#automatic formatting upon

[gagande]

Purecode reviews | Integration with Development Environments

HTML formatter tools can also be effortlessly integrated into Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) through features such as keyboard shortcuts, context menu options, and automatic formatting upon saving files. 

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Habits

Habit - a well-learned behavior or automatic sequence of behaviors that is relatively situation specific and over time has become motorically reflexive and independent of motivational or cognitive influence—that is, it is performed with little or no conscious intent.

For example, the act of hair twirling may eventually occur without the individual’s conscious awareness.

How Habits are Formed

The question of habit formation can be approached from a scientific perspective or a more subjective and experiential one.

The Subjective Experience of Habit Formation

Bergson was a French philosopher who took cues from Ravaisson’s discussion of habits and their formation. Bergson (1911) wrote of both active and passive habits.

Passive habits arise from exposure to things we eventually get used to. High-altitude climbers gradually adapt their bodies to the lower levels of oxygen available as they climb above 7,000 feet.

Active habits are those we develop by repeated intention and effort, crystalizing as skills we perform with little or no thought. A gymnast practices walking, jumping, and flipping on a narrow beam until she can do all these maneuvers smoothly without falling.

Habits as skills can also be seen as a springboard to creativity.

Based on what we can habitually do, we reach new heights, as when a jazz musician ingrains the playing of a basic melody, then improvises new and adventurous notes on top of the underlying theme.

The scientific perspective on habit formation is exemplified today by neuroscience research. This research has highlighted crucial brain pathways involved in forming habits.

The Neuroscience of Habit Formation

When you first learn to tie your shoes, the attempts are quite conscious and effortful. As you practice this skill, it becomes a habit, something you can do easily and automatically, even while thinking of other things.

Neuroscience has asked how conscious and goal-directed actions are converted into a habit (Yin & Knowlton, 2006).

Clues to the mystery of habit formation can be found in an ancient area of the brain called the basal ganglia (Yin & Knowlton, 2006).

The basal ganglia are deep structures near the base of the brain that developed early in the evolution of our nervous system.

These structures play a major role in coordinating all kinds of voluntary movements, including the complex motions involved in walking, running, eating, talking, and grasping and manipulating with the hands, etc.

The basal ganglia, in conjunction with the brain’s frontal or “executive” lobe, also help perform the crucial task of rapidly selecting which type of movement should be made, out of the many options available in a given situation.

When faced with a tiger suddenly springing from the bushes, what should you do? Stand still, run to climb a tree, or make a dash for the river and hope the tiger can’t swim? The movement program chosen at this point might determine whether you get to pass your genes along to any offspring.

Since movements are most effective when well learned or habitual, the basal ganglia are also very involved in habit formation. Certain habits appear to be formed through the interplay between two distinct basal ganglia pathways (Yin & Knowlton, 2006).

One of these pathways is associative. It consciously collects information needed for reaching goals such as staying warm, finding food, finding a mate, and expressing oneself artistically.

A second pathway is more automatic. This route takes those lessons learned from the first pathway and includes them in a repertoire of stored habits.

These habits are then available to be called upon, when cued by a given situation.

Another key aspect to habit formation is positive reinforcement or reward.

For an activity to become a habit, it helps if it’s not only repeated often, but also positively reinforced.

We can trigger positive reinforcement through an external reward, like money, food, or praise. Such experiences release dopamine, one of the brain’s favorite “feel good” neurochemicals. A rewarding dopamine release can also occur through internal triggers, like visualizing yourself reaching a cherished goal (Neuroscience News, 2015).

Dopamine release has been shown to depend on neurons within the limbic system, another ancient brain circuit that processes emotions and the experience of reward. The limbic system is deeply connected with the basal ganglia and can stamp our memories and habits with emotional and reward value (Trafton, 2012).

Psychological Theories on Habit Formation

The American philosopher William James made early contributions to habit theory that still resonate today.

James (1914) thought of habit as the result of repeating the same action over and over, in similar circumstances, until it is ingrained in our brain circuitry.

He also believed that ingrained habits would automatically arise in the face of strong cues associated with their formation. When walking into your darkened room, the room and darkness cue the automatic habit of reaching for the light switch.

Behaviorists such as B. F. Skinner would expand on James’s insights into habit, with animal studies that emphasized how habit formation is fueled by rewards.

Skinner (1953) created cages for pigeons with buttons that dropped a food pellet when pushed.

In exploring the cage, the hungry pigeons would eventually peck the button on the wall. They soon came to realize that pecking the button would produce a food pellet.

This experimental scenario included what for Skinner were the primary factors in producing a habit:

Stimulus, like the button to be pecked

Behavior, like pecking the button

Reward, like the food pellet

Skinner (1953) believed that behaviors repeatedly engaged in for the sake of a reward will become habits. This hypothesis was borne out by his pigeons repeatedly pressing the button, even when that action was no longer followed by a food pellet.

Other theories sought to go beyond behaviorism’s focus on observed behavior alone, to include a mental or cognitive component in habit.

Edward Tolman (1948, 1954) believed that repeated or habitual responses involved the use of internal ideas, or “maps,” as cognitive components that helped navigate mazes, etc.

Neuroscience has further explored certain questions about habit, with the help of nerve conduction and brain scan studies.

Sources: 1 2 ⚜ More: References ⚜ On Habits ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[pierogi-potwater]

A rambling defence of the pines twins

(Part 1)

I’ve been thinking about them all day. I basically want to psychoanalyse them all a bit and attempt to explain why I think, they think the way they do.

Though this is a defence of the characters, they are not perfect people! I’m not trying to say they have done no wrong or haven’t hurt people because they have. I just like saying why I think they did what they did. All their choices make sense from their perspective and I’m just saying why I don’t think they are ‘terrible selfish people’.

Some of this might be stealing insights from other people…sorry y’all have great thoughts and I’ll mention any instance where a thought isn’t fully original because I miss some really obvious stuff and I couldn’t have made these conclusions without this great community!!! Please, please, please provide your own thoughts I love having discussions with people! Like if I missed anything or you disagree with anything please say!

Spoilers for the show, the book of Bill, lost legends and journal 3 but I won’t be showing an screenshots. I should also mention, all quotes are from memory and I haven’t fully read TBOB or Journal 3 so apologies if I get any info wrong!

This is my first text post so apologies for any incoherence or poor formatting/grammar.

So! Starting with…

Stanley Pines

Stan! This guy: I love him! (Quick edit! I was hesitant to call Stan and Ford co dependant because that’s a medicalised term and they were kids/ teens but ig Bill already pointed that out! And calling out Fords PTSD? Dang…)

Going straight in, Stan and Ford were lonely kids, they only really had each other growing up so that ended up with them becoming somewhat reliant on each other. They’re a dynamic duo and as kids their dynamic isn’t something I’d call unhealthy (yet). They have a good complementarity of brains and punches; they are shown to stick up for, and support, one another. When Stan is accused of stealing his father’s watch: Ford goes out of his way to disprove the accusation, with his brother by his side. Even when presented with evidence for Stan stealing the watch, Ford gives his brother the benefit of the doubt and hears out his brother’s explanation that it was an accident and he intended to give the watch back as a Father’s Day gift but was scared of his father’s reaction to the broken case. He was just trying to do a nice thing and it backfired to make him look worse than he intended.

This leads me to how Stan was perceived as a kid, as a troublemaker. His father, being a typical man in the 60’s didn’t really outwardly express any affection towards the boys. All mention of care is normally an assumption or through actions. Of course healthy family dynamics don’t require constant praise and verbal declarations of love. Stan’s dad showed his care for his kid through enrolling him in boxing classes. That being said, the boys clearly didn’t have a good dynamic with their dad. Stan is assumed to be a naughty child and isn’t shown any benefit of the doubt. It isn’t indicated that he’ll ever be seen as anything but a trouble maker. So of course he doesn’t try to be anything else. He cheats off his brother academically and his whole future plan is reliant upon his bother. His future plan, I should also add, doesn’t include trouble making. He hopes to be seen as an adventurer and in this, is still rejecting the deterministic fate of being a huckster and fraud. He thinks needs his brother for this identity though. He is constantly compared to his brother in a degrading manner and isn’t encouraged to find his own niche as it is assumed that he will automatically choose criminality. His brother on the other hand is a genius that can do basically anything he wants in the future. He has a large choice of things he’d be smart enough to do and chose to specialise in science. Stanley has cemented his future success as needing his brother, but his brother so clearly doesn’t need him. And so in an accident while letting out his frustration, slams the table the perpetual motion machine is on and breaks it. The same embarrassment and shame stopping him from confessing to the broken watch case: once again stops him from telling Ford about the broken machine. Telling him about the broken machine could have allowed him to fix it and thus get into that dream school but he couldn’t bring himself to. Either because he’d be accused of doing it purposefully to sabotage his brother or because a shameful part of him wanted to sabotage his brother so he could in some way prove his brother needed him too. To secure a safe future for himself with the only person that has unconditionally loved and trusted him.

Of course that’s not what happened. It’s been pointed out that Stan’s current obsession with money and swindling people is because of his dad disowning him saying ‘only come back once you’ve made millions.’ and so, he hoards money. But, I’d also add the fact that peoples perception of him already being cunning and a fraud definitely added to this. His only other role model aside from his brother was probably his parents ( famously con people). Their dad only viewed the two of them as pawns out of their current financial position [as people have pointed out before]. His mother cared about him though which is sweet (and there’s a high chance that she probably didn’t have much say in Stanley being disowned). Stan still subconsciously wanted to make his parents proud and be accepted again. Another part of the current money hoarding is probably scarcity related. Stan had to live in his car and has been in debt to what I can only assume is the mafia: he likely doesn’t want that same outcome for his niece and nephew. This also might be why he considers arts and crafting his own money to be a fun bonding exercise with the kids. Stan’s dad only seeing his kids as cash cows likely plays into that as well (but it’s very clearly shown that the kids mean more than just money to him but generational habits are hard to shake).

The portal fight. Gosh, what a way to lose your twin brother… Of course after around 10 years of no contact with Ford he’d be both delighted and apprehensive seeing him again. The shame and guilt of what the machine breaking cost Ford; mixed with the hope that this meeting means that’s an event in the past; they are about to reconcile. When met with his paranoid brother pointing a crossbow at him immediately as he opens the door. The suspicion that he inadvertently caused this paranoia (much like being disowned caused Stan’s poverty) lingers. Not a great start. The brother he so hoped called for a reconciliation, and more time together, immediately tells him to go as far away from him as he can: using the same childhood dream he so desperately wanted all this time as a reference for the isolation process. The exact opposite of the dream, the reason he accidentally ruined Fords future with the fear of them being separated . The guilt once again rising. Of course Stan is upset and so tries to burn the journal so he can appease Ford as quickly as possible and try and reform a connection with him. There is no way Stan could have ever known what any of the context around why Ford wanted the journal intact but far away. He had no way of knowing what any of the equipment would or could do. So the fight begins as a confused Stanley wants to spend time with his brother but has no meaningful way to express that. A hurt Stanley that wants his brother to understand him but doesn’t have the emotional intelligence to say that. Ford accidentally brands him with a plate burning through his jacket ( image how hot it must have been for it to burn through his jacket and permanently scar him in those seconds he was pushed against it). When he accidentally activates the portal by pushing Ford into it: he freezes. How could he possibly know what to do to save him? And with the pain in his shoulder also clouding his vision.

It was pointed out to me that the carpet diem room was the same room Stanley stayed in while he worked on trying to save his brother. Ford’s bedroom. ( DEVASTATING HOW HE SECRETLY POCKETS FORD’S GLASSES AND THE ROOM WAS BOARDED UP UNTOUCHED, THE CALENDAR DATE BEING THE ONE THEY FOUGHT ON AUGHHHH). Similarly pointed out that Stan’s affinity to the statue of him was because it reminded him of his brother and the funeral touched him so much because for 30 years he’s been working on this portal to save his brother not knowing if the guy was even alive or not. Grieving the possibility of his twin brother and only friend being dead. (This killed me man :( no pun intended).

Stan learned the complicated science behind the portal despite science never being his strong suit. He worked on it for 30 years not knowing if Ford was even alive. He was willing to potentially risk the safety of gravity falls ( and the universe it was implied) to save his brother. The first thing he gets is a punch to the face as his arms are excitedly outstretched for a hug. He gets called a knucklehead (the thing his father called him after disowning him). Stan asked for a thank you.

The argument about Stan not wanting Ford and the kids spending time together for fear of their safety is pretty self explanatory in the show. The fandom has recognised that Mabel was lying about what she heard to protect Dippers notions of the author he has looked up to all summer. I didn’t think of this at first which is on me. She’s not a dumb character she just likes having fun and is a 12 year old. She gets too much hate ( ANYWAY sorry I know this isn’t about her but it was a nice character moment for her).

In weirdmageddon Stan refuses to hold Ford’s hand. While it -at first- seemed like a purely petty and idiotic thing to do, like then wasn’t the time, I can see why he did that. For Stan, the ‘thank you’ wasn’t just an acknowledgment of the work putting into saving Ford . He needed to prove he wasn’t the heartless con man people always saw him as. (Like he says in the show) .It was a promise that they weren’t going to immediately be separated again. An absolution of the guilt held for the perpetual motion machine breaking and the fight that sent Ford into the portal. In that moment he needed that ‘thank you’ because he needed to know that after the armageddon he wouldn’t be alone again. He needed reassurance that Ford wouldn’t just evict him from the house he made and the stable job he had with no brother to show for it as soon as this calamity was over. A promise that his brother still loved him.

Ford corrects his grammar after the forced thank you: proving all his fears to be correct.

He later sacrifices everything he knows to save Gravity falls, the last coherent thought he has being that of Dipper and Mabel.

Once regaining his memories, he calls the kids ‘ knuckleheads’ affectionately. A phrase used repeatedly to belittle him as an idiot he uses as a send off to the kids he loves so dearly to jokingly show how much he loves them.

Best of all, Stan and Ford finally do get to go on that adventure with the stan’o war. He gets the relationship he dreamed of with him and his brother, the genuine acknowledgment of how hard he’s worked and the genuine ‘thank you he needed.’

I love Stanley Pines!!!!!

Ok so some extra little notes unrelated to analysis :

I was going to make a single post about both the Stan twins here but I didn’t expect how much I’d actually write about Stan here! So a post each it is I assume.

A little reminder I don’t think Ford is a bad person. I’ll get into it in the next post but yeah one perspective at a time!

I somewhat wish the whole erasing his entire memory held more weight. It would have been a lot more impactful seeing it take a bit longer for his memories to come back if at all and give more meaning to his sacrifice. That being said it is a kids show and a finale ep is already heart wrenching. It also seems to be established the gun doesn’t fully erase anything so. Ehhh?

I love his interactions with the kids. Like he clearly leans towards Mabel because of how similar they are but it’s clear he loves Dipper with all his heart also just in a different way to Mabel as he hopes it better caters to him as a kid. He’s a super sweet guy but his rough exterior might make him a bit hard to like at first.

The bro code is so cute. I loved seeing Stan’s little ‘ love ya bro’ in his note to Ford. Screaming crying.

If you made it this far OMG THANK YOU!!!! I’m so normal I prommy. Feel free to DM me if you enjoy listening to more incoherent ramblings!! But yeah seriously I love making new friends so! Yeah! Thanks :^]

[molagboop]

What chronic illnesses/disabilities were most common among chozo? How did their society treat them?

Broadly speaking, across all planets the Chozo inhabit and factoring in all the tribes, commonality can be a little hard to quantify. We have a few to look into, though.

There are plenty of maladies with real world human counterparts. Here's a quick non-exhaustive list of a few notable ones before I delve in detail:

Physical ailments like arthritis

Developmental disabilities like dyspraxia and cerebral palsy

Autonomic disorders (dysautonomia; diseases that inhibit function of the automatic nervous system), such as Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, and Parkinson's disease (obligatory plug for Dysautonomia International's free online education resources)

Gastric issues (think IBS or Crohn's Disease)

Statistically speaking, the Thoha have seen the most cases of autonomic disorders, particularly accompanied by hypermobility and joint issues. Gastric disorders are most common among the Ithloc. Amputees are the most numerous by far among all tribes in the modern day, factoring in at 75% of the total living population. Blindness and Deafness are also fairly common.

The Chozo at large are a polite people: accommodations are made at every given opportunity and no expense is spared in pursuit of it. Individuals with gastric issues are afforded as many breaks as they require and resources are tirelessly poured into alleviating their distress. Folks who experience chronic fatigue or are otherwise physically disadvantaged are likewise granted as much leeway as they need. On most Chozo-inhabited planets, populated areas contain numerous public resting spots, and mobility devices are readily available.

There are ways to restore lost sight and hearing entirely, but not everyone who was born deaf necessarily wants to be "fixed". Many Chozo elect to learn sign language, and holographic software that translates the spoken word into sign language as the user speaks is widespread and easily accessible. Most records are digital and can be dictated by screenreaders, but physical media can be scanned and dictated as well with 100% accuracy. Aids for those with varying degrees of loss in either of these senses are freely available.

It's not all sunshine and roses: sometimes a disabled individual will deal with rude assholes. They're not an infallible utopic monolith: but Chozo society generally condemns looking down upon folks who need more help. The Thoha especially revere the image of the selfless warrior who uplifts the frail and downtrodden, diligently answering their every call. Respect and dignity for the sick and elderly are common themes among the moral fiber of all tribes. They're not perfect, but the Chozo certainly have their priorities figured out when it comes to disabilities.

So that's the scoop on disabilities with human equivalents in the real world. Now here's a little bit about Chozo-specific disabilities:

Rostrate Keratin Disorder

RKD is a systemic disease characterized by rapid overgrowth of the rhamphotheca and deformity of the beak. Secondary symptoms include the formation of lesions on other keratin-heavy sections of the body, including the arms and legs.

The rate at which the beak's exterior layer grows in those with RKD causes elongation of the mandibles and an uneven bite: this interferes with an individual's ability to groom and feed themselves.

There's no known cure: treatment includes salve to keep the lesions down and trimming the beak and talons regularly. Experimental gene therapy is in the works to tone down accelerated keratin production in those afflicted with RKD.

Wing Rot

Wing rot and the loss of one's wings in general is considered a disability: wing loss is the single most common disability affecting the Chozo population at large. Wing rot is a disease largely characterized by the reduction or complete halt of blood and air flow to the wings, weakened wing muscles, flight feathers growing brittle and dull, and in too far gone cases, necrosis. Wing rot is caused by a pesky bacterium most commonly introduced by mites, but disease isn't the only thing that can make one lose their flight organs.

All Chozo are born with wings, but maintaining them is increasingly difficult as one enters their twilight years. Elderly Chozo, generally speaking, do not fly often. Blood pressure disorders, respiratory issues, anemia, and other issues can exacerbate existing cases of wing rot, but they can also damage these limbs well enough on their own. Lack of exercise and poor preening practices are often associated with wing rot.

More below because I went off on wings.

How Did We Get Here, or "Why Wings Suck"

Flight is extremely metabolically taxing: the Chozo respiratory system is built the way that it is specifically to help fuel flight. On an animal that has both humanoid arms/legs and wings, wings are very demanding limbs.

People on the Internet who are familiar with human skeletal anatomy often joke that the human spine is an evolutionary fluke and an absolute train wreck to maintain: the same can be said for Chozo wings. Raven Beak has had work done on his wings to keep them intact on top of a focused diet and training regimen + consistent daily exercise. Specifically, he's had his dorsal passage manually broadened to ensure the humeral diverticulum is never pinched (no matter how weird he sleeps on it. Ever woken up to a numb arm because the way you slept on it cut off circulation? I have), and the parabronchii network delivering oxygen to the blood in his wings artificially extended. He keeps his wings rigorously free of mites, dirt, dead feathers, and other maladies to prevent disease and keep them sleek. Disease is a wing killer, and the big one's name is wing rot.

It's a lot easier to amputate one's wings before they reach 700 than it is to help them keep their wings. This is largely attributed to the respiratory bridge to the wings being so narrow: the respiratory system branches into the wings through an air sac encased in each yardarm (humerus of the wing). Weakening airflow paired with wing rot is a recipe for disaster: the latter worsens the former.

For Chozo, respiration is continuous and involuntary: damage to the yardarm near the shoulder begets damage to the respiratory system itself, which brings with it yet more opportunities for infection. Breakage in the Chozo yardarm is exceedingly painful, and it speaks volumes to Raven Beak's resilience that he can not only deal with the loss of one wing in the middle of combat without anesthesia, but deign to pull the other one straight off immediately after losing the first.

If airflow is impeded or restricted, there's little or no oxygen flowing into a given wing. That's a problem! The other air sacs in the respiratory system aren't sheathed in a large hollow bone, so they don't have this issue. One bad accident in an individual's youth can lead to issues that necessitate amputation before the sunset age is even reached if not treated properly.

Wings are tools for flight and courtship: from an evolutionary perspective, Chozo who have lived beyond reproductive age aren't typically doing much in the way of bolstering their species' population (that's not to say they're not doing it for fun), and joint issues / weakening bones or muscles can make the former a bit harder to do.

Dealing with Lost Wings

On the social side of things, Chozo who lose their wings are not treated any lesser by their peers, though the loss is seen as a thing to be grieved. The Mawkin take wing loss harder than their neighbors because flight can be an advantage in battle (though a risky one). Wingless warriors are not looked down upon in any capacity, but winged heroes are mad put on a pedestal. A lot of it has to do with the image of their forebears as mighty winged vessels for the blood of war, but as their lives grow longer, keeping these limbs becomes a challenge.

Despite their relative volatility compared with other phocomeles, wings are an integral cultural symbol for the Chozo at large. They're used in festival and courtship dances. One can use their wings to carry objects if they're savvy enough. They're also vital vessels for nonverbal communication and implicit status symbols: some facets of Chozo body language are only communicated through wings: losing them causes a whole avenue for others to understand you to disappear.

The loss of wings for a Mawkin warrior is more of a personal challenge than something that's looked down upon socially: there are resources available for coping with phantom limb sensations, and amputees are looked after diligently by their community during recovery. Personal feelings of perceived inadequacy just come with the territory when you live your life surrounded by icons of winged warriors guarding the loft in their armored glory.

For someone who grows up hearing about glorious winged founders and worshiped protectors, losing a part of oneself so thoroughly entwined with the ancient image of sublime perfection can be world shattering. Other tribes are better equipped to handle these losses philosophically: while the Thoha revere their ancestors, they recognize that wingless life is easily adaptable. They put less stock in physical traits like their wings, and more in their sense of elevated mindfulness and philosophical morality. Wings are useful as a second set of limbs: their part in expressive body language can never be replaced. To the Thoha, this is outweighed by accommodation and the removal's accompaniment by the lift of a major physiological burden. Without wings, one spends a lot less time on personal grooming. That's more time spent meditating, engaging one's peers in a playful thought exercise, or engineering something useful.

On the other hand, the Hatzu's wings are largely vestigial and unsuited for flight. Plenty of Hatzu tribesmen elect to have their wings removed early, especially if they don't really care about the appendages' cosmetic appeal. The Thiloo (penguin Chozo) are the only other Chozo who match the Mawkin's enthusiasm for wing maintenance because their wings are adapted for swimming: a Thiloo without wings is one who is more sluggish and less capable than their peers in the water. There are ways to make up for the lack of wings, but their wings' unique evolutionary utility is a point of pride for the Thiloo.

A large part of Mawkin bathhouse culture revolves around preening, especially wing maintenance. The loss of one's wings can be perceived as a failure not in the individual, but on behalf of the community. "We failed to tend your wings, sibling. We failed to send for a physician early enough to save them." When there were still folks around to partake in said bathhouse culture, Raven Beak would always find himself swarmed with citizens and soldiers ready to inspect his broad, slick wings for duds and unwelcome visitors without fail. Mawkin society can only be considered a meritocracy insofar as warriors who perform great deeds, tenured scientists responsible for positive or immense change, and citizens deemed pillars of their communities are granted first priority in daily preening rituals. Bathtime isn't just "get clean and get out" for the Mawkin: it's a time to socialize and assist each other.

The Mawkin don't treat their wingless peers as any less of a Chozo for not having them, and indeed go to great lengths to soften the blow (in part because most of them can empathize)... but my goodness, the personal burden is immense.

Some folks will always feel like a part of them is missing, but others still find that their lives are more convenient in some ways. It's a lot easier to hide when you feel threatened or offended by something when you don't have wings to involuntarily flare as part of a flight response or threat display. Chozo without wings can also comfortably lay down on their backs!

Dealing with Lost Wings, Part 2: Seamless Prosthesis

Most folks adapt pretty well to losing their wings all things considered, but some folks suffer severe dysmorphia: thus the existence of biomechanical wings. The recovery is long, and one's newly synthesized appendages may feel very itchy for a good month or so after surgery (particularly around the attachment site, where new nerves/blood vessels are integrated with the rest of the body and circulation needs to be monitored heavily), but it's possible to install new wings.

Chozo from any tribe can experience dysmorphia and opt for biomechanical prosthesis, but Mawkin warriors are statistically most likely to pursue this avenue of renewal by a long shot. Again, they're not socially punished for lacking wings, but wings are a huge part of their identity.

Biomechanical wings are a huge responsibility and need to be maintained better than a prized show dog. Appendees need to be monitored by their surgeon in case there are any issues, and there can be many issues: chief among them being adaptive failure, wherein the rest of the body doesn't recognize the wings as appendages, and the immune system begins attacking all the new stuff. This is a huge problem when your "new stuff" includes a respiratory organ, a rather large network of veins/arteries/nerves, and a vast expanse of musculoskeletal tissue. Once the recovery period (which includes the first molt) is over, a recipient of new wings is generally good to go, but the wings will need to be examined thoroughly every time they go in for a medical exam.

[qu33rsources]

How to install NewPipe on Android

NewPipe is a YouTube replacement client for Android devices. It's open-source (meaning, you can see all of their code as you please), privacy-oriented, lightweight, and supports features that are normally locked behind a YouTube Premium paywall.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with NewPipe, YouTube, Android, Google, Alphabet Inc, or any other brand or name mentioned here. I made this guide to help my friends who were curious.

NewPipe's Website: https://newpipe.net/

The GitHub Repository

Step 0. Compatibility check

Make sure you're running an Android device! This won't work on an Apple device of any kind! Also, for those more tech-savvy among you, if you have the F-Droid store installed, you can download NewPipe straight from there!

Step 1. Downloading

Go to NewPipe's Github repo (repository, the codebase or where all of the code is stored). Scroll to the bottom of the page until you see "Releases". Click on the one that says "Latest" next to it in a little green bubble:

Your version number (v#...) will be different if you're reading this in the future! That's okay. Scroll past the changelog (unless you want to read it!) until you find "Assets":

Click on the first one, the one with the little cube ending in .apk. APK files are Android Package (Kit) and are the main format for downloading apps. Once you click on the link, it should begin downloading or your browser will ask you to confirm that you want to download this file. You should always verify the filename matches what you expect it to be (namely, the file format) before attempting to install! It might take a few moments for the file to download depending on your internet connection.

Step 2. Installation

Once you have the file downloaded, you can click the download popup in your notification bar or find the file in your device's file system. One of 2 things will happen:

You will get a popup asking if you want to install an APK by the name of NewPipe - confirm that you do (and make sure the app is really NewPipe!) and it will install automatically. You can then click "Open" to open the app and begin using it.

You will get a popup warning you that you have the ability to install apps from unknown sources disabled and that you can't install this. This is normal and does not mean that you downloaded the wrong thing.

If you got the first popup, continue past this step. For those of you who got the second, let's go over what this means.

By default, most Androids have this setting disabled. This is for security purposes, so you can't accidentally install a malicious app from the whole internet. If you enable this setting (allow installations from unknown/unsigned sources), you are theoretically putting yourself at risk. Realistically, you're probably fine. But, after installing NewPipe, you can always re-disable the setting if it makes you more comfortable. That will prevent you from installing updates in the future, but it can always be re-enabled.

Ready to turn that setting on? It will vary by your individual device! Some devices will take you directly to the page with the setting upon failed installation, and some you will just have to find it yourself using the searchbar in settings.

Once you've allowed installations from unknown sources (wording may vary slightly), try to repeat the steps above of clicking the download popup or finding the APK in your files and trying to install it. It should work correctly this time!

Step 3. Updating NewPipe

Like most apps, NewPipe is in development currently and frequently has new versions released to improve it and fix bugs. Unlike most apps, NewPipe needs to be manually updated, since we haven't downloaded through the Google Play store.

To update NewPipe, all you have to do is follow the above steps for installing the app, except that when you get the popup asking to install it, it will instead say "Update". That's it! NewPipe and Android handle the rest.

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[yae-energy]

n is for anywhere <3

synopsis: saiki’s top 3 favorite places to hang out with you (but it’s the progression of your friendship)

cast: bestie! saiki x black fem reader (kaidou, nendou, and kuboyasu cameo)

cw: light cursing, a call back to “get in bitch we’re going shopping” | wc: 612 . 3,164 char.

a/n: this is a different format from the previous two bestie saiki posts ikk, but you gotta let me cook with this one y’all !!

—

03 - his house

saiki is a homebody through and through, the sanctuary of his home (despite the ruckus his parents cause with all their requests) was undefeated. however, upon meeting you there was now an extra person in his home at all moments. it took some time - and i mean TIMEEE, to get used to you being all in his personal space like this.

you touched all his shit, ate his food, and annoyed him to the depths of hell and back, he absolutely hated having you over…or so he thought.

the more you swung by his house for movie nights, sleepovers, study sessions, whatever the case was. the more he valued your company- and you as a person to be truthful. it never set in to him how nice it was to have someone be present with him, even if it was just for a few hours and you guys didn’t talk much it still meant a lot to him.

maybe you weren’t that bad afterall.

—

02 - the mall

with saiki not being the biggest fan of outdoor excursions like this, the mall was somewhere you frequented. it could be for new clothes, new shoes, or more bags (which lets be honest…you didn’t need more of ANY of these items.)

but whenever you did go, saiki tagged right along with you. at first it was mainly due to the promise of coffee jelly right after your shopping spree, but as time passed and you two became closer, the promise of coffee jelly was just a plus. it was no longer an incentive to get him to go anywhere with you because these outings slowly became a routine for him. if you were going out he automatically came with and vice versa.

even if being in public was a hassle for him *cough cough psychic powers* he didn’t mind it too much anymore. of course he’d still complain like it was, but each trip to the mall with you was a new memory to cherish.

saiki didn’t mind the hassle all that much anymore.

—

01 - your house

your home environment was quite different from his own, it was quiet and peaceful. no unnecessary shouting or people constantly asking him for things, it was somewhere where he could actually relax and enjoy his time however he wished.

your room specifically is where he preferred to stay the most, your bed was comfy enough for him to fall straight asleep on and you never said a word when he did. not to mention all the snacks you had in hidden away in the cupboard right below your nightstand. it amazed him how often you kept everything stocked up for when you had friends over, nendou would eat all of it in a heartbeat if he saw it which is why he, kaidou, and kuboyasu had to stay on the hush hush about it.

the biggest reason he enjoyed being at your house so much was the fact you mentioned that you were picky on who you gave your time to. the fact he even got to take naps in your room whenever he pleased opened his eyes to how much you valued having him around, he felt honored even.

being in your life as much as you were in his - and enjoying it at that, is what solidified you as his best friend. and even if he didn’t say it often (or at all on most occasions) he enjoyed having you around as well. he enjoyed coming over, touching all your shit, eating your food, and annoying you to the depths of hell and back.

he enjoyed being your best friend.

—

production credits: thank you to @haksluvr for helping me work out the initial idea for this!!

tags: @morosis-haze @chinieh @jogeto @mypimpademia @miirene @milesmolasses | taglist

[tobiasdrake]

Final Origin: the Mage origin, which is the only origin available to two races but only one class, rather than two classes and one race.

The Circle of Magi exists as a response to the Tevinter Imperium. Indeed, sustaining its existence is a core function of the Chantry. Arguably its main function.

"Magic exists to serve man and not to rule over him." They speak these words as a mantra. It's unclear when exactly Andraste allegedly said this, given that she'd been super dead for over 150 years before the Chantry even formed.

According to Knight-Commander Greagoir here, she said this while she was casting down the Tevinter Imperium. This is not a thing that happened. Andraste's husband Maferath famously sold her out to the Tevinter Magisterium, who took her into custody and put her to death.

So that's. Just. A lie. The Chantry is lying. There was no big action hero moment where Andraste struck down Tevinter forever, ended all magical oppression, and delivered a badass one-liner about keeping the mages in line as she did it. This never happened.

Andraste, Maferath, and Shartan's revolution reshaped the map of Thedas for centuries to come. The end of the war was messy in the way that wars often are. Neither Andraste nor Maferath lived to see the formation of the Chantry in a country neither of them were even from.

And all of this is the foundation for why mages live in bondage. It's collective punishment for the unresolved hostility that still exists to this day between Tevinter and the Alamarri and Ciriane tribes.

It also doesn't actually mean shit.

The codex entry History of the Circle tells a very different and... depressingly realistic story of how the Circle of Magi truly came to be.

During the Divine Age, the first century of the Chantry, mages were originally just... workforce laborers. They were employed to light candles and dust rafters and other mundane tasks.

The mages in Val Royeaux staged a sit-in protest. They snuffed all the sacred flames, barricaded the cathedral, and refused to leave. Naturally, upon realizing the mages' discontent, Chantry leadership saw reason and--

No, I'm kidding. The Templars had to talk Divine Ambrosia down from declaring an Exalted March against her own cathedral and slaughtering every last protesting mage on the premises.

The protest lasted for 21 days and the end-result was the Circle of Magi.

That is the origin story of the Circle. It's a tense compromise between a group of mages who didn't want to work as serfs and an unhinged leader who wanted them all dead for defying her. Everything else is just rhetoric to justify a violent response to labor force unionization that's become normalized and perpetuated to this day.

Like the Grey Wardens, the Circle of Magi has its own top-secret initiation trial that no one must ever know. They feed mages to demons and then hire whoever survives.

Ostensibly, the Circle exists to minimize the risk of demon influence and possession over mages. In practice, every single Circle mage - every single one, no exceptions - has spent at least some time in an unmonitored space directly engaging in some way with a demon. By design.

So, dragged from your room and thrust unprepared into the Fade, the Mage origin begins. The Fade is populated by demons and by spirits.

The Mage is sent into the Fade for their Harrowing and the goal is to face down a demon and come back unpossessed.

It's kind of a shitshow, for the purpose that it's meant to fulfill.

Mouse is a character who introduces himself to the Mage pretty early into the Fade journey. He alleges to be an ex-mage who was killed by the Templars because his Harrowing took too long. He's actually a Pride Demon and so any personal anecdote he has to share is automatically unreliable since he was never there.

Weirdly, he's not the test? The Mage slays a Rage Demon and the Harrowing successfully ends shortly thereafter. Mouse just makes pithy comments about the perils of pride for... I guess educational purposes?

Does he--

Jowan, tell Elf Jowan to stop walking in front of my bunk. I'm trying to sort my thoughts.

Anyway, what was I saying? Right. Does he work here? Does the Circle keep a Pride Demon on staff to trick mages into trusting him and then harmlessly finger-wag at them and let them go? Because that violates so much of what the Harrowing is supposed to be about if so.

Though not nearly as much as the fact that you can chitchat with a Sloth Demon during the Harrowing and it works out great. They teach Mouse to become a bear and then Bear Form Mouse helps you defeat the Rage Demon with no drawbacks or downsides!

I persuaded a Sloth Demon to power up my best buddy Pride Demon and together we passed my Harrowing with flying colors! Communing with demons is fucking rad and I'm glad the Circle dragged me out of bed at night and forced me to learn that or I'd have never known.

And, again, this is the trial that every single mage in the Circle with no exceptions undergoes. Kinda explains a lot, don't it?

Of course, there's also the mages that get made Tranquil instead.

Tranquility was always an alarming concept. They break your connection to the Fade, ripping out your emotions and your dreams.

The context of Veilguard makes it all the more horrifying, when you realize that it's effectively the same thing as what the Evanuris did to the Titans. That shit created the Blight, and the Rite of Tranquility is cut from the same cloth.

I'm so glad we've managed to independently reinvent and mass-distribute one of the Dread Wolf's greatest shames.

Politics within the Circles are generally divided between four and a half factions.

Loyalists follow Chantry law to the letter.

Libertarians seek liberation from the Chantry, whatever that entails.

Isolationists want to live far, far away from civilization and never interact with anyone, which is basically what the Circle already is except without the murderous police state around every corner.

Lucrosians just wanna make bank, a concept that is... honestly confusing within the context of the Circle. We're confined to a tower; What are we supposed to spend the money on?

Those are the four key factions: Chantry Apologists, Revolutionaries, Aspiring Wildmen, and Inexplicable Capitalists.

Then there's the Aequitarians, whose political position is to make nice between the parties and not take any political positions. They're the Insufferable Centrist party.

Cullen is trying to flirt with me by telling me he would have stabbed me to death and then felt miserable about it if the Chantry ordered him to.

This is what passes for romance in the Circle Tower. In the Orzammar Palace, it was, "Want me to have that guy killed, dearest? My life for yours." In the Brecilian Forest, it was, "Let's go find ancient secrets and fuck up some humans, but as a couple!"

Here it's, "Apropos of nothing, that ritual we dragged you out of bed and forced you into against your will could have ended with my blade sticking out of your ribs. Want to go to dinner and discuss more pleasant ways you can be impaled?"

No thank you, Cullen. I don't date my would-be executioners. And by that I mean all Templars, not just the guy assigned to Guillotine Duty.

Jowan is sort of the payoff for the Pride Demon's inexplicable lesson. Like Mouse, Jowan is actually playing the Mage from the get-go. He fears that they intend to make him Tranquil due to rumors of him practicing blood magic.

The rumors are correct. Jowan is practicing blood magic.

In fact, he's phenomenal at it.

According to Greagoir, what Jowan pulls off here is a remarkably impressive feat of blood magic. They came here ready to counter a blood mage but weren't expecting a top-tier blood magister. Jowan's got a gift.

What makes this fun is that there are two ways this quest can go down. In either version, the Pride Demon's warning rings true. Either the Mage was a fool for trusting Jowan, or Jowan was a fool for trusting the Mage. One of these two made a mistake no matter how you slice it.

What we have with the Circle of Magi is a ticking time bomb, no matter what country you're in. The tension and hostility that exists between mages and their captors is so thick you can cut it with a knife.

Greagoir and Irving are probably the most civil that a Knight-Commander and a First Enchanter can be. And yet the tension is still there. Irving is under no illusions about the power dynamic at play and he fucking hates that he has to be all pretty smiles and civil decorum.

He has a spiteful loathing of the Chantry that comes out if you warn him about Jowan and Lily's conspiracy.

He knows they're gonna hang Jowan for this, metaphorically speaking, and he wants to hang Lily right next to Jowan.

Irving learns that one of his mages is so desperate to avoid being made Tranquil that he's going to try to escape. That Jowan and Lily are planning to run away together because they're in love.

And his response is, "The Chantry's going to take one of mine so I'm going to take one of theirs in return. The priestess bleeds too."

This kind of resentment, this bitterness, fear, and hopelessness, is what the Circle of Magi cultivates. Even their leaders are chomping at the bit to strike back at their captors in whatever ways they can.

It's manufacturing plant for mass-producing desperation in the very people the Chantry fears most.

[dapper-nahrwhale]

The fact that Spotify playlists don't automatically format into posts anymore sucks. Anyways. Woe, my mash playlist be upon ye [link]

[the-name-is-z]

SKELETONS | ch. 48

daryl dixon x f!oc

masterlist

a03 link

Summary: Rick, Daryl, Glenn and Bob lead an escape from Terminus, with outside help from an unexpected source. Warnings/Information: AMC's The Walking Dead OC Insert | 18+ Advised | strangers to lovers; the slowest of slow burns; gore; angst; horror; humour; m/f; threatening; casualties of innocents; imprisonment; discussion of assault and torture; reference/implications of cannibalism; explosions; discussions of a pandemic

Chapter 48 - Or High Water

“If they got problems, we got a chance.” Rick explained, looking around.

“Sounded like a bomb.” Glenn stated.

“Sounds like a damn war.” Daryl retorted. Rick directed them to the plethora of weapons left on a table to be used… on them.

“What the hell are these people?” Bob asked.

“They ain’t people.” Daryl answered. Bob made to stab the corpses in the brain, but Rick stopped him with a hand.

“Don’t. Let him turn.” He murmured. They moved into the hallway, following where Gareth had come and gone from. They moved past rooms caged off with rebar, a bloody, mangled torso hanging from a chain in the next room. There was more, buckets full of body parts, limbs. Smokers, drying racks. Like a damn meat factory. “Cross any of these people, you kill them. Don’t hesitate. They won’t.” 

Daryl broke off a long wooden handle from one of the smokers, thumbing over the sharp end. They moved do a door with a window, seeing into the yard they’d passed on their way in. The other shipping containers with people inside sat there, a few walkers scratching a the walls while people cried out from inside. 

“If we run, we can get by them.” Rick proposed. “They’re distracted.”

“We got to let those people out.” Glenn countered. Rick glanced at him warily and Glenn squared his jaw. “That’s still who we are. It’s gotta be.” Rick nodded, opening the door. They ran out quickly, falling into a formation as they split into the small swarm of walkers. Glenn grunted as he ran to the door, wrestling with the latch. He swung the door open, only for the man shouting from inside to nearly tackle him to the ground.

“We’re the same!” The man screamed, running over to Rick and grabbing him by the lapels. His face was covered in tattoos, his teeth covered by an ill-fitting grill. “We’re them!”

“Back off!” Rick grunted.

“We’re the same!” The man repeated, cackling. He looked wild, crazed, like he’d been in there for a while. Rick shoved him off, the man laughing slowly as he stepped away, only to be tackled to the ground and feasted upon by walkers. The group of four backed away, finding no one else in the container.

“Come on.” Rick called. Glenn paused, bashing both of their heads in with the bat before they went. More walkers flooded from around the corner, and Daryl grabbed the back of Glenn’s shirt, slamming him gently against the shipping container, out of their view. 

“We’ve got to double back.” Bob murmured.

“A is that way. We go back, we don’t know where we are.” Rick argued.

“We don’t really have a choice, do we?” Daryl grunted. They peered around the corner, gunshots taking out a few of the walkers that happened to be in their way.

“Wait here.” Rick instructed.

“Rick. Rick!” Bob called after him. Rick ducked behind the cover of an old car, watching as more walkers were taken out. He could see in the car’s mirror that there was a small group of people, making their way through the compound with automatic rifles, clearing the walkers out. He turned halfway back, seeing a walker over his shoulder, only for Daryl to put the handle of the smoker through it’s brain before Rick got eaten. The small convoy walked past, paying them no mind. 

Rick launched himself after the one bringing up the rear, stabbing him in the neck before commandeering his rifle. He then used the gun to put an end to the walkers as well as the others from Terminus. Not all of them were dead, but they were downed. Rick and Daryl nodded, turning to double back before they head to section A, the fading screams of their captors behind them.  

-

They sat in silence in the rail car as Eugene messed with the door, using the empty gas canister and a bullet shell. The walkers outside paid them little interest, and Iris hoped it would remain that way. She also hoped that Rick, Daryl, Glenn and Bob were still breathing. And not the unnecessary, raspy breathing that came from the walkers outside. But there were still plenty of gunshots, so she held out hope.

“What’s the cure, Eugene?” Sasha asked after a moment, looking up from sharpening her belt. 

“It’s classified.” He replied, staring straight down at whatever the hell he was doing. 

“We don’t know what’s gonna happen.” Michonne protested.

“You leave him be.” Abraham called. Iris frowned. In the very short few hours she’d known Eugene… she didn’t believe for a second he knew shit about anything going on. It was real easy nowadays to lie about what you did before, what you could bring to the table in exchange for a big lug of muscle to protect you until you got to where you wanted to go.

“We need to keep working.” Maggie called.

“Yeah, but it’s time to hear it.” Sasha said sharply. “‘Cause we don’t know what’s coming next.”

“What’s next is we get out of this.” Tara said defensively. Iris snorted. Tara didn’t know shit either. They might get out of this. And if they did, Tara was the one relying on them to protect her. She didn’t contribute much except extra hands to hold a gun. 

“Even if I told you all, even if I provided step-by-step instructions complete with illustrations and a well-composed FAQ and I went red-ring, the cure would still die with me.” Eugene explained.

“Really? Because we spent an awful lot of time at the CDC where we learned how this damn disease works, and I think I’m more the capable of putting two and two together.” Iris stated, narrowing her eyes at him. He swallowed, shrinking under her heavy gaze.

“If you’re so smart, then you head to DC and make a cure.” Tara retorted.

“There is no cure.” Iris hissed. 

“If he says there’s a cure, I’m gonna believe there’s a cure. And I’m getting him to DC. That’s all there is to it.” Abraham said firmly. Iris sucked on a tooth, sighing. Whatever. Maybe she was a cynical, glass-half-empty, pessimistic non-believer. But she’d survived this long, and she wasn’t about to convoy to get killed in the undeniable cesspool of walkers that likely was Washington, DC.

“The best case scenario, we step out into a hailstorm of bullets, fire, and walkers.” Eugene stated, moving the subject ever-so-slightly. “I’m not fleet-of-foot and I sure as hell can’t take a dead one down with sharp buttons and hella confidence.”

“Sounds like a party to me.” Iris replied, adjusting the grip she had on the two small knives she kept for herself. 

“We can and we will.” Michonne agreed, nodding to Iris.

“You don’t owe us anything.” Sasha conceded, standing up over Eugene. “Not yet. But we just want to hear it.”

“You don’t have to.” Rosita argued. Eugene barely looked up before pushing to his feet. He glanced around, taking a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow.

“I was part of a ten-person team at the Human Genome Project to weaponize diseases to fight weaponized diseases. Pathogenic microorganisms to fight pathogenic microorganisms. Fire with fire.” Eugene explained slowly. “Interdepartmental drinks were had, relationships made, information shared. I am keenly aware of all the details behind fail-safe delivery systems to kill every living person on this planet. I believe with a little tweaking on the terminals in DC, we can flip the script. Take out every last dead one of them. Fire with fire.” Iris raised an eyebrow. A lot of fancy words for a lot of simple things. And a convenient answer to their problem. She still didn’t buy it.

“So you three are gonna bust into the pentagon and release some unknown strain of smallpox that conveniently only kills walkers?” Iris asked. “Sounds great.”

“It will be.” Abraham said sharply, glaring at her. She put her hands up, turning away. She was in no mood or place to start an argument. If that was the plan, she’d let them go ahead and die trying. Or eventually realize Eugene was full of shit.

“All things being equal, it does sound pretty badass.” Eugene mused.

“So let’s get back to work.” Maggie suggested. They all paused as the door creaked, suddenly sliding open.

“Come on! Fight to the fence!” Rick yelled. He was covered in blood again, one of the Terminus guard’s rifles in hand as Daryl, Glenn and Bob held a circle of space around the door of the railcar.

“Go! Go! Go!” Glenn yelled. Iris ran to Daryl, and he offered her a lopsided smile. Well, sort of a smile. More of a look of confirmation. She nodded, following Rick as they broke through the herd, heading for the fence that once again seemed so close and so far. They took them out in swathes, Rosita stabbing a walker through the fence as they finally made it.

“Up and over!” She called. Iris wasted no time, pulling herself up the chain link and practically vaulting the whole thing. She had a lot of energy and now was the time to use it. Rosita followed after her, Abraham helping people step up as Iris helped them down from the other side.

“Let’s go, move, move, move!” Abraham yelled. Iris spied Gareth and a few others from Terminus run over on top of the roof, but Rick unloaded his clip on them, landing a few shots and covering their asses. He and Abraham were the last ones over, and they stood for a moment as the walkers slammed into the fence, clawing at it. Black smoke poured into the sky, every building now up in flames. 

Daryl immediately began to lead them into the forest, finding the spot Rick buried the weapons in record time. He uncovered a shovel Rick had left under a few leaves, tossing it over.

“The hell we still around here for?” Abraham asked impatiently. 

“Guns. Some supplies.” Rick answered, already having dug a sizeable hole in the ground. “Go along the fences. Use the rifles. Take out the rest of ‘em.”

“What?” Bob asked.

“They don’t get to live.” Rick emphasized. He unearthed the bag, practically ripping it open.

“Rick, we got out. It’s over.” Glenn insisted.

“It’s not over till they’re all dead.” Rick snapped. He pulled out the weapons, handing them out. Iris was more than thrilled to slip the knife harness over her shoulders. 

“The hell it isn’t. That place is on fire.” Rosita hissed. “Full of walkers.”

“I’m not dicking around with this crap.” Abraham said decidedly. “We just made it out.”

“The fences are down.” Maggie added. “They’ll run or die.” Rick huffed, standing straight. He said nothing, taking a moment to decide. Iris gasped loudly, running past him. She collided into Carol, who stood covered in walker guts, but with a gun, Daryl’s crossbow, and a belt of very familiar knives.

“It was you.” Iris said with a grin, holding her tighter. Carol offered a sad smile in return, glancing anxiously at the group. Daryl immediately ran over, wrapping them both in a tight hug. He breathed a sigh of relief, and Iris’ smile stretched wider. Carol’s did too. Carl, Maggie and Rick had large smiles on their faces, too. They came over, Rick’s voice breaking. 

“Did you do that?” Rick nearly whispered. Carol nodded, laughing lightly as Rick brought her into a tight hug. “Thank you.”

“You have to come with me.” She breathed as they pulled away. 

She didn’t say much else before leading them off into the forest. They followed her unflinchingly, Daryl happily reunited with his crossbow, Iris with her knives, and Rick with his wristwatch. Their actions were decided for them, immediately leaving Terminus and whoever was still inside to burn. They could all burn. 

They broke from the trees onto s small gravel road, following it up to a small, frankly pathetic-looking cabin. There was an old car parked out front, a rusty barbecue at the side. Just as they neared the shack, the door opened, a familiar face exiting with a bundle of bags and another familiar face in his arms. 

Rick nearly collapsed at the sight of Judith, dropping everything right then and there before he started running. Carl was close behind, followed by Sasha. Tyreese eagerly handed over the baby before being ambushed by his sister. They all cried softly, laughing with joy. Iris’s lips stretched wide as Rick pressed a kiss to the top of his daughter’s head. She hugged Carol again, Rick thanking Tyreese profusely, though with no words. A simple hand on each other's shoulder was more than enough. 

Judith, safely wrapped in her father’s arms, reached out, giggling with a bright smile at the group.

-

TAGLIST:

@heidiland05

@ryoujoking

@catlalice

@maxinehufflepuffprincess

@lowkeyhottho

@fadingpalacebonkpsychic

[epihlogue]

WELCOME TO BELLE'S LIBRARY, also known as EPIHLOGUE: an indie, selective, mutuals only MULTIMUSE. by belle. she/her, 30+. [ medium activity / queue based ] read the rules before following. this blog may contain dark themes. a mature audience is advised. this blog will only write with those 21+. minors dni.

✧ DIRECTORY / /

         navigation / memes / open starters / promo                                  @nationbended, @caebrera

LOUDEST MUSES / /

henry fox, merlin ambrosius, alex claremont-diaz, james williams, snow white, anakin skywalker, padmé amidala, cassandra owens, arthur pendragon, morgana le fay, ariel triton, caroline forbes, rose tyler, emma swan, alec lightwood, elena gilbert, the doctor

affiliates:

@magikborn, @dutyled, @wintersovereign, @hstoryhuh, @risenones, @inkdreamt, @forcenexus

currently reading: bury our bones in the midnight soil, the charm offensive

RULES & MUSES ALSO UNDER THE CUT / /

BELLE  //  30+  //  EST  //  SHE/HER

– hello there! you can call me belle, my pronouns are she/her. I'm 30+ and I am in the EST time zone. this is an independent and selective MULTIMUSE rp blog. this blog is a multifandom, multiverse, crossover, oc & duplicate friendly account. you'll find many fandoms here as well as original characters. I do expect all to be treated equally, regardless of gender or sexuality and I will do the same with your muses too. the tracked tag for this blog is #EPIHLOGUE. discord is available upon request. this is a twenty-one plus only account. minors do not interact.

 – I am mainly iconless except for times in which I decide to use them. I do also use small gifs from time to time. for formatting, I do use some bolds and italics on words that I feel like is fitting for them and I use small text. I am willing to use regular text as well if that is easier for my writing partners.

– for familial ocs, while I do write with them, I will not automatically have my character know them. more often than not, I see familial ocs changing a canon's background and I do not like that. so this is a case by case basis. that being said, however, I will write with canon family members of characters no question asked. 

– I don't support the content creators of certain fandoms that may be seen here. this post that I have shared is important to this.

– drama, callouts, cancel culture and the like are not welcome here. rp is meant to be a fun writing experience, let's keep it that way. there is a block button for a reason, please use it if you need to instead of stirring up drama.

– If something is triggering to you & you would like it to be tagged, please don't be afraid to politely ask me to tag it. For tagged triggers I will use #TRIGGER CW. I currently do not have any triggers to be tagged.please note that the views of my character are not my own personal views. OOC=/=IC.

– PLEASE SPECIFY MUSE. if you are responding to a starter call or sending me a meme, it is very helpful to me for you to specify the muse. the same goes for if you are a multimuse blog as well, this just makes everything easier. 

– REBLOG FROM THE SOURCE. I do not like my notifications being cluttered, so please reblog from the source. you can now click on the three dots and it'll take you to the source that way.

– FADE TO BLACK IS PREFERRED. romance leading up to spice is okay. spice may be referenced on occasion. I may on rare occasions write spice, but that will be with only the rare select few muns that I am familiar with. that also being said, I do love writing romance, pun intended, fade to black for spicy times is just preferred. 

– if you decide to unfollow me, please softblock or hardblock me as that is a mixed signal on if you want to interact or not when I see that I am still following your blog. I will follow through and do the same if need be so that there is little confusion in the case of unfollowing.

– sometimes I don't follow blogs back for reasons like: no age range listed anywhere, not tagging posts, not cutting posts, etc. I do always read rules before following, as I hope everyone is doing the same here too.

– font credit in recent promo: PEACHES & CREAM by waatsoned.

– pinned post main graphic template by jessource.

–psd by: BRODY by 000-PSD. <3 & easy brightening psd by iridescentides.

– YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE RULES! Thank you so much for reading the rules and thank you for your patience! I look forward to writing with you and your muse(s). ♡

MUSES / /

     literature.

alec lightwood / shadowhunters / canon magnus bane / shadowhunters / canon clary fairchild / shadowhunters / canon alex claremont-diaz / rwrb / canon henry fox / rwrb / canon nora hollera / rwrb / canon beatrice fox / rwrb / canon philip fox / rwrb / canon isabella swan / the twilight saga / canon divergent edward cullen / the twilight saga / canon divergent haymitch abernathy / the hunger games / canon katniss everdeen / the hunger games / canon divergent penelope featherington / bridgerton / canon kate sheffield / bridgerton / canon anthony bridgerton / bridgerton / canon alina starkov / shadow and bone / canon divergent feyre archeron / acotar / canon hayes campbell / the idea of you / canon divergent solene marchand / the idea of you / canon divergent alice quinn / the magicians / canon divergent julia wicker / the magicians / canon divergent quentin coldwater / the magicians / canon divergent violet sorrengail / fourth wing / canon xaden riorson / fourth wing / canon lucy pevensie / narnia / canon divergent peter pevensie / narnia / canon divergent susan pevensie / narnia / canon divergent

     media.

merlin ambrosius / arthurian legends / canon arthur pendragon / arthurian legends / canon morgana le fay / arthurian legends / canon divergent guinevere smith / arthurian legends / canon sophia tir mor / arthurian legends / canon divergent mia thermopolis / the princess diaries / canon divergent elena gilbert / the vampire diaries / canon divergent caroline forbes / the vampire diaries / canon divergent bonnie bennett / the vampire diaries / canon divergent emma swan / ouat / canon divergent regina mills / ouat / canon ariel triton / ouat&disney / canon fa mulan / ouat&disney / canon snow white / ouat&disney / canon divergent zelda / tloz / canon divergent clara fontaine / fortnite / canon the doctor (9-15) / doctor who / canon divergent rose tyler / doctor who / canon divergent martha jones / doctor who / canon amelia pond / doctor who / canon divergent clara oswald / doctor who / canon divergent ruby sunday / doctor who / canon anakin skywalker / star wars / canon padme amidala / star wars / canon divegent / lived!au elphaba thropp / wicked / canon glina upland / wicked / canon daenerys targaryen / game of thrones / canon divergent

     original characters.

nicholas manning / warlock cassandra owens / warlock james williams / professor felix davenport / werewolf margaret wilson / queen veronica prescott / detective esther hawthorne / vampire elias cabrera / prince priya savant / nanny

muses with bios have clickable links.

[mikiquette]

MIKI. — you are the main character of your own fairytale.

oc blog. muse/admin 21+, time-zone gmt+8. penned by @sunmerberrie. links and rules under the cut, please read below before interacting!

— &&. general content.

This blog serves primarily as an archive of content pertaining to my OC, "Miki", and especially contains selfship/yumeship content.

This includes: art, oc headcanons/lore, selfship headcanons/lore, selfship drabbles/oneshots, aesthetics, roleplays. Content will be tagged accordingly.

REGARDING ROLEPLAYS ; currently "love and deepspace" is the only verse that is active for roleplay. please be sure to read through the rules below before interacting.

— &&. links/navigation.

admin/operator's everything blog: @sunmerberrie admin/operator's art blog: @cloudxxiia admin/operator's fandom/writing blog: @solifloris other rps (low activity): @kaianqelic @thomasicism @celestialmessage

oc info + verse masterlist rp thread trackerrp memes

— &&. general tags.

blog navigation — navigation about miki — of the muse suggestive posts — cw. suggestive. explicit posts — cw. explicit. queued posts — queue'll be in my heart admin art — admin art 🤍 admin writing — adminwrites 🤍 admin covers — adminsings🤍

selfship content — of the selfship caleb x miki (l&ds) — calmiki ✨ ellis x miki (ikevil) — nightberry ✨ joshua x miki (ff16) — berryflame ✨ kenma x miki (haikyuu) — mikken ✨ (other selfships tba)

out of character — behind the cloud. ooc roleplay — once upon a time reblogs — true love's kiss (reblog) rp meme prompts — a whole new world (prompts) answered — wish upon a star (inbox) rp end — happily ever after (the end) thoughts — a dream is a wish your heart makes moments posts — tale as old as time (moments) main verse — mirror mirror... secondary verse — part of your world

— &&. roleplay rules.

GENERAL

Roleplay on this blog prioritizes my (the admin's) comfort. This means that [1] I may answer slowly/sporadically according to life events; and, [2] I reserve the right to refuse to answer (and therefore delete) any asks that I do not feel comfortable with answering. Please respect my decision and don't take it personally, this is simply for my own personal comfort!

DO NOT...

----- a) Follow or interact if you are either a minor or a blog without any age indicator. If I catch you, you will automatically be blocked!

----- b) Use any writing or art visible on this blog (whether by me or by others) for AI training or other related purposes.

----- c) Godmod in roleplays, or otherwise dictate any actions/thoughts of my muse (Miki) during roleplays.

----- d) Spread negativity, drama, discourse, or disrespect. Please let's all be kind; avoid hate, shaming, the use of slurs or derogatory terms, etc!

FORMAT

You may interact with Miki through asks (whether through anon or not), mentions, replies, reblogs, etc! This blog is mirrored-lit. This means that you are free to interact using shorthand prose, semi-para, multi-para, lit, or semi-lit, or however else you see fit. Whichever way you interact, I will match you!

INTERACTIONS

For now, the only verse Miki has active for roleplay is Love & Deepspace. Anyone in the Love & Deepspace universe may interact with her, including other OCs or canon characters. Miki may branch out into other fandoms someday, but for now she stays within the L&DS universe! I may be selective and I'm more inclined to roleplay with mutuals, but feel free to reach out whenever via DMs!

SHIPS

Miki is primarily shipped with Caleb, secondarily with Zayne. If you wish to establish romantic ships with her as either a canon character or an OC, please discuss with me beforehand! I may be selective, but I'm totally open to hearing out possible dynamics~

NOTE that each ship will be considered in its own universe. You may refer to her verses page.

NSFW

Admin is 21+ years old, and interactions that are NSFW (sexual) in nature will definitely be present. Such content will be tagged appropriately, and nsfw (explicit) roleplay replies will be hidden under either a mature filter or a read more button. PLEASE PLEASE BE CAREFUL OF THE MEDIA YOU CONSUME!

----- Suggestive content : cw. suggestive. ----- Explicit content : cw. explicit.

ART

If sharing art into my asks or tagging me in something, please be careful. CHECK FIRST if the artist allows reposts. If they do not, please only share the art via a link ONLY and do not share the image itself. If they do, please always credit back via a link and a username. Let's respect our lovely artists! (And again, please do not use any writing or art visible on this blog, whether by me or by others, for AI training or other related purposes.)

OPERATOR SPEAKS

This blog is operated by @sunmerberrie. Content will remain mostly in-character; however, if necessary, OOC-related content will be indicated by the following:

----- Posts beginning as: "☁️; text" ----- Posts tagged with: "behind the cloud. ooc" ----- Replies/tags formatted as: "(text)"

[hulloitsdani]

Okay so the idea of a Kiran and Grima friendship dynamic is honestly one of my favorites in FEH.

Grima as a character was always intriguing to me, but he only became downright fascinating in retrospect of FE: Echoes. Seeing where he came from made his rather two dimensional villainy in Awakening gain a surprising amount of perspective and depth. This is a creature made purely out of a man’s insane hubris and was cursed to walk this earth for thousands of years as a result. He’s essentially Fire Emblem’s version of Frankenstein’s monster. This gave Awakening’s nature vs nurture narrative a significantly more fascinating base to stand on. Made it a bit more character driven, as you can begin to see why Grima holds the perspective that he does. However, there has yet to be a proper scenario in which we get to sit with him and explore the ideas that promises.

Which is exactly why I love the idea of Grima and Kiran. I do not think their dynamic should be dedicated to redeeming Grima via the power of friendship, as that’s more Awakening and Chrom’s brand. But rather, I think Grima getting summoned to Askr would shift the focus of nature vs nurture away from Robin and onto Grima himself. Robin got the chance to question this via their amnesia and now Grima gets to question this via this second start in a world wildly different from the one he walked for lifetimes. And Kiran acts as the off putting yet well meaning embodiment for what that could possibly mean. They are a weird, pitifully weak creature who has somehow succeeded where the scientist that made him and no doubt countless others after him have failed: They have the capacity to control Grima. This automatically means Grima has no intention to let them live for long, but they hardly have the same goals as those ambitious fools. Outside the demands of every conflict the Order finds itself caught up in, Kiran only uses their power to have interesting conversations with weird company. And when I say “use their power” I mean have tea with malicious dragon deity without loosing their head.

It’s hardly enough to get him to stop him from plotting a murder, as it’s only a matter of time before this goes south in his eyes. But it’s… intriguing to see such a comparably unmotivated individual in a position of such extreme power. The piqued curiosity leads to a the formation of a genuine bond as Mr. Wings of Despair Breath of Ruin realizes, “oh shit, I’ve encountered a being I don’t want immediately dead” and has a major existential crisis about it. It’s adjacent to Power and Nyaako from Chainsaw Man, but instead of a cat is Grima is watching this chaotic tactician earnestly fumble their way through this position thrusted upon them. And despite the light years of difference between the both of them, these two come to an understanding of one another that isn’t quite feasible by anyone else.

Meanwhile cut to the outside looking in perspective and this all looks downright insane. Kiran has befriended Fire Emblem satan. Has tea with him sometimes. It’s chill. Don’t worry about it. They say to Alfonse, who is realizing there is something not quite hinged about his tactician. Anna is crying because how the FUCK are they going to house a dragon the size of a mountain range. Sharena has been making cookies to go with the tea to give to the god of ruin this whole time.

[gaylightisminetocommand]

When I was idk 12 I spent way too much time on Pinterest looking at screenshots of iconic/funny Tumblr posts. I became so accustomed to this internet subculture that every time something funny happened I would automatically mentally format it in the style of a 10k note Tumblr post. When I eventually became aware that I did this, I then wrote in my head a Tumblr post about this very scenario, that I would ideally post upon acquiring an actual Tumblr account, along the lines of: 'when I was a kid I used to make Tumblr posts in my head and this was one of them and now I'm finally actually posting it'.

But of course, I never posted it.

And now here I am, with Tumblr, at long last... posting the post that has existed in my mind for years.

So anyway that was my childhood what did you guys get up to

[miki-files]

MIKI — you are the main character of your own fairytale.

oc blog. muse/admin 21+, timezone gmt+8. likes & follows from @kaianqelic, penned by @sunmerberrie. links and rules under the cut, please read below first!

— &&. rules.

GENERAL

This blog prioritizes my (the admin's) comfort. This means that [1] I may answer slowly/sporadically according to life events; and, [2] I reserve the right to refuse to answer (and therefore delete) any asks that I do not feel comfortable with answering. Please respect my decision and don't take it personally, this is simply for my own personal comfort!

DO NOT...

----- a) Follow or interact if you are either a minor or a blog without any age indicator. If I catch you, you will automatically be blocked!

----- b) Use any writing or art visible on this blog (whether by me or by others) for AI training or other related purposes.

----- c) Godmod in roleplays, or otherwise dictate any actions/thoughts of my muse (Miki) during roleplays.

----- d) Spread negativity, drama, discourse, or disrespect. Please let's all be kind; avoid hate, shaming, the use of slurs or derogatory terms, etc!

FORMAT

You may interact with Miki through asks (whether through anon or not), mentions, replies, reblogs, etc! This blog is mirrored-lit. This means that you are free to interact using shorthand prose, semi-para, multi-para, lit, or semi-lit, or however else you see fit. Whichever way you interact, I will match you!

INTERACTIONS

Miki is primarily a Love & Deepspace OC for now, so anyone in the Love & Deepspace universe may interact with her, including other OCs or canon characters. Miki may branch out into other fandoms someday, but for now she stays within the L&DS universe!

SHIPS

Miki is primarily shipped with Caleb, secondarily with Zayne. If you wish to establish romantic ships with her as either a canon character or an OC, please discuss with me beforehand! I may be selective, but I'm totally open to hearing out possible dynamics~

NOTE that each ship will be considered in its own universe. You may refer to the tags and verses below.

DMs

I am very much open to DMs for plotting! Please don't feel shy to reach out to me whenever! 🥰

NSFW

Admin is 21+ years old, and interactions that are NSFW (sexual) in nature will definitely be present. Such content will be tagged appropriately, and nsfw (explicit) roleplay replies will be hidden under either a mature filter or a read more button. PLEASE PLEASE BE CAREFUL OF THE MEDIA YOU CONSUME!

----- Suggestive content : cw. suggestive. ----- Explicit content : cw. explicit.

ART

If sharing art into my asks or tagging me in something, please be careful. CHECK FIRST if the artist allows reposts. If they do not, please only share the art via a link ONLY and do not share the image itself. If they do, please always credit back via a link and a username. Let's respect our lovely artists! (And again, please do not use any writing or art visible on this blog, whether by me or by others, for AI training or other related purposes.)

OPERATOR SPEAKS

This blog is operated by @sunmerberrie. Content will remain mostly in-character; however, if necessary, OOC-related content will be indicated by the following:

----- Posts beginning as: "☁️; text" ----- Posts tagged with: "behind the cloud. ooc" ----- Replies/tags formatted as: "(text)"

— &&. tags.

GENERAL

about miki — of the muse out of character — behind the cloud. ooc suggestive posts — cw. suggestive. explicit posts — cw. explicit. queued posts — queue'll be in my heart reblogs — true love's kiss (reblog) prompts — a whole new world (prompts) answered — wish upon a star (inbox) roleplay — once upon a time rp end — happily ever after (the end) thoughts — a dream is a wish your heart makes moments posts — tale as old as time (moments) main verse — mirror mirror... secondary verse — part of your world

[put-me-out-of-my-destiny]

For a while now, I've been talking about expanding Dante's kit by granting him new Styles on top of his traditional four. Today, I'm making a comprehensive post explaining all ten of Dante's styles. That may sound like a lot, but it's worth noting that the player isn't expected to use all ten of them at once, and wouldn't even be able to on a first playthrough. Many of these styles are redundant anyway.

Swordmaster and Gunslinger both grant new attacks, Trickster and Redshifter both allow Dante to evade attacks and close distance, Lucifer and Nevan both act more-or-less as additional weapons, Dark Knight and Doppelganger both allow Dante to command attacks autonomously from his body, and even Quicksilver could be considered a defensive/recovery style like Royal Guard.

Let's begin:

Returning Styles

All of these styles, in one form or another, featured in Devil May Cry 5, and have only partially changed since that incarnation. Thus, they require minimal explanation.

Dark Knight

Dark Knight is essentially Devil Sword Dante's Swordmaster moveset from Devil May Cry 5, made into its own Style. It has the exact same moveset, except for the removal of Dance Macabre.

Instead, performing the input Back-To-Forward + Style will cause Dante to activate Sword Formation, granting various passive benefits to each of Dante's other styles for a limited time (that's why I'm explaining this style first). This costs two bars from the DT gauge, unless activated during Devil Trigger. Sword Formation's time limit will also be temporarily paused during Devil Trigger.

Performing the input a second time will activate Sword Reinforcement, which simply buffs each of Sword Formation's passive benefits by increasing the count of Dante's summoned swords from four to eight.

Swordmaster

Swordmaster functions the way it always has, providing a second move list for each of Dante's Devil Arms.

Because Devil Sword Dante's original Swordmaster moveset has been made into the Dark Knight style, I've already made a brand new Swordmaster moveset for the sword, linked here. I'm actually very proud of it :3.

Sword Formation: Chaser

All of Dante's melee attacks will be automatically followed and supplemented by attacks from his summoned swords. Under Sword Reinforcement, these swords will be doubled, giving their attacks superior breadth.

Gunslinger

Gunslinger has the same function as before, providing a second move list for each of Dante's Firearms. However, there are some minor changes, most notable in Ebony & Ivory's moveset.

Twosome Time and Honeycomb Fire would be added to the pistols' standard moveset, with the former initiated with the input Back-To-Forward + Gun, and the later initiated by holding forward on the analog stick during Twosome Time. These moves, or moves like them, are accessible with Dante's one-handed firearms, like Coyote-A and whichever gauntlet-mounted firearm he ends up using, with Ebony occupying his left hand.

Upon switching to the Gunslinger Style, each of his pistols has a distinct moveset. With the Style button, Ivory grants access to various spraying attacks, as well as Rainstorm. Rainstorm now only uses Ivory, though Dante will also fire Ebony if the player mashes the Gun button during the attack.

Speaking of, the Gun button is used to fire Ebony, and to perform various penetrating and ricocheting shots, similar to those fired by Spiral in Devil May Cry 3. This moveset is also accessible while using one-handed firearms like Coyote-A or Dante's gauntlet-mounted firearm.

Sword Formation: Interceptor

Summoned swords will fire automatically, negating energy projectiles and attacking nearby enemies. Under Sword Reinforcement, these swords fire at twice the rate.

Royal Guard

Royal Guard is very similar to its appearance in Devil May Cry 5, albeit with some new moves and properties.

Royal Revenge has been moved to the input Back-To-Forward + Style. Backward + Style will now cause Dante to perform an Upward Release or a Downward Release, similar to his Forward Release, depending on whether he's on the ground or in the air.

All of Dante's release moves should only consume one bar from the Royal Gauge, except when the player holds the Style button, in which case he will use the entire gauge.

Sword Formation: Escort

Summoned swords float near Dante, helping him to block attacks, reducing damage and contributing to the Royal Gauge. Under Sword Reinforcement, these effects are simply doubled.

Trickster

This style retains its dash as well as Mustang from Devil May Cry 5, along with the wall-run mechanic from Devil May Cry 3. However, Air Trick and Ground Trick are now a part of the Redshifter style.

Sword Formation: Reactor

Dante can dash at a faster rate, and gains an additional dash he can use in the air before touching the ground or using Enemy Step. Sword Reinforcement simply improves this effect, further increasing the rate of dashing, and adding another air dash.

New Styles

Though all of the following styles draw inspiration from previous games, they are altered enough to require detailed explanation.

Redshifter

A style that allows Dante to quickly cover long distances, more instantaneously than he can with Trickster, but with less fluidity.

Moves List:

Style: Ground Shift

Dante teleports forward a short distance, reappearing on the ground. This move can be repeated at a faster rate during Devil Trigger.

Forward + Style: Air Shift

Dante teleports forward a short distance, reappearing at an elevation slightly higher than his target. This move can be used once before touching the ground or using Enemy Step. This increases to two uses during Devil Trigger.

Down + Style: Back Shift

Dante teleports backward a short distance, reappearing on the ground. This move can be repeated at a faster rate during Devil Trigger.

Back-To-Forward + Style: Up Shift

Dante teleports straight upward a considerable distance. This move can be used once before touching the ground or using Enemy Step. This increases to two uses during Devil Trigger.

Sword Formation: Anchor

Summoned swords appear at certain points relative to Dante. One hovers a far distance in front of him, or at whatever target he is locked onto if it is closer. One hovers at the same far distance, at a slightly higher elevation than whatever target he is locked onto, or just above whatever target he is locked onto if it is closer. One hovers a far distance behind Dante. One hovers an extreme distance directly above Dante.

This Sword Formation allows Dante to teleport a much further distance when he holds the Style button during Redshifter moves.

Sword Reinforcement adds a second summoned sword to each position, and allows Dante to Air Shift and Up Shift twice before touching the ground or using Enemy Step.

Quicksilver

A style returning from Devil May Cry 3, now expanded beyond a replacement for Devil Trigger.

Quicksilver allows Dante to exert control over the flow of time, allowing himself to manage and recover from intense situations.

Each Quicksilver move has its own cooldown period, and each cooldown period varies in length.

Quicksilver moves apply a photo-negative filter to all slowed enemies, unlike the blue filter applied to enemies slowed by Ragtime or Vergil's Elder Geryon devil arm (see this post and the one linked within it), to emphasize that Dante's power is derived from a different demon of the same species.

Moves List:

Style: Slow Touch

Dante reaches out with a pointed finger, touching and slowing a single target. This move has the longest duration and the shortest cooldown of any other Quicksilver moves.

Forward + Style: Slow Sphere

Dante launches a projectile at a target, creating a sphere slowing his target and any nearby enemies. This move has a moderate duration and cooldown.

Backward + Style: Slow Dome

Dante creates a wide, short dome around himself, slowing any enemies inside of it. This move has a short duration, and a long cooldown.

Backward + Style (air): Slow Globe

Dante creates a large sphere around himself, slowing any enemies inside of it. This move shares a cooldown with Slow Dome, and has the same duration.

Back-To-Forward + Style: Rewind

Dante rewinds time by a few seconds, restoring lost Health, Devil Trigger, Sin Devil Trigger, Royal Gauge, Style, and Orbs. This also reverts the Health and Armor of enemies to its previous state, and restores lost time in the Bloody Palace. This move can be performed in the air. It has the longest cooldown of any Quicksilver move.

Sword Formation: Tracker

Summoned Swords appear behind Dante, creating a formation similar to the hands of a clock, with each hand ticking in correspondence with the cooldown of one of Dante's Quicksilver moves.

This will cause all Quicksilver moves' cooldown periods to become shorter, increase the duration of all Quicksilver effects, and increase the time window for the Quadruple S skill.

Sword Reinforcement will add four summoned swords forming a rhombus-shaped pattern behind the ticking swords, representing the edges of a clock. This will simply double the benefits of the Tracker formation.

Nevan

A devil arm returning from Devil May Cry 3. Since it's more traditional, melee attacks have been added to the sword moveset linked above, this weapon has been adapted into a style.

Moves List:

Hold Style: Tune-Up

Dante enters a stance, and begins strumming his guitar. Tune-Up can be initiated in the air, all Tune-Up moves can be performed in the air, and Dante's falling speed will be reduced slightly while it is active.

Hold Style (during Tune-Up): Chorus

Based on Nevan Combo 1 from Devil May Cry 3. Several bat swarms appear around Dante, then flies forward all at once, attacking enemies.

Left (during Tune-Up): Solo Act

Dante fires a single bat swarm.

Right (during Tune-Up): Soundwave

Dante strums his guitar, and creates a circular shockwave around himself.

Back (during Tune-Up): Bat Rift

Dante swings his guitar upward, and plays it behind his back, summoning several bat swarms that fire all at once.

Forward (during Tune-Up): Distortion

Dante's guitar transforms as he plays, and summons one giant bat swarm.

Forward + Style: Reverb Shock

Dante slides forward on his knees, summoning and firing several bat swarms.

Back-To-Forward + Style: Jam Session

Dante drops to his knees and performs a guitar solo, creating a damaging area of effect around himself.

Sword Formation: ...Groupie?

I'll freely admit this is one style I don't have an idea for. Perhaps someone who knows more about guitars, bats, or lightning could give me an idea.

Lucifer

Another returning and repurposed devil arm, this time from Devil May Cry 4.

This devil arm generates darts that impale enemies, which can be detonated for additional damage. 15 darts can be summoned at a time, and they will detonate automatically after a time period.

I think for this iteration of the devil arm, the red glow of the darts should be more understated, to help them stand out from Dante's summoned swords more.

Moves List:

Style: Lucifer Combos

Pressing the Style button allows the player to perform Lucifer Combos A, B, C, D, and E.

Style (air): Splash

Dante flips in the air, placing darts in front of himself in a Revolver-like arrangement, with two darts on each side of himself.

Back + Style: Ecstasy

Dante throws forward a rose, instantly detonating all darts. This move can be performed in the air.

Forward + Style: Pin-Up

Dante summons a wide row of darts right in front of himself.

Hold, Release Style: Discipline

Any darts already summoned are recalled to Dante's position, before shooting at a target straight ahead of Dante.

Back + Hold, Release Style: Climax

Any darts already summoned are recalled to Dante's position, surrounding and pointing away from himself.

Forward + Hold, Release Style: Bondage

Any darts already summoned are recalled to Dante's target's position, aiming at it before shooting themselves at it.

Sword Formation: Wingman

Summoned swords will appear alongside Lucifer's darts, and act as additional darts, impaling enemies and detonating along with them. Unlike the darts, these swords will disappear when Sword Formation ends or when Dante switches to another style.

Sword Reinforcement simply doubles the amount of summoned swords added.

Doppelganger

Another style returning from Devil May Cry 3, now expanded beyond a replacement for Devil Trigger.

Pressing the Style button will briefly summon Dante's Doppelganger to attack, with the basic moveset of either Dante's currently equipped devil arm or Dante's currently equipped firearm, in similar fashion to Dark Knight's summoned sword attacks.

Devil Trigger and Sin Devil Trigger are unavailable while Dante is in this style, and holding the DT button will grant Dante access to commands for his Doppelganger.

Unlike Vergil's ghostly blue Devil Clone, Dante's Doppelganger should appear as a shadowed version of himself, to emphasize that it is a power granted by a conquered demon and not a product of Dante's own power.

Doppelganger Commands:

Hold DT + D-Pad Down: Summon

This summons Dante's Doppelganger. The Doppelganger will mimic Dante's devil arm and firearm attacks, and consume DT as long as it is active. Pressing the command again while the Doppelganger is active will simply recall it to Dante's side.

The Doppelganger will remain active when Dante switches styles, and Devil Trigger will still be inaccessible, leaving Dante with access to the Doppelganger commands.

Hold DT + Hold D-Pad Down: Banish

Performing this command while the Doppelganger is active will banish it, ending its consumption of DT.

Banishing the Doppelganger while in another style will restore Dante's access to Devil Trigger and Sin Devil Trigger.

Hold DT + D-Pad Left: Cycle Speed

Dante's Doppelganger has three speed settings, each causing the summoned Doppelganger to attack at varying degrees of delay.

Hold DT + D-Pad Up: Cycle Sword/Gun

This command determines which moveset the Doppelganger attacks with when the player presses the Style button.

Hold DT + D-Pad Right: Switch Target

This command causes the summoned Doppelganger to target an enemy other than the one Dante himself is targeting.

Sword Formation: Mirror

Summoned swords appear on the opposite side of Dante from his Doppelganger, in a pattern sort of like a skeleton or a stick figure, and project a faint, ghostly red copy of Dante around them. See the extremely rough mock-up below:

This copy will act as a second Doppelganger, attacking mimicking its every action, albeit doing significantly less damage. Sword Reinforcement, however, increases its damage to be on par with the true Doppelganger.

Style Wheels

As stated above, the player wouldn't be expected to (nor able to, initially) use all ten styles at once.

By default, the player would be limited to just four styles, as is tradition:

Then, the player would be able to unlock a new Style Wheel, which can hold a fifth style, in similar fashion to Darkslayer from Devil May Cry 4:

Later, perhaps after having completed a playthrough, the player can unlock a wheel that holds eight styles, with the additional four being selected by pressing a direction on the pad twice, similar to how Quicksilver and Doppelganger are selected in the Nintendo Switch port of Devil May Cry 3:

Then the player could unlock a version that holds nine styles, which regains the middle style from the five-style wheel, but also holds four diagonal styles which can be selected by pressing two perpendicular directions simultaneously:

Finally, the player can unlock a wheel holding ten styles. It's just like the former, but there are now two middle styles, one only accessible from the four main directions, and the other only accessible from the four diagonal directions:

[archoneddzs15]

PC Engine - Far East of Eden - Tengai Makyo Ziria

Title: Far East of Eden - Tengai Makyo Ziria / 天外魔境 ZIRIA [非売品]

Developer/Publisher: RED / Hudson Soft

Release date: 30 June 1989

Catalogue No.: HCD9005

Genre: RPG

Format: CD-ROM2

Tengai Makyou Ziria was one of those killer apps that cemented the status of the PC Engine CD addon in Japan in 1989 and it's easy to see why. The game's opening must have been truly stunning when it was first released. It tells the story of how the warlord Masakado attempted to take over the world of Jipang with an army of demons but was ultimately thwarted by the brave heroes of the fire clan. Skip to several centuries later and it seems demons have appeared once again. Our main character Jiraiya is apparently a descendent of the fire clan and is thus set upon a quest by his master the toad sage to find the other descendants and defeat the demon army once again.

Right off the bat, you can tell that much care went into the animated cutscenes and the voice acting is top-notch. It gives the game a lot of its atmosphere, fleshes out many of its important characters, and makes your party members relatable. There is quite a lot of voice acting, meaning many of the music tracks in the game are chiptunes. These are all well done, though, emulating classical Japanese instruments and tunes well. There is enough variation here to make sure it doesn't outstay its welcome either.

The game world of Jipang is very much based on feudal Japan, featuring many of the same regions and famous locations like Edo, albeit in a different geographical layout. You will travel from town to town basically helping the local feudal lord deal with their demon problem before moving on to the next region. Meanwhile, there are a good amount of region random encounters along the way, with a bit of grinding involved upon entering a region to get your equipment and level up to par. The encounter rate and amount of grinding feels lenient, especially compared to some other RPGs of the time.

The battles themselves can go by quickly or slowly and there's an option to increase text scrolling speed which will make random battles much more enjoyable. Enemy sprites don't have much animation, but they are detailed and there is a wide variety of them. You won't see many palette swaps and there are many different backgrounds based upon the environment the battle takes place in. This genuinely made me curious to see which enemies and backgrounds I would see in a new area. Sadly, the highly detailed backgrounds would not make it into the sequel.

Boss fights are noteworthy because the bosses themselves are incredibly detailed. This is achieved by drawing the boss sprites as an entire background in combat. Which allows for detailed art and animations. Furthermore, bosses usually require a precise strategy or key item which you will have to discover before fighting them. Usually, townsfolk will give you hints to this end, so nothing comes out of left field.

Some mechanics were standard practice at the time that do age the game a little. The I button brings up the menu, which also includes the 'talk' and 'search' options, so you can't search or talk automatically as you would in later RPGs. This is something the sequel fixes. There's also no way of seeing which stat changes a piece of equipment will give you before buying them or even when equipping them, so it's best to save your game before buying any new equipment and be sure to check out your characters' stats before and after equipping something new. This is again something the sequel does fix. Thankfully holding down the II button lets you run, making traversing towns and dungeons much quicker than they would otherwise be.

The way you learn magic in this game is different from other RPGs. Instead of leveling up, finding spellbooks, or buying them in some fashion, the land is riddled with shrines to local spirit animals that serve as guardian deities. These have been sealed by the demon clan and can only be freed by your party members after which they will grant you a new spell. Many of these are optional, but some are mandatory as part of the plot. All of them are useful, however, so it's recommended to seek all of them out. One of the things I found disappointing was that you spend quite a bit of time by yourself before gaining new party members. In fact, you'll gain some temporary allies that you don't directly control in battle, but other than that you'll only gain 3 permanent party members across a 30-hour game.

Overall, the game is fairly big for the time but doesn't outstay its welcome and the storyline is enjoyable, if predictable. The setting and presentation are really what set it apart and it's easy to see why this game blew the minds of Japanese gamers back in 1989. It's interesting to check out for that reason alone. There are guides online to help you get through the game and this game definitely gets a recommendation.