#also my favorite drawing hack is repeatedly saying

[muckyschmuck]

dude this is gonna sound dumb as fuck probo but eye breaks are WILD drawing hack like what the fuck? you mean to tell me my eyes tricked me into thinking this masterpiece looks like actual horse shit? what the horse shit? im actyally goated? no way. what the frack

[rando-lesbo210]

This is going to out me as the anon but I got too many ideas and wanted to show really bad how the au designs are in my brain because a lot of @scrap-brainzone 's stuff inspired with it and aus so this is a babble about it and some extra info on my aus!

(also at the end I made a doodle of gaige x ty x moze specifically in thanks and also to show appreciation as a gift)

ALSO SUPER SORRY THIS IS GOING TO BE A GIANT POST.

Going simple first, I wanted to show the differences, although I haven't touched Angelic Guardian in awhile and Hyperion brand new with posting I wanted to show anyways- I'll add tidbit about each under this, so sorry for anyone trying to decipher my chicken scratch

Underneath Ms Ceos heavy ass eyeliner and makeup is the eridium effects as displayed here, she's went under several different surgeries repeatedly trying to hide any of the effects and uses cameras and altering her look digitally to her advantage. Her big problem is she Can't let people know because she fears if people knew, they're going to try and kidnap her again. (Mildly irrational considering all her security but it's a fair worry.) She hasn't touched eridium since the end of BL2, so she's most clean, but with how much she had the damage has been done.

Ah, Fallen Heir au. Angel's given up caring about who sees, only hiding before to stay away from the Crimson Raiders and cultists, but after both sides know? It's so what to her. She's technically the most fit and least afraid to use her abilities because she doesn't care as much about hurting others around her. If I were to describe her attitude/self in one sentence of dialog it'd basically be, "They refuse to see me as anything but a monster, so that's what I'll be."

Alas, my dear Angelic Guardian. As you can see, she's very much not holding up well. Her suit uses eridium to help keep her going but still at what cost? She's technically extremely fit, but the repercussions are severe if she pushes too far. Her level of eridium poisoning is beyond dangerous, having been in stasis for 5 years while still receiving eridium to keep her alive. I'll end it here by saying this has severe consequences that unfortunately, she was doomed to face regardless.

Ai Ange? Well. Not very much of anything but mild traits. I, in turn, made one for Gaige with that au.

Angel isn't very the most comfortable with Gaige using eridium, mainly due to the fact its less "as needed" but she likes to test limits and see what she can really do.

moving on I made some goofies and such from my Fallen au, wanting to show interactions (Mildly for also scrap because I know tyreen and tygaige a favorite)

Tygaige alas, would heavy struggle unless we get villain redemption pt 2 like Angel, but she won't be very pleased about it at first before accepting. I'm a sucker for Gaigel, so it'll lean that way, but to entertain the idea would be interesting. I might do that sometime.

if you're curious though with Angel there, it is a shitpost and I have drawn it with the idea Tyreen was monologing, but Angel just turned off her shield and straight up shot a bitch. (Tyreen easily healed with eridium but it was the audacity that was most surprising) the fallen au is pretty funny because besides that, she's also: Made Troy punch himself, then also has made his arm punch Tyreen. Will hack their shows if she's upset enough and fucks with their things. General fun, yknow. An issue Ange faces in the end is because she's so "eridium enriched" it's like double tasty snack to the twins, so that's always fun. (In fairness to Troy and with another drawing, Angel in this au has also made Gaige punch herself a few times when she got upset. She's very petty and I support it)

AND LASTLY

This is a mild gift to scrap-brainzone! I'm really sorry thr quality and coloring isn't the best on this (or most of the images), I was mildly rushing from time and far too excited to finish this and post it to show.

FUCK I REALIZED I DIDNT ADD THE BLUSHES. GOD. I'll do it tomorrow and edit or reblog this one, god I knew I was forgetting something-

The trio may not be my personal cup of tea, but it is very cute and I couldn't stop laughing/thinking about a post similar about the White Girl Swag so I wanted to be silly and make one

I'm too loyal to Gaigel, but who doesn't like to look and toy with other ideas? I never considered it much until seeing their art and it good shit, how could i not? Anyways, rambling, hope this isn't too bad or shoddy of a gift, I'll hopefully make something better soon, I was just too excited to post and show

anyone else who.made it this far you should totally totally go to scrap-brainzone 's blog it's great good shit 100/10 👍

[dappersheep]

Food Fantasy: An Analysis on what killed a Golden Goose (2/3)

Welcome back. Before we get started, disclaimers again! I do not own the game or its characters, nor do I claim to know the history and future of the game. What I am entitled to are the thoughts and opinions written within this post. You may or may not agree with the points spoken of here. This post also remains untagged from the main foofan tag. Only my followers will see this.

We are now on the second part, so let's go forward under the cut!

Elex

And here we have our beloved global publisher that most of seem to have Stockholm Syndrome for. Don't lie, at least half of us are still playing this damned game due to sunken cost fallacy, sunken time fallacy and the cute/hot jpegs.

In 2018, everything started out fine. Sure, maybe we had some translation mishaps here and there -coughwe'llgettothatwreckagelatercough- but overall, Elex was running the game fairly well. Rewards were on time, we had active social media and support, and a discord was set up!

Hint: Please note I use quite a bit of sarcasm in most everything I say.

And then somewhere along that road, things got derailed. And I mean it like, we're in the midst of a trainwreck in slow motion and we've only cleared the initial collision and still hurtling forward or backward into a steel wreckage ticking inferno.

Problems started cropping up as early as late 2018, just a few months after the game was launched in July.

⦁ Art contest mishaps. You know when you hold an art contest on Facebook out of all places with its shitty tagging system, you're bound to have entries lost to the void, people forced to register an FB account just to participate (seriously, who even has an FB account that isn't just there to appease family members?) and having to wrestle with figuring out how FB's tagging system works. Add to that the panel of judges happen to be Elex staff who don't have a good eye for good artwork (we actually had a kiddy figure drawing win over a well drawn one during the last contest!) and that they ALSO weren't very good at organizing such contests on FB... well, we had several grievances over that.

⦁ Region blocked FB announcements. Strangely enough, I stopped getting announcements around Father's Day of 2019 while everyone else outside of SEA kept getting updates. Turns out that someone on Elex's staff really didn't like SEA players or was just really bad at fixing the settings for the group and never bothered to revert it back. It didn't matter in the long run though, because...

⦁ Abandoned social media platforms. FooFan Twitter, FooFan Facebook... they all floated slowly into the void and was never heard from again. And this was before the 2020 pandemic.

⦁ Remember what I said about Discord? Yeah, apparently, they opened one up a little too early and the staff in charge of it knew zero about how to setup and mod a discord community, and didn't even have the manpower needed to mod the influx of members that came in! Suffice to say, they had to get help from top players and mods from the FB groups to come in and sort things out because someone kept pinging @ everyone every few seconds other than the usual chaos that comes from a server with no filters and people trying to turn the discord into Global Chat 2.0, minus Russian hours.

⦁ Also in line with the point about abandoned social media platforms, they've also mostly abandoned the discord too and only pop in once in a while to check the bug reports or lost accounts. You have a slightly better chance of response with the in-game support. Only slightly. And there's a running joke with several variations on the main discord that the Owner account of the discord server was manned by an intern-kun who never bothered to pass it on to the next unfortunate soul left to maintain this game.

⦁ Favoritism. Funtoy is also guilty of this but they don't publish the game for Global. If you're a top spender the likes of maxing out your cash rebates within the three months or so and you kept spending even beyond that, Elex could possibly invite you to a funky little club where your voice is more important than say... 99% of the playerbase. On top of that, if you keep spending, you could technically also ask for stuff like getting this frame over that frame, or well.... delay certain features from coming to Global for over a year. Now you can simp AND be heard! (Note: In 2021, it's possible that that club may be dead too, as all things shall be)

⦁ SJW Friendly. I don't know if Funtoy themselves have anything to also do with this particular decision... but it's saying something that after a certain little tiddy tantrum from the community side, Elex decided not to announce anything about a certain event's fate and when asked by it by other parties (not me) they either lie through their teeth, or beat around the bush with a non-answer.

⦁ Partial translations, mistranslations. Now, I understand that a lot of Chinese grammar and semantics are confusing to translate properly into several other languages, but you'd think Elex would have given their translators more context to the character or the mechanic to avoid such mistranslations that later set off gender debates or worded the skill/artifact description a little clearer. That is... unless Elex really is hands-off trying to get to know this IP from the start and only gave it the most bare minimum of English where they can cut costs for it, so people can understand it 'well enough' to throw money at an obviously not beta-read quality game.

⦁ No translations. Yes we do have certain parts of the game that are in Chinese since forever since xx patch. Some characters' voiceline texts are still in chinese, especially during the Pledge scenes. More recent artifacts are also in chinese with no announced translation in sight. And don't get me started on the Food Soul bios, or lack thereof.

⦁ Delayed events. Prime example? We had weeks of minor events/no events and still Elex managed to eff everything up for our second Anniversary in July 2020. We ended up getting the Croissant event in late August with barely any apologies and compensation for the delay... and this likely would have never arrived as 'early' as it did if people hadn't been railing about where our Anniversary event was. As it stands, we are several minor events behind CN, at least a year and a half's worth behind. I know Global had requested heavily for more spaced out events (to save resources, not that it actually worked with all the nerfed rewards we get) compared to CN but this is extremely ridiculous.

⦁ Delayed permanent features. Hm... Guild Wars, Sky Tower, Bar, that Wuchang Fish Showdown... several Quality of Life updates.... that new permanent pool update... Food Souls still missing their JP voice packs... Food Soul Bios... *slowly ticking off more than I have fingers and toes*

⦁ Customer Support is whack. You'd be lucky if you got someone who understood your problem/inquiry right off the bat AND did something about it efficiently. You'd be luckier if they answered you honestly if you were inquiring about event updates or other buggy features or reporting hackers.

⦁ The Great Turkey and Apple Incident of 2020. Well, if you were around for that little SNAFU during the Turkey re-run event, you'd know a percentage of people suddenly got logged out of their accounts and had a baller of a time trying to get their accounts back. You were especially unfortunate if you were playing on an iOS account because even if you did bind it (like a responsible player should be doing), you probably still wouldn't get it back in time to rank properly during Turkey. Some Android players also experienced this, but it wasn't as bad as what the iOS players experienced. And then there was the compensation mishap for that too.

⦁ Hacker-chan and not-so-uwu Hacker-teme. Hacker-chan is a meme. Hacker-chan was a harmless player who regularly topped in Top Showdown every week for a time to send a message to Elex just how easy it is to hack the game in certain rankings and invited Elex to ban them every time, just to test how competent Elex is. In the end, Elex has proven to be incompetent and also glaringly stupid about how their published game works. Hacker-teme is a collective of individuals over time who have cheated the game during important ranking events or in somewhat important permanent battles. If you tried to report a Hacker-teme with evidence to prove it -and trust me, people repeatedly have-, Elex would tell you that they're not cheating and/or lie through their teeth that they're 'investigating the case' and then not do anything about it and let them keep their event ranking and thus get the rewards while someone who actually worked hard/whaled hard to get the spot gets denied. In one case, they believe that if an account has rebate points and the player level is at least around level 80, then the hacker-teme is obviously playing the game fairly. Never mind that their units happened to have low to no artifact nodes opened, and not high in ascension.

And that is the end of the Elex saga. I'm aware there's likely more things about Elex that I've missed, but feel free to add on to this analysis post with your own thoughts.

The last part of this trilogy is probably what many of us are waiting for, for obvious reasons.

[raionmimi]

i wanna thank you for your Medb posts. Before, i was so blind; disliking Medb a few years back after i saw her in ch. america. i was like 'nooo what she doing to cu?' But once i found your blog my eyes opened to just how powerful, liberating and wonderful a character this Medb is. The way you write and draw about her and the others is just so amazing, it shows so much more about her character (love it!!) Please may you share more about this wonderful queen?

I’m always so touched whenever I get messages like these, I really appreciate them down to my core! Thanks for giving Medb a second chance! I’ve talked a lot about her for the past two years that I’m not sure what I haven’t already said tbh... and maybe I’m repeating myself from last year... bU T I wanted to say

The second half of the Summer racing event is still one of my favorite events! For the very specific reason that no matter what happened, everyone consistently kept insulting Medb and looking down on her becuase for whatever reason, they all just assumed she was a flaky brat that half assed everything. And yet...... pretty much every attempt they made to escape was thwarted because she had 100% thought things through for her prison because wasn’t as lax as she lets on! Even Enkidu was shocked that she was actually the type that didn’t let her pride keep her from improving herself to eliminate her own weakness. I’m still not even sure why everyone kept harping on her becuase almost every major appearance, Medb pulls out the power moves to flex on everyone

Literally from the start of America she had the upper hand and everyone else was only barely surviving her onslaught. It was canonically the first time Guda was in a singularity for so long becuase of how difficult and grueling it was

She conquers pretty much the entirety of the map in the Prisma event and launches a direct infiltration attack on Chaldea by essentially hacking the system. This is rarely ever talked about that she managed to do this 

Servants aren’t supposed to be able to injure their master (Romani even says this) but she made a loophole by tricking the player into a geas pact to fight them directly in her interlude. Of course, she only did this just because she wanted to be more useful and didn’t directly say so, but she could have very well killed Guda 

And of course this event, where she managed to outsmart her prisoners literally just by having taken precautions from the start, and queen said “Fuck you” when they tried to assassinate her. Also, the inherent idea that she specifically sought out Quetz, Carmilla, and Nightingale to be her subordinates, made Gorgon be the cornerstone... like how could you underestimate someone this much...

 So even though they often mentioned that this Medb was different from America (or if they meant Chaldea’s Medb), there was never ANY reason to doubt her abilities, but they did! Repeatedly! As frustrating as it was for me to go through this a second time, being underestimated is arguably the biggest part of Medb’s character. Everyone, heck even the fandom, just takes her at face value, but rarely do they ever address how capable she really is. Like honestly, she’s a genius tactician and a master at politics, and she SHOULD have been allowed to help reform some areas of Chaldea like she wanted to. And yet, she takes it in stride becuase she already expects everyone to underestimate her, and she is extremely valid for rubbing salt in the wound every time she smugs on them for doing so

Maybe the real reason Medb has usually been the an antagonist/ has cute silly cameos in events thus far is because it’d be too easy to win if she was a protag in an event 🤔 Anyways, can’t wait for her next appearance in the August summer event! You rock, Medb!

[britishassistant]

But I Like One Piece (4)

Somehow it gets worse after that.

It’s hard enough living with the realization that she’s been reborn with an entirely new circulatory system that parasitizes energy from her training and studying and doesn’t like her.

But then the teacher begins making noises about learning to mold this system to their wills.

Like trying to harness the weird unnatural force for its powers isn’t going to end horror movie style.

Especially since they’re using those dumb hand signs to do so.

She feels a little bad for disparaging it, since Naruto’s trying so hard to form them properly.

But most of them look like they’d dislocate her fingers if she wasn’t careful, her mind recalling videos of howling children who tried a little too hard to copy their favorite show and were left with fingers that dangled the wrong way.

She can’t risk damaging her tools again.

“Ketsugi.” The teacher says. “Demonstrate the Ox sign for the class.”

She cautiously twists her fingers, then drops them when something twinges. “Can't do it.”

“Of course you can, if you bother to try. The Ox sign.” The teacher snaps.

“But these aren’t necessary, right?” She pushes.“They just make using ch-chakra easier. A handicap.”

The teacher sighs. “They’re a tool, not a handicap, which you would know if you were paying attention to the lesson. Form the signs, Rat through Serpent.”

“I’m not doing them.” She snaps. “It’s embarrassing as a human being!”

There’s a moment of silence as what she said sinks in.

“Mizuki-sensei, why does Ketsugi-san look so smug?”

“Because she’s about to serve detention Uchiha.” The teacher growls. “Ketsugi, out in the hallway, now!”

She pouts as she holds the water buckets. They’re not even that heavy after training with Gai-sensei.

And so what if she was smug? She got to say Nico Robin’s line, she deserves to feel proud for that.

“It’s embarrassing as a human being.” She whispers to herself and can barely stifle slightly hysterical giggles.

Naruto and Kiba end up in detention with her after school.

Somehow they managed to turn the teacher’s white hair orange enough to rival Nami’s. It’s almost the same length too, making her snicker.

She thinks of her own hair, now below her chin. It’s too fine and straight to pull off Nami's look. She pouts down at her fingers.

“What is your family symbol anyways?” Kiba says, cracking his knuckles and shaking his fingers out. They’ve been cycling through the dumb signs for the past twenty minutes.

She peeks down at her shirt where there’s a little embroidered grey pelican with its wings raised to almost form a circle and a red tomoe where its beak meets its breast.

“It’s a pelican.” She says. “A sea bird. Their beak can hold lots of water, like a bucket.”

“Oh.” He fidgets, scratching the markings on his face. Akamaru barks. “Is that why it’s your family symbol? Carrying water?”

“Ah, no.” She gestures towards it as covertly as she can. “There’s this idea from a long time ago that pelicans babies are nursed on blood. So the pelican stabs itself with its beak so it can feed its babies. It’s a metaphor for something, like self-sacrifice, I think. I’m pretty sure they don’t do that in the wild.”

Kiba “hmms” and a frown creases Naruto’s face, but he doesn’t say anything for the rest of the afternoon, and that evening he’s back to normal.

She wonders if she should’ve questioned it.

One day a little under half of their class is gone.

She looks around. “Where is everyone?”

“You mean you don’t know?” Ino gasps, looking vaguely ill. Her skin’s pale and there’s bags under her eyes.

She and Naruto glance at one another. She shakes her head.

The blonde leans in close, voice dropping to a whisper. “The entire Uchiha clan was killed last night. Massacred.”

She blinked, looking around at the empty seats. Then it hits her. “What?! Even the—”

Ino shrugged, rubbing her arms. “I don’t know. They haven’t reported any survivors. J-just that the clan compound was—w-was—”

The blonde began trembling violently, breath coming in harsh gasps. Her eyes widen and she slips an arm around Ino’s shoulders, frantically gesturing to Naruto who looks like he’s confronting a bomb instead of a panicking girl.

Between them they got Ino sitting down and nibbling half-heartedly on an orange slice. Shikamaru, Kiba and Choji are in just as bad shape. Chouji is chewing his thumb so hard he makes it bleed, while Shika jumps at the slightest sound. Kiba’s just curled around Akamaru.

Nobody talks much that day.

Eventually the teacher throws his hands up and tells them all to go home early.

All the other civilian kids leave immediately in twos and threes. The clan kids stay seated.

Ino laughs hollowly when Sakura asks what’s taking her so long. Chouji won’t stop trembling. The quiet boy in the back buzzes restlessly. Kiba even lets out a whimper.

She exchanges glances with Sakura and Naruto.

They’re scared stiff.

Naruto stands up, and goes to where his stalker and the quiet boy sit at the back of the room. “Hey,” He says, “Wanna walk home with Mayu-chan an’ Sakura-chan an’ Ino an’ Shika an’ Chouji an’ Dogbreath and me?”

He sounds out of breath once he’s finished.

“U-um,” The stalker stutters. The quiet boy says, “That will not be necessary. Why? Because...”

“Oh come off it and walk with us.” She snaps. “We’ll hold hands and everything. Safety in numbers, right Shikamaru?”

He scoffs, but stares intensely at a spot on the wall. She can practically see the cogs turning in his head.

“Okay.” He says. “Here’s how we’ll do this.”

They run into Lee on the way out, but he gets incorporated into their weird-dodechahedron-chain-thing easily enough.

He and Naruto are at the front, laughing and talking like nothing’s wrong. Naruto holds Kiba and his stalker’s hands, while Lee holds the quiet boy’s and Shikamaru’s.

The clan kids make up a mass in the middle. Kiba (after much grumbling) holds the quiet boy’s other hand, while the stalker holds Ino’s and Shikamaru grasps Chouji’s hand.

She and Sakura take the rear, holding hands and not doing as good a job as Lee and Naruto at pretending everything’s fine. Sakura’s also holding Ino’s other hand and she’s holding Chouji’s.

People stare at them as they walk, barely tripping each other up.

Some snigger, but more look pitying.

She spots a couple of masks following them at a distance and tightens her grip on Sakura and Chouji.

They go to the compound that’s farthest from the village proper first and work their way in.

The quiet boy’s father has glasses like his son, and thanks them with a low buzz for returning “Shino”.

Kiba’s mum gives him a noogie and her dog calls them “good kids” gruffly.

The stalker is welcomed by an attendant who calls her “Hinata-sama”, flicks cold eyes over them and shuts the door in their faces.

Ino’s mum is almost in hysterics and she can’t stop hugging and kissing her daughter.

Chouji’s dad looks on the verge of tears, and he calls them brave for looking after his son.

Shikamaru’s mum keeps it better together, but her voice cracks when she thanks them.

When she closes the door on them, Mayu, Naruto, Lee and Sakura all look at each other, pensive and grave. The four “civilians” with no compounds to hide in.

Not that the compound saved the Uchiha.

“Wanna go cook something at my place?” She asks.

Her parents return with Gai-sensei and a pink-haired man and a blonde woman who introduce themselves as Kizashi and Mebuki Haruno.

They hug their daughter for a long time.

Lee looks longingly at the scene, so Gai-sensei slaps him on the shoulder and challenges him to run 100 times around their garden on his hands. Otou-sama eagerly asks if he can join in, which Gai-sensei enthusiastically agrees with.

Otou-sama repeatedly falls on his face, but he looks like he’s having fun.

She checks to see if the meat is done, then calls out that the food she, Naruto, Sakura and Lee have prepared is ready.

Naruto grabs the extra chairs while Sakura balances a pitcher of ice water and the hot plate and Lee brings out covered dishes of thinly sliced vegetables and rice.

It’s too hot for hot pot really, and they’re all sweltering as they crowd round the dining table Gai-sensei and Kizashi lugged outside, but at the same time it feels like the heat of the dish could almost burn away the horrors that happened today, warm and mild flavors grounding them in the idea of home and family and making it seem ridiculous that such things could be violated.

Her mother brings out bottles of sake, and she can tell by the way Mebuki Haruno whistles that it’s good stuff.

She uncorks one bottle and pours a dish out for everyone, even the children.

Then her father uncorks the other and holds it up in one hand, his sake dish in the other.

“To the Uchiha. May their memory be honored, may they find justice, and may their spirits be at peace in the next life.”

“To the Uchiha.” They chorus, and he pours the bottle out into the grass as they drink.

She’s never had the tongue for alcohol so it doesn’t taste very nice. From the way Naruto’s sticking his tongue out, Sakura’s hacking, and Lee’s pulling a face, they think the same.

Luffy, I know this isn’t really your thing. She thinks. But maybe get Robin or Nami or Brook to help you out. Please, please get those poor souls somewhere they’ll be happy and free. And knock the fucker who did a Buster Call on them out with a gomu gomu no bazooka.

She tosses back the rest of the sake with that silent prayer.

Naruto leans into her side, resting his head on her shoulder, so she rests her head atop his. Okaa-sama sits down on his other side, taking his hand and carding her free one through Mayu’s hair. Otou-sama brackets them on the other side, throwing an arm over their shoulders and drawing them all together, a bit squashed, and adds his hand to the pile.

They watch the sun set and mourn the lives lost.

Nobody goes home that night.

The masks don’t even come for Naruto.

They end up spread out around the living room, futons and bedding haphazardly laid out.

She wakes up in the early morning with Naruto spreadeagled beside her on the floor, one foot in her father’s stomach and her mother curled up behind her and—

The mask that hurt her standing over them.

She tenses weakly, eyes frantically darting around. Her father is at their feet, so he’ll have to go over them to save her, giving the mask enough time to slit her throat.

Gai-sensei is sitting in her mother’s armchair, head thrown back and snoring while Lee is curled up on his lap. He won’t get to her in time either.

Kizashi is squashed on the couch, with Mebuki blocking him in. Sakura is on the coffee table for some reason, cuddling a paperweight. She can’t drag them into this.

She’s not strong like the Monster Trio. Hell, she can’t even hold a candle to the Coward Trio. There’s no way she’ll be able to take the mask and live to tell the tale. She’ll barely scratch him.

The mask looks at her. She curls a hand around Naruto’s arm protectively and glares back.

He raises a single finger the mouth of the mask and bursts into a flurry of leaves.

She can’t go back to sleep after that.

They’re in the morning paper.

Not as the front page headline. No, that’s reserved for a picture of a little boy that’s so much like the anime stills that used to be bandied about in flame wars of her past life, with the headline UCHIHA ITACHI CONFIRMED KILLER above it and the phrase SEVEN YEAR OLD SOLE SURVIVOR OF MASSACRE underneath.

They are halfway down the second page though. There’s a grainy photograph of their hand-holding escort, taken so as to obscure Naruto as much as possible behind Lee.

It doesn’t quite work, because you can see his hair and ear, and his hands holding Hinata and Kiba, the Uzumaki spiral clearly visible on his shirtsleeve.

Naruto eagerly points this out, and bragging about how “We’re famous now, believe it!”

The caption under it reads: Clan and civilian children draw together in historic show of solidarity. Whoever writes for the paper likes alliteration too much for anyone’s good.

Her father peers at it. “That’s quite a scary face you’re making there Mayu-chan.”

She says nothing and eats her rice quickly while her mother gives Otou-sama a Look.

It’s not her fault she was glaring at the masks when the photo was taken.

Everyone’s talking about the photo in class too.

Ino’s even signing copies of it.

At least she’s feeling better. The others seem to back to a semblance of normality too.

All except the stalker. She keeps stealing quick, furtive glances at Naruto, before gazing sadly back down at her hands.

Ino notices her staring and nudges her. “I heard Hinata’s dad blew a gasket at the picture. Said she’s not allowed to associate with Naruto anymore.” She says conspiratorially.

She winces. For a moment she’d been so caught up in the sense of communal mourning, she’d forgotten she lived in a world where Naruto was a pariah.

“Anything we can do?” She murmurs to Ino.

The blonde purses her lips, tapping her chin, but Sakura, with bags under bloodshot eyes from drinking a bit too much and sleeping on a table, is the one who answers. “Have her sit on the girl’s side of the table. That the way she’s close to Naruto without associating.”

“Sakura, that’s brilliant!” Ino gushes.

Instead of blushing and modestly denying the praise like usual, Sakura presses her face into the desk and mumbles, “Fuck yeah I am, shannaro.”

She cracks up at the expression on Ino’s face.

Naruto invites Shino to sit with him as well to disguise their intentions.

He accepts, but seems a little on edge with all the noise, curling in on himself a little whenever Ino or Kiba or Naruto go a little loud in the volume department.

It’s not his fault; some people just don’t do as well with noisy gatherings like this.

Hinata’s perked up a lot though, so there’s that.

She tries to follow Ino’s efforts to make Hinata feel included, but her mind keeps going back to the headline picture.

She knows about him vaguely. She used to participate in many arguments by claiming that Roronoa Zoro would definitely kick his pasty little arse seven ways to Sunday, magic eye or no.

There were enough pictures and videos of him and Naruto fighting online that she knew they were enemies, even if she didn’t know the whys or hows.

She knows his brother killed his clan, and the flame wars over whether this was justified would always take over the thread.

Sitting here with under half the class gone, dark-haired kids whose names she should’ve made more effort to remember, it sure as hell doesn’t feel like it. But she digresses.

The image of the little lost boy staring at the camera like he can’t understand what’s happening to him returns to haunt her. Naruto used to look like that, when he went home covered in rotted produce and belly growling.

Sanji preserve her, but she’s a sap.

“Will the Uchiha go hungry now?” She asks herself, pushing a grain of rice around.

There’s a silence.

When she looks up, the rest of the table is staring at her. Some inquisitive, some suddenly calculating, one despairing.

Naruto groans, startlingly loud. “I’m not sharing my lunch with him, believe it. You can make him food, but I’m not gonna sit with him.”

“I don’t want to either.” She says honestly, and bites into her red bean bun as those around her stare in bemusement.

Naruto suddenly grins, bright and vicious. “You’re so weird, Mayu-chan.” He crows, biting into his own bun.

She shrugs. Well, he’s not wrong.

[skrrt-skrrt-cp]

how to know a pasta enjoys your company/likes you (platonic or crush works!)?

I’ll do crush, just for the fluff since people really like to see these killers as lovable sometimes! I don’t blame ‘em tbh

(Also holy hhhhhecc I went to a different app and tumblr decided to get rid of my writing when I had three pastas done smh)

——————

Slenderman- slendy would totally be more open to you than the other pastas. He’d share his issues, and encourage you to share your own with him. He’d most definitely enjoy your company around the woods, or mansion, and would make sure you’re always comfortable in his presence.

Zalgo- this is a Yikes. He would try his best not to get so angry at you, and would give you small little pet names such as ‘princess’ or ‘darling’. Zalgo would also change his physical appearance in front of you, because he would honestly get a bit self conscious being around you in his normal demon form, yet, he might slowly learn that your accepting of his appearance no matter what and would actually get mad at you for being so friendly towards him.

Jeff- he wouldn’t be as harsh and rude to you..maybe. He might tone it down a bit, Jeff’s just a lovable asshole. He’d use to vent and strongly encourge you to wear his hoodie, even if you aren’t cold (Jesus Christ man), mainly because he’d like how it looks on you. Jeff would also go out of his way to threaten and/or hurt anyone who messes with you.

Jane- Jane would feel more comfortable around you and show you her true appearance without her mask or black wig, as she trusts you’ll still be kind and supportive. Finding out you are alright with her true appearance, whenever you and Jane have your private little hangout times she’ll show her true self to you, maybe even explain her past to you about Jeff.

Nina- when you first started out as friends she would not. shut. up. about. Jeff. Yeah she’s that type of person, yet you tolerated that and got use to her fantasizing. After a while of you two knowing each other, and Nina developing feelings towards you, she’d probably get more quiet around you, and a bit more awkward in your presence as she’s nervous around you. Jeff is already annoyed by her, so she doesn’t want to mess up with you.

Dr. Smiley- he’d go out of his way to make sure you’re always in good health, mentally and physically, and would always scold you if you injured yourself. As his lover interesting, his main goal is to make sure you’re always safe and out of harms way, as well as him regularly sharing details about his most recent ‘operations’ as he believes you’ll be comfortable with it. Let’s hope you’re ready to hear every detail.

Bloody Painter- if you even managed to get Helen to trust you in the first place you get a cookie, he’s always so closed off. His main signs will be preferring to be around you a lot, brushing his hand against yours, asking to draw you, getting a bit flustered whenever you laugh or smile, and just staring at you (not in the creepy way). He may even crack a smile near you and would probably share about his childhood.

Kagekao- honestly this guy is so open he’ll straight up drop the most obvious signs. He’ll flirt with you, play with your hair, be really touchy..you get the gist. He’s very affectionate with you after developing his crush, hell he might even following you around a bit and if you ever manage to spot him he always manages to find an excuse. Not saying it’s a good one, but it’s an excuse.

Zero- panda child? This’ll be fun. Zero, like Kagekao, will be a bit open with her feelings, but not as obvious like the wine demon. She would probably do small little things like hold your hand, ask you how your day was, and if you’re ever sad she will go out her way to hold you close and comfort you the best she can. She is a bit good with emotions, as she remembered how sad Alice would get, so she has some experience with that and would cheer you up.

Nathan- he would try his best to act sane in front of you, maybe even block out his sister’s homicidal thoughts whenever you two are around each other. Nathan would give you small gifts such as necklaces or bracelets, and, like Helen, get a bit of a red face whenever he sees your shining smile. After what happened to his sister, seeing how close they were, he would do his best to keep you out of harm and make sure you’re always safe by sending you texts about how you’re doing. If you don’t answer in about- probably five minutes- he’ll start getting worried and try to call you.

Clockwork- she’d try to deny her feelings at first, seeing as her last relationship went with her boyfriend. After finally accepting she had romantic feelings towards you, her main question to you would always be ‘you like my drawings, right? You don’t find them creepy??’ Clock would also offer to draw you some pictures that aren’t always so gore filled if you don’t like that. Your comfort and thoughts are most important to her.

Pup- poetry, songs, he’s probably the most romantic out of them all. He would always like being around you, and from his past relationship with Emra, he’d always ask you if you’ll leave him. You aren’t dating, correct, but the paranoia still gets to him that he might lose the love of his life again. He’d always second guess his word choice to you to you and keep in mind what would make you uncomfortable.

EJ- Jack would try to drop his cannabalistic acts in front of you and would always keep your comfort in his mind. He might be a bit touchy, like holding your hand, playing with your hair, or just wrapping his arms around you and simply play it off as ‘he’s just cold’. Honestly he doesn’t get cold, at all, but it’s a good excuse to hold you in his arms. He might even unmask himself in your presence as he’s confident you won’t judge his appearance.

Judge Angels- She was already sweet with you when you first started being friends, but as she developed feelings, her actions changed. Dina would often fiddle with her hands, space out a bit, and awkwardly laugh at any questions you have about her behavior. As time goes on she may get a bit more comfortable about your presence and may even give you hugs at random times and just brush it off as she needed a hug.

Jason- being as creative as he is, Jason would probably make small little toys or stuffed animals for you, and would ask for your assistance. He would try to get more used to your hobbies, and might even try them just so he can get to know you even more than he already does. As his hair is long, he might even let you play with it as you please, it’s honestly soothing to him whenever he needs to relax.

Ben: if you’re playing video games with him, he just might let you win on purpose because he loves how excited you get when you beat him, buuuut he would also be willing to kick your ass since your pouty face is also down right adorable. He’d also do the cheesiest thing ever like moving his bed in Minecraft next to yours and probably do some hacks to get your Minecraft dog back from the dead. Smh we gotta love him 😔👊

The Rake- Rake would spend as much time with you as possible whenever you enter the woods. It’s like he can sense you. Whenever you set foot in the forest he always comes running over to you and just sits their, enjoying your company in silence as he doesn’t much prefer to talk. He might get a slight bit physical by resting his head on your arm or shoulder and will just listen to you speak, he may even fall asleep by hearing your soothing voice.

Toby- tobers would constantly be by your side and chatting with you, as he loves to hear your talk and see you light up with excitement whenever you discuss a topic of interest with him. He would try his best to control his tics and stutters, though it wouldn’t work and he’d clearly get frustrated, and embarrassed whenever he would stutter or twitch in front of you. His favorite thing to do with you as you are the love of his life would be to take strolls through parks or in the forest, as walks are always a nice way for him to clear his head and he loves the comfortable silence between you and him.

Rouge- she’d be very reluctant with her first feelings towards you, as her last relationship with her fiancé ended up with him dying. She doesn’t want her significant other leaving her like that again, so she may avoid you for some time. After finally getting some guts and accepting her feelings, she might give it a go with being around you would drop a few hints such as asking you if you want to star gaze, if there’s anything hurting or bothering you, and she’d even offer up her jacket to you if you get cold.

Kate- with how kate is, she’d deny every bit of love she feels. She may even act a bit rude towards you at first. After a week or so, she’d realize her mistakes and get really clingy with you and would just repeatedly apologize by just saying sorry, or she may get you a few gifts. It won’t take her long to finally confess her feelings to you though, as she hates just being near your presence, unable to hold you and have you not question it. (She tried it once and was awkward about making an excuse. It was a terrible one.)

Marble Hornets

Right off the bat, all four of them would avoid you because they don’t want you to get exposed to slender or get tangled in the mess.

Brian- Yes he’d be pushing you away a bit, but that wouldn’t stop him from expressing how he feels. He might send you cute little text messages or call you to check up on you. Rarely, he will stop by and visit, take you out for dinner, and maybe drop a few flirts. It’s hard for him though, as your safety is everything.

Tim- he wouldn’t spend his entire time avoiding you, though he would take caution with you. Like Brian, you’re important to him. Tim and you would probably go out for drives every so often, just to relax and escape reality for a bit, and to chat. He might even bring his ukulele along so he can play some music if you both decide to share no words at all. He might even try to teach you a bit and if you struggle, he’d just find it adorable at how hard you’re trying to learn.

Jay- he’d be the most distant of them all. And after several texts and phone calls to him, trying to find out what was wrong, he eventually just opened up about everything in his life, which he’s glad you‘re supportive and try to help. He might spend the night with you once he finally decides to make contact with you (for cuddles, or so he feels a bit more safer), he’ll go for walks around the park, and might get a bit nervous near you as he’s scared he’ll screw up with some speech or something. He might even let you wear his hat, or jacket if you ask. He’d honestly have a difficult time saying no to you. As your happiness gives him hope in the world.

Alex- he’d have more patiences with you, and might actually be more comfortable with having you close to him after a few days of completely avoiding you. Alex would show you how his camera works, and might even let you record somethings on it. He’d often give you small compliments like how amazing you are, and how sweet you act towards him, and will also get defensive to people if they give you weird looks and such.

[calligraphist-artemisia]

I’ll Take Her Place (Chapter 23)

Summary: AU. When Allura breaks the news that she is to wed Prince Lotor in order to continue the peaceful relationship between Altea and Daibazaal, Pidge knows that she has to do something to change that. And so, with a little help, she comes up with a new plan. A better plan.

Also posted on AO3 and fanfiction.net (under the username “kishirokitsune”)

Chapter 23

Keithir did everything he could think of to try and find Katie so they could talk; so he could finally tell her the truth about his lineage and apologize for hiding it for so long. He should have told her the truth from the start, just as Shiro, Thace, and Ulaz all repeatedly encouraged him to do.

He'd messed up everything and he doubted there was any way to fix it, but that wasn't going to stop him from trying.

The first day he brushed off her absence as the Castle of Lions preparing for takeoff. Everyone was busy running around, excited for the journey to Earth, so it was natural that Katie was swept up in that as well. He and the rest of the Blade of Marmora were also busy, contacting outposts along their flight path and ensuring that the right members were up-to-date on what was happening, as well as working with working with the Altean security team to determine what the weakest points of the Castle of Lions were while they were in flight.

The next day was “liftoff day”, as they set off for Earth. The Castle emptied of all personnel who didn't wish to make the journey, which should have made it easier to bump into her, but again, no Katie. He grasped at the reasoning that she was spending time with her family.

On the third day he did everything he could to try and find her, hanging around near her hangar, her rooms, and (briefly) the training floor. Keithir even went out of his way to pop by Hunk's kitchen during a time he knew they normally shared dinner.

No Katie.

He did, however, find Shiro, who asked if anything was wrong. Keithir made a half-hearted excuse and fled back to his room, not wanting to admit to the man just how badly he messed up. Shiro had trusted him to tell her the truth on his own and he failed to do that.

He knew it was (yet another) mistake, but once he got tired of moping around in his room, he took to wandering the halls as “Keith”. As he walked, he recited what he would say to Katie once he found her, repeating the words over and over again in his head.

Keith heard footsteps before he saw a figure in green spring across the hall in front of him. “Katie?” he asked, too quietly for her to hear even if she was paying attention. He ran forward to try and confirm that it was Katie who he saw and not one of the few Alteans who remained on the Castle, and by the time he rounded the corner, the figure was slowing to turn down the next hall.

His heart leaped in his chest. It was Katie!

Keith hurried along, desperate to reach her before she could once again slip away. His footsteps were light, almost silent, enabling him to reach her without her knowing he was there up until his hand closed around her wrist. “Katie!”

She flinched, jerking her hand from his grip as she spun and backed away, her expression morphing from fear to anger. “I don't want to talk to you,” she hissed.

“Katie, I'm-!”

“No,” Katie cut him off and turned her back to him. “I don't have time for this. Go back and tell the rest of the Blade that Lotor is here. I'm going ahead to check out his ship, but everyone else needs to be warned.”

Keith's blood turned to ice at the mention of Lotor's name and hearing Katie's plan made him even colder. “You can't go alone,” he said, ready to follow her no matter what. The fact that Lotor had managed to sneak on board was concerning, but someone would soon discover his presence, if the Castle's sensors hadn't already informed them.

Keeping Katie safe was more important.

“I don't have time for this!”

“Katie,” Keith said, stubbornly grabbing her hand again and holding tight. “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. You have every right to be mad. You have every right to demand I never speak to you again. But please, don't go onto Lotor's ship alone. It's too dangerous for anyone. If not me, then at least wait and find someone else to go with you.”

Katie looked at their joined hands and then slowly back at him, her fury rising so swiftly that he thought she'd insist on going alone regardless of his concerns. But then she closed her eyes and breathed out, trying to get her temper under control.

“Fine,” she agreed through gritted teeth. “But don't touch me.”

Keith released her hand and stepped back, obediently giving her space. “I promise I won't. Thank you, Katie.”

She didn't say another word as she led the way down the hall, taking a left at the next turn. Not once did she look back to make sure he was following her.

Keith tried not to let it hurt too much. He kept his distance, close enough to help if there was trouble, but far enough for her to be comfortable. She could hate him all she wanted, but he refused to let Lotor cause her any more harm.

“I can't believe we're really going home,” Lance said as he laid in the bed he shared with Hunk. He listened to his boyfriend putter around the room, putting things away before finally joining him for cuddles.

Lance loved lazy pajama days.

“Everyone's going to be so surprised. I can't wait to see mom and dad. And I'll finally be able to thank your sister for giving them my messages!” Hunk said.

“Ugh, yeah. I totally owe Veronica for that. Do you think I should bring her something shiny?” Lance asked.

“Nah, we can do better than that,” Hunk shifted his arm so he could pull Lance closer. “What if... What if I make a big feast for our families? Nothing brings people together better than good food, after all! I could make everyone's favorites!”

“Garlic knots?” Lance asked hopefully.

Hunk chuckled and kissed Lance's cheek. “It's at the top of my list, babe.”

Lance basked in the affection, enjoying every second hat they were able to cuddle in bed with no interruptions and no worries. In a few hours, they would be so busy that it was unlikely they would have a moment alone and he intended to take full advantage of the free time they had on the journey home.

“Can I help cook?”

“Nothing would make me happier,” Hunk replied.

A beeping sound prevented their conversation from going any further and Lance groaned in disappointment.

So much for lazy pajama day.

Hunk sighed as he tried to stretch his hand over to the bedside table without making Lance get up. “Allura wouldn't call us if it wasn't important. Hey, um, babe? Could you...?”

Grumbling under his breath, Lance left the comfort of Hunk's arms to fetch his phone and find out what was so important. He settled back once he had it in his hands, and turned it so Hunk could also see the screen.

Lotor is on board. Be on high alert.

“Quiznak,” Lance swore and hit the call button, barely able to hold back his flow of words until it connected. “Allura, what's going on? Why's Lotor on the Castle?”

“Better question, how did he get on board?” Hunk spoke up.

Allura's tired face flickered on screen and it took her a moment to answer. “I'm afraid I don't know the answer to either of your questions. We believe he docked immediately after Blaytz left in his ship, taking advantage of the open door and our lessened security. Kolivan has been informed and has stationed a guard outside of the room Lotor is using, so he shouldn't be a problem.”

“Not a problem?” Lance repeated. “Since when is he not a problem?!”

“Lance, calm down.” The screen shifted as Shiro turned the camera towards himself instead. “We don't like this either, but yelling about it won't solve any problems. Have either of you heard from Pidge? I've been trying to contact her, but she's not answering.”

Hunk and Lance exchanged worried glances.

“Well, no. Not recently. The last time I saw her was breakfast,” Hunk said slowly. “Maybe she's down in her hangar, working on Rover some more? You know how she gets when she's focused on something. I could go look, if you want.”

“We've already checked,” Shiro said.

“That's not all,” Allura said as she moved in close to Shiro so she would also be in frame. “Kolivan reports that Keithir is missing as well. Apparently he snuck out.”

“Then they must be together,” Hunk said, trying to stay optimistic. Lotor had been on board for so little time! It wasn't possible that he'd done something to them, especially when it would be so obvious that he was to blame!

Right?

“Just stay alert. We don't know why Lotor is here or what he wants. Shiro and I will keep looking for Pidge and Keithir, but having everyone search for them right now will draw unwanted attention,” Allura said.

Lance frowned. “What about her tracking beacon? I mean, unless Pidge hacked into it to cover her tracks because she doesn't want to be found. Again.”

“That's our next step,” Shiro assured him. “We'll keep you both updated. Hopefully we're worrying for nothing, but we can't be too careful.”

Hunk and Lance wished them good luck and ended the call. They tried to salvage what they could of their lazy pajama day, but it was no use when neither of them could sit still and enjoy it.

Lance was the first to roll out of bed and begin changing into clothing more appropriate for walking around the Castle. “I know Shiro said not to go looking, but maybe she's with her family.”

“It's possible,” Hunk agreed.

At least it was something to do, rather than sitting idly by and going crazy imagining horrible scenarios. Like, what if Pidge had been kidnapped? Or was shot out of one of the airlocks? What if (and Hunk felt awful just for thinking it) Lotor and Keithir had been working together the whole time?

Yeah, helping with the search, even if it meant going against Allura's instructions, sounded like the best option.

Katie swore as the cockpit came to life with an audible hum the moment they stepped inside. She rushed to the controls, forgetting that the majority of Galra ships only responded to those with Galra blood, and Lotor's ship was likely to be the same. Predictably, no matter what she tried, nothing happened.

Keith was right there with her a moment later, but although his attempts were recognized by the system, they went ignored as the ship lifted off and shot free of the still-open dock door. He frowned, trying every trick he knew to get the ship to stop, but an outside force overrode everything he did. He glanced at Katie to see if she was having any luck, in time to see her remove a chip from the emergency beacon around her wrist and plug it into the console.

“Well now,” a voice purred through the speakers, causing Keith and Katie to step back in alarm. Above them, the image of Lotor smugly smirked down at them. “I will admit, I had doubts as to whether or not you would both walk into such as obvious trap, but, well, you two do have a history of doing exactly that.”

“You won't get away with this, Lotor,” Katie spat. “We will find a way out of this.”

Lotor looked amused by her confidence. “Perhaps you would if you had any of your little friends around. I doubt they'll notice that either of you are gone until it's too late. And if you think you'll be able to hack your way out of this problem, paladin, you are mistaken. This encryption is the same as the one controlling the bomb where I was keeping your family. Your father couldn't outwit it and neither will you.”

Katie was never one to back down from a challenge in her skill set, no matter how impossible it seemed. Before she could stubbornly move closer to the console for another try, Keith reached out and grasped her shoulder, holding her in place.

“Why are you doing this? You know everyone will suspect your involvement, so what do you have to gain from this?” he demanded.

“At last I will be rid of the biggest obstacles to my plans. After this, there will be no hope of ever forming Voltron. There will be nothing in the universe that can stop me. It hardly matters that your precious paladins and Blade of Marmora will blame me for your disappearance. Their word means nothing if they don't have proof, but you were already well aware of that fact, weren't you, little brother?”

Fire raged in Keith's veins following Lotor's words.

How dare he!

“Brother?” Katie repeated in confusion. She turned to Keith, her brow furrowed.

“My, my, you mean you didn't know?” Lotor feigned surprise. “How unfortunate that you had to find out in such a way. If only your betrothed had been more honest with you.” He smirked, enjoying the opportunity to drive a wedge between them, and didn't give them any time to try and recover. “Such a pity that you don't have much time left. I would love to hear my brother's explanation for this, but I daresay you'll be spending that time to, ah... 'find a way out of this', as you said.”

Keith wanted nothing more than to ignore Lotor in favor of looking at Katie to see her reaction, and, more importantly, giving her the explanation she deserved, but the more Lotor talked, the more he gave away. If they were going to survive, he had to keep his brother talking for as long as possible.

“What do you mean, we don't have much time left? What have you done, Lotor?”

“Simply killing you would be too easy. After all of the headaches you've caused me, you deserve to suffer before you perish. My ship will travel to the nearest star, where it will go into orbit and slowly be pulled in by it's gravitational field. What will kill you first, I wonder? Will it be the failure of the onboard life support? Perhaps the radiation and heat shields will be the first to fail. I wish I could stay to see it happen, but alas, this is only one part of a much bigger plan.”

“Lotor, wait!”

The feed cut out, giving them no further opportunities to question him. It was just Keith and Katie and Lotor's ship, on a collision course with a star and no way to correct their course.

“He called you brother,” Katie said after a moment.

Keith took a deep breath. “Yes.”

There was a pause as Katie stared at him, her gaze hard and unreadable. Keith could only imagine the fury she felt at being lied to for so long, made worse by the fact that it was Lotor who revealed the truth.

“Were you planning on telling me?” she asked.

“Yes,” Keith said without hesitation. “There were so many times I wanted to tell you, but then we were interrupted. Or because... because I was too afraid. And then I messed up my last chance to tell you what I should have told you from the start: I am Prince Keithir.”

“I see.” Katie's throat felt tight as she forced herself to speak.

She wanted to scream. To break down and cry.

How had everything gone so wrong, so fast?

Katie breathed in and out, struggling to get her emotions under control. She needed to focus on the most pressing matter first: getting off of Lotor's ship. Anything else could be dealt with later.

She could feel Keith's – no, Keithir's – eyes on her as she stepped forward and unplugged her chip from the console, replacing it in her tracking bracelet. She checked the crystal underneath and, as she suspected, it was no longer glowing. Lotor must have found a way to completely cut off any outside contact.

Still, her bracelet wasn't completely useless. She passed her hand over the top of it, activating a small, holographic display. Using the data she collected while Lotor was talking, she pulled up a map of the ship, and carefully studied the layout.

Where was the best place to start?

Perhaps the engine room. If she couldn't change course from the cockpit, maybe she could stop the ship from moving at all instead. He'd likely prepared for that too, but she still needed to check. There were also the airlocks and places where escape pods were meant to be docked, though they would need the proper gear before ejecting themselves into space.

“I wonder what he's keeping in the cargo hold,” Keith mused.

Katie's gaze slid to what he was looking at, noting that it'd been put into lockdown. What reason would Lotor have for trying to shut them out of there, unless he was hiding something that would be useful? She'd have to be smart about it. It could take hours for her to hack into it with the equipment she had on hand and those were hours they likely didn't have.

Though maybe there was another way.

“How do you feel about crawling through the ventilation?” she asked.

[jessadamsdraws]

A 2D Bendy story that I am excited to share.

Chapter one: Loose memories

 Dear Henry,

It seems like a lifetime since we worked on cartoons together. 30 years really slips away. Doesn’t it. If you’re back in town. Come visit the old workshop. There’s something I need to show you. Your best pal

-Joey Drew.

Henry couldn’t help but laugh at what he was reading. ‘Best pal’? Ha! What a joke. Last he saw from that bastard was a letter opener to the back and a dream that they had once shared die. The worst part was he couldn’t even get the actual time they had spent together at the studio right. He signed and crumpled the small letter into a ball a cucked it at the bin.

“Who was that from?”

Henry looked up and his eyes met a small girl. She was doing her homework on the small kitchen table while he was working on some paperwork as well as, reading the mail. That girl was his best friends’ daughter that he met during the war. Henry could remember the day they met very vividly.

He wasn’t really a solider more like a bodyguard if anything. I would stand guard and make sure that the enemy wouldn’t hurt any of the doctors or the already wounded soldiers. He would also be one of the front-runners to help any soldiers that got injured as well. So, he was on duty guarding the tent, listening to the bombs and gun shot’s in the distance, even though they were far away it didn’t make him feel any better if they were closer. Suddenly he heard the voice calling that there was an injured man and he ran to help and saw him laying there. He picked him up and cared him to the tent. After that, they started to talk, and the rest was history.

After the war, he married his sweetheart and had a girl. Henry then became the godfather of that girl. But, unfortunately, he soon had to use his title. For him and his wife got into a fight and it ended in blood. His friend laid to rest and his wife put away for the rest of her life leaving her in his care at too small of a young age.

“Huh, it’s nothing. Just an old … “co-worker” from my old job, Jenna.” Henry said waving it off and picking up another letter cutting it open.

“From when you were an animator!?”

Henry couldn’t help but smile. Jenna was so fascinated with the time he was an animator that sometimes he thinks that she’s truly his kid. In fact, she found one of his old sketchbooks in the attic filled with the characters from the cartoon ‘Bendy the dancing demon and friends’. She started to draw them by looking at the sketch and tried to copy them, much to Henry dislike. He didn’t disprove of her wanting to learn how to draw, hell. He himself works part-time as a sketch artist for the police from time to time. It was just the characters that she always drew. They just held a bad taste in his mouth that he just couldn’t swallow.

“Yes, now focus on your homework.” Henry said trying to change the subject of ‘that’ place.

“Come on, I’m almost done but, what did it say?” Jenna said as she climbed higher on the chair, using her knees to make her a little taller but, not by much.

Henry knew her too well to know that she wasn’t going to drop the conversation.

“He wanted me to go back to the studio. Said he wants to show me something.”

“Well, are you going to go?”

“No, it's all the way on the other side of the city at least a ten-hour drive. Besides I have to look after you, you munchkin.” He said ruffling her hair causing her to shrink back into the chair. She made a squeaking noise of disapproval but was laughing at the same time which Henry couldn’t help finding adorable.

“You can call Tami or Aunty June. They could look after me.”

“No, June lives five hours in the opposite direction and Tami is too busy with her new store.”

Jenna smiled looking at Henry.

“But, you are considering to though.”

Henry saw what she did. He let out a sigh and rubbed his full face.

“Maybe… Tami can look after you. Only if you promise me that you help her out in the store on the weekends. Deal?”

“Deal!”

“Good… Now finish your homework and wash up and bed.”

“Yes, Henry.”

Henry opened his eye and saw he was back the studio. He looked up and saw the giant hole that he fell through.

“… Jenna, I’m sorry. I don’t think I’ll be back by next week.” Henry said getting up.

Why did he have to come here? What did he really think would happen?

Yeah, a huge monster coming out of a machine that activates by objects all he found, wasn’t really what he had in mind for today.

“I have to find a way out of here.”

Henry got up and looked around the room that he was in. It was small and just as run down like what he saw from when he entered the studio moments ago. There was a small work table with an ax and a toolbox. It also had a bunch of papers that were blank. He recognized the table almost instantly.

“Woah, this is Wally’s work desk. Man, it's still standing?” Henry said to himself in amazement.  Him and Wally really didn’t know each other that well. In fact, he would rarely see him in the studio half the time. He would only he see him in the break room or if he would see him walking down the hall to fix one of the plumbing values. He would always complain about how Joey always asked him to fix this and that or how Joey would yell at him for trying to clean his office. That one day he would be ‘outta here’ and guessing from the tape recording he found earlier he was still here even after he left. Because he sure as hell wasn’t here when that machine was added to the studio.

He grabbed the ax and hacked the wood board that was nailed to the door and opened it. Inside he was met with a flooded room of nothing but thick ink. Henry begrudgingly walked down the steps and into the cold liquid. Being about five foot, the ink covered about three-fourths of his body. He saw a pressure value on the other side of the room. Having no other choose seeing he was already in the inky muck anyway. He turned the wheel on the pipe and just as he hoped all the ink drained out of the room.

Now being able to walk around more effectively he talks a look around the room. There wasn’t much of worth in terms of resources however, there was something that caught his attention that made his whole body go numb. On the far wall was an inky message just like the other one he saw earlier. But, this one. This one just didn’t sit right with him.

‘The creator lied to us’

“Oh Joey, what were you doing?” Henry said to himself. He couldn’t move or pull his eyes away from the message. What final snapped him out of it was a sudden noise coming from the door behind him. It almost sounded like tapping.

Was someone tap dancing down here?

He opened the door and found a bunch of boards in his way through the board he could make out a light source coming from another room off to the side. He started to hack his way through the many boards. Finally making his way to the room.

Inside was a bunch of coffins and a symbol on the floor.

“Henry?! Is that really you?”

Henry spun around, looking in all directions around him. Funny enough the voice sounded almost like Bendy. Why was Joey talking in his Bendy voice?

“Joey? Is that you?” Henry called out looking for Joey.

“No silly, it's me ya favorite buddy…”

Henry finally saw it but, he wasn’t sure if he believed it yet. There on the wall stood a five-inch ink drawing of Bendy. But, that wasn’t the crazy part no, the crazy part was the drawing was moving and talking to him.

“Bendy?” Henry asked to confirm that he wasn’t going crazy.

“That’s me.” He said back to him.

Henry couldn’t believe this. His own cartoon talking to him and moving around like he was fully animated right in front of him. He stepped back in disbelief, stepping right on top of the symbol in the middle of the room. Suddenly Henry felt a shot of pain. Images flashed in his head repeatedly, till his body couldn’t take it anymore. He passed out onto the ground.

I really want to write more so please support me and ask if you want more

[functioningcog]

Hitting the bail button

  "Commercial television delivers 20 million people a minute. In commercial broadcasting the viewer pays for the privilege of having himself sold. It is the consumer who is consumed. You are the product of TV. You are delivered to the advertiser who is the customer. He consumes you. The viewer is not responsible for programming - You are the end product."(Serra and Fay, 1973)

  If it was true of television, it's even more true in the interactive and widespread media platforms of today. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Their brands are omnipresent. You are not their consumer. You are their product, and your data is offered and sold to the highest bidder. I have known this for sometime, but the mountain of reasons not to participate has finally tipped me over the edge. I am deleting Facebook. This doesn't make me better than anyone else, nor am I hear to preach. I just thought I'd share with you my reasons. Do with it what you will. First, a look into the past. Both mine, and ours.

  In the fast food documentary "Super Size Me", one of the participants tells an anecdotal tale about cigarette companies of the past. Long before it became socially taboo to smoke, advertising for cigarettes was as commonplace, though maybe not as entertaining, as many ads we see today. Big Tobacco went further though; they advertised directly to children. Children far below legal smoking age were given toy cigarettes. It's hard today to see this as innocuous, but I imagine at the time most people had far bigger things to worry about. Well, those little innocuous toy cigarettes often had name brands on them. The tobacco companies were practicing "brand imprinting" on children as young as toddlers. They would pretend to smoke with their parents, and later on when they were old enough to smoke, they would unconsciously reach for the name brand they were familiar with. The sinister side of marketing, hard at work. It has not changed or improved in the years since.

  Once when I was a kid, my father sat me down to have a talk. I wasn't in trouble; just being educated. The topic was Pokémon. The adorable, ubiquitous, trademarked pocket monsters that have dominated their corner of popular media for just about the same amount of time as I have been alive. They exist in many forms, and have evolved with the times. Videogames, toys both stuffed and model-like, card games, TV shows and films, all ad infinitum. My dad told me about the addictive nature of the games; how it's designed to grab hold of your attention, and your pocket book, and never let go. I don't remember his exact words, but the message has never left me. "Pokémon is addictive. I'm not going to buy you addictive things". 

  Not only is Pokémon addictive, but my father also stressed the fact that it creates a never-ending cycle for itself. There will always be new games, new cards, etc. Many medias that we enjoy have a planned ending to them. Movies, books, most TV shows, etc. They conclude and we move on to something else. We now live in an age where some of the most pervasive means of entertainment do not end. There is no logical stopping point. You can look at memes and posts and photos as long as your heart desires. 

  Note on Pokémon: I don't think the brand itself is evil. I have played the games in recent years and enjoy them. The lesson my dad taught me about addictions and marketing just happened to feature them. I wish I could say I have continued to avoid addictive habits and tech as an adult, but the battle is a lifelong one. Other addictions, mostly minor, have come and gone. It is the most pervasive and major one that brings me here; "Facebook"

  Before I dive more into my own experience with Facebook, I'd like to share with you several of the most important influences that led me here today. The first is a fictional short story told via the anthology series "Black Mirror"; a favorite show of mine. The other two are documentaries, one from last summer and one newly released.

   If you are unfamiliar with the show Black Mirror, it is an anthology series that explores the ethics and future of technology in our world through short self-contained stories. I highly recommend it. The Season 3 episode "Nosedive" follows a young woman in a world in which social standing is determined by internet interactions. People like and rate each other based on every interaction throughout their day. On your best behavior? You get some points. Accidentally snap at someone or make an off-color joke? You lose some points. Those points determine what events you attend, what cars you drive in, what jobs you can do, etc. It's not hard to extrapolate from there how our society is already well on its way to this kind of a system. The more addicted to social media we are, the more our lives revolve around the attention we get there. Likes and comments dominate our daily mood; they certainly have mine for years. It made me uncomfortable to realize how much my emotions could be controlled by digital reactions, or lack thereof. As "Nosedive" faded to black, I immediately pulled up my Facebook feed and then froze in place for a minute. "This is it. I'm looking at it". A sobering realization, yet I didn't stop my usage. The addiction continued, but no longer felt wholly innocent.  By the by, this technology now exists in China. Look it up.

   "The Great Hack" tells the story of a British Company called Cambridge Analytica, and how it developed it's technology to a point which the British government labeled "weapons grade communication". Analytica had contracts with a number of internet companies and groups to collect data on their users and used this data to develop tools, ads and propaganda designed to affect their target audience in highly specific ways. With the knowledge freely and unwittingly offered up by social media users, the degree to which you can predict and direct the users behavior and actions is truly disturbing. It's just human psychology and sociology combined with the newest tech. Cambridge Analytica used this data to influence elections in a number of countries around the globe, most notably the U.S. 2016 and the Brexit campaign in the U.K. They were hired first by Ted Cruz, then by Donald Trump's campaign. At the peak of the election season their American home base was being funded to the tune of over a million dollars a day and by it's end they had created and shared literally millions of targeted ads on social media. Were the ads truthful or reliable? Didn't matter. They were targeted at people most likely to shift their opinion based on the right information. And it worked. I wouldn't say that they single-handedly won the election for Trump, but they played a major part. 

  Cambridge Analytica was later shut down, but the cat’s out of the bag. I would expect to see both sides playing by these new rules throughout 2020. And that's all without even mentioning Russian hackers and bots, which Cambridge Analytica had nothing to do with. This documentary disturbed me. My own internal arguments and justifications in favor of Facebook were wearing thin. I began attempting to limit my usage, and calling out unreliable news posts when I saw them. But I also kept logging on daily. Repeatedly. My awareness of my addiction was growing more acute. I noticed my own behavior and reactions to the site more than before. The camels back was just a couple straws away from breaking point.

  “Screened Out” focuses primarily on the how and why of social medias effects on us as people. The aforementioned psychology of what's happening. Turns out, it was always intended to addict us and keep us coming back for more. It's inherent in the design. Like gambling, like cocaine, our seemingly innocent social media is triggering dopamine reactions in our brain. Every like, every reaction, every notification is designed to draw your attention and satisfy the itch the system itself gave you. It was crafted this way knowingly and intentionally. The most widespread addiction in our modern world is available for all ages and free to top it off. Just like those toy cigarettes I mentioned earlier, the tech companies and marketing developers know quite well that children are more unsuspecting and susceptible to addictive behaviors and media. My childhood was predominantly internet free, and for that I am thankful; my addiction developed as an adult. But many children of today have all the access they want to social media and it's hard to argue it’s a good thing. They are becoming reliant on and obsessed with their image and perception before they even know who they are. Their addiction has drawn many of them into depression, or even suicide. Is being "connected" really worth it at this price?

  One of the most common and persistent things I've told myself: "It's a way to stay in touch with family and friends".  Yes, it certainly is. When the site was created, that goal was much more front and center and easier to enjoy. It's an admirable goal too, and if it works for you I'm happy for you. From where I'm sitting, Facebook's use for that well-meaning purpose has taken a backseat to what dominates its feed. As I scroll through multiple times a day, 80-90% of what I see is ads for things I don't need, news that I usually could do without or that is outright false, memes I could find elsewhere and people arguing and debating topics that are better discussed in person or not at all. This is what Facebook is for me now. That once enticing prospect of glimpsing the lives of my friends and family surfaces from time to time, and it's still enjoyable. Unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good these days. Again, if your experience is better than mine, please enjoy it and I'm happy for you.    Aside from "Screened Out", the last piece of this decision was caused by nature; not human, but microscopic. I already knew about how fake news is created and spread via Facebook and Twitter. Donald Trump showed us just how incredibly effective it is and more evidence is not really necessary. Enter COVID-19. A global pandemic that should unite people of all beliefs in a common goal of defending ourselves from an enemy that has no morals or code. An enemy that has no mind or plan of its own. It simply spreads. 

  What did social media do in the face of this crises? Everything negative and nefarious about it kicked into high gear and was on full display. False narratives and conspiracies that actually endanger lives in the immediate future spread like wildfire. People arguing about data and statistics that effect us all and are utterly bipartisan. Guys, this is not ok. I do not think it an exaggeration to say that social media is precipitating a partial or total collapse of society. Something must be done to fix it, and I don't know what that something is. But I'm bowing out. This is not a system that can be fixed from the inside. Picture a casino sponsoring a gambling addicts rehab right next to the slot machines. You'd be better served just not going.   As I said at the beginning, I don't want to sound preachy. My goal here was to share my decision making process and some information sources that you might appreciate. Maybe you're better at tuning out the bad side of social media than I am. Maybe you have ways by which you limit your exposure to it. I personally have addictive tendencies, and this is my way of addressing one of my longest and most insidious habits. And yes, I know that tumblr is technically another social media platform. My current intention is to use it as an outlet for my writing.

  If you read all that, hi-five. Maybe being off Facebook will lead me to write more on my blog. I wish you all well and look forward to talking to you on other platforms or in person. Peace  - JCP

[chocolate-brownies]

Imagine the following scenario: Your eight-year-old son is repeatedly poked with a pencil by his classmate at school. How does he respond?

He might endure the pokes without complaint by using willpower, or he might stay silent, succumbing to feelings of fear or powerlessness. He could lose his self-control and act out, attacking his classmate verbally or poking him back. Or does your son “self-regulate” by considering his options and resources, taking stock of his feelings and strengths, reflecting on past experience, and responding deliberately?

Self-regulation may sound like a tall order—but it’s also the best choice, according to Erin Clabough, a neuroscientist, mother of four, and author of the book Second Nature: How Parents Can Use Neuroscience to Help Kids Develop Empathy, Creativity, and Self-Control. Self-regulation is a skill that we need whenever we want to make a good choice or work toward a goal, especially when strong feelings are involved—in ourselves or others.

Unfortunately, the qualities that support self-regulation are on the decline among American children. Self-control in young children has regressed by two years since the 1940s. (On the same task—standing still while not moving—today’s seven year olds perform the way five year olds did earlier, and today’s five year olds perform like the earlier three year olds.) Empathy has declined among college students over 30 years, and creativity and critical thinking have declined over 20 years, especially among children in kindergarten through third grade.

If we want to live in a civil, peaceful, and productive society, interrupting those trends is imperative. In her book, Clabough weaves developmental neuroscience with anecdotes from her family life to explain how parents can help children cultivate empathy, creativity, and self-control, and more importantly why they should. Together these qualities support a child’s ability to self-regulate in a balanced way, leading to greater personal fulfillment, better relationships, and enhanced success in life.

Self-Regulation vs. Self-Control

Over the course of the book, Clabough draws a distinction between the multi-faceted self-regulation and self-control.

Self-control has received a great deal of attention following the famous “marshmallow test,” which has been cited for decades. In this classic 1970 study, 1,000 four to six year olds were given a small reward (one marshmallow, pretzel, or cookie) but could choose not to eat it and wait for a larger reward later (more treats). Longitudinal studies showed that the children who could delay gratification had higher SAT scores in adolescence and better health, higher income, and lower crime rates 40 years later. The ability to delay gratification in early childhood was a better predictor of later success than intelligence or social class.

But the marshmallow experiment may not mean what we think it means. As Clabough writes, it might actually have tested children’s obedience, how they felt about authority figures, or whether they trusted adults. Or it might have tested how much a child liked marshmallows, whether they wanted to wait, or whether they even had developed the capacity to (e.g., older children were better delayers than younger children).

In addition, Clabough argues, self-control is an incomplete goal, because it’s ultimately about not acting—something parents and teachers might find desirable in children, but not the only key to success in life. Self-regulation, on the other hand, is about taking action, she says, and teaching it should be a parenting goal.

Someone with good self-regulation does have self-control and can, for example, stifle an initial gut reaction when necessary. But they also use creativity and empathy to consider alternative avenues that can help them accomplish their goals. They consider rules, but they also might creatively reframe them or invent new ones. In order to decide on an action, they take into account their own feelings and concerns, but they’re also empathic and consider other people’s perspectives in complex social situations.

For example, your son who is being poked might first read the other child’s motivations—is the poking in fun and a continuation of recess play, is it a distressed call for help, or is it taunting and part of a bullying pattern? What are your son’s goals—does he want to continue the fun, is he trying to concentrate, or does he need help? Creativity allows him the freedom and flexibility to respond with a joke, or assert a boundary, or involve an adult; self-control allows him to thoughtfully make this choice rather than instinctively react.

In other words, children with good self-regulation are aware, flexible, and creative—and, importantly, they are empowered to reason for themselves.

In other words, children with good self-regulation are aware, flexible, and creative—and, importantly, they are empowered to reason for themselves. “Self-regulation is a much bigger deal than simple self-control,” writes Clabough. “It’s not just the ability to pause behavior, but it’s having the flexibility to pivot behavior…the ability to blaze a trail toward a goal, while still preserving trust and reciprocity in those around you.”

With greater self-regulation, not only will children be more psychologically healthy, but they’ll also be more altruistic, kind, and connected with their community. And, Clabough writes, they can also expect greater academic success, a “career boost,” and “greater competitiveness in a global economy.”

Self-Regulation in the Brain

Second Nature is probably the first, most applicable primer on brain development for non-scientists that neither overwhelms nor oversimplifies. Clabough describes stages of brain development to help parents have more appropriate expectations: What are children capable of, neurologically, at different ages? Which limitations can be gently stretched, and where do children need extra support? For example, she reports that while play in early childhood is important for creativity, today’s kids have fewer opportunities to play in early childhood classrooms, a trend that should be reversed.

Clabough offers a simple, friendly, but thorough description of the fundamental neurological processes of synaptogenesis (the formation of synaptic connections), pruning (the elimination of synaptic connections), and myelination (the insulation of connections to speed up transmission). It’s helpful for parents to know that they are actually reinforcing synaptic connections and shaping and remodeling neural circuits via the experiences, habits, and routines they offer to children. And what parents don’t do is as important as what they do.

Clabough describes parenting approaches grounded in developmental science, including scaffolding (providing a framework or template for children to learn and practice new skills) and modeling (demonstrating self-regulation as a parent), along with supporting children’s autonomy and helping them reflect on their experiences. My favorite chapters in Second Nature are the how-to’s, in which she offers specific parenting guidance, hacks, and shortcuts. For example, she points out that brain cells that are working hard to maintain self-control use glucose at a faster rate, so one tip is to “feed your tantrum-thrower ASAP.”

Long-held privilege can erode empathy, making it harder to consider someone else’s point of view, while chronic disadvantage can be harmful to children.

She even points out how power structures affect self-regulation: Long-held privilege can erode empathy, making it harder to consider someone else’s point of view, while chronic disadvantage can be harmful to children. In her own family, she finds ways to switch up and equalize the power dynamics among the siblings—for example, by letting the youngest dole out treats or speak first, asking an older sibling to teach a younger one, exposing her children to different cultures, and encouraging friendships across ages and groups. This kind of sensitivity makes the book feel especially thoughtful and expansive.

Room for Debate

Once in a while, Clabough strays into territory where scientific opinion varies or isn’t available yet. For example, she suggests that children who are bullied should “find a grownup,” but the current research doesn’t support such a simple approach. (We know that some grownups aren’t sympathetic or skilled and that most teenagers don’t want to turn to a grownup.) Instead, today’s research points to two key solutions to bullying: developing social and emotional skills in children and adults, and creating a positive school climate.

Additionally, Clabough advises parents to confront other people’s children, or intrude in children’s social networks, to help set ground rules for their interactions—but a larger, more nuanced discussion is needed there. She also champions one or two social and emotional learning (SEL) programs that cultivate mindfulness without exploring the benefits of other SEL programs that have been proven to enhance self-understanding and social skills along with self-regulation. (Full disclosure: I have an affiliation with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.) I am heartened, though, by Clabough’s suggestion that children and adults alike should learn how brains grow and develop. Adults can only teach what they understand and embody, and the field of developmental neuroscience is rapidly advancing.

Empathy, creativity, and self-control are strengths that can be learned. And when they’re taught with respect for a child’s autonomy and decision-making capacity, they can support lifelong well-being. By nurturing these traits in our children, Clabough writes, “we will raise creative thinkers who get things done in a way that benefits others as well as themselves.”

This article originally appeared on Greater Good, the online magazine of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, one of Mindful’s partners. View the original article.

The post How Neuroscience Can Help Your Kid Make Good Choices appeared first on Mindful.

[jesicajparksuk]

Advanced Tips To Drive Blog Traffic Using Instagram Stories

There are many creative ways to use Instagram Stories to increase blog traffic, and the Internet is full of recommendations. BlogPaws shared our creative Instagram Stories tips recently, and now to take things to the “next level,” here’s the second of a two-part series. This time around, let’s dive into advanced tips and techniques to drive blog traffic using Instagram Stories as the vehicle.

Rejoice: Use Older Content in Instagram Stories

It used to be that Instagram Stories only allowed images and videos taken within the past 24 hours on your mobile device. You can now add content to stories from any point in time, so rejoice.

How This Drives Blog Traffic:  The advantage of this is infusing a combo of video and image into Instagram Stories posts.

Insta Hack: Older photos and videos will automatically have a date stamped on their courtesy Instagram. There’s a work around. Just tap it, hold and drag, and put in the bottom of the screen to the trash can icon. You may also want to change the sticker date color and you can do so by tapping on it.

Invite Guests to Instagram Stories Live

This one has set the Insta-world buzzing because you can do live videos with other people without fancy software or confusing apps. Yes, can now invite viewers to be part of your Instagram Live Stories!

Simply start a Live IG Stories broadcast and click the overlapped smiley faces in the bottom right portion of your mobile device once you are live. People who are viewing your live will appear and you can click to invite any of these viewers. A split-screen will appear once they accept the invitation.

During any live IG Stories broadcast, someone may request to join you in your live video. As you can imagine, you’ll want to be sure to only allow people in whom you know and trust. Otherwise, you can just ignore the request from that viewer to go live with you. When inviting guests into your IG Stories Live, it’s a good idea to ask in advance.

How This Drives Blog Traffic: Provide a clear call to action to your viewers when doing a Live IG Stories broadcast. Tell them to visit your blog post with more on the topic and make it easy for them by providing your blog post URL into the profile section of your Instagram account.

Interactive Poll Stickers for Instagram Stories

People love emojis, stickers, and feeling that their voice is heard. The perfect storm is created with these three elements thanks to the new interactive poll stickers feature for Instagram Stories. Here’s how Instagram describes the interactive poll feature:

Whether you’re trying to plan tomorrow’s outfit, choosing which class to take or figuring out where to go for dinner, now it’s easy to share a two-option poll right in your story. After you’ve taken a photo or video for your story, select the “poll” sticker and place it anywhere you’d like — you can write out your own question and even customize the poll choices.

How This Drives Blog Traffic: You can do this for fun or to get the pulse of your viewers and followers. For example, you can post a video or photo of your cat to Instagram Stories and ask your followers if they want to know more about “cat health” or “cat behavior” in your next blog post. Then, when you write that blog post, thank your followers for the advice, and even cooler: Host an Instagram Live Stories session and talk about the post with a call to action sending followers to your blog post, as detailed above. #winwin

Use Hashtag Stickers With a Purpose

Stickers are used for many different purposes within Instagram and Instagram Stories. Have a purpose to using them and know why you are using them. This is what is meant by “with a purpose;” you only do something if you have a reason for doing so, and that includes hashtags.

Simply tap the sticker that says hashtag on Instagram Stories and customize it with the desired hashtag.

How This Drives Blog Traffic: Other folks can find your story if they are searching that hashtag. It is clickable! So if I use the hashtag “DogHealth” and anyone is looking for doghealth info on Instagram Stories, I will be in that mix!

Insta Hack: If you use certain stickers repeatedly, you can access your favorite stickers by tapping the smiley icon and swipe right. Your recently used stickers will appear. #IKnowRight?

Tag People With a Purpose

When adding text to  Instagram Stories, tag people by clicking typing and start with the @ symbol.  If you follow that person, the icon will pop up. Just tap on it and that person will be tagged in Instagram Stories. This is helpful to help get on the radar of your followers, brands, and more. Just don’t be annoying. At present, you have the ability to tag up to 10 people.

How This Drives Blog Traffic: People who follow you on Instagram Stories are alerted in Instagram Direct Messages, so your friends and followers know you posted an Instagram Live. Maybe one of your followers has a ferret who just won’t eat. You can do an Instagram Stories segment and tag them and share a blog post you wrote to help!

Also, if you tag people who are not following you a notification will appear in their message requests. I get some annoying ones and spammy things, so only tag someone you are certain is okay with being tagged.

Consider Instagram Stories Sharing

If you see an Instagram Stories segment that you like, there’s a way to share the love by sharing other people’s stories. At the bottom right of the Stories screen is a “direct icon,” which resembles a paper airplane, as seen in the image below. Tap that, then tap the friend with whom you want to share the story, write a message, then send.

To send a story to a group of folks, tap New Group in the upper right of the share screen, name your group, tap on the check mark icon, then tap send.

If you receive an Instagram Stories alert, it will be within your direct inbox. The story disappears after 24 hours as of this writing, so be sure to view before it’s history.

If you do not want others to share your Instagram Stories, you can turn that feature off within the Instagram Settings menu > Story Settings and toggle Allow Sharing off.

How This Drives Blog Traffic:  By alerting people of your stories, this can be a good traffic builder as long as you are not overtly annoying.

Engage with Other People’s Instagram Stories

At the bottom of Instagram Stories you view, there is a place to write messages. Personally, I love this because everyone loves praise and to be acknowledged. If I see something I like, I let the person know with this feature. You can send text messages or visual reactions. Just tap the camera icon, take a photo or video, snazz up your photo/video if desired with stickers and filters, then send.

How This Drives Blog Traffic:  If you share other people’s stories, this is fostering a sense of giving and puts the ‘social’ in social media.

Comment on Stories with Words or Photos

At the bottom of your friend’s Instagram Stories, you’ll see a place to write a message.It does not have to be a long message, and I often chime in with a few words and/or emojis.  You can also send visual reactions by taping on the camera icon, and then taking a photo, Boomerang, video or Rewind. You can decorate your image or video reply with stickers, filters and drawings. Make it jazzy!

Plus, your reply will automatically include a sticker of the Story image you’re replying to. The sticker can be moved and decorated, too. When you’re done, hit Send. Your reply will end up in your friend’s inbox.

Replying only works for people who have comments enabled, though.

Re-purpose Instagram Stories with a Purpose

I like to save my Instagram Stories and re-purpose them on Facebook or in my private Facebook Group for Cocker Lovers. Not everyone who follows me on Instagram follows me on Facebook and vice versa. There is a cross over, but they can be two completely different audiences. So if you do a blog post, create an Instagram Stories piece around it, save it to your phone. You can choose to save a portion of a story, the entire Instagram Stories segment, or within settings you can adjust so every story is saved.

Go to profile screen, tap the menu. Tap Story Setting under account heading. Slide the Always Save Photos and Videos option under the Camera heading. If you tap the gear icon while on the Instagram Stories screen, you can slide the Always Save Photos and Videos option.

Don’t Stop Now

How Do Instagram Stories Work

How to Develop an Instagram Hashtag Strategy

10 Tips to Create an Instagram Editorial Calendar

Your Turn

Are you using Instagram Stories? How is it working out for you? Anything we can help you with here at BlogPaws? Let us know in the comments and we will respond.

Carol Bryant is the Marketing and Social Media Manager for BlogPaws and runs her own blog, Fidose of Reality and its fundraising arm, Wigglebutt Warriors. When not busy playing with her Cocker Spaniel, Dexter, she stays far away from cooking. Her trademark is her mantra and is tattooed on her arm: My Heart Beats Dog.®

Images:   g-stockstudio/forestpath/ Shutterstock.com

The post Advanced Tips To Drive Blog Traffic Using Instagram Stories appeared first on BlogPaws.

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