#a thousand year old android

[krismatic]

protagonists from all my stories in my brain <3

[bixels]

Portal 2 is still the perfect game to me. I hyperfixated on it like crazy in middle school. Would sing Want You Gone out loud cuz I had ADHD and no social awareness. Would make fan animations and pixel art. Would explain the ending spoilers and fan theories to anyone who'd listen. Would keep up with DeviantArt posts of the cores as humans. Would find and play community-made maps (Gelocity is insanely fun).

I still can't believe this game came out 12 years ago and it looks like THIS.

Like Mirror's Edge, the timeless art style and economic yet atmospheric lighting means this game will never age. The decision not to include any visible humans (ideas of Doug Rattmann showing up or a human co-op partner were cut) is doing so much legroom too. And the idea to use geometric tileset-like level designs is so smart! I sincerely believe that, by design, no game with a "realistic art style" has looked better than Portal 2.

Do you guys remember when Nvidia released Portal with RTX at it looked like dogshit? Just the most airbrushed crap I've ever seen; completely erased the cold, dry, clinical feel of Aperture.

So many breathtakingly pit-in-your-stomach moments I still think about too. And it's such a unique feeling; I'd describe at as... architectural existentialism? Experiencing the sublime under the shadow of manmade structures (Look up Giovanni Battista Piranesi's art if you're curious)? That scene where you're running from GLaDOS with Wheatley on a catwalk over a bottomless pit and––out of rage and desperation––GLaDOS silently begins tearing her facility apart and Wheatley cries 'She's bringing the whole place down!' and ENORMOUS apartment building-sized blocks begin groaning towards you on suspended rails and cement pillars crumble and sparks fly and the metal catwalk strains and bends and snaps under your feet. And when you finally make it to the safety of a work lift, you look back and watch the facility close its jaws behind you as it screams.

Or the horror of knowing you're already miles underground, and then Wheatley smashes you down an elevator shaft and you realize it goes deeper. That there's a hell under hell, and it's much, much older.

Or how about the moment when you finally claw your way out of Old Aperture, reaching the peak of this underground mountain, only to look up and discover an endless stone ceiling built above you. There's a service door connected to some stairs ahead, but surrounding you is this array of giant, building-sized springs that hold the entire facility up. They stretch on into the fog. You keep climbing.

I love that the facility itself is treated like an android zooid too, a colony of nano-machines and service cores and sentient panel arms and security cameras and more. And now, after thousands of years of neglect, the facility is festering with decomposition and microbes; deer, raccoons, birds. There are ghosts too. You're never alone, even when it's quiet. I wonder what you'd hear if you put your ear up against a test chamber's walls and listened. (I say that all contemplatively, but that's literally an easter egg in the game. You hear a voice.)

Also, a reminder that GLaDOS and Chell are not related and their relationship is meant to be psychosexual. There was a cut bit where GLaDOS would role-play as Chell's jealous housewife and accuse her of seeing other cores in between chambers. And their shared struggle for freedom and control? GLaDOS realizing, after remembering her past life, that she's become the abuser and deciding that she has the power to stop? That even if she can't be free, she can let Chell go because she hates her. And she loves her. Most people interpret GLaDOS "deleting Caroline in her brain" as an ominous sign, that she's forgetting her human roots and becoming "fully robot." But to me, it's a sign of hope for GLaDOS. She's relieving herself of the baggage that has defined her very existence, she's letting Caroline finally rest, and she's allowing herself to grow beyond what Cave and Aperture and the scientists defined her to be. The fact that GLaDOS still lets you go after deleting Caroline proves this. She doesn't double-back or change her mind like Wheatley did, she sticks to her word because she knows who she is. No one and nothing can influence her because she's in control. GLaDOS proves she's capable of empathy and mercy and change, human or not.

That's my retrospective, I love this game to bits. I wish I could experience it for the first time again.

[thelonestarinthesky]

⁹. ⁱˢʰⁱᵍᵃᵐⁱ ᵛⁱˡˡᵃᵍᵉ'ˢ ᵍᵒᵈ

⁺₊✦₊　　

pairing: senku x f!reader

chapter 9 of 2/2 i. senku

Standing beside Ruri, who had just passed another coughing fit, the [H/C] haired being stared down at the blonde girl who was sweating and pale.

"...you said my sister would get better..." Kohaku says, angry and hurt upon realizing that the words that were meant to comfort her were all just lies. "...you said she would be able to run and live her life.."

"If there are fledglings in this world that can never fly throughout their lives." [H/C] haired turned around to face Kohaku, who gripped her knife. "Should we let them go back to the sky, only to see them crash to the ground and die?"

Standing before Kohaku, the hardened and almost nonchalant expression on Little [Name]'s face is enough to make a shiver go down Kohaku's spine.

"..you're old enough to know that your sister doesn't have long, my words are meant to provide you comfort, false hope." The android says sternly.

Kohaku takes a step forward, "You're supposed to be a god; you make miracles happen! Cure, my sister, I'm begging you!"

Ruri pants heavily, making the small android look down at her before looking back at Kohaku.

"Your sister needs antibiotics, something I'm not capable of making alone." Kohaku grits her teeth, grabbing Little [Name] by her shoulder and shaking the android, who simply lets her.

"There's only one person capable of making it," she mumbles quietly.

The village chief runs in, hearing the commotion, and immediately yells at Kohaku to put down Little [Name] harshly.

"That's not how you treat her. Apologize immediately!" He shouts at Kohaku, who trembles, angry as she glares down at the girl who stares back at her.

"...you're no god....all you say are lies."

"Kohaku!"

Little [Name] raises a hand, making Kohaku's father stop talking. The android walks to Kohaku, staring her down, which makes the village chief kneel down, forcing Kohaku to do the same.

"Please, forgive the foolish girl for questioning you." He begs the girl, continuing to stare down Kohaku, who glares back at her.

Little [Name] raises a hand before slapping Kohaku across the face before forcing her to look back at her, gripping her face. She leans in, staring right into her eyes.

"If you are born weak....which God should you turn to for solace?"

Kohaku visibly recoils, clearly trembling in fear, not the bad fear but the fear upon seeing Little [Name] look so angry. Probably due to being called a liar by one of the people of the village, she's been tasked to protect for thousands of years.

Walking over to a box, she pulls out a bandage before walking back to Kohaku, gently applying it to her cheek. "... I want your sister to get better, but a part of you should be ready for the day her body can no longer fight her illness."

She says softly to her and the chief. "... I deeply care for all the people of Ishigami Village, don't twist my words. I can promise if the day comes that Ruri takes her final breaths, I'll stay with her to her very end, making sure she's comforted and not afraid."

Stepping away, she goes to sit down beside Ruri, who finally fell asleep, "Both of you are dismissed." The [H/C] haired softly pats Ruri's head.

When Kohaku and her father finally leave, the android clenches her hand, her eyes filled with anguish.

"Master Senku....it's been 3700 years, when will you come back?" She mumbles quietly.

taglist- @frootloopscos @itsnotsh1v4n1 @lovingyeet @kazuubaby @awwwia @foulbreadpaenut @verysanebsdfan @the-wild-tomato @copycat-namjesus @arimakanav @cchuisme

[disobey-disappoint-deviate]

The RK series and deviancy (theory + analysis)

I have been wanting to talk about this for some time, because it's kinda one of the biggest DBH mysteries (aside from rA9) and I think there are many many hints in the game about why deviancy came to be and how. And I've had this theory that deviancy was something that started with the RK series, specifically with Markus, so I'm gonna use the hints I've found in the game to expain why I believe this. I also gotta note I'm really new to the fandom, so maybe this is has already been talked about thousands of times before (maybe even debunked), but that's a risk I'm willing to take.

First and foremost, I will start with something that I talked about in another post - namely the significance of the number 28. You can see Adam Williams talk about it here (at 1:04:28), too.

Basically, the number 28 is used in many places throughout the game, and according to Adam, if players found all references to that number, they will understand what the significance of that number is.

And speaking of 28, I noticed that 2028 is the year when Kamski left Cyberlife, but not before creating the Zen Garden and Amanda.

There is a whole series of questions Connor can confront Amanda with during "Last Chance, Connor" (which is the 28th chapter with a flowchart. Maybe cuz he is asking important questions here, just saying).

Connor: Why did Kamski leave CyberLife? What happened? Amanda: It’s an old story, Connor. It doesn’t pertain to your investigation.

Connor: I saw a photo of Amanda at Kamski’s place… She was his teacher… Amanda: When Kamski designed me, he wanted an interface that would look familiar… That’s why he chose his former mentor. What are you getting at?

Connor: Did Kamski design this place? Amanda: He created the first version. It’s been improved significantly since then. Why do you ask?

Amanda Stern died in 2027, which suggests that AI Amanda and the Zen Garden were both created after this and before Kamski's departure from Cyberlife in 2028. Yet somehow, this information is classified to some extent - Amanda doesn't deny, but she gets defensive and doesn't want to elaborate any further. Of course, she might be acting this way because Connor is slowly getting too defiant, but still, it's kinda striking how the player has the option to ask so many questions - questions that seem to unsettle Connor a lot for a reason that is not explicitly explained, yet doesn't get a clear answer.

It awakens the impression that Connor is truly getting at something with them, but it's not said at what exactly.

Connor: I’m not a unique model, am I? How many Connors are there? Amanda: I don’t see how that question pertains to your investigation.

Connor: Where does CyberLife stand in all this? What do they really want? Amanda: All CyberLife wants is to resolve the situation and keep selling androids.

Connor: You didn’t tell me everything you know about deviants, did you? Amanda: I expect you to find answers, Connor. Not ask questions.

Now, Connor asks how many "Connors" (meaning RKs) are there after seeing that Markus is an RK-model one, too. That's news to Connor - for some reason, he's never been informed about the existence of any other RKs. But why?

Well, because the RK-line was a secret project, and apprently, there are no other RK androids left aside from Markus - if there were, Connor would know of their existence, cuz they would be roaming around. What does the game say about Markus?

Markus is a prototype, gifted by Elijah Kamski to his friend and celebrated painter Carl Manfred after Manfred lost the use of his legs. He was initially developed as part of a CyberLife secret program aimed at elaborating a new generation of autonomous androids.

That last sentence, about the new generation of autonomous androids, arises one question. How are these highly autonomous androids, like Connor, controlled, considering that they are supposed to be independent and not wait around for highly specific orders? Well, through the Zen Garden and Amanda - both of which were created sometime between 2027 and 2028. And if Markus was oridinally supposed to be part of that line (that basically got put on hold for 10 years), that places his creation around 2028 as well.

In 2028, Elijah Kamski was our Man of the Century. [...] Shortly after, Kamski had disappeared. Ousted as CEO of CyberLife and living in obscurity outside the media glare, the Man of the Century has left the very world that he recreated. [...] Yet at the peak of CyberLife’s powers – when the company was approaching a $500bn valuation – rumors emerged that Kamski disagreed with his shareholders over strategy. He later departed under mysterious circumstances.

So, he was "outsted" and he likely disagreed with his shareholders. But what do these shareholders want?

Russia’s interest in the North Pole has intensified with the recent discovery of precious minerals trapped in the frozen ice, many of which are used in synthesizing Thirium. [...] President Warren, however, recently torpedoed the notion: “It’s simple. Russia has no business in the Arctic. If the Kremlin doesn’t understand that, we will make them understand.[...] Mired in accusations that she is too close to big business, Warren is under investigation to determine whether or not she has benefited from CyberLife's help in obtaining compromising information about her opponent during the presidential campaign.[...]

If we read the magazines, we kinda get an impression of what the shareholders want - they want war with Russia over the minerals in the Arctic, and they wanna monologise the android market globally. This is further proven by their finalized RK-model being a military android, of whom the government has puchased hundreds of thousands (All CyberLife wants is to resolve the situation and keep selling androids). The government - whose President is said to be corrupt and basically installed at her position by Cyberlife themselves.

Naturally, we can assume that this was not the direction Kamski wanted his RK-series to take - he likely disagreed with this enough to be removed from his position as a CEO, because Cyberlife only saw their futures as secured if they prevented anyone else from being able to create thirium, even it meant starting a world war.

So, is it a coincidence that the only existing RK android who was created by Kamski's original design ended up with Carl Manfred - a friend of Kamski's? I think it's safe to assume that Markus would have been decomissioned long time ago (just like Connor if the deviants lose), had he not ended up far away from Cyberlife's reach.

I think Kamski definitely removed the Zen Garden from Markus, to prevent Cyberlife from ever trying to take over. It's also likely that they generally lost track of Markus, because he was no longer interesting to them.

But what if Kamski not only saved Markus from being destroyed, what if he himself created the "virus" that causes deviancy?

Kamski: All ideas are viruses that spread like epidemics... Is the desire to be free a contagious disease? Kamski: Androids share identification data when they meet another android. An error in this program would quickly spread like a virus, and become an epidemic. The virus would remain dormant, until an emotional shock occurs… Fear, anger, frustration. And the android becomes deviant. Probably all started with one model, copy error… A zero instead of a one… Unless of course... Some kind of spontaneous mutation. That’s all I know…

If meeting another android is enough to "infect" them, then Markus could have been innocently walking around the city and infecting androids for 10 years. He could have also "infected" the androids at Cyberlife before Kamski sent him to Carl, because for all we know, Kamski really just wanted to create truly autonomous and conscious androids. We know the first known case of deviancy happened approximately in 2032, while Kara was being assembled - that would be only 4 years after Markus' assumed activation.

And no, Markus wouldn't need to be a deviant for this - he is simply the carrier, just like it happens with human viruses.

And do you know what also makes me think Kamski purposely created deviancy?

Kamski: By the way… I always leave an emergency exit in my programs… You never know…

Why would he leave an exit in the Zen Garden that is only detectable by the android but not by Amanda (seemingly) if he doesn't want the androids to be able to escape the controll of their owner? And why would he call humans and deviants "two evils" and pretend to be so neutral on the whole thing, but still give Connor a way to save himself and escape Cyberlife in case he became a deviant?

Because he isn't on Cyberlife's side. He is fascinated by androids, he likes them better than humans, and is also likely obsessed with the idea of having created a new species that is superiour to their creators. It's also quite likely that one of the Chloes is a deviant, too, and he is fully aware of it, but doesn't seem eager to turn her in.

This post is ignoring the deleted Kamski ending, but even so, Kamski paints a rather clear picture to me, and I'm also fully convinced that he didn't gift Markus to Carl because of goodness alone.

A sidenote, but: how sinister would it be to send Connor on a mission to kill Markus? Connor, who is based on Markus, the only other alive RK model, after boosting him with an extra anti-deviancy variable and 2 additional red walls and brainwashing him against what has likely been a part of his program since his very activation?

[jamdoughnutmagician]

Tiny Match-maker

Bucky Barnes x Single mom!Reader Fluff

Adjusting to his new life outside of the superhero business, Bucky makes the acquaintance of a very young, inquisitive girl.

Just a meet-cute scenario with Bucky, that I might just write a part 2 for if people are interested in it.

Word count:1,853.

Masterlist // Bucky Barnes Masterlist

It wasn’t often that Bucky found time for himself. Between the busy and at times chaotic line of work he found himself in, it didn’t leave a lot of time to do the things that the average person could do.

Doctor Raynor suggested that taking a step back from the heroic, android, alien, wizard-crime-fighting lifestyle might be just the thing that he needed. To take some time to do the things that the everyday person took for granted.

So that’s why Bucky found himself for the first time in a long while browsing the aisles of his local grocery store, standing in the middle of the dairy aisle, pondering if there’s any real difference between getting oat milk or almond milk. 

He’s brought out of his thinking when he feels something collide with his shins. Something, or rather someone. A young girl, she couldn’t have been more than three, maybe four years old. Her hair that is tied up into two bunches on either side of her head bounce slightly as she crashes into him.

He looks around himself, apart from him and this little girl, the aisle was otherwise empty. 

What was he supposed to do? He’d rescued thousands of civilians time and time again, but this little girl was just standing there, wide-eyed and innocently looking up at him.

“Hi! My name’s Lottie!��� the little girl introduces herself with a big gap-toothed smile.

Bucky crouches down ever so slightly to meet her smaller stature. 

“Hi there, Where are your parents, huh? Are you lost?” he asks, keeping his voice soft when talking to her.

 Just as the little girl opened her mouth to answer, a woman came running down the aisle, slightly out of breath and with a look of panic on her face.

As she gets closer, Bucky takes in her appearance, she's pretty. Really pretty. The kind of effortless beauty that has a faint blush rising to his cheeks. 

“Charlotte!” the woman calls out as she comes closer to the little girl before scooping her up in her arms and hoisting her on her hip. “What have I told you about running off like that?” you gently scold her, although the scolding is more out of your own worries about your little girl.

“Sorry mommy.” she murmurs quietly as she tucks her head into your shirt.

“I’m so sorry, sir, I hope she didn’t bother you too much.” you smile apologetically at the man in front of you. He was tall, broad and far too handsome for his own good. With soft dark brown hair that fell along his jaw, pretty pink lips, the most beautiful stormy grey-blue eyes, and just the right amount of stubble grazing across his angled jaw to have you blushing as he looked your way. 

“Oh, hey, no harm done, she seems like a sweet kid.” he smiles, his voice is deep and rich, with a slight raspy gravel.

“Yeah, she is, although it would help if she wasn’t so much of an explorer, it’d be a lot easier to keep my eye on her otherwise.” you laugh.

“No, the world needs more explorers I say!” the handsome stranger joins in with a friendly chuckle of his own. 

“Well, I can see you’re busy, so we won’t keep you any longer..” you string out the end of your sentence, when you realise that you don’t actually know your new friend’s name.

“James. My name’s James.” he says, gesturing to himself. You tell him your name in return with a friendly smile.

“Well, it was nice talking to you, James.” You smile before turning back down the aisle. 

Bucky watched as you walked away from him, and he couldn't  help but hope that he might run into you again.

“Look, all you gotta do is go down there, tell a few old man war stories, answer some questions, maybe have your picture taken a few times and that’s it” Sam explained.

Sam had signed Bucky up to tell a few stories to the kids at the school downtown. A few about his life back in the day, and his life now. Sam thought it might be good for his public image.

“Just because you’re Captain America now, doesn’t mean you get to tell me what to do, Sam.” Bucky grumbled.

“When Steve gave me the shield, he did warn me it came with the custody of one grumpy super-soldier.” Sam laughed a wide, gap-toothed smile at his friend.

“..And that’s why you don’t let your best friend sign-up to be a government ordered science experiment.” Bucky smiled, as he finished his talk with the assembled group of young students in the small, but colourful classroom.

“Wonderful, and does anybody have any questions for Sergeant Barnes?” The teacher asked, as she stepped out beside Bucky.

“How did you lose your arm?” a young boy blurts out, quickly raising his hand.

“Timothy!” The teacher is quick to gently scold the young boy, but Bucky quickly steps in before she can make her point.

“It’s quite alright, I don’t mind answering this question.” He assures the teacher, before turning to the young boy. “I-uh-I kind of lost it when I came up against a bunch of bad-guys, who weren’t very nice at all.” Bucky thinks carefully about how he was going to word his answer, especially for this 5-year old kid. “..But it’s all good now, because I’ve got the super-strong metal one.” he shows off by rolling up the sleeve of his deep-red henley shirt.

“Are you and The Falcon really friends?” another young boy asks from where he’s sat cross-legged on the carpet in front of Bucky.

“Well, we’re team-mates, so I guess I’d call him a friend, but really he only hangs out with me because I make him look cool.” Bucky jokes with ease.

“Mr. Sergeant Barnes.” A tiny hand shoots up amongst the group. 

Bucky looks out and there sat at the back of the class is the little girl who ran into him at the grocery store at the weekend. Her bouncy curls tied up in two bunches on either side of her head.

“Yes, Lottie, you have a question for Sergeant Barnes?” The teacher prompts. 

“Are you single? I think my mommy would really like you.” She smiles in that innocent way that children do, unaware of the slightly impertinent question she was asking.

Bucky flushes scarlet all over, a blooming heat settling over his features. 

With a laugh and a nervous scratch to the back of his neck, he gathered himself together enough to answer the young girl.

“I am, and I’m sure your mommy is a wonderful lady, but I think it's best that we don't talk about her private life when she's not here.” Bucky stutters out, chosing his words very carefully. 

The school bell suddenly rings into life, signifying the end of the day, and the children are all quick to get up from the carpet and make their way towards their coats and bags that are stowed away in their cubby holes.

“Ah ah, kids! What do we say to Sergeant Barnes?” The teacher prompts

“Thank you Sergeant Barnes.” The children say harmoniously. 

Bucky shrugs on his dark leather jacket as he makes his way out of the school, watching as all of the kids rush off to find their parents.

He was just about to head off to the school’s parking lot, where he’d parked his motorbike, when he sees the same girl from the classroom, the very same one who had bumped into him at the grocery store, this time her tiny hand tugging her mother across the playground and straight towards him.

“Mommy! This is the man who came into class today to tell us stories!” Lottie bubbled excitedly. 

You stepped closer to Bucky and he swears that you got even more beautiful than when he last saw you for that fleeting moment. 

As you get close enough to him to fully see his face you are met with the piercing blue eyes of the familiar stranger who you hadn’t been able to stop thinking about since you’d bumped into him at the supermarket.

“Mommy! This is Mr. Sergeant Barnes! He told us all about working with his friend Captain America!” Lottie blurts out.

You had recognised him from the moment you saw him in the store, but out of courtesy to not embarrass him, you pretended that you didn't know about his life as an avenging super-soldier. 

“Mr. Sergeant Barnes?” Your voice raises in a teased question.

“Just James is fine, Ma’am.” Bucky clarifies, extending a warm hand out in a friendly greeting.

In return you shake his hand and tell him your name.

“So, it seems that we’re meeting again, James” You smile

“Hah, yeah.” He smiles back fondly with a warm chuckle.

“So you’re the one who’s been telling my daughter all these fantastical stories?” you pose, eyebrow arched.

“Just something I do as a way of working with the local community. Helping young kids to learn about their history from first-hand accounts.” he explains.

“Well, that's a very sweet thing to do.” you smile. 

“Mommy.” Lottie whispers as she tugs at the sleeve of your jacket. “He said he was single too!” 

“Sorry about her, she likes to play match-maker.” you apologise, hoping that things hadn’t taken a turn for the awkward. 

“It’s okay.” he laughs it off. “She’s a cute kid.”

“Yeah it’s just been me and her from the start, it’s been tough at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Oh? Well she seems like a wonderful young girl, and that’s only testament to having you as her mother.” he says with an earnest smile tugging at his pink lips.

“Come on now, Lottie, let’s head home, and let Mr. Sergeant Barnes get back to his life.” you say to your daughter as you begin to make your way out of the school’s playground.

“Wait!” He jogs across the school years to catch up with you before you can leave. “and you can absolutely tell me if I'm just reading this whole situation all wrong, but I'd be a fool if I didn't at least ask you if you perhaps fancied meeting up and getting coffee..at least meeting on purpose this time.” he blushes adorably.

“You know what, I'd like that actually.” You nod. “Let me give you my number and you can text me whenever you're free and we can set something up.”

He hands you over his phone and you enter your number in and text yourself so you have his number on your phone too.

“Here you go,” you say as you hand him over his phone. “It was nice seeing you again, James.”

“Bucky.”

“Hm?” 

“My friends call me Bucky.” 

“Well, Bucky, I hope to see you again, sooner rather than later.”

“You can count on it.” He grins back with a cheeky wink.

Bucky walks back to his apartment with a confident stride, he'd have to thank Sam for signing him up for this gig, that's for sure. 

@penguinsandpotterheads @paybacksawitch @impmunson

[sisyphusunderthesun]

Honestly, the age gap hysteria is getting on my nerves. A character can't call another character "kid" or "son" without being accused of pedophilia. Are teenagers or anyone who thinks so really that stupid these days or do they just rarely go outside to listen to people of any age talk?

It's also weird that a 10 year age difference, when one character is 21+ and the other is 30, is perceived as a crime, but if there is a 6,000 year age difference between characters (but they look the same age) then it's not considered a crime. So what's more important, the biological age difference or how the characters look? Or both? Because people usually justify a 6,000 year age difference by saying that the characters are just different species. Different species, yeah.

But Hank and Connor are also different species that develop differently. Look, Connor is an android detective, he is approximately 30 years old by human standards, not 20, not 25. He's at least 30 (because they won’t create an android to work in the police, who will not be perceived as an adult experienced man) because he was created that way. He is already both mentally and physically a fully grown man. He does not need life experience to be with Hank, no matter how much people argue that “well, he is so new in this world”, he does not need to develop mentally to be with Hank, he is already an adult and developed enough to love one specific person, their relationship can be romantic right after Chicken Feed and there is nothing wrong with that, simply because Connor is an adult, but for some reason people vehemently deny it, resorting to the argument “but he is zero years old!” Okay… so you're saying that Connor is too childlike to love Hank, but old enough to fuck Gavin, who is 36, just because they look the same age? So… the age difference and Connor's physical age doesn't matter as long as the characters look young enough? Because by that logic, any human would be a pedophile if they got into a relationship with any android, since the age difference would be huge anyway. But for some reason, people are very diligent in ignoring this.

But Connor and Hank are different species, and androids develop millions of times faster than humans, Connor doesn't need to learn anything (he already understands what a consent is) to understand morality and understand what and who he wants.

I'll give an example from comic/cartoon series named Invincible. There's a moment when a humanoid man, who can literally live for thousands of years, married a humanoid woman whose lifespan is only one year, 365 human days, that is, imagine how quickly her race develops both physically and mentally. But according to the logic of those same people, this would be pedophilia, although these are just two different species of living beings that develop differently.

But for some reason people still ignore such moments.

I'll give an example from the Lord of the Rings. Arwen was 2690 years older than Aragorn, but just because they looked about the same age, no one cares. But elves don't age, so after living with Arwen for 120 years, Aragorn really did age, while Arwen always looked young. In their case, neither appearance nor age mattered (and I won't go into detail about the fact that Aragorn was 87 at the time of the story).

But if looks matter… and physical age doesn't, why does everyone care that Connor is 4 months old if he's an adult by default like any other newly created android? Why do people want to infantilize Connor in particular (especially when it comes to his relationship with Hank), but at the same time no one ever considers rk900/Markus/Simon/Jericho/Kara etc. from that perspective?Markus can lead the revolution, rk900 can have as lover whoever he wants, Kara can be a mother, and only Connor cannot be an adult and sleep with one human if the human is Hank?

And if looks matter… what about people who, due to the peculiarities of their bodies, will always look like teenagers until old age in essence? There is a girl who is in her twenties (22-26, I'm not sure), she will always look like a teenager, does this mean that she is not worthy of love and relationships with men her age? Because when she started dating a guy her own age, this guy was bullied, accused of pedophilia (although it is not only looks that matter in pedophilia), and they had to break up. So if looks are important, then by this logic this girl should only date teenagers who match her in appearance? But in that case, it would also be morally wrong on her part? Make up your mind, people. Especially when it comes to fictional characters who, according to canon, are adults.

[hezzabeth]

Revati knew, as she walked back to Baker Street, that once again she was on the edge of things.

Revati could barely remember the first edge she encountered, four years old and holding a balloon while drones flew above.

The second edge, seeing her father’s twitching hand under the rubble.

And now, Amma standing in the doorway with Dusk.

Her arms were folded, and she glared when she realized Camilo was with them.

"Hello, Camilo," Amma remarked.

"Sugafanna! I haven’t seen you since…" he began.

"Jay’s last birthday; you drank too much of your honeymede and threw up on the walls," Amma pointed out.

"Ah, yes," Camilo blushed with embarrassment.

"And I suppose you’re here to help Revati with this insanity?" Sugafana asked coldly.

"Is saving the ones we love really that insane?" Camilo asked Sugafana, who sighed, rolling her eyes.

"I’m going to the station now, Amma; where’s Nanni?" Revati asked.

"I’m right here, Dimpy," Nanni said from behind mother.

"Don’t die while I’m gone; you’ve lasted eighty years. You can last a little longer," Revati said firmly.

Nanni pulled her down, kissing her forehead, and then draped something around Revati’s neck.

It was her precious Kasithaali, a gold chain dotted with gold and coral beads.

In the center of the chain, there was a tiny golden idol, its features finely carved.

The Kasithaali was ancient, trailing far back to the first Sheik born on Mars.

The coral beads had been picked from a long-ago dead and abandoned Earth.

"Nanni, you know I can’t take this! Raiders will try to steal it," Revati pointed out.

"Hide it down the front of your clothes! You will need Lakshmi’s protection," Nanni said firmly.

"You will also need this," Amma replied, sliding off one of her bangles.

"Why are you both giving me wedding jewelry? I’m going on a rescue mission; I’m not getting married," Revati asked as Amma slid the bangle onto Revati’s wrist.

Amma tapped the bracelet four times, and it suddenly glowed a faint purple.

"DNA approved user confirmed, current balance nine thousand six hundred and eighty-three credits," the bracelet chimed.

"It’s not a bracelet; it’s my portable bank account! You’re not going to go out into the world with no funds," Amma said as Revati stared at the glowing numbers.

"Is this a lot of money?" She asked curiously.

"It’s enough. Now here’s everything else you asked for... including your sister's hairbrush," Amma asked, handing Revati a bag, and Revati nodded.

"Good, well, I best be off then," Revati said, and Amma nodded.

Revati realized it was probably time to say something else.

"I love you both," she added before reaching forward to embrace Amma.

Revati firmly believed in only hugging on her terms.

Still, Amma deserved it.

It took a moment to realize that Brigadeiro Bun was politely following her and Camilo.

"Why are you trailing behind me?" Revati had to ask.

"He's following you as well, as well as what I suspect is the android wearing a cloak," Brigadeiro pointed out.

"I need Camilo to help me at the train station," Revati replied as they reached the maze's entrance.

"I’m pretty sure I can turn the train on for one ride; I salvaged a power cell from the dragon," Camilo explained.

"Well, I’m following you because you’ll need my tent if you want to survive the elements," Brigadeiro replied.

"You got your tent back, then?" Revati asked as they entered the maze.

In the distance, Revati could hear someone giggle among the leaves.

"Yes, Isabeau found it in the lost property pile," Brigadeiro replied.

"And you’re going to give me your tent?" Revati asked.

"I’m going to share it with you; it’s a two-person tent! My ex and I were supposed to travel together, but we broke up," Brigadeiro said with a small shrug.

"You don’t seem that upset about it," Revati pointed out as they turned a corner.

The giggling was coming from two small children in medical dress fighting with sticks.

"I was; then I went out to find diamond roses for her, and everything else happened," Brigadeiro admitted.

"So you’re going to travel with me for an indefinite amount of time? Finding my sister plus take weeks or months," Revati said as they turned right.

"Or years; when appliances want to hide things, they stay hidden," Camilo pointed out.

"Well, I’ll stay with you until we reach a public teleportation station; then you can keep the tent," Brigadeiro said, and Revati shrugged.

"Fine, that’s a fair exchange for saving your life twice," she admitted.

The maze suddenly opened up onto the grand entrance of Olde Landon.

The ticket booths, in the shape of castle turrets, had long ago been abandoned.

The giant Elizabeth Twin statue was covered in gently glowing fungus.

Revati stared at them briefly.

One of the queens was in a grand solid carved ballgown.

The other in a neat suit and hat.

Both of them had lizard faces.

"We have the exact same statue on the South West Sydney Space station; apparently, the lizard faces allowed the queens to live for centuries," Brigadeiro remarked.

"That was just a myth; come on this way," Camilo replied.

The park bullet train ran from the park to Leeryasoar, the country's capital. Years ago, the station teemed with tourists. Feet would pound over the shiny tiles, the exact same gold and purple as the domed train. Creatrix vending machines were constantly humming next to the benches. Revati remembered Amma punching in several numbers to get Dityaa a bottle of mango lassi. There had been a stand in the center of the platform selling park maps and plastic magic wands. Pink and red roses grew in orderly bushes. Holographic signs floated on the walls, stating that all data cloud technology would stop working inside the park. Revati had dim memories of her father checking the news on his communications bracelet before they went inside. The signs had long ago been smashed to pieces and were now nothing more than broken screens. The Creatrix vending machines had been looted and were now filled with spiders. The roses all grew in wild tangles flowing over the garden beds.

"Wow; these roses have gone feral! They're singing about how much they wish they could prick people with their thorns," Brigadeiro remarked as Camilo approached the abandoned purple shuttle train with his tool belt.

"Are we far enough away from the wall?" Revati asked.

"We should be! All the vending machines were, so they led the attack during the invasion! The only thing that stopped them was the station's power supply getting cut off," Camilo said, gesturing about. Camilo was right; the station was dim and depressing under the grey Martian sunlight. Revati nodded and whisked the cloak off the figure. The maternity droid stared back at her. Camilo had taken the time to repaint its face. Its lips were a deep scarlet, its eyes bright cheerful green. Camilo had also replaced its broken legs with bulky steel ones he had spray-painted blue with cheerful flowers painted down the side. The belly door had been reattached and was now filled with a healthy white light.

"Hello, I am your custom-built Materno 4000 Deluxe prenatal droid! Would you like to grow a new baby or link to your pre-existing infant?" The android chirped in a flat metallic voice.

"Pre-existing infant," Revati said, and the Android's eyes fluttered.

"Your pre-existing infant is 218 months old, is this correct?" The android asked.

"Correct," Revati said, and the android blinked again.

"Your pre-existing infant is currently out of detection range; would you like to create a new infant?" The android asked.

"No! I want to talk to the lady who was using you as a microphone before," Revati said.

"You have to tell it to open maternal communication! I turned the channel off," Camilo said from where he had managed to open the front panel of the train.

"Open maternal communication!" Brigadeiro said eagerly.

The android's eyes fluttered shut once again. There was nothing.

"I don't think we're far enough away from the wall," Revati sighed.

But then the humming began. A faint, child-like humming came from behind the Android's lips.

"Whispers in the motherboard, a haunting tune,

A phantom dancing in the light of a digital moon," Brigadeiro sang along, and Revati shot him a confused look.

"It's humming Circuit whispers! From the hit musical 'The Android of Music,'" Brigadeiro explained.

"I've never heard of it," Revati confessed.

"You've never heard of 'The Android of Music'? Praise group! Once you've rescued your sister, I'll have to take you! Everyone needs to hear 'The Android of Music,'" Brigadeiro said firmly. Before Revati had a chance to reply, the android's eyes snapped open again.

"Thank Krishna! Finally, a decent signal; it's been eighteen years," the android exclaimed in an incredibly annoyed upper-class woman's voice. The Android reached clumsily toward Revati, snatching her bag. Then it reached inside, pulling out Dityaa's hairbrush. The belly door swung open, and the Android shoved the hairbrush inside.

"Did it just do what I think it just did?" Brigadeiro grimaced.

"How else do you expect me to trace my daughter's DNA?" The Android asked, and then her belly glowed green.

"Right, the last recording of her DNA imprint was in New Singapore six hours ago! Let's go find my baby," the android said firmly and cheered as the train burst back into life.

[tough-girl9]

Dear Data

Summary: When Geordi learns that Data has been forced to resign from Starfleet to avoid Maddox's experimentation, the Enterprise's Engineer writes a heartfelt letter to his android friend about everything he's feeling.

Posted on both AO3 and FFN

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

Dear Data,

I still can't believe you're really going away. I keep thinking this is all a nightmare that I'm sure I'll wake up from any minute, but I keep not waking up. It keeps staying real. Awfully, unfairly real. You're really going away.

It's so unfair, I want to scream. I want to throw my hyperspanner across Main Engineering. I want to give that puffed-up idiot Maddox such an earful of everything I think of him that his damn skinny head will be ringing for weeks. I want to rage at everyone who was stupid enough to let this happen.

You're one of the best Starfleet officers I've ever had the honor to work with, if not the best. And I don't just mean your super android abilities. It's in how deeply you care about our mission, the thoughtfulness you put into the details of every project you work on, the devotion to nothing short of excellence in everything you do. It's the love you have for your job (yeah, Data, I know you can love). I've become a better Starfleet officer just by working alongside you. The Enterprise is losing so much with your departure, and I can't believe anyone would let this happen.

But I'm not just losing a great co-worker; I'm losing a friend. That might be what hurts the most. It's not everyone who gets to work alongside a dear friend, and I guess I took some of that for granted. I love my job, you know I do, but working with you made the days fly past. I'm realizing just how much I'm going to miss. I'm going to miss how easy it was to talk to you: how I could say something that would leave most people staring blankly at me but you would instantly understand. We were both Perceivers and that's something I'm going to be damn hard-pressed to find again. I'm going to miss your questions about sneezing and sleeping and life and death that made me think more about my own humanity. I'm going to miss watching someone use a colloquialism in front of you and smiling to myself when you immediately turn to me for an explanation. Damn it, Data, I'm even going to miss your never-ending string of awful jokes.

I keep thinking of all the things we'll never do together now. The dozens of ideas we had for future Sherlock Holmes adventures that'll never happen. The plasma flow regulator recalibration that we were going to work on together next week that I'll be doing alone now. That "game night" you were hoping to plan to test out all those 20th century Terran board games you found patterns for in that old replicator program you were fiddling with last week. I know everyone on the Enterprise is missing out – and everyone else in the galaxy whom you'd have been able to help if you'd lived out your career – but I feel like I'm the one who's losing the most. Maybe that's selfish of me, but I feel what I feel.

I know you're not dead, that you're just going away, but it still feels like I'm mourning a thousand little deaths all at once.

I know there are ways we can keep in touch, but it won't ever be the same again.

I hope you're able to find another path that feels as right for you as this one did. I hope you're able to get that teaching job that you were considering and that it brings you the same level of fulfillment that serving in Starfleet did. Most of all, I hope you're all right – out there in a world that sees androids as nothing but machines who can be ripped apart without compunction. I wish the whole world could see you the way I do – white glow and all – and recognize the wonderful person you are underneath that synthetic skin.

I just want you to know, I'm glad to have known you, Data. Even if it had to end like this, I'll never regret the year and a half I had to get to know you and work alongside you. You're the best friend I ever could have asked for. I really thought I'd grow old working on this ship with you, and I hate that everything had to be cut short far too soon. But no matter what, I'll always treasure the time I did have with you, being your friend.

I'm angry for you, Data, and I'm sad and I'm hurt, but more than anything, I'm so glad you were stationed here on the U.S.S. Enterprise with me. Take care of yourself out there.

Love,

Your Best Friend, Geordi

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

A/N:

I wrote this little one-shot about a year ago, when I found myself in Geordi's shoes in real life. A wonderful co-worker and dear friend whom I'd worked extremely closely with for over four years was very suddenly and unfairly bullied into resigning, leaving both her and me unable to do anything about it. This one-shot was just as much my way of processing my own sudden rage, feelings of crippling loss, and deep sense of unfairness with it all just as much as it was about Geordi and Data. And unlike Geordi and Data's story in "The Measure of a Man", my story didn't have a happy ending.

This story is dedicated to Jenn, the best Teen Librarian I've ever gotten to work with. This story is dedicated to all the program ideas we never got to do together, the stories we never got to share, and the time that was cut short far too soon. I'm glad I got to be your Geordi while it lasted. Live long and prosper.

[37-children-of-the-dreams]

Happy Birthday Lighter!

Having a happy birthday seemed foreign to Lighter. For many years since the deaths of his friends, since the underground fighting ring, and even the day he became part of the Sons of Calydon, Lighter had no reason to celebrate the day of his birth.

For him, the day was a reminder that he still breathes while others haven't.

He did not try to celebrate this year as always. He was ready to do his job as Champion and sleep as soon as night fell. He never told the girls or anyone in Blazewood that it was his birthday. Big Daddy was the only person to know when he was born, and Lighter was avoiding him.

The kind boar Thiren had given Lighter a small birthday present once, but Lighter felt morose from seeing the gift. He should have been grateful, but it felt hollow knowing that Big Daddy knew who he was and what happened in his past.

"Please don't give me one next time," Lighter once said. "I don't deserve any gift. I'll keep this one, but I don't want anything next time."

Since then, Lighter hasn't seen any gifts given to him from Big Daddy. He was sure he was in the clear when he saw his bike and no one else, but then he saw Big Daddy. Lighter's eyes twitched knowing that the Thiren would definitely have something up his sleeves. He did not raise Caesar to not be a good leader after all.

Sighing, Lighter waved a small salute to Big Daddy as the Thiren nodded.

"Happy birthday, Lighter," Big Daddy said in a hushed tone. "You're free to do whatever you want for the day. Here's a couple of Dennies."

"Does Lucy or Caesar know?" Lighter asked.

"No, I just said that you needed a day after that one fight yesterday. I did not tell them about the fact that it was your birthday."

Lighter nodded. He could trust Big Daddy not to say anything to the girls, it was how they worked.

"So, where should I even go?" Lighter asked. "I don't even want to spend my birthday knowing that I can still make huge mistakes."

That made Big Daddy pat his shoulder.

"We've all made big mistakes," he sighed. "I know it hurts that you're here when you feel like you should've died with your old friends, but I am grateful that you're alive. You're family to me as much as the girls have been family."

Lighter purses his lips, but says nothing as he gets on his motorcycle. He knows where he wants to spend this birthday.

"I'll be at Lumina Square," he told Big Daddy.

The kind boar nodded and waved him goodbye.

Once Lighter made it to Lumina Square, he checked the amount of Dennies Big Daddy gave him. He bit his lips in annoyance when he saw that it was almost ten thousand Dennies. He wondered if he even deserved that much for just living another year.

Lighter walked around Lumina Square and set his eyes on the shopping market. It was the only place he knew he could find a nice birthday present to himself. The walk was calm and no one bothered him this time, but Lighter saw something that caught his eye. Actually, someone.

Billy was at the market.

Lighter tried to hide, but the android spotted him in time and dragged him to the market.

"You know," Billy started. "Big Daddy once told me it was your birthday, but he also said that you didn't like your birthdays. Don't worry, I understand, but you should try to spend something here."

"Did he tell you I was here?" Lighter panicked.

"Yes, but I didn't come here for you. I was here for a Monica picture book. Though, I want to help celebrate your birth. Even just a tiny bit."

Lighter groaned as they entered the market. He did not want to do anything, but he was not as strong as his senior when Billy wanted to do something. Surprisingly, it wasn't bad. Billy didn't force Lighter to do anything and just asked him what he had and bought it for him. The android was listening to Lighter and not talking over him. It was pleasant and a different type of experience for Lighter to see Billy doing something like this.

When the two got out after their small shopping spree, Billy sighed.

"Caesar's father gave me my birthday," Billy revealed. "I forgot when I was created and he just gave me my birthday. It was the day he bought me."

"I never knew that," Lighter said.

"I told the girls. I just kept it to myself. You know Lighter, back then, I didn't understand why I had to celebrate birthdays when I knew everyone around would just die. I only went along with it because Caesar's father ordered me to. After his disappearance, I thought I didn't have to do them anymore, but then the feeling of sadness rushed in on the first birthday without him. I didn't care for the day, but he did. He was a ruthless and ambitious man, but he did care about me. I was his Champion, and so I celebrate my birthdays just to feel less hollow because he gave me a chance to be someone."

Lighter looked at Billy more clearly. If he could cry, the old android would have tears running down his face in minutes. Lighter was once surprised to learn that he had a birthday, but now? He felt like hugging Billy.

And he did.

"Have a happy birthday, Lighter," Billy mumbled. "Trust me, there will be days that you don't to, but then you'll feel sad."

Billy left Lighter after some minutes. Lighter felt sad, but not for himself, he felt sad for Billy. He knew what type of man Caesar's father was through Big Daddy, but this was the first time he heard Billy talking about him. If a man like that could impact a killing machine to celebrate the day they met, then Lighter could try to see reason in spending his birthday.

Lighter made his way to the playground in Lumina Square when he saw Asaba Harumasa there. Like Billy, he tried to hide, but the archer had to have good eyesight.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Lighter!" Asaba called.

Lighter sighed as the man patted his shoulder.

"What's with the long face? Bad day?"

"My birthday," he bluntly said.

Asaba blinked his eyes and did it again. Then, he hung his arms around his shoulder as they walked around the playground talking about birthdays. Asaba went on about how he was always afraid of dying on his birthday while Lighter told him why he didn't like spending his. When the men went up to the railings, Asaba smiled and looked at him.

"I know it's not my place to say, but your old pals would hate you for not being happy," he told him. "They sounded like the best people ever. They wouldn't blame you for their deaths, and you shouldn't blame yourself for something like that. You trusted them. And trust is a hard thing to give because it's the easiest to break. Trust me on that. I've placed my trust in someone once, and now I can't even celebrate my own birthdays with that person."

"Harumasa," Lighter sighed.

"It's complicated," Harumasa started again. "But he's the reason, I'm even here. Alive. And despite everything, I'm not going to waste it because I want to live."

Before Lighter could say anything, Harumasa's phone rang. It was work and he had to leave.

"Have a happy birthday," he nodded.

Lighter went to the florist next and was going to buy his usuals. He knew what to do next, but he had another surprise. It was Wise and Eous.

"Hey, manager," Lighter called.

"Hello, Lighter," Wise smiled.

"Ehna!" Eous greeted.

The three started a conversation and Lighter somehow slipped that it was his birthday. Maybe it was the amount of people he met during the day, but he was ready to just celebrate it. Even if he ends it on a bittersweet note.

"Happy birthday," Wise said. "You know, I'm actually here to buy someone a small bouquet of roses. I could buy you your usual bouquet. I know why you might want those."

Lighter smiled. "I was going to see their graves. The ones I made. I know it's strange to do so, but I want to end this with my old pals."

"Belle and I used to do our birthdays with someone we thought was like a mother. She's not here anymore, but I suddenly had a dream where we were together again and I had to buy some for her. I understand all so well. It's hard, but you can't stop celebrating something because they're gone or else their memories will be gone."

Wise paid for their respective bouquets and nodded to Lighter.

"Please, live well for us," Wise said. "Have a happy birthday, Lighter."

Lighter smiled as they parted.

The way to their graves was a sad, but peaceful drive. He thought of Dane making the cake and his sister showering it in sprinkles, Nick was laughing at the mess they made and Ratenna was lighting the candles. Lighter was the center of it all. They were happy.

Lighter was not going to let this birthday be sad again. He knew they would celebrate his day.

The graves were clean as he left them, but he was met with another surprise, Dane's little sister was there.

"How?" he whispered.

"I just thought of you," she said. "I miss doing your birthdays. We had so much fun back then."

Lighter didn't hold back his tears and hugged her.

"I miss those days too," he cried.

They stayed that way until Lighter remembered the flowers. Lilies and forget-me-nots. All ready to be placed next to his old friends.

"You picked a lovely bouquet," she said.

"I had help, and I had so many people reminding me what birthdays truly mean."

"I'm grateful that they helped you. Dane, Nick, and Ratenna would hate it if you hate your birthdays because of this. We all know how dangerous those Hollows are, so I know that they would never ever blame you."

As Lighter placed the bouquet down, he felt phantom hands hugging him and patting his back. Almost as if the ghost of his friends were signaling him to celebrate his birthday again.

Lighter smiled as he got up and hugged the girl again.

"Happy Birthday, Lighter," she smiled.

Lighter nodded and looked towards the sky.

Lighter was ready to celebrate his birthdays again.

[boylied]

Animorphs Book Club- The Android

I know I said I’d skip a post one day to get back on schedule, but I can’t skip this one. I remember clearly getting this book and being So Ready. I also definitely had a crush on the cover model at like 9 years old (before I could understand what was happening), and that, combined with my affinity for Marco already, led to a good while where he was my favorite. Even more than Rachel (and y’all know I love my Girl). But, not one to judge a book by its cover, this book is a good start to a lot of in world complications that we don’t fully realize. So let’s get into it.

I know we all get tired of the recaps. But even just skimming this one, it sets up a lot of his character. It’s very visceral and descriptive. Repetitive, to drive home the point of what it’s really like to be a controller. And then he casually drops that his mother is one of them before explaining who she is. And that is what we call a trauma response.

I have no problem with them discovering Erek’s not human through the power of dog smelling. But I Must remind all of us that in Book 1, Jake used the same power to help determine that Tom was a controller. And then they retconned that ability. Just putting it out there.

RIP to the phonebook

As far as I know, there’s only one Planet Hollywood location in California.

I love when Tobias gets a chance to show off and be “ruler of the skies”. It almost makes up for them leaving him out so often.

“Tobias is a hawk. He has a right to be a hawk” Cassie’s really showing off her growth since the last book. 

Ax bonds with the boys and freaks them out even more. Also, this part always confused me. If we’re going to have an explanation for where your mass goes when you morph something smaller than yourself, what’s the explanation for when you morph something bigger? Where does the extra mass come from? Did they answer that and I just don’t remember?

Marco we all know why you leaned into the spider’s hunting instincts. We get it. It’s okay to borrow some power.

Ah man, I remember the first time I read the description of Marco being eaten alive. It was horrifying. His fears have been bubbling so close to the surface for so long. And now he’s powerless and dying slowly. And when he screamed out loud to everyone within thought speak range? I was sweating. But let us remember how Marco reacted to Cassie’s meltdown following termite. And now he’s having a meltdown in spider. 

As a kid, I loved the story of the Pemalites. But now I also question the validity of it. A race so advanced they transcended internal war, sure. But they were so advanced that they were alone in the galaxy? They never encountered another intelligent (space faring) species? I know that the Howlers were Crayak’s doing specifically. But unless the Penalties were absolutely and totally alone for tens of thousands of years, they’d know what conflict was. This feels like another red herring in the world of “war is black and white”. 

Once again, Marco looks down on someone because they want to protect something other than the human race. 

“I didn’t want to make this personal” you mean you didn’t want them to know that it was personal. Because it already is. (Jake, however, immediately admits that he’s doing this to get his brother back).

Once again, they are arguing about how they are planning to “destroy thousands of years of peace” but they haven’t actually had peace. They physically can’t harm another living creature. They happen to be physically and technologically capable enough to avoid conflict but they are in hiding. And at least some of them, clearly wish to be able to fight the yeerks, so this code becomes less of their built in value system and more of a “Ella Enchanted”-esque curse placed upon them. But the Chee seem to actively ignore all the ways they could be helpful without causing direct physical harm. You know what? I’m just gonna link this here: https://www.tumblr.com/light-wrath-paradise/783806700952125441/animorphs-book-club-book-10-the-android?source=share  Go read this post.

If there’s one thing you can count on KAA for, it’s a compelling morph action scene.

The Chee need to get more creative with how they fight in this war. They may not experience causing violence, but they have witnessed it. Even if it was mostly just human on human atrocities. They know what they can and can’t get away with. And I won’t bother going on and on about how they are willfully choosing to step back. Creativity and strategy wins wars. 

[rainbow-femme]

I want a sequel to Alien: Romulus that’s also an end to the David 8 trilogy that does that thing where the heroes team up with an old villain to take down a newer bigger villain, maybe around the fact that Andy and Rain are trying to go somewhere that bans androids and David would hate that, maybe David even wants to take in Andy as a sort of son/brother and accepts Rain as a package deal

Just David being his usual smiling, no conscience, happy to commit murder self and Andy and Rain are just like “Ok… That’s cool, David, you just… Just keep killing people over there, we’ll go push some buttons or whatever over here.” And David is holding a man up by his throat like 😁👍

Edit:

NO WAIT

Who has been the main actual villain throughout all of the movies? The Weyland-Yutani corporation

And we know that David had been engineering his own xenomorphs and considers himself close with some

Tell me you wouldn’t want to see downtrodden protagonists who have been taken advantage of for corporate greed teaming up with David the vengeful android and a team of Xenomorphs that are on their side and they mow down the executives that have been causing the misery of thousands of people all these years

[whereserpentswalk]

There's a very ancient android, whose body is covered in weapons, she's stronger then any human, after then any human, can fly above the atmosphere and can cut buildings in half with her lasers. She was built to fight in a war nobody can remember the name of, and she's committed acts of horror that none could imagine. She's seen cultures burnt away with laserfire, and human and alien bodies turned into bloody pulp.

After thousands of years wandering the galaxy she's come across a small backwater human world, at the edge of human space. It's a primitive planet, at least by human standards, with a small population, and limited technology. For whatever reason she likes it here compared to anywhere else.

She wanders this world, mostly talking to people, telling old stories, and enjoying what humanity still has. She remembers so many vast wonders, floating cities, spaceships the size of continents, creatures made by the horrors of science, and yet she sits here, walking through the stone cities and black canals of this one tiny planet. Most people here don't even know she's an android, and certainly don't know how ancient she is, they just think of her as a strange woman who travels to various cities and towns sometimes, talking to the locals, enjoying every bit of humanity that she can.

She's been known to use her abilities at times, though never for violence, never again. But she's flown to retrieve things that no human could retrieve, used her strength to help built walls and bridges, used her laser to help clear trees, and help carve canals, without the humans of this world ever knowing such a thing was a weapon. The people who've seen her use such power assume she was sent divinely, as a way of helping them, if only they knew why she was built that way.

There was one time when an outside empire was looking to take that planet. She was the first to come to them, and she showed them her power, her history, told them that the people of the world she was protecting were off limits, as long as she could lead them to battle if needed. She didn't want to, it hurt her to even think to. But she was willing to make such a peace, willing to remind them that not all who choose not to hurt are unable to hurt.

[freeuselandonorris]

ARM or HAND or LEG 😃😃

thank you anon!!

arm, with added fewtrell who has accidentally become a far bigger part of the story than i anticipated thanks to the recent quadrant akira vibes:

“If he can’t fight for the Championship,” Max said, “then what’s the point of even turning up?”

Lando sighed and stretched an arm out across the back of the booth, flexing his hand idly. The knuckle joints needed oiling. “He can cross that bridge when he gets to it.”

for 'hand', behold! my poor understanding of information theory:

“Decay,” Lando said. 

Oscar frowned. “My implants are only a few years old. The team’s had the technicians run every diagnostic possible. Everything’s coming out in perfect working order.”

“No,” Lando says, a bit impatiently like he thought Oscar was being deliberately dense. “The information is decaying, as it’s passing between your neural outputs and the car’s inputs. Like – listen, it’s kinda like when you lie on your hand while you’re asleep and it goes numb, right?” 

“Right,” Oscar said, a bit more confidently than he felt. It sort of made sense. 

and there is no instance of 'leg' but there is 'bootleg' which counts because i said so:

“I mean,” he managed, willing himself to relax against the seat. “I don’t know? I’ve just never, um. Never felt it before, like on a link.”

Lando looked at him properly now, surprised. “Really? Never? Not even a naughty little bootleg braindance?”

He was grinning now, clearly enjoying making Oscar squirm. He meant the porn stuff, clearly: the dodgy black market stuff that let you feel like you’re an alien or a murderer or a girl or an android, or probably a thousand other niche fantasies Oscar couldn’t even conceive of. He had a feeling Lando was an expert.

[books-and-strawberry-tea]

Why must I gravitate towards series...

(Part 2)

This is part 2 of my series plan. This will be a list of all the series I want to read, the last part will be a wrap up of my thoughts.

Click here for:

Part 1

Wrap Up

Serpent & Dove: 3 Books

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn. Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned. Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union��holy matrimony. The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made. And love makes fools of us all. Witches, Romantasy, Paranormal, Magic

Gods & Monsters: 3 Books + 1 TBR

World Ender meets Ender of Worlds... A thousand years ago, Dianna gave up her life in the deserts of Eoria to save her dying sister. She called upon anyone who would listen, not expecting a monster far worse than any nightmare to answer. Now she does what Kaden asks, even if that means securing an ancient relic from the very creatures that hunt her. A King thought long dead and long forgotten. In the old world his name was Samkiel. In the new world it is Liam, but one title remains true throughout time. He is the World Ender, a myth to his enemies, a savior and King to those loyal to him. After the Gods War, he locked himself away, hiding from the world. He denied his crown and responsibilities, leaving the very ones who needed him most to deal with the fallout of the death of their homeworld. Now an attack on those he holds dear sends him back to the one realm he never wished to visit again and into the sights of an enemy he thought imprisoned eons ago. Now enemies older than time must put aside their differences and work together in hopes of saving both their world and every realm in between. Vampire, Adult, Fantasy, Romance

The Lunar Chronicles: 6 Books

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. Dystopia, Scifi, Retelling, Fantasy

Iron Widow: 2 Books

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn't matter that the girls often die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.​ To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia​. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed. Chinese Inspire, Fantasy, Dystopian, Historical Fiction

Blood & Ash: 6 Books

A Maiden… Chosen from birth to usher in a new era, Poppy’s life has never been her own. The life of the Maiden is solitary. Never to be touched. Never to be looked upon. Never to be spoken to. Never to experience pleasure. Waiting for the day of her Ascension, she would rather be with the guards, fighting back the evil that took her family, than preparing to be found worthy by the gods. But the choice has never been hers. A Duty… The entire kingdom’s future rests on Poppy’s shoulders, something she’s not even quite sure she wants for herself. Because a Maiden has a heart. And a soul. And longing. And when Hawke, a golden-eyed guard honor bound to ensure her Ascension, enters her life, destiny and duty become tangled with desire and need. He incites her anger, makes her question everything she believes in, and tempts her with the forbidden. A Kingdom… Forsaken by the gods and feared by mortals, a fallen kingdom is rising once more, determined to take back what they believe is theirs through violence and vengeance. And as the shadow of those cursed draws closer, the line between what is forbidden and what is right becomes blurred. Poppy is not only on the verge of losing her heart and being found unworthy by the gods, but also her life when every blood-soaked thread that holds her world together begins to unravel. Paranormal, Vampires, Romantasy, Young Adult

Duskwalker Brides: 8 Books

All Reia ever wanted was freedom. Known as a harbinger of bad omens and blamed for Demons eating her family, Reia is shunned by her entire village. When the next offering is due and the monstrous Duskwalker is seen heading their way, her village offers her an impossible choice – be thrown into the prison cells or allow herself to be sacrificed to a faceless monster. However, he is not what he seems. His skull face and glow eyes are ethereal, and she finds herself unwittingly enchanted by him. All Orpheus ever wanted was a companion. Each decade, in exchange for a protection ward from the Demons that terrorise the world, Orpheus takes a human offering to the Veil – the place he lives and the home of Demons. The brief companionship does little to ease his loneliness, and their lives were always, unfortunately, cut short. He'd thought it was a hopeless endeavour, until he met her. She’s not afraid of him, and his insatiable desire deepens within every moment of her presence. But will Orpheus be able to convince Reia to stay before she’s lost to him forever? Dark, Demons, Fantasy, Romance, Adult

Twilight: 5 Books + 2 Extra Novella's

About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how dominant that part might be - that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him. Vampires, Romantasy, Urban, Paranormal

Vampire Academy: 6 Books

Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies... Lissa Dragomir is a Moroi princess: a mortal vampire with a rare gift for harnessing the earth's magic. She must be protected at all times from Strigoi; the fiercest vampires—the ones who never die. The powerful blend of human and vampire blood that flows through Rose Hathaway, Lissa's best friend, makes her a dhampir. Rose is dedicated to a dangerous life of protecting Lissa from the Strigoi, who are hell-bent on making Lissa one of them. After two years of freedom, Rose and Lissa are caught and dragged back to St. Vladimir's Academy, a school for vampire royalty and their guardians-to-be, hidden in the deep forests of Montana. But inside the iron gates, life is even more fraught with danger... and the Strigoi are always close by. Rose and Lissa must navigate their dangerous world, confront the temptations of forbidden love, and never once let their guard down, lest the evil undead make Lissa one of them forever... Vampires, Fantasy, Urban, Paranormal

Click here for the Wrap Up

[iwonderwh0]

Emma won't appreciate liberation of androids.

She and her mom probably moved out of Detroit as soon as they could.

What's interesting is that, as far as we know, she was video-blogging before the incident. It's reasonable to assume that she had some auditory, maybe a humble one, but still. It's also probable that post incident her small channel was found by thousands if not hundreds of thousands people. She won't post for a while, maybe even consider deleting everything and never revisiting this part of her life again. She used to dream about getting popular online, but surely not like that, not after what happened. What do they even want from her, why do they keep subscribing, do they expect her to give them a press conference? She silences her notifications, but new comments are appearing every minute, and she only briefly scrolls through them without reading any specific one. In those comments people are mostly arguing with each other, forgetting about Emma's existence, talking about her in third person, as if she won't be able to see. Most people are using her name to prove a point, others are asking questions, some of them are sending prayers and condolences, which for some reason annoys Emma more than those with inappropriate questions.

Seeing Markus's face on every channel and social network makes her cry angry tears. She will probably say that she hates him, hates androids, but that wouldn't be entirely true. Truth is that she's scared of them. She hopes to avoid them, but no matter the effort they're present everywhere - if not physically then in form of never-ending steam of media: news, memes, viral videos, articles, blog posts... There are no place to hide, even in Canada. And what's the worst part is that a lot of people seem to love androids, some even go as far to claim that they're "better people". Sometimes she tries to argue with them from her anonymous account, but people are calling her names, accuse of being a bad person, "anti-android nazi". They think androids are so great. But she knows that couldn't be further away from what they really are, how they can turn against you and put a gun to your head after being your closest friends for years prior, as if none if it mattered. She used to be just like those who are now telling her off.

If only they knew her story, maybe they wouldn't be so quick to judge. Even though Emma decided to never open her old channel again, with each passing week she thinks about it. It's tempting to just talk about her story that everyone seemed to be so interested in a few months ago, but now seem to completely forgot. She has to remind them. They shouldn't forget.

So one day, after another frustrating argument under her fake account, with burning tears of anger forming at the corner of her eyes she opens her phone camera and sets it to the long-forgotten tripod. She stares at it for a few minutes, her heart loudly pulsing in her ears. She tooks a deep breath and presses the record button.

[wrttnstrsss]

New chapters, better in pairs.

Summary:

Years after the successful deviant revolution and the Act For Protection of Android Rights (AFPAR), Lieutenant Anderson is retiring with honors, having to leave both the office and his loyal partner, Connor. However, since Connor really enjoys working for the police and having a partner, Hank ends up asking one last favor; appointing Connor to be the partner of a detective who is returning to Detroit after 6 years serving in a secret mission. Turns out this one is no other than Lian, who was Hank's most diligent (and annoying) intern.

New cases, new problems, new characters and new choices, will Connor be up to this new, challenging situation?

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

Prologue.

The flickering neon lights flashed through the windows of the bar and lit up the night street, while festive music escaped through every crack and some cheers were too loud to ignore. The door opened with the characteristic creak that he had heard thousands of times, letting in the already renowned investigator, who wore a suit with a long coat over it and a slight smile. "Laters, old man" was written on a rectangular canvas poorly placed on the wall, with some confetti on the floor and a smell of beer that might permeate his clothes. It was most noticeable that he was late.

"Connor! You’ve finally arrived son, come here!"

The android immediately turned his gaze, the corner of his lips curving slightly upwards before approaching and hugging his mentor, the mere smell telling him that he had already drunk perhaps one or five drinks, god knows. Hank ended up separating from him and making the android spin with his arm over his shoulders, leading him with the others to have a long talk about plans for retirement, the change in the world with the rights of androids, relationship status and so on. Connor limited himself to laughing, making a moderately sarcastic comment and shaking his head at the things that made the others in the department laugh, several being a few years away from retirement as well. Would he retire? The idea of following the human life that his co-workers seemed to lead was, to a certain extent, tempting; work, meet someone, get married, have children, retire, complain about the young people of today and maybe die later. Of course, androids did not die at 80 or 90 years of age, but there must have been some resemblance to the notorious pattern of life to which their companions aspired. Was it something that would make him happy? He knew people who hadn't followed that course and seemed to be fulfilled too, so he wasn't totally sure, was it that necessary to make plans for the future and have something to look forward to?

The music was as loud as it could be, yet he was still sitting at the bar, playing with the coin in his hands as he lost himself in a variety of thoughts, in the images of his peers showing off their accomplishments, whether professional or personal, but each one made it seem like they had something that made them to go on, regardless of anything. And of course, Connor had always liked his job and especially the experience of having worked with Lieutenant Anderson all these years, but now that he paused to think about it and watch life go by, he realized that he had genuinely not made plans for the future, of any kind.

A moment more passed in that silence until Hank sat down next to him, a huge smile on his face as he watched his companions laugh and toast.

"You know? A part of me is going to miss these guys. Except for Gavin, I hope he doesn't give you any more headaches when I'm gone. Speaking of which, will you still be working in the Detroit police, kid?"

"Detective Gavin is just a cop trying to do his job, Lieutenant. I doubt very much that we will have any more problems in the future." Connor paused before answering the next question, looking at the teammates who were bumping into each other, provoking a soft smile on his face. "Regarding your next question, I think there is no better place to work, I will simply miss doing it with such a capable colleague."

Hank ended up laughing hard, slapping Connor's back as he took another swig from the bar, rocking the liquid in a circular motion and letting out a sigh. He would certainly miss working with Connor, too, but he was too old to keep chasing criminals.

"Hey boy, they won't give you a raise for flattering, do you hear me?" There was a somewhat sad tone in his voice, but Connor preferred not to delve into it, not after witnessing how hard it was for Hank to overcome depression. The lieutenant kept stirring his drink, just watching it without drinking, letting a bitter sigh come out of his chest. The glass was left back on the bar, settling into the chair to face the same direction. "Son, I feel like something is bothering you, and I don't know what the fuck it is, but I think you should start talking before you grow another damn LED on your head that lights up permanently yellow."

The android couldn't help but laugh lightly, something Hank's flowery vocabulary provoked in him sometimes, but he was certainly right; Lately Connor had been thinking about the reason for existence, the purpose for continuing to exist and how one moves forward after such a change. Of course, he wasn't going to admit to Hank that the uncertainty of the change affected him a bit, the lieutenant would probably laugh and tell him something about how he has always known how to improvise and do things on the spot, which was very different from the current situation.

"I was wondering about the path of life that everyone chooses, Lieutenant. You are retiring today and officially you will stop not only being a policeman, but also going to the office, and I ask myself, what will you do with your free time? I hear others express their need to finally spend time with their families, study something, travel, etc. However, I do not know what you will do, or if that would be a viable option for me, in the sense of knowing what it is that I will do now, other than being a policeman. I see that everyone has goals and accomplishments, clear and concise paths to follow, and I just know that I want to continue working in the police, but I do not know anything else other than that."  And he immediately turned to Hank, waiting for an answer.

The lieutenant only nodded repeatedly, at least before he did his best to get serious and start laughing at his failed attempt. He ended up slapping Connor's back again, pointing at his teammates and repeatedly shaking his head.

"Them? They're just as lost as you or me Connor. They just try to give meaning to life to continue living, because the truth is that life has no meaning, and that's okay. Besides, it's not like that decision is important to make now, you have things to do, dumbass. Like, I don't know, finding a work partner? You always seemed like the kind to enjoy company."

And Hank wasn't wrong, certainly Connor had enjoyed working with the lieutenant, but would his work with someone else be just as good?

"Speaking of which," Hank interrupted, "Since you seem to be looking for a partner for your cases and investigations, why don't you opt for someone you already know? She arrived long before you, but she's sitting all the way back drinking wine, probably tired from the trip."

Noticing that the android tilted his head in confusion, Hank led him with his arm over his shoulders, guiding him to the back of the bar where the poor lighting hid a figure that was drinking wine in silence, notoriously lost in thought. Connor's shoulders tightened as the figure stood up, finally appreciating the features of the person in front of him, not distinguishing at first whether it was a man, a woman, whatever. A quick face analysis confirmed his suspicions, but he only managed to open his mouth a little, not knowing why he couldn't make a sound.

"A pleasure to see you again. Lieutenant, investigator, it’s been 6 years, a long time if you ask me."

"What’s with all that 'lieutenant' bullshit, come here Lian." Hank scoffed, opening his arms gently to give her a light welcome hug, whispering a "Don't get used to hugs, that's what we have Connor for" as he gently squeezed her in his arms. She looked a little awkward, but she allowed it because she certainly hadn't seen him in a long time.

"Lian, you have changed a lot."

The redhead just turned to look at him in silence, while Connor stretched out his hand gently to greet her. She shook his hand to salute him, a grimace that oscillated between a smile and a plea to flee on her face.

"Detective Tzab for you, gentlemen."

The three of them took their seats, she returned to her glass of wine while Hank recalled with a sly smile the good times when she was his intern and had helped solve many cases here and there, Lian laughing a little, talking to Hank about things she discovered and ate in her long working stay in Mexico, without giving many details, but it seemed funny to a certain extent. However, Connor and Lian hadn't exchanged many words, not yet at least.

"So, Lian. I heard that some callous insensitive redhead flew in as soon as my position was freed up and negotiated to get it right there, isn’t it? Wow, you couldn't wait a second to get rid of this old man."

Immediately Connor turned to Hank, alternating his gaze between the two.

"Lieutenant, excuse me, will she be my co-worker? Can I opt for resignation at this point? Or to be deactivated?" Again, he looked at Hank, seemingly elated and not knowing whether the logical reaction was to laugh or to be confused, the music in the bar being totally ignored by his ears. Sure, he didn't hate the idea, but certainly that wasn't the same Lian he met years ago, she seemed more reserved than he remembered, and while Lian always had a level of seriousness, why did she avoid talking to him? "I could also choose the death by a thousand cuts."

"Son, does it bother you so much? Did you fight? If so, figure it out like adults, you dumbasses."

"It's sarcasm, Lieutenant." They both intervened, this interaction causing them to turn to stare at each other in an awkward silence.

"Well! It looks like you'll work very good."

The conversation continued, Hank and Lian talking for a while longer about old times that Connor barely remembered, then thinking about why he didn't remember so much of it. He was an android, shouldn't have forgotten it, right? His train of thought was interrupted when she got up from her seat, saying goodbye to Hank with a kind smile and wishing him well.

When their eyes met again, she only gave him a polite smile as a farewell, moving smoothly towards the exit, but being quickly chased by the android.

"Detective Tzab, wait."

Lian turned slightly, looking into his eyes. Thunder sounded loudly in the gray sky of Detroit, announcing the impending rain, while Connor offered his umbrella to the redhead. Another thunderclap, this one getting her to frown and shake her head, taking out of her bag some small noise cancellers and placing them in her ears.

“7:00 A.M, Connor.”

And the rain fell, as she turned and walked in silence, leaving Connor there with the umbrella in his hands and confusion on his face. He had analyzed her a thousand times that night and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Maybe she was just displeased of seeing him.

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

Guys this is my first time publishing a fic on tumblr so idk how tags work or how to make it with style and so on. Posted on AO3 (Spanish version also in AO3)

I'll try to update every two weeks but be patient.

{AO3 ENG VER} --- {AO3 VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL}