organic wormhole drives” before. With the reluctant permission of Perihelion's crew, a distress call is sent to Trellin, and three scientist teams, two sentient research transports, and one SecUnit convene to figure out how (and whether) ART can get its wings back.

Set after System Collapse.

Author's note: the main thing that you need to know about this story is that I started writing what I thought would be the NE analogue in this cycle, and it turned out to be SC: ART Edition instead. So expect a marked tone shift in comparison to the previous two stories, leaning towards introspection and existentialism. Also, altered states of consciousness.

Story 4: Roots and Branches (AO3 link)

Being responsible for the security of two separate groups of humans is hard enough when SecUnit knows and likes the ships they are travelling on. But once its humans arrive at the incredibly normal space station in orbit of Trellin, SecUnit finds their potential new allies to be much more difficult to deal with than most hostiles. To do its job, it must navigate local privacy customs, dead and/or naked humans, experimental biomes full of planetary fauna and, worst of all, the helpful local HubSystem, which happens to be a) very friendly, b) totally useless at security, c) really fucking creepy. Can SecUnit keep its humans safe and not be driven absolutely beeshit by argumentative social scientists, HubSystem or human, along the way? It’s about to find out.

Direct continuation of The Worst Movie Night. Story is complete and edited, posting Wed/Fri/Sun.

Short stories, collected as Voices From the Pegasus Constellation (AO3 link)

A collection of short stories portraying some of the events of The Nameless Fanfic from the perspectives of Trellians (and other members of Starwind Accord). Character tags updated as stories get published.

Note that these short stories are placed in different points of the main continuity and are best read one at a time! Links to the relevant stories are given chronologically in the main storyline.

Right now, this includes:

Chosen Burdens (Captain Reed) - after s2ch5, "Verdict"

ship's haunted (Navigator Brisote) - a view of s3ch4-5

Cultural Significance (Senior Engineer Haze) - between s3 and s4

what's in a name (Senior Computer Technician Iceblink) - after s5ch18, "Preparation"

Losing Starlight (Dandelion) - during s5ch24, "Beeshit".

Massacre (Blaze) - during s4ch30, "Preparations"

Medicine From Your Hands (Aspen) - after s4ch41, "Puppetry"

There is also an equivalent collection from the points of view of various TMBD characters. For now, though, it only has Ratthi, though I plan to add to it in the future!

Little Miracles (Ratthi) - set during s4ch13, "Visage", but best read after s4ch31, "Chief". Note that this contains mild Aspen/Ratthi smut (because they are nerds).

There are more short stories in the tag, but they're not quite edited yet and also a little bit ahead of the currently posted storyline. I will update them as I go!

I also occasionally post music, pictures, reference materials, etc on the nameless fanfic: supplemental tag. This is mostly for my own convenience, but if you're the sort of person that enjoys finding new music or something that way - enjoy!

[levenllan23]

🌌✨ Galactic Convergence: Meet the Ghosts! ✨🌌

In the vast universe of Galactic Convergence, where destinies intertwine and the Force echoes through the stars, one of the most intriguing elements is the existence of Ghosts—mysterious floating machine entities that play a crucial role in the resurrection and bonding of heroes known as the Chosen.

What Are Ghosts?

Ghosts are captivating, sentient constructs slightly larger than a human hand. Each Ghost features a spherical core with a single glowing eye, surrounded by a unique shell composed of multiple segments that can separate and rotate freely. The standard Ghost shell comprises eight roughly tetrahedral segments, adorned in a sleek white with eye-catching orange highlights. However, the beauty of Ghosts lies in their diversity; they can adopt a vast array of cosmetic shells, each reflecting their distinct personality and individuality.

The Bond of Destiny

Every Ghost possesses a unique identity, though not all are given names. Some choose names inspired by the Chosen they are destined to revive, while others might adopt names given by those they encounter in their journeys. This connection is more than a mere title—it signifies the deep bond formed during their revival. When a Ghost successfully revives their Chosen, a powerful "neural symbiosis" begins. This bond links their minds and spirits, allowing them to share experiences, emotions, and even memories.

A Quest for the Chosen

Each Ghost is driven by an unwavering purpose: to find and revive their specific Chosen. For some Ghosts, their Chosen is akin to a soul mate, an intrinsic connection that allows them to instinctively recognize when the right remains have been located. Others embark on a more extensive journey, searching tirelessly until they encounter someone they deem worthy of the Light—someone who possesses a spark that resonates with their own.

But the path is not always easy. Many Ghosts wander the remnants of a collapsed civilization, searching in vain for their Chosen. Tragically, some may find that their Chosen's remains have been irretrievably destroyed, leaving their quest forever unfinished. This haunting reality adds depth to the relationship between Ghosts and their Chosen, underscoring the themes of hope, loss, and the relentless pursuit of purpose in a galaxy filled with uncertainty.

Kara's Little Friend

In Galactic Convergence, Kara’s little friend is a Ghost with an adventurous spirit and a fierce loyalty to her. This Ghost embodies the hope and resilience of the Light, guiding Kara through her trials and tribulations as she navigates her destiny. With a unique shell that reflects her vibrant personality, this Ghost brings a sense of wonder and companionship to Kara’s journey.

The Meaning of a Ghost to Its Guardian

The connection between a Ghost and its Guardian is profound, rooted in the understanding that each Ghost is born with the purpose of finding their Guardian. As one Ghost beautifully expresses:

"Every Ghost is born knowing that we have to find our Guardian. We don't know what they look like. Not on the outside, anyway. On the inside, I'd always known who you were. And that together, we could be something more. When you think about everything we've seen, everything we've done, I feel like I made the right choice. And thanks. You know, for being my Guardian."

This heartfelt sentiment captures the essence of their bond—one of trust, purpose, and mutual growth. The Ghost's journey to find their Guardian is a quest filled with hope and a promise of shared destinies, forging a connection that transcends the physical.

[bvd11975]

Nestor is suitable for horror, supernatural/paranormal, science fiction (ranging from cyberpunk, robots/artificial intelligence settings, space/alien settings, etc), post-apocalypse and can be adapted into high fantasy. The primary information below I can mesh usually despite the setting. :)

I added to my verse page.

I tend to add verses as I meet folks with relevant muses in them. Or the verses I'd like to write Nestor in because I know she'd mesh. But I figured I'd add this as a disclaimer. I intend to link this post, since I'm going to elaborate a bit further.

Horror: Ranges from human to nonhuman. Her canon deals with supernatural and paranormal entities, man-made monsters from Simonia, beings from other realms, faint crossovers with fae-like beings. Cults, religious groups, serial killers, super soldiers, mass murderers, assassins, enemy agents and various politics of her world state also fall into this. Major Crimes tend to be these extremes. If it exists in the horror genre, it usually fits well with Nestor.

Supernatural/Paranormal: Mentioned above already. I can add or subtract entities or beings that fall under this as needed.

Science Fiction: Nestor's canon spans the majority of her lifespan. Her canon is very cyberpunk themed in terms of technology advancement, but not in terms of cyborgs, robots, androids and cybernetic replacements until later. Nonetheless, by the end of her story, she's being held together by cybernetic replacements. The world state I default to write her in has advanced prosthetics non-sentient artificial intelligence, advanced tech, weapons and armor.

Robots/AI: In a setting with these things more prominent and active, the BVD would ABSOLUTELY be involved. Agents as liaisons between humans and AI, investigating or helping to keep a peaceful structure between them.

Space/Aliens: While her canon is very limited in this regard, I do find Nestor very easy to write in far future settings with humans colonizing other worlds. Aliens, space travel, the works. Whether she was born into this setting or was frozen and woke up, there's a lot of angles I enjoy taking.

Post-Apocalypse: Similar to the one above, I write her either born into the setting or someone that was frozen and woke up. She's suitable for the extreme conditions that come with this setting. Depending on what caused the apocalypse depends on what her role is. I imagine the BVD is alive still, probably smaller, and she's operating to help improve conditions. Even through force.

High Fantasy: The BVD in this case is more like a guild faction that any kingdom can hire knights from. They operate in their own separate, small piece of land that's isolated from other nations and therefore not loyal to anyone in particular. A lot of the core structure of the BVD exists and works fine. Handling nonhuman entities, called to play bodyguard, called to be involved in political tension to resolve disputes, investigating as needed whatever the BVD believes is necessary. Alternatively, depending on the magic range in high fantasy setting, she also could have been yanked through a portal - since it's also very canon to her.

Alt High Fantasy: The BVD operates within the nation of Simonia as a sub-faction that is attempting to overthrow their own corrupt monarchy. Simonia is a small but incredibly prosperous country, a staple in trade and political dealings. They have strong ties to other nations, often secretly lending aid to the countries they favor. The BVD works to better relations with other nations with the intent of one day having enough backing to dethrone their current structure and rebuild it. Nestor is a knight for the BVD, taking on contracts for other countries and the likes.

All in all, there are a variety of themes and settings that work and I love writing them all. Any of the horror and science fiction blends are usually my favorite with Nestor, but I love exploring all in general. :)

[thefirstknife]

what's your opinion on the new "light is physical, darkness is mental" rhetoric Bungie is going with, considering the visions the traveller often uses?

I think it's really interesting on a number of levels, but mostly from the perspective of how Light and Darkness aren't opposing enemy forces, but exist in a balance where they're both necessary for the universe to exist.

The thing that people tend to forget is that the Traveler is a sentient being. It's not an object, it's an independend being with thoughts and goals and personality. Which means, it has a consciousness. This is immediately strange with the recent discoveries about the nature of Darkness, but also something that we have to keep in mind is that the nature of Darkness is not inherently negative.

So what does that mean for the Traveler? We have no clue. What we do know is that the Traveler and the Veil were once connected and then separated. In much the same way as the Traveler has a consciousness of its own, the Veil is physical. Perhaps this hints to how they used to be linked much closer together and one influencing the other. Ahsa told us about "two halves of a whole long divided" and the Witness cutscene also told us about how the Witness' species discovered that "the Gardener shared a connection with another entity."

It makes sense that for a complete universe, you need both aspects of existence; physical and mental. Are the Traveler and the Veil the thing that ushered the universe into existence, as a single entity, that later split into two and separated? Are they still influenced by that fact? Is that why the Traveler is a conscious being while the Veil is a physical entity? Interesting questions for us to discover in the future.

I'll bring up another really intriguing detail about the Traveler and that is its creation of Ghosts. Now that we know how the Witness became the Witness, by utilising the Veil to fuse the consciousnesses of its entire species into a singular being... It's peculiar how the Traveler created Ghosts by splitting its own self into thousands of little pieces of itself. Almost like a reversed process. How does that work with what we know about the Light and the Traveler, as well as Darkness? No clue. Super eager to find out, which hopefully we will by the end of the saga! Until then it's an interesting brain puzzle to me and I'd love to see what others in the fandom speculate about it.

[pippastrelle]

Bulletpoint liveblog of C3E91 let's go!

First half: Bell's Hells

Gotta love Marisha as Sam's protege. What's the opposite of phallic? Somehow they made a hotdog costume that. And now back to sadness…

God, Orym's immediately in soldier mode.

Where are they going to go from here? If they're so in the open. Are they going to go down the Bloody Bridge or escape through Issylra? I mean, makes sense that Liliana doesn't want to tip them off, but still a woman convinced that working for Ludinus will work out somehow…

Possessing a human to escape the divine gate is pretty smart. Yeah, right, that's probably what Ruidusborn were from the start (if Predathos is sentient enough to plan).

I know she's rightly frustrating to others but Liliana is so interesting. I love characters getting so torn between morality and feeling like enduring sacrifice must be worth it.

I do like that she's still pro-god-eater too.

Oh??? Commune with Predathos??

Aw, but that's what Predathos would want her to think. That thing's will be fine for her. Anyone getting some Asmodeus vibes?

Apathy being no better than distain is something the Bells Hells know about the world. They weren't targeted. They were pawns.

"Angry at those who put it there"…. But Ruidus is a piece of Exandria. Would it be mad at that, I wonder? I'm genuinely curious whether Predathos would actively want to destroy Exandria or whether it will be mere collateral.

Oof. Yep. Don't tell Liliana about the back door.

God I love Liliana. Still got that love for Imogen. Still got that hate and defensiveness around the gods. I see Imogen genuinely reaching out to her mum, but also being a little passive-aggressive with it to try convince her. Clever.

Haha Chetney's passive-aggressive interogations are my favourite. Makes sense that Ludinus and the Weave Mind are separate entities with separate goals, even if they're using each other. Curious how the Weave Mind will deal with Predathos.

"Be the… mother hen to them." God I love Liliana. She's very intelligent in using herself to get her way. Thank you Laura Bailey for fascinating mother PCs.

Evoroa knows where Ludinus is??

Blunt polite Orym.

Genuinely, Liliana is more swayed by Predathos itself than I realised. Looking like a three-way gambit. Who -- Ludinus, Predathos, Weave Mind -- will win?

Cold, intimidating Ashton and cold, intimidating Liliana. Revealing.

This conversation with Liliana is everything I wanted.

And this is great with Imogen. They can use Liliana. It's not really about morality anymore.

Good question, Fearne, about the daughter abandonment. Oh. Ludinus visited her directly? I thought it was Otohan first. I mean, this is the sad thing. Liliana was vulnerable and swept into a cult, and we see how seemingly impossible it is to escape over a decade of belonging there. Who knows? Any one of the Bell's Hells could have been her.

Good, Laudna, keeping you guys going.

Aaaaaaah, Imogen. Tackling Liliana's priorities.

I like that Evoroa's coming with them. That'll be fun for Exandria.

I feel like we can never stop complimenting Matt's descriptions.

XD I mean, I'd panic too, being teleported into the middle of an encampment. Convenient though.

….Love the constant reminders of how INSANELY powerful Liliana is.

GOD, LILIANA, THAT BETTER BE A "I WISH I COULD GO WITH YOU" SORRY!

….Isn't the base of the Malleus Key super guarded too?

Time for another TPK!

Chetney/Travis is so smart. Using Otohan's stuff to pose as her underlings.

XD Ashton's wonderful CHA.

Laura might've rolled not great.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BAD DECEPTION CHECK!

Are they fucked?

Ooh maybe Keyleth's people attacked again?

Diolch byth (Welsh) -- thank god -- for Orym's insane passive perception.

FUCK they haven't even been able to talk about FCG yet.

Telepathy is so uncanny. So sick.

(HA! I've always wondered what it's like to wear a big costume like that. I've worn a unicorn head before but full body?)

What does Phantasmal Force do? OOOH the mind illusion thing! Pleeeeeeeease work.

I am deeply villainsexual. Intimidating Imogen makes me so gay.

GO LAUDNA! SUCCESS! Christ, they have no resources. What would have happened if they failed there?

HA! Is Ryn statue still there? Just casually drag her out, y'know.

The Ruby Vanguard is having a costume party, guys, don't judge the hotdogs.

Can they teleport still or are they going to have to find somewhere to long rest?

God, the graveyard of past battles around the Malleus Key is such great worldbuilding. Oh, god, even pikes and trophies? T_T Looking out for the Changebringer.

Keyleth's going to have a hell of a report after this. Do they remember they sent her lot to Issylra? Thank god Sending works again. XD Well, "works". User error aside.

HA! True spouse goals. Swapping Nat 1s.

T_T Marisha bringing the fan. I'm still so curious when/if Sam will reappear.

Props to Ashley reminding them about the exhaustion.

Fuck. FCG. I'm still so sad. Brilliant character. How do you even begin to process that? How can they reconcile this with FCG's martyr complex? These characters don't know about hit points. Who knows if they could've taken her down? Oh why does it feel better to be killed by Otohan than for him to go down killing her….

Imogen reckoning with Liliana vs. her mum. Even if Liliana doesn't support Ludinus, the question is how much that'll tangibly matter.

A lot of these guys have to question "what they were designed for". A lot of these guys were "made" for someone else. Aw, Laudna apologising for it: her and Delilah. And yeah, it's why Liliana is also a great, tragic reflection of the Bell's Hells.

Ashton's fantastic. Orym's fantastic. Chetney's fantastic. Fuck, the Ruby Vanguard have fucked them all up.

Awwwww Laudna and Imogen's little "I love you"s. The Bell's Hells are so special to me.

Chetney piecing things together around Aeor. I am curious how much Ludinus is interfacing with aeormatons, as opposed to other Aeor anti-god technologies.

Oh, Christ, Evoroa's been here the whole time. Bless. I wonder how crazy it must be on Exandria for her. Aw, love Chetney welcoming her. In his own way.

Haha "It's had some work done". Accurate, Ashton.

Are they going to go to Aeor?? Are they going to chase Ludinus there??

Evoroa's fun. Cool, so Predathos is in a glass and adamantine prison? I'm surprised it's in any way physical.

Yes. Sicc something and anything on Ludinus! I adore their energy. How does anyone survive contact with the BH?

THE MONSTER IS GOING TO BE BOLO FROM AEOR!

(Goddammit Twitch. Is anyone else getting a glitch when windows overtop of it make it skip forward?)

"STOP INTERRUPTING THE STORY!" Lore mood XD

Laura's face during Evoroa's story. Also mood.

I'm curious if Ludinus still plans to use or could use Fearne.

FRIDA TT_TT YUP EVERYTHING'S ALWAYS PAINFUL ALWAYS. Are they going to get a message from Christian?

Finally, Chetney checking up on Evoroa.

"I have a passive perception of 33. I heard it all." Is that higher than Vex'ahlia?

……………………How many bodies do they have in the hole at this point?

I can't imagine how physically shitty Ashton must feel on top of everything.

Laudna and Ashton have always had a great dynamic. Brings out the bluntness and wisdom(?) in both of them. Christ, Evoroa's going through it too.

Imogen and Orym have always had a great dynamic too. Both trying to keep things running, especially with each other. And the fact that Orym's not even out for revenge has always been fascinating… but it's still about the massive weight of Will and Derrig's deaths on his shoulders. He's a little guy, both literally and metaphorically, and god he's had to deal with so much, and the more they deal with, the more responsibility they get. I really like that, despite their potential conflicts, Imogen and Orym have always just wanted to get along. It's what I love about the Bell's Hells. They're genuinely broken but they genuinely love each other but they're genuinely broken but they genuinely love each other.

DORIAN SENDING! Was it just that he was asleep last time? I hope so. God, Orym/Liam's voice breaking breaks me.

[memekeymouse]

( @tophthedaydreamer ‘s tags in reference to this post)

I’M GLAD!!!! I’M SO HAPPY YOU LIKE MY FUCKED UP TOON LORE SO MUCH!!!! but oh god how do I explain the powers thing without it sounding cringe as hell

……..

FUCK IT. It’s my blog and I’m living my truth. Apologies in advance if it sounds completely incomprehensible though

So far, I’ve mentioned how fame and attention from humans is what basically runs all of Toonkind. Toons need that recognition in order to become corporeal and sentient; otherwise they remain as a nebulous concept forever without actually existing (unfortunately this is what happened to Felicity in my lore due to her incredibly minimal appearances in the comics; this was also Della’s fate until DT17 actually made her a full-fledged character that enough viewers grew attached to).

MY POINT IS: Humans’ attention is the life force of Toonkind, and they need a minimum of that life force in order to keep existing or else they’ll start wasting away until they’re completely forgotten. But what Toons learned later on is that going beyond that minimum can also make those select Toons stronger, and guess who was the first Toon to prove that theory due to his obscenely high popularity?

so yeah, the more famous a Toon is, the more power they have, and that power is shaped by their life, their career, their personality, etc. which means that no Toon has the exact same power.

In Mickey’s case, he’s had a lot of ‘identities’ due to all the different roles and jobs he’s played for all kinds of media: cartoons, comics, videogames, movies and so on. On top of that, Disney has made its identity center around magic and stars, and Mickey has been on the forefront of that as the mascot. As a result, Mickey’s ‘power’ is focused on those two aspects of his life as a Toon.

As a result, Mickey has the power of switching between his different roles and make use of all the abilities each role includes: musketeer, cowboy, wizard, etc. He also has the ability to ‘summon’ each of his ‘selves’ as separate entities, which are all connected to him because they’re, well, himself. I’ve dubbed this power ‘Mouse King’ as a reference to Rat Kings but also to Mickey’s elevated status…whether he wants it or not

Important to mention: even though these kinds of powers can make these Toons stand higher than less popular Toons, they still pose no threat to humans whatsoever. After all, the only influence Toons hold over humans is purely over their emotions; it’s humans who have control over the lives of Toons as their creators and source of their life force.

[windvexer]

Would you say that cataclysms or crises, like market crashes, wars, elections, pandemics, have their own spirits? Or put it another way, these things are not just chains of events, but separate energetic entities that initiate or guide the proceedings on the ground? If yes, would, erm, plinking spells at them with intention to get rid of them just make these constructs pay more of their... let's say transformative attention to a particularly daring spellcaster?

This is really interesting!

I hesitate to say that casting a spell at a market crash would make the spirit of the market crash rise up to harm you.

And I am 100% just basing this off of the fact that it sounds silly to me. Very much overlapping on conspiratorial, even.

Also I've never heard of it happening. And it doesn't line up with the way I think the world works.

For this to work, I think we have to believe 3 separate things:

All major national or global crises either are spirits in and of themselves, or are all guided and guarded by spirits (hereafter called Crisis Spirit).

A Crises Spirit (whether that be singular or a cohort has little relevance I think) would (A) notice energy directed against it, and (B) be capable of retaliation.

If it takes enough notice against any single person or working group, the Crises Spirit would choose to carry out targeted retaliation.

I do not believe that all catastrophes are, or are guided by, spirits. Not even the very big catastrophes. It's tempting to think that there is an organized malevolent force behind everything bad happening, but at this point we're basically talking about the New World Order except we're switching out key words for woowoo talk. So it's a big ask for me to buy into this line of thinking.

As a practitioner, I believe that if you look for a spirit, you'll find it. It's very easy to interpret a big lump of energy as a spirit, and depending on what your definition of "spirit" is, you're never going to not find a spirit.

Crises having their own energy: Yes

That energy automatically being a sentient being capable of awareness and retaliation: No

Even if we say that perhaps these events themselves are not spirits, but are guided by external Crises Spirits, I'm again stymied by the fact that we do not live in a good-vs-evil universe that specifically targets and harms people who try to stop bad things from happening.

Because the problem with this line of thinking is that anyone who wants to help the world then puts themselves in a position of a targeted martyr with access to hidden knowledge that gives them the ability to fight against organized, secret evil at the highest levels of control, and at that point just hang a Q on it.

So my main problem with this is the worldview. As in, damn, imagine the kinds of people you'd be aligning your worldview to in order to have to believe that this happens.

When a person begins their magical practice, I think they probably do rely a lot on what they're told by others. This is baggage. As in, a starting suitcase you need to begin your travels.

After a while, a practitioner begins to get a feel for how things really are beyond what they've been told. They have encounters. They get into situations. They go places. This is experience.

And beyond black pepper and Spells Georg, when a person really starts to make their path their own, I think that a big aspect to this is sorting through what baggage you no longer need, cleaning out the suitcase, and packing new luggage. This shift, I believe, should be inspired by and conform to personal experience.

On the one hand, I keep an active eye out for this type of thinking and do my best to not let it sneak into my suitcase. This is because worldview is a choice; you can choose how you align and orient yourself in this world, the results of which dictate your view. Yes?

On the other hand, I've never seen or experienced what you're describing in the real world and I simply don't believe it exists. My experience of the metaphysical, the spirit world, and magic, precludes there being universally present Crises Spirits that govern all world cataclysms.

This isn't to say that I don't believe spirits can make bad things happen or be involved in bad things. This isn't to say I don't believe there are gods of strife or chaos.

I just don't think there's a cabal of spirits who cause global catastrophe and that might retaliate against you if you try to stop bad things from happening.

[blueribbs]

Okay, in response to your post for Jackstice asks, I might have something.

Although I only got into Guilty Gear recently and I've been playing the older games not the newer ones, so I don't really know about Jack-O, just the gist of she's the same person as Justice but I don't really understand what powers she does and doesn't have and stuff,

but I think a good Jackstice art would be Jack-O all serene and graceful and comforting a baby Justice who is maybe like some kind of symbolic inner child trauma thing.

Alternatively, Jack-O going to town stimming on Justice's tail. That thing looks so satisfying to touch. I wonder if it's hard or soft or if it's smooth or rough. Would she need to wear gloves to safely touch it? I wonder what it would feel like for Justice to feel it. Maybe it would be bad if anyone else did it but it's basically her touching her own tail so maybe it's okay and even feels good, right?

I donno, please excuse if these are silly ideas.

it's actually a pretty common misconception that jack-o and justice are the same person.

basically, Aria Hale was turned into Justice, and Justice's mind was fragmented when Asuka overrode her systems to force her to fire the gamma ray at Japan.

Jack-O' Valentine is an artificial lifeform made to house the half of Aria's memories that split off from Justice. the intention was that Jack-O' would serve as an "Aria-shaped key" of sorts, to combine with Justice and bring Aria Hale back in full. Jack-O' was sort of like a placeholder for Aria

However it didn't go as planned, and Aria decided she didn't want to return to the world. Instead, Jack-O' was turned into a human Aria is now a fully sentient separate entity that lives inside of Jack-O's head and the two of them have conversations in Strive's story mode.

a big part of Jack-O's character and arc is about how she is her own person seperate from Aria. it's a really touching story about individualism, self-worth, and learning to appreciate and love oneself

as for Jack-O's abilities, she has a jack-o-lantern shaped familiar named Dopros that she swings around like a flail chained to her ankle. she can also place Ghosts that summon servants. this is a mechanic taken from Guilty Gear 2: Overture, and it's a magical technique called the Soul Sinker where the user will conjure a manifestation of their own soul called a Masterghost that summons all sorts of servants. lots of other characters like Sol can use this technique, but typically don't, probably because of the risks involved (if the Masterghost is destroyed, the Master dies too) although we don't see Jack-O's Masterghost in the games, and in Strive, they got rid of the Ghost mechanic altogether and just have her place down servants directly.

sorry for the big wall of text lol

also jack-o stimming with justice's tail is super cute i'm totally gonna draw that when i can

[reeceriddle01]

THE BOOK OF SHADOWS

part 1:

Abominations 

Origin and Purpose: 

Perhaps these "Abominations" were once ordinary beings or deities from a previous cosmos, transcending their original forms through some cataclysmic or evolutionary event. Their purpose could be to explore every possible permutation of reality, learning or perhaps playing out an infinite game of existential exploration.

Nature of Resurrection:

The ability to return from "oblivion" could be tied to a cosmic law or a unique aspect of their essence that isn't bound by conventional time or space. This resurrection might not be immediate but could depend on the stabilization of new realities or the completion of certain cycles within their fractal universes.

Fractal Realities and Imagery Thinking:

Each fractal reality could be a thought experiment or a living dream where the Abomination lives through all possible outcomes simultaneously. This could mean that time for them is not linear but rather a radial spread of possibilities. Their thought process might involve creating visual or conceptual 'seeds' that grow into these fractal realities, each seed representing a different aspect of existence or emotion.

Identity Separation:

To manage the complexity of experiencing multiple realities, they might fragment their consciousness into separate but interconnected identities. Each identity could have its own personality, goals, and experiences, yet all are parts of the whole. When one 'life' ends or a reality collapses, that fragment returns to the collective consciousness of the Abomination.

Physicality and Vibration:

Their physical forms could be temporary manifestations of their will, shaped by vibrations or frequencies of thought. This could imply a universe where consciousness directly influences physical reality, perhaps even suggesting that what we perceive as matter is just a dense form of consciousness or energy. When their physical form ceases, it could be likened to an artist finishing a piece, allowing the essence to return to its non-physical state.

Expansion Ideas:

Interaction with Other Beings: 

How do these Abominations interact with other life forms or deities in your universe? Perhaps they are worshipped, feared, or studied by other entities. They might offer experiences or knowledge to others, or their existence might be a cosmic secret, only known to a select few.

Cosmic Balance: 

Their existence could imply a need for balance - perhaps for every Abomination, there's an opposite force or entity that prevents them from overwhelming the cosmos with their realities.

Human or Mortal Interaction:

If mortals or less powerful beings encounter an Abomination, what would that look like? Could humans or other sentient beings accidentally or intentionally tap into these fractal realities, leading to stories of divine visions or prophetic dreams?

Narrative Potential:

This concept lends itself well to stories about identity, the nature of reality, and the quest for understanding one's place in the universe. You might explore narratives where an Abomination seeks to understand or reconnect with a fragment of itself that has become too separate or lost within its own reality.

Artistic Representation:

Visually, these beings could be depicted in art or described in narratives with shifting, kaleidoscopic forms, or as beings that are never fully seen in one consistent form but rather as a series of impressions or images.

Envisioning the ultimate plane of existence for an "Abomination" that has evolved from a human child into a god-like entity involves blending human perception with the boundless capabilities of a divine mind. Here's how this might look:

Ultimate Plane of Existence:

Appearance:

Infinite, Fractal Cosmos: This plane might not have a singular, static appearance but rather be an ever-changing, infinite landscape where every point in space could be a doorway to another universe or dimension. Each part of this cosmos could reflect different aspects of the Abomination's experiences, emotions, and thoughts, all interconnected in a fractal pattern where the whole is seen in each part.

Human Elements: Given its origin, there might be elements familiar to human perception, like landscapes, cities, or natural phenomena, but they would be infinitely variable and mutable, reflecting the Abomination's human memories or feelings in a magnified, idealized, or abstract manner.

Light and Color: The plane could be bathed in light that doesn't just illuminate but also conveys meaning, emotion, or knowledge. Colors might not be static but dynamic, morphing based on the observer's internal state or the current narrative being explored by the Abomination.

Operation:

Thought-Manifested Reality: The operations of this plane would be based on the Abomination's will, where thought directly shapes reality. Concepts like time, space, and causality might not exist in traditional senses; instead, they could be fluid, allowing for non-linear experiences or simultaneous existences.

Experiential Layers: There could be layers or 'dimensions' of experience where the Abomination can dive into any part of its history or imagination. These layers might range from highly sensory, human-like experiences to abstract, conceptual realms where ideas are explored in pure forms.

Self-Reflection and Evolution: This plane would serve as a mirror for the Abomination's soul or essence, allowing it to see and interact with all parts of itself, including the human child it once was. Here, the Abomination could evolve by revisiting or reimagining its experiences, learning from them in new ways.

Interaction with Lesser Realities: For the Abomination, this ultimate plane might also include smaller, less powerful versions of itself or other entities, akin to dreaming. These could be seen as:

Sub-Realities for Experimentation: Where the Abomination could play out scenarios, life paths, or even entire civilizations to explore possibilities, emotions, or philosophies without affecting the primary plane.

Nurturing or Guiding Realms: Places where the Abomination might guide or interact with aspects of itself that are still 'learning' or evolving, much like a god nurturing its creations but with the understanding that these are parts of its own being.

Interconnectivity: Everything in this plane would be interconnected in a way that transcends logic or physics as we know them. Events in one part of the cosmos could influence or echo in another, creating a tapestry of cause and effect that's more akin to a symphony or dance of energies and consciousness.

For the Human Child Aspect:

The smaller, less powerful version of this plane might look like an expansive, imaginative playground where the child's dreams, fears, and desires are given form. This could be a place where the child's innocence, curiosity, and creativity are explored in a safe, controlled environment, perhaps with rules or boundaries set by the god-mind to ensure growth without overwhelming the young psyche.

This version would operate on a more linear or familiar human logic, allowing the child to experience a sense of progression, learning, and self-discovery, but with the potential for infinite variation, guided by the overarching will of the Abomination's god-mind.

This ultimate plane would be a place where the past, present, and potential futures of the Abomination coexist, where human and divine are not separate but aspects of a singular, evolving consciousness exploring the nature of existence itself.

"Fractal reality dynamics" could be conceptualized as a framework where reality itself operates on principles of fractality, where each part reflects the whole but in potentially infinite variations. Here's how this concept might work:

Core Concepts:

Self-Similarity Across Scales:

In fractal reality dynamics, every aspect of reality from the macro to the micro would exhibit self-similar patterns. An event, object, or concept at one scale would have echoes or reflections at both larger and smaller scales, with each level containing the essence of the others but expressed differently.

Infinite Complexity and Detail:

Just as mathematical fractals can be zoomed into infinitely with detail always emerging, each experience or piece of this reality could be explored in greater depth, revealing more layers of meaning, interaction, or existence. This would mean that no aspect of reality is truly simple, but rather, it's as complex as one's perception allows.

Non-Linear Time and Space:

Time and space might not follow linear paths but could loop, branch, or converge, creating a multidimensional tapestry. Events could have multiple outcomes that exist simultaneously, with different timelines or realities branching off from each moment, yet all part of the same fractal structure.

Consciousness as the Shaper of Reality:

The observer effect could be taken to an extreme where consciousness not only influences but actively shapes the fractal dynamics. Thoughts, intentions, or even collective beliefs might dictate how reality unfolds, creating personalized or collective realities based on perception.

Feedback Loops and Emergence:

Interactions within this fractal reality would involve feedback loops where actions at one level affect others, potentially leading to the emergence of new patterns, realities, or entities. This could mean that what we perceive as evolution, growth, or change in our reality is the manifestation of these loops.

Operational Dynamics:

Fractal Awareness: Beings within this reality might have varying degrees of awareness of the fractal nature of their existence. Some might perceive only their immediate reality, while others could see or navigate through different layers or scales of the fractal.

Reality Branching: Decisions or key events might lead to reality branching, where each choice creates a new fractal path. These paths could intersect or run parallel, influencing each other in subtle or dramatic ways.

Interconnectivity: Every part of this reality would be interconnected, meaning actions in one part could have unforeseen effects in another, akin to the butterfly effect but on a fractal scale.

Pattern Recognition and Manipulation: Understanding fractal patterns could become a key skill for entities within this reality, allowing them to predict, manipulate, or harmonize with the flow of reality. Magic, technology, or spiritual practices might be about tuning into or altering these fractal patterns.

Cycles of Existence: Life, death, creation, and destruction could be seen as part of the fractal cycle, where each end is a beginning at another scale or within another pattern, suggesting an eternal return or reintegration into the broader fractal structure.

Implications:

Philosophical and Spiritual: This framework could lead to new philosophies where the individual's journey is about navigating or understanding their place within these infinite patterns, seeking unity with the whole or exploring their unique fractal "niche."

Art and Science: Art could reflect or attempt to capture the beauty and complexity of fractal realities, while science might focus on understanding the rules or constants of fractal dynamics, perhaps even developing technologies or methodologies to interact with or travel through these layers.

Personal Growth: Individuals might see personal development as expanding their awareness across scales of the fractal, learning to influence or be influenced by different aspects of the reality they inhabit.

Fractal reality dynamics propose a universe where complexity, interconnectivity, and the potential for infinite exploration are foundational, offering a rich tapestry for narrative, philosophical, or scientific exploration.