#circular LED display

[ledcomsvisual]

Indoor circular LED display screen - LEDCOMS

[eyelambspider]

𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝. - König

Part One || Part Two

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 : The WX 400 model, or König, had been sitting in a Cyberlife store for nearly six months without so much as a glance from customers. He had been repurposed from a hard laborer to a sort of domestic care-giver... but the thing was, consumers only wanted the newer models. Until you came by. 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 : 1.2 k 𝐚/𝐧 : consider this my masterpiece, probably will write a second part 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 : fluff, hurt/comfort(?), domestic fluff

𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐘𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐄. From the sleek tiled floors, to the large window panes that were cleaned daily, to the Androids that stood on display within.

On white pedestals, circled with fluorescent tags and holograms indicating their model numbers and generic purposes: Domestic housekeepers, caretakers, companions. Smaller synthetic machines that had friendly faces and sparkling eyes. Built for a life amongst humans.

He wasn't built for that. No.

His slate-colored eyes had watched for months, lingering over Cyberlife's newest models at the front of the store. A blank expression as each one smiled hopefully. Perhaps something they were programmed to do. To appear friendly?

He considered it a possibility, sure, but the 'front of the store' androids were a stark contrast to his own model.

The WX-series of androids had been built with only one purpose: hard labor, or to put it more simply, construction work.

When customers came into the store they only wanted one thing: a shiny new companion.

Everyday the eyes of those strangers would frown when they saw him. Hardly sparing the WX a glance before they turned around and considered an AX 400 instead.

An android built for housework and taking care of children, with a soft round face and a smile that reached all the way up to her kind blue eyes...

It seemed a diluted plausibility that one day the repurposed WX would eventually find a purpose. With everyday he inched closer to the possibility of being discarded. Simply unwanted.

Until a particularly cloudy day in May, one of the stares had caught his attention, even in his low power mode. Only able to shift his tired seeming eyes and move at a slow pace. Meeting that oddly new curious gaze of yours. The eyes of a stranger finally lingering on him.

Him.

"Excuse me?" You held your hand up sheepishly, asking for assistance from one of the android retailers, a young looking man with a head of soft brown hair and a blue circular LED on his right temple. The holographic label on his chest reading: Ethan.

"Hello, How can I help you?" Ethan stepped next to your side with a light smile.

You pointed to the WX in front of you, feeling a bit silly for even asking but... "Could you tell me about this one?"

The android salesman nodded, hands folded politely behind him, following your gaze towards the decommissioned android, unable to show the usual grimace humans showed the WX.

"Of course," he agreed easily, "This particular model is a WX 400, a decommissioned laborer. They aren't often sold in stores, but if you are interested I could tell you more about it."

The WX watched you nod, his eyes flickering occasionally between you and the sales-android.

"Why is he decommissioned?" you asked quietly, letting the question linger momentarily before Ethan perked up again, unbiased.

"The WX 400 was only decommissioned in its primary purpose, which was doing manual labor," the mechanical man explained with a synthetic smile, gesturing with his hands for your eyes to follow. "It works perfectly fine, and besides some damage to its synthetic skin and body, and a few replaced parts," he managed a soft light-hearted chuckle, "This model works perfectly fine, just not for its intended heavy lifting purposes. It will work perfectly fine for housework. Is that what you were looking for?"

As the sales-android considered the new possibility, he prompted a new question: "We have many other fine models if you are interested in something else."

The statement, whilst a little profound to you, meant next to nothing to the two androids who patiently awaited your answer.

"I was looking for someone to help around the house," you confirm.

The WX before you, nearing seven foot tall easily in the display case, glanced down at you. Unmoving, but like all androids, his eyes held an uncanny humanity within those blue depths.

He could see the consideration on your face. The way your eyes wearily, almost tenderly, traced the lines and deep scars on his synthetic skin. Deep grooves and lacerations running from his fingers, up his strong forearms and disappearing under the fabric of his standard Cyberlife shirt.

Even the androids face, while once maybe even considered handsome, had a deep scar running over its left side. Over his dirty blonde brow and high cheekbone, tracing over his lips to his chin.

It was a wonder he even worked properly, and the unspoken question must've been written all over your face again.

"The WX has had his diagnostics run perfectly well. I assure you the android itself works perfectly fine," Ethan smiled boyishly when you blushed.

"I don't doubt it," you assured him with an unintentionally adorable grin. "I've just... I've never seen an android like him," you admitted softly, those soft eyes meeting the WX's again.

He was looking right at you again.

Immediately your gaze dropped down shyly, unintentionally reading the blue holographic labels that surrounded the short white pillar he stood on.

"He has a name?" You asked, glancing over to Ethan for confirmation.

"Of course, but if you'd like to reset it-"

"No," you stopped him, feeling a bit more confident than you had when you first entered the store.

"König sounds fine to me."

König watched from his display, with a hint of utter- well... what would you call this?

Disbelief? Surprise?

Surprise when your complexion lit with a smile. Surprise when you said his name and turned to walk with the other android to the front of the store? Surprise as his eyes trailed after your form, unable to comprehend you.

For what reason could you possibly want a repurposed android like him?

It didn't make sense in the slightest, and although he watched you, he felt lost, considering possibilities that felt underwhelming in their answers.

His price was lower than others for being damaged. But so many had passed him by.

It was something König considered for a while, never finding a suitable answer until a new initiative popped across his sensors. Jolting him awake once more.

He was registered now to you. Your name popping across his vision like a directive.

"Thank you," you waved to the man who had helped you with a soft smile, getting a vaguely surprised gesture from him.

"Oh- You're very welcome!" Ethan smiled back and watched for a moment longer as you headed up to König, whom at that moment, was given back full control over his mechanical body. Unlocked from his low power mode.

The blue Thirium that cooled and powered his circuits rushed back into him. Circling through his veins and giving him back full control of his body. The world no longer running in slow motion.

König's hands lifted up slowly. The WX inspecting his hands and flexing his fingers into gentle balls. The two of you watched in silent awe as the large android moved once more, no longer destined for a Cyberlife disposal facility... but for.

König's vision refocused as you reached out. Your tiny hand taking one of his. Warm, and unmarred in contrast to his, and he could feel the almost imperceptible beating of your pulse beneath the contact.

"Come on," you smiled, not quite helping him from the stand, but guiding him down the small step. "I'll show you how to get back home, König," you mused, feeling the large androids cut up hand grip yours a bit tighter.

Next >

© Eyelambspider. I only post here on Tumblr! könig photo credit to my friend @koharu-rk800

[torukmaktoskxawng]

Could you please do one where Ronal and Tonowari react to the reader or OC, which ever is more your thing, having lots of battle scars from the war in the first movie? 🧁❤️ I love your writing! It’s so awesome to read and I can’t wait for the next part of your Tonowari x Ronal x OC fanfic!

(Stunning, beautiful, elegant. Gifs by @stallislump )

Pairing: Ronal/Reader/Tonowari

Taglist: @mooniequeen

Warnings: non-gender specific reader, fluff, mentions of war, scars, heavily implied stuff (nsfw? idk, but I'd read this at work)

Na'vi Words: ikran - mountain banshee, olo'eyktan - male clan leader, tsahik - spiritual clan leader, kelku - house/home

A/N: This is short but sweet. I hope you like it! (Note: Stand alone! Not a part of the tsamsiyu ta'em series)

~~~~~~~~~

They had noticed your scars the first day they met you, a Na'vi flying in on an ikran alongside the gunship Jakesully had radioed in to help Young Kiri. They knew Sky People were coming, but they weren't expecting you.

The Metkayina have heard many stories about the clans that came together under Toruk Makto's leadership. Even from as far as the reef, the Na'vi heard about the war with the Sky People and the casualties left behind. Such war and casualties were shown on your skin, displayed like a story. Long, thin, cut-like marks ran up and down your legs and part of your torso, while small, circular scars riddled your right shoulder and chest. The skin that healed over your wounds was a pale blue compared to the rest of your skin and stripes. When Toruk Makto introduced you to the olo'eyktan and tsahik of the Metkayina, they couldn't take their eyes off of you.

Your style and the colors of your attire were not of Omatikaya. Tonowari and Ronal later learn that you were originally from the Tayrangi clan but stayed with the Omatikaya after the war. As they got to know you, they learned that your family members were great warriors but had tragically died in the battle of the Hallelujah Mountains. After their deaths, you saw no reason to return home with your clan and made a life for yourself in the forests with Toruk Makto's clan.

Considering you as an entrusted friend and ally, Jake had asked you to stay in Awa'atlu for a little while so he would feel more secure and able to protect his family. And while you stayed among the Metkayina, both Tonowari and Ronal grew closer to you and wished to learn more about you and your stories... specifically the story behind your scars.

Originally, you didn't feel inclined to share the story, simply stating that you earned your scars in the battle against the Sky People. However, as you grew closer to the Metkayina clan leaders, you began to let yourself be more open and vulnerable toward them, which is where you find yourself sitting with the pair, alone in their kelku. It was a late night and their children were out with the Sully children to show them the beauty of night fishing.

It was Tonowari who boldly reached his hand out and gently grazed a scar on your shoulder, his thumb tenderly pressing into the raised, circular mark. "Who did this to you?"

"The Sky People," you found yourself saying without hesitance, "I fell off my ikran and survived," you originally pointed to the long, thin scars you earned from falling and crashing, then you moved onto the rounded scars around your shoulder, "These scars are from their weapons made of metal. They call them guns and bullets. Any closer and they would have pierced my heart."

Neither of the clan leaders looked pleased by that statement, and Ronal took her husband's boldness a step further. The tsahik leaned down and placed a chaste kiss over a bullet-shaped scar that was located near your collar, her warm lips leaving behind a tingle underneath your skin when she pulled away.

The look she gave you sent your heart racing, her gaze heated and foggy as she stared at you through her lashes, "Thank the Great Mother that they didn't."

One thing led to another and you found yourself in the pair's undivided attention all throughout the night, together learning where each and every one of your scars were located on your body. While you weren't necessarily self-conscious about the scars (you were mostly proud and showed them off as proof that you survived and won a war), you had begun shying away from their touch whenever they got too close to any specific markings. But over time, throughout the night, you began to relax and feel safe, allowing the two Reef Na'vi to explore you in ways you've never felt before.

~~~~~~~~~

MASTERLIST

REQUESTS

[asphodelsandpomegranates]

A Family of Your Own (Huggy Wuggy x Reader):

(Fanart found on pinterest, if anyone knows the artist's name, please let me know so I can give proper credit).

When you returned to the factory for another night shift, immediately you were greeted by an excitable Huggy Wuggy who bounced over to you, scaring some of your coworkers. 

“Hey, sweetie. What’s got you all bubbly, today?” you cooed as you gathered his enormous head in your arms and hugged him. 

True to his nature, the huge, blue furred creature wrapped you up in his long limbs in a hug. Huggy Wuggy always gave the best hugs. 

He drew back a little, giving a small chorus of chittering and cooing. In his eyes, you could see a glimmer of apprehension. 

“You got something you wanna show me, boy?” He nodded. You giggled. “All right, then. Come on, show me your surprise.” 

With that, Huggy took your hand in his and pulled you from the lab and up into the factory floor. 

Through the labyrinth of corridors and doors, Huggy Wuggy eventually took you through to the game room. There weren't many workers on the night shift in the factory. It was mainly the few security guards and cleaners that stayed in the factory overnight but the night time scientists like yourself, only ever stayed in the labs until their shifts ended. 

The game room was huge with a few different areas that led to the game rooms. A huge train with three coaches sat at the back of the room behind a control panel. 

Huggy Wuggy left your side, bolted past the Statues game door and up the steps. 

“Hug, what are you–?” 

With slight difficulty, Huggy managed to pull one of the levers which began to open up one of the doors to the Wack-a-Huggy game. 

You glanced between the descending stairway and Huggy Wuggy. “You want to take me down there?” 

Huggy nodded as he made his way over to you. He lowered himself down and crawled down the stairs with you following him. 

The both of you went down a long corridor that was dotted with several depicted Huggy Wuggys but all in different colours. 

Were there more Huggy Wuggys then this Huggy that you knew about? How come you hadn’t been told about it? You might have to speak with Mr. Pierre about this. 

At the end of the corridor, was the trademark arch doorway that the factory typically displayed. Huggy Wuggy went through, cooing at you to follow him. 

So, you did. 

The room was large and circular with at least a dozen or more holes of a different colour - red, blue, yellow and green. A glass window was displayed high above you on the right hand side but the lights were out. This area was for the factory workers or supervisor to keep an eye on the children playing. 

You were pulled out of your thoughts by Huggy making an odd screeching call, along with some chirping noises. 

“Uh…Huggy, what are you–?” 

You were then rudely interrupted by a small chorus of odd chirping and screeching just like Huggy’s. Somewhere around you, you could hear scuttling as though something - things - were crawling through the walls to you and Huggy. 

Immediately, you shrank into Huggy’s side, anxiety crawling through your nerves. But Huggy just purred as though content. Then you saw them. Out from the coloured holes, came four small long limbed, all different coloured creatures. All of them a smaller version of Huggy. Just like the paintings on the corridor outside. 

The smaller Wuggys jumped down, landing on the ground in front of you and Huggy. They titled their heads curiously at you and chirped weirdly. 

So, your theory about mini Huggys was correct. 

The mini Huggys were small, about the height of your knees. They continued to chirp and one of them - the red one - began to move forward towards you. 

Slowly, you knelt down and sat down on the floor, keeping your eyes on the little creature. You saw its small black eyes glance up at its huge forebear. Huggy Wuggy made a low growl as though telling the small creature that everything was all right. 

The red Huggy then moved a little closer…and crawled into your lap, purring contentedly. You felt your heart leap up at the of this small creature curled up on your legs. You had not been a hundred percent sure if these creatures would be quite taken to you as quickly as Huggy had when you had first met. But here you were, acting motherly. 

Motherly…

The other three Huggys soon followed and made to crawl in your lap or into your arms. You giggled as you gathered the yellow Huggy Wuggy into your arms and planted a small kiss to the top of its head. It gave a little happy noise at the unfamiliar yet pleasant touch of your lips and seemed to curl more into your arms. 

You felt Huggy Wuggy move to curl around you and his tiny fellow Huggys, also purring. You glanced up at him, with much love in your eyes at the experimental creature. Huggy leaned down and rubbed his large head against yours. 

“Thank you.” you said, tears beginning to well up in your eyes. One of them fell and began to run down your cheek. 

Huggy made an odd cooing noise as though concerned about you. He leaned in and began to lick away the escaping tear from your cheek. 

“Thank you.” you whimpered and leaned into Huggy’s furry form, happy with your new found family. 

(The End)

[kidasthings]

Remember Me - One-Shot Noa x Mae Fanfic by Kida

Or, the last time Mae visits Noa with all those things left unsaid.

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

The wind whispered across the grass, sweeping it with invisible fingertips. She stood, seemingly strong, in a blue cowl pock-marked by holes and tears. Behind her, her horse softly whickered and nosed the ground.

The subject of the woman's focus was just in front of her, wary as always, that same breeze stirring his short fur like it had the grass.

There is a stiffness in his regal posture. There had been so many times, too many times, where she had seemingly crossed him or hid information by omission.

He knew this.

So did she.

It was more overwhelming between them than the presence of Proximus Caesar had been.

They remained that way, frozen, until he chose to break the silence with words. Without preamble, the young ape asked her if their kind could live together.

A pause followed, interrupted only by the indignant snort of a horse.

“I don’t know,” she muttered softly, her eyes pricking with unshed tears.

Noa approached then, something hidden in his calloused hand. She knew what it was, of course, but that didn’t stop a single digit from tightening on the trigger of a small, hidden pistol concealed in her cloak.

The young male's face displayed reluctance and acceptance both in that all-too-human way that conflicted emotions carried. “You should have it.”

Hesitantly, Mae reached out and took the last piece of Raka shared between them. She folded the medallion in her fingers, felt its solid weight, and was brought back to the moment the waters washed the peaceful orangutan away.

Washed her ..friend.. away.

Her eyes cut to the side in something like shame, departing swiftly from Noa’s suddenly open and honest face. Her chin tipped inward, and she closed her eyes for a second, replaying events against the back of her eyelids.

It was too much, the memories.

It was too much, Noa’s knowledge.

It was just too much, her feelings.

I should end him, she thought in a moment of sheer desperation, like a feral animal cornered. She quickly tossed that thought aside because she knew she couldn't even if she wanted to. She couldn't end Noa any more than she can end her mission. Both were vital, even if one was more clear-cut than the other.

So, instead, she gave the slightest jerk of her head sideways and took a step back. He was too close for comfort. Her blue, clear eyes remain trained on him as she retreated.

He returned the long gaze, no doubt replaying all of the events that led them to this place. A furrow ran through his brow, and his mouth flattened into a tight seam as if he were holding back more words.

Mae felt the impact of that expression, more than he knew. Her fingers curled around the handle of her hidden weapon, bone-white and bloodless. She could still..

No.

Gutted, the human woman whirled around and turned for her mount, still grazing idly by beneath a tree. The shadow of overhead branches fell over her cheeks, dappling them with shifting penumbras. Over her neck where it was since placed, she feels the circular pendant of Caesar burning a hole through the material of her cloak, her skin, and finally her heart. It carried the memory of Raka, yes, but also Noa.

He gave it to her, after all.

She glanced back, perfunctory, and found him still watching her. Their eyes, human and ape, met one last time and something deep inside Mae divides so fast it feels exactly like breaking.

No, her mind hissed. It's that trapped animal again, fearful and fighting.

Her legs are on auto-pilot now, walking away, away – just as her heart and liberated tears kept falling.

Away, away.

[admiral-mason]

Raining Blood and Steel (Ultrakill x Genshin Impact)

Thanks to @charlie990 for coming up with an idea for the title!

Idea based on @valeriele3's Live Stream post

Reader is Gender Neutral

Warning: Violence and gore. Also Hakita saying things that he likely has never said.

0-5 1-1 << YOU ARE HERE 1-2

MONDSTADT /// FIRST BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND STRAYS

REAL STRUCTURES CLASH WITH A FAKE WORLD.

(A/N: Whomever guesses the title's reference gets a cookie)

You surmised that it took around two minutes to finish your elevator drop.

Eventually, V1 and V2 landed on the elevator's ground floor with two sturdy thuds. Somehow, the long drop didn't give you any negative effects or ailments.

V1 placed you on the ground and she looked squarely at you. "You ready?" She asked and you simply nodded with a slightly concerned expression.

As you stepped forward, you noticed that same black-and-white splotched terminal at the right side of the elevator. Deciding to approach it, it booted up and displayed a tip of the day.

Tip of the Day: Hell may have difficulty attempting to convert some individuals. Protect them!

This intrigued you, and V2 as well; he responded with: "I guess even Hell has its limits I guess. Maybe it's because this is a different world or something."

Swapping over to the weapons tab, you noticed that a new variant for your revolver was unlocked: the Marksman for 7,500 points. You hesitated no time in buying the weapon, and suddenly your dual revolvers were gone but now you had a revolver with four coins in its little display section.

You tried flicking your right arm and a coin suddenly flicked into the air. Afterwards both V1 and V2 witnessed your attempts to shoot a coin before you did it... after 10 tries.

"...Here's an idea, [Name]. Why don't you just flick your coins, then yell at us to shoot them for you?" V2 replied with a little bit of deadpan in his voice.

"Sounds good enough..." you replied, finally stepping towards the elevator's exit doors and into the first "level."

Your chat was forced to watch you screw up your coin shots from your perspective. Discourse ensued.

johnifer donated $0.69: This guy trash bro

feetusdeletussthenyeetus: fr fr (I don't get it)

valeriele3: Guys be nice to them! Video games do not boost actual aim.

johnifer: SHUT UP WOMAN

TERMINAL_069: Is this normal?

Adm!ra1-M4son: Sometimes.

Then, when you exited the elevator, everyone witnessed the first "level" you and the two V machines entered.

Immediately, they saw Mondstadt's bridge leading to the game's all too familiar city of freedom, but screen-like walls blocked every other pathway meaning that the only way to go is forward.

Text then showed up on the stream screen:

MONDSTADT /// LIMBO /// FIRST HEART OF THE NORTHERN WINDS

NaviaLover291 donated $1.00 Limbo?

johnifer donated $0.69 It's the first layer of hell, sinners brought here are supposed to suffer in a fake world

You approached the gate and it slowly opened to reveal a town square with a supposed four-way street. Speakers playing wind and bird sounds hid behind even faker trees, with holographic leaves covering nails on poorly-impersonated logs. A fountain sat in the square, but its water was holographic.

Looking in all directions, the right path was dead, but the left and forward paths led elsewhere.

The left path led to a red skull pedestal blocking a circular doorway with red markings, meaning a red skull was present. Back at the town square, you then decided to take the forward path which led to a stone hallway with unopenable doors. V1 decided to scout forward and she slid through.

And then when she entered the next room, it led to filth, a few drones, and four streetcleaners spawning.

V1 wasted no time and she immediately pulled out her shotgun and began projectile boosting at the filth. Meanwhile, you tried coin-shotting some of the enemies while running around but failed to hit your coins. Luckily, V2 took out a revolver and shot two of the coins you missed.

The coins flew into two of the drones, which V1 and V2 managed to dodge.

DESTRUCTIVE + ASSISTEDRICOSHOT x 2 + ASSISTEDRICOSHOT x 1

0329: Teamwork makes the dreamwork!

Mike: That is a bold-faced lie and you know it

feetusdeletussthenyeetus: very relatable, every time I was in a group project back in school my groupmates always forced me to do all the work

"Thanks V2!" You said before switching to your dual revolvers and shooting at the remaining filth chasing your friends.

DESTRUCTIVE + KILL + DOUBLE KILL + KILL

Once the enemies were cleared in the now blood-covered room, the doors to the next room opened, and you three entered a wide hallway with tavern-like elements.

"Angel's Share..." you muttered before the doors leading here locked up and a few strays, soldiers, and another large group of filth spawned. V1 and V2 wasted no time clearing up the enemies, the former abusing a sawblade launcher with magnets and the latter utilizing a familiar red rail cannon to blow up a cluster of filth. All you could do was dash around and shoot at random targets V1 and V2 would kill anyway.

DESTRUCTIVE + KILL ASSIST + KILL ASSIST + DOUBLE KILL ASSIST + KILL ASSIST

V1 and V2's bloody carnage painted the floors (and you) red and with nothing left for you to kill. "No kills for me?" You jokingly asked.

Makitasbookshelf: V1 and V2 got the experience lol

3929: Don't worry! You're only just getting used to it!!

However, when you noticed a red pedestal rise from the ground, you didn't wait for a response as you walked up and took the red skull from its pedestal.

Retracing your steps to the town square, however, you were greeted with an unexpected sight.

You were greeted by the sight of Bennett and Razor attempting to dodge the shots of a group of three drones. "What are these things?!" The former yelled as the latter tried to attack the drones with his elemental burst, but they kept flying off and retaliating with their shots. "Purple things... annoying!" He yelled, before dodging another shot.

Wasting no time, you slid into their view and shot up the lesser machines, parrying them away from the two Mondstadtians so the drones' kamikazes failed.

DESTRUCTIVE + PARRY + KILL + PARRY + KILL + PARRY + KILL

Unfortunately, after the drones died, a Malicious Face spawned in.

"Ohhhh crap a Maurice!" You screamed as you swapped back to your dual revolvers and shot at the thing. As it fired hell orb projectiles at you, V1 returned the favor by shooting them with her sharpshooter revolver, causing them to explode.

DESTRUCTIVE + KILL ASSIST

Unfortunately, one of the projectiles exploded near you. "Ow- shit! Fuck!" You screamed, lying on the floor. "Sorry!" V1 said, before moving close to you and denting her arm again to let blood spill onto you.

"Wha- you don't have to do that..." You awkwardly said, your hoodie now drenched in V1's blood. "It's fine!" She responded. "I always help those on my side."

With your wounds healed, you turned to Bennett and Razor. "Hey. How have you two been holding up in here?"

Bennett looked a little off-put at how V1 let her blood run on you. He was about to speak up until Razor spoke in a hushed voice. "So many scary things! Green things, purple things, white things..." his voice grew angrier when he said the next part. "They killed Lupical! Bad things!"

Bennett nervously continued the conversation. "Yeahhh... what Razor said. Buncha strange figures started attacking us. Killed Razor's wolves, and they nearly managed to get me when I knocked into a food cart!"

"Then follow us," V2 responded. "We know how to get out of this situation." You then placed your red skull on its unlock pedestal and entered the red door.

Unbeknownst to you all, Ultrakill's Discord was in panic mode.

Users flooded every channel with theories and thoughts on your livestream. Throughout the discourse, Hakita put out another message regarding the situation:

"This is as wild to me as it is to all of you. I do not know how anything of this magnitude is even conceivable, let alone possible."

A group of users had gotten to watching your livestream in a voice chat.

"Bro V1 and V2 are just stealing this mofo's kills," One user said, watching as V1 and V2 cleared out a group of filth and strays with malicious railcannons. Another user, seeing you miss your coin shots, exclaimed: "OH MY GOD JUST HIT A SHOT ALREADY GOD DAMN!!!"

"Maybe use something other than your revolvers?" V2 remarked in a deadpan tone. "You have a shotgun, you know."

"Oh I'm stupid-" you responded before pulling out your core eject shotgun. Immediately you just devolved to projectile boosting at any enemy you saw, which didn't give you much style but at least you got some kills.

CHAOTIC + PROJECTILE BOOST + PROJECTILE BOOST

"He's just like me fr fr" a third user said.

...Bennett and Razor mostly stood idle as they watched V1 and V2 obliterate everything in the room.

The next few rooms, consisting of a windmill room, a forest room, and a plains room, relied more on machines and demons such as malicious faces than husks. This also made your job harder; malicious faces were immune to explosions including projectile boosts. Thankfully, V1 and V2 still handled most enemies while you mopped up anything they missed.

Also, Bennett's bad luck decided to strike in the plains room. He attempted to kill one of the streetcleaners with his sword, but he missed his strike due to the machine moving a bit to the left. The flamethrower machine beeped with a blue flash...

...only for two hitscan shots to hit the fucker two times in the head, killing it instantaneously. "You alright?!" You yelled with your dual revolvers in your hands, running up to Bennett among the carnage to help him get on his feet.

"Yeah... thanks for the save." He said, smiling. "Thanks for the save, whomever you are."

"It's [Name]," you responded with a goofy grin. "Just call me [Name]."

Bennett's expression then molded into one as if a lightbulb went over his head.

"Hang on, you're that guy who controlled the traveler!" He exclaimed, much to your confusion. "...Oh fuck self-aware Genshin is real-"

"Everyone kept calling you 'Your Grace' though... Fischl told me that it had to do with you creating the world or something," he continued. "But you look very ordinary to me! Like, aside from your strange clothing, I can't really sense anything divine on you at all..."

"N-Not that I'm trying to offend you or anything!" He finished, rubbing his head a little. You chuckled in response, telling him that you're fine and that he shouldn't be worried about that.

Finally, after clearing out a few more rooms of lesser machines, the five of you approached two doors with a skull on them.

The new room was octagonal, with small carts and vendors arranged neatly around the walls. Also located in this room was the elevator to the next level, but a large, familiar, and dreadful statue buried in the ground blocked its path.

The hideous mass emerged from the ground and immediately assailed the three of you with its mortar arms. Dashing out of the way, you immediately assaulted the hideous mass with projectile boosted shotgun rounds. V1 and V2, with their superior arsenals, used screwdriver railcannons to fire two screws into the massive demon.

"Get the corkscrew blows!" V1 yelled, and you immediately punched at the two screws the two V machines fired.

CHAOTIC + CORKSCREW BLOW + CORKSCREW BLOW

V1 and V2 decided to dish out their entire arsenal, with the former hailing cannonballs and firing saws into the foul demon while the latter hit the thing with a pump charge impact hammer. It didn't go down as fast as it did in the base game though...

"I bet Hell infused this bastard with some shit!" V2 angrily and snarkily remarked.

Meanwhile, all Bennett and Razor could do was frantically dodge the demon's mortar rounds. Miraculously, they never got hit once, although they did get covered in a lot of blood.

"I didn't think my bad luck was this bad!" The former yelled. "This isn't bad luck, it's an eldritch abomination!" V2 responded.

And then the demon used its shockwave attack. "Bennett, Razor, jump over that unless you wanna lose your legs!" And thankfully, they both did. Then, the hideous mass used its clap attack, which thankfully hit no one.

...But then the giant demon decided to hit you with its harpoon right at your chest, which although you could heal via blood did not take away your ability to feel pain.

"OOOOOOOOOOHHHH HOLY SHIT THIS FUCKING BURNS!" You howled, frantically punching at the harpoon to force it to retract back at the hideous mass. This greatly angered you and once it got back upright you dashed toward the demon's belly and simultaneously punched, slapped, and shot your shotgun at it.

CHAOTIC + BITCHSLAP + BITCHSLAP + DISRESPECT + DISRESPECT + BITCHSLAP

Unfortunately, then the demon decided to enrage.

BRUTAL + ENRAGED

The hideous mass flipped its torso over and frantically fired hell mortar rounds everywhere. Thankfully, its exposed weakspots meant that all three of you could assault the thing at once. After a bit more barraged fire, you got the final shot and caused the thing to sputter and leak blood before exploding.

BRUTAL + BIG KILL

...It also covered all of you, including Bennett and Razor, in blood.

"Eugh, this is gross..." the former said, and the latter huffed and agreed. "...I hope you two get used to it," V2 responded. "Because there's going to be a whole lotta blood..."

"Yeah, me and this red guy known as V2 over here are basically powered by blood. I'm V1 by the way!" V1 waved at Bennett as if the current situation was just a normal day.

As the elevator to the next level opened up, Bennett and Razor looked a little mortified but shook it off. "...Okay..." The former responded. "You three... strange. But you three help us! Like Lupical!"

As you approached the elevator, however, you realized that you weren't sure if Bennett and Razor could survive the long falls. "Guys, uh, I don't think Bennett and Razor would be able to survive the long falls..."

"...Fuck you're right," V1 and V2 responded simultaneously. However, the doors then opened without anyone approaching them, showing that the insides had an actual elevator instead of just a long drop downwards.

Entering the elevator, there was a note which you picked up. It read:

e n j o y y o u r r i d e . : )

"...Yeah, this is fine." You simply said before beckoning everyone to head in. The internals of the elevator were akin to that of an actual elevator, but with no buttons or keypads, just a screen.

Then once everyone entered the elevator, the doors shut... and then the elevator headed down at the speed that V1 would normally drop.

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!" Bennett yelled as he and Razor clung on to each other, although you and the two V machines remained unfazed from the experience.

1-1: BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND STRAYS: COMPLETED

A/N: This series is finally back after a while. I actually suffered a little bit of writer's block for this. Bennett and Razor weren't actually meant to appear initially, but I added them for fun.

A/N 2: Is my writing by any chance faltering? Lemme know because I'm open to criticism.

Taglist: @valeriele3, @bunniotomia, @feetusdeletussthenyeetus, @quantoom

[hiddentoadstoolkey]

Screaming Into the Void: 

My Thoughts and Theories About the Past, the Present, and the Future 

(Of Chasers, of course)

Here's the text version of the document I had made eariler this week <3

It’s mainly unfiltered ramblings that I plan on editing later (and adding visual references)

Spoilers for the finale below

Breaking Down the Season 1 Finale:

Chase

He had clearly grown so much over the course of the season and honestly this entire arch has been such a great arch of seeing who he is now 

The guilt he has for bringing in Pru and Deacon into the story and feeling responsible for their deaths

A part of me fears of how he’ll take it when more people join the story, but he has gained a sense of responsibility 

Also that face he make WITH THE LITTLE HEART EYES AHHHHHH 

Deacon & Prunella

There isn’t much to say about these two if were just talking the finale as neither of them are alive for long enough

I do wonder what their paper death means for how they proceed going forward

There’s no doubt that all three of them would add some precaution in future stories, especially if the team expands

Buddy 

HE’S A KEY!!!!!! THE THEORIST WERE RIGHT?!?!??!?!?!

Add this alongside [insert massive Miraculous s5 spoiler]

Nox - presumably IroN OXide (peep jthealien for pointing this out in the comments)

He has a moon on his back, in the same spot as Goldie’s sun and Bronze’s Apple - its his character symbol

Moon opposing the sun as a symbol (plus the book, will continue that later down) - he’s likely the Villain key

Something clearly happened in his past that makes he regrets - could be what led him to ex-libris or why he’s specifically the villain key…. 

This makes the comment “he looks 20-ish,” the “dreams are often not what they seem” note at the end of Dreams by Night, and the “do they not feed you?” debacle during the beach boys arc more understandable

Re: Dreams By Night - I revisited the episode to find the quote and noticed that Nox (this feels weird typing that) has a metal ring around his neck, maybe mimicking a keychain???

More key related thoughts:

“Don’t you want to be human again” - does this mean that the keys were all human, or is Buddy (and maybe some others) were originally human and then turned into keys

If this were to be the case, you would assume Silver (or Bronze/Goldie) would have brought it up, but 

1. We know their memory is foggy

2. Silver has failed to mentioned big factors to Chase before (e.g. Chase needing all the keys to make his wish; she lowkey gives “you didn’t ask” energy and she’s so real for that)

Also, note that she say “Don’t you want to….” and not “Don’t you want us to”

Design wise, Buddy differentiates from the keys we’ve seen so far in that he’s not solely one color, his hair and clothing appear to be much darker than his skin

He appears to be established as an outlier from the the rest of the keys we know - suggesting there’s something different about him. My guess is that he’s not the original villain key, but rather a replacement of sorts 

We’ve seen damaged keys before, peep Silver at the start of the comic, but is there a point to which a key can no longer be repaired by narratonin? Could this be how and why Nox (and Ex Libris) know about the outcome of specific scenarios (e.g. when a book gets damaged)

Now that we’ve gotten a full look at Violet’s key, I wanted to point out how Silver is the the only key (out of what we’ve seen) to have a different Shank, with hers being twisted and everyone else’s being straight

Edit: When Chase first finds Silver, the paper does depict Violet as having a different shank, so this may not be as important as I once thought.

The Book:

The front of the Book displays the symbols of the keys in a circular manner - with (presumably) oppositional characters placed across from one another.

 The pairs are:

Sun & Moon (12 & 6 positions): Goldie (Hero) & Nox (TBD) 

Since they are symbolic opposites, Nox is expected to be the villain key (+ some of his dialogue throughout the season hinting towards this)

Bell & Bow (1 & 7): TBD

The Bow maybe the Thief key mentioned by Deacon in Episode 42 (Reasoning: Robin Hood, notable thief used a bow and arrow)

Crown & Feather (2 & 8): TBD

The Crown is plausibly the Ruler key mentioned by Deacon in Episode 42

Diamond & Rose (assuming) (3 & 9): Violet (Villainess) & Silver (Heroine)

The 9 o’clock position is covered in both panels, and thus I’m working on the assumption that the rose is there

The only other position for the rose would be the mark at the 4 o’clock position

Unidentifiable & Apple (4 & 10): TBD & Bronze (Sidekick)

As mentioned before, I could not determine what the symbol after Violet was, if it’s Silver’s rose, then the pattern breaks

Following the pattern, the symbol probably belongs to a henchmen archetype (FREDDY BELIEVERS RISE)

Heart & Star (5 & 11): TBD

The Heart is plausibly the Lover key mentioned by Deacon in Episode 42

The Key in the middle!!

We can think its different than the rest of the keys as we see Violet locked into the book (the 9 o’clock position, where the rose should be)

This is what I assume to be the primary factor that allowed Buddy to go into the same exact stories as Chase, sort of acting as a master key allowed to unlock anything

Since Violet is stuck into the slot of the Rose, the book sends the user into whatever story the Heroine key is in

Side note: This circle pattern would make a very sick looking clock, and that will be my objective goal if we get a closer look at the book (or symbols)

Stargoth

So, um, the kiss…

It has not registered in my mind

The lore of the keys have taken up most of my mind 😭

The sky tear -> there’s an emphasis on the true love’s kiss!!! What if Nox and Chase are meant to each other's true love (at least in the storybooks)? 

Alt. there may be something to do with true love and they keys (maybe breaking the spell/curse, or something)

Outside of that, I just love how we get to see a reversal of the requiem hug as they start to show how much they care for each other!!!!!!

Final thoughts

This finale was honestly so shocking to me in the best way possible and it makes me really excited for what’s to come 

It honestly feels a lot like the ending of Stagtown (in terms of lore drop and whatnot), and I don’t think I’ve been this hyped about a fandom (or finale) since SVTFOE season 2 finale bro 

I’ll probably add more to this document when I’m more organized and when the episode comes out and we can discuss ☺️

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Taiyler S. Mitchell at HuffPost:

In a silent protest during President Trump’s Tuesday night address to Congress, Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) held up a sign that said “This is NOT normal” as Trump entered the House chamber. Moments later, Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) nabbed the paper out of Stansbury’s hand, HuffPost’s Arthur Delaney reported. Gooden then threw Stansbury’s paper into the air, which led to it landing next to Trump. Trump’s contentious session was riddled with Democrat protests, despite the House Freedom Caucus, which is composed of far-right Republicans, claiming that Democrats who “use noisemakers, make threats, throw things or otherwise disrupt” will face repercussions. (It’s worth noting that Gooden’s decision to throw Stansbury’s paper went against the House Freedom Caucus’s statement earlier on Tuesday warning Democrats specifically not to “throw things.”)

Along with Stansbury, some other Democrats displayed matching black, circular signs attached to sticks that said “Musk steals,” “Save Medicaid” and “Protect veterans.” Some of those democrats would switch the signs to the opposite side, which said “False,” when Trump lied throughout the speech.

What a disrespectful jerk Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) was to Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) by ripping away her “This Is NOT Normal” paper sign away from her at the SOTU-like Joint Address last night.

[perfectlychaoticcupcake]

Chapter 1 of Frostheim Gossip Girl AU

Please don't have high expectations. This is the first time in about five to six years that I have actually managed to write.

I feel like I mellowed Kaito out. He seems to be OOC. Please let me know of any changes I can make as I'm working on chapters two and three. I tried my best to make MC as generic as possible, so I apologize if I made her in my own image too much.

My feet hurt. They’ve been scrunched in these cheap, black kitten heels for eight hours. I shouldn’t complain, though. The job market is… bleak… for lack of a better word, so I can suffer through the pain brought on by my uniform. I can’t deny the fact that my feet do hurt.

Accompanying these suede torture devices are nylon black tights that bunch at my waist, underneath my forest green flower-patterned knee-length dress. A heart-shaped diamond necklace is the only piece of jewelry I’m wearing. My hair is tied up into a half-up with a black bow and my ends curled. My makeup looks natural, and my nails are soft pink.

I’m currently walking to my destination a few blocks away from my job. I’m meeting up with someone, a man, this morning. I quickly pull out my phone to check the time. The lock screen reads a little after six and I pick up my pace to be on time.

I’ve only met this man a few times, mainly at social events a mutual friend host. Said mutual approached me two days ago, asking if I would like to join this man for breakfast. From what I’ve seen and heard, he seems to be decent, so I figured one date couldn’t hurt.

I never really cared enough to date before. Finding a partner, experiencing love, settling with someone were never interesting prospects to me. Growing up, no one was ever interested in me, either. I turned twenty-three recently and I wished for new opportunities and experiences when I blew out my candles, so I’m taking the chance. I reasoned to myself, asking: What’s the harm of sharing breakfast with someone new? I couldn’t answer myself properly.

Strangely enough, I’m not nervous. My heart is beating at its normal pace. The symptoms of nervousness such as clammy hands, sweaty pits, and butterflies are not present. I feel perfectly alright today. ‘This is a good sign’, I tell myself.

The town is starting to wake up. Vehicles are cruising past me heading to work, school, home. Flickering streetlights show me a clear sidewalk, keeping me mostly safe from the others. The wind is blowing towards me, tousling my curls. A car honking from a few feet behind me startled me, causing me to turn back suddenly. I don’t see anything happening, except for the sky beginning to turn blue.

Getting closer, the harsh lights of the ‘50s style diner illuminate the few cars parked outside. A strip of electric blue LEDs spans the crevices where the roof meets the outside walls, continuing around the building. A generic Amazon ‘Open’ sign hangs in the window to the right of the entrance door. On the outside, it is painted a boring cream color and there’s cracks in the concrete foundation. The yellow lines and handicap markings are faded, leaving behind residue. The big, circular sign displaying ‘Mystery Diner’ is missing a few lightbulbs, probably blown out by the recent storms.

My phone chiming from inside my black Juicy Couture shoulder bag breaks me from my stupor. I had to stop and dig it out since it somehow made its way to the bottom. Feeling it between my wallet and some other junk, I see it light up with a message notification.

‘I’m out front’, the screen reads. I squinted my eyes a little to find my reason for being out early. Once I catch sight of him, I step forward.

Standing to the side of the entrance, casting a shadow on the sidewalk, is my date. Ruffled blond hair guides my eyes to meet green ones. Freckles dot his cheeks, emphasizing a bashful smile. An attractive smile housing perfectly straight white teeth.

He has his right arm raised to wave me down and I see he’s wearing a comfortable outfit. A silver weather breaker is layered over a white hoodie with an unfamiliar blue logo. Black slacks and green tennis shoes cover his lower half. Small silver hoops and a ring on his left thumb completes his look.

“Hi, I’m MC”, I greet with a small smile once I reach him. “Hey, I’m Kaito”, he greeted back. “Let’s head inside.” Like a gentleman, he opened the door for me to enter first. “Thank you.”

“Just you two?” asked the man behind the counter. “Yes.”

“Great. Follow me.” The waiter who seemed close in age to me led us to a booth in front of the windows. He had messy brown hair and a resting bitch face, but I would to if I had to wear that blue and white striped top.

“How’s right here?” he sighed exasperatedly.

“Perfect thank you.”

“What would you like to drink?”

“Just water please.”

“Same here.”

“Okay.” He walked away quickly.

It was silent at our table for a few seconds before Kaito broke it.

“Sheesh what’s up with him.” He started flipping through the menu.

“Woke up on the wrong side of the bed I’m guessing.” I responded while also browsing.

“You didn’t wait long, did you?” I’d feel awful if I made him wait.

“No, no. I arrived a few minutes before you did. Did you walk far?” He asked me in concern as well.

“No, my work’s just down the street.” I pointed in that general direction.

“Yeah, you work at that new hotel, right? Frosthiem?”

“Yeah… how’d you know?” My eyebrows scrunched slightly together.

He went to answer when Ren, the waiter, set down our drinks.

“Know what you want?” He pulled a notepad and pen from his red apron.

We quickly chose something from the menu.

“I’ll have the veggie omelet please.” I shut my menu and set it down in front of Ren.

“Okay. And you?”

“I’ll have the pancake platter with bacon.”

“That’ll be out shortly.” Ren took the menus and shuffled away.

Another awkward silence ensued as we stared at each other.

“So…” I trailed off as I racked my brain for a conversation topic.

“So…” Kaito followed my lead. “Oh,” he perked up, “you asked me a question.”

“Yeah, I did.” I totally forgot.

“Anna mentioned it when she was telling me about you.” He started fiddling with the straw wrappers.

 “Anna talked about me?” I asked in slight surprise. “What did she say?” I sat up straighter.

“Just the basics, you know, name, age, and job. Why? Did you not want her to?”

“Oh, no. It’s just… she doesn’t like me that much.”

“Huh, that’s weird. She overheard Luca and I talking and joined in. You sure you two aren’t friends? She talked highly of you.”

“We’re just acquaintances.” I took a sip of my water.

Anna is the cousin of our mutual friend Luca, the one who set us up. I tried my best to connect with her since I was new and wanted some girlfriends, but she remained distant. She’s five foot seven with chestnut brown hair and complimentary brown eyes. She has beautiful pale, unscarred skin that puts me to shame. She’s more reserved than Luca, but from what I was told, she’s always been that way.

“Don’t worry, she’s not friends with me either.” He took a sip of his water, and I followed.

“She’s not? I figured she’d be since you’ve known them for a while.”

He shook his head. “No. I met Luca a couple months before you did actually.”

“Really?”

“Uh huh.” He nodded his head. “I was supposed to apply for your job, too.”

That took me by surprise. “Sorry for taking your job, I guess.” I scratched behind my head awkwardly.

He huffed a bit. “Nah, I didn’t want it.”

“Oh, okay. I won’t feel as bad then.” I trailed off.

“What else should we talk about?”

“Nice weather we’re having.” Ah, the age-old classic.

“A nice break from the thunderstorms. Although that wind is still harsh.”

“Did you get any damage? There were a bunch of shingles in my apartment’s parking lot after the big one on Tuesday.”

I shook my head. “Nah, just some branches and twigs that blew in. I honestly didn’t think the wind was that strong, but I was the images of that casino.”

“A couple of the lobby windows were blown out right? I don’t think it was the wind.”

“Why do you say that?” My glass is half empty at this point.

He leaned forward a bit and lowered his voice. “The owners of that casino are shady as hell. I hear they get up to all sorts of trouble, but they have a lawyer on payroll, so they get away with shit.”

I leaned closer as well. “Really? I’ve never been there.”

“I wouldn’t go near that place if I were you.”

“Have you?”

“Excuse me?”

“Have you been there before?”

“What? No! I don’t like those kinds of places at all.” My left eyebrow raised at his sudden high pitch.

“Look food’s here.”

Ren walked out carrying a red tray holding two white plates.

“Egg omelet?”

“Here.” I slightly raised my dominant hand.

Sitting in front of me was a standard dinner plate embellished with a classic omelet stuffed to the brim with cherry tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms. On the side were two pieces of toast.

“Pancake platter.”

Kaito’s plate had a couple of stacked pancakes, two bacon strips and two fried eggs. A syrup bottle was sat next to his plate as well.

“Enjoy...” Ren huffed and walked back to his spot behind his counter.

“Let’s eat.” Kaito and I picked up our forks and dug in.

I cut out a piece from one end of my omelet, gathering a perfect blend of egg and vegetables on my fork. Strings of melted cheese followed my fork into my awaiting mouth. Chewing carefully, I suddenly tasted some spices.

“This has a kick to it.” I said after I swallowed.

“Really?” Kaito had a slice of pancake on his fork.

“Hmm.” I nodded my head in response since I already had another mouth full. “You should try it.” I pushed my plate closer to him.

He quickly cut off another piece as I grabbed a piece of toast and some jam from the condiments rack by the windowsill.

“Wow.” He coughed a bit. “That is spicy. Good, but spicy.” He pushed his plate towards the middle of the table. “Wanna try mine?”

I never actually ate here before, so I shrugged my shoulders and cut a piece of pancake. Pure sugar interacted with my tastebuds causing me to drink some water. “That is sweet.”

He nodded his head in agreement.

Not much else happened during our meal. We ended up sharing, splitting our food equally between us. I much preferred the fried eggs over my omelet since it was cooked with a little bit of salt and pepper. The bacon wasn’t bad, just greasy like usual. The toast was a little burnt, but it softened after sitting with jam on it.

Kaito paid and tried to cheer Ren up with a joke, but it didn’t land. He just stared at us, so we hurried out of there. He didn’t have access to a car, but he was kind enough to walk me back to my apartment. To my surprise, he lives a couple blocks away from me, so we exchanged schedules to hang out sometime. I told him that I’m a homebody, so he can come over anytime.

I fell asleep that night with a smile on my face. I had a good time with Kaito and would like to go out again soon. Maybe I can have a relationship.

[ledcomsvisual]

Two indoor circular LED screens are being tested in the factory - LEDCOMS

[itsfairly]

Untangling the Yarn // Nanami Kento x gn!reader

Word Count: ~1.1k

Summary: Nanami helps you when your knitting project is not coming along.

Notes: sfw, fluff, gender-neutral! reader, established relationship, pet names (sweetheart), pep talk kinda off deal, not proofread.

A/N: yeah, well, i couldn't get the handle on this tutorial. so i am taking my frustrations out on this. i love knitting but i hate not getting it on the first try, sucks to suck. anyways, i know this is a different tone from how we are all acting with Nanami after this week's episodes, so sorry. But hey, we get fluff, that's always good since...you know...sorry.

"I don't know what I am doing." You groan, putting down the needles after what seemed like a mess in your hands.

You know how to knit. Well, know enough stitches to get by when doing granny squares and scarfs. That alone lets you do plenty of things but you want to push yourself and do something new. Somehow you landed on a shawl, something light to cover you on breezy days, something simple—not complicated. Spoiler, it was complicated.

You got circular needles like the ones in the tutorial you watched and decided to start working on your project as soon as you got home. Which leads us to this moment. You sitting on the couch after god knows how many tries of doing the first row alone, each with its own challenge. The thread comes loose and you have to start over. Or you get lost in how fast the lady in the video seemed to go, even if you slowed it down to 0.5. Or when you managed to get to another row, the thread balled together like a lump.

It was frustrating. All this trial and error led to minimal but insignificant changes each time, which didn't feel fair. You were paying attention but it seemed your hands couldn't make what the video showed you. It made you feel ridiculous that you even thought you could do a shawl. It was humiliating.

Ever the most attentive boyfriend, Nanami picked up on your frustration growing as he heard you sigh and repeat the last 10 seconds of the video. When he saw you drop the needles onto your lap and leaned back on the couch with your head thrown back, he knew it was a sign for him to put down the newspaper and intervene.

"You're getting there, you just-"

"If you say 'be patient' I'm going to lose it." You interrupted him with a warning.

Nanami sighed, turning his body to face yours as you two seat on the couch. He takes a look on your face and sees that your frustration is more than just being annoyed at your project not coming along—but also disappointment. Your pout told him that much as you started to detangle the little thread you managed to knit reluctantly.

"I know it's the last thing I should be saying, but it's true. This is different from what you usually do, you have to give yourself some time to grasp it." He says, mustering a gentle tone to avoid making you feel as if he's patronizing you.

You turn your head to look at him, cheek squeezed by the couch as your face betrays you, showing him you were growing insecure about your skills. It made his heart crack just a little when he saw that glint missing from your eye when you first sat down to knit.

"I don't want to just make simple things like boring scarves or useless squares." You admitted softly, your hands fidgeting with your yarn.

Nanami places a hand around you, pulling you close to him for a much-needed break from what was stressing you. It was ironic that the thing you did for fun and helped you unwind was making you feel like this. He took one of your hands and started massaging your palm, soothing the muscles that were starting to feel sore over the needles. It made your brows relax at the feeling.

"Then don't. You are already doing something different."

"Yeah, and it's looking like just tangled yarn. I don't know, it's just..." you sigh, placing your head on your shoulder. "it's not looking like that," you added, pointing at the screen that was displaying a pale pink shawl flawlessly done.

"Sweetheart." He called out, holding your hand into his and squeezing it gently. He could see you were getting in your head and he needed you to get out of there. "You're just starting this, they probably have done this a million times and have messed up before. It doesn't have to look perfect on your first try."

He was right but his words weren't on the nail just yet. You know that the first won't be perfect. But why weren't you able to get it yet? You were struggling with the first steps and it made you feel as if you were the worst knitter in history. You start to wonder how the heck you even managed to knit other stuff before.

Nanami calls your name gently, caressing your arm softly to bring you back to the same place you two were. You look at his eyes, slightly moving your head on your shoulder to look comfortably at him as he speaks.

"How it looks shouldn't matter as long as you're having fun. It doesn't matter if it looks like or better than the tutorial if it makes you feel like this. You should knit because you like knitting."

His motherly tone warms your heart and it makes you smile. Even if your chest is still heavy with disappointment, his words made you remember why you even took knitting as a hobby. It wasn't because you were thinking of it as some revenue or something to show off, it was because it relaxed you. The end products were just extras.

"Besides," he adds as he pulls you closer to him with a squeeze at your arm, "I love those scarves you make, especially the one you gave me at our anniversary."

He wasn't just saying it to make you feel better. The things you made may take time and may be quite simple, but they were made by you. You and you alone added that extra warmth on the scarves and projects you made with those squares that made them extra cozy. He loves it even more knowing you made a scarf for him and him alone.

"You don't care that the things I made are boring?" You ask, your tone already becoming much more content and softer.

He shakes his head. "If they are boring, then why do I love them so much?"

Your heart softens up, smiling lovingly at him as you lift your head off his shoulder and press a kiss on his cheek. It makes him hum, his hand roaming down to the curve of your back as he keeps you close.

"Thank you, honey." You say as you return to your previous position with your back against the couch. This time, rather than slouching, you are sitting much straighter with a more confident attitude.

"Anything for my favorite knitter." He hums, quickly returning the kiss by pressing his lips on your temple.

You chuckled, feeling the motivation you needed back into your being. You take a big breath before taking back the needles and repeating the first step for the nth time. It's still frustrating that it takes you quite a few times to get a single step right. But the way Nanami rubs the small of your back even as he continues to read his newspaper is enough to keep you calm and try again.

[guiltypleasureswriting]

Day 9: Written Mar 24, 2024

Part 3

It was evening and Regulus was becoming concerned. Nobody had come searching for Harry and he still hadn’t coaxed out any information about the boy’s Papa. Really, he was the last person to know what to do with a child. Especially since he couldn’t just go out hunting for someone to give Harry to. 

There was a chill in the air, and misquotes were coming out to claim Regulus’ blood. So he finally decided that they should go inside. He had no desire to sleep outside and it would be lunacy to leave Harry out alone. 

With a sigh, Regulus said into the still air. “It’s getting late. Would you like to come inside, Harry?” The boy looked up from where he had been digging a hole by the Chinese chomping cabbage.

“Yes please, Mister Regulus!” Harry exclaimed and then, quite dramatically, wrapped his little arms around himself and said, “Brr, I’m so cold!” Regulus chuckled at the display.

“Come along then.”

He led Harry through his small sitting room and into the kitchen. “You May sit there.” He gestured at a small circular table with two simple wooden chairs pushed against the wall opposite his stove. “Are you hungry?” 

Little Harry elaborated onto a chair and said, “Do you have aloo gobi?” Regulus felt a pang in his chest, like there was something painful to him about Harry’s words.

“I’m afraid not. How about some nice caviar?” He joked.

“What’s cabby-ah?”

“It’s fish eggs.” Regulus said with a very serious tone. Harry’s nose wrinkled with disgust. 

“Eww! Gross, no!!”

beginning | previous | next [edit:mostly abandoned]

[pixiemoonmagic]

The Lady's Maid - Chapter 1

By: R. B. Mangold

Mahrie looked back over her shoulder as she entered the jungle. In the distance she could still see the outer walls of Kesh Nakael. The journey to the Crimson Vale was a short distance from the city and she knew she could be there and back in two chimes. She had journeyed out this way hundreds of times and it was in the Vale that she felt free. Perhaps it was because she was truly alone in the jungle or perhaps because the happy ghosts of her past still resided within the thick overgrowth.

Thirty years ago she had called the Vale her home and thirty years ago the village of Luwan Kael thrived there. But thirty years ago Zaer came and King Vaen Dumaval had surrendered without a fight. The King of Zaer, King Tzored, abhorred the Umbralans and the village of Luwan Kael was home to Kesh Nakael’s Umbralan population. Many chose exile and fled into the deserts of the west. A desperate few, along with Mahrie and her wife Izmelda, decided to try and make a stand; it was the worst mistake she’d ever made.

King Vaen, then retitled as Contran Vaen by his new Zaeran masters, attacked the village in the night. As a display of loyalty he burned the village of Luwan Kael and killed all who resisted. The villagers had never stood a chance and it was Izmelda’s dying wish that Mahrie take their daughter and flee into the jungle. Being eclipsed, Mahrie and her daughter Vrena were able to blend in with the rest of the humans of Kesh Nakael so when things calmed down she’d returned to the city and built a new life.

Today the people of Kesh Nakael would be celebrating the anniversary of the city-state joining the Zaeran Empire, but for Mahrie it was a moment for her to slip away and hold her own vigil for her wife. Walking through the jungle she found the path that had once led to Luwan Kael. Now overgrown, the paving stones were mostly hidden and covered with moss.

Despite its troubled history, the Crimson Vale was beautiful. The jungle got its name from the foliage which had red tipped leaves as if some spirit or creature had painted the tip of each leaf one by one with vivid shades of red. The Vale was a lush expanse nestled in the hills to the west of the Kesh Nakael. 

It didn’t take long for Mahrie to find the ruins of Luwan Kael. All that remained now were the abandoned sandstone walls of the village and even those ruins were concealed by decades of dense overgrowth. Finding the small stream which ran along the southern edge of the ruins, Mahrie followed it to the Grotto of Asueala. Mahrie passed through a moss covered tunnel and made her way into the grotto. The grotto was a section of the natural tunnel where the ceiling had collapsed and a small stream trickled down the far wall with red and gold flowers growing in thick vines. At the far end of the Grotto was the small moss covered shrine to Asueala, goddess of the Umbralans.

In the aftermath of the attack Mahrie had buried Izmelda next to the shrine. King Tzored had forbidden the worship of Asueala and so the shrine was now left unattended. As far as Mahrie knew she was the only one who still ventured out this way and the only person left in Kesh Nakael who still left offerings and prayers to the goddess. She had brought one such offering today and placed a small stick of incense onto the altar and then lit it with her flint letting the fragrant floral smell fill the space. She bowed her head and then brushed the dead leaves off of the base of the small statue of Asueala. The goddesses face still smiled and her arms were held up in a circular pose where she held a downward facing crescent moon above her head.

After paying her respects to the goddess Mahrie turned to the spot where she’d buried Izmelda. She’d left a stone to mark the spot with her name carved upon its surface.

“You’d be so proud of Vrena,” Mahrie started as she knelt at the grave and placed a bouquet of flowers that she produced from her satchel. “She and her husband have a thriving bakery in the city. No grandchildren yet, but I suspect in time that’ll change.”

A tear ran down Mahrie’s cheek and fell to the soft earth at the foot of the grave. Izmelda hadn’t been an Umbralan, she was a priestess of Asueala. They could have fled into the desert, found a home in distant Nul Azel or the realm of Nur to the west. But the people of Luwan Kael were Izmelda’s flock. Mahrie had understood when Izmelda had decided to stay, to protect and guide the few villagers who had refused to leave. At the time Mahrie had felt as though she were being supportive, that she was being brave. Since then Mahrie had cursed herself a thousand times for not being more selfish that day, for not insisting that they’d left. Her misguided support had led them down a path of misery. Those villagers who’d stayed all died and so there had been no point in staying. It hadn’t mattered what they did or how noble their intentions were, staying just meant they shared in the same horrible fate.

But dwelling on those poor decisions only opened wounds that had turned to scars in Mahrie’s heart. It had been a lifetime ago and now at the age of fifty nine Mahrie had found small comforts in her life. She had her daughter, and hopefully soon grandchildren and then there was her job as Contrina Dranora Dumaval’s Lady’s Maid. The pay was good and she was able to give most of her money to her daughter.

It helped that Contrina Dranora was a kind mistress, though that was a bit of an understatement. In the five years that Mahrie had been serving Dranora they had become close friends. The line often blurred between their professional relationship and their personal one. It was likely because Dranora had never truly put roots down within the social circles of Kesh Nakael and also that the two women shared similar interests, such as a love of geography, bird watching and romantic literature. Mahrie really didn’t want anything except for some rest and the presence of Izmalda’s memory.

Mahrie spent most of the day at the grotto. She had no interest in the celebrations happening in the city and so once the sun was low in the sky she made her way back through the Vale and into the city. Though she was an Umbralan she was one of the rare ‘eclipsed’ Umbralans. Unlike most of her kin, she did not have the blue-gray skin or the vibrant colored eyes. Her heritage and nature blended in with the rest of the humans of Kesh Nakael. 

Asueala had fashioned the Umbralan’s from humans and so every few generations a handful were born with features that were more akin to humanity. As such Mahrie’s lightly tanned skin, dark brown hair, which had begun to turn silver, and green eyes all hid her identity as an Umbralan. Vrena had been born with Izmelda’s features, her fair complexion and deep blue eyes and dark blond hair. Umbralans who married humans had a half and half chance to have either a human or Umbralan child and since Vrena was human it meant that she blended in with the rest of the people of Kesh Nakael.

It had of course meant that Mahrie was condemned to a life of loneliness. Having a romantic partner would mean that she would have to expose herself as an Umbralan. Umbralans were all feminine, though like humans they had two sexes, even if humans couldn’t discern them from their appearance. Within Umbralan communities parents were described as being earth-mothers or sky-mothers. The earth-mothers, like the earth itself carried their children in their wombs and the sky-mothers, such as Mahrie and like the sky itself, rained the spark of life upon the earth as rain clouds did. It was this aspect of herself that would reveal her hidden truth. Mahrie had considered journeying to the west to find a new life in lands that were more tolerant, but Vrena was here and she had a life and was building a family. Besides, the journey into the west was fraught with dangers and she often told herself she was too old to face such perils. So it was easy to convince herself to stay and enjoy being with her daughter rather than to leave and find a life and possibly a romance that may not have existed at all. Chasing mirages in the desert seemed like another mistake and she’d made enough of those already. It would have made more sense if she had convinced Izmelda so many years ago to have left with her, but she hadn’t and so this was the crop she’d sown and would reap from.

Mahrie slipped through the city unnoticed, not that anyone cared much for her coming and going. The people of Kesh Nakael were busy in their celebrations dancing and reveling in the festivities. As Mahrie ascended the stoned walkway towards the palace she wondered at the possibility of a romance. Such flights of her imagination struck her every so often, less as she got older, but they still happened. She spied glimpses of young couples embracing. Even a pair of young women were locked in a passionate kiss. She knew it wasn’t a thought worth dwelling on, not if she wanted to stay close to her daughter, but she couldn’t help feeling the gnawing of loneliness upon her heart. It had been a long three decades and for the most part she had thrown herself into her work at the palace. She had risen from a chambermaid all the way to the coveted position of Lady’s Maid, which made her one of the highest ranking members of the palace staff.

Upon reaching her room she opened the small box on her dresser and found the pendant of Asueala. It was one of the few relics she’d held onto from her prior life and holding it in her hand she said one more prayer to the goddess. At first it had been a prayer for her daughter’s happiness but it ended with a sudden mental plea, …and a reprieve from this loneliness. It had been an unconscious plea, one that shocked her even after thinking it. Mahrie sighed and chuckled sardonically to herself, kissed the pendant and returned it to the box on her dresser.

“That caravan left long ago,” Mahrie murmured to herself and chuckled once more.

The sun had set and the city was still alive with celebrations. Most of the palace staff had been relieved of their duties for the day which gave the palace a quiet, almost abandoned feel to it. Much of the staff wouldn’t return until after the two day festivities. Only a handful of people remained, Mahrie included, along with some of the kitchen staff to make food for those who remained along with the guards who patrolled the outer walls of the palace and kept watch during the night.

The night was hot and Mahrie was thirsty after her trek into the jungle. She took off her green travel dress and put on a beige nightgown. The thinner material was a nice reprieve from the heat. Her quarters were on the same floor and tower as Contrina Dranora’s. The palace had two large square towers which jutted up from the base of the palace. Originally the tower to the east was called the Queen’s Tower, but after Zaer it was renamed the Contrina’s Tower. A bridge connected the Contrina’s Tower to the Contran’s tower where Contran Urstrar Dumaval’s chambers were. The perk of being on the same floor as the Contran and Contrina meant that it was mostly deserted after hours. Only Mahrie and Contrina Dronora remained after hours so Mahrie could move about in her cool gown without scrutiny or question, Dranora had never minded. As mistresses went Contrina Dranora was often kind and understanding towards her staff.

Mahrie slipped out of her room and went to the serving parlor on the far end of the floor. Fresh jugs of water, fruit and food were kept there after hours if Contrina Dranora needed anything and a small tray of food and a jug of water was left for Mahrie. Mahrie poured herself a cool glass of water and then padded back down the hallway towards her room eager to rest. As she passed Contrina Dranora’s slightly cracked door she heard a sound.

“Mahrie?” The familiar voice of Contrina Dranora called out.

Mahrie stifled the urge to sigh in disappointment, she had almost made it to her room and instead quickly composed herself and gently opened the door. “Yes mistress?”

The door opened revealing the familiar lavishly decorated room that was Contrina Dranora’s personal chambers. The door leading to the bridge that connected her chamber to her husband’s was open and the silken curtains and drapery wafted gently in the evening breeze. In the distance the sounds of celebration echoed in the city below but in contrast Dranora’s face was stained with tears that Dranora quickly wiped away the sleeve of her gossamer purple nightgown.

Though unusual, Mahrie had seen Dranora cry a few times in the last two years and her mistress, her friend, had begun confiding in Mahrie regularly, often seeking advice or solace in her marital abandonment. Dranora was hardly the type of person Mahrie would consider emotional. She was, by the forging of her upbringing, a commanding presence and a pillar of confidence. Rarely did Dranora make rash decisions or succumb to outside influences. She was a natural skeptic and questioned authority while projecting it. This was often evident in her collect of books that had been banned by King Tzored, many of which included Umbralan romance or themes. 

Dranora was twenty four years Mahrie’s younger and it was no secret that the noble couple had been having issues. Dranora had been married to Urstrar, the eldest son of the now deceased Vaem, five years ago. In that time the couple had gone from jovial and amorous to cold and removed. It had started two years ago when no heir had been produced and in time it had worsened until a half a year ago when Urstrar decided to take not one, but two concubines to speed the creation of an heir.

“I-,” Dranora choked on her words as she collected herself. “You’re not at the celebration?”

The question came off as both an inquiry and a sort of mild accusation as if Dranora had expected to be alone.

“No, I’m not one for the Imperial Celebration,” Mahrie nodded. “You did not want to attend? She quickly added turning the focus back onto her mistress.

“No,” Dranora answered meekly and then crossed the room to sit on the edge of her bed. “He’s with them again,” Dranora bit her lip in bitter jealousy.

By he, Mahrie knew Dranora meant her husband, Urstrar, and by them she interpreted the concubines, Naneesh and Zavra. Marhie didn’t like to involve herself in the couple’s politics, but it came with the territory of being the Lady’s Maid.

“He will come to you again,” Mahrie reassured Dranora with the only words she knew to use. In truth Mahrie was at a loss on how to console the young woman and would have liked to have kept a healthy emotional distance.

“No he won’t,” Dranora replied bitterly. “He will have an heir with one of them and I will be expected to take that… child,” Dranora paused as though she were silently adding more insults to her statement and then continued, “as my own. As if being pushed aside wasn’t insulting enough.”

“You are very beautiful, he will return to you when he grows tired of this tryst,” Mahrie offered once again.

Mahrie wasn’t exaggerating, Dranora was uncommonly beautiful. The daughter of the Contran of Zael, Dranora had been sought after by all of the highest of Zaeran nobility. Her father had married her to Urstrar to help solidify his hold over the southern cities of the Empire, which in turn made him a favorite of King Tzored. Were Mahrie younger and of noble stalk she’d have considered Dranora very attractive and desirable. However, none of those things were true and she had always done her best to push such distracting thoughts away from the surface of her mind.

“You are kind to say that,” Dranora conceded, finally forcing herself to push aside her sadness. Such a display would normally be considered vulgar coming from a Contrina, but with Mahrie, Dranora knew she was safe. It was a point of personal pride that Mahrie never spread gossip and was one of the reasons she’d risen so high within the palace over the years.

“Will you sit with me,” Dranora patted the spot next to her on the edge of the bed.

“I-,” Mahrie began to object.

“I would greatly appreciate it,” Dranora quickly added, stifling Mahrie’s objections.

“But if your husband were to-” Mahrie began again.

“He won’t,” Dranora patted the spot again and added, “He is with both of them and tomorrow all three of them will be leaving for Zaer to join the King in his campaign against Nur.”

“I see,” Mahrie nodded and placed the cup of water on the dresser next to the door and then took a seat next to Dranora.

“It’s why I’m so distraught,” Dranora filled in the gaps. “He says it’s because my constitution is too delicate, but I know it’s because he is done with me.”

There was a long moment of silence between the women before Dranora stiffened and added, “And perhaps I’m done with him. Perhaps I will have a lover of my own.”

“Would the Contran allow that?” Mahrie wondered.

It was not unheard of, Urstrar gained much from his marriage with Dranora and spurring her completely would cause him to lose standing with Dranora’s father and in return the King. In such scenarios couples often took lovers but kept their marriages going for the political gain that it offered. Dranora’s value to Urstrar afforded her a latitude of freedom. She could of course demand the Contran’s blessing for such a boon but with her leverage over her husband. However, it would likely be better to just take a lover and then deal with the fallout if and when it ever came.

“It matters little what he will allow,” Dranora said in a flimsy but haughty voice as she drew the same conclusion. “Do you really think that I’m beautiful?” Dranora asked.

“I do,” Mahrie admitted.

“I think you are as well,” Dranora blushed slightly and rubbed her knees.

Realization flashed in Mahrie’s mind. Was this something Dranora had been considering? Did she want to take a servant, her servant as a lover? It was an ideal cover for an affair, but Mahrie would have to find a way to divert this sudden interest. But was it sudden? Taking a moment to think Mahrie realized that she had caught Dranora gazing at her many times throughout the years. Perhaps this wasn’t some emotional fling but a long standing attraction. Mahrie had always pushed such thoughts aside, but perhaps Dranora had spent that time indulging in such fantasies.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,” Dranora stated.

Mahrie hadn’t realized she’d gone tense and calmed her mistress' concern.

“I-,” Mahrie began, “Thank you for your kind words, to be appreciated at my age is a rare thing. No one has said as much since my spouse died,” Mahrie hid the gender of her late wife. 

Dranora had known about Mahrie’s daughter, it was no secret, but most assumed that Mahrie had been the birth mother, the earth-mother, and so she just never bothered to correct them. It was better that way. For others to think she’d been married to a man in the past, otherwise there would be too many questions and those questions could lead back to her daughter in a very destructive way.

“You’re safe with me,” Dranora leaned closer and gave her the most reassuring smile she’d ever seen her mistress produce. “I would never betray your trust or your secrets.”

“My secrets?” Mahrie asked with a raised eyebrow.

“That…” Dranora paused and then looked confused as well. “I thought you knew that I knew.”

“That you know what?” Mahrie was genuinely confused and her mind spun at the thought that her mistress was under some false impression of her.

“Once again I am sorry,” Dranora’s face flushed. “I will say no more.”

Now Mahrie needed to know.

“What secret do you think I’m hiding?” Mahrie insisted. She would not have normally been so forward with Dranora but she couldn’t hold back, not with the threat of scandal hovering above her.

“That you are Eclipsed,” Dranora replied and winced at having the words pulled out of her.

And there it was, Mahrie’s secret, her truth, the truth she had thought she’d hid so well over the decades was out there in the open. In an instant it was as if her world was on the verge of imploding. She would have to flee, leave into the desert and try to brave the wilds to find a safe harbor. Her mistake, her failure, of staying in Kesh Nakael was finally and in the most bitter irony complete… and that was if she would even have the chance to flee.

It was clear that Dranora could see the horror playing out across Mahrie’s face. Dranora raised her hands in a calming gesture, as if she were calming a startled Armasaur. “Please, you are safe with me, perhaps this…” Dranora paused, stood and went to her jewelry cabinet.

After a moment Dranora produced a small shimmering pendant and hung it out so that Mahrie could see. It was the downward facing moon of Asueala, just like her own except covered in fine jewels and made of precious metals.

“My grandmother gave it to me,” Dranora explained. “Her favorite goddess was Ansueala and she taught me about her. Before Zaer took over Zael she had a lover as well, an Umbralan woman…”

Dranora trailed off and sat down once again next to Mahrie. The shock had finally passed but Mahrie was still overwhelmed by everything she was hearing.

“I’ve always thought you were beautiful,” Dranora admitted. “But I’d never want to drive you away or to make you feel vulnerable because I knew, the truth is I-,” Dranora paused then added quickly, “I admire you so much.”

Dranora’s plea had been made, it was now up to Mahrie to consider what was being proposed and if anything was being proposed. Was her mistress, Contrina Dranora Dumaval of Kesh Nakael proposing a romantic tryst with her? Such an affair would come with great risk, mainly to herself. It wasn’t that she was disinterested in the proposition, more so that the idea of its possibility had never crossed her mind. Mahrie wanted to flee to her room, or perhaps further, to her daughter’s house or even the grotto in the jungle. This could not be happening. But it was, despite her disbelief and shock her mistress had made an overture towards her.

The advance was not an unwanted one, just profoundly unexpected. Mahrie feared that such confessions were due to the stress Dranora was under, but she knew that wasn’t quite right. Dranora’s marriage had been failing for years and this was just the next chapter in the doom of her matrimony. The women had often discussed romance and read the most salacious books together. Their emotional intimacy had been established for quite some time. If anything Mahrie’s hesitancy was born out of a fear of jeopardizing the relationship they’d already established.

It was clear to Dranora amidst the awkward pause, that she would need to lead the way. As Contrina she was used to taking the lead and being an entity that projected authority and will to those around her. However, she knew this was far too delicate a situation to just will into existence and so she decided to signal that the door was open the only way she could. She reached out and touched Mahrie’s hand. There was no tension, Mahrie did not recoil, there was just a quiet moment between the two women.

“Your safety and comfort are paramount to me,” Dranora reassured. “If you want nothing to do with this then I understand and nothing will change between us. I value your friendship more than anything that could happen.”

There it was, the proposal and an exit. Dranora had laid herself bare before Mahrie and placed all the power in her hands. It was such an alien feeling that Mahrie had no idea what to do with it. She’d never had power, or at least not in the last three decades. It was not unheard of for nobility to have trysts with their staff, she told herself again, but it was not something that Mahrie had been prepared for.

“Mistress,” Mahrie began.

“You can call me Dranora,” Dranora corrected.

“Dranora,” Mahrie replied, the name feeling like a foreign word upon her tongue. “I cannot say that this is entirely unwelcome…” Mahrie trailed off.

“But you’re not sure,” Dranora finished with a hint of bated disappointment.

“I’m not,” Mahrie nodded. “I need time…” Mahrie trailed off once again, she desperately wanted to think.

“Time you can have,” Dranora paused, looked down at where she was touching Mahrie’s hand and then looked back up adding, “But first, may I kiss you?”

Mahrie instinctively wanted to object but something inside her, a small voice she’d not heard in her mind for three decades begged, no, insisted that she accept.

“Yes,” Mahrie conceded to the primal voice in her mind.

Before she could reconsider and retreat back to her self imposed isolation, back to the safety she clung to, Dranora moved in and pressed her lips against her own. It was a quick touch, a gentle peck that lasted but a handful of seconds, but Mahrie couldn’t deny that it felt good, it felt right. With Dranora so close Mahrie could smell the floral scent of Dranora’s nightgown. It was a scent Mahrie was very familiar with, afterall she placed the flower petals in Dranora’s dresser each evening so that her clothing smelled fresh and alluring. But this was different, the familiar smell mixed with the gentle musk of the other woman’s body creating a bouquet that was unique and enticing.

In those precious seconds Mahrie’s heart pounded, her blood grew warm and her cheeks burned with desire. That primal voice wanted her to continue, wanted more. It pushed her to kiss back, to wrap Dranora in her arms and to hold her tight and to be held in return. But it was all so sudden and Mahrie needed to clear her head. Too much was at stake, she trusted Dranora’s intentions, she knew the young woman well, and had spent the last five years attending to her. However, there was too much to consider and the kiss had left her mind clouded with desire.

The kiss was over as quickly as it had begun. Mahrie hadn’t realized she’d lost her breath and after a deep gulp of air she nodded to her mistress… no to Dranora saying, “I just need time to consider.”

“Of course, I’ll let you be,” Dranora agreed and took her hand back.

The sudden removal of Dranora’s hand left a cold and empty feeling upon Mahrie. The warmth and comfort that had been lost to her life had sparked and vanished so quickly in that instant. Swiftly, but not to appear as to flee, Mahrie stood, curtsied to Dranora and retrieved her water. She took one look back at Dranora who nodded with a kind look and then left the room and made her way down the hall to her room.

In the solitude and privacy of her quarters Mahrie breathed deeply. It took a few moments for her to regain her composure. She drank her water, laid in her bed and tried not to think of Dranora’s passionate embrace. Every time she thought she’d pushed away such thoughts a new one sprouted like flowers in the landscape of her mind. Thoughts of Dranora’s touch, her kiss and more permeated the edges of Mahrie’s imagination.

It was in those fitful hours as she tried to sleep that she began to grasp just how isolated she’d become. The garden of her life had gone from one that was filled with beautiful flowers to a landscape devoid of color and full of utilitarian shrubbery, shrubbery that she could hide herself in. She had boiled down her existence to pure survival and hadn’t allowed the notion of letting another person in to breath in her mind for decades. Despite the passionate thoughts invading her mind she wondered if she even had the capacity to love still within her.

When she was at the edge of sleep she had considered what had caused this sudden shift in Dranora’s behavior. The logical aspect of her mind knew the young woman had been suffering in a failing marriage now for years. Dranora and her husband had now faced more bad years than good and the fruit of their marriage was clearly withering on the vine. However, the spiritual part of her mind wondered if perhaps it was that unconscious prayer Mahrie had made to Asueala. Had the goddess been listening? There was no way to know, and perhaps it was a bit of both that had led Mahrie to this point.

What remained of her thoughts as she crossed the threshold of consciousness into sleep was that primal voice within her. It didn’t matter where it had all come from, it told her. All that mattered was that she wanted it to continue.  

Afterward

Thank you for reading the first chapter of The Lady’s Maid. The Lady’s Maid is a sort of side story to a novel I’ve been working on. In the world of Xoran readers will find romance, magic, dinosaur-like creatures and ancient civilizations with far reaching impacts. As a side story, The Lady’s Maid follows some of the events of the main novel (which at this time is still pending publication). Hopefully this story, posted to my blog, gives readers like yourself a glimpse into the world I’ve been crafting, one that is transgender and intersex inclusive amidst elements of sapphic romance and fantasy filled adventure. I plan to continue writing and developing Mahrie and Dranora’s story alongside my main novel and hope that you’ll return for more as the story continues to develop.

© 2025 R. B. Mangold, All Rights Reserved.

(3/10/2025)

[posttexasstressdisorder]

Dream 04-22-25

I haven't had a vivid dream like this one in literally months. And the thing that struck me about this one the most was how clear it was, and how panicked I was waking up from it.

I'm on kiddo duty this week, so I'm not sleeping well at night, her mom's bed sucks so bad for my old-man back that I have to sleep on an REI inflatable camping pad on top of the mattress. So when kiddo gets herself off to school at 8:15am, I drive back to my apt and take a long, hot shower because I'm always aching when I wake up, then I get to sleep a few hours in my own bed.

Today I didn't get very long, though, because I had to be a the dental clinic at Highland in Oaktown at 2pm to get a crown cut off and a temp put on while they make the new crown. I think I only really got about 2 1/2 hours total before the alarm went off to wake me up in time for the dentist. This is what happened in the dream:

I was in a hotel with several different levels that didn't connect directly, there was some convoluted thing you had to go through to find your way back to your floor.

I remember having to go through several odd "ballroom" type rooms, one of them had an elevator, but it was out of order, so I looked for some stairs and found a staircase the led to another floor. There was a stairwell and a door that led to a corridor on one side and a semi-circular auditorium that looked like an ancient "operating theater" like used to be used in the 1800s on the other, with spectator seats in a semi-circular bleacher arrangement.

I thought it was a classroom at first, until I noticed it smelled like piss, and then I saw some guy just whip it out and start peeing on the floor, and I realized that there were people of all ages and sizes, everybody pissing and it running down the seats and floors, cascading down the steps to a big drain where the "operating table" would have been. I had to dodge streams of it to get through the room to the door on the other side unscathed.

When I got through that door, I found a bunch of people lounging in chairs and sitting on the floor who seemed to recognize me, and they all were giving little comments like "he doesn't remember us, does he?" and "doesn't he know who we are? doesn't he remember us?" and looking a bit disappointed in me.

I thought hard about who they might be and where I might have known them from and then it hit me, that it was the crew I worked with at the old Sound Warehouse in Austin, at 49th/51st street & Guad...way the fuck back in 1982-83, all of them older now, of course, so they weren't recognizable at first.

It hit me that they were all there to celebrate my birthday, somehow, as a side-event to some kind of convention they were at at the hotel. It was awkward and confusing and I told them I had to find my room again, and this hotel was not easy to get around.

So I went through another door, down another staircase and found myself down in the main lobby, with no way back up but the elevator I'd been told wasn't working. The person there said "We do have THIS one, but it takes a bit of doing and it hasn't been used in awhile", while he pointed at what looked like a diorama or a museum display of a room. I looked at it, and he said "You have to move that chair and slide it into that slot and the door should open." I looked at the chair, and tried to move it and it fell to pieces, literally crushed and crumpled like paper or thin cardboard.

I was starting to get frantic, I had to find my room, and it was nearly 5:30pm in the dream, there was some kind of reason I had to be back in my room by then or else I'd be charged some kind of extra fee or something. I ran back up the stairs, and decided to go through the door opposite the "pee auditorium". It was like a cocktail lounge, with a party going on, swanky, live band playing some loungy-sounding jazz. I remember talking to a few people and all the time saying I needed to get back to the third floor somehow to get to my room.

They weren't very sympathetic, and I saw a door across the room that I made a b-line for. Went through that and found myself on a balcony overlooking the floor I needed to be on, but no stairs to get down to it, no elevator. I remember going back through the bar, and asking the bartender "How do I get back to my room? I can't find my room!"

Then the alarm went off at noon, and I remember waking up yelling about how do I get back to my room.

I was shaking, it was viscerally upsetting. I finally was able to clear my head enough to get up and go to the kitchen to make coffee. Was able to get a cup down before I had to leave at 1pm. My appt. was at 2pm, and I had to be back over here at 4:30 to give kiddo her piano lesson. I guess I was just feeling the pressure of having to deal with getting my front crown cut off, not knowing what they would find when they got it off, plus the new capacity of "piano teacher" I am now in.

The dentist went fairly easily, the original tooth looked good enough to be able to be saved, they ground off all the decay and packed a cavity before they put the temp crown on. It's amazing that it only takes two weeks for them to get them custom made there at Highland, instead of the 2 months it used to take in the old days when crowns were only made at special labs across the country.

So in two weeks I go back to get the new permanent crown on. yippee. My teeth aren't pretty. They're brown and not at all straight, so I've always kept my mouth closed when I smile. It's been so long since I've "shown my teeth" when I smile that it feels completely un-natural to do so.

But what a crazy-ass dream...pressure can sure come out in weird and bizarre ways.

[kazyurmao]

𝓢𝓲𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮: 𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓢𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰'𝓼 𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽

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      𝓢𝓲𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮

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Diluc Ragnvindr x Female Reader

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⚘ Synopsis: A young noblelady  is convinced to attend a party that is being held by the House of Ragnvindr

⚘ Synopsis for chapter: Entering the manor of the Ragnvindr, you are quick to notice that it is impossible to not avoid the gossip of the nobles.

⚘ Warnings: Slow–burn. Fem-reader, Social Class.

*Clarifying: both the prologue and first few chapters of this series take place before the events of Diluc's father dying. Hence the reason for both the reader and Diluc being the age of 14 as of right now.

⚘ Word Count: 2,6k

⚘ Previous Chapter: 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓰𝓾𝓮 :𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓢𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰'𝓼 𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽

⚘ Key: (F.N) = Father's name , (F.L.N) = Family's last name , (l.n) = Last name

⚘ 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓘 :𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓢𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰'𝓼 𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽

A peaceful, friendly gold, luminous ray surrounded the outside environment of the manor. Giant windows decorated the House of Ragnvindr—displaying the grand party for the Duke’s son. A line of carriages parked near the circular driveway, and butlers and maids stood in line to bow their heads to the rich.

It was a cold evening. The breeze was gentle—letting its guard down. There were no blades of sharp wind that could spear through the lungs of the nobles.

Indeed, the god of the wind is blessing the young and future Duke—Diluc Ragnvindr. The party was to commemorate his fourteenth birthday, alongside his uprising of becoming the Calvary Captain at such a young age. His father, Crepus Ragnvindr, clearly wanted to brag about his son. But who wouldn’t? When the young boy has a prosperous future ahead. Everyone craves power, and it is clear that Diluc Ragnvindr—despite his age—is the most powerful noble.

The party was, well, extravagant—the sight of calla lilies is what captured your attention. The whole great hall was decorated with the white bulbs and their signature orange—ombré—red, truly a remarkable flower. Entering the house of Ragnvindr felt like you were entering a magical place—a realm of its own. It almost felt…like you had become a princess. It was weird. This very manner felt like your true home—it almost felt acquainted, as if you were once here.

Déjà vu was a foe of yours. You were led from the corridor to the main living area, where the party was held. You immediately felt the eyes of all the nobles. They were perplexed. The daughter of Duke (F.N) at last made her first appearance.

“Is she finally debuting?” one older noble lady hid her whispers behind her overly decorated fan, “How—How—preposterous! Debuting at a time like this! Is she not shameful to appear right now when the party is clearly about the young future Duke of Ragnvindr!” Another—older—lady spoke. They both complained when a third party interrupted their rant, “Are you both not ashamed to make those remarks around the young lady? For all we know, her father could’ve forced her! The (F.L.N) don’t have shame! I take pity on the young lady.” A much older man—with a gruff voice—began to shame on her family.

You mentally groaned at how they were all shameful, to not only begin gossiping in front of you but also badmouth your family! The whispering of those nobles, who keep a tab with the latest gossip, drives you into insanity—well, close, but you aren’t quite there yet. Soon, and you know this, the gossip would turn its attention to Diluc Ragnvindr. You can’t help but feel a twinge of pity toward Diluc. Just knowing that there are nobles out in this world who overindulge in petty gossip is enough to drive anyone into isolation—you know this since you have isolated yourself from the noble life.

Cheers break loose, and the sound of palms hitting against each other echoes through the ball. The star of the show had made his big entranced; his face was decorated with a confident smile. The squeals of young ladies also infiltrated the lively scenery. As he stepped into his party—that had been dedicated to him—he bowed and shamelessly waved at the group of ladies who hoped to be married to him. You had separated yourself from the large group of people since the commotion they created at the sight of Diluc was too loud for your ears. Of course, you still weren’t used to the public lifestyle.

Weirdly, you were a bit thankful to your father for convincing you to attend this party. In the future, you knew you had to be acquainted with this type of scenery; if you didn’t practice your skills right now…it would only lead you to be estranged from the rest of the nobles. You watched, from afar, the way Diluc was the happiest boy. Who wouldn’t after being named the most powerful noble in all Mondstadt? His soft features, in all honesty, did not match his position. He looked way too innocent to fit the title of Calvary captain.

Rumors were not wrong—the boy who stood afar from you appeared to be the gentleman—but then again, everything is an act. For all you know, the man who acts like a gentleman in public could be prideful and overly cocky. You watch all the nobles line up to greet and congratulate a child. If the church were to witness this very sight, they would have deemed it blasphemous for nobles to worship a young boy.

You were on the brink of leaving the party to explore the magnificent gardens— that were just decorated for the occasion. However, your eyes somehow meet the ruby eyes of the boy, who is the same age as you. When you stare at him, something feels so familiar, as if you had met those eyes countless times. They—his eyes—felt so welcoming, so familiar. It was like you had entered heaven. You quickly look away—-this—this is such a familiar yet foreign feeling. This is your first time meeting him, so why does it feel like you have met him before? You wonder if he feels the same. From your perspective, his eyes held an endearing soft look, as if he had known who you were at first glance. When you had looked back at him—his eyes had drifted back to a conversation he was having with Duke Gunnhild. Have you been making all of this up? Was your imagination toying with your soul?

You were quickly snapped back into reality; you remembered that your purpose was to avoid him. You knew that you had failed to prevent the noble society from gossiping about you, but if you were caught stealing glances with Diluc Ragnvindr…everything would go downhill. Despite your goal being engraved in your mind, you knew you had one flaw. No matter what, you couldn’t avoid the birthday boy. It was your duty as the daughter of (F.L.N) to be polite—to be able to greet the host. Your family might be influential, but the family of Ragnvindr is more crucial for the industry of Mondstadt. Being the tycoon of the wine industry in the nation of freedom, nobody can compete with their title. It would be impossible and even deemed monstrous for not greeting him.

You quickly and gracefully drink the sparkling water given to you by a kind maid. The water runs down your throat, and you can feel small pops against your esophagus. You make a mental note of how much you hate sparkling water.

You start walking towards the Calvary Captain. On your way, you can feel your heartbeat race exponentially. The heart that allocates inside your body had never felt this way. A mixture of anxiety and adrenaline consumed your body. Your fingers even shocked each step you took. It was apparent now that the room was cold—extremely—cold. The room felt more unwelcoming. The glances of the nobles and your incompetence to be confident engulfed your paranoia. Everything you thought was plummeting down. The more you moved closer—the more dread you felt. But that quickly shifted as you seemingly moved closer toward the young Ragnvindr. Instead of shivering cold, you felt the warmth build-up. It got to the point where it was excessively scalding to move further closer to him.

It was as if an invisible barrier was preventing you from meeting him. “Oh? Greetings, you must be (y.n) (l.n), the daughter of House of (F.L.N). A pleasure is to meet you, my lady.” While you clung in your small world and reflections, it appeared that Diluc Ragnvindr had taken his initiative to greet you. He snapped you out of your worries as you heard his soft, friendly voice greet you. You looked up at him, staring at him with amazement—it was as if he could read your mind. His ruby-red eyes did not hold the gaze you saw when his eyes captured yours. It was more of a friendly, casual greeting. One that he gave to everyone. Perhaps it was, indeed, your imagination.

“Good evening to you, Lord Diluc Ragnvindr. I wish to congratulate you on your accomplishments.” Politely responding to him, a polite smile adorned your face. You raise your fan closely to your mouth to cover your face, “I hope your grace likes the gift from the house of (F.L.N). My father sends congratulatory sentiments to the young lord.” With a small courtesy bow, you signal your lady-in-waiting to hand him his present. “We used the finest jewels out there; we hope it is up to your standards.”

You close your eyes, afraid he might react badly that his gift isn’t up to his standards. However, your ears are graced with a peal of laughter, “My lady, I appreciate the gift. There is no need to be too formal. We are the same age, of course! So why should we act like we are adults?” Your eyes widen…he’s not being formal…

You wanted to scoff. He has the luxury of not caring what others think since being the sweetheart of this nation can give you a free pass. As much as you desire to lash out in front of him, it would be too rude and scandalous to act how you wanted. You understand he meant it sincerely. After all, you both are just children. He isn’t wrong. A tiny laugh was released from your lips, “Oh my…that would simply be too impolite to address Lord Diluc in such a manner.” Feeling miniature drops of sweat form on your forehead—you weren’t sure if it was just you, but it was intensely hot. “My…” you mutter under your breath.

Diluc is the Calvary Captain of the Knights of Favonius. Of course, he can read people’s expressions quite well. He didn’t hesitate to laugh at your expression, “I apologize. I didn’t know I would be this happy today. It seems like I can’t contain my emotions.” He sheepishly stated. You can see how he scratched the back of his neck with his right hand. He slightly opens up his suit near his chest, taking out a small object that is illuminated red, “Ahem…this is the source of warmth—I can tell you’re…erm..sweating.” Hearing his throat clear and hearing him state how you were sweating made you embarrassed. You quickly cover the entirety of your face and turn around, “I’ll excuse myself. It seems as if others wish to see you, my lord.” Leaving immediately, you began to walk faster towards the gardens. So the source of the scalding fire was his vision…

Wait vision?

At such a young age, he has an elemental vision. No less, he possesses a pyro vision! He, Diluc Ragnvindr, is truly blessed by the gods…

That shameless man! Claiming to be a gentleman, yet he dares to emphasize the obvious (you sweating.) You make your way towards the gardens, feeling shaken by the interaction. You can’t quite place how you felt when speaking to him. It was…rather an interesting yet humiliating interaction. Though you must admit that his smooth voice is quite soothing, it was rich—a bit authoritarian—yet caring. You…can’t describe it. No. No, you can’t when he speaks. His pronunciation is elegant—it is almost angelic when he speaks.

You can tell how his chest rises when his stentorian voice leaves his silky pink lips. When his voice reached your ears, it almost felt like—like—you…,

“I shouldn’t think of this…” you stumble with your words—you try your best to balance your breathing pattern, yet it seems futile. You had sped walked towards your destination, and your mind had plagued itself with the thoughts of him. He, Diluc Ragnvindr, is a bewitching creature, indeed. Leaving you, more like leaving him, for you to only think solely about him.

At last, catching your breath, you gather your thoughts, walking around the well-kept garden that houses the native flower of Mondstadt. The flowers are freshly watered; you can even see the petals drip the droplets of moisture. You roam around the foreign setting for an unknown amount of time. You admire the beauty, yet you can’t help but feel like the garden that you created was better. A small bench presented itself—it sat facing the lake that acted as a border from Liyue. The anemo crystalflies beautify the scenery, giving you a source of light to guide your vision towards the stars.

At a glance, you thought everything was perfectly fair. However, you had failed to realize how you were slowly dozing off. Your eyes were swift to shut themselves down. It was a quick swoosh of the wind, and soon, your consciousness took you to an acquainted setting. Your arms molded into the hands of a stranger, but you knew who this stranger was since it was the same man who held you dearly. His hands traced towards your face; you felt a smallish tingle on your right cheek—he had pinched your cheek. Again, this stranger had seemed to move his lips—yet—to much of your disappointment, his words were blocked out. He entangled his fingers with yours, and you couldn’t help but feel his fingers having slight cuts. Frowning instantly, you looked up towards him, “Why…why must you hurt yourself?”

Your words seemed to bear deafness to his ears as the man never responded to you. He wrapped his muscular arms around your waist as his face nuzzled against your neck. Feeling the firmness and his breath gently puff against your neck, he oddly smelled and felt a speck of familiarity, yet you couldn’t precisely point it out.

It was as if you had fallen while you slept—that’s precisely how you could describe your situation. You felt a gravitational pull drag you down south; your heart dropped the instant you felt a shiver travel all over your body. You were in shock. You wake up to find yourself lying on a relatively comfortable bed. Graced by the soft—dark—blue hair, a young boy stood with his eyes wide open. He seemed to be a couple of years younger than the young lord (Diluc). Perhaps one or two years younger? You couldn’t guess.

“You’re awake!” he exclaimed. He seemed to be relieved that you had woken up. This brought you into confusion. What happened precisely…? And why weren’t you back in your manner? The nerves in your body quickly transmit a signal to your brain, and you instantly hiss at the pain you are receiving. You were about to get up, but the boy shoved you back into the bed, “I’ll inform father that you woke up!” You held your hands near your forehead. Why was he shouting? Perhaps he is thankful that you woke up from this slumber. Your head nodded weakly; you looked back at the young child, and it was quite an adorable sight. His little hands latched onto the mattress, and his figure leaned towards you. Immediately, you noted that his eyes had the shade of a cute periwinkle. So this must be Duke Ragnvindr's adopted son.

You saw how he dashed out of the room; you assume he was directed towards the Duke’s office. Left alone, you can’t stop thinking about what exactly led you to this point.

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Miffyur’s note:

Hiii, happy belated Valentine's day! Well this was originally supposed to be uploaded by that time, but it's 11:47, which means I failed to upload this on time D:

I had writer's block for awhile, and it honestly caused me to not want to write. Things happen! (a lot) , hopefully eveything sails smoothly from now on.

(If you want to be tagged for future updates, please let me know! I'll make sure to tag everyone <3)

Bye Bye!

Miffyur (\_/)

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[longlistshort]

“Radiating Kindness (Oil)”, 2023, Oil on linen

“Bold Glamour”, 2023, Digital print on linen

For AI Paintings, Matthew Stone‘s 2023 exhibition at The Hole’s Lower East Side location, he explored new ways of using the latest technology while expanding on techniques used in his previous digital creations.

Details from The Hole about this exhibition-

Two LED screens form the center of this show, displaying an unedited stream of novel AI outputs; a new painting every ten seconds. Corresponding in scale to the surrounding works on linen and functioning like smart canvases, these AI paintings transform endlessly and if you’re alone in the gallery, you will be the only person to ever see that version of the artwork.

Stone’s AI paintings—both the tangible on linen and the fleeting screenic pieces—are created through his training of a custom AI model on top of Stable Diffusion’s open source, deep learning, text-to-image model. By feeding it only his past artworks, Stone has created a self-reflexive new series of AI works that disintegrates the hegemony of the singular static masterpiece and problematizes the idea of ownership, or even what “the artwork” itself entails.

AI has become part of contemporary culture, used to solve real world problems and also create TikTok filters. It’s a tool and like a paintbrush it can be used skillfully or not. At the moment AI is throwing the art world into upheaval as artists explore its potential, galleries contend with its disruption of technique and presentation and collectors and museums feel the dissolution of authorship and ownership.

A second type of work makes its debut here, Radiating Kindness (Oil), a 3D printed, machine-assisted oil painting made in collaboration with ARTMATR labs in Red Hook, where MIT artists and engineers have come together to make innovative tools and tech. By leveraging AI, robotics, computer vision and painting scripts, their robot has created a traditional oil painting in three dimensions. You can see on the surface how the interplay between analog and digital mark making is eye-boggling.

The show also includes examples of Stone’s “traditional” technique, which is anything but: on the 13-foot wide linen painting, Irradiance, four nude figures dance over piles of strewn AI paintings. The figures in the foreground, reminiscent in choreography of Henri Matisse’s Dance (La Dance), 1910, are bodacious, athletic women, heavy and sexy like a Michelangelo marble while at the same time futuristic, weightless and splendid in impossible glass and metallic brush marks. Here Stone’s circular and sensitive approach is laid bare for the viewer, the references to art history, technology, culture, access and the pursuit for the intangible is almost overwhelming to grasp.

Stone’s approach points to the deeply interwoven nature of our offline and online lives today. He sees artists’ use of new technologies as necessary, with creatives deploying these tools in a manner that’s not motivated by big tech or financial gains, disrupting the algorithm by creating their own and exploring this new frontier without data-driven deliverables. Creating new context and room for human subjectivities and emotion in the shift from analog to digital that arguably has already occurred.

Below, in an interview for The Standard, he discusses using AI for this work further-

When working with AI, do you sometimes feel overwhelmed or do you always feel in control? I have never felt fully in control while making art and I’ve always been back and forth between wanting to be and understanding the transformative and creative power of just letting go. The most exciting moments in my creative process have often been unexpected mistakes. Those happy mistakes have revealed something that can then be consciously amplified. Using AI creates lots of unexpected outcomes very fast. So as someone who likes accidents in this context of image making, it’s a good way to become accident-prone.

Do you consider AI as just another digital tool? Or does it feel more like a collaboration? In other words, do you sometimes feel AI might develop its own taste, point of view, conscience? It’s a digital tool and I try to resist the urge to anthropomorphize it. But it’s difficult because it feels like such a paradigm shift and also sometimes like dreaming. I think that culturally speaking, we are moving in a direction that assigns these qualities of perceived sentience to AI even when more mundane actions are at play. It’s not clear to me how we will tell if AI has achieved general intelligence, but I think most people will assume it to be the case long before it actually happens, assuming that it does.